Framed for Murder

by Mary Alford

  It didn’t take long for Paul to reach the same conclusion as Aaron. “Your wrist is definitely reinjured,” he diagnosed with a grim shake of his head. “I can give you something for the pain and I think I have a brace that will make you more comfortable, but you really need to see a doctor.”

  Liz shook her head. “That’s not possible.”

  Paul slowly nodded. “Okay. I’ll just go get the brace.” He excused himself.

  “You should stay here tonight.” Jessie urged them with worry in her tone. “We have plenty of room and you both look ready to drop.”

  “That’s a good idea and we’re grateful,” Aaron said with a weary smile.

  Paul came back with some pain medicine and the brace. “I’ll be as gentle as I can, but it’s in pretty bad shape.”

  Liz swallowed a couple of the pills and nodded.

  Aaron watched her clutch the table’s edge with her good hand as Paul snugged the brace onto her wrist.

  “That should keep it in place and hopefully help with the swelling. I’ve got some antibiotics that should stop it from getting infected.”

  “Thanks,” Liz managed through clenched teeth. The effort had clearly taken its toll.

  Jessie brought over two steaming bowls of chili and a couple of slices of cornbread. “You both need to eat. It’s not much, but it will give you some energy.”

  Aaron took the seat next to Liz and tasted a spoonful of the spicy chili. “It’s wonderful, Jessie,” he said and then dug into the food with relish.

  “I’m glad you like it,” Jessie said and she and her husband joined them. “Why are these men following you anyway? They’ve been in town most of the day. Someone said they were here for the hunting, but they don’t much look like hunters, if you ask me.”

  Aaron could almost feel Liz’s anxiety growing from where he was. He understood it all too well. They weren’t sure who to trust. Even people as innocent looking as Jessie and Paul could be working for the enemy.

  He decided for their own safety not to divulge too many details. “We believe they’re looking for something Michael might have brought here. He didn’t ask you to store anything for him recently, did he?”

  Jessie was obviously confused by the question. “No, but then, I haven’t spoken to him in months. Not since he bought the cabin for you.”

  If Michael hadn’t contacted Jessie to store the weapons, then where were they?

  “Do you remember much of what you talked about that last time you spoke to him?” Aaron asked. He knew it was a long shot, and he was clutching at straws, but he was desperate. Those men were not going away.

  “We really didn’t talk that much. I thought it was strange that he paid cash for the cabin, though. I’ve never had a customer do that before.”

  “Did Michael mention what he did for a living that would allow him to have so much cash on hand?” Liz asked curiously.

  “Only that he’d left the Marines and that the money, well, he said that was from you. He told me you gave it to him and asked him to buy the cabin for you.” Jessie hesitated. “Is Michael okay?” she asked the question Aaron had known was coming.

  He glanced at Liz who nodded. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Jessie, but Michael’s dead. He was murdered.”

  It was a long time before Jessie answered. “I can’t believe it. Who would want to kill Michael?” she said in a trembling voice as tears filled her eyes.

  “That’s what we’re trying to find out,” he told her. Aaron thought about the funds that had gone into Liz’s account recently. Someone had gone to great lengths to make sure she looked guilty. He didn’t like it. Every second they were unable to reach the cabin, they risked the chance of the enemy finding the place and the evidence and destroying Liz’s last hope to clear her name.

  Another far more disturbing thought had him wondering if Michael had been the one to set her up all along.

  The noise of engines drawing closer pulled his attention back to the moment. They sounded just outside the Chenas’ home.

  Liz gripped his arm. “They must be going house to house,” she whispered in a frantic voice.

  Jessie’s eyes grew wide. “What should we do?”

  Whether or not the men discovered them depended on Jessie and Paul not giving anything away.

  “Just try to act normal,” Aaron told her. “If they ask if you’ve seen us today, tell them no. You’ve been home all evening and you haven’t seen a thing, okay?”

  Jessie managed a minuscule nod.

  “It’s going to be okay,” Aaron tried to assure her but he was worried. “Liz and I will be in the next room if something goes wrong.”

  A deafening knock at the door had Jessie jumping to her feet. She covered her mouth as if to keep from screaming.

  Liz cast an uneasy look his way. Jessie was vulnerable. If pressed she wouldn’t be able to keep with the story.

  “Let me answer it, Jess,” Paul said and squeezed her shoulder then gave her a gentle nudge toward the kitchen. “You pretend you’re making dinner.”

  Not wanting to give away the truth to anyone looking too closely, he saw Jessie hurriedly hide their bowls and Paul’s medical bag, then grab a wooden spoon and stir the chili.

  Liz hurried into the living room and he followed. Making sure to keep away from the windows, they drew their Glocks to be on the ready. The assault rifles they’d brought with them from Rick’s place were within arm’s reach as they leaned against the wall closest to the kitchen.

  Liz drew in a breath. Aaron wished he could reassure her everything was going to work out okay, but he wasn’t anywhere close to being convinced it would.

  Another angry knock rattled the walls. A moment later, Paul opened the door.

  “Can I help you two gentlemen?” Paul asked, whether deliberately or not giving Aaron and Liz some information on how many were at the door.

