Chapter 37The walk from the Jägermeister’s cabin took about
ten minutes. A torrential rain battered me and turned the forest
floor into a slimy carpet of weeds and grass. Lightning flashed
repeatedly across the leaden sky followed by booming thunder and
the distinct smell of ozone infused the atmosphere. Walking through
a dense forest during the height of a thunderstorm wasn’t the
brightest thing I ever did, but I didn’t have a choice.
As I approached the house, I remained hidden
by the thick forest that bordered it on three sides. Someone in the
house had started a fire. Gray smoke rose from the chimney and
curled laboriously into the murky, cheerless sky.
I shuddered as the combination of the
lashing rain, and bitter fall squalls buffeted my range coat. I
continued to circle
