by Laura Scott
“Yeah, thanks.” Everett clapped him on the back. “How was Christine?”
“She’s a good kid, took her bottle like a champ,” he said as Zoe rushed forward to lift Christine into her arms. “Am I officially off babysitting duty?”
“Yeah, I think we can take it from here,” Everett told him. “We arrested Cantwell, and Will is standing guard over the stolen goods.”
“Okay, I just got a message from our sergeant, he wants an update. I’ll, uh, go outside to make the call, give you guys some privacy.”
Trent left the suite, leaving the three of them and the baby alone.
A lump formed in the back of Helena’s throat as she watched Zoe coo over Christine. The baby smiled up at her mother, as if recognizing her. It was heartwarming to watch them together, and only made Helena more determined to convince the DA to offer Zoe some sort of deal.
But the happy reunion was cut short when Luna began to growl low in her throat. Helena frowned. Now what?
The door to the suite opened, revealing a man she’d never seen before. He was holding a gun.
SEVENTEEN
“Give me that infant carrier and no one will get hurt.”
Everett glanced from the plastic car seat in his hands to where his informant, Norbert Monroe, stood, pointing a gun at them.
What in the world? It didn’t take but a moment to notice the size twelve hiking boots on Norbert’s feet.
His blood turned to ice as he realized what a terrible mistake he’d made.
All this time, Norbert must have been tracking his phone, stringing him along under the pretense of providing key information on the robberies, while being here in Denali the entire time.
How had he made such a horrible error in judgment?
In a heartbeat, Everett was back in time, three years ago, when another gun had been used against his wife and son.
He’d lost his entire world in a split second. The kid’s gun had gone off, and there’d been so much blood. Too much for him to stop it, although he’d tried. Dear Lord, how he’d tried.
Sheila and Colin had died in his arms.
Was he destined to make the same mistake here today?
No! Please, Lord, no. Not again.
“Didn’t you hear me?” Norbert’s voice rose as he waved the gun in frustration. “Hand me the carrier right now and no one will get hurt!”
Everett pushed the dark memories of the past away with a concerted effort. He had already looked at the infant seat once without finding anything, but clearly there was a reason the informant wanted it. He glanced at Helena and noticed she seemed just as confused.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Zoe turning away from Norbert, shielding Christine with her body as she sank behind the meager protection of a chair. Every mother’s instinct was to protect her child. That was exactly what Sheila would have done.
He could also tell that Luna’s continued growling was getting on the man’s nerves, and that was concerning. Everett knew only too well how a tenuous situation like this could spiral out of control.
“Okay, that’s fine, Norbert.” He kept his tone calm. “You can have it. Just point the gun at the floor, okay? I can’t give you anything until I’m sure you won’t shoot at us.”
“No. Give me the carrier right now!” Norbert was looking less and less stable, his eyes darting back and forth across the room.
The guy was likely high on drugs, which was even more worrisome. Just like the kid who’d killed his family.
Everett caught a glimpse of Helena giving Luna a subtle hand signal. He recognized the command. As the dog leaped forward, he threw the empty infant carrier at Norbert with all his might.
The dog clamped her teeth around his ankle. Norbert howled in pain and tried to aim the nose of the gun at the K-9 just as the infant carrier sailed toward him. Norbert instinctively lifted his hands, as if to catch it, at the same moment Luna pulled him off balance.
The infant carrier slammed into him then bounced away, hitting the floor with a loud crash. Norbert lost his grip on the gun as he fell on his back within arm’s length of the carrier. Still howling in pain, he tried to crawl toward the infant seat, but Everett was on him.
“No-o!” Norbert didn’t give up without a fight. He swung a fist but Everett easily ducked and grabbed his wrist in a tight grip.
“Get him,” Helena commanded.
Luna grabbed his ankle with her mouth, tightening until he cried out once again. “She’s biting me! Get that dog off me!”
