by Terri Reed
“Are you sure about this, Frank?” she questioned again. It was kind and thoughtful of him to take on the responsibility of caring for her brother, even if only for a few hours.
“Of course. We’ll be fine. Don’t worry,” he said.
She hugged Brady. He shrugged her off. “I’m playing here.” His face was a study in concentration as he looked at the board and plotted his next move.
Heart aching just a little to think, in this moment, he didn’t need her, Maya kissed the top of his head. She met Frank’s gaze. “I’ll let you know when we’re heading back.”
He rose and walked her to the front door. “I’d appreciate it.” He gave her the house number to input into her cell phone.
Rusty slipped past her and entered the house as she left. She liked the idea of the dog standing guard. Maybe she should consider getting one. She climbed into the passenger seat of the Jeep.
“Were you serious about getting an alarm system?” she asked Alex.
“Yes. I called the alarm company, but they weren’t open yet.”
“I think I should have an alarm installed on the house,” she said. “And the store.” She’d never felt unsafe before. Nor had she worried about anyone breaking into the store at night. Stuff like that didn’t happen in Bristle Township.
Alex glanced at her. “There usually isn’t much crime in the county. Maybe a few rowdy teens or drunk tourists, but not much more than that.”
“The treasure hunt has caused lots of problems,” she said. “So many people flooding the Rockies. I think the whole thing is a bit nuts.”
“It’s a pain, that’s for sure,” he agreed.
“I wish somebody would just find the treasure, already. Then everything could go back to normal.” And Brady would find something else to keep him occupied. The idea of a dog for him to take care of sounded more and more like a good idea.
“That would be nice.”
When they arrived at the hardware store, Alex parked next to the back entrance. Maya unlocked and opened the door, but Alex stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Wait here while I check out the interior and make sure there’s nobody waiting inside.”
Unease slithered down her spine and she nodded. She let the back entrance door shut behind them but she remained near the exit. Alex stepped into the dim interior of the store. Though sunlight filtered through the glass front windows, there were still shadows that mocked her and caused her pulse to spike.
Frustrated by the fear taking hold, she decided Alex needed some light, so she went to the wall panel and flipped on the switches until the place was lit up like a Christmas tree.
A few seconds later, Alex returned to her side. “All clear.”
Determined to not be afraid in her own store, she strode forward and started prepping for the day. She made sure all the shelves were adequately stocked and there was cash in the register. Alex trailed behind her, making her already-taut nerves stretch even more.
As she unlocked the front door, she heard him on the phone talking to the sheriff. When he was done, she said, “You should probably get to the sheriff’s station. I’m sure you have more important things to do besides babysit me.”
His gaze narrowed. “The sheriff knows I’m here. If he needs me, he’ll call. If I have to leave, then I’ll see who’s available to stand guard.”
“You don’t need to do that,” she insisted as she went back to the register. “I’ll be fine. I’m sure you all are busy.”
“I’m not leaving you unattended,” he said.
Using her uninjured hand, she straightened the front counter with nervous energy. “Why are you doing this?”
His eyebrows drew together. “What do you mean?”
“First, you take us into your home and now, you won’t leave my side.”
“You’re in danger, Maya. For whatever reason, someone is after you, and I’m not going leave you alone.”
Flutters of anxiety hit her tummy. “I understand and appreciate your diligence but surely I’m safe in the store.”
“I’m not willing to take any chances.”
She wasn’t sure how to respond to that. His insistence on sticking close was sweet and scary at the same time. Would her attacker risk striking in broad daylight? But, more important, could she withstand the onslaught of attraction that zinged through her blood every time Alex was near?
The bell over the front door dinged, and she jumped. Okay, so she was more freaked out than she wanted to admit.
“Maya?” Ethan Johnson called out.
“Here.” Glad for the distraction, she hurried toward the front of the store. The older gentleman wore a chambray shirt tucked into belted jeans. His wispy gray hair was hidden beneath a baseball hat sporting the logo of a tractor company. “Hello, Ethan. You’re here early today.”
“Maya, I was so worried about you,” Ethan said, coming forward to take her uninjured hand in his rough and calloused ones. He nodded a greeting to Alex. “Deputy Trevino.”
“Ethan.” Alex returned the nod.
Turning his attention back to Maya, Ethan asked, “What happened to you? Is everything okay?”
Maya wasn’t sure how much to tell him. Her gaze went to Alex for help.
Alex spoke, saving her from having to answer. “Maya, Ethan is the one who alerted us to the fact that you and Brady were missing.”
Her heart swelling with gratitude, she said, “Thank you for looking out for us.”
“Of course, my dear. You and Brady are like family.”
Touched by the sentiment, she hugged him with her good arm while fighting back a sudden wave of tears. She wasn’t sure why she was so emotional. It had to be the circumstances in which she found herself. Someone had attacked her twice and tried a third time last night. And here was Ethan being so kind and making her realize how alone she’d felt for so long. Now she had two people showing concern for her and Brady’s welfare. It was a bit overwhelming.
“We found them both on Eagle Crest Mountain,” Alex said. “Brady had fallen and twisted his ankle. And Maya took a fall as well and hurt her shoulder.”
