Chapter 5 - The Shed Holds Garrett’s Warning
I changed the locks on the equipment shed.
Not because Wade had a key.
Because I did not know who did.
Then I reviewed the trail cameras.
Garrett installed them for elk and trespassers.
Most showed deer.
Snow.
Ravens.
Me walking toward the barn in an oversized coat.
Then I found a truck.
Three nights after Garrett’s death.
No plates visible from the angle.
The driver parked beyond the eastern tree line and walked toward the
shed.
He wore a hood.
I could not identify him.
But he knew exactly where he was going.
The camera captured him leaving seventeen minutes later carrying nothing
obvious.
Inside the shed, I searched methodically.
Garrett’s tools were organized with irritating precision.
Sockets.
Chains.
Grease guns.
Survey flags.
Then I noticed four screws on the back wall had fresh scratches.
Behind the plywood panel was a weatherproof document tube.
Inside:
The missing 2018 survey.
A handwritten note.
And a flash drive.
The note was addressed to me.
Nora—
If you’re reading this because something happened to me, don’t assume
Wade is the only problem.
My hands began shaking.
May you like
The next line was worse.
Check the east road before you trust the accident report.
