“I can’t say we’re gonna make this quick,” Jerry says as he holds the station door open for me.

“I’m not in a hurry.”

“Come on this way.” I follow Jerry through two sets of heavy steel doors with mesh enforced pocket windows, down a short hallway past two more doors into what looks like the interrogation room. The last time I'd set foot in the sheriff’s station, I’d been there to tell Will that his wife had lost her phone and she'd call him as soon as she got home. The last time, I wasn't covered in someone else’s blood.

“Do I need a lawyer?” I ask when he closes the door behind me.

“Do you want one?”

“No. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You let me know if you change your mind.”

In walks one of the sheriff’s deputies with a small digital camera. A young guy with white blond hair and huge eyes. I’d never seen him before.

“We’re just gonna take a few pictures,” Jerry says. “Just stand against the wall right there.”

I hold still, moving when they say, letting them photograph every inch of me.

“We’re gonna have to take your clothes and your boots,” Jerry says when they finish. “Taylor will get you something to wear.” The deputy flashes me a half smile, almost an apology, then walks out of the room. Jerry takes off his jacket and hangs it on the back of the metal chair across from me and then hits record on the little device that is already sitting on the table. I listen as he rattles off our names, the date, the time, and that he is questioning me about the double homicide near Grafton’s Pass.

“Did you find the brother?”

“Uh… I can’t comment on that at the moment. Let’s you start at the beginning. You just got back in town today? Yesterday.” The sun is still down, but it is definitely morning.

“Yeah, I was visiting some friends down in Los Angeles.”

“And we can contact them if we need to?”

I think for a moment, then answer truthfully. I am pretty sure the whole county knows about my annual pilgrimage, they just don’t know the particulars. “I was with an Evelyn Baker and some of our mutual friends. I’ll leave her contact information.”

“Good. So I've got one dead up at GPSite Five and one dead at your property and one in recovery. Tell me what happened.”

I tell Jerry everything from the moment I heard Claudia’s first scream, trying not to focus on the fact that Site Five is two miles from my house. Downhill.

“And how do you know the young lady's name?”

“I was trying to keep her talking in the truck. She told me. Your guy at the campsite should be her brother. At least that's what she said.”

We stop for a few moments when Taylor comes back with a pair sheriff’s department sweats, a t-shirt and a pair of fishing boots.

“The pants are probably a little short.”

“It's fine. And don't worry about the boots. I have sneakers in my truck.” I change and let him throw my thermals, my boots and my jacket into some evidence bags. “My phone might have some blood on it. It’s out in the truck.”

“Her blood?” Jerry asks.

“Yeah.”

“You hold on to it for now.” Jerry excuses Taylor with a nod and we continue.

“She said there are two of them.”

“Yeah she told them that at the hospital. One attacked her and one attacked her brother. We’re out looking for him now. We checked on Titus too. He wasn't amused but he's fine. We’ll let you back up there so you can get him soon.”

“But I can't stay there? At my house.”

Jerry shakes his head. “Jad and May-Bell are waiting for you. You can stay there until we clear the scene. What else can you tell me?”

Just then we hear a commotion outside of the room. Taylor throws open the door.

“Jer—they got him! He’s over at QER.”

“They shoot him?” Jerry grunts then stands and grabs his jacket.

“No. He was running across 70 and Will clipped him with the cruiser, but he's alive.”

“Good. Don't leave town, Shep.”

“I won't.” I watch Jerry as he stops the recording, then follow him back to the front of the station. The radio and the phone are going crazy. Outside I dig my beat-up running shoes out of the backseat and watch Jerry as he throws on his lights and bolts toward the hospital. I sit in my truck for a while, waiting for the sun to come up. Jerry still hasn’t come back by the time I figure I should move.

I take my time driving back up to my house, making a mental list of everything I need to take for at least the next few days. And I know even though I can’t stay at my place, I have to get Titus. Crime scene be damned. I’m stopped at the open gate to my property and a Sheriff’s deputy escorts me up the rest of the way on foot and follows me in my back door.

