When the morning sun kissed the tree tops Milo headed to the ranger station. An aging two story cabin that had seen better days. No porch, just a raised small platform accompanied by three rickety steps. White paint flaked off the exterior, coating the ground closest to the cabin. Even the signage was worn as the word "Ranger" had faded with age.
Inside was modestly better. Chairs lined one side of the wall along with souvenir racks. On the other side was their desks and a few scattered personal belongings. The upstairs housed the living quarters: a bedroom, a kitchen area, and bathroom.
Milo thought many times of staying here but can't stomach sharing a room with Dan. Cleanliness was not his forte and Milo couldn't remember how many times he told him bathing was free. Reaching his desk, he flopped down in his chair.
Yesterday he warned the visitors and campers of the bear attacks. Some had complied, returning to their campsites or leaving the park entirely. Others challenged him, opting to stay and continue normally. All Milo could do was try to reason with them.
"Now what's on the agenda today." Looking at the papers scattered on his desk, his eyes landed on a post it note.
'Patrol the coast!'
"Right, right. Might as well go now."
Taking one of the hanging life jackets he grabbed a spare radio battery and headed out the door. He was surprised to see Elaina, McDermott's partner, hand perched, about to knock. Startled she stepped back, "Oh!"
Milo watched as her caramel cheeks took on a rosy hue. She was casual today unlike the last time he'd seen her. A black T-shirt and simple Denim jeans completed her look. Her badge rested on her belt with her handcuffs and Glock. Brown hair clipped back into a low bun.
"Ranger Halifax? I'm Elaina Tabares. You spoke to my partner, Scott McDermott, yesterday." Extending her hand, he took it.
"Yea, how can I help you today?"
"I came to see how your night went. Anything unusual?"
She pulled a pad and pencil from her back pocket. Waiting, she ignored his exasperated expression. He did not have time for this. Reaching in his pocket he pulled out his Menthols. Lighting one it was now his turn to ignore her frown.
"I didn't stay last night. Also, I told your partner everything. It was a bear attack. Case closed."
"How do you know it was a bear? Were you there on that night?" She placed her hands on her hips and arched a brow.
Milo shook his head and walked past her, bumping into her accidentally.
"Sorry ma'am. I don't enjoy being accused of what you're implying, I have to start my day. As far as I'm concerned a family of bears ransacked that camp."
"Even you don't believe that. I can see it on your face."
Milo took a long drag from his cigarette. He stood by his driver door and glance back at her. She was still on the platform, arms folded across her chest. He'd be a liar to say he didn't gawp at her breast.
"Even if I don't, it has nothing to do with me. Again, you guys closed the case."
Fishing for his keys he didn't notice her walk over to the passenger side.
"Isn't it your job to conserve the environment, its animals, and people as a Ranger?" Elaina pulled at his door handle, locked.
"Yes, but when people do dumb things, like anger wildlife, that calls for common sense not a Park Ranger." Milo observed her yank the handle again. Still locked. Sighing he put his cig out on the front tire.
"What are you doing?"
"Coming with you. You know the park better than anyone here. All we need to do is find these 'bears'." Her tone left no room for argument, pissing milo off.
He glared at her and she matched it, hand twitching on the door handle.
"Excuse me, are you dense? What part of case closed do you not understand? Don't you have real crimes to deal with? Murder? Thieves? Assault?"
"This is murder and there are still unanswered questions. I intend to find them! I also intend to book you for assaulting an officer on duty!" Elaina yelled the latter with a sneer.
"Bullshit, you were in my way!"
"...So that's ground for assault?"
"It was an accident! Christ lady, is this how all your interactions go?"
Unbridled anger seized Milo as he stared down at the detective. Who does she think she is demanding things of him? Milo watched her mouth open to spew more garbage. Before she could tires crunched on gravel, catching their attention.
He turned around as a car pulled up beside him. Inside a couple and two young children. The kids were crying and the woman, he assumed the wife, was doing her best to console them. Staring at Milo the man opened his car door and stood halfway out of it. The children's cries grew louder.
Milo resisted the urge to cry out in frustration. Forming the best smile he could muster with the current situation he greeted them. "Hello, I'm Ranger Halifax, can I do for you?"
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The man looked flustered. Sweat pouring from under his Longhorns cap and trickled down his face. His eyes shifted around wildly.
'We-we were hiking the Deadman's Trail. We noticed another, figured we'd take a short detour then head back. Long story short Ranger, we found a bear, dead."
"Not a problem sir, bears may pass from natural causes. I'll go- "
"It wasn't no natural cause Ranger. That thing was mauled to shit! I'm a hunter. I know my animals and that bear had been an easy 600 lbs."
Milo stared, dumbfounded by his words. Quickly he unlocked his truck and pulled out a coffee-stained map from his cup holder.
"Show me exactly where you saw it." He slapped the map down on the car hood. The man scurried over and took Milo's pen from his grasp.
"Here. About half a mile from the trail. I'll tell ya right now, anything that can do that to a black bear does not belong in this park!" Shaking his head he went back into his car. "Good luck Ranger."
