“Sir, I can take you to where I found her”—the deputy tilted his head in Lane’s direction—“it’s not far from here. Maybe thirty or forty feet in.”

“Let me grab Deputies Wilson and Hodges. They’ll go with you.” Sheriff Huggins gave Lane’s knee a quick pat before he jogged over to the other squad cars, leaving Lane alone with the deputy.

“Are you warm enough?”

Lane glanced up at the deputy. His T-shirt and shorts clung, soggy, to his body. He wiped at the wet hair covering his forehead. “Yes. But it looks like you need a blanket too.”

“I’m alright.”

“Charlie, take them to where you found Lane,” Sheriff Huggins said as he walked back with the other two deputies. “Spread out and search the area. Be mindful not to disturb too much.”

“Yes, sir.” He straightened and took a step toward Sheriff Huggins and the waiting deputies but hesitated. He turned to Lane, his eyes asking her if she would be alright.

Adrenaline or something else stole Lane’s voice. She nodded and watched as Charlie led the deputies into the woods. She should go with them. Help them find the girl’s body. The thought sent her pulse pounding in her ears and her stomach churning.

“I’ve got a paramedic coming to check you out—”

“No.” Her adamant tone stopped Sheriff Huggins. “I mean, I’m fine.”

“You’re in shock, honey.” Sheriff Huggins’s thick, silver eyebrows drew in close. His serious expression said he wouldn’t be satisfied until she was checked out. “The ambulance is already on its way.”

Lane pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders and tried to smile, but her face wasn’t cooperating. She’d experienced shock before and this wasn’t it. And the last thing she needed was someone asking a bunch of questions about her medical history. “Really, I’m okay. Just a bit startled.”

Another set of sirens echoed behind her, growing louder with each passing second. The ambulance.

Sheriff Huggins’s radio crackled. He gave Lane’s hand a squeeze before excusing himself to step away.

“. . . female . . . possible suicide . . .”

Suicide? Lane’s breath quickened, sending her pulse pounding in her ears. She curled her fingers into tight fists, letting her nails dig into her palms to stop her hands from shaking.

Lane blew out a frustrated breath as the ambulance pulled up and the medics hopped out and hustled over to her. They took her vitals while Sheriff Huggins lingered nearby, watching. It took the medics several minutes to convince the sheriff she was okay.

At that moment a thickset deputy with smooth, dark skin and a muscular build emerged from the tree line, along with a much smaller deputy. Lane recognized them but couldn’t remember their names. It didn’t matter. Her gaze was drawn to Deputy Charlie Lynch.