Page 60 of Race to Save Her

“Is what true?”

“Crime scenes speak to the detectives investigating them?”

“I’ve never thought about it in that exact way… but it is a little like that. It tells a story and it’s up to us to figure out what that story is.” Katie liked how the deputy was thinking about the investigation.

Overhead, clouds clustered, making it darker and a slight cool breeze wafted throughout the trees. It wasn’t supposed to rain, but it felt ominous.

Cisco gave two barks, reminding Katie he was ready to go. She joined Chris in investigating the best area to get across the ditch.

“Maybe we should drive up a ways?” she called.

“Here,” said Chris from down the road.

Katie joined him.

“Look, there’s less water running through here and the sides of the drainage have a spot to place your foot.”

Katie saw they should be able to cross without much effort.

“Will it work for Cisco?” Chris said.

Katie smiled. “Don’t worry about him. He has four paws and can easily cross. Believe me, we’ve been through tougher.”

Chris seemed to study Katie for a moment, but didn’t say anything. They walked back to the car to pick up their gear for the search.

Katie put on her backpack. She knew from experience that you never knew what you might encounter. Chris followed suit.

Katie opened the back door and Cisco immediately jumped out, did a couple of spins and seemed to shake off being in the car. She hooked his long lead on his search vest, secured the Jeep, and they were ready to go.

They walked up to the crossing area. Cisco was excited by the water and where they were going. Chris waited slightly behind.

“You ready?” Katie asked him.

“More than…”

Katie put Cisco on a down. The dog’s energy was high, but he waited and watched. Katie carefully put her left foot on the cement ledge. After getting her balance, she stepped with her right foot and easily reached the ground on the other side.

“That’s how you do it?” Chris laughed.

Katie did feel some relief at not falling into the water.

Cisco waited, never taking his eye from Katie. She pulled the long twelve-foot leash until there was slight tension. Katie knew Cisco had amazing agility and jumping across was easy play for him.

“Cisco, hier,” she instructed in German to come to her.

The jet-black dog stood, took a couple of steps back, and then leaped across with precision.

“Good boy,” she said, congratulating the dog.

“Cool,” said Chris. “Now my turn.” He stepped easily on the cement pegs and made it to Katie and Cisco. “It looks worse than it is.”

“I wanted to do a grid search with the crime scene as ground zero,” she said. “I don’t want to search all this area, but fan out. There’s a utility road on the far north side, so that’s our objective.”

“Do we document and then retrieve anything that might be evidence,” he said.

“Yes. I have everything I could think of that we might need in my backpack.” She pulled Cisco close. “Let’s get started. Cisco, such.”

Instantly Cisco jumped into search mode. At this point, he was alert and focused as he began to cast in and out of areas in an effortless grace.