# Melanie P. Smith

> Author

> Generated by All in One SEO Pro v5.0.3, this is an llms-full.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

## Posts

### [Mounted Posse Horse Show 2015](https://melaniepsmith.com/mounted-posse-horse-show-2015/)

**Published:** May 15, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Mounted Posse Horse Show 2015

**May 2015 - I had a great time at the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office Annual Spring Open Horse Show in South Jordan, Utah.**

They had tons of events for the kids from Western Pleasure to Poles to Bareback and Barrels. Kids eight and over competed for trophies, prizes and tons of fun. The Hired Guns (Cowboy entertainers) were a big hit. Plus a portion of the proceeds went to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. AND...I even sold a few books!

The final touch was the amazing sunset over the valley that night. It was a fun time had by all and I can't wait to do it again.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Spring-Horse-Show-Program-Page-4.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/IMG_2036.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/11222151_10208066814014034_2554944995123221664_o.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Horse-Show.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Kelly.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/11415306_1639348349614990_4554937155075215189_n.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/IMG_1966.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bucking.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/IMG_1965.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/IMG_1961.jpg)

**Categories:** Melanies Events

**Tags:** 2015

---

### [Up and Down Down-Under](https://melaniepsmith.com/up-and-down-down-under/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Up and Down Down-Under by Suzanne Downes -- 1000 Word challenge winner  February 2024

**Content:**

# 1000 Word Challenge Winner

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Photo-Banner-Web.jpg)

Everyone has heard the saying — *A Picture is Worth 1000 Words*. Well, Connections eMagazine decided to put that to the test. In each edition we post an image and ask authors to tell a story in approximately 1000 words. Then, a poll is posted on our website and Facebook page — and readers get to choose their favorite. Each story is unique, compelling and interesting. It just goes to show, the picture might be worth a thousand words — but, those words can be as diverse as the author who writes them. Meet one of the winners.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/February-2024-MPS.jpg)

**Up and Down Down-Under by Suzanne Downes**
Published February 2024

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100037757172678

[Read Story](https://view.publitas.com/mpsmith-publishing/connections-emagazine-special-edition-2024/page/64-65)

[Certificate](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kpvmqlijixj5vfqlpz7tt/February-2024.pdf?rlkey=lcv9de84lcjt85541ahgdysyj&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 1000 Words, February 2024

---

### [Underneath](https://melaniepsmith.com/underneath/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Underneath By Sarah Hindmarsh -- 1000 Word challenge winner December 2023

**Content:**

# 1000 Word Challenge Winner

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Photo-Banner-Web.jpg)

Everyone has heard the saying — *A Picture is Worth 1000 Words*. Well, Connections eMagazine decided to put that to the test. In each edition we post an image and ask authors to tell a story in approximately 1000 words. Then, a poll is posted on our website and Facebook page — and readers get to choose their favorite. Each story is unique, compelling and interesting. It just goes to show, the picture might be worth a thousand words — but, those words can be as diverse as the author who writes them. Meet one of the winners.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/November-2023-MPS-1.jpg)

**Underneath By Sarah Hindmarsh**
Published December 2023

<https://www.facebook.com/Sarahhindmarshauthor>

[Read Story](https://view.publitas.com/mpsmith-publishing/connections-emagazine-special-edition-2024/page/56-57)

[Certificate](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/n1yu9aro3fifvmuewa8p8/December-2023.pdf?rlkey=nc7vxjeyb75os91qkqsr81eq8&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 1000 Words, December 2023

---

### [The Promise](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-promise/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** The Promise  by Tom Benson -- 1000 Word challenge winner August 2023

**Content:**

# 1000 Word Challenge Winner

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Photo-Banner-Web.jpg)

Everyone has heard the saying — *A Picture is Worth 1000 Words*. Well, Connections eMagazine decided to put that to the test. In each edition we post an image and ask authors to tell a story in approximately 1000 words. Then, a poll is posted on our website and Facebook page — and readers get to choose their favorite. Each story is unique, compelling and interesting. It just goes to show, the picture might be worth a thousand words — but, those words can be as diverse as the author who writes them. Meet one of the winners.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/August-2023-MPS.jpg)

**The Promise by Tom Benson**
Published August 2023

<http://www.tombensonauthor.com>

[Read Story](https://view.publitas.com/mpsmith-publishing/connections-emagazine-special-edition-2024/page/34-35)

[Certificate](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ooj3ku7olohou2omuwd04/August-2023.pdf?rlkey=pm7v31kiaep7cbjvcpqtxb78e&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 1000 Words, August 2023

---

### [Reckoning](https://melaniepsmith.com/reckoning/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Reckoning by Melanie P. Smith -- 1000 Word Challenge Winner, May 2023

**Content:**

# 1000 Word Challenge Winner

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Photo-Banner-Web.jpg)

Everyone has heard the saying — *A Picture is Worth 1000 Words*. Well, Connections eMagazine decided to put that to the test. In each edition we post an image and ask authors to tell a story in approximately 1000 words. Then, a poll is posted on our website and Facebook page — and readers get to choose their favorite. Each story is unique, compelling and interesting. It just goes to show, the picture might be worth a thousand words — but, those words can be as diverse as the author who writes them. Meet one of the winners.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/May-2023-MPS.jpg)

**Reckoning by Melanie P. Smith**
Published May 2023

<https://melaniepsmith.com>

[Read Story](https://view.publitas.com/mpsmith-publishing/connections-emagazine-special-edition-2024/page/22-23)

[Certificate](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/88r8bdj3fa3up93pv68qu/May-2023.pdf?rlkey=smenfexs2b7qj3zjglr064pcl&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 1000 Words, May 2023

---

### [No Fairytale](https://melaniepsmith.com/no-fairytale/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** No Fairytale by Sylva Fae -- 1000 Word challenge winner February 2023

**Content:**

# 1000 Word Challenge Winner

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Photo-Banner-Web.jpg)

Everyone has heard the saying — A Picture is Worth 1000 Words. Well, Connections eMagazine decided to put that to the test. In each edition we post an image and ask authors to tell a story in approximately 1000 words. Then, a poll is posted on our website and Facebook page — and readers get to choose their favorite. Each story is unique, compelling and interesting. It just goes to show, the picture might be worth a thousand words — but, those words can be as diverse as the author who writes them. Meet one of the winners.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/February-2023-MPS.jpg)

**No Fairytale By Sylva Fae**
Published February 2023

<https://www.facebook.com/SylvaFae>

[Read Story](https://view.publitas.com/mpsmith-publishing/connections-emagazine-special-edition-2024/page/6-7)

[Certificate](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wltfj8dixe5x3gx66lc3i/February-2023.pdf?rlkey=6crnte7ccvkujij2hlaq6ya49&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 1000 Words, February 2023

---

### [A Beginner's Guide to Starting Over](https://melaniepsmith.com/a-beginners-guide-to-starting-over/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** A Beginner's Guide to Starting Over -- Bronze Medal Romance Novels, #5 Popular Winner, #6 Overall

**Content:**

# Romance Novels

**A Beginner's Guide to Starting Over**
***by Gabi Coatsworth***

**Bronze Medal --** Romance Novels
**\#6 --** Overall
**\#5 --** Popular Winner

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Starting-Over_Final-RCA.jpg)

It's time for widow Molly Stevenson to stand on her own two feet. With blind dates, a needy ghost, and her small‑town bookstore in trouble, she's going to need all her inner strength to prevent another unhappy ending.

Forty‑something Molly can't bear to remove her wedding band. Still grieving the death of her beloved husband, the last thing she needs is her sleazy landlord raising the rent to drive her bookshop out of business. Now, this mild‑mannered indie bookstore owner must find the inner strength to turn the page to a brand‑new chapter.

So she's relieved when the ghost of her husband arrives claiming he's there to help. But is he?

With a little nudge from beyond the grave, Molly hatches a plan to revitalize her boutique and keep the doors open. But with everyone, including her spectral spouse, insisting she start dating again, Molly isn't sure what's worse-the dates she meets online or the love of her life trying to find her a new man-who's not quite as good as him. How will she find the courage to fight for herself?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CYF8BBK5)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wzsijlmql29fusg88fy02/3b-Romance.pdf?rlkey=gjd2mjbyr29h1yai3bt6m6osv&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Bronze Medal, 2024 Overall, 2024 Popular Vote, 2024 Romance Books

---

### [The Baby](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-baby/)

**Published:** July 19, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** The Baby -- Gold Medal in Horror, Thriller, & Mystery, #9 Overall, #4 Cover Design

**Content:**

# Horror, Thriller, & Mystery

**The Baby**
***by AJ McDine***

**Gold Medal --** Horror, Thriller, & Mystery
**\#4--** Cover Design
**\#9 --** Overall

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/The-Baby_Final-RCA.jpg)

There’s a baby in your house. It isn’t yours…

The day I was told I’d never be able to have a child, my world came crashing down. My husband says he still loves me but I lie awake at night, wishing we could have a family.

One morning, my husband’s side of the bed is cold and empty. I hear a noise and head downstairs.

In the middle of the rug in my living room is a wooden drawer. Swaddled inside, with perfect rosy cheeks and beautiful round blue eyes, a baby gazes up at me.

I shiver. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, but this baby is not mine…

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CW1K8W27)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/s/u1j3h0gdstef7fr/1%20HTM.pdf?dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Cover Design, 2024 Gold Medal, 2024 Horror-Thriller-Mystery, 2024 Overall

---

### [Killer With Black Blood](https://melaniepsmith.com/killer-with-black-blood/)

**Published:** July 19, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Killer With Black Blood -- 2024 Finalist in Thriller, Horror, & Mystery

**Content:**

# Horror, Thriller, & Mystery

**Killer With Black Blood**
***by J L Hill***

**2024 Finalist - Thriller, Horror & Mystery**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Black-Blood_Final-RCA.jpg)

The third novel in the adult urban crime fiction Killer Series is Killer With Black Blood. Nicky ‘Nails’ Rocci is head of his Mafia family. He takes Sal, who has been institutionalized after he killed his father and mother, to see their mausoleum. Snipers kill Sal and critically wounds Nicky. MoJo gets the news and, on his way back to New York, recalls Nicky’s fake assassination that started an inter-family war. MoJo forces Nicky to confront his depression and together they will track down Nicky’s assailant. Adding to Nicky’s problems, Nathan surfaces in the hands of the FBI and Nicky goes on trial for the murder of the two detectives and Joseph Banoa in the Bella Rosa Massacre.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0948NTH86)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Finalist, 2024 Horror-Thriller-Mystery

---

### [Killer With Ice Eyes](https://melaniepsmith.com/killer-with-ice-eyes/)

**Published:** July 19, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Killer With Ice Eyes - 2024 Finalist Thriller, Horror, & Mystery

**Content:**

# Horror, Thriller, & Mystery

**Killer With Ice Eyes**
***by J L Hill***

**2024 Finalist in Horror, Thriller, & Mystery**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ice-Eyes_Final-RCA.jpg)

1997 - Maria is twenty-two years old. She is leading the Bright Skies Agency, an anti-terrorist/mercenary group, which combats human trafficking around the world. Barry Thomas, a government intelligence agent, working with Maria and her father MoJo objects to her tactics of letting herself be captured, then using the GPS within her to direct the BSA mercenaries to their target.

Maria is driven to finding Sgt. Warren whom neither her nor MoJo is convince died in the rocket attack on D.C. MoJo tells her and Barry the only way to be certain of death is to look a man in the eye and shoot him in the head. Maria takes control of the businesses which includes arms dealing, money laundering, kidnapping/rescues.

Nicky tells Maria he is stepping down as the Godfather and she is going to head both organizations. She has plans to rebuild the mob as a legitimate business after the Commission Trials had decimated the five families. At her request, Nicky puts out a contract hit on her as if she is performing a hostile takeover. She thinks it will bring Sgt. Warren out of hiding. It brings out more than they bargain for. Maria kidnaps Warren's daughter to use her as bait, as he had kidnapped her, to force him to face her.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BZ2D21XP)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Finalist, 2024 Horror-Thriller-Mystery

---

### [Lancer](https://melaniepsmith.com/lancer/)

**Published:** July 19, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** “Lancer; Hero of the West – The Virginia City Affair -- 2024 Finalist in General Fiction, Bronze Medal in Cover Design

**Content:**

# General Fiction

**“Lancer; Hero of the West – The Virginia City Affair**
***by Bob Brill***

**Bronze Medal --** Cover Design
**2024 Finalist --** General Fiction

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Lancer_Final-RCA.jpg)

"The Virginia City Affair" is the seventh book in the "Lancer; Hero of the West" series and is the most aggressive to date. Our hero heads to the silver fields of Nevada to help an old friend, only to learn he's up against a killer on a mission.

As justified in his mind as the killer's mission may be, Lancer still finds himself caught between right, wrong and indifferent. When an old calls upon Lancer to save his family from a killer bent on revenge, Lancer answers the call as always. This time however, he learns he can't always trust his friends. Lancer also learns someone else from his past is waiting for him; a woman from very long ago.

Plot twists, good detective work, old connections and a little pure luck mixed with revenge in the silver fields of Nevada. Another Lancer adventure to keep you glued to your seat.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CVR5XSTL)

## Certificates...

[Cover](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ofdobcv5x89ulmnmlo51i/3-Cover.pdf?rlkey=lfw0u35obngedxldgl0kg1czi&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Bronze Medal, 2024 Cover Design, 2024 Finalist, 2024 General Fiction

---

### [Neo's Forever Home](https://melaniepsmith.com/neos-forever-home/)

**Published:** July 19, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Neo's Forever Home -- Gold Medal Popular Winner, Bronze Medal Children's Picture Books and Overall

**Content:**

# Children's Picture Books

**Neo's Forever Home**
***by Randi-Lee Bowslaugh***

**Gold Medal --** Popular Winner
**Bronze Medal --** Children's Picture Books & Overall

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Neos-Home_Final-RCA.jpg)

When Neo was born, his leg was not straight.
It was tough, and he didn't feel great.
At the pound, they didn't have a clue.
But the vet knew what to do.
Neo dreamed of having a home.
He wanted to be loved and to roam.

Follow Neo's journey as he seeks to find his forever home.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CGL9VKKS)

## Certificates...

[Popular](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xyvmjyz5sqzwrem15g2q0/1-Popular.pdf?rlkey=9byrm6ixyj48ssqqgsjl0mdpi&dl=0)

[Overall](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vywmgbx49mv4ifxg4tob0/3-Overall.pdf?rlkey=gzv9e2y2j3zhqnmu3hbexi6hw&dl=0)

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/s/j1bapu6xu84u1s6/3%20Childrens.pdf?dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Bronze Medal, 2024 Childrens Picture, 2024 Gold Medal, 2024 Overall, 2024 Popular Vote

---

### [Survival Ste & Benji Go on an Adventure](https://melaniepsmith.com/survival-ste-benji-go-on-an-adventure/)

**Published:** July 19, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Survival Ste & Benji Go on an Adventure -- Gold Medal Winner Children's Picture Books, Silver Winner Cover Design

**Content:**

# Children's Picture Books

**Survival Ste & Benji Go on an Adventure**
***by Steven Kelly***

**\#4 --** Overall
**Gold Medal --** Children's Books
**Silver Medal --** Cover Design
**\#6 --** Popular Winner

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Survival-Benji_Final-RCA.jpg)

Survival Ste and Benji the toy poodle are venturing through the woods when oh no! Benji runs off with the map!

Can Survival Ste navigate the dangerous forest and make it to his fluffy companion safely.

Find out in this exciting adventure.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09HN86PJ8)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/cf6zwqb9k11i3e2et8o4k/1-Childrens.pdf?rlkey=clcu342gobp6be0th5vmpa933&dl=0)

[Cover](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2jr0kkc85il4v0h5b1xm4/2-Cover.pdf?rlkey=45tnjrl0jwpw3nczbnws7tzn2&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Childrens Picture, 2024 Cover Design, 2024 Gold Medal, 2024 Overall, 2024 Popular Vote, 2024 Silver Medal

---

### [Blood on Vines](https://melaniepsmith.com/blood-on-vines/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Blood on Vines -- Silver Medal Horror, Thriller, & Mystery, #6 Cover Design

**Content:**

# Horror, Thriller, & Mystery

**Blood on Vines**
***by Madeleine Eskedahl***

**Silver Medal --** Horror, Thriller, & Mystery
**\#6** Cover Design

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Blood-on-Vines_Final-RCA.jpg)

**Four friends, a shared past, a common enemy.**
In New Zealand’s Martinborough, an ex-wine maker is murdered. The precise planning and execution by the unknown assailant begin a series of vile attacks. Meanwhile north of Auckland, the long, hot summer is over and the tourists have left the Matakana wine country. A tranquil atmosphere descends and warm autumnal winds sweep across the grape-laden valleys. With the harvest due, grapes sit bursting upon the manicured vines awaiting the pick. Within this vista of peace, a rampage of death is about to rock the local community to its core. Will it be their shared history that sees the four friends being picked off one-by- one?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08NFSPJP7)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jeo7621jfrm6m2v1fsl27/2-HTM.pdf?rlkey=2py5rf6yicby2cofhr0v9r9fg&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Cover Design, 2024 Horror-Thriller-Mystery, 2024 Silver Medal

---

### [Break It Down](https://melaniepsmith.com/break-it-down/)

**Published:** July 19, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Break It Down -- Gold Medal General Fiction

**Content:**

# General Fiction

**Break It Down**
***by Rebecca Bryn***

**\#9 --** Overall
**Gold Medal --** General Fiction

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Break-it-Down_Final-RCA.jpg)

Prequel to the Wales Rising series. Evan and his parents endure the dangers of work in a slate quarry in Wales, while Elen’s family ekes out a meagre living spinning and cloth finishing in rural Yorkshire. When their lives and livelihoods are threatened, desperation forces them to seek work in northern England’s new industrial heartland. Will their hopes of a better life turn into a nightmare?

Machines take the place of skilled men, and in the woollen mills of Wakefield, Evan and Elen are cruelly exploited as cheap child labour. War with France, recession, mass unemployment, and poor harvests bring the north of England to the brink of starvation.

As Evan and Elen’s love deepens, the textile workers’ only option is to rebel against the harsh mill owners and an uncaring government or starve. Rebellion led by ‘General Ludd’ grows stronger and more violent as they break the machines and attack the mills that are taking their jobs. Will their actions lead to salvation or a tragic end?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0D31Z3FR6)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/eleyfo91h8n8ntdu7nxwv/1-General.pdf?rlkey=fx9sipl55ytn645epojlh1wsi&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 General Fiction, 2024 Gold Medal, 2024 Overall

---

### [From Brick & Darkness](https://melaniepsmith.com/from-brick-darkness/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** From Brick & Darkness -- Bronze Medal Young Adult Novels, #10 Popular Winner

**Content:**

# Young Adult Novels

**From Brick & Darkness**
***by JL Sullivan***

**Bronze Medal --** Young Adult Novels
**\#10 --** Popular Winner

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/From-Brick-and-Darkness_Final-RCA.jpg)

Bax always fantasized something remarkable would happen in his life. So when a decrepit man with glowing purple eyes offers him a ring intended for his estranged father, Bax accepts.

The ring speaks to Bax in a dream, tempting him with a vision of a powerful djinn. Desperate to make his fantasies a reality, Bax unleashes a creature called Ifrit, but soon learns this djinn isn't what the ring led him to believe. Feeding off the depths of his subconscious, the sinister demon fulfills what he thinks Bax wants by manipulating, threatening, and murdering. With everyone he loves in danger and a trail of crimes pointing back at him, Bax must scramble to solve the puzzle that will banish Ifrit forever.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09THQ24TC)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xy0buq108o5fvaleff3d9/3-Young-Adult.pdf?rlkey=gy1hkhu3skxzf8axrs598lryj&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Bronze Medal, 2024 Popular Vote, 2024 Young Adult

---

### [He'll be Waiting](https://melaniepsmith.com/hell-be-waiting/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** He'll be Waiting -- Silver Medal Young Adult Novels

**Content:**

# Young Adult Novels

**He'll be Waiting**
***by Liz Alterman***

**Silver Medal --** Young Adult Novels

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Hell-be-waiting_Final-RCA.jpg)

**There are no safe spaces...**

When Tess Porter agrees to pick up her boyfriend's college pal at the airport on a snowy December night, she has no idea she's about to embark on the most dangerous ride of her life. Two days later, the 17-year-old wakes up in a hospital with broken bones, and unable to remember how she got there. Her parents are acting strangely, and neither James, her boyfriend, nor her best friend Izzy has visited. As she struggles to physically recover, Tess wrestles with haunting questions: What happened? Will her memory ever return? and what if she's better off not recalling any of it?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B091N9XH9M)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/e074f7as94v7qrgrez59o/2-Young-Adult.pdf?rlkey=j6i1f95xw8jwikm8sk2uq9qea&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Silver Medal, 2024 Young Adult

---

### [The Headmasters](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-headmasters/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** The Headmasters -- Gold Medal Young Adult

**Content:**

# Young Adult Novels

**The Headmasters**
***by Mark Morton***

**Gold Medal --** Young Adult Novels

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/The-Headmasters_Final-RCA.jpg)

How do you learn from the past if there isn’t one?

Sixty years ago, something awful happened. Something that killed everyone except the people at Blue Ring. Something that caused the Headmasters to appear. But Maple doesn’t know what it was. Because talking about the past is forbidden.

Everyone at Blue Ring has a Headmaster. They sink their sinewy coils into your skull and control you, using your body for backbreaking toil and your mind to communicate with each other. When someone dies, their Headmaster transfers to someone new. But so do the dead person’s memories, and if one of those memories surfaces in the new host’s mind, their brain breaks. That’s why talking about the past is forbidden.

Maple hates this world where the past can’t exist and the future promises only more suffering. And she hates the Headmasters for making it that way. But she doesn’t know how to fight them – until memories start to surface in her mind from someone who long ago came close to defeating the Headmasters.

But whose memories are they? Why aren’t they harming her? And how can she use them to defeat the Headmasters? Maple has to find the answers herself, unable to tell anyone what she’s experiencing or planning—not even Thorn, the young man she’s falling in love with. Thorn, who has some forbidden secrets of his own . . .

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CMFC5925)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fj57rxr92rtcabpnq85mx/1-Young-Adult.pdf?rlkey=w3hzr98oyr6x2xshpph68tul2&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Gold Medal, 2024 Young Adult

---

### [Future Proof](https://melaniepsmith.com/future-proof/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Future Proof -- Bronze Medal Fantasy & SciFI,

**Content:**

# Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books

**Future Proof**
***by David Atkinson***

**Bronze Medal --** Fantasy & SciFi

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Future-Proof_Final-RCA.jpg)

What would you do if you could go back in time and change your life? Which regrets and mistakes would you fix? What would your life look like now?

In Future Proof an experimental medical treatment goes wrong which allows Sam Harris to do exactly that. He starts by standing up to the kids who bullied him at school and then sets about trying to fix the mess he made of the rest of his life. However, as he discovers, changing his past doesn’t always guarantee a brighter future.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BQNCSBXX)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/s6ksds6e7qfwc31o08mww/3-Fantasy.pdf?rlkey=dhuttwz5vac3qc7i0erdiy1yi&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Bronze Medal, 2024 Fantasy-SciFi

---

### [Grand Tour](https://melaniepsmith.com/grand-tour/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Grand Tour -The Brass Queen II -- Gold Medal Fantasy & SciFi, #8 Overall

**Content:**

# Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books

**Grand Tour -The Brass Queen II**
***by Elizabeth Chatsworth***

**Gold Medal --** Fantasy & SciFi
**\#8 --** Overall

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Grand-Tour_Final-RCA.jpg)

**The grass was always greener in another dimension.**

In a fantastical steam-powered world, eccentric aristocrat and secret arms dealer, Miss Constance Haltwhistle, has been blackmailed into stealing alien artifacts from the crown heads of Europe. Only the shady but annoyingly handsome US spy, “Liberty” Trusdale, can help her execute her perfect palace heists. As Constance creates chaos and mayhem across the Continent, monstrous creatures are plotting an interdimensional invasion of Earth. Will Constance and Trusdale stop bickering long enough to end the war of the worlds before it starts?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CB1RWKF7)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8e4eo79hcp9eeuxuzgvj6/1-Fantasy.pdf?rlkey=wdwqcr685gqzln41nxplq97p1&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Fantasy-SciFi, 2024 Gold Medal, 2024 Overall

---

### [United Vidden](https://melaniepsmith.com/united-vidden/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** United Vidden -- Silver Medal Fantasy & Sci-Fi, #10 Cover Design

**Content:**

# Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books

**United Vidden**
***by Fern Brady***

**Silver Medal --** Fantasy & Sci-Fi
**\#10 --** Cover Design

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/United-Vidden_Final-RCA.jpg)

Shattered by her father’s decision to deny her the throne as the first female heir of Dravidia, Princess Verena makes the worst mistake of her life: She runs away. Her departure, days before her wedding to the heir of the Principality of Aulden, throws her nation into war. In a desperate bid to reverse the consequences of her choice, the princess returns to planet Jorn, anxious to prove herself worthy to rule. But it is too late. The princess finds her kingdom conquered by Prince Amiel ra Aulden. Now, Verena must earn back her birthright as well as the trust of her people.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08BWHG4JF)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rxh9o6ye5rek656p3tm2u/2-Fantasy.pdf?rlkey=3felf50y5dvkvgxsfj82djolu&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Cover Design, 2024 Fantasy-SciFi, 2024 Silver Medal

---

### [Sacrifices for Kingdoms](https://melaniepsmith.com/sacrifices-for-kingdoms/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Sacrifices for Kingdoms -- Silver Medal Romance Novels, #10 Overall

**Content:**

# Romance Novels

**Sacrifices for Kingdoms**
***by Patricia D'Arcy Laughlin***

**Silver Medal --** Romance Novels
**\#10 --** Overall

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Sacrifices_Final-RCA.jpg)

IN A WORLD WHERE LOVE BATTLES TRADITION, ONE COUPLE’S PASSION IGNITES A FIRESTORM OF INTRIGUE.

Elizabeth is on a mission. She’s a tempest of conviction, an activist and philanthropist from the vibrant lands of Trinidad with a desire to change the world. But everything becomes more complicated when she meets Michael, a socially conscious European prince with a heart as noble as his lineage.

Elizabeth, with her commanding presence and thought-provoking speeches on equality, becomes a beacon of change. Her fearless dedication to her cause earns her admiration and love from some, but also paints a target on her back from religious extremists. Michael, bound by duty yet driven by a deep-seated desire to protect Elizabeth, finds himself in a precarious balance between his royal obligations and the dictates of his heart.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CL35V7VZ)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gcv906p2b0plageo2hxzz/2-Romance.pdf?rlkey=2x73ild6twqqqpzot8hm84jgl&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Overall, 2024 Romance Books, 2024 Silver Medal

---

### [Love from Scratch](https://melaniepsmith.com/love-from-scratch/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Love from Scratch -- 2024 Finalist Romance Novels

**Content:**

# Romance Novels

**Love from Scratch**
***by Amy Hutton***

**2024 Finalist Romance Novels**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Love-from-Scratch_Final-RCA.jpg)

Opposites attract in this laugh-out-loud rom-com about a heart-throb actor, the grumpy woman who minds his beloved dog, and the cat that steals his heart.

Ethan James has a problem: he’s about to start shooting a movie and he needs someone to mind his anxious dog, Harry. This film could make or break Ethan's career, and he knows he has to give it all his attention, but Harry's new minder turns out to be more of a hindrance than a help. She's gorgeous and funny, and throws so much shade in his direction that Ethan can't think straight.

Hazel Conor has a problem: she’s just lost her job as a sous chef at the fancy beachside restaurant she uphauled her life for. And if she doesn’t get another job soon, she won’t be able to afford food – or worse, cat food, and then her grouchy cat Kevin will finally murder her in her sleep. So when she sees an ad for an easy dog minder job, she goes for it.

Hazel finds everything about Ethan annoying; he’s flashy, flirty, and a total charmer. She probably wouldn’t look at him twice if it wasn’t for her cat. Because Kevin, the cat who hates everyone, is totally smitten with Ethan James. And with each purr, cheek rub and head bump that Kevin bestows on Ethan, Hazel begins to wonder if there’s something her cat can see that she can’t.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CPYZD612)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Finalist, 2024 Romance Books

---

### [Living La Vida Mocha](https://melaniepsmith.com/living-la-vida-mocha/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Living La Vida Mocha -- Gold Medal Romance, #6 Overall, #8 Popular Winners, #9 Cover Design

**Content:**

# Romance Novels

**Living La Vida Mocha**
***by H.M. Shander***

**Gold Medal --** Romance
**\#6 --** Overall
**\#8 --** Popular Winner
**\#9 --** Cover Design

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Vida-Mocha_Final-RCA.jpg)

Brewing Up Second Chances and Love in the Heart of the Rockies

Cara Gallagher had it all: the perfect apartment, a charming plus one, and a dreamy marketing job. Until, in the blink of an eye, she had nothing. Fired and dumped in a matter of minutes, Cara finds herself at rock bottom. Desperate for a moment of respite, she stumbles upon the Coffee Loft, hoping for a burst of sugar and caffeine to mend her wounded heart. Instead, she walks straight into the unexpected - the person she never thought she'd encounter again, the one who had always held her heart.

Thirteen years has passed, but Carter Cross remains the enigmatic soul she remembers from their college days. The pain of his departure for European adventures still haunts her, but her heart yearns for another chance. Carter, too, longs to be with her, yet secrets hold him back.

With the gift of a fresh start in her hands, Cara sets out to rewrite her destiny. Her focus? Ridge Heights, the picturesque small town brimming with opportunities for redemption. And the center of her mission is Carter.
Will their second chance at love be as sweet as the coffee at the Coffee Loft?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CGF9QVMX)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ypljqsfjt9aorqs82fwza/1-Romance.pdf?rlkey=5ux1fgrwz1lg7lia9njiyqn7g&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Cover Design, 2024 Gold Medal, 2024 Overall, 2024 Popular Vote, 2024 Romance Books

---

### [Love's Call](https://melaniepsmith.com/loves-call/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Love's Call -- Bronze Medal in Romance Novels

**Content:**

# Romance Novels

**Love's Call**
***by Fern Brady***

**Bronze Medal --** Romance

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Loves-Call_Final-RCA.jpg)

Denipia Leron, a beautiful young painter and visionary from the country of Usmerim, has just won the coveted Innovation Awards in the Arts. During her trip to the award ceremony, she learns that President Nichamir Linput of the enemy nation of Sorusvia is a primary patron and has expressed special interest in her. Fearful of what this could mean for her burgeoning company and artistic career, she vows to be polite, but keep the would-be dictator as far from her as she can.

Nichamir is used to getting what he wants, both personally and politically. Having saved his nation from a Calvernsin invasion, he believes himself justified in how he rules Sorusvia. In spite of the propaganda against him, Nichamir works hard to bring prosperity to his people. Yet the powerful ruler finds himself unprepared for his first meeting with the strong-willed and wary Denipia.

But Nichamir is not what he seems. He is dragonborn, a secret he has carefully hidden his whole life. He knows Denipia is his fated mate from the first moment he catches her scent. For Denipia, the strength of the attraction she feels for a man she should deeply despise is disconcerting, yet undeniable. She wants Nichamir as she has never wanted any other man.

Can Denipia risk giving her heart to this powerful man? Will Nichamir be able to win her trust? Can Love’s Call help them overcome the many obstacles in their path and forge the bond they seem destined to fulfill?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BS1SV7TZ)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ev0u9xm8u3jylx0b81w90/3a-Romance.pdf?rlkey=ajd8n36teboujy4clnbtk31gs&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Bronze Medal, 2024 Romance Books

---

### [Quest for Love](https://melaniepsmith.com/quest-for-love/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Quest for Love -- Gold Medal Non Fiction, #7 Overall, #8 Cover Design

**Content:**

# Non Fiction

**Quest for Love**
***by Anneke Lucas***

**Gold Medal --** Non Fiction
**\#7 --Overall**
**\#8 --** Cover Design

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Quest-for-Love_Final-RCA.jpg)

This memoir invites the reader into the heart and mind of a young Belgian girl as she shares events out of one year of her life, her voice supported by the vocabulary and understanding of the adult author. The child’s circumstances are brutal; she is being sold by a mentally ill mother into a murderous pedophile network. She desperately clings to the belief that in spite of all appearances, true love does exist, and searches for the faintest sign of it in the midst of hell. When her blind love for her mother is transferred onto a charming perpetrator, she experiences romantic passion, but is soon cast into abject betrayal and violence, ultimately leading to her certain demise. In the darkest of circumstances, a near-death experience shows her the truth underlying her phenomenal world, and she is given a glimpse of that great love for which she is so desperately seeking.

Extreme, organized child abuse is horrifying, and often impossible to contemplate. And yet, acknowledging the reality of darkness is the first step towards healing. This account offers both the raw, cold facts as well as the resilience and grace from the victim’s perspective, revealing that the darkest of nightmares is rarely just that, but commensurate with gifts of light. This ten-year old’s journey suggests that heinous suffering can unlock hidden spiritual treasures of transcendence and unconditional love.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0B4FV3982)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sha7ol7ap67fop3dlflxx/1-NonFiction.pdf?rlkey=owal4pzahc4j7atxxjsaxlx73&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Cover Design, 2024 Gold Medal, 2024 Non Fiction, 2024 Overall

---

### [The Devil Wears a Kitchen Apron](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-devil-wears-a-kitchen-apron/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** The Devil Wears a Kitchen Apron -- Bronze Medal Non Fiction, #4 Popular Winner, #7 Overall

**Content:**

# Non Fiction

**The Devil Wears a Kitchen Apron**
***by Kenny Wilson***

**Bronze Medal --** Non Fiction
**\#4 --** Popular Winner
**\#7 --** Overall

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/The-Devil_Final-RCA.jpg)

Think street poetry meets “Boiling Point.” Throw in some “Kitchen Confidential.” and stir in a big ladle of “The Bear”
and you have, The Devil Wears a Kitchen Apron.
With over 45 years spent in hospitality, I’ve seen it all. I’ve met some very interesting people on this journey working in some of the most demanding establishments from 5-star Scottish hotels, luxury cruise liners touring the world and cooking for Royalty, to flipping burgers during covid lock down. I also reached the dizzy highs of working for the BBC and STV (Scottish TV) where I presented cookery programs for some years and wrote food columns for national magazines.

Unfortunately, kitchens draw in people with lots of social problems, from which I took some of my inspiration for my street poetry / spoken word / ramblings.

It’s an industry where long hours, stressful and hot conditions mixed with social issues, alcohol, drugs and the like make an interesting lifestyle and working environment.
This book contains stories and poems about the pressures of working in kitchens, and also the impact it can have on your family life and on yourself.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0D4JKXB1N)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mpkbo8ire5xquljre75fd/3-NonFiction.pdf?rlkey=ofnfckw3x3xfsii4tvjx35a3t&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Bronze Medal, 2024 Non Fiction, 2024 Overall, 2024 Popular Vote

---

### [Passion Struck](https://melaniepsmith.com/passion-struck/)

**Published:** July 20, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Passion Struck: Twelve Powerful Principles to Unlock Your Purpose and Ignite Your Most Intentional Life -- Silver Medal Non Fiction, #5 Overall, #7 Popular Winner, #7 Cover Design

**Content:**

# Non Fiction

**Passion Struck:** Twelve Powerful Principles to Unlock Your Purpose and Ignite Your Most Intentional Life
***by John R. Miles***

**Silver Medal --** Non Fiction
**\#7 --** Cover Design
**\#7 --** Popular Winner
**\#5 --** Overall

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Passion-Struck_Final-RCA.jpg)

**A powerful Blueprint for Transforming Your Life from Ordinary to Extraordinary**

Imagine yourself waking up each day with a clear mission, free from self-doubt, and armed with the skills to lead and thrive in any situation. In Passion Struck, John R. Miles provides a compelling roadmap to elevate your life from ordinary to extraordinary.

In this book, you will learn how to:
· Create a meaningful mission that will enhance your life's purpose from Square founder Jim McKelvey.
· Identify the root causes of self-doubt and overcome fears that are holding you back from Oprah Winfrey.
· Transform the way you lead from General McChrystal and the Honorable Keith Krach, former Under Secretary of State.
· Unleash your potential by taking purposeful actions toward achieving your dreams from Astronaut Captain Wendy Lawrence.
· Transform the world around you by harnessing Jeff Bezos's power of adaptability.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CGS248NR)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4v7s1847fc9p0f8oz0f5y/2-NonFiction.pdf?rlkey=ix0bezt21ziohkosacwcntsc9&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Cover Design, 2024 Non Fiction, 2024 Overall, 2024 Popular Vote, 2024 Silver Medal

---

### [Her Buried Bones](https://melaniepsmith.com/her-buried-bones/)

**Published:** July 19, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Her Buried Bones -- Bronze Medal Horror, Thriller, & Mystery, #5 Cover Design, 

**Content:**

# Horror, Thriller, & Mystery

**Her Buried Bones**
***by Fiona Tarr***

**Bronze Medal --** Horror, Thriller, & Mystery
**\#5 --** Cover Design

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Her-Buried-Bones_Final-RCA.jpg)

**She came to find answers – she discovered a trail of secrets…**

When Jenny Williams took a job as the new constable in an outback opal mining town, she thought she’d be hunting down clues to find her missing aunt and cousin. But when a young woman’s body is found at the bottom of a mine shaft, a possible murder forces her personal agenda to take a back seat.

Jenny goes head to head with her new commanding officer. He doesn’t want to ruffle feathers in town and rules the case Death By Misadventure. But Jenny is sure the dead woman met with foul play.

Risking her job, and her chance at solving her family mystery, Jenny will go behind her boss’s back and uncover not only a killer, but a lead that could reveal a decade of corruption.

