Page 91 of Lion’s Den

“I smelled tar mixed with damp earth as I ran from my kidnappers.”

“Did it smell as strong the whole time you ran, or did the scent fade the longer you ran from the men?”

“The scent faded the longer I ran.” Sedona frowned. Was she wrong? Had she imagined the scent? Perhaps her mind played tricks on her. Couldn’t Ketamine do that too? She’d been terrified while she ran and afraid that if the kidnappers caught her again, she would never see Cam or find out how their story ended. “Maybe I imagined it.”

Cam stopped and gripped her upper arms. “Don’t do that, Sedona. I don’t want you to second-guess yourself. That sharp smell of tar mixed with damp soil is called creosote. The scent is distinctive, and it’s common to smell it near quarries and rural industrial sites. When it gets into the wood, the stink lasts for a long time.” Cam glanced at Rhys. “How many places out here have both ingredients?”

Rhys held up his left hand while continuing to type with his right one. Seconds later, he studied his screen. “There’s only one place out here with railroad ties close by.”

“Don’t keep us in suspense,” Spencer said. “What place?”

“Dunvale Quarry, out by Millhaven Road, and it’s conveniently near a rail line.”

Sedona’s eyes widened. That explained the old railroad ties.

“Show me,” Cam said.

Rhys turned his computer around and handed it to Cam. “Bottom left.”

The longer Cam stared at the screen, the stronger the satisfaction in his expression. “Oh, yeah. That will be the place to explore.”

“Where are we going now, Cam?” Dario asked.

“We follow the trail as far as we can to the place where the kidnappers held Sedona as a prisoner. If I’m right, we’ll be heading in the right direction, anyway.”

“Copy that.”

Cam threaded his fingers through Sedona’s and continued to lead the team through the woods.

Sedona stumbled along beside him, wishing that this was broad daylight instead of the dead of night. Here she was, tripping over tree roots, stepping in holes instead of around them, and stumbling on rocks that shifted when she stepped on them, while The Thunderhawks walked quickly with sure-footed grace. Their extensive training was showing itself, for sure.

She concentrated so hard on putting her feet in the right place, she missed Cam stopping at the edge of a large clearing with a two-story cabin in the middle. A familiar two-story cabin with a sense of emptiness about it.

A ball of ice formed in her stomach. She squeezed Cam’s hand.

One glance at her, and he turned to face her. “What’s wrong?”

Sedona nodded toward the cabin. “That’s the place.”

“This is where the men held you captive?”

She gave a curt nod. “I recognize the back of the cabin.” Sedona pointed at a large tree whose thick branches spread near the building. “The room with windows on both sides of the corner is where I was held.”

He said nothing for long seconds, then gathered her in his arms. “You are fearless.”

She laughed. “Definitely not true. At the moment, I’m so scared I could throw up.”

“Memories affect us in a lot of ways, especially when the emotions attached to the memories are strong,” Spencer said. “Ketamine is still affecting your emotions. Cut yourself some slack.”

The group moved into the clearing, ready for anything, including an attack by more of Simpson’s cronies if any were still hanging around the area.

Nothing moved. No one came out to confront them. No one attempted to recapture her and leave The Thunderhawks behind.

Couldn’t say that surprised her. They would be foolish to stay at a place the police might have discovered and searched for clues.

“Let’s look around.”

“But David’s crime scene investigators must have combed this entire house.”