Page 20 of Nothing But Air

“Ten, maybe twenty locations. Maybe more.”

The room released a collective groan. That didn’t sound very narrow.

Marcus set the notebook on the table. “I don’t know the exact spot, but we’re narrowing it more every day. However, all of our potential locations are cliff faces with natural ledges—small enough to conceal the chest, accessible by someone in the seventies, but closed to the public now. And all of them are reachable only through a technical climb.”

Noah shifted in his seat and pressed his hand against his side. “If this could end the madness and reopen the park”—he nodded slowly—“it’s worth pursuing.”

“Agreed.” Virgil looked around the room. “But I’m not ordering anyone to do this. This isn’t what you were hired for. It needs to be a volunteer.”

The room fell silent.

Teague could feel eyes turning toward him. The unspoken question hanging as heavy as the Arizona heat.

But something about Marcus was off.

Not wrong, exactly. The guy seemed genuine enough. His research looked legitimate. But there was something he wasn’t saying. Some piece he was holding back. The guardedness in his eyes. The way his fingers tightened on the notebook when he talked about his family.

Marcus Roosevelt wanted to find that cache. That much was real.

But why?

To help reopen the park? To collect the money? To make things right? Or was there something else?

With Noah still injured, it really fell to him or Liam. And if Marcus was hiding something—if this search turned dangerous—Teague wasn’t going to let his friends put themselves at risk.

He pushed off the wall and moved forward. “I’ll do it.”

Heads turned. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Eden’s lips press into a thin line. Her shoulders going rigid.

He didn’t look at her.

“Thank you.” Marcus’s handshake was firm, but his palms were soft. This guy lived behind a desk. Probably hadn’t touched a real rock face in his life.

Virgil nodded, relief crossing his weathered face. “I was hoping you’d volunteer. You know the backcountry better than almost anyone here, and your technical skills are solid.”

“Glad to help.” Teague released Marcus’s grip. “We need to find this cache. The sooner the better.”

“All right then.” Virgil checked his watch. “Meeting adjourned. Teague, Marcus, stay back a minute. The rest of you—thanks for coming. You all have your reassignments.”

The room emptied in a shuffling of chairs and boots on linoleum. Marcus stepped toward Teague, that grateful-but-guarded expression still in place. “Do you think we can hit the trail in the morning?”

Teague lifted a brow. “There’s a lot we need to decide before we hit any trail. Not to mention, it sounds like we may need to narrow the search a little more. And like Virgil said, this isn’t emergency status. We want to be timely but purposeful, and that takes preparation. Not to mention I would like a team of more than just two.”

Who, he wasn’t exactly sure yet.

“Right.” Marcus clapped his hands—the gesture too quick, too eager. “I have survey maps and copies of the historical documents in my truck. I’ll go get them.”

“Let’s meet in the ranger station in ten.” Virgil glanced at his watch and followed Marcus out.

Teague walked over to grab his pack when Eden’s voice stopped him cold.

“You can’t seriously be doing this.” She stood a few feet away. Arms crossed. Jaw set. Those ice-blue eyes sharp enough to cut.

Teague kept his tone light. “Hello to you too. Nice weather we’re having. How’s your day going?”

“Teague.”

“Eden.”