Over the Edge by Gloria Skurzynski Page A

A man, maybe? Or a woman?”
    â€œNo one else was here.”
    â€œMorgan?” Ranger Kenton turned toward him.
    Jack watched Morgan tense. His question-mark posture straightened as he dug his hands deep into his pockets and asked, “What?”
    â€œI’d like to hear your side.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, my ‘side?’”
    Ranger Kenton flipped a page of his notepad to a fresh sheet. He clicked his pen and replied, “You are the closest thing I have to an eyewitness. You were the only other person at the rim at the time of the incident.”
    â€œMe and whoever pushed her over.”
    â€œExactly. So, what happened?” When Morgan didn’t answer, Ted Kenton moved closer. “Do you have a problem with that question?”
    â€œNo. I just don’t like how you’re asking it.” Morgan’s voice was even, but his face had gone hard. This must be the side of himself Morgan had shown in Dry Creek—stubborn, resistant, wary.
    The next words out of Ted Kenton’s mouth were nothing short of a command. “Tell me.”
    â€œI was gone for a few minutes. I came back. Mrs. Landon had disappeared. I called for her, but she didn’t answer. I started looking around. I went up the path, then came back to the rim. I looked over the edge and saw her legs sticking out. Right after that Ashley showed up. She yelled for Jack, and you know the rest.”
    â€œGo back to the statement, ‘I was gone for a few minutes.’ Where did you go?”
    Morgan flushed. “Away.”
    â€œBefore you left, did you see anyone else? Tourists snapping pictures? Anyone walking around?”
    Morgan shook his head and touched his goatee.
    â€œHow close to the edge would you say Dr. Landon was standing? Before you left, I mean.”
    Morgan shrugged. “Maybe about three feet.”
    â€œSo where did you go?” Ted Kenton persisted.
    â€œI already told you. For a walk in the trees. Over there.” Morgan swept his arm out to the left, toward a cluster of pines.
    â€œMay I ask why?”
    â€œNo, you may not.” Morgan thrust out his chin, refusing to say more. Jack could tell that the ranger was growing impatient.
    â€œHey, cut the attitude,” Kenton demanded.
    â€œI was the last one there, right? She was pushed. It’s all implied—I must be the one who pushed her. Just like Dry Creek, guilty without a trial.” Eyes narrowing into slits, Morgan spat, “By the way, I’ve spent a lot of time learning my legal rights. You need parental consent to even question me, and you haven’t got it.”
    â€œWhoa, whoa, whoa!” Ted Kenton’s hands pressed into the air, as though he were pushing back an invisible wall. “Hold on. I’m asking you to explain why you went into the trees. There’s no need to be so defensive.”
    Sighing, Morgan closed his eyes. It seemed as though he were waging an internal argument, one that played out through his expressions. Finally, he blurted out, blushing, “All right. I was in need of a bathroom, OK? I knew Dr. Landon would freak if I went ‘natural’—so I waited until she was busy looking for that condor. Then I used a tree. I came back, and she was gone. That’s it.”
    â€œBut that’s not all of it.” Ashley said, her voice sharp. “Tell him about your Web site and the bad things you wrote about Mom and me!”
    â€œAshley!” Jack cried, but his sister vehemently shook her head. “No, I should never have listened to you. If anyone had believed me, this wouldn’t have happened! Ranger Kenton, my mom and Morgan were fighting.”
    Ted zeroed in on every word. “Fighting, like physical fighting? Or fighting with words.”
    â€œWords.”
    â€œAw, man, we were taking a walk together!” Morgan protested.
    â€œThat’s because you had won her over,” Ashley sputtered. “Like you did