This case could be the link she’s been hoping for. But it might just end her career.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BT7HNV32)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sibwkj7vbo4k61mjvxvqp/3-HTM.pdf?rlkey=9h86xvejb3ffpeuujkwpj48l3&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Bronze Medal, 2024 Cover Design, 2024 Horror-Thriller-Mystery

---

### [Somewhere in Minnesota](https://melaniepsmith.com/somewhere-in-minnesota/)

**Published:** July 19, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Somewhere in Minnesota -- Bronze Medal General Fiction, #9 Popular

**Content:**

# General Fiction

**Somewhere in Minnesota**
***by Jayna Locke***

**\#9 --** Overall
**Bronze Medal --** General Fiction

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Minnesota_Final-RCA.jpg)

With springtime in the air, a toddler chases a ball onto a melting ice-covered lake far beyond his parents' reach.

As the chill of Autumn comes to Minnesota, Max opens the door to find a grizzled drifter on the doorstep. Then Max realizes he knows the man.

When Julie returns to her mother's home on the shores of Lake Superior, she sees an odd shape tossed by the waves onto the beach. What is it?

Somewhere in Minnesota is a short story collection about the frenetic human experience and the ways in which life manifests itself and delivers defining moments. With Minnesota lakes and seasons as the backdrop, each story shares a different tale of characters experiencing life's unexpected turns - from peculiar circumstances to moments of crisis - that at least temporarily set their world off its axis.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0D1Z945GL)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/v31fq8vbdupcn73cwkkng/3b-General.pdf?rlkey=e4f5vdy6l20i9ywr125j0s5iy&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Bronze Medal, 2024 General Fiction, 2024 Popular Vote

---

### [Let Us Pass](https://melaniepsmith.com/let-us-pass/)

**Published:** July 19, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Let Us Pass -- Silver Medal General Fiction

**Content:**

# General Fiction

**Let Us Pass**
***by Rebecca Bryn***

**Silver Medal --** General Fiction

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Let-Us-Pass_Final-RCA.jpg)

**Book Two, Let Us Pass, the Rebecca Riots - a fight against greed and inequity!**
A fight for justice. A fight for freedom. Gwen and Sam, separated in the aftermath of the Merthyr rising, are reunited in 1839 after more than seven years apart, but when Evan's ministry moves to rural Carmarthenshire, they are thrown into a world of poverty and escalating protests. When the desperate locals make a stand and destroy the village tollgate, Evan feels duty bound to support them. But with wanton Efa Lloyd determined to make her own rules, can Sam keep his promise to Evan to never hurt Gwen again? As the Rebecca Riots spread throughout South Wales, tensions mount, and a violent battle against greed and inequity ensues. Will the consequences be as devastating as the Merthyr rising?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CJVTX43N)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/s9npo2eidok7x8gvdffsc/2-General.pdf?rlkey=nd8a429l71zg1sd2fyme4euzg&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 General Fiction, 2024 Silver Medal

---

### [Inland](https://melaniepsmith.com/inland/)

**Published:** July 19, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Inland -- Bronze Medal General Fiction

**Content:**

# General Fiction

**Inland**
***by Kate Risse***

**Bronze Medal --** General Fiction

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Inland_Final-RCA.jpg)

Inland is a harrowing account of separation and resilience as two families struggle to reunite after the Eastern Seaboard succumbs to catastrophic flooding. Trapped in the rapid floodwaters, Juliet and Martin search for a viable way back to Boston while their children face their own challenges for survival in the rising seas. This intense tale of endurance and hope examines the human connection and the unpredictable role of technology in a warming world.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CYXPXFKV)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/s/m3tt0453thni4xm/3a%20General.pdf?dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Bronze Medal, 2024 General Fiction

---

### [Lenny's Lavvu Adventure](https://melaniepsmith.com/lennys-lavvu-adventure/)

**Published:** July 19, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Lenny's Lavvu Adventure -- Gold Medal Overall, Silver Medal Children's Picture Books, Gold Medal Cover Design, Silver Medal Popular Vote

**Content:**

# Children's Picture Books

**Lenny's Lavvu Adventure**
***by Sylva Fae***

**Gold Medal --** Overall & Cover Design
**Silver Medal --** Children's Books & Popular Winner

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Childrens-Picture_Final.jpg)

Lenny is off on an adventure, but as night draws in, he needs somewhere to sleep. He stumbles upon a campsite, but no matter what he tries, none of the tents are suitable for a sleepy squirrel. They’re too closed in, too noisy, too big…
Will Lenny ever find a cozy, safe place to snuggle down to sleep?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0D2VJT16N)

## Certificates...

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zpgid33ns8lv5c76g19ij/2a-Childrens.pdf?rlkey=ywbx0dznhqenlflsxui9ovys9&dl=0)

[Overall](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ntzpfiqy171nlcnoczcmd/1-Overall.pdf?rlkey=rmhbdxpxlee1jowcgfzc3cvtv&dl=0)

[Cover](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4ih5rng0nfcnir3a0jqnv/1-Cover.pdf?rlkey=emmeiljf3fwm11rzfro1mgydp&dl=0)

[Popular](https://www.dropbox.com/s/3dezvaqoqf4x2ru/2%20Popular.pdf?dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Childrens Picture, 2024 Cover Design, 2024 Gold Medal, 2024 Overall, 2024 Popular Vote, 2024 Silver Medal

---

### [Hot Rod Todd Visits Loch Ness](https://melaniepsmith.com/hot-rod-todd-visits-loch-ness/)

**Published:** July 19, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Adventures of Hot Rod Todd: Hot Rod Todd Visits Loch Ness - Silver Winner in Children's Picture Books, Overall category, Bronze in Popular vote

**Content:**

# Children Picture Books

**Adventures of Hot Rod Todd: Hot Rod Todd Visits Loch Ness**
***by Adrian Czarnecki***

**Silver Medal --** Overall
**Silver Medal --** Children's Books
**Bronze Medal --** Popular Winner

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Hot-Rod-Todd_FInal-RCA.jpg)

This, the second book in the Adventures of Hot Rod Todd children's picture story books sees Hot Rod Todd and the pack getting an invitation to visit the UK to race. So, they decided to make it a family vacation with Wild Child Rock Star Merc taking them in his revolutionary eco friendly Tour Jet piloted by Captain Chinook. The pack decided to visit Loch Ness in Scotland and oh my, what ensues on that trip is 'out of this world'. As always with the pups there are thrills and spills, ups and downs, twists and turns but always, ALWAYS, the message is all about friends and friendship, caring about others without question, values and morals. Beautifully illustrated by Cameo Anderson, 'Hot Rod Todd Visits Loch Ness is a children's picture-story book comprising full page colored illustrations with text that parents can read to their youngsters or, if at reading age or learning to read, youngsters can read and enjoy themselves.

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08KBKRHWB)

## Certificates...

[Overall](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/tny81zpiovc2fc9vtc4it/2-Overall.pdf?rlkey=4c7k3vjzquvqm8hqoidiahyyn&dl=0)

[Genre](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xwxpsvd21ypyi029soypo/2b-Childrens.pdf?rlkey=v07brok5ev4nuowjvnxoq50ob&dl=0)

[Popular](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/63sbsusss3g3ijalldvji/3-Popular.pdf?rlkey=sx7yilnutvbu8tmc2gy2wcnnn&dl=0)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2024

**Tags:** 2024 Bronze Medal, 2024 Childrens Picture, 2024 Overall, 2024 Popular Vote, 2024 Silver Medal

---

### [National Pet Month](https://melaniepsmith.com/national-pet-month/)

**Published:** April 30, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** The April 2021 issue of Mom’s Favorite Reads, the eMagazine for the modern Mom. In this month’s issue of our popular eMagazine... 
Do Pets Really Make You Healthy? Memories of Ireland Author Features Escape to Simplicity Women of Courage Plus, interviews, photography, puzzles, poems, short stories and so much more!


**Content:**

**National Pet Month April 10th**

*Originally published in Mom's Favorite Reads eMagazine*
*April 2021*

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Line-long-500x50.png)](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Line-long.png)

National Pet Month was developed to celebrate the benefits of pet ownership and to support pet adoption efforts. Over 80 million homes in America have a pet. Approximately half of those households have more than one pet.

It’s not surprising that the most popular pet is man’s best friend, with over 470 million pet dogs worldwide. The second most popular companion is our favorite feline — with roughly 370 million pet cats in the world. Pet birds and fish round off the top four.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/April-2021-386x500.jpeg)

[DOWNLOAD MAGAZINE](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1077446)

Get the full magazine for FREE

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MPS-Line-long.png)

Fun facts about pets. Did you know?

- Americans spend over $50 billion annually on their pets. Nearly one third of these pet owners admit they have had professional photographs — or family photos — taken with their pets.
- 36% of Americans give their dogs birthday presents.
- 9 in 10 Americans think of their pets as part of the family.
- Half a million American households have a pet snake.
- Norwegians spend the most money feeding their pets, totaling approximately $623 million a year.
- Fish are the most popular pets in the UK
- 68% of New Zealand households have a pet — this is higher than any other country in the world.
- 83% of Australians have owned a pet. Aussie’s also keep their pets indoors with 92% reporting their cats and 76% reporting their dogs reside inside the home.
- The most popular pet in Peru is the Alpaca.
- In China, pet crickets are seen as good luck.

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**Categories:** Articles, Melanies Posts

---

### [Celebrating Forests and Wildlife](https://melaniepsmith.com/celebrating-forests-and-wildlife/)

**Published:** March 31, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** March 2021 Edition – Mom’s Favorite Reads magazine -- In our spring issue A seasonal blend of articles including Mad as a March Hare, Dr Seuss, Reiki, World Wildlife Day, International Day of Forests, plus short stories, recipes, puzzles, humour, photographs and so much more!

**Content:**

**Celebrating Forests and Wildlife**

**March 3rd & 21st** World Wildlife Day and International Day of Forests

*Originally published in Mom's Favorite Reads eMagazine*
*March 2021*

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Line-long-500x50.png)](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Line-long.png)

**World Wildlife Day (March 3rd)**

World Wildlife day was established on December 20, 2013 as a way to highlight forests, forest species, and the role these ecosystems play in sustaining life. Between 200 and 350 million people live adjacent to forested areas and depend on the wilderness for their livelihood. March 3rd is a way to celebrate the world’s wild animals and the planet.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/March-2021.jpeg)

[DOWNLOAD MAGAZINE](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1072063)

Get the full magazine for FREE

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MPS-Line-long.png)

**International Day of Forests (March 21st)**

When we write in a notebook, take medication, or even build a house we don’t always remember we owe all of this and more to the forests. This international holiday was established on November 28, 2012 to celebrate our planet.

Each year, more than 13 million acres of forest are lost — roughly the size of England. The International Day of Forests was established to bring awareness, increase respect, and ensure forest preservation.

In addition to resources like oxygen and wood, forests mean a healthy environment for all of us. They stabilize the climate, control atmospheric temperatures, protect watershed areas, and enrich the soil.

President Roosevelt called the forests “the lungs of the earth”. Poets over the centuries have been inspired by their majestic beauty. And, everyday people take a simple walk in the woods looking for solace and peace, to calm their spirit, invigorate their senses, and drive away those winter blues. This March 21st, I hope you will get out and enjoy a forest near you. If you have a chance, take the time to educate the youth in your life. Teach them to love, respect, and enjoy these amazing treasures. We could all use a little calming inspiration in our life.

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**Categories:** Articles, Melanies Posts

---

### [Author Rebecca Bryn](https://melaniepsmith.com/author-rebecca-bryn/)

**Published:** June 5, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Rebecca Bryn lives in West Wales with her husband and rescue dog, where she paints the stunning coastal scenery in watercolour and writes mystery, historical, and dystopian thrillers with a twist.

**Content:**

# Author Rebecca Bryn

Rebecca Bryn lives in West Wales with her husband and rescue dog, where she paints the stunning coastal scenery in watercolour and writes mystery, historical, and dystopian thrillers with a twist.

Rebecca says ‘I didn’t set out to be a writer, but once drawn into the tempting and evocative theatre of fiction, I was hooked. I suppose the control freak in me ganged up with my artistic and creative temperament and conspired against my head, which was yelling don’t do it. You can’t do this.

‘The trouble is my heart told me otherwise and beguiled me with scenes and settings from my deepest desires, dreams, imagination, and nightmares. It drew out my darkest fears and fiercest pain, my fondest hopes and deepest loves, and bade me write them with an honest and truthful hand.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ruth-221x300-copy.jpg)

[Website](www.rebeccabrynblog.wordpress.com%20)

[BookBub](https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rebecca-bryn)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.bryn.novels)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MPS-Line-long.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/15-books-dates.jpg)

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

I’m retired and live near the coast in West Wales with my husband. I love painting, gardening, and walking.

 ***Tell us your latest news***

I’ve just released the prequel to my *Wales Rising* series. It’s called *Break It Down* and sees my hero and heroine embroiled in the Luddite rebellion of 1812 in Yorkshire, England.

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Rosie Taylor, from *The Chainmakers’ Daughter --***

**Rosie Taylor, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn’t revealed in *The Chainmakers’ Daughter*?**

I’m from the Black Country, in the West Midlands of England.

**Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?**

I grew up in Hawley Heath, near Birmingham. Both my parents were chainmakers working for Matthew Joshua. Mom had a little chain shop with a forge, in the back yard. All the old terraced houses did. She worked from dawn to dusk, and I helped her. By the time I was eight and had left school, my tasks included getting the younger children ready for school, doing the family washing, and then making chain with Mom.

**What makes Rosie so special?**

There’s nothing special about me. I get up at four in the morning and work all day. Everyone does if they want to eat. Mom’s sometimes at her forge at three in the morning.

**Tell me about your reputation and how it has impacted your life and your relationship.**

I think I have a reputation for always wanting to do the right thing, and that has sometimes led to disaster. My determination to protest for women’s rights almost destroyed my marriage to Jack.

**Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?**

Yes and no. I’ve done impetuous things that have hurt Jack, and I regret hurting him. But if I hadn’t gone under the bridge with Willis, the chainmaster’s son, I wouldn’t have my lovely Emma. If I hadn’t had Emma, Willis might still be alive. I don’t regret saving Jack’s life, but I do regret the pain I caused Marion and Matthew, Willis’s parents,

**Where do you see yourself in five years?**

I hope Emma and Hanne will have taken over the running of the factory, and the maternity home, and Jack and I will have an easier life.

**What are your dreams for the future?**

That the children will be happy, and the good works I’ve begun will be continued - there needs to be more kindness in the world, more consideration of others, less greed. It would atone for the harm I have caused.

**If there was one thing you could change about your past, what would it be?**

Not being able to tell Marion and Matthew about Willis’s death. They went for months without knowing where he was, and all the while, I knew he was at the bottom of the canal. But if I’d told them what had happened, would they have believed me? Would Jack or I have been hanged for Willis’s murder?

**If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go?**

I’d love Jack to take me to Scapa Flow. He was there for a while during the Great War when the Germans scuppered their fleet, and the islands sound hauntingly beautiful.

**Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation.**

Jack Taylor fell in love with me. I have no idea why. I brought him little but trouble.

**What was the best compliment you have ever received?**

‘You’re a good woman, Rosie Taylor.’

**If you could have anyone locked in a room so that you could torment them for a day, whom would you choose and how would you torment them?**

It might have been Willis for raping me and casting me aside, had I not bashed him over the head with a mooring pin when he was trying to drown Jack in the canal.

**If you could reward someone with a special day, describe that day and tell us why.**

It would have to be Jack for sticking by me through thick and thin. I think it would be the trip to Scapa Flow. His eyes mist over when he describes the stark silence of the islands. Chain making doesn’t go in much for silence.

**Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year?**

Neither. Beauty is only skin deep, as they say, and time passes a person by and leaves them behind. The world doesn’t improve with keeping.

**If you could go to anyone (living or dead) for advice who would it be and what would you ask?**

I’d probably ask one of the psychopaths who are presently turning the world upside-down how to get rid of psychopaths.

**What is the weirdest thing about you? Are you proud of it or embarrassed?**Have you been talking to Jack?

**Mountains or Beach?**Ooh. Mountains. Having lived my life in the Black Country, I’d like to be able to see no trace of mankind.

**Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?**

Well Jack, obviously.

**If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want to take with you?**

An axe, a knife, and a saucepan.

**Will we be seeing more of you in the future or has your story already been told?**

I romp through three novels with gay abandon. I think that’s probably enough. I shall retire gracefully.

**If you could change one thing about the world… what would it be?**

The lunatics running the asylum. So much could be achieved with more co-operation and less belligerent self-interest.

**Tell us about your best friend and what makes them so special.**

Well Jack, of course. He forgives me and loves me, no matter what.

***Want to know more about Rebecca Bryn? Continue reading her in depth interview...***

**When and why did you begin writing?**

I didn’t intend to. I’d been proof-reading for a friend for some while and just typed ‘Chapter One’ one day without a clue what I was going to write. I’ve been writing ever since.

**When did you first consider yourself a writer?**

I suppose when *Touching the Wire –* about the women of Auschwitz*,* won the IAN Book of the Year award in 2019. It was a hard book to research and write, and I’m very proud of it.

**What inspired you to write your first book?**

The state of the planet and the threat of climate change.

**Do you have a specific writing style?**

Readers say they feel as if they are right there alongside my characters and part of the ‘family’, so I suppose immersive?

**How did you come up with the title for your last book?**

*Break It Down* describes the destruction of the machinery that threw skilled textile workers into unemployment and starvation. Large sledgehammers, known as ‘Great Enochs’, broke the machines to pieces. The title also fits with *Give Us This Day* and *Let Us Pass*, the sequels.

**Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?**

My research into the 1800s and 1900s uncovered the depth of inequality between rich and poor, the dreadful, cruel way in which the working class was exploited by the mill, mine, and foundry owners, and the way in which successive governments ignored their desperate pleas in the face of disease and starvation. I suppose the message is that without health, there is no working man and woman, and without the working class, there is no wealth in a nation. Governments would do well to remember that when they cut education and health spending.

**How much of the book is realistic?**

The characters are fictitious, but the events and settings are taken from mill records across the north of England, and are all too real.

**Is there a story behind the creation of your newest release? Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?**

Not really. It’s a prequel to the *Wales Rising* series, an exploration of the main characters pasts. The events in the sequels do sometimes reflect my own life experiences, like when Gwen wants to strangle Efa in *Let Us Pass*…

**What books have most influenced your life most?**

Oddly, *Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy*. I read it at a time in my life when reality was too much to bear. It gave me a different reality and kept me sane – well almost. I wish I could have thanked Douglas Adams for his alternative view on life.

**Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?**

Yes, absolutely. My long-time friend Sarah Stuart, author of the *DCI Gerald Croft thrillers*. has been at my side for every step.

**What book are you reading now?**

I’m taking time out to paint and frame some paintings for my art group’s summer exhibition, so I’m not reading at all at the moment.

**Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?**

I love work by Eric Lahti, Nico Laeser, Senan Gil Senan, and Sarah Stuart, among others. All indie authors and great talents.

**Do you see writing as a career?**

More a hobby. At my age, I don’t want a career.

**If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?**

I’ll have to ask my characters that. They wrote it.

## Rebecca's Series

### Whales Rising Series

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Wales-1.jpg)

[Buy Prequel](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0D31Z3FR6)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Wales-2.jpg)

[Buy Book 1](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BM81S8HJ)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Wales-3.jpg)

[Buy Book 2](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CJVTX43N)

### The Chainmakers Series

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Chain-1.jpg)

[Buy Book 1](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B089FGZ1NT)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Chain-2.jpg)

[Buy Book 2](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08N1K4M59)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Chain-3.jpg)

[Buy Book 3](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09GKMH17X)

### For Their Country's Good Series

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Country-1.jpg)

[Buy Book 1](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B06ZZJH88Y)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Country-2.jpg)

[Buy Book 2](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B071HX3K8W)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Country-3.jpg)

[Buy Book 3](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B071LP3T2B)

## Additional Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Revenge.jpg)

[Buy Book](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09VCRJSDQ)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Clock.jpg)

[Buy Book](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07FW8LBXN)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Wire.jpg)

[Buy Book](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00MX5TRPY)

**Can you share a sample of your current work with us?**

> Gwen suspects Efa of seducing her husband.
> 
> Gwen sat in the chapel with her head bowed, trying to garner the courage she’d found during the protests in Merthyr. Then, she’d been fighting the iron masters for a living wage, it was fight or starve – now she was fighting the trusts for an end to unfair tolls for the same reason.
> 
> If Mr Lloyd Hall had thought his letter in the newspaper would put an end to Rebecca’s destructive behaviour, he was wrong. Reports came in daily of several groups’ activities. Rhos gate and tollhouse near Aberaeron had fallen to Rebecca on the twenty-third, and several more in the Newcastle Emlyn area had been pulled down within the next few days.
> 
> As fast as the gates were replaced, someone took them down again. The more people who travelled to market without being forced to pay tolls, the more Rebecca’s actions were toasted in public houses and her praises sung. The protests were far from over, and she would continue protesting if that’s what it took to get their voices heard, so why was she afraid of facing Efa? She trusted Sam.
> 
> She glanced sideways at Efa, who smirked at her and then smiled at Sam.
> 
> Damn the woman, dressed in her summer Sunday best and showing too much bare skin – had she no shame?
> 
> She clenched her fists. She’d worried about Sam, doubted herself, cried over Efa trying to destroy her marriage, but now she was beyond tears; she was furious.
> 
> Dad ended the last prayer, and she ground out an amen. Feet shuffled, and people got up from their pews and began making their way to the door. She hurried outside, leaving Sam and the children behind. The chapel was a place of God, not the place to confront Efa.
> 
> Outside, however, was a different matter. She waited close to the door for Efa to appear. Her heart thudded; it was now or never.
> 
> ‘Efa Lloyd.’
> 
> Efa smiled at her. ‘Gwenny. How nice to see you.’
> 
> Gwenny. That was Sam’s name for her. ‘My name is Gwenllian, Efa, and I’d appreciate it if you would stop trying to seduce my husband.’
> 
> ‘Seduce?’ Efa laughed. ‘He took little seducing, as I recall.’
> 
> Heat flushed her cheeks, but inside she was icy cold. ‘What do you mean?’
> 
> ‘It’s me Sammy loves, Gwenllian, not you.’
> 
> ‘That isn’t true. Sam says you mean nothing to him. He told me so, and I trust him. Sam wouldn’t lie to me.’
> 
> ‘He didn’t tell you we make love in the milking parlour, then? No, I suppose he wouldn’t.’
> 
> ‘You’re lying.’ She was aware of a silent crowd gathering, but she didn’t take her eyes from Efa’s face.
> 
> ‘Am I?’ Efa smiled again.
> 
> God help her, but she’d wipe that supercilious smile from Efa Lloyd’s face, even if it cost Sam his job. She launched herself at Efa and grabbed her hair, pushing her backwards onto the ground. ‘I won’t let you wreck my marriage, and split my family, you evil, selfish bitch.’
> 
> ‘Let me up! Stop it. Let me up!’
> 
> She banged Efa’s head on the hard earth and put one hand on the girl’s throat; the other fisted in Efa’s hair and held her down. ‘Not until you promise to stay away from my Sam.’
> 
> ‘Gwen. Stop it. Let her up before you hurt her.’
> 
> ‘Hurt her? She’ll be lucky if I don’t kill her.’ She tightened her grip on Efa’s throat, making the trollop flail her arms and gasp for breath.
> 
> ‘Gwen, please. We can talk about this.’
> 
> ‘Talk, Sam? I’ve done talking. I won’t lose you to this… this piece of dirt.’
> 
> Efa was gasping, trying to say something. Perhaps she was ready to make her promise. She loosened her grip, and Efa stopped flailing and took a breath. ‘Gwen, let me up, please. Don’t hurt me. I’m pregnant.’
> 
> It took a moment for the words to register. ‘Pregnant?’ She couldn’t hurt a pregnant woman, no matter how much she hated her. She untwisted her fingers from Efa’s hair and removed her hand from her throat. ‘Pregnant?’
> 
> Efa coughed and sat up. ‘Yes, Gwenllian.’ Her face twisted into a mocking smile. ‘Yes, I’m pregnant, and it’s Sam’s baby.’
> 
> The world slowed. Voices became muted. Her heart threatened to stop beating. Slowly, she turned to face Sam. ‘Sam, is this true?’
> 
> Sam’s face was ashen. ‘No! At least, I don’t think so.’
> 
> Tears ran down her cheeks. ‘You don’t think so?’
> 
> ‘Gwenny, I’m sorry.’
> 
> ‘Sorry?’ She stood, fists clenched at her side, pain clenching her heart. ‘How could you do this to me? Seven years, I waited for you. Seven years and never looked once at another man, and you let this … *hussy* tempt you away from me. What about us, Sam? What about the children?’
> 
> ‘I love you, Gwen.’
> 
> Dad put a strong arm around her shoulders. ‘Sam Davey, I warned you. You and our family are finished. Your possessions, such as they are, will be on the road outside the manse, later. Gwen, let’s get you and the children home.’
> 
> ‘But where will Dad go, Mam?’ Delyth’s small voice broke her heart.
> 
> ‘Sam’s children belong with him.’ Efa smiled again, a look of triumph. ‘With Sam and me and their new little brother. We have plenty of room at the farm. Come on, Sammy. You can fetch your children later.’
> 
> Sam’s eyes were bright with tears. He reached out for her hand. ‘Gwen, please … I’m so sorry.’
> 
> She couldn’t bear the guilt in his eyes any more than she could bear the agony in her heart. She snatched her hand away and turned and ran. She didn’t stop until she was home. Home? How could it be home without Sam and the children? Throwing herself on her bed, her and Sam’s bed, she sobbed out her broken heart.

**Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?**

Making myself do it – I prevaricate.

**Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?**

JRR Tolkien. He builds great worlds.

**Who designed the covers for your books?**

I design them myself.

**Does your work require a lot of research or do you just write what you already know?**

A lot of research.

**Do you have any advice for other writers?**

Do the research, take constructive criticism, and edit.

**Do you remember the first book you read?**

Probably *Old Lob* when I was about four.

**What makes you laugh/cry?**

Life.

**Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?**

Douglas Adams and John Denver for keeping me sane.

**What do you want written on your headstone and why?**

Up to now, she had a hundred percent success rate in survival.

**One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it?**

[www.rebeccabrynblog.wordpress.com](http://www.rebeccabrynblog.wordpress.com)

Also

[www.facebook.com/rebecca.bryn.novels](http://www.facebook.com/rebecca.bryn.novels)

[Rebecca Bryn Books - BookBub](https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rebecca-bryn)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2024, Author Spotlight

---

### [National Kite Flying Day](https://melaniepsmith.com/national-kite-flying-day/)

**Published:** February 28, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** February 2021 Edition – Mom’s Favorite Reads magazine article -- In this month’s bumper issue... Our Ever Changing Language, Short Stories, Mediation, Poetry, Nature, Humour, Bestsellers, Photography, Puzzles, Genealogy, Recipes and so much more!

**Content:**

**National Kite Flying Day**
**February 8th**

*Originally published in Mom's Favorite Reads eMagazine*
*February 2021*

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Line-long-500x50.png)](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Line-long.png)

In a park, the wind rustling through your hair. On the beach, sand between your toes, a salty mist settling on your face. In a rural open field, the smell of alfalfa and wildflowers wafting around you. Anywhere you find open spaces on a windy day, you may also find someone flying a kite. Young or old, everyone seems to love kites. Why? Maybe because it makes us nostalgic — a reminder of simpler times. Maybe because, after a long, cold winter locked inside, we need a little time outdoors. Maybe, because they seem a little magical. The bright colors and unique shapes inspire our creative side while the mechanics stimulate our analytical side.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/February-2021.jpeg)

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![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MPS-Line-long.png)

All of which might explain National Kite Flying day. Kites have been around for thousands of years. In fact, in the 1200s Marco Polo was so intrigued, he brought a Chinese kite back with him to Italy after an expedition. These mystical flying objects weren’t new to China or the South Sea Islands at that time. Historians can trace kites back to the 5th century where they were used to spy on enemies, send messages, and aid in fishing activities. In 1752, Benjamin Franklin famously used a kite to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning. The simple kite inspired inventions such as parachutes and hang-gliders. Basically, kites have been around for a long time and there’s no indication that’s going to change.

Here are some fun facts about kites you may not know.

- The longest kite measured 3,394 feet
- The fastest kite flew at a speed of 120 miles per hour
- The longest kite trip lasted 180 hours straight
- A Japanese kite maker reportedly flew 11,284 kites on a single line – the most recorded in history.
- Kites were used during the Civil War to deliver
    newspapers

So, pack a lunch, head to the beach, a field, or your favorite park. Escape the stress of the past year for a little while. As this simple creation sours through the air, let all your worries and the sadness fly away with it. What do you say… “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” — who else just heard Mary Poppins singing in their head?

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**Categories:** Articles, Melanies Posts

---

### [National Hat Day](https://melaniepsmith.com/national-hat-day/)

**Published:** January 30, 2024
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** January 2021 Edition - Mom's Favorite Reads magazine article -- Surviving the Stone Age, Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree, Nicolas Winton - The British Schindler, Meditation, National Hat Day, Stories, Puzzles, Recipes, Humour, Poetry, International Bestsellers and so much more...

**Content:**

**NATIONAL HAT DAY**
**January 15th**

*Originally published in Mom's Favorite Reads eMagazine*
*January 2021*

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Line-long-500x50.png)](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Line-long.png)

National Hat Day is an unofficial holiday that celebrates one of the oldest human accessories. Throughout the ages hats have been worn for a variety of reasons, for example: religious purposes; to denote ones nationality; to signify social status, or a branch of the military; to indicate a position of authority; for fashion; to make a statement; and for more practical reasons like protection from the sun, rain, snow and other elements.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/January-2021.jpeg)

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![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MPS-Line-long.png)

To celebrate this important article of clothing that has prevailed for centuries, each year on January fifteenth, millions of people dust off their hats and wear them proudly in celebration of fashion, history, and longevity.

It is unclear exactly when this holiday started— or who started it. Ironic, considering the history of this fashion accessory.

**The History of Hat Day….**

Nobody really knows the precise moment the hat was born. The earliest, confirmed hat was worn by a bronze-aged man nicknamed Otzi, whose body was found frozen on a mountain between Austria and Italy. It is believed he died around 3250 BC. He was wearing a bearskin cap with a chinstrap made by stitching several hides together. It very closely resembled the Russian fur hat.

However, the custom might go back even further than that. One of the earliest depictions of a hat was painted in a Thebes tomb believed to be over 5,300 years old.

Wherever it originated, one fact remains — the hat is here to stay. It has changed and transformed to accommodate the whims of mankind; but, so far, it has endured the test of time.

Unfortunately, the details behind the invention of the hat, as well as the holiday, remain mysteries that have yet to be solved.

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**Categories:** Articles, Melanies Posts

---

### [Lethal Sale](https://melaniepsmith.com/lethal-sale/)

**Published:** November 30, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Lethal Sale (S7E7) Paige experiences struggles with her pregnancy. Colorado is pressuring Sanpete to assist with their open homicide.  Dax and his team goes out of town on the last training session of the year.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*LETHAL SALE\*\*\*****

Dax stood in front of his office window, staring off into the distance. He didn’t even notice when Hawk walked in, hesitated, then dropped into one of the large chairs.

“You ready to talk about it?” Hawk finally asked.

Dax turned, sighed, and returned to his chair. “It’s fine, where are we on the last course this year?”

“It’s fine,” Hawk held back a grin. “Clearly, this has something to do with that wife of yours. What’s going on?”

“Why is that so clear?” Dax frowned.

“Because she’s the only one that gets you all tied up in knots this way,” Hawk shrugged. “So, what gives?”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PCS7-MPS.jpg)

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“She fell this morning,” Dax admitted. “And I suggested it might be time for her to start her maternity leave. Apparently, that’s the equivalent of suggesting she’s a sweat, sensitive, weak little woman that belongs at home, barefoot and pregnant just waiting to serve my every whim after a long day at the office.”

Hawk snorted. “Yeah, that sounds so much like Paige. But seriously, how long do you think you’ll be in the doghouse?”

“I don’t know,” Dax sat back. “Until the kid is five?”

“I’m pretty sure taking care of your wife isn’t a capital offense,” Hawk laughed. “I doubt you’ll be in the doghouse that long.”

“He’s not in the doghouse,” Paige said from the open doorway.

“You sure about that?” Dax focused on her.

“Positive,” Paige smiled. “We don’t have a dog — thus no doghouse. So, being banished there would be impossible.”

“Glad you’re doing better,” Hawk paused at the door. “Let me know when I can have him back. We have a few things we need to discuss.”

“Sorry,” Paige sobered. “But this is important.”

“I get you,” Hawk pressed a friendly kiss to the top of her head before he left.

“Does this mean I’m forgiven?” Dax wondered.

“It means I felt guilty, and you don’t need to be forgiven — I think I do,” Paige slowly lowered into one of his chairs. “I’m sorry. I was upset and embarrassed that I misjudged the edge of the bed, and I hated feeling vulnerable and stupid. Then you came in and suggested I should just stay home for the next month, and I guess I lost it. I took it all out on you and that’s not fair.”

Dax stood and moved to sit in the chair next to Paige. He took her hand and stared out the window for several seconds. Then, he raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “One day you’ll realize you never have to be embarrassed around me. You’ll figure out that I accept you, flaws an all, the same as you’ve always accepted me.”

“That’s not —” Paige began.

“Shhh,” Dax scolded. “As far as the rest goes, I’ve been thinking. Our last course this season is a little over a week away. I held off any other courses until after the baby is born. How would you feel about a compromise?”

“Meaning?” Paige asked, cautiously.

“We both reduce our hours and work more from home,” Dax suggested. “I have paperwork and course outlines to complete before we start back up next year but that can be done at home. If I need to run anything by the men, I can always do it by video conference. Or just wait and walk next door once they get home. And you already bring stuff home when you’re working a case. We’ll still work, but we’ll do more from home where you can spread out on the couch or lounge in the chair.”

“I can do that,” Paige agreed. “I was already going to talk to Jericho. I think this Colorado case should be the last one we accept. I guess if there’s something easy, I can take that on, but this current case has a lot of information to skim through before I can even start working it. It’s going to take time and I don’t have a lot of that before this little person growing inside of me decides to come out and meet the world. I’ll slow down and I’ll talk to Jericho about shorter days.”

“Thank you,” Dax leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her temple.

“I need to get back,” Paige decided. “Are we good now? I can grovel a little if you need me to.”

“We’re good,” Dax smiled. “I’ll stop and grab something for dinner on the way home. See you tonight.”

Paige stood, walked to the door and paused. “Dax?”

“Yeah, babe?”

“I love you,” she studied him. “And I hesitate to mention this, because I don’t want you to go overboard, but I kind of like it when you take care of me.”

Dax grinned. “Noted. I’ll do my best to pamper my baby, but still make her work for it.”

“Good plan,” she grinned all the way to her car.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/wooden-house-on-the-lake-MPSmith.webp)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/country-houseMPSmith.webp)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/couple-standingMPSmith.webp)

\*\*\*

“Paige, that package from Colorado arrived,” Margie advised the instant she stepped into the office. “I put it on your desk.”

Paige settled in and began reading through the documents that pertained to the Colorado Realtor killings. She just finished documenting the similarities in the two realtor’s schedules when Jericho returned to the office. “Hey boss, do you have a minute?”

“Sure,” Jericho motioned for her to join him.

Paige stepped inside and slowly lowered herself into one of his chairs.

Jericho watched, frowned and waited for her to get settled. “Don’t you think it’s about time you gave into nature and took some time off?”

“Funny you would mention that,” Paige took a deep soothing breath. “Dax and I talked, and I was wondering if I could cut back my hours.”

“Sure,” Jericho shrugged and settled back. “I’m surprised you’ve been working full days this long.”

“I also think, maybe —” she hesitated. “Well, I think this Colorado case should be the last one we commit to until after the baby is born.”

“If you want to bail on the case, I can call and tell them we’re putting it on hold,” Jericho offered. “In fact, if you need me to, I can tell them we’re taking a pass on it completely. I don’t want to do that because we insisted they had to jump through a few hoops before I agreed to look into it, but if you need me to be the bad guy on this — I will.”

“No,” Paige shook her head. “I want to finish this. The packet arrived today, and I’ve been sifting through the new information. I want to see this through. I’m just not sure how long it will take, and the baby is due in about a month. I think I need to slow down, maybe work a few hours from home — that’s all. Which is the reason I wanted to cut back on my hours, here at the office. It’s getting hard to sit in that chair all day and by the time I get home, my ankles look like a giant puffer fish.”

Jericho frowned. “Then why are you doing it? Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“Because I knew you’d send me home and I wasn’t ready to take that step,” Paige admitted. “Now, I think I am.”

“You are more stubborn than an obstinate old mule,” he sighed. “Plan on working half days for the rest of this pregnancy. That’s four hours, Paige.”

“Four to six,” she corrected. “I’ll play it by ear, but I’ll be here at least four and then I’ll work a few hours at home, lounging in my favorite chair.”

“I’ll approve that,” Jericho decided. “As long as you don’t overdo it.”

“Thanks,” Paige moved to leave.

“While you’re here, any update on the Colorado case? I know you just got started but the chief checks in about every other day and I’m expecting a call any minute.” He was starting to wonder if he should have declined the case from the beginning. It was putting undo pressure on Paige and the chief was becoming a nuisance.

“Too early to tell,” Paige pushed to her feet. “I’m still going through the new file. I’ll take it home tonight and work a few more hours. I should have an idea of what we’re dealing with in a few days. We can plan on meeting first thing if you have time. I’ll give you my preliminary thoughts.”

“Sounds good,” Jericho hesitated. “Uh, Harper’s been bugging me about Thanksgiving. She wants to bring something but doesn’t know if we’re meeting at Carmen’s house or Sophie's. Have they agreed on the location yet? Or, is that still up in the air? She might invite Ryan, but I doubt that kid will grace us with his presence. And if he says no, it might just be me.”

