“In the middle of the night,” Spencer says. “I looked at my watch when we first woke up and it was around eleven thirty. So not long after that.” He puts down his drink. “We tried to cross the river, but it was too high, so we went back and were trying to climb up the canyon walls. At one point I turned around and he was… gone.”
“Did anyone in your group see Kevin trying to climb out of the canyon?” Officer Clark asks the women.
“I didn’t.” Caro tips her head, thinking. “I only saw him when we wereall running around by the river. We”—she gestures to Ash—“crossed to the other side. Our campsites were in different spots, so we were all doing what made the most sense in the moment. It was every person for themself.”
“Was that before or afteryourfriend went missing?”
“Before,” Caro says.
“What was the connection between your groups?” Officer Flanigan asks. “Did you plan to hike in and camp out together?”
“There was no connection,” Caro says.
“But you know each other,” Officer Flanigan says, looking back and forth between Caro and Spencer.
“That was random luck.” Caro glances at Spencer. “We ran into each other when we were already in the Underground. We hadn’t seen each other in years.”
“What are the odds?” Officer Clark raises his eyebrows.
“Decent, actually,” Spencer says. “Hundreds of local kids grow up hiking these canyons and then come back again as adults.” He sounds exhausted, not defensive.
“You’re from St. John, correct?” Officer Clark asks.
“Yes,” Spencer says.
“And you still live there now?”
“That’s right.”
“Remind me of your occupation?”
“I’m an accountant,” Spencer says.
“And you’re from St. John, too?” Officer Clark asks Caro.
“I grew up there,” Caro says. “Now I live in Salt Lake City. But I visit a lot. I still have family here.”
“Full name?”
“Carolina Maria Stewart.”
Ash gives her name as well. “We were hoping to talk to you,” she says. “Caro and I were just about to come down to the police station.”
“And we were hoping to speak with you while we were up here.” OfficerFlanigan sits forward on the sofa right as a staff member opens the door and then, seeing the officers, mutters apologies and backs out.
“Again, we’re very sorry to have had to give you the news about Anthony Jameson,” Officer Clark says to Spencer. “You’re free to go.” He turns his gaze to Ash and Caro.
Caro studies Ash’s face, trying to read her, trying to figure out what she wants.Should they let Spencer stay?It might seem odd if they didn’t, given the news he’s allowed them to hear. Caro’s not sure what the officers want to talk to them about. She doesn’t think it’s that Hope is dead—wouldn’t they have indicated that the reason they wanted to talk to the women might be as serious as the one they needed to discuss with Spencer?—but still.
Since Ash doesn’t protest, Caro says, “We’d like Spencer to stay.” And then she tells the police what she and Ash decided they had to share.
“Our friend who is missing is Hope Hanover,” she says. Spencer blinks, but the officers don’t flinch. Caro doesn’t have any kind of detective background, but she would guess that Spencer didn’t know Hope was Hope and that the officers have already made the connection. How? Did Hope use her real name when she signed them in at the trailhead? Caro didn’t think to check. She hands Officer Flanigan her phone. “We want to know if she texted us last night. Both Ash and I got a message from an unknown number. Is there a way for you to find out who it was?”
It’s requiring a conscious effort on Caro’s part to make eye contact with the police officers. The last time she was interviewed was at the hospital.Dr. Stewart, when didyoufirst notice the patient was exhibiting signs of distress?
“Yes.” Officer Flanigan’s mouth is pursed, as if she’s not completely pleased about how this is going down, the way the officers are being asked questions instead of the other way around. “Can we take your phones with us?”
“Is that necessary?” Ash asks. “We have families and friends we need to stay in touch with.”
