Page 43 of Ranger Belief
Eddie hesitated. “Mitch was never the sharpest knife in the drawer. I guess it’s possible, but…” He shrugged. “Maybe? He was smart enough to use his brother’s name. I could see him camping illegally in the park, though. Especially if he needed to hide out somewhere.”
“Can you think of anyone Mitch would contact if he needed help?”
“His mom.” Eddie thought for a moment longer. “Garrett Wheeler, maybe.”
“Garrett.” Jonah straightened. “How do Garrett and Mitch know each other?”
Eddie’s focus jumped back to Jonah. “Mitch and I both worked for Garrett’s company for a while. Mostly grunt work, like answering phones and organizing equipment, but he taught us a lot about surviving in the woods. Most of my knowledge about Piney Woods came from hiking with him. Garrett and Mitch were pretty close. Mitch worked for Garrett a lot longer than I did, and…well, they’re birds of a feather.”
“What does that mean?”
“My ex-wife had her faults, but she was always a pretty good judge of character. She didn’t like Garrett any more than sheliked Mitch. She categorized both of them as creepy. Her word, not mine.”
“You hung out with them both too. How would you describe them?”
“Ranger Foster, I think we’ve concluded from this conversation that I’m the absolute worst judge of character. I’m a recovering alcoholic and a coward who refuses to tell the truth to my boss about my failings because I’m afraid of what she’ll think.” Eddie blew out a breath. “Garrett and Mitch talked about women as if they were objects. In my misguided youth, I did the same. Now…thinking back on some things they said…it makes me sick.”
Jonah’s phone buzzed with a text message. While Ryker asked a follow-up question, he glanced at the screen. It was from Chief Deputy Williams.
We found Garrett Wheeler. He’s refusing to talk, and his lawyer is on the way to the sheriff’s department.
He paused, his fingers over the tiny keyboard. So far, Garrett’s lawyer had refused to allow him to answer questions.
But maybe…maybe…there was a way to change that.
TWENTY
Laney hit Save on the document and pushed away from her desk. Hours of preparation for the upcoming meeting with the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife had left her muscles aching. Andy looked equally ready for a break.
“I think we have it.” She rose and gave her second-in-command a high-five. It hadn’t been easy to categorize and prioritize all the renovations and programs they wanted to accomplish in the next year, but she thought they had a good plan. “Thanks for helping.”
Andy smiled, flashing his crooked bottom tooth. “It’s my job.” He gathered his file folders. “By the way, I contacted the volunteers who worked in the wildlife department from the Spring Jamboree. The consensus on Eddie was that he seemed not to care much. Several people remembered Ava, but didn’t have anything significant to say, other than she seemed like a sweet young lady. No one recalled her having an issue with anyone, including Mitchell/Michael Caldwell.”
Disappointment pinched. “It was worth a try.”
He nodded. “In the meantime, Mitchell’s photo has been distributed to all the rangers. Several reported seeing him onthe park grounds at various times off and on since the Spring Jamboree. It doesn’t seem like he’s camping here permanently. I suspect he may only do so when he doesn’t have any other place to crash, or is worried that law enforcement is on to him.”
“You’re probably right.” She couldn’t imagine living in the woods during the miserable Texas summer when the heat and humidity made it almost unbearable. Then again, a criminal wanted by law enforcement might do almost anything to escape detection.
But why kill two couples? Did Mitch really believe he wouldn’t be caught? Even so, attacking Laney…shooting at her cabin…that would only bring more law enforcement to the park. He’d spent so much time hiding, it seemed illogical to do things that might expose him.
A knock on her doorframe interrupted her thoughts. Tate popped his head in. “Sorry to interrupt, but Jonah called. Garrett Wheeler has been located and is down at the sheriff’s department waiting for his lawyer. He says we should head that way.”
“Of course.” Laney whistled for Scout and grabbed her keys. She said goodbye to Andy and then hurried out into the late afternoon. Wind blew through the trees, and drizzle dampened her hair. When Tate headed for his vehicle, she lightly touched his arm. “Can we take mine? It has a crate in the back for Scout’s safety.”
“Of course.”
Tate followed Laney to her vehicle and moments later they were headed for the sheriff’s department. Country music softly played from her speakers. Her mind whirled with the knowledge that Garrett had been found. “Do we know where Garrett has been all day?”
“Jonah didn’t say.” Tate shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Listen, Laney, I’m sorry about what I said during our meetingearlier. About Jonah being collateral damage. That was a foolish comment, one I said without considering how it would make you feel?—”
“Don’t apologize. What you said was the truth.” She shot him a reassuring smile. “And it was something I would’ve figured out on my own. Don’t let Jonah’s bad attitude convince you that you did something wrong. He’s just a grump, which I’m sure you’ve already figured out from working with him.”
Tate chuckled. “Still, I could’ve been more sensitive.” He paused. “You care a lot about him, don’t you? Jonah?”
“We’ve been friends for a long time.”
Friends. Such a simple word, but the weight felt so different now. What she felt for Jonah went far beyond mere friendship. Her lips still tingled with the heat of his kiss, but she had to bury these troublesome feelings and romantic notions. It was the only way forward. A thought she convinced herself was absolutely possible.
