Page 70 of Canyon Killer
“Tomorrow?” Dalton asked after the climber had moved on.
“I invited a bunch of local climbing guides to play around on the course tomorrow,” Ian said. “I want them to get to know it so they can guide tourists on it.”
“A person doesn’t have to have a guide to climb, though, right?” Carter asked.
“They don’t. But we’re going to strongly recommend most people hire a guide.”
“Ian! Over here.” A photographer gestured to him, then motioned to the mayor and other gathered officials, who were grouped at the base of the cliffs. “We want to get some pictures.”
“I’ll be right back,” he said.
Carter and Dalton drifted away with some of the search and rescue volunteers while Bethany headed toward the portable toilets arranged behind a screen next to the newly completed welcome center. As she was leaving, she almost collided with a man with a cane. “Mr. Boston!” She hurriedly stepped back. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“No harm done,” Craig said.
She looked down at his leg. “You’re out of your walking boot.”
“Yeah. I still need the cane, but I’m doing good.”
“I’m so glad you’re here.” She touched his arm. “There’s something I want you to see.”
Bethany slowed her pace to allow him to keep up with her and led him to the base of the cliffs below the caves. “Ian put this up in memory of Gerald and Abby,” she said.
The plaque gave the years of Gerald’s and Abigail Boston’s births and estimated death and ended with the sentimentTogether Forever in Love. Above this were headshots of each of them, taken from the photos Caleb had uncovered at the historical society, at Bethany’s request.
Craig stared, clearly so moved he couldn’t speak. His throat worked and his knuckles whitened on his cane. “Ian did this?” he asked at last.
“Yes. We wanted people to remember them.”
“Where did you get those pictures?” he asked.
“You remember I said I found some photographs at the historical society? I missed these on my initial search, then a researcher there found these for me. But you need to see this one, too.” She led the way to the image of him and Walt with Gerald and the three women. “I don’t know for sure that this was taken in Humboldt Canyon, but it’s a great shot of young people enjoying the outdoors. And I was able to confirm that Abby S. really is Gerald’s Abby. Her photo here matches the one the researcher found that was definitely identified as her.”
Craig remained silent, his mouth tight.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Bethany said. “We don’t identify you by name.”
He leaned closer to study the image on the plaque. “Has Walt seen this?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
Craig shook his head. “He won’t like it. He won’t like people seeing that he knew Gerald.”
“Why would he object to that?” she asked.
“There was bad blood between them. Over a woman, I think.”
“Bethany! Come look at this!” She turned to see Carter gesturing for her to join him and the other search and rescue volunteers.
She wanted to stay and question Craig more. What woman had Walt and Gerald fallen out over? Did Craig mean Katherine? Was Walt angry enough to have murdered Gerald?
“I have to go,” Craig said.
“Wait!”
But he was already hobbling away, moving faster than she would have thought possible with a cane.
Still pondering his words, she went to join the SAR volunteers. “Get a load of this photo of you from the last climbing clinic,” Carter said.
