Page 92 of Grave Matter

“You and me both,” I tell her, which prompts an ironic smile.

She’s right. This camping trip is coinciding with some nicer weather, that’s for sure, but it’s also happening at a time where most students are starting to buckle under the fog and isolation. It’s probably well timed to give us a little freedom every now and then so that we don’t rebel.

Then again, maybe the lodge wants us out of its hair. Only Everly, Michael, and the researchers are left behind, the students all gone.

A trickle of unease rolls down my spine.

Did they get rid of us on purpose?

Is there something going on back at Madrona?

Or is there something going on here?a voice whispers.

I ignore it. That’s all I can do, though I know it’s burying itself under my skin. I’m going to be on high alert. Not for bears and wolves but for…

I don’t even know what the threat is.

I just know it would be a mistake to let my guard down, no matter where I am, no matter who I’m with.

I glance over my shoulder at Kincaid driving the ATV a little ways behind us. In his olive raincoat and aviator glasses, he looks equally at ease driving this beast of a machine up a steep mountain road as he does when standing at the front of the classroom, textbook in hand.

I’m lucky I have him in my corner, I think.

Even though I still don’t trust him completely.

I trust him sexually. I trust him to look after me.

But that’s where it ends.

I’m still not sure if Kincaid is actually a good person or not.

I don’t think you can work for Madrona otherwise.

And I don’t really know Kincaid at all.

“Making sure he doesn’t drive off?” Lauren asks wryly as she leans in.

I face forward, feeling the cool air as we climb higher, making sure my cheeks don’t burn. “Just admiring the view.”

“I bet you are,” she says.

Eventually the ATV comes to a stop in front of an industrial-looking building with a green tin roof, in the middle of a big empty lot, an odd sight surrounded by so much beauty. We’re told by Hernandez that this used to be used by the loggers but the logging in the area stopped a long time ago, just at the end of the park.

We climb out of the ATVs, eager to stretch our legs. Dr. Hernandez passes out protein bars as a snack to hold us over until lunch, and our water bottles get filled from the trailer at the back of Nick’s vehicle.

Then Kincaid hands us all our tents—his finger touching mine for too long when he hands me mine—and tells us to drink up the expensive stuff while we can. From now on we’ll be drinking water from streams and lakes, our water cleaned with purifying tablets.

Then Nick waves goodbye and gets on his ATV before driving off.

“Why is he leaving?” Munawar asks.

“What am I, chopped liver?” Dr. Hernandez jokes. “Nick has some stuff to attend to back at the lab.”

Please not baby goats…

“And I never get to go on this expedition,” Hernandez continues. “Neither do the marine sciences students, normally. So it’s a nice change of pace. Although now that I’m here, I’m a little intimidated. Are you sure it’s three days in and three days out?”

Kincaid grins at him, wrinkles appearing at the corner of his aviators, causing my stomach to flutter. “Don’t be a wimp.”