“Ranger Rand,” Dale spat as he hurried over. “I heard there was some kind of unfortunate accident with Cameron.”
“Yes. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you.”
“How?” Dale waved an irritated hand as he cut Joe off in mid sentence. “How the hell did it happen?”
“We’re researching that as we speak. Dr. Cartman took the body over to Lake for some more tests. We should know in a day or two.”
“Can I see the body?” Dale read the expression spreading across Joe’s face. “What is it?”
Joe took a look over his shoulder at the gathering crowd of employees and even a few tourists. He placed a firm hand on Dale’s shoulder and guided him out the front entrance and down the stairs, shooting Andy a look at the top of the stairs to signal that he wanted some privacy.
“Your man’s body was completely void of fluids. Dried out beyond anything I’ve ever seen.”
“What do you mean, dried out? Like a fucking piece of beef jerky?” Dale was holding back his rage, reminding himself that this man hadn’t done a thing to Cameron. But even with a mental roadblock, his anger began to bubble and grow, spilling over the barrier of rational thinking.
“His skin flaked off like dandruff, all over his body.” Joe could see the redness in Dale’s face. “They’re going to run every test they can to give us an answer. I promise you, we’ll get to the bottom of this.”
Dale nodded, clenching and releasing his fists over and over, deflating his anger as he would an air mattress. In its place was overwhelming remorse. He’d lost two men, good men, in just a matter of days. A dark depression began to build, hanging over him like the dark clouds of the fire they were working so desperately to contain. But unlike the fire, he’d have to fight this growing darkness alone.
“What’s happening here?” Dale looked close to tears. “I heard about the two employees that disappeared, same day as Paul. I mean, is this normal?”
“No, not in my experience.” Joe wanted a drink so bad, to step away from this uncomfortable situation to slip into the bottle weighing heavy against his breast. He slipped his shaking hands into his pants pockets. Hiding his addiction was becoming harder and harder, and the last thing this poor man needed was to lose what little faith he had in Joe’s ability to help. “I promise you, I will find out what happened to your man.”
“You’d better.” Dale turned and left, heading off across the parking lot and past the cabins.
Joe watched him walk up the trail toward the remainder of his unit somewhere in the woods. He prayed all his men would be there when he got back.
25
I
t had been three days since she’d been able to relax. Kelly sat on a long wooden bench across from Old Faithful, waiting patiently for the spout of water to live up to its name. She’d been sitting there for the better part of two hours, waiting for something she’d seen a hundred times. There was a lot of comfort in watching the geyser, sitting across from nature for a show. That was all a load of bull and she knew it, but she told herself she was here because she wanted to be and not out of fear; especially not because the bench offered a great, if not a little too distant, view of all the commotion. She’d sat and watched the doctor’s car pull in, shortly followed by an ambulance, then a ranger’s truck. Then finally, to cover all departments of emergency services, the fireman had briskly walked across the parking lot and into the Inn. Shortly after entering, he came back outside and had some heated words with Ranger Rand. Kelly was too far away to hear them, but the fireman’s body language spoke volumes. She felt bad for the fireman, watching him take the long walk across the parking lot and into the woods, his head down the entire way. Bad news floated about a person like a red balloon.
Kelly resisted the urge to get up from her seat and take a stroll over to the Inn, fighting her curiosity. She knew someone had died, or was at the very least really hurt. You didn’t call out the cavalry unless there was a reason. Besides, Sonia was working in the ice cream parlor and Kelly knew she’d be all up in their business. Sonia was the nosiest little busybody Kelly had ever had the pleasure of knowing. A smile spread across her face as she pictured Sonia in the bathroom with a pad and paper, her feet pulled up to hide her presence, scribbling down juicy gossip that would one day land her a job with those supermarket tabloids. It’s always nice to be good at something, but unfortunately Kelly’s talent was running; her passion really. And since the disappearance of Doug and Rowena she hadn’t dared venture out into the woods with her iPod.
Kelly returned her attention to the geyser as it began spitting water into the air. She couldn’t take her morning run, but at least nature had made its beautiful splendor available for even the laziest of tourists. Kelly looked to her left and then to her right, wondering if this was the first time in God knew how many years when only one person had been present for an eruption.
