Danger on Dakota Ridge

by Cindi Myers

  “No. You’re a law enforcement officer. He’s supposed to be a business executive.”

  “Maybe with everything that’s happened up there, he thought he needed protection.”

  “Maybe. It still strikes me as odd.” She shook herself, trying to dispel her dark mood. “I’m probably just being overly sensitive. There’s probably nothing to worry about.”

  “Maybe not. But I don’t trust Reed. I’m not convinced he’s not part of whatever is going on up there.”

  She stared. “He was at the commissioners’ meeting last night when those men were killed and that fire was set,” she said. “And he was back east when the other crimes occurred.”

  “I’m not saying he pulled the trigger or lit the match,” Rob said. “But I think he knows more than he’s letting on.” He glanced at her. “And it was very convenient to have those two out of the way, and that gun planted to link them to shooting you. A little too obvious, I think.”

  “I asked him about what I saw that day on the trail—the two men carrying a heavy crate and stowing it underground,” she said.

  “What did he say?”

  “He said I must have gotten turned around. Or misunderstood what I saw.”

  “Maybe he really believes that,” Rob said. “Or maybe he’s a very practiced liar.”

  She fell silent, replaying everything Reed had said to her that afternoon. She couldn’t point to anything in particular that rang untrue. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, either.

  Rob parked at the B and B. Paige checked the time on her phone—it was after five, so Parker would have left for his shift at Peggy’s Pizza. She noticed Rob scanning the area around the house before he stepped out, and he followed her up the walk to the door, vigilant.

  She unlocked the door and tucked her keys in her pocket. When the door was safely locked behind them, she turned to him. “I wanted to be angry with you for following me up to the resort,” she said. “But I was so glad to see you.”

  He pulled her to him and she did what she had been wanting to do for days now, pressing her body against his and kissing him, hard. He responded in kind, his lips claiming hers in a kiss that left her dizzy, heart pounding, craving more. He caressed her waist, then slid one hand to her hip, the other one at the back of her neck, his thumb stroking the pulse at the side of her throat in a way that had her almost purring with pleasure.

  She pressed him back against the wall and began fumbling with the buttons of his shirt. Her fingers brushed at the hair on his chest and he growled against her throat, sending a shiver of pleasure running through her. A button popped off the shirt and bounced on the floor at their feet, but she ignored it. He had pulled up the hem of her blouse and splayed his fingers across her ribs, tracing the underside of one breast. She moaned, eyes closed and forehead pressed against his chest.

  “Any other guests here?” he mumbled into her hair.

  “No. They checked out this morning.”

  “Good.” He slid his hands beneath her thighs and hoisted her up against him, then kissed her again. Her heart pounded so hard she imagined she could hear it.

  Then she realized it wasn’t her heart she was hearing—it was footsteps pounding up the walk outside. She broke the kiss and pushed at Rob. “Someone—”

  But it was the only word she managed before the front window broke and flames leaped across the room.

  Chapter Eleven

  Rob grabbed Paige’s hand and dragged her away from the spreading flames, toward the back door. He tugged his phone from his pocket as he moved and handed it to her. “Call 9-1-1,” he said, and drew his gun.

  Smoke was already filling the rooms, and he could hear the crackling sound of the fire spreading rapidly behind them. He eased open the back door and cautiously checked outside. No sign of anyone. Paige had reached the emergency operator and was reporting the fire, her voice surprisingly calm. He took her free hand in his and tugged her out of the house and around toward the front—in time to hear the screech of tires and catch a glimpse of a dark vehicle speeding away.

  By the time they had made it into the front yard, the wail of sirens filled the air. He stared after the retreating car, swearing to himself, but a gasp from Paige made him turn around.

  “My house!” she moaned, as flames leaped to the second story of the structure.

  Rob pulled her close. “You’re safe,” he said. “Parker is safe. You can build another house.”

  She nodded, but he could tell she was fighting to hold back tears. She looked up at him. “What happened?”

  “Someone threw a firebomb through your front window,” he said. “A Molotov cocktail or something similar would be my best guess.” The flames had spread so rapidly they must have been helped along by gasoline or some other fuel.

  She shuddered. “Who hates me so much?”

  He put away his gun so that he could wrap both arms around her. “I don’t know,” he said. “But I won’t give up until I find out.”

  She fumbled at his chest, and he realized she was doing up the buttons on his shirt—the ones that were left, anyway. “You probably want to, um, straighten up before the firefighters get here,” she suggested.

  He took over buttoning the shirt and tucking it into his pants. “I’m sorry we were interrupted,” he said.

  But she didn’t answer, her gaze fixed on the sheriff’s department SUV pulling in across the street, followed by an Eagle Mountain Volunteer Fire Department pumper and ladder truck. The firefighters poured out of the vehicles and went to work right away. Rob and Paige walked out to meet Gage, who was just getting out of the SUV.

  “What happened?” he asked. He scowled at the burning house. The flames were already licking at the roof.

  “Someone threw something through the front window,” Paige said. “In broad daylight.”

