“You’ve already done it by letting us use the hall. It will hold twice what the church will.”
“Did you talk with Tom yet?”
“Yes, and he didn’t take it well.”
“I’m not surprised. He proposed to Betty the weekend before last.” Only five feet eight inches, Brad always seemed taller by the way he carried himself, but at the moment his shoulders were hunched. “I didn’t think Tom would ever marry.”
“The same with Aunt Betty. She never said anything about the proposal.”
“She told Tom she had to think about it. She was going to give him her answer when he returned from this last fishing trip.” Brad began strolling down the main hall toward his office.
“Oh,” was all Rachel could think to say. Why didn’t Aunt Betty say anything to her and Aunt Linda? Most unusual. Was that what Aunt Betty wanted to talk to her about on Friday? Then why did she want to talk to Jake, too?
“Tell Linda I can contribute money for the food, whatever she needs.”
“I will. Thanks.” Rachel rounded the corner and hurried toward her office at the back of the building.
Once there, she started working her way through the pile of papers on her desk while she ate her sandwich. The hours flew by and before she knew it, Jake stood in her doorway, watching her, with Mitch on a leash next to him.
“It’s five already?” She glanced behind her at the dark landscape out the window.
“Afraid so. I can wait a while in the lobby if you want.” Jake moved to her desk. “I brought Mitch. He wanted to get out of the house.”
“Oh, he told you that?”
“Yes, he did. He brought me his leash.”
Rachel laughed. “I like a dog that knows his own mind.” She reached toward the German shepherd and began to rub his head.
Mitch stepped back and sniffed her hand, then sat and barked twice.
Not sure what just happened, Rachel glanced toward Jake. His frown unnerved her. “What’s wrong with him?”
“That’s his signal when he smells illegal drugs.”
“On me?” Rachel stared at the hand Mitch smelled. “I haven’t been handling any drugs. Just papers all afternoon.”
“What kind of papers?”
“Lists from each boat of the crewmen and hours they worked. Also shipping notices and orders. The typical paperwork that needs to be put in the books.”
“Where are they?”
Rachel waved to a foot-tall stack on the table behind her.
“Step out in the hall and let me see what has triggered his response.”
Rachel moved to the corridor and leaned against the wall while Jake released Mitch by the entrance and commanded him to find the drugs. Starting on his right, the German shepherd sniffed around the room until he came to the pile of paper she’d been recording. He sat and barked again.
When Rachel came back into her office, she asked, “Could this be what Aunt Betty found out?”
“Possibly. Can you take this stack home with you without being detected? Then I can spread them out and see which sheets have the strongest scent on them.”
“Yes, but I shuffled them into different piles before putting them in that stack. If it could transfer to my hands, then why not to other pieces of paper?”
“It could. But maybe I can narrow it down some. If I take Mitch through all the boats and the fishery, we could scare off whoever is handling drugs. It could be something as simple as a worker dealing or taking drugs or a bigger problem than that.”
Rachel grabbed a canvas bag and stuffed the papers into it. “Bigger problem?”
“That the fishery is being used by someone to smuggle drugs.”
“I’ve worked with most of these people for years. Your grandfather worked for the company up until five years ago. I…” What happened to Aunt Betty made more sense if large amounts of money were involved.
“As a police officer I’ve seen a lot of illegal drugs on the streets. It’s a big business.”
Rachel stared down at her hands. “I hope I can get this smell off me.” She wondered how many times in the past she’d handled something that had the same scent. She grabbed her coat and purse. “Let’s go.”
“We can’t tell anyone about this except Linda and Gramps.”
“Not the police?”
A hard edge entered his blue eyes, darkened to a stormy sea color. “No, not even the chief, at least for the time being. If I could keep this from Linda and Gramps, I would, but I don’t see how we can since they are already involved with Betty’s murder. Not much gets past my grandfather.”
“Nor my aunt. She’ll probably be wondering why I’m scrubbing my hands over and over.”
