And Then She Was Gone(64)
The woods were quiet. Even the faint car noises were blocked by the trees. The canopy of leaves hid the moon, but soft shafts of light streamed down in places. A deep, earthy smell rose up to meet Jack’s nose.
From behind him came a loud snap followed by a thud—and then a string of whispered curses. “Get back here or I’m gonna beat you,” Chandler grumbled.
“If someone was here, they’re gone now,” Jack said. He turned the flashlight on and walked back. “Do you want to hold the flashlight?”
“No, I’d just like to see. Why the hell did you shut the light off?”
“If someone was out there, they could see me because of the flashlight. I was just trying to even the odds.”
They followed the trail back out of the woods the way they came in. But before they climbed back up the slope, Jack stopped. He stared back at the pond and tried to drive the picture of Stacy lying under the murky water out of his head. “They dumped her like trash,” he said.
Chandler nodded.
They walked back to the paved path and turned toward the parking lot.
“I can’t wait till we get NODs,” Jack said.
“What’s a NOD?”
“Night vision goggles.”
“Aren’t those NVGs?”
“That’s what noobs call them,” Jack said. “The guys in the field call them NODs. Night Optical Devices.”
“How do you know this stuff?” Chandler stopped at a bench.
“Google. Aren’t you reading? Lingo is how people block access to outsiders—in any field. I’m not getting into the Army and looking like a dope because I don’t know what SNU means.”
Chandler flopped down on the bench and tied his sneaker lace. “Okay, what’s SNU?” he asked.
“Not much! What’s new with you?” Jack laughed.
Chandler groaned.
“Hey, you!” A man came storming toward the bench carrying two green trash bags. “Get the hell off my bench!”
Chandler immediately jumped up, and Jack spun around and assumed a defensive position—right foot back, knees bent, and hands up.
The man was slightly shorter than Jack and wore a long coat despite the summer heat. His black hair shot out in all directions and his eyes were the kind that seemed to be always open wide. Yellow teeth snarled beneath an unkempt bushy beard. He gave them both an icy glare as he scurried down the slope and stopped next to the bench.
“That’s my bench.” He pointed to where Chandler had just been sitting.
“Sorry,” Chandler mumbled. He brushed off the back of his pants.
“Do you sit here all the time?” Jack asked.
“What the hell kind of question is that?” the man grumbled.
“I was—”
“Nobody can just sit in one place all the time. You’ve got to get up once in a while.” The man pointed toward the dark area of the path. “I had to move over here since that smart-ass broke my light.”
A group of three men jogged over the hill and raced toward them. All three wore running outfits. They didn’t speak, and they moved over as they sped by and disappeared over the next hill.
“Were you here last Thursday?” Jack asked.
“Yeah.” The man’s lip curled to reveal yellowed teeth. “Why?”
Jack stepped closer, trying not to make a face as the man’s body odor stung his nose. “Did you see anything that night?”
“It’ll cost you.” The man stuck his hand out. “Man’s gotta eat.”
“He’s not going to pay you to answer questions,” Chandler said.
“Then he’s gettin’ no answers.” The man stepped back. His trash bags crinkled and shook.
Jack pulled out a five-dollar bill. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
“Honest Murray. That’s what everybody calls me. Why would I lie?”
“To get five bucks,” Chandler muttered.
Jack held out the five and Murray snatched it from his hand. “A woman was attacked at the next bench,” Jack said. “Did you see anything?”
“Nope. Keep your nose out of other people’s business and it won’t get broke. I live by that.”
“You sure you didn’t see anything? It happened just right down there.” Jack pointed.
Murray raised himself up on his toes. “It’s dark. I didn’t see nothing.”
“Did you hear anything?” Jack’s patience came to an end.
“Nope. I saw nothin’ and I ain’t heard nothin’ neither.”
“That wasn’t worth five bucks.”
“You want me to lie? You paid for the answers and I gave them. No take backsies.”