Mara drank a second cup of decaf so fast it burned her mouth. Warmth, fluids, walls. Her brain simply would not believe that she was standing inside a building with heat and running water. And a bathroom, probably many of them, she thought with a thrill. It was like being a castaway finally brought aboard a rescue ship. Tanner refused a cup and ushered her upstairs to the rooms they’d been assigned.
Unlocking the door with an old-fashioned key, he stopped her on the threshold, pulled the scent article from Eli and let Britta have a sniff to remind her. He wished he had something of Vinny’s to offer the dog. Britta checked the tiny room, under the full bed with its patchwork quilt, the tiny closet and cramped bathroom. All clear.
“You don’t trust Pete,” she said when he and Britta returned.
“I don’t know him, but I know Eli and he’ll grease any palm or threaten anyone to get what he wants. Look what happened with Howard at the gas station.”
“But if you told Pete you’re a cop...”
“Mara, we’re trapped here until we get help or hike out. There’s no one around for miles to come to our rescue and I can’t assume people have good intentions.”
She sank down on the bed. “You’re right, and I know I should be worried sick, but honestly, I can’t quite suppress the thrill of sitting on an honest-to-goodness mattress.”
He smiled at her, the expression easing the tension from his bruised and battered face.
“I should check your bandage.”
“Not necessary. I’ll check it myself. Why don’t you get some sleep and we’ll meet up again in a couple of hours? My room’s right next door, but I think Britta should stay with you. If you don’t mind, we can leave the adjoining door unlocked tonight.”
“I don’t mind.” Actually it was a huge relief, though she didn’t say so. And why didn’t she? Why did she feel suddenly shy around Tanner now that they were temporarily not fighting for their lives? “But before nap there’s a bath with my name on it. And would you look at that fluffy bath towel hanging on the shower bar? It’s a work of art.”
He laughed and turned to Britta. “Watch.”
Britta sat at attention.
“If Eli approaches, she’ll bark. I’ll hear. I think she’ll alert to Vinny’s presence as well, but lock the door though, anyway?”
“What are you going to do while I’m on this mini vacation?”
“Take advantage of the fact that Vinny and Eli aren’t here, yet.”
Yet. That one syllable brought her bumping back to the hard ground.
“I’ll stay on this floor while Britta’s on watch. Gonna prowl around and try to send a text. Maybe I’ll be the one in a million that gets a message out.”
You’re already one in a million. Mara closed the door and locked it. In the bathroom she did the same, though she knew Britta was a champion alert dog. She carefully removed her father’s banged-up watch. She pictured him the last time she’d seen him, thin in the beloved yellow sweater she’d gifted him when she’d taken the picture for her keychain.
“Who are you?” Three words that pierced her heart like arrows.
“Mara,” she’d reminded him. “I’m Mara, your daughter.”
“I thought I had a son.”
“You do. His name is Asher. He’s my brother.”
“Will he come to see me too?”
Her heart cracked wider then, opening up the fissure that had started the day she’d learned of his diagnosis. His memory seemed to be receding by inches, the confusion eating away the more recent memories first and burrowing backward in time. How long would it be before he didn’t remember her at all? “I’m sure he will, Dad. Soon.”
But Asher had only made a cursory visit to the facility where their dad lived. He’d not yet let go the hurt from their father’s betrayal, though she’d prayed for that very thing for years. The burden was a rock pile between her and Asher too. That doesn’t matter now. She turned the taps to extra hot. You’re going back home and you’ll try again with Asher. Dad would be safe and maybe he really would receive a meaningful visit from his son.
Submerged in the water up to her chin, she thanked God for their respite. Tears spilled down her face into the bathwater. A tub was another item added to her “never to be taken for granted again” list. She shampooed her hair twice and scrubbed her skin, gently over the bruises and banged spots. Her shin sported a long yellowing bruise. How lovely it was to be warm. Had it been only twelve hours before that she and Tanner had survived a bitterly cold night in a ramshackle tent cabin? But God had given them the strength to get through it...together.
The together part was temporary, she reminded herself, using another of the tiny bars of soap the lodge provided, inhaling the faint vanilla scent. Though the old cast iron tub kept the water hot, she could not completely force away the nagging chill of danger.
