“Gotta move.” Tanner pulled at Mara. By then she could hear it for herself, the rumbly engine of a snowmobile. One or two? Her breathing was so ragged she couldn’t tell.
Tanner urged her away into the deeper shadows of the trees. “I buried the car again and hopefully concealed our tracks enough. They’ll either assume we didn’t make it to the vehicle or we’re still inside. Hopefully it will slow them down anyway.”
“Shouldn’t we stay? Try and capture them?” End this thing once and for all?
“Too risky. One of them will approach and stage the other as backup. I won’t be able to cover them both at once.”
That was Eli. Relentless, but cautious, never one to risk his own safety without an escape plan. They moved slowly and carefully away from the buried vehicle. Tanner kept them to the densely spaced pines. It was slow going, their boots punching through the hard crust and miring them in the fluff underneath. Only Britta seemed unfazed by the effort, her feet protected in dog-sized snow boots. Behind the shelter of a massive trunk, he stopped.
“Let’s rest a minute.” His voice was barely above a murmur. “Don’t want to sweat right now. It will accelerate hypothermia.”
“You know a lot about this survival stuff?” she whispered back.
“Born and raised in Alaska. We know how to do winters.”
She hadn’t known that about him. Mara was not the nosy type. As a matter of fact she could be acquainted with people for the longest time without ever really delving into their personal lives since she didn’t want them doing the same with hers. Yet she’d found Tanner Ford interesting.
Not the time, nor the place. They focused on catching their breath. The pause allowed them to better hear the sound of a revving engine. She tensed. Tanner put a finger to his lips, pulled out binoculars and focused the lenses.
“It’s Vinny. He’s going to dig out the car so they must not have seen our tracks. Excellent. That will buy us minutes.”
Minutes maybe, but Eli, intelligent and ruthless, would not be tricked by the ruse for long. He was watching, waiting, keeping himself safe from risk, using Vinny to do the dirty work. Like he’d appropriated Stacey Stark’s cabins to move his stolen guns and merchandise, and he’d used Mara’s own father to threaten her when she’d begun to suspect him.
Dad... She visualized again her father’s dazed expression, a byproduct of the Alzheimer’s which was eating away his mind. The photo in her keychain was one of the two of them, her dad in his favorite yellow sweater. The image captured his smile, now almost permanently vanished from his expression. What she’d give to see him grin again. The familiar prickle of fear tightened her chest. She didn’t know why the Lord had allowed her dad to succumb to the terrible disease when he’d finally asked forgiveness for being unfaithful to Asher’s mother. The wounds from his infidelity ran deep, but they were making strides. With her father’s blessing, she’d reached out to her half brother, even applied to the PNK9 team in the hopes of deepening their relationship while she pursued her professional goals. Progress, she’d thought, until things had spiraled out of control.
But Tanner was here now, which confirmed that God hadn’t forgotten her. And her father was okay, she told herself sternly. And Eli would be caught and tossed in jail where he belonged. If only they could escape.
The engine noise grew louder. It felt as though the trees had eyes, staring, tracking their every labored step. Tanner gave Britta the silent command and the dog sat alert, motionless, watching for the next instruction.
The snowmobile rumbled closer to their hiding spot, so close she could feel the vibration under her feet. Eli spoke. She jumped but managed to keep from making any noise. He must be talking on a phone or radio.
“What?” Eli barked, his tone so different from the friendly smooth talker who was a buddy to one and all.
There was a crackle of static and Vinny replied. “No one in the car. Maybe they didn’t come back for it.”
“Where else could they go to shelter? The storm was ferocious and there’s another front coming in by nightfall.”
“They’re probably dead, buried in the snow somewhere.”
“I’m not going to be satisfied until I see their bodies, especially hers. She’s the only eyewitness that can put me there at the scene of the murders. If she’s dead, their case may be too.”
“They’ve still got you for the smuggling.”
