Arctic Christmas Ambush

by Sherri Shackelford

  The man gestured toward a bank of doors. “The dressing rooms are equipped with showers. I’ll find some dry clothes.”

  “Call the front desk. Tell him we need a security team at the mineral pools.”

  Kara reached out a hand. “Did anyone else come in or out that door?”

  “No.” The attendant replied. “No one. I’ve been here the whole time.”

  Shane adjusted her in his arms. “Let’s get you warm and then you can tell me what that was all about.”

  The tiled shower of the dressing room featured a bench and Shane carefully set her down. He turned on the shower and worked her free from her coat. The water soon warmed, and he moved her beneath the spray.

  A discreet knock signaled the arrival of the attendant with a stack of clothing in his outstretched hand.

  Shane recognized the soft pink-and-gray plaid from the hotel spa. “Thanks.”

  “There’s a pair of slippers on the bottom and a robe on the hook by the door.”

  The man turned and pulled the door closed.

  Kara huddled beneath the warm shower. Some of the color had returned to her cheeks.

  “Okay,” he said. “What happened?”

  She caught his gaze. “I think someone pushed me.”

  “Are you sure? I didn’t see anyone.”

  “I didn’t either. But I felt something.”

  He stabbed his hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t have brought you. I thought you’d be safe. How could he have known where we were in time to lie in wait? I don’t get it.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe I imagined it. Everything happened so fast.”

  “Or maybe you didn’t. Maybe he saw us leave.”

  “But how did he get to the pool without anyone seeing him?”

  “We have to search your room. There’s a chance he’s been listening to us. How else could he follow us so quickly?”

  Steam filled the room. He didn’t know what to think. Kara hadn’t been out of his sight for long. He didn’t see how someone could come upon her so fast without being seen. Was there a chance she had imagined the push?

  She swiped the moisture from her face. “I must have imagined it.” She looked as though she might say more, then waved him toward the door. “I’m fine. There are a dozen people outside that door. I’m safe, for now. Go. I’ll get changed and be right out.”

  He paced outside the door. Finn had warned Kara about the manager, Mark.

  Shane searched the faces of the people who were gathering their belongings to leave.

  He touched the sleeve of one of the workers. “Write down the name of everyone who was in here just now. Guests and employees.”

  “Yes, sir,” the man replied.

  He’d question them all. Someone had to have seen something.

  When Kara reappeared a short time later, her hair was wrapped in a towel and a fluffy robe was belted around her waist. Slippers monogrammed with the resort insignia peeked from beneath the hem.

  She looked warm and dry and impossibly beautiful.

  He tugged the edges of her robe beneath her chin and held them snugly. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him tightly. His hands were pressed between them. He tucked his head into the crook of her neck, savoring the feel of her. He didn’t know who was comforting whom in that moment.

  He only knew that she was soft and alive, and against all odds she smelled like cherry blossoms. She felt incredibly fragile in that moment.

  Kara pulled away first. Her fingers were icy cold, and he massaged them between his. When Red opened the door, she clasped the back of Shane’s head and pressed their foreheads together.

  “Go,” she ordered quietly. “You have work to do.”

  He started to leave, then pressed a kiss against her knuckles. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “I’m fine.” She gestured toward a chair. “I’m going to stay near, if you don’t mind. I’m not ready to be alone just yet.”

  “I’m not letting you out of my sight. Holler if you need anything.”

  “I promise.”

  That nagging sensation returned, the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. How long had Finn been in the water? Kara mentioned he’d been preoccupied with the cameras.

  The computer at the front desk could pull up any of the digital feeds at any time. There were at least four people, possibly five, who had access to the stored security files. If someone wanted to alter something or to erase something, they had the means at their disposal.

  He mentally ticked off the people he knew for certain had access. There was Red and the second full-time security guard, Pete. Then there were Graham and Mark. They could erase movements and they’d know all the blind spots in the system. All of them had the means, but what would be the motive?

  Red approached him. His gaze skittered to Kara, then back again.

  “What is it? What’s happening?”

  Shane drew him away and explained the circumstances. They decided to wait for the second security guard before they attempted to secure the body.

  While Red paced and tried to steel himself to deal with his first dead body, Shane calculated his options.

  Nearly forty-eight hours had gone by, and the winds hadn’t yet died down enough to bring in the helicopter. The longest he’d ever seen a storm like this last was three days. If the road wasn’t cleared by tomorrow, at least they’d have a helicopter.

  Jeff was standing by with a team of enforcement officers he’d recruited from nearby towns. They were prepared to make the trip on snow machines first thing the next day. They’d considered making an attempt immediately, but the weather had turned them back.

  When Pete arrived, they left him to watch over Kara while he and Red stepped out into the cold. When they finally managed to get Finn inside, they placed him on the floor and Red covered him with one of the towels. The moment the body was covered, Red leaned over, his hands on his knees. Shane heard his deep, heaving breaths. He turned away to give Red a moment to gather himself.

