Arctic Christmas Ambush

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Arctic Christmas Ambush Page 10

by Sherri Shackelford


  Footsteps pounded and he turned toward the noise. His flashlight illuminated a cone of area before him. A muzzle flash and a blast sounded the instant before the wall exploded near his head.

  A sharp pain stung his cheek and he dove away. A second gunshot reverberated through the corridor. Gauging his route purely on instinct, he jogged forward, then ducked into a narrow alcove.

  Feeling like a rat in a maze, he unholstered his weapon. Without a clear line of sight, he wasn’t risking a blind shot.

  Footsteps sounded again and he exited the safety of the alcove. The echoes of his own boots along with his harsh breathing made it difficult to hear anything else.

  The pop of a third gunshot indicated the shooter was moving away from him. Keeping low, he pressed his flashlight against the wall and used it to gauge his direction.

  When he reached a second alcove, he groped along the wall until he found the switch plate. The sudden shock of light temporarily blinded him. His gun outstretched, he searched the area. He crept forward and peered up the open staircase.

  A door slammed in the distance. His blood racing, he pounded his flashlight against the wall in frustration. There was no way he’d be able to catch up. Even knowing it was futile, he searched the stairway before all the thoughts fled from his head but one: Kara.

  NINE

  Kara had showered, dressed and finished breakfast when a fierce pounding on the door nearly made her leap out of her skin.

  She peered through the peephole and saw Shane.

  “All right already,” she muttered as she opened the door. “Where’s the fire?”

  He glanced behind her. “Is everything okay?”

  She caught sight of the security guard’s bewildered face.

  “I’m fine,” she said. “Did you think I wouldn’t be? What’s going on?”

  “Someone took a shot at me.”

  Her stomach dipped and she noticed a scratch on his cheek. “You’re hurt!”

  He swiped at the spot and turned toward Red. “Have you seen anyone, anyone at all in the past fifteen minutes?”

  “No. Nothing.” Red shook his head. “What now?”

  Shane slumped against the wall and braced his hands on his legs. “I’ll stay with Kara. I need you to check the security footage from the north stairwell, then ask around and see if anyone saw anything unusual. Even though the shooting happened in the basement, sound will have carried. Let Graham know what’s happening.”

  His face pale, Red stood. “I’ll get right on it.”

  “Let me know immediately if you find anything,” Shane said.

  From his expression, she guessed his thoughts. “You don’t expect him to find anything, do you?”

  He tipped his head back. “No. Whoever it was shut off the lights. We’re not going to see anything more than a couple of muzzle flashes.”

  She sank weakly onto a chair. “Why shoot at you?”

  “I surprised him. I was using the employee corridors. I doubt he expected to see me there.”

  “Do you think it was an employee?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. I’d expect to see an employee in the employee corridors. Why hide? Unless it was someone who wasn’t supposed to be there.”

  “I guess.”

  He straightened. “Say, you haven’t seen the dogs since we got here. Do you feel up to a visit now?”

  “After everything you just went through? Is it safe?”

  “If the shooter is smart, he won’t risk another attack. Not this soon. Not with everyone in the hotel about to be alerted. And this guy doesn’t strike me as dumb.”

  She tested her leg with a little more weight, pleased to discover there was barely a twinge. She had been wanting to check on the dogs.

  “As long as you’re sure you’re okay.”

  “I’m sure.” He shook out his hands. “What else is there to do? We’re not any safer here. By now, he probably knows where your room is anyway. Being unpredictable is the best defense. I need to get out of this hotel for a while. Get a change of scenery. It’s starting to get to me.”

  She understood exactly what he was saying and her heart went out to him. Unburdening the story of Jack’s murder had shifted something inside her. She’d thought the only way to let Jack go was by forgetting him, yet he’d only loosened his hold on her when she’d spoken of him.

  Sometimes getting some distance from the problem was the best way to gain perspective.

  “Then let’s go.” She turned toward the closet. “I need some fresh air.”

  She pulled on her boots and donned her coat. She didn’t have any gloves but maybe there was a pair in the lost and found. She’d check when they passed by the front desk.

  Her phone rang. She glanced at the screen. The number wasn’t familiar. Probably someone in search of a vet.

  “Hello,” she said.

  There was a low whistling sound. Almost like wind. She pressed the phone tighter to her ear and heard an odd, staticky rumbling, like someone was handling the phone.

  “Is anyone there?”

  Shane glanced at her in question and she shrugged her shoulders. She expected to hear someone talk and nearly spoke again before an unexpected impulse made her clamp her mouth shut.

  The sudden silence chilled her to the bone.

  She closed her eyes, willing herself to be quiet. For a moment, she thought she heard the faint whisper of someone breathing. A chill of alarm spread through her body and sent the blood pounding in her ears.

  “Who is this?” she demanded.

  “Oh, sorry,” a man spoke. His voice was faint and breathless, as though he was walking. “It’s Finn. We talked earlier. In the dining room. Do you remember what we talked about?”

  “Yes.”

  “Don’t tell Mark we spoke.”

  “The manager? Why?”

  “I can’t talk. Not over the phone. Just be careful around him, all right?”

