Suddenly, the ground beneath him fell away, and he tumbled downward.
*
“That’s your car!” Rachel pointed toward the Jeep’s front windshield. “He’s been in a wreck.” The words rushed out so fast she could hardly understand herself.
Heartbeat pounding against her rib cage, Rachel pulled over to the side of the road and put the Jeep’s flashers on while Lawrence hopped from the car. They both converged on the driver’s-side door, the headlights from her Jeep glowing into the SUV’s dark interior.
Rachel straightened and turned toward Lawrence. “He’s gone. I didn’t see him walking home.”
He leaned around her and examined the front seat. When he lifted his head toward the windshield, he tensed.
Slightly behind him, Rachel asked, “What’s wrong?”
“There are three bullet holes in the windshield.”
Rachel squeezed around Lawrence and bent forward, glancing at the holes then the seat. “I don’t see any blood. The keys are gone. Maybe he’s okay, and we just missed him on the road.” But as she said that, she didn’t believe it.
Lawrence rounded the back of his car and opened the passenger door, then checked the glove compartment. “The flashlight is gone. Do you have one in your car?”
“Yes, the same place.”
While Lawrence retrieved it, Rachel inspected the ground illuminated by the Jeep lights. “There are a lot of footprints here. I’m not sure which ones are ours.”
Lawrence shone the flashlight a few feet from the SUV where there were two sets, not theirs. “There was someone else here. No doubt the shooter. One of these went southwest toward town and the other into the field.”
Rachel followed the footsteps leading to a huge meadow near her house with the woods bordering part of it. “All I see is our Christmas lights. Nothing like a flashlight.”
“Maybe that’s why he went that way. It’s the shortest way to our houses.”
“What if he’s hurt?” Rachel pointed to the tracks. “He’s dragging the leg he injured in Anchorage. Isn’t that what it looks like?”
Lawrence focused the flashlight on the drag marks in the snow. “He crashed into the side of the ditch. He was going fast enough for the air bags to deploy. At the least he would have some bumps and bruises.”
“Then we need to follow the tracks. What if he hit his head and isn’t fully himself? He could have internal bleeding or…” Her throat jammed closed. She fought the tears welling inside her.
“He’s a survivor. It was hours before he was safely rescued from the building rubble. He made it.”
He had to be okay. He was hurt because of her. Please, Lord, be with him. Show us where he is.
Lawrence went first, illuminating the path, while Rachel trailed close behind him.
After walking ten minutes, she said, “Shine the light toward my house. We might catch his silhouette.” She needed to see he was all right.
But when Lawrence swept the flashlight across the meadow, no one was there. Rachel’s heart sank. “We’ve got to keep going. He may be in trouble.”
*
Jake’s feet went out from under him, and he slid downward. He slammed against the bottom of a snow-crusted crevice, his body wedged between the narrow walls. Pinned down. Stuck.
The only thing he could move was his right arm. His left one was trapped between his chest and the jagged stone. His weapon had jerked from his fingers as he fell, but lay within reach of his good arm.
He switched on his flashlight to see if he could figure a way out of the crevice. On both sides of him the walls were closer together. Until he’d fallen into the gap, he’d forgotten about there being a few in this meadow. He could have avoided or stepped over if he’d seen the fissure in time.
He turned off his light. He didn’t want to call attention to his location. Hopefully, Gramps would find his SUV and figure out where he was going before anyone else. This was a time he was glad his grandfather was an expert shot, having been a sniper in the US Marines. He should be able to take care of himself if his assailant returned.
Since he couldn’t see the wolves getting at him, all he had to worry about now was keeping himself warm when he could hardly move his limbs. The wind whipping through the crevice cut right through him. With his free hand, he pulled his hood, bunched around his neck, over his beanie. Occasionally, he stomped his feet and moved his right arm to keep the blood circulating, but the sting of needles pricked his trapped one.
