Page 27 of Danger in the Wilderness (National Park Protectors #1)

D ekker placed a coffee in front of his fellow park warden, Peter Koden, and sat.

Constable White had agreed to let both Dekker and Blaire stay in the room while he interviewed Peter.

Sergeant Mullins was currently holding a press conference from his federal building to warn the public once again to remain diligent and stay out of the parks.

Reed was gathering his belongings, stating he wanted to go back to the ranch to decompress.

Why, Dekker didn’t know, but he also didn’t argue. Something about the man irked him.

But right now, he’d focus on his fellow park warden. “I’m so sorry about your sister.”

“Thank you, Dekker. I’m praying they’ll find your father soon.” Peter sipped the coffee.

Dekker pinched the bridge of his nose. “Me too. Jayla and Hercules are out searching right now. I hate not helping, but Nicols ordered me to coordinate the park closure. I’ve contacted employees to barricade all entrances.

” He nodded toward Blaire, who sat at the opposite end of the table, conferring with Reed. “Plus, I need to keep an eye on her.”

“You two dating?”

“No, we’re just friends.” Dekker studied the beautiful profiler.

Did he want to be more than friends? After he’d seen her in the bear trap, the emotional kaleidoscope hit hard, spurting in all directions.

Betrayal from Eve bullwhacked him, preventing him from letting his emotions emerge.

However, Blaire’s gentle personality was opening the wall surrounding Dekker’s heart.

Peter grazed his arm. “Bud, take it from me. Don’t wait. I can tell by the way you look at her, you want more.”

Dekker suppressed a sigh and leaned back in his chair. Who else would tell him that? He had to shield his feelings better. “Good advice, my friend.”

“Okay, let’s get started. I need to do lots of interviews.” White slapped his notebook on the table and sat. “Peter, can you think of anything that would make PCK target you? Any recent altercations? Arguments with park visitors?”

Blaire finished her conversation with Reed and then, using her uninjured foot, maneuvered her chair over beside Dekker.

“No. None come to mind.” Peter glanced at the ceiling as if it would help jog his memory. “I mean. I’ve had to ban people from the park, but no one stands out.”

“You’re stationed in Clovercross, right?” White asked.

“Yes, the northern tip. I work out of a small lookout there.”

“Manny and I are stationed here,” Dekker added. “We’re training Huck too, as the park is too big for only three wardens.”

White scribbled in his notebook. “I’m talking to Manny next. Constable Hudson is interviewing Huck. The constables in the other parks will talk to those wardens and officers then report back to us.”

Blaire tapped her pen on her chin. “What about your sister? Did she have any enemies?”

“Sweet Paula? No. Everyone loved her.” Peter’s voice hitched.

“I have one more question,” Blaire added. “Have you ever had a hiker get lost in your part of the park and you couldn’t find them?”

Again, Peter stared at the ceiling before answering. “Can’t think of any.” He looked back at White. “Are we done? I really need to get to my mom’s place. She needs me right now.”

“Of course.” White pushed a card across the table. “Please call if you remember anything that could help.”

Peter stuffed the card into his pocket, nodded and said his goodbyes before leaving the room.

Dekker shifted in his chair. “Blaire, why did you ask about not finding a hiker?”

“A hunch just came to me. I started thinking about PCK’s motivation.

Why he’s choosing park wardens and officers, and the question came to me.

” She tapped on her laptop. “I’m making a note to look into that.

Constable White, can you get the other constables to ask that question in their interviews? My gut is telling me it’s important.”

“I will.”

“Do you think Peter’s leaving anything out?” Reed opened his laptop bag.

White tilted his head. “Why do you ask? Do you feel he’s holding something back?”

“I don’t know. His answers just seemed trite to me.”

“I didn’t sense that,” Blaire said. “I only read his grief.”

Reed stood. “Yah, you would.” He gestured toward Dekker. “You seem to have a soft spot for park wardens.”

Dekker resisted the idea of slamming the man into the wall and counted to five slowly. “That’s uncalled for, Reed.”

Blaire inhaled a ragged breath.

Dekker turned to Blaire. “What is it?”

She pointed, her eyes widening. “Reed, is that my camera? Were you the one who stole it?”

The thin man looked at his open bag, and his jaw dropped. “I did not take your camera.”

White stood. “So how did it get there, then?”

“No idea.” Reed reached into the bag.

“Wait! Don’t touch it. We’ll get forensics to check for prints. Don’t go anywhere.” White unclipped his cell phone and exited the room.

“Blaire, I did not take your camera. I swear. It wasn’t there this morning when I packed my bag to come here.” He crossed his arms and huffed. “Someone is setting me up.”

