Cold Pursuit (2019 Reissue)

by Carla Neggers

  It wasn’t as if Jo Harper couldn’t take care of herself.

  “Suit yourself,” he said, and fell in beside Devin.

  * * *

  When they reached his truck, Elijah yanked open the passenger door, grabbed Devin around the waist and heaved him up onto the seat. Not that he appreciated the help. “I could have done it,” he said, sullen now.

  Elijah ignored him and went around to the driver’s side. Devin had managed the few easier stretches of the trail down to the lane with little difficulty. On the steeper sections, he moaned, swore, complained—as if that gave him energy—and yet refused any assistance. When he stumbled, Elijah steadied him as best he could and let go.

  “I can drive my own truck.”

  “You’re not driving your truck,” Elijah said.

  Five minutes later, he pulled into the lodge and parked as close to the shop as he could. Devin was out of the truck, stumbling for the walk, before Elijah had a chance to get the key out of the ignition.

  The kid was getting on his nerves.

  “If A.J. sees you,” he said, catching up with him, “he might just call the police. You know that, right?”

  “Yeah. Let him. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  Devin limped to the front door of the shop, dug a key out of his jeans pocket and, his hands shaking now, fumbled around with it before managing to get it in the lock.

  “You’re a mess, Devin,” Elijah said.

  “I guess you should have left well enough alone and worked on your house today, then, huh?”

  Devin pushed open the door and went inside, heading straight for the stairs. He hung on to the railing all the way up. Elijah spotted him, but he managed to get into his room and collapse on his unmade bed, his legs hanging off the end.

  Elijah glanced around the messy room but saw nothing to indicate Devin had lied about spending the night as Nora Asher’s personal Musketeer. A large multi-day pack was leaned up against the side of his dresser.

  He turned back to Devin. “You should elevate your leg.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Devin…”

  “All right. I’ll elevate my damn leg.” He scooted backward, pulling his legs up onto the bed, and tucked a pillow under his injured leg. “There. Happy?”

  “Do you hurt anywhere else?”

  He rolled his eyes. “No. You saw what happened. I just slipped.”

  “On purpose?”

  “Why would I bust myself up on purpose?”

  “A diversion. So I’d find you and be forced to help you, and Nora would have a chance to get a head start.”

  “Why would she want a head start, especially if she knew it was you? You’re her idol. She has a big crush on you.”

  “She took off by herself yesterday. You’d think if she had a crush on me, she’d have come to me after she got the bad news about her stepfather.” Then again, Elijah figured he wasn’t one to be trying to make sense of how Nora Asher thought. “Sure you’re not helping her avoid people?”

  Devin’s expression gave Elijah his answer. The kid was tortured by whatever was going on with Nora, and he was completely at a loss as to what to do. He hadn’t given her a head start.

  “You don’t trust anyone, do you? Here’s the thing.” Elijah went very still and gave Devin a moment to absorb his tone, his body language, and understand how serious he was. “I know you haven’t told us everything about April. I also know you don’t steal.” He paused, but Devin didn’t speak or meet his eye. “And I know you’re worried about Nora.”

  Devin just took in a breath and stared out the window.

  “You were worried before her stepfather was killed. What’s going on, Devin?”

  “Nothing.”

  “You want to help her, don’t you? Then talk to me. I’m not the law. I’m not family.”

  “Okay, yeah, I’m worried about her. A lot’s going on. Nora doesn’t like her father’s fiancée. Her stepfather just got run over like a bug. I’m being framed for stealing money.”

  “Are you suggesting they’re all connected?”

  “I’m not suggesting anything. I’m just saying.”

  “Does Nora have a specific reason for not liking Melanie?”

  “Instincts. I don’t know. For one thing, she’s a lot younger than Nora’s father.”

  “Gold digger?”

  “I don’t think that’s it. She has her own business. Nora’s father comes from an old-money family, and he’s a Washington insider. I’m guessing Melanie wants that world.”

  For eighteen, Devin had keen insight into people. “So Nora’s afraid that Melanie’s using her father?”

  “Yeah.”

  Elijah eyed him skeptically. “It’s more than that, isn’t it?”

