Forever Dead

Forever Dead by Suzanne F. Kingsmill

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Authors: Suzanne F. Kingsmill
Tags: FIC022000
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turning into sharp-eyed interest, and something more. Was I imagining it? Or did he already know something about the body in the woods?
    â€œIt’s back up the portage trail, above the falls, maybe a mile. There’s a camp up there.”
    I thought I saw a smile flit across his face, but it was hard to tell with so much of his face hidden by hair. He was standing very still, with his hands held loosely at his sides. Suddenly he raised them and chopped the air with a vicious downward motion that made me leap back, my heart convulsing.
    â€œI don’t give a good goddamn about any dead body. You damn screaming greenies can look after your own dead bodies, and if the guy’s already dead, it’s no emergency, is it?”
    I must admit he had a point. He made a sudden move toward me and then froze as he fixed his gaze on something behind me, the expression on his face darkening another dozen shades. I slowly turned my head and saw Ryan running down the road, flanked on either side by a man and a woman. I was so relieved to see him that when he came up and took me by the arm to see if I was okay I nearly slid to the ground, my wobbly knees suddenly proving how much I needed them to hold me up. We stood together and watched as the man who had been with Ryan squared off with my behemoth, although I was interested to see that he took great care not to get within swinging distance of those huge arms.
    â€œCameron, what the hell are you doing here?” asked the man in a thin, wheezy voice. He was a slight, balding guy who was wearing a shirt several sizes too big for him. Despite the bravado in his wordshe did not move any closer to the guy. Cameron’s eyes narrowed to slits and his fists clenched, but he said nothing.
    â€œThis isn’t part of your leasing area, it belongs to the university, and we don’t take kindly to you trespassing here,” said the man.
    â€œ
You
! You have the fucking nerve to accuse me of trespassing.” Cameron lunged at the man, who anticipated Cameron’s reaction and deftly ducked out of the way.
    â€œYou stinking son of a cowardly bitch,” said Cameron. “Why don’t you put your fist where your mouth is?” He lunged again, but the woman, who, though taller than me, barely reached Cameron’s chest, stepped between them as if they were two toddlers.
    â€œCameron, I think it best that you clear out.” Her voice was clipped: not rude, just emotionless. Her clear blue eyes were unblinking as they stood looking at each other. I thought some signal passed between them, but the moment was so fleeting that I couldn’t be sure.
    â€œIt’s not a good idea to come around here,” she said.
    â€œIs that a threat,
Miz
Mitchell?” said Cameron with a heavy emphasis on the “Ms.”
    â€œNo, just a friendly piece of advice.”
    He snorted, and then a slow smile spread across his face like lava across a valley, vindictive and delighted at some thought in his head. He turned to me.
    â€œThe only person I know that camps up there is that bastard who started all this. Must be his goddamned body. Serve him bloody well right, the nosey parker, trying to tell us what to do. As if he knows piss-all about forestry. Well, to hell with him and with all of you. I hope you fry in hell and I’ll supply the devil with the fuel you lot are trying to martyr.”
    He spat the words out like a bad taste he was happy to get rid of. He turned and got in his truck, slammed the door with exaggerated force, and floored it, sending gravel spraying out at us as he roared away.
    â€œWhat the hell was that all about?” I asked, hoping that words might make my knees behave. I looked at the man, whose face had gone several shades paler.
    He pinned me with his eyes, wild and sweaty, stumbled around his words, got his tongue in the right spot, and whispered, “What body?”
    Ryan, who hadn’t heard the question, turned to me

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