Danger on Dakota Ridge

by Cindi Myers

  “I came to do some fly-fishing,” Rob lied. “I ran into the sheriff yesterday and he relayed the request.”

  “Humph.”

  Rob’s gut clenched. So much for thinking he would get away with that lame explanation.

  “Why does Walker want us to reopen the investigation?” Foster asked. “You told me you didn’t find anything. I trust you went over the location thoroughly.”

  “I did. But we were looking for any indication of illegal drug manufacturing. The sheriff suspects something else might have been going on down there.”

  “What?” Foster barked the word, an impatient man becoming more impatient.

  “The week after we left, one of Walker’s deputies found a dead man in the location,” Rob said. “He had been missing about a month, and the medical examiner confirms he had been dead about that long, but someone had strung up his body in that old lab space underground. Originally, the ME was unable to determine the cause of death, but more recent tests indicate the man died from exposure to tularemia.”

  “What is tularemia?”

  “Rabbit fever. But of more interest to us, it’s something that the US government considered as a possible biological weapon in World War II. You remember in my report I mentioned that we were asked to rule out the lab’s use during that time period.”

  “And you determined nothing in the lab was that old. So I repeat—what does this have to do with us?”

  “Walker wants us to take another look, see if we can detect any tularemia in the space.”

  “Tell him to call the health department. That’s not under our purview.”

  Rob had expected this answer. Like every government agency these days, the DEA was chronically underfunded and understaffed. “I’ll tell him, sir.”

  “When are you coming back to work?” Foster asked.

  “I have six days left on my vacation,” Rob said.

  “Humph.” This time the sound was uttered with a little less ire behind it.

  “Is there anything else you’d like me to tell Sheriff Walker?” Rob asked.

  “Tell him I’m sorry we can’t help him. And, Allerton?”

  “Yes, sir?”

  “Let the sheriff handle this. You stick to fish.”

  “Of course, sir.”

  They ended the conversation and Rob tucked his phone back into the pocket of his jeans. The only fish he wanted to catch right now were the two men who had fired those shots yesterday. If they led him to the real reason for Henry Hake’s death, so much the better. But he’d be careful not to act in any official capacity.

  He stepped out of the room, locking the door behind him. When he turned he was surprised to see Parker Riddell walking toward him. The young man looked healthier than he had the last time Rob had seen him—he had gained a few pounds and lost the sickly pallor Rob associated with addicts. “Hello, Parker,” he said.

  “Hey.” He stopped in front of Rob, arms crossed over his chest, expression somber. “Paige told me what happened,” he said. “With those guys shooting at her, up at the resort, and here in front of the house.”

  “I tried to persuade her to leave until this was resolved,” Rob said. “She refused.”

  “Yeah, well, no surprise there. Look up stubborn in the dictionary and there’s Paige’s picture.” He ran a hand through his close-cropped hair. “I need to ask you a favor.”

  “Oh?” Rob waited, wary. It wasn’t as if he and this young man were on friendly terms.

  “Look after her,” Parker said. “I mean, I can’t be here all the time, but she said you’re on vacation, and you’re here anyway, so maybe it wouldn’t be a real hardship on you to stay close.”

  “Paige doesn’t like me.”

  Parker didn’t exactly smile, but his expression did lighten. “Oh, she likes you. She just doesn’t want to admit it. Since that fiasco with her ex she likes to pretend she doesn’t need a man in her life, but it’s all bluff.”

  “What was the fiasco with her ex?” This was the first Rob had heard about an ex.

  Parker frowned. “I don’t know the whole story, but I guess he started out nice when they first married and ended up being a real jerk. I don’t know if he actually hit her, or just threatened her, but they sure didn’t end up on speaking terms, and ever since she’s been kind of standoffish with men.”

  Rob supposed he could take comfort in knowing he wasn’t being singled out for the cold shoulder. But the idea that a man—Paige’s husband—had threatened her made him feel like finding the guy and making him regret he had ever come near her.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Rob said, his voice deceptively mild.

  “Honestly, I think one of the reasons she’s so hostile toward you—besides the trouble you and I had—is that she’s attracted to you and fighting it,” Parker said.

  Was Paige attracted to him, or was Parker pouring it on thick to get him to stick around? “I’ll keep an eye on her,” he said. “As much as she’ll let me.”

  “Thanks.” Paige’s brother shoved his hands in his pockets, apparently not ready to leave.

  “Is there something else?” Rob asked.

  Parker sighed. “Yeah. Last night, she talked about going back up to the resort and trying to find out what’s going on. Don’t let her go alone. I mean, I get that she wants to be independent, but she’s not bulletproof.”

  “I won’t let her go up there—alone or otherwise.”

  “Good. Well, I need to go. I have a class.” He nodded and shuffled off.

  Downstairs, the dining room off the kitchen was empty. A long cherry table held a single place setting, with a linen napkin, gold-trimmed china plate and polished flatware. A fruit cup in a crystal dish sat in the center of the plate, and a buffet against the wall held a silver coffee service and two covered chafing dishes.

