Fatal Descent Read Free

Rob went over the release forms and packing lists with the Nortons, Mandy scanned the roster and tried to think. Besides the Nortons, there was the six-person Anderson family—two parents and three grown children, one of whom was married—and three women from different parts of California. She had allocated a 4-man and a 2-man tent to the Anderson family and had assigned 2-man tents to herself and Rob and Gonzo and the climbing guide. She would now have to put Kendra and the three women clients in what would have been the Norton family’s 4-man tent. Could the four strangers all get along?
    Mandy and Rob said their goodbyes to the Nortons after inviting them to join the group for a pre-trip meet-and-greet dinner at Milt’s Stop & Eat. The local burger and shakes joint had been recommended to them by the owner of the building they were using. He had told Rob that it set a tone of informality for clients and helped them to start shedding their business-suit personalities prior to getting on the river.
    Just as Mandy was going to fill Rob in on the tent shuffle, three women walked in, giggling and chatting with each other. They all looked to be in their thirties and were a variety of races—white, Hispanic, and black. They stepped up to the counter, and after a few more snippets of chattering, turned as a group and looked expectantly at Rob and Mandy.
    “Hi, gals,” Rob said. “Here to check in for the Cataract Canyon rafting and climbing trip?”
    “You bet your sweet cojones we are!” the Hispanic woman said, tossing her long black hair over one shoulder and eyeing Rob’s athletic build.
    Mandy stiffened.
    Rob, however, took it in stride and went into his spiel. “I’m Rob Juarez, and this is my partner and fiancée, Mandy Tanner.” He put an arm around Mandy’s shoulder. “We’ll be your lead guides on the trip.”
    “Damn, ladies, he’s taken.” While her companions laughed, the Hispanic woman winked at Mandy. “Don’t worry, honey, we’re just having some fun. We’re all happily married, but this is our annual gal-pal escape from the hubbies and munchkins. I’m Vivian Davis, but you can call me Viv.” She held out a hand to Mandy.
    Mandy smiled and shook it, then looked at the other two. “And you are … ?”
    “Maureen Heedles,” said the petite blond-haired white woman, shaking Rob’s and her hands, “but call me Mo.”
    “Betsy Saunders,” said the black woman, also shaking their hands.
    “I hadn’t realized you three knew each other,” Mandy said, “since you live in different California cities.”
    “We all attended high school and community college together in LA,” Mo replied. “We go way back. And, as you can tell, we’re a real mixed bag.”
    Betsy grinned. “Our husbands are, too. Viv’s is black, Mo’s is Asian, and mine is white, so our kids are all hybrids.”
    “Too bad they don’t run on electricity. Our grocery bills would be a lot lower,” Viv quipped, causing all three to laugh. They started comparing notes on what their hapless hubbies were planning to cook, or take-out, while they were gone, which set them to laughing again.
    Once they had quieted, Rob slid release forms on clipboards to them across the counter and asked them to read and sign them.
    Mo looked up from hers at Mandy. “Is it possible for the three of us to share a tent? We plan to do a lot of catching up with each other while we’re on this trip.”
    Relieved, Mandy said, “Sure, we can arrange that.”
    But she needed to break the news that they would have to share with Kendra. She took a deep breath and plunged in. “We’re tight on space in the rafts, though, and can only bring so many tents. We can’t afford to have any bed space in a tent go empty. You’ll be in a 4-man tent. Do you mind sharing with our other female rafting guide? Her name is Kendra Lee.”
    The three women looked at each other and nodded. “No problem,” Betsy said. “Is she here? Can we meet