Page 97 of Lady and the Camp
I should have left camp by now. No, I shouldn’t have ever come here at all.
“I’m afraid we’ll need that.” The agent held his hand out to Twila but looked at me. “Assuming you’ll cooperate?”
I was too stuck on pink hair and mud pits and ruining Lucas’ career to fully grasp a cryptocurrency account password engraved on a necklace and the fact I’d carried this duplicate in my possession for weeks.
I nodded. “Just take it. Take him.” I was done here. Done with Kristoff and done with this camp. Done with whatever additional drama unfolded from either.
But I’d do whatever I had to in order to spare Lucas.
“Nice vest,” the federal agent said in a dry tone to Twila, noting the F.B.I. patch. “Don’t get any big ideas about sharing that video. This is an open case.”
“Oops.” That came from Bianca.
A cloud of smoke billowed around Lucas—his mood was that strong. “This is why we don’t have cell phones at camp.”
“Can someone call that girl’s parents?” the agent said. “And confiscate the phone.”
Chapter 32
Lucas
Lawenforcementclearedoutafter thoroughly searching the grounds for further threats. Finding none, the rest of the campers were able to return.
Even so, I decided, with Brycen and Maggie’s input, to move everyone to the Trail Blazers camp for the night. The big lodge had space for the kids. More secure with more staff. Strength in numbers.
What mattered was the kids were safe. Hudson was safe.
Hudson. After Krom was taken away, she took off to her cabin. Maggie went after her. I would have, I wanted to, but I had a full afternoon ahead of notifying parents.
No, that was a lie. I wasn’t sure she wanted me around. If I followed her and she pushed me away, I wasn’t sure I could handle it.
So back to the camp office I went to face my worst duty yet.
Twila—who miraculously remained employed, only because I needed her—tackled calling parents with me to update them on the day’sfestivities.
Damage control, pure and simple. I used the suggested language from the federal agent, but I was honest in my answers to their questions. They deserved to know what happened, even if I couldn’t share every detail.
Two parents were on their way to pick up their girls. The rest, after hearing their kids were safe and had been off-site during the incident, grilled me for details as if this was a true crime podcast.
The video Bianca posted from Twila’s phone had been taken down before it had the chance to spread. Sounded like it never fully uploaded anyway, likely due to the bad connection out here at camp.
Once again, proving my point that not everyone needed to be online all the time. Little good it did.
Ready to shut down for the day—and forever—I clicked on my open email at the same time a new message blinked into existence.
The Colorado job.
My breath stalled as I tapped open the message.
Lucas Russo:
We’ve reviewed your resume and qualifications and would love to set up a video interview. We’re eager to fill the vacancy and have availability this week. Let us know which times work for you.
I pumped a fist in the air.Yes. They wanted me. Maybe. Key thing was they’d responded. After reviewing my limited camp experience and short stint as a director, they wereinterested.
All the fear I’d built up about not being qualified, and I already had an interview request.
My eyes fell shut. I envisioned a skyline of the Rocky Mountains. Me, right there and living the dream.
