The Anniversary by Sarah K. Stephens

Author:Sarah K. Stephens [Stephens, Sarah K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodhound Books - crime, thriller and mystery
Published: 2020-03-10T16:00:00+00:00

19

“Tea? Coffee?” Jackson asks ranger Mike.

We’re sitting around the table in our cabin. Jackson wasn’t thrilled that I wanted to ride with the park ranger, but he didn’t fight it. He’s putting on a show of being the good host now that we’re back, although he seems wary of the ranger. He kept glancing back at the two of us while he was in the kitchen searching out cups and spoons.

My husband sets a mug of coffee in front of me, and even though I thank him, I know I’m not going to drink any of it.

I didn’t say anything about Jackson to Mike on our ride over to the cabin in his jeep. He asked me a few questions about our time in the cabin and how we decided to go on that particular hike, but otherwise we rode in silence. I could barely focus on what he was saying.

I needed time to figure out what I was going to do.

I wish I could call Dani. I need her reassurance that I’m not being paranoid. But the phone reception has been non-existent every time I’ve checked since we returned from our hike, and the gray clouds looming over the mountains mean that a storm is coming.

My ability to call my friend isn’t going to get any better anytime in the near future.

Which leaves me with the park ranger as my only ally.

With a small notepad in hand, the ranger asks us to recount exactly what happened up on the mountain. “I’ll need as many details as possible for my report,” he says. “Nothing is too small or irrelevant.”

It sounds like something directly out of a cop show, and part of me wonders how often park rangers end up needing to write up reports like this. Is this really what they’re trained for?

“Did you hear that on a Law & Order episode?” Jackson asks.

I want to kick him under the table.

Looking at the ranger’s expression, he wants to do more than that.

“Maybe I should talk to your wife alone,” he says. “She was the victim, after all. You were just the bystander.” Mike’s emphasis on that last word brings a flush to Jackson’s face. I wonder if the ranger has his own suspicions about what happened to me.

Jackson falls silent.

“I’ll also need a photo of each of you for the report,” the ranger tells us. “Why don’t we do that first?” He gestures to the back wall of the kitchen, which is painted a plain white and clutter free. “Just stand over here. One at a time.”

I don’t look at Jackson to commiserate about whether or not this is strange. Instead, I go over and stand against the wall and stare straight ahead at the ranger. He pulls out his phone, takes something off his keychain, and types in a code to unlock the phone.

“What is that?” Jackson asks. He’s still seated at the table, a steaming mug of coffee in front of him. “Why not store your fingerprint like everybody else?”

Mike raises his phone and snaps a picture of me.

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