Page 17 of Far From Sherwood Forest

Turning down the road that leads to the office, I try to remember that I’m on patrol and need to stay focused. It’s not that this job means much to me, but I’d rather not lose it before I’m done playing with Robin.

That’s exactly what it is.Playing. Like how a lion plays with its food before eating it.

Robin has no idea what’s coming.

My afternoon patrol is almost over, so I pull into the lot for the office. I scowl when I see the red truck parked in its usual spot. Brian is another ranger here, and, well…I fucking hate him.

He’s not a bad guy. Quite the opposite. He’s always too damn cheery, smiling at everyone and everything. Always wanting tochat.

So, naturally, I despise him.

Slamming my door a little harder than intended, I march inside, hoping Brian is either in his own office or too busy talking to the receptionist to pay me any attention. When I get inside, heishaving a conversation with Laura, but he stops in the middle of it to look up and flash me that smile that’snearlyas obnoxious as Robin’s.

“Hey, Henry!” he says. “Laura and I were just talking about the spring dates for next year.”

“Sounds like it can be an email,” I tell him as I keep walking. “I’ve got some other work to get done.”

With that, I step into my office and shut the door.

Truth be told, I was never much of a people person before being thrust into this world against my will. Add two years of being completely and utterly alone on top of that—never seeing or hearing or speaking to another human, not once—I just don’t know how to be around them anymore.

My cell rings, and I take it out of my pocket as I sit down behind my desk. The name of the one person I don’t seem to have as much of that issue with pops up on the screen. She called to see how I was settling into the new park about two weeks after I transferred, but I haven’t heard from her since.

I answer. “Hey, Ivy.”

“Hey, big guy! How’s it going?”

“Everything’s fine.”

“You found him, didn’t you?”

My brow draws tight. “How’d you know?”

“A hunch. I’m pretty good at those. Not to mention, every time you talk, it sounds like you’ve been stuck in line at the DMV for an entire year. You don’t sound as grumpy today.”

I’m not sure how to respond to that, so I don’t, offering little more than a grunt.

“So?” she asks eagerly. “Are you going to tell me how it went?”

“You’re pretty good at hunches. You tell me.”

She hums. “Well, since I haven’t heard any reports about a body being found at your park, I’m guessing you didn’t kill him.”

I lean back in my chair. “I have other plans.”

“Oh, come on! Share all the juicy details.”

“Why are you so interested?”

I know she understands the reason behind my need for revenge, but the fact that she actively supports and encourages it throws me off a little. Maybe back home it wouldn’t be as strange, but here? Where she’d be considered an accessory and go to prison?

I wouldn’t say IlikeIvy—I wouldn’t say that aboutanyone—but I wouldn’t want her to go to prison because of me.

“Because! It’s like a feud out of time. LikeRomeo and JulietorPride and Prejudice.”

My face scrunches in a grimace. “Why the hell would you use those?”

“Okay, so it’s more violent and bloody and…less kissing. Unless…”