Clearly, Alex felt the need to keep her attacker out of the conversation. She figured it was to prevent upsetting Ethan any more than necessary.
“That’s horrible.” Ethan’s voice held sympathy. “What can Bess and I do to help?”
Maya smiled. “Honestly, Alex is taking good care of us. Helping out here and...such.”
Ethan nodded, but there was speculation in his eyes that had alarm bells sounding in Maya’s head. Oh, no. She hoped the older man didn’t think there was something personal going on between her and Alex.
“That is good to know.” Ethan focused on Alex. “I heard there was a dead body found on the mountain.”
So much for not worrying Ethan.
Alex sighed and hitched his thumbs in his utility belt. “News does travel fast in a small town.”
Ethan gave him a pointed look. “Hard to keep a thing like that quiet. Everybody’s talking about it.”
“Just what we need.” Alex shook his head.
Maya grimaced. She hated being the subject of gossip around town. But then again, maybe if people were aware of the danger, her attacker would leave her alone. One could hope.
Alex’s phone rang. He stepped aside to answer.
“Was there something I could get for you, Ethan?” Maya asked.
He shook his head. “I’m done with my shopping for the week. I just wanted to see how you were doing and make sure you were all right.”
His concern warmed her heart.
Alex returned and said, “I need to run to the station for a bit. Daniel will be here in a moment.”
Concern darkened Ethan’s eyes. “I’m happy to stay and keep Maya company. Where’s Brady?”
“He’s safe,” Alex said quickly
. He looked out the front window. “Here’s Daniel. I’ll be right back.” He headed out the front door, pausing to talk a moment to the other deputy.
Maya watched Alex through the front window, liking the way Alex’s dark hair gleamed in the morning sunshine. She admired his wide shoulders beneath his uniform. She knew he took on the burdens of the town without any hesitation, just as he’d taken on her and Brady.
Alex nodded at Daniel, then glanced toward the store. This time she had no qualms about raising her hand in a wave. Not as a means to flirt with him, but to assure him she’d be okay while he was gone. He lifted his hand in acknowledgment before striding across the street and entering the sheriff’s station.
Slipping sunglasses over his eyes, Daniel stayed outside near the front door.
Ethan chuckled. “Alex is a nice young man. A good catch as Bess would say.”
She murmured her agreement, then flushed with embarrassment. Aware of Ethan’s gaze, she plastered on a calm smile. “How is Bess? And Mary?” Referring to his wife and his adult daughter.
Ethan met her gaze. His blue eyes were gentle and amused. “Bess and Mary are both well, thank you. You know your parents were friends of mine and Bess’s.”
Good friends, if she remembered correctly. Her parents had known everyone in town. She nodded, unsure where he was going with this.
“I’m sure your parents would like for you to find someone special,” he stated with a gleam in his eyes. “You know Brady is always welcome to visit if you have a date.”
A wry laugh escaped Maya. “That’s a kind offer. But dating is the last thing on my mind.”
How did she dispel him of any matchmaking notions without revealing how much danger she and Brady were in?
* * *
Sheriff James Ryder sat at his desk and looked up as Alex entered his office. “Alex, glad you’re here. How are the Gallos?”
“Brady is at my place with my father, and Ethan Johnson is with Maya at the store.” Alex took a seat opposite the sheriff. “I have Daniel posted out front. You said you have news on our victim?”
James handed him a sheet of paper. “His name was Ned Weber, a dentist from Steamboat Springs.”
Alex looked at the photocopy of Ned Weber’s driver’s license. Definitely the man they’d found dead on the trail.
“He didn’t have a rap sheet,” James said. “Unmarried. I put a call in to his practice, but the call went to voice mail. I’m not sure what he was doing up on that trail.”
Alex suspected he knew. Treasure hunting. “Has the ME found the cause of death?”
“Blunt force trauma to the skull mixed with multiple lacerations from tumbling down the side of the mountain.”
“He could have sustained the head injury during the fall.”
“According to the ME, it could have been an accident or it could be murder. Unless we can place someone else up on the side of the mountain, we won’t know for sure,” James said.
“I’d like Hannah to blow up this photo,” Alex said, referring to the county’s resident crime scene tech. “I’ll take it to the group of hikers we ran into yesterday and see if they knew him.”
“Good thinking. You better hurry if you want to catch her. She and Chase are heading up the mountain trail in search of evidence.”
“Thanks.” Alex stood and walked toward the door.
“Have her make copies for the others, as well,” Sheriff Ryder said to his retreating back. “They can ask around town, see if anyone remembers seeing him before he hiked up the mountain.”
“Will do,” Alex called over his shoulder before he headed to the back of the department building where the crime scene lab and evidence locker room were housed. He found Hannah at her desk. She made quick work of the task.
“Thank you, Hannah,” Alex said, taking the photos from her. “You’re the best.”
Her freckled face broke out in a grin. “Don’t you know it.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “I hear you and Chase are going up Pine Ridge Trail, where the deceased was found.”
