“Always and forever,” Jennelle murmured to the phantom voice that was never far from her mind. Her eyes welled as they always did when she thought of Simone. “Why did you leave us so soon?”
If only Jennelle could stay in this room forever. This was a special place. A place where she could forget that her lovely Simone was brutally killed and her case was never solved.
She could blank out the fact that Simone had been alive when that person had left her on the mountain to die. And that if Trace and Miranda had been better trackers they would’ve found her. There were so many things Jennelle had to forget in order to function. When Simone had died, people had told her it would get better, time healed all wounds. They were wrong. It hadn’t gotten better, the pain hadn’t gone away, and she still missed Simone every single day. So, she made this room, filled with all of Simone’s things, a slice in time protected from everything and anyone who might try to take Simone away. In this room she could pretend that Simone was alive and well and about to burst through the front door any moment, chattering about her day, filling their lives with light.
Some days she absolutely needed the illusion to function. And besides, it was none of anyone else’s business how she coped with her grief.
Not even Miranda’s.
CHAPTER TEN
JEREMIAH WALKED INTO Miranda’s office, a contemplative frown on his face as he perused what appeared to be a permit of some sort.
“Educate me on nature immersion as a tourist attraction,” he said, handing over the permit.
Miranda didn’t need to see the permit; she already knew who and what it was for. “George and Crystal Belkin apply for a salmon permit every year for their nature-immersion excursions that they run through their company, Nature’s Bounty. Basically, people pay to learn how to pick native berries, fish for salmon and otherwise survive in the Alaskan wilderness.”
Jeremiah’s brow rose. “You can learn how to survive on the land over a weekend?”
“No. But it sounds good on the pamphlet.”
“So this is another tourist trap?”
“I wouldn’t call it a trap, per se. The trip is fun at least. And George and Crystal don’t actually stress the survivalist angle. It’s more of a fun, outdoorsy excursion for those who aren’t from around here.”
“You’ve done the trip?”
“Once. George talked me into it. Said it would be good for me to try it out in case anyone ever asked what it was like. They comped my trip in exchange for a few good words when people come to the office looking for things to do in Alaska.”
He frowned. “We’re a government entity, not tour salespeople.”
“Settle down. It’s not as if we’re pushing one service over another. If anyone asks, I give them an honest answer about my experience. That’s all.”
“So these Belkin people, you check them out for the poaching angle?” At Miranda’s incredulous frown, he said, “Listen, you’ve already established that whoever is pulling off these bear kills knows the area. Wouldn’t a tourist-based naturalist know these areas pretty well?”
She hated to admit it, but yes. “I’m not saying you’re off base. I’m just saying that the Belkins are the gentlest bunch of hippies you’ll ever meet. I mean, they’re all about protecting the environment and doing what’s right for the land as well as protecting endangered species. I doubt the Belkins would squash a fly even if it landed on their tofu sandwich. You get where I’m coming from?”
“Are you friends with the Belkins?”
“No.” She didn’t have an abundance of people she’d call true friends. “But they’re harmless. Trust me.” She drew a deep breath. Jeremiah seemed off today. As if something were really chewing on his shorts. Why’d she have to notice? “Are you okay?” she asked reluctantly. “I mean, you seem a little grouchy.”
“Grouchy? No. I’m trying to offer a fresh perspective. You’ve been working this case for so long you’ve ceased to question all leads.”
“Excuse me? I beg your pardon but you need to check yourself. I know this case better than anyone. I can assure you I haven’t overlooked anything. I just know when I’m barking up the wrong tree and I’m not about to waste my energy on a false lead.”
He stiffened. “I disagree. And as your boss I’m telling you to double-check their backgrounds.”
“That’s a waste of time,” she nearly growled, fresh irritation washing over her spark of concern for whatever might’ve been bothering him. “If you want to poke around in the Belkins’ background, be my guest, but I have plenty to keep me busy otherwise.”