by Lynn LaFleur
“Sounds like she moved fast. Got you in bed in one day.”
“I didn’t exactly fight her.” He rubbed his forehead and blew out a breath. “Kari couldn’t have had anything to do with Brenda’s disappearance.”
“How can you be sure?”
“She isn’t the type.”
Meka laughed. “C’mon, Slade, you were a cop. There are no ‘types’. The good-natured guy next door can murder his entire family if his buttons are pushed.”
Slade didn’t want to believe anything bad about Kari. He wanted to believe she was real, that she actually cared about Brenda…and him. She’d been so hot in his bed, so willing. That couldn’t have been an act. He knew she’d climaxed. He’d felt the contractions deep inside her pussy. She couldn’t fake those.
“Be careful, man,” Meka said. “You have great instincts. Use them.”
“Yeah. Thanks, Meka.”
Slade pressed the off button and laid the phone on the counter. His stomach churned, the way it did when he knew something wasn’t right. Unfortunately, he couldn’t tell whether the churning meant his friend was wrong about Kari…or he was right.
“The coffee smells great.”
He turned to see Kari behind him, a smile on her lovely face. His heart clenched at the sight of her. Meka couldn’t be right about her. He simply couldn’t.
“Do you take cream or sugar?” he asked.
“Cream, please. Lots.”
She stepped next to him while he poured coffee into the two mugs. Her scent drifted to him…light, flowery, totally feminine. It made him want to take her in his arms, hold her close to him for the rest of the day…the rest of his life.
“Mmm, very good,” Kari said after taking a sip. “I’m used to the sludge my boss makes in the morning.”
She’d mentioned her boss, which gave Slade the perfect opportunity to question her about her job and finances. “Do you like working for the newspaper?”
“I do. I enjoy my work very much. I like to be creative.”
Slade sipped his coffee, hoping he sounded merely curious and not like he was drilling her. “It doesn’t pay much, does it?”
She shrugged. “I get by.”
“Do you have to live by a budget?”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
Not exactly an answer to his question. Slade decided to try another direction. “Do you live in a house or apartment?”
Kari set her mug on the counter. “Why are you so interested in my finances?”
He shrugged. “Just learning more about you.”
She stared at him for several moments. “I don’t think so.” She laid her hand over her stomach. “I get a sinking feeling here that there’s more to your questions than simply getting to know me.”
Honesty had always been important to Slade. He didn’t lie, and hated when people lied to him. Kari deserved nothing less than what he expected. He set his own mug next to hers. “I talked to Meka a few minutes ago. He ran a check on you and—“
“You had your friend check me out?” she demanded, her eyes wide.
“No. He did it on his own, to protect me.”
“Protect you? I’m five-five and you’re…what? Six feet? Maybe six-one? You really need protecting from me, Slade.”
“I’m not talking about physically, Kari.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
Slade took a breath and released it slowly. “Meka told me you’re over seventy-eight thousand in debt.”
He thought he saw the sheen of tears before she looked away from him and blinked several times. When she looked back at him, her eyes were dry. “So that makes me the perfect candidate to kidnap your sister, right?”
“It makes you look…suspicious.”
“But not suspicious enough to kick out of your bed, right?”
“I didn’t know about your debt before we had sex.”
“I see. If you’d known about this supposed debt of mine, then you never would’ve fucked me. Is that right?”
He winced at her cruel words. Yet he wondered if she was right. He’d been attracted to her since the moment he saw her, but fought that attraction because he thought she was a crook. He’d softened toward her up on the hill yesterday, when she’d seemed genuinely concerned about Brenda. Once he believed she truly cared about finding Brenda, he’d allowed his feelings to blossom, deepen.
Now, he didn’t know what to think or how to feel.
“Are you telling me you aren’t in debt?”
Anger flashed in her blue eyes. “I’m not telling you anything. It’s none of your business.” She clenched her fists at her sides. Her body almost shivered with rage. “I will tell you one thing. I had another vision while I was in the bathroom. Brenda is at that wall. She’s cold and hurt. Since you apparently aren’t going to help her, I’ll do it myself.”
She whirled around and headed for the back door. Slade hurried after her and grabbed her arm. “Kari, wait!”
Kari stomped on his bare foot with her hiking boot.
“Fuck!” he roared.
“Never again, buster.”
She snatched his keys off the hook by the back door and ran out. Still cursing under his breath at the pain in his foot, Slade hobbled through the open door and saw her climb into his Jeep. “Kari!”
She ignored him. The garage door rose and she peeled out, tires squealing.
“Shit,” he muttered. Limping back inside his kitchen, he picked up the telephone and quickly punched in a number.
“Good morning, The Tarot Café.”
“Leandra, it’s Slade. I—“
“Hi, Slade!” she said before he had a chance to finish his sentence. “Are you coming in for breakfast? Synda is making blueberry waffles for the special.”
“No, not today. Listen, I need to borrow Synda’s Tahoe.”
“Sure. That won’t be a problem. When do you need it?”
“Now.”
“Now?”
“Right now. I need someone to bring it to me.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’ll explain everything later. Just have someone bring it to my house, please.”
