“I was going to play it by ear. I thought I might go by the local newspaper and see if I can read through their archives.”
“Wouldn’t anything useful have been picked up by the AP?”
“Probably. I’m more interested in subtext. You know, local opinion, attitudes.”
“Rumors?”
I answered indirectly. “Reading between the lines can be revealing.”
He nodded absently. “About last night.”
“You know, I feel pretty much back to normal. I’m wondering if it was just jet lag maybe, combined with some kind of twenty-four-hour bug.”
“Probably not.”
I studied his face uneasily. “Meaning?”
“I don’t want to worry you unduly.”
I frowned. “Unduly?Okay, now I’mtrulyworried.”
“Someone tried to gain access to your cabin last night.”
After a long moment, I said, “You mean aside from us.” That was just me stalling as I tried to absorb the unwelcome implications.
“Besides us,” Rory agreed.
“What happened?” The words came automatically, as dry and dusty as something spit out of an unused vending machine.
“About three twenty-ish, an unknown subject attempted to pry open the window. I tried to get out the door and around the side of the cabin, but they must’ve heard me coming. By the time I reached the window, there was no sign of anyone.”
“Maybe—”
He shook his head. “There were pry marks around the frame.”
I didn’t know what to say. I’d realized there was possible risk in showing up for the vigil, showing up in Woodlark at all, but I’d considered it to be low. What was the point in coming after me? It’s not like I actually knew anything. I was just another voice crying out in the wilderness of the world wide web. I wasn’t even the only podcaster to receive death threats. Why decide to make good on the threats directed at me? I was late to the game and had a relatively small subscriber base.
Rory was saying, “I probably should have let him get in and then—”
“Get in?”
He eyed me, said still calm, still quiet, “Yes, my concern was you. Not knowing what our unsub had in mind—and not knowing your feelings on the subject—I opted for prevention over apprehension.”
I propped my elbow on the table and rubbed my forehead. “Jesus. This is…a lot.”
“I know.”
“Should I file a police report? I didn’t witness the attempted break-in, but—”
“I spoke to Hastings PD after I left you this morning.”
“You…did?”
Rory nodded. “It’s unlikely anything will come of it, so don’t hope for too much.”
“No. I realize. But thank you. And thank you for not letting me freeze to death last night.”
He made a sound that fell somewhere between a snort and anaw shucks.
