Page 11 of Dead Air
Niall pushed out a heavy sigh. “Whatever the cause, it’s so sad.”
“Are you going to be alright?” Shelby asked and gave Niall’s arm a reassuring squeeze.
“I think so… I’ve seen a dead body before. Remember that hiker I came across last spring? She had been missing for months so there wasn’t as much to find, though,” he conceded. “It might be a while before I get the sight of Roger out of my head.”
“I’m sorry. I’m always here if you need someone to talk to,” Shelby said but Niall had caught the slight hopefulness to his tone.
“Thanks. I’m gonna head down and check on Dr. Curn. I was supposed to meet him for breakfast before we head out to study the salamanders.”
A frown creased Shelby’s brow. “He’s from Georgetown, right? I thought USGS handled most of the research on the salamanders.”
“Doesn’t mean Georgetown isn’t running its own study,” Niall countered.
Shelby smiled brightly and nodded. “True. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Curn yet. What’s he like?”
“He’s cool.” Niall gestured vaguely, pretending to be distracted by something on the toe of his boot.Please don’t blush!he begged his face, then gasped at his watch. “Sugar! I forgot to call my aunt.”
“Your…aunt?” Shelby said as he scrubbed his brow, probably confused.
“Yup! It’s her birthday and I should have called before I headed out but I got the call about this,” he explained with a nod at the grieving campers. Niall had only fibbed a little because it was his aunt’s birthday but he usually called her in the evening.
“You’d better go, then,” Shelby agreed, his gaze tight as it scanned Niall. “You’re sure you’re alright?”
“Me? Of course. I’ll see you later but you know how to get a hold of me if you need anything.” Niall held up his walkie-talkie as he retreated, then jogged back to his ATV.
He ducked back into his cabin after he parked it. Niall left a message on his aunt’s voicemail, wishing her a happy birthday and promising to call again after she was home from work. His conscience clear, Niall set off for the short hike down to the glade.
The horror at his salamander spot faded as Niall came around the bend and spotted Chance at one of the picnic tables. He was bent over the field microscope with a pencil clamped between his teeth. His tight gray T-shirt was a bit of a disappointment but Niall accepted that being clothed was technically safer, given the amount of ticks and chiggers. Repellents were a big no-no in areas where Shenandoah salamanders were sighted.
“Morning!” Chance waved when he heard Niall coming. “Just comparing and recording the acidity of the soil samples I gathered yesterday.”
“Sounds interesting. You didn’t happen to hear or see anything unusual late last night or early this morning, did you?” Niall asked as he propped himself against a corner post, not wanting to be in the way or disturb anything fragile. There were various slides and solutions scattered on the table, along with several folders and notepads.
Chance turned from his work and straightened, cocking a brow at Niall. “Unusual? Like what?” he asked but Niall held up his hands.
“I don’t know. Anything that might have sounded or seemed out of place.”
“It was…perfectly quiet and aside from needing an extra layer when it got chilly, I slept like a log. Why?”
Niall answered with a hard grimace. “You remember those hikers we met yesterday?” he asked, groaning when Chance nodded. “Roger died sometime in the night. I found him on that ledge we visited after we met them.”
“Oh, God!” Chance clamped a hand over his mouth, muffling a swear. “You found him? Are you alright?” He hurried to Niall and pulled him into a tight hug. “That must have been terrible.”
“Um…”Thispart wasn’t terrible and for a moment, Niall forgot about the whole horrible situation. “I’m fine,” he mumbled, biting into his lip.
You’ll make this creepy if you moan or get a hard-on.
Chance laughed softly, as if he had heard Niall’s thoughts. “I think you’re incredibly brave.” He leaned back, cupping Niall’s jaw. “I was afraid you had changed your mind about breakfast and being my guide again. I thought I might have come on a little too strong,” Chance whispered out of the side of his mouth but Niall made a dismissive sound.
“No way. I was sure I’d acted like a giant nerd and that you’d change your mind.”
There was a soft hiss as Chance shook his head. “Nerds are my weakness. I’m a sucker for blushing and awkward banter.”
“Then you are in serious danger, Dr. Curn.” Niall flashed him a wicked grin. “Blushing and awkward banter are my specialties and you won’t find a bigger nerd on the East Coast.” Or a hornier one, but Chance would probably have second thoughts if he had seen what Niall’s brain had conjured in his dreams.
“Are you sure you’re alright? That had to be terrible, finding him,” Chance said, his tone sad as he carefully brushed the hair away from Niall’s eyes and searched them.
Niall took a deep, cleansing breath before nodding. “It was awful and I don’t know if I’ll ever forget how wrong he looked and felt. He had to know better than to go off on his own in the dark, though. Hehad to.I wish I would have known so I could have stopped him but…” Niall threw his hands up, frustrated and saddened by how senseless it was. “There’s nothing I can do to help him now.”