“It’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Slade hung up and hurried to his bedroom as fast as he could with his throbbing foot. Ten minutes would give him enough time to dress. Then he had to find Kari before she did something stupid…like get hurt.
*
Kari swiped at the tears on her cheeks. The jerk wasn’t worth her tears. How dare he accuse her of being in on Brenda’s disappearance after their closeness last night? They’d communicated freely, openly, and not only in bed. He’d talked about his family. He’d told her about his mother’s death and how hard it had been on him to watch his father remarry. He’d shared memories of Brenda.
How could he possibly believe she could be so cruel, so uncaring, to hurt his sister? And to ask about her debt. She could’ve told him the truth, but he never should have questioned her about it. He should have trusted her instead of making her feel as if she were in a room with a cop and a bright light shining in her face.
She’d actually thought she was falling in love with him. Fat chance of that. She could never love a man who didn’t trust her.
Kari wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. She didn’t need Slade’s help to find Brenda. She could find that wall on her own. Luckily, she had a great sense of direction. She’d paid attention yesterday when she and Slade were walking to the wall, despite the pain in her feet. She knew she could find it again.
A glance in the rearview mirror showed her Slade had left several articles of clothing in the backseat. She saw a couple of sweatshirts and a heavy denim jacket. Good. She’d need something for herself, and something to carry for Brenda to wear.
Slade’s sister would be at the wall this time. Kari would take Brenda back to her parents’ hotel, then pack her own things and head back to Sacramento…and away from Slade Blackstone.
Chapter Nine
They had to.
She shivered from head to toe. Cold, thirst, hunger, fear…they all combined to terrify her. She stopped and looked up at the sky. Snowflakes fell on her eyelashes. She blinked them away and continued to stare at the gray sky. Her father had tried to teach her to be proud of her heritage. Brenda had heard what her father said, but had never really listened. It hadn’t mattered to her that she was half Native American. It had been more important to her to go shopping or hang out with her friends than learn about her ancestors.
She wondered if she was being punished for not paying attention to her father.
Shifting the quilt around her shoulders, she took off again. She had no idea how far she’d traveled, or how long it had taken her to get here. She was so tired she could barely think, but concentrated on placing one foot in front of the other. She had to keep moving.
She stopped abruptly and blinked, trying to clear her vision. Yes, there it was. A smile broke over her face. She’d found the wolf wall.
Slade would be so proud of her.
Brenda quickened her step, her attention focused on the wall. She stumbled in the deepening snow. Pain shot through her right ankle. She cried out and started to fall. Her eyes widened when she saw the large rock poking up from the snow. She tried to catch herself, but had nothing to grab to break her fall.
An even sharper pain took her breath when her head hit the rock. Then…nothing.
*
Slade turned on the wipers to clear the snow from the windshield. It had barely been snowing when he left Truckee. The higher in elevation he climbed, the heavier the snow fell. There would be several inches on the ground by nightfall.
He prayed he found Kari long before nightfall.
She shouldn’t have taken off without him. Maybe she could remember how to get to the wall, but she didn’t know the trail the way he did. Holes and large rocks peppered the entire path. With the snow quickly accumulating, she wouldn’t be able to see the obstacles. She could fall in a hole, or trip over a rock and break her leg.
Damn it! He never should’ve let Meka’s suspicions color his trust. Kari could be a million dollars in debt and she’d never hurt anyone. He knew that in his gut…and his heart. He didn’t believe Brenda was anywhere near the wall, but he still should’ve taken Kari there as he’d promised he would.
Slade pressed the accelerator. The Tahoe shot forward, tires slipping on the slick road surface. Years of driving in snow gave him the experience to know how fast he could drive and retain control of his vehicle. He pushed himself and the Chevy a bit more, eager to get to Kari as quickly as possible.
She could be hurt right now.
No. She’s fine. She has to be fine.
He took the cutoff from I-80 and continued the climb. Eight miles in, he turned onto a dirt road that led to the parking place he used when he hiked in this area.
He saw his Wrangler in the same spot where he’d parked yesterday. A dusting of snow covered it, but not a heavy one. He estimated that Kari had been here no more than twenty minutes.
That meant he could still catch her.
*
Kari stopped and checked the landmarks around her. She’d been here only once, and the accumulating snow made it difficult for her to figure out which way to go. There. She remembered that misshapen pine tree that leaned to the left. Yes, she was definitely going in the right direction. The wolf wall couldn’t be more than a half mile farther.
She remembered her Tarot reading with Synda. The Seven of Cups card indicated her persistence would be rewarded. Brenda was here. She knew it.
She began to walk again, but stopped once more when she thought she heard her name. She waited several seconds, yet didn’t hear anything else. Deciding it was only her imagination, she continued on the path.
“Kari!”
She stumbled at the sound of Slade’s voice. Quickly righting herself, she pressed on, ignoring the sound of her name again.
“Kari! Wait.”
His voice sounded closer, and she could hear his footsteps. She stumbled once more, but Slade grabbed her around the waist and stopped her from falling. She jerked away from him. “Don’t touch me.”