As time ticked away, the cold snaked through his body like fog slowly creeping over the landscape until it was everywhere.
Lord, I know I’ve been a stranger lately, but I need You. Gramps and Rachel say You are always with us. Help me get out of this.
His teeth chattered, and he shivered. He needed to stay awake, but his eyelids drooped. Then his head dropped forward, hitting against the side of the ice-encased rocky surface. He didn’t care. Maybe if he rested for a while…
Growls and yelps ricocheted through his tired mind. Jake jerked his head up and aimed the flashlight above.
Amber eyes stared down at him.
*
“Did you see that?” Rachel pointed to an area about three hundred yards in front of them and to the right. “I saw a light. It’s gone now, but it was coming from the ground. That could be Jake.”
“That’s near those fissures in this meadow.”
“He could have fallen into one.”
“Let’s go.” Rachel charged out in front of Lawrence.
He grabbed her arm. “Wait. Look.” He gestured toward the area they were heading to.
Rachel froze, her gaze riveted on a pack of four wolves, all standing around and peering down. At Jake? Hurt? “What do we do?”
Gramps handed her the flashlight and grabbed the rifle he’d slung over his shoulder before leaving the Jeep. “That’s why I always come prepared.”
“You’re going to kill them?” Because she went hiking and camping, she knew how to use a gun, but one of the things she loved about her home was all the beautiful creatures that lived in Alaska.
“Not if I can help it. I had my fill of killing in the Vietnam War.” His gruff voice softened and thickened when he mentioned being a soldier. Jake had once told her he would never talk about being in that war.
Lawrence crept forward. “Shine the light on them.”
When Rachel did, a shot rang out in the night.
*
When the gunshot sounded, the wolves yelped, turning away from Jake, their attention on someone else. Had the assailant decided to see if Jake was hurt or dead? Had he brought reinforcements?
Sweat popped out on his forehead and rolled down his face. He was a sitting duck, but at least he still had some rounds in his weapon. He wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Another blast echoed through the darkness, followed by a third one. Suddenly, the wolves jumped over the crevice and ran off, leaving Jake to face whoever was out there.
He lifted his Glock and prepared for the worst. With each second that passed, his heart rate increased until all he heard was its thundering beat against his skull. More sweat stung his eyes, and he blinked several times so he could see his assailant. He wouldn’t have much time to make a decision. He pointed the barrel upward.
“Jake! Jake!”
Rachel’s sweet voice, followed by Gramps’s deeper one, took a few seconds to register and for him to drop his arm to his side. As he saw her peer over the edge, relief sagged his tensed shoulders, and he smiled.
Thank You, Lord.
Then his grandfather appeared next to Rachel. “You’ve gotten yourself into a predicament, son.”
“Nothing you two can’t handle, but before I turn into a block of ice, you might get some help. I’m going to have to be hauled out of here.”
*
Three hours later, Jake lay on the couch in Linda’s house while Rachel let the police chief out. Finally, some quiet after a very long and exhausting day. He closed
his eyes, tired but not sleepy. He hurt, over his whole body, but he was too wired to get some rest.
When he heard Rachel’s footsteps return from seeing Doc and Randall out, he shifted his head and looked at her—a welcome sight after the long evening he’d had. “I think we should ask Doc to move in since he’s been here so much this past week.”
Rachel laughed. “His wife might have a problem with that. Randall says he’ll have the SUV towed into the garage and have it fixed, but it’s going to take a while. Bodywork needs to be done as well as a windshield, not to mention the seat cushions with bullet holes in them. One only missed you by an inch.”
“I wish you would leave Port Aurora until this case is solved,” Jake said in a determined voice.
“I can’t. I have to work through part of next week, and I’m the best way into the fishery. You might not be able to snoop around, but I can. I have keys to most of the places.”
Jake sat straight up, groaning as he swung his feet to the floor. “You will not do any investigating on your own. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I do.”
