Page 234 of Rangers Unexpected Return

"It's not a person."

"What is it?"

The deputy swallowed.

"It's a scarecrow."

Silence.

Saint spoke quietly.

"There's something hanging around its neck."

"What?"

"I can't tell from here."

Wolf looked toward the hidden compartment beneath the tavern.

Then toward the stairs.

"The Keeper wants us down here."

I finished the thought.

"So he wants us to ignore what's outside."

Trigger immediately nodded.

"We split up."

"No."

Every head turned toward me.

"We stop doing exactly what he expects."

Mace smiled.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

I looked at Wolf.

"We leave the compartment closed."

"We don't touch the key."

"Sheriff Tate sends two deputies to the scarecrow."

"And we stay together."

Nobody argued.

For the first time since arriving in Eagle River...

We weren't following the Keeper's game.

We were making him play ours.