"Go on," she said.
Hendricks shifted his weight from foot to foot, his discomfort visible in every line of his body."It's one of my colleagues.Catherine Wells.She's a ranger here—well, not here specifically, but she works the whole park system.Has access to all the facilities, all the overlooks."He paused, seeming to gather courage."She was the one assigned to patrol this area this morning."
The words landed like stones dropped into still water.Isla felt James go still beside her.
"She was patrolling here?This morning?"
"Her shift started at five AM.She was supposed to walk the upper falls trail, check on the overlooks, make sure everything was secure."Hendricks's voice dropped."But when we tried to raise her on the radio after the body was found, she didn't respond.We haven't been able to locate her."
"A ranger with access to all the parks," James said quietly."Who was specifically assigned to this location on the morning of the murder."
"And who's now missing," Isla added.She turned her full attention to Hendricks, watching his face for any sign of deception."Ranger Hendricks, what makes you think Catherine Wells might be involved?Beyond her assignment this morning?"
Hendricks's face flushed, whether from cold or discomfort she couldn't tell."I'm not saying she's guilty.I don't—I mean, I've known Catherine for three years, and she's always been..."He trailed off, searching for words."Professional.Dedicated.Really cares about the parks."
"But?"
"But she's been acting strange lately.The past few months, maybe.More withdrawn than usual.Jumpy.She's been calling in sick more often, and when she is here, she seems distracted."Hendricks paused, his brow furrowing as he searched for the right words."A couple weeks ago, I found her crying in the break room.Wouldn't tell me what was wrong.Just said she was dealing with some personal stuff and needed space."
Isla filed the information away, her mind already sorting through possibilities.Strange behavior could mean a lot of things—personal problems, financial stress, health issues.It didn't necessarily point to murder.But combined with her access to the parks and her conspicuous absence on the morning of a killing...
"Has she mentioned anything specific?Problems at home, relationship issues, anything that might explain the change in behavior?"
Hendricks shook his head."Catherine keeps to herself mostly.Doesn't talk much about her personal life.I know she lives alone—has a cabin somewhere up near Split Rock, I think.But that's about it."He hesitated."There's one other thing.Probably nothing, but..."
"Tell me."
"A few weeks back, I saw her talking to some guy in the parking lot after her shift.Older man, maybe sixties, kind of rough-looking.They seemed...intense, I guess.Like they were arguing about something.When I asked her about it later, she said it was nothing.Just someone asking for directions."Hendricks shrugged."I didn't push, but it stuck with me.Catherine doesn't usually get rattled like that."
An older man, maybe sixties, rough-looking.The description nagged at something in Isla's mind, but she couldn't quite place it.
"Would you recognize this man if you saw him again?"
"Maybe.I didn't get a great look—it was getting dark, and I was across the lot.But he had a beard, I remember that.Gray beard, kind of scraggly."
Isla felt the hair rise on the back of her neck.Gray beard.Sixties.Rough-looking.
Robert Brune was sixty-five years old.A lifetime fisherman with a grizzled beard.The Lake Superior Killer, who had been hiding somewhere in this region for the past two months.
It was probably nothing.Plenty of older men in Minnesota had gray beards.But the coincidence sat uneasily in her stomach, another thread in a tangle she couldn't yet unravel.
"Where would Catherine be now?"Isla asked."If she's not responding to radio calls, where might she have gone?"
"Her truck was parked at the ranger station when we checked, so she's still somewhere in the park.She knows this area better than anyone—grew up here, basically.There are dozens of places she could be."Hendricks's voice carried a note of apology, as if he felt responsible for not having better information."I'm sorry, I don't know if any of this matters.I just thought—when I heard about the photographers, and then this happened on her patrol, I thought someone should know."
"You did the right thing."Isla met his eyes directly, letting him see that she meant it."Ranger Hendricks, I need you to keep this conversation between us.Don't mention Catherine Wells to anyone—not your colleagues, not the other officers on scene.Can you do that?"
He nodded, some of the tension easing from his shoulders."Yes, ma'am."
"Good.Now—" Isla turned to James, their eyes meeting with the silent communication of partners who had worked together long enough to read each other's thoughts."We need to find Catherine Wells.Quietly, before she realizes we're looking."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The search for Catherine Wells took them through terrain that seemed designed to swallow people whole.
Isla followed James along the frozen trail that wound through Gooseberry Falls State Park, her sensible boots finding purchase on ground that alternated between patches of dirty snow and stretches of bare rock slicked with ice.The morning sun had risen higher now, casting long shadows through the birch and pine that pressed close on either side, but its warmth hadn't yet reached this section of the park where the canopy blocked out everything except occasional shafts of pale light.
"She could be anywhere," James said, his breath fogging in the cold air."The park covers over three thousand acres."