“You’re under arrest,” Everett said, gripping Norbert’s wrists tightly to prevent him from taking another cheap shot. “For attempting to shoot a police officer.”
“I didn’t,” Norbert whined.
“You did,” Helena spoke up. “Luna, heel.” The K-9 backed off but didn’t go too far.
Everett wrenched the man’s arm up and flipped him onto his stomach. Using the plastic ties in his security uniform pocket, he quickly bound his wrists together, all the while reciting the Miranda warning. Helena came over to help him haul Norbert into a sitting position so they could also bind his ankles.
Norbert Monroe wasn’t going anywhere except directly to lockup.
“That was too close,” Zoe whispered, straightening from her pseudo hiding place and running a gentle hand over her daughter’s head.
“I know,” Helena agreed softly, crossing to hug her twin. Luna followed, wagging her tail as if in agreement. “I think you’re finally safe now, Zoe. Christine, too.”
“Thanks, Helena.” Zoe’s tone was contrite. “I was so stupid, wasn’t I? I should have come to you for help a long time ago.”
“Yes, but like I said, you need to move forward from here, Zoe. Concentrate on making good decisions from this moment forward,” Helena reminded her. “And that means cooperating with the DA’s office and testifying against both Norbert and Cantwell.”
“I will,” Zoe promised.
The twin’s reunion was touching, but Everett had questions that needed answers. “How did you track me here in Denali National Park?” Everett crouched on his haunches to peer into his former informant’s face. “I never would have pegged you to be a phone tracing expert.”
Despite being cuffed and under arrest, Norbert preened. “My sister’s son is one of those techno geeks,” he boasted. “Sean figured out how to do it and kept me up to date with every call you made. Pretty good, huh? For a cop, you’re not that smart. You never suspected me, did you?”
“No, I didn’t,” Everett responded honestly. And that was a mistake that would haunt him for a long time. “Why did you want the infant carrier anyway?”
Norbert clamped his mouth shut and looked away, as if finally deciding cooperation wasn’t in his best interest.
Everett stared at him for several long moments in an effort to wait him out, but Norbert didn’t cave.
Turning, he rose and went over to retrieve the infant seat from where it had fallen to the ground after bouncing off Norbert. He picked it up and once again checked the plastic cushion for any signs of tampering.
But, as before, he found nothing.
He flipped it over, examining the underside. Beneath the straps used to secure the baby, he noticed a significant crack in the plastic, likely from when it hit the floor. Prying his fingertips into the narrow opening, he was able to pull a slight square section away, revealing a small space stuffed with some sort of cloth.
His pulse jumped with anticipation. “Well, what do we have here?” Everett glanced at Helena as he pulled the cloth bag from the hiding spot. Unfolding the cloth, a large diamond and several heavy gold chains fell into the palm of his hand.
The same items Norbert had claimed he’d witnessed Zoe handing over to some guy he didn’t know.
“That’s where the diamond and gold chains went?” Zoe echoed incredulousl
y. “I don’t understand. All this time, the diamond and chains were tucked in Christine’s car seat?”
“Apparently so,” Everett said, drilling Norbert with a narrow look. “Seems as if my informant must have stolen the goods from Cantwell, then hid them in what he thought might be a safe spot.”
Zoe spun toward Norbert. “Not directly from Cantwell, but from me. You louse! You were the one who was there that day Gareth and I had the big fight over the missing diamond and gold chains. Gareth accused me of stealing them for myself, when it was you. You stole from Gareth and blamed me.”
Norbert grimaced but remained silent.
“And all this time, they were in Christine’s infant carrier.” Zoe shook her head in disgust. “You put an innocent child in danger over stolen jewelry.”
Again, Norbert didn’t respond.
“Cantwell must have suspected one of you hid the items in something connected to Christine,” Helena said. “That’s why he asked for the kid. Either to find what you stole, or to use her as leverage against Zoe to find the missing jewelry.”
