Page 77 of Rescuing Brinley

Shadow suddenly froze and stood stock still, trying to figure out what was wrong.

“Shadow?”

He held up a hand, listening intently. He cocked is head, trying to figure out what he’d heard and where it was coming from. But all he noted was the chirp of birds and the wind.

He and his team were setting up a base camp for the new land-nav training area about ten miles south of the Army base. But now a shiver went through him. Something wasn’t right, but he had no idea what it was. “Anyone see anything? Moose? Bear?” he asked quietly.

The other six men went still and looked around, searching for a threat.

“Negative.”

“Nothing.”

“It’s clear.”

“What is it, Shadow? Talk to us.”

Shadow looked at Echo in frustration. “I don’t know. Something just seems…off all of a sudden. I can’t explain it. I could have sworn I heard a scream. But it was muffled. Someone…they’re in trouble.”

Everyone stayed completely still, listening intently to the woods around them.

But Shadow didn’t hear the sound again. Everything was silent. Had he imagined it?

No. It had been as clear as day.

“Should we fan out? See if we can find anything?” Kodiak asked.

Shadow shook his head. Not knowing why, he pulled out his phone. It was ridiculous, because they never had cell reception in this area—but he was shocked when he saw he had one bar…and Brinley had tried to call him, then sent a text. He read the message first, then clicked on the voicemail to see what she was talking about.

She’d asked if he could meet her new client with him, said that Cypress had convinced her to meet Natasha at a public place before bringing her back to their apartment.

Unease sat in his gut like a cold fist, tightening from the inside. The text told him not to worry about the message, that she’d contact him when her client—and apparently her boyfriend and mom, as well—had left.

Looking at his watch, Shadow saw that it was just after ten. She would’ve just met with her new client and was probably on the way back to her apartment. He clicked on her name to give her a call, to check on her. It went straight to voicemail.

The dread in his gut grew exponentially.

Brinley didn’t turn off her phone. Ever. And if she was at her place or on the way, her phone should be connected to her Wi-Fi or a tower, so connection wouldn’t be an issue.

“I need to go back to town,” he blurted.

“What’s wrong?”

“Why?”

“What’s up, Shadow?”

“I don’t know. Hopefully nothing. It’s a feeling.”

“I’ll finish up here, you guys go.”

“I’ll stay with Atlas,” Zero said.

“Me too. Take Kodiak, Grinder, and Echo. I’ll call Zamora and let him know what’s going on,” Torch offered.

Shadow didn’t argue. He was grateful he worked with men who understood that sometimes a gut feeling was just as valid and accurate as concrete intel. The scream he’d heard…he couldn’t shake the sensation that it had been Brinley. And that she was in trouble. He had no idea what could’ve happened, but he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he ignored his instincts and Brinley got hurt. Or worse⁠—

He shut off that line of thinking immediately. He’d just lost his mom, he couldn’t lose Brinley too.