Shadows Deceive

“The winter is very busy. Lots of people come here to ski. But right now it’s Oktoberfest.”

I laughed. “Big Bear has Oktoberfest?”

“Oh yes. It’s actually a huge event. It runs through September and October.” He grinned, and the sun lit the edges of his hair. “I enjoyed the hell out of Oktoberfest when I lived here.”

With Alexander?

I pushed that petty thought away. I hadn’t even known him back then. I was being stupid again. “We should go. One day this week, we should enjoy some schnitzel and ale.”

His laugh was husky. “It’s a deal.” He turned and started up the trail again.

I started to follow him, when something caught my eye to the left of the trail. I peered through the weeds, convinced I had to be seeing things. My heart began to pound as I realized exactly what I was looking at.

Half-hidden behind a large granite boulder was the naked, lifeless body of a young man.