Nick switched to an old file. Ive been invited. Ill see. Fawns parents are in town. They already have a full house. Sitting back, he regarded the screen. If this guy sees Sasha, were screwed.
Pyle grunted. Man, I gotta get a look at this woman. How old do you figure she is?
Nick didnt have to figure, he knewher age and probably a number of other details shed prefer to keep private. Twenty-nine. Shes the youngest one-third of a partnership that got rolling just under three years ago. Theyre building a clientele and a reputation, but architectures a tough business. This job for Skye Painter is important. I doubt if dynamite could blow Sasha off it.
The outer door opened and closed while Nick contemplated Sasha Myers face.
Pyles all-pro deputy rushed in ruddy-cheeked. We got it, sir. He looked from the sheriff to Nick and back. The snow globe. We found it smashed in a trash can behind Annies Barn.
Someone was using a jackhammer in the hotel hallway. Sasha lifted her face from the pillow and tried to remember if April had mentioned any construction work in the hotel.
The hammering became a series of thumps, and she realized someone was banging on her door. That was never a good thing in the middle of the night.
Okay, Im coming. She pushed herself upright. Stop pounding holes in my door. Her robe had slipped to the floor. She had to search for it in the dark because she couldnt remember where the light switches were.
The pounding stopped when she twisted the knob and yanked. What? she demanded. Then groaned. Oh, God, not you. No offense, Detective Law, but go away.
He brushed past her and began to prowl the room. Dont you use your viewer?
My what? She turned, noticed the small peephole in the door. If I had, Id have added the security chain, not opened up. Why are you here? She hunted for a clock. What time is it?
Six oclock.
Not as early as shed thought. Combing her fingers through her hair, she forced her mind into function mode. Theres no one under my bed or in the bathroom, as you can see. I had the dead bolt on all night, and I didnt hear a thing.
He paused by the window, surveyed the building across the street. Do you always sleep with the curtains open?
Not usually, but shed been too exhausted to notice. She ignored his piercing gaze and tightened the belt of her white terry robe. She needed coffee badly. However, since there was only a mini fridge in the room, she settled for orange juice.
Look, Nick, I know who youre searching for, but why are you doing it in my room?
He left the window. The murder didnt go according to plan, Sasha. We found the snow globe.
So things were going from bad to worse. Where?
Behind Annies Barn. It was broken.
And that means?
Something screwed up.
Mostly for Kristiana Felgard, as far as I can see. Maybe she fought him and broke the globe.
I doubt it. His gaze swept the room from corner to corner, halted on her leather backpack. Is that all the luggage you brought?
Even half-asleep and lacking caffeine, she could laugh. No wonder youre not married anymore. How many women do you know who travel with only a single backpack?
He shot her a quick look, and she wished shed at least had time to brush her hair.
Ive met a few.
Most of them were probably planting trees and couldnt tell you what day of the week it was. Sasha took a long drink of the juice. Skye wants us to stay at the lodge while were here.
He moved closer, and she fought an urge to sidestep. We? As in you and who?
Me and Max, I imagine. Not me and a serial killer, I shouldnt think.
Nick took the bottle from her hand, set it down. Catching her arms, he brought her forward. The problem is, Sasha, you need to think all the time. Youre not doing that.
I just woke up, Nick. Im not used to being so defensive this early in the day.
There were flecks of gold in his hazel eyes. And a nights worth of stubble on his face. Marveling at the beauty of his features, she touched a finger to his chin. You havent shaved. And youre wearing the same clothes as yesterday. You havent been to bed, have you?
I grabbed an hour of downtime at the jail.
She blinked in surprise. You slept in a jail cell? That is devotion.
We discovered traces of blood on the globe.
Because he was still gripping her arms, she refused to shiver. Hers or his?
Not hers. We dont know yet if its his. There was blood at the scene, as well.
Lovely. A thought struck her. Should you be telling me this?
Why, are you planning on running to the local newspaper with your scoop? You have a right to know certain aspects of the case.
