Wade made a choking sound and looked away. He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. After a long moment, he faced them again. “Are you sure? You’re positive it’s Trevor?”
“The photo on the driver’s license in his wallet confirmed his identity,” Jake said.
Wade blinked rapidly, eyes reddening. He swallowed again, struggling for control. “When did this happen?” he asked, his voice a harsh whisper.
“We’re not sure. A passing motorist saw the sun glinting off a taillight and called it in this morning.”
“He went off the road? What happened?”
“We don’t know,” Jake said. “When you spoke to your brother last night, was he upset about something?”
“No. I mean, I don’t think so.” He looked down at his hands. “I didn’t actually talk to him before he left. I mean, he didn’t say goodbye. He was just here, and then he wasn’t.”
“Was that unusual? Him not saying goodbye?” Aaron asked.
“Well, yeah. I mean, he never went off like that before. I didn’t know what to think.”
“When you saw your brother last night, had he been drinking?” Jake asked.
Wade’s eyes widened. “No! Alcohol isn’t allowed here. Mr. Sprague would have thrown us out on our ears if he caught us with any beer or liquor.” He leaned forward. “Are you saying Trevor was drunk? That’s why he went off the road?”
“We’re waiting on a report from the coroner. Was your brother much of a drinker?”
“No. I mean, he might have a beer or two from time to time, but he didn’t make it a habit. And when I did see him last night, he was stone cold sober.”
“Tell us about last night,” Jake said. “What time did Trevor get here and what did you do?”
Wade sat up straighter. “He got here around six. He finished for the day at Mount Wilson Lodge, where he works full-time, then came up here. We have a bonfire on Saturday nights, by the lake. Trevor helped me get the fire ready. We moved a bunch of picnic tables down by the water and helped Veronica and Tatum—they’re other counselors—carry the food down from the mess hall. We do hot dogs and chips and stuff on bonfire night, roast marshmallows, sing songs and stuff.”
“Did Trevor often help out on bonfire nights?” Aaron asked.
“Oh yeah. All the time. Mr. Sprague pays him for that and other odd jobs—cleaning cabins, maintenance and stuff. Trevor was saving to buy a new dirt bike, so he picked up as much extra work as he could.” His lips trembled and he looked away.
Aaron and Jake waited, letting him compose himself. After a long moment, Jake asked, “Did Trevor seem normal to you—not upset about anything?”
“Nothing. He was joking with a couple of the maintenance staff who were helping with the picnic tables.”
“When was the last time you saw him?” Jake asked again. “What was he doing?”
Wade thought a minute. “We had all finished eating and Veronica was playing the guitar and leading the campers in a sing-along. Trevor tossed his paper plate in the trash, then said he was headed to the outhouse. He walked off and that’s the last time I saw him.”
“What time was that?” Jake asked.
“About seven thirty.”
“Where was the outhouse?”
He pointed behind them. “It’s past that first group of cabins. There are a couple of composting pit toilets.”
“Were you worried when he didn’t come back?” Aaron asked.
“One of the girls burned her hand on a flaming marshmallow and I had to take her up to the first aid room. Mrs. Mason checked her out and decided she didn’t need to go to the hospital. We bandaged her up and I walked her back down here to her cabin mates. I looked for Trevor, but when I didn’t see him, I figured he had got tired of waiting for me and gone home.” He frowned. “But usually he stays to help put out the fire and move the picnic tables and stuff. I tried calling him to ask what was up, but he didn’t answer his phone. I was annoyed, to tell you the truth.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “It doesn’t makesense that he would leave here and get drunk. That wasn’t like him at all.”
“Was Trevor in a relationship with anyone?” Jake asked. “Could he have gotten bad news from a romantic partner, maybe had an upsetting phone call?”
“He wasn’t dating anyone.”
“What about other family, or close friends?”
