FIVE
Jim Raymond had sold insurance, and his face was on billboards all over the county.
Stunned, Jack stared down at Jim’s lifeless body. A few nuances caught his attention and spiked his suspicions. The man had taken a fatal fall. Had he been pushed or had he been murdered and then his body dumped here, of all places? In millions of acres of national forest, some designated wilderness regions, Jim’s body might never have been found if a SAR team hadn’t been dispersed to find those twins.
Jack hated the way his thoughts automatically went to the worst-case scenario, but his experience in law enforcement had paved the way for a thousand possible circumstances surrounding Jim’s demise to rush through Jack’s mind. He wanted the truth about what happened.
He moved back to his pack to grab water. Where was the deputy coroner anyway? While he drank, he reined in his chaotic thoughts. Seeing Terra for the first time in years had affected him in ways he hadn’t expected. Even after a haggard day of searching, the woman could turn heads. Her dark hair was pinned up under a blue Grayback County SAR cap. Her blue eyes shone bright in her beautiful, tanned face. He’d seen in her gaze almost immediately that she’d lost her innocent, hopeful look and now instead held the sober air of experience. The harsh realities of life and time in law enforcement would do that.
Shoving aside the unbidden thoughts about Terra, Jack followed her when she joined the deputies who stood by the trees a few yards away from the body. At the same moment, Case Haymaker returned, emerging from the woods.
“What are you doing back?” Terra asked.
He shrugged. “The others took off at the trailhead. I figured you’d still be here. And besides, a body found in the national forest in my area, I want to know what’s going on. The last thing we need in this county, in this national forest, is a murder.”
Jack stiffened his back. “No one said anything about murder.”
“We’re all thinking it looks like foul play, though,” Case said. “Be honest about it, at least.”
“Falls can happen for any number of reasons. The deputy coroner will tell us the cause of death. In the meantime, we don’t need more people stomping around the—”
“Crime scene.” Haymaker again.
What’s your problem?Jack bit back his retort and said nothing. The sheriff’s department would investigate, but they also worked with other agencies. Let Haymaker think what he wanted for now. Jack wasn’t in the mood to get into it with him.
“And in that case, you might need our help to search for a killer,” Haymaker continued.
“Case, please.” Terra’s expression remained guarded. “We’re all uptight right now. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
Haymaker opened his mouth as if to protest her simple plea. Jack stared at the man, and fortunately, the officer appeared to think better of a retort in front of witnesses.
Jack needed space and would normally walk away, but no way was he leaving. Was that how Haymaker felt? The way the man kept close to Terra and frequently glanced her way, Jack got the feeling Haymaker’s presence had more to do with her.
“There’s no need for so many of us to wait here with the body,” Jack said. “I’ll stick around. You guys have been out all day searching for the twins. You probably ran out of water long ago. Head home. The coroner will be here soon with his own contingency to assist him.”
“What about you?” Haymaker asked. “One of us could stay and you could go back.”
“I want to get the coroner’s initial reaction.” Jack could be the detective assigned to investigate.
Haymaker shared a look with Terra. “Come on, let’s go.”
“I’m staying,” she said. “But you should go.”
“You sure?” he asked.
“Yes.”
He frowned and shook his head as he turned to leave. The two other deputies were already heading out.
Though Jack had asked her to remain behind earlier, he’d simply wanted her assessment. And okay, maybe if he was being honest with himself, he’d wanted a few moments alone with Terra Connors, the woman he’d once loved. He shouldn’t allow his personal thoughts and actions to overlap with his professional world. But he had a strong feeling that would be a struggle, and in that case, Jack should encourage Terra to go too. He wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to face more time alone with her, considering their shared past. Still, that had been years ago, and he hoped she had moved on and let go. Maybe he was asking too much to think she hadn’t held a grudge, because he certainly still held one against himself and his actions. Nor could he ever tell her the reasons for his actions—that would hurt her too much.
When the deputies and Haymaker were out of earshot, he said, “You didn’t have to stay, you know.”
“And leave you alone out here in these millions of acres that I know so well?” A hint of a smile edged her lips to take the bite out of her sarcasm.
“The sheriff might come too. Maybe my sergeant.” He wasn’t sure who to expect next, or if he would be assigned to investigate if this turned out to be a crime. Whatever. Someone just get here, and soon.
Why did you really stay behind?“Are you okay?” he asked.