  Pete didn’t look much better, but at least he was upright. He offered to retrieve the stretcher that was kept in the snow machine shed for emergencies. Shane was more than happy to let him go.

  While they awaited his return, Graham pushed through the door and took in the scene.

  His face paled. “Is that...? Is he...?”

  Shane nodded and gave him the abbreviated version of events leading up to Kara discovering Finn.

  Graham listened carefully, then seemed to gather himself. “Do you know what happened? I told him to be careful around the pools.” He yanked on his collar. “I can’t believe this.”

  Shane cleared his throat. “I don’t think this was an accident.”

  Graham seemed uncertain for a moment, as though he was trying to figure out what could have happened if Finn’s death hadn’t been an accident.

  Shane noted when the explanation dawned on him.

  Graham fisted his hand against his mouth. “Oh no. Do you think this has something to do with what happened to Walt?”

  “Has to be. We need to increase the security for the rest of the guests. We’ll have additional law enforcement here tomorrow if I have to drag them up here myself. Until then, we have to deal with short staffing overnight. This is a suspicious death and we have to consider the safety of the remaining resort guests.”

  “Are you sure that he was...he was...that someone did this to him?”

  “I can’t be certain of anything. But it doesn’t look good.”

  “Okay.” Graham nervously smoothed his hair. “What needs to happen next?”

  Shane explained that he was going to give a shelter-in-place order that would start after dinner and last overnight. With everyone confined to their rooms, they’d have an easier time tracking people’s movements on the secu
rity cameras.

  Graham absorbed the instructions and Shane could see him working out how best to implement them.

  When they’d agreed on the plan, Shane asked, “What can you tell me about Finn? How well did you know him?”

  Graham braced the knuckles of one hand on his hip and palmed the back of his head. “I didn’t know him that well. He kept to himself. He had some sort of grant from the University of Anchorage to study the hot springs. See what kind of organisms or plants or something could live in the heat.”

  “Was there anyone in the hotel he was friendly with? An employee or another one of the guests?”

  “Not that I know of, but I’ll ask around. I’d see him in the lounge on his computer a lot. He may have gotten to know one of the guests there.”

  “What about the employees? Any friends?”

  “No. Like I said. He kept to himself.”

  “How long has he been staying here?”

  “A couple of weeks. He did some research in town first. You know, studying how the Native Alaskans used the hot springs. That sort of thing.”

  “And his room was comped.”

  “Absolutely. No way the university could afford it. I figured we’d get some good publicity once he published his paper. I was going to get a news team up here for a human-interest story.”

  “Do you have an emergency contact for him?”

  “I don’t know. Probably. I’ll check. I’ll get in touch with the university if I can’t find anything.”

  “The weather has to break sooner or later. Jeff will have a forensics team on the chopper first thing when it does. He’s also coordinating more officers to make the trip cross-country. We’ll take statements from each of the guests and coordinate an effort to get everyone out. Most of them should be checking out over the weekend, right?”

  “Yeah. We close the week after next until the start of the summer season.” Graham heaved a sigh. “I’m on a plane to California as soon as we do. I’m ready for some sun. I’m ready for the beach.” His gaze sharpened. “Wait. Should I stick around?”

  “Depends. Who’s staying behind?”

  “Red and Pete, the other security guard, will keep watch on the place. After this fiasco, I don’t plan on offering winter packages again, that’s for sure. I’m going to spend the season in California and let someone else deal with the cold. And the avalanches. And whatever else this state decides to throw at them.”

  Shane sympathized with the sentiment. He didn’t recall ever being this tired or stretched this thin. He was going to sleep for a week when this was all over. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough. He’d finally have his forensics team. He’d finally have additional officers to question the guests.

  He’d also be able to get Kara out of here and secure. He glanced over to where she was sitting. She’d curled up in the chair, her head bent. After all she’d been through the past couple of days, she deserved a little peace. He hoped she was finding some, if only for a few hours. They’d have plenty more to worry about tomorrow when the law enforcement teams descended on the resort.

  “Before you leave,” Graham said, interrupting his thoughts, “I need you to be truthful with me. Like, completely and totally honest. How much danger am I putting these guests in? I need to know.”

  Walt and now Finn. What was the link? If this was all connected to Kara, then how did Finn fit into the picture? Had he seen or heard something the day he’d spoken with Walt?

  “I honestly don’t know,” Shane said. “An hour ago, I’d have said the threat to the guests was low. After this, I’m not certain.”

  “And my employees? How hard are you looking at them?”

  “They’re getting the same treatment as everyone else. Until we know what happened, everything is on the table.”

  “C’mon.” Graham’s shoulders curled forward, and he stuffed his hands into his pockets. “You’ve known these people your whole life. I’ve been living in this town since I was a kid. People get in trouble, sure. But not like this. I can’t see it. I can’t see anyone on my staff doing something like this.”