“Kari, I’m sorry—“
“Save it.” She took off again, wanting to get away from him, and needing to find Brenda. She knew Slade’s sister was at the wall, right now, hurt and probably scared out of her mind.
Slade fell into step beside her, walking silently. She almost told him to go to hell, but stopped before she said anything. He should stay with her. When they found Brenda at the wall, that would prove to him that she’d told him the truth about her visions.
The snow came down heavier, making it difficult to see and move. Kari’s lungs burned from breathing in the cold air. Her boots felt as if someone had poured lead into them. She’d bandaged her heels this morning, but they were beginning to ache again. She wished she could lean on Slade, use his strength to help her the rest of the way up the hill.
Tears clogged her throat. It hurt to think of what they could have had together, if only he’d trusted her.
“Kari, this is ridiculous. Brenda isn’t anywhere around here. You have to be cold. Let’s go back.”
She could hear the exasperation in his voice. That made her more determined to prove him wrong. “No. She’s at the wall.” Kari glanced at him. Snow clung to his hair, his jacket. “I won’t desert her.”
His brows drew together in a frown. “You really are stubborn.”
“Yes I am, when something is important to me.”
She could see the wall in the distance. Only a few more yards to go. Kari’s heartbeat quickened. She wanted so badly for her visions to help someone this time.
Her stomach dropped a little the closer they got to the wall. She didn’t see anyone. There were no footsteps, no signs in the snow that anyone had been there. “I don’t understand. Brenda has to be here.”
Slade took her arm and turned her to face him. “I know you wanted her to be here,” he said gently. “So did I. But she isn’t.” He touched her cheek with his gloved fingers. “Let’s go back to my place, okay?”
The tenderness in Slade’s eyes touched her heart. How easy it would be to give in, let him take care of her. Now that she’d remained still for several moments, her body began to tremble from the cold. Despite the extra layers she’d donned, the snow had seeped through. She doubted if one inch on her body was still dry.
If she was this miserable, Brenda must be even worse.
Kari shook her head. “I’m going to look for Brenda.”
His eyes narrowed, irritation replacing the concern Kari had seen moments ago. “Stubborn only goes so far, Kari. Brenda isn’t here!”
“I’m not giving up until I at least look!”
Slade sighed heavily. Obviously, Kari wasn’t ready to give up this ridiculous search. He had no choice but to go along with her. “Then we’ll look.”
“You don’t have to humor me.”
“I’m not leaving you alone. If you feel so strongly that Brenda is here, then I’ll help you look.”
She stared at him a moment. He could see the indecision in her eyes, as if she didn’t know whether or not to believe him. “You know the area. Which way should we go?”
He had no idea since he didn’t believe Brenda was here. He turned in a slow circle, studying the area. “Let’s go farther up the hill.”
“I was afraid you’d say that,” she muttered. “Lead the way.”
He’d like to lead the way back to their vehicles. Instead, he turned to his right and began to climb. Kari fell into step beside him.
They’d trudged through the snow for several minutes when Kari grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. “Wait. We’re going the wrong way.”
“How do yo
u know?”
She didn’t answer his question, but turned and started back the way they’d come. “Kari, how do you know this is the wrong way?”
“I just do.”
Definitely stubborn. Slade sighed to himself and hurried to catch up to Kari.
He followed her to the point where they’d started, and as she kept on walking. The snow fell harder, the depth now covering his ankles. It almost reached to the middle of Kari’s calves. Moving had to be difficult for her yet she continued, never slowing down despite how tired she must be by now. She truly believed Brenda was nearby and was determined to help her.
His admiration for her rose several notches.
Suddenly, she stopped. Her chin rose, her eyes narrowed. “What is it?” Slade asked.
“I heard something.”
He heard nothing but the wind. It had picked up in the last few minutes, along with the snow. “What did you hear?”
“I’m not sure. It sounded like…” She pushed her wet hair behind her ears. “It sounded like someone crying.” She turned her head from right to left, scanning the area. Her gaze zeroed in on a pile of snow-covered rocks one hundred feet from where they stood. “There’s something over there.”
Slade followed her pointing finger. At first, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. As his gaze focused, he saw colors in the snow at the base of the rocks…a slash of red, a dot of orange, a sprinkle of blue.
Definitely not simply a pile of rocks.
Slade’s heart clenched and his breath hitched. Perhaps Kari’s vision had been right and that was his sister lying in the snow. “Follow behind me,” he said. “Let me clear a path for you.”
He moved as quickly as possible, his knee-high boots pushing aside the snow so Kari could walk in his footsteps. He could hear her rapid breathing. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw her flushed cheeks, her droopy eyelids. She had to be ready to drop from exhaustion.
“Why don’t you wait here? I’ll check out whatever that is.”
“I’m fine,” she wheezed.
She wasn’t fine and Slade knew it. He also knew she wouldn’t give up, not when she’d come this far in her search for Brenda.
The colors joined together into a piece of fabric. A blanket, or perhaps a quilt. Slade could see dark hair peeking out from the snow. Now he could hear weeping…the deep, pain-filled crying that came directly from the soul.