Zoe rubbed her temple. “I guess it’s a good thing I dropped the baby at Everett’s cabin.”
“Yeah.” Everett tossed the cloth aside, when another small device fell out. He quirked a brow, holding up the USB drive for Helena to see.
“Wonder what information we’ll find on this?” He glanced at Norbert, hoping the guy would give up the details.
“I—I’m pretty sure that’s a record of everything Gareth stole,” Zoe admitted. “He was determined to reach a specific dollar amount before he relocated to the Lower 48 to dispose of the stolen goods.” Then she grimaced. “At least, up until this most recent job at the Denali Grand Chalet, which was supposed to be the last haul before leaving Alaska for good.”
Everett turned the USB drive over in his hand, thinking about the stash in the cave. “So everything in the cave is itemized on this drive?”
Zoe clutched Christine close and nodded. “As far as I know, yes.”
“Very helpful,” Everett said. He tucked the USB drive in with the diamond and gold chains. How great to have a nicely organized list of everything Cantwell had stolen to match up to the goods they’d located in the cave.
It was finally over.
No thanks to him.
Assailed by guilt over how he’d trusted Norbert, Everett knew in that moment he didn’t deserve a second chance.
Helena, Zoe and the most innocent of all, baby Christine, had almost died today because of him. Because he’d trusted the wrong guy.
Maybe it was time to rethink his career as a cop.
How many mistakes like this before he caused someone else to be killed? His gaze lingered for a moment on Helena.
He had nothing to offer her except a shell of the man he’d once been.
* * *
Helena eyed her sister, wondering if Zoe really hadn’t known about the jewelry stashed in Christine’s infant carrier.
Her twin had looked and sounded surprised, but it was difficult to fully trust what she was telling her.
She glanced at Everett, who appeared lost in thought. She moved toward him. “What do you think?” she asked in a low voice.
He blinked. “About what?”
She waved at her twin, who held Christine as if she might never let the baby go. “Do you believe her?”
“I don’t know what to believe anymore.” His voice was low and ragged. “I’ve made so many mistakes...”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.” Everett took a step back and pulled out his phone. From outside the suite, they could hear ringing.
Helena realized Trent must be outside somewhere. Her blood ran cold as she realized Norbert must have used Trent’s key to access the hotel suite.
Everett’s brain had been one step ahead of hers, because he was already barreling out the door. Helena glanced at Luna. “Guard,” she commanded.
Luna immediately went over to sit straight and tall right in front of Norbert.
Satisfied their prisoner wasn’t going anywhere, she joined Everett outside, where he had the door to the black SUV open and was reaching in to check on Trent.
The officer’s phone was lying on the ground, near the front tire, where it must have dropped during the struggle.
“Trent? Are you okay?”
The officer who was draped over the steering wheel, where he must have been knocked out, let out a low groan. Trent lifted his head, opened his eyes and put a hand to his head. “I’m sorry, Everett. I never should have let him get the drop on me.”
“It’s not your fault,” Everett said in a low voice. “But we need to get you to the closest hospital.”
“Nah, I’m okay.” Trent grimaced as he shifted in the SUV. “What about the baby? Is she hurt?”
“Christine is fine,” Helena assured him. “I’ll get you an ice pack for your head.” She smiled grimly. “I know from personal experience that ice helps diminish the throbbing pain.”
“Come inside the suite,” Everett added. “I’ll call the park rangers back to take Norbert to jail. He’ll enjoy being locked up with Cantwell.”
And what about Zoe? Helena didn’t voice her concern but knew that based on her twin’s assault and robbery of Camille, she should be in handcuffs, too, and taken to jail along with Everett’s informant.
As much as it pained her to turn in her sister, Helena knew it was the right thing to do.
Inside the suite, Zoe had taken a seat on one of the chairs, still gazing down at her daughter. Helena swallowed against a hard lump of emotion and went into the kitchenette to get ice from the mini freezer. Balling the cubes into a cloth, she handed it to Trent, who’d dropped into a chair across from Zoe.