It worried Tanner that there had been no sign of Eli on the last leg of their trip from the campsite. Was it possible he’d fled? Decided to skip the country to avoid being arrested and brought to trial for murdering Jonas and Stacey? With the storm passed, the roads would open up sooner or later and communication would be restored. Perhaps Eli and Vinny had given up. She wanted to believe it, but she couldn’t make herself.
When she was good and pruney, she forced herself out of the tub and into her grimy clothes. She hoped there would be some garments she could borrow or buy. A tacky sweatshirt with the lodge’s name on it maybe? Her jeans were torn at the knee and the jacket was covered with smears of pitch. Towel drying her hair left it in tousled kinks which she pulled back with a rubber band. Her stomach growled and she remembered Pete had said something about snacks. Britta wagged her tail approvingly as if she’d read Mara’s mind about the food idea.
She tapped on their adjoining door and Tanner opened instantly. “What’s wrong?”
She held up her palms. “Nothing but I’m too hungry to nap.”
He exhaled. “I’m hungry too, but I didn’t want to rifle through your backpack or crack open an MRE. Dining room?”
“Dining room.”
As he let her pass him as they entered the hallway, she heard him inhale.
“Are you sniffing me, Officer Tanner?”
He turned a shade of scarlet. “Uh, ah, I mean...actually...” He exhaled. “Yes. You smell nice, like a cupcake.”
She giggled. “Thank you. The perfume is courtesy of the Rainier Hike-Inn soap.”
“Works on you.”
The three made their way down the creaking staircase to the dining room. A woman with a wild mop of white hair greeted them, a Danish in her hand. “Hi. I’m Ellen and this is my husband George. You must be the new arrivals.”
The bearded man was peering into a cupboard. He waved at them.
“He’s tired of eating Danish, so he’s looking for fruit or something. I’m perfectly happy with frosting and pastry. Here.” She pushed a plate at them.
“Thanks. I’m Mara and this is my...uh, cousin Tanner.”
She arched her brow. “Happy to meet you and your cousin and your dog.”
Britta wagged her tail but did not approach the woman.
Mara tried to keep up the stream of conversation, but after she unwrapped the Danish she was so hungry she’d devoured the whole thing without saying a word.
Ellen flashed her a surprised smile and pushed the pastry basket closer. “Wow. You must have had a hard journey to get here. Have another.”
You don’t know the half of it. “We had some transportation troubles and got stuck in the storm. I sure could use a change of clothes. Is there a gift shop here?”
Ellen laughed. “It’s not that fancy a place, but there is a room where Pete keeps a bunch of lost and found stuff and there are clothes in there. I know because I was trying to find my missing scarf. Didn’t find it, but there was another one and Pete said everything’s up for grabs. His housekeeper launders everything before it gets stowed away so theoretically it’s clean too.”
“Super.” Mara reached for another Danish and handed one to Tanner as he slid two cups of coffee in front of them. She tried to keep the expression of sheer bliss under control. They were supposed to be traveling cousins, not starving fugitives on the run from a killer.
“Have you gotten any signal for your phone?” Tanner took an enormous bite.
George plopped down and peeled an overripe banana. “Nah. I was trying to find a spot today too. Think I’ve scoped out every room on the ground floor. The inn’s mostly a dead zone, says Pete, but I’m not giving up.”
Ellen rolled her eyes. “How did we possibly survive before we had cell phones?”
The woman had no idea that survival was at the top of their list.
“The storm’s blowing over anyway. Telephone service might be back up at some point.” Ellen patted Mara’s hand. “I’m glad to see some new people. We’ve been alone here for the past three days. No other guests.”
“Thought I saw someone hiking up here, but they never showed,” George said.
Tanner skewered him with a look. “Really? When?”
“This morning. I trekked to the high point behind the lodge. There was a guy slogging along on cross-country skis way down at the bottom of the trail. Real diehard, right? To be out in these conditions? Maybe doing some hunting.”
Hunting.
The Danish turned to stone in Mara’s stomach.
“How about we go try and find ourselves some fresh clothes?” Tanner said.
