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“I can help you there. I just saw her. I was over in Riley with Leo. We went for a run in this park called Sunset Ridge Park. I think it’s the town’s dog park, a couple of miles past the ice rink, on the left. At least she was pulling in when we were leaving. If you hurry, you might catch her there.”
He doesn’t have to tell me to hurry.
I’m already speeding that way.
Chapter 22
Gwen
My sneakers scuff the dirt trail.
This place is huge.
I tug the folded map out of my pocket, and peer at the zig-zagging line of orange that crosses the glossy page.
I’m early for my meet-up with Vanessa. Sunset Ridge Park is big, and I’ve never explored it before. On the map, I can see the place where the orange line and a red line cross. That must be where I am right now because I can see two trails intersecting up ahead.
Tall, ancient oak trees with big, thick trunks line the path. The yellow leaves cluster on the branches filter the afternoon sunlight. When I look up, I can see puffy white clouds in the brilliant blue sky. The day has turned out to be nice and warm.
What am I doing here?
I don’t really want to work for Vanessa. It would require too much driving to come all the way out here to Riley to walk her dog.
It doesn’t entirely make sense—this decision to meet with her.
I’m being nosey, I realize.
Mandy really piqued my interest back there at the coffee shop. Vanessa now represents a mystery to me, and I’ve always been drawn to mysteries.
What’s her deal? I wonder. She came across as shallow and trite, yet Mandy went on about how ‘sharp’ she was about business.
Hm…
The dirt path is studded with rocks. Patches of sunlight light up some sections, while others are dark with shadows.
Vanessa asked me to meet her at a creek. It’s her pup’s favorite place in the park, she said. I hear water rushing now. The creek must be ahead. I walk a bit farther, then peer through the leaves and spot her.
Just before I reach my hand up to wave and try to catch her attention, I note a second figure standing there with her.
I recognize Clarice Manning, thanks to the articles I’ve read about her. She’s been touted by the media as Riley’s most successful businessperson in recent years. In person she looks shorter than I expected, given the headshots I’ve seen.
She’s barely five feet tall. From behind, she could be mistaken for a teenager. Her body is stocky and muscular, her limbs packed into tight-fitting workout apparel. She props a hand on her narrow hip and speaks to Vanessa intensely, as though they’re discussing something important.
I step closer.
Guilt about eavesdropping slithers through me, but I’m too curious now to let that stop me. I crouch down and take another few steps. What are they talking about?
Soon, I can hear their voices.
Vanessa sounds distraught. “I know, I know. It’s sort of risky, and I get that, but I feel bad… She’s looking for work. She must be desperate if she’s willing to drive all the way out here to walk little Cocoa Bear.” She lifts the white puff-ball dog in her arms and smooches his face.
“Don’t feel bad for her!” Clarice snaps. “She’ll be better off not working for him.”
“You have always been so hard on Brock.”
“That’s because he’s just another arrogant, selfish, macho guy who thinks he can dominate over the rest of us. Can you imagine all the illegal stuff he’s probably done to get Epic Elevate up and running? ‘Blood, sweat, and tears,’ my foot. He always gives that line in interviews, but I call bull. He’s steamrolled everyone in his path to get to where he is.”
“You don’t know that.”
