Cold Case

by Susan Sleeman

  15

  The suite was quiet and dark. A fun dinner was long over, and Trey was sitting without the lights on, brooding about the day while Eryn worked on her computer. Her head was bent forward, her glossy black hair shining in the light from her screen. Her fingers flew over the keyboard, and she was in her own world. A world he wanted to be part of.

  Not that he deserved to be after he let a maniac nearly abduct her. A vision of a man with his paws on her wouldn’t Trey him go, and his dinner churned in his gut. He had to do better tomorrow. Correction, tomorrow morning. Only the morning. The conference ended at noon, and then everyone would be heading home. The team in their SUVs and him in his car alone.

  Eryn would be walking out of his life. Not for good. He could see to that by signing up for more classes at the compound, but he didn’t like thinking that she might walk out tomorrow with her attacker still on the loose. Maybe the jerk would give up once the conference was over, but Trey didn’t think he would. He’d gone to great extremes to stop her classes from being taught, or he wouldn’t have risked trying to abduct her in a building filled with cops.

  But if he was that adamant about stopping her, he could pop up again when she least expected him. Sure, with the compound’s state-of-the-art security she would likely be safe, but what about when she stepped out of the gate? Maybe went into town for groceries? Or out for ice cream with Bekah? Or even on an op?

  Trey wouldn’t be there to protect her. Protect Bekah. They would be alone. Vulnerable.

  The thought brought him to his feet, and he went to the window to look over the ocean rolling in under a full moon. They had to find this guy by noon tomorrow. Just had to.

  Eryn’s phone rang, splitting the quiet.

  “Blake,” she answered and listened intently.

  He must have information on the woman or Eryn’s attacker or he wouldn’t call this late.

  She slumped back in her chair. “Well, that’s unfortunate.”

  Obviously not good news.

  “No, nothing here either. But I’ll keep up the search.” She listened for some time. “I’m surprised Coker denied being involved in the murder. I figured even if he didn’t do it, he’d want to somehow connect himself to get the publicity.”

  She ran a hand through her hair. “Okay. I’ll check in with you in the morning.”

  She set her phone on the desk and rose to stretch her arms overhead. Trey was mesmerized by how the light silhouetted her frame, and he couldn’t look away.

  “That was Blake,” she said, lowering her arms and coming toward him.

  He swallowed hard to bring his mind back to work. “Oh.”

  “Coker claims he doesn’t know the woman, and he refused to turn over his weapon without a court order, but Blake said he’d have no problem getting that warrant. He also said he reiterated that he was outside with his team when I was attacked. Blake will check with them, but you know they’ll likely lie for him.”

  Trey wanted to go pound the truth out of Coker, but as a deputy he couldn’t do that. “What about an ID on the woman?”

  “The ME said she didn’t have any ID nor did her fingerprints return a match. They also struck out on locating her car in the lot. Blake will have a deputy run plates on the nearby streets tomorrow.”

  “So we have a Jane Doe,” Trey said, his mind still on Eryn, not the topic. How could he go from thinking they needed to do everything they could do to find her attacker, to not being able to focus? Maybe it was the dark sultry atmosphere of the room. Or maybe he was so tired of ignoring his interest in her that he couldn’t keep up the pretense any longer.

  She stopped next to him to look out the window. She smelled like a warm apple pie, and the scent wrapped around him. He wanted to reach out to touch her hair to see if it felt as sleek as it looked.

  “I’ll make some calls in the morning,” she said. “To the people who are monitoring the foxes and to the reporter for the story I found. But unless they give me any leads, it looks like I’ll be asking Riley to take me to eastern Oregon.”

  Trey didn’t even hesitate. “I’m going with you.”

  “That’s not necessary. Riley will be with me.”

  “I don’t care. I’m going.”

  She turned to look up at him, likely wondering where the agreeable guy he usually was had gone. He had his limits, and he’d reached them.