“I’ll wriggle out of it. I’m smarter than they are.”
“But she’s not alone now. Not a good idea to kill a cop. And the dog counts as a cop too. There’s no going back once you pull the trigger.”
“No choice. I can pull off Mr. Misunderstood to a jury about the smuggling, but if she takes the stand and convinces them I killed Stacey and Jonas... They always believe the woman. We’ll kill them and bury them somewhere where they’ll never be found.”
“It’s your dime,” Vinny said.
“Yes, it is. So get going. Wind’s picking up, and I want to get back to our camper before my feet are frostbitten. Who would ever want to live in the middle of all this snow?”
Mara realized she was biting her lip to keep from screaming as Eli discussed their murders not five feet from her hiding place. As if they weren’t two living, breathing human beings. As a crime tech she was accustomed to heinous killings, but she’d never been so exposed to the cold-blooded planning of one.
The motor thrummed and grew fainter as Eli drove off.
Tanner blew out a breath. “Close shave. Are you okay?”
She nodded furiously, but tears dimmed her vision anyway. “Not every day you hear someone plotting your death.” She tried to make it sound casual, but her voice wobbled.
Tanner wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her closer. His lips brushed her ear. “You’re not alone anymore, Mara. He’s not gonna win. Britta and I are here to make sure.”
She could not speak around the lump in her throat. After countless days of solitude, it felt wonderful to have Tanner touching her, lifting a corner of the darkness that had cloaked her for months. She’d liked him from the first day she’d started on the job, but as with all of her other coworkers she’d kept herself distant, aloof, all business but now here he was...up close and personal.
She tried to shake away the emotion. He detached himself from her, brushing the snow from his pants and rising as if the touch hadn’t meant to him what it had to her.
Distant, aloof, all business.
This was no different than her work behavior, and she’d better follow her own rules. She’d gotten what she’d asked for by being rescued and that was the only important aspect of her relations with Tanner, even if her heart seemed to be wanting more.
Survival, she told herself.
That was all she needed. The emotional stuff could be sorted out later.
“The road’s about three miles that way.” Tanner pointed in the direction Eli had taken.
Her eyes widened. “But...”
“It’s our best shot at getting help.”
She understood.
Probably their only shot.
Eli or no Eli, they had no other choice.
They were headed straight into the lion’s mouth.
Tanner felt the cold stealing away his strength. Mara was already lagging behind and Britta too, had slowed, ice coating her harness. “Only a little longer to the road,” he encouraged.
Mara nodded and he took her hand. Together they struggled through waist-high drifts. He didn’t bother to check his watch, but he figured it was close to 5:00 a.m. They’d survived until morning.
Thank you, God, he silently prayed.
If he was alone, he’d time out the route in ruthless intervals. Move for fifteen minutes, rest for five. It was how he lived his day-to-day, one task to the next, not allowing too much time in between for thought or painful memories. He knew God, believed Him, but he simply could not rest in Him, or anyone or anything.
Mara floundered, sinking knee-level in the snow. He hauled her out, and she leaned on him, panting. She needed rest soon. All three of them did. The roadway was one more pitched slope away. After she caught her breath, they struggled on. The last ten steps were pure agony, but finally they climbed up onto the flat stretch of glistening white.
He recognized the problem immediately, heart sinking.
“The snow’s deep,” she said as she took in their surroundings. “It hasn’t been plowed.”
There was no tiptoeing around the grim facts. “Road’s closed.”
“No, it can’t be.” Mara shook her head in disbelief. “Surely they’ll clear it.” An edge of desperation crept into her voice. “Someone will come.”
He glanced at the sky which should be proclaiming the morning, but was lightening only enough to illuminate another thick wall of clouds. He wished he didn’t have to tell her, not after all she’d suffered already, but he wouldn’t try to sugarcoat things. She’d be strong, he knew. “Mara, I heard a guy talking about the possibility when I last refueled. This isn’t a main road, more of a truck stopover than a thoroughfare.” He took a breath. “They said the plows and snow movers would be diverted to the highway if necessary.” The highway...that was clear on the other side of the mountain.