“Carmen’s,” Paige grinned. “She called dibs last year and Sophie finally relented but insisted next year she’s hosting all of us at her house. So, no improvement on the Ryan front?”

“No. I tried, but he’s not interested so I’m not going to push. Harper will need to decide how she wants to handle it. That’s out of my control. Anyway, you know it doesn’t matter whose home we eat in,” Jericho grinned. “Sophie is going to be in charge, same as she always is.”

“I know,” Paige smiled. “I’m just not sure Carmen has realized that yet. I guess they have a few weeks to figure it all out.”

“They will,” Jericho said confidently. “Keep me posted on the new case. Just let me know when you arrive in the morning, and we’ll go over the details.”

“Promise,” Paige assured him. “And Jericho, don’t give up on Harper. It’s obvious she cares about you — even if that kid of hers opposes the relationship. She might surprise you. Now, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll gather up my homework and head out.”

“See you tomorrow,” Jericho watched her leave, relieved she was finally going to slow down. He wasn’t willing to step in and force Paige to take time off, but he’d been thinking it was time for the last few weeks. He was glad she’d finally realized that on her own. With a sigh, he pulled up his email and got back to work.

\*\*\*

Paige was sitting on the couch, papers spread out all over the cushions, the floor, and the large coffee table when Dax stepped through the door, dinner in hand.

“Looks like you’ve been home for a while,” he observed. “Hungry?”

“Starving,” Paige admitted and set her work aside.

“Don’t get up,” Dax set dinner on the table. “We’ll eat in here and you can explain all of this to me.”

“I’m still working on understanding all of this,” Paige admitted.

Dax returned from the kitchen with plates and cutlery. “Tell me what you can.” He settled into his favorite lounge chair and began dishing a plate.

“I have two realtors that work for different companies that were killed while showing a new listing,” Paige began. “Well, that’s not exactly true. All of the paperwork was completed to sell the homes, but they were not listed publicly. There’s no indication they knew each other, didn’t shop at the same place, didn’t have the same friends. There’s no connection.”

“There must be,” Dax disagreed. “You guys think they were killed by the same person.”

“Both bodies were discovered inside the vacant homes a day before the listing went live. And each of the victims had a mysterious appointment on their calendars.”

“Were they selling off the books?” Dax wondered.

“I think that’s basically impossible,” Paige rejected. “You can’t sell a house without a title search and an attorney to draft the contract, a bank for the mortgage, it’s not a solo operation.”

“So,” Dax considered. “An off the books enterprise, conducted in secret, where they wouldn’t be discovered — but they had plenty of privacy.”

Paige stared at him.

“What?” Dax frowned.

“That is the first thing that makes sense when it comes to this case,” Paige admitted. “And I never thought of it. I don’t think the case agent considered that, either.”

“You got lost in the weeds,” Dax shrugged. “Eventually, you would have gotten there on your own.”

“Maybe,” Paige sat back. “I’ve been going through the financial statements and both of the realtors have sporadic deposits that don’t match up with work transactions.”

“Which supports the mysterious secret enterprise theory,” Dax settled into his chair. “So, how will you track down the details?”

“I’ll put Detective Knight on that,” Paige decided. “Let’s put this away for tonight. I’ll talk to Knight in the morning.”

“Well, in that case, I’ll build the fire and you pick a movie,” Dax stood. “I always love it when I get to spend a relaxing evening at home with my beautiful bride.”

“Enormous, beached whale of a wife,” Paige corrected.

“I was right the first time,” Dax leaned down, pulled her forward, and gave her a gentle kiss then deepened it, wanting her to feel just how much he loved and adored her.

Paige finally pulled back. “Go, build me a fire mighty warrior. I want to cuddle with my studly husband while I watch car chases, gun fights, and things blowing up.”

“Sounds like heaven,” Dax grinned, and he meant it. He loved his life, and he knew he’d love it even more once his baby was finally born.

\*\*\*

Paige slowly settled into her chair and picked up her phone. She grabbed the financial data and dialed Colorado Springs PD.

“Detective Knight.”

“Hey, it’s Deputy Paige Carter. I’m looking into that homicide case involving the two realtors.”

“Yeah,” Knight grabbed his file. “Did you find something?”

“I’ve got something I think you should look into,” Paige suggested. “It’s a long shot but I think there’s something to it. I just don’t know if we can figure it out.”

“That sounds cryptic,” Knight answered.

“There’s something hinkey with the financials,” Paige admitted. “Grab the spreadsheet you sent me on the first victim — Jessica Crow.”

“Got it,” Knight pulled up the file.

She began to point out the suspicious deposits and explained her theory that they didn’t come from home sales. “Now, go to your second victim’s financials. Kim Wallace has similar profits that can’t be matched to any legitimate transactions. I’m not saying the money’s illicit or acquired by illegal means, but they did not make that money from real estate transactions. I think it’s worth looking into.”

“I agree,” Knight continued to study the documents. “It’s the first thing those two have in common, other than their career.”

“Well, I was thinking they might have been running a little side business inside the houses,” Paige told him. “It could explain the delay in publishing the listing and the reason they had a mysterious appointment.”

“Something that got them killed,” Knight agreed. “I have a couple people I can bring back in and question. I think if I lean on them, they might open up and tell me what they know.”

“I’ll continue to go through these records,” Paige offered. “Let me know what you learn.”

“I’ll give you a call in a day or two so we can update each other on the progress,” Knight offered.

Once she hung up, Paige set the financials aside and started to skim through the interviews.

\*\*\*

Several days later, Paige was sitting on the couch reading through the new interviews Knight sent over that morning when her doorbell rang. She struggled to pull herself from the couch and slowly made her way to the front door.

“Go change,” Carmen pushed her way inside the house.

“I’m comfortable,” Paige objected.

“When the boys are away, the girls have to play,” Carmen insisted.

“When the boys are away, the girls need to relax,” Paige corrected. Dax and the guys left on their last training course that morning and Paige planned to enjoy a relaxing evening alone eating popcorn and reading about murder.

“Change or go as you are, but we’re going to my house,” Carmen demanded. “Hurry up, people are waiting.”

“What people?” Paige frowned.

“Sophie and Harper got there just before I left and Katie is on her way,” Carmen provided. “I also invited Jamie, but she needed to talk to Wooly’s mom first and said she’d either head over or call back to let us know she’s not coming.”

“Our group is growing,” Paige considered. “I can’t believe Harper agreed to come. Hopefully, there’s room for one more. I know you don’t know her, but maybe next time we can invite Dean’s girlfriend — Cara. Dean said she’s having a hard time meeting people our age.”

“Call her,” Carmen offered.

“Not tonight,” Paige disagreed. “Dean’s taking her to some haunted house thing. I will invite her next time, if that’s okay.”

“Of course,” Carmen shrugged. “Now, go change. We need to go.”

“The things you talk me into,” Paige sighed. “Give me ten minutes.”

A short time later, they pulled into Carmen’s garage and stepped into the house. Paige was greeted by a feeling of relaxed friendship. Sophie and Harper were settled in the living room sipping wine and visiting like old friends. Jamie was in the kitchen organizing snacks with Katie. The two women glanced up at the sound of the door closing. Katie darted across the room and pulled Paige into a hug. Paige raised her eyebrows at Jamie, who just shrugged.

“I’m so glad I wasn’t the last one here,” Katie stepped back. “I thought I was going to be late. I know you can’t drink, so I brought chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate! Oh, and some of that sparkling apple juice stuff.”

“Chocolate is good,” Carmen slipped out of her coat and hung it on a hook by the door. “But I told you not to buy anything.”

“I know, but Daisy’s triple fudge brownies were calling to me and I couldn’t resist,” Katie held up a plate layered with brownies.

“And now they’re calling to me,” Paige smiled and handed Carmen her jacket.

“Good,” Katie practically danced into the living room.

“She may have had a few glasses of wine,” Jamie admitted. “I hope everything is okay. Ken said Hawk’s been a bear all day and she practically guzzled her first glass the instant she arrived. I hope they’re not fighting.”

“I’m worried, too,” Carmen glanced at Katie. “Zeus told me Katie stopped in at the center this morning and she looked upset when she left.”

“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Paige accepted the large glass of water Carmen handed her. “We all fight with our men, which is why making up is so much fun.”

“That it is,” Carmen smirked. “But I think it’s too soon to share — I don’t want to scare the poor girl away. Discussing the sizzling details of my Greek God are so hot that girl might spontaneously combust — we need to break her in slowly.”

“You can keep that to yourself forever,” Paige carefully lowered herself into a chair. “Nobody wants to hear about naked Zeus and your reindeer games.”

“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” Harper laughed.

“How much have you had?” Paige narrowed her eyes at Harper. “Because the last thing I want to do tonight is call in the sheriff.”

“That’s against the rules, dear,” Sophie sipped her wine. “Girl’s night means no men allowed.”

“I don’t think this is an adolescent club house,” Jamie dropped into a chair. “But our options, when it comes to the male variety, are sorely limited at the moment. Most of our men are traipsing around the wilderness trying to avoid frostbite so they don’t lose their toes.”

“And they love it,” Carmen dropped onto the couch. “I have no idea why, but they do.”

“Well, it’s the last one this year, so we can let them have their fun,” Paige shrugged. “Dax offered to stay home this time. I wish he’d stop worrying so much. He would have been miserable if the guys went out there without him.”

“He’s never going to stop worrying,” Sophie smiled. “Our husbands are like two peas in a pod and Nathan still worries when he’s away on a mission.”

“Yeah,” Carmen shifted and pulled her legs onto the couch. “Dax would run through fire to protect you and you know it.”

“Naw,” Paige grinned. “He’d stand on the other side and tell me to stop acting like a sissy and get my sexy butt to safety. If I didn’t act quick enough, he’d insist he’s not going to ruin another pair of boots coming after me. But, if I’d just darted across the room, he’d be there to catch me — or throw me on the ground and stomp out the fire.”

“Yes,” Carmen laughed. “That’s exactly what he’d say. And you’d listen and fly through the fire because you know he’d be there to catch you.”

“Maybe,” Paige smiled and grabbed another brownie. “But your men would do the same.”

“Naw,” Carmen settled back further. “Zeus would toss in a bomb, rush in, and throw me over his shoulder before he carted me off.”

“And Hawk would have an instant plan with a diagram of the safest route in, a fire blanket, and a large extinguisher to pave the way to rescue his damsel,” Paige winked at Katie.

“Nathan would call in an elite team of fire fighters to save the day,” Sophie added.

They all laughed at that, knowing she was right.

“Alright,” Carmen glanced around. “Now that we’re all here, we want answers. Paige, you are first on the agenda. Stop toying with us and just tell us if you’re having a boy or a girl.”

“I don’t know,” Paige shrugged.

“But —” Carmen began.

“We don’t know. We want it to be a surprise,” Paige told them. “And it doesn’t matter how many times you ask; I still won’t know. The only person that knows is the doctor and he’s not telling.”

“Surprises are stupid,” Katie provided.

“We’ll get to you in a minute,” Jamie warned. “Why did you guys decide to wait?”

“We wanted a good surprise for once,” Paige explained.

“What does that mean?” Harper asked.

“Since I met Dax, we’ve had plenty of surprises but not many were good,” Paige admitted. “Surprise, the man that killed your mom wants you dead, too. Surprise, America’s sweetheart reporter isn’t all that sweet. Oh, she’s also the ex-girlfriend of the man you love, and she wants him back. Surprise, a terrorist has abducted your boyfriend. Surprise, your uncle came to town and is trying to ruin your wedding. Surprise, a violent sociopath you previously arrested is in town and she’s trying to kill your husband.”

“Is all of that true?” Katie asked, shocked and confused.

“It is,” Carmen tossed a towel at Paige. “But there were good things that happened, too. It wasn’t all bad.”

“It sounds bad,” Katie mumbled.

“Anyway,” Paige let out a long breath. “We’ve had so many difficult things happen; we wanted a good surprise. We’re not going to change our minds, so please just stop asking. We don’t care if it’s a girl or a boy, we’re going to love our baby either way.”

“Of course, you will,” Sophie agreed and she finally understood their decision to wait. There were other things, too. Her abduction, someone shooting at Paige and Dean, Sean going missing, and the money — something she wasn’t supposed to know about. Paige was right, the kids did deserve a good surprise for once.

“Now that we got that out of the way,” Carmen turned to Katie. “It’s your turn. Spill all your deep dark secrets. What has you so upset tonight?”

Katie glanced around, sighed and set her glass of wine on the end table. “Hawk is ashamed of me.”

“What?” Paige barked. “No, he isn’t.”

“He is. His brother called,” Katie admitted. “He asked, or I guess basically demanded, that Hawk go home for Thanksgiving this year. He said it was time for them to spend the holiday as a family.” She glanced around the room. “Hawk said he’s going alone. He doesn’t want me there, doesn’t want me to meet his family. He brushed it off and said I could just hang out at Carmen’s all day and help prepare for the big meal with all of you.”

“Sure,” Carmen agreed. “I could use the help.”

“But that’s not the point,” Katie objected. “I want to go with him. I want to meet his brother and his father. I want him to want to take me.” She tried to blink back the tears that were starting to form in her eyes.

“You think he’s ashamed of you because he doesn’t want you to meet his family?” Paige asked.

“Yes, isn’t that obvious?” Katie whispered.

“Maybe he’s ashamed of them,” Paige suggested.

“What?” Katie frowned. “Why would you say that?”

“Did he tell you why he wanted you to stay home?” Sophie wondered.

“He said it’s not the right time,” Katie shrugged.

“Then don’t read anything more into it than that,” Carmen suggested. “Zeus didn’t meet my family until a few days before our wedding.”

“That’s not true,” Katie didn’t believe her.

“And I didn’t meet the Hamilton’s until they flew out for our wedding,” Paige offered. “Hawk is a lot like Carmen and Dax. His family situation is complicated, and I suspect he’s just trying to shield you from the drama.”

“I don’t want to be shielded,” Katie shook her head. “I want to be with him.”

“It doesn’t matter what you want,” Carmen countered. “It’s his family.”

“But aren’t we supposed to be partners?” Katie pushed. “Shouldn’t we discuss it and make the decision together?”

“I didn’t,” Carmen studied Katie for several seconds, trying to organize her thoughts.

“And Dax didn’t,” Paige offered. “Just because you want to meet Hawk’s family, it doesn’t mean the timing is right for introductions. Don’t read any more into this than that. Hawk’s situation is complicated. He was on a mission when his mom died. The family turned on him, they tried to make him feel guilty, and when he refused to apologize for doing his job, they stopped talking to him. This is a big moment for him. And if he brought a stranger to dinner, chances are good they’d shut down again. He needs to do this alone and you shouldn’t assume that means he’s ashamed of you. You should support his decision because going home, alone, is going to be hard for him.”

“I didn’t know,” Katie swallowed hard. “Which means we have other problems we need to deal with.”

“Not tonight,” Carmen disagreed. “And not before Thanksgiving. Let him do this, for himself, for his family, and for you. Because if this relationship works out, you will inherit an estranged family if he can’t fix it. And that’s always difficult, no matter how much you love your man.”

“Which brings us to you,” Paige turned to Harper. “What’s the deal with you and Jericho?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Harper frowned.

“He said you’re not coming to Thanksgiving dinner this year,” Paige accused. “What’s more important than spending the holiday with your family?”

“I am spending the holiday with my family,” Harper evaded.

“Your son?” Paige asked.

“Yes,” Harper admitted.

“Then bring him with you,” Paige suggested. “You know he’s always welcome.”

“I don’t think Jericho would want him there,” Harper disagreed. “They don’t seem to get along. I don’t know why Jericho doesn’t like my son, but I’ve given up on those two ever getting along. Jericho refuses to try.”

“Are you sure Jericho is the problem?” Paige challenged.

“I realize the two of you are close,” Harper frowned. “Apparently, you’re the only one he will ever accept completely. Ryan has tried, but Jericho is always so negative.”

“Is he?” Paige refused to drop this. “Because from what I hear, Ryan’s the one that rejected Jericho.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Harper demanded. “Ryan has been more than open. Jericho is the one that refused to spend time with my son.”

“Hum,” Paige sat back. “I guess you didn’t hear about the Raider’s game. They’re playing the Las Angeles Chargers. Is it Jericho that Ryan dislikes or does he have an aversion to football?”

“What are you talking about?” Harper demanded.

“Jericho bought tickets to the game in December, but Ryan refused go. He rejected Jericho — again,” Paige informed her.

“How do you know that?” Harper demanded.

“Because he told me and Dax when he invited my husband to join him instead,” Paige admitted. “Look, Ryan isn’t interested in getting to know any of us. He told me that himself. He said once you and Jericho break up, there’s no reason to remain connected — so what’s the point? You’re blaming the wrong person, Harper. Jericho is trying, Ryan is not. And Jericho is smart enough to know the two of you don’t have a future if your son is against it.”

“I don’t —” Harper began.

“Want to hear anything negative about your son,” Paige finished. “Maybe that’s the real problem.”

“Don’t tell me how to interact with my child. You might be pregnant, but you have no idea the kind of sacrifices it takes to raise a child.”

“Ryan is no longer a child, but he’s controlling your happiness — or, more to the point, making sure you will never be happy. How long are you going to let him?” Paige asked.

“I need to go,” Harper jumped to her feet, grabbed her purse and headed for the door.

“Was that necessary?” Sophie asked Paige.

“I think it was,” Paige shrugged. “And don’t blame me. You forced me to participate in this girl’s night thing. I was completely happy relaxing at home in my pajama pants and sweatshirt.”

“I think she needed to know,” Katie provided. “Just like I needed to know I was being selfish when it comes to Hawk and his family. We should be able to discuss things, to talk about the hard stuff. It’s that the point of girl’s night — honesty and friendship?”

“Yes,” Carmen decided. “Now, let’s watch a sappy movie, eat too much sugar and enjoy the company of good friends.”

Hours later, Paige was channel surfing, surrounded by sleeping women when her phone buzzed. “Hey, babe,” she whispered, smiling.

“How’s girl’s night?” Dax settled into a folding chair.

“It started out rocky, but I think it ended on a better note,” Paige sighed. “The girls are sleeping soundly.”

“Ended? Already?” Dax frowned. “And rocky how?”

“Harper was here,” Paige explained. “She started in on how Jericho is rejecting Ryan and I told her about the game. She left mad; I think. The rest of these guys had too much sugar and a lot of wine. They conked before the movie ended.”

“You should crash there for the night,” Dax suggested. “It’s late and I’ll sleep better knowing you’re with friends.”

“Of course, you will,” Paige grinned.

“About the rest,” Dax added. “Harper might be angry, but she needed to hear that kid of hers is a spoiled brat — and he’s driving a wedge between her and Jericho. I get the feeling that boss of yours would rather walk than push her too hard.”

“Do you think it’s the college kid verses cop thing,” Paige wondered.

“No,” Dax disagreed. “I think he’s spoiled and used to getting whatever he wants when it comes to his mother. Now she’s found herself in a situation where she can either humor her adult child and be alone forever or she can stand up for what she wants and be happy with the amazing Jericho Walters. The choice is hers. You’ve given her a little push, let’s see what she does with it.”

“I hope Jericho sees it that way,” Paige bit her bottom lip, worried butting into Jericho’s life might have been a mistake.

“He will,” Dax assured her. “It’s late and I’m freezing. Go to sleep. I’ll try to call again tomorrow night.”

“I love you,” Paige smiled. She rarely had the chance to say it first.

“I love you, too babe.”

\*\*\*

Two days later, Paige was sitting at her desk, skimming through her case file when her phone interrupted. “Deputy Carter.”

“Hey, it’s Detective Knight,” a deep voice greeted. “I had an idea that I wanted to run by you. I guess, well it sounds crazy, so I wanted a second opinion before I ran with it.”

“Alright,” Paige sat back. “I’m listening.”

“So,” Knight began. “The boss decided we should go through all the deaths in the area since that first murder. He’s not convinced I’m headed in the right direction.”

“He still thinks he has a serial killer on the loose?” Paige asked.

“Right,” Knight admitted. “So, I hit on something, but it seems — well, it seems like a long shot but in my gut if feels like there’s something there.”

“Run it through,” Paige suggested.

“In the interview with Rachel Avery, from the second murder. She’s the neighbor that walks her dog every morning at exactly ten o’clock.”

“I remember,” Paige shuffled through the documents until she found the statement from the neighbor.

“She said she saw a strange car in the neighborhood that morning,” Knight continued.

“Yeah,” Paige found the section she was looking for. “A silver Jetta and she thinks it was a male driver.”

“Yes,” Knight relaxed. “There was one other witness that mentioned the Jetta.”

Paige tried to remember, that sounded vaguely familiar.

“The painter,” Knight informed her. “The guy working on the home three doors down from our crime scene.”

“Right,” Paige grabbed that statement. “He also said the Jetta was silver.”

“So,” Knight hesitated. “Here’s the thing. The night after the second murder, an Uber driver was killed. He drove a silver Jetta and he didn’t have a scheduled client for over an hour before his death.”

“Unsolved?” Paige wondered.

“Yeah,” Knight nodded. “And it looks like that case is headed for the cold file. There’s nothing to go on. The driver made a run at nine that evening. That’s the last confirmed ride on his schedule. Then, just after ten we got a call of shots fired in the area and his car was located down by the river. The area is secluded. Honestly, it’s a miracle anyone heard that shot to call it in. Anyway, the body was found slumped over the steering wheel. Our victim was killed instantly, one shot to the back of the head. I can send you the file if you think it could be related. There were about a dozen prints in the back seat — which we expected from a professional driver.”

“I think it’s worth looking at,” Paige decided. “Send me the file. Also, where’s the car?”

“Still in evidence,” Knight answered immediately. “I’ve put a hold on it. It’s assigned to another detective but if you decide it’s connected, I’ll have it transferred to me.”

“Give me a day and I’ll let you know,” Paige offered.

“We’re completely digital so I’ve emailed the file,” Knight informed her. “Give me a call once you’ve gone through it.”

“Will do,” Paige said before disconnecting. She pulled up her email, printed the entire document, and got to work.

“Paige,” Jericho called out. “Go home.”

Paige studied her desk, glanced at Jericho but knew he wouldn’t budge, and began gathering up her files. She’d take this home and work for a few more hours. But first, she was going to stop and grab dinner — she was starving. It was her last night alone and she was glad this training course was nearly complete. For some reason, spending a week away from Dax had been more difficult than usual. She was eager for it to be over — she wanted her husband back home where he belonged. One more night, settled in on the couch, eating alone, working on the new case. She could deal with that.

Several hours later, Paige was fed and comfortable. And, she was fairly confident the Uber driver was killed by the same person that killed the realtors. She was jotting down notes when her phone rang. She glanced down, smiled and answered. “Tell me you’re on your way home.”

Dax laughed. “Tomorrow. What time will you get home from work?”

“Probably around two-ish,” Paige set her work aside and settled against the back of the couch. “Why?”

“Just wondering,” Dax evaded. “Tell me about your day. How’s the case coming?”

“I can’t wait for you to get back so I can walk you through it,” Paige admitted. “I think we added an Uber driver to the list.”

“Sounds intriguing,” Dax grinned. “Tell me.”

She walked him through her case, took notes and laughed until after midnight. “I think it’s time to call it a night.” Paige finally said. After they hung up, Paige realized Dax had called several times since he’d started this course. That was unusual and another indication he was worried about her and the baby. Maybe he also missed her as much as she was missing him.

\*\*\*

The following day, Paige was dragging when she headed off to work. She slept through her alarm, didn’t have anything to eat besides Pop Tarts, and she was confident the Uber driver was part of the case, but she didn’t have any hard evidence to prove it. The instant she dropped into her chair, she picked up the phone and dialed Colorado.

“Detective Knight,” came an alert voice on the other end of the line.

“Deputy Carter,” Paige scowled. The man was way to chipper this morning.

“Oh, hey,” Knight’s tone told Paige he was happy to get the call. “What did you decide?”

“I think they’re connected,” Paige admitted. “I don’t have proof, nothing that will stand up to scrutiny if your boss presses, but my instinct is screaming they’re connected.”

“Yeah,” Knight considered. “I was hoping for more, but I doubt the case agent will scoff if I ask for it. Like I said, as it stands now, that one is heading for the cold file.”

“I do have an idea,” Paige offered. “Something that will tie the driver to the realtor cases.”

“I’m listening,” Knight encouraged.

“Grab the Wallace case,” Paige suggested. “The interview from the dog walker.”

“Got it,” Knight confirmed.

“Okay,” Paige rummaged through the file until she got the statement she was looking for. “The dog walker said she noticed the vehicle because it was parked on the sidewalk, blocking her path, and it was partially inside Mrs. Anders flower bed.”

“Right,” Knight smiled. “And Mrs. Anders was furious. She insisted I take a photo of the damage, just in case we tracked down the horrible man that damaged her beautiful garden.”

“Right,” Paige remembered reading the report on that and seeing the images. “Well, the tire tracks were unique. There was a flat section among the tread. I was thinking, if you have the Jetta in evidence, you could see if the tires match the impression left in Mrs. Anders flower bed. That would connect your vehicle to the area on the night the murder occurred. It’s circumstantial but with the two witnesses putting a Jetta in the area, the tire tracks —”

“If they match,” Knight realized where she was going.

“I think they will,” Paige pushed. “But yeah, if it’s a match, I think you could convince a judge you have enough probable cause to get a warrant for the Uber driver’s schedule the night of those two murders.”

“It’s specific enough, I think it might work,” Knight agreed. “And it will tie the Uber driver to my case and add weight when I ask the sarge to combine them.”

“Exactly,” Paige agreed. “I’m still going through the new case and the other interviews but you get started on that and I’ll wade through the rest.”

“I’ll be in touch,” Knight said before disconnecting.

Paige spent the rest of the day going through the files. Each time she thought she might have a new lead, something in another statement or report explained the anomaly. She was about to give up and call it a day ‘when something caught her eye. She grabbed the phone and dialed Knight. Once he answered, she rushed right in. “Who is Roger Baker?”

“Uh,” Knight skimmed through his notes, trying to locate the name. “I’m not seeing a Baker. Give me the context.”

“I was reading through one of the new interviews you conducted,” Paige explained. “With a Crystal Montgomery.”

“Right,” Knight pulled up the interview. “She said I should talk to Jessica’s friend Roger Baker. I haven’t had any luck tracking down a Baker with a connection to Jessica.”

“See if there’s a Baker connected to Kim Wallace,” Paige suggested.

“What are you thinking?” Knight wondered.

“I think Jessica Crow and Kim Wallace knew each other,” Paige began. “I think they had a side business — something they had to conduct in private. They’d get a listing and wait a day or two to put it on the market to give them the privacy they needed to make some money on the side. I’m wondering if this Roger Baker was another partner, or associate.”

“There are a million Baker’s that live in this area,” Knight objected.

“How many of them are realtors?” Paige wondered.

“But —” Knight pulled out the list of realtors he got from the licensing department. “Well, I’ll be.”

“You found him?” Paige asked. “And he’s another realtor?”

“Yes on both,” Knight admitted. “I need to look into this. Thanks, Paige. You just gave me another lead I can follow. I’ll be in touch. Oh, by the way, the tread matched. The Jetta must have driven over a newly paved road somewhere. The right front tire had asphalt stuck in one of the treads that matched up perfectly with that smooth impression made in Anders flower bed. I’m waiting for the warrant, but it should come through any time.”

“Let me know if there’s anything else I can do from out here,” Paige offered. “But I think at this point, it’s more legwork on your end that will break this case.”

“I’ll let you know,” Knight disconnected.

“Did I hear that correctly?” Jericho said the instant Paige hung up the phone. “Are you sending the case back to the locals for follow up?”

“For now,” Paige advised. “There are a few leads that Knight can chase on his end, but I think I’ve done everything I can from here.”

“Good,” Jericho hesitated. “Then I need a minute in private.”

“Alright,” Paige settled into a chair. “What did I do now?”

“You talked to Harper,” Jericho got right to the point. “And you told her about the game.”

“I did,” Paige shifted in her seat. “Are you mad?”

“No,” Jericho shrugged. “She doesn’t listen to me, maybe she’ll listen to you. When I try, she just says I’m being negative.”

“Oh, she tried to tell me the same thing,” Paige grinned. “I ignored her. Did she take it out on you?”

“Maybe a little,” Jericho shrugged. “I didn’t ask you in here to scold you. I wanted to say thank you. Harper has a blind spot when it comes to her kid. Ryan is good at taking advantage of that and manipulating the situation to get what he wants. Until you spoke up, Harper was convinced I was the bad guy here. To be honest, I didn’t expect our relationship to last through the holidays. Maybe it will, maybe not. At least, she has a better understanding of what’s going on and the ball is in her court. That’s all I wanted to say. So, Thanksgiving is a month away, but you’ll be dealing with a baby by then. Is there anything you need — between now and then — anything I can help with, other than forced time off?”

“No,” Paige shrugged. “I’ve been banned from participating this year and I’m good with that. Just promise me you will come, with or without Harper. That’s all I need.”

“I’ll be there,” Jericho promised. “Now, if you’ve hit a dead end on the Colorado case, go home. Relax until that husband of yours gets home. You’ve earned it.”

“I think I will,” Paige decided. “I could use the rest. But Jericho?”

“Yeah,” he raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t give up on Harper just yet,” Paige suggested. “I know she cares for you. She might not see Ryan clearly, but I think she understands more than either one of us has given her credit for.”

“Maybe,” Jericho grabbed his mail. “Like I said, it’s up to her. I guess only time will tell.”

Paige left, feeling frustrated and defeated. Harper was good for Jericho. She just hoped the first time he let himself hope for a future with someone since he lost Chaya Carter, the woman wouldn’t break his heart. She was pretty sure, if things didn’t work out with Harper, it would be a very long time before Jericho gave another woman a chance.

The instant Paige stepped through the door, she spotted Dax asleep on the couch. She tried to be quiet so she didn’t wake him but after closing the door, she turned and realized Dax was watching her. “Welcome home.”

“I don’t think it counts until you come over here and give me a kiss,” Dax grinned.

Paige set her bag on the chair and settled onto the couch next to Dax. She leaned in and gave him a long welcome home kiss. When she leaned back, she realized he looked exhausted. “You’re tired.”

“Someone kept me up past midnight and I had an early morning,” Dax admitted.

“Here,” Paige slid across the couch, grabbed Dax’s arm and pulled. He relented, shifted and settled onto the couch, his head in her lap. Paige slid her fingers through his hair. “Another successful course completed?”

“It was amazing,” Dax smiled. “The best course to date. Now, I’m off until the next year. And I get to spend all that time with my beautiful wife.”

“And baby,” Paige added.

“Tell me about the case,” Dax requested.

“I think it’s over for me,” Paige admitted. “I talked to Detective Knight today and he’s running with a few additional leads. Hopefully, they’ll pan out.” She proceeded to explain the Uber driver, the silver Jetta and the mysterious Roger Baker.

“It sounds like you pointed him in the right direction,” Dax observed. “So why do you sound disappointed?”

“Not disappointed,” Paige disagreed. “It’s just — I don’t know. I guess I don’t feel like I did anything on this case. Detective Knight discovered the link with the Uber driver and you’re the one that figured out there was some secret business operating out of the empty houses. I didn’t provide anything this time and it feels like I failed somehow.”

“Not true,” Dax disagreed. “You pointed him in the right direction, that’s something.”

“I guess I just don’t think he needed help,” Paige decided. “I think he just needed the support his department wasn’t giving him. He knew what direction to take the investigation, but his supervisor wasn’t listening. I guess I provided moral support and a second opinion that helped him get them off his back so he had the freedom to do the job the way he wanted to.”

“Then you helped,” Dax insisted. “Be happy you were able to help and let it go.”

“I’ll try,” Paige decided. “Now, enough about me. I want you to tell me about the course. First, before I forget, Jericho knows about my discussion with Harper.”

“How’d that go?” Dax asked.

“Fine,” Paige shrugged. “He seemed relieved. He’s tried to talk to Harper about Ryan but she always shuts him down. I think he’s just glad she actually heard it, even if she had to hear it from me. Now it’s up to her. Anyway, tell me about the course.”

“The first day was a little rough,” Dax admitted. He proceeded to tell her about the course, relaying the humorous mistakes and the tasks where the guys excelled. They talked for hours, took a break to order dinner, then settled in for a relaxing movie in front of the fire. It only took ten minutes for Dax to fall asleep.

Paige watched the entire movie, woke Dax, and the two of them stumbled up to bed.

\*\*\*

The next day, she was sitting at her desk, organizing the Colorado file when her phone rang.

“Paige, sorry I didn’t call sooner,” Knight greeted. “The past twenty-four hours have been crazy.”

“Sounds promising,” Paige decided.

“We made an arrest,” Knight grinned. “David Wallace killed Jessica Crow, his wife Kim Wallace and the Uber driver — Adam Jones. What you don’t know is that he also attacked Roger Baker. I was trying to track Baker down but found him at a local hospital in the ICU.”

“Wow,” Paige sat back. “Did you talk to him? Did he know who his attacker was?”

“I did,” Knight told her. “He didn’t know his attacker. Initially, he thought it was a random mugging.”

“Sounds like another dead end,” Paige admitted. “So, how did that lead to an arrest?”

“He came clean,” Knight told her. “Roger told me about the side gig. He was operating a dating service with our two murder victims. They used the vacant homes to create the perfect, romantic date location for their clients. The three of them worked for different real estate agencies, which gave them access to prime locations. All they had to do was delay the listing for a day or so and they had the perfect, secret, private venue for their clients to stage their dream dates.”

“Until the dream turned into a homicidal nightmare,” Paige offered.

“Right,” Knight sobered. “Enter the deadbeat husband — well, soon to be ex-husband — turned widower after he killed his wife. Kim Wallace was at the top of her game. She won an award for the best realtor several months before her death. Her company renegotiated her contract to give her a larger percentage of the profits and she had several wealthy clients she was working with to find the perfect home or vacation getaway — all of them would be million-dollar sales. She was in demand and raking in the money.”

“Then why the side gig?” Paige wondered.

“They’d been working that for several years,” Knight sighed. “All three of the agents were on the top of their game and didn’t really need the distraction — but they enjoyed it. They used it. Those three weren’t just operating the dating service, they were using it. Kim Wallace was putting things in order to divorce her husband, but she didn’t want to wait to have a little fun. So, she plugged her name into the pot and enjoyed a date now and then — compliments of the empty houses. She was on a date when she was killed. Well, technically, she had just finished a date when she was murdered by her jealous husband. I think the only reason the date got away unscathed was because he was a doctor and was called into work on an emergency.”

“Lucky break,” Paige stared out the window. “Why kill Jessica Crow? And attack Roger Baker? That just drew attention to the secret dating business.”

“David Wallace is an idiot,” Knight suggested. “He thought if three realtors from three different companies were murdered, we’d see random vendetta against people that sell houses and not look any closer. He never thought we’d connect the Uber driver with the other attacks.”

“He underestimated you,” Paige replied. “So did your supervisor. I’m happy you closed this one out, but I feel like bringing me in was a waste of time. I didn’t really help.”

“You came up with the secret business angle,” he objected. “And without your suggestion on the tire mark in the garden I never would have connected the driver to the murders.”

“Actually, my husband came up with the secret business angle. I just passed on his theory,” Paige corrected. “And I’m sure you would have checked the tire tracks without my help.”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Knight shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. You suggested it and my supervisor finally saw the connection. That guy, the driver, was nothing more than a victim of bad luck. He drove David Wallace to the house and dropped him off. Then, Wallace worried the kid might hear about the murders on the news and talk to the police. He basically stalked that guy until he thought the time was right. Then, he pretended to run into him randomly and said he needed a ride. Wallace promised to pay Adam double if he’d just do the run off the books. The kid agreed and Wallace directed him to the isolated area before he shot him in the back of the head and walked away.”

“I realize murder is always senseless and stupid,” Paige tossed her pen onto the desk. “But that is so irrational and futile. The kid was so young and working hard to make a better life for himself.”

“Yeah,” Knight sighed. “The job has a way of getting to you, but that death just pisses me off. The first one, too. He killed Jessica because she was part of the dating business but also to create a false narrative. He knew the husband was always the most likely suspect, so he tried to give us something else to focus on.”

“It didn’t work,” Paige said. “Never does.”

“It did for a while,” Knight disagreed. “My boss was set on the serial killer angle. You stepped in and pulled him back so I could work the case the way I normally would — but that only happened because you agreed to help. I needed you on this, even if I did the legwork myself.”

“I’m glad it all worked out,” Paige decided. “So, he killed the first woman because she was part of the dating company. Then he killed his wife to get her money because she was going to divorce him. How does that get him anything?”

“Large insurance policy,” Knight admitted. “And Kim Wallace had a significant amount of money in the bank. He figured he’d walk away with the funds and live off that for a while. Plus, she purchased the house they lived in, and they didn’t have a mortgage. Free rent, plenty of funds, and the freedom to find a new sugar momma before it all ran out.”

“So, he killed one partner and tried to kill the other out of spite?” Paige wondered. “It would have been smarter to make it look like a random mugging.”

“I did say the guy was an idiot,” Knight laughed. “He knew about the listing, the one where he killed Jessica. He said he thought his wife had a date scheduled for that night. When he arrived and spotted the partner, he got the idea to kill her first. In that tiny pea brain of his, he thought it would throw us off and we’d never look at him once he killed Kim. He was wrong, I did look. I just didn’t find anything, not at first.”

“How did you find him?” Paige wondered. “What clicked and pointed to him?”

“The Uber records,” Knight admitted. “Once I got the warrant, I went through the records and David Wallace used the same driver to take him to both homes — near the time of death; or, at least, within the window the ME gave us. That’s why he was so worried. He thought, once we shot down the serial killer angle, we’d hit on the realtor angle and the Uber driver might make the connection. He figured he’d just have to kill the witness and then he’d get away clean.”

