“Carpenter. His name’s John Carpenter. And we’re getting together a search party today,” Dare said. “Volunteers.” He smiled smugly at me. “Andvoluntolds.”
“Searching for what?” Hen demanded. “A body? If the kid’s out there, he’sdead.”
Ev made a soft noise ofdiscomfort.
“What? It’s true,” Hen said. “Askthem.”
Dare sucked his teeth. “Based on what Myrna and Frank reported, and what we heard from John Carpenter’s family down in Pennsylvania, the kid wouldn’t have survived long in the backcountry on his own. We found his car parked up north of Herriman Wilds - a wilderness area on the eastern edge of the park,” he explained to Ev. “There’s a sizable parking area and a campground there, but it’s not uncommon for people to just hike the five miles or so through the woods to one of the other, smallercampgrounds.”
Ev nodded. “And that’s where the camper wasstaying?”
“Yeah. At Pickett’s Campground,” Dare confirmed. “Just south oftown.”
“Is it possible he grabbed his gear and hiked back out the way he came in?” I asked. “Or went up to Lake Loughton for awhile?”
“Possible he headed out to do that,” Dare said. “But he never made it. I’ve had the folks from our department combing the trails for any sign. Hiked to and from The Wilds myself last week and again this week, just in case. Had Jonas and Rachel doing the same up by the lake, and I even had Elliot Marks go halfway up Jane’s Peak. No luck. I’m thinking what I need is a bunch of people who’ll check closer to Carpenter’s last known location. See if we can find any of his equipment, or a sign of where he might have left the markedtrails.”
Diane Perkins sashayed up to the table, her red hair coiled in a bun atop her head, and her arms overflowing with plates. “I’ve got your pancakes, Si, and eggs for Dare. The usual pancakes and bacon for you, Henry. And Ev, honey, I took a guess that you might like pancakes, aswell.”
Ev smiled softly, like he was surprised she’d thought to bring him anything at all. “Thanks,Diane.”
She nodded, smiling down at all of us. Her gaze seemed to linger extra-long over Henry, though. And the man who couldn’t keep his damn mouth shut suddenly seemed to find the platter of pancakesfascinating.He fiddled with his fork and said nothing, not even a thankyou.
Diane sighed. “Well. You need anything else, youholler.”
“Coffee?” Ev said. “Please?”
“Sure thing,” Diane said. “Cup for you,Henry?”
Hen blushed and nodded without looking up, and Ev’s amused eyes met mine across the table before his gaze skitteredaway.
“So when you say you want the search party checking out Carpenter’s last location, you mean out by the campgrounds?” I asked. “Just spreading out in aradius?”
“Well, mostly inward toward the park,” Dare said. “Since I doubt he headed toward O’Leary. Butyeah.”
“You’re starting a search party?” Diane interrupted. “You needvolunteers?”
“Yeah,” Dare said. “Later today. Youfree?”
Diane smiled. “Oh, not me, kiddo. But I’ll let Shane and Jamieknow.”
“Great.” Dare turned to Ev. “How about you, Everett? Wannavolunteer?”
Ev coughed on a bite of his pancake. “I wanna say yes, but I’m pretty sure you’d end up with a missing camperanda missing art teacher,” he said. “I’m pretty hopeless at orienteering, or whatever you callit.”
God, he was so fucking cute when he wasn’t trying to becute.
“Best way to learn is by getting out there,” Hen said. “Gotta be brave. Can’t live your life beingscared.”
Ev’s cheeks flamed and he stared at his grandfather incredulously. “You want me toget out thereand get lost in the fucking woods? As a test of mybravery?”
I bit into a slice of bacon with more force thannecessary.
“No, of course not,” Hen barked, like that wasn’t what he’d just implied. “Si will go withyou.”
The bacon became stuck in my windpipe and Henry had to lean over and thump me on the back before I could stop choking. “I don’t know if…” I croaked at the exact same time Everett said, “Oh, I wouldn’t want Si to haveto…”
But Dare, myformerbest friend spoke over both ofus.
