Page 14 of One Last Shot
The woman—Boo—pocketed the phone. “Moose is on his way. Do you remember where you left Mike?”
Oaken shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know.”
“That’s okay. Moose will know.”
Whatever that meant. “Mike’s not there.”
She looked up from her phone.
“I tried to carry him out.”
She frowned.
“I couldn’t just leave him out in the middle of the field.” And yet—“I feel sick.”
“Okay, okay, lean over, grab your knees?—”
“I’m fine. I just...” He touched his hands to his forehead. “If he dies because of me?—”
“Get in the car. Let’s get you warm, and you can tell me what happened while we wait.”
He stared east, from where he’d come, and finally nodded. “Okay. Yes. You have a map?”
“I have my phone.”
He got into the passenger seat, and she closed the door, fired up the car, the heat, and turned on her dome light to scatter the shadows. Then she pulled up Google Maps and handed him the phone.
He closed his eyes, trying to remember the flight from the chopper. Opened them. Stared at the map. “I walked along this river.” He traced his finger back along the river, away from the road. Widened the map, then turned on the topographical feature. “I fell somewhere in here, down this cliff. I’m not sure where—it was the middle of the night.”
Her mouth pinched. “Was Mike with you?”
“No. I left him...” He followed the river, then away, near the scrub of foothills. “I dragged him to the cliff but knew I couldn’t get down, so I backtracked and found a cave. I left him there.”
He swallowed. Closed his eyes and handed herback the phone.
Silence.
“Okay, that’ll help.”
Please.
He looked out the window, shaking his head.
“We’ll find him.”
“I can’t believe that Mike Grizz is going to die on my watch.” He shook his head. “He’s got a wife and a couple kids.”
Silence.
He turned, and she was just staring at him. “What?”
“Nothing. I just... I heard you sing once. At a concert in Minnesota.”
He blinked at her.Really? A fan—out here?His mouth tightened. “Oh.”
“You were good. Some great love songs.”
He gave her a look. “Thanks. I’m sure that’s what everyone will remember. Not that I was the guy who killed Mike Grizz.”