in person. That would, of course, be an absolute last resort.
Ethan answered.
“You’re supposed to answer my calls,” Rick told him.
“He’s way past the spot,” said Gavin, on the phone. He was inside the park, watching Ethan from a distance, only calling Rick with updates when it was completely safe to do so. “He’s basically just going from one side to the other, maybe ten feet off the road.”
“I told you he wasn’t going to see the message on the shovel.”
“Still plenty of time until dawn. You never know.”
Butch was flying a drone far overhead, high enough that Ethan wouldn’t hear it and he’d only see it if he decided to wave his flashlight around at the sky for some reason. The live camera feed wasn’t particularly useful, but it let them track his location in case Gavin lost him.
“This is bullshit,” said Rick. “I should be allowed to call him and give a hint.”
“No hints for this one.”
“I should be able to give him something. He’s completely on the wrong track. He’s never going to find her. What’s the point?”
“Why don’t I just walk over and take him by the hand? I could lead him right to her. I could dig her up for him so he doesn’t have to strain his delicate fingers.”
“Do you think she’s even still alive?”
“Maybe,” said Gavin.
“I bet she’s already dead.”
“If she woke up and started panicking, then yes, she’s probably dead. If she’s still asleep, or she woke up and decided to play it cool, she might still have some air left. How scared do you think she is if she’s awake right now, huh? Waking up in total darkness, hands tied, not knowing where the hell she is, only barely able to move around...that’s gotta be terrifying.”
“You’re sick.”
“You love it.”
“No, I don’t. How about you only talk if you’re giving me an update on Ethan’s progress?”
“Sure, no problem. Right now he’s getting colder, colder, colder with every step.”
“This rain sucks,” said Gavin. “Nothing like this was in the weather report. I’m gonna catch hypothermia out here.”
“My heart aches for you,” said Rick.
“Why are there no consequences for weathermen when they get it wrong? They don’t know shit. They should have to issue a formal apology when they screw up like this. What other jobs are there where you can be wrong all the time and you don’t even get reprimanded?”
“Should you be on your phone in the rain?” asked Rick.
“You just worry about yourself. I’ll tell you what, though, they’re sure as hell going to reimburse me for these shoes that are getting ruined.”
“Hey, you won’t believe this,” said Butch. “He shined the flashlight on the shovel, then he took off back the way he came.”
“He saw the message?” Rick asked.
“That’s my guess.”
“Maybe she’s still alive.”
“I wouldn’t count on it. But you never know.”
“If she never woke up, she might be breathing gently, and she might still have some air.”
Butch chuckled. “Keep telling yourself that. Oh, shit, your boy just fell!”
“He just let out a loud-ass scream,” said Gavin. “That’s not a good sign.”
“Nah, she’s dead,” said Butch. “He had the flashlight pointed at her when he set it down, so I saw every nasty detail. He did mouth-to-mouth and everything. Disgusting. I’m glad the camera is up so high, because if it was closer I’d be puking right now.”
“I’m glad this is so entertaining for you guys,” said Rick.
“I feel like you don’t really mean that,” said Gavin.
“Maybe Ethan enjoyed it,” said Butch. “Maybe he slipped her the tongue.”
“I’m going to call him. I’ve gotta hang up on you two idiots.” Rick hung up on them and then called Ethan. “Hello,” he said, keeping his voice neutral.
“I found her,” said Ethan. “She’s still alive but only barely.”
Rick didn’t mind the lie. He couldn’t blame Ethan for trying. “Send me a video with proof that she’s still alive.”
“I’m already back in the car,” said Ethan.
“You left her behind?”
“I didn’t want to risk hurting her more.”
Okay, now it was becoming a little insulting. He didn’t mind the lie but he did mind the lack of respect for his intelligence. “C’mon, Ethan. Save the lies for your wife.”
“All right. Fine. I found her. Fifty paces ahead and a hundred paces to the left. I was too late. She was dead.”
Rick tried again to channel his seventh grade math teacher. “I guess you didn’t earn the point, then.”
“You’re going to burn in hell for this,” said Ethan.
“It’s entirely possible. All right, this round is over. Leave