Page 5 of Dead Air (Moon Murder Mysteries)

Four

T he sound of the phone ringing stirred Niall from a beautiful dream.

He was enjoying a picnic in the small meadow on the Upper West Ridge with a sexy, bearded stranger.

Reluctantly, Niall forced his eyes open and rolled from the bed, jogging to the phone hanging by the door.

He picked up the receiver, coughing to clear his throat.

“Heya, Niall! It’s DeeDee. Just wanted to let you know that some volunteers are headed up your way and are planning to set up camp just west of you, at Blue Sky Vista.”

“I’m getting new neighbors?” Niall cheered.

His section of the park was still closed because it wasn’t unusual to have snow in April and chilly temperatures through March.

Some sections of the trail were icy or needed more maintenance than Niall could handle on his own.

Teams of three or four volunteers were permitted to hike and camp different parts of closed trails, helping to clear obstacles and inspect facilities for a weekend at a time. “I’ll keep an eye out for them.”

“Awesome. Oh, I almost forgot! You’ve got another new neighbor.

He came in yesterday afternoon, a few hours after you were here.

His name is Dr. Curn and one of the universities got a permit for him to study our salamanders for a few months.

He’s supposed to be setting up shop just below you, in the glade by marker 172. ”

“I know that spot. And I just put out some ‘Sensitive Resources’ signs a few days ago because I found some salamanders after the last storm. I’ll swing by and see if I can help.”

“You do that!” DeeDee said, a little too insistently for Niall’s comfort.

“Okay… I will?”

“Make sure you call and let us know how that goes.”

“Why? Is he weird? Am I going to want to disinfect the forest after he leaves?”

“How would you even do that?” she asked, giggling.

“I’d find a way…”

DeeDee hummed in agreement. “You would but I think we can safely say you won’t think he’s weird. Just call when you get back!” she ordered and ended the call, leaving Niall frowning at the receiver.

“You’re weird,” he said, shaking his head as he hung up.

He pondered what DeeDee and Kerry could be up to as he brushed his teeth and hair, then dressed in a long sleeved T-shirt, green cargo khakis, and his hiking boots. The glade was only a brisk fifteen minute walk down the trail so Niall grabbed a hat, water, and his walkie-talkie and set out.

Niall’s part of “the neighborhood” was on a steeper portion of the mountain.

The hiking got difficult up Niall’s way so he saw less traffic, even during the longer spring and summer holidays.

Most people avoided his section of the park unless they were advanced hikers and climbers and had more time to make the arduous trek up and back.

His job didn’t pay well and Niall was always on-call in case of an emergency, but he was on his own schedule and was his own boss, essentially.

For Niall, it was about the view and his neighbors.

It took him half a day to make the trip to the visitor’s center without his ATV but only a select few of the permanent crew and rescue staff were allowed to use them.

One of Niall’s favorite baby “hunting” spots, the glade at marker 172 was just a short, downhill hike from his cabin.

He saw the tent and the makeshift lab in the picnic shelter as soon as he entered the clearing.

There were stacks of clear bins on one of the two tables and an open laptop and a field microscope were set up on the other.

“Hello? Anybody home?” Niall called, his neck craning as he searched.

“In here!” a cheerful voice called back and the tent’s flap was thrown open so a bearded, shirtless, tattooed vision from Niall’s dreams could wave at him.

Niall offered a weak wave in return, confused as to how the other man could look so much like the hot lumberjack from the TikToks, but still somehow hotter.

He bent as he stepped out and straightened to an impressive height, but it was his broad, bare shoulders and firm, furry pecs that had Niall hearing violins as time slowed. A dark trail of hair drew Niall’s gaze lower, over tight, bunching abs and the waist of the other man’s khakis.

“You must be Ranger Gilpatrick,” he said, holding out his hand as he hurried to greet Niall. “The girls down at the visitor’s center said to shout at you if I needed help. I’m Dr. Curn, from Georgetown.”

