Page 2 of Manhunt in the Narrows (Red Rock Murders #1)

Ranger Green didn’t like him one bit.

Elias Broyles faced a collection of national park rangers in Zion’s visitors’ center of all places, very aware of Green’s desire to make him all but invisible. She’d kept her gaze solely honed out the shuttle window the entire ride back. Going out of her way to avoid him, it seemed.

Despite floor-to-ceiling windows punctured throughout the single-story structure, the scuffed brown cement and exposed support beams urged him to seek out more light.

As if the natural woods and tones could close in on him at any time.

The half walls showcasing things like Zion’s geological layers and something called Weeping Rock didn’t help with the open concept his body craved.

A ceiling fan over the information desk failed to cool the space, but that was what he got for overdressing.

“Rangers, the FBI is in need of our expertise.” Risner hiked his thumbs into his belt and puffed out his chest like one of those birds Elias had seen on the Animal Channel.

Except the man had the uncanny resemblance to a rat with beady dark eyes and a thin face.

His skin wasn’t as deeply tanned as the rest of his rangers, but the man worked hard to give the impression he’d serve right alongside them in any situation.

Truthfully, Elias wasn’t sure the man had walked these trails in months.

Risner rocked up onto the toes of his boots.

“As you know by now, a body was reported by a hiker about an hour ago. Ranger Green responded and called me for assistance. From the look of things it seems to be a case of foul play. Agent Broyles, tell us what you need.”

Foul play? Did people still talk like that?

Elias caught sight of Ranger Green’s focus from the back row of wooden benches meant for visitors to sit and watch an introductory movie about the park.

As far from him as she could get. Captivating, ethereal eyes—the color of rare jade and just as cold—centered on him beneath that iconic ranger hat.

She hadn’t said a word since his request for assistance back at the death scene.

That distance was still firmly between them now, though he couldn’t imagine what he’d done to earn her dislike in the hour since he’d stepped into the park.

She’d kept a level head after confronting the body.

Something he certainly hadn’t been able to do his first time in the field.

But maybe this wasn’t her first time. Or maybe she just didn’t like his face.

He couldn’t do anything about that. Besides, he wasn’t here to make friends. He’d come for redemption.

“Rangers, our victim has been identified thanks to the ID in his jacket pocket. As far as we can tell, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and not specifically targeted by his killer. His remains are now in the possession of your law enforcement unit and are being escorted to the Kane County medical examiner to determine how long ago and how he was killed, but we need more information. That’s where you come in.

There was a witness at the scene, but we need to know if our victim was traveling or hiking with anyone else in his party and what drew the attention of our killer. ”

“You just said he wasn’t targeted.” Ranger Green notched her chin higher, almost daring him to contradict himself to a room full of her colleagues. He had a feeling this wasn’t the kind of woman who would back down. “Wouldn’t your time be better spent focusing on the person who killed him?”

“You’re right. I did say that, but that doesn’t mean the killer didn’t get something he needed from his victim.

Supplies, cell phone, cash—killers need resources to survive here just as much as the rest of us.

” And they would take advantage of anyone who got in their way.

“I want to know why the killer chose this victim over the dozens of others on that trail. As for the person who killed your hiker, my partner and I have been hunting a suspect who has left two bodies in California and one in Nevada. The unsub seems to be sticking to the main freeways, targeting drivers who travel alone, then stealing their vehicles until he runs out of gas before moving on to his next victim. We don’t know where he is headed, only that the three victims’ cell phone GPS indicates they all stopped on the freeway for a brief time.

Most likely to pick up the killer. A vehicle belonging to his last victim was reported parked here at the visitors’ center early this morning. My partner is searching the van now.”

Risner raised his hand as if they were in the middle of a complicated psych lesson. “Unsub?”

“Unidentified subject.” Ranger Green leveled that compelling gaze back on Elias, and his body tightened in all the wrong places. “It means they have no idea who they’re looking for. Just that he’s leaving a trail of bodies behind him. And now he’s somewhere in the park.”

It seemed Ranger Green had educated herself in homicide investigations.

Interesting. That didn’t help keep the atmosphere in the visitors’ center from growing frenzied.

Rangers looked to one another and kept to low whispers.

“While we may not know the killer’s identity, Ranger Green managed to secure a witness at the base of the trail who reported seeing the killer shortly after the victim’s body was discovered.

We’ve got a basic description of his appearance, but nothing more.

It’s possible our unsub will try to secure another vehicle, but we have Springdale police and your law enforcement rangers at every entrance to keep him from escaping. ”

“He went up the Narrows.” Confidence bled into Ranger Green’s assessment.

That kind of intensity was hard to ignore, but he imagined it had caused her a lot of problems here in the park considering how many rangers had put physical distance between themselves and her position in the back row. Not a team player.

“We believe so, yes. A killer’s number one priority is survival.

