Page 61 of Capture the Moment
“You okay?” Tim said. She looked okay.
“I’m fine,” she said. “That’s not why we’re here.”
“What were you doing out there? Sally closed it to the public.”
Coop lifted a hand to stop him. “I already gave her that talk, Tim. That’s not why we’re here.”
Tim frowned. “But you went out there alone?”
“That’s the thing,” Kate said, tapping on her keyboard. “I wasn’t alone. A shot rang out and scared the bear off.”
Tim straightened. “A shot?”
“And that’s why we’re here,” Coop said, turning the computer screen toward Tim.
Tim pulled out a chair and sat down. On the computer screen was a wide shot of Willow Flats. To the left, a large grizzly stood on its hind legs. “Bruno?”
“I think so,” Coop said.
“I was hoping it was 399.” Kate sounded disappointed.
Coop looked at her. “Definitely a he.”
“I have to say that I’m impressed at how well you rangers know your bears.”
Coop grinned. Tim noticed. Then Coop’s grin faded when he realized Tim was watching him. “Now look to the far right.”
Tim squinted. There were two fuzzy figures in front of a stand of trees. “Can you enlarge it?”
“It’s already enlarged,” Kate said.
“Rangers?” Tim said, hoping so.
“No one was scheduled to be up there. You said so at today’s staff meeting.”
Yeah, yeah, Tim knew. Which meant these two had no business being there. It meant they were hunters. Poachers.
“Tim,” Coop said, “if you look closely, you can see one aiming a rifle.”
Kate pointed. “I took these photos before the shot rang out.”
Tim focused on the two fuzzy people, one tall, one small. And the small one held a rifle. “Think that’s a child? Maybe a teen.”
“I think it’s a woman,” Coop said. He exchanged a look with Kate. “Tim, look more closely. I think that figure could be Sally Janus.”
Tim stared at him. “What? Why would you say such a thing?”
“She’s holding the rifle in her left hand. And her hair.” Coop waved a hand around his head. “Big fluffy blond hair. Plus Kate thought she saw a ranger jeep.”
“Well, I think it was a ranger jeep. I wasn’t paying close enough attention. But it was gone by the time I returned to my car.”
Tim rose and crossed his arms. “That’s pretty flimsy evidence to slap against Sally. Your boss and mine. A ranger who’s loyal to the core.”
“Slow down.” Coop held up his palms. “I’m not accusing Sally of anything. I came right away to you. And this guy looks as tall as the ranger from Yellowstone who was in her office yesterday.”
“What Yellowstone ranger? Coop, what are you talking about?”
Coop pointed to the picture. “That guy. Super tall. I met him in Sally’s office. She said that he was on loan from Yellowstone. But that guy had soft hands.”