“Hello, Dr. Shirtless.” Niall flinched and gave his head a shake.

“I mean, Dr. Bare Chest. Sorry, Dr. No Shirt. Dr. Downtown.” Niall clapped both hands over his mouth, muffling a loud shriek.

“I am so sorry . I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” he confessed with a pained wince.

He grabbed the hot, bearded doctor’s hand and shook it before he changed his mind and ran away. “Just call me Niall.”

“Right… Please call me Chance.” But he was staring at their hands and looked disoriented.

“Are you okay?” Niall asked, giving Chance’s hand a gentle squeeze.

He jumped, laughing as he nodded. “I’m great! Just a little déjà vu,” he said and waved dismissively. He seemed winded, though, and rested his hand on the table. “Have we met?”

“Have you visited Hawksbill Mountain before? I’ve been here for the last six years and I don’t make it back to civilization as often as I should. If you couldn’t already tell,” he added cheekily.

“This is my first visit, I’m ashamed to say,” Chance said, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. “Maybe it was a dream. You’ve got the most beautiful brown eyes and dimples and that smile is dangerous.”

“Me?” Niall laughed, blushing as he looked around to see if someone cooler and hotter was standing behind him. “You don’t have to sweet talk me. I’ll show you where the salamanders like to hide,” he said, causing Chance’s brows to jump.

“I was going to ask if you’d like to get a cup of coffee or…whatever it is a ranger does for fun around here.” He held up his hands. “But that would be even better.”

“I gave up coffee and alcohol when I moved here,” Niall said and gestured for Chance to follow him. “I could bring some herbal tea the next time I stop by but I’ll take you to my secret salamander spot.”

“Just a sec. Let me grab a shirt and a few things.” Chance gestured for Niall to wait and dashed back into his tent.

“You don’t have to on my account,” he replied, checking out Chance’s backside as he ducked to enter.

“I didn’t know a biologist could look like that!

” he whispered and bit into a knuckle. He checked his breath and swept a hand through his hair before Chance returned wearing a shirt and waving a notepad.

He also had a messenger bag and gave it a pat, gesturing that he was ready.

“Lead the way, Ranger Filthy.”

“Filthy? Me?” Niall pretended to be offended. “I don’t know what they told you down there about me, but I am just a simple servant of the people,” he said but they both laughed as they walked.

“They said you’re an angel but you’re in desperate need of a…man,” Chance added tactfully.

“I bet it was DeeDee who said that.”

Chance shook his head. “They both said it. They’re convinced you’re getting a little too feral and that it’s been too long since you…got laid,” he eventually admitted and mouthed an apology.

“It’s okay.” Niall shrugged. “They mean well and they know how important beards are to me.”

That got another loud laugh out of Chance. “I can also tell when a man’s brain is in the gutter, Niall.”

“You cannot.” He sniffed and tipped his chin back.

“Bet you checked my ass out as soon as I turned around.”

“Are you here to study our salamanders or flirt with me?” Niall narrowed his eyes suspiciously, for a moment wondering if DeeDee and Kerry had hired Chance as a prank.

This time, Chance shrugged and held back a branch so it wouldn’t catch on Niall’s sleeve.

“I’m capable of both. It’s rare that I’m surprised but you’re a lot cuter than I was expecting.

The girls said you were dreamy and adorable and the sweetest boy in the world and I was sure they were exaggerating. But so far, they weren’t wrong.”

“Alright,” Niall stopped them and raised a suspicious brow at Chance. “Is this a prank?” he asked, squaring up to Chance and staring him down. “Did they pay you?”

Chance’s head tilted. “Do you want to see my diplomas or read my papers?” he offered, making Niall snort.

“They’d probably go right over my head.” He turned on his heel and waved for Chance to keep up.

“Somehow, I doubt that. You seem to have a sharp but filthy mind and you know how to spot a Shenandoah salamander. Most people don’t know a Shenandoah from a red-backed salamander.”