  “Yes, you can. Tell me who’s been at your house tonight?” One of the men tried to disguise the command as a friendly question.

  Paul didn’t hesitate. “There’s no one here but my wife and I and we’re about to have dinner. What’s this about?” he asked, seamlessly pulling off the deception.

  The same man answered. “We’re bounty hunters searching for some people. A man and a woman who we believe are here in Black Bear. And there are footprints leading from the alley up to your house. Are you sure you haven’t seen anyone?” The accusation in his tone was clear.

  “Hum, well I’ll be, they sure do. Maybe they kept moving.” Paul must have stepped out on the porch. “All I know is no one’s been here tonight and if they’re out there in these temperatures, you won’t have to worry about bringing them in. They’ll be dead by morning.”

  The man made a noncommittal harrumph noise. “And how do I know you’re telling the truth?” He voiced his doubts. “You could be hiding them.”

  Aaron heard the door creak open and he held his breath. Would Paul give them up?

  “As you can see, there’s no one here but my wife. Now, if you don’t mind, we’re about to settle in for the night.”

  The other man said something unintelligible and then the door closed. Seconds slipped by before the engines fired and the vehicles moved away.

  Paul came into the living room. “I think they’ve left for now, but they definitely know about you two and I’m not sure he bought my story completely.”

  Aaron tucked his Glock behind his back. “Thank you. I’m sorry to have gotten you and Jessie involved in this, but there wasn’t any other option.”

  Paul shook his head. “It’s no problem. Obviously, those men are up to no good and I don’t believe their story about being bounty hunters one little bit. Still, come daylight, they’ll widen the search. You two need to get out of town before that happens.”

  A
aron’s sleep-deprived mind tried to come up with an escape plan.

  “I know Jessie promised we’d stop by the office with our extra snowmobile. The offer still stands,” Paul said. “I’ll drive Jessie to work tomorrow. With all this going on, I think I’ll stay as close to her as possible.”

  “Thank you,” Aaron said, humbled by the man’s generosity. “It’s probably a good idea to stay close to Jessie. We don’t know what these guys are capable of if they figure out you’ve helped us.”

  “Are you federal agents?” Jessie asked growing more suspicious of them.

  “Yes, we are,” Aaron told her quietly. “We’re trying to figure out how Michael is connected to these men.”

  Jessie looked to her husband who nodded and Aaron could tell there was something she needed to tell them.

  “What is it?” he asked curiously.

  “I didn’t say anything before because, well, I didn’t really trust you, and for that I’m sorry.”

  Aaron glanced at Liz. She had braced herself for what was to come next.

  “Michael and I dated for a while in high school,” Jessie blurted out.

  This was the last thing he expected. “Michael was from Black Bear?” Aaron asked while his exhausted brain tried to make sense of it. He looked to Liz for answers.

  She shook her head. “I had no idea Michael had lived here before. The only place he mentioned from his past was somewhere in Montana,” she told him.

  Jessie slowly nodded. “He did live in Montana when he was a kid. You see, Michael’s family was part of an Amish community that came to Alaska to set up a colony here, only it didn’t work out. Michael’s mother returned to Montana and rejoined their community there, but Michael and his father, well, they left their faith. Michael lived in Black Bear from about the time he was twelve until he graduated from high school.”

  “That’s how you met him,” Aaron concluded.

  They’d been right. Michael’s relationship with Jessie seemed awfully close for a business arrangement.

  Jessie glanced briefly at her husband and then nodded. “Yes, my family moved to Black Bear when I was a freshman in high school. I met Michael then. We were...high school sweethearts. He was so dear back then.” She shook her head.

  “Once he left town, I didn’t see him for a long time. Then he showed up again and, well, he was so different. Withdrawn. Suspicious. Like another person completely.”

  “When was this?” Liz asked, puzzled.

  “A couple of years ago.”

  She and Aaron stared at each other in shock. Had Michael been in Sam’s pocket for so long?

  “Michael wasn’t even part of the Scorpions back then,” Aaron said.

  He could see that Liz had remembered something important. “What is it?” he asked.

  “I remember something Michael mentioned once about how determined he’d been to join the team.” She hesitated. “He said he was willing to do just about anything.”

  The implication was alarming. Had Michael deliberately targeted the Scorpions so that he could assist Sam with his plans?

  “Have you spoken to Michael’s brother yet?” Jessie asked, the question taking them both by surprise.

  “Wait—Michael has a brother?” Liz said in disbelief.

  Jessie seemed surprised that they didn’t know. “Oh, yes. Although from what Michael told me, he was quite a bit older.”

  “Do you know how we can reach him?” Aaron asked while trying not to get too excited. It could be another lie, but if there was a brother who lived close by, maybe he’d be able to shed some light on what happened to Michael.

  Jessie shook her head. “No, I’m sorry, I don’t even remember his name although I’m sure Michael must have mentioned it a couple of times.”

  Aaron watched as what little bit of hope he’d seen in Liz evaporated. They were back to square one.

  “I’m sorry. I wish I could help you more,” Jessie said, obviously seeing their disappointment.