The silver light caught the bleakness in her eyes which he knew from their past working together in Olympia were the iridescent green of the northern lights.
“No help?” she said weakly. “We’ll have to hike to the highway?”
“That’s not an option.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s not feasible with a second storm front coming. We’d never make it.”
“Then what?”
Then what? his mind echoed. You are responsible for two other lives here. Figure it out, Ford. “About a half mile up the road is a gas station with a mini-mart–type thing. There might be someone there still, or at least a way I can break in and we can shelter in place, try for a phone signal.”
He caught the glimmer of her smile. “Break in? Aren’t you in the cop business?”
Incredible that smile, considering. “Yes, ma’am, but life and limb are at stake so that’s justified. The department will cover the costs of anything I have to wreck. They’re used to it. When Britta was a puppy in training, she loved buttons and switches. One time she decided to open the car windows in the car wash when I let her ride in the front with me. That was expensive.”
Mara laughed, as he’d hoped she would, but her chuckle died away quickly. “Won’t Eli guess we’d head to the gas station?”
“We’ve got our extra set of ears here. Britta will alert before we do if she hears Eli or Vinny coming.” Hopefully, his response was upbeat enough to convince her. He didn’t add that Britta too was getting tired and cold. Her keen senses were taxed to the limit. He pulled out a zippered bag and opened it for Britta to smell. It contained a glove Eli had dropped in the basement of one of Stacey Stark’s lodges. Britta took a deep whiff and sat, ready. “She’ll alert if Eli’s around. Promise.”
She nodded and they continued on, pushing against the building wind. On the way he stopped in a small grove and insisted they hydrate and split a protein bar while he gave Britta water and several treats. It was a challenge to get his teeth to unclench, and the freezing water hit his throat like a punch.
Britta shook her jowls to sluff off the bits of snow that had collected.
“Sorry, Boo Bear. Not much longer now.”
“Not a very tough nickname.” Mara stroked behind Britta’s ears.
“You won’t tell, will you?”
She mimed locking her lips and throwing away the key.
“Ready to keep going?”
“No, but I will anyway.”
Tanner was dedicated to fitness, a runner, who competed in everything from half marathons to Ironman races. Allie had referred to him as “The Tanninator” about his approach to working out, but the last half mile to the gas station felt like the longest distance he’d ever attempted. His feet and shins were numb and everything else burned. The hand warmers had long ago ceased to provide any comfort.
One step and then another. That’s all you have to do.
When his quads threatened to give out on him, the gas station came into sight, an old metallic structure with a slightly peaked roof from which the snow slid in piles.
Mara bent over and gasped. “I’ve never been so happy to see a gas station.”
As they moved closer, his excitement melted away. It appeared deserted, no one fueling up or parked in front. Not surprising since the road was closed, but as they got nearer he could see the windows were secured by sturdy roll-down shutters. There were no lights, and no one was running a generator to power any electricity. Why would they? Their only option was a dead end.
He felt Mara watching him and squared his shoulders. Not a dead end. Not yet. He’d find a way to break in if necessary. He wasn’t going to watch Mara and his dog freeze to death. There had to be someone, some way he could get them shelter, food, a respite from the soul-sucking cold. Forcing a confidence he did not feel, he whacked on the door. “Hey,” he yelled. “Anybody in there?”
He heard nothing and the door was securely locked when he jiggled it. The windows were barred. What was plan B? He had a small collapsible tent in his backpack, but the temperature was dropping and there was barely a hint of the rising sun behind the clouds. In his peripheral vision he could not miss the way Mara slumped shivering, head down. She had likely had no solid rest or food for ages. What could he do? His mind pinwheeled from one useless notion to the next.
