“We’re about the same size. I have a spare waterproof jacket in my truck.” Jed opened the pickup and rummaged behind the driver’s seat, coming up with a green nylon jacket. “Weather looks like it might get rough.”

“Thanks, man.” Danny took the jacket, tossed his pack into the extended cab, and climbed in behind the driver’s seat. “How about a sidearm?”

Mandy handed Danny her pack. He stowed it next to him. She got into the passenger seat.

“Got you covered on that, too.” Jed handed his 9mm, a holster, and several clips over the seat. Danny checked the weapon and secured it to his belt. They drove out of town. By the time they’d reached the turnoff, he’d secured the weapon and shrugged into Jed’s jacket.

The truck bounced along the dirt lane. The trailhead was a clearing with space for parking and a sign with crisscrossed wooden arrows marking the trails. Three weather-beaten cedar picnic tables occupied the open area to one side. A police cruiser was angled behind the hikers’ Ford Edge. Mandy got out of the truck. Though a cold front had chilled the night air, the shiver than zoomed through her wasn’t temperature related. Nor was it a result of the electric snap of the coming storm in the air. Thunder rumbled in the dark.

Doug Lang got out of the police car. “You’re sure you want to go tonight? The storm headed this way is going to be a bad one.”

“All the more reason for us to find those girls.” Mandy secured her pack and adjusted the straps. Though Bill often went into the woods with Jed, responsibilities had kept Mandy out of the woods for the past year or so. Had her pack always been this heavy? “They were only planning for a day hike. They shouldn’t have gotten much farther than the lake. If we’re lucky, we’ll find them in a few hours.”

“I have more volunteers coming.” Doug opened a map on the closest picnic table. “There are actually three trails that leave from this spot.”

“Did they leave a trail plan in their car?” Jed clicked on a flashlight and illuminated the map.

“I wish.” Doug glanced at Mandy. “You’re the first team here. You get first dibs. Which trail do you want?”

Mandy stared at the map. Which path had the girls taken? The most scenic route pointed north. It angled toward the river and continued along the water. With an uphill grade and rocky footing, it was the most difficult choice. She thought of the ultra-fit blonde who acted like the leader of the group. She’d want the challenge. “We’ll take the north trail.”

Jed handed her a walkie-talkie. “You be careful. Check in every thirty minutes.”

“I will.” She took the handset and zipped it into a pocket of her jacket.