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“Laredo. It’s me.”
“What’s up?”
“Mike and I just left Ryan’s place. We’re figuring to go back to the training site. You in?”
“Hell yeah. I’ll call Coop.”
***
In the distance, Mike followed the horizon where the mountains met a blue sky. Clouds so low, they swallowed a good portion of green making the tips look like archways winding to heaven. He loved the country. What he wouldn’t give for even a little corner of the Wimer land. He dreamed of a place like Shep’s. A big house, comfortable, with a window large enough to see the landscape of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Nothing was prettier than the forest green in the spring, the orange and gold leaves in the fall, or the snow-capped mountains along the Parkway in wintertime. The Wimer property ran in the opposite direction, toward the Shenandoah Mountain. It would be a perfect place for a stretch of land.
As Jared sped down the road, a fresh country breeze whooshed through the open window.
“There’s the turnoff,” Mike said, pointing to a side road.
Two miles down the lane, another turn took them to the spot of the training site. Jared’s Dodge bumped along the rutted road.
“Better back up, man. I think you missed one,” Cooper said.
“Yeah, Jared. I’d like to keep my teeth from cracking together.”
“Pussies.”
Laredo flipped him the bird.
As the truck crested a hill, Mike saw a big sign. Posted. Keep out. To the right of it was another one. This means you.
Jared pulled next to the yellow tape, which sectioned off a huge chunk of land a good two hundred yards from the house. What was left of it, anyway.
The guys climbed from the truck.
“Damn. There’s shit everywhere,” Cooper said as he slammed his door.
Laredo whistled through his teeth. “I don’t remember the house being in the trees.”
“With everything going on that day, we all missed a lot.” Mike took in the debris still scattered about. Not only did the tape contain the strewn pieces of the house, but a perimeter had been set up enclosing fifty yards of nothing beyond the wreckage. He figured that was to keep anyone from getting too close.
“Let’s go.” Jared held up a length of caution tape and motioned for the others to climb under.
As Mike neared some burned lumber, the images of that day came rushing back. He saw Ryan flying through the air, heard roaring in his ears just before men shouted and scurried into action. There had been black all around, he couldn’t see ten feet in front of him. Flames, thunder, shadows, then outlines of men. Confusion racking his brain. Adrenaline kicking in when he needed to act.
“You okay, Hoss?”
He jerked his head. “I’m fine, pup. Worry about yourself.” He’d spoken sharper than he’d intended. But a man didn’t like to admit to weakness.
“We all know we’re not supposed to be here, so don’t touch anything. If you do, use gloves.” Jared produced a bag of latex gloves.
“Where the hell did you get those?”
“Out of my ass. You want any or not?”
Cooper shrugged. “Just saying, I didn’t see you get them out of the truck.”
“None of us were paying attention to anything other than this mess.” Mike spoke to Cooper, trying to make up for his sharpness earlier. “If you see anything suspicious, call out. Just be careful.”
“Come on, Hoss. We’re out of grade school.”
The kid may have worn a devil-may-care grin, but he knew the ropes. Cooper wasn’t afraid of anything and he rushed head-first into any situation. Not without caution. He used his training and handled himself with expertise.