Mara got to her feet. “Nice to meet you two.”
Ellen looked disappointed that they were leaving. “Same. Maybe we’ll see each other at dinner. Six o’clock. Pete promises something other than the hotdogs we’ve been eating for three days.”
Mara nodded.
“Maybe we’ll get another guest soon. It’ll be a regular party. Here’s hoping.”
Tanner’s hand tightened on Mara’s shoulder. Exactly what they didn’t want...another visitor. They found the small room near the front desk, lined with shelves crowded with bulging boxes. The lights didn’t work but there was an electric lantern hanging on a hook which he turned on.
The boxes were open, the contents keeping them from closing.
Tanner sighed. “This might take a while.”
She pulled a box free from the lower shelf and Tanner did the same.
“Do you think it was Eli or Vinny that George saw?”
“I assume so. Not the kind of conditions where anyone else would be out and about. After we get ourselves some clothes, I’ll find the high point George was talking about and do some reconnaissance.”
They pawed through the jumbled clothing, but many of the items were way too small for Tanner.
“Here,” she said, holding out a yellow sweatshirt.
He grimaced. “That says, ‘Top banana.’”
She started giggling.
“I don’t think I can wear that.”
“You don’t think you’ll look appealing?”
He laughed at the pun and it was good to hear. “Nice one, but no. Neon yellow is not in my color palette.”
“How about this one?” She held a brown sweatshirt with white paw prints up. “It says, ‘My dog is the boss of me.’”
“Better.” He took the sweatshirt and they found him a pair of jeans only a smidge too short for his long legs.
Mara took down another box. “How do I look in pink?” The sweatshirt was covered in strawberry ice cream cones.
“You look gorgeous in anything.”
She blushed and his face colored too.
“I meant, you know, I thought so when I saw you in your crime tech uniform and, uh, you look just as good now.”
“In torn pants, a sweatshirt, and my hair done up in a rubber band? I think there may actually be pine needles glued to the back of my jacket.”
He didn’t look at her this time, lifting down another box. “I stand by my statement.”
He thought she was gorgeous? Unsure what to do with her own discomfiture, she pulled out a pair of jeans that were way too baggy, but doable if she rolled up the hem and used the belt she’d found in another box. All of it was intact and warm and it could be zebra striped or neon polka-dotted for all she cared. She’d have dry clothes that appeared relatively clean. What a treat.
And Tanner said you’re gorgeous.
She scolded herself for her foolish emotions and shoveled the extra clothes back into the box.
Britta whined.
They both stared at her.
“Is someone coming?”
Tanner shook his head. “She’s alerted on something in here.”
“In here? But how could...?” Her words trailed off as Tanner got down the boxes they’d unpacked one by one. The last one, the one she’d just put back on the shelf caused the dog to sit and stare at Tanner. A signal.
He dumped out the contents in front of Britta. The dog nosed through the pile, tossing up garments with her snout until she’d separated a glove from the batch. She thumped one paw on the floor.
Mara went cold as Tanner picked up the black glove.
“Eli’s?”
Tanner didn’t answer.
“How could it be here? Pete said it’s only us, and Ellen and George.”
Pete poked his head in, and Mara jumped.
“Sorry for scaring you.” He eyed the glove in Tanner’s hand. “Is that yours? I found it at the bottom of the trail when I checked this morning. Figured someone must have gone hiking real early.”
This morning... Her throat went dry.
“No, it’s not mine,” Tanner said. “Not Mara’s either.”
“Then it’ll live in the lost and found, I guess. Anyway, I was gonna tell you all not to go off trail. Those cliffs behind us are real scenic, and people love to scope out the Flint Trail which extends from our property to the cliff face, but the snow looks unstable. Until the state transportation department clears it, we have to be on alert for avalanches.”
Avalanches, Mara thought ruefully. Why not? They’d experienced every other type of hazard on the journey.
Tanner nodded at Pete. “Aside from the trail we came up on. Any other safe routes out of here?”
Pete quirked a brow at Tanner. “Not really. Like I just said, cliffs behind us are unstable and hard to navigate anyway. Even if you risked it heading out that way, it’s still a twenty-mile trek to any kind of civilization. It’s why people come here...the remoteness. We’re in for a patch of good weather. Snow will settle nicely along the trail back down if you really want to scram today.”
