Page 379 of Rangers Unexpected Return

Maybe an animal ran into the road.

Maybe he was going too fast.

Maybe.

Maybe.

Maybe.

I spent twenty years in the Army learning that maybe gets people killed.

Facts keep them alive.

And the facts surrounding Nathan Donovan’s death have never made sense.

“He called me that night,” I say.

Doc goes completely still.

I haven’t told him that.

I haven’t told anyone in Eagle River.

“What time?”

“Eleven seventeen.”

“What time did he crash?”

“According to the report, sometime between eleven forty-five and midnight.”

“What did he say?”

“Nothing.”

Doc frowns.

“I missed the call.”

That admission has been eating a hole through my chest for two years.

I was overseas working a private security contract. My phone was locked in a case because we were inside a secure facility.

When I got it back, Nathan had been dead for seven hours.

“He leave a message?”

“No.”

“Text?”

“No.”

“Did you call Claire?”

My jaw tightens.

“No.”