Cam took a few steps and came to stand beside Joel. “The others were with me the whole time. None of these three could have taken the shot at you.”
Joel had already come to that conclusion. Ruling some people out narrowed their choices. He didn’t like any of the remaining ones. “Then we need to deal with the very real possibility either Mark or Perry, or both, are at the bottom or this.”
“There’s another possibility.” Cam matched Joel’s stance and stared at the others as well. “We could have an unknown out here stalking people.”
There it was. The worst possible answer. An unknown meant they were dealing with a surprise. The person could be on drugs or unstable or just enjoy killing.
Joel didn’t want Hope near any of those types. “I’ve been trying not to think about that option.”
“It would explain the gunshots.” Cam stared at him then. “I’m guessing you didn’t see anyone.”
“Nothing. The guy totally got the drop on me.”
Cam made a face. “Weird.”
“I know.” Joel understood the surprise. He wasn’t the type to miss someone sneaking up on him.
He’d been training for surveillance his entire life. He had tracked and practiced from the day after he turned seven and his dad insisted the family go totally off the grid. Maybe those early lessons grew out of his father’s sick paranoia, but he instilled a sense of caution and taught certain skills. The same skills that served Joel well as he passed from one position to another in the intelligence community.
That likely meant the attacker was equally well trained. Joel hated that prospect.
Cam let out an impressive line of profanity. “What did Connor say?”
“He’s on the way and will bring everyone from the forest rangers to the local police with him.”
Connor was solid that way. No questions or explanations needed. Joel was on a few days of leave, but he knew if he sent up the red flag, the team would come running.
He’d missed that in his other employment positions and throughout most of his life. He didn’t know the sensation of someone putting it all out there for him. His mom had died before he could really know her, and his father’s idea of love was handing over a rifle and teaching him to shoot.
Now Joel needed to fill Cam in on the bad part. Joel owed him that since Cam was only out here as a favor. “One problem.”
“I’m not sure we need another.”
“A storm is moving in.”
“Of course it is.” Cam groaned. “There’s always a storm right when you don’t need one.”
“Connor can’t get in until morning, and even then that’s not a guarantee.” Joel doubted the timetable anyway. He could smell the rain in the air and feel the dampness on his skin, even though not a single drop had fallen. But Connor talked about violent thunderstorms rolling in and Joel guessed they were headed this way. At the very least, the weather grounded planes. “So, we hunker down.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that.”
And it was about to get worse, so Joel braced. “I say we do a quick meal, stick together until dark or rain or whatever comes first. Then those of us with weapons split up and bunk with the others.”
Cam’s mouth broke out into a full grin. “Let me guess which cabin you’ll be in.”
Knowing the ribbing could go on for hours, Joel ignored the first shot. “You with Lance and we’ll let Charlie handle Jeff.”
“And you with Hope.”
Joel rolled his eyes. “Yes.”
“You ready to tell me what happened with her before you came to Corcoran?”
He still battled with the details. He couldn’t lay it out there. Not after he was barely holding together from Hope’s insistence they pick at it. “No.”
Cam nodded and Joel thought he might be in the clear. They needed to concentrate and—
“I’m thinking you’ll need practice,” Cam said, breaking into Joel’s thoughts.
He bit back a groan. “Meaning?”
“I don’t know much about women—”
“True.”
“—but even I know there’s no way you’re going to spend the night together without the topic of your relationship implosion coming up.” Cam ended the comment with a knowing look.
Joel ignored the description of his upcoming evening, even though he wanted to deny it. “We’re grown-ups.”
The nodding came back. Cam did love to nod. “I’m guessing that’s what she’ll say before she demands an explanation.”
“What makes you think we didn’t work this out already?”