Page 36 of Ranger Belief
“We’re here.” Laney shoved the vehicle into Park and climbed out.
Jonah followed. Settling his cowboy hat on his head to ward off the persistent drizzle, he joined her and Scout next to the carcass of a raccoon. The smell of death permeated the air, mixing with the scent of pine and rain.
“When I found it, the kill was fresh. I remember thinking the poacher used a handgun to shoot the raccoon. A high-powered rifle would’ve obliterated it, and as you can see, the body was mostly intact. It was also done for sport.” She tilted her head.“Which makes me wonder if our killer was practicing in these woods. He would’ve shot the raccoon hours before killing Ava and Tyler.”
It was an interesting theory. “Tyler wasn’t shot first. Nolan was.”
“Yes, but Nolan was in an enclosed space. Inside a cabin. Tyler and Ava were camping out in the open. It’s a lot harder to shoot a running target in the woods.”
She had a point. “Let’s collect the carcass for evidence. With any luck, the lab will recover the bullet and compare it to the ones that killed Tyler and Nolan. If the same gun was used on this raccoon and on the two men, then we know our killer is responsible for all of them.”
His gaze settled on Laney. Raindrops gathered in her dark tresses, distracting him, reminding him too much of the kiss they’d shared. “It would be a good idea to stay somewhere else while the case is under investigation. The cabin is too exposed, too difficult to defend if the killer tries for you again. Ryker volunteered for us to stay with him and Hannah at their new house. It’s a twenty-minute drive from here. Since Hannah is a district attorney, and after those threats against her a few years ago, he made it a priority to install the best security system money can buy.”
“A security system won’t stop a killer with a rifle, and I don’t want to bring trouble to their doorstep. They’ve been through enough. Besides…” Her cheeks pinked, and she looked away. “They’re newlyweds. They don’t want houseguests.”
“Somewhere else then?—”
“No, I won’t be scared off.” She raised a hand to ward off his protest. “I’ll move closer to the visitor center for the time being. There are a couple of free cabins over that way, near the mess hall. The sheer amount of foot traffic should provide some level of protection.” Her jaw tightened. “Whoever this is only likes tostrike when I’m isolated. I don’t think he counted on you being at my cabin so early in the morning.”
Her gaze skittered from his, and a flush rose in her cheeks. They hadn’t done anything inappropriate. He’d slept on her couch more than once over the years, but on the heels of their passionate kiss, everything felt uncomfortable and loaded.
And…he didn’t know what to say. So Jonah fell back on his training and focused on the case. He turned in a circle, assessing the surrounding woods. A trail ran through the trees. It was faint, but it was there.
Her attention landed on the raccoon, and a frown creased her features. “You know, a perpetrator who can shoot a small animal like this with accuracy shouldn’t have any issue taking out someone with a high-powered rifle, like the one used by the shooter this morning.”
“Good point.” Were they looking at two shooters? Maybe the raccoon wasn’t connected at all? Still, Jonah would rather pursue the lead and find it went nowhere than dismiss it outright. He pointed to the faint trail. A worn-down wooden marker showed it was an official hiking path. “Where does that go?”
“Eventually it leads to the visitor center. We’re in a remote section of the park, but we get some avid hikers out here on occasion. Let’s see if it’s been used recently.”
She started for the path, followed by Scout. Jonah brought up the rear. For a while, their footsteps, Scout’s panting, and the quiet patter of the rain filled the air. Occasionally, Laney would stop to assess a tree branch or some disturbed earth. He had the feeling she was looking for signs that someone had deviated from the path and gone further into the woods.
“So…about this morning…” Laney sounded hesitant. “I’m sorry about running after the shooter. That wasn’t smart, and you were right to be mad.”
“I was scared. Not mad.” It probably hadn’t seemed that way since he’d been shouting. “I’m sorry for yelling at you. That was uncalled for, and unlike me.”
She nodded and took a bracing breath. “And the kiss?”
“The kiss was…” A long time coming. A physical expression of everything he couldn’t find the words to say. A demonstration of his love. None of those answers were anything Jonah felt he could utter out loud without sending Laney bolting. “…what it was.”
She stopped to finger the leaf on a broken branch. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I don't want to lose you, Jonah. We've been friends for fifteen years. That's not something I'm willing to risk over one impulsive moment.”
“Is that what it was to you? Just an impulse?”
Her eyes widened. “Wasn’t it for you?”
He could lie. Tell her that it was a moment of temporary insanity, that his feelings had overruled his head for one stupid moment. But Jonah was done being dishonest. With her. And with himself. “No, Laney. It wasn't an impulse.” He paused, trying to figure out how to put what he’d realized into words. “I’ve had feelings for you for a long time, but I’ve never acted on them. It didn’t seem like you felt the same way, and I didn’t want to put our friendship at risk.”
She swallowed. “How long?”
“What?”
“How long have you had feelings for me?”
“Since college, although they were less intense. And then you came to stay with me after I’d been injured in the line of duty. That’s when I knew for sure.”
She inhaled sharply. “That…that was eight years ago.”
“Yes.”