He snatched the map as the car lurched backwards. Watching them leave, he hopes the man doesn't hit anyone on the way out. Looking at the map he examined the area. Something wasn't right.
"Bears don't usually go here." He spoke loudly to himself, deep in thought.
"So, still think its bears?"
He looked up at the voice, instant displeasure on his face. "Get out of my truck!"
Elaina acted as if she didn't hear, instead pulling out her cell phone and dialed someone. Milo's face sagged, mumbling a few words that'd make his mom turn in her grave, begrudgingly he got in. Ending her phone call she went to speak.
"Ah, ah." My truck, my rules. Don't touch anything. Sit and be quiet."
Elaina smiled broadly as he backed out onto the road. "Maybe we got off on the wrong foot."
"No shit, great observation. You must have been top of your class."
Digging through the center console Milo pulled out a new pack of smokes. Elaina's lips twisted, "Ya' know, those aren't good- "
With no hesitation he cranked the volume up, drowning her out. The long drawn out note of a trumpet gave him goosebump. As far as Milo was concerned, there was no one in his passenger seat. Just him, his cig, and a sweet jazzy melody.
*~*~*
Arriving at the area he pulled the truck over to the side of the road. He never met a more frustrating woman. Having drowned out her unwanted questions with grunts and glares. She was closing the gap to the finish line with his ex-wife, and he wasn't amused.
"Here. You stay in the truck." Leaning back, Milo reached into his back seat and pulled out his rifle. A Hawkeye Alaskan, it's saved his hide more times than he'd admit.
"Do you think that'll be suffice?" Elaina unbuckled her seatbelt.
"Yes. I won't be needing-What are you doing? I said stay in the truck!"
"I have higher authority Halifax." She hopped out the truck.
Milo started at her vacantly. He was over it. Getting out he made sure to slam the door. The half-mile trek through dense overgrown vegetation highlighted the lack of visitors. They would have almost missed the trail if he didn't double check the map.
He heard a click and saw Elaina check her mag. She nodded at him signaling she's ready. The two stayed close together, despite the animosity. Fools they were not.
For a state with little humidity, Milo was damp with sweat. Either that or his nerves were bad. He hated to admit it, but the situation had him rattled. However, Elaina was right. He does have a duty to the park and intended on upholding it.
"Do you smell that?" Elaina put her nose to the air as she inhaled.
Milo did the same, about to tell her no until he did catch something familiar: Berries. There was a slight off smell to it, but he recognized it.
"We might be getting close." Unconsciously he picked up his pace. Curious to see what had the family frightened enough to leave so suddenly.
Elaina kept her pistol drawn in front of her. It wasn't long before black tuffs of fur began to present itself. Some still attached to fatty lumps of flesh. The fur made a haphazard zigzag through some thick brush not far ahead of them. Blood that coated the nearby foliage became more pronounced the closer they got. The bitter smell of berries increased. Reaching the brush Milo readied his rifle. Stepping through some parted brush, he gasped.
An area of grass lay flattened. Milo observed a chunk of hide swaying on a tree limb. Blood extended up the nearby trunks, decorating them with bodily filth. Rich ruby red, standing out against the greenery. His breath hitched when he saw what remained of the black bear.
Its head and chest were gone. He couldn't spot it anywhere. Mangled intestines and shredded organs spilled out of what remained. Its right paw was also missing, the others chewed on. Milos tracked where the strong smell of berries was emitting, physically wincing at the bear scat spread around. Up close, the sharp odor of ammonia mingled in, concentrated where the head would be.
"What. The. Fuck."
Milo did a 360, taking in the scene. An intense battle happened here. Problem was he didn't know between what. The black bear was the largest predator the park had. If this bear was around 600 lbs. like the man said...
"The bear had to be running."
Milo's eyes cut to Elaina. She was walking around the area, pistol drawn. Her shoulders remained tense when she brought her weapon down, lips pursed together in a thin line. Her brows furrowed as she analyzed the scene.
"It must have gotten ambushed back there, that would explain the blood trail."
"If an animal can do this to a bear this size, I'm sure it would have taken it down during the ambush."
They both looked at the trees again. The area was quiet. No birds, no critters nearby. If he listened carefully, Milo swore he heard Elaina's heart pounding like his own.
"Not if it was enjoying the hunt." Elaina turned toward him. She looked as she did when he saw her at the campsite: Analytical and anxious.
"Let's think about it. If I ambush a bear this size, get them running, I'm not going to end the hunt right there. Why would I? I'd rather relish in the chase. It'd give me an edge. A sense of power."
Milo considered her words. What she said made sense. If taking out the largest predator here is a power move, that means...
Milo cut his gaze to Elaina. She met his stare, and he realized they reached the same conclusion.
"If I take out a bear this size, then what's stopping me from taking out humans?" Dread filled Milo as he finished speaking. This wasn't good.
"We've got to close the park. Today." Elaina spoke in a clipped tone. Taking one last look around she headed back to the truck.
Milo said nothing, agreeing for once. They had to get people out and soon. For the first time in his life, he wasn't itching for his favorite stress reliever. Instead, he clutched his gun a little tighter.