  “Trey,” she said, as if she planned to argue.

  He didn’t want to hear her pushing him away again. He let the curtains fall and rested his hands lightly on her shoulders. “Don’t say it. Let me think for once that you don’t mind my company.”

  “It’s not that at all. I like being with you. You’re a great guy.”

  “No buts. Not tonight. Not after today. I could have lost you.” He gently drew her closer and wrapped his arms around her. He held his breath and waited for her to argue. To push away. But she didn’t.

  She snuggled closer and rested her head against his chest. He lifted a hand and ran it over her hair, not surprised to discover it indeed felt like silk under his hand. He relished the feel of her. The way she fit against him. Her warmth. Even her breathing that was speeding up.

  She suddenly leaned back and looked up at him. Her eyes were glistening with tears.

  “What is it?” he asked, hating to think she was crying because of him.

  “Today. All of this. I don’t know. I just feel like crying.”

  “Then let it go. Cry.”

  She bit her lip. “You wouldn’t. Most guys wouldn’t. Especially my teammates.”

  “But you’re not me or them. You’re a woman, and I don’t care if that sounds sexist. It’s not. God made us to be different.” He cupped the side of her face and smiled. “And I’m so glad he did because as much as I admire your strength and toughness, I like you being vulnerable, too. A girl who might need someone. Maybe me.”

  “I do need people. My mom. Bekah.”

  “But not a guy.”

  She sighed. “I don’t know anymore. These past few days with you have made me think about it.”

  “But you’re still holding back.”

  She nodded.

  “Maybe this will help change your mind.” He slid his fingers into her hair and leaned down to kiss her. Her eyes widened when she realized what he planned to do. She didn’t step away but raised up on her tiptoes.

  His heart constricted, and he settled his lips on hers. Shock of awareness traveled through him. Kissing her was like an explosion of dynamite, warming him clean through. He forgot all about tomorrow. About the danger. About everything except their connection…and let his lips speak for him.

  Eryn knew she should push back. Stop this kiss, but she was powerless to do so. She’d come alive again. Discovered emotions that she believed had died with Rich. She wanted the kiss to go on and on. Forever. To be connected to a man again. This man. This wonderful, wonderful, man.

  The thought shocked her into pulling back. Trey opened his eyes and watched her under his hooded lids. His gaze started to turn wary. She reached up and pressed out a wrinkle by his mouth. “That was—”

  “Amazing,” he finished for her.

  “Yes. And overwhelming, too.”

  He frowned. “I should have taken that into consideration. After the day you’ve had, I shouldn’t have kissed you and added more stress.”

  She put her hand on his chest. “I’m not more stressed. Trust me. It’s the best thing that’s happened all day.”

  “I’m glad.” His lips relaxed in a wide smile.

  She wanted to reach up. To kiss that smile. Kiss him. But she wouldn’t. Not now that she’d come to her senses. “That’s as far as it goes, okay? I’ve got some serious thinking to do.”

  “About?” he asked and seemed to hold his breath.

  “About what I want. Nothing has changed. Other than I liked kissing you and wouldn’t mind doing it again sometime.”

  “But not now.”

  “No, not now.” />
  “And what about tomorrow? Can I come with you?”

  “If it’s that important to you, then yes.”

  He nodded. “You’re important to me.”

  She didn’t like hearing him say that aloud, as it sounded so official. So much like a commitment of some sort that she wasn’t ready for. She frowned.

  “What did I say?”

  She stepped out of his arms and instantly felt alone, the way she’d been for years, but now it felt lonely, and she almost moved back into his arms. But she couldn’t. It was bad enough that she’d kissed him. She couldn’t encourage him more.

  She wrapped her arms around herself, wishing it was his arms instead. “I don’t want to lead you on, Trey. I don’t know what I want or what I’m capable of feeling for a man.”

  “And if you were capable and wanted a future with a guy? Would I be in the running?”

