“Maybe we should talk to some neighbors,” Tara finally replied as she nodded her head in the direction of the woman. Warren’s gaze followed, noticing her for the first time.

***

The woman suddenly stood up in anticipation as Tara and Warren approached her lawn. “Can I help you?” she asked with a mix of concern and eagerness as she slid off her flower-print gardening gloves.

Tara flashed her badge. “I’m sure you’re aware of the investigation taking place on the trail?”

“Oh, of course,” the woman said as she placed her hand over her heart. “How could I not? After all that’s been happening on this street—and those poor girls.” She squeezed her eyes hard in anguish and shook her head. “I saw their parents out here earlier. They were hysterical. I can’t even imagine if I were them. I have a daughter too, you know. She’s much older, but the thought of her going missing is heart-wrenching.” She then lowered her voice into an audible whisper as if the parents would somehow overhear. “But I would’ve never let my daughter go camping after all that’s been happening on that trail, even if it wasn’t closed down by us.”

Tara was already starting to dislike this woman and she was sure the victims’ parents probably felt the same. She was nosy, and most likely had opinions about everything her neighbors did. But Tara also knew that a nosy neighbor might also benefit her.

“Anyway, I’m sure you’re not here for my parenting opinions,” the woman continued. “What can I help you with?”

“We were just wondering if you’ve seen any strange activity around here recently. I know there’s often people parking on your street to hike. Has anyone seemed off to you?” Tara asked.

The woman bit her lower lip as she thought. “No, not really,” she said. “I see a lot of hikers on this street, but no one that’s concerned me. This has always been a really safe area.”

Tara continued to prod her, asking if she interacted recently with any hikers, if she’d seen anyone enter the trail late at night, but Tara couldn’t quite get a lead out of her.

“Do you ever see anyone here often that isn’t a hiker?” Tara questioned.

The woman thought for another moment and then looked around her as if checking to make sure no one else was around listening.

“Well,” she whispered. “I always have my morning coffee on the porch, and I’ve been seeing a state park truck out by the entrance a lot lately.” She paused as a thought struck her. “In fact, it was parked there yesterday morning and I saw the girls enter the trail soon after.”

“Do you know when it left?”

The woman shook her head. She had gone to her daughter’s house that night. She was staying over to babysit her granddaughter, and when she arrived back this morning, it was gone, and then soon after the flurry of police activity began.