  Devin squirmed, uncomfortable with the question.

  “Devin?”

  He glanced at Elijah. “I’m not some enemy combatant you pulled out of a cave.” But he slumped immediately after the words were out. “Sorry. That was a real jackass thing to say.”

  Elijah didn’t respond.

  “You’ve been on my case since you got back here. I’m sorry about your father. As sorry as anyone. I know you feel guilty because you were hardly ever around, but I saw him all the time.” Tears spilled down his cheeks, but he brushed them angrily with the back of one hand. “Think I wanted to find him frozen up on the mountain like a dead porcupine? Think that made me feel good? He treated me like his own son.”

  “It must have been rough.” Elijah didn’t react openly to Devin’s emotion. “I’m sorry for that. I wish it had been me in your place.”

  “Yeah. I know. Sorry, too.” He sniffled, more under control. “Getting shot—it was bad?”

  “Not great.”

  “Makes sliding under a stupid boulder seem like nothing.” He gritted his teeth and leaned forward, pulling up his muddy pant leg. “My ankle’s seizing up. I need some ice—”

  “I’ll get some from the lodge,” Elijah said. “Don’t move. When I get back, I want to hear everything that you and Nora are up to. Start to finish. Understood?”

  “Okay. I’ll stay put. Just get me the ice. You and Jo Harper—hell, Elijah.” Devin gave a weak laugh. “The military and the law on my case. But I’ll tell you everything.”

  Elijah stopped at the door. “Including why you were on the north side of the mountain in April.”

  Devin looked away and sank deeper into his pillow. “I miss your dad,” he said quietly.

  “I do, too, kid.”

  Elijah left, barely aware of the cold as he went up the walk. He climbed onto the terrace and slipped into the dining room. No one was around. He ducked back to the kitchen and helped himself to ice from the freezer and a couple of dish towels from the sink. A.J. had fancy ice packs somewhere, but Elijah was satisfied with ice cubes and towels.

  He headed back outside. The wind had picked up. He thought of Jo up on the mountain by herself. They were violating basic hiking protocols, but at least it kept them occupied. He didn’t think he could stand just kissing her again. It would lead to something else, and that was probably dumber than hiking in the cold alone.

  It would be best if Nora decided one night in the wilderness was enough, but Elijah didn’t think that would happen.

  A.J. intercepted him halfway back to the shop. “You wanted to talk, Elijah? What’s up? I got your message.”

  Elijah frowned. “What message?”

  “Didn’t you call? The front-desk clerk said you did, and I should find you. I was tied up with the kids, or I’d have gotten out here sooner.”

  Hell.

  Elijah ran back to the shop and took the stairs three at a time, but he was too late. Devin was gone. So was his multi-day pack.

  He charged back outside. A.J. gave him a tense look. Elijah sighed, calming himself. “We need to talk,” he said, and gave his brother the rundown of what had happened up at the falls.

  “If Devin’s injured—”

  “He’
s not so injured he couldn’t sneak off.” Elijah felt his thigh tingle and blamed the scar tissue from the bullet he took in April. He breathed, willing his muscles to relax. “He probably ducked into the woods. I can try to find him, but he’s a kid, A.J. I’m not going to hunt him down.”

  “Here comes the law,” A.J. said, nodding up toward the road. Jo was walking toward the lodge at a brisk pace with Kyle Rigby right behind her.

  Devin could have spotted them from the window in his room and decided to bolt. Had he run into Rigby on the mountain? Or was he just seizing the moment and never meant to talk? Either way, Elijah didn’t like the situation.

  A.J. sighed. “I can’t help it,” he said. “I guess it’s because I haven’t been around her all that much lately, but it’s still hard for me to think of Jo as a Secret Service agent.”

  Elijah blew out a breath. “Tell me about it.”

  “Probably hard for her to think of you as a Special Forces soldier.”

  “Probably.”

  “Elijah?”

  “I’m doomed, A.J.”

  His brother nodded grimly, still watching Jo and Rigby. “You always have been when it comes to her.”

  “Pop—”

  “He knew. He understood. Why do you think he left her the lakefront property? It wasn’t to stick it to us, Elijah.” Just the slightest spark of humor crept into A.J.’s eyes. “It was to put her next door to you.”