  Aaron attempted a smile. “We’ll figure this out and we’re grateful for all that you two have done for us.”

  Liz stifled a yawn. She looked ready to drop.

  “You should get some sleep,” he told her gently. “Tomorrow’s going to be a difficult day.” They’d need to be gone before daybreak. “Can I see the map on the note Michael gave?”

  She didn’t hesitate. “Sure,” she told him and retrieved it from her boot and handed it to him.

  He studied the map. It showed the cabin, but he needed more information on the landscape. “Is this the best way to reach the cabin?”

  “Hang on a second,” Paul said and took out a more detailed map of the area and spread it out on the table. “The place gets lots of snow, but it should still be accessible by snowmobile...although it won’t be easy.” He pointed out the best route. It wound through the wilderness for several miles then climbed upward until it reached the base of Black Bear Mountain where the structure was located.

  Just looking at the path they’d have to take was discouraging.

  Liz touched his hand, seeing his despair. “We’ll get through this together.”

  He looked at her lovely face and realized she was counting on him. He couldn’t let her down.

  “We’ll clear out of here pretty early,” he told Paul. “We don’t want to put you and Jessie in any more danger than we have already.”

  “The machine you should use is the black one in the garage,” Paul told them. “The key’s in it. It’s fueled and there’s an extra gas can strapped on the back.”

  “Thanks,” Aaron said with a shake of his head.

  “The extra bedroom is through there,” Jessie pointed to a door. “And there’s a bathroom’s down the hall. I’ll just get you some sheets for the sofa,” she told Aaron and left them alone.

  Aaron stepped closer. He could see Liz was fighting back tears. “It’s going to be okay,” he said softly so that only she could hear.

  She looked deep into his eyes. She was vulnerable and beautiful and he was so attracted to her.

  Something of the battle raging inside him must have shown on his face because she asked, “Are you okay?”

  He closed his eyes briefly and then nodded and turned away.

  “Thank you for believing in me, Aaron,” she whispered.

  He turned to face her. She looked like a lost child pleading her cause and he stroked his cheek. He wished for a happy ending to this for her.

  “I’d do anything for you. Anything at all.” He leaned close and touched his lips to hers. “Get some sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

  He stepped away and after a second she left him. He had to believe that what they were going through was only for the moment. With God’s help, they’d unravel the truth.

  TEN

  Aaron had barely managed a couple of hours’ sleep during the long night. His mind wouldn’t shut down. He kept listening to the noises outside. Hearing snowmobiles everywhere. He was worried about Liz’s injuries. And if they’d even find anything useful at the cabin when they finally got there. But mostly, he was troubled about his unexpected reaction to Liz.

  She wasn’t Beth—he knew this. Nothing about her reminded him of Beth, and yet the fallout from Beth’s deception had left him one of the walking wounded. Unable to trust. He couldn’t put himself in that situation again. Still, Liz’s strength showed during the toughest times, the way she laughed at his attempts to be funny, the way she felt in his arms, had him rethinking his hard-and-fast rule about never falling in love.

  A sound close by caught his attention, changing the direction of his thoughts and putting him on high alert. He grabbed his gun.

  Paul stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted the Glock. “Whoa...sorry, man, I was just about to wake you.”
>
  Aaron blew out a relieved-sounding breath and got to his feet. “No, it’s okay. To say I’m a little on edge is putting it mildly.” He waited a few seconds for his heart to stop pounding and said, “You didn’t have to get up so early.” He glanced at the darkness beyond the blinds. “What time is it anyway?”

  “Just past five. You have about another hour before daybreak. I thought I’d make you both some coffee and food for the trip.” Paul hesitated. “Are you sure you’re up to it? Your friend is in pretty bad shape.”

  The warning coming from someone in the medical profession didn’t ease his bad feeling one little bit.

  “I’m afraid we don’t have a choice. There’s something at the cabin we need and we have to find it before those men do.”

  Paul accepted the answer without questioning it. “I’ll give you some medicine to take with you. Cell service is pretty much nonexistent on good days, especially up in the high country. Still, if you can find a clearing you may be able to make a call.”

  He handed Aaron a slip of paper. “That’s my number. I’m part of a search and rescue team that works the area. I know that trail like the back of my hand. Wherever you are, I’ll find you.” He paused and then added, “I could go with you, if you’d like.”

  As tempting as it sounded, Aaron couldn’t put Paul’s life in jeopardy like that.

  “Thanks, but I can’t ask you to do that. There’s too much at stake. We’ll be fine,” Aaron tried to assure him without really believing it himself.

  Paul poured hot coffee into a couple of thermoses. “Okay, but I’m serious. If you need assistance, call me.”

  Aaron smiled. “I will. Thanks for the help and the food.”

  A door opened and Liz came into the kitchen. She looked much better after a good night’s sleep.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked because they had a rough day ahead of them and he needed to know she was up to it.

  “Much better.” She held up her wrist. “The brace helped tremendously.”

  “We should be on our way while it’s still dark out,” Aaron told her.

  Jessie stood in the doorway. “Not until you have breakfast. You two need something warm inside you for the ride.”