“I suppose, but that would be pretty far-fetched, right?”
“It would be less likely than if he was out and shooting at you, but people hire hitmen all the time these days. People you wouldn’t expect. If Huff’s willing to pay off an inspector for substandard footings that he knew would fail and potentially kill a lot of people, that says a lot about his character. I wouldn’t put it past him to hire someone to take you out.”
She swiveled to face him. “But what would he stand to gain by killing me? Someone else would just take over the case, and he would still be prosecuted.”
“Revenge.” He fired the word at her just like the bullets that had nearly struck earlier. “Pure and simple, he would feel better about it.”
“I suppose that could happen.” She sighed. “But I would think if he wanted to hire someone to kill me while he sat in prison, he would’ve taken revenge before now.”
“Just think about it on the drive.” His tone had softened. “And think about anyone else who might have it out for you. If you can honestly say that they’re not out to get you, then maybe staying at the campground isn’t so risky. But if you can’t say that, then the compound is the safest place for you.”
She turned back to the window and watched the wooded areas pass by. Familiar areas filled with soaring pines, large maple trees, and tangled understory plants that grew only in shade. Then a break in the trees displayed unkempt acre after acre of wild grasses undulating in the breeze in a rhythmic wave that only God could orchestrate.
She hadn’t returned here in at least five years, but something was different. Very different. The sky was a hazy gray, darkening the night and obliterating the setting sun’s rays. In the distance, a sickly yellowy-red color stained the sky.
She shot a look at Dev. “You didn’t tell me there were forest fires in the area.”
“Two of them, actually.” He grimaced. “Experts are afraid they might merge into one large blaze, and we’re all keeping an eye on it.”
She sat stunned for a moment. This was not something she expected at all. “It’s kind of late in the year for a fire isn’t it?”
“Things are changing. Fire season used to end in September, but due to drier weather in the fall, fires have occurred more often in early October.”
She shook her head, worrying for her friends and the property in the area. “Is it supposed to come close enough to threaten us?”
He didn’t answer right away, upping her anxiety.
“Dev?” she asked.
“They’re saying it could, if the firefighters don’t get it under control.”
“Then let’s pray that they get it under control.” She looked out the window again at what could be the real danger to her life. “What about evacuations in the area? Do we need to worry about that?”
“No alerts for us yet, so no. You just have fun with Jada, and I’ll let you know if an evacuation order is issued for our area.”
Kinsley tried not to add this to her worries, and instead, changed her thoughts to her friend. Jada was deployed in the Navy on giant ships, and Kinsley traveled a lot for her job, so it had been too long since they’d seen each other. She was away from home more often than not. They kept up with emails, texts, and video chats, but it wasn’t the same thing as face-to-face interaction. Despite the shooting, excitement over seeing her very best friend found a way to the surface.
What would Jada say about where they should stay?
Only time would tell what she would choose, but Kinsley fully intended to plead her case for holding their reunion at the campground. If Dev insisted on staying in the cabin next door, so be it. At least he hadn’t gone completely nuts and demanded to stay in the same place as Kinsley.
Jada had arrived. Dev had no doubt. The campground gate had been flung wide open, the chain and padlock hanging from the crossbeam. That was Jada. Not a care in the world. In a hurry. Exuberance for life moving her faster than she could possibly go if she took the time to think. She was the opposite of Kinsley. He often wondered why they were friends, but maybe it proved the theory of opposites attracting.
Did that mean he was more like Jada than he wanted to consider? Impulsive. Quick to react and not think first. One look at his behavior at the parking lot, demanding that Kinsley stay with him instead of talking to her about it, and he could say he’d behaved just like that. Maybe if he took the time to call up some of his other actions, he would see the same thing.
Like maybe he hadn’t thought through getting engaged when he did, and look how that turned out. His fiancée Hailey leaving him at the altar. Not only had he been hurt but he hurt someone else. His behavior wasn’t as extreme as Jada’s, but he had to admit he did have the same tendencies. Which meant he had to stop and think before he alienated Kinsley.
He pulled up inside the gate and glanced at her. “Hang tight while I close the gate.”
He hopped out into the cool night, smoky air instantly irritating his breathing. Even if there weren’t fires in the area, it wasn’t unusual for easterly winds to blow smoke from other fires across the state, so he should be used to it. But he never got used to it. Man wasn’t meant to inhale this kind of smoke.
He swung the massive gate closed and fixed the padlock to the chain, double-checking the lock to be sure it was latched. The lock wouldn’t stop a person from climbing over the gate, but no way a vehicle could access the campground without crashing through the wood. Gave Dev some peace of mind.
Back in the vehicle, he shifted into gear and pulled forward on the barely lit road that led past the check-in station and owner’s cabin. The sun had fully set about thirty minutes ago, and with the smoky air, the four-bedroom cabin he’d grown up in looked dark and shadowy. Since his mom’s health prohibited her from running the campground, the property was run by a live-in manager, but Warren was out of town while the campground was closed.
Further down the road sat all twelve cabins and the lake, a large playground with several swings, and a climbing apparatus across a narrow road on the property. The road behind it held twenty-four campsites for tents and trailers, some with water and sewer connections, and others had zero amenities.
“Ooh.” Kinsley leaned forward to stare out the window. “I’m so glad to be back here. I missed this place like crazy.”
