Shadow Peak by S. L. Hansen

Author:S. L. Hansen [S. L. Hansen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: S. L. Hansen
Published: 2024-04-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Greenwater, Washington, October 8

It was late in the day by the time Kenzie could join the others in the park. With multiple fires burning around the northeast corner of the park, they had established a wildland fire resource station in nearby Greenwater, Washington. The locals called it fire camp, and it was less than ten miles from where Kenzie and Derek had originally met Chief York examining DEA Agent Martinez’s burning SUV.

During the drive from Seattle, the sky had become increasingly smoke filled. Evidence of the fires burning around her, and exactly what her investigation didn’t need right now. She was finally making some headway on Nico. She glanced at her phone. It had been radio silence from Riley for two days now. Maybe the captain’s computer genius had finally hit a wall.

Kenzie sighed and strode into the small building, looking for her people. She let out a jaw cracking yawn and spotted Derek, Sydney, and Lucas, who looked as tired as her. Everyone was busting their ass to find Tori. The trio gathered around a small table with steaming cups in front of them. She didn’t have to cross the room to know they were drinking tea, hot chocolate, and coffee, respectively. Bodie lay with his head on Sydney’s boot.

Owen York sat at a table near the door, surrounded by maps as he commanded the wildland fire resources across the area. “Agent Harper. Good to see you.”

“Chief,” Kenzie said. “What’s the latest update on the fires?”

“It’s not good.” He’d aged a dozen years since she first met him five days ago. “After the dry thunderstorms earlier this week, we now have multiple fires burning in the national park and the surrounding forests. Fryingpan Fire is burning west of Summerland. The Border Fire is now big enough to be named, on the northern border of the park. And outside the park, Lightning Creek Fire is burning almost due east of us here.”

Kenzie chewed her lip. York had just described a network of fires essentially burning a semicircle around their search grid. “What’s the outlook?”

“It’s dry, but manageable. For now.” York grimaced and rubbed his chest.

“Then why do you look so worried?”

“Because we haven’t had conditions this dry up here in decades. The old timers can’t remember a time it was this dry. The whole place is a powder keg.”

“And all it’ll take is a single spark,” Kenzie murmured.

“Exactly. Like a dumbass camper who thinks a fire ban doesn’t apply to them,” York said. “At least NPS has closed backcountry campsites.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to get ready for my update here in a few minutes. I’ll see you later.”

Kenzie contemplated her team across the room and tried to predict how each would respond to the growing danger from the fires. Lucas was fearless, probably a bad trait the entire Harper clan carried. Sydney saw adventure in everything and was young enough to not know her limits yet. Derek was the easiest to predict. Ranger Rick, Mr. Safety First, would not be happy with this development.

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