The whole front is taped off. There’s still a body in my yard. Titus is spooked, but happy to see me. I grab some clothes and some other shit like my toothbrush. My laptop and my camera are still packed. I grab both bags and my drives. Then I grab my dog.

The drive over to the Tierneys’ takes its usual ten minutes. I could have walked it if I’d cut through the woods. Doesn’t seem like the best idea at the moment. Like Jerry said, May-Bell is waiting up for me. Light pours out the front door, illuminating her round frame before I can cut off my engine.

“Shep.” May-Bell’s face tells me everything about the way I look as I walk up the front steps.

“I’m okay.”

“Come in. Come in.” I don’t realize how cold I am until I set foot inside their house. The heat from the roaring fire warms my whole right side.

“You want something to eat? We have some scraps for this one too.” She reaches down and scratches Titus’s chin.

“No thank you, but a shower would be great.”

“Sure. Come on, honey. Let’s distract you while your dad gets cleaned up.” She ushers Titus into the kitchen and gives him a full bowl of shit that would probably stop his heart if I fed him that way regularly. Their own ancient, extremely deaf bloodhound is passed out near the fireplace.

“Where’s Jad?” I ask.

“He went out to help. You know retirement doesn't mean a thing to him. He has his gun though.”

“Good. I think they caught the other guy.”

“There were two?! You know what? Let me stop rattling on. You look worse than all hell. Come on.”

I follow May-Bell into the bathroom. She grabs me a towel from the linen shelves I'd helped Jad install when he redid their place.

“You get clean and I'll make you something to calm your nerves.” I didn’t realize, but my hands are still shaking.

“Thanks.”

When she’s gone, I strip out of my borrowed clothes that I'll probably ask her to burn, and step in the shower. The hot spray hits me center chest. I grab the Irish Spring and scrub until my hands are almost raw.

May-Bell doesn’t hassle me for the details when I get out. Just hands me her version of a hot toddy and points me toward the couch.

“Didn't think you two would get that beast up the mountain or in the front door,” she says, smiling at the massive sectional I’m sitting on. “Plenty of room for you to put your feet up.” She hands me a quilt, then settles on the far end of the chaise with her own blanket. Neither of us are going to get much sleep.

* * *

Going to The Corner Diner in the morning is a mistake, but after the shitty night we’d all had, I want to give Jad some time to regroup with May-Bell alone. Plus the diner has the strongest coffee in town. I want to be awake. After May-Bell helps me scrub most of the blood off my front seat, I head down the mountain and go right to the diner.

I’m too out of it from two hours of sleep and what May-Bell pretends wasn't a half fifth of whiskey to expect anything, but everyone stops talking and eating the second I walk in the door. I take off my skull cap, and scratch my beard as I approach the counter.

“Don't mind them all staring at you. We haven't had a hero in here since Eartha came back from Iraq,” Connie says as she places a fresh cup in front of me. “Your usual?” she asks.

“Yeah. Please. Tell Paul double the eggs and the bacon if he's got them.”

“We’re never short on eggs or bacon.” She winks at me, then pats my hand before she moves on. The regular commotion of the diner resumes and I soak in the white noise as I work on my first cup of coffee and then another. I’m almost finished with my Woodsman’s Special when Will comes in and sits down beside me.

“Connie, give me whatever you got that's hot and ready.”

“Just pulled the first pies out. Is peach okay?”

“Throw in some hot chocolate and that's the breakfast of champions.”

I keep my eyes trained forward while he makes himself comfortable on the stool beside me. I know looking at Will might open a door I’m not in the right frame of mind to open, maybe not now or ever.

“I know Jer already asked, but I think you should reconsider,” Will says quietly.

“Reconsider what?”

“Joining the force.”

I actually laugh. That draws plenty of attention.

“After last night, you’ve got more on the job experience than any of us new boys,” Will says.

“Not sure you want any of the experience I had last night.”

“Maybe not, but clearly if it hadn’t been for you—”

“Not necessary, man,” I say, cutting him off with a shake of my head.

