Mountain Secrets

by Elizabeth Goddard

  His radio squawked and Colin answered, detailing the events to Terry Stratford, who was headed this way. There’d been a skirmish in town, but Terry had settled it. Skirmishes were preferred over murder.

  Colin glanced at Buck Cambridge, who held a crying Meral against him. The man had checked out when Colin had looked into his background. Was clean. No priors. He was a simple businessman. An import-export consultant. Those were the facts, and Colin could only use those, but his gut told him there was more to the man. Something dangerous, sinister.

  He allowed his gaze to fall on Jewel again as she comforted Katy and Tracy. He needed to convince Jewel to leave Mountain Cove for a while, until he could get this taken care of. She wasn’t safe here. Her friends and family—namely Meral—had promised to stay close. Everyone wanted to protect her, yet he’d found her alone in the attic. Alone. Again.

  And now no one was in the house. Colin would have to check every nook and cranny before he let anyone back inside.

  What if Colin hadn’t been here? Hadn’t been up in the attic with Jewel?

  He slipped his hand around her arm, drew her away from the others and kept his voice low. “You need to leave, Jewel. You can’t stay here anymore.” Colin wasn’t sure he trusted himself to protect her anymore either. He was failing at his job, after all.

  Again...

  He didn’t want to think about the past, but the images drifted through him like shadows all the same.

  “This is my business. My livelihood. I can’t leave. There are guests to take care of. And Meral’s here. You don’t have any idea how much that means to me. I can’t just leave.”

  With Jed’s death it was clear there could be collateral damage—that others around Jewel were in harm’s way. Didn’t she see that? But where could she go that was safe? He’d tried to create a safe house at her B and B.

  Her striking hazel-green eyes were usually so transparent, filled with warmth and care and honesty, but that was all shuttered away from him now. He didn’t like it. Jewel was purposely hiding something from him. Disappointment in her, in the situation, nearly overshadowed Jed’s death.

  But in her gaze he saw something else. What he never expected to see. Never wanted to see. Jewel was disillusioned with his abilities. She wanted him to do his job and catch this guy, felt let down that he hadn’t done so already. He saw in her eyes the lack of trust and faith that he’d seen in the mayor’s eyes, in the city-council members.

  Colin released her arm. Pulled the knife from his heart that Jewel hadn’t even known she’d stabbed into him and twisted.

  He was getting too emotionally involved, more so than would do either of them any good. How did he protect her? Colin wished now that she would call him Chief Winters again, for both their sakes. He needed to ask the hard question, and his emotions stood in the way of that, too, but Jewel would die, others would die—as someone already had—if he didn’t ask.

  “When I came to you in the hospital, I asked you if you knew who had pushed you into the waterfall. At the time, I thought maybe you were a random victim. Simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. But now I think we both know that’s not the case, and I’m going to ask you again, do you have any idea who would want to kill you? And if not who, then why someone would want to kill you?”

  Jewel hesitated as though considering his questions.

  Cruisers pulled into the B and B drive along with the ambulance that would take Jed’s body. Given the murder of a police officer, Colin would be calling in the Alaska State Troopers on this investigation. Meral and Buck approached Jewel, apparently wanting to protect family. Either that or interfere with his investigation. Colin was running out of time to get answers.

  “Someone died today, Jewel. If you know something that you’re not telling me, I need you to tell me now so I can stop this before someone else dies. Before they come for you again. I’ll put two officers on the house and on you this time, but we’ll be better prepared, better able to face an attack if we know what we’re looking for. I need more information if I’m going to catch this guy.”

  Finding the murderer would be the best way to end this.

  “Is everything okay?” Meral put her hand on Jewel’s shoulder and squeezed. Buck hovered just behind.

  Jewel nodded, pressing a hand over her sister’s. To Colin she said, “I don’t know who’s after me.”