He will do whatever it takes to avoid capture and arrest and try to wait us out.

Lucky for us, adrenaline tends to make suspects very, very stupid, and I intend to take advantage.

” Elias folded his arms over his chest. “Problem is we aren’t trained for this terrain.

I’m going to need a guide to get me up the Narrows safely while my partner takes point here to prevent the killer from leaving the park. ”

Risner clapped his hands, facing the dozen or so rangers.

“I’ve got the best rangers in the service willing to do whatever it takes to help.

Apart from Ranger Green, I’m your best bet, Agent Broyles.

Been protecting these trails for over a decade and assisted in a number of rescues.

There isn’t a single mile of park I haven’t hiked. ”

Ranger Green gathered a khaki-colored pack from near her feet and stood to leave. Slinging it over her shoulder, she didn’t bother glancing back as she extricated herself from the group. Making a quick exit for the front of the building when no one else bothered to move.

“I need someone who specifically knows the ins and outs of the Narrows.” His brain latched on to the woman who’d extracted herself in a rush.

He was trained to assess human behavior, and Ranger Green was trying to take herself out of the equation.

Elias forced his attention back to the park’s division ranger.

“When was the last time you were on the trail?”

“Oh, uh. Well, it’s been a while.” Risner’s nerves got the better of him, sucking the vibrato right from his voice. Yeah, no. Elias couldn’t rely on someone who cowered at a hint of “I’ve been managing my team more these past couple of years.”

They’d wasted enough time. Every minute he wasn’t on that trail was another opportunity their killer would slip away. Again. Elias faced off with the remaining rangers. “Who here has the most experience in the Narrows?”

“Sayles does,” one of the other rangers offered. “She hikes it every weekend like clockwork.”

Risner ducked his chin. “Unfortunately, Ranger Green doesn’t quite have the experience you’d need for your search, Agent Broyles. She’s only been working here a few months.”

“I thought you prided yourself on training the best rangers in the National Park Service,” Elias said. “If Ranger Green has the most experience on the trail, she’s the one I want guiding me during this manhunt.”

Risner’s jaw worked back and forth before he raised his hands in surrender. “Of course. Whatever the FBI needs. I’ll get her for you.”

“Not necessary. She just left. I’m sure I can find my way around a parking lot.

” His words sounded a lot more defensive than he’d meant, but there was something about the district ranger Elias didn’t like.

He shoved through the visitors’ center doors and sucked in a breath at the view.

Grand red rock cliffs stood sentinel from every direction, bright orange as midday sun arced overhead.

It was enough to remind him how inconsequential a single human was on this planet.

Movement through the half-empty lot caught his eye.

There one moment. Gone the next. Elias picked up his pace, ignoring the commotion around a built-out van two rows over as his partner ripped the vehicle apart for evidence.

It took less than two minutes to catch up with the woman determined to get as far from him as possible. “Ranger Green, hold up.”

She slowed her escape but didn’t bother turning to face him. Head tipped back onto her shoulder, she’d obviously hoped to get out of the lot unscathed. Ebony hair cascaded across lean shoulders uniformed in a gray button-up before she confronted him. “Agent Broyles.”

The defensiveness in those two words shook him to his core. “Word is you have the most experience in the Narrows. I’d like you to assist me during this investigation.”

She paled at the statement. According to her expression, it most definitely was not a compliment. “There are far more qualified rangers I’m sure are happy to tag along during your search.”

“No. There aren’t. I need to get up that trail fast without dying, and according to your colleagues, you hike the trail every weekend.

” He wasn’t going to budge. It would be her, or he’d have to hike with Risner.

Not exactly his idea of a good time. “You have up-to-date experience I could use to find the man who killed a hiker in your park this morning.”

Ranger Green stepped into him, all fury and barely leashed control pinching her eyes at the corners. Even a whole head shorter than him, she stood there as a one-woman army. “Did Risner put you up to this?”

“Excuse me?” He had the urge to step back to avoid whatever hell was about to rain down on him, but he was an FBI agent, for crying out loud. He could handle one little ranger.

“Is this another one of his pranks?” she asked. “To see how far he can push me before I quit? Because I’m telling you right now, it won’t work. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Though he wanted to know exactly what the district ranger had done to get a rise out of her like this. “I really just don’t want to die on that trail, and you seem like the kind of person who can make sure that doesn’t happen. Please.”

The heat in her expression drained, but Ranger Green didn’t add that distance back between them. She looked him up and down, taking in his jeans and T-shirt and tennis shoes. “You’re going to need gear and supplies. We’ll leave as soon as you’re ready.”

“You don’t like me very much, do you?” His question had nothing to do with this investigation and everything to do with his own curiosity for a woman who clearly anticipated a battle from everyone around her.

“I don’t have to like you during your manhunt.” Ranger Green headed for a beat-up four-door sedan and tossed her pack inside. “I just have to keep you alive.”