Page 10 of Ranger Belief
“Yes, starting with whoever checked them in when they arrived.” Jonah steered Laney to the table and gently pushed her into a chair. “But first, breakfast. Otherwise, I won’t be the only cranky one.”
Her lips quirked. “Heaven forbid.”
They joined hands, bent their heads, and blessed the food. They’d done this hundreds of times over the years, but for someinexplicable reason, this time, Jonah was achingly aware of the softness of Laney’s skin. Silently, he offered an extra prayer.
God, please help me keep her safe.
SIX
Forty minutes later, fortified by the breakfast burrito and another cup of coffee, Laney pushed through the main doors of the visitor center. The rustic wood and stone building blended into the natural background. It smelled of cedar and fresh coffee. Sunlight streamed through the wide front windows, pooling across polished concrete floors and catching on the glass display case of local wildlife exhibits. In the corner, a stuffed great horned owl kept silent watch over a rack of trail maps, its glass eyes as sharp as the real thing.
“Morning, boss.” Brett Morrison greeted her from behind the reception desk. At six-foot-two with an easy smile and sun-weathered features, Brett had an approachable, All-American look that made visitors feel instantly at ease. His sandy hair was perpetually windblown, and his athletic build suggested someone who spent more time hiking trails than sitting behind a desk. At twenty-eight, he was one of the younger staff members, but he carried himself with quiet confidence. Most people found him instantly likeable.
Scout, however, kept her distance. Her tail stilled, and she positioned herself slightly behind Laney's legs. It was a reactionshe sometimes had to certain men, though Laney had never quite figured out the pattern.
His gaze dropped to her neck and the bruises there. He winced. “Oof. Those look painful.”
“They look worse than they feel.”
She greeted the group of on-duty rangers and various staff that’d gathered in the lobby before their shift, as she’d requested. Around thirty people. Labor Day weekend was always one of their busiest times, and she’d scheduled extra staff to handle the traffic. Laney introduced Jonah and then got down to business. On Saturdays, the visitor center opened at nine. Campers and visitors would learn about the murders—if they hadn’t already—and would need reassurance.
“Due to last night's events, our visitors will be understandably alarmed and concerned. Chief Deputy Williams will hold a press conference later today, but as of right now, the investigation is ongoing. What we can say is this: the incident appears to be isolated, and there is no reason to believe the public is in danger. However, we will be taking additional safety precautions. The Texas Rangers are working in coordination with our office and the Kirkland County Sheriff's Department. As more information becomes available and I’m able to, I will share it. Please do not engage with the media and do not answer a reporter’s questions about the murders. Be polite, but answer with a simple no comment. Questions?”
There were a few moments of shifting as the group looked at each other. Then tentatively, Ranger Zoe Papadopoulos raised her hand. “Is it possible the killer is staying here in the park?”
Laney hesitated. She didn’t want to alarm her staff, but they needed to use caution. “It is possible. Use caution when interacting with visitors, and for the time being, we will patrol in teams of two.”
She fielded several more questions, and then paused, taking a moment to meet everyone’s eyes. She wasn’t used to being the boss. Laney had been a park ranger for years, and after coming to Piney Woods, worked alongside Andy as Deputy Ranger. But she’d always had someone above her to call the shots. Leadership wasn’t something she took lightly, and the weight of responsibility felt heavy on her shoulders, especially now.
“I know this is frightening. Two young people lost their lives in our park, and that shakes all of us. But we do our jobs because we believe in protecting this place and the people who visit it. That hasn't changed. We're going to stay vigilant, stay together, and we're going to help law enforcement catch whoever did this.”
The tension in the room eased slightly. Zoe nodded, her shoulders squaring. A few of the rangers exchanged glances, determination replacing the worry in their expressions.
She gestured toward Chief Ranger Andy Dawson. His shock of white hair was neatly combed, but the bags under his eyes gave him a hangdog appearance. “Chief Ranger Dawson will give you your new assignments.”
The briefing broke up, and the lobby began to empty. That’s when she noticed her boss, Douglass Voss, sitting in a chair on the other side of the room. Scout, tail wagging, approached him. She promptly sat and was rewarded with a shower of affection. Scout had always loved Douglass.
Laney turned to Jonah. “I need a few minutes to meet with Douglass and Andy. There’s a small conference room over there. You’re welcome to use it for the time being.”
He nodded. “I have some phone calls to make.” With a gentle squeeze of her arm, he headed for the conference room. She watched his confident strides for a beat too long before realizing Brett had been watching the interaction from his position behind the desk.
Jonah’s light touch hadn’t been out of place, but Laney’s cheeks still heated, as if Brett had caught them doing something improper. She forced a smile despite her embarrassment and gave a sharp nod before crossing the lobby to greet Douglass. “Good morning, sir.”
Douglass, using the arms of the chair for assistance, rose. He was thinner and frailer than she’d seen him last. The chemotherapy treatments had thinned his hair. But his smile was warm and fatherly, scrunching the crow's feet fanning his eyes. “Laney, it’s good to see you, although I wish it were under better circumstances.”
“So do I.” She met Andy’s eye and tilted her head to indicate he should join them before leading Douglass back to her office. She kept the conversation on lighter topics, asking about his wife and children, while they settled in the seating area next to floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake. Once Andy had joined them, she shifted to more serious matters. “What can I do for you, sir?”
“I’m taking early retirement.”
Laney blinked. A quick look at Andy revealed he didn’t seem the least bit surprised. He’d known. She waited a beat and then carefully said, “I’m sorry, sir, I don’t understand. When we spoke last week on the phone, you said treatment was going well. Has something changed?”
“No, no, the treatment is going very well.” He smiled gently. “In fact, I’m due to finish my last chemo tomorrow. But my wife and I have had a lot of time to think and talk. We want to travel once I’m in remission. Enjoy more time with our grandkids. I have retirement from the military and enough years with the park service to receive my full pension. It seems silly to put our adventures on hold.”
Laney could sympathize with his wish to spend more time with his family. When her mother was diagnosed with cancer,she’d packed up her life and moved home. Thankfully, there’d been a ranger position open at Piney Woods. Douglass had hired her on the spot. She would miss him. “The staff will be sorry to see you go, sir, myself included.”
“Thank you.” Douglass studied her with the scrutiny of a seasoned law enforcement officer. Like her, he’d spent time as an MP before becoming a park ranger, and while chemo may have taken the edge off his strength, it hadn’t diminished his sharp instincts. “My retirement, of course, means the superintendent position will be available. I want to recommend to the TDPW that your promotion be made permanent. It’s not a guarantee that you’ll be offered the position, but given your exceptional record, they’d be hard pressed to find someone better.”
“Especially since I will second Douglass’s recommendation,” Andy added.
