Emmy, the administrator, had put up a Christmas tree and strung it with lights set to twinkle, and if you looked at them too long, they hurt your eyes. She’d also strung garlands of greenery about the place.
“Coffee’s hot,” Edwina Neil said. Average height with short blonde hair, Ed was in her late forties and rarely rattled. She’d been a ranger here before he arrived. Fin could throw anything at the woman, and she’d simply nod and get to it, unlike Fin’s cadet, who was slumped over his desk slurping coffee.
“Brent. Late night?”
Tall, some would say handsome—Fin wasn’t one of them—Brent Hauge had the makings of an excellent ranger, and Fin was slowly molding him into shape. At twenty-three, he could still be immature and annoy the shit out of Ed and Fin, but for all that he was good under pressure, even if he argued every point with Fin.
“Don’t raise your voice, his head hurts,” Ed yelled to Fin as he made for the coffeepot.
“Fuck you, Ed,” Brent muttered.
“I think you’re on kitchen duty today, and the bathroom needs scrubbing… with a toothbrush,” Fin said.
“And fuck you too,” Brent added, glaring at him.
“So according to Mrs. Howard”—Ed moaned at her name—“we have to organize the New Year’s Eve Scavenger Hunt,” Fin said.
“I bet she asked you and now you’re putting it on us,” Brent interjected.
“So I was thinking we’ll use the land down from my cabin.” Fin ignored him. “That has rocks, trees, and plenty of places to get lost.
Ed rocked back on her chair. “So if we are running it, then we don’t have to participate?”
“Exactly.”
Ed and Brent looked happy about that. “So you two scout out some locations, I’ll work up a few too, then we can speak with the organizing committee about clues.”
“Why is there always a committee?” Brent muttered.
“Small towns, bud, they thrive on them.”
“Phone for you, Fin,” Emmy called. “Chief Blake.”
He took it, leaning on the counter.
“Fin Hudson.”
“Chief Blake here. The body belongs to Simon Linbar. Looks like a blow to the head killed him, but he’d been in a fight too, the coroner said.”
“Okay. You want me to go back up and take another look around, see what turns up?”
“I do, and I’ll accompany you,” Chief Blake said.
Fin finished the call, then told his staff the news.
“Hell of a thing,” Ed said. “Could be someone I walked by in the street who did it.”
“Hell of a thing,” Fin said. “Now do some work,” he added, heading into his office.
He worked through correspondence and emails and pushed yet more thoughts of Maggie from his head. He’d see her soon, and that shouldn’t have him as happy as it did. Especially as Mrs. Linbar was right now in agony.
At one, Brent appeared in his doorway.
“Ted’s here, Fin. Two of his guests haven’t returned from their hike.”
“Again? Why are these people so useless?” he muttered.
“I heard that.”
