AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thanks, Lane.”
“How, exactly, did you get pulled into this?”
“The girl can help me with a time-sensitive case I’m working on. We agreed to swap favors. It would be a huge help if you came through for me on this.”
“Happy to take a look. I’ll consider it pro bono work,” Lane said. “But if I turn up anything, you come work for me.”
“If you’re able to figure this out, I’ll put in my two weeks that very day.”
“Careful what you promise,” Lane said.
PART V
Revelations
“This killer has been at it for much longer than ten years.”
—Lane Phillips
Camp Montague Appalachian Mountains
The day after he hid behind Jerry Lolland’s cabin and concocted his plan was the start of Trek Week, the time each summer when the entire camp made a three-day, fifty-mile, round-trip journey down the Muscogee River. Each night, the kids of Montague set up camp next to the riverbank with the supplies they brought with them. Counselors were present but the fifth-years were in charge. They were responsible for assigning the campers to canoes, for leading them all downriver, for setting up camp each night, and for providing dinner. It was a coming of age for those who had been with Camp Montague the longest, and a chance for the fifth-years to show off their years of experience.
Only two counselors accompanied the campers on the three-day trek, and they were very much in the background. Their presence was nearly undetectable, for the purpose of the expedition was to build unity among the kids and allow leaders to rise to the top. He and the other fifth-years had spent the previous week making plans, and now they were executing the departure from camp. They had all the students assigned to groups and everyone was in their canoes—three to a boat, for a total of thirty canoes. He made sure she was in his group.
It was just after 3:00 p.m. on Monday by the time they made it to the first base camp. It was an hour later before everyone had their canoes secured on dry land, their tents assembled, and a campfire roaring. Barbecue grills were present at each of the base camps and the fifth-years got busy lighting the charcoal and preparing dinner. By 8:00 p.m. everyone was fed and they started their nightly ritual around the campfire just as if they were back at the main camp. He took a seat next to her and smiled.
“How’re you doing?”
It was the first time they’d spoken all summer.
“Good,” she said.
“Blisters?”
She looked at her hands. “Yeah, a couple small ones.”
“We have gloves. I’ll give you some in the morning. And some balm. You should put it on tonight before bed.”
“Thanks.”
“Hey,” he said, looking into the fire. “I, uh, saw you last night.”
She looked at him.
“I saw you with Mr. Lolland. I saw him take you to his cabin.”
She directed her gaze back to the fire.
“Did he touch you?”
No answer.
“It’s okay,” he said. “You can tell me.”
She shook her head. “He told me not to tell anyone or he would hurt me.”
“That’s not true. He’s not going to hurt you anymore.”
