Page 84 of You'll Be Sorry

“I nicked it from beneath Mason’s and Betty’s watchful eyes at the historical society. Turns out, it was last in the possession of Janet Dixon.”

Another grunt, this one more in acknowledgment than surprise. “So this thief tried to steal what you’d already stolen?”

“Details, details.” Raquel turned toward the police chief. “How long have Betty and Mason been an item?”

“An item? As in? No, no, not doing this now. You still have the diary?”

“Yes. There, that’s him!” Raquel pointed forward where a dark shape briefly bobbed into sight before disappearing again. Mr. Man, standing at full alert beside her, whined anxiously. “Could you see the guy, illuminated by your headlights?”

“I saw a black helmet and black snow suit. That’s it.”

“I want to know who he is. And how he knew—my thievery skills aren’t that terrible. Plus, he hit my dog.”

“You’re right. Now chasing down a masked intruder makes total sense.”

Another brief glimpse of movement ahead of them. They’d already passed the collapsed garage and the roped-off well, racing parallel with the cliff edge, which was definitely preferrable to racing off it.

“Shit.” The chief hit the brakes, the vehicle fishtailing briefly before coming under control.

Raquel spotted it a moment later. The tracks of the ATV hadveered sharply left, where the police cruiser’s headlights now revealed a thick wall of forest, the trees too tightly packed for a vehicle of their size to follow.

“Hang on.” Mandy yanked open her door, already jumping out as they came to a full stop.

Raquel did the same.

Both stood in silence, momentarily confused, and then Raquel got it. Silence, as in no growl from the retreating ATV. Because the intruder had been forced to abandon his transport in the dense woods? Or had decided to hide out, preparing for ambush?

“Stay here,” Chief Grady demanded.

Just as Mr. Man barked urgently and sprang forward.

“Goddammit.” The police chief darted after the dog, Raquel giving chase behind her. The cop had her gun plus a flashlight in hand. Raquel had…righteous indignation? Sheer bullheaded stubbornness?

The chief pulled up short, Raquel nearly colliding with her. For a moment, they both stood there, gasping for breath as snow dusted their hair and shoulders.

Raquel strained to hear anything over the thundering of her heart. A human crashing through the underbrush. A dog barking in hot pursuit. She got nothing.

“What—” she started, but Mandy held up a silencing finger.

Another deep breath, forcing herself to pay attention. If she couldn’t hear anything, then what about sight? Wheel tracks had brought them this far. And now?

Raquel snagged her cellphone from her back pocket, hit flashlight, and began searching. The ATV, let alone its driver, couldn’t have simply vanished.

Not to mention Mr. Man had alerted to something. So where?

Turning in a slow circle in one direction, as the chief worked in the opposite direction. Still nothing. Then:

A pair of glittering eyes stared back at her.

Raquel yelped, dropped her phone. The chief whirled, already taking aim. While with a chitter of outrage, some forest creature bounded to the next tree limb.

“Jesus Christ,” the cop exhaled. “Get back to the truck already.”

In answer Raquel snatched up her phone and returned to high alert.

Finally, a noise up and to their right.

Chief Grady headed in that direction, Raquel creeping along behind her.