Page 115 of Crosshairs

Gravel crunched as the tour bus from the American Queen Steamboat pulled out of the large parking area. His gaze followed the colorful vehicle down the drive. It’d been a large crowd, something he enjoyed. More people meant more interaction, always a good thing. Then he frowned as a mint-green MINI Cooper pulled into the lot.

That could be no one but Sarah. He waited as she climbed out of the car and walked toward him, a white paper bag in her hand. “Have you eaten?” she asked.

“I was just going after something.”

“Good. I picked up a couple of burgers from the Camp Restaurant,” she said. “Want one?”

“Is that a bribe?”

“Maybe.”

He was hungry, and the Camp Restaurant had good burgers.If he didn’t deal with Sarah now, she’d just come back. “Let’s take them to the ranger station.”

She followed him to the white building, where he grabbed a bottle of water.

“You didn’t call,” she said. “And neither has Ainsley.”

Neither of them had told the reporter they would call. “Sorry. It’s been a busy morning.”

“You didn’t answer your phone either.”

He didn’t remember hearing it ring. Linc checked his phone. He’d put it on “do not disturb”before the first tour and they’d been so busy, he forgot to take it off.

There were several alerts showing, but before he could check them, an older-model Toyota pickup pulled beside his Tahoe, and Emma Winters got out. “I need to see Emma,” he said to Sarah.

“I wasn’t expecting you here today,” he said when he reached her.

“I heard what happened last night, and I figured you might want me to conduct the tours,” she said. “I would have been here earlier, but I had a few things to do at Mount Locust this morning.”

“Thanks.” This would give him a chance to be with Ainsley in whatever she had planned for the afternoon—if she wanted him to accompany her.

Emma smiled. “Glad to help. I think I’ll go inside the house for now.”

He jogged back to where Sarah waited. “You should’ve gone ahead and eaten.”

“There’s no fun in that,” she said, handing him a burger. “Fill me in on what happened last night.”

“I think you need to talk with Pete Nelson about that.” He checked to see what was on the burger, prepared to get rid of anything that wasn’t mustard and pickles. Linc almost did a double take and looked up.

“That is still the way you order your hamburgers?” she asked.

“I can’t believe you remember that. How long has it been?”

“Ever since I was fifteen.” Her gaze shot over his shoulder and briefly narrowed. “Ainsley.”

He frowned and turned. Ainsley was walking toward them, holding a Subway bag.

“There you are! And I see you already have lunch.”

“That’s probably healthier, but I’m not trading,” he said.

She eyed his hamburger. “I don’t blame you. Can I join you?”

“Sure,” he said.

“Yes, do,” the reporter said.

Sarah’s tone didn’t match the smile on her lips. He scooted down on the bench, making room for Ainsley. Linc would ask how the session with the boys at the high school had gone if Sarah weren’t there. Maybe she wouldn’t linger long.

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