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Two stocky men dressed in green pants, gray shirts, and campaign hats walked through the AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY door and approached Emerson and Riley.
Riley glanced at their hands and saw that both men had the crossed sabers tattoo. She was sure Emerson saw it as well.
“I’m Bob Smith,” one of the men said. “My partner is Jim Jones. If you’ll come with us we’ll take you to the deputy chief.”
Bob had a large ragged scar that ran from the corner of his mouth to his left ear. Riley thought he was the better looking of the two.
Bob led the way down a narrow corridor and motioned Riley and Emerson into an office at the very end. A tall man with a gaunt face and a sinewy body was standing in front of a desk. He was wearing a park ranger uniform and he had the requisite tattoo. The nameplate on the desk identified him as Francis Scully, deputy chief ranger. Tin Man was standing next to him.
“What a pleasant surprise,” Emerson said to Tin Man. “Did you bring your hatchet?”
The tall man stepped forward and smiled at Emerson and Riley. Friendly. “I need to ask you some questions. Would that be okay?”
Emerson smiled back. “Oscar Wilde said it’s never the question that’s indiscreet, only the answers.”
Scully dropped the smile. “Just so. Let’s just say that we’re all going to be able to part as friends so long as there aren’t any indiscreet answers.”
“And if there are?” Emerson asked.
Scully gestured to Tin Man. “Then I leave the room, and he asks the questions.”
Riley raised her hand. “Um. Yeah. I’m kind of against this plan. Discretion’s not really his thing.”
Emerson nodded in agreement. “That’s true. This is a lot of pressure. Could I possibly be allowed just one indiscreet answer?”
Scully shook his head. “I’m afraid not. It’s a matter of national security. I’m sure you understand. Why are you so interested in finding Joshua and Emma Bulfinch?”
“I’m not,” Emerson said. “At this point, I’m presuming they’re dead.”
Scully smiled. “A very good response.”
Emerson gave Riley the thumbs-up and mouthed “Nailed it” before turning back to Scully. “I’m much more interested in why you purposefully misdirected the search to the Gallatin wilderness, all the way on the other side of the park from where they disappeared.”
Riley smacked her forehead.
“The only plausible answer is that you did not want a search party poking around Sour Creek Dome,” Emerson said.
“It’s a bear management area,” Scully said. “It’s filled with grizzlies.”
“It’s also the are
a where the volcano bubbling underneath the park is most active.”
“Another reason why it’s a restricted area.”
“How convenient,” Emerson said.
Tin Man leaned forward. “Still peddling your crazy conspiracy theory that people are being murdered at national parks?”
“Not all national parks,” Emerson said. “Just the ones built over mantle plume volcanoes, like Yellowstone.”
“One final question,” Scully said. “If you’re no longer interested in the missing hikers, what do you want?”
“I want to know who or what you’re hiding at Sour Creek Dome.”
“That is a horribly indiscreet answer,” Scully said. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to turn the whole matter over to my associate. Final requests?”
“I’d like an explanation,” Emerson said.
