They searched nearby woods, drainage ditches, and truck stops. Volunteers gathered with flashlights and dogs. He joined them once, mostly to play the part of the grieving husband, but his presence made everyone uneasy. One officer whispered to another. He caught the look in their eyes. They looked at him with suspicion.
Days bled into one another as search teams came and went. Drones scanned the woods, volunteers combed through ditches, but nothing surfaced—not a footprint, not a thread. When the officers finally packed up their gear, Richard stood by helplessly, realizing he was the only one still looking.