Page 9 of Silent Smile

"How long have you and Amanda been together?" Sheila began.

"Three years," Jake replied. "We met through her blog, actually. I was a fan before I was her boyfriend."

"And you were camping together this trip?"

Jake nodded. "It was supposed to be a week-long adventure. Amanda loves—loved—finding off-the-beaten-path locations for her followers."

"When was the last time you saw her?" Sheila asked.

Jake ran a hand through his hair. "Yesterday evening, around 6 PM. She wanted to do some solo exploring, get some sunset shots of the dunes. I stayed back at the hotel to work. When she didn't come back by nightfall, I started to worry. I called the ranger station, and they..." His voice broke. "They found her this morning."

Sheila felt a pang of sympathy for the man. "Was this a common thing? Her going out hiking by herself?"

"Yeah. She did it all the time before we started dating, and I think she still liked the solitude now and then."

"Did she ever mention bumping into anyone during these solo hikes? Any encounters with strangers?"

Jake shook his head. "Not that I recall. She tended to stick to areas that weren't very… touristy, for lack of a better term. So she didn't often see other people."

Sheila paused, considering her next words carefully. "Mr. Pearson, I need to ask you something, and I want you to understand that I'm not making any accusations. I'm just trying to get all the facts." She waited for Jake's nod before continuing. "Amanda was found in an area of the park that's strictly off-limits to visitors due to its fragile ecosystem. Was it common for her to hike in restricted areas?"

Jake's posture immediately stiffened, his eyes narrowing. "What exactly are you implying, Sheriff?"

"I'm not implying anything," Sheila said, keeping her tone neutral. "I'm simply asking if Amanda had a history of going into areas that were marked as off-limits."

"Amanda was a professional," Jake said, his voice tight with barely contained anger. "She respected nature and took her responsibility as an influencer seriously. She wouldn't just trample through protected areas for a photo op. Why are you trying to blame her?"

Sheila took a deep breath. "I apologize—I didn't mean to blame her. What I'm trying to say is that Amanda was found in a very remote section of the park. I'm wondering if that's something she had done before, or if maybe someone lured her out there to get her alone."

Jake's anger seemed to dim a little. "Usually she researched her own locations. She was professional about it, always careful. Even when she went off-trail, she'd let me know the general area she was heading to." His voice broke. "Except this time."

It occurred to Sheila that perhaps Amanda hadn't intended to be in that area at all. She might've fled there.

Jake sat heavily, running a hand through his hair. "It's just... this is all so surreal. Yesterday, we were planning the rest of our trip. And now..."

Jake took a deep breath, visibly trying to calm himself. "Look, I won't lie. Amanda was always looking for the perfect shot, the unique angle. Sometimes that meant going off the beaten path. But she was always careful. She always did her research, always tried to minimize her impact. If she went into a restricted area, it would have been with the utmost caution and respect."

Sheila nodded, jotting down notes. "Thank you for your honesty, Mr. Pearson. Did Amanda ever mention any negative interactions with park staff or other hikers? Anyone who might have been upset about her photography locations?"

Jake shook his head. "No, nothing like that. At least, not that she told me about."

"Can you think of anyone who might have wanted to harm Amanda? Any angry followers, jealous competitors?"

Jake looked shocked at the suggestion. "What? No, nothing like that. Amanda was... she was loved. By her followers, by other bloggers. She collaborated more than she competed."

"And you were working most of the evening?" Sheila asked, watching his reaction carefully.

"Yes," Jake said. "Big project deadline coming up. I had to lead a virtual meeting with our team in Chicago. That's why I couldn't go hiking with her." His voice cracked. "Maybe if I had..."

"It's not your fault," Sheila said, softening her tone. She knew from Hollister's earlier confirmation that Jake's alibi was solid, but she needed to hear it from him directly. "What time did the call end?"

"Just before midnight. I tried calling and texting Amanda dozens of times during breaks. When she didn't answer, I reported her missing to the rangers. They said they'd start searching at first light." He pulled out his phone, showing Sheila the log of unanswered calls.

Sheila nodded, satisfied with this explanation. Pulling out her own phone, she zoomed in on the symbol drawn on Amanda's forehead and showed the picture to Jake. "Does this symbol mean anything to you?"

Jake swallowed hard. He stared at the picture for only a second or two before turning away. "Never seen it before," he said.

"You sure?"

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