  “Conniving old bastard,” Elijah said with affection.

  “Yep. That he was.”

  “A.J., Devin hasn’t told us everything. Maybe what he’s holding back doesn’t matter, but he needs to tell us.”

  “For his sake,” A.J. said.

  Elijah nodded and gritted his teeth as he noticed Hannah Shay’s heap of a car coming up the road.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Jo hooked Devin’s daypack on one shoulder as Kyle Rigby veered off toward the map sign. He’d parked at the lodge and walked over to the east trailhead, where Nora had left her car. As far as Jo could tell, he was killing time and just waiting for Nora to turn up on her own. He could collect his check from Thomas and go home. She’d run into him on her way back from the falls. She’d found Devin’s pack in the trees where he’d slipped, and decided to skip checking the campsite. There was no point. Nora would be on her way by now. Instead, Jo had taken the shortcut trail down from the falls. It ended in a quiet lane, where she’d discovered Devin’s truck, which explained both his and Elijah’s presence at the falls. The lane was almost a mile down the ridge road, but an easy, reasonably level walk back to the lodge.

  As she approached the shop, Jo noticed Hannah Shay standing toe-to-toe with A.J. and Elijah, her arms crossed on her chest as she spoke to them in her steady, determined manner. “I’m not afraid of you Camerons,” she said. “I never have been. If you have any complaints about Devin, you can call the police and tell them. I believe in my brother.”

  A.J. was impassive. “Go home, Hannah.”

  She didn’t back down. “Devin isn’t obsessed with Nora Asher, and he didn’t cause your father’s death. That was a horrible tragedy, and I’m sorry. Devin actually did you all a favor by finding him.” Her control faltered slightly. “And he doesn’t steal. We grew up poor, but that didn’t turn us into criminals.”

  But A.J. was just as tightly controlled as she was and looked at her in that uncompromising way he had. “Money’s missing from the café, isn’t it?”

  Hannah dropped her arms to her sides. “That’s none of your business, A.J.”

  “Come on,” Elijah said gently, easing in between her and his older brother. “I’ll walk you back to your car.”

  “I’m perfectly capable of walking back on my own.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Prickly, Hannah.”

  “I’m sorry.” She drew in a breath and spoke directly to Elijah, ignoring A.J. “I believe in my brother. Period. There’s nothing else to say.”

  Elijah started to speak, but Hannah spun around and headed back toward her car.

  Jo jumped in front of the Cameron brothers before either one could move. “Let me talk to her, okay?”

  “I’ll be at the lodge,” A.J. said tightly. “Elijah?”

  He didn’t respond immediately, then gave a curt nod and joined A.J.

  Jo caught up with Hannah at the edge of the parking lot. “Hannah,” she said, “have you talked with Devin?”

  “Are you asking as a friend, Jo, or are you going to show me your badge?”

  “I’m sorry I was hard on you last night,” Jo said simply.

  “I can take it.” But she softened slightly. “I’ve left a couple of messages on Devin’s cell phone. I don’t know if he’s gotten them. I haven’t heard from him. Elijah said he wasn’t hurt badly. That’s true, isn’t it? Elijah wouldn’t not tell me if something was seriously wrong, right?”

  “Right. Devin’s not hurt badly. He has some scrapes and bruises, that’s all.” Jo frowned suddenly. “Isn’t he here?”

  “He took off on Elijah.”

  No wonder he and A.J. were in rotten moods. Jo asked, “When?”

  “Just before I got here. Apparently Elijah had gone to get some ice. Devin hasn’t done anything wrong. A.J. and Elijah can’t just hunt him like he’s a rabid dog.”

  Hannah was a gentle soul, but she was proud—and she wasn’t afraid of anyone, especially when it came to defending her two younger brothers. Jo had to admire Hannah’s belief in Devin and her grit in standing up to the Cameron brothers.

  “A.J. and Elijah are still here,” Jo pointed out. “They haven’t gone after anyone.”

