Page 82 of Rangers Last Promise

“Neither do I.”

Mara looks between us.

“Oh, good. There are two of them.”

Wolf mutters, “Wait until the others get back from their mission.”

Silence settles again.

This time, it doesn’t hurt quite as much.

Sheriff Tate spreads photographs across the table.

“We also searched Mara’s mother’s property again. No sign Hampton left anything behind.”

“He said he spoke to Mom after Grant died,” Mara says.

Tate looks up sharply.

“He what?”

“He went to her house. Told her Grant had gotten involved in something he didn’t understand.”

“When?”

“He didn't give me an exact date.”

Tate’s expression hardens.

“I never knew about that.”

“Mom probably didn't tell anyone.”

“Your mother told me when a salesman refused to leave her porch.”

“That salesman tried to sell her aluminum siding.”

“She already had brick.”

“That was her point.”

Mara almost smiles.

Then she looks toward Grant’s journal.

“If Hampton went to Mom after Grant died, maybe that's when she realized the journal and lockbox were dangerous.”

“Assuming she had the lockbox by then,” I say.

Mara nods.

“She would have gone through Grant’s belongings after his death.”

“But if Grant mailed something home from Afghanistan, we need to know when it arrived.”

Sheriff Tate reaches for his phone.

“Fifteen-year-old postal records aren't going to help us much.”