“Or are you PCK? You certainly have access to all the information.” Dekker’s blood pressure raised at the thought of this man setting a bomb in his own office. “Did you plant the bomb too?”

“What? No!” He raised his hands. “Okay, I admit I’ve been trying to get one step ahead of Blaire in the investigation, but I would never hurt her or Kolby.”

“Why do you hate me so much, Reed?”

“Because Mullins should have given me the lead position. Not you! I’ve been here longer. You only got the job because of your father.”

Anguish dimmed Blaire’s expression.

Dekker fisted his hands but kept them at his sides. “That’s a low blow, Reed, and unjustified. Blaire has worked hard in her career and deserved that promotion.”

“Well, her highfalutin Daddy certainly helped.”

Blaire nabbed Dekker’s hand as if silencing him.

“Reed. Sit. Down. Now.” Her forced words meant business. “I don’t care what you think of me, but don’t you ever bad mouth my father again.” She waggled her finger at him. “You hear me?”

Reed pursed his lips like an uncooked clam. Impregnable.

“The lady gave you an order, Reed. Listen to your leader.”

He plunked into the chair. “Fine, but I don’t appreciate you accusing me of something I didn’t do.”

“I believe you.” Blaire paused. “For now, but you lied about Mullins sending you here.”

“Stop throwing that in my face.” He averted his gaze and traced his finger along the table’s edge. “I promise I’ll be a better team player.” He looked up. “Satisfied?”

“Let’s concentrate on finding PCK, shall we? Before more lives are lost.” Blaire pushed her chair back and spun it around, facing the whiteboard.

Not me. I’m not satisfied. Dekker still felt something was off with Reed Pratt, so he would remain silent and trust Blaire’s judgment.

For now.

Footsteps pounded the corridor seconds before someone entered the room.

Dekker bolted upright. “Mom?”

***

“Mom, why are you here? Jayla and I told you not to come.” Dekker paced the station’s lunchroom thirty minutes later.

He’d radioed Jayla to inform her their mother was at the station.

He led Erica Hoyt out of the boardroom and away from the whiteboard.

She didn’t need to see all the gruesome photos.

White and the forensic investigator left after checking for prints on Blaire’s camera and bag.

As Dekker suspected, they found none and handed the camera back to Blaire.

Reed left to return to the ranch after being further questioned by White.

He held true to his claim that someone had set him up.

Was that true? Blaire seemed satisfied with Reed’s answers, but Dekker didn’t like the man’s attitude. No one insults Dekker’s friends and gets away with it. His protective nature reared its head like a papa bear.

Dekker put Reed out of his mind and concentrated on his mother sitting in front of him. “Not that I don’t want you here.” He straightened his spine. He was more determined than ever to protect his family. Thankfully, Jayla had both a husband and a dog by her side.

“I couldn’t stay away any longer. I need to know my husband is okay.” Erica Hoyt rubbed her left palm with her right thumb. An anxious habit. “Do you have any leads on where Frank could be?”

A question Dekker asked himself a thousand times, but he knew how massive the park was. “Supervisor Nicols has multiple teams out, but unfortunately, the suspect keeps moving Dad around.”

“Why?”

“I’m guessing to throw us off the track, especially with Hercules out there. Plus, the weather has played havoc on our search.” He shared some of the events of the last couple of days, but left out parts to spare her from further hurt.

“God knows where Frank is.”

Dekker’s exhale squeaked out before he could stop it. “I wish God would share that information and tell us why this is happening.”

His mother patted Dekker’s arm. “Son, it’s time for you to come back to Him. Eve’s betrayal, Kyle’s death and Aaron’s overdose were not God’s fault. Or yours.”

Aaron.

Dekker hadn’t heard his best friend’s name in ages. “No, that’s where you’re wrong. Aaron’s death was my fault.” He stood and poked his own chest. “My doing.”

“Move past this, Dek. You didn’t make him take those pills.”

He rubbed his temples, trying to block out the image of Aaron lying on the floor of his college dorm, his ashen face pointing toward the ceiling. “I can never forgive myself for giving him those meds.” It was why he refused to take painkillers today.

Dekker approached the coffee counter and poured himself another cup. Anything to keep himself alert after a grueling day.

“Let it go, son. Concentrate on your relationship with Frank. Forgive your father. He needs you back in his life. Dek, he’s changed. That’s why he came here to spend time with you.”

Dekker pivoted. “Don’t you think I want that? I just can’t forget his harsh words.”

“That happened years ago.” She slammed her hand on the table. “Stop torturing him.”