Page 48 of Secrets in the Deep

He slowed his steps and followed the deep indents in the mud. They led to the base of a thick tree.

Slowly, he rounded the tree.

A man growled and lunged.

Ryan dodged with a quick sidestep.

Preston hit the wet ground hard and groaned.

Ryan scanned the area, making sure they were alone, before lowering to Preston’s side. “It’s Ryan from search and rescue. I’m here to help.”

“Ryan?” Preston pushed up to his elbows, and the second he saw Ryan’s face, he sagged with relief. “Thank God! I thought I was gonna die, man. I thought he was gonna kill me!”

“What happened?”

“Faye dropped me at the trailer. Didn’t think it was worth going back to the inn when I have to work in five hours. Before I even got to the bedroom, I heard noises around the trailer. Sounded like footsteps. I thought it might be Faye. You know…late-night booty call. I went to check. At first, I thought I was hallucinating. I smoked some weed and it does that sometimes. But then…” His breathing sped up.

Ryan gripped his shoulder. “Preston, what happened next?”

“It was the killer from the movie. They had the same creepy mask. But the knife…it was real. Don’t ask me how I know, I just do. I told the fucker to stop messing around, but they kept coming toward me. So I ran.Fuck, I ran so fast.”

As Preston started to cry, Ryan keyed his radio. “I have him. Taking him back to the trailers now.”

“Need help?” Ethan asked.

“I’ve got it.”

“No. We need help.” Preston grabbed him. “The guy could come back. He could be watching us right now!”

Ryan took in his pupils, blown wide even with the flashlight shining in his face.

Was the threat real? Or was it drug induced?

“I can keep us safe.” He pulled Preston to his feet. “When we get back, we’ll go check out the costume trailer.”

Preston’s gaze raced around the woods like the person was about to jump out at any second. Eventually, he nodded.

As they walked back, Ryan continued to examine the forest. The good news was, if a threat truly did exist, Preston had only seen him with a knife, not a gun. Didn’t mean hewasn’tcarrying though.

But did he exist at all? Preston had smoked weed, and before that, he’d been heavily drinking.

When they reached the trailers, the rest of his team had already rejoined the deputies.

They went straight to the costume trailer. It was locked, but the lock was easy to pick. Ryan went in first, stopping at a long black cloak. “This it?”

“Yes.” Preston nodded vigorously. “This is what the guy wore when he attacked me.”

Ryan touched the material. Dry. Also, clean and unwrinkled. His gaze shifted to the pale blue mask. It was the same.

He looked back at Preston. “I don’t?—”

“Ido.” Preston grabbed Ryan’s upper arms tightly. “The asshole wore that fucking costume and chased me through the forest with a knife! I’m not lying. The threat was real.”

Emily watchedthe light tap of rain hit her windshield. She should get out. How long had she been sitting here? Five minutes? Ten? Hell, maybe longer.

Cast and crew moved around the trailers. She had no motivation to get out there. None. But this was her job. And there was only one person to blame for making questionable drinking decisions last night, and it was her.

Two more minutes of peace, then she finally climbed from the car.