“Not much gets past a dog. One trained to smell blood can find where a drop of blood has been cleaned up.”
“That’s amazing.”
“K-9s are being used more and more for various jobs. Their sense of smell is much keener than ours.” Jake held the door open for Rachel.
When she stepped outside into the dark of night, the lights from the harbor and the fishery taunted her. How pervasive was this problem in Port Aurora? Now murder and drugs? What was happening in her small, peaceful hometown?
*
That night Jake stood outside while Mitch sniffed around. The air was crisp and cold, but clear, too. The silence surrounding Jake helped him to relax after a day spent running down leads that hadn’t gone anywhere. He’d searched the woods by Betty’s cabin and sure enough there were ATV tracks coming from the main road and going back that way. Someone had been in the trees watching. A curious person or one involved with what happened to Betty?
He heard the door open and glanced back. Rachel came outside, carrying two mugs. The colored lights from the Christmas tree and on the house reflected on the snow and bathed her in their glow.
She gave him a cup. “Hot chocolate with one big marshmallow.”
“You remembered?”
“Of course. In the cold months that was our drink.” They used to do almost everything together—until Celeste came along and he thought he could have it all. The woman. Marriage. The career he wanted. Why hadn’t he seen through Celeste’s charade? Now he didn’t know what he wanted.
Rachel took a sip of her drink, ending up with marshmallow on her upper lip. “Do I have a mustache?”
“Yes, and that hasn’t changed, either.”
“It’s because I like three marshmallows in my hot chocolate.” She licked her tongue over the area. “Did I get it all?”
“Yes, but you might as well wait until you’re finished with your drink.”
“Good advice as always.” She released a long sigh and stared up at the sky. “It’s gorgeous. Not a cloud around and a million stars.”
“I forget how clear the view is away from the city.”
“I should have turned off the Christmas lights. It would have been perfect.”
“Nah. I like them. They’re welcoming.”
She angled toward him. “I thought you were going to tell Aunt Linda and Lawrence about the drugs.”
“Since they both were exhausted with planning the memorial service and went to bed, I think we can get away with them not knowing anything until we know more.”
“That sounds fine. How long is Mitch going to take?”
“He finished five minutes ago. I just like the quiet.”
“And I came out and ruined it.”
“No, you came out and joined me. We’re sharing the stars.” That thought eased the tension thinking about Celeste had caused. In the years he’d been gone, he’d been sure he had dealt with the betrayal and the bitterness his relationship with Celeste had produced. Was Rachel right? Was he not over her? No, when he saw Celeste, he’d felt nothing.
He slung his arm over Rachel’s shoulder and looked again at the black sky overhead. Their closeness brought back fond memories, something he’d needed after the past months. Peace wove its way through him, and he didn’t want this moment to en
d. Rachel snuggled closer, sending his pulse zipping through him.
“I’ve missed this,” he murmured, not realizing how much until he said it out loud. Rachel had always been the bright spot in his life. Every birthday and Christmas when he wouldn’t receive a call or present from his mother, Rachel had cheered him up and given him her gift.
Suddenly, Mitch became alert, emitting a low growl.
Jake dropped his arm from around Rachel and straightened, handing her his mug. “Stay here.” All his police training coming to the foreground, he moved toward Mitch, twenty feet away.
He approached Mitch. “Stay.”
His dog did, but he pointed at attention at an area on the west side of the house. Jake wished he had his weapon, but it was in the house.
Then he noticed the huge moose in the moonlight, and relief replaced the stress. Although he had a healthy respect for the damage a moose could cause, he wasn’t worried about this one. He was sure the animal knew they were there, and yet he ignored them.
He started back toward Rachel. “Come, Mitch. Time to go in.”
“What was it?” she asked in a shaky voice.
“A moose.”
“Oh, that’s Fred. He comes around once or twice a week. Sometimes during the day. Sometimes at night.”
“How do you know it was Fred?”
