Tate Morris stood waiting about four parking spaces down. He leaned back against the door of his police cruiser, one of those rugged, full-size SUVs withCanine Unitstamped all over. He stared right at me with his arms crossed.
Huh. Where’s the dog?
“Reece West,” he said when I made my way over. “Been a few years.”
Ponderosa High wasn’t a big school, so it wasn’t odd he remembered me. It was odd he’d wait up to talk to me, though. Especially in uniform.
“Guess being a pot head in high school doesn’t preclude you from becoming a cop,” I replied, a second before I realized what an absolutely shitty idea that was.
It took every ounce of control I had not to slap my hand across my mouth. Guess I’d thrown any chance at a normal greeting out the window. Hopefully, he had a sense of humor.
His cheeks flamed, and he straightened, uncrossing his arms. “Like I said, it’s been a while.”
Right. Not even a chuckle. Time to shut the fuck up.
“Where’s your dog?” I asked instead.
That’s not shutting the fuck up, Reece.I cringed. Surely that was safe territory, though, right?
There, he smiled. Only a psychopath wouldn’t smile while talking about their dog. “Dropped him off at home before coming out for dinner. He had a long day at work.”
I nodded, finally shutting up so he could get to the point. Clearly, I couldn’t be trusted with law enforcement small talk.
“I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help but overhear you’ll be around for the season. Stationed out at Dead Man’s Lookout?” he said, surprising me.
Was healso trying to make small talk? Why?
“Yeah, sounds like they’ve opened all the towers in the park this year. Leonard needed someone who’s done this before in one of the more remote locations.”
“Hmm,” he said, thoughtfully. “I hike up in that area quite a lot on my days off. Maybe I’ll stop by, see how you’re getting on.”
“Um, ok?” Fire lookouts were a popular hiking attraction, and visitors would occasionally stop by to take in the views, especially at the more accessible locations. It was rare, though, at a tower as remote as mine.
“It’s late, I should get home and let Rocky out,” he continued before I figured out a polite way to ask why he was saying all of this. “I just…” he paused, casting a glance behind us as if to makesure we wouldn’t be overheard. He lowered his voice. “If you see anything out of place out there, let me know.”
He dug around in his pocket and pulled out a business card and a pen, scrawling something across the back. “That’s my personal number. Anything weird, call me, yeah?”
I frowned, but took the card from him. Surely, he wasn’t flirting over some missing, maybe-dead hikers? Also, the number of people who assumed I’d see something strange at the lookout was becoming uncomfortable. “Should I be worried? Is this about those missing hikers?”
He hesitated a moment before he shook his head. “We’re still investigating those as individual cases. Unfortunately timed missing persons, that’s all. Hopefully they’ll turn up. But...” He looked around again. “Keep your head on a swivel. Be careful. And callme, not the station, yeah?” he pointed to the card clutched in my hand.
Dangerflashed through my mind for the third time that night. What the hell was in the water in this town?
“Sure thing,” I said, stepping away. “I’ll do that.”
I sure as fuck will not be doing that.
Why would a police officer ask me to report suspicious activity via his personal phone number?
Leonard was right. Everyone was paranoid, and I’d been back in Ponderosa all of three hours before it’d seeped its way into my mind, too.
“See you around,” I said, backing away farther. That predator-aware voice whispered in my ear not to turn my back, just yet.
“I’ll see you soon,” he responded with a wave. “And welcome home, Reece.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“Got everything you need?” Dad asked, stepping off the front porch of his cabin in the pre-dawn dark. He tracked the solitary backpack I tossed into my truck’s backseat. I’d opted to pack light for the hike in, carrying only the essentials.
