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Renee had been prone to morning sickness for two weeks now though that term didn't really fit in. She'd wake felling okay but around this time, mid-morning, it came on and would continue through most of the day until late afternoon. Once the excitement of finding out she was pregnant had worn off, there was now this annoying factor. She was six weeks into her pregnancy on this special day, she guessed it was, for it was one year since the big snowstorm that cut them off from the world had arrived. She sighed and munched on a couple of ginger cubes that did seem to relieve the nausea and decided to walk down to the shop. Exercise and fresh air would help.
As she walked across to the baby in the buggy she smiled to herself. Aza and Sofia were visiting and the little three-month-old girl named Alice was at the interesting stage where she was beginning to take notice of the world around her. She was shy, though and it took the last couple of days before she would even come to her without crying for her mother or Sofia.
"Well Sweetheart," she said as she gave Alice her bottle. "Shall we go down to the shop and see how Sandra's getting on? Mummy and Mamma have gone up to the top tank with Tyler."
In the all women family, Aza had become Mummy and Sofia Mamma for the little girl. Renee grinned for since their arrival, Sofia had actually looked after Alice more than her birth mother and Aza had even stopped breast-feeding her.
Outside it was cold but no snow had arrived though black clouds over the hills really confirmed the weather report that predicted snow showers that evening. Sam had gone up the track with the trio but Apricot the cat now accompanied her down to the shop. This was probably because Sandra made a fuss of her and always had a bowl of cat food waiting in the back room.
As she approached the shop she noticed that Sandra had just filled a Land Cruiser up with fuel and walked back across the kerb to the shop veranda where an elderly man stood waiting. It wasn't necessary for Sandra to full the vehicles but she said she didn't mind when she wasn't busy.
When Renee went closer she noticed Sandra turn. "Hi Renee," she called. "This gentleman wants to speak to you."
The man turned and Renee gasped. She hadn't seen him in real life before but had seen videos and photographs of him. She could be wrong but was pretty sure that the guy was Professor Joseph Hardy. Goose pimples rose on her arm as thoughts rushed though her mind. There he was but it was too late for her to do anything except step forward.
Hardy came towards her with a hand extended. "Ms Renee Stevens, I believe," he said in an educated almost snobby voice. "My name is Ernest Connolly. This good lady said that Aza and Sofia are staying with you. I'm a friend of the family. Perhaps you heard Aza speak of me?"
Renee was taken back. Perhaps she was wrong and it wasn't Hardy after all but then again if it was, he wouldn't be likely to use his real name.
"Yes I am Renee Stevens, Mr Connolly..."
"Professor Connolly actually, but call me Ernest."
Renee hid a grimace. Aza said Hardy was an arrogant man and even when using a pseudonym, he couldn't help but this show this trait.
"I guess you're from Auckland University, Ernest," she said. "Aza told me she would be returning there in the spring semester but your name never came up."
"Possibly not. I am fairly new at the university and arrived after she went on maternity leave. I was in the area and said I'd bring along a couple of documents she has to sign. They must be witnessed so could not be done on line." He smiled and glanced at the baby who was now asleep in the buggy. "Her little baby?" he asked in a casual voice.
"No, mine," Renee lied and gave Sandra a slight frown in the hope that she wouldn't say anything. "I'm afraid Aza and her family have gone up to Craigieburn Valley Ski field for a couple of days. Took our dog Sam with them for he loves the snow." She purposely gave the name of a field that wasn't the closest. "I think they'll be back on Friday." She glanced at the sky. "That's if the heavy snow predicted doesn't arrive." She gave a chuckle. "This time last year we were isolated for a week."
"You have an address there?" the man cut in.
"No but I think it was one of the university lodges. It's early in the season so I don't imagine they'll be hard to find." She held the man's eyes. "You could leave the documents with me for her to sign. My partner and myself could be a witnesses."
"No, no, that's fine. There are a couple of other things I need to speak to her about. How far is it to this ski field?"
"About three quarters of an hour unless the snow comes in. Have you got chains for your Land Cruiser?"
"Yes, I'm well equipped. Thank you for your assistance. I shall head off."
He walked into the shop and came out again a few moments later with some food and a hot drink, stopped for a brief chat and drove away.
"What was all that about, Renee?" Sandra asked. "Why did you say the baby was yours and send him off on a wild goose chase?"
"Somebody Aza doesn't want to meet." Renee laughed. "He's just one of those persistent insurance agents trying to sell life insurance for the baby," she said. "They never take no for an answer. However if he comes back or drives by, could you send me a text message straight away."
Sandra frowned. "It's a wonder he didn't try to sell you insurance for Alice, thinking that she was your baby and all that."
Renee flushed. She was never any good at telling lies.
Luckily Sandra never noticed and continued to chat. "There's something strange about the man, though."
"And that is?"