“I'm just saying. I was there when Jerry finally interviewed the girl. You were quick on your feet, quick with the trigger, and you saved her life and who knows who else’s.”

“Hmm?” I finally look him. “What does that mean?”

“We got a call right as I was leaving the station. These boys might have a few more bodies on them. All in the last six months. I'm just guessing, but they were probably escalating. So like I said, that was some good shit, Shep.”

“I heard you brought him in, Will. That's not nothing.”

“Yeah I'll take the collar, but I'd rather it hadn't been a complete accident. Clipped that asshole too, though. Kurt Milligan. Confessed to everything. Douglas Smith is the guy you dropped.”

“Milligan still up in the hospital?” I ask.

“Nah. He was fine. I bruised him up, but that was it. They cleaned him up and—”

“Most of the blood wasn’t his?”

“Bingo.”

“God, this is a fucking mess.” I push my plate away and pull on my hat.

“You heading back to Jad’s?”

“I have to pick up a few things from the market, but I was thinking about it.”

“Well, she's up. And she asked about you. I'm sure Fern told her day crew that you get visiting privileges.”

The sudden ache in my chest make no sense. I don’t know Claudia, but I do want to check in on her. I have to make sure she’s okay. I feel responsible for her.

I throw down a twenty, then clap a hand on Will’s shoulder. “Later.”

He nods, shoving a big chunk of pie in his mouth.

* * *

I fucking hate hospitals. The smells, the sounds, the bright lights, and the washed out walls. To me they all signify the reality of death. And it doesn't mean shit to me that babies are born there. I was born on a boat. Babies are fucking resilient.

The night before I’d been reasonably distracted. I hadn’t paid attention to any of these things, the sounds, the smells, but they are harder to ignore when I’m being shuffled between the emergency room and where they’ve moved Claudia in a different part of the hospital.

When I’m finally directed to the correct wing and room number, I run into Sarah. Sarah Maxwell. It’s been a while. I’ve prayed several times that’ll I’ll never see her again, but a man can only be so lucky.

“Hey Shep,” she says. Her voice has that tone, like a sad warning. She feels bad for me.

“You’re back. When did that happen?” Sarah and I dated for a long time, but she didn’t think life on the mountain suited her. More like, my life on the mountain didn’t suit her. Last I knew she was engaged to some guy up in Portland.

Her eyebrows pull together in annoyed confusion. “A few months ago.”

“You staying?”

“Looks like it.” She moves her hands in a sweeping motion, indicating the fresh pair of nursing scrubs she is wearing.

“It’s nice to see you,” I lie. Looking at her still fucks with my chest.

“You too. And I mean that. I heard last night was pretty crazy.” Without warning she steps forward and wraps her arms around my torso. She smells the same, but her flowery shampoo doesn’t have the same effect on me anymore. I wrap an arm around her shoulders and pull her closer. “I’m glad you’re okay,” she whispers.

“Thank you.”

She steps away and straightens her shirt. Then wipes her eyes. “So you’re here to see our special patient.”

“Yeah. I wanted to check in on her. Like you said, kind of a crazy night.”

“She’s been asking about you. Cliff Watson’s manning the door.” Of course. Ongoing murder investigation. Couldn’t leave the surviving witness unattended.

“Thanks.”

“But take it easy. She's really shaken up.”

“Understandable.” I gave her shoulder a squeeze. “I guess I'll see you around then.”

“I guess you will.” She holds up her now bare ring finger. I flash her a tight smile and continue down the hall. Sarah is a good girl. Too good. Not the woman for me.

When I turn the corner, I find Cliff Watson where she said he'd be.

“Visiting hours aren't until later,” he says in his gravelly voice. The Watsons don’t care for any of the Olsens. The feeling is mutual.

“I'll keep that in mind when I come back later to check on her,” I say.

“Have it your way. You deal with Fern’s wrath and Jerry’s.”

I roll my eyes and knock on the door that is part way open anyway. Claudia opens her eyes and looks at me.

“Hey. Hi. Is it okay if I come in?” I ask.

