Page 60 of Capture the Moment
“Did the bear make any noise?”
“Noise? What do you mean?”
“After the shot, did the bear make any sound? When a bear is hit, it bellows. If it’s dying, it’s a death moan. Almost a song.”
She looked at him, clearly affected. “No. No sound. I would’ve remembered something like that.”
Okay, Coop thought. That sounded like an unwounded bear. “Did you see who fired the shot?”
“No. I looked, but I didn’t see anyone.”
Coop crossed his arms over his chest, his mind racing as he considered the implications. He wondered how to proceed. There wasn’t much evidence to go on. Then again ... “Kate, did you manage to capture anything on camera?”
“Not sure. Maybe.” Kate’s gaze flicked to the camera hanging around her neck. “I haven’t looked at the photos yet. I came straight to you.”
“Give me your memory card so I can examine the photographs.”
Kate hesitated, a protective glint in her eyes. “Coop, I can’t just give you my memory card.”
“This could be serious. You might have come across this poacher who’s been causing us some grief.” Him, especially.
“I know it could be serious. I realize that! That’s why I came to find you and tell you about it. But I need to protect my photographs.”
Coop sighed, frustration brewing. “Don’t make me pull my ranger card and commandeer the memory card.”
But Kate held her ground, her gaze steady. “I’m pretty sure you can’t do that without a warrant.”
Blast.She called his bluff. “Fine,” he muttered, defeated. “Can I at leastseethe photos?”
Kate nodded, her expression softening. “Of course. My computer is in my car trunk. I can download the memory card now, and you can see them for yourself.”
Kate jumped out of the car, quickly retrieved her computer from the trunk, and began the download process of her camera’s memory card. Coop’s heart pounded in his chest as he scrolled through the images, relief washing over him when he identified the bear as Bruno. But his relief was short-lived as he noticed something peculiar in the background.
“We need to show this to Tim Rivers right away,” Coop said, his mind already racing ahead to the next steps.
“I’ll go with you.”
“No need.”
“I’m sorry, Coop, but there’s every need. You’re not taking my computer from me.”
Coop hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. “We’ll take my truck. You can leave your car here and I’ll drop you back later.” Walking to his truck, he had to swallow down a smile at Kate’s feistiness. The more he was around her, the more he liked her.
Tim had been turning out the lights when he heard a knock at the door and suddenly Coop and Zoo Girl were in his cabin. He squeezed his eyes shut. He had to stop thinking of her asZoo Girl. What was her name again? Something short. Coop seemed to be a little sweet on her, which was just the scenario Tim had hoped for his friend this summer.
Coop flicked on the overhead light. “We’ve got something to show you.”
“This can’t wait until morning?” Tim said.
“Nope,” Coop said, heading straight to the small kitchen table.
“Keep your voice down,” Tim said. “Maisie’s asleep in the other room.”
“I’m awake!” Maisie said, poking her head around the door. “Hi, Kate!”
Kate! That’s her name. “Go back to bed, Maisie,” Tim said. “Coop’s here on official business.” Disappointed, Maisie’s face slowly disappeared, but she left the door open a smidge. Tim went over and closed it. “Okay, what’s this all about?”
Kate had her computer opened as Coop looked up at Tim. “Kate was out at Willow Flats and surprised a grizzly.”