  Hannah looked out toward the mountain. “Nora wasn’t thinking clearly yesterday, obviously, after the shock of her stepfather’s death. I’m sure Devin’s just trying to be a friend to her. That other business I mentioned last night. Whatever they’re up to, I’m sure it’s innocent.”

  “Do you have any idea where they could be?” Jo asked.

  Hannah tightened her unzipped jacket around her, hesitated a split second, then, without a word, returned to the walk and headed straight up to the map sign. Jo followed, noticing that Rigby was now at the lodge’s main entrance, talking with A.J. and Elijah.

  Hannah pointed to the section of the map marking the remote north side of Cameron Mountain. “Devin found Drew’s body in this area here,” she said, calm and serious. “Native Vermonter that I am, I’m not much on wilderness hiking. Day hikes are fine, but I don’t need to spend days tramping through the woods. Devin’s a lot like the Camerons. I think that’s why he and Drew got along so well.”

  “I’m glad they did, Hannah. Is that why Devin was able to find Drew in April?”

  Crossing her arms on her chest, Hannah stared at the whirl of lines on the map. “Devin helped Drew with something up on the north side of the mountain last fall. Apparently it’s where the Camerons first settled when they came to Vermont. Most of the land was cleared back then. Devin didn’t tell me exactly what he did. He said he really doesn’t know what Drew was up to.”

  “He didn’t tell the police about this project after Drew died?”

  “He answered all their questions truthfully. Drew asked Devin not to tell anyone. Whatever he was up to was meant as a surprise.”

  A lawyerlike response, Jo thought. “How long have you known?”

  “A few weeks. He’d gotten pulled over for a broken taillight. This was right after a fight he had outside the café one night. A couple of guys were picking on Toby, and Devin let them have it. He fell apart later and finally told me about Drew. He felt guilty—as if he’d violated Drew’s trust. I promised I wouldn’t say anything. Now…that might have been a mistake.”

  “You all have a lot to deal with,” Jo said.

  Hannah faced her without a hint self-pity. “I never tried to pretend I was anything but Devin and Toby’s older sister. We’re a family, but I’m well aware that my brothers grew up without a mother and father.”

  So had Hannah,
when it came down to it. Jo handed her Devin’s daypack. “You might want to hang on to this. He dropped it when he fell. Does Nora know about his and Drew’s project?”

  “No one does that I’m aware of. It’s a haul up there.”

  “But that’s why Devin was on the north side of the mountain in April. That’s why he was able to find Drew.”

  “He said it never occurred to him Drew would go up there at that time of year. He was so sure he was wrong. Otherwise he would have told the search teams.”

  Jo thought of her own unsettling conversation with Drew two weeks earlier and understood.

  “It hasn’t been good since then,” Hannah said quietly.

  “Have you talked to this Rigby guy?” Jo asked, nodding to him as he edged their way.

  “Yes, briefly, earlier this morning.” Hannah tightened her jacket around her. “I didn’t tell him about Drew’s project. I haven’t told the Camerons, either. No one, Jo, except you.”

  Jo acknowledged the statement with a nod.

  “Look, I should go,” Hannah said. “I’ll let you know if I hear from Devin. I have nothing to hide.” She glared back toward the lodge.

  “Something happened to that money, Hannah. Do you think Nora—”

  “No, I don’t. I don’t know what happened to it.”

  Hannah headed off briskly, in the opposite the direction of Rigby. Jo studied the map with its detailed designations of trails, streams, knolls, gullies, sags and peaks. The north side of Cameron Mountain bled into a remote wilderness area with few recreational trails. It wouldn’t be a good place for an inexperienced hiker like Nora Asher to get lost.

  “It’s beautiful country up here,” Rigby said as he approached the map. “I’ll say that. I’m guessing, based on this morning’s festivities, that Nora is sticking close by. Hannah Shay have any idea where her brother took off to?”

  Jo shook her head. “There’s no reason to think he’s a danger to Nora.”

  “Maybe not, but if anything happens to her, he’ll be the first one police will want to talk to.” He squinted out toward the mountain. “It could be a tad warmer for my tastes. I’ll grab my pack out of my car and get moving. From what I’ve been able to learn about her, Nora’s emotional, but if she set up camp and got through the night, she’s got her act together. That’s a good sign.”