A gleam in her eyes made him ask, “Do you understand and promise not to look into it by yourself?”
The corners of her mouth drooped. “I’m not answering that question.”
“Rachel.” Jake started to rise but sank back onto the cushion. “I can’t be worrying about you while trying to figure out what’s going on.”
She lifted her chin a few inches. “And I can’t be worrying about you, either. The assailant wasn’t after me this time.”
“Don’t you think I know that? I’m going to call Chance O’Malley, my friend who is a state trooper, and ask him to come before Monday, if he can. The drug smugglers obviously are aware we’re looking into the fishery.”
Rachel sat on the coffee table near Jake while Linda and Gramps came into the living room. “Then use that fact to work against them.”
Gramps covered the distance to the lounge chair next to the couch. Linda poised on its arm and glanced at his grandfather. “Son, we overheard your conversation and think we have a plan that might help bring everything to a head.”
Linda clasped Gramps’s shoulder. “The problem is we need to figure out if it is drug smuggling or something else, and the only way to find that out is to get inside the shipping center and see what’s going out. They will be processing two big catches tomorrow and Monday, then sending them to their destination on Tuesday and Wednesday. After that, most of the fishery will shut down for two weeks.”
Gramps patted Linda’s leg. “That doesn’t leave a lot of time. I know all of us want this settled before Christmas. The alternative to not figuring out what’s going on is to be a target for weeks and then try again after the first of the year. But then you have to return to Anchorage.”
Jake slanted a look at Rachel, meeting her intense gaze. “Have you been talking to them while I was gone this evening?”
She smiled. “Maybe.”
He frowned and turned his glare back on Gramps and Linda. “You are not police officers.”
Rachel leaned forward, her apple scent swirling about him. “That’s just it. But you are and can’t investigate inside without an invitation or a good reason to be there. I work there, and Gramps is a concerned citizen, not an officer of the law. You need evidence to get a warrant.”
“Right.” Jake stood, anger sharpening his features into cold stone. “You and Linda are going to decorate for the fishery’s annual Christmas party Sunday afternoon. While you’re doing that, I’ll walk on the pier again, and see how close I can get to those two boats that came in today. Also, I’ll see what Chance has to say. If he can come earlier, he can walk with me.”
“But you can’t—”
“Rachel, that’s it. I’m not going to put you in harm’s way.” Jake limped toward the hallway and escaped into the bathroom.
Leaning onto the counter, he took in the scrapes and bruises starting to appear on his face. He looked like he’d been in a fight and lost, but he wasn’t giving up. His feelings toward Rachel were changing, and he wasn’t sure what to do about them. But he did know that he wasn’t going to let anything happen to her or the others.
*
Sunday afternoon, Rachel worked beside her aunt, setting up the tables and putting decorations on each one. Celeste was in charge of getting the large hall ready for the Christmas buffet and party. At one time they had been good friends, but ever since the incident with Jake, she had kept her distance from Rachel. She’d been so mad at Celeste at first that she didn’t try to repair the rift, even after Jake left for Anchorage.
Celeste went all out for this event every year, and this one even more so. Once, Rachel had discovered Celeste made all the centerpieces for the tables throughout the year. She heard through the grapevine that Brad wouldn’t let her work, and since they didn’t have any children, what did she do all day? Their house on the hill was always beautiful and spotless, even when the fishery was going through hard times.
“I need to get a few more centerpieces. Be right back, Aunt Linda.”
Rachel made her way to Celeste to see where the rest of the table decorations were. There were still six more to set up. Rachel waited until Celeste was finished talking with Eva Cohen, who stormed away with a pursed mouth and a tic twitching in her cheek.
“What’s wrong with Mrs. Cohen?” Rachel said when she approached Celeste.
“She can be so difficult. She is Brad’s secretary, but you would think she runs the whole fishery with that attitude of hers. I don’t know how my husband puts up with her.”
“She definitely runs a tight ship. Maybe he should make her a captain of a boat, and she’d be gone most of the time.”
