As they carried Chevy across the street, an older woman shook her head. “That idiot. Hunting out of season.” She followed the stretcher.

“Chevy’s aunt,” Dante said.

“Ah.” Looking around, Gabe was pleased by the number of volunteers around Bull. If Gabe couldn’t find the kid’s tracks, the more eyes the better. “All right, people. We’ll park where Chevy left the forest and backtrack him.”

Nods showed their understanding.

“Gear up—cold weather and rain clothing, flashlights, survival packs. If you have bear spray or flares, bring them. Leave your firearms behind—we’ll have too many people around to be shooting.”

“No shit.”

“Got it, Chief.”

“Anyone who can’t follow us out right now, get directions from Regina.” He looked at Dante and Bull. He’d trust them to shoot and hit what they aimed at. “Bring your weapons.”

He motioned to the pickup driver to get into her vehicle, then jumped into the patrol car.

Once they’d gathered supplies, Audrey rode shotgun as Sarah drove out of town and down increasingly narrow gravel roads.

“There.” Audrey pointed to where cars and pickups lined the almost non-existent shoulder, turning the road into a one lane.

As they pulled up, the last of the searchers were disappearing into the forest.

How cool was it that two were women?

Although wishing she could search, too, Audrey knew she’d be more of a hindrance than a help. She’d keep learning, and next time a problem arose, she’d be with the searchers.

“I should learn to shoot, too,” she muttered, getting a quizzical then understanding glance from Sarah.

Stay focused, Audrey. A line of orange cones caught her eye. “I bet that’s the spot Gabe left for us.”

Audrey slid out of the SUV and moved the cones so Sarah could park. As the cold, drizzling rain dampened her head and shoulders, she shuddered, thinking of the boy. Only ten years old. He’d seen his father attacked by a bear. He’d be terrified. And was lost.

At the back of the SUV, Sarah lifted up the rear hatch. “If you want to learn to shoot, ask the chief. Mako told us Gabe was ranked an expert marksman in the military.”

“Oh, good idea.” Gabe. She should have known. “I can’t believe how quickly he got everything organized.”

As he’d coolly handed out orders, people had jumped to obey. In fact, when he told Dante to fetch something, the old vet had absently saluted.

“The chief has a talent for being in charge.” Sarah attached a tarp to the lifted rear hatch. “I think combat sergeants have an instinctual need to create order from chaos, and Gabe is a lot like Mako.”

“I wish I’d known Mako.” He’d certainly raised strong men. Audrey anchored two six-foot poles to hold up the other end of the canopy. “This is really clever. People can get under here and stay dry.”