Page 69 of The Hero She Loves

Dammit. She ground her teeth together.

Fingers touched hers. Park was sitting still and quiet beside her, his eyes closed.

“How can you be so calm?” she asked.

His eyes opened and he raised a brow. “Me looking out the window won’t help find him. You have people searching for him. It’s best I conserve my energy for when we do find him.”

She blew out a breath. “I can’t rest.”

“Just takes practice. I used to be able to take a nap in the middle of a warzone when needed.”

“I think he’s holed up,” she said. “He’s found a barn or some dense trees…”

Park shook his head.

She swiveled to face him. “Why not?”

“It’s too hot. He knows you’ll keep hunting him. His face is everywhere, and he wants out of Alaska.”

She chewed on her lip and looked down at the road again. “Where will he go? Anchorage?”

Park shook his head. “Anchorage is too busy. He wouldn’t be able to get through the airport.”

She nodded slowly. “So, a small airport. Or?—”

“A boat,” Park said. “There are lots of commercial fishing towns along the coast.”

“And plenty of boats willing to take on an able-bodied man who’s fit, no questions asked.” She waved a hand. “Owen, I need a map. We need to see the main fishing towns between Drifter Lake and the coast.”

A moment later, Owen unfolded a map. With a marker, he started circling the towns along the coastline.

There were more than she’d hoped.

Park pressed a hand to her knee and squeezed. “We’re going to get him.”

They would. They wouldn’t stop until they did. And she knew Park—with his steady presence and support—would be with her all the way.

But what if Olson killed again before they did? He was on the run, but the urge could get too much for him to ignore.

No. There would be no more death.

The helicopter continued to follow the main road from Drifter Lake heading toward the coast. There was no sign of Olson.

They stopped to refuel, and every second felt like a damn week. Once they were back in the air, Jenna prayed that they’d find him.

Owen tapped her shoulder, excitement on his face.

“A man had his Subaru Outback stolen near Copperville. It’s on the road to the coast. Troopers found the 4Runner stashed nearby.”

She snatched the map and ran her finger along until she found Copperville. “He switched cars. Get the troopers looking for the Subaru.”

“I can do one better than that.” Owen smiled. “The Outback was spotted in Valdez.”

Her heart leaped into her throat. She looked at the map. Valdez was one of the fishing towns they’d circled.

“Valdez is a fishing port.” Owen looked at his phone. “Both commercial and sport fishing. Plus, freight moves through the port into Alaska. The town is located on a deep fjord in the Prince William Sound, and surrounded by mountains and glaciers.” He flicked the screen. “The town sits at the southern end of the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline. There’s a dedicated oil terminal across the bay from the town where the oil is loaded onto ships.”

“This is where theExxon Valdezdisaster happened, right?” Park said.