“Hi. Yeah.” She lets out a weak cough as I step inside. “Shep.”

“Yeah that's me. Wanted to come check on you.”

“See how I was doing?”

“Yeah. Something like that. Do you mind if I sit?”

“No. Please. Can you pull the chair there though? It hurts when I move my head to the side too much.”

“Of course.” I pick up the blue chair and move it further down the length of the bed.

“It's nice to see someone who isn't in some type of uniform. One of the sheriffs told me they found my brother.”

There is absolutely nothing I can say. “They didn't tell me much."

"But they talked to you?" she asks.

"Yeah."

"I owe you—"

"You don't owe me anything."

"Except my life." I look down at the pale blue hospital blanket as she opens her bandaged hand. The tips of her fingers are scratched up, but clean. And not bleeding. I gently take her hand.

"Please stay for a while,” she says.

"No plans for the day." I'd already emailed my boss at the forest service and the dev guys at my other job. They know they won’t be hearing much from me until I get back into my house.

"So you live on the mountain?" Claudia asks.

"I do. We don't have to talk if you don't want to. You can rest."

"You're not much of a talker?" Something in her voice makes my blood rush to all the wrong places. I shift in my seat.

"I can be."

"So you live on the mountain?" she urges again.

"Yeah, most of my life. That's my grandfather's place. But it's just me now."

"So we have something in common." I tilt my head. "It's just me too. It was just Miles and me. We lost our parents right after I graduated from college."

"Claudia—" She shakes her head a little.

"You know, I hate the woods. I hate camping. I’m a city girl. Manhattan is the place for me. But Miles just finished his residency at Stanford and he wanted to get away for a while so I flew three thousand miles to catch up with my brother, get in that sibling quality time we’d been missing so much. Some fucking getaway."

"They caught him. The guy who attacked your brother. He'll get life for this. Maybe more,” I tell her.

"Good." A few tears run down the side of her face. She quickly wipes them away with a tissue she’s gripping in her other hand. "Do you like it here? I didn't get to see too much of the town before we headed up the trails. It seems nice. At least the nurses are nice."

"Have the sheriff's boys been treating you alright?” I ask.

"Yeah. I got a little bit of the hysterical woman treatment, but I know they are just worried and a little out of their depth maybe. They weren’t being dicks or anything though.”

"I'm sure they'll let you out of here soon."

"I’m not looking forward to a six hour flight banged up like this, but it'll be nice to sleep in my own bed."

"Is there anyone you need me to call?" I don't know what makes me offer. Fern has probably made sure it was taken care of herself.

"I wasn't due back to work until Wednesday, but I told them who to look up."

"Good."

"It hasn't even hit me yet and I just miss him. I've gone months without seeing my brother, but just the idea that I'm never gonna see him again..."

"It's a lot."

"It's a lot,” she says.

"When something bad would happen, my grandfather used to tell me to imagine all the ways it could have been worse."

She lets out a harsh burst of laughter. More tears stream down her face. She doesn’t bother wiping them away. "Oh please. Try me."

"They could have been clowns,” I say. “I've encountered some crazy shit in these woods, but never clowns."

She laughs for real this time. "Oh my god. That would have been fucking awful." She laughs a little harder, grabbing her side. "Oh my god. I wouldn't have run. I would have sprouted wings and flown the fuck out of there."

"Yeah, if I'd seen a clown when I opened my door, you would have been on your own." I chuckle a bit myself, watching her as her laughter becomes a bit more hysterical. And then it hits that point. She finally cracks. That moment I think she's been waiting for finally hits. She loses it and starts sobbing.

I look over as Cliff throws the door open, making her jump. She starts shaking.

"Jesus, dude," I say. "Just give her a second."

"Sorry," he says, realizing his mistake. He eases back, closing the door all the way.

"I know we just met, but do you want me to hold you? I'll do it, happily. I'm only asking ’cause I want it to be your choice. I figure you might do with some comforting," I say.

"Please."

There’s no room on that hospital bed for me, period, but I gently move her IV stand and lift her into my lap. She lightly rests her head on my chest and cries.