Tyler’s chuckle was hollow. “I’ll take care of it. Pick a spot for me to start searching. I’ll be right back.”
Once he was gone, Hannah focused on the map. “I’m heading toward the creek.”
Cooper groaned. “Why? What good will that do?”
“It’s just a feeling. I don’t know if she’s going to be there. I don’t know if Astra or Stormy is going to be there. Heck, I don’t know if Abigail is going to be there. I feel as if I need to be there, though.”
Cooper wasn’t convinced, but he knew better than arguing. “Okay. Take your phone. If you run into trouble—”
“You’ll be the first one I call.”
IT WAS WITH DETERMINATION THAT HANNAH raced out of Casper Creek. She was gratified that Cooper hadn’t insisted on accompanying her, but he was a pragmatist. Losing Lindsey was not an option. That meant they all had to work together to find the girl.
Rain threatened the sky, maybe even another storm, but it remained dry for her hike. She kept her eyes peeled as she looked left and right for signs someone had been on the property recently. She came up empty.
Once at the newly-erected barrier, she paused long enough to look for errant witches and then forced herself to keep moving. She was barely on the other side when Abigail appeared.
“What are you doing here?” The ghost looked stricken by Hannah’s sudden appearance. “Turn around. You need to go back.”
Hannah had no intention of doing that. “Lindsey is missing.” There was no sense dragging things out. “She left a note for Boone that she was coming out here to look for Angel, but nobody has seen her.”
“Lindsey?” Abigail’s expression reflected confusion. “I don’t understand. How did she get out here?”
“I’m not sure. She has a license. Maybe she took Boone’s personal truck. I forgot to ask.” And, now that she thought about it, Hannah was doubly confused. “Maybe she called an Uber or something.”
“It’s not safe for a young girl to hop in an Uber.”
It was a true statement. Given what they were facing on a regular basis in Casper Creek, though, it was also absurd. “We have to find her. If she stays missing ....” Hannah couldn’t finish the sentence.
“Boone will never get over losing her,” Abigail finished, resigned. “You really shouldn’t be out here, though. Something is ... happening.”
Intrigued, Hannah waited. When Abigail didn’t expound on the statement, she made a face. “Are you going to tell me what that something is or leave me to go insane?”
“I don’t know what it is. I just feel ... different. There’s a spark that wasn’t here before. I don’t know where it’s emanating from.”
“A spark?” The explanation was too vague for Hannah to follow. “I don’t understand what you mean by that.”
“I don’t understand either. I just know it’s not safe for you to be out here.”
“I don’t have a choice.” Hannah refused to back down. “I have to find Lindsey. I’m going down to the creek to look.”
“Stay here. I’ll look for you.”
“No. I appreciate the offer, but this is my responsibility. Angel was only taken because I suggested she visit in the first place. I can’t just abandon Lindsey to whatever creature is doing this, no matter how stupid her actions were.”
“I’m not asking you to abandon Lindsey.”
“Then what are you asking?”
“For you to take care of yourself.”
“I have no intention of dying,” Hannah reassured her. “That’s not on my to-do list. I have to do what’s right for Lindsey, though. She’s the priority.”
Abigail worked her jaw, debating, and then shook her head. “You’re so stubborn.”
A ghost of a smile played around the corners of Hannah’s lips. “Perhaps I inherited it from you.”
Abigail returned her granddaughter’s smile, although it was wan. “You do come by it naturally.” Resigned, she held out her hands in defeat. “I’ll go with you, offer whatever help I can. You have to be prepared to run if it’s necessary, though. Promise me.”
“I promise to protect myself to the best of my ability. I have to find Lindsey, though.”
“I guess that’s the best I can ask for.”
They set out together for the creek. Abigail floated rather than walked so the uneven terrain didn’t slow her down. Hannah kept her eyes on the ground so she wouldn’t accidentally trip over a root or rut, only briefly lifting her eyes. When they crested the final hill before they hit their destination, Hannah’s breath caught in her throat. There, standing on the wrong side of the creek, was Stormy ... and she looked intent as she studied something on the ground.
“What are you doing here?” Hannah blurted out before she thought better of it. The smart thing to do would’ve been to close the distance and make sure Stormy couldn’t lash out with her magic. Once she spoke, though, that opportunity was lost.
“What?” Stormy jerked up her head, surprise evident on pretty features. “What are you doing here?”
“Are you kidding? This is my property.”
“Yeah, but it’s early. What are you doing up so early?”
It was only then that Hannah noticed Stormy was dressed in the same clothes from the day before. The woman’s hair, always immaculate, was disheveled. The heavy eye makeup she often boasted was smeared under her eyes. “Did you spend the night out here?”
“I’ve been doing important things,” Stormy replied, squaring her shoulders as she stood. “Don’t worry about what I’ve been doing. Worry about yourself.”
Suspicion fired in Hannah’s gut but there was no time to question the other witch. She had other things to worry about. “I’m looking for a girl.”
“Oh, really?” Stormy cocked a sarcastic eyebrow. “And here I thought you were in love with the security douche. I guess you learn something new all the time.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “I’m looking for Boone’s daughter. She came out here looking for the other girl, the one from the accident. Have you seen her?”
“The sheriff’s daughter?” Stormy’s expression was cloudy, as if she was having trouble keeping up with the conversation.