  As Rob stood surveying the scene, Paige came in from the kitchen carrying a bakery box. “Good morning,” she said.

  “This looks impressive,” he said, indicating the table. “Am I your only guest?”

  “I have an older couple staying a few nights. They were up early and are already off for a day of Jeeping on the backcountry trails.” She began arranging muffins on a glass serving tray. “There’s an egg casserole in the chafing dish,” she said. “Help yourself.”

  He moved the fruit cup to one side, carried the plate to the buffet and selected a muffin from the tray. “You’re up and about early.”

  “I like to get an early start.”

  “Do you have time to have coffee with me?” he asked, before she could retreat to the kitchen.

  She hesitated, then sat in the chair across from him. “What are your plans for the day?” she asked, as he sat and tucked into his breakfast.

  “That depends.” He sipped the coffee, which was hot and strong, exactly the way he preferred it. “What are your plans?”

  “Why are you asking?”

  “Because I’m staying with you.” He split the muffin—blueberry—and slid in a pat of butter.

  “Rob, I—”

  “Don’t argue, Paige.” He bit into the muffin and had to suppress a sigh. It practically melted in his mouth. He swallowed and picked up his fork. “Did you make all this? It’s delicious.”

  “I picked them up at the Cake Walk Café earlier this morning,” she said. “And don’t change the subject. I don’t need you to babysit me.”

  “We both know you’ll be safer with someone to watch your back. You do what you need to do and try to forget I’m here.” He savored the first bite of the egg-cheese-and-sausage casserole.

  She snorted—an unladylike and at the same time endearing sound. Or maybe he was being influenced by the amazing breakfast.

  She sipped her coffee, then set the cup down with a clink against the saucer. “I need to see about getting the door replaced,
order some supplies and run some errands,” she said.

  “Consider me your chauffeur.”

  “I don’t need—”

  He set down his fork and looked her in the eye. “Maybe you don’t, but I do. I need to know you’re safe.”

  Her lips parted and her eyes widened. If the table hadn’t been between them, he would have been tempted to lean across and kiss her, just to see what kind of reaction he would get. Had Parker been right when he had said she was attracted to him? Was the attraction strong enough for her to act on it?

  “Why do you care?” she asked. “And don’t give me that line about being responsible for me now.”

  He sat back, hiding his disappointment. No, she wasn’t that attracted to him. “How about this for a reason?” he asked. “You may be our best chance of solving this case.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  “We want to catch these guys and find out what they’re up to. You’re the only one who got a good look at them. They want you. If they do try to come after you again, we want to be ready.”

  “So you want to use me as bait?” Her voice rose on the last word, almost a squeak.

  “No. I’m not going to let you wait for them out in the open. But if they do come back, I’m going to be here and I’m going to be ready to stop them.”

  She nodded, subdued. “All right.”

  She remained silent while he finished his breakfast, his attention focused on the food, though he was acutely aware of the woman across from him, close enough to brush his hand against. But she might as well have worn a sign around her neck that declared Don’t Touch.

  The doorbell rang and she jumped. “Are you expecting someone?” he asked.

  “No.” She stared toward the door, but didn’t move. Deny it all she liked, she was clearly still upset by what had happened yesterday.

  He pushed back his chair, wiped his mouth and dropped the napkin on his empty plate. “Let’s go see who it is.”

  Chapter Seven

  Rob had probably intended to lead the way to the front door, but Paige stepped in front of him. After all, this was her house. Whoever was there wanted to see her. She wasn’t going to let what had happened yesterday keep her from answering her own door. He trailed behind her. The doorbell sounded again and her stomach fluttered as if she had swallowed live eels. She shoved her nervousness aside and focused instead on how angry it made her that two lowlifes she didn’t even know had frightened her this way.

  Relief flooded her when she looked through the security peephole and saw the calm face of the sheriff looking back at her. She unlocked the door and swung it open. “Have you found something?” she asked.

  “We haven’t found the men who shot at you,” he said. He looked down at the splintered door. “Only the one burst of fire? They didn’t try a second round of shots?”

  “I already had Paige on the ground and returned fire.” Rob stepped forward, one hand on Paige’s shoulder. She should have resisted the gesture, but instead, she had to fight not to lean back into his strength. “They probably didn’t want to risk sticking around,” Rob said.

  “I’m having the door replaced today,” Paige said. “As soon as I file a claim with my insurance company.”

  “Adelaide can give you a case number if they need it,” Travis said. “May I come in?”

  “Of course.” She stepped back and he moved past her. Rob shut and locked the door.

  “Let’s go in here,” Travis said, leading the way into the dining room. He took an envelope from his pocket and emptied its contents onto the table.

  “My necklace,” she said, and scooped up the gold chain with the familiar bird charm.

  “Is this the necklace you lost up by the resort?” Travis asked.

  “Yes. Where did you find it?”

  “Rob and I went up to the trail yesterday after we talked to you and took a look around,” Travis said. “When we got back to my SUV, someone had taped this to the driver’s-side door.”