“That’s what they all think,” Paige told him. “There’s no such thing as the perfect murder. And we’re just lucky most killers are either stupid or they brag to their friends.”

“Or both,” Knight agreed. “Anyway, we got him on all three murders and the attempted. Instead of heading for a slow death in the back of a filing cabinet, all three cases are closed by arrest. Now it’s up to the lawyers to hash it out. If we’re lucky, David Wallace will never see the light of day again.”

“And you get some free time to enjoy the holidays?” Paige wondered.

“Maybe,” Knight evaded. “My name dropped to the bottom of the list. If the citizens of Colorado Springs can hold their tempers, maybe I’ll get a brief reprieve before the next one. Anyway, I thought you’d want to know the details. It’s been a long night and I’m heading out to grab a few hours down while I can.”

“Thanks for the call,” Paige said sincerely. “And don’t hesitate to call if I can help down the road.”

“Same goes,” Knight offered. “Take care Paige and have a wonderful holiday season. I hear that baby of yours is about to make an appearance. Congratulations on that and I hope all goes well for you and the family.”

“Thanks,” Paige was smiling when she hung up. Another successful case closed, even if she didn’t do all that much to help this time. She stood and headed into brief Jericho and let him know she was, once again, free to help where needed.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S7

**Tags:** Season 7

---

### [Fatal Fashion](https://melaniepsmith.com/fatal-fashion/)

**Published:** October 31, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Fatal Fashion (S7E6) Paige is well into her pregnancy and stuck at the office working cold cases.  Multiple requests have come in from other agencies asking for her assistance.  Can she solve the homicide of a fashion designer from Las Vegas. And what’s roaming the mountains in Spanish Fork — Human or Beast?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*FATAL FASHION\*\*\*****

Dax woke and realized he was alone. *Where was Paige?* He climbed from the bed, slid into his jeans, and pulled the sweatshirt he tossed onto the floor over his head as he exited the bedroom. The house was completely dark. He frowned and started to get worried. He was pretty sure she wouldn’t leave without telling him.

He stepped into the kitchen, glanced around, and started to pivot when he realized the back door was unlocked. Relieved, he stepped into the darkness and spotted her huddled under her favorite blanket on the nearest lounge chair, sipping a mug of hot chocolate. “Hey, pretty lady. What are you doing out here?”

“Couldn’t sleep,” she watched him approach the chair.

“Sit forward.” When she did, he settled behind her, pulled her against him, and wrapped his arms around her, resting his hands on her stomach. “So, why are you out here in the cold instead of curled up with your amazing husband in a warm bed?”

“I feel like a beached whale, and I couldn’t sleep. Then our little watermelon started moving around and once I was awake, my mind wouldn’t settle,” Paige admitted. “I didn’t want to wake you, so I came out here to enjoy the peace and quiet for a while.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PCS7-MPS.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/E6-Fatal-Fashion.pdf)

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“In another month, that won’t be possible. It’ll be too cold to relax out here in the dark,” Dax observed. They sat in silence for several minutes. “You seem — off. What’s going on?”

“I just have a lot on my mind,” Paige evaded.

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. Everything is changing, and I don’t know how to deal with it,” Paige admitted.

“But are they good changes or bad changes?” Dax wondered.

“Both, maybe. I don’t know, it’s a lot to deal with. We’re moving, we’re having a baby, and my job is confusing,” Paige began. “Then there are the changes with Nathan and Sophie. They bought a house and moved to Utah. I can’t believe they’re actually here. If you told me Nathan would ever leave Washington, I’d say you were crazy.”

“They’re having a grandbaby.” Dax kissed the top of her head. “I’m not surprised they moved.”

“Hawk, the terminal bachelor, is now dating your secretary,” Paige continued. “And he can’t get us into our new home fast enough.”

“He wants a little privacy,” Dax shrugged. “All of those things are good things.”

“Jericho is getting serious with Harper,” Paige continued. “He finally met her son, and they hit it off better than any of us expected.”

“Why does that upset you?” Dax could hear it in her voice.

“I’m not upset — exactly,” Paige considered. “I just worry our relationship is going to change. What if the kid doesn’t like me? What if I lose Jericho because of him?”

“What if you gain a brother?” Dax countered.

“That’s impossible,” Paige frowned. “We’re not related.”

“Of course you are,” Dax disagreed. “Jericho would have been your stepfather if things were different. Since you came back to Manti, he’s stepped into that role. He loved your mom, and it appears the feeling was mutual. They didn’t need a certificate to make that official — or to make it last. They loved each other, and Jericho is your father. Now, Jericho is dating that kid’s mother — which makes him a potential brother.”

“You’re a weirdo,” Paige shook her head.

“But I’m a brilliant, extremely logical weirdo,” Dax grinned. “And I’m right.”

“Whatever, my job has also changed,” Paige continued. “It’s strange sitting at a desk all day, not handling calls.”

“Is that why you’re upset?” Dax wondered. “You miss the job?”

“That’s the strange part,” Paige sighed. “I kind of like what I’m doing. If we had a detective allocation, I’d fight for it. I think this is what I was born to do. It’s challenging,”

“Again, isn’t that a good thing?” Dax wondered.

“I guess,” Paige whispered. “Once the baby is born, everything will change again. And I’m going to miss what I’m doing now. I’m helping a lot of people get answers and I like it.”

“Maybe Jericho will let you continue — as time allows,” Dax offered.

“I don’t see how,” Paige disagreed. “Plus, there’s this case — it’s not about change, but I have this case Gage gave me I can’t figure out. Normally, there’s evidence, forensic elements that direct the investigation. Not this time. There aren’t any leads, and the victim’s sister still believes Big Foot killed her brother.”

“Well, if you’re dealing with the elusive Sasquatch,” Dax grinned. “That’s why you don’t have any leads. I mean, Big Foot probably wouldn’t leave a cigar with his DNA or drop his wallet on his way out of the area. And I’m pretty sure he doesn’t drive; so, no tire tracks. Have you checked everything for drool?”

“Not funny.” Paige held back her smile. “And it’s supposed to be Big Foot, not a giant bulldog.”

“You can’t solve them all, Paige. Just do your best and that will have to be enough,” Dax suggested.

“It doesn’t matter.” Paige decided. “I can only do what I can do. Anyway, our life is going to change the most. I’m worried about those changes. We can’t discuss murder and violence with a child in the room. We can’t debate the details of a case over breakfast anymore, and that’s kind of our thing.”

“We’ll find a way to talk about the details,” Dax assured her. “It might not be over breakfast, but that is our thing, and we’ll keep doing it.”

“How?” Paige wondered. “I’ll have to keep the file at work. The last thing I want my child to see are images of death and violence. Think about the Jane Doe case. You had those pictures spread out all over the living room. That will have to stop.”

“Paige, you’re not the first cop to have a baby.” Dax wondered where all of this was coming from. “Other police officers have figured it out, so will we.”

“I guess.” Paige shifted and cuddled into him, not entirely sure he was right.

Dax pressed a gentle kiss to her temple and the two of them silently watched the sun rise over the mountain.

Hours later, Dax sat at his desk at the training center, still thinking about the conversation he had with Paige. Now he was worried. She had a point. The things they did as a matter of routine would have to change. They couldn’t openly discuss death, violence, and victims in their home with a kid running around. Somehow, they’d find a way to continue that part of their life — they had to, because it was their thing, and it was an important part of their relationship. A part he wasn’t willing to lose.

“What’s eating you?” Hawk dropped into a chair across from Dax. “What’s going on?”

“Changes.” He sat back, studied his friend for several minutes, then relayed the conversation he and Paige had that morning.

Hawk listened and considered. “I’m sorry if I’ve been putting pressure on you guys. I didn’t think. You have a lot going on in your life, and my housing problems are insignificant.”

“I understand you need some space,” Dax sighed. “This isn’t about you. It’s about Paige, about the changes that are going to occur in our lives and how the things that are fundamental to our relationship are going to have to end.”

“Or not,” Hawk disagreed. “Have you ever considered bringing Paige in — to all of this?” Hawk waved his hand around. “She’d be an amazing instructor, and she has knowledge and experience that very few people have. If she enjoys working cold cases, she could do that here, with a class full of cops. The routine might change, but the two of you could discuss cases here, at the office. You wouldn’t need to take files home and the kid would be protected.”

“Paige is a cop,” Dax disagreed. “I won’t pressure her to quit. It’s my job to support her, not force her into more changes.”

“Just think about it,” Hawk suggested. “It could be a good fit. She’s already part of the family. Even that miscreant, Vato, has come around.”

“Let’s talk about the training session.” Dax wasn’t willing to put that kind of pressure on Paige, no matter how much he liked the idea.

\*\*\*

Paige settled into her chair, worn out and exhausted. She wondered how much longer she’d be able to do this. Carrying a human around was draining all of her energy, especially when she only got a few hours’ sleep. She glanced up when the door flew open, and Gage stepped in.

“Hey, Clayton,” she called and motioned him to join her.

“What’s up?” Gage dropped into her visitor’s chair. “You look terrible. Maybe you should take the day off.”

“Such a charmer,” Paige waved away his concern. “I wanted to talk to you about that case you asked me to look into. That one up in Spanish Fork.”

“Right,” Gage straightened. “Did you find something?”

“I’m not sure we can help him,” Paige admitted and pulled out the images. “I’d bet my next paycheck the man was killed by a human, not an animal. Unfortunately, proving that using forensic evidence will be impossible. There’s not any.”

“What makes you think the attack was by a human?” Gage took the photo she handed him.

“See that straight line?” Paige asked. “On the left side of his neck.”

Gage brought the image closer to his nose. “I—” he looked up. “I’m not sure.”

Paige handed him a magnifying glass. “Look close.”

Gage studied the picture again and, using the magnifying glass, he immediately saw what she was talking about. “Isn’t it possible that a mountain lion made that injury? They have sharp claws, and a quick swipe could be straight and deep like that.”

“Not that straight,” Paige disagreed. “There’s a difference between a claw mark and the slice of a knife. That looks like someone cut his throat with a large knife of some kind and left him in the wilderness. At that point, a bobcat or mountain lion took advantage of the fresh kill and helped themselves to dinner. It also could have been a coyote. I believe someone murdered that man, but I can't prove it — not with the evidence they have. I’ll keep it at the back of my mind and try to think of another direction they can go at it; but unfortunately, I’m stumped. Maybe they should start tearing his life apart and see if they can come up with a suspect that wanted him dead.”

“That sucks,” Gage sat back. “He was depending on you to help him with this. Can I assure him Big Foot is out?”

“Yeah,” Paige rolled her eyes. “I can say with one hundred percent certainty Big Foot did not kill that man. I think it was a homicide. Your friend should talk to the brother, the one that says it was murder. See who he thinks did it and approach it from that angle.” She handed the file back to Gage. “I’m not giving up; but, at the moment, I’m bewildered and there’s nothing more I can do with that.”

“Paige,” Jericho stopped in his doorway. “In my office.”

“Duty calls.” Paige pushed to her feet and headed across the room. She paused when Margie held out a stack of messages. “Are those all for the boss?”

“Most of them are outside agencies with cold cases they want you to look into,” Margie shrugged.

Paige just stared at her, completely speechless. There had to be a couple dozen messages in that pile.

“Paige,” Jericho called from his office.

“Margie wanted me to give you these.” Paige dropped the messages on his desk before settling into a chair.

Jericho grabbed the messages, stood and headed for the door. “Margie, I need you to call these people back and tell them if they want Paige to help them, they’ll need to submit a detailed report for my review. Once I look that over, I’ll decide which cases we’ll take, and which are not worth her time.”

“I can do that,” Paige offered. “If I see something I think is workable, I’ll bring it to you.”

“Once we get the files, we’ll decide how to sort through and choose,” Jericho decided. “For now, I have a case I want you to look into.”

“Where’s it from?” Paige sat back, wondering how Jericho decided on that particular case.

“Colorado,” Jericho tossed a folder across the desk. “I have two others. If you figure out the Colorado situation, I have one from…” He started rifling through folders. “Right, here it is.” He started to pass it to her, but knocked another folder onto the floor.

Paige leaned down to gather up the scattered documents. An image of a man that looked devastated fell out. Something about the man intrigued her. She held it out as she straightened. “What about this one?”

“Naw.” Jericho held out his hand, expecting her to hand the file back. “I’m denying that one. Vegas pretty much has it figured out. The detective is confident that man — he’s the partner — they think he did it. They just wanted you to scan the evidence and make sure they didn’t miss anything. They can tie things up without your help.”

“If that’s all they want,” Paige grabbed the rest of the file and set it on the chair next to her. “I’d be happy to look.”

Jericho narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“Because I disagree,” Paige shrugged. “Now, tell me about Colorado.”

“The chief out there is worried they might have a serial killer in the area,” Jericho sighed. “I say two murders don’t rise to serial, but he’s insisting there could be another death any day if we can’t help them solve it. The citizens in the area are terrified and, with the holidays coming, they want it closed as soon as possible. I’ve looked over the file and I’m not so sure this is as random as they believe it is. I also think, if I’m right and it wasn’t a random maniac taking out strangers, there will not be additional deaths. I just need you to look, see what you think, and decide if there’s anything we can do to help.”

Paige accepted the folder. “Can I also look into Vegas?” She tapped the file on the chair next to her.

“Focus on Colorado,” Jericho ordered. “If you have time, then you can dig into Vegas. Colorado is the priority, no games on this one. I want your word on that.”

“No games,” Paige agreed. “I’ll take both files and look through them. What are all of those?” She pointed to the stack of folders on the edge of his desk — the place the file from Vegas fell from.

“Requests for you,” Jericho sighed. “I’m not going through all of those. Margie will inform anyone making a request that they need to submit a summary of the facts. If it sounds like we can help, she’ll ask for a copy of the file, and you can skim through and see if you believe you can assist them. If not, we’ll let them know there’s nothing we can do. Seriously, this is getting out of hand.”

“Why are they requesting my help?” Paige stared at the enormous pile and frowned.

“It started with that Julianna case,” Jericho shrugged. “Well, it may have started before that. You’ve assisted Salt Lake City and Vegas before. Cops talk — they’re worse than a bunch of old ladies having tea. Anyway, you had that baby case that brought in multiple agencies and that other guy — that leap year killer. Your name is out there. Then add in your husband’s class — and that case that connected to Bundy and we have this,” he motioned to the pile of folders on his desk.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Paige considered. It wasn’t possible for her to look at all of those cases before she had her baby — especially when Margie just took messages from at least a dozen additional departments requesting help.

“There’s nothing to say,” Jericho told her. “It’s my problem. I’ll deal with this mess; you focus on the case I assigned from Colorado and let me know when you’re finished.”

\*\*\*

Paige was sitting at her desk, reading through the case Jericho assigned from Colorado, when her phone rang. She reached over and absently answered but continued to read. “Deputy Carter.”

“Hey, baby,” Dax answered. “You busy?”

“A little,” she set the file aside. “I have two new cases to look into. What’s up?”

“I just missed you and wanted to see how your day was going,” Dax told her.

“You’ve been worried about me after our conversation this morning,” Paige realized. “I’m fine, so stop worrying.”

“Never,” Dax disagreed. “I was thinking of grabbing dinner. Will you be home on time?”

“Yeah,” Paige glanced at the clock. “I’ll make sure I leave on time.”

“Bring the new cases,” Dax added. “We’ll go through them tonight.”

“Are you rebelling?” Paige laughed.

“Absolutely,” Dax laughed. “I love you, babe. See you tonight.”

Paige hung up and stared out the window. She should have known the conversation they had this morning would stick with Dax. He was already stressed out and worried since they discovered she was pregnant. And building a house in the middle of it was just making things so much worse. Maybe taking the files home would help settle things and get them back to normal. She grabbed the Colorado file and continued skimming through the details. Basically, someone killed two female realtors in homes that were for sale. They worked for different companies, but both were very successful. Someone killed them about a week apart using the same method. She was still reading when Jericho closed his door and told her to go home.

Paige glanced at the clock, frantically gathered up the files, and shoved them into her bag. When she stepped outside, she realized Jericho was waiting for her.

“Any insights?” he asked on the way to her car.

“Not yet,” Paige admitted. “So far, I’m with you, though. I’m not sure it’s a serial killer. Two successful realtors getting killed before they can show a house doesn’t mean there’s a dangerous sociopath on the loose. It might just be a homicidal maniac that hates realtors. Or it could be someone that had a personal grudge against those two women. They’re jumping to conclusions, and I have found no facts that support their theory.”

“Keep at it and let me know what you decide,” Jericho pulled her door open. “And don’t spend too much time on those tonight. You look tired, you need to get more rest. The next couple of months are going to be difficult.”

“Well,” Paige settled into her car. “Based on that stack of files on your desk, I don’t have time to rest.”

“Don’t focus on the requests,” Jericho insisted. “We won’t accept all of them. In fact, we’re only going to accept the ones we want to accept. There’s no pressure, not from me. So, don’t put that kind of pressure on yourself.”

“I get the feeling the cases I would choose are far different from the cases you’re going to choose. I’d like to handle both — yours and mine. If I work hard and deal with the files you assign, I’m hoping you’ll give me the opportunity to help with the cases I want to focus on.”

“We’ll look at the summaries and decide together,” Jericho assured her. “Drive safe and tell that husband of yours to take care of you tonight.”

\*\*\*

Paige and Dax were relaxing on the couch. Dax was messaging her left foot as she skimmed through the files, not sure where to begin.

“This file is missing information,” Paige complained and tossed it onto the table. “I can’t help them without the victim’s financials, the schedules, and any clients they have in common. I need to know who had access to the houses they were discovered in. This feels sloppy.”

“What about the other file?” Dax wondered.

“That’s one I chose,” Paige admitted.

“Tell me about it,” Dax pushed.

“That belongs to Vegas,” Paige told him.

“Will I get to see the pirate again?” Dax grinned. “It’s been what — a whole month?”

“Three months,” Paige corrected.

“And a couple months before that,” Dax added. “So, I think we’re due.”

“That’s not why I picked this case,” Paige objected. “And I see no reason the FBI would be involved. So, no. I don’t think we’ll be seeing Special Agent Sparrow.”

“That’s too bad. I was hoping he’d bring the rum,” Dax switched feet.

“Stop it,” Paige tried not to laugh.

“Tell me about the Vegas case,” Dax prompted.

“I haven’t really had time to dig into that one much,” Paige admitted. “It was just that picture — I guess you could say it spoke to me and I wanted to investigate it.”

“Why?” Dax wondered.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/massaging-feet-MPS.webp)

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“The case agent thinks the partner did it. This is the partner. It was taken the night the man was killed.” Paige handed him the photo. “He’s devastated and, I don’t know, he just doesn’t look guilty to me.”

“Start at the beginning,” Dax requested. “You said partner, is that a business partner?”

“Right,” Paige straightened. “These two guys are fashion designers. They started their own company, were relatively successful, and they were in the middle of an elite, invitation only, fashion show when the partner was poisoned. Someone put cyanide in his hand lotion.”

“Horrible way to die, but definitely unique. And the detective thinks the partner did it.” Dax nodded. “But you don’t.”

“Look at his eyes,” Paige insisted. “That’s not the look of a depraved killer, that’s sorrow and grief. The only reason they think the partner did it was because they were arguing before the show began. One partner wanted to invest in a new project and the dead guy was resisting because he thought it was too expensive and risky. Okay, money is always a motivator, but that just doesn’t feel like enough to me. Money wasn’t tight, even with a new project.”

“You studied the finances?” Dax wondered.

“Some, I need to spend more time reading the details,” Paige told him.

“Sounds like you still have a lot of catching up to do,” Dax told her.

“Yeah, I need to read through it carefully.” Paige dropped the file on the table. “First, I need to organize it. When the file fell on the ground, it got all mixed up.”

“Can you start tomorrow? It’s getting late, and we were both up early. I’m ready to turn in.” Dax stood and held out a hand.

“Alright,” Paige decided. “I need to head in early so I can talk to Jericho. I have to put the Colorado thing on hold until they get more information. If he allows it, I’m going to focus on the Vegas case and see if there’s anything that I can tug. Let’s turn in. Maybe the little monster growing inside of me will settle tonight and let me get at least a few hours’ sleep.”

\*\*\*

Paige was sitting at her desk, reading through an interview with one of the models when Jericho returned from a long meeting. “Paige?”

She stood and headed into the office.

“I talked to the Chief out in Colorado. He’s instructed his detectives to get a warrant for the financials and he’s working on the other stuff you said you needed. I calmed him down; he’s keeping an open mind — at least for now. Any progress on that case from Vegas or do you want to look through the rest of these and see if there’s something you want to tackle?”

“I’m working on the fashion designer case out of Vegas,” Paige admitted. “I’m even more convinced they got that one wrong. I really don’t think the partner was involved.”

“Based on what?” Jericho wondered.

“It doesn’t make sense,” Paige insisted. “They decided the partner did it and they really didn’t look further. Oh, they interviewed all the models and the rest of the staff, but they didn’t push — on anything. I won’t say it was sloppy. They went through the motions, crossed their T’s and dotted their I’s but then they filed it away and focused on Zane Morris. I need a little time to get through everything.”

“Then I’ll let you get to it,” Jericho said in dismissal.

Paige settled back in her chair and opened the file. She read through all the reports and started on the statements. She was skimming through the second interview when something caught her eye. She read through the statement again, then sat back and considered. After a few minutes, she picked up the phone and called Vegas.

“Detective Wilson.”

“Hey, it’s Deputy Paige Carter from Sanpete County. I’m calling regarding the Miko Sciarra homicide.”

“Right,” Wilson grabbed the file. “We just wanted you to take a look, see if there’s anything we missed that will help close this out. We haven’t been able to connect Morris to cyanide yet.”

“I doubt you will,” Paige told him. “Anyway, I’m calling to see if you can bring one of the models in for another interview.”

“Why?” Wilson wondered. “And what do you mean, you doubt I will?”

“I think you focused on the wrong suspect,” Paige told him. “And I think the model, Scarlett Jones, and Kade Morris, are involved. She might have additional information. I was hoping you could call her in and see what you can get from her.”

“Do you have the ability to conduct a video interview?” Wilson asked. “Since you’re the one with questions, I’d like you to be there.”

“Set it up on your end and I’ll make it work on mine,” Paige agreed. “I’ll need at least twenty minutes so I can get Margie to help.”

“I’ll aim for this afternoon,” Wilson told her. “But I’ll let you know after I talk to the model.”

“Keep me posted,” Paige said before she disconnected.

\*\*\*

Three hours later, Paige was sitting in the conference room waiting for the interview to begin. Suddenly, the screen popped on and an attractive woman wearing a sleek maroon silk shirt and designer slacks was sitting next to an attractive, but clearly overworked, detective in a dark suit.

“Looks like technology is our friend today,” Detective Wilson said the instant he saw Paige’s image appear on the screen. “Scarlett, this is Deputy Paige Carter from Manti, Utah. She’s going to be assisting in the interview this afternoon.”

“I still don’t understand why.” Scarlett studied the screen. “You said this was about Mika. What does that have to do with a cop in Utah?”

“Paige has an area of expertise that we believe might help us find answers,” Wilson evaded. “She’s assisted with tough cases in the past. We brought her in because the investigation isn’t progressing the way we hoped it might.”

“That’s because you’re focused on Kade instead of finding the person who actually killed Miko,” Scarlett challenged.

“I understand your position on this,” Wilson tried to soothe. “You’ve been very clear since the beginning.”

“Have you dealt with all the technicalities?” Paige wondered.

“Yes,” Wilson assured her. “Speak freely. You can start questioning Ms. Jones whenever you’re ready.”

“Alright.” Paige studied the woman. “Well, I guess my first question is why you’re so sure Kade had nothing to do with Miko’s death.”

“Kade loved Miko,” Scarlett said immediately. “They were more than best friends; they were like brothers. Kade would do anything for Miko. He certainly wouldn’t kill him.”

“How long have you been in love with him?” Paige wondered.

“I—” Scarlett hesitated while she studied Paige.

“Are the two of you dating?” Wilson pushed.

“Not anymore,” Scarlett admitted. “Miko’s death was too much. Kade broke things off a few days later.”

“Why?” Paige asked.

Scarlett hesitated, then sighed. “The night Miko was killed, he and Kade had an argument. Kade tried to tell Miko about us, but he blew up about it. Miko insisted Kade had to break things off. He said it wasn’t appropriate. Kade threw that back in his face and that’s when Miko brought up the shoe deal. He refused to even discuss it, just vetoed it out of spite, and the last words they spoke were angry. He’s having a hard time living with that and his answer was to follow through with Miko’s wishes. He won’t budge, so I’m out.”

Paige considered; she felt a little sorry for this woman. “If he loved you the way you love him, things could still work out. Guilt is a powerful motivator, but with time, he might change his mind and realize he deserves to be happy.”

“I doubt it,” Scarlett brushed at her face and Paige realized she was trying not to cry.

“What do you mean Kade threw it back in his face?” Wilson studied the model, wondering if he’d missed a very important piece of this puzzle.

“I—” Scarlett’s gaze danced around the room, looking everywhere but at him.

“Was Miko cheating on his wife with one of the models?” Wilson pushed.

Scarlett studied him, emotions evident in her eyes. “I guess it doesn’t matter now.”

“Which means yes,” Paige realized. “Do you know he was seeing?”

“I promised Kade I wouldn’t say anything,” Scarlett began.

“That was before,” Paige insisted. “It’s important that you’re honest with us, Scarlett. If you want to help Kade, you have to tell us what you know.”

Scarlett dropped her gazes to her lap and stared at her hands for several seconds. “Alright. I saw Miko in the back. He didn’t know I was there; the show had started, and I was supposed to be standing in the wings, ready to go out on stage. I forgot something and rushed back to my dressing area. He was basically making out with Nina Wimmer. I mean, they were really going at it. Nina wasn’t part of the first set, and I have no doubt they were working up to — you know. They thought it was safe because nobody was supposed to be back there.”

“And what did you do?” Wilson asked.

“Nothing,” Scarlett shrugged. “I mean, I rushed back and did the show. Then, that night at Kade’s place, I told him what I saw. At first, he tried to act surprised, but I could tell he already knew. He brushed it off and said we don’t know how far it went and he asked me not to say anything. He didn’t want to upset Venus.”

“He didn’t think Miko’s wife knew about the affair?” Wilson realized.

“No,” Scarlett answered immediately. “Kade was sure Venus didn’t know anything about it and he didn’t want to cause problems in their marriage. He convinced me we should keep it a secret, so I did.”

“But then Miko tried to interfere in Kade’s relationship with you and Kade made sure Miko knew it wasn’t a secret,” Paige realized.

“Basically,” Scarlett agreed. “And that made him angry, so he threw the shoe deal in Kade’s face. He refused to discuss it and shut it down. It got a little ugly, but I don’t think it was really about the shoes. Kade likes Venus, not romantically, but he likes her, he cares about her and he hated what Miko was doing to her. Miko didn’t like being called out that way. People heard an argument about shoes but it was more personal than that. It’s the only reason they did it at that show, out in public. They were both emotional and said things they didn’t mean. They would have worked it out, but Miko died and they didn’t get the chance.”

“Are you sure Venus doesn’t know her husband was cheating?” Paige asked.

“Yeah,” Scarlett nodded. “I mean, as sure as I can be. I really don’t think she knows.”

“If she did,” Wilson jumped in. “What would she do?”

“Well, I don’t think she’d poison Miko’s lotion,” Scarlett frowned. “That is what you’re getting at, right?”

“Basically,” Wilson agreed.

“No,” Scarlett shook her head. “She loved Miko, he treated her like a princess, gave her anything she wanted, and she was pampered. I always got the impression she was kind of weak and fragile. If she knew, it would devastate her. She’d probably break and then she’d forgive him and believe he wouldn’t do it again — if that’s what he told her. She wouldn’t kill the man that gave her everything.”

“But now she has everything, and she doesn’t need the man,” Paige challenged.

“Venus needs a man,” Scarlett disagreed. “I know you have to look into it and I should be happy your focus is on someone other than Kade, but I just don’t think she knew. Plus, I know Venus, there’s no way she did this.”

“What about the mistress? You said her name is Nina? Could she poison Miko’s lotion if he wasn’t willing to leave his wife?” Paige wondered.

“Maybe,” Scarlett said slowly. “I don’t like to point a finger at her because I don’t know, but she has a temper, and she can be vindictive. I hope she didn’t do it, but I honestly couldn’t say one way or the other.”

“Scarlett,” Wilson waited for her to glance up. “Is there anything else you know that might help us? Now is the time to be honest, no more secrets.”

“No, just that Kade wasn’t involved in this,” Scarlett said again. “I don’t know who did it, but it wasn’t Kade.”

“Alright,” Wilson glanced up. “Deputy Carter, you have anything else?”

“Nope,” Paige decided. “I think that’s it.”

“You’re free to go,” Wilson told Scarlett.

Once she was gone, Wilson turned to Paige. “I hate to admit it, but you’re right.”

“Did that hurt?” Paige wondered.

Wilson laughed. “I know better, but I walked in, came to a conclusion and tried to make the evidence match my theory. That’s not the way to run an investigation.”

“Then why did you do it?” Paige wondered.

“I’d like to blame my sergeant,” Wilson considered. “He arrived, looked around, declared it was obvious what happened, and told me to close it out. Still, I know better.”

“Well, it’s not too late to fix it,” Paige suggested.

“And the first step I plan to take is to bring Nina the mistress in for an official interview,” Wilson told her. “You want in?”

“Naw,” Paige decided. “You can fill me in later.”

\*\*\*

The following morning Paige stepped into the office and spotted a man waiting in her visitor’s chair. “Can I help you?” Paige asked him once she settled into her chair.

“Are you Deputy Paige Carter?”

“I am,” Paige nodded. “And you are?”

“Kade Morris,” he stood and held out a hand.

“I see,” Paige sat back.

“Scarlett said you spoke with her, and she thinks you can help me,” Kade admitted. “She also believes I can trust you. I don’t know about that; I do know I do not trust the detectives out of Vegas. Scarlett convinced me to try, so here I am.”

“What is it you want from me, Mr. Morris?” Paige considered, she should probably call Wilson and let him know before she took this any further.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I —” he looked away and seemed to gather his thoughts. “I didn’t hurt Miko,” he bit back his emotion. “I’m a little lost without him and I want the person who did this to pay for what they did. I want someone to pay for taking my friend away from me. I don’t know if talking to you will help, but if there’s a chance that it will — I guess I have to take that chance.”

“This isn’t my case,” Paige advised. “I’m simply assisting Las Vegas and I can’t do anything until I speak with Detective Wilson.”

“I see,” Kade considered. “Maybe this was a mistake.”

“I don’t think it was,” Paige disagreed. “I think you should trust Scarlett if you can’t trust me. I think you should sit down with me and tell me everything you know about Miko, what was going on in his life when he died, and anyone that had access to his lotion. I think you should help us find the person who did this.”

“How can I do that if you speak with the detective that is trying to arrest me for a crime I didn’t commit?” Kade demanded.

“I think he’s had a change of heart,” Paige admitted. “And I don’t believe you killed your friend. If you can’t trust him, trust that I will help find the truth.”

“What do you need?” Kade asked hesitantly.

“First, let me call Detective Wilson,” Paige suggested. “I’ll tell him you are here and you’re willing to speak with me. He may want to participate. If so, we’ll set up a video conference, sit down and hear what you have to say.”

“And if he insists you arrest me?” Kade wondered.

“He won’t,” Paige said without hesitation. “First, because there’s no reason to. Also, because this is Utah and the crime you are suspected of happened in Nevada. And finally, if they had enough to arrest you for that crime, you would be in jail, not sitting in front of my desk this morning.”

“I’m willing to try,” Kade decided. “But if this doesn’t work, I’m going to stop the meeting and go home.”

“Alright,” Paige agreed. “Give me a few minutes to contact Wilson. Why don’t you grab a cup of coffee and head into the conference room. I’ll only be a minute.”

Kade studied her for several seconds. Paige figured he must have found what he was looking for because he slowly stood, stopped at the coffee bar to mix a fresh cup, then disappeared into the conference room. She picked up the phone and called Wilson.

Paige positioned herself across from Kade Morris after setting up the video. “I need to advise you of your rights.” Paige advised. She proceeded to read the Miranda Warning. “Are you willing to talk to us today?”

“Yeah,” Kade frowned, not happy that he was still being treated like a suspect.

“We’re just here to find the truth,” Paige assured him. “To get any information you can give us that will lead us in the direction we should be going.”

“It sounds like you’re trying to blame me for something I didn’t do,” Kade challenged.

“I explained your rights for your protection as much as ours,” Paige explained. “Tell us about Miko. What was going on in his life when he died?”

“I want you to know that Miko loved Venus,” Kade began. “She is beautiful and naïve and fragile. Losing her husband broke more than you can imagine, and she might never recover.”

“Scarlett told us there may have been some infidelity,” Wilson advised.

“Miko was larger than life,” Kade continued. “He’s flamboyant, and he needed constant stimulation to motivate his creativity.”

“So, he cheated,” Paige said without emotion.

“Yes, he cheated,” Kade agreed, but looked away. “But he loved Venus. I know that’s difficult to understand, but he loved her, he adored her, and he cherished her — in his way. And she didn’t know. Miko made sure she didn’t know because he never wanted to hurt her.”

“It sounds like you’re making excuses for a friend,” Wilson observed. “Did you cover for him when he was with his mistress? When he was having a good time with this Nina woman?”

“Mistresses,” Kade corrected. “And no, Miko was discreet. I never needed to cover for him. But he wouldn’t have asked me.”

“Why?” Paige wondered.

“I guess the simple answer is we have different values,” Kade said carefully. “I told Miko it was wrong, but he blamed his Italian heritage and said it was natural. He joked he was a lover and he couldn’t change his spots.”

“You said mistresses,” Wilson circled back. “We know about Nina. Can you give us any other names?”

“I—” Kade considered. “Is that necessary?”

“There are a few common motives or reasons people kill,” Paige informed him. “Greed or financial gain, jealousy, and revenge are at the top. Understanding that, you can see why we need to speak with the women he had affairs with.”

“I understand,” Kade nodded.

“I’d also like your opinion on each of the women,” Wilson added. “What I mean by that is their temperament. Let’s start with Nina Wimmer. Were they still dating, and do you think she’s capable of harming Miko?”

“Um, no,” Kade decided. “He wasn’t seeing Nina when he died. They broke up a few months before he was killed.”

“Did she resent him?” Paige wondered.

“I don’t think so,” Kade hesitated. “I think she wanted more and when she realized he would not give her what she wanted, she ended the relationship.”

“Do you think she could have poisoned him?” Wilson asked.

“I don’t think so,” Kade decided. “She has a temper, but I don’t think she’d poison him. If she was angry, I think she would have punched him in the face.”

“Alright,” Paige jotted down a few notes. “Who was he seeing at the time of his death?”

“Another model,” Kade admitted. “Celina Mosele.”

“Was she at the fashion show?” Wilson asked as he skimmed through his notes. “I’m not seeing her name on the witness list.”

“No,” Kade frowned. “I believe she was out of town at another show at the time.”

“Alright,” Paige considered. “Someone put the poison in Miko’s hand lotion. That seems reckless to me. How did they know it wouldn’t harm someone else?”

“Nobody used Miko’s hand lotion but Miko,” Kade insisted. “It was a special formula that was developed just for him.”

“So, he was targeted,” Paige decided. “Okay, who else? Give us the names of other women he had relations with.”

“They were all models,” Kade admitted. “He um — well, I think it was easier that way. I saw Lena at his apartment a few months back — Lena Wolfe, but she’s timid and a little shy. I don’t think she could hurt him if she wanted to.”

“Wait,” Wilson interrupted. “Miko had an apartment?”

“Yeah,” Kade nodded. “It was a small studio apartment. He did a lot of work there, so Venus didn’t question it, but it made it — convenient when he wanted to hook up.”

“I need the information on that apartment,” Wilson demanded.

Kade provided the address. “The only other woman I know for sure he was seeing was Lia Steiner. That lasted the longest, I think. She um — she didn’t take it well when Miko broke things off. It got to the point we couldn’t use her at our shows any longer. She’d cause a scene and upset the other models.”

“Are you saying she got dumped, and she lost her job?” Paige asked.

“No,” Kade didn’t hesitate. “She didn’t lose her job. She still models for other designers, and we didn’t damage her rep or anything. We just stopped using her at our shows.”

“Still, that had to be a blow,” Paige insisted. “I mean, she was no longer working for a top designer. She had to lose money — at least at first.”

“Maybe a little,” Kade agreed. “But I talked to a friend, he’s a competitor, but he’s a friend, and he’s been using Lia in his shows.”

“Do you know how to get ahold of Lia?” Wilson wondered.

“No, but I can give you the name and contact information of my friend. He should know how to find her,” Kade offered.

“That would be great,” Paige sat back. “Anyone else?”

“There could have been others,” Kade shrugged. “Those are the ones I know of, but there could have been others. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of flings, you know a single night but no follow-up.”

“Alright,” Paige glanced at Wilson.

“And you’re sure Venus didn’t know,” Wilson pressed again. “She had access to his lotion, and she’s the most likely suspect.”

“She didn’t know,” Kade said confidently. “She would have told me and she’d never mentioned it.”

“If a model did this,” Paige began. “If I said it was one of the models, who do you think did it?”

“I don’t know,” Kade shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t want to name anyone. What if I’m wrong? I know how it feels to be accused of something you didn’t do. I’m not willing to do that to anyone.”

“Who had access to the lotion?” Wilson questioned. “You said he was the only one to use it but who had access?”

“Basically everyone,” Kade answered. “Miko always had a bottle in his private area. No matter where we put on a show, Miko needed a private space, and he kept his lotion in that space. Normally, it wasn’t all that secluded, just an area he could go to. That night, it was open, and anyone could have tampered with it.”

“Is there anything else you can tell us?” Paige wondered. “Anything that could lead us to a suspect. Did he offend a competitor? Did anyone accuse him of stealing their designs? Shortchange a supplier? Anything?”