  A second SUV parked behind Gage’s, and Travis climbed out. His fiancée, Lacy Milligan, got out of the passenger side. Lacy hurried to Paige and embraced her. “Travis and I were headed to his folks’ place for dinner when the call came in,” she said. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  “Rob says this wasn’t an accidental fire,” Gage said, as Travis joined the two men, a short distance away from the women.

  “Paige and I were in the front hall when someone threw a firebomb through the front window,” Rob said. “The flames spread immediately. We went out the back door and got to the front in time to see a car speeding away.”

  “You were in the front hall?” Travis asked. “Had you just come in, or were you going out?”

  “We had been out and hadn’t been home long.” No point in mentioning they had been making out. They had been moments away from doing it up against the wall.

  “Paige had lunch with Bryce Reed,” Travis said.

  “Right,” Rob said. “And after that, he took her up to the Dakota Ridge property to show her around. Parker was worried about her and called me, so I drove up there to make sure she was all right. She elected to ride home with me.”

  “Why would she ride with you instead of coming back with Reed?” Gage asked.

  “You’d have to ask her that.”

  “I’m wondering about the timing,” Travis said. “Was someone watching the house, waiting for Paige to come home so they could throw that firebomb? Or did they even know she was home?”

  “Reed would have had a good idea about how long it took to travel from his property to the B and B,” Gage said.

  “A firebomb doesn’t seem like his style,” Rob said. “And the car I got a glimpse of wasn’t his. I’m betting if you question him, he’ll have an alibi to prove he wasn’t anywhere near Paige’s place this afternoon.”

  A battered Toyota pulled in behind the sheriff’s department vehicles and Parker got out. Leaving the driver’s door open, he ran to them. “Paige! Peggy told me
she heard there was a fire here? Are you okay? What happened?”

  Paige hugged her brother. “I’m okay.” She glanced over her shoulder at the fully engulfed house. “I’m sorry, but anything you had in there is gone. We didn’t have time to save anything.”

  “I’ve got my laptop and most of my schoolbooks in the car,” he said. “But what happened?” His arm still around Paige, he addressed this last question to Rob.

  “Someone threw a firebomb in the front window,” Rob said.

  “Who?” Parker demanded.

  “We don’t know,” Travis said.

  “Do you have any ideas?” Gage asked. “Anybody mad at you for anything?”

  “No!” Paige answered before her brother could speak. “Why would you think this has anything to do with Parker?”

  “Does this have anything to do with you?” Travis asked, addressing Parker.

  “No,” he said.

  “The B and B is my business,” Paige said. “Whoever did this wanted to hurt me.”

  “Parker lives there,” Gage said. “Even if he’s not involved in anything illegal now, he might have friends from his past who think he betrayed them, or have some other reason to want to get back at him.”

  “No.” Parker shook his head. “I don’t even know anyone like that. I was a small-time addict and a petty thief.” He looked to Rob. “You know my case. Tell them this doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

  “He’s right,” Rob said. “I don’t think this is connected to Parker.”

  Travis turned to Paige. “Then what have you done that has someone so upset?” he asked.

  “I wish I knew,” she said.

  “What is your environmental group up to these days?” Gage asked. “Are you involved in any more lawsuits?”

  “No,” she said. “Nothing like that.”

  “None of this is Paige’s fault,” Lacy said. “It’s the fault of whoever threw that firebomb.”

  “We’re just trying to figure out what’s going on,” Travis said. “Knowing who might have a motive for wanting to harm her could help.”

  “I haven’t done anything to anyone,” she said. “I even agreed to support CNG Development’s plans for the Dakota Ridge property.”

  “That must have made Bryce Reed happy,” Rob said.

  “It’s not as if my support means anything,” she said. “I imagine the county is thrilled to see the property put to good use. Right now it’s an eyesore. The research lab CNG is proposing will at least bring in some tax money and maybe even a few jobs.”

  “What about your ex-husband?” Rob asked.

  “What about him?” Her eyes met his, her expression defiant.

  “You said he wasn’t a very nice man. Would he try to hurt you this way?”

  She shook her head. “I haven’t talked to him in years. I was so grateful to get away from that marriage that I let him keep most of the money and property.” She glanced at the burning house again. “I bought this place with money an aunt willed to me.”

  “You can rebuild,” Lacy said. “Better than ever. You have a lot of friends here in town who will help.”

  Assistant fire chief Tom Reynolds crossed the lawn to join them. He removed his helmet and wiped sweat from his forehead. “I’m sorry, Paige, but we weren’t able to save the house. It went up so fast, I have to think it had some help.”

  “Someone threw a firebomb through the front window,” Rob said.

  Tom nodded. “I’m sorry to hear that, but knowing that will help my investigation.”

  “Thank you for keeping the fire from spreading,” Paige said. “I know my neighbors appreciate it.”

  “Second arson in twenty-four hours,” Tom said. “Think we have a firebug in town, Sheriff?”

  “I don’t know,” Travis said. “We’ll be looking for any connection.”

  “The fire’s under control,” Tom said. “But we’re going to be here for a while, until we’re sure everything’s cold. I’ll give you a report when I have one from my investigator.”