“Was he missing part of his antler?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s him. He’s been around for years. He started coming not long after you left Port Aurora.”
“Good to know.” Jake held the door open and let Rachel and Mitch go inside, then he gave one last look across the snow-covered ground to the line of evergreens about thirty yards away. Darkness loomed in the depth of the forest.
“I’ll get the canvas bag. Let’s get this over with.” Rachel headed for her bedroom and returned in half a minute. “I think I should handle the papers. You don’t need to get the smell on you.”
“Fine.” Jake sat on the couch where he slept at night while Gramps took the third bedroom. He called Mitch to his side, and they watched while Rachel laid the papers in a row across a blanket on the floor. He’d suggested that way earlier, so if the drug scent got on anything, it would only be the blanket.
She went through that same routine three times with a different set of papers before Mitch indicated the scent of drugs and barked. Rachel glanced in the direction of the bedrooms. “I’m not sure we won’t wake them up if there’s more than this one.”
By the time Mitch had checked all the papers in the bag, Rachel had collected ten different sheets. “They’re all different. A couple of time sheets for the boat crews. Some are shipping notices and a few are orders.”
“The paper most likely was touched by someone who had been handling drugs, and some of those sheets were contaminated by the original one or two.”
“Which doesn’t narrow it down a lot. I’ll write these down, and then we can look at the boats in the harbor for the past week since all these papers are from that time frame.” Rachel jotted down the information and then collected everything and stuck it in the canvas bag. “I feel like a criminal having to sneak these in and out of the fishery.”
“If something fishy is going on, we need to find out and let Randall know. I don’t want to accuse anyone without evidence, but the police chief did say he needed my help. They’re shorthanded.”
Rachel chuckled. “Definitely something fishy is going on. That’s the nature of the business.” She sat next to Jake on the couch. “Here is the list of boats in the harbor the past week with when they came and when they left, if they’re gone.”
Jake lounged back and read the forty names. “Is anyone who works for the fishery not on this list because they’ve been out over a week?”
Rachel leaned toward him and reread the list. “There are three due back soon. There are some boats in the harbor that have nothing to do with the fishery.”
The apple scent from her shampoo teased his nostrils. He’d come to associate that smell with warmth and caring. She’d always had a calming effect on him. “We’ll concentrate on the boats that work for the company. Let me see the list of contaminated sheets.”
She handed it to him. “They are all from people on the list of boats in the harbor, but I would expect that. So how does this help us?”
“Not sure yet. I’m going to start taking Mitch for walks on the pier and see if anything catches his attention. I’ll concentrate on the four boats on this second list. Who handles the crew time sheets?”
“Everyone writes down their own hours, then the captain verifies it and turns it in. I can’t see the Blue Runner having anything to do with Aunt Betty’s death. They were out of the harbor on Friday and Saturday. The other three were tied up in their slips.”
“I can’t rule them out concerning the drugs, but you’re right about Aunt Betty’s death. So tell me about Tundra King, Alaskan King and Sundance.” The brush of her arm against his threatened to steal his concentration on the task at hand.
“Tundra King and Alaskan King are owned by the company. As I told you before, the Alaskan King is a new trawler. Captain Martin of the Sundance sells his catches to the fishery.”
While he looked over the lists, Jake asked, “Who is in port right now?”
“Alaskan King and the Blue Runner. Tundra King left today and Sundance is due back tomorrow. We’re closed for two weeks during the holidays, then we start back up with crabbing. What do you want me to do to help?”
He dipped his head and turned toward her, her glance trapping him in a snare. For a moment he didn’t say anything until she dropped her gaze to the papers. “You’ve done it. Leave the rest to me. This is my job.”
“But you don’t have access to the fishery like I do.”
After nearly losing her in the fire, he didn’t want to take the risk. “I’ll find a way. Remember Sean and I were good friends in high school, and I was over in the processing center with him today before we went to lunch. Gramps and I know many of the men who work there.”
