Page 139 of Split You Open

“Ledger, come in,” I snap over the radio as I finish locking up The Shop for the evening.

It took me way too long to finish up with the customers.

The line had been never-ending and if I wasn’t ringing up people, I was helping carry wood out to trucks, or grabbing stock out of the back. There hadn’t been time to warn the others until now.

I fumble with the keys until I manage to shove them into the lock and twist.

Immediately, I pull the keys free from the back door of The Shop and look around me for any sign of trouble. If someone is out there watching me, I would know. We have trail cameras pointed at the back of The Shop. Still, I can’t help but look around, anyway.

As I hurry around to the front of the building, I get feedback over the walkie talkie.

“What’s up, Santi?” Ledger asks.

“We had a visitor today.”

I want to say more but Ledger’s in Rhett’s zone today and Wes is in his. With so many employees around, I need to remain vague. Opening the driver’s door of the truck, I hop in and toss my laptop into the passenger seat. Luckily, I don’t need to say more. Ledger’s seemed to have picked up on my urgency.

“Meet me up at the cabin,” Ledger growls.

“Already on my way.”

There’s more feedback, then Wes responds, “Need me to join you?”

“No, stay where you are until I get more information,” Ledger replies.

My tires spin as I reverse out of the parking lot and head up the winding gravel drive to the cabin. Ledger’s already waiting in the backyard for me, tense and expecting. Rhett and Blair are there too, looking just as stressed as I feel.

“I didn’t get a name, number or anything, but he was asking for you,” I tell Ledger as I hurry over to them after I’m done parking.

“What time did he show up?” Ledger demands.

“What did he look like?” Blair asks.

“Did you get his license plate number?” Rhett chimes in.

“He came in around two. He was a tall black guy, with nice shoulders, and eyes that felt like they could suck out my soul. And no,” I answer quickly.

Ledger nudges his head toward the picnic table. “Let’s pull up the security feed.”

The four of us head over to the large table. Sitting down, I open my laptop and slip into Gnarly Pine’s security feeds. It takes a second to flip through the short videos but then I find the one I’m looking for.

“Here it is,” I announce.

Behind me, the others gather close. Turning the laptop around, I press play and let them see the interaction between me and this stranger. The video feed lags a little but the picture is clear, and I shiver as the man steps forward as the fire chief grabs his bag and leaves me at the counter.

The minute the man’s face becomes visible, Ledger takes a step back with a sharp inhale. Then he’s bellowing.

“FUCK! What is he doing here?”

Both Rhett and I jump, surprised by the reaction.

“What?” Rhett demands anxiously. His hand instinctually goes to the gun on his hip. “Who is that?”

“Satan, probably,” I mutter.

“That,” Ledger snarls as he wipes his hand down his face. “Is⁠—”

“My dad!” Blair squeals with delight.