“Yes, sir.” She saluted him. “If there is something to find, we’ll find it. Chase should be here any minute. I let him drive. Makes him think he’s in charge.”
“You do that. Also, can you give the others copies of the photo?”
“Sure thing.”
Deciding to tackle the hikers first, Alex left the station and headed to the Bristle Hotel with the photo in hand. At the front desk, he asked the concierge to ring the rooms of the five hikers and request they come to the lobby. Within a few minutes, three of the five friends arrived. Alex studied each one for a moment, taking stock.
The two women were exact opposites. The blonde Sybil Kelso was a big-boned woman with a small gap between her front teeth, reminiscent of Lauren Bacall. She wore a pink shirt with jeans tucked into knee-high boots and held a small clutch purse in her manicured hands. Not a hair was out of place.
While the petite Claire Owens had her brunette hair pulled back into a messy ponytail and wore unstructured pants and a sweatshirt with the Colorado Rockies baseball team’s emblem. She sported a cross-body backpack in lime green.
Roger Dempsey, the man who’d led Alex to Brady, had a clean-shaven face, his sandy hair slicked back. He looked ready for the office in khakis, a white button-down shirt with a red tie and expensive leather shoes.
“Good morning, Deputy Trevino,” Roger greeted him. “I assume you’re the reason we were summoned.”
Alex inclined his head. “I am. Where are the other two? Greg and John Smith?” Yesterday, Alex hadn’t been able to see the men’s faces due to the darkness of the trail.
“They’ll be along,” Sybil answered. “Those two are as slow as molasses.”
He held up the photo of Ned Weber. “Do you know this man?”
“Hey, that’s Ned,” Sybil said. “Is he in some kind of trouble?”
“Why would you ask that?” Alex searched the faces of the man and women.
“He didn’t show up yesterday for our excursion,” Claire said. “We tried texting him, but he never responded.”
“So he was supposed to go hiking with your group?” Alex confirmed.
“Yes,” Sybil said. “We all met in an online chat. We’ve teamed up the past few weeks.”
“Teamed up?”
Claire shrugged. “It’s better to hunt for treasure in a group than alone. We’ll split the bounty when we find it.”
Treasure hunters. He’d have to chew on that for a bit to see how the information changed the dynamics.
“What’s going on, Deputy?” Roger asked. “Has something happened to Ned?”
“I’m sorry to inform you that Mr. Weber’s body was found yesterday on one of the trails of Eagle Crest Mountain.”
“Oh, poor Ned.” Tears gathered in Sybil’s blue eyes.
Claire blinked, looking stunned. “He’s really dead? How did... Where was he?”
“That scoundrel! He went out hunting without us,” Roger exclaimed.
“Roger,” Sybil chided. “Don’t speak ill of the dead.”
Roger rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Sorry. This is so shocking. How did he die?”
“It appears that he was climbing above one of the trails and fell,” Alex told them as he watched each face for some hint of guilt.
“Why was he there?” Claire asked. “The latest clue for the Delaney treasure clearly leads up the Aspen Creek Trail, where we were.”
“Unless he knew something we didn’t,” Roger said.
“Here’s John and Greg,” Sybil said. She sniffed as a fresh tear rolled down her cheek. “Does anyone have a tissue?”
Claire dug one out of her bag and handed it to the other woman.
Alex focused his attention on the two men who’d joined them. They were nearly identical with the same ho
oded light brown eyes, dark hair parted on the right. But one was a few inches taller than the other.
Roger informed the latecomers of the tragic news of Weber’s death.
“We talked to him yesterday,” the taller one, John, said. “He claimed he couldn’t make it. He had too many clients lined up.”
“Apparently he lied to us,” Greg said.
“It’s so heartbreaking,” Claire stated.
Alex made a mental note to check into Weber’s phone calls to verify their stories. Hopefully, Chase and Hannah would find the victim’s cell phone. “How long will you all be staying in town?”
“We’re planning on staying through the weekend,” Roger said. “But now I don’t know.”
“Can you tell me what kind of vehicle Mr. Weber drove?”
“Usually he got a ride with us,” Claire told him as she gestured to herself and Sybil. “I don’t know what kind of car he drives.”
“I think it’s a truck,” John said. “Silver, maybe. Or light blue. That’s what he drove the last time we all met.”
“If any of you think of anything that might help us figure out what happened to your friend, please call the sheriff’s department,” Alex said.
“Did you find his notebook?” Roger asked.
This could be interesting. “What notebook?” Alex asked.
“Ned was meticulous in his quest to find the treasure. He maintained notes in a black leather-bound journal,” Sybil said. “He kept tabs on other treasure seekers and recorded their progress.”
“He wrote down every theory and speculation on the treasure he could find,” Claire added. “He was determined to discover the hidden fortune before anyone else.”
Alex’s mind whirled with possibilities. Had Ned Weber uncovered something he hadn’t wanted to share with his friends? Where was this notebook?
SEVEN
Alex left the Bristle Hotel with his thoughts churning. The deceased dentist had gone off seeking the fortune alone. Had he suffered a tragic accident or foul play? How had he ended up on the trail so banged up? Was one of the five treasure hunters involved?