Tanner didn’t answer.
After a moment, Pete gestured to the boxes of items. “Take whatever you want. Getting way too cluttered in here.”
Cluttered. Crowded. Smothered. She stared at the black glove in Tanner’s hand. Eli and Vinny were coming. She couldn’t leave the tiny room fast enough.
Tanner hustled them upstairs. The late afternoon shadows were sliding into evening darkness made gloomier by the weak power supply. At least the upstairs still had power.
Eli had been close enough to drop that glove. It was a matter of time now before one or both of the killers arrived on scene. Should they bolt? But with only one safe route to and from the lodge, they’d be easy pickings for Eli who might be counting on them to do that very thing. Maybe the glove drop hadn’t been an accident. It was designed to flush them out right into an ambush. He had to send a message.
George was leaving his room as they passed. “Howdy.”
“Any chance you got a signal?” Tanner asked.
“Believe it or not, yes, but only for a few moments.”
Tanner’s heart leaped. A few moments was all he required. He tried to keep the intensity out of his next question. “Oh, yeah? Where?”
“The attic.” He pointed to a narrow staircase at the end of the hallway.
“Appreciate it.” Tanner forced a smile as George disappeared down the squeaky corridor. Unlocking the door to Mara’s room, he and Britta rechecked every corner, and each creak of the wooden floorboards cranked his nerves tighter.
“I’ll be back. Britta, watch.” He was going to trot out the door when Mara’s expression stopped him. She looked stricken. Why?
“I’m sorry,” she blurted.
“Sorry for what?”
“Starting this whole thing in motion. No matter what we do we can’t shake Eli. If I’d trusted the team...”
He stopped, took her hands and tried to ease away her sudden recrimination. “You had good reasons for doing what you did. Eli and his guy are the villains here and you know what?”
When she didn’t answer, he tipped her chin to meet his eyes. Tiny crystal tears turned her irises iridescent. “We are going to get back home.”
“I was so sure for so long, but now...”
“Now I’m sure for both of us. We’re going back home,” he repeated.
She bit her lip.
As if it was the most natural thing in the world, he kissed her. Could he share his conviction, ease her fear and his own by a simple touch of their lips? Her mouth soft and warm, fitting perfectly against his own. A delicious warmth trickled through his body, zooming straight to his heart. He’d meant to be the encourager, but he found he wanted to stay lost in her warmth, her courage.
He heard her sigh, a gentle murmur like a summer breeze. Everything in him wanted to be close to her for longer than the space of one kiss. That would mean letting go of himself, of his duty, freeing himself from the solemn pact he’d signed the day Allie passed away and took his heart with her. No, Tanner. No. He broke away from the kiss.
“I...uh, I don’t want you to worry. None of this is your fault.”
She looked shocked, speechless.
“I’ll be back,” he said hurriedly. “Lock the door and don’t open it for anyone but me.”
Mara’s eyes were still wide, but she nodded, one hand going to Britta who’d taken up position at her side.
The whole situation was confusing him, weakening his convictions and beliefs. God, what am I meant to be doing here?
His brain answered quickly before his heart could weigh in. Saving Mara and getting her home.
Lips tingling, he purposely pushed away his reckless decision to kiss her. He climbed the precariously steep stairwell which ended in the attic, a large dusty space with a peaked roof and narrowed walls. The haphazard arrangement of mismatched furniture hinted that it had been used at one time for a meeting room. A telescope was aimed out the lift-up window.
In the middle of the room he tried his phone. No signal. He moved to another corner with no better result. The stairs creaked behind him. He whirled, reflexively reaching for the weapon holstered under his untucked shirt.
“Hi, Pete.” He hoped the innkeeper hadn’t noticed his reaction.
“Hey. Whatcha doing up here?”
The truth was always the most convincing. “George said he got a signal. Figured I’d give it a try.”
“Happens sometimes. You’re real eager to get a call out, huh? Vacation emergency?”
“You know how it goes,” Tanner said vaguely.
