Page 47 of Clear Path

Evan lunged for the radio and snatched it with trembling hands. “No, Aaron. Wait. Go to the history center instead. Ishould have thought of it sooner. She has a key. I gave it to her when we were setting up theVanishing Coal Countryexhibit. There’s water, electricity. That’s where she would have gone.”

Aaron’s voice came back, excited. “That makes sense. We’re on it. Sadie, do you copy?”

“Yes. Do it.”

Evan thumbed off the radio and blew out a breath.

Bodhi pulled out his map and unfolded it. He lowered his head to study it, curious how far Aaron was from the history center. But the light from his headlamp was insufficient. He pressed the button to change the mode. He pressed it again, cycling through the UV setting and a flash of red luminescence in the periphery of his vision caught his eye. He swung his head to focus on it. Evan’s left shoe glowed with a large red smear.

Evan looked down at it, then up at Bodhi.

“It’s … it’s not what you think.”

“You have Rory’s blood on your shoe. You were with her in the cave.”

Evan’s shoulders slumped. “It’s not what you think,” he repeated.

“Then explain,” Bodhi said in a measured tone. “Rory is gravely ill. Without intervention, she could die. What happened when you met her in the cave?”

Evan paced, running his hands through his hair. “I didn’t hurt her. You have to believe that.”

“I do,” Bodhi said. “But I need to know what happened.”

Evan stopped pacing and faced Bodhi. “She contacted me this morning after her gallery show was canceled. She wanted my help creating an impactful exhibition. Something that couldn’t be shut down or compromised.”

“Go on,” Bodhi prompted when Evan hesitated.

“We came up with the idea of hanging her exhibit and then hitting the trail.” Evan swallowed hard. “We talked about hergoing to the factory. She thought she might spend the night there and get shots in the early morning light. At dawn, when the seamstresses would have been reporting to work way back when.”

“How’d she end up in the cave?”

“I guess she stopped to upload some of her photos. I was walking on the trail, trying to get my steps in before I headed into town for dinner. I saw her bike through the trees, the same as you and I found her in the cave. She looked unwell, unsteady on her feet. She fell and hit her head.” His voice cracked. “I panicked. I didn’t know what to do.”

“So you left her there?” Bodhi couldn’t keep the incredulity from his voice.

“She was breathing! I checked. That’s probably how I got her blood on my shoe. I thought she’d be fine. I went to town and waited for her post on social media. She did, and I thought that meant all was well, but I guess she uploaded the photos before I saw her.” Tears welled in his eyes. “Then you showed up with her bag and said she was missing. I swear I don’t know where she is now.”

Bodhi studied him. His face was slick with sweat despite the night chill, and his skin was flushed. His chest rose and fell rapidly. He tugged at his collar.

“Are you okay?”

Evan panted. “Dizzy. Chest … tight.”

Bodhi took the radio from the man’s clammy hands and eased him down to the ground, resting his back against a boulder. He crouched and unzipped Evan’s jacket, then unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. Evan looked at him with panic in his eyes.

“You’re having a heart attack,” Bodhi told him in a measured voice. “I’ve got you.”

He picked up the radio. “Aaron? Sadie? I need one of you to call 911. Evan’s having a heart attack.”

Sadie responded first. “I’ll make the call. Aaron, you three are closer to the trailhead. Head over there to meet the paramedics and lead them to the cave.”

“We’ll keep looking for Rory,” a man said. Bodhi couldn’t tell whether it was Tripp or Lucas.

“No,” Sadie’s voice was firm. “You don’t know where you’re going. Stay with Aaron. We don’t need another lost hiker.”

Bodhi set the radio aside and returned his attention to Evan. “Try to stay calm. Help is on the way.”

He unzipped his pack and took out the first aid kit. “I’m going to give you an aspirin. I need you to chew and swallow it. It’ll prevent any blood clots from getting bigger. You’re not allergic are you?”

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