  He frowned. He’d thought Jewel was about to tell him something before her sister approached. Did she understand she was putting others’ lives at risk and prolonging the risk to herself? He gave her a hard look.

  “If you think of anything, you know where to reach me.”

  SEVEN

  Jewel watched out the front window, grateful the ambulance and the last police cruiser had finally left. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. An unmarked police car was parked outside, two officers dressed in plain clothes now walked the grounds and stayed in the extra rooms in the B and B—the rooms vacated by guests due to the murder.

  Other officers still searched the woods near the house, looking for clues to find a killer.

  All the police activity was sure to ruin her business, but she cared about Jed’s family more than her business. He’d lost his life because of her. Would one of her guests be next? Should she set it all out for them this evening as each of them returned from their outings so they knew the risks?

  She pushed down the anxiety swirling inside. How had it come to this?

  It would be so much easier if she knew who was trying to kill her instead of just having suspicions that she hoped and prayed weren’t true. Suspicions she was holding at bay against all reason. If she knew for certain, then she wouldn’t be so torn about telling Colin everything. It felt strange to think of him as Colin now instead of Chief Winters. But it also felt natural, and that particular wall she’d erected as a safety net was already broken down. In fact, when he’d assigned his officers to stay and watch the house, Jewel had been disappointed—she had wanted Colin to stay.

  Being near him was dangerous. She should be relieved he’d left, but the relief didn’t resolve her disappointment that he’d chosen to assign guard duty to his officers.

  Jewel sighed. She was losing her mind.

  After Colin had checked the house to ensure her safety, he’d nodded at her just before he’d walked out the door. His demeanor had told her that he was also disappointed in her. Maybe even angry with her. She’d never seen that look in his eyes—he knew she was holding back, purposely hiding information.

  A man had been killed because of Jewel, and she wanted to keep her secret?

  Despite Colin’s frustration with her, he hadn’t pressured her to give more than she’d been willing.

  Her heart shifted, inched toward him. How could it not?

  She wanted to shove aside her fears, confess what she’d done in the past and tell him her suspicions. Tell him what someone could be after. But Meral and Buck had been right there when he’d asked, and then Meral had promised to stay with her at all times.

  Behind Jewel, her sister sat on the sofa and chatted on the phone. Jewel had no idea where Buck had sauntered off to now. She hoped he wasn’t in the attic searching for the diamond.

  She dropped the curtain and plopped on the sofa. Though absorbed in her phone call to a friend in Baltimore, Meral glanced at Jewel, her brows drawing together. Jewel didn’t want to concern Meral with her anguish, so once again she turned her attention to the window.

  Guilt chewed at her insides, making her forget about her stitches and bruises. For years she’d been dishing out advice and words of wisdom to friends and even to guests when they confided in her. Jewel had always thought that was her one gift, but now when it came to her own life, wisdom escaped her. Everything was twisted into a ball that she had no idea how to untangle. What right did she have to give advice when she harbored such a secret?

  Ma
ybe she was trying too hard to figure it out on her own so she could protect herself. There was only one thread for her to pull. One thing to do, and then let things unravel as they would.

  I have to talk to him. Tell him everything.

  Jewel made her decision. She stood from the sofa and tried to get Meral’s attention, but Meral lifted a finger for Jewel to wait. Instead, Jewel went to her room and changed. She rummaged through her dresser for makeup, which she hardly ever wore except on special occasions like Christmas. This wasn’t a special occasion, but her reflection was gaunt and, frankly, terrified her. What was it doing to others? Making them think she was weaker than she was? Vulnerable? Well, Jewel was strong, and she was ready to make a stand.

  Ready to end this once and for all.

  A knock came at her door. “It’s Meral.”

  “Come in.”

  Her sister stepped inside. “What are you doing? Where are you going?”

  “I need to go to town and talk to Colin... Chief Winters.”

  Her sister’s frown turned into a soft smile. “You like him, don’t you?”