  “Wait,” she began, but the line went dead.

  “Who was that?” Shane asked.

  “That was Finn. He said to be careful around Mark. I’m going to call him back.”

  “Why should you be careful around the manager?”

  “That’s what I’d like to know.”

  The line rang several times before going to voice mail.

  Shane pulled out his phone. “I don’t like this. We’ll have to postpone the trip to the kennels, and Red can review the security footage later. We need to track down Finn.”

  The guard was back outside her door in minutes, his chest heaving. He must have jogged the distance.

  He had a youthful-looking face that Kara guessed disguised his true age. The ginger beard he was unsuccessfully trying to grow made him look younger rather than older. He wore civilian clothing, but she’d caught a glimpse of a gun holster beneath his leather bomber jacket.

  Red glanced between the two of them. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

  “We need to check on a geologist staying at the hotel,” Shane said. “The guy’s name is Finn... What’s his last name?” He directed the question to Kara.

  “Only one guy named Finn staying here,” Red declared before she could answer. “Room 112.”

  The three of them set off for the elevator.

  Shane turned to her. “Follow my instructions when we get there, okay? No questions.”

  She bristled. “No questions.”

  Her annoyance lasted until she caught sight of the lines of fatigue creasing the edges of his mouth. Maybe it was time to cut Shane a little slack. He hadn’t ordered her to stay behind, after all. He was always being forced to leave her alone or risk putting her in danger. The least she could do was stay out of his way.

  A few people gave them quizzical looks as they rushed through the lobby and down the opposite corridor. Her leg
was protesting by the time they reached the wing where Finn’s room was located. He was on the first floor, several doors down from the lobby.

  When they reached the room, Shane motioned for her and Red to stay back. He gave a sharp rap on the door and called out Finn’s name.

  When no one answered, Red stepped forward. He used his master key card to unlock the door, then moved protectively in front of Kara.

  Shane turned to Red. “Does it look like this is a crisis that may require immediate intervention?”

  Red didn’t hesitate. “That’s my take.”

  Kara glanced between the two men. “What are you guys talking about?”

  “Fourth Amendment,” Shane said. “I’m not allowed to search a hotel room without a warrant unless there are exigent circumstances.”

  “I’d say this counts,” she readily agreed.

  His gun drawn, Shane cautiously entered the room. With each passing second, her nerves grew. After a tense few minutes, he stepped out once more and motioned to Kara and Red.

  “It’s clear,” he said, his chin set in a hard line. “He’s not in there, and nothing looks out of place.”

  Red brushed past him and looked inside. Kara peered beneath his arm. The room was neat and tidy. The bed was made. There was no clothing on the floor, no soda cans or discarded dishes cluttering the tables. Nothing to mark an extended stay. His papers were stacked neatly on the desk.

  “Stay here.” Shane directed the statement at her. “We’re on shaky legal ground already.”

  While the two men searched, Kara paced outside in the corridor. They didn’t locate Finn’s phone or computer. The front desk was searching through security footage to see if they could find him.

  The walls felt like they were closing in around her. Instead of a cozy getaway, the luxury resort was a trap. The corridors were mazes filled with places to hide. Wrapping her arms around her body, she shivered.

  Shane stepped out. “The staff is canvassing the hotel. Someone thought they saw him heading toward the outdoor spring. I’m going to check it out.”

  “Let me come,” she said. “You need all the eyes you can get right now.”

  He hesitated, then turned to Red. “What did they say at the front desk?”

  “Finn was picked up on camera last night. He was in the dining room, seated next to another guest. Maybe she knows something.”

  “She doesn’t.” Kara lifted her hand. “The other guest was me.”

  “That takes care of that,” Red said, checking his phone again. “Okay. He was in the dining room this morning. We’re checking the conference rooms. I guess he works there sometimes.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Someone saw him at the outdoor pool earlier, but he isn’t there now,” Red said. “According to the staff on duty, no one has gone outside recently.”

  “Red, why don’t you help search the hotel?” Shane said, his thumbs hitched in his utility belt. “Kara, you’re with me. We’ll see if he spoke to anyone. See if anyone can help us track his movements.”

  She nodded. “What do you think?”

  “I don’t know what to think.” His voice went quiet and flat. “There’s nothing to indicate anything is wrong. Still, I’d feel better if we could track him down.”

  “You and me both.”

  Her interest in visiting the outdoor pool was twofold. She wanted to see if they could track down Finn, but she also wanted to check on the dogs. The outdoor pool was on the way to the kennels. While she understood the uncertainty of the situation, she also had an obligation to the animals under her care. Once they found Finn, she might still be able to sneak in a visit. As they crossed through the hotel, a fine sheen of sweat formed under her coat. She unzipped the collar to cool down. They followed the path through the resort and the enclosed walkway. Steam rolled out of the indoor pool enclosure the moment Shane opened the door. Unlike the natural pool outside, this swimming area was completely man-made. Mediterranean-blue tiles lined the walls, and a zero-entry ramp sloped into the warm mineral waters. A dozen or so guests swam lazily or lounged in the pool while the weather stormed outside. Plush robes and lambswool slippers awaited their exit.