“No,” Kade said, clearly offended. “None of that. Miko liked women, that was his only vice. We always respected everyone we did business with. People liked Miko — women liked him a little too much, but people liked him. I know this sounds bad, but Mike was a good man.”

“I think maybe that’s subjective,” Paige warned. “And I think there’s a good chance one of the women didn’t like being used and discarded. We need you to keep the things we talked about today to yourself. Scarlett said you two are no longer dating. If that has changed, it’s okay to talk to her because she already knows, but please keep what we discussed private. We need time to look into this new information and Detective Wilson needs time to search the apartment.”

“I’m going to get a warrant for that,” Wilson advised. “Until that comes through, I’m going to have the place under surveillance. Do not go to that apartment, take nothing out of that apartment, and do not discuss it with Venus.”

“I’m not seeing Scarlett,” Kade told them, clearly saddened by that. “I — well, I miss her but I think it’s too late for us. This thing, losing Miko, I don’t know how to get past it. There are days I can’t breathe, I can barely get out of bed and I don’t know how I’m going to survive.”

“Scarlett could help you with that,” Paige offered. “She seemed pretty smart. Have you considered bringing her in? She seems like someone you could rely on, and she understands the industry, she might be able to help you with the business.”

Kade stared at her, confused. “I hurt her, why would she help me?”

“Because it was obvious, she loves you,” Wilson offered. “And she believes in you. She was very open and vocal every time I spoke with her. She insisted from the very beginning that you didn’t hurt Miko. You should think about reconnecting, she might help you through your grief.”

“Am I still a suspect?” Kade had to know.

“You two were partners,” Wilson said carefully. “I can’t eliminate you completely, but I’m going to look into the women you discussed today. At this point, my investigation is moving in a different direction. I appreciate your willingness to come in today and speak with us. Your insights have been helpful.”

“I guess that will have to be enough,” Kade sighed.

“I’m going to end this interview,” Paige decided. “Unless either of you have anything further, we need to discuss.”

“I’m signing off,” Wilson told her. “I want to get started on the warrant and I need to track down these women.”

Paige concluded the interview, then turned to Kade. “I’m sorry you felt like you had to come all the way to Utah, but I’m glad you spoke with us.”

“Do you really think Scarlett will forgive me?” Kade knew he should focus on the case, on finding Miko’s killer, but he missed Scarlett and wanted her back more than he wanted anything at the moment.

“It was obvious she loves you,” Paige shrugged. “If you’re honest with her, she might take you back. I can’t say but I know, if it was me, I’d give it a try. What do you have to lose?”

“Everything,” Kade frowned.

“Haven’t you already lost everything?” Paige asked.

“I suppose,” Kade stood and held out a hand. “Thank you for your time.”

“Drive safe,” Paige stood. “And if you think of anything else, feel free to call me or Detective Wilson.”

Paige watched him leave, then turned to her computer. She had new leads to follow. The first thing she planned to do was investigate each of the women Miko was involved with. Her gut was telling her it was one of them. Cyanide poisoning sounded like revenge from a spurned lover to her. They just had to figure out which one. She glanced at the phone when it rang. “Deputy Carter.”

“I’m working on a warrant for the apartment,” Wilson greeted. “And I have my guys running complete backgrounds on the other women. But I’m curious, do you think the wife is really in the dark? I mean, he could have cheated one too many times, and she got sick of it.”

“I wouldn’t rule her out,” Paige admitted. “But she doesn’t strike me as a brilliant mastermind. In fact, I’m not sure that woman would know where to get cyanide let alone what to do with it once she had it. Kade and Scarlett said innocent and naïve, but I say clueless.”

“I’ve talked to her,” Wilson told her. “Several times and you’re right, that woman is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Still —”

“You can’t eliminate her completely,” Paige nodded. “You said you’ve been looking into purchases of cyanide and couldn’t connect it to Kade. What about any of the women he just mentioned?”

“The records are in the file,” Wilson told her. “Once I deal with the pressing issues, I’ll sit down and go through those again. They’re long and tedious but we could get lucky.”

“I’ll take those,” Paige offered. “You deal with the warrant and searching the apartment. I’m sure there will be prints and you might want to interview this Celina woman. Sounds like they were currently involved. Could be there was trouble in paradise.”

“Right,” Wilson agreed. “I’ll call you tomorrow, or immediately if I find something. Can I count on you to do the same?”

“Of course,” Paige frowned. “I’m not keeping anything from you.”

“I know,” Wilson agreed. “That came out wrong.”

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Paige decided. Once they disconnected, she sorted through the file and found the records listing the different companies that had purchased products containing cyanide.

“How’s the case coming?” Jericho dropped into the chair across from her.

“Huh?” Paige looked up. “Oh, we have some new leads to follow. I’m just trying to figure out where a model might access enough cyanide to mix it with lotion and poison their lover.”

“So this is about jealousy or rejection?” Jericho wondered. “Sounds like you are making progress.”

“I think so,” Paige sat back.

“Are any of the models dating a photographer?” Jericho offered. “Or do they have a family member that works in textiles or plastics?”

“Why?” Paige considered. “I wonder if they use cyanide to dye the fabric blue. We’re talking high fashion and what the public doesn’t know — she trailed off.

“Trying to track the poison might be the same as finding a needle in a haystack,” Jericho warned. “There are too many possibilities.”

Paige pulled out the large stack of papers. “Wilson already did the legwork. I just need to scan through this and see if a name matches our new suspect list.”

“Do that after lunch,” Jericho stood. “I’m starving and I’m buying.”

“Alright,” Paige set the file aside and joined him.

They were on their way back to the office when they were called into the backcountry on an injured four-wheeler. Paige manned the radio while Jericho managed the operation. It was almost six by the time they got back to the office. She gathered up the file and headed home.

“Late night,” Dax observed. “And it looks like you have homework.”

“I have to go through these printouts and see if I can find anyone associated with the models,” she sighed and dropped the file onto the table.

“Sounds boring,” Dax decided.

“More like tedious,” Paige corrected. “That smells great, what is it?”

“Beef stew that Katie made,” he said absently. “Go wash up, let’s eat.”

They had finished dinner and moved to the family room to lounge in front of the fire. Paige was working, Dax was watching some documentary on firearms when Detective Wilson called.

“Did you find something?” Paige answered. “Because I’m about to throw the last of this enormous stack of papers in the fire and call it a night.”

“Focus on Lia Steiner,” he told her.

“Why?” Paige sat up.

“Because I found a file from an attorney,” Wilson told her. “In his apartment. He was trying to get a restraining order against her. And the motion his attorney prepared is very interesting.”

“Really?” Paige considered. “So, Kade getting her a job with a competitor didn’t appease her after all.”

“Not even a little,” Wilson grinned. “She was harassing him. Miko blocked her calls on his cell phone, but she started stalking him and she threatened to harass his wife.”

“I’m guessing that would have put a wrench in all that marital bliss,” Paige said sarcastically.

“Hey, he’s a lover,” Wilson laughed. “I’m going to bring her in tomorrow. If you want in, I can arrange it. It would be nice if we had evidence showing she had access to the cyanide.”

“I’ll see what I can find, and I definitely want in,” Paige decided.

“I’ll let you know once I arrange it,” Wilson promised. “Don’t work too late. If we can’t find the poison before the interview, we’ll trace it. It’s only a matter of time. I have a good feeling about this. I think we found our killer.”

“I agree,” Paige told him, then clicked off.

“Good news?” Dax wondered.

They talked for over an hour, Paige explaining the interview with Kade and the recent developments. “Kade’s attitude baffled me. He doesn’t agree with the cheating despite that, he’s willing to defend his friend and even help him hide it. Then, he insisted Miko is a good man that loves his wife. He’s just an artist that needs to be stimulated.”

“I’m not an artist, but I could use a little stimulation,” Dax grinned.

“Not funny,” Paige elbowed him.

“I don’t understand cheating, Paige,” Dax sobered. “So, if you’re asking me to explain it, I can’t. I’m yours, forever. I’m not even interested in another woman and for a guy to say he loves his wife, but he has needs — that’s insulting. Why couldn’t he get his stimulation from his wife that he supposedly cherishes?”

“Exactly,” Paige pointed at him.

“Do you need to finish that tonight?” he wondered.

“No,” Paige focused on the file. “I’ll work on it in the morning.”

“Good,” he took her hand, pulled her to her feet, and followed her up the stairs.

\*\*\*

“I have Lia Steiner coming in this afternoon,” Wilson told her. “You still in?”

“Absolutely,” Paige sat back. “And I think I found your poison.”

“Seriously?” Wilson asked, surprised. “How? Where?”

Paige laughed. “Calm down. I found a guy by the name of Clint Steiner that works at a plastics plant in Henderson. If you can link Clint to Lia, you’ve got your cyanide.”

“I’ll look into it,” Wilson promised. “I’ll try to have answers before the interview.”

“Sounds good,” Paige agreed. “I’ll be ready for your call.”

Several hours later, Paige was inside the conference room once again attending an interview by video. She studied Lia Steiner and had to admit, at least to herself, she didn’t like her. The woman was arrogant and condescending. Too bad she was going to spend the rest of her natural life behind bars — okay that wasn’t bad, it was good. She waited while Wilson recited Miranda.

“I asked you here today to discuss Miko Sciarra’s murder,” Wilson told her. “During the course of our investigation, we’ve discovered the two of you were having an affair. Can you tell us about that?”

Lia smirked. “What would you like to know, sweetie? Our favorite position, what we did in the shower — you want some pointers, honey?”

“Not from you,” Wilson said without hesitation. “I’ll take that as an admission that you were engaged in an intimate relationship with Miko.”

“You should be a detective,” Lia smirked.

“How long? Did you have more than one date before you got dumped?” Paige asked.

“Not that it’s any of your business but we dated for several months,” Lia raised her chin in defiance.

“And then you got dumped?” Paige asked. “Did he tell you why?”

“It was a mutual decision,” Lia barked.

Wilson slid the motion for a restraining order across the table. “Doesn’t sound like there was anything mutual about it.”

Lia glanced down then shoved the papers across the table. “Fine, he said he loved me. I told him to leave his wife, and he broke things off with me. He seriously thought he could just say it was over and I’d go away without a fight.”

“How did you fight?” Wilson asked. “I told him I was going to contact his wife. I tried to corner her, to tell her what her precious husband was doing, but she’s sheltered and difficult to approach.”

“What did Miko do?” Paige asked.

“He threatened me,” Lia growled. “That man thought he could threaten me, and I would just cave.”

“Threatened you with what?” Paige pushed.

“Who are you and why are you even here?” Lia barked.

“Detective Wilson already explained that but I guess you didn’t understand the first time. I’m Deputy Carter and I’m helping Detective Wilson investigate the murder of Miko — the man you claim threatened you.”

“He threatened me,” Lia yelled. “He fired me and told me if I didn’t stop, he would make sure I never worked again. He had no right. I was his best model.”

“So, he had to pay?” Paige offered.

Lia smirked. “I guess he did.”

“Did Clint know what you planned to do with the cyanide?” Wilson asked.

“What?” Lia asked, shocked. “Who?”

“Your brother,” Wilson sat back. “Did he know you planned to use the cyanide to kill your former lover?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lia’s eyes darted around the room.

“Are you saying Clint isn’t your brother?” Wilson asked.

“No,” Lia hesitated. “I’m not saying that. I have a brother named Clint, but I don’t know what you think he did.”

“I think you are so calloused and vindictive that you used your brother — with or without his knowledge — to get revenge on a man that had the nerve to dump you.” Paige offered. “You threatened his wife, acted on those threats, and as a result, you lost your job.”

“So, what if all of that is true,” Lia faked confidence. “I might have reacted to the shock after Miko tossed me aside for that skanky no talent dog, Lena Wolfe. And he refused to dump his pathetic, weak wife, but you can’t prove I did anything about it.”

“Tell us about Miko’s lotion,” Paige challenged. She was trying to keep Lia off balance, and it seemed to work. She was getting erratic, and it was only a matter of time before she lost it and slipped up.

“What lotion?” Lia looked away.

“Come on, Lia,” Wilson studied her. “Everyone knows about Miko’s lotion. He has it special made and keeps it in his personal area at each show. He had a skin condition, that wasn’t a secret. Acting like you don’t know what Carter is talking about only makes you look suspicious.”

“Yeah, so what?” Lia challenged. “Miko had a special lotion. What does that have to do with me?”

“Did he ever have you pick up a fresh supply before a show?” Paige asked.

“What?” Lia focused on the large screen. The woman was trying to trap her. Did she know something or was she fishing?

“Did you ever get Miko’s lotion for him?” Wilson asked.

“Maybe,” Lia shrugged. “I can’t remember.”

“If you did,” Paige pushed. “Did you give it to him? Or did you ever forget and keep it? Or maybe you kept it because you wanted to try it.”

“No,” Lia shook her head. “I never kept the stupid lotion.”

Wilson set an evidence bag on the table. “Can you explain this? We executed a search warrant and found that lotion in your bathroom. We’re analyzing the lotion to see if it matches the special medicated lotion that Miko used but it looks the same to me.”

“He must have left it at my house,” Lia insisted. “I didn’t know it was there, but Miko must have left it there.”

“Are you saying Miko spent time at your home? That he came over, had dinner, had a relaxing movie night, or maybe he spent the night with you?” Paige challenged.

“Yeah,” Lia lied. “He spent tons of time at my place.”

“That’s odd,” Paige pretended to consider. “Because during the course of our investigation we determined, without exception, that Miko only spent time with his mistresses at his studio apartment. He insisted on it and never, ever visited the homes of the women he was seeing. It was his way of controlling the situation and making sure his wife didn’t discover his — extracurricular activities.”

“Things were different with me,” Lia insisted. “He loved me, and things progressed. We didn’t have the restrictions as the others.”

“How do you know?” Paige wondered. “How do you know what he did with others?”

“Everybody knows,” Lia shrugged, but she was starting to panic.

“It would be better for you if you just told us what happened,” Wilson told her. “We know the cyanide came from the factory where Clint works. We know you had access to Miko’s lotion, and we found a partially used bottle of Miko’s lotion in your apartment. We also know you were threatening to harass his wife and Miko asked his attorney to file that motion with the courts to get a restraining order against you. What we don’t know is why you did it.”

“It was self-defense,” Lia blurted. “Yeah, it was self-defense. He was trying to destroy me. He threatened me and I didn’t have a choice.”

“Miko threatened to get a restraining order and interfere with your job, so you poisoned him, knowing he’d use his hand lotion at the private fashion show he was organizing?” Wilson asked.

“Yes, I have a right to protect myself,” Lia insisted.

“And did Clint know what you planned?” Paige pushed.

“Clint is an idiot,” Lia barked. “He didn’t know anything. He doesn’t even know I stole that cyanide. He was too busy showing off and didn’t see me take it.”

“I’m pretty sure she just confessed to premeditated murder,” Paige offered. “I think that means my job here is done.”

Wilson opened the door and motioned for two uniformed officers to escort Lia out. “Take her down to the jail. I’ll prepare the PC statement. It should be there before you’re finished.”

“Wait, what?” Lia screamed. “I said I was defending myself.”

“Uh-huh,” Paige rolled her eyes. Once she could no longer hear Lia she focused on Wilson. “Looks like we’re finished here. You found your man, made an arrest and closed your case.”

“Thank you, Paige,” Wilson said sincerely. “I appreciate all your help on this. Now, I get to pay Venus a visit and let her know we arrested her husband’s killer.”

“Will you notify Kade?” Paige wondered.

“Once I’m finished with the wife, I’ll hook up with Kade. He has a right to know. I’m not sure we would have closed this if it wasn’t for Kade’s help.”

“I agree,” Paige smiled. “It’s been a pleasure. Let me know if I can ever do anything for you in the future.” She hung up, glanced at Jericho’s open door, and stood. She had just enough time to catch him up before it was time to head home. She didn’t want to be late tonight. The boys were planning a dinner party, probably the last one of the year.

\*\*\*

Paige stepped outside and settled into a chair across from Gage. “What are you doing out here? It’s not like you to be antisocial.”

Gage grinned. “Not antisocial. I was just getting a little fresh air. It’s a little stuffy inside with all that testosterone wafting around.”

“You played professional football, Gage,” Paige laughed. “You spent hours in a locker room with half-naked men pounding their chests and bragging about their stats.”

“True,” Gage grinned. “But enough about me. How are you doing? I hear you closed another case.”

“I helped,” Paige corrected. “Detective Wilson did all the heavy work.”

Gage studied her and wondered if he should keep his opinion to himself or share it.

“What?” Paige demanded.

“I was just thinking you’re good at that,” Gage offered. “Maybe you should do it full time.”

“How?” Paige shook her head. “The mayor, the council, the citizens would never go for that. And they shouldn’t. It’s not fair to force our people to pay for me to solve crimes for other agencies. This is just temporary until after I have the baby.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” Gage pushed. “Your husband runs a successful training center. You could join him, instruct cops, share your knowledge and experience with them, and work cases on the side.”

Paige frowned. “I’m a cop, Gage. This is what I do. Once the baby comes, everything will get back to normal and I’ll be out there handling calls again instead of sitting in the office, analyzing cold cases.

“But —” Gage started.

“Drop it,” Paige insisted. “I have enough changes in my life. I don’t need to come up with additional ways I can force change into my life.”

“Burgers are done,” Dax called and headed for the house.

“Saved by the bell,” Gage stood. “I’ll shut up, but you should think about it.”

“Think about what?” Paige asked.

Gage didn’t answer, he had already disappeared inside the house.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S7

**Tags:** Season 7

---

### [Jane Doe](https://melaniepsmith.com/jane-doe/)

**Published:** September 30, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Jane Doe (S7E5) Paige is on light duty.  Requests have funneled in from nearby departments for her expertise and assistance.  Can she solve the mystery of a Jane Doe and her death? Or will the case remain cold forever?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*JANE DOE\*\*\*****

Paige pulled the pillow over her head and groaned.

Dax laughed. “If you don’t get up, you’re going to be late.”

“I was thinking about that leave of absence thing you suggested.” She pulled the pillow off her head. “Maybe that’s still an option?”

“If you want to stay home until after the baby is born, stay home,” Dax shrugged. “Just remember, I’m still working. I’m not at your beck and call. No calling the center to demand I drop by and grab a pumpkin spice latte and a jar of pickles.”

Paige sighed. “Fine, I’ll suffer through as long as I can.”

“That’s my girl.” Dax set a mug of coffee on the nightstand, knowing she’d grumble about decaf not being real coffee. “I’ll be downstairs.”

Paige struggled off the bed and into the bathroom. She felt like a beached whale and knew it was only going to get worse. Good thing she was on desk duty. There’s no way she could chase down a suspect like this. She was having a hard time tying her shoes.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PCS7-MPS.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/E5-Jane-Doe.pdf)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Forest-Banner-01_MPS-scaled.jpg)

\*\*\*

“Paige,” Gage pushed back from his desk. “I’m gonna head out and grab lunch. You want me to bring you back a burger?”

“Or a side of beef.” Havilland crossed the room and dropped into his chair. “Man, it’s hot out there.”

“Not funny.” Paige threw her pen at him. “You’re an insensitive brute.”

Havilland laughed. “We’re family. That’s what we do. You razz me when I scratch my balls. I harass you when you get knocked up.”

“Well,” Gage stood and started across the room. “I think scratching an itch is what got her knocked up in the first place.”

Jericho exited his office. “Gage, grab me a burger while you’re out. Duncan, if you want to scratch, do it in your car. Don’t you have a street to patrol or a report to write? And Paige, I need you in my office. I have a case that I want you to look into.”

Paige stood, started across the room, then hesitated. “The fat girl does want a burger, Gage. With extra fries.”

Havilland laughed, flipped on his computer, and began to hammer out his last report.

Paige settled into a chair and waited for Jericho to explain the case.

“I got a call from Sevier County the other day,” Jericho settled into his chair. “It seems news of your talent has spread. Departments across the region are hoping for a little help on their difficult cases. I’m willing to oblige as long as it doesn’t take you away from home. No more trips to Texas to rescue family members from dirty cops and the spoiled spawn of local politicians.”

“I wholeheartedly agree,” Paige relaxed. “I’m not up for another long-distance investigation. Junior here is forcing me to slow down.”

“You doing alright?” Jericho frowned. “We could always shorten your shift a few hours; or, if you want, just work half a day until after the kid is born.”

“I’ll let you know.” Paige settled further into the chair, trying to get comfortable. “What do you know about this new case?”

“I asked them to send me the file. It arrived this morning.” Jericho passed a large envelope across the desk. “It’s not new, it’s going cold. The detective thinks it’s a homicide. His sergeant is pushing for him to close it out as suicide. The division commander wants a second look. He can see both sides and hasn’t come to a conclusion of his own yet.”

“Did you look at this?” Paige reached for the packet.

“I skimmed through it,” Jericho admitted. “I’m not sure it’s worth your time, but I do think they could use a second opinion. Just take a quick look and decide for yourself.”

“Alright,” Paige nodded. “Do you want to discuss the general details, or should I just get started?”

“Basically, the woman parked her vehicle at the Castle Rock Campground and started up the Joe Lott trailhead. She never returned. The Forest Service was doing a sweep, closing gates and pushing out stragglers, when the camp host asked him to tow the vehicle because it didn’t belong to anyone staying at the campground. He looked into it, sent a patrol car to her house for a welfare check, and discovered she wasn’t home. He decided to take a look around himself. He walked the trail and discovered the body at the bottom of the cliff. He notified the local PD, and they sent out a homicide detective. That’s basically where the investigation stalled.”

“Why does the detective suspect foul play?” Paige wondered.

“One of the witnesses claimed she saw the victim with a man,” Jericho explained. “Plus, the situation is complicated — and mysterious.”

“What does that mean?” Paige frowned.

“For that, you will have to read the file because it’s wildly bizarre and convoluted. I will tell you; the woman was using a fake name. She’s a Jane Doe at this point.”

“You’ve piqued my interest,” Paige nodded. “Anything else I should know?”

“That’s all I know,” Jericho sat back. “The case is cold. They want fresh eyes and an opinion, so they know how to proceed, but I don’t want you working long hours or staying up half the night trying to solve this. We’re assisting an outside agency with a complicated case, but ultimately, it’s up to them to figure it out.”

“I understand,” Paige stood. “I want to get started — looks like there’s a lot to read. I’ll keep you posted. Is there a contact name and number in here? I’m sure I’ll have questions once I get started.”

“The detective sent his business card. It’s stapled to the front cover.”

“I’ll get started then.” Paige hooked the large file under her arm and headed for her desk. She was so engrossed in the details; she didn’t notice Gage until he dropped her lunch on top of the report she was reading.

“What did the boss want?” Gage settled in at his own desk.

“Sevier County asked for assistance,” Paige glanced up, grabbed the sack that contained her lunch and dug in. “I’m starving.”

“What kind of case?” Gage frowned. He had his own favor to ask, but if the boss had just saddled Paige with a big case, it would have to wait.

“Why do you look like you just sucked on a lemon?” Paige sat back and studied Gage. “You want something.”

“A friend called this morning,” Gage admitted. “I played ball with him, but his cousin is on the job. He asked me to talk to you, to see if you could look at something for his cousin.”

“A case?” Paige dunked her fry into a pool of ketchup.

“Yeah,” Gage admitted. “But if the boss gave you a case, that takes priority.”

“What’s the something he wants me to look into, and where does this cousin work?” Paige hoped this favor thing didn’t get out of control.

“That’s the thing.” Gage pulled his burger out of the sack and set it on a napkin. “The cop works up north, Utah County. He’s homicide, but he can’t decide if he has a homicide.”

“Seems to be going around,” Paige mumbled.

“What?” Gage swirled several fries into his own ketchup and took a huge bite.

“Jericho just gave me a case for Sevier County. The detective can’t decide if it’s homicide or suicide. What does this cousin of your buddy want?”

“Mostly a fresh look and another opinion. A guy was killed up the canyon,” Gage explained. “It looks like an animal attack, but the victim’s brother said the victim was scared of someone and insists it was murder. The detective’s sergeant insists it was an animal attack and wants it closed out. The Vic’s sister has a third theory. She says she knows exactly what happened — her brother was killed by Big Foot.”

Paige spit out the mouthful of soda she had just drank. “Big Foot?”

“Yeah,” Gage shrugged. “There’s been sightings up in those mountains since the pioneers settled in the valley. You didn’t know that?”

“Uh, no,” Paige laughed.

“You should look it up,” Gage smiled. “They’ve even done some of those paranormal television shows on it. You know, the ones where they send investigators out to look for the mysterious and elusive monsters stalking unsuspecting citizens.”

“Tell me, Gage,” Paige drowned another fry before she shoved it into her mouth, chewed for about two seconds, and swallowed.

Gage watched in fascination. “How do you not choke on your food? Fair warning, I’m a little rusty on the Heimlich.”

“Whatever,” Paige rolled her eyes before she continued. “Have any of those shows ever actually captured the image of their elusive monster? Has anyone proved, without the shadow of a doubt, that Big Foot exists? Or what about werewolves or lake monsters? Everyone in the world now has a handy camera on their phone and millions of people are hoping to get the first great shot. Why haven’t we seen proof?”

“I’m pretty sure they’ve captured what they claim to be ghost phenomena on film.” Gage took another bite of burger.

“Or cinematic nonsense,” Paige shook her head. “Tell your friend to send me the file. I’m sure it’s just a coyote or bear attack — or maybe a mountain lion, but I’ll give him a second opinion. That way, your friend owes you a favor and the detective can close out the case and make his sergeant happy.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Black-Bear-01_MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cougar-01_MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Coyote-01_MPS.jpg)

“Are you sure?” Gage glanced at Jericho’s door. “Do we need to run this by the boss?”

“If it gets complicated,” Paige decided. “If it’s going to take more time than reading through the file and studying the photos, I’ll talk to the boss. Contact the detective and tell him to send me everything. I need to see the best photos they have of the body, the coroner’s report, everything.”

“I’ll let him know.” Gage took a long sip of his soda. “Thanks. I owe you one.”

“You paid it forward with this lunch,” Paige disagreed. “How’s the high school team coming along?” She changed the subject, and they talked football while they finished their lunch.

\*\*\*

“What’s the big file?” Dax stepped into the kitchen and set a large box of food on the table. “I grabbed takeout for dinner. It’s been a long day.”

“That smells wonderful.” Paige shuffled the paperwork out of the way to clear a place for dinner. “Jericho asked me to look at an unsolved case for another department.”

“We don’t have to leave town again, do we?” Dax frowned, but waited for the response.

“No travel,” Paige assured him. “I told him I’m not up to anything that takes me out of town. If I need something that’s not in the file, I’ll have the case agent do the legwork.”

“Good,” Dax relaxed and began pulling cartons from the box. “So, tell me about this case.”

“There’s some dispute about whether it’s a homicide or suicide.” She began to run him through the details Jericho shared when he gave her the file. Then, she added in the stuff she’d gleaned from the file while they dished their plates and began to eat.

“What’s your instinct telling you?” Dax pushed his plate aside and sat back.

“I have no idea,” Paige admitted. “I’m still going through it. The woman is a Jane Doe. She was using a fake name and when the husband discovered the deception, he took their kid, moved in with his parents, and filed for divorce.”

“Why murder or suicide?” Dax wondered. “People accidentally fall over cliffs while hiking or climbing all the time.”

“They ruled that out,” Paige told him. “There was a rail and other safety precautions in the area. She had to either climb over the railing to jump, or someone helped her over and pushed her — or tossed her over the cliff.”

Dax frowned. “What if she climbed over the railing to take a selfie, fell backwards, and died?”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Hiking-05_MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Hiking-01_MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Hiking-04_MPS.jpg)

“No phone.” Paige pushed her plate away and sat back. “I agree with the initial detective. It was either a homicide or she jumped.”

“Okay,” Dax trusted her. “So, what does your gut tell you?”

“I haven’t gotten that far yet,” Paige admitted. “I’m still studying the file. The case is interesting and complex.”

“How so?” Dax stood and began clearing the table. “Run it through for me.”

“Elisha Walker met Cody Tanner at church,” Paige began. “That’s the name she was using at the time. From what I’ve read, it sounds like one of those tightknit church communities. They had a lot of potluck picnics in the park, gathered to perform community service projects, and helped the needy — that sort of thing.”

“So, they spent a lot of time together,” Dax nodded.

“Right,” Paige agreed. “Elisha and Cody developed a relationship and ultimately got married. His family wasn’t supportive. They found her to be secretive and elusive.”

“But he was in love and thought they’d learn to accept her,” Dax smiled.

“We’re not talking about your parents,” Paige frowned.

“Don’t get sidetracked.” Dax didn’t want to talk about his parents.

“After about a year, a wedge developed between Elisha and Cody’s family. She resisted spending time with them, tried to create distance, and always found excuses to stay home when he went to visit. At first, he went alone and tried to maintain a distant but close relationship with his siblings and his parents — but they were slowly drifting apart.”

“Was she abusive?” Dax wondered. “That’s a pattern when the spouse wants to maintain control.”

“I don’t know,” Paige shrugged. “Maybe controlling, but there’s nothing in the file to suggest she abused him.”

“Controlling can be abusive.” Dax suggested. “Maybe emotional abuse?”

“Maybe,” Paige conceded. “Anyway, they had a kid.”

“Cody wanted to spend more time with his family so his daughter could interact with her grandparents and her extended family. Elisha resisted; and when they did spend time with Cody’s family, she was erratic, detached, and often acted paranoid.”

“Strange,” Dax considered. “But she was using a fake name for a reason.”

“True,” Paige agreed. “Anyway, the husband discovered some missing funds and asked her about it. She was evasive and wouldn’t tell him where the money went, or what she used it for. He kept asking, but never got an answer and finally talked to his dad about his concerns. His parents decided to hire a private investigator to look into Elisha. Oh, I forgot to tell you, the family was wealthy and had a lot of power and influence in the community. They were afraid Elisha married their son for money and power, not love.”

“And the PI discovered the fake name?” Dax realized.

“Exactly,” Paige loved this part of their relationship, and she was grateful Dax could follow along so quickly. “Elisha Walker didn’t exist before she moved to town. There was no record of employment, rental agreements, nothing. The private investigator kept digging and finally discovered a baby that died in Missouri forty-two years earlier — when she was two. Elisha assumed that identity fraudulently. Her records were all fake.”

“How did hubby take that news?” Dax wondered.

“That’s when he filed for divorce and had an emergency custody hearing,” Paige sighed. “The judge ruled in his favor. I think it was partially the family influence, but Elisha refused to provide her real name. Cody’s attorney argued that for the safety of the child, she needed to remain in the father’s care. Without Elisha’s background, it was impossible to know if she was violent or abusive. The judge agreed and awarded custody to Cody with supervised visitation to Elisha.”

“And then she died?” Dax frowned. “Why would the husband or his family kill her? They were getting everything they wanted.”

“The detective hasn’t ruled out Cody — completely. The husband will always be a suspect, but he’s at the bottom of the list. They have ruled his immediate family out. They all have solid alibis,” Paige told him. “Unless we’re missing something, the family is in the clear.”

“So, what now?” Dax asked.

“I’m not finished,” Paige grinned. “This is where things get interesting.”

“I was already interested.” Dax took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s move to the living room, where it’s more comfortable.” They settled onto the couch and Dax pulled Paige’s foot into his lap and began to message her calf and foot.

“If I talk slow enough, will you do that forever?” Paige settled back, contented.

“I might.” Dax pulled her other leg up and placed her foot in his lap. “Tell me the interesting part of this story.”

“So, Elisha died.” Paige grabbed a pillow and stuffed it behind her back. “The detective responded and started working the case. Except, he was focused on the death. He interviewed witnesses, took photos, and looked into the family and the victim. All the stuff you do when investigating a homicide. Once he realized Elisha Walker didn’t really exist, he changed the status to Jane Doe.”

“But he was focused on the cause of death, not the woman’s real identity,” Dax nodded.

“Basically. He knew the name was fake and there had to be a reason; but on the surface, that looked like a dead-end,” Paige explained. “He focused on the death and planned to tackle the mystery of her identity later. Meanwhile, the husband was understandably distraught about the entire situation. The investigation was taking time, his neighbors were looking at him funny, and he needed help caring for his daughter. So, Cody rented a permanent residence near his parents’ home and decided to sell his marital home. At that point, he realized he could never move back. There were too many memories, and the house was a constant reminder of the lies and deception.”

“Makes sense,” Dax began messaging her other foot.

“He tried to list the property as-is so he could just walk away and be done with it. But the realtor insisted he had to clear out their personal belongings and arrange for a few repairs,” Paige continued. “So, Cody started going through their stuff a little at a time. One day, he found a hidden box and realized it had to belong to Elisha. Inside, he discovered a few old photos and a birth certificate for Rebecca Ann Baker. There was also a marriage certificate for Rebecca and a man named John Franco. Instead of turning it over to the police, Cody took it to the PI his parents had previously hired and convinced him to reopening his old investigation.”

“Why not the police?” Dax frowned.

“I don’t think the family trusted the police at that point,” Paige surmised. “Like I said, the husband can’t be ruled out. Plus, Detective Riskin was focused on Cody and his family at the beginning of the investigation. He questioned all of them about their whereabouts and dug pretty deeply into their private lives and their finances.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Dax agreed. “Go ahead.”

“So, the PI went to work following the lead. He tracked this Rebecca Baker woman’s history and tried to locate the previous husband.” Paige picked the story back up. “It didn’t take long for him to realize Rebecca Baker was also a fake name. He tried to dig further, but Rebecca’s history only went back ten years. That’s ten years before Elisha moved to town and started attending Cody’s church. The PI went as far as he could with that identity, then focused on finding John Franco. That was also a dead end. At that point, he notified the family and closed out the new investigation.

“Was she divorced or still married to this Franco dude?” Dax wondered.

“The PI didn’t know.” Paige shifted and settled further into the pillow, letting out a moan of satisfaction when Dax focused on the bottom of her foot. “Once the family realized Riskin wasn’t focused on them, they took the PI file and turned it over to the police.”

“Was he able to track Franco?” Dax wondered.

“Yeah,” Paige nodded. “It looks like he conducted a solid investigation. It’s just complicated and goes off in a million different directions. And with all the information he’s uncovered, the question still remains — suicide or homicide?”

“Why do they suspect suicide?” Dax wondered. “Is it just lack of evidence that points to murder, so they’re assuming she killed herself, or is there something more?”

“Some of the friends she had in the church told Det. Riskin Elisha was depressed. It devastated her when Cody left her and took their daughter with him. She feared she would never get joint custody of her little girl and she claimed she really loved Cody and didn’t understand why he wouldn’t forgive her — or even talk to her.”

“So, she could have driven to the canyon and jumped,” Dax nodded. “Tell me what the detective found when he tracked down Franco.”

“John Franco was a bouncer at a strip club in Dallas.” Paige dropped her head back and closed her eyes. “He still works there. He said Rebecca — or Becca as he knew her — was one of their best dancers. She captivated him. Riskin has a note that he thinks Franco still loves Becca, or at least has a soft spot for her.”

“What happened?” Dax changed feet again.

“She cheated on him with a patron,” Paige admitted. “Some guy that was a regular at the club. Franco still loved Becca, but he didn’t trust her, and he couldn’t forgive her. They got divorced, and she ran off with her new boyfriend. Franco claimed never saw her again.”

“Did the detective believe him?” Dax wondered. That situation could turn from obsession to vengeance that resulted in murder.

“Yeah,” Paige told him. “John Franco had a solid alibi for the time of the murder. If this was homicide, there is no way Franco killed her.”

“What about the new boyfriend?” Dax wondered. “If she cheated once, it could happen again. What happened to the new guy?”

“No idea,” Paige shrugged. “Riskin tried to identify him, but nobody knew much about him. He dug around and was given the name Darrell, but nobody had a last name and he always paid in cash when he visited the club. He disappeared with Becca and hasn’t been seen since. Not in Dallas, not at that strip joint.”

“Riskin never traced him?” Dax frowned.

“Nope.” Paige admitted. “We just know Becca arrived in town and set herself up as a good, churchgoing, religious saint named Elisha. After a few months, she married Cody and here we are.”

“You have a lot of unanswered questions,” Dax decided. “I realize knowing who she is will be important eventually, but isn’t the most pressing question how she died? I mean, if she jumped, the rest is pretty mute.”

“True.” Paige swung her legs off the couch and sat. “It’s interesting and intriguing, but not really pertinent. First, we need to determine if this was suicide or murder.”

“Will you pursue it?” Dax wondered. “Or let it drop once you decide if there was foul play?”

“I think —” Paige considered. “Well, if she was killed, I think we have to track down this Darrell guy and find out if he was in the area at the time. It could be an obsessed lover turned homicidal maniac when she ditched him.”

“Right,” Dax settled against the couch. “The missing funds could be important. She refused to say what she did with the money — it could be a factor. If she married the new guy, it could be marital debts she wanted to hide.”

“I didn’t get that far,” Paige admitted. “I got caught up in the details, but you’re right. I’ll need to think about that. Anyway, I asked Detective Riskin to send me copies of all the photos he took at the crime scene. I have a few that he sent with the case file, but not enough to make an informed decision.”

“Then you can’t resolve this tonight. It’s late and we’ve both had a long day,” Dax stood. “Let’s head to bed and you can pick this back up tomorrow.” He took her hand and followed her up the stairs. “Oh, I got the final plans for the house today. The architect made those changes we requested, and I turned it over to the contractor. He said he completed the application for the building permit this afternoon and should break ground later this week once he gets approval from the city.”

“I’m warming to the idea of moving,” Paige paused on the upper landing. “These stairs get harder and harder every day.”

\*\*\*

“Gage,” Margie called over the radio. “Are you finished with that vehicle burglary?”

“I should be pulling out in less than five,” he advised.

