Page 17 of Ranger Belief
Jonah’s gaze scanned her face, as physical as a touch. “Are you sure? You’re still pale.”
“I’m fine.” She forced herself to pull away from him and square her shoulders. “I’ll get the list of employees who worked yesterday, and we’ll question them together.”
Jonah studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "All right. But if you need a break?—"
"I'll tell you." She managed a small smile. "I promise."
He seemed satisfied with that, pulling out his phone to check his emails. They were waiting on reports from the state lab.
Laney moved to her computer, but her mind kept circling back to that moment in the lobby. The cologne, the flashback, the visceral terror. The aftershave was just one detail. What else had her subconscious locked away? More details about the killer?
Labor Day weekend meant the park was flooded with hundreds of visitors. The thought of a killer moving freely among them made her stomach clench.
They needed answers, and they needed them fast.
NINE
The next morning, Jonah sipped his third cup of coffee while watching the sun rise over the lake. He’d been up since before dawn, patrolling the grounds near Laney’s cabin. There were no signs of anyone sneaking around in the woods. At least not today. But that brought him little comfort.
A killer was still out there.
The interviews with rangers and park staff hadn’t yielded any suspects. Chief Deputy Williams hadn’t had any luck identifying a suspect either after re-interviewing family members and some of Ava and Tyler’s friends. Even the lab results had been disappointing.
He was frustrated and broody.
The door to Laney’s cabin opened, and Scout bounded out. She beelined for the trees, dipping behind a pine and weaving through bushes. Laney followed. She was dressed for work in her park ranger uniform, but her hair was left free, tumbling over her shoulders in a silky black wave. In one hand, she carried a coffee mug. The smile on her face was soft, and she drew in a deep breath of fresh air before spotting him on the porch next door.
Laney’s smile widened, her entire face lighting up. “Morning.”
His heart skipped a beat as his breath hitched.
That really needed to stop happening. He’d always harbored romantic feelings for Laney, but until the attack, he’d been able to keep a tight lid on them. “Morning.”
“You’re scowling.” She grinned as she joined him on the porch. Sunlight illuminated the red highlights buried in her hair and the sweep of her cheekbones. “What’s the matter? Don’t like your coffee?”
He eyed the watered-down brew that supposedly passed for coffee. His cabin was outfitted with a machine that used pods. The result was sorely-lacking in his opinion. “It’s pathetic.”
“Switch with me.” She extended her own cup in his direction. “I made mine the way you like it, just in case. I’ll drink yours. That way we’re both happy.”
Warmth washed through him. She’d thought of him. He liked that she thought of him. Too much. And when their fingers brushed as they exchanged cups, his traitorous pulse sped up. Jonah was briefly tempted to take her hand and hold it, but that would’ve been out of character. They were affectionate with each other. Hugs and brief touches. But always careful. Always friendly.
He sat back in his chair and studied her as she sipped the coffee from his mug. The dark circles under her eyes were gone. She looked fresh-faced. Pretty. “You look better this morning.”
“I took a melatonin. Wouldn’t have slept otherwise.” She kept her focus on the lake as she took another sip of her coffee. “Thanks for keeping watch.”
His stomach flipped over. He hadn’t told her about his plans. She must’ve seen him patrolling. The appreciation in her voice did funny things to his insides, even as pride swelled. Laney was as tough as they came. She didn’t accept help easily, and despiteher sunshine demeanor, trust wasn’t something she doled out to everyone. He was among the select few in her inner circle.
Her best friend. It meant everything to him and was a reminder of just how precious their relationship was.
And how easily it could all get screwed up.
Scout jogged up the porch steps, and Jonah smothered her with affection before Laney pulled a ball out of the pocket of her cargo pants. She tossed it, and the lab raced off. Jonah took a drink of the dark brew in his own mug and gave a grunt of approval. “Much better. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I thought we could go into town for breakfast this morning. I know a cute place with the best kolaches in the county.” She pushed against the floor, setting her rocking chair into motion. “I figured after that we could regroup. Maybe meet with Chief Deputy Williams to compare notes and see where the investigation stands.”
It was a good plan. Jonah was just about to tell her so when his cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket, surprised to see Sheriff Morrison was calling. He answered. “Morning, sheriff.”
“Morning. Sorry to bother you so early, but Ava’s roommate just arrived at my house. She went home to Austin on Thursday for the holiday weekend but drove straight here once she heard the news about…” The sheriff cleared his throat and then pressed on. “Anyway, she has information you’re going to want to hear.”
