The muddy patches of the trail showed prints. Cloven hooves. Maybe a deer or something? But that…that was a boot print. Her stomach tensed. Did those fanatics hike around outside their property?

She still hadn’t worked out how she’d navigate the correct paths when rescuing Kit and Aric. In the dark. There were way too many little animal trails. It’d be awfully easy to get lost. But, obviously, if the PZs were out here at any time, she couldn’t tie bright ribbons or something to the trees to mark her path. That’d be like waving a flag saying someone was sneaking around their compound.

Never mind. The nighttime navigation plans would have to wait. She’d figure something out.

Her dark green cargo pants pockets were stuffed with basic hiking survival essentials—thank you, Google—like matches, a space blanket, and bear spray. The spray would probably work against PZs, too, right?

Voices sounded in the distance, and when the trail branched, she left herself a small unobtrusive marker of sticks and kept moving. She veered around a big patch of spine-covered devil’s club. Ha, I know you now, demon plant.

Finally, something glinted off to her left. She pushed some branches aside to see. Yes, that was chain-link fencing sparkling in the sunlight.

Triumph bubbled up inside her, but breaking into a victory song might be…unwise.

There was a wide, cleared space between the fencing and the tree line. Probably so no one could approach the fence during the daylight hours without being spotted.

Merda, that was a very tall, heavy fence. A discouraging one. There was no way she—or Kit—could climb over that thing, especially with the rolls of razor wire strung along the top. Maybe wire cutters would work?

This was the west fence, the one closest to Dall Road, but the buildings where the children had been playing were on the east side. She’d have to hike all the way around to decide on the best place to sneak in—or out. She headed south.

Frustration built inside her. The animal trails didn’t always follow the fence line. And if she didn’t watch carefully, she was liable to end up lost. Just the thought dried up all the spit in her mouth.

Inside the compound, she saw fields and the long greenhouses. A raised wooden tower elevated on stilts sat at the corner of the west and south fence. She examined it warily, trying to stay out of sight.

After a minute, she retreated back into the forest and followed the south fence toward the east. This place was way too big.

Thankfully, she was off tonight and tomorrow. Aikido kept her in fair shape, but hiking in this rugged terrain called for different muscles. And those muscles were starting to complain.

Bull could probably run this trail without breaking a sweat.

Bad Frankie. We’re not going to think about that man.