“They’re a pretty big deal, especially up here,” Niall said with a nod at the trail.

“They’re endangered and endemic to the park’s three highest peaks.

This is the highest peak and part of the reason I’m here is to make sure their habitat isn’t disturbed.

But I’m a naturalist and I have nothing better to do than read and study.

And I don’t have electricity or cable up at my cabin,” he added with a wink.

“Some people spy on their neighbors and annoy the HOA. I spy on the mushrooms and pay attention to where all the mamas hide their baby critters in the spring.”

“That sounds far more fascinating than gossiping about your neighbors.”

“Oh, I gossip about them. Let me tell you about the raccoon who keeps sneaking into my cabin. She stole a whole box of raisins from me last week, the little fiend.”

“You should report her,” Chance suggested seriously. “Do you really think your coworkers make enough to hire me?” he asked, changing the subject, and Niall’s nose wrinkled as he considered.

“I guess it depends. Are you an actor who’s in desperate need of work, or are you a different kind of professional?” he teased but Chance groaned.

“You don’t want to know what I did to get this study funded,” he said, shivering.

“Who knew academia could be so seedy?” Niall mused and they both laughed.

“Biologists,” Chance replied with a wink. “I’ve heard that the morning’s are perfect for studying salamanders this time of year. The fog hangs around longer and it’s damp and cooler up here. The trick is finding where they like to hide.”

“Not if you’ve got me!” Niall beamed back at Chance, secretly nerding out at the opportunity to show off.

It was rare to have company, let alone someone who got as excited about humidity and salamanders as Niall did.

“There’s a wide ledge under a cliff up there that stays shady most of the day.

Most people stop for the scenic view and have no idea they’re standing right on top of one of the park’s hidden treasures.

They can’t even see the ledge some days because of the fog. ”

“Nice! Bet there’s lots of cool moss and fungi there,” Chance predicted, making Niall’s heart flutter.

“You have no idea!” he said excitedly, then turned when they heard voices as a trio of hikers appeared on the trail ahead of them.

They must have heard Niall and Chance because the woman turned and waved.

“We were told we might run into you,” she said cheerfully and yanked on one of the men’s arms. He waved as well, smiling as she dragged him with her to greet Niall and Chance.

“I’m Amanda and this is my boyfriend, Kyle.

That’s my brother, Roger.” She gestured at the man behind them, guarding a cooler.

He didn’t appear interested or as keen to meet Niall and Chance, hanging back and casting impatient snarls at his sister.

“You’re headed to Blue Sky, right?” Niall asked her and she nodded. “You’re only about an hour away. You’re going to love the view up there and it’s supposed to be a clear night so you’ll see tons of stars.”

“I can’t wait! You must be the scientist they were talking about,” Kyle said to Chance, who nodded but seemed distracted, watching Roger.

“That’s me. I’m here to study the salamanders,” he said flatly, then smiled at Amanda and Kyle. “You’ll have to let me know if you see any.”

She snickered and flapped a hand. “I wouldn’t know a salamander from a gecko, I’m afraid. I am an astronomy major, though, and looking forward to all the stars tonight.”

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before the hikers said goodbye and continued their journey.

“More déjà vu?” Niall asked Chance as they resumed their trek to the cliff and his “secret” salamander spot.

Chance was frowning and let out a distant, “Hmm?”

“That guy, Roger. You seemed bothered.”

“Bothered?” Chance shook his head. “Not at all. I just remembered something and was woolgathering. There was nothing at all remarkable about that guy, Roger.”

Niall made a dubious sound. “He might have been a little…off.”

“Off?”

“It was probably nothing or I’m being paranoid, but I got a weird vibe from him,” Niall admitted and was glad they hadn’t lingered.

“I think you should stay away from Roger.” Chance said before he brightened. “Enough about him. We were on our way to see the salamanders. I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks.”