And you think because the killer messed up, hell want to fix his mistakeOh, hell. She released a breath. Thats exactly what you think, isnt it, and what he might be thinking, too.
With his thumbs, Nick stroked circles on her upper arms. Tell me Denvers starting to sound good to you.
It is. She raised her head, firmly defiant. But Im not going back. Come on, Nick, she said, at the flicker of vexation on his face. Would it matter if I did? If he wants to kill me this time she did shiver hell simply follow me and do it wherever. In an alley, or a park, or someones front yard. Snows snow, and hes murdered women in several different cities and towns.
Youre missing the point, Sasha.
No, Im getting it loud and clear. Look, would you mind letting me go? Thanks, she said, when he dropped his hands.
He didnt move away, and Sasha was so intrigued by her response to him that she didnt, either.
Why did you come to my room, Nick, at six in the morning?
I thought about coming at two. Better?
For some reason, the faint spark of humor in his eyes settled her.
Ill tell you what, she said. Ill only go up to the building site during the day, and Ill come back to the hotel before it gets dark. Ill make sure Max is with me, and I wont talk to strangers, either here or there. Does that work for you?
Do I have a choice?
You could arrest me.
Love to. Why dont you assault me, and well go from there?
Handcuffs and everything? Youre kinky as well as mysterious, Detective. I love it.
I had a feeling you would.
If thats a comment on my character, Ill caution you to reserve judgment. Im not usually a flirt, but my mother preached what she practiced, and as much as I hate to admit it, one or two of her bad habits stuck.
He placed his hands on Sashas arms again. This time, however, he simply slid them up and down to draw her in.
Captivated as much by his gaze as his touch, she offered no resistance. She let him ease her hips against his, and shifted her attention from his eyes to his mouth.
Although her immunity to most mens charms was unparalleled, she suspected Nick would be a different story. As if to verify that fear, alarm bells began to clamor in her head. She planted her palms on his chest. No, Nick, wait.
He stopped with his mouth a tantalizing inch above hers. What am I waiting for, Sasha?
She realized the fist she had wrapped in his shirt was hauling him toward her rather than pushing him away. I have no idea. And, smiling, she yanked his mouth onto hers.
A SERIAL KILLER? Here? In Painters Bluff? An agitated Max raked his fingers through his hair. I dont believe it. People said a woman died up at Painters Rock. No one mentioned the word murder. Sasha, we need to
Drive up to the site and do the job Skye hired us to do, Sasha finished for him. She tossed her pack in the back of the Land Rover. You can ride with me if you want to.
Not a chance. Two vehicles are better. Ive heard Smoking Gun Pass is tricky.
And steep, Sasha recalled. Skye said to use chains.
A man in a navy-blue parka began making his way across the street. Sasha spied the badge and wondered what obstacle he was going to place in her path.
You Sasha Myer?
She nodded, slammed the door. You must be Sheriff Pyle. Dana mentioned you last night.
Ill bet he did. You seen Nick today?
Seen, argued with and kissed. He checked my room for intruders at the crack of dawn. Didnt find any.
Give us time. The sheriffs surprisingly astute gaze shifted to the man at her side. Youd be Skyes engineer, then.
Max Macallum. He held the hair out of his eyes with a gloved hand. Is it true youre looking for a serial killer?
Just a murderer at this point. Well get to the serial part later. The sheriffs smile had a wolfish edge. You sure are pretty, Ms. Myer.
Sasha, and thank you. She glanced past his shoulder. Wheres Nick?
Questioning out-of-towners. He wants one of my deputies to keep an eye on you.
Why doesnt that surprise me?
I decided to do it myself.
Shed half expected this would happen, but it was still worth a protest. I have a rifle, Sheriff. Its licensed and in good working order. Nick doesnt seem to grasp the fact that I dont need anyone riding shotgun for me. I can take care of myself perfectly well.
