Page 9 of Nothing But Air

Eden squared her shoulders again. “He could have died doing it. It was rash.”

“Effective,” someone muttered from the back.

Oh, thanks for that, Peanut Gallery.

Teague’s voice gentled. “Eden. Tim is alive. That’s what matters.”

“What matters is that we don’t set a precedent where?—”

“Yeah, I heard the speech.” He stepped past her, close enough that his shoulder nearly brushed hers, his breath stirring the hair at her temple. “And I’d make the same call again.”

Which was exactly why she couldn’t let herself fall for him.

She spun. “We’re not finished.”

“Yeah.” He dropped into an empty chair near the front, not looking back. “We are.”

Dismissed.

Eden stood frozen, pulse pounding. The other rangers settled into their seats. No one looked at her anymore. The moment had passed.

She’d failed. Failed to make him see the danger. Failed to maintain any semblance of control.

The door at the far end of the room clicked open.

Superintendent Virgil walked in, pale-gray hair cropped military short, weathered face grim. More than grim—haunted. Deep shadows carved the hollows beneath his eyes.

Something cold slid through Eden’s chest. She’d never seen him look like this.

“Thank you all for coming.” Virgil’s knuckles went white on the podium. “I’m glad the rescue was successful. But I have difficult news.”

Eden slipped into the nearest chair.

“Due to the escalating situation with treasure hunters and our inability to safely manage operations, the decision has been made to close significant portions of the park, including the entire North Rim Campground.”

Murmurs rippled through the room.

“Effective immediately.”

The words hit Eden’s chest like a physical blow. The air rushed from her lungs.

“And all trail access from the South Rim will be terminated,” Virgil continued. “We can no longer control the influx of people searching for Roosevelt’s third cache. The South Rim will remain open for lookout points only.”

Anya’s voice came out small. “What about staff?”

“Permanent positions will reassign to rim patrol and enforcement. Seasonal and temporary contracts…” Virgil exhaled. “Those positions will be suspended.”

They would need dispatch, but one would be plenty, and Betty had ten years of seniority.

Which meant Eden was out.

Fantastic.

Three chairs away, Teague sat motionless, his earlier confidence erased. He stared ahead, jaw tight, knuckles scraped raw from the climb.

Today’s rescue—the thing he’d been celebrated for—had probably been the final straw. The incident that convinced regional to shut everything down.

And she’d been at her desk. Useless.