Britta sat up straighter, head cocked.
She’d heard movement from the interior. He blinked to make sure he wasn’t seeing things before he pounded again. “Anyone inside? We need help.”
After what seemed like an eternity, a small, balding man opened the door a crack. Tanner felt like shouting his joy to the clouds.
The man looked out, anxious eyes with puffy bags underneath. “We’re closed.”
Tanner twitched in surprise. “Sir, I’m Officer Tanner Ford of the Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit, and I have a dog and a woman with me. This is an emergency. We need shelter.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t help you.”
Tanner was almost too incredulous to react, but he stuck his boot in the door and pulled his badge from under his jacket in case the man thought he was lying. “Yes you can.” And you will. “All you have to do is let us in, sir. Like I said, I’m law enforcement and we need a place to shelter. We won’t cause you any trouble, but this is a life or death matter and I need you to comply.”
He saw the man visibly gulp. Why was he so scared? Did Tanner look that intimidating? He shoved the badge closer. “Proof that I am who I say I am. You’ve got to let us in.”
After a charged moment, he stepped back and opened the door. Mara mumbled her heartfelt thanks and Britta accompanied her inside.
“Thank you,” Tanner added as they staggered into the mini-mart area. The refrigerated cases were dark and the lingering scent of stale coffee made his mouth water. “What’s your name, sir?”
“Howard Brown.” He jabbed a finger toward a narrow hallway. “There’s a break room and a bathroom. You can stay in there until you warm up.”
“Do you have phone service? Electricity?” he pressed.
“No. No one does. I live about ten miles from here, but I came in to lock up the place and my car died. No matter. I got what I need here until my wife comes.” His eyes slid to Mara and then quickly away. “I’ll get you some food.”
Little hairs on Tanner’s arms lifted. Something wasn’t right, but what choice did they have? Certain death outside. They found the break room which was cold, but not intolerable. After they both used the miniscule bathroom, they settled into the two chairs at the scarred table. There was no Wi-Fi signal or phone connection. Britta nosed around the space, sniffing the boxes labeled toilet paper and rubber gloves, the tiny wastebasket.
Howard opened the door carrying two chipped mugs with tea bags in them.
Mara clutched the warm drink. “Thank you so much, Howard.”
Again he gave her that look, half curious, half sorrowful. Tanner waited for him to ask questions. Who wouldn’t when a couple of desperate characters showed up at his doorstep? How had they gotten stranded? Where was his vehicle? But Howard simply dropped two granola bars and a box of dog biscuits on the table, turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Tanner stared at the door.
“He’s a little...odd,” Mara said.
“Odd doesn’t quite cover it.”
She tore open the granola bar and chewed a bite, eyes rolling. “And I don’t even like raisins, but this tastes amazing.”
He stuffed his into his pocket and opened the sealed box of dog treats. “At least he’s a dog lover.”
Britta gulped up the treats, but soon went back to her sniffing.
“Why was Howard so reluctant to let us in?”
“Could be he’s been robbed before. Didn’t trust that I was actually a cop.”
Britta shook her floppy ears. Staring into Tanner’s eyes, she sat stiffly next to the trash can. Tanner’s stomach contracted.
“What’s she trying to tell you?” Mara held the warm mug tight to her chest.
Tanner walked over and peered into the trash can. Nothing much in there, but Britta had a nose for scent. He pulled out a balled-up paper, wondering. Why was Britta reacting? She’d been tuned to one of two scents, Mara’s...and Eli’s.
He smoothed out the crumpled ball.
“What is it?” Mara asked.
Time ticked slowly to a stop. He held up the creased paper, a photocopy of her smiling face from the department website. Mara Gilmore, crime scene tech.
She stared. “How...why is that in the trash can?”
“Eli was here. He’s working with Howard.” Tanner was already at the door, yanking at the knob.
It was locked.
Mara’s eyes met his.
They’d walked right into a trap.