The held each other’s gaze a moment longer in a silent standoff. Finally, Brandon cleared his throat. “We met here, actually. In the diner. I was eating with my parents and he was here with—”
“No, we met at the lumberyard, remember?”
Brandon grimaced. “No. It was here.”
Alejo’s brow furrowed, searching for the memory.
“You were on a date?” Brandon tried. “It doesn’t matter. It wasn’t a long conversation. I don’t even know why I remember it.”
“Are you sure you met me?” Alejo asked. “I didn’t meet you until I came back from Seattle. And I didn’t really go on dates. I was…”
Logan groaned. “You were with Tammy, right?”
Alejo flushed. “Gracia … that chismosa. I was a different guy back then.”
“I don’t think you were that different,” Brandon said. When Logan and Alejo fixed him with identical stares, he looked down. “When you came back, I was actually glad you were just how I remembered you.”
“Oh, because you knew me so well from our one conversation?” Alejo’s laugh was a pointed challenge.
Ronda came back from the kitchen and laid their burgers on the table, saving Brandon from having to elaborate. Before she could turn to leave, Alejo held up a hand. “Ronda, you have a great memory. Do you remember me and Brandon meeting here? For the first time?”
Ronda stared.
“I was in the booth by the door,” Brandon said.
“I’m sorry. I don’t remember.” Ronda straightened and gestured to the table. “Do y’all have enough napkins?”
Alejo looked to Brandon and frowned. “Uh, we’re good. Thanks.”
Logan looked down at her lap. She waited for Ronda to disappear back into the kitchen, then took a deep breath. “Can I ask you guys something?”
“When have you ever asked permission?” Alejo scoffed.
Brandon watched her warily.
“I know you said you’re investigating the weather and sightings and stuff, but … I was talking to Gracia a few weeks ago. She said this weird stuff didn’t start until you got here. And you haven’t been taking any notes or pictures. None of the crew has come out. I took you guys’ gear, like, three weeks ago, and—”
“You what?” Brandon asked.
Logan was quiet.
“What do you mean, you took our gear?” Alejo asked.
“I…” Logan narrowed her eyes. “No, the point is that you guys didn’t even notice it was gone. We’re supposed to be here investigating, but you don’t realize you’re missing all your gear?”
“The point is that our gear is expensive,” Alejo said. “And off-limits.”
Brandon leaned forward. “What did you use it for?”
Logan looked between them. Alejo was upset, but Brandon was afraid. His hand was flat against the table, eyes wide behind his glasses. Because it wasn’t about the gear; it was about what she’d found. Logan’s heart raced. She felt fire in her cheeks.
“Logan,” Brandon said, hard and cold. “What did you use the gear for?”
“That’s what I wanna ask about. The cabin across the lake—”
Brandon exhaled.
“I know it was yours. And there’s this grave I saw. It had our name on it.” Logan looked at her hands. “I thought, if you guys could just start at the beginning. If you could just tell me what’s going on here.”