  “Oh, yeah,” she answered without hesitation. “First place.”

  “Then that’s all I need to know for now. I won’t think you’re leading me on, and if I fall helplessly in love with you, it will be my own fault.” He grinned again as if trying to tell her he wasn’t serious, but his eyes told her a different story.

  She agreed to let him accompany her tomorrow, but she was starting to regret making a decision when she was letting her emotions rule her, and she wasn’t sure it was a good idea. Not a good idea at all.

  16

  Even eight hours later, Eryn couldn’t quit thinking about the kiss. She should never have let Trey kiss her, much less encourage it to continue. She’d had a momentary lapse in judgement, but nothing had changed, and that meant her guard was up again this morning. She couldn’t let it happen again. So why couldn’t she quit staring at him across the breakfast table in their suite?

  They’d just finished eating, and Bekah climbed up on his lap, looking like it was the most natural thing in the world. Perhaps Eryn was being shortsighted on thinking about a relationship when it prevented Bekah from having a father. But if Eryn constantly lived in fear of losing a future spouse, wouldn’t it be better for Bekah not to have a father than to have one under those conditions?

  Bekah swiveled on his lap and rested her hands on his shoulders. “I like you.”

  Trey grinned his soft, sweet, adorable heart-melting grin. “I like you, too.”

  “We’re going home today. We get to drive by the ocean. It’s pretty. And scary. I can’t wait to get home. Mia and David got a puppy. A black one. It’s cute. Sometimes it falls down when it runs. It’s so funny. I want a puppy, too, but Mommy said I’m not ’sponsible enough. I’m only four. Maybe I’ll be ’sponsible when I’m five.” She drew in a deep breath and looked like she might start up again.

  Eryn wanted to spare Trey from her daughter’s early morning chatter. “I’m sure Trey isn’t interested in the puppy.”

  “I love dogs.”

  “Me, too,” Bekah said. “They named him Barkley. That’s the dog’s name on Sesame Street. He’s only four months old. Do you want to come home with me and meet Barkley?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Why maybe?”

  “It depends on some things this morning.”

  Eryn assumed he meant that if they found the hacker then Trey wouldn’t have a reason to come home with them. She had to admit saying goodbye to him in a few hours wasn’t something she wanted to do.

  Bekah moved her hands to his face. “I want you to come with us.”

  “And I want to as well.”

  She twisted her head to look at Eryn. “How soon can we go, Mommy?”

  “I have a bit of work and a class to teach. Then we can go.”

  Her eyes narrowed as if confused.

  “We’ll leave after lunch.” Eryn smiled at her daughter. “Now go with Gammy to get cleaned up so you can help pack your suitcase and be ready to leave when I am.”

  She pushed off Trey’s lap and ran around the table to grab her Gammy’s hand. “Hurry, Gammy. We have to pack.”

  Eryn’s mother laughed, and as she passed behind Eryn, she bent down to kiss her head. “Be careful today.”

  “I will.”

  She looked at Trey. “I hope you do come with us. I like what’s going on between the two of you.”

  “Mom!” Eryn turned to stare after her mother who was chuckling all the way to her door.

  Trey grinned. “You have the best mom.”

  “I do,” Eryn said, though right now she wanted to strangle her. “I located a contact with the Oregon Conservation Strategy and the reporter’s information, too. You want to call one of them while I talk to the other?”

  “Sure. I’ll take the reporter.”

  She got up to retrieve the contact’s information from the desk and handed the notepad to Trey. The moment he grabbed the paper she released it and swiveled because she could swear that a jolt of awareness traveled through that paper to her hand, and she wasn’t about to let it take over and color her judgment again. This was the light of day not the dark of the night. She could ignore him. Easily.

  Right. Like you did at breakfast.

  She dialed Neil Moon, a biologist at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. When he answered, she introduced herself. “I’m interested in information on the kit fox.”

  “Then you’ve found the right person. I’m in charge of their monitoring.”