“Can you head over to the Perkin’s farm once you clear?” she requested. “He needs to report a theft that occurred over night.”

“Just give me the theft,” Paige stood and started toward Margie’s desk.

“No,” Jericho exited his office. “I’m not telling you again, Paige. Desk duty means desk duty. You’re not handling cases in the field. Where are we on the Sevier County case?”

“I’m waiting for additional information,” Paige sighed. “And I’m bored. What exactly do you think might happen if I drive out to the Perkins farm? Old man Perkins might spit on my shoe? The theft happened overnight. If it wasn’t Perkins and his irrational demand that all reports be taken in person, I’d be handling the complaint over the phone.”

“No,” Jericho wouldn’t budge. “You never know what might happen between here and there. You’re on light duty. Accept it and be happy you have a mystery to solve.”

Paige returned to her desk but grumbled the entire way. She pulled out the file and started to go through it a second time. This time, she was going to pay closer attention to the details instead of getting lost in the intrigue.

Several hours later, she pulled into her driveway and shut down the engine. She was climbing the stairs before she noticed Sophie sitting in a lounge chair on the front porch. Paige frowned; she’d need to be more observant in the future. Just because she was benched, she was still a cop and needed to act like one. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”

“About ten minutes,” Sophie stood. “How are you feeling?” She frowned at the large stack of folders in Paige’s arms. “Let me get the door for you.”

“What brings you over tonight?” Paige wondered. “I thought Nathan was coming back today. I assumed you’d be catching up. He’s been gone nearly two weeks this time.”

“He got stuck in Washington and won’t be home until tomorrow,” Sophie advised. “I thought we could work on the nursery tonight. We’re running out of time. I wish you’d ask that doctor of yours if you’re having a girl or a boy. It would make things so much easier if we knew the sex of the child.”

“We decided we want it to be a surprise,” Paige insisted. She was tired of having this conversation. “Besides, I don’t care what the gender is. I found that cute animal border I loved, and I just need to decide what color to paint the walls to match. I’m not limiting myself to pink and blue, so why is the baby’s gender so important?”

“Because if you’re having a girl, there are so many adorable frilly products I can purchase. I found a beautiful, delicate pink comforter with fancy lace trimming. I loved it but couldn’t buy it because you might be having a little boy.”

“And it’s a baby and the kid might choke on all that lace,” Paige offered. “Plus, you should thank me. I just stopped you from making an impulse buy that is impractical and was probably expensive.”

“I’m not worried about the cost, Paige,” Sophie scolded. “I’m going to spoil this child and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

“Oh, believe me, I know.” Paige dropped the files on the coffee table in the living room. She’d get to those later.

“I’m going to cook dinner,” Sophie decided. “If you want a say in what we eat, I guess you’ll have to come shopping with me.”

Paige glanced at the files, then at the clock. She left the office twenty minutes early today because she was bored out of her mind. When the photos arrived, she decided to go home and make up the difference tonight. She focused on Sophie and softened. The woman was like a mother to her, and she was excited about the baby. Nathan was also out of town, and Sophie had to be lonely. Paige could take a couple of hours to visit, especially if the result was a fresh meal. Sophie was an amazing cook.

Plus, if she went to the store, she could buy those cookies she loved and maybe grab a carton of ice cream while she was at it. “Let’s go. Dax won’t be home for another hour or so. I’ll call him in the car and let him know you're making dinner.”

\*\*\*

Once the meal was over, Dax left Paige and Sophie in the kitchen talking about changing tables and car seats. He was looking forward to the birth of the baby, but he figured the car seat was something Paige should pick out. She’d know the safest one for their kid and the color didn’t matter to him. The changing table; well, he didn’t really see the importance. Just plop the kid down on a flat surface and change the diaper. All this fancy stuff just seemed excessive to him, but he would never deny Paige anything she truly wanted. Sophie Porter was another story. That woman was adorable and fun to watch, but she was seriously getting out of control.

He dropped onto the couch and noticed the stack of files Paige brought home. He had to admit, her current case was intriguing. He found himself thinking about the woman with multiple names off and on throughout the day. One particular thing struck him as ironic. The victim had more names than most, had changed identities multiple times, but died a Jane Doe. That fact seemed sad and a little depressing. He spotted the FedEx package and dumped the contents onto the table. *Photos*. He could work with that. Smiling, he grabbed the stack, settled back, and began to sift through them. By the third photo, he was certain the woman had been murdered. That meant, Paige needed to track down the elusive boyfriend — Darrell with no last name. He wondered how far she’d gotten on the case today and wished Sophie would go home so they could discuss it. He glanced at the doorway that led to the kitchen, listened for several seconds, decided they would be awhile, and entertained himself by organizing the pictures in chronological order.

An hour later, Dax had the pictures spread out across the table and was lounging in his favorite chair watching a ball game.

“I’m heading out,” Sophie announced when she stepped into the room. “I’m sure you’d like a little alone time with your wife and I’m not getting anywhere with the stubborn girl.”

Dax smiled and stood. He walked Sophie and Paige to the door, leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Sophie’s cheek. “Thank you for a lovely dinner. Drive safe and tell Nathan to call me once he gets settled tomorrow. There’s something I’d like to talk to him about, if he has time.”

Paige gave Sophie a hug, then headed for the couch. The instant she sat down, she spotted the photos. Intrigued with what Dax was doing, she leaned in and studied the layout.

Dax closed the door, locked up and joined Paige on the couch.

“What’s this?” Paige glanced up. “Why did you arrange them in this order?”

“Because it shows what happened,” Dax shrugged and settled back.

“This isn’t the order they were shot,” Paige pushed. “This one,” she reached for an image, but Dax stopped her.

“No,” he straightened the image then focused on Paige. “I don’t know why your detective took those photos in that order, but it’s wrong. This—” he pointed to the table. “Shows what happened before that woman was murdered.”

Paige frowned. “You think it was homicide, not suicide?” Paige studied the pictures.

“It’s clear from these shots that this was a murder,” Dax frowned. “I thought you realized that already.”

“Why?” Paige studied Dax. “Walk me through it.”

“I will,” Dax decided. “If you want me to, but first look yourself. You’re the detail girl, pay attention to the details.”

Paige picked up the first image. It was a picture of the railing, a horizontal shot that showed the location of the bar as it ran along the steep cliff. “The rail?” She laid it back down on the table. “I don’t understand why you put that one first instead of this one.” She reached for a picture he’d placed further down the line.

“No,” Dax took her hand to stop her, then retrieved the first image. “I put this one first because right here —” he pointed to the side of the picture. “This branch is broken, indicating there could have been a struggle.”

“But—” Paige started to interrupt.

“This one comes second, because you can still see the broken branch right there in the bottom lefthand corner. But, if you look toward the top, you can see a footprint in the dirt. A large footprint.”

Paige pulled the image closer, squinted, then stood and headed for her office. She settled back down and studied the image with a magnifying glass. “You’re right. How did you see that?”

“Training,” Dax shrugged. “And lots of practice. Anyway, I pulled the coroner’s report, and that shoe mark is way too big to belong to the victim. It’s also a man’s shoe. See the design it left. I’d say he was wearing canvas running shoes.”

Paige just stared at him.

“What?” Dax asked, a little surprised by her reaction.

“Continue,” she motioned to the pictures.

“Alright,” Dax turned back and picked up the next picture. “This ground has been disturbed. You can see how the grass is trampled down and there are distinct marks in the dirt. I think this is where the altercation took place. That’s a guess, obviously I don’t know it was an altercation but a discussion at the least.”

“Because they were standing there for several minutes,” Paige realized. “Talking, arguing, something. Continue.”

“This isn’t as clear, it’s a poor picture but there’s another broken branch on this tree. Can you see it on the left side of that image?

“Yeah,” Paige nodded. “And the foliage is disturbed. Like someone was lying there for longer than a few seconds. Not like they tripped and fell, then immediately got up. It’s mashed down like whoever did that was unconscious — or dead.”

“Right,” Dax pointed to several images of the same scene. “All of these go along with those. It doesn’t show the area as well as I would like, but I have no doubt someone was lying there. I suppose it could have been someone sitting under the cover of the trees waiting and that would make them out of order. But, either way, there were two people on that ledge when the woman went over.”

Paige studied the pictures. “I’m not sure this means he was there when she was killed. They could have met, had an altercation, and the man could have walked away angry, and she jumped.”

“Not possible,” Dax disagreed. “Because she was either dead or unconscious when she went over.”

“There is no way you know that!” Paige insisted.

“This picture shows the drag marks,” Dax handed her a photo. “It’s hard to see, and he tried to cover it up but see right there, her heels dug into the grass and made that line that continues into the dirt. Someone tried to cover up the evidence, but they missed enough that these photos prove the woman was dragged out of this area toward the edge of the cliff.”

Paige studied Dax for several seconds.

“You guys didn’t see this?” Dax asked, surprised. He was sure Paige would have picked up on it.

“I didn’t study these before I left the office,” Paige admitted. “They arrived, I called Riskin to notify him I got them. He told me some images might be irrelevant, but he took them because it was obvious someone had been inside those trees. He thought it could be a private conversation, but his sergeant insisted the woman sat down and contemplated whatever was troubling her before she jumped. They didn’t notice those drag marks, and I’m not sure I would have caught all of that if you didn’t point it out.”

“I think you would have,” Dax disagreed. “Your detail oriented like me. I noticed because it’s similar to tracking. I’m good at it and I’ve done a lot of it.”

“Sean’s always been better at that than me,” Paige admitted. “Let’s go through the rest of these.”

“Alright,” Dax picked up the next photo. “This one, as well as the next several in this stack all go together.” He handed her a photo. “You might need the magnifier for this one.”

Paige retrieved it from the couch.

“Right here,” Dax pointed to the image. “You can see a scuff on the railing. They took a ton of pictures of that rail, which made this part easy. I pulled these out because it shows the different angles of this section. The rest are over there,” he pointed to a stack of images he didn’t use. “Anyway, you can see her foot dragged across the top bar of that barrier. I checked the coroner’s report, she had bruising on the back of her calf that would be consistent with her leg striking the railing when someone lifted her over.”

Paige grabbed the report and studied the medical examiners’ findings. “She says it could have been caused by the fall.”

“Which is true,” Dax agreed. “But it wasn’t. The killer was hoping you’d just chalk it up to the fall. In fact, the killer tried to make this look like a suicide. But, when he tampered with the scene and tried to destroy evidence, he left proof there was foul play.”

“Go ahead,” Paige pointed to the line of photos. “I’m impressed so far.”

Dax walked her through the rest of the images. He pointed out additional drag marks that were brushed over with something like a rock or a branch. He also showed her where the killer kicked at the dirt, trying to make it look like someone was pacing but there were no distinct footprints like there would be if someone walked back and forth deciding their next move. Finally, he showed her the last two images. There was a broken branch away from the scene and what looked like a man’s footprint in the soft dirt several feet away. The direction of travel was clearly headed back toward the parking lot. “If it was just a casual hiker, they would have been on the main trail.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Trail-02_MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Forest-01_MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Trail-MPS.jpg)

“You combine all of this with the fact the woman was missing her phone, the eyewitness that spotted her with a man on that trail earlier that day, and it’s obvious the woman was murdered.” Paige grabbed the file and began shuffling through reports.

“What are you looking for, I can help,” Dax offered.

“I think you’ve helped significantly tonight,” Paige smiled when she found what she was looking for. She skimmed the report then handed it to Dax. “No prints.”

Dax read through the report and sat back. “He wiped them.”

“Yeah,” Paige agreed. “I think he did. The discussion could have begun inside the car. I need to call Riskin and ask him to do a thorough examination. He still has the vehicle. Since she’s a Jane Doe and the car belonged to her before she married Cody, he doesn’t want it. There’s no next of kin to turn it over to, so they kept it in evidence just in case they needed it later.”

“And if he doesn’t find prints?” Dax wondered. “What’s your conclusion?”

“I don’t like to speculate, but if there are no prints inside the car, I’d say she knew her killer. They had a conversation that went south; and for some reason, they hiked a short way up the trail and stopped in a secluded area. Nobody saw them in that particular location. The woman that spotted them, said they were closer to the parking lot, heading up the trail when she saw them. She said they were having an intense conversation, but she wouldn’t commit to an argument — just intense.”

“He covered his tracks and made sure nobody could identify him or place him with the victim,” Dax agreed. “So, he wiped the outside of the car, maybe the inside, and then after he killed her, he tried to make it look like she was depressed and jumped. Then he just faded into the background and disappeared.”

“That’s what it looks like,” Paige agreed and sat back. “I need to find out who he is. I need to speak with John Franco and see if he can give me a better description of the new boyfriend — or, if he remembers a detail that was overlooked, or something he thought was insignificant at the time, but is really important.”

“Will you call Riskin?” Dax wondered. “Will you explain the photos and your theory that Elisha was murdered?”

“You mean your theory?” Paige smiled at him. “Yes, I’m going to call him in the morning. It’s been a long day, and you just gave me my first big break in the case. Let’s call it a night and go to bed early. Dealing with Sophie tends to wear me out these days. It’s driving her crazy — not knowing if we’re having a girl or a boy. For that alone, I’m waiting.”

“Cruel,” Dax laughed and followed Paige upstairs.

\*\*\*

“Detective Riskin,” he answered.

“Paige Carter,” Paige told him. “I looked over your case and I need you to take care of something for me.”

“Alright,” Riskin agreed. “What do you need?”

“The report shows you still have the vehicle in evidence,” Paige began. “The one your Jane Doe drove out to the campground.”

“Right,” Riskin frowned. *What did she want with the car?*

“I need you to do a more thorough search for fingerprints. Check behind the mirror and on the lever that moves the seat. Check all the places you normally check, but then check the ones you don’t. Think about what you touch when you get into the car. If there’s a compartment for glasses, check that.”

“I told you we didn’t find prints on anything,”

“I know,” Paige agreed. “And that’s a problem for me.”

“A problem?” Riskin wondered where she was going with this.

“Who wiped them?” Paige asked. “And you should pose that question to the sergeant that keeps insisting this was a suicide.”

“You agree with me,” Riskin realized. “You’ve decided it was murder.”

“I’ve decided there are more questions than answers and there are things that just don’t add up,” Paige corrected. “I’m also looking into something else, but I don’t want to get into it until I have an answer on the prints. You guys didn’t locate any prints on the outside of the car. Nothing on the door handle, the windows, or the gas tank. Who takes the time to wipe prints off the gas cover? Nobody, that’s who. I think that car was wiped clean. If Ms. Doe was about to kill herself, why wipe the car? If she was running, at that point it wouldn’t matter if she was discovered. If she was depressed, I doubt she’d pause to do some cleaning before she jumped.”

“I agree,” Riskin sat back. He hadn’t thought of that, he was focused on interviewing witnesses and trying to determine who the woman was. The lack of evidence on the car escaped him. Maybe because he didn’t process it, one of the other violent crimes detectives handled that task. Just another good reason this case needed fresh eyes. “What are you looking into? Did I miss something?”

“No,” Paige hesitated then decided to fill him in. “Now that I believe there was foul play involved, I want to have my own conversation with John Franco. I know you cleared him, but he might know more than he let on. I’d like a chance to prod and see what falls out.”

“Alright,” Riskin didn’t mind if Paige gave Franco another push. The guy was in the clear, he was about a thousand miles away from the scene when the woman died. “In the meantime, I’ll do another search of the car. My guys are pretty thorough, though. I suspect they found nothing because there was nothing to find. If I’m right, that car was wiped for a reason.”

“I agree,” Paige told him. “Don’t forget to check the glove box — on the door and inside. If we get lucky, we’ll find prints other than your victim inside.”

“I never get that lucky,” Riskin ended the call and headed out to find a tech to assist with fingerprinting.

Paige dialed the club where Franco worked. She got lucky, he just arrived for his shift. The manager was reluctant but finally agreed to let him use her office for the call. Paige waited for Franco and took the time to skim through his statements to Riskin.

“Hello,” came a male voice. “This is John Franco. Uh, my manager wanted me to ask you to be quick. She’s not happy about the interruption.”

“I’ll be as quick as I can,” Paige agreed. “This is Deputy Paige Carter. I work for the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office in Utah.”

“Does this have something to do with Becca, because I already talked to that other detective and I’d just like to put this all behind me,” Franco grumbled. “I shouldn’t have to rehash one mistake for the rest of my miserable life.”

“Hopefully this will be the last time we need to discuss Rebecca,” Paige offered. If the guy was miserable, maybe he should change his life and make better choices.

“Fine,” Franco growled. “What do you need?”

“I have the basics,” Paige began. “You met Rebecca at the club where you work and the two of you hooked up. At some point you were married. Correct me if I get anything wrong. The report says the marriage was short. How long did it last?”

“About seven months,” Franco told her. “The best and worst seven months of my life. I caught her cheating in the backroom. Later I learned everyone knew, but they liked me, and nobody wanted to tell me what was going on. Life would have been better if someone had come clean.”

“And the man she was having an affair with,” Paige ignored that. She didn’t have an answer, but he was probably right. “Detective Riskin said his name was Darrell. I was wondering if you could tell me anything else about him. Riskin looked into financial records at the club, and he always paid in cash, but I hoped you could give me a general description.”

“I can do one better,” Franco grinned. “I have a shot of the two of them. I wanted to make sure she didn’t try to pull anything in the divorce. Or more to the point, he didn’t. Give me your number and I’ll send it to you.”

Paige rattled off her cell number and considered. “Why do you say that? Why did you think he might try to pull something?”

“The guy was a weasel and by the look of him, I’d lay odds he spent time behind bars,” Franco insisted. “I don’t know that, but he had that look — the dead eyes, the shifty stance and the smirk of a guy that’s up to no good. You understand what I mean?”

“I do,” Paige nodded, then snatched up her phone when the notification chimed. “I got the text, and I can see what you mean. It’s not a clear shot but this will help. I’m sure Detective Riskin informed you of this, but our victim is definitely your ex-wife. I’m not sure if it means anything, but I’m sorry for your loss.”

“At this point,” Franco sighed. “I’m over it. I wouldn’t wish that kind of end on anyone. But Becca, she was wild, and I figured she was headed for a bad end. Look, my manager is tapping her wrist. Is there anything else?”

“Just one more thing,” Paige figured it was a long shot, but she had to ask. “Do you know if Darrell was from the Dallas area or if he was new in town?”

“Not new,” Franco considered. “I carded him one night after he got aggressive with one of the girls. She backed off and didn’t want a report. Anyway, he had a local license so if he was new, it wouldn’t have been recent. The card was worn and used, I guess.”

“Thank you for your time,” Paige grinned. “I won’t keep you any longer and tell your manager I really appreciate her cooperation as well. Stay safe, Mr. Franco.”

They disconnected and Paige immediately dialed an old friend.

“Paige Carter,” Lieutenant Bristol greeted. “I thought my days of doing you favors ended with your career at the Bureau.”

“Not likely,” Paige laughed. “You’re stuck with me for life. And yes, I do need a favor and it might be a big one.”

“How big?” Bristol asked cautiously.

“I need you to run everyone that’s been inside your jail for a period of ten years. I don’t have a name, not a full one.”

“You want a printout of every prisoner that’s been in my jail for ten years? Are you nuts?” Bristol questioned. “Do you have any idea how many people we process through here in a single year?”

“I have a first name,” Paige corrected. “I need a list of every prisoner named Darrell.” Paige rattled off the time frame she was looking at. “If possible, I’d also like the details on known associates and emergency contact names for all of these upstanding citizen’s named Darrell.”

“That doesn’t narrow things much,” he warned. “But I’ll have my secretary do it on one condition.”

“You want a favor?” Paige knew where this was going.

“I want a slot in one of those fancy courses your husband runs,” Bristol told her. “An advanced course.”

“Apply and I’ll tell Dax to watch for the application,” Paige offered.

“I have,” Bristol admitted. “My guy didn’t get in. He doesn’t look like it on paper, but he’s brilliant and he has potential. He just needs a little training, and he could be my best guy. Unfortunately, it’s the looking good on paper part that gets him accepted into the elite programs.”

“You’re willing to put your reputation on the line to recommend this guy?” Paige asked for clarification. She trusted Bristol. If he said the guy was good, he was good.

“Absolutely,” Bristol said immediately. “Without hesitation. I can’t swing two courses, the department has limited funds and the beginning course would be a waste on this guy. If you can pull some strings, I’ll owe you for once and we’ll call your current fishing expedition a freebie.”

“Hold on a minute,” Paige started to put him on hold but hesitated. “What about travel funds? Could he fly out sometime and interview with the guys to see if he qualifies for the course?”

“I might be able to swing that,” Bristol considered. “I’ll make it happen if they need it. I’ll have to shuffle some things around, but I’ll make it happen.”

“Hold on,” Paige put him on hold and dialed Dax.

“Hamilton,” Dax greeted.

“Yeah, this is Hamilton,” Paige repeated.

“Hey babe,” Dax smiled and sat back. “What’s up?”

“I need you to approve someone for one of your courses,” Paige began. “An advanced course.”

“Tell him to submit an application and I’ll watch for it,” Dax offered.

“He did that already, and you guys passed him over,” Paige admitted.

“Paige, if he doesn’t qualify, I can’t just put him in the class. It will hold everyone else back and waste time.”

“I’m asking you for a favor,” Paige would not give up that easily. “His Lieutenant vouches for him. He says the guy is brilliant but doesn’t reveal his true potential and talent on paper. You guys only look at the paper. I’m asking you to trust me. Bristol is willing to bet his reputation that this is the right move, and a beginner course would be a waste of time for everyone.”

“Fine,” Dax let out a huge sigh. “Tell him to have this guy call me and I’ll look into it. If he can answer my questions, I might be willing to slide him in. What course is he interested in?”

“The shooting course,” Paige told him.

“Then he’ll have to get past Hawk,” Dax warned. “So, he better know his stuff. I won’t override Hawk’s decision. I can’t give someone special treatment if I know they’ll jeopardize our program — not even for you.”

“I’ll have him call you tomorrow,” Paige decided. “When should he call?”

“Any time after nine thirty,” Dax decided. “And before three.”

“Thank you,” Paige added sincerely grateful he agreed. “I’ll get his name and text it to you. That way, you can pull his application before he calls. I’ve gotta go, see you at home.” She switched back over to Bristol. “Dax will consider it, but your guy has to get past Hawk. He better know is stuff because Hawk will know if you’re bluffing.”

“I’m not,” Bristol grinned. “Is this an in-person interview?”

“Nope,” Paige settled back. “Have the candidate call sometime tomorrow after nine-thirty and before three. By the way, what’s his name. They want to review the application before they speak to him.”

Bristol relayed the details and assured Paige his deputy and their Rangemaster would make the call the following day. “I already have Jaylene working on that other project. She’ll start faxing over the details in batches. Be prepared to waste a forest on this. I have no doubt there will be a lot of files to go through.”

“Thanks, I appreciate all your help on this,” Paige disconnected, sat back and considered her next move. She’d been sitting there for over an hour listening to the fax machine spit out paper, but still didn’t have a plan.

“Go home,” Jericho exited his office and headed for the door.

“My shifts not over and I have —” she glanced around. “Stuff.”

“We both know you’ll work on that at home. You’re just sitting there staring out the window waiting for the machine to stop ringing. By the way, I think it’s finished, and you look tired. Go home. That’s not up for debate.”

“You’re awfully grumpy grandpa,” Paige teased. “I thought getting back with Harper would improve your disposition but now I’m starting to wonder.” When he didn’t respond, Paige frowned. “You guys are still together, right?”

“Yes, Paige,” Jericho moved to her desk and started gathering up files. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

“So, what’s the deal,” Paige asked once the files were loaded into the car. “Trouble in paradise?”

“Not really,” Jericho looked away. “She wants me to meet her son.”

“That’s a good thing,” Paige decided. “I mean, it’s a sign she’s serious. How old is the son?”

“He’s in college,” Jericho admitted. “And that’s the problem. She’s serious and — I don’t know. Does it bother you?”

“What?” Paige exclaimed. “No. I want you to be happy. Why would it bother me?”

“You know how serious I was with your mom,” Jericho stared off into the distance. “I loved her more than life itself. When she died, it nearly destroyed me. Then, you came back into my life, and I don’t want anything — or anyone — to get in the way of what we’ve built these past few years. If she brings her son into it —”

“I’ll do my best to get along with him,” Paige assured him. “And you’re going to be this baby’s grandpa. I know Sophie calls herself a grandma and Nathan sees himself as grandpa. I’m on board with that. They will be this baby’s grandparents, but you’re my family on Mom’s side. You’re going to be involved in this kids’ life. I need you to be involved. I think Harper will understand that. Just like I understand she has a son, and someday you might be a grandpa to his kids, too. We’ll get along, I promise. I’ll make sure of it,” she reached out and touched his forearm. “Tell Harper you’d love to meet her son.”

“And if he thinks I’m a grumpy old cop?” Jericho wondered. “You know how college kids are these days. How do you think that will impact my relationship with his mom?”

“Harper will have to deal with it. And she will if she loves you,” Paige shrugged. “I’m not worried. You shouldn’t worry, either. And Mom would like Harper. She’d also want you to be happy. I know you loved her and losing her was devastating to all of us. It’s time to let go and move forward, Jericho. It’s time for you to find happiness again. As long as you’re happy, I’ll accept anyone Harper brings into our lives. I just want to make it clear; we will always be a part of your life.”

“I’m gonna hold you to that, kid,” Jericho took a step back. “Go home and try to get a little rest before you tackle all of that.”

“Bristol talked like there’d be a hundred Darrell’s booked during my time period,” Paige glanced at the stack. “This isn’t bad, all things considered. It shouldn’t take too long to get through them.”

“There are hundreds in there,” Jericho frowned. “They only pulled the information you needed, not the entire booking history. Once you narrow it down, you’ll need them to pull the rest. You’ll want the entire history on your guy before you move forward. Set aside some time tomorrow to bring me up to speed. The earlier the better. Now, get home and put your feet up. Watching you makes me tired.”

“Goodnight, boss!” Paige pulled her door shut and headed home.

\*\*\*

“I pulled that application,” Dax settled onto the couch after dinner. “The kid looks promising, but he’s not as experienced as we like. As long as he knows his stuff, I think we can make it work. I talked to Hawk, and he’s waiting for the call.”

“Bristol said he was going to include his Rangemaster in the call. Hopefully, between the three of them, you’ll have the details you need to make a decision. I told him I will not intervene. I got his foot in the door, but his guy has to make an impression and convince you he can handle the advanced course. He’s confident the guy will sway you.”

“I guess we’ll see,” Dax decided. “What’s all this?”

Paige filled him in on the investigation and what she learned that day. “So, these are all the booking records on anyone named Darrell during the ten years before our Jane Doe moved to Fish Lake and joined that church group.”

“Want help?” Dax offered. “I assume you’re just looking at contacts to see if anyone listed Rebecca or Becca Baker when they were booked.”

“Or if the arresting officer listed Rebecca as a known associate,” Paige added. “But I can handle that. I think I already used up all my marital points for the day.”

“You get unlimited marital points,” Dax grabbed a stack of papers. “Let’s get through this. Then maybe, we can both relax and catch a movie or something before we turn in.”

They worked together skimming through the records for over an hour. Finally, Paige straightened, dropped the small stack of papers she hadn’t gone through, and smiled. “I’ve got him.”

“You found Darrell?” Dax set his stack on the coffee table.

“Darrell Eugene Mackey,” Paige read. “He lists Rebecca Baker as his emergency contact approximately two months after her divorce was final. He was arrested for assault. I need more information.” She reached over and pulled out her phone.

“What are you doing?” Dax tried to grab her phone but missed when she pulled it out of his reach.

“I’m calling Detective Riskin,” Paige hit send.

“It’s late, Paige,” Dax objected. “Wait until morning.”

“A detective never sleeps,” she told Dax.

“Ain’t that the truth,” Riskin answered.

“Sorry,” Paige straightened. She ran through a quick update for him, explaining how she got the booking records and what she found. “I thought you’d want to know right away.”

“I do,” Riskin assured her. “I’m going to call my captain and ask for permission to head to Dallas. I want to interview anyone left that remembers Darrell Mackey and Rebecca Baker.”

“I didn’t get the full rap sheet,” she told him. “I just asked them to send me known associates and emergency contacts. You’ll want to get them to run a full history once you get there. If you have any trouble, contact Lt. Bristol. Tell him I sent you and he’ll take good care of you.”

“Thanks for this Paige,” Riskin said sincerely. “I knew asking for your help was the way to go.”

“We’re not there, yet,” Paige warned. “This might get us closer to finding out what happened to Rebecca and why she became Elisha, but we still don’t know who killed her.”

“Or who she is,” Riskin admitted. “This name is also fake, so she’s technically still a Jane Doe.”

“Good luck,” Paige hung up and turned to Dax. “Now, about that movie night.”

\*\*\*

“Paige,” Riskin said the instant she answered the line. “If you don’t have it already, you should get a copy of Darrell’s full criminal history soon. He’s a repeat offender and a career criminal. The assault charge was related to Rebecca Baker. The two of them had quite the system.”

“What did they do?” Paige sat back.

“Rebecca would pose as a prostitute, pick up some unsuspecting John, and take him back to a cheap motel. Darrell would be waiting in the room. Together, they’d tie the guy to the bed and go through his belongings — stealing anything of value. They could use the credit cards for about a day until the victim was discovered, usually by housekeeping. I talked to a maid at their favorite motel, and she admitted she untied several men who begged her to keep it quiet. They were embarrassed and didn’t want anyone to know. The men would go home, cancel their credit cards and report them stolen.”

“What happened, why the assault charge?” Paige wondered.

“One of the men fought back,” Riskin laughed. “He pummeled Darrell Mackey; I also asked them to forward you the booking photo. Anyway, when the cops got there, the guy pressed charges for assault and theft — and Mackey was arrested. Rebecca was long gone.”

“Did they move on from there or continue?” Paige wondered.

“They moved on,” Riskin admitted. “They traveled north and ultimately ended up in Utah. I’m heading home. I think I got everything I’m going to get out here.”

“Probably,” Paige admitted. “I think you should try to interview Cody and his family again as soon as you get home.”

“Why?” Riskin frowned.

“Because people always keep things from the police,” Paige insisted. “Maybe enough time has passed that he’ll tell you what he withheld.”

“What if he didn’t withhold?” Riskin wasn’t sure she was right.

“He did,” Paige said confidently. “But if he told you everything, what’s the harm?”

“Harassing a victim,” Riskin countered.

“He’s not a victim,” Paige disagreed. “Not in the way you mean. He’s a victim of Rebecca Baker AKA Elisha Walker AKA Jane Doe. You need to see if he held back. She’s a thief, Riskin. People like Rebecca don’t just stop stealing and become good church going saints. Find out what he didn’t tell you. And while you do that, I’ll try to figure out another angle we can use to find a new lead.”

“I’m flying back today,” Riskin told her. “I’ll try to talk to Cody tomorrow. Let me know if you find anything else.”

\*\*\*

Paige was sitting at her desk, frustrated and tired. She didn’t know where to go from here. Nothing was jumping out at her. Oh, she knew Jane Doe was killed. She did not commit suicide. She knew the woman was a criminal — or at least became one once she started dating a criminal — and she knew there had to be a reason she was hiding. Beyond that, she had nothing.

“Paige,” Margie approached with a package. “This just arrived. I had to sign for it.”

“What is it?” Paige grabbed the package and stared at the label that listed the sender — John Franco. She grabbed her phone and dialed the club.

“This is becoming a habit,” the manager complained.

“This is the last time,” Paige assured her. “I just have a quick question, then I won’t need to bother you again.”

“You got my package,” Franco greeted. “If you need instructions, I gave you far too much credit and overestimated your detecting skills.”

“What’s inside?” Paige demanded. “Unless I know it’s safe, I’m calling in the bomb squad and they’ll blow it to smithereens.”

“Geez, you’re paranoid,” Franco laughed. “It’s some stuff Becca left at my place after the divorce. I told her to take it, or I was going to toss it, but she never showed, and I thought it looked — I don’t know, sentimental or something. I couldn’t bring myself to throw it out, so I’m sending it to you. She’s dead, I’m pretty sure she’s not coming back for it now.”

“What kind of personal belongings?” Paige studied the package.

“Notebooks mostly,” Franco told her. “I don’t know, diary stuff, personal stuff. I didn’t read through it all.”

“Why not?” Paige wasn’t buying it. Anyone would be curious once they discovered it was personal.

“It was too painful,” Franco practically whispered. “If she talks about wild monkey sex with her lover, I don’t want to read it.”

“Sorry,” Paige felt a little guilty for pushing.

“Anyway,” Franco sighed. “It’s yours now. Read it, throw it out or give it to someone out there that might care. I don’t want it. I’m working to put all of this behind me. So —”

“I won’t call again unless it’s absolutely necessary,” Paige promised. “I’ll deal with the package. Thanks.”

Paige hung up and grabbed a knife to cut open the package. She pulled out the notebooks one by one, set the decorative mug aside, tossed the keychain with a frilly ribbon into the mug and settled into her chair to read the private thoughts of a stranger.

“You should go home, Paige,” Margie said softly and locked up her desk.

“Huh?” Paige looked up, saw Margie was getting ready to leave, and glanced at the clock.

“It’s happy hour,” Dean walked in. “You taking those notebooks or leaving them?”

“Taking them,” Paige stood and began cleaning up.

“I’ll carry them,” Dean offered. “Just lead the way.”

Paige thought about her colleagues all the way home. Sure, they gave her a hard time and were constantly tossing out fat jokes; but, under the jokes and snide comments, every one of them had gone out of their way to take care of her. She was touched but felt a little guilty. She wasn’t pulling her weight, and now the guys thought they had to pamper and protect her. They were almost as bad as Dax.

She pulled into her driveway and carried the box of notebooks into the house. She hated calling this woman Jane Doe, but what could she call her? Not Elisha and not Rebecca. With a sigh, she dropped onto the couch and started to read. The woman was all over the place with these books. They reminded her of her FBI days, tracking killers who wrote everything down but none of it made sense. This woman was no exception. She had random thoughts, and the sentences didn’t end at the bottom of the page. No, once she reached the bottom, she’d turn the page and fill in the margins on each side. She was still reading when Dax walked in.

She greeted him and followed him into the kitchen, then frowned when her phone rang. She glanced at the display and realized it was Riskin. “I have to take this.”

“Go ahead,” Dax continued to pull items out of the bag. “But I’m eating while it’s still hot.”

Paige nodded and answered the phone.

“Okay, I’m never going to doubt you again,” Riskin greeted.

“Cody had more information,” Paige smiled. She knew it.

“I spoke to the entire family,” Riskin began. “They were all hiding something — missing money.”

“Elisha was stealing from them?” Paige frowned. How did Riskin not know this already?

“Not exactly,” Riskin told her. “Remember, it’s in one of my reports, Cody admitted that some money went missing and he contacted his father. That’s when his parents hired a PI to look into Elisha.”

“Right,” Paige nodded.

“Well, it was more than a few missing funds,” Riskin told her. “Cody and Elisha were fighting constantly over money. Large sums were coming up missing and the final straw was when Elisha didn’t pay the mortgage. She cashed the check, and the money disappeared. Cody found out and squared things with the bank. He paid the mortgage, and the late fee, but that’s when he decided to move out.”

“So, wait,” Paige settled onto the couch. “This was an ongoing thing? Elisha was making withdrawals on a regular basis over a long period of time?”

“Yeah,” Riskin admitted. “When I talked to them initially, they made it sound like a onetime deal. They said they didn’t tell me this sooner because they thought if I knew about the fighting and the missing money, I’d suspect Cody killed Elisha. They tried to turn it over to the PI to track the funds, but he told them there was nothing to trace.”

“That’s not true,” Paige would have to talk to Nathan, to get his blessing, but Carmen might be able to track something.

“Normally, no,” Riskin gave a frustrated sigh. “But Elisha withdrew cash and then it disappeared. We know Darrell always used cash at the strip club where Rebecca worked. I doubt he deposited the funds into a checking account and started writing checks.”

“Yeah, that’s true,” Paige frowned. Now she was frustrated.

“There’s more,” Riskin admitted. “Once Cody found the missing money, he requested a printout from his cellphone carrier. He got a listing of calls Elisha made for the past six months — well, the six months before he left her and filed for divorce.”

“What did he find?” Paige wondered. There had to be something.

“A number he didn’t recognize,” Riskin told her. “Elisha called the same number every time she withdrew the money.”

“What’s the number, I have someone that can trace it and tell us who it belongs to,” Paige grabbed a pen and turned over the file she brought home.

Riskin relayed the phone number. “Cody confronted Elisha, and she refused to give any kind of explanation. Cody assumed she was getting a hotel with the missing money and paying for lush accommodations, dinners, and dates out with a lover. The infidelity combined with the information he received from the PI saying she wasn’t who she said she was, pushed him past his breaking point, and he filed for divorce.”

“I’ll call my contact and see if she can track down who owns that number,” Paige offered. “Now, do you have a minute? I have some things to tell you.”

“Sure, who has time for a personal life?”

Paige laughed, then told him about the stuff Franco mailed her. “He said Becca left them behind and he didn’t want them. I’ve been going through and trying to read them.” She proceeded to explain the notebooks and the convoluted way she documented her thoughts. “They’re jumbled but there’s a lot of stuff about guilt. This woman felt responsible for something.”

“Maybe she was responsible for something,” Riskin corrected. “Any idea what?”

“Not yet, but I’m still digging,” Paige admitted. “Right now, I’m going to go in and have dinner with my amazing husband. You should go home and crash. I thought you planned to hold off and talk to Cody tomorrow.”

“You got me thinking and I couldn’t wait,” Riskin admitted. “I called, and they were available.”

“Well, I’m sure you’re ready for a break. It’s been a long day for both of us. I’ll keep looking through these books after we eat, and I’ll touch base with you in the morning.”

“Sounds like a plan,”

“Put this away for an hour,” Dax requested. “Let’s have a quiet dinner and we can pick it all back up once we’ve finished.”