When the geyser had settled back down, Kelly stood, stretching her back. Sitting on a hard piece of wood for so long had a habit of putting one’s ass to sleep. She hopped up and down to rid herself of any pins and needles before heading down the wooden boardwalk toward the Inn. All the emergency vehicles had left the parking lot and there was no one lingering about. Kelly went through the main entrance and saw Jessie behind the front desk, talking on the phone. Kelly headed toward the ice cream parlor, but the glass doors were shut. It was only ten minutes past five, four hours too early to close up shop. She shrugged and headed down the first hallway of rooms, stopping in her tracks before the first door. Yellow tape stretched from side to side, blocking anyone’s entrance. Obviously this had been the focus of today’s excitement. Kelly nodded to herself and continued on down the hallway to the stairwell, taking the exit outside. How long could one stand and stare at a door anyway? It’s not like it would tell you anything other than: “I’m a door and I have yellow tape.”
“Hey!”
Kelly turned and was so very thankful to see Sonia. She was standing opposite two very large guys and waved Kelly over with a blue Frisbee in her hand. Kelly smiled, knowing Stew would be pissed if he came out and saw his girl consorting with such a crowd, but that’s just how Sonia was. She was cute, busty, and loved being looked at; a huge tease, but at least she knew it.
“This is Edward and Phillip,” Sonia introduced the boys as Kelly walked up. She threw the Frisbee to the guy nearest her and gripped Kelly by the hand, pulling her away from the boys.
“What the hell? I thought we were playing,” Phillip said, standing with his shirt off and his hands signaling his confusion.
“Bye boys,” Sonia yelled over her shoulder as she and Kelly walked off, giving them a cute little wave. She turned to Kelly and they both shared a laugh. Sometimes it was just too much fun being a girl. “We have much to discuss.”
Sonia led them past the employee cabins to the employee dining room, which was connected to the employee bar. They stood in a very brief line, showed their badges, and received a tray of what once may have been food; something they were trying to pass off as meatloaf and garlic mashed potatoes, but at least it was hot. Kelly sat across from Sonia and eagerly drank her carton of chocolate milk. This was a treat to her. She usually stayed away from all dairy products, which had a way of upsetting her stomach. It was torture to someone working in an ice cream parlor. But today she needed it. Chocolate milk had been her favorite treat since she was a little girl; fond memories of standing on a stool next to her nana in the kitchen, watching her mix in the cocoa and being allowed the great big girl honor of stirring it herself.
“Kind of dead in here,” Sonia whispered across the table, holding a spoonful of garlic mashed potatoes below her nose. “Where is everyone?”
“If they’re eating this stuff, then they’re probably in the infirmary.” Kelly laughed, but Sonia only managed a weak smile. “I’m sure everyone is either jumping ship due to the lack of business, or they’re probably out doing something fun.” Kelly took a bite of her food, remembering why she’d been looking for Sonia in the first place. “Oh!” Kelly said with a full mouth of food, nearly spitting it to the table. She smiled, chewed, and continued. “What the hell happened in there today?”
“Oh my God! You didn’t hear yet?”
“Will you cut out the foreplay and just tell me?” Kelly tapped the table in agitation.
“That Polish chick, Natasha something, ran out of the first room in the hall screaming her head off. I came out from the shop and saw Jessie holding her in her arms as she bawled her freaking eyes out.” Sonia was a little overjoyed retelling the events, enjoying the spread of good gossip; drama she’d actually been able to witness herself. “Then all these medical people came in and some rangers. And like forty minutes later they take someone out in a body bag!”
“Who was it?”
“Some fireman that had gotten injured or something.”
“What did he die of?” Kelly leaned across the table, wanting to keep the juicy details between them.
“I don’t know, but they all looked pretty grossed out.” Sonia leaned back and nodded, crossing her arms over her chest with satisfaction.
Kelly wondered when the last time such an odd thing had occurred in a hotel. Being smack dab in the woods allowed for some unusual circumstances, but lately things had been getting a little too coincidental—the fire, disappearances, and finally someone’s death. Kelly became uneasy, feeling overexposed in this large cafeteria with no one in it other than a boy and a girl four tables down. It was all very odd since they were right in the heart of dinnertime and the meal was free.
“Let’s get out of here.” Kelly loaded her trash onto her tray.
“Where do you want to go?” Sonia quickly ate the last two bites of her meatloaf.
“I need a drink,” Kelly told her friend with a nod.