  Two uniformed attendants circulated around the room. One held a tray of sparkling water and the other straightened a stack of impossibly fluffy white towels. Earlier she’d joked about Finn stealing a towel. After seeing what was available in the spa, the joke didn’t seem so farfetched. One resort towel probably cost more than all the towels she owned put together.

  As many times as she’d been to the resort to check on the sled dogs, there were still times when the juxtaposition with life in the town had caught her off guard.

  A door on the far side of the indoor pool led to a chute-like covered walk to the hot springs outside. Weather permitting, the heartier souls donned their swimsuits and braved the freezing weather to jump into the warm water. The tradition was affectionately known as the “arctic plunge.”

  Shane conferred with one of the attendants to ensure none of them had seen Finn before they went out. After the warmth of the indoor pool enclosure, the shock of winter air took her breath away. She quickly zipped her coat again. She’d forgotten to check the front desk for gloves, so she stuffed her hands in her pockets. The snow had relented some, but the wind still howled through the covered walkway.

  She sure didn’t plan on participating in the arctic plunge anytime soon.

  Enormous boulders edged the natural pool. An open boardwalk illuminated by hanging Edison bulbs circled the pool. The water was inky black with feathery steam floating from the surface. Snowflakes collided with the hot water and immediately melted.

  Kara pointed. “I’ll go that direction. You go the other way. We’ll meet at the far side.”

  Shane hesitated.

  She gave him a gentle shove. “You can see me. The faster we search, the sooner we get back inside.”

  “All right.”

  The path hadn’t been cleared recently, and the ankle-deep snow stung where her boots ended and her jeans began. She spotted depressions in the snow and scooted around them. They might be footprints, but she couldn’t tell for certain. Wind and snow had already eroded them. By the time she reached the south end of the pool, not twenty feet away from the door, her face was numb and her hands tingled. Her bandaged leg protested the cold. She limped forward and peered over the edge.

  There was no sign of Finn and no indication he’d been there recently. She was turning back when a flash of something pale caught her attention. She stepped off the path and leaned over one of the jagged boulders that flanked the pool. The freezing surface of the rock penetrated even through her down coat, and she winced.

  She squinted into the dark water. The faint light from the path barely reached beyond the boardwalk. That was when she spotted him. Finn’s dark sweater was unmistakable.

  Her stomach twisted. He was floating facedown, his head and shoulders visible.

  “Shane!” she hollered. “I found him!”

  She tipped forward, reaching out one arm. By stretching as far as she could, her fingertips brushed over the material of his sweater. His body was unnaturally still and cold, and she stifled a gag.

  Her leg ached and she’d extended far enough that the toe of her boot lifted off the ground. She was so close. She retracted her hand and hoisted her upper body farther up the rock surface, then scooched forward on the ledge. Her lungs burned at the exertion.

  The extra distance allowed her to grasp Finn’s sweater. The material was icy cold, and snow was clumping on the surface. She tugged. He didn’t budge. She tugged again. The body was too heavy, and she was overleveraged on the lip of the rock.

  As she reached for a third time, something pushed against her foot, propelling her forward. The material of her coat glided over the icy surface. Flattening her hands, she tried to slow her
descent. The sharp edges of the boulder scraped her bare palms. With a horrified shriek, she plunged headfirst into the water.

  Instantly disoriented, her hands flailed, and she caught the dead man’s arm. Water soaked into her coat and her heavy boots sucked her down.

  She slipped deeper. Kicking desperately, she pushed toward the surface. Her heart pounded and her lungs screamed for air. Unable to see anything in the inky, black water, she thrashed around. Her fingers brushed against the slippery rock wall. There was nothing to grab. Nothing to hold. She sank beneath the surface and panic clawed through her.

  She was drowning.

  * * *

  The surface of the water bubbled, and Shane caught a glimpse of Kara’s pale hand.

  He circled her wrist and heaved her above the surface. She gasped and clawed at his arm.

  Though weighted by her saturated coat, he managed to haul her out of the water. He lifted her against his chest. The warm water steamed as it met the frigid temperatures.

  She strained away from him. “It’s Finn. We have to help him.”

  “No.” He strode toward the indoor enclosure. “We can’t help him.”

  “We have to,” she demanded, her eyes wild and unfocused.

  “Kara, listen to me. You’re wet.” He spoke calmly, keeping her tightly against his chest. “We need to go inside.”

  Moisture seeped through his gloves.

  “What if...”

  “We can’t save him. It’s too late.”

  He didn’t know if it was his words or the sharp snowflakes peppering her face, but something must have permeated the fog of her panic because she suddenly stilled.

  She lifted her stricken gaze to him. “We can’t leave him.”

  “I’ll take care of him,” Shane said gently. “I promise. But I have to take care of you first.”

  Her face was ashen, and her teeth chattered. He’d known immediately that Finn was dead. Kara probably had too; the shock of the past few days was just wearing on her.

  When they returned inside, one of the attendants glanced up from folding a stack of towels. He took one look at the water dripping from Kara’s coat and immediately straightened.

 

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