She sighed. They could only be touching the surface of what was going on. Others, locals, friends even could be involved in a trafficking ring. She’d seen this before, and it could be devastating. God, please don’t let it be a repeat of the past. The last sting she was involved in had devastated an entire community.

Terra wanted fresh air and fled the cabin, leaving Jack inside. Thoughts of her past job reminded her of so many things gone wrong. A man bent on going out in a blaze had driven into the national park and, using an assault weapon, had taken out a park ranger who was sitting in his vehicle minding his own business. As the man held off law enforcement, the ranger bled out before help could arrive. He was Terra’s friend, who she’d gotten to know through a joint task force. Had a wife and a child. His death was a huge blow to them all and drove Terra into someone’s arms and down the wrong road.

And now here she was, back in the same space with Jack. Another mistake?

Seriously. Sometimes she had to wonder about God’s plans for her life.

So . . . yeah. She needed air, and she needed it now.

She walked a few paces away and soaked in the forest—the evergreens and rust-colored needles carpeting the ground. She drew in the scent of pine and clean mountain air. In mid-September, when summer shifted to autumn, the breeze held a hint of the cold winter to come. She listened to birdsong. A squirrel chattered in the trees and shook smaller branches as it jumped between them.

Had Jim been killed here at the cabin? Or in these woods? Or at the cliff?

Jack joined her outside. “We’ll have company soon. I got a text that they’re at the trailhead.”

“Good.” She needed to touch base with her ASAC and others in her district about possible looting at local sites, though she didn’t think the pottery she’d seen was local. She wouldn’t make that call. But she’d have to wait for a stronger cell signal. She would remain here until the evidence techs arrived so she could speak to them about the artifacts. They could collect evidence surrounding the pots, but she was taking the items.

She’d need assistance with that, especially the headdress.

“Bad enough he was murdered,” Jack said, “but to find out he was involved in something illegal is a shock.”

“At least we have a possible motive.” Terra soaked in everything she had always loved about the outdoors, at the same time loathing the horrors of the crimes that were committed against nature and man alike in remote places such as this.

Would the forest give up its secret? Who had killed Jim?