As the highway closure stretched to its second week, what had been a fun, short-term adventure began to wear on everyone’s nerves. Tempers were shorter, complaints were louder and signs on the doors of stores and restaurants warned of limited menus and items no longer available. All the fresh milk and bread in town were gone, though a couple of women were making a killing selling their home-baked loaves, and the local coffee shop had converted more than a few people to almond milk and soy milk lattes. One of the town’s two gas stations was out of gas. The city had made the decision to not plow the streets, and people made the best of the situation by breaking out cross-country skis for their commutes.
Darcy figured she had enough fuel to take her through another week. Weather prognosticators were predicting a break in the storms any day now—but they had been saying that for a while.
Four days had passed since Fiona’s murder, and though tensions in town were still high, Darcy had stopped flinching every time the door to the clinic opened, and she had stopped looking over her shoulder every few seconds as she drove home in the evening.
“Ryder is here.” Stacy made the announcement Wednesday afternoon in a singsong voice reminiscent of a schoolgirl on the playground teasing another girl about her crush.
Darcy finished vaccinating Sage Ryan’s tortoise-shell cat and frowned at Stacy. They’d have to have a discussion about interrupting Darcy while she was with a client.
“Do you mean that hunky highway patrolman?” Sage asked as she gathered the cat—Cosmo—into her arms once more. “He’s easy enough on the eyes that I might not even mind getting a ticket from him.”
“Cosmo should be good for another three years on his rabies vaccine,” Darcy said. “He’s a nice, healthy cat, though it wouldn’t hurt for him to lose a few pounds. I’ll ask Stacy to give you our handout on helping cats lose weight.”
“Oh, he’s just a little pudgy, aren’t you, honey?” Sage nuzzled the cat, who looked as if he was only tolerating the attention in hopes it would pay off with a treat. “He’s so cute, I can’t help but spoil him.”
“Try spoiling him with toys and pats instead of treats,” Darcy said. “He’ll be much better for it in the long run.”
“I’ll try.” She caught Darcy’s eye, her cheeks reddening slightly. “And I’m sorry if I said anything out of line about your boyfriend. I promise I didn’t mean anything by it.”
Darcy opened her mouth to protest that Ryder was not her boyfriend, but the eager look in Sage’s eyes changed her mind. No sense providing more fuel for the town gossips.
She followed Sage out to the front. “Now’s your chance,” Stacy whispered as Darcy passed.
In the waiting room, Ryder rose from the chair he had taken by the door. Dressed in his sharp blue and buff uniform, tall leather boots accenting his strong legs and the leather jacket with the black shearling collar adding to the breadth of his shoulders, he definitely was easy on the eyes, as Sage had said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt,” he said.
“I can give you a few minutes,” she said and led the way past Stacy, who didn’t even pretend not to stare, into the exam room she’d just exited. “What can I do for you?” she asked, picking up the bottle of spray disinfectant.
“I just wanted to see you, make sure you haven’t had any more suspicious customers or disturbances at your home,” he said.
“No.” She sprayed down the metal exam table. “I promise I’ll let you know if anything happens.”
“I know.” He leaned against the wall, relaxed. “I guess I just wanted to see you. I’ve been so busy we haven’t seen much of each other the past couple of days.”
The knowledge that he missed her made her feel a little melted inside. “It’s really good to see you, too.” She set aside the spray bottle. Her palms were sweating, but it was now or never. “I’ve been meaning to call you,” she said.
“Oh?”
“I wondered if you wanted to go skiing this weekend. I mean, if you’re free. I know you’re putting in a lot of overtime on the case, but I thought—”
He touched her arm. “I’d love to,” he said. “Unless something urgent comes up, I can take a day off. When?”
“Sunday? The office is never open then, and the forecast is for clearing weather.”
“Sounds great. I’ll pick you up. Is ten o’clock good?”
“Sure.” She couldn’t seem to stop grinning. “I hope nothing happens to keep you from it. Things have been pretty quiet lately, right?”
“Yeah. But it feels like we’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. We know the killer hasn’t gone anywhere, because he can’t.”
“Maybe he’s decided to stop killing people.”
“That’s not usually the way it works with serial killers. I think he’s waiting for something.”
“Waiting for what?”
“I don’t know.” He patted her shoulder, then kissed her cheek. “Don’t let down your guard,” he said. “And I’ll see you Sunday morning.”
She opened the door of the exam room just wide enough to watch him saunter down the short hallway to the door to the lobby. Now she would be the one waiting, anticipating time alone with Ryder and where that might lead.
