Page 3 of Twin Jeopardy

“Six. One every other week for three months.”

She could practically see him running through the calculations in his head. “When can you have the first article ready?” he asked.

“Two weeks. I want to start with the search for Valerie Shepherd.” Before he could ask, she rushed on. “She was a ten-year-old girl who disappeared on a family camping trip in the mountains fifteen years ago. Never a trace of her seen again. Search and rescue was part of the largest wilderness search in local history. That search really ushered in a new era for the group, with a turn toward more professional training and organization.”

“I remember,” Russ said. “Local family. Wasn’t she a twin?”

“Yes. Her brother, Vince, works for the county Road and Bridge Department. Her parents are in Junction.”

“You’ll talk to them for your article.”

“Of course. And search and rescue has agreed to give me access to their archives. And there are lots of photos in our files we can use.”

“Sounds good,” Russ said. “But don’t let this take precedence over your regular news coverage.”

“When have I ever done that, Russ?”

He chomped down on the cigar once more and spoke around it. “You’re not a slacker, I’ll give you that.”

Smiling to herself, Tammy moved back to her desk. Working for the only paper in town, which came out once a week, was a great way to feel like she always knew everything going on. But the sameness of reporting on the school board and county commissioner’s meetings, as well as perennial wrangles over building codes or the budget amount to devote to promoting tourism, could get old. It was good to have something exciting and interesting to write about. The fifteen-year-old mystery of a missing girl definitely wasn’t going to be boring.

Chapter Two

“You’re Vince Shepherd, right?”

Vince accepted the beer from the bartender at Mo’s Pub and turned to see who was addressing him. A young woman with a cascade of blond curls and a friendly smile eyed him through round wire-rimmed glasses. “I’m Vince,” he said, wary. “Who are you?”

“I’m Tammy Patterson. I’m a reporter for theEagle Mountain Examiner.” She offered her hand, nails polished bright pink and a trio of rings on her fingers.

“Sure. I’ve read your stuff.” He shook her hand. What did a reporter want with him?

“Do you have a minute to talk?” she asked.

He sipped the beer. “Talk about what?”

“I’m working on a series of stories about Eagle Mountain Search and Rescue, to celebrate their twenty-fifth anniversary. I have a few questions for you.”

“Okay. Sure.” He could talk about search and rescue.

“There’s a spot over here where it’s a little quieter.” She led the way to a booth near the back of the crowded bar.

“I haven’t been with the group that long,” Vince said as he slid into the padded seat across from her.

“What group is that?” she asked. She was searching in an oversize black leather tote bag.

“Search and rescue. You said you were writing about them.”

“Oh. I didn’t know you were a member of SAR.” She pulled out a notepad, a pen and a small recorder and laid them on the table in front of her. “That’s even better.”

He sipped more beer and frowned. “If you didn’t know I was with SAR, why do you want to talk to me?”

“I want to talk to you about your sister. Valerie.”

Valerie again. It wasn’t that he never thought about his missing twin, but after fifteen years she wasn’t on his mind every day. But today she had taken up a disproportionate space in his head, what with the callout about the bones that morning. And now this reporter was asking about her. “Why do you want to talk about Valerie?” he asked.

“I want to write about the search for her fifteen years ago. It was the largest wilderness search in county history, and as a result of that search, Eagle Mountain Search and Rescue instituted a lot of new policies and adopted a more professional approach to their operations.”

“You know she was never found,” he said. “It’s not exactly a feel-good story.”

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