  Meral’s words surprised Jewel. Her sister hadn’t been here long enough to know that, had she? “What makes you say that?”

  “I have eyes. Besides, he likes you, too, Jewel.”

  Jewel didn’t say anything to Meral’s comment. Just worked to cover her haggard appearance with concealer. Spiffed up her bobbed hair that was more difficult to deal with than when it had been long. Funny, she’d cut it to make life simpler. Maybe Meral thought she was trying to look good for the chief of police. Jewel paused. Was she?

  Well, Jewel was about to put an end to that once and for all. Once he knew the truth, Colin—Chief Winters—couldn’t like her anymore. She would drive a much-needed wedge between them with her words. But she feared she would also drive a wedge between her and Meral, losing two people she cared about deeply in one fell swoop.

  “You can’t go alone, you know. I’m happy to ride along.”

  Jewel sighed. She’d never felt more smothered. “I need some air.” Some space.

  She was going through the motions, hoping she’d get up the nerve to actually go through with telling Colin about her past and her suspicions. She could be way off base and sharing a secret she didn’t want anyone to know. Implicating a man who might be innocent. Meral would be devastated and would leave, then Jewel would never see her again.

  Jewel put her brush in the drawer and eyed her sister in the mirror. For all Jewel knew, Meral was also after the diamond. Had their parents threatened to disinherit her for marrying Buck, cutting her off completely, just as they had Jewel for marrying Silas? Jewel frowned and averted her gaze.

  “What’s wrong, Jewel?” Meral asked.

  She shook away her misgivings. “Nothing.”

  “Let me tell Buck where we’re going and that I’m riding with you.”

  No! No, don’t...

  But she couldn’t stop Meral. Couldn’t tell her the reasons for her uncertainty.

  Nor should Jewel be afraid of her own sister, yet her hands trembled. She stood tall and tried to project confidence into her words. “We’ll just okay it with the officers first, but I’m sure it will be fine. I’m heading into town to the police station to talk to Chief Winters. How could they object to that?”

  Maybe on the way Jewel could somehow bring up the topic and ask Meral what she knew about the diamond. Yes. This was a good thing, after all. Jewel would finally be alone with Meral without anyone around to hear them.

  “Let me freshen up and grab my purse,” Meral said. “I’ll let Buck know. He’s taking a nap. All this excitement has been draining to both of us, as I’m sure it has been to you.”

  That was an understatement.

  “I’ll meet you downstairs,” Jewel waited until Meral was gone, then slipped the Glock out of the drawer in her nightstand and into her bag.

  Her efforts at self-defense hadn’t worked that well. She couldn’t count on those skills. Still, she hoped she wouldn’t be forced to use the gun. Silas had taught her about using weapons, and she was a decent marksman. Living on the edge of the wilderness, she needed to know how to use a gun in case a wild animal accosted her or a guest. But Jewel hadn’t wanted to use such a deadly weapon to protect herself from another human being, hence the self-defense classes.

  At any rate, now she would be doubly armed, if she counted her meager self-defense skills. Wouldn’t it be nice to face off with her attacker, Jed’s killer, and end this once and for all?

  She could almost pray she would see the man again today. Almost.

  As it turned out, arming herself didn’t matter. Officer Roberts wouldn’t let her drive into town without him. She would go crazy if this didn’t end soon. Because he was driving Jewel, Meral decided to stay behind after Buck asked her to. Not that Jewel could have had her conversation in the same vehicle with Officer Roberts.

  Jewel got into her old Dodge Durango, and Officer Roberts rode in the passenger seat, leaving the unmarked vehicle behind for the officer remaining at the house. As she steered along the bumpy drive on her property to the road back to town, Jewel’s palms grew moist. She felt uncomfortable, as though Officer Roberts was watching her every move, scrutinizing her for some mistake. But it had been days since she’d gotten the concussion. She was fine now.

  Except that she was nervous under Officer Roberts’s gaze as though she were guilty of some crime.

