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Then most of the group started back to the SUV. Simmy dawdled, her eye still wet with tears.
Andi’s heart thudded with compassion as she looked at her friend. “You want us to give you a minute?”
She glanced around her dad’s office. “Not now. But later. Would you come back with me, Andi?”
“I’d be honored to.” No one should have to walk through grief alone.
Simmy flashed a quick but grateful smile. “Thank you. I’m just not quite ready for it now.”
“That’s understandable.”
As she wandered back to the door, Andi and Duke lingered in the studio another moment.
Andi swallowed hard as she considered her words—words she knew needed to be spoken. “I know you still don’t have answers about that bracelet. I’m sorry about that.”
“I’m going to keep looking.”
Andi nodded slowly. “I know you are. And I admire that about you.”
His gaze narrowed as he studied her. “What about you? Who was the man in the road? And who shot at us?”
She felt her gaze darken. “I’m not sure, but I think it may have something to do with what happened in Texas. Lockjaw called me this morning and told me he found a tracking tile on one of my wheel wells. Someone was watching where I went. Skeeter denies it was him.”
“Not that he’s trustworthy.” Duke’s jaw hardened. “But I hope you can find some answers also about whatever it was that led you here from Texas.”
“Me too.” Andi shrugged. “I’m pretty sure Windswept isn’t going to hire me again after everything that happened. But I was talking to Ranger, and he happens to know that one of the people I’m looking into lives in Fairbanks. So I think I’m going to head back to Fairbanks and see if I can figure out a way to find answers there.”
He nodded slowly, thoughtfully. “That sounds like a plan. That’s where my base of operations is also, so maybe we’ll see each other around.”
Her throat tightened. “I hope so—especially if we’re both a part of this murder club Mariella is putting together.”
He let out a soft laugh and shook his head before muttering, “Murder club . . . if my old colleagues from the Army hear about this . . .”
Andi held back a smile. “You have to admit it has a nice ring to it. Maybe they’d be jealous.”
He shrugged. “Maybe. Probably just as jealous as they are when they hear I’m a tour guide.”
They exchanged a laugh.
Duke wasn’t going to admit he liked the idea. But that was okay. Andi was simply excited for the opportunity to see him again.
And she thought the murder club idea had possibility.
As they stepped outside, she saw the rest of the group staring at the sky.
The Northern Lights danced there. Looking at them, it was hard to remain convinced that God wasn’t real or that He wasn’t caring. Could this beautiful sight simply be chance?
The bright beams seemed to promise that even while in the cold, barren Arctic, there was beauty and hope to be found.
Andi knew she believed that.
More now than she had three days ago.
But she was still going to bring Victor down.
And she had a new plan for doing so.
~~~
