9
Amarok sat at the kitchen table, listening to the latest storm moan and cry as he drank a cold beer and stared into the darkness of the living room. Since Bishop’s attack last February, Evelyn had started leaving the hall light on when she went to bed, so there’d been no need for him to turn on any lights when he and Makita came in. He could see well enough.
After shaking off the snow and cold, Makita had gone to lie in the corner. He kept eyeing Amarok as if to say, Aren’t you going to bed? Isn’t it time for us to go in with Evelyn? The poor dog couldn’t close his eyes for fear he’d miss his cue. But despite Amarok’s exhaustion, he wasn’t ready to call it a day. As he sat there, heavy coat and boots still on since he was too tired to remove them, he kept thinking he had to be missing something.
What could’ve happened to Sierra Yerbowitz?
He felt terrible for Leland, who’d had to break the news to his parents earlier. Leland had practically begged Amarok to give him some answers. But after spending the whole day trying to find something that might explain Sierra’s disappearance, Amarok didn’t know any more than he had before. No one had seen her since she and the men had eaten lunch and picked up a few things in town before they drove to the cabin. It was almost as if she’d disappeared into thin air.
Amarok unbuttoned his coat and took a long pull on his beer. Maybe when he returned to the cabin, he’d see some clue he’d missed. He hadn’t been able to go out there today. The storm had dumped so much snow in the area, it would’ve been too hard to get through. And since no one else could get out there, either, he’d decided to see what he could learn in town first. That way he’d be armed with a little more information when he went back, which might make him view the scene differently.
He’d never dreamed he’d come up empty, especially after the hope he’d felt when he’d heard about Allen Call and Ward Brothers.…
“Aren’t you coming to bed?”
Amarok glanced up to see Evelyn yawning as she wandered down the hall wearing one of his Alaska State Trooper T-shirts and nothing else. She was squinting at the light and her hair was mussed from sleeping, but he found her sexy as hell, the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on.
His chest tightened at the thought that she might pack up and leave one day. The more terrible things that happened here, the more likely that became. If any more of the locals grew hostile toward her, she wouldn’t be able to tolerate living in Hilltop. “I was just having a drink, unwinding a bit,” he said.
“And trying to figure out what happened to Sierra Yerbowitz?”
He lifted his beer to signal that she’d guessed correctly.
She pulled out a chair and sat across from him. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“There isn’t much to say. No one had anything against her. The only two people in her life who might have had some reason to harm her can prove they didn’t.”
She pushed her hair out of her face. “Then it has to be her brother. Or his friends.”
Amarok shook his head. “It wasn’t them. Leland is completely torn up by her disappearance. And his friends were with him every minute. They all say the same thing, tell the exact same story.”
“They could be colluding.”
“No, I don’t get that feeling at all.”
“Then Sierra must’ve gone somewhere…”
“Where?” he asked. “She was at a remote cabin in a rugged environment she’d never been to before, in the middle of a terrible storm. She had no phone, no vehicle. They didn’t see anyone else in the area the entire time they were there—even when they were out hunting. And they claim no one could’ve followed them.”
“So someone took her. She wouldn’t just wander off on her own.”
“That’s what Leland says, too, and he knows her best. But if that’s the case, why didn’t whoever it was strike sooner? They were at the cabin for three days without incident.”
“Someone stumbled on the opportunity?”
“Way the hell out there?”
“How else can you explain it? You told me an ax was used to break in. That’s forced entry.”
“It could’ve been her using that ax. How do you know she didn’t accidentally lock herself out and force her way back into the house?”
“I don’t know that,” she admitted. “I suppose it’s possible. But what about the vomit in the shed?”
“What about it?” He finally shucked off his coat. “She could’ve been coming down with the flu.”
“Or that vomit means something else.”
“Like what?”
Evelyn flinched as if she didn’t even want to think it, let alone say it. “Never mind. That would be a stretch.”
“Say what’s on your mind,” he prodded. As beautiful as Evelyn was, he loved her as much for her intelligence, respected her opinion.
“I’d rather not risk sending your investigation in the wrong direction. But I’ll say this. The shed is an odd place to be sick.”
“Not necessarily. It’s better than throwing up in the cabin.”
“When you’re sick, you’re sick. You don’t get to select the spot.”
“Maybe it took a lot of effort to hack down the door and the timing just worked out that way.”
She nibbled at her bottom lip, which—as tired and upset as he was—still made him want to pull her to him and kiss her, maybe carry her into the bedroom. Being with Evelyn provided a release from the frustration and worry. Making love to her convinced him that everything was going to be okay—until reality barged in again.
“Were there any signs that she wasn’t feeling well in the cabin? Any blankets lying around, cold compresses, discarded tissues?”
“None.”
“There wasn’t even a bowl near the couch in case she needed to throw up?”
“Nothing like that. And not only did she pack her bags, she packed everyone else’s. Left all the luggage by the door.”
“She wouldn’t feel like doing that if she had the flu or was feeling nauseous,” she mused.
“She might’ve powered through.”
Evelyn looked even more worried. “She obviously wanted to leave as soon as possible.”
He’d been trying to keep an open mind, but he had to agree. “The question is why. Was she scared of the storm?”
“Could be. Or something else. I mean, a woman wouldn’t pack up for her brother’s friends, two grown men, otherwise.”
Talking it out helped him solidify his own thoughts and opinions. “She must’ve had a compelling reason.”
“You’re going back to the cabin tomorrow, right?”
“If this new storm lets up.”
She rubbed her arms as if she felt a chill. “Maybe you should take me with you.”
She wasn’t a forensic profiler, but he was willing to bet she knew as much, or more, about criminal behavior as anyone in the world. As far as he was concerned, having her there could only be an advantage. “Okay.”
She came over and helped him pull off his boots. Then she pushed him back in the chair and undid his pants.
When she went down on him, he groaned and dropped his head back. “That’s good,” he said. “But aren’t you too tired?”
She didn’t respond. Her tongue moved over him, making him hard as a rock.
He got his second wind as he slid his fingers into her hair.
God, he loved her.
If only he knew she’d always be there.…
*
Somehow they got through the trickiest part of the drive, but that was because of Amarok’s determination and his experience maneuvering a vehicle in bad conditions. There were several instances when Evelyn thought they’d be forced to turn back.
He probably would’ve given up in favor of visiting tomorrow or the next day, when the cabin was more accessible, but they were expecting the harsh weather to continue through the weekend.
“You’re quiet today,” he said. Only the wipers made any noise, working to shove aside the heavy flakes of snow bombarding the windshield. “You okay?”
“Fine.” She adjusted the heat. “Just wondering why anyone would have reason to come out here this time of year.”