But he was also more than a little afraid of what he might find while patrolling the park.
On the advice of the Alpine Police Department, the rangers had posted notices throughout the area, advising hikers and campers of the recent deaths. The signs were carefully worded so as not to cause panic, but anyone who paid attention to the news would know about the gruesome discoveries in the park. The press hadn’t affected tourism...yet. New campers arrived every day, their packs bulging and their spirits high. Quinn could only hope that the killer had moved on; he didn’t think he could handle finding another body.
“Quinn.” He turned at the sound of his name to find his boss, Gary Thompson, standing in the doorway to his small office. Gary beckoned Quinn over and gestured for him to take a seat across from his desk.
“How you holding up?” The older man’s gray eyes were filled with genuine concern, and Quinn felt something in his belly loosen. He propped his hat on his knee and shrugged.
“I’ve been better.” Should he tell Gary about his dreams and his trouble sleeping? Or would that make it sound like he couldn’t handle his job? The thought of time off with nothing but his thoughts for company frightened him, so he kept his mouth shut.
“I imagine you have.” Gary shook his head. “Hell of a thing, these murders. I’ve never seen anything like it in my fifteen years with the National Park Service.”
Quinn was silent, mulling over his response. He really didn’t want to talk about the details of what he’d seen, but Gary wasn’t the type to gossip. “I hope they catch whoever did this soon,” he said.
Gary nodded. “You and me both. I got a call last night from some lady with the FBI. Rebecca something. She wanted to know when you’d be at work today.”
Nerves jangled in Quinn’s stomach. The police had released him last night after he’d spoken with her. Had they changed their minds? Was she coming to arrest him?
Please, not here, he thought desperately. If he was arrested inside the ranger station, in full view of his colleagues and any park visitors, his career would be over.
“If you need to take time off to help with the investigation, you’ve got it.”
It took Quinn a moment to register what Gary was saying. “I’m sorry?”
“The FBI lady made it sound like you were helping her with the investigation. If you need to take some leave, it’s fine with me.”
Quinn nodded slowly, his thoughts racing. What was Gary talking about? Rebecca had given no indication she wanted his help when they’d spoken yesterday. Was this some kind of trick, or was he simply overreacting? “I appreciate that,” he said. “I’ll talk to her and find out if it’ll be necessary.”
“We all want to catch this killer,” Gary said, rising to his feet. Recognizing the conversation was over, Quinn stood as well. “As I told the police and this FBI agent, we’ll do whatever it takes to help their investigation. You’re one of my best rangers, but we can spare you for that.”
“Thank you, sir.” The praise was unexpected, and Quinn felt both pleased and humbled at the man’s words. It was nice to know his work was appreciated, especially now when he was feeling so uncertain about things.
Quinn headed over to his desk and placed his hat next to his computer keyboard, then walked over to the coffeepot and poured himself a cup of the strong brew. He glanced at the large white board posted on the far wall as he returned to his seat. The board displayed a detailed map of the park, along with today’s weather forecast, river conditions, campsite closings and any areas of concern or issues to note. Nothing unusual jumped out—the burn ban prohibiting campfires was in effect, and the trails where he’d made his discoveries were still closed to allow the police to finish gathering evidence. Other than that, it looked like they were in for another warm day.
The bell above the door jingled, indicating a new visitor. Quinn’s desk was behind a partition, so he couldn’t see who had walked in. But he heard her voice float through the room as she returned a greeting from the front-desk attendant.
“Hello. I’m looking for Quinn Gallagher.”
“Let me check if he’s in.” The young woman who manned the desk poked her head around the corner, one eyebrow raised in query as she made eye contact with Quinn. He nodded, and she moved back to her station.
“Yes, ma’am. He’ll be out in just a minute.”
“Thank you.”
Quinn took a moment to brace himself, drawing in a deep breath. She’s not going to make a scene, he told himself. He didn’t know what more she wanted to talk about, but whatever the subject, he’d get her out of the station so they could have a bit of privacy. His coworkers were good people, but everyone was curious about the case of the two dead women. He’d rather not discuss things in front of an audience, however well-meaning they might be.
Grabbing his coffee, Quinn walked around the partition to the larger visitor’s lobby. He spied her right away, and not just because the place was otherwise empty. She was quite a sight with her long red hair pulled back into a glossy ponytail that seemed to spark in the morning sun. A pair of jeans accentuated the curve of her hips, and she wore a thin long-sleeved shirt over a tank top. The casual look threw him for a moment; the last time he’d seen her, she’d been a buttoned-up professional woman in a suit. Today she looked softer, more approachable. The kind of woman he might ask out for dinner, if he was so inclined.
He shook his head, dismissing the thought. He’d dated some in the aftermath of Ashley’s death, but nothing serious. And he certainly wasn’t about to try to go out with a woman who suspected him of murder.
He cleared his throat. “Morning,” he said.
Rebecca turned to face him. “Hi,” she said. She gestured to the informational poster hanging on the wall. “I had no idea the park is so big—it says here it’s bigger than Yosemite.”
Quinn nodded. “Yeah. A lot of people don’t realize how much diversity is here. We have more bird species than any other national park.”
A look of genuine surprise flashed across her face. “That’s impressive,” she said.
“I’m sure you aren’t here to talk about our wildlife.” He nodded at the partition and the desks beyond. “Want to come back?”
“Sounds good. Thanks.”
He led her to his desk and snagged a chair so she could sit. “Coffee?”
Rebecca shook her head. “No, thanks. I already had my boost for the morning.”
“How can I help you today?”
She glanced around before speaking, apparently wanting to make sure no one was listening. “I’d like you to take me to the sites where you discovered the bodies.” Her voice was low, and he appreciated her discretion. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who cared about keeping things as quiet as possible.
A knot formed in his gut, but he nodded. “I can do that.” He wasn’t looking forward to going back to those spots, but it made sense she’d want to see the areas. “You know all the evidence has been removed, right?”
“Yes. But