“I thought we were in this together. I want to find who did this to Aunt Betty. She was family. She doesn’t deserve this.”
And I want to keep you safe. If anything happened to her…he shuddered at the thought. “We’re a team. We’ve always been one.”
“But that wasn’t enough to keep you here or let me know about the injury you suffered in August until much later.” Rachel pushed to her feet and walked to the Christmas tree. After turning off the lights, she shut the drapes. “I have to be at work by seven thirty. Good night.” She started for the hallway.
“Rachel,” Jake called out and rose. When she stopped, he bridged the distance between them. “I’m sorry. I promise I’ll be around so much in the future you’re going to get tired of me, but my job is in Anchorage. I make a difference. I’m good at working with a K-9.”
She spun around, her teeth digging into her lower lip. She did that when she wanted to remain quiet and was fighting the urge to talk.
“I’ve seen Celeste on a number of occasions, and my life hasn’t fallen apart. She doesn’t have any power over me anymore.”
She inched closer and lifted her hands to cup his jaw. “Good. I hated seeing what she did to you. I wish you’d come to that decision years ago.”
“What can I say, I’m stubborn.”
She leaned toward him and kissed his mouth lightly, then dropped her arms to her sides and rushed from the living room.
His lips tingled from the contact with hers. Suddenly, he wanted more than just a brief kiss. He watched her disappear into her bedroom and wondered why in the world it had taken him so long to see her as more than a friend. He shook his head and pivoted. But that was crazy. Neither of them wanted a long-term commitment.
*
On Wednesday Rachel stood next to Jake. Halfway through the memorial service for Betty, she grasped his hand, needing that connection, or she might break down. Then her aunt would start crying, and she
was to speak at the end.
When Aunt Linda finished paying tribute to Aunt Betty, the church choir sang “Amazing Grace” and then her aunt announced that after the Christmas tree lighting everyone was invited to come back to the hall for refreshments provided by the Port Aurora Community Church’s women.
Jake bent to her ear and whispered, “Are you ready? Do you need to stay?”
His breath on her neck tickled, making her think about the kiss she’d given him the other day. She’d wanted more, but she was afraid of these feelings his presence was generating in her. She’d always thought they had been best friends, but now she wondered if she hadn’t taken it further and felt rejected when he fell in love with Celeste instead of her.
“Rachel, are you okay?”
She closed her eyes for a few seconds. “I’m all right. Aunt Betty used to come with us to the ceremony at the harbor when all the lights were turned on officially. The part I love is the lights in the harbor are turned off for a few minutes while the mayor gives a little speech then flips the switch. Then for a while the only lights are on the Christmas tree. It’s like a ray of hope at the end of the pier, that Port Aurora is welcoming any lost soul.” And now someone had tainted their small town.
“I never thought of it like that. I see Gramps is with your aunt. If we’re going to get a good place, we better leave.”
“The best places are reserved for the children at the front. Remember when we would push our way through the crowd so we were in the first row?”
“Yes, but they always tolerated us doing that. Does the mayor still toss out candy to the kids?”
“Yes, and I wouldn’t mind something chocolate right about now.” When Rachel stepped outside, she lifted her hood since the wind off the water could be freezing cold.
“Remember that year the harbor iced over? Thankfully, that doesn’t happen every year.”
“But the water feels like it could turn to ice at any moment. I’ve never been into the polar bear plunge some people do.”
Jake laughed. “Neither have I, but I have navigated some cold rivers and streams before that almost felt like that’s what I was doing.”
Again she felt like years of separation had slipped away, and their relationship had returned to what it was before Celeste. But he would be leaving again in a few weeks. Would he stay away as long as he had before? She had to remind herself even though he might come home two or three times a year, their friendship wouldn’t be the same. She wished he would work for the Port Aurora Police Department like he had before going to Anchorage. What was the lure of a big city? A place with too many people and not enough open space wasn’t for her.
Love Inspired Suspense December 2015, Box Set 2 of 2 Page 7