Search and Rescue Read Free Page B

something—has been here recently,” Matt said. “Could have been a deer taking a nap. Could have been kids making out.”
    â€œAmber could have been here too, right?” I asked.
    In answer, Matt cupped his hands to his mouth. “Amber,” he cried. “Amber!” We both listened, hoping for a reply. There wasn’t one.
    â€œShe was unconscious,” I said. “She couldn’t answer our call.”
    â€œWe don’t know that,” said Matt. “And she’s not here, is she? If she was unconscious, how did she walk away?” His face was grim. Now he really didn’t believe me.
    â€œShe was here,” I told him. “Could she have fallen from the cliff ?”
    â€œThere are no footprints or any sign that anyone has been over there.”
    I peered at the ground, hoping to find a footprint to show him. “Check this out,” I said, following the path. The forest floor was swept from the viewpoint all the way back to the road. “Looks like something heavy was dragged out of here,” I told Matt.
    I shuddered at the thought. Did someone—or something—drag Amber away? “You don’t think a bear got her, do you?” I asked.
    â€œFirst you thought a kidnapper took Amber, now a bear.” Matt shook his head. “You’re really fishing for news, aren’t you? Isn’t the story of a lost girl enough?”
    â€œIt’s not like that,” I said. “I don’t care about the news story. I just want to find Amber. I know she was here.”
    I hunted for clues, something to make Matt believe me. There was nothing. Only those drag marks through the pine needles. “She must have been moved,” I said. “What if it wasn’t a bear? What if a person dragged her away?”
    â€œYour kidnapper?” Matt raised an eyebrow like he thought I was a fool.
    â€œYes!” I said. “There must be someone else involved.” I scanned the road. There were fresh tire tracks in the mud. “There was another vehicle here recently.”
    â€œSo a bunch of dumb kids came up here to party. They dragged their beer cooler back to their car. Mystery solved.”
    I was nearly in tears, I was so frustrated. “I know there is more going on here,” I told him. “I know it.”
    Matt put a hand on my shoulder. “Amber went for a walk and got lost. This is a huge forest. Even experienced hikers get lost here. We rescue them every year.”
    â€œShe’s not simply lost.”
    Matt held out both hands. “How do you know?”
    I shook my head. “I can’t tell you. I don’t know how I know. I just know .”
    Matt opened the door to his truck. “All right, that’s enough,” he said. “We’re leaving.”
    He got in and slammed his door shut, leaving me outside. I searched one last time for a clue to offer him, but I didn’t find anything. Finally, I got in the truck.
    We drove back to the search-and-rescue camp in silence. Matt parked the truck by his command unit, the old bus. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I was so sure Amber was up there.”
    Matt got out of the truck without saying a word.
    â€œCan I hold the jacket one more time?” I called out to him. “Maybe I’ll see more detail in my vision this time. Maybe I’ll see where she was moved to.”
    Matt turned to me. “Go home, Claire.” He shooed me away. “Or go have that date with Trevor.”
    â€œI want to help.” I tottered after him in my silly heels. “You don’t understand. I need to help.”
    â€œThere’s nothing you can do.”
    â€œPlease,” I said. I took his arm, gripping it harder than I meant to. “I have to be here. I’m supposed to be here.”
    Even as I said that, I knew how nutty I sounded. I had no idea where Amber was at that moment. I couldn’t explain those visions.