Rum and Raindrops: A Blueberry Springs Chick Lit Contemporary Romance by Jean Oram Read Free Book Online Page B

trying to make a genie appear, pulling a picture perfect memory of the truck parked in the Raspberry Creek parking lot. “When I fell down the hill into the parking lot I looked around to see if anyone noticed.” She frowned at Rob’s look. “What? You know how embarrassing that was? A nature guide spilling out of the woods because her pack overtook her on a downhill slope?”
    Rob gave her one of his stifled smiles again.
    “There was a truck over at the edge of the parking lot.” The problem was that when she tried to think about the details they slipped from the edges of her memory. “It was in the parking lot when I left on Sunday. I wasn’t there alone.”
    Rob slowly pulled a sheet out of his leather folder, his gaze on Jen. He flicked on his recorder.
    “I wasn’t the only one out there.” How could she have forgotten such an important detail? She sat on the edge of her seat, her heart racing.
    Rob held up a page for her to read. “According to this, there was nobody else registered that weekend. Day use or otherwise.”
    She scratched her hands through her hair, tightened her ponytail and huffed out a breath. There had been a truck. She was sure she wasn’t mixing up memories. “When I fell down the last bit of the hill into the parking lot, I distinctly recall looking around for observers.”
    “You never mentioned this before.”
    “Well, it’s a little embarrassing, and I didn’t think falling into the parking lot was exactly vital information.”
    “You were to share every detail of your trip in the woods.”
    “Did you want to hear about my latrine visits as well?” She crossed her arms.
    Rob’s eyes twinkled with mirth.
    “That person could have started the fire,” she pointed out.
    “Was the truck there when you arrived at the park on Friday night?” he asked, a slight smile still tugging at his lips.
    Jen scrunched her eyes, trying to picture the parking lot when she’d arrived. “I don’t think so.” She would have been on the lookout for other campers and hikers if it had been. “No, it wasn’t. But why should I go through hell if there’s another suspect? Just because I was a good citizen and registered, it doesn’t mean I should be the fall guy.” Jen stood up before realizing there really wasn’t room in the small space to make her point physically. “You need to look for this other guy.”
    Rob crossed his arms and leaned back, his eyes on her healing knees. “Tell me more about this truck.”
    Jen shrugged and tossed her hands in the air, sitting again. “It was old. Rusted. Parked near the far end of the lot.”
    Rob, eyebrow quirked, patiently wrote down her details.
    “So? Are you going to look for it?” she asked. “Do you believe me?”
    “I’m not questioning the validity of it. The problem is that we don’t have many details to go on. It could have been anyone. Or nobody.” He paused to drill his gray-blue gaze into her. “You are still the only suspect and someone who has admitted to lighting a fire in the park. Parking in the parking lot is not a crime and doesn’t necessarily mean the driver entered the woods. I’ll find out what I can, but I’m going to need more to go on. Have you shared this with Scott already?”
    She shook her head.
    Rob stood to leave, collecting his belongings.
    “I’m not sure if Scott’s already asked you not to leave town?” He shot her a questioning glance.
    Jen wrapped her arms around herself. “He hasn’t.”
    “Well, please check in with Scott if you need to leave town for any reason, including any evacuation orders. We may have more questions.”
    As she followed him out of the staffroom, she just about slammed into his back when he paused by the canoes.
    “I am getting back into canoeing,” he said, turning to her. “I don’t have a canoe, but I’m curious what they’re worth.”
    Blindly, she stared up at him as the silence between them grew. Canoe? Her life was on the line and he wanted to go