***
I stop mid-trail and study the map again. It seemed so easy to follow when I was safe in my apartment with it spread out over the coffee table. It’s considerably less easy to follow in the woods, with birds hooting and some weird honking sound that could be a moose or a grizzly bear. Probably a moose, since bears should be hibernating right now. Based on my Internet research, moose are just as dangerous as grizzlies.
I tilt the map and look up the trail, but I still have no idea where in the hell I am. And I was supposed to have reached my destination and gotten everything set up over an hour ago. There’s a very good chance Garrick’s already past the spot I’d planned for my surprise, and I’m going to die in the forest without ever getting him back for threatening me and my friends with a chainsaw.
I sink down to sit in the snow, my snow pants clad legs stretched out in front of me, my snowshoes making it look like I have giant feet. A tear tracks down my cheek and I sniffle.
“I’m such an idiot.” The plan seemed so solid when I was hanging out with Lindsay and she told me all about this snowshoe tour Garrick’s doing today. She probably thinks I’m crushing on him.
Not that it’ll matter after I’m dead.
“I don’t want people to think I’m a stalker.” Which is exactly what it’ll look like when my body is found with a map printed from Garrick’s company website, the trail of his current snowshoe expedition plotted in red ink.
People will see the rope and duct tape in my bag and they’ll definitely think I had plans to kidnap him and keep him as my sex slave or some shit.
I quickly scan through my options. Search and Rescue can find me, but I’ve seen the bills for their services. I’m not going to let taxpayers fund my rescue. I’ll never live it down.
There’s one person who’s already out in the woods and might be somewhere close by. And he probably won’t kill me. I hope.
Amazingly, I have cell service. My phone rings through to Garrick’s and a tiny smidge of hope lights my soul.
“I can’t talk right now, Demon. Bother me later.”
I can’t believe he actually answered my call. “Don’t hang up, Garrick. I’m lost in the woods.”
He snorts. “Sure you are. I’m with clients. I don’t have time for your nonsense.”
Damn it. He’s not going to believe me unless I tell him everything and, if I tell him everything, he might decide to leave me here. “I got the map from your website. I found out you were leading a tour today, and I came out here to, um, you know…”
“Ah, fuck. You’re serious. Where the hell are you?”
“If I knew that, Evergreen, I wouldn’t be calling you.”
“Shit. Don’t move. Give me two minutes and I’ll call you back. You’re lucky we’re almost back to headquarters and I’ve got Tony with me.”
He hangs up before I can say anything else. The odds of him actually calling me back are low.
Somewhere, a wolf howls. Or maybe it’s an owl hooting. Why do all the damn animals around here sound alike?
On line, it said a hiker should sing to alert animals to her presence. I start with my favorite Christmas carol.
He’s not going to call me back. Why should he? He hates me.
He’s hated me since he met me and found out I was running for mayor. He’s a small-minded man who can’t imagine anyone from outside this town could run it efficiently.
If I die out here, he’ll probably throw a party.
I’m going to have to call search and rescue to find me and the whole town’s going to be talking about how I wasted taxpayer money. They’ll probably use it as an excuse to kick me out of office.
I’ll have to move back to Las Vegas and Peach will forget all about me and I’ll be all alone and—
My phone vibrates in my hand. I’m so excited to see Garrick’s name flash across the screen, I swipe at it too quickly with my gloved finger and accidentally dismiss the call.
I rip off my glove with my teeth and call him back. “I’m sorry,” I say before he can speak. “I don’t know how to use the phone with gloves on.”
He chuckles. “Or you just enjoy the power trip of ignoring me.”
“Seriously. It was an accident. Please don’t hold it against me. I don’t want—” I pinch my lips shut before I get anymore ridiculously emotional. “Please help me.”
