Free Freefall by Jill Sorenson

heard of it.”
    “The shirt is a large and the pants are thirty-two/thirty-two.” She studied the length of Sam’s legs. “What size are you?”
    “Thirty-two/thirty-four.”
    “You’re bigger than he is?”
    “I’m taller.”
    Ranger Cordova gave her another printout. “I also have a description of the stolen backpack and a list of the items inside.”
    “Excellent,” Hope said, scanning it. “Do you know if any single men left the campsite yesterday morning?”
    “Just one, according to Morgenstern. A young guy in a red truck. He bowed out of the rafting trip at the last minute, complaining of stomach problems.”
    Hope frowned at this news. Alan Morgenstern was a VIP, or volunteer-in-park. He actually did most of Kruger’s work around the campsite for a small stipend. “Did Ron check in this morning?”
    “Yes.”
    “How many in his group?”
    She consulted the computer. “Seven, including him.”
    “That’s strange.”
    “Why?”
    “I was supposed to be on that trip, in a group of eight. If two rafters are missing, there should be six left.”
    Cordova found the original list and confirmed the numbers. “You’re right.”
    “Maybe that guy in the truck was our suspect,” she said, her heart racing. “Where’s Morgenstern?”
    “In his trailer.”
    Hope leaped to her feet. She wanted to talk to him in person.
    “Should I come?” Cordova asked.
    “No need,” she said, waving her hand in the air. Morgenstern hated rookies, especially females. He probably hated lesbians, too. To be fair, he also hated Bill Kruger, and pretty much every employee on staff. He was an equal opportunity asshole.
    Cordova smiled at Sam, eager to chat with him one-on-one. He stood and followed Hope out of the office.
    “You didn’t want to be alone with Cordova?” she teased.
    He shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck.
    “Aren’t you interested in adoring women?”
    “Not remotely.”
    “I think you’re safe. She has a girlfriend.”
    His brows rose. “Now I’m interested.”
    She laughed, knowing he didn’t mean it. He had a dry sense of humor that she found very appealing. He’d joked around a lot that night at the bar. Paired with his rugged good looks and ridiculously hot body, he was hard to resist.
    He also seemed surprised by her amusement. That was another attractive quality. He didn’t expect compliments or laughter, like most celebrated people. His gaze lowered to her lips and lingered there. If Sam was interested in anyone, it was Hope. He stared at her with a mixture of longing and confusion.
    Clearing his throat, he glanced away. “Melissa was my fiancée,” he said, answering the question she’d posed earlier. “She died in a climbing accident in Greece.”
    “I’m sorry,” she said, stricken. “I didn’t know.”
    “It wasn’t a big news story. Only our families and close friends knew we were dating. She was a professional climber, and she wanted to be judged on her abilities, not mine.”
    Hope felt terrible for him. It was speculated that head trauma during the San Diego earthquake had knocked the sense out of him. In reality, another tragedy had inspired his current, reckless free-soloing habits.
    “When I woke up this morning—”
    “You don’t have to explain,” she said, touching his arm.
    His mouth twisted at the contact. “I’m not going to forget about it.”
    After a moment, she realized he was referencing her offer from yesterday. He didn’t want to forget their night together, or his unwitting advances from this morning? She searched his dark eyes, curious. His triceps tensed beneath her fingertips. He had lean muscles, like most rock climbers, but she’d never felt such raw power.
    “Okay,” she said, dropping her hand. She wouldn’t forget, either.
    Morgenstern’s trailer was at the campground entrance. Once a ranger, he’d been forced into early retirement after a knee injury. His wife, also a NPS employee, had died of cancer. He’d given the best