  Well...

  Maybe the officer was still unhappy that she had insisted on going. When she had first told him that she wanted to drive to the station, he had demanded that she tell him what she wanted to say to Chief Winters, and then he would relay the information.

  Jewel had had to stand her ground and remind him that she wasn’t a prisoner in her home, and she was going to town with or without him. He was a younger officer. Nice and friendly. But she had given him a choice. He could go along or not, but she would only speak to Colin. Chief Colin Winters was the only person she could trust with her secret, though she knew he would be more than conflicted with the news. If it helped them solve the murder of an officer, to catch the killer before he struck again, then Jewel had to reveal her past.

  I can do this.

  Have to be strong. Stronger than I’ve ever been.

  It surprised her just how hard this was going to be.

  “You seem very tense, Mrs. Caraway, if you don’t mind me saying so.”

  “It’s Jewel, please. Everyone calls me Jewel.”

  “Yeah, even the chief, I noticed.”

  “We’ve known each other a long time.” Jewel noted that Officer Roberts didn’t ask her to call him by his first name, which was Matt. She stifled a chuckle. He’d want to keep himself official, especially when he was working, which she understood.

  “Well, Jewel, you seem nervous to me. Are you sure you don’t want me to drive? You can pull over, and I’ll drive and you can relax.”

  “You promised you wouldn’t give me a ticket if I messed up.” She forced a laugh. “I just need to drive, to feel like I’m free. To do something with my hands.”

  “I understand.” Officer Roberts stiffened next to her. His hand fisted around the handgrip on the door.

  She picked up speed as she drove a lonely stretch of road with a great view of the mountains and the glistening blue waters of the channel, as well as the town of Mountain Cove, in the distance. This scenic drive into town was one of the reasons Silas had bought the property. Jewel let herself smile, if only for a moment.

  “How’s your family doing?” she asked, wanting to keep Office Roberts talking. She knew his parents had moved to Mountain Cove from Juneau when he was in his early teens and now he was a police officer. They had to be proud. Maybe a normal conversation would relax him and her.

  “Watch out!” Officer Roberts yelled, then grabbe
d the steering wheel.

  At the same moment, Jewel saw the grill of a big-wheeled black Suburban heading straight for them from the woods across the road. She punched the gas pedal to move them out of the way at the same time Officer Roberts yanked the wheel to the right.

  The Suburban slammed into them.

  Behind her, metal crunched and twisted.

  She could have been killed instantly had Officer Roberts not reacted. But it wasn’t over yet. The Suburban kept pushing, tires grinding and squealing as the Durango slid dangerously toward the edge of the drop-off.

  She couldn’t get out, and before Officer Roberts could open his own door, the Durango rolled onto the passenger side. Jewel’s body jerked to the right, and she hung there, her seat belt keeping her in place. The vehicle tilted, hesitated.

  Jewel screamed.

  Officer Roberts yelled, “Hold on!”

  The momentum rolled them over again. Now they hung upside down as the Durango tilted and rolled again.

  And again.

  In slow, wavering revolutions.

  Each roll had Jewel squeezing her eyes, gasping for breath as she prayed for their lives.

  The cab of the Durango shrank, the ceiling punching in as the weight of the vehicle slammed against hard ground and rock with each turn.

  Finally, the Durango stopped with a jolt after crushing against a tree on the passenger side and jarring every bone in her body with the impact. She could only be grateful they had stopped rolling.

  Am I still alive?

  Her heart beat wildly against her rib cage. Definitely, she was alive, but for how much longer? She felt the ache across her chest from the seat belt for what would surely become another bruise.

  She released a half sigh, half cry, then looked at Officer Roberts. “Are you okay? We have to get out of here.”

  But he didn’t respond.

  Oh, no. God, please, no. They’d hit a tree, which could have been deadly. She thought of the boy he had been. The parents who had raised him.