Page 14 of Mile High Mystery

Brent nodded. “I get you. He ran like a runner. Long strides, kind of fluid.”

“But you’re sure he came from Carla’s campsite?” Travis asked.

Brent squinted and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m pretty sure. But maybe he was just out for a jog and stopped by her van to tie his shoe. I mean, it was raining, and I just glanced over.” He shrugged.

“Had you seen this man at the campground before?”

“I don’t think so. But like I said, he had the hood of his jacket pulled up, and he was running away from me.”

“Did he have anything in his hands?” Shelby asked.

“Like what?” Brent asked.

“Anything. A knife?”

Brent’s eyes widened. “Is that what killed Carla? We all thought it must have been the tree that hit her van, but the article I saw online said she was murdered.”

“Did you see anything in the running man’s hands?” Shelby pressed.

“No.”

“The man ran away, then what happened?” Travis asked.

“I thought I’d go over and talk to Carla again. It was raining a lot harder, and all I had was a tent, and she was in that nice van, so I thought maybe I could talk her into taking pity and letting me in.” He smiled in a way Shelby thought might be intended as charming but reminded her too much of the boyish types who hit on her in bars. As if the way into a woman’s bed was to make her feel sorry for you. “I was headed over there when a guy drove in and said I should think about packing up and clearing out because there was a flash-flood warning, and if the creek across the road into camp rose, we’d be cut off. Then some other people came over, and we were all debating the issue. Then the first guy said he would go around and warn the other campers, and I went to take down my tent and get everything into my truck.”

“Do you know if the first man talked to Carla?” Travis asked.

“I don’t know.”

“What was the man’s name?” Travis asked.

“Sorry, I don’t know that either.”

“You only saw the running man one time—is that correct?” Travis asked.

Brent nodded. “Just the one time.”

“Did you see Carla at all after you saw him?” Shelby asked.

“No. And I never did get around to talking to her again. Then I saw the tree on her van.” He grew still, the sudden cessation of movement striking. “I should have gone over and helped her. Maybe if I’d gotten to her soon enough she would still be alive.”

“Or maybe not,” Travis said.

After a few more questions that established that Brent had no more information to offer, Travis thanked him, and a deputy escorted him out. Travis turned to Shelby. “I read the file you sent over, and I know the basics about why Camille Gregory was in witness security,” he said. “Do you think the Chalk brothers found her and had her killed?”

“That is the most likely scenario,” she said. “But we can’t be sure.”

“Maybe some other guy flirted with her, didn’t take no for an answer, then stabbed her and ran away,” Travis said.

“Maybe,” Shelby said. “She wouldn’t be the first woman traveling alone who was murdered. But I don’t think so. Camille was very aware of her surroundings. She was in good physical condition, and she knew how to protect herself. She had taken self-defense classes, and she knew that as soon as she moved out of our circle of protection, she was a potential target. She wasn’t naive.”

“And you think she came to Eagle Mountain to see her brother, Zach?”

“She was worried about him,” Shelby said.

“Why was she worried?”

“She learned through social media that a man who said he worked for the Chalk brothers came back to the pub six months ago and talked to a woman Camille had worked with. He wanted to know if Zach was with Camille that night. Camille said he wasn’t, but she was afraid the Chalk brothers didn’t believe that, and they might hurt Zach.”

---