Sonia smiled, gripping her tray and carrying it over to the dishwashing station, eager to leave the drab interior of the dining room behind for the noisy darkness of the bar just down the hall. Kelly led the way, holding open the swinging double doors to the hallway and letting in the classic rock music blaring through the wall down the hall. This time Sonia held the door open, stepping aside with a slight bow as Kelly walked by into the bar. Sonia’s smile faltered as she saw Stew sitting at a table in the back, empty glasses scattered about the tabletop.
“What’s wrong, honey?” Sonia pulled her chair beside Stew’s and took hold of his hand.
“My roommate packed up and left this morning.”
“I thought you didn’t like him.” Kelly took her seat across the table, holding up her hand for the bartender to bring her a pitcher.
“That’s not the point.” Stew took the last shot glass full of tequila and held it. “A toast. To one shitty summer spent in the woods.” He threw back his hand and downed the booze. Stew grimaced as it travelled down his throat. “Let’s have some more. Hey!” Stew waved his hand to the bartender. “Another round for me and my ladies.”
Kelly wasn’t really comfortable being referred to as Stew’s girl, but if he was willing to buy she’d gladly accept his generosity. But she felt guilty all the same. The poor guy was taking this all very hard, feeling responsible in some odd way for the recent disappearances of their friends. She looked up from the table and was taken aback, shocked to see tears in Stew’s eyes.
“Now Janice and Marco.” He shook his head, lowering it to the table. The room was spinning from all the alcohol.
“What about them?”
Stew lifted his head and looked Kelly straight in the eyes, a look that was almost sober. His eyes were red from tears and a lack of sleep. “They both didn’t show up for work today. And that prick of a roommate Marco said he hasn’t been back since the other day. We all know they’re not screwing around in Janice’s cabin.”
“There’s always a chance they’re camping. Or decided to leave town together.”
“Don’t be a moron, Kelly. Janice isn’t going camping and we all know it. Besides, neither one can leave town without a car.” Stew hit the table with his fist, startling both Sonia and Kelly. “What the hell is happening around here?”
“This isn’t happening.” Sonia mumbled, shivering while staring through the table. “Not to me. Not to us.” She looked up, pleading with Kelly to give them some good news. “Why?”
“I don’t know what’s going on.” Kelly agreed with Stew, but she couldn’t bring herself to admit to it. Thinking something so horrific had happened to more of her friends bordered on insanity. The odds must be astronomical. “We have to stay positive here, at least for now.”
“Well, we can’t go to the goddamn rangers for help.” Stew’s face grew red, anger welling up inside him, ready to explode like the geyser outside. “I hate that stupid son of a bitch!” Stew hit the table again, knocking three shot glasses to shatter on the floor.
“Hey!” the bartender yelled. “I think you’ve had enough.”
“You’re cutting me off?” Stew stood and extended his chest in a display of drunken aggression.
“I suggest you escort your friend out before I ban you all.” The bartender, a short woman with an oval frame, possibly in her mid-fifties, stood her ground against Stewart’s intimidation. “What are you gonna’ do big boy?”
“Come on.” Sonia stood, linking her arm around Stew’s waist to pull him toward the door. “I’ll see you later Kelly,” Sonia said over her shoulder, struggling to get her man moving.
“This is total bullshit.” Stew pointed his huge finger at the little woman, but he’d started to move, shuffling his feet until he was out the door.
“Sorry about that,” Kelly apologized to the bartender as she came over with a tray and a towel to clean up the glass. “Some of his friends have gone missing,” Kelly said as she got out of her chair and knelt on the ground, helping the older woman clean up the glass. “He’s really a sweet guy.”
“They always are, honey, until you get them sauced.” The bartender, Nina by her nametag, gave Kelly an all-knowing wink before heading back to the bar. Her demeanor told her it was water under the bridge; just another Wednesday night in the life of a bartender. A moment later she returned with a full pitcher.
“Hey, there you are.” Richard came through the door, giving her a long hug and a warm kiss. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“Did you hear about Janice and Marco?” Kelly took her seat.
“Yeah.” Richard took a deep breath, rubbing his forehead where a nasty headache had begun to surface. “I did.”
“Have you heard anything?”
“Not a word. No one even knows where they were when it happened.”
“Hey, nothing happened. They’re just missing.”