The storm had turned the abandoned brickworks quarry into a treacherous maze of slick red mud and rusted industrial iron. Valorian moved like a machine, his nose pinned to the freezing earth, entirely unbothered by the sharp briars tearing at his skin. The police tracking dog, a highly trained German Shepherd, whined and struggled to keep pace behind the furious momentum of the pit bull.
Deep within a hollow of overgrown pines, Valorian stopped. His entire body went rigid as stone. His ears pinned flat against his head, and his lips pulled back to reveal a row of sharp, gleaming white teeth. Beneath a rotting green tarp pinned by heavy stones, the detectives found the campsite. Discarded candy wrappers, a small pink hair ribbon soaked in mud, and a heavy roll of industrial duct tape.
“He had her hidden out here in the freezing cold,” Vance whispered, his face darkening with rage as he radioed for forensics. “The dog must have broken his tether, pulled the child onto his back while the suspect was away, and carried her all the way to town.”