Escape to Morning by Susan May Warren Page B

wild-goose chase.
    Probably better not to let that thought sink too deep.
    She whistled for Missy, who bounded over. Dannette crouched, rubbed Missy’s muzzle. The dog sniffed her chin as Dannette scratched behind her ears. Her golden brown eyes seemed to search Dannette’s, as if asking if this was wise.
    â€œWhat should I do here, Miss? I can’t just leave her out there.” She wrapped her arms around the animal and held her close, smelling the forest in her fur. She felt Missy’s heartbeat in her ears as she contemplated her actions. If she did nothing, the girl could die. At worst, the girl was safe and Dannette would spend hours beating the forest for nothing.
    Fadden didn’t have to know how she spent her time off, right?
    At any rate, bushwhacking through a shadowy forest, underneath towering pines and paperwhite birches, was better than sitting in her dark motel room, channel surfing and wondering if Will Masterson was slurping down hot coffee or eating chili at Nancy’s.
    Now where did that thought come from? She stood up and shook away Will’s amazingly stunned, even hurt, expression when she’d broadsided him with the flashlight. Folding the map, she pocketed it. Just because she’d met a man who had gotten under her skin with his intriguingly pretty eyes didn’t mean she was spending the next five hours parting bushes and ducking tree branches in an effort to exorcise him from her mind.
    No, this was about a lost girl.
    About a pledge made years ago.
    This was about Ashley.
    Dannette pulled on her orange SAR vest, grabbed her water bottle, her compass, a flashlight, and her supply pack. As she was clipping on Missy’s vest and tracking collar, her cell phone trilled. She answered it, turning to catch a decent signal.
    â€œDannette?” Sarah’s voice came through crackly. “Where are you?”
    â€œWhere are you?” Dannette heard the immediate cheer in her voice.
    â€œI’m at your motel. But you’re not.”
    â€œYou’re here? When did you get in?”
    â€œAbout an hour ago. Where are you ?”
    Dannette poured water for Missy. “I’m sniffing around for a lost girl at a rest area out of town.” Even to her ears, it sounded stupid. She should listen to reason, pack up, and head into town for a pizza.
    â€œA lost girl?” Sarah’s voice sounded pinched. “How old?”
    Dannette kicked herself. Sarah’s scars had nothing to do with this lost girl, but the mere mention of a woman in trouble was enough to ignite Sarah’s protective impulses.
    â€œI don’t know. Teenager maybe.”
    â€œWas there a call-out?”
    Dannette cringed. “No. Just a hunch.”
    Sarah was silent, and Dannette heard a car door slam. “Okay, tell me how to get there.”
    â€œWhat? No, I’ll only be a little while. You’ve had a long drive. I got you a room—check in at the front desk and I’ll see you in the morning.” Dannette heard the car engine rev.
    â€œSorry, Dan, but I’m coming your way. I didn’t drive eighteen hours to hang out in my motel room. Besides, we were going to go camping anyway; this will jump-start our trip.”
    â€œReally, Sarah, I’m just taking a look around.”
    â€œTell me this—are you alone?
    â€œI … ah …”
    â€œThen you wouldn’t even be out there if you didn’t believe she was in trouble.”
    Dannette couldn’t help but smile.
    â€œBrief me when I get there.”
    â€œAnd I want to hear all about Hank Billings.” As if she were sitting beside Sarah, Dannette could see her redden, her blush a sharp contrast to her blonde hair, which was probably tied back in a ponytail. Maybe she wore a baseball cap, for sure little makeup, and probably a blue NYU sweatshirt and jeans. She’d have her jaw clenched and be staring at the road as if she hadn’t heard Dannette’s