"When I was filling his Land Cruiser, I noticed something on the back seat. It looked like a gun at one end and a bow at the other. It was quite large with the gun bit about the size of a shotgun. Even had a telescopic site on it.""
"Could it be a crossbow?" Renee asked.
"That's it," Sandra replied. "I've never seen one before."
Renee shuddered. Ian had told her that a case involving Hardy and a crossbow shooting had been reopened in Canada.
*
MOMENTS LATER SHE CONTACTED Aza with her iPhone and warned her about Hardy and the crossbow.
Aza sounded worried. "He's a ruthless man, Renee," she said. "When I visited the university a week ago about returning in the new semester, he almost threatened me."
"Almost?"
"It was sort of a suggestion that it would be advisable if I remained on maternity leave. There were two others at the meeting so it came across as advice. If I didn't know him better, I could have been tempted by his suggestion that I could continue to receive eighty percent of my salary if I didn't return for another year."
"But you're determined to return?"
"Yes. The pro-vice chancellor said I was welcome and he was anticipating valuable results when I continued my research."
"And what did Hardy say about that?"
"He wasn't there at that time. The pro-vice chancellor met me in his office after the main meeting. He said nothing about Hardy directly but I have a feeling they are keeping a close eye on him."
Tyler came online. "I don't like those clouds, Renee so we're heading home and should be there in about an hour. Would you like me to call Ian about Hardy being in the district?"
"No, I'll do it. There are still some blind spots in reception on your track."
She called Ian and was immediately connected to him. He listened as she told him the news before adding his own.
"I told you about my colleague Paige researching Hardy's history and what she discovered, didn't I?"
"That possible murder when he worked in British Columbia?"
"That's the one. There have been significant advances made, the RCMP have reopened the case and Paige believes they are about to approach our government to have him arrested here and extradited so he can stand trial in Vancouver."
"So if we can't prove anything here, we can get him on this historic case?"
"It appears so. I'll get onto Aza and warn her to be extremely careful. That case in BC involved a crossbow. Hardy is an expert with the weapon and could have decided to do his own dirty work. I'll also get onto the police in Christchurch. I think you'll need some protection down there."
"Thanks, Ian. By the way, your little daughter is doing well. I've got her right here with me now. Told Paige about her?"
The phone went silent for a moment before Ian's cautious reply. "Why should I?"
"Oh just a rumour I heard that you are back together again. She was an earlier girlfriend, wasn't she?"
Ian gave a chuckle. "Okay, I guess Facebook is smoking red hot." He turned serious. "Keep an eye on Aza and stay away from open areas until I can get the police out there."
"I will," Renee replied. She turned and noticed that Apricot had followed her back home. She picked the cat up to cuddle and decided it was time to munch some more ginger and have a cup of coffee to calm her queasy tummy.
*
AZA WAS WORRIED WHEN she glanced at Tyler. "I don't like it," she said. "There's one thing I know about Joseph Hardy is that he is almost fanatically thorough in everything he does. He would not have called into the shop and spoken to Renee unless he had a good reason."
"But he did give an assumed name," Tyler replied.
"Sort of. Even that could be part of his plan. It was a thin disguise to cover his true intentions. Even having that crossbow on the back seat where Sandra saw it was probably planned."
"But why?" Sofia asked.
"Psychological," Aza replied. "In his warped mind he wants me to know he's here so I'll be terrified. That's also why he probably decided to attack me himself rather than employing another hit-man."
"But Renee helped by saying we went to that ski field," Tyler said.
Aza shook her head. "He wouldn't be fooled. I suspect he was around earlier and saw the three of us coming up here." She nodded at the top tank that they were standing beside.
"So two can play his grim game," Tyler said.
"But how?" Sofia asked. "We have no rifle or anything to defend ourselves if he attacks us with that crossbow. All he needs to do is hide behind rocks somewhere and pop Aza off." She looked white and nervous. "Probably kill us all."
"Yes, we would be exposed. If we went back the way we came there are numerous places where he could hide and be within crossbow range. I suggest we use the new track back. It is twice as far but goes through heavy bush to come out about a kilometre down the main road from home."
"What new track?" Sofia asked.
"Over the summer I made a new loop track as part of the new attractions here. The bush is quite beautiful with a mountain stream and little waterfall. It is also quite dense so I had to use a slasher and chainsaw in parts to cut the walking track through." Tyler grimaced. "It's almost completed but I'm actually thinking of building a bridge across the stream that goes through a deep ravine below the waterfall."
"But we can get through?" Aza asked.
"Yes. It's a bit of a climb down to the stream and up the other side so it wouldn't be suitable for an elderly tourist. That's why I want the bridge. I wrote to the district council and asked if they'd contribute to the cost. They're still considering my idea."
*
BIT OF A CLIMB!
Aza stared at the almost vertical drop to the stream below and glanced across to the other side where she could see crude steps cut up the face and a long wire linked through anchors imbedded in the rock for climbers to hold onto.
