Page 216 of Rangers Unexpected Return

I looked up.

Mace had already taken the chair across from me. He opened one of Sheriff Tate’s files and began reading as if he hadn’t done anything.

“I didn’t ask for food.”

“I know.”

“I’m working.”

“So am I.”

He didn’t tell me to eat.

He didn’t push the plate closer or wait for me to obey.

He simply continued reading.

A smile tugged at my mouth before I could stop it.

Mace glanced up. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“That didn’t look like nothing.”

I picked up half the sandwich.

He had figured out exactly how to take care of me without making me feel as if he was trying to control me.

That was becoming dangerously difficult to resist.

Will carefully placed the recovered recorder on the table.

“I finally got inside it.”

Everyone gathered around.

“It wasn’t one recording.”

He pressed PLAY.

Static filled the room.

Rain followed.

Then a little girl laughed.

Soft.

High.

The same laughter we had heard outside Cabin Nine.

The recording ended.

Will selected another file.

This time, a woman began singing softly.