  “Where exactly have they been seen?” she asked as she heard Trey start his conversation with the reporter.

  “We have cameras in the area between Sheepshead Mountains and Trout Creek Mountains. And if you’re not familiar with that area, it’s near the Idaho and Nevada borders.”

  She was very familiar with that area in Harney County. It was just north of there that the FBI recently engaged in a nearly month-long standoff when militants illegally occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

  She’d followed the standoff with interest and learned a great deal about that section of her state that she hadn’t known before. “I read that the camera recorded a kit fox being caught in a live trap.”

  “A sad thing. A sad thing indeed.” He sighed. “Why would anyone take an animal out of its natural habitat like that?”

  “I was wondering the same thing. Do you have any theories?”

  “There’s always a market for unique and interesting animals for private collectors.”

  “And the kit fox is unique?” she asked.

  “Unique, yeah, maybe. In our state at least. It’s more widely seen elsewhere. So, sure, I could see it being a valuable animal here and one that a collector might want.”

  She hated to ask the next question, but she had to understand. “When you say ‘collector’ are you talking about someone who collects live animals or taxidermy ones?”

  “Live is more prevalent, but we can’t rule out the later.” He blew out a long breath. “Which is why we’re so eager to find this little fella.”

  “What can you tell me about the pictures of the captured fox that were posted in the online forum?”

  “All I know is the person who claimed to steal the fox published pictures and was bragging about his escapades. You could get more information by talking to someone in the enforcement division at the Burn’s office.”

  She would make that call next. “Do you know of any animal rights groups championing the fox’s return?”

  “Not that I know of, but I don’t pay attention to that stuff. I’m a scientist, and I avoid everything political.” He chuckled.

  “Do you know of any animal rights groups in that general area?”

  “Like I said, I don’t pay attention, and I don’t live in this area so I don’t read the local news.”

  “Okay, thank you for the information. If I were to come over there, could you show me the area where the fox was taken?”

  There was dead silence for a long moment. “I’m sorry, but no. We’ve only recently discovered the animals, and we don’t want to disturb their habitat. But I’d be glad to answer any
additional questions you might have.”

  “Thank you. I’ll be in touch if I need more.” Disappointed, she hung up. Instead of sulking over her strikeout, she located the correct contact at the Oregon State Police Division of Wildlife.

  Trey was still on his call so she dialed the OSP number and asked to be put through to the sergeant in charge.

  Surprisingly, her call was directed to his office without having to explain what she needed.

  “Sergeant Corrigan,” he answered.

  “I’m Eryn Calloway. I work for Blackwell Tactical out of Cold Harbor.” She paused and gave him a chance to respond to that so she knew how to proceed.

  “I’ve seen your team’s training flyers,” he said. “How can I help you, Ms. Calloway?”

  “We’re looking into the murder of an unknown female in our county and think she might have something to do with the kit fox trapping. Is this something you’re involved in?”

  “We are.”

  “This woman was found at The Dunes Resort yesterday. She was dressed in an elaborate—and what looks like very expensive—kit fox costume. Cause of death was a gunshot to the forehead at a close range.”

  “Any idea why she was at the resort dressed like that?”

  “No but let me share about another situation I’m involved in, and we’re wondering if it’s related.” She explained about the hacker, the attack, and added the protest. “We suspect the deceased might be an animal rights advocate who came here to ask me to help with the pictures. Of course, this is a working theory, and we hoped you might have information about groups in your area so we can identify this woman.”

  He didn’t answer right away, and she was tempted to prompt him, but waited him out.

  “I’ve never heard of an animal rights group around here,” he finally said. “But that doesn’t mean there isn’t one. I can ask my troopers for more information.”

  “That would be great.” She took a moment to gather her thoughts and come up with her next question so she didn’t have to call him back. “Can you also explain exactly how OSP works with the Department of Fish and Wildlife so I can understand the investigation better?”