“Thanks,” he said, lifting the makeshift cold pack to the bump on the back of his head. He sighed. “You’re right, that does feel better.”
Norbert smirked from his spot on the floor. But the expression of smug satisfaction faded as Luna leaned in, breathing into his face.
“Call the dog off,” Norbert whined.
Helena ignored him, turning to Everett. His stricken expression seared her heart. “Hey, he’ll be okay.”
Everett gave a short shake of his head. “My fault,” he said in a harsh tone. “It’s all my fault.”
It wasn’t and, somewhere deep inside, Everett knew it, but he was allowing his emotions to cloud his judgment. And she understood where he was coming from.
Norbert Monroe had been his informant, the trusted source of inside information. Instead, he’d been tracking them through the Denali mountains.
But it wasn’t as if they hadn’t had other suspects, as well. Including Cantwell, Park Ranger Hanley and her sister.
That brought her back to Zoe.
“Did you call the park rangers yet?” she asked, changing the subject.
In answer, Everett pulled out his phone. She reached over and put her hand on his arm to prevent him from making the call. In a soft voice, she said, “Wait, first we need to talk about Zoe.”
“What about her?” Everett glanced over to where Zoe was in the kitchen making a bottle for Christine, who’d begun to fuss.
“We need to place her under arrest for assault and grand theft,” Helena pointed out.
Everett slowly nodded. “I know. I was thinking we’d take her back to Anchorage with us, to turn her in there. That way, we can talk to the DA right away, to cut a deal in exchange for her cooperation. I don’t want her stuck in jail with Cantwell and Norbert.”
“Really?” Helena was touched by his offer. “I...don’t know what to say.”
He shrugged, his gaze skating from hers in a way that made her frown. “It’s nothing. I know that Zoe is complicit in this to a certain extent, but Cantwell held her baby’s life over her head. That has to count towa
rd extenuating circumstances.”
“Oh, Everett. Thank you.” Helena stepped forward to embrace him, but he hastily moved back to avoid her, as if she were contaminated with some highly contagious disease.
“Don’t thank me,” he said harshly.
“Everett, what’s going on?” She stared at him, feeling helpless in the face of his anger.
“Nothing.” He turned away and lifted his phone. “Arch? It’s Brand. We have another of Cantwell’s accomplices here at the Grand Chalet. Would you mind sending someone out to pick him up? He belongs in jail with Cantwell. Oh, and we need a ranger to relieve K-9 Trooper Will Stryker in the cave where we found the stolen goods.”
Helena couldn’t hear the ranger’s side of the conversation, but Everett nodded as he listened.
“Good, see you in five minutes.” He gave the suite number and glanced at Norbert. “You’re going away for a long time, Monroe. Assaulting a police officer, for starters, and adding the thefts and attempted shooting of another police officer means you won’t see the light of day for years to come.”
Monroe’s lips thinned but he didn’t respond. Maybe because Luna hadn’t moved from her position since Helena had ordered the K-9 to guard him.
The park rangers arrived and quickly took custody of Norbert Monroe. Everett walked out with them, likely giving them the details of why the guy had been arrested.
Helena, troubled by Everett’s withdrawal, was hoping for an opportunity to talk to him alone. She turned to Zoe. “When you’re finished feeding Christine, make sure the car seat is still safe to use. It’s too late tonight, but we’ll need to head back to Anchorage first thing in the morning.”
“Okay.” To her credit, Zoe didn’t complain. The way she stared down at her baby made Helena’s heart swell with hope.
“I’ll watch Christine while you work with the DA’s office,” she added.
“I know you will.” Zoe smiled. “You’re going to be a wonderful aunt.”
She couldn’t wait. Glancing at her watch, she frowned. Where was Everett? She headed outside to look for him.