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“You thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?” Shaw asked Aaron.

“Yep. Meth.”

“Yeah, that was my thought too,” Roxie said. “But there’s been no odor, and whatever they’re taking out of that car, it’s not anything big, plus they’re not leaving and coming back with supplies. The car’s just been sitting there. It hasn’t moved.”

“Soooo…” Aaron stopped and looked at his notes. “I think I’ll drive up to the parking lot, take down the license plate number, and run it. Maybe that will give us some clues. Shaw, you think you might hike back in there?”

“I might, but not without the right gear. I’m not exactly sure what the terrain is like back there, and I’d want to be prepared.”

“Fair enough. Okay, Roxie, thanks so much. We’ll work on this and keep you updated.” Aaron extended his hand again and she shook it, so Shaw did the same.

“I appreciate it. Y’all come back sometime and I’ll give you a discount on lodging.”

“I’ll remember that!” Aaron called back as they stepped out the front door.

Both men walked, heads down, back to their vehicles, deep in thought. “Let me know what you find out on that plate?” Shaw asked Aaron.

“Oh, you know it. Absolutely.”

“Thanks. Hey, that lady sheriff, is she?”

“Married? Oh, yeah. She’s RossMcEvers’ wife.”

“No shit? I recognized the name, but I didn’t think he had a sister. She’s not from around here, is she?”

“Nope. Texas. All of his people originally came from down there around Tarpley.”

“Ah. Well, can’t blame a guy for asking,” Shaw said with a laugh.

Aaron started to laugh too. “I know. She’s not hard on the eyes, but I’ve only got eyes for mine, so that’s all I can say about that!”

“Ah, yeah, you’d better behave yourself. You’ll get in all kinds of trouble. Wife?”

“Yeah. Haven’t been married that long. You might know her. MaiseyFriedman? She’s a social worker.”

“No. I really don’t have cause to run across any social workers in this job, but if I ever need one, I’ll give her a call.”

“Do. She’d be happy to help. Well, better get back and see if I can start piecing things together. You planning to hike that?”

Shaw smirked. “Yeah, but I’d like to know who that is first so I know whether to take pepper spray or a rifle.”

“Gotcha. Good plan. Well, good to meet you, and I hope we cross paths again sometime. I’ll let you know what I find out about that plate.”

“Good to meet you too. Thanks, Aaron.”

“No, thank you!” He watched the deputy get into the cruiser and drive away. Then he thought of something and ran back to the lodge office. “Hey, do you guys have any maps of the park, like hiking trails and stuff like that?”

“Sure!” Shannon handed him a map.

“Thanks. Have a nice day,” he remembered to say as he went back outside, but he was looking the map over by the time he walked down the lodge steps.

He’d have to look that map over really well. One thing he sure didn’t want out there in the woods was a surprise. There had been enough of those in his career to last a lifetime.

* * *

Shaw stoppedat a diner in town, ordered a plate lunch, and spread out the map. Then he pulled up a local map on his tablet and started comparing the two. His open faced roast beef sandwich was almost gone when his phone rang, and it was an unfamiliar number. “Conservation OfficerHarrison.”

“Hey, Shaw, it’s Aaron. Got some info on that plate.”