Page 42 of Rangers Unexpected Return

I turned the camp brochure over.

Nine people stood in an old photograph printed across the back. The image was too small and faded to see their faces clearly.

Beneath it were four words.

OUR FOUNDING CAMP STAFF.

The photograph had been taken beside the Eagle River welcome sign.

“Sheriff, I need the original of this photograph.”

“I don’t know if we have it.”

“Find out.”

He nodded.

I gathered my folder.

Outside the window, a black truck drove slowly past the sheriff’s department.

I watched until it turned onto Main Street.

“Does that truck belong here?” I asked.

Tate glanced outside.

“Half the town drives a black truck.”

That wasn’t an answer.

Will began packing the camp brochure into an evidence sleeve.

Carson reached for another cup of coffee.

I returned the murder photograph to my folder.

We had been in Eagle River for less than an hour.

The Keeper had led us to an abandoned summer camp.

My captain had lied about knowing it existed.

And somewhere in this town was an old photograph of nine people who might explain where the killing began.

I looked through the front window.

Across Main Street, the Last Stand Tavern was crowded with customers.

For one moment, I thought about the boy I had known in Washington.

Mason Walker had talked about joining the Army from the time we were seventeen. I wondered whether he had done it. Whether he had married. Whether he still smiled with only one side of his mouth when he was trying not to laugh.

Then I dismissed the thought.

Just as I always did when it surfaced.

Mason had nothing to do with Eagle River.