"I can see why you want a bridge going over this lot," she said to Tyler.
He grinned. "Oh it's not too bad now that I've got the wire to hold onto and steps cut in the steepest part. Just take it slowly."
"Come on," said Sofia. "I'll go first." She grabbed the wire on their side and began the descent.
Aza followed. Luckily she wore spiked climbing boots and good quality gloves so as long as she held the wire and didn't look down, she felt reasonably safe. They were halfway down when the snow began to fall. After a few flakes fluttered by, mist rolled in and all Aza could see was tumbling snow before her eyes.
It was deadly quiet and though her friends were mere metres away she felt as if she was alone in this wall of falling snow. Flakes almost the size of her hand fell on her helmet, shoulders arms and finally the ground around her. Every step had to push through snow; her eyebrows became covered as she brushed them off with her one free hand. It became so foggy that she could not even see the stream below. The straps of her backpack rubbed into her shoulders but it was not too uncomfortable.
Her left foot hit a loose piece of gravel, she toppled but managed to grab the wire with both hands and steady herself.
"Bit of a snowfall," Tyler's reassuring voice came from behind and she felt him grip her arm to steady her. "How's Sofia?"
"I'm fine," Sofia's voice almost echoed through the still air.
Aza blinked snow out of her eyes and saw her friend immediately before her. She was standing in the shelter of a slightly overhanging rock. Aza wriggled in beside her, turned with her back to the cliff just as Tyler squeezed in beside her.
"I didn't expect it to come so quickly," he muttered as he shook snow off his jacket.
'Where's Sam?" Aza suddenly remembered the dog.
"Sam!" Tyler called. "Here Boy!"
Sam appeared from beyond Sofia all wet but with his tongue hanging out and his tail wagging.
"It's one big game to you, isn't it?'" Aza said and rubbed the dog between the ears. "How did you get past us?"
'The original track," Tyler explained. "It zigzags a bit and must have been made by goats. I more or less followed it when I built this section."
"Okay," Aza replied. "So what should we do now?"
"Keep going," Tyler replied. "We're almost at the bottom. I built a small shed where we can shelter from the snow and decide what to do next."
"Damn phones not working," Sofia muttered and held her iPhone up.
"Once we're up the other side it'll come into range again," Tyler said. "We have pretty good coverage now, remember last year when we had none?"
Sofia nodded and put the phone back in a jacket pocket. "Just thought I'd give Renee a call. Time for Alice's bottle."
Aza grinned. It was almost as if Sofia had had her baby. They waited while the snow continued to fall. After five minutes it almost stopped and Tyler suggested they keep going. He took the lead and Aza found herself at the rear. She had the advantage of being able to follow the others footprints in the several centimetres of snow that had already accumulated on the track, Except for her freezing cheeks she felt quite warm though melting snow made her socks wet and already her toes were becoming numb. The only other discomfort was snow under her collar that melted and trickled down her back.
She came out under the fog and could see everything around. The snow changed, too. The flakes became smaller and everything around appeared so beautiful. She heard water tumbling over rocks. There it was, water in the tiny stream only half a metre wide was rushing by in a miniature flood with rocks being splashed clean of snow.
"Careful," Tyler shouted back. "We've come to the end of the wire. Those rocks in the stream will be slippery. I'm afraid we have to walk over them for a little way. I never anticipated being here in the snow. In summer there's just a trickle of water in the stream."
Aza already had wet socks so didn't worry too much when one boot landed on a loose stone and she ended up in ankle deep freezing water. She stumbled on until she came to a small bank and Tyler's shelter.
It was circular and made of punga boughs, the New Zealand tree fern that had hollow trunks about fifteen centimetres in diameter and a metre-twenty high. He had brought in several sheets of roofing iron that were now covered in snow. Though she had to crouch for her head touched the ceiling, once inside there was space for them all and even several old cushions sat on the bare ground floor.
"You did do well," she complimented Tyler as she slid out of her backpack and sat down on a cushion.
"Renee's idea," Tyler said and nodded at the cushions. "She included them when we brought the roofing iron down." He glanced out at the snow that was becoming heavy again. "I think we should stay until the snowstorm is over."
"How long?" Sofia asked.
Tyler shrugged. "The weather report said scattered snow showers in the evening. They arrived a little early but shouldn't last too long, not like last year's storm." He reached in his backpack and withdrew a large thermos and three plastic mugs. "Hot coffee anyone? Renee also insisted on making us ham and tomato sandwiches so we won't starve."
Aza grinned as she reached for a mug of coffee and wriggled her toes in an attempt to restore circulation. It wasn't even too cold in their comfortable little shelter though it would become colder now that she had stopped walking.
"So," Tyler said. "How's life with a new baby to look after?"
Aza grinned. "You'll find out soon won't you? Renee told us she's pregnant."'
Tyler flushed. "Yeah, well..." he chuckled and held out the sandwich container.
*