Page 7 of Mountain Hero

And we were talking about the tree. Not spiders.

Laughing, I send a quick reply.

I don’t know. I think the spider story is much better.

After another brief pause, Cole sends another message.

Fine. We both looked like idiots. Anyway, just wanted to see how you’re doing. Everything good with the store?

I hesitate before answering.

Yeah. Still kind of strange being out. Not seeing everyone. But it’s good to be back here after so long.

The three dots blink on and off several times.

I get it. It was hard for me too, at first. Having other people around who understood made it easier. Not that we talked about the bad shit, but we could go out for a beer or play pool or something. It helped.

He’s got a point. I’ve been so busy with the store and fixing things around the house and property, I haven’t spent much time with my Army buddies who actually live nearby. Alec is one town over, but I’ve only met up with him a handful of times since I moved here. And Knox lives less than twenty minutes away, so there’s no excuse for not seeing him more often.

I nod at the phone as I type my response.

You’re right. I should make more of an effort.

Before he can respond, I send another message.

And you should come visit. Any time. I’d love to see Maya and Clara again. Clara must be walking by now, right? We can get her started hiking.

Cole replies quickly.

Sounds great. I’ll talk to Maya. Hopefully we can make it before the end of the summer.

I’m about to respond when another text comes in, this time from an unfamiliar number.

Enzo. It’s Annette. I know it’s late but I thought you’d want to know right away.

It takes a second for the name to connect.

Annette. Annie. We went to high school together, but she was two years younger than me. We didn’t hang out—she was in the drama club and band, while I focused more on sports—but in such a small town, it was impossible not to know everyone.

Her next message appears on the screen.

I just answered a 911 call. Someone said there’s a robbery going on at your uncle’s store. The police are on the way. They should be there in less than ten minutes.

For a second, I’m sure it’s a joke.

There’s no way I’m getting a text from a girl I sort of knew from high school, who apparently is now a 911 operator, telling me someone’s trying to rob Uncle Caleb’s store.

It just doesn’t make sense.

This is Bliss. The town where the worst crime of the last few months was two teenagers egging a house on a dare.

But then again. I’ve seen how evil people really can be.

And if someone wanted to rob a place off the beaten path, they might…

Ten minutes. That’s what Annette said. Ten minutes for the police to get there. Enough time for plenty of theft and destruction and for the culprit to get away.

Or.

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