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“Breakfast would be a help, ma’am—I’m used to tending for myself.” Rowley smiled. “I usually eat at Aunt Betty’s for breakfast and have done for years now, but with the snow and all, I’m not sure I’d have time.”
Kane wondered what would happen with the living arrangements when he recovered. He also had a number of questionable items in his possession left from his past life and would have to make it over to his cottage to lock two of his bedrooms. As much as he trusted and respected Rowley, some things about his life remained need to know.
“Well then, that’s settled.” Jenna picked at her food then rubbed her temple. “Kane is well enough to work from here on case files and if necessary you can call in Wolfe or Deputy Webber. Don’t forget Wolfe might be our ME but he is still my deputy.”
“Sure thing, ma’am.” Rowley finished his coffee and stood. “I’ll be heading off now. I can hear the snowplow. I’ll follow him back into town.”
“Leave Deputy Walters to close up at noon, and we won’t be opening on Sunday. Pin a notice on the front door. If anyone needs help they can call 911.” Jenna reached for her coffee. “Drive safe.”
Kane refilled their cups and waited for Rowley to leave, then turned to her. “I have things in my cottage I don’t want Rowley to find.” He leaned back in his chair. “Enough to blow my cover.”
“You can’t walk over to the cottage in the snow. If you fall you’ll be back to square one.” Jenna squeezed his hand. “Dave, I know your injuries are killing you, and you’re way behind in your knee rehab because of the head injury. The doctor told you it would take time to recover.”
He gaped at her. “You’re missing the point, Jenna. I have to get into my cottage before Rowley moves in. I’ll walk over there if necessary. I hardly use the cane anymore.”
“Do you honestly believe Rowley would be able to crack your safe or break into your computer?” Jenna smiled at him. “He wouldn’t even try.”
“How do you know about my safe?”
“Well, I’m capable and I would try.” She giggled. “Oh Lord, you should see your face.” She let out an explosive sneeze into a ball of tissues. “I went over to collect your clothes and stuff, remember. The safe is a bit hard to miss.”
Kane heaved a sigh of relief. “That’s the gun safe. I have two.” He gave her a long considering stare. “I guess I can trust you with the contents of the other one now.”
“I have two safes as well and you’re welcome to share.” She gave him a warm smile and pushed to her feet. “Bundle up. I’ll drive you to the cottage and help you collect your stuff.” She gave him one of her no-nonsense stares. “I won’t die of pneumonia driving a hundred yards.”
“Okay.” Kane lifted his cellphone from the table. “As soon as I’ve called the doctor.”
“You always have to have the last word, don’t you?” Jenna collected the plates. “A long time ago, the people next door to me had this dog named Oscar. It would bark like crazy and the neighbor would call out for it to stop. It would stop then let out a little bark. No matter how many times the neighbor told it to stop, it always did the same thing.”
Confused, Kane frowned at her. “You saying I’m a dog?”
“Nope.” Jenna rinsed the plates and stacked the dishwasher. “But you remind me of that dog, always having the last word.”
Kane chuckled. “Really?”
“Yeah really.” Jenna glared at him.
He gave her his biggest smile. “Woof.”
Two
The night had been horrendous for Ella. After hearing a long cut-off scream then silence, the blizzard hit with force and the stranger had not returned. Torn between staying safe in the tree or braving the blizzard to look for Sky, she had peered at the sheet of snow falling around the trees and sobbed. The chances of making it back to her alive would have been zero. Wedged in the branches, she’d heard the distant sound of traffic overnight but was too scared to move.
When the watery sun finally peered through the snow clouds and birds hopped around her, she decided to chance it. The snow-covered fir had offered her shelter and the fact she’d filled her bags she’d packed for the visit had probably saved her life. Not wanting to leave her clothes behind for her stay at Sky’s house for the next few weeks, she’d added many more layers than usual and two pairs of thick socks covered her feet in the sheepskin-lined boots.
Her muscles ached and her hands refused to work properly but by the time she made it halfway down the tree, the feeling was coming back into her limbs. The scenery had changed dramatically overnight. The highway had all but vanished into a sea of brilliant white. She shuddered. Close by, hidden in the snow, Sky could be lying brutally murdered.
With cautious steps, she moved from the cover of trees staring into the white wilderness for any sign of the killer. Bile rushed up the back of her throat at the thought of finding her friend battered to death. Searching the snowscape in all directions, she could not see anything resembling Sky’s yellow car. The snowdrifts came up to her knees and every step was like quicksand on her way back to the highway.
The road was empty but she could see tire tracks in the fresh snow. A truck had come by recently, so the highway must be open to traffic. The roar of a motor echoed in the distance and she dived into the bushes trembling with fear then stared out to see an eighteen-wheeler bearing down on her. She had the choice: freeze to death or risk climbing into the cab with a stranger. The risk was non-negotiable and she needed to get help for Sky. Steeling herself against the rising panic, she moved to the side of the road and waved her arms. The big red truck screeched and billowed steam like an old locomotive as it slowed to a halt some ways past her. The window buzzed down. A man in his forties with rosy cheeks and wearing a fur trapper hat stuck his head out. She ran to his door, slipping and sliding on the ice-covered blacktop, and banged frantically on his door. “Help me. A man murdered my friend. Call 911.”
“Murder, you say?” The man looked both ways and then back at her. “What are you doin’ way out here alone? Where did you come from?”
Ella gaped at him and banged on his door with both fists. “Call 911!”
“There’s no cellphone signal out this way. I’ll contact the sheriff on the two-way.” The man’s expression turned to worry. “I figure you’d better get inside out the cold.” The man’s window buzzed back up, hiding him behind the tinted glass.
A sudden wave of fear grabbed her. Pushing her leaden frozen limbs forward and making the choice of getting into a truck with a stranger or freezing to death in the middle of nowhere with an ax-wielding killer on the loose, she staggered around the hood and climbed up into the cab. Heat surrounded her and the man appeared more concerned than a threat. “Please hurry.”
