Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Randy was silent for a moment, then said, “That’s damn near straight across from your ranch. Looks like that’s about eight miles or so as the crow flies.”
“She could have made that distance,” I replied.
“Okay, let me get with Jonathon and we can start pulling up Google images of the area, see if we can find a barn out on its own.”
“Can we just start searching that area?” I asked.
“It would take us forever to search it by foot, and we don’t have permission to fly the drone above all that private property.”
I thought for a moment. “I can get Josh to fly the helicopter.”
“Helicopter?” Mallory asked from next to me.
“Josh owns that one, not Liam,” MaryAnne stated.
“That would work. Let me know what he says. If we can get you up in the air and looking, we might be able to narrow it down. Where are you now?”
“Driving down 238 to see if Mallory recognizes anything.”
“I’ll fill Jonathon in, you let me know what happens on the drive and when Josh is able to get up in the helicopter.”
“Will do,” I said, then hit End on the display in my truck.
“We’ll drive a bit farther down the road to see if anything sparks a memory.”
“Did you go over a road like this?” MaryAnne asked.
Mallory frowned. “I don’t think so. I did go over a few country-type roads, a field that had been cut for hay because I saw all the hay bales.”
“Okay, that’s a good landmark,” Billy stated.
We drove another thirty minutes and Mallory shook her head. “It all looks the same to me. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I said as I turned the truck around. We started back toward town and Mallory gasped.
“Wait! Wait! That’s the field! That’s the field I ran through!”
I put the brakes on. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Drive down that road and there is a house and some barns. I made sure to stay clear of it. I waited until it got darker and made a run from that tree line to the other.”
I turned down Half Moon Ranch Road. Sure enough, a property came into site.
“That’s it! That’s the area I ran into. Those trees.”
My heart started to pound. “How far do you think you ran before you got here?”
“I’m not sure what time it was when I escaped, but I ran a good four hours before I got to that field.”
“Billy, pin this spot and send it to Randy.”
“Got it.”
We turned and headed back out to the highway.
“The other side of this is all forested area,” MaryAnne stated.
“There are some small farming areas tucked in there. Let’s head back into town, get something to eat, and wait to hear back from Randy,” I said, reaching for Mallory’s hand. “Billy, will you get with Josh and see about using him and his helicopter tomorrow?”
“Sure thing.”
We drove the rest of the way back to town in silence. Mallory stared out the window, and I could see the worried expression on MaryAnne’s face.
We pulled into Harry’s Place and MaryAnne and Billy got out.
“Will you give us a moment, you guys?” I asked before Billy shut the door.
“Take your time, we’ll get a table.”
Mallory was staring straight ahead. “Are you okay?”
Drawing in a long, slow breath, she exhaled. “I think so. It was there, somewhere out there is that barn, Liam. I just wish I knew where it was at.”
“We’re going to find it, I promise you. Right now, we’re going to go in and enjoy some food.”
She turned to the door where Billy and MaryAnne had walked through. “You’re okay, I promise you.”
Nodding, she said, “You’re right. I’m starving, so let’s head on in.”
After checking out the menu and ordering our food, I pulled out my phone and excused myself. I walked outside and hit Randy’s number.
“Liam.”
“Billy spoke with Josh and we’re going up in the morning. I think we need to focus on looking on the west side of 238. That area is less populated there and it would be easy to hide a barn on the property.”
“I agree. I spoke with Jonathon and told him Mallory had remembered a few details. He was looking into this guy who rented the car. Nothing so far. It appears he used an alias on the rental contract.”
“I figured as much.”
“What time are you going up with Josh?”
“Nine.”
“I’ll join you.”
I turned and looked back at the restaurant. “Why don’t you just come and stay the night, that way you’re already here in the morning and you don’t have to get up so early.”
“Sounds good to me. Where are you now?”
“Eating dinner at Harry’s, trying to give Mallory some sense of normal.”
“That’s good. We’re getting closer and closer, Liam. We’re going to find this guy.”
I closed my eyes. “I really hope so, and I hope you find him before I do because I really want to kill him.”