Page 71 of Avenging Angel

Outlier is just another word for outcast. In this case, Daisy means the teenage girl who was sitting by herself yesterday.

“I’ve got her in sight,” I say as I peer through my scope. Even at a thousand yards, I can see the gold flecks in the girl’s brown eyes and the despair hidden beneath them. “If this guy gets ahold of her, it won’t take Dominion years to break her. It will only take a few weeks, if not days.”

“Maybe,” Daisy replies. “Northwyck Academy for Girls is a prestigious boarding school. If this young woman is a scholarship recipient, then she had to have the smarts to earn it. Her mind may be stronger than you give her credit for.”

My sister, who is patrolling the campground with Jaxon so that Jeremy and Jack can get some sleep, adds, “And from all outward appearances, this girl is used to isolation. It might be a self-imposed protective measure against cruel words or a loss of self-worth, but it could also be that she is simply an introvert. Loneliness does not automatically beget weakness.”

Properly chastised by the two women on the team, I keep my mouth shut. If anyone knows how a teenage girl thinks, it would be them. All that matters is that Daisy believes this girl is the target because she has isolated herself and has the physical traits of brown hair and brown eyes.

Once breakfast is served, the dishes are done, and all the young ladies have changed into their winter hiking attire, the woman in charge claps her hands to get everyone’s attention. “It’s time for the scavenger hunt! Pair up and stick to the trails. Do not go wandering off! Most predators avoid places where humans travel. The same cannot be said for the woods where they call home.”

“Way to scare us, Ms. Toohey!” one of the girls shouts.

Ms. Toohey and the four other adults in the group pass out air horns and cans of bear spray. “I’m not trying to scare you; just prepare you in the unlikely event that you do come across a bear. You will want to make yourselves as large and as loud as possible. Do not run. Instead, you should back away slowly while dispensing the spray. Your partner will blow the air horn.”

“What about mountain lions?” another girl asks.

Ms. Toohey looks to the other adults for an answer, none of whom seem to know the correct course of action.

Daisy comes over and offers to help. “Sorry to interrupt, but I couldn’t help but overhear you on my morning walk. I’m an avid hiker, so maybe I can be of some assistance?”

“Thank you. These girls mean the world to me. I wouldn’t want to lead them astray by giving them inaccurate information,” Ms. Toohey replies.

I scoff and mumble, “Then you should have heeded our warnings and delayed this little field trip.”

Despite being obscured by bushes, Daisy’s eyes narrow in my direction. Then she turns to Ms. Toohey and the girls with a pasted-on, ear-to-ear smile. “You already have most of what you need in the event that you come across a mountain lion. Only bear spray isn’t much of a deterrent since they aren’t bears.”

There are a few snickers among the group of teenagers. “Just like a bear encounter, you do not want to run, and you want to make yourselves as large as you can. Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid animal paths. Mountain lions will be searching for food, and their diet consists of deer and small animals this time of year. But the best method is to avoid them altogether. Make your presence known by talking, laughing, and having a good time. For the most part, mountain lions will avoid humans when given the chance to flee.”

“It’s ‘for the most part’ that concerns me,” our potential target says. Her voice is loud and strong, quite the juxtaposition to her reclusive behavior.

Daisy walks over to the girl and stands next to her as she addresses the group. “Yes, mountain lions have attacked people, but only at a rate of 4-6 per year across North America. That includes Canada. Honestly, you’re more likely to get struck by lightning than get attacked. If you stay in groups, be loud, and be aware of your environment, then you should be just fine. If you encounter any trouble, don’t wait to blow your air horn.”

“Well done, Daisy,” I say as the group of girls disperses and pairs up.

Ms. Toohey approaches Daisy and thanks her for stepping in. “The girls are about to do a scavenger hunt for a science project, and they’ve been looking forward to this trip since last year. Even with all that time to plan, I should have been more prepared with my answers.”

“It happens to the best of us,” Daisy says amicably. She turns to the girl. “Are you excited about the scavenger hunt?”

“Not really,” the girl says, and then gestures to everyone else who has already paired up. “I don’t have a partner.”

Ms. Toohey puts an arm around the girl’s shoulder, leading her away. “That’s okay, Genevieve. You can join Harmony and Misha.”

“But they hate me.”

Doing her best to comfort Genevieve, Ms. Toohey says, “They don’t hate you. They’re just intimidated by that brain of yours. In a few years, you’ll be curing cancer or doing something noble with your life, and the opinions of high school girls won’t matter when you’re winning the Nobel Prize in Medicine.”

I watch as Daisy heads to her vehicle to grab her daypack to go on a hike, intending to follow Genevieve at a distance. That’s when Roger pipes up with an update.

“Jordan and Seth found an abandoned ATV three miles north of Stillwaters Campground, on the west side of the highway, hidden under brush and branches. The engine is cold, and they assess that it’s been there for at least four hours. Possibly longer. They found a set of tracks that head east and end at the two-lane highway.”

Vinny picks up where Roger left off. “Bill, Barbara, and Benjamin are en route to help scout along the highway. It’s likely Brad Callahan used the two-lane road to travel, then crossed elsewhere. Stay sharp. He could be anywhere.”

“I’m on the move,” Daisy says. “I do not have visual on Genevieve, but her companions are loud enough that I can tell they’re about 100 yards ahead of me on the Union Creek trailhead.”

It’s been a while since I’ve hiked that particular trail with my family, but I still remember it fondly. “Just around the second bend, it will branch in three directions. One path leads toward the creek, one straight ahead, and one that loops back around into the campground.”

“Copy,” Daisy replies.