“How did the interview go?” Paige settled into a chair.

“Bristol’s guy is in,” Dax followed her back to the kitchen. “Hawk said he knows his stuff, and the interview went so well; he’s wondering if we need to revamp the application process. He’s worried we’re shutting out guys like this Naylor guy who have the skills but not the background to get in.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure something out,” Paige glanced back to the living room and frowned. There were a lot of notebooks to read through.

“Let’s wait on that,” Dax joined her at the table. “While we eat, Bring me up to speed on the case.”

Paige dished her plate, then while they ate, she relayed everything that happened throughout the day.

“So, you want to go through those notebooks to see if there’s anything that will lead you to her true identity?”

“Or another fake one,” Paige grumbled, still frustrated.

Dax stood and took their empty plates to the sink. He rinsed each one, then returned to the table, took Paige’s hand and led her back to the living room. “Let’s get started.” He reached out and picked up a notepad from the middle of the pile. When he placed it in the palm of his hand he frowned.

“What?” Paige settled down next to him.

“I’m not sure,” Dax straightened and opened the notebook. “Give me a minute.” He began slowly turning pages then set the notebook on the table, so it stood on end and let it fall. It opened to a page two thirds of the way to the back.

“It should open closer to the middle,” Paige picked it up.

“Give me a minute,” Dax took the notebook from her and gently turned one page at a time. He only got through three when he discovered several pages stuck together.

“Are they glued?” Paige studied the notebook. “It looks intentional.”

“It is,” Dax pulled out his knife and slid it down the outer edge of the page. It easily sliced open, and several loose pages fell out. Then, a tiny charm bracelet dropped to the floor. It looked like something a young girl would own.

“What is it?” Dax reached for the bracelet.

“Wait,” Paige grabbed his hand. “That’s evidence. I need to do this right.” She grabbed her go-bag and pulled out a small evidence bag and a pair of tweezers. She plucked the bracelet off the floor and slid it carefully into the bag, then sealed it. “I’ll have to get this to Riskin — eventually.” Paige grinned. “Now, let’s see what these are.”

“More ramblings of a lunatic?” Dax tried to read the paper over her shoulder.

“Not exactly,” Paige studied the pages. “She’s talking about dreams and flashbacks of her family dying. Then here, she says she’s terrified of fire and thinks it would be horrible to burn alive.” Paige frowned. When she combined the secret writings with the other notebook and the woman’s admission that she felt guilty, Paige had a bad feeling.

“You think she killed her family,” Dax realized. “That she burned them to death and had flashbacks of the incident.”

“I think it’s possible,” Paige wouldn’t lie to Dax. “In that other book she talks about feeling guilty. There are a lot of ramblings about guilt, actually.”

“What are you going to do now?” Dax wondered. “Because our fun game of intrigue, geared at uncovering the identity of your mystery woman, just shifted into something ugly and depraved.”

“I’m going to spend the night enjoying time with my husband and then I’m going to dig into this further once I get to work tomorrow. I think the first thing I’ll do is look into arson cases, public ones, where at least one family member died.”

“Nationwide?” Dax asked. “That will take forever.”

“I know it happened before this,” Paige pointed to the stack of notebooks. “I know it happened before she went to Dallas and hooked up with Franco. That helps narrow it down. I have over a decade that I just eliminated.”

“I’m glad I’m not you,” Dax admitted. He knew this was what Paige did best — the details. It was her job, and she was good at it. He just wished, sometimes, that she didn’t have to deal with the ugly side of humanity.

“I’m sorry,” Paige took Dax’s hand. “I know sometimes I bring things into our home that should stay at the office. I didn’t realize where this was going, or I would have left it locked in my desk.”

“You don’t need to apologize, Paige,” Dax pulled her onto his lap. “This is who we are. I don’t mind. It’s just sometimes —”

“Sometimes you wish I raised puppies and danced around with flowers in my hair?” Paige grinned.

“Hell no,” Dax chuckled. “I’m pretty sure me and that girl — well, we wouldn’t stand a chance. Plus, think of the noise and the smell. Puppies have so many accidents.” He gave a fake shiver and pulled her in for a kiss. “I love you, Paige. That means all of you, brilliant mind, deductive reasoning skills, and the ability you have to solve cold cases that stump the best detectives.”

“I really am sorry,” she snuggled further into his chest. “And part of the reason I love you so much is I know you understand.”

Dax kissed the top of her head, grabbed the remote and flipped on the TV. “I want a repeat. Let’s relax tonight and you can deal with the ugly tomorrow.”

“I like that plan,” Paige tried to settle in and watch the movie Dax found on cable, but she couldn’t stop thinking of their life together — and her baby. What was she going to do once the baby was born? Not right away, she could still bring work home for a few years, but once the child was old enough to understand — things would have to change. She couldn’t bring the gory pictures that almost always accompanied a case home. She couldn’t risk traumatizing a small child that way. And their open conversations over breakfast or dinner — the ones that always centered on death and mayhem — that would also have to end. Their entire routine would have to change. They couldn’t discuss a tough case like this with a kid in the house but how would that impact their relationship?

“Shut it down,” Dax pressed a kiss to her temple. “I can hear you thinking and it’s distracting. Turn off that busy brain of yours and just relax.”

Paige pretended to watch the movie, but she couldn’t stop thinking about how things would change. She couldn’t stop worrying what that would do to their marriage. They had always shared this connection. It made them a team, a partnership — but with a child lurking she’d have to stop.

\*\*\*

The following day, Paige was sitting at her desk skimming through the internet looking for fires that killed a family trapped inside, when Carmen called.

“Sorry for the delay,” Carmen began. “But that phone is registered to one Darrell Mackey. I couldn’t trace it. He must have it turned off, or he pulled the SIM card and ditched it. It’s completely offline and has been all day,” Carmen paused. “Is something wrong?”

“What?” Paige jerked. “No, but could you do me one more favor?”

“Depends,” Carmen teased. “Will it get me fired?”

“Shouldn’t,” Paige shrugged. “I have an in with the boss.”

“What’s the favor?” Carmen asked.

“Can you pull the financial records for this account,” she pulled out the file and found the documents Cody had provided to Riskin. “I need you to see when the wife began withdrawing money and if there’s a pattern to the withdrawals. Also, when did they stop?”

“Alright,” Carmen agreed. “That should be easy enough to do. Anything else?”

“No, I’m running my own search, trying to find a family that was killed in a fire,” Paige admitted.

“Send me the details and I’ll set something up,” Carmen offered. “There’s going to be tons, but I should be able to narrow it down.”

“I’ll send you a possible — or, I guess, likely — time frame to go with it,” Paige decided. “Thanks for your help on this. I really appreciate it, so will the detective from Sevier County.”

“No problem,” Carmen clicked off.

Paige was sitting back, still thinking about the revelation she had the previous evening when her phone rang. *Riskin*. “Hey, I was just about to call you,” Paige greeted. “The phone number on the records Cody gave you belongs to Darrell Mackey.”

“I’m putting an ATL out for him,” Riskin decided. “He could have left Utah, but I’m putting out an alert, anyway. I want to talk to that man.”

“I’d like to be there,” Paige decided. “Maybe by video, if that’s possible.”

“I’ll run it by the boss and call you,” Riskin offered. “I’m sure we can set something up.”

\*\*\*

That afternoon, Paige was sitting at her desk reading through the files Carmen provided. She found several house fires that killed entire families. She had just finished reading about a family that was killed in their sleep when her phone rang. She snatched it up when she saw Riskin’s name on the display, prepared to give him bad news and explain why their Jane Doe was on the run. “Deputy Carter,” she greeted.

“Hey, you said you wanted to participate in my interview. Do you have a way to set up a video call?”

“You got him?” Paige held her hand over the receiver and called Margie.

“I’m in Salt Lake,” Riskin advised. “I’m holding Mackey but I’m not sure we have enough to keep him. The jail says they have the ability to set up a video call, but they need to know if you have the equipment on your end.”

“I’m going to put you on speaker so you can talk to our in-house wiz. She’ll know if we have what you need.” Paige turned to Margie. “I need to participate in a video call. Can you talk to these guys and set up what we need in the conference room?”

“Of course,” Margie picked up the phone. “I’m going to transfer you into the conference room. Give me just a minute and we can get started.”

Paige watched Margie step into the large room and maneuver around the table. The guys up north were in excellent hands with Margie. Paige glanced at the screen but couldn’t deal with fires and death any longer. She picked up the financial report she set aside earlier, planned to slide it back into the folder, but stopped when something caught her eye. The last withdrawal was weeks before Elisha’s death. Cody cut her off immediately once he filed for divorce. She didn’t have access to his money any longer because it was an inheritance and considered a premarital asset.

Margie called out and informed Paige everything was ready for her to start. Paige stepped into the room thanked Margie and was told she would lock the door when she left so Paige wouldn’t be interrupted.

“I’m here,” Paige settled into a chair with her file.

Riskin started the recording on his end, read Darrell his Miranda warning and began the interview. Paige watched Darrell. He didn’t seem worried. He was cocky and arrogant, the way someone might be if they’d been through this routine before. She needed to knock him off his game. She listened while Riskin asked questions about his relationship with Rebecca, outlined the prostitution and the theft scheme, then ran through Darrell’s list of crimes.

“So what?” Darrell shrugged. “That’s all public record, and I did my time.”

“When did Rebecca tell you she was no longer in love with you?” Paige asked. She got the reaction she was looking for but after a couple seconds, he recovered.

“The woman was trouble,” Darrell shrugged. “She betrayed me, so what?”

“How exactly did she betray you?” Riskin glanced at Paige, nodded, and waited.

“It’s like you said,” Darrell’s eyes dart around the room then settled back on Riskin. “We hooked up and took off together.”

“You hooked up at the stripper club in Dallas, began an illicit affair with Rebecca, and then moved on after she divorced Mr. John Franco. Is that correct?” Riskin asked.

“Sure,” Darrell smirked. “That guy was boring, and Rebecca needed excitement. We hooked up right under his nose and the idiot never knew a thing. She got divorced, and we took off. When we ran out of cash, we might have requested a contribution from the Johns Rebecca brought back to the motel. None of them complained, so what’s the problem?”

“The problem is illegal prostitution, theft, forced detainment, and credit card fraud,” Riskin settled back.

“You can’t prove any of that,” Darrell finally barked.

“So, you moved on,” Riskin continued. “You moved to Utah and Rebecca changed her name to Elisha Walker. What was the plan, Darrell?”

“I want a deal,” Darrell demanded. “For talking. Before I say anything, I want a deal.”

“Okay, here’s the deal,” Riskin straightened. “You tell me what you and Elisha had planned for Cody and his family, or I send you back to jail and let the attorney’s hash this out.”

“What are the charges?” Darrell demanded.

“I already explained that,” Riskin sat back. “Theft, forced detainment, and credit card fraud. I think that’s a decent start and while you rot in a cell, I’ll be out looking for additional charges we can add to that list. By the time your case goes to trial, I’ll have enough felonies tacked on to ensure you stay locked up for decades.”

“Fine,” Darrell glanced around again and considered. When he looked back, his smirk was wider, and his eyes were gleaming with something that looked like mischief. “Rebecca was sick of the prostitution gig. She said it was small time, and she wanted a big payout. So, she changed her name to ensure a clean start, and we headed to Utah. When we landed by Fish Lake, she saw a flyer for a church picnic or some nonsense. That’s what gave her the idea. She attended the social and scoped out our options. It was all her idea.”

“What was her idea?” Paige pushed. “Give us the details.”

“Becca said church people were easy targets,” Darrell settled in the chair, more confident now. “She started to attend the church looking for marks. That’s when we realized we hit the jackpot — the rich guy.”

“Cody Tanner?” Riskin asked.

“Right,” Darrell nodded. “Rebecca said she’d cozy up to the rich guy. She’d get him to fall for her and convince him to give her money, or she’d snoop around and find a way to access his account. Then, all she had to do was skim a little to get us by. She wanted me to follow him, to get pictures of him in a compromising position, then we could use them as blackmail if he wanted us to keep quiet. She had a lot of ideas but bottom line, we would target the rich guy and con him into giving Rebecca money.”

“What happened?” Paige pushed. “When did Rebecca stop seeing you as a partner and realize you were just dead weight she was carrying around — and she could do better?”

“That lying bimbo fell in love with the guy,” Darrell spat. “Can you believe that? She actually fell in love with the mark. She came to me, offered me money to go away and keep our secret. She said the guy could never know what we planned. I said no way, she wasn’t cutting me out of the deal. She finally agreed to compensate me for my trouble, and I agreed. There’s nothing illegal about that. Maybe there would have been if the slut didn’t fall for the mark, but we didn’t go through with it. Rebecca gave me money willingly, and I kept my mouth shut.”

“Did you meet Rebecca the day she died?” Riskin asked.

Darrell studied Riskin for several seconds before he answered. “I met her in the parking lot of the campground. We talked, she gave me the money, and I left. I have no idea what happened to her after I left.”

“So,” Riskin leaned forward. “You admit you were there?”

“I said I was, didn’t I?” Darrell barked. “I met her, she passed me the money and I split. She gave me extra after she had the kid. She was terrified her husband would find out everything, and she’d lose them both. I don’t know what happened after that. I assume she jumped. The woman was loony, and everything was falling apart.”

“But she paid you,” Paige pointed out. “Why was it falling apart? You agreed not to say anything, and you claim you didn’t love her, and she didn’t love you, so why would she kill herself?” The man was lying, and Paige was going to pin him down and nail him to the wall.

“I have no idea,” Darrell glared at her. “I told you; the man was supposed to be a mark. She was supposed to seduce him, get him to shower her with gifts and find the details to access his bank account. Instead, she fell for the guy, married him and had a kid. The gig was up, and I was ready to move on. I just needed the funds she promised me. We met in the parking lot; she handed over the money she retrieved that morning and I split. What happened after I left is anyone’s guess.”

“I have a witness that saw you arguing with my victim just prior to her death,” Riskin advised him. “She was about to come over and break things up, or call the police, when the two of you turned away and walked up the trail.”

“She’s lying,” Darrell said automatically.

“I don’t think so,” Riskin smiled and waited.

“Then it was someone else,” Darrell insisted. “Maybe her husband met her at the trail, and he killed her.”

“How much did she give you?” Paige asked absently.

“What?” Darrell glanced at the screen. “I don’t see why you’re involved in this, anyway. Where did you say you were from? Nowhereville, Utah?”

“Sanpete County, actually,” Paige grinned. “And I’m here because I was invited. How much money did Rebecca give you that day? The money you say she paid you, the funds she promised you before you took the envelope and split. How much?”

“Um—” Darrell faltered.

“I’m sure it was substantial,” Riskin pressed. “Come on, man. This shouldn’t be difficult. You said you two agreed on an amount, she met you in the parking lot, turned over the money and you left. How much did she give you that day?”

“Ten thousand,” Darrell lied.

“Ten thousand,” Paige sat back. “That would be difficult for a woman getting a divorce. Where do you think she got the funds to pay for your silence?”

“Him — that Cody guy, her husband,” Darrell insisted.

“But her world was falling apart,” Paige pretended to think. “Your words, not mine. Her world was falling apart. Her husband had filed for divorce, and she was desperate. Why did she need to pay you anything? I mean, could the secrets you had really make a difference at that point?”

“She said —” Darrell stopped.

“Yes?” Riskin asked. “What did she say? Help us understand because this story just doesn’t make sense to me.”

“Rebecca said she was afraid of Cody,” Darrell’s eyes were darting around the room like he was looking for something to latch onto. “She said he was violent, and she was afraid if he knew about us, about our past, it would make things worse. She paid me the money and was relieved when I told her I was leaving town.”

Paige pulled out one of the notebooks she got from Franco. “Darrell is exciting and dangerous,” she paused. “Oh, this is a diary she left with John Franco. You remember him, right? The husband that didn’t know Rebecca was cheating right under his nose?”

“That means nothing,” Darrell insisted.

“He’s dangerous and violent and that darkness makes me excited. I can’t get enough.”

“Was it Cody that was violent, Darrell? Or was it you?” Riskin pushed. “Did you get angry when Rebecca arrived without your money. You told her to bring it and there she was empty-handed. You argued, but realized people were watching, so you dragged her up the trail, found a secluded spot, and shoved her over the side.”

“No,” Darrell shook his head, clearly frustrated and terrified. “I left. I took the money, and I left.”

“There was no money, Darrell,” Paige advised. “Rebecca was broke. She didn’t have access to Cody’s funds — he blocked her from his accounts. She arrived empty-handed. Did that piss you off? You told that bimbo to bring the money and all she brought was excuses. You’d had enough, so you grabbed her, dragged her down the trail and the two of you continued to argue. Then, you knocked her out, tossed her over the side, and did what you’re good at — the only thing you’re good at. You ran.”

“You can’t prove any of that,” Darrell yelled. “You can’t prove I was even there. I left. She gave me the money, and I left.”

“I have a witness that says otherwise,” Riskin reminded him. “I have a witness that can put you on that trail.”

“Okay,” Darrell agreed. “I did go up the trail, just barely — not far. Rebecca was jerking me around. She said she had the money, but she needed to talk to me first. She needed to say goodbye. She talked me into starting up the trail. She wanted sex, one last goodbye but I was done with that woman. She’s crazy. I told her it was over, and I just needed my money. She started to cry, shoved the money at me and ran up the trail alone. That’s the last I saw her. Maybe she just jumped. Or maybe she fell. That’s it, maybe she tripped and fell over the edge, and it was an accident. I don’t know. I just took the money and ran.”

Riskin looked at Paige. “I think that’s all we’re going to get.”

“I agree,” Paige shrugged. “Once you book him, we need to talk.”

“Book me?” Darrell jumped to his feet. “For what?”

“Oh, right,” Riskin grinned. “We covered some of the charges, but I’m adding extorsion and murder to the mix.” Riskin opened the door and passed Darrell off to the jailers waiting to take him back to his cell.

“You can’t do this,” Darrell screamed all the way down the hall.

“I just did,” Riskin sighed and stepped back into the room. “What’s up?” he asked when he saw Paige was still there.

“The victim had a habit of writing things down,” Paige began. “I think you should go back to Cody and ask him about that. See if there were any notebooks or diaries that might talk about Darrell. We’ve got him, but I think — if Rebecca, Elisha, whoever she was — kept to pattern, there will be notebooks and they will talk about the plan, the money, and Darrell.”

“It’s worth a shot,” Riskin shrugged. “What else? I can see you found something. What is it?”

“I think I found your victim,” Paige admitted. “I think I know who she is.”

“Wow, that’s great,” Riskin began then frowned. “Or, is it?”

“I found an article,” Paige stopped. “Well, my friend sent me a stack of stories where family members died in a fire. This one fits.”

“Alright,” Riskin settled into one of the chairs. “Break it to me, I can see it’s bad.”

“A family was killed in New Jersey several years ago,” Paige began. “All of them, except their prime suspect, a seventeen-year-old daughter. Your Jane Doe would have been around seventeen at the time of the incident.”

“Alright,” Riskin considered. “What happened to the teen?”

“She disappeared,” Paige told him. “I’m getting my information from newspaper clippings, so you’ll want to contact the New Jersey police and get the details. The article says the family was drugged and was asleep when the house was doused in gasoline and set on fire. The seventeen-year-old was the prime suspect. She disappeared, and the case is still open. Or was at the time of the report.”

“So, she killed her parents, fled and changed her name,” Riskin was shocked.

“She killed her parents,” Paige hesitated. “And her two younger sisters. They were fifteen and twelve. The girl’s name — the suspect — was Kimberly Frances Kennedy. I’ll send you the information, but I think it’s worth checking into.”

“I agree,” Riskin stood. “I’ll look into the fire and get back to you.”

“I also have Cody’s financial records,” Paige reminded him. “The ones you sent and a few extra details. You’ll need a warrant to get all of this, but you’ll want to pursue it. Elisha or Kimberly or whatever you want to call her, she didn’t withdraw funds that day. Cody cut her off, like I said to Darrell. She didn’t have ten thousand to give him. I don’t think she had anything. According to my information, Elisha was broke. Follow through on that, it’s going to help you trap him.”

“That and the witness,” Riskin agreed. “I can already prove he was lying. We’ll get more. Don’t worry.”

“Let me know what you find in New Jersey,” Paige requested. “Otherwise, I think my work here is done.”

“I appreciate all of it,” Riskin told her. “So does my sergeant. He’s a little steamed that he was wrong, but he took it well and he’s grateful we eventually got it right.”

“It’s what I do,” Paige grinned. “Go on, call New Jersey.”

\*\*\*

A week later, Paige got a call from Riskin.

“So, I spoke with the case agent in New Jersey,” Riskin hesitated. “Do you want to know the details or a brief summary?”

“Give me the details,” Paige decided.

Riskin described the multiple homicide. The family was given a high dose of Benadryl, and the Jersey detective believed it was added to their drink at dinner without them knowing. He based that on their stomach contents. The family went to bed early and the seventeen-year-old family member went to work preparing the house for destruction. A large amount of gasoline was dumped throughout the residence, then it was set on fire. David and Amber Kennedy, along with their two daughters, Trina and Stacy were trapped inside and burned to death. Kimberly, their oldest daughter, was never seen or heard from again. The detective interviewed Kimberly’s classmates. They painted a picture of a troubled girl who didn’t have any real friends. She was a loner and seemed to get pleasure from hurting people or causing trouble for those who crossed her. Most of the kids were afraid of her. Nobody was surprised when they learned she may have killed her family.

“They have DNA,” Riskin finally added. “They collected a sample from her locker at the high school and saved it just in case. They shipped the results over so my lab could verify my victim and their suspect are the same person. It came back today, it’s a match. They’ll finally be able to close their case. They won’t get an arrest, but at least the extended family can finally get closure.”

“What about Cody?” Paige wondered. “Did he have any notebooks or diaries?”

“Actually, he did,” Riskin shifted gears. “He found them in Elisha’s desk, partially hidden and taped to the top of a drawer. He had no idea they were in there until I asked, and he went searching for them. I’ve been reading through them, and you were right, they’re going to paint a picture that will trap Darrell for good. I expect him to take a plea. Anyway, they look a lot like the ones you mailed to me — the ones Franco sent you. There’s a lot of rambling and nothing organized or coherent. But she does talk about Darrell and his violence and claimed she was afraid of him. She also wrote that she shouldn’t meet him without the money, but she had to. One of the other books had better details and was easier to read. She documented how she was supposed to seduce Cody and even marry him, then kill him before he discovered her secret or got suspicious. That way, all of his money and property would have gone to her as his surviving spouse. The last page of the notebook is a kind of mantra. I won’t kill again; I won’t kill again. I won’t get caught. Then it goes back to the rambling. I’m not sure the girl was sane, Paige.”

“What about the images, I numbered them in the order they should be presented to the DA,” Paige told him. “Did you get the explanation and how they show a clear and concise story of what happened that day?”

“I got them,” Riskin sighed. “I had those all the time but didn’t see it. Nobody here did. How did you put that together?”

“I didn’t,” Paige smiled. “My amazing husband did.”

“Well thank him for us,” Riskin told her. “It’s going to make this case even stronger. I realize she was a killer and clearly disturbed, but she deserves justice just like anyone else. Darrell will pay for killing the woman that betrayed him. I can’t resolve the New Jersey case to anyone’s satisfaction but the woman that killed her family is deceased now and can’t hurt anyone else.”

“That will have to be enough,” Paige straightened. “Thanks for the call Riskin — and good luck. It was a pleasure working with you.”

“If I can ever do anything for you, don’t hesitate to call,” Riskin offered. “Take care, Paige. And don’t work so hard. You need to think about your baby.”

They disconnected and Paige watched Jericho enter the back door and head into his office. She stood and followed him in. She would update her boss on the case, then she would go home to that amazing husband she spoke of.

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 **Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets. Don't forget, this is the final season so you won't want to miss an episode.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S7

**Tags:** Season 7

---

### [Muddled Affair](https://melaniepsmith.com/muddled-affair/)

**Published:** August 31, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Muddled Affair (S7E4) When a friend from Paige’s past calls in need of a favor, Paige and Dax travel to Texas to assist.  Will they solve the case, or get caught up in the mystery?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*MUDDLED AFFAIR\*\*\*****

“It’s official,” Dax wrapped his arms around Paige and pulled her against him. “Our new home.”

“Can I at least have a tent?” Paige laughed.

“Someday Junior might want to go camping, but let’s wait until he’s born to plan that adventure,” Dax pressed a soft kiss to the side of her neck.”

“You’re pretty sure of yourself,” Paige observed. “Will you be disappointed if the baby is a girl?”

“Are you kidding?” Dax turned Paige around. “I would love to have a miniature Paige running around the house. I can’t think of anything I’d like better than coming home every night to two beautiful, challenging girls.”

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“Good answer,” Paige smiled. “This baby is going to love you. If we have a girl, I bet she’ll be a daddy’s girl, through and through.”

“And if it’s a boy?” Dax wondered.

“A miniature Dax,” Paige widened her eyes. “Heaven help us all.”

Dax laughed and pulled Paige back into his arms. “I don’t think the house will be finished before the baby comes, but we should be able to move in before the end of the year or the beginning of next year at the latest.”

“Our group is growing,” Paige smiled. “Now that Ken moved his family to Laurel Bluffs, I think Hawk and Vato are itching for their own space as well.”

“I can’t believe Wooly bought a farm,” Dax grinned. “That guy was city through and through. And his mother, she lived in Vegas her entire life. Now she’s raising chickens and teaching her grandsons to collect eggs.”

“Jaime loves their new place,” Paige relaxed. “I can’t blame her. I think she loves having Ken home every night even more.”

“Yeah,” Dax pulled Paige closer. “I can’t believe he held out as long as he did, but he loved that place up north. I get the feeling, he loves the farm more, though. And, it’s good for the business to have him closer. Now that Nathan and Sophie finalized the purchase of their new home, it feels like the family is finally home.”

“I hope Nathan will slow down a little,” Paige sobered, then grabbed her ringing phone. “Hello.”

“Paige, it’s Kyra Black.”

“Hey, it’s been a while,” Paige smiled. “I heard you’re working the Nightfall Killer case.”

“I was, but they transferred me,” Kyra sighed. “Paige, I need your help.”

“What’s going on?” Paige frowned.

“My sister’s in trouble,” Kyra admitted.

“Larisa?” Paige asked. “There’s no way that kid committed a crime.”

“She didn’t,” Kyra assured her. “I can’t talk for long, and I can’t use my phone. They’re monitoring my communication. I borrowed a phone from a friend, because I need to meet with you, and it has to be in person. Are you available if I drive out to see you? Do you have somewhere I can spend the night, where we can talk in private? Someplace you’re sure it’s safe?”

“No,” Paige disagreed. She knew Kyra, if she was this on edge, whatever the situation, it was serious. “I’ll come to you. Where are you?”

“Colorado,” Kyra said, frustrated. “They transferred me to work on a simple embezzlement case. They needed me out of the way. I’ve been ordered to stay away from my sister and her husband’s case.”

“They who?” Paige wondered.

“Look,” Kyra sighed. “I’ll head out tomorrow and we can talk.”

“No, Kyra,” Paige disagreed. “If you’ve been benched, they’ll get suspicious if you take time off. Especially, if I get involved following your unplanned vacation. Let me talk to my husband and arrange a few days off with my boss — then, I’ll come to you.”

“Alright,” Kyra relented. “Please hurry. I’m worried about Larisa — and her family. They’re in trouble and you’re the only person I trust to help.”

“How can I contact you?” Paige asked before her friend hung up.

“Don’t call,” Kyra insisted. “Use our normal channels and the Hillside method.”

“Alright,” Paige frowned. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Where are we going?” Dax asked the instant Paige disconnected.

“What?” Her mind was racing. Kyra sounded near panic. She also sounded a little paranoid. Whatever was going on, it was huge. They hadn’t used that system for nearly a decade. They developed it while they were undercover investigating the Hillside killer. Nobody knew the code but her and Kyra. It used mathematical equations to form words and it was complicated.

“I heard half the conversation,” Dax reminded her. “Sounds like you have a friend in need. So, where are we going?”

Paige studied Dax. “I need to take a trip to Colorado. I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s going on, but I have to go.”

“Then we’ll go,” Dax agreed. “I need a couple hours with the guys, I have to clear my schedule and reassign a few things. How many days do you think we’ll need?”

“I don’t know,” Paige admitted, completely shocked by his response. “Kyra is spooked. I’ve known her a long time and I’ve never heard her this stressed before. I won’t know how long it will take until I talk to her. Dax, I have to go but why are you doing this?”

“Babe,” Dax pulled her into his arms. “When I heard Zee was in trouble, I dropped everything and left. I didn’t know how long it would take or what I would have to do, but I was prepared to do anything to save him. That’s friendship. It doesn’t matter how long it takes or what this Kyra person needs. She trusts you and she needs you — that means, you’re going to be there for her. Plus, if she’s that spooked, you need backup and I need to know you’re okay. So, I’m going to be there for you. I think it falls under that contractually obligated thing you’re always referencing.”

“Awe,” Paige nodded then smiled. “The marriage rules. I think you’re right.”

“We’ll head to Colorado and talk to your friend.” Dax decided. “Then, we’ll come up with a plan of action together. The boys can handle things until we get back. As long as it takes, Paige. I’m there.”

“Alright,” Paige nodded. “While you take a couple of hours with your men, I’ll head over and try to talk Jericho into approving an unplanned vacation.”

“He’ll give you what you need if you explain the situation,” Dax opened the truck door. “Be straight with him. Then, meet me at the center.”

“What if he doesn’t?” Paige asked, worried.

“Then take a leave of absence,” Dax shrugged. “We can afford it, and this is important.”

“You’d really be okay with that?”

“Sure,” Dax gave her a quick kiss. “If there’s one thing I understand, it’s being there for your friends. Let’s get you to your car. The sooner we leave, the sooner this will be resolved.”

Paige watched him round the front of the vehicle and slide behind the wheel. That was true, Dax did understand true friendship. So did his men.

\*\*\*

Jericho studied Paige for several seconds.

“What?” she finally barked.

“I’m thinking,” Jericho sat back. “I’m trying to make some sense out your request.”

“My request makes sense,” Paige frowned. “I need some time off to help a friend. I have plenty of vacation hours and I’m asking to use them.”

“Your request is denied,” Jericho began.

“Then I want—”

“No,” Jericho cut her off. “If you’re helping a fellow agent, this isn’t vacation. If her family is in trouble, and you think you can help, it’s a case.”

“Then I can go?” Paige asked for clarification.

“I have stipulations,” Jericho studied her. “And restrictions.”

“What kind of restrictions?” Paige frowned. She couldn’t work with restrictions.

“You don’t care about my stipulations?”

“I’m sure I can live with those,” Paige shrugged.

“Let’s cover them anyway,” Jericho sat back. “First, Dax goes with you — that’s nonnegotiable.”

“Okay,” Paige agreed.

“He already offered,” Jericho smiled.

“More like insisted,” Paige corrected.

“Once this Agent Kyra … what was her last name?” Jericho demanded.

“Black,” Paige settled into her chair.

“Once Agent Kyra Black explains the situation to you,” Jericho continued. “You call immediately and explain it to me.”

“She doesn’t trust the phones,” Paige argued.

“I’m sure Hawk has a burner he can loan me,” Jericho dismissed that. “And, I have no doubt your husband will be in contact with his team during the entire situation. He checks in with his team, you check in with yours.”

“I’ll make it work,” Paige promised.

“If this turns into something… let’s say complicated,” Jericho decided. “You back off.”

“No,” Paige disagreed. “If it wasn’t complicated, Kyra wouldn’t have called. Plus, I told you, the FBI already benched her. That makes it complicated.”

“Alright,” Jericho considered. “What do you think is going on here?”

“I have no idea,” Paige answered honestly. “I know Kyra is a good agent. I know she’s scared and worried about her sister. And I know Larisa is a good kid that would sooner cut off her right arm than do anything wrong. Beyond that, I don’t know. I won’t know until I meet with Kyra.”

“Is Larisa in Colorado with her sister?” Jericho questioned.

“I doubt it,” Paige frowned. “Kyra said she was benched and transferred to Colorado. Last I heard, Larisa lived in Texas.”

“Do you think the problem is in Texas?”

“Probably,” Paige decided. “Kyra was removed from a high-profile investigation in Texas, then transferred. She was working the Nightfall Killer case. Those murders occured on the coast, along the Gulf. If they transferred her to Colorado, it was to get her away from her sister and whatever problem arose while she was assigned there. They’re creating distance. Which was stupid, there’s nobody better to handle a serial case than Kyra. Maybe she’s right and the bad guys have pull in the bureau. Maybe the FBI sees a potential conflict and they’re trying to avoid a scandal. Maybe it’s something entirely different. The only thing I know for sure, is Kyra won’t cut off all contact with her sister — no matter what the brass says. And she asked for my help. She wouldn’t do that unless there was no other option.”

“Then let’s do this,” Jericho decided. “You and Dax head to Colorado and find out what’s going on. Then, you return here and report in, brief me on the situation. I’m going to assume you’ll be traveling to Texas after that, but at least we’ll all know what we’re dealing with and how to help. At that point, we’ll decide your status.”

“I can live with that,” Paige decided.

“Good because I wasn’t asking,” Jericho glanced at the clock and stood. “I have a meeting and I’m late. Oh, and you deal with the obstinate General before you leave.”

Paige watched him stroll out the door before she stood and headed for her car. She had some packing to do, and she needed to talk to Dax about how to handle Nathan. Worse, she had no idea how to handle Sophie. The woman was hovering, and she wasn’t going to like this impromptu trip. Especially, once she realized the reason behind it.

\*\*\*

“How will we find her?” Dax pulled onto Main Street.

“Give me a minute,” Paige studied the map. She glanced up and bit her bottom lip. “Okay, it’s been a while but if my math is correct, Kyra will be waiting for us in the parking lot of the —” She glanced down at her phone. “Of the Louis Swiss Bakery.”

“And if your math is off?” Dax smiled. “Kyra isn’t actually in Aspen. She’s hanging out in Grand Junction — at Starbucks.”

 “Naw,” Paige grinned. “More like a golf course in Wolcott.”

“Words can’t describe how much better I feel about the situation,” Dax grumbled.

“There it is,” Paige pointed toward the bakery. “And there she is.” Paige frowned. Kyra looked terrible. She’d lost a lot of weight and she looked like she hadn’t slept in days.

“It’s a good thing we came,” Dax parked the car and waited. “Should I stay here or join you?”

“Join me,” Paige opened the door, climbed out, and just stood there for several seconds. She knew the instant Kyra spotted her. “Wait for it.” She told Dax once he moved in behind her. “She’ll come to us.”

Kyra strolled across the parking lot and stopped in front of Paige. “You brought company.”

“Krya, meet my husband, Dax Hamilton,” Paige pulled her friend in for a hug. “You look like hell.”

“Thanks,” Kyra turned toward Dax. “You must be an amazing man. You had to be, to get this one to take the plunge. If she trusts you, I’m going to. We can’t talk here, though. Agent Davis will be back any minute.”

“What’s the plan?” Paige glanced around.

Kyra slipped her a key. “I sent you the address. Make yourself at home. I’m off in an hour, then I’ll join you.”

“Alright,” Paige slipped the key into her pocket. “Kyra, are you safe?”

“Me? Yes,” she gave a short laugh. “I’m sorry for all the intrigue but I’m fine here. I will be fine as long as I leave my sister’s problems in Texas. Nobody knows I’m still working this, and it has to stay that way.”

“We’ll see you in a bit,” Paige motioned for Dax to get back into the car. She climbed into the passenger seat and ducked down.

“What are you doing?” Dax started the engine.

“Making sure Agent Do-gooder Davis doesn’t see me,” Paige peeked out the window. “What are you waiting for, drive.”

“I was waiting for the address,” Dax shook his head.

“Right,” Paige pulled out her phone, deciphered the message, and rattled off an address.

\*\*\*

The couple was lounging on the couch when Kyra entered the residence.

“Did you guys get settled?” Kyra asked.

“Who is Philip Keim?” Paige asked casually.

“I should have known you wouldn’t relax,” Kyra dropped into a chair. “You were always suspicious and never trusted your surroundings. Philip is a friend. One nobody knows about. I met him in college, but his parents were very strict and didn’t allow outside influence — or friends. He was raised Amish, but no longer practices. Anyway, we kept our friendship a secret back then out of necessity. After college we didn’t intentionally hide our connection, but since he was shunned by his family and landed in Portland, it played out that way. This place belongs to him, it’s his vacation home — well, one of them. He loves to ski and only uses it in the winter. It’s safe and you won’t be discovered here.”

“You’re not staying here?” Dax wondered.

“No,” Kyra stood and began to pace. “It is safe, though.”

“We know,” Paige sat up. “We already swept it for bugs and Dax assures me the angle would be difficult for a sniper or even electronic surveillance.”

Kyra just stared. “How?”

“You have Philip, I have him — and Carmen,” Paige shrugged. “Tell us why we’re here. Actually, how much time do you have?”

“You always were thorough,” Kyra settled back into the chair and studied Dax before she focused on Paige. “I’m off duty for the rest of the night but I’m wondering if it was a mistake to call you in. You didn’t tell me you were pregnant. I’m dealing with some dangerous people, and I don’t want to risk you — or your child.”

“I’ll decide how we proceed once you tell us what’s going on,” Paige pushed.

“We’ll decide,” Dax corrected. “Tell us about your sister. Is she safe?”

“Larisa has gone into hiding with her five-month-old son,” Kyra began.

“Who is she hiding from?” Paige frowned.

“I need to tell this my way if that’s okay,” Kyra fidgeted.

“Alright,” Paige agreed. “I remember she got married, what — six or seven years ago?”

“Eight,” Kyra corrected.

“Wow,” Paige said, surprised. “She’s just a kid. Time flies, I guess.”

