28
ZAC
By the time we’d split into two groups, one portion of the search party going through the woods toward the river, and the other part heading out toward the Ruiz trailers, there looked to be about a hundred people gathered, ready to find Mariana.
The deputy—Matt—showed up in uniform, and I spotted the rest of Mari’s family: all her cousins, aunts, and uncles.
I opted to head into the trees toward the river to look, and most followed me, probably to keep a wary eye on me.
The sun was full in the sky, hardly a cloud out at all, which let the heat right on through. It wouldn’t be the best sunset tonight, either.
Sweat poured in rivulets down my back, gluing my shirt to my spine. I wiped the back of my hand across my brow and kept my gaze on the ground, pausing to squint every few
