Page 123 of Rangers Unexpected Return

“Where?”

“One beneath the bar. Another inside the upstairs hallway smoke detector.”

My stomach tightened.

“Could he hear Rylie from there?”

“He heard everything.”

“When were they placed?”

“Saint is going through the recordings now.”

“Remove them carefully. They may have prints or DNA.”

“We’re sending both to Will.”

“Carson, don’t say anything else near the tavern. Assume there are more.”

“Understood.”

I ended the call.

Mace looked at the map again.

“He heard Rylie mention the key. Then he sent us here to find this.”

“He already had the map prepared.”

“Which means he expected her to remember.”

“But how did he know she had it?”

“Because she’s the last one left to have it.”

I stared at the broken wooden eagle.

The Keeper had spent months planning Rylie’s death.

Maybe years.

Every package, photograph, message, and murder had been leading him back to Eagle River.

“We go to her father’s house at daylight,” I said.

“And then?”

“We find the key.”

Mace rose.

“And the camp?”

“We don’t go anywhere the Keeper invites us without knowing why.”

“He won’t tell us why.”

“No.” I looked at the dark trail leading through the trees. “But Emily might.”