“I know how it goes for most folks who come here. They’re happy to be away from their troubles. They sort of sink into the quiet of the place and it sinks into them too.”
Tanner’s stomach tightened.
“Not you, though.” Pete stroked his flyaway beard. “You’re real anxious.”
Tanner remained silent as Pete’s gaze lasered into him.
“Know what I think, Tanner?”
He widened his stance a fraction. “What’s that, Pete?”
“I think you’ve got a weapon there on your belt.”
He froze, hands dangling unencumbered. They looked at each other across the dusty attic. “Let’s say I do, hypothetically, Pete. Would that be a problem for you? If it was legally owned and registered and all that, I mean?”
Pete’s eyes narrowed. “You mean, like hypothetically if it were a work tool? Like maybe, you were a cop or something?”
Tanner kept his tone flat, expressionless. “Like I said, would that be a problem for you, Pete?”
“If you were here pretending to be some Joe Shmoe and his cousin?”
Tanner stayed silent.
Pete shook his head. “I pegged you as law enforcement the moment you walked in. You can tell a cop, if you know what you’re looking for. They got this wary streak, no matter where they happen to be, in or out of uniform. This invisible wall they keep people behind until they know which side of the enemy line they fall on.”
“What’s your point?”
Pete lifted a shoulder. “No point. If you were a cop, that’d explain a lot of things, is all.” He folded his arms across his chest. “And if you were in the mood to chat... I’d tell you that my brother Donnie was a cop in Chicago for twenty years before he died. I loved my brother and I miss him so bad it hurts some days. I’d also tell you that I got a great respect for cops, especially those who put themselves out for people in need. Donnie was that kind of guy. A good cop, a good man.”
The words sounded supportive, Pete’s demeanor sincere, but Tanner still wasn’t certain on which side of the enemy line Pete stood. Some people were very accomplished liars. He stayed quiet.
“Anyway, just wanted to get that off my chest and tell you that if you need anything, I’m your man and I’ll do what I can to help you and your...cousin.” He pointed to the window. “There’s a tiny balcony out there, only big enough for one, basically. Gives me the willies to be on it, but sometimes you can snag a signal. Dunno why but something about the angle to the satellite I guess. One of those mysteries of life. No guarantees. Thought it might help to know that.” He turned and left.
Friend or foe? One way to find out. Pete’s claim needed testing, pronto.
He turned the lever and pushed the double windows open, cold air barreling at him like a freight train. As Pete promised, outside was a miniscule balcony, maybe four foot square, piled six inches high with snow. He eased out, hoping the structure was rated for a six-foot guy. The metal creaked ominously under his feet as he shuffled into the snow. The view was incomparable, the frozen cliffs behind the inn covered by their deadly blanket, the slopes around dotted by thick forests of pines that scented the crystal-clean air. He fished out his phone and sent a text, praying it would go through.
Asher. Trapped. He included the location. Vinny and Eli closing in. Copy?
The little dots swirled and swirled. He twisted on the balcony, leaning out into space, pain radiating through his ribs. One message, that’s all I need. Come on.
No amount of squirming was changing the outcome. His message would not send, no matter how he contorted. He felt like hurling the phone into the snow. The current millennium was chock-full of cutting-edge technology and he couldn’t so much as send one lousy text.
As he muttered at his phone, the dots swirled and stopped. In his surprise he almost dropped the cell as the reply appeared.
Copy that. Mobilizing now.
A reply. He’d actually gotten a reply. His chest practically exploded with joy. He clutched the phone, staring at the next message materializing on the screen.
Possibly twenty-four hours ETA. Injuries?
Jubilantly, he typed the response. Minor only. Holding in position until your arrival.
Copy that. Another set of swirling dots. Extremely relieved to hear from you. Tell Mara...
And then his screen went blank. No matter how he wriggled or repositioned, leaning precariously over the balcony railing, he could not restore the signal. He stood there, breathing hard.
Finally. Communication with the outside world. The team knew, and they were on the way. Energy flooded through him, hope resurging. He couldn’t wait to tell Mara.
God had given him the minute he needed.
And God willing, He’d give them the strength to hold on until the team arrived.