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Rangers Unexpected Return

Page 247

by Susie McIver

"It hadn't kept the correct time in years."

The room became quiet again.

"It always rang..."

He stopped.

Judy leaned forward.

"When?"

"Three o'clock?"

"No."

Sheriff Tate slowly looked toward the old camp.

"It always rang..."

"...when the freight train passed."

I felt the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.

"The train."

Judy whispered.

“Emily wasn't recording the time.”

“She was recording the train.”

Sheriff Tate nodded slowly.

"It stopped at Camp Eagle River every Thursday."

Nobody moved.

Then Judy slowly smiled.

Not because she'd solved the case.

Because she'd found the first clue...

The Keeper hadn't intended us to hear.

She looked at me.

"He copied Emily's recording..."

"...but he never realized she left us a timeline."

I smiled back.

"The first real mistake."

"No."

Her eyes stayed on the evidence board.