* * *
THE SNOW THAT had been falling when Ryder awoke Sunday morning had all but stopped by the time he reached Darcy’s house, and patches of blue were starting to show through the gray clouds. But Darcy, dressed in a bright yellow and blue parka and snow pants, would have brightened even the dreariest day. Ryder’s heart gave a lurch as she walked out to meet him, her smile lighting her face. Oh yeah, he was definitely falling for this woman, though it was harder to read what she felt for him.
At least she looked happy enough to see him today, though maybe it was just the break in the snow that had her smiling. “I’m so relieved to see a change in the weather,” she said.
“This was a great idea,” he said, opening up the back of the Tahoe and taking the skis she handed to him. “Nothing like getting out in the fresh air to clear away the cobwebs.”
“I’ve been looking forward to a little time off from work,” she said, handing him her ski poles.
“I guess it hasn’t been easy, handling the practice by yourself,” he said. On top of grieving the loss of her friend, she was having to do the work of two people.
“In some ways it’s been a blessing.” She stepped back and tucked a stray lock of hair beneath her blue stocking cap. “I haven’t had too much time to brood. But I haven’t had much time off, either. One day soon I need to sit down and draw up a new schedule. I can’t keep the office open ten hours a day, six days a week by myself.”
“You could bring in another partner,” he said.
She wrinkled her nose. “That would be hard to do. The partnership with Kelly worked because we had been such good friends for years. I don’t know if I could bring in a stranger. If it were the other way around—if Kelly was the one having to look to replace me—it wouldn’t be so hard. She loved meeting new people and she got along with everyone. It takes me a lot longer to warm up to people.”
Her eyes met his and he wondered if she was warning him off—or letting him know how privileged he was to be invited closer to her.
She looked away and moved past him to deposit her backpack next to the skis. “I imagine you could use a break, too,” she said. “With the roads closed, you’re the only state patrol officer in town.”
“Yes, though most of my patrol area is closed due to the snow,” he said. “Which isn’t so bad. It’s left me more time to concentrate on the case.”
Worry shadowed her face. “You’re probably tired of people asking you if you have any suspects.”
“I only wish I had a better answer to give than no.” He shut the back of the Tahoe. “Maybe a day in the woods will give me a new perspective on the case.”
They climbed into the truck and he turned back onto the road. “Where should we go skiing?” she asked. “I know the trails up on Dixon Pass are popular.”
Ryder shook his head. “The avalanche danger is too high up there right now. I thought we’d head down valley, to Silver Pick Recreation Area. There are some nice trails through the woods there, sheltered from the wind.”
“Kelly and I hiked there this fall,” she said. “Right after we moved here. The color in the trees was gorgeous.” She settled back in her seat and gazed out the side window. “One of the things I love about living here is there are so many places to go hiking or skiing or just to sit and enjoy nature. The city has plenty of parks, but it’s not the same.” She glanced at him. “And before Kelly died, I always felt safe out here, even when I was alone. I guess I couldn’t imagine any harm could come to me in such a peaceful place.”
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “I hate that this killer has taken that peace away from you—and from a lot of other people.”
“I guess we’re naive to think small towns are immune from bad things and bad people,” she said. “Or maybe, because crime is so rare in a place like this, it has a bigger impact.”
“You would think that a killer hiding in a small population like this would be easier to find,” he said. “But that isn’t proving to be the case.”
She leaned over and squeezed his arm, a gentle, reassuring gesture. “Today let’s try not to think about any of that,” she said. “Let’s just enjoy the day and each other’s company.”
He covered her hand with his own. “It’s a deal.”
There were several cars and trucks parked at the recreation area, including a couple of trailers for hauling snow machines. “Snowmobilers have to use the trails on the other side of the road,” Ryder said. “We’ll probably hear them, but the trails on this side are only for skiers and snowshoers.”
They unloaded their skis and packs and set out up an easy groomed trail. After a few strides they fell into a rhythm. The snow had stopped altogether now, only the occasional cascade of white powder sifting down from the trees that lined the trail. The air was sharp with cold, but the sun made it feel less biting and more invigorating.
They had traversed about a half mile up the trail when a loud boom shook the air. Darcy started. “What was that?”
Ryder looked in the direction the explosion had come from. “Sounds like avalanche mitigation up on the pass,” he said. “That’s good news. The weather forecast must call for clear weather and they’re working to get the roads open.”
