How many other groups of girls has this ranger had to check in since everything happened with Paisley, Harlow and Opal? Goose bumps spring up across my arms as I take in the monotone in her voice, like she’s a robot planted to keep the peace after a traumatizing incident hit this small town. But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe she’s just waiting for someone to crack her open with the right question.
“Do you work here alone?” I ask.
“Nope,” she says, now looking at me. “But my partner is assigned to the forest for the next few days. We have a remote tower deeper in, so usually it’s one of us at each spot.”
Now that she has her eyes on me, she won’t move them.
One second. Two, three, four.
Her mouth twitches, but all that comes out is, “Why?”
Why is she looking at me like that?
While I don’t have the words, Beck stuffs her hands into her pockets and leans toward Natalie. “I mean, with what happened in fall, I’d be pretty freaked to work here.”
It registers slowly, then Natalie’s expression falls. “You know about what happened to those girls, huh?” Her voice is laced with an airy pity.
Beck and I exchange a glance. It doesn’t feel like the right time to reveal who we are.
“Yeah,” I say, stuffing my own hands into my pockets like Beck.
Natalie’s frown deepens along the scar. “So awful. You’re trained to know what to do, but it really hits so much harder experiencing it.” She cracks her knuckles. “But to answer your original question, yeah, I feel safe working here alone.” She produces a can of bear spray from a drawer she’s standing behind. “Everyone’s human.” Her lips quirk up. “And I have something stronger if need be.” She makes a gun with her right hand and mimes the kickback of a shotgun.
I don’t really know how it feels to be in someone like Natalie’s shoes. I have no idea how much blood and gore one sees on this job, whether from the harshness of mother nature or from human stupidity and tragedy. But something about how she’s reacting to us asking if the park is safe because it has a history of teenage girl deaths feels…blasé. Is she unable to hide how little she cares about Paisley, Harlow, and Opal’s deaths?
A sting of shame settles in my throat. Should I really be assuming the worst of this woman? I know nothing about her. Maybe she’s like me and doesn’t know how to act in social situations and her default is awkwardness.
Luckily, I’ll have three days to get a better read on her.
Beck and I exchange a look. We need to get out of here and have a real conversation, but I do my best to conveywe’re done herewith only my eyes.
To my relief, Beck says, “Cool. We have bear spray too, but hopefully we won’t need you and the shotgun.”
She places a parking pass on the countertop but leaves her fingers resting on it. “So what brings you two here? Not many people choose here over Arrowhead or Big Bear.”
“Best price,” I say.
She snorts. “It’s not that different. Any particular attractions or trails you’re hoping to hit?”
Easy. I researched a ton of trails, marking down the spot where the bodies were found. So long as I say one that isn’t there, we’ll be good to go.
“There’s some cool ghost town around here, isn’t there?” Beck says. “We were hoping to go there.”
I deflate. So much for that plan.
Natalie stares at me again. “Be sure to do that during the day. Too many nails sticking up around there. Wouldn’t want you to get tetanus.”
“We won’t,” I say. I glance at the firewood for sale. “We’ll also take a few of the logs.”
Natalie nods and adds that to our total. Her hand still sits on the pass.
Once the transaction ends, Natalie looks up from the computer and asks, “You two go to college around here?”
My heart slams in my throat. “No,” I say. “We just graduated.” It’s half true. In spirit.
“Thanks for everything,” Beck says, holding out her hand for the pass. “We don’t want to waste any daylight setting up.”
“Of course. Sorry.” Her hand doesn’t move from the pass. “You two just look familiar.”