Celeste chuckled. “Not a bad idea, but Brad raves about her, so I don’t dare make that suggestion.” She glanced toward Eva, who snatched up her coat and left the hall. “I’m glad Jake is okay after his wreck. He looked beat up this morning in church.”
“That can happen when you fall into a fissure.”
“When did he do that?”
“Friday night. When his car went off the road, he thought it would be faster to hike across the meadow not far from where we live.”
“I remember when I used to pick wildflowers in that field with you…before Jake and I started dating. Is he still angry with me?”
“You need to ask him that.” Before the conversation turned to a subject Rachel didn’t want to discuss, she said, “I need six more centerpieces.”
“I still have some in my car. Will you help me bring them in?”
“Sure. Let me get my coat. After my dunk in the harbor, it doesn’t take much to get me cold.”
“I was so sorry to hear that. Probably some drunk ran into you and didn’t even realize what he’d done. Did Chief Quay ever find the guy?”
“No.”
Celeste looked toward the main door. “Brad’s here. I need to talk to him for a minute.”
“Where’s your car? I can get the centerpieces.”
“Between the processing and shipping buildings.”
Bundled in her warm coat, Rachel left the hall through the back door, which was closer to the shipping warehouse. She wasn’t going to waste this opportunity to check it out. The only day of the week it was shut down was Sunday, so no one would be around. Her master key should get her inside. When she became part of management, she’d been given a set.
She glanced around for anyone watching her. The parking lot was deserted as well as the field that led to the water. Perfect time to see if she could get in. Then she could come back when it was dark. She’d even let Jake keep guard outside. At the door she inserted the key, then turned it. It didn’t work. Why? It should. She examined the lock. It was new, not the weathered one she noticed a couple of weeks ago.
She started for Celeste’s car, her step nearly faltering when she glimpsed Ivan coming toward her. Where had he been? She prayed he didn’t see her trying to unlock the door. With
a nod toward him, she cut across the parking lot, determined not to glance back at him. At Celeste’s Lexus SUV, she opened the back door and reached for two of the centerpieces. When she pivoted to leave, she ran right into Ivan.
She started to say something, but no words came out. Why was he here? All she could focus on was the man’s dark eyes, intense, narrowed on her. A movement behind him snagged Rachel’s attention.
Rachel called out, “Celeste, I love your new car. I’ve seen you driving it around. It still has that new car smell.”
“It drives great on snow.” Celeste paused next to Ivan. “It’s good to see you, Ivan. With your help, Rachel and I will only have to make one trip.”
Rachel sidled toward the rear of the silver-gray SUV while Celeste retrieved two centerpieces from the backseat and gave them to Ivan without the man saying a word. By the time she picked up the last two, the man’s expression evened out into a bland look.
As he strolled with them toward the large hall, he said, “I’m glad I can be of service to women in distress.” Finally, he grinned at Celeste and held the door open for them to go inside first.
Rachel shivered. When Jake smiled, she always felt the caring and warmth behind it. When Ivan did, she felt a chill, although he would be considered a classically good-looking man, tall, with a muscular build and raven-colored hair and eyes.
After Ivan set the two centerpieces on an empty table, he left. Celeste watched him leave, her lips pinched together. “I don’t like that man,” she murmured.
“Before you arrived at your car, he seemed…” Rachel realized she shouldn’t say any more. Celeste was married to the owner.
“He seemed intense?”
“Yes. I don’t have a lot to do with him.” Mainly because Ivan usually sent his assistant with the shipping information and billing to Rachel’s office. “Is he always like that?”
“Afraid so. Brad insists he’s indispensable. But a lot of the workers give him a wide berth.”
In the next hour, the hall was transformed into a winter wonderland of white, red and green. Rachel stood with her aunt on the perimeter and surveyed the decorations.
Love Inspired Suspense December 2015, Box Set 2 of 2 Page 11