“Oh.” Darcy put a hand to her chest. “I guess I knew they used explosives—I just didn’t expect for them to sound so loud.”
“Sound carries a long way here. And those howitzers they use can be pretty loud.”
“Howitzers?” she asked. “As in military weapons?”
“Yeah. They’re actually on loan from the army. A lot of the avalanche control crews are ex-military. Their experience with explosives comes in handy. They’ll try to bring down as much snow as possible, then get heavy equipment in to haul it off.”
“So the highway could be open soon?”
“Maybe as early as tomorrow.”
She grinned. “Everyone will be glad to hear it. You wouldn’t think a whole town could feel claustrophobic, but it can. And it’ll be good to restock all the stores.”
“Hopefully the roads will stay clear for all the wedding guests who’ll be arriving at the Walker ranch over the next few weeks,” Ryder said. “Since some of the party live far away, the family has asked them to stay for an extended visit. They’re making kind of a reunion of it, I guess.”
“That sounds nice,” she said. “It should be a beautiful wedding.”
“Would you like to come to the ceremony and reception?” he asked. “I’m allowed to bring a date.”
“Oh. Well...”
He cringed inwardly as her voice trailed off. Had he asked too much too soon?
“Yes. I’d love to come with you,” she said.
“Good.” He faced forward and set out again, though it felt as if his skis scarcely touched the snow.
They paused several times to rest and to take pictures. She snapped a shot of him posed near a snowman someone had built alongside the trail, then they took a selfie in front of a snow-draped blue spruce.
Their destination was a warming hut at the highest point of the trail. They reached it just after noon and raced to kick off their skis and rush inside. The rough-hewn log hut contained a wooden table, several benches and an old black iron woodstove that someone had stoked earlier in the day, so that the warmth wrapped around them like a blanket when they entered.
They peeled off their jackets and Ryder added wood to the stove from the pile just outside the door, while Darcy unpacked a thermos of hot cocoa, two turkey and cheese sandwiches, clementines and peanut butter cookies.
“What a feast,” Ryder said as he straddled the bench across from her. He sipped the cocoa, then bit into the sandwich. “Nothing like outdoor exercise to make such a simple meal taste fantastic.”
She nodded her agreement, her mouth full of sandwich, laughter in her eyes. A few moments later, when they had both devoured about half the food, she said, “Kelly and I didn’t hike this far in the fall. I didn’t even know this was up here.”
“At the solstice a bunch of people ski or hike up here and have a bonfire,” he said. “You should come.”
“Maybe I will.”
Maybe she would come with him. It felt a little dangerous to think that far ahead, but satisfying, too. Maybe the two of them would have what it took to make it as a couple. This early in their acquaintance, when they were just feeling their way, getting to know each other, anything felt possible.
“Did you make these?” he asked, after taking a bite of a soft, chewy cookie.
She nodded. “I like to bake.”
“They’re delicious.”
They sat side by side on a bench in front of the hut’s one window, a view of the river valley spread out before them. “Road closure or not,” he said, “I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be right now than here.” He turned to her. “With you.”
“Yes,” she said. “I feel the same.”
There wasn’t anything more that needed saying after that. They sat in companionable silence until the cocoa and cookies were gone. “Ready to ski back down?” he asked.
“Yes. I want to stop near the river and take some more pictures of the snow in the trees.”
They traveled faster going downhill, racing each other to the flat section of the trail along the river where they stopped and she took more pictures. By the time they started out again, the light was already beginning to fade, the air turning colder and the wind picking up.
When Ryder first heard the snowmobile, he mistook the noise for the wind in the trees. But Darcy, skiing ahead of him, stopped abruptly. “Is that a snowmobile?” she asked. “It sounds like it’s heading this way.”
“The snow and the trees can distort sound,” he said. “All snowmobile traffic is on the other side of the road.”
They skied on, but the roar of the machine increased as they emerged into an open area just past the river. “It’s probably someone headed to the parking lot,” Darcy called over her shoulder.
Ryder started to agree, then saw a flash of light over Darcy’s shoulder. The snowmobile emerged from the trees ahead, a single headlight focused on them, a great rooster tail of snow arcing up behind the vehicle.
“What is he doing?” Darcy shouted as the machine bore down on them. She sidestepped off the main trail, but there was nowhere they could go that the snowmobile wouldn’t be able to reach. The driver, face obscured by a helmet, leaned over the machine and gunned the engine. He was headed straight for them and showed no sign of veering away or slowing down.