Pyle made a sign of negation. Nick and I agreed. It was either me or Dana, and I won the toss. He moved closer. This is one mean dude we got here. Its possible hes killed eight women so far, and if he has, theres no reason to think hell stop. You look a lot like the last victim. This is a small town. Im willing to bet hes taken notice.
I feel so reassured. Sasha felt eyes boring into her head and, without turning, said, Stop gaping, Max. Its a long story that involves blond hair and Scandinavian ancestry. He wont come after you.
Max cleared his throat. Should we maybe try to contact Skye and explain the situation?
The wind kicked up, lifting Sashas hair beneath the ice-blue hat her grandmother had knitted for her last Christmas. Ive tried to call Skye four times this morning. Her service says shes out of range. Lets do our jobs and let Sheriff Pyle and Nick do theirs.
Max opened his mouth, then closed it and slumped. Ill get my keys.
He looked so miserable that Sasha gave his back an encouraging pat as he trudged past. Itll be fine.
The sheriff emitted a grunt that might have been a chuckle. You want reassurance, talk to our cold case investigator. The Snow Globe Killer only goes for women. Like the lady said, youre safe enough.
Unless his aims off, Nick remarked, coming up behind them.
Ill be back, Max promised Sasha, edging away. Phone Skye again while Im gone, okay? She wont expect you to risk your life for the sake of a resort.
Sasha ignored him and turned her attention to Nick. His expression was impassive as usual, and showed no sign of the kiss shed given him this morning. I dont need a babysitter, Detective.
Youre going to tell me you can shoot a gun, handle treacherous driving conditions and defend yourself against all comers, but so could Belinda Nordby. She was the fifth victim. And a cop, he said before Sasha could ask. Shed been one for seven years. This isnt a game, Sasha.
She didnt flinch, but countered with an even, I talked to my partner Regan Streete after you left this morning. She wants me to come back to Denver. She says Tommy can work with Skye.
But you said no.
Tommy designs inspired office buildings, but hes a techno geek who doesnt quite grasp the concept of fusion between structure and land, and I dont think Skye wants the MGM Grand up here.
What about Regan?
She has a condo development and two restaurants on her plate. This is my project, Nick. I do hotels and houses.
From the sidewalk, Sheriff Pyle grunted, Youre not going to talk her out of it, Nicky. Best to let me go up there with her while you ask your questions down here.
She sent him a quick smile. You see? Even the sheriff understands me.
Before she could move, Nick boxed her between himself and the Land Rover. It both amused and frustrated her to discover that she actually felt breathless.
With his eyes locked on hers, he lowered his head. Dont try losing him in Smoking Gun Pass, Sasha.
You cant lose someone in a mountain pass, Nick. She regarded him through her lashes. Can you?
Stick to your route. And your promise. Back before dark, agreed?
She considered teasing him, but then she pictured Kristiana Felgard in a cold room and nodded. Dont worry, Max wont want to stay even that long.
And you know Max how well?
We had our company Christmas parties together.
Thats it?
He borrowed some liquor from our bar.
So hes a close friend then.
She offered Nick a sweet smile. Lets just say I know him better than I know you.
Sliding his hand under her chin, he held her firmly in place. Max Macallum was here in Painters Bluff when Kristiana Felgard died.
Sasha didnt move or pull away. So was your sheriff. And Dana. And Gary Cooper down the hall from me.
Nicks gaze dropped to her mouth before returning to her eyes. You can work with Max, Sasha. That doesnt mean you should trust him.
What about you, Detective? You said a cop was killed. Maybe it took another cop to do it.
Maybe it did.
He ran his thumb lightly over her lips. Shed rather hed used his mouth, but even a misplaced wish wasnt going to deter her.
I dont trust easily, Nick, and I always watch my back. Its one of the few good lessons my mother taught me. Partly because he continued to stare, but mostly because she wanted to, she bridged the small gap between them and gave him a kiss. I promise, I wont trust anyone. She kissed him again, then stepped away. Not even you.