Page 17 of Not This Time

As they followed Jack into the dimly lit garage, Rachel couldn't help but feel a shiver of dread creeping up her spine. The air inside was thick with the metallic tang of blood, and the sight of the deer carcass hanging from a hook made her stomach churn. She had seen her fair share of gruesome scenes during her time as a Ranger, but the intimate setting of this one was particularly unnerving.

"Sorry about the mess," Jack said gruffly, wiping his hands on a dirty rag. "Now, what do you want to know?"

Rachel hesitated at this. Did he really not know? His wife had been missing for more than a day… But then again, he was off in the mountains. No reception, and his wife worked in town. Maybe it was a normal arrangement.

Or maybe he was playing them.

The faint scent of copper hung heavily in the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of freshly cut wood. Rachel's eyes remained locked on Jack as he slowly wiped his blood-stained hands on the dirty towel. The garage was dimly lit, casting an eerie glow on the animal carcasses hanging from the ceiling. Shadows danced on the walls as the flickering light played tricks on her senses.

"Jack," Ethan began, his voice steady and measured. "We have some news that we need to share with you."

Rachel could see the muscles in Jack's jaw tighten as anticipation settled over him. She watched every minute detail of his face closely, searching for any clues that might betray his true emotions.

"Sarah," Ethan continued, locking his gaze with Jack's. "She's been found dead."

A sudden stillness enveloped the room, punctuated only by the sound of their breathing. Rachel studied Jack's reaction intently, looking for the slightest hint of guilt or surprise. But all she saw was devastation and shock written across his face.

"Dead?" Jack whispered, the word barely escaping his lips. His eyes flickered with a hollow sadness, but something seemed off. Perhaps it was his blood-stained shirt. Rachel couldn't quite place it, but the way he held himself, the way his eyes darted away for just a moment, struck her as odd.

"Can you tell us about your relationship with Sarah?" Rachel asked, her voice betraying no hint of the suspicion brewing within her.

Jack looked at her, his eyes now glistening with unshed tears. "We were... We were happy. We fought sometimes, like any couple, but we loved each other. But hang on... dead? You're sure?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Did anything unusual happen recently between the two of you? Any arguments or disagreements?" Ethan interjected, picking up on Rachel's line of questioning.

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Jack replied, his voice catching in his throat. "Just... Just the normal stuff. Why are you asking me this? Where is she? Who did this?"

"Jack," Rachel said softly, her eyes narrowing as she continued to scrutinize his every move. "I'm very sorry for your loss. We're just trying to piece together what happened. We need to understand your relationship with Sarah to do that."

"Is there anyone else who might have wanted to hurt her?" Ethan asked, maintaining a calm demeanor.

"No," Jack choked out, wiping away a tear that had begun to roll down his cheek. "I can't think of anyone who would want to do that." He hesitated, gripping the handle on a butcher's knife, his fingers tight. "Else?" he said.

"What?" Ethan asked.

"You said anyoneelse.And now you're here... talking to me?" His eyes widened above his hairy face. "Shit... you think...Ihad something to do with this?" His hand tightened on the knife.

Ethan took a nearly imperceptible step back.

Rachel decided not to react. Not yet. She trusted her reactions in case things got violent.

But for now, she kept her tone professional. "We just need to rule you out, sir. It'll help us find who did this."

"I still... how did she die?"

"We're trying to find out. Can you help us by answering a couple of questions?"

"I... I mean. Sure. What the hell? Ask anything."

He was staring at her, slack-jawed. An act? Or true shock?

She felt her heart go out to the man briefly, but she didn't know if she was being played yet.

"First, can you tell us where you were last night?" Rachel asked, her eyes narrowing as she studied Jack's expression for any signs of deception.

"Sure. I was here, at the cabin. Alone."

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