  “Thanks, Tom,” Travis said. He turned to Paige and Parker. “Do you two have somewhere to stay?” he asked.

  “I can stay with Professor Gibson,” Parker said. “He’s already made the offer for me to stay at his place anytime, and it’ll make it easier to work on our research project.”

  “Paige can stay with me at my parents’ place,” Lacy said.

  “Rob was staying at the B and B, too,” Paige said.

  “Don’t worry about me,” Rob said. “I’ll get a room at the motel.” Their eyes met. He wanted to pull her close, to comfort her and tell her everything would be all right—but that didn’t seem appropriate right now, with an audience.

  She leaned forward and squeezed his hand. “Thank you for getting me out of there safely,” she said. “I was in such shock, I’m not sure I could have moved.”

  “I’ll be in touch,” he said.

  “I guess I’d better get back to work,” Parker said. “Peggy let me come over here when we heard the news, but I don’t want to leave her in the lurch.”

  “Go on,” Paige said. “I’ll be fine.”

  “She will be,” Lacy said. “Do you have your car?”

  “I left it at CNG’s offices this afternoon,” she said.

  “We can walk over to Mom and Dad’s and get my car,” Lacy said. “Then I’ll take you to get yours.” She frowned. “That is, if you have your keys.”

  “My keys are in my pocket.” Paige patted her skirt.

  “I’ll call my folks and let them know we’re not going to make it to dinner,” Travis said.

  Paige cast a last look at Rob, then let Lacy lead her away. Parker drove off, and Gage left in his cruiser. Travis turned to Rob. “Any ideas?” he asked.

  “I’m thinking Paige saw something—or someone thinks she saw something—up at the resort property the day she was shot at.”

  “The two men who shot her are probably dead,” Travis said.

  “They may have been the ones to fire at her, but maybe they were acting on the orders of someone else.”

  “Who?” Travis asked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe the same person who killed Henry Hake. I think it has something to do with that property, but I can’t figure out what. I’m going to do a little deep digging of my own.”

  “Let us know what you find out,” Travis said.

  “I will.” And then he was going to go after whoever was making Paige’s life such hell, and make them wish they had never crossed her.

  * * *

  MR. AND MRS. MILLIGAN were happy to have Paige stay in their guest room. “Stay as long as you need,” Jeanette Milligan said. “I’m so sorry about your home and business. I hope you’ll be able to rebuild soon.”

  “As soon as possible,” Paige said. Even so, she would lose months of business. She would probably have to find other work to pay her bills. She had money in savings, but she didn’t want to exhaust that.

  “Do you mind if I give you a little unsolicited advice?” Lacy asked, as she and Paige walked out to Lacy’s car.

  “Go ahead,” Paige said.

  “It’s easy to get overwhelmed when something horrible happens,” she said. “What has helped me is to focus on what is right in front of me at the moment—what I have to do in the next hour. You have a little control over that. Trying to think much further ahead than that can be too much.”

  “Is that how you survived when you were wrongfully convicted of killing your boss and sent to prison?” Paige asked. She still had a hard time imagining the sunny, stylish woman in front of her living in a women’s prison.

  “It is,” Lacy said. “Now that I’m in a better place, I can afford to think about the future more, but back then, I stayed focused on the now. It helped.”

  “The future like y
our wedding to Travis.” Paige welcomed the chance to change the subject. “How are the plans coming?”

  “They’re going great.”

  All the way to CNG’s offices, the two women talked wedding gowns, wedding cakes and wedding decorations. Lacy’s happiness was contagious, and life seemed less bleak by the time Paige stepped out in the parking lot of the strip center to claim her car.

  The door of CNG’s office opened and Bryce Reed stepped out, followed by Mayor Larry Rowe. “Hello, Paige,” Reed said.

  “Are we interrupting something?” Paige asked, addressing her question to the mayor.

  “The mayor and I were discussing groundbreaking for the new research facility,” Reed said. “We want to make it a real event, with a barbecue, balloons for the kids, maybe even some games.”

  “You don’t have approval from the county yet, do you?” Paige asked.

  “With the mayor behind us, and your support, we shouldn’t have any problems,” Reed said.

  The mayor said nothing, merely glowered at the two women and moved past them toward his SUV. Apparently, Paige’s support for his new pet project wasn’t enough to make him forgive her for past sins.

  When the mayor had driven away, Reed said, “I was wondering if you’d forgotten about your car. I thought it would be gone before I got here, since you left the Dakota Ridge property before I did. You know I would have been happy to give you a ride back here to your car. You didn’t have to run off.”

  She wasn’t going to defend herself to this man, who at the moment sounded more like a whiny little boy. “Someone firebombed my house this afternoon,” she said. “Do you know anything about that?”

  “What?”

  “Someone set my house on fire,” Paige said.

  “Paige, that’s horrible.” He rushed forward to take her hand. If he was faking his shock and concern, he was doing an Emmy-worthy job of it. “Are you all right? Is the damage very bad?”

  “It’s gone—everything I own and my business with it.” Her voice shook, and she fought hard to keep back tears—tears of both sorrow and rage. “Do you know why anyone would do something like that to me?”