The yard was quiet. Beyond it were only a few neighboring homes. If Cleo were nearby, Mary should have sensed her already. Past the houses lay the family building, a place Cleo wouldn't wander into. That left only one direction.
The mountain.
They stopped briefly and exchanged a look.
"I'll search the mountain on the left," Mary said decisively, already pulling a pistol from her space. "You take the other side."
Ryan nodded. He didn't need a weapon. If danger appeared, he himself was more frightening than any firearm.
They split up.
Mary entered the mountain, vegetation growing denser the farther she went. With every step, she extended her spiritual sense, probing outward. Normally, she could perceive several hundred meters with ease, yet now everything felt muffled, as if something were swallowing her awareness.
"Hubby, any luck on your side?" she asked through their mental link.
