Dr. Campbell stepped up to the group. “I’m done here. It looks like I’ll be seeing these young women again. With the air temperature here I’d estimate it’s been six to eight hours since death, but I’ll have a more accurate window tomorrow after the lab work.”
Her heart ached at the regret on his face. She knew he didn’t like seeing kids on his table.
“What a case to catch near the end of my career,” he added. “I hope to get a clear answer on this one. Soon.”
“I didn’t realize you were retiring, doctor,” Ray said, raising a brow at Mason, who looked stunned.
“I’m looking forward to sleeping in and not getting phone calls in the middle of the night. Or during my dinner.”
Both detectives nodded in grim agreement. “Holidays are also bad,” said Ray.
“I’ll stick around to help transition in the new chief examiner. We’ve narrowed it down to two applicants. Either will be a good chief.”
“You’re not promoting from within?” Mason asked.
“Not this time. I’ve got fine deputy medical examiners, but none of them want the extra responsibility of the position.” Dr. Campbell turned and looked over the young women in the ferns. “This case will stick with me for a while.”
“Detective Callahan,” came a different voice.
The group spun to see the new arrivals in the forest. Another Portland police officer had spoken as he led two men to the scene. One was a man in a dark green uniform with a baseball cap that read ranger, and the other was a tall civilian in jeans and a heavy jacket. The civilian’s face was in the shadows, but Victoria stiffened at his approach. Something about the way he carried himself set off alarms in her head.
“This is Bud Rollins.” The police officer gestured at the man in the ranger hat. “He’s one of the park rangers and knows this forest inside and out. He’s the first guy we call when we need help in here.”
Mason shook hands with the slender man. “Sorry to get you out of bed.”
“Not a problem. I like to know what’s going on in my woods.”
The weathered ranger spoke with a soft southern accent, making Victoria blink. The sound was a rarity in the Pacific Northwest. His eyes were kind, and she estimated his age to be in his early fifties. He scanned the scene ahead of him and paled. “Dear Lord. One of them lived?”
“So far,” said Mason. “Doesn’t look good for her, though.”
The second man stepped forward and held his hand out to Detective Callahan.
Victoria couldn’t breathe; her gaze locked on the man’s face. Every coherent thought vanished from her brain.
“This is Seth Rutledge,” said Dr. Campbell as he greeted the man. “Glad you could make it. Dr. Rutledge is one of the applicants for my position. I had the office call him to the scene,” Dr. Campbell told Mason as the men shook hands.
Dr. Rutledge met Victoria’s eyes. “Hello, Tori.”
Everyone looked at Victoria.
Victoria pressed her lips together as she held Dr. Rutledge’s gaze, her spine stiff, her hands crammed in her pockets, her ears ringing. “Seth.”
Seth gave a half smile, and the shield around Victoria’s heart started to crack.
“Been a while, Tori.”
Victoria nodded and all ability to speak abandoned her brain.