  “They made sure we didn’t miss it,” Rob said.

  “Another hiker must have found it and assumed it belonged to whoever was in your vehicle,” she said. She examined the necklace. It was unharmed. “Or maybe they just wanted to turn it in to the police.”

  “We didn’t see anyone else on the trail coming or going,” Rob said. “We didn’t pass any other cars or hear anyone, or see anyone on the other side of the fence at the resort. And there were no other cars in the parking area.”

  She looked from one man to the other. Their serious expressions were starting to worry her. “Someone must have been up there,” she said. “Someone had to leave the necklace for you.”

  “We’re thinking it was someone who didn’t want us to see them,” Rob said. “Someone who wanted us to know they knew about you.”

  A shudder went through her at the words. “Why would they do that?” She tried to put on the necklace, fumbling with the clasp.

  Rob stepped up behind her. “Let me.” His fingers brushed the back of her neck as he fastened the necklace, sending heat radiating through her.

  “I don’t know what their motives might have been,” Travis said. “Maybe it is as simple as them wanting the necklace returned to you. It’s possible the person who put the necklace there didn’t have anything to do with the shooting. Have you remembered anything else about the men you saw yesterday that can help us find them?”

  Rob had finished hooking the necklace, but he remained standing behind her, one hand on her shoulder. She told herself she should move away from him, but couldn’t make herself do it. “I’m sorry—no,” she said. “Everything happened so fast.”

  “I’ve got a call in to CNG Development,” Travis said. “We want permission to go up there and search. I’m waiting to hear back from them.”

  “I talked to my boss this morning,” Rob said. “He says this really is out of our area of expertise. He suggested you contact the public health department. Maybe they can test for tularemia in that lab.”

  Travis nodded. “That’s a good idea—if we can get permission to go back in.”

  Paige looked from one man to the other. “Tularemia? What the heck is that?”

  “Rabbit fever,” Rob said.

  When he didn’t offer anything more, she glared at him. “Why do you care about rabbit fever?”

  “It’s one of the agents the government was supposedly testing during World War II for use as a weapon,” Travis said.

  “And?” she asked.

  “And I can’t tell you anything else.”

  She frowned. It wasn’t the answer she wanted, but about what she had expected. “Is there anything else you can tell me about this case? Any leads on the men who fired on me, or their vehicle?”

  The sheriff shook his head. “We don’t have anything yet, but we’re going to keep looking.” He turned to Rob. “Are you going to be around for a while?”

  “I’m here all week, but not in an official capacity,” Rob said.

  “If I needed backup, could you help out?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. I’ll keep it in mind.”

  “I want to go back up there,” Paige said. “To the resort.”

  Both men looked at her as if she had sprouted an extra head. “That’s a bad idea,” Rob said.

  “I agree,” Travis said. “I’m considering closing the trail to public access until we get to the bottom of this.”

  “You can’t close the trail unless you station someone at the trailhead to enforce the order,” Paige said. “And you don’t have the manpower to do that. Besides, it’s not as if that many people go up there.”

  “You don’t need to go up there,” Travis said.

  “I’ll be fine,” she said. “And I’ll take my bodyguard.” She looked at Rob.

  “You can’t go on CNG p
roperty without their permission,” Travis said.

  “I know. I’ll stay on the public side of the fence. I just want—I need—to take another look at the scene. Maybe being there again will trigger my memory of something that will help you find these men.”

  Travis gave her a hard look, but she met his gaze and didn’t flinch. “All right,” he said. “Then I guess that means we’re all going. Together.”

  * * *

  TRAVIS HAD A meeting he had to attend, so they agreed to meet up at the sheriff’s department later that afternoon. Paige had spent her morning with Rob by her side, dealing with her insurance company and arranging to have the front door replaced. He had been quiet and unobtrusive, but there was no ignoring his presence—filling up the room. What was it about the man that he seemed to take up so much space, and use up more than his share of oxygen?

  “Don’t you have something else you need to be doing?” she asked.

  “Not really.”

  “You didn’t take a week’s vacation to hang out with me.”

  “I can think of worse ways to spend my time.” He sat back in his chair, regarding her with a hint of a smile, eyelids at half-mast. His expression should have come across as lazy and indolent, but instead conveyed a feline sensuality, as if he was feigning his lack of energy and at any moment might pounce. “You’re almost pleasant when you aren’t angry with me.”

  “You’re making me nervous,” she said.

  “Interesting. You don’t strike me as a woman who is easily unnerved.”

  She shuffled the papers on the table in front of her. “I think having your life threatened twice in one day would upset anyone.”

  He sat up straight. His flirtatious mood had vanished. “You’re right,” he said. “I didn’t mean to make light of what happened.”

  “I’ve been going over and over everything so much my head hurts.” She pushed the papers—insurance forms and measurements for the new door—aside. “Let’s talk about something else.”

  “Such as?”

  “If we’re going to be spending so much time together, we should get to know each other better. I really don’t know much about you.”