  Much as it pained him, Shane was considering everyone who’d been at the resort this weekend, including Graham. The crimes in Kodiak Springs were generally centered around alcohol and drug abuse, and he knew the names and addresses of all the repeat offenders in town. People, he’d learned over the years, were capable of almost anything.

  “I’m doing my due diligence, that’s all. It’s nothing personal.”

  Graham rolled his shoulders back, relaxing his defensive stance. “I appreciate you being straight with me. I’ll inform the guests. Knowing that we’ll have help tomorrow should alleviate most of the worry.”

  “The guests will have to leave as soon as the road is cleared. It’s not safe until we find the killer.”

  “I’ll work with the front desk and coordinate travel arrangements.”

  “Good. One more thing. Did Finn ever mention Walt?”

  “No.” Graham tilted his head to one side. “Why would Finn mention Walt?”

  “It’s nothing.” Shane waved him off. “I’m following through on everything. I heard they were both history buffs.”

  “Finn was here for research, and that included the history around here. If they knew each other, that’s probably where they’d met.”

  “What about Mark? Was there any animosity between the two men?”

  Graham snorted. “Other than that Mark looks down on anyone who isn’t a millionaire or billionaire? Finn didn’t like being treated like a second-class citizen, but Mark’s priorities are the paying guests.”

  Unless there was something more. “Make certain Finn’s room is sealed,” Shane said. “There might be evidence.”

  “Okay.”

  Graham left to inform the guests while Shane and Red took care of the body. Pete stayed behind with Kara. The resort had a cooler for big game that was used in the summer and sat empty over the winter. They ensured the door was locked before returning to the indoor pool.

  Once the body was secured, they searched outside for any evidence, though there wasn’t much hope of finding anything as long as the storm circled around them. They returned inside and scrutinized every inch of the pool house.

  Soon they’d peeled off their jackets and rolled up their sleeves in deference to the heat of the room. Their careful search revealed nothing. There was a security camera focused on the pool and one pointed at the door leading to the resort. There was nothing trained on the exit to the outdoor pool. Shane requested the security footage. This time he asked Pete along with two other employees. Though having the files viewed with a team wasn’t a foolproof way to ensure no one altered the footage, it was the only option he had at the moment.

  Shane kept an eye on Kara and watched as the warmth lulled her into a restless slumber. She turned to one side, then turned again. After about forty minutes, her restless movements stilled. She tucked her legs beneath her, pressed her hands together as though in prayer, and rested her cheek against her fingers. Soon she was breathing evenly, her chest rising and falling in the regular rhythm.

  She was unguarded in her sleep, her lips gently parted. Not for the first time he realized how rigidly she held herself when she was awake. The life she’d led had left her guarded and untrusting. Not that he blamed her for the defensive measures she’d put in place to protect herself.

  He swiped at the perspiration dotting his forehead. My, but she was beautiful. A series of memories played through his head like a film reel of the time they’d spent together. He lingered over the recollections of her strength and humor and compassion. Her quiet contemplation and the way her brow creased in worry.

  He’d chased bears out of his garage and disarmed a man trying to stab him with less trepidation than he felt when facing this slip of a woman who’d burrowed into his heart.

 
Except love exacted too high a price. He’d seen the destructive power up close. He’d seen what his mother was willing to endure, what she was willing to suffer, in the name of love. He refused to be a victim. He’d seen how easily someone could be manipulated when strong feelings were involved.

  When he was with Kara, he was happy. Then, just as quickly, he’d feel out of control. He was afraid and guilty for feeling that way. He’d accused Kara of always expecting the worst from him, but hadn’t he been guilty of doing the same thing to her?

  When they were dating, he’d felt like nothing he’d done was right. He’d looked for her approval, as though seeking her permission to exist in the relationship. He’d been burdening her with his own insecurities without ever recognizing what he was doing.

  Growing up he’d instinctively known that what was happening in his house was wrong. Loving someone meant protecting them, not harming them. He’d been furious with his mom for her dependence on an abusive relationship. He’d been furious with her for putting them both in harm’s way, and he’d punished himself for being unable to protect either of them.

  He’d been looking to Kara to give him the strength and grace to love. He’d set her an impossible task, and when she’d failed, he’d retreated back into his old habits. Those habits had served him well in the past. There was no reason to doubt them now.

  He’d seen healing as another lie. As another way to cover up the truth. Though he believed his dad’s epiphany after his mother’s death, he didn’t trust that the changes in him were permanent. Sometimes Shane even wondered if his dad was sincere. His dad sometimes acted as though his life leading up to his wife’s death had proved to be counterproductive, so he’d done something else. Had there been any true growth and healing?

  Shane had thought boxing up the memories was the best way to move forward. Instead, he’d dragged them along with him without ever realizing what he’d done. Not until now, anyway.

  Kara’s eyes blinked open and she smiled tenderly at him. “How long have I been asleep?”