Page 99 of Fallen Creed

He packed their belongings and loaded the van before sunrise wearing Larry’s coveralls, leather driving gloves, and coat. Even the dead man’s boots fit perfectly.

Somehow Shelby had slept through the packing and his comings and goings. Or so he thought. When he finally finished and came back to the room, she was dressed. She had fetched quite the spread from the free breakfast bar, remembering that he liked Fruit Loops and leaving a tray on his bed. Maybe she was learning.

He rewarded her with a smile and a thumbs-up, then checked his cell phone. There was a new text from Vanessa:

ON MY WAY. MEET YOU THERE IN AN HOUR.

Vanessa had told Shelby last night that she had stolen a “sweet ride” with four-wheel drive from Lincoln Airport’s long-term parking.

Ruben was pleased. These girls were working hard to redeem themselves and make up for their colossal mistake. The lessons he’d taught them were finally sinking in. He was glad they’d have a new vehicle for their quick getaway. They could ditch it for another as soon as they reached Omaha. From there, they’d head south.

As crazy as the blizzard had been, this morning the snow had started melting. Trucks with plows on the front and sand drizzling out the back were returning the roadways back to asphalt. But as soon as they left the major highways, Ruben realized the utility van could easily get stuck on the back roads. The melting sludge pulled at the wheels and sent them swerving. By the time Shelby pointed out the farm that was their destination, Ruben was grinding his teeth and clenching his fists around the steering wheel.

Then he reminded himself that Emma would pay for all these inconveniences. That made him feel better. He’d prepared the back of the utility van with drop cloths, but after zigzagging through the snow, he knew they wouldn’t be able to take their time with her.

There were no vehicles in front of the house. Only one set of tire-tracks were left in the snow, and it was easy to see the vehicle had driven out the driveway.

Ruben parked close enough that he didn’t have to walk far, but kept the windshield facing away from the house.

“How close is Vanessa?” he asked. He knew Shelby had been texting her.

“About ten minutes away.”

“Tell her to park on the road somewhere safe and walk over. We don’t want anyone seeing her vehicle. You wait here,” he told her. She was already sitting in the windowless back. “I’ll be right back in ten.”

He slipped his switchblade into the coat pocket. Made sure he had enough zip-ties and duct tape in the other pocket. He pulled on gloves and a stocking cap he’d found on the driver’s seat, then pushed up the bridge of the thick-framed glasses. He marched his way to the front door, grateful Larry’s boots were so warm.

He barely knocked before it opened. The woman was short and a little overweight. She wore blue scrubs, and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, accentuating the lines at the corners of her eyes and mouth.

“Our electricity seems to be fine,” she told him.

“You or your husband didn’t call in that it was out?”

“No.”

She wasn’t making this easy. He fished a piece of paper out of his pocket, almost bringing out a zip-tie. He pretended to read the paper, then looked at her again. “This is the Spencer place, right?”

“Yes, but I didn’t call in a power outage.”

“Maybe your husband did.”

“He’s been gone a few hours.”

“Well, my supervisor’s gonna be upset if I don’t check. You mind if I come in and take a look at your breaker box?”

Ruben wasn’t sure that was a real thing. Nora Spencer hesitated for a second or two, then gestured for him to come in.

—78—

Scout was anxious to get to work. Jason would need to settle him down before he snapped the leash to his working vest. The big dog had already recognized the preparations for a search. Back at the hotel, Jason had watched a custodial worker toss scoops of salt and chemicals onto the sidewalks. It was yet another thing he hadn’t thought about.

A handler’s number one priority was to guide and protect his dog. Equip and prepare for conditions and obstacles. Scout’s success depended on Jason’s preparation and awareness.

Would the dog need protection from the temperatures, the humidity, or the terrain? In this case, it was snow and ice, along with the chemicals on the sidewalks and roadways. Jason had applied wax to Hank’s and Scout’s paws while they were still in the hotel, triggering Scout’s excitement. He was glad he caught this obstacle but wondered what other dangers these weather conditions would bring.

The irrigation road was little more than a dirt path, not a road. The Jeep bumped over the ruts and pushed through the drifts, kicking up the melting sludge. In the city, he had to maneuver around downed branches and dangling electrical lines. Out here, the destruction wasn’t as obvious. Trees were mostly clumped around farms. Otherwise, the landscape was barren pastures or cornfields buried under snow.

Maggie insisted this road was on the other side of the old wood bridge that Ryder and Grace would have crossed. The bridge would be impossible to find in the snow. This way, they could avoid that search. She pointed to the treeline at the edge of what looked like a wind-swept meadow. Beyond the trees, she promised, was the river.