“She was twenty when she got married,” Kyra explained. “I was sure it wouldn’t last. You know me and my trust issues. It’s gotten worse — since my split with Rowan.”

Paige just nodded. Kyra did have trust issues, but that’s not the reason her relationship with the love of her life ended. Paige didn’t know what happened, but she knew Kyra hadn’t been serious with anyone since her relationship with Rowan Leavitt ended abruptly.

“Anyway, enough about that. Kendric is amazing,” Kyra told them. “He is so in love with Larisa and would do anything to protect her and make her happy. You can see it when you’re around them. That man adores my sister. Kind of the way your guy adores you.”

“Okay, so they’re in love,” Paige acknowledged. “How is that pertinent?”

“Kendric’s been arrested for killing his mistress,” Kyra admitted. “You need to know that, but he’s being framed. He never had a mistress.”

Paige narrowed her eyes at Kyra. “I know it’s difficult —”

“Paige, you know if there was any possibility that Kendric was cheating on my baby sister, I wouldn’t defend him,” Kyra interrupted.

“True,” Paige agreed. “But a frame job, you know that’s unlikely.”

“It started with his work,” Kyra continued. “Kendric is a brilliant financial planner, but he made most of his money in real estate and he has a lot of it. Money, that is.”

“Alright,” Paige nodded.

“He’s good,” Kyra reiterated. “I mean crazy good. People seek him out, especially people with problems.”

“You’re rambling,” Paige accused. “Give me the report, Kyra.”

“Okay, you’re right,” Kyra looked away. “It’s just personal. I guess I get it now. I can empathize with all the families we interrogated over the years. The personal stuff, the character stuff, that means nothing to us, but when it’s your life and your family — it’s all that matters.”

“Report it like you would a briefing,” Paige suggested.

“Alright,” Kyra took a deep breath. “Kendric was hired by a rich hotel heir. The client’s funds were disappearing, and he wanted Kendric to find out where they were going. Kendric was excited at first. It was a challenge, and he doesn’t have many of those — not anymore. Anyway, he stumbled onto something. The deeper he dug, the more he was convinced he’d accidentally uncovered a sophisticated theft ring.”

“How does this play into a dead mistress?” Dax wondered.

“He took what he found to Larisa,” Kyra ignored him. “She agreed, something didn’t add up, and she started to dig electronically.”

“Is Larisa a hacker, like Carmen?” Dax wondered.

“There’s nobody in the world like Carmen,” Paige laughed.

“Larisa is a computer genius, in a different way than Carmen,” Kyra explained. “Carmen’s a hacker, but she’s also amazing at digging out data — official data. Larisa deals with programming for the most part, but she’s dialed in to the social side of hacking. She can also dig, in a different way, and she uncovered a pattern. I should also tell you she’s furious with me. I came down on her pretty hard after Kendric was arrested. If they had only come to me —”

“But they didn’t,” Paige realized. “She didn’t want to drag her big sister into something shady.”

“That wasn’t it,” Kyra disagreed. “She wanted proof. She thought she needed to tie the evidence up in a tidy little bow before they brought it to me. She said she was trying to prove she wasn’t a reckless kid anymore. Epic fail on that one. Now, she feels like this is all her fault. Her husband is in jail and she’s hiding out, afraid for her life. She admitted Kendric wanted to contact me immediately. Larisa talked him into waiting.”

“Alright,” Paige considered. “You still haven’t said where the girlfriend comes in.”

“There is no girlfriend. I don’t know who that woman is. Larisa was digging, and she assumes there was a trigger,” Kyra sighed. “I think she got cocky. I mean, Carmen does this kind of thing all the time, but Larisa doesn’t. We know how to get what we need without leaving a trace. I think my sister missed something, a trigger of some kind that alerted the bad guys. Whatever it was, the thieves realized someone was inside their business looking around. I’m only guessing at this point, but they must have assumed it was Kendric because he’d been hired by Tyler Atwood to look into things. That’s the only thing that makes sense. Then, they put a plan in motion to frame Kendric for murder. It gets him out of the way, and it discredits him. Problem solved.”

“The girlfriend was killed after Larisa started to dig?” Dax clarified.

“The fake girlfriend was killed,” Kyra barked. “Kendric did not have a girlfriend.”

“Okay,” Paige soothed. “We’re talking about Tyler Atwood the mogul that inherited a gazillion hotels from his parents —that Atwood?”

“Yes,” Kyra nodded. “He has so much money, he doesn’t know how much he has. It was a fluke, really. He wanted to purchase an island or something and realized his monthly expenditures were higher than they should be. He tried to look into it, but his accountant couldn’t explain it. That’s when he tracked down Kendric and paid him a ton of money to find the leak.”

“Tell us the rest,” Paige prompted. “I know there’s more.”

“Only speculation by Larisa,” Kyra admitted. “She believes there are multiple players. A group of at least three, maybe four. That’s how many they would need to pull this off. It looks like they connect with their targets somehow. I was tracking Atwood’s movements when I got unceremoniously benched. There has to be something to that. Once they zero in on a mark, they go in and secretly transfer funds from their victim’s account. It’s then transferred to a secret, offshore slush fund. Once it clears, they begin bouncing it all over hell and back.

Larisa was trying to follow the money to the final destination when Kendric got spooked. He wouldn’t tell Larisa what happened, but he was terrified. Larisa is sure he was threatened because that’s what happened to her. A guy approached her at the market and told her she was vulnerable and so was her child. He warned her what would happen to both of them if she didn’t back off. Kendric made arrangements with a friend and Larisa took their son and fled that night. He was supposed to meet up with them the next day, after he completed an important meeting with a client. Instead, he was arrested for the murder of a woman he never met.”

“And Larisa is still in hiding?” Paige wondered.

“Yes,” Kyra nodded. “I know where they are, but Kendric arranged a safe place for her to stay with Darius — that’s their son. It’s a good thing he did. Their house was ransacked a few hours after Kendric was arrested. It was completely torn apart.”

“And the husband?” Dax asked. “Where is he now?”

“He’s sitting in jail awaiting trial for murder,” Kyra jumped to her feet and began to pace. “I was in Texas, working the Nightfall case but secretly digging on Kendric’s situation on the side. Suddenly, I was called into the SAC’s office, reprimanded, and shipped off to Colorado to handle a stupid embezzlement case that would normally get assigned to a rookie. I was also warned to stay away from my brother-in-law and his case. If I go near it, I’m fired. You need to know, whoever these guys are, they have friends in high places. If I step foot in Ashmont Landing, I’m finished.”

“Well,” Dax smiled. “Lucky for you, we don’t work for the FBI. It would be kind of difficult for them to fire us.”

“This isn’t a joke,” Kyra insisted. “These people are dangerous. If you get too close, they’ll stage a murder, frame you for it, have you arrested, and lock you away for the rest of your natural life.”

“Lucky for you,” Dax repeated. “I don’t scare that easily.”

“What Dax means,” Paige corrected. “Is we’ve dealt with dangerous people before and we know how to handle it.”

“Actually, what I mean is that they might have power and influence in that small Texas town, but we also have friends in high places,” Dax said flatly. “I’m not worried and I don’t like bullies. Is your sister available to speak with us and hand over everything she found — or, do you have it?”

“I have it,” Kyra admitted. “I’m still not sure I should bring you in, though.”

“We’re already in,” Paige insisted. “Pregnant or not, I’m not letting an innocent man go to prison for the rest of his life because he was dumb enough to try to handle this on his own. It sounds like we’re dealing with a violent crime syndicate. That’s tough enough for law enforcement, it was stupid for a financial planner to think he could save the day and come out of this unscathed.”

“Kendric wanted to bring me in from the start,” Kyra reminded her.

“Then he won’t go to prison for your sister’s mistake,” Paige shrugged. “Either way, we’re making a stop in Utah, then the two of us are heading to the Lone Star state.”

“Paige,” Kyra focused on her stomach. “You need to be sure about this. I seriously wouldn’t have asked if I’d know about—” she waved her hand at Paige.

“I’m pregnant,” Paige nodded. “I’m not helpless. Plus, I have a secret weapon. One the bad guys won’t see coming.”

“What secret weapon?” Kyra frowned.

“Him,” Paige motioned to Dax. “He’s not just a pretty face.”

“Thanks, babe,” Dax took her hand. “Now, show us everything you have and let us get started. Can we stay here, or do we need to find a hotel?”

“Stay here,” Kyra blurted, afraid they might leave. “I mean, if you stay here there’s no record of it. Nothing can be traced back to you, or me.”

‘One more thing,” Paige reached into a bag and pulled out a phone. “I need a way to reach you. This is a burner. Do not tell anyone you have it. Not even your sister. Keep it safe and keep it close.”

“Alright,” Kyra took the phone.

“This is in code,” Paige handed Kyra a piece of paper. “It has a number where you can reach me. Guard that with your life.”

“Okay,” Kyra tucked it into her bra. “Anything else?”

“Did Larisa or Kendric have any idea who might be involved?” Paige questioned.

“Larisa said they talked about possibilities,” Kyra answered. “They didn’t know who, but together they decided a banker had to be involved to approve the initial transactions. They also thought it could be someone inside the justice system — a cop, a prosecutor, a judge? They didn’t get that far before their world was destroyed. I also think they’d need a hacker.”

“Alright,” Paige glanced at Dax. “Give me the file, then go home. You have to look like you’re passing time. Keep it business as usual and stay under the radar until this is over. We’ll keep you in the loop, but you have to appear distant and removed from everything.”

“Paige, take some time—” Kyra started again.

“You need to go home,” Paige stood. “Don’t waste your breath. We’re in. I have a team I can trust and when it comes to backup, there’s nobody better.”

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea to bring more people in on this,” Kyra objected.

“Trust me,” Paige gave her a hug, then shoved her toward the door. “Lay low. I’ve got this.”

Dax watched Kyra leave. “Is Carmen an option — with the FBI angle? If not, I’ll need to bring Hawk in.”

“We do have this, right?” Paige turned to Dax.

“We do,” Dax pulled her into his arms. “We might need a good team, but we have that. First, we need to make sure the man is innocent. I’m not willing to risk our safety on a guy that killed his mistress and got caught. Once we’ve satisfy ourselves on that front, we’ll do what we have to do to save that family.”

“I know you don’t know Kyra, but she’s solid. If Kendric was cheating, I think she’d know, and she’d let him fry. Her assessment of the situation goes a long way for me. We have to look, but I’ll be surprised if Kendric was involved. I honestly think this is exactly what she says it is. Especially with the roadblocks and the transfer. Given that, I think we need to bring the entire team in on this as soon as we get home,” Paige considered. “We need all of them, including Nathan. If these guys really are as powerful as Kyra thinks, we might need his contacts and a few favors before this is over.”

“We’ll have a meeting at the center,” Dax promised. “We’ve got this, Paige. Now, let’s read through this file and see what we’re dealing with.”

\*\*\*

“When I said we’d have a briefing once you got home,” Jericho settled into a chair and leaned against the conference table. “I was thinking something a little more private.”

“Let me run you through the situation and tell you what we know,” Paige told him. “Then you’ll understand why we brought everyone in on the case.”

“Sophie isn’t happy about this,” Nathan advised.

“Yeah,” Paige nodded. “She made that clear, but I’m not changing my mind. So, let’s get started.” She proceeded to go through the timeline she’d built and filled in the information they had on Kyra, Larisa and Kendric.

“And you’re sure this Kendric guy was framed?” Jericho studied the diagram Paige had displayed on the wall. “A lot of men have secret affairs. What do you know about the victim?”

“I know Kyra,” Paige nodded. “She’s like a sister to me. And, I know Larisa. If Kendric was cheating, both of them would let him rot in a cell and never look back. Larisa went into hiding, but her home was ransacked, and she’s received death threats through fake accounts on social media. Someone wants to silence her. Why? If she’s wrong, if her husband was having an affair and killed his mistress, why go to the trouble? Why harass and threaten her — and her infant son?”

“Compelling, I’ll give you that,” Nathan nodded. “I also know Kendric Beazley, loosely. By that I mean, I’ve had dealings with him, and he comes across as solid. He’s handled portfolios for some powerful people in Washington. I’m inclined to believe him and Agent Black.”

“So where does that leave us?” Jericho continued to study the board. He hated corruption and had a bad feeling about this case, but Dax and Paige were determined to see it through. All he could do was support them and get out of their way. “It’s obvious the two of you are heading to Texas.”

“We are,” Dax affirmed. “But we need to know we have backup we can trust if things get hot,” he told the group. “That’s where you come in. I’m taking a burner with us, and Paige gave one to Kyra. We’ll communicate anything we want to keep secret with the burners.”

“But we’re also going to call in and relay some innocuous details now and again,” Paige added. “It would look suspicious if we flew to Texas and immediately went silent.”

“You’ll call us with insignificant information to throw them off,” Zeus realized. “You want them to think you’re out there spinning your wheels and getting nowhere.”

“Exactly,” Paige agreed. “Nathan, I’m going to need Carmen on this. Will that be a problem?”

“No,” Nathan turned to Carmen. “Be careful and try not to leave a trace. That’s what got the girl and her husband in a bind in the first place. If I have to call in a favor at the Bureau, I will but it would be cleaner to avoid that altogether. The two of you also need to be careful. Getting one guy out of jail is going to be complicated enough. If either of you land behind bars, it will just compounds things further and the situation is already precarious. I have contacts in the state, but nothing in that town. You need to be careful and stay alert. The bad guys could be hiding in plain sight, in any job, with varying levels of power.”

“Again, that’s why we need you guys,” Paige glanced around the room. “We’re leaving in the morning. Dax has an advanced class he needs to get back to next month, so that gives us roughly three weeks to wrap this up. That’s our deadline. Dax will be back to help with that class, I promise. Hawk, I’ll need you to work with Carmen and generate backgrounds on all the suspected players. Kyra compiled this list. We might have more names once we arrive and start looking into things. We’ll prioritize the suspects based on those backgrounds and it will give us a place to start. Any questions?”

“I have one,” Carmen said. “You’re not with the FBI anymore and Dax is retired. How do you plan to get the police reports on Kendric and the murder?”

“Kendric has hired a new attorney,” Paige grinned. “One that owes me a favor. He’s already requested discovery. Hopefully he’ll have it by the time we arrive.”

“Who?” Nathan demanded. “I have contacts as well. I think we should approach this with the understanding the case might actually go to trial.”

“August Dellinger,” Paige grinned.

“He agreed?” Nathan asked, surprised.

“He did,” Paige nodded. “He’s meeting us in Ashmont in two days.”

“How did you accomplish that?” Nathan demanded. “I’m not sure I could have pulled that one off. He’s in demand and chooses his clients carefully.”

“Like I said,” Paige shrugged. “He owes me a favor. It’s not going to come cheap, but he’s the best.”

“Must have been a big favor,” Nathan relaxed. “If we can’t fix this, at least Kendric will get the best defense known to man.”

“We’ll fix it,” Dax said confidently. “There’s no other option.”

The group worked for several hours developing a plan of action and putting safeguards in place just in case something went terribly wrong. Paige and Dax passed the list of suspects off to Carmen so she could get started on backgrounds.

“Alright,” Paige finally stood. “I’m starving and we need to pack. We want our own vehicle, so we’re driving down in the morning. I’ll call and check in once we arrive and get settled.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/countryside-Sunrise-MPSmith.jpg)

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\*\*\*

“Leave a few outfits in the closet,” Paige pulled out three shirts and a pair of pants, then hung them in the closet. “When they come looking, it has to appear legit.”

“Sophie and Carmen sent that small bag over there,” Dax pointed to a small black bag he dropped on the bed. “They said it was girly stuff for the bathroom.”

Paige grabbed it and disappeared into the small bathroom. Within minutes she returned. “Okay, let’s get out of here. I want to take these shoes off and veg for the rest of the night. Once things get started, it might get intense.”

“We stick together, Paige,” Dax insisted. He pulled open the door and waited for her to exit. “No matter what, we’re a team. We take precautions until we understand the threat and the risks.”

“I agree,” Paige slid into the car.

Dax pulled onto the road and headed for the secret location Nathan arranged. They set the hotel up to give the men they were after a target, but they needed their privacy. They also needed to know they would be safe and not come under attack in their sleep.

“I don’t think the good general knows the meaning of the word subtle,” Dax pulled into a large estate with a private gate. It would be secure, that’s for sure, but they would need to be careful and make sure they didn’t draw attention to themselves. The neighbors would certainly notice in this part of town.

“The butlers on vacation so you’ll have to carry your own luggage,” Paige teased. “Let’s get inside. I have the security codes. Nathan is worried. I didn’t realize just how worried until we pulled up to this house. It’s his way of helping and making sure we stay safe.”

“I know,” Dax dropped the luggage in the foyer. “Let’s take a look around and get settled. We need time to read through all these backgrounds and you need to prepare for your meeting with Kendric and the lawyer.”

“Right,” Paige stepped into the luxurious den and spotted two large whiteboards and an enormous cork board. “Let’s get organized.”

“Nathan never ceases to amaze me,” Dax grinned at the boards. They spent the next few hours organizing photos, reports and suspects, laying out all the players and prioritizing who to investigate first.

\*\*\*

“Paige, I need a minute before we head in,” August handed her a file.

“What’s this?” Paige flipped it open.

“As soon as we leave here, I’m filing a motion to dismiss,” August advised. “Are we still pretending you’re my assistant?”

“We are,” Paige nodded. “Is that a problem?”

“No,” he shrugged. “I don’t care for the games you cops play, but I can live with this one.”

“Gee, thanks,” Paige said sarcastically. “What are your grounds for dismissal?”

“You should read through that,” August suggested. “If you were actually my assistant, you would have typed it for me.”

“Give me the highlights,” Paige said, annoyed. “I’ll read through it later.”

“Unless I’m missing something, they didn’t have probable cause,” August frowned. “We’ll talk to the client, see if there’s something I don’t know, but rumors of an affair and a dead girl isn’t enough for an arrest.”

“There wasn’t any evidence?” Paige flipped through the motion.

“Not in the documents they sent me,” August glanced at the closed door. “This case doesn’t pass the smell test, Paige. They have a witness that said the dead girl, Willow something, was secretly dating someone. The witness thought he might be married because it was all covert meetings and a hidden identity — Willow refused to tell anyone his name. Then, she ends up dead, Kendric is arrested, and everyone assumes he was the married guy she was dating. I can’t see any documentation showing how they got from the dead woman to Kendric. One day she’s dead. The next, Kendric is behind bars and denied bail.”

“I told you when I called, this was a frame job,” Paige dropped the file on the seat of her car. “It doesn’t pass the smell test because it stinks.”

“Even for a small town, this is sloppy,” August insisted. “We live in America; you have to have PC to arrest someone. They’ve got reasonable suspicion at best. I’m not even sure you have that. A frame job implies planting evidence to frame someone, not arresting a random man simply because he’s married.”

“Go ahead and file your motion,” Paige decided. “But don’t be too surprised when it’s denied.”

“I also have a demand before we go inside,” August studied Paige.

“Go ahead,” Paige motioned for him to proceed.

“I agreed to let you join while I meet with my client,” he began. “But you’re a cop. Once you’ve finished asking your questions, you leave. I need privacy, away from the prying ears of law enforcement.”

“I’m on his side,” Paige protested.

“You are now,” August nodded. “What if he says, okay you caught me, I was having an affair with that girl. How do you proceed, then?”

“Alright,” Paige agreed. “I’ll leave if it gets to a point, you feel you need privacy.”

“Just like that?” August asked, skeptically.

“Sure,” Paige shrugged. “Because he wasn’t having an affair with that woman, he didn’t even know that woman, and this is a frame job. Clearly, it’s a bad frame job, but being a sloppy idiot doesn’t change the facts.”

“Maybe they’re just cocky and that’s why it’s sloppy. Let’s go,” August motioned toward the door. “I want to meet this Kendric Beazley and figure out how I want to proceed.”

\*\*\*

Kendrick studied Paige for several seconds. “Kyra talks about you. I know you’re close and she trusts you. I understand that, but you are also pregnant. We’re dealing with some dangerous men. I can’t risk it. I won’t have you involved.”

“You don’t have a choice,” Paige told him. “I’m already involved. I can do it with or without your help. It will be easier with your help, but I can and will proceed without it — if I have to.”

“This is crazy,” Kendric scrubbed his hands over his face then turned to August Dellinger. “And I’m not even sure why you’re involved in this. Who hired you?”

“You did,” August said flatly. “Now, we don’t have a lot of time. From what I’ve seen, their case is weak. I doubt they’re planning to take this to trial.” He focused on Paige. “I need you to be very careful how you answer this question. If Kyra spoke of Paige, you know she’s a cop and you know she’s good at her job.”

“I don’t need to be careful,” Kendric glared at August. “I did not do this. I’ve never met that woman in my life. She was not my mistress, and I did not kill her.”

Paige smiled.

“Gloating is beneath you,” August said under his breath.

“No,” Paige disagreed. “Not really. Kendric, I have questions.”

“Go ahead,” he stared at the table.

“What was the threat?” she studied him. Finally, he glanced up and locked eyes with her.

“Why does it matter?”

“Because it tells me the type of people we’re dealing with. You said they’re dangerous. What did they threaten?”

“They said if I didn’t do exactly what they said, they would kill Larisa and my son,” Kendric sighed. “The man described how he would do it, in detail. He said he would make me watch, then he’d let me go and force me to deal with my failure for the rest of my life. Then he told me to plead guilty to killing that Willow woman. He was very specific that he does not want this to go to trial.”

“Alright,” Paige wouldn’t make him describe the deaths. She figured it was gruesome. “So, you sent Larisa into hiding and you planned to join her that evening?”

“Yes,” Kendric agreed. “I had a meeting that afternoon that I didn’t want to miss.”

“Who were you meeting with?” August demanded.

“Why?” Kendric frowned.

“Did he show?” Paige pushed.

“Uh, no,” Kendric’s frown deepened. “Do you think he was involved?”

“It’s possible,” Paige admitted. “I need to check it out.”

“Alright,” Kendric considered. “I doubt he’s involved, though. I’ve been working with him for years. He said there was some suspicious activity, recent stuff. Investments that he didn’t approve. He thought his accountant was skimming or hedging.”

“Do you think it was connected to Alcott’s missing money?” Paige wondered.

“I didn’t,” Kendric considered. “I guess it’s possible. I just thought Gary was using Scott’s funds to invest in risky projects, again. Scott agreed and we planned to meet to go over each expenditure, but he never showed, and I got arrested.”

“I’ll look into it,” Paige decided. “Scott who?”

Kendric hesitated.

“I’ll be discreet,” Paige promised.

“Vandenburg,” Kendric admitted.

“The gazillionaire drone guy?” Paige wondered.

“More like billionaire, but yes,” Kendric sighed. “Please be very discreet. He’s not just a client, he’s a friend.”

“And he’d be a great target,” August considered. “If this is related to a theft ring, if the people responsible are stealing from wealthy moguls, your friend would be an ideal victim in their underhanded scheme.”

“True,” Kendric agreed. “But Gary has done this before.”

“Why does he still have a job?” Paige wondered.

“He’s family,” Kendric turned to glare at the tiny window. “He’s Scott’s cousin. I think that’s why he does it. He knows Scott won’t fire him.”

“I’ll look into it,” Paige reiterated. “Now, is there anything else I should know?”

“No,” Kendric turned back to Paige. “Other than the obvious — you shouldn’t get involved. I can’t control what you do, but I think you should go home where it’s safe.”

“Duly noted,” Paige stood. “I’m going to head out, start researching Vanderburg. If he’s not involved, there had to be a reason he didn’t show. That might give me a lead to follow. I assume you’ve got this?”

“I’m going to stick around for a while,” August told her. “I have questions and I want to go over strategy with Mr. Beazley.

“Sounds like a plan,” Paige strolled to the door. “Oh, Kendric, do not tell anyone who I am. Not anyone. Don’t discuss it with Larisa if she visits or calls. Everything you do inside this jail will be monitored and we want the people that orchestrated this little plot to believe I’m just a pregnant secretary. The longer we can keep up that ruse, the better.”

“Larisa won’t visit,” Kendric assured her. “I’ve given her strict orders to stay way. She agrees because the distance protects our son.”

“Then I’ll leave you in August’s capable hands.” Paige motioned to the guard and left the building.

\*\*\*

Paige was crossing the parking lot when she spotted the man leaning against her vehicle. He pushed to his feet when she approached. “It’s been a long time, what do you want?”

“I think you know why I’m here,” Rowan frowned. “So, it’s going to be like that, is it?”

“Like what?” Paige leaned against the hood of her car.

“I thought we were friends,” he settled back next to her.

“I thought you promised not to hurt my friend,” Paige stared into the distance. “Then you broke her heart.”

“Actually, she broke my heart,” Roman corrected. “And still, I’m here to help.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Paige studied him.

“Kyra broke up with me, Paige,” he practically growled. “And she refused to tell me why. Then she requested a transfer and I never heard from her again.”

“She broke up with you,” Paige repeated. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“Did she tell you I broke things off?”

“No, I just assumed,” Paige frowned.

“Everyone assumed,” Rowan looked away. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is the here and now. Kyra’s family is in trouble, and she’s been shipped off to Colorado to work with Davis. He’s watching her closely, reporting in on her movements, and he’s trying to track her phone calls. He didn’t know about you, though.”

“But you did,” Paige realized. “How?”

“I expected it,” Rowan admitted. “You two were always tight and I figured she had nowhere else to turn.”

“At least, that’s what Kyra thought,” Paige bumped his shoulder with hers. “She had you, though — didn’t she?”

“She always will,” he admitted. “Whether she wants me or not.”

“I’m not going to pry,” Paige decided. “I just need to know if this is off the books or if you’re here to watch my movements and report to your boss.”

“I was officially assigned,” Rowan admitted. “But not to watch you. The Bureau has no idea you’re here. I asked for the assignment. Well, I actually begged, blackmailed, and coerced. The case is mine and I’m going to protect Kyra.”

“Sounds like the Rowan I know and love,” Paige studied him. “You better be telling me the truth. I’m going to trust you, because I always did. You’ve never given me a reason not to, but if you cross me, I swear—”

“I’m not stupid enough to cross you, Paige,” Rowan admitted. “I know you have the power to destroy me.”

“I think Kyra already did that,” Paige frowned. “Do you know why?”

“No,” Rowan stood. “If you still trust me, I think we should compare notes and develop a plan.”

“I already have a plan,” Paige considered. “Follow me back to my place. But I swear, if I’m wrong about this, my husband will kill you and I’m going to let him.”

“You can trust me, Paige,” Rowan said forcefully. “I promise, I’m just here to help.”

“And who do you report to?”

“Technically, I report to Dennis,” Rowan shrugged. “He’ll give me the freedom to do what I need to do.”

Paige smiled. “Good. He won’t interfere but if we get in a bind, he might be able to help.”

“I agree, so lead the way,” Rowan hesitated. “You’re not really staying at the hotel, are you?”

“Nope,” Paige opened the door and slid behind the wheel. “But that is where I’m going. Well, I’m going to make a stop there just in case I’m being watched. We won’t stay. Give me some space but try to keep up.”

\*\*\*

Paige was only a few blocks from the jail when the patrol vehicle passed Rowan and maneuvered behind her. The instant it was in position, the cop activated his lights and made the stop. Rowan glided by, turned on the next road and pulled to the side to watch. Paige knew he was there, but the cop was focused on her. *Good. Let’s see what he does.*

“Ma’am, I need you to step out of the vehicle,” the cop ordered.

He was tall, at least six-three and Paige guessed around two-forty, maybe two-fifty. He had dirty blonde hair, blue eyes, and a cocky smirk. She immediately knew this guy was involved — somehow. And he was dirty up to his eyeballs. She slowly pushed open her door and stepped outside. The instant she did, the man shoved her against the car and got in her face.

“Can you tell me why you stopped me?” Paige made her voice shake, just a little. She wanted him to think she was intimidated and afraid. Clearly, that was his intent.

“We’re going to have a little chat,” he leaned forward. “Let’s call this a partnership. Your boss has created a problem for me and my friends. I need an insurance policy. One that ensures Kendric Beazley goes down for murder. So, here’s what you’re going to do. First, you’re going to tell me who you are and how you’re involved in this case. Then, you’re going to tell me what that hotshot attorney has planned.”

“And if I don’t?” Paige glanced down, still hoping he’d think she was intimidated. If he saw the anger brewing behind her eyes, he’d know she wasn’t some assistant or a secretary.

“You’re a pretty little thing,” he grabbed her arm and tightened his grip. “You don’t want anything to happen to that kid you’re carrying, do you? I’m going to assume you’re a secretary or a paralegal. It’s the only way you’d get inside that jail with the attorney. If you want to keep that pretty smile and those beautiful eyes, you’ll contact me before that lawyer makes a move. I’ll give the information to my guy, he’ll be prepared for what’s coming, and everyone will go home happy. Do you understand me?”

“I guess,” Paige wanted to knee the arrogant prick in the groin, but she’d play along — for now.

“When he talks strategy, you call me,” he handed her a card. “You tell me what he’s up to and you go home with that pretty face intact. You cross me and that kid of yours will never be born. Are we clear?”

“Yes,” Paige whispered.

“I can’t hear you,” he tightened his grip.

“Yes,” Paige gritted her teeth and knew Dax was going to be on the warpath once he saw the bruise.

“Good,” the cop stepped back. “Now you go on back to the hotel and freshen up. I don’t want that lawyer suspecting anything once he returns. Go!” he ordered when she didn’t move.

Paige climbed back into the car and drove away. She glanced in the mirror and saw Rowan pull in behind the cop, but he was keeping his distance. She relaxed. He’d back her if needed, but otherwise, he’d remain a ghost. It felt good to have him back on the team. And she was pretty sure they’d need backup on this. It was stupid for the cop, what was his name? She glanced at the card he handed her — Levi Rathbone. It was stupid of him to reveal himself so quickly. Now they had a face and a name. One that wasn’t on the original list they gave Carmen.

Paige pulled into the parking lot of the hotel and watched the cop car speed past the entrance. She headed inside, grinned when she realized someone had searched the room, reset the string that ran across the top of the door and headed for her car. Twenty minutes later, she pulled up to the gate at her real headquarters and waited for Rowan to follow her inside. “Park in the garage,” she called through her open window, then opened the second door and waited for him to pull in.

“Sloppy,” Rowan said once they stepped into the house. “And fancy. The cop then the place, in that order.”

“A man of few words,” Dax stepped into the kitchen and studied Paige. “Who manhandled you?”

“I need a drink,” Paige pulled open the fridge. “Then I’ll fill you both in. This is Rowan Leavitt, Special Agent in charge of the investigation out here. I trust him, you should, too.”

“We’ll see,” Dax studied Paige’s arm. It was starting to bruise.

Paige handed him the business card. “Can you get Hawk or Carmen on this right away?”

“The law enforcement link?” Dax asked.

“That would be my guess,” Paige dropped into a chair. “He wants information before August presents it. He wants to make sure his partner is prepared before anything goes before the judge. And he threatened to damage my pretty little face if I don’t comply.”

“Someone’s face might get damaged,” Dax studied Rowan before he focused on Paige. “But it’s not going to be yours.”

“He knows who I am,” Rowan motioned to Dax. “Can I assume this is the husband I’ve heard so much about?”

“It is,” Paige sighed. “Rowan Leavitt, meet Dax Hamilton. Dax, Rowan. And before you ask, the man is in love with Kyra. He’s solid. And if we run into trouble, I think he can help.”

“Just so you know,” Dax stood. “I’ll be passing your name along to Carmen and Hawk as well.”

“Tell Carmen I said hey,” Rowan grinned and watched Dax leave the room. “Is he going to be a problem?”

“Only if Rathbone tries to damage my face,” Paige shrugged. “What do you know?”

“Not a lot,” Rowan admitted. “I have a copy of the original report. Don’t ask how I got that. And I know Larisa has disappeared. I also know they don’t have anything solid. Their case is crap and that’s generous. I think they were hoping Kendric would get a public defender, but he has money. It was stupid to assume he’d hire a novice representing him. Honestly, nothing about this case make sense.”

“Including your involvement,” Dax returned. “How is the FBI involved? This is a simple homicide case. It should have stayed local.”

“Except Kyra’s involved,” Rowan disagreed. “The Bureau has an interest — unofficially.”

“Dax makes a good point,” Paige studied him. “How did you get involved, not counting the begging, blackmailing and so forth.”

“Dennis,” Rowan shrugged. “He’s worried.”

“And protective,” Paige nodded, then turned to Dax. “He’s a sort of mentor. He took a liking to Kyra and has kept an eye on her throughout her career.”

“Like Nathan?” Dax wondered.

“Sort of,” Paige admitted. “He’s not as powerful and he doesn’t owe a debt to a dying friend, but he has rank, and he uses it when he needs to.”

“Carmen says I can trust you,” Dax told Rowan. “She better be right.”

“She is,” Rowan focused on Dax. “I don’t know you either, but Paige says I can trust you. She better be right because I’ll do anything to protect Kyra and her family.”

“Carmen has also identified three bankers that could be involved,” Dax ignored the comment. “Not all three, but she’s narrowed the pool down to these three. I told her to see if she can find a connection to the cop you encountered today.”

“Who are the bankers?” Rowan spotted the boards and began to study the intel.

“Vincent Bodine,” Dax was watching Rowan. “He’s top management and would have access to all of the accounts, but he’s audited frequently. She’s going to do a deep dive on him first. Then there are two mid-level possibilities — Arlo Williams and Terrance Noble. If she can eliminate Bodine, she’ll move on to one of them. Hawk took the cop and he’s digging into his life as we speak. We’ll know everything there is to know about Mr. Rathbone by morning at the latest.”

Paige interrupted to tell them what happened with Rathbone and the discussion she had with Kendric. “Rathbone is a loose cannon and he’s ready to go off. I think he’s the weak link, but he thinks he’s the shot-caller.”

“I’ll have Carmen look into Vandenburg, but I think that’s a dead-end,” Dax told them. “I would like to know why he didn’t show, though.”

“Yeah, I’d like to know that, too,” Rowan considered. “Dennis might be able to help with that, discreetly of course.”

“Have him see what he can get,” Paige decided.

“So what’s next?” Rowan wondered.

“We have a motion hearing tomorrow afternoon,” Paige advised them. “It was already on the books, but August sent me a text. He filed his motion to dismiss right after he left the jail. I’m going to meet him at the courthouse and attend the hearing. I need to see the judge in action, to see if I think he’s involved.”

“Rathbone is going to be pissed,” Rowan warned. “He threatened you and you ignored him. I think I should go with you, to make sure he doesn’t try anything.”

“He won’t,” Paige insisted. “He knows I didn’t have time to warn him about the motion and he needs me to cooperate. He won’t mess with me, yet.” She focused on Dax. “I know that look, what are you planning?”

“I’m deciding if I agree with you,” Dax told her.

“And?” Paige pushed.

“I think I do,” Dax decided. “I don’t think he’ll try anything because the motion was already in play, and he wants you to give him a heads up the next time August files something. You need to go to the courthouse alone, but I want you to call me on the burner the instant you leave. If he tries anything, I want to know immediately. We’re not that far away. I can get there in time to intervene if I need to.”

“He’s not going to try anything,” Paige insisted. “But I know you’re going to worry so I’ll call.”

Dax nodded then turned to Rowan. “There’s plenty of space if you want to stay here. It might keep the FBI’s involvement hidden for a while.”

“I’ll stay,” Rowan nodded to the boards. “I want to study that tonight, see where we’re at. Once I have a better understanding I’ll know how to proceed.”

“You’re not in charge, Rowan,” Paige warned. “I know you’re used to being in control, but this is our investigation. We’ll work together but you don’t try to pull rank.”

Rowan studied Paige. He wanted to argue, but she was doing him a favor and he wouldn’t jeopardize that. “We work together — as a team.”

“I can live with that,” Paige decided. “As long as you understand the team is bigger than the three of us. Dax has his own guys working things from a distance and I’ve got Carmen.”

“And Nathan,” Rowan grinned. “We both know this house has Nathan’s name all over it.”

“And Nathan,” Paige agreed. “In the shadows.”

“I think that’s where he does his best work,” Rowan sobered. “Can I have some time, alone? Can I have an hour to go over all of this? The police report is in that file. Feel free to take a look. There’s not much. They’ve got a witness, a woman that claims Willow Delano was having an affair with a married man. That’s speculation, though. All she really knows is that Willow was seeing someone, and she was keeping it a secret. We don’t know for sure the guy was married. The neighbor said Willow was headed out, on a date, the night she disappeared. And we know where the body was found. There’s no hard evidence to connect Kendric to Willow. Oh, and there’s a video from a local restaurant that shows Kendric sitting at a table alone. Twenty minutes after he arrives, Willow arrives but they never connect, not in the video.”

“That’s new,” Paige frowned. “I wonder if August has that and didn’t share.”

“Why would he keep information from you?” Rowan frowned. “And if he kept that, do you think he’s keeping other things hidden?”

“He doesn’t trust me,” Paige admitted. “He said he thinks I’ll turn cop and use the information to nail Kendric for this crime.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Dax frowned. “Are you sure he’s the right attorney for this job?”

“He’s the best,” Paige and Rowan said together.

“So, I hear,” Dax grumbled. “But I’m sure there were other people inside that restaurant as well. Do you even know what night that was?”

“It was the night Willow was killed,” Rowan admitted. “We think they’re trying to frame Kendric for the murder. I think someone sent her to the restaurant in an attempt to get her on video at the same location as Kendric Beazley. It’s not a good frame, but it’s a start.”

“I think there’s more,” Paige considered. “Maybe something they planted in the house the night they ransacked it. I think they hid something inside and they plan to retrieve it when the time is right. We know this Rathbone is involved. He could just show up at the house for some reason and stumble onto it while he’s there.”

“While you’re at the courthouse,” Dax considered. “I’m going to search the Beazley residence. I think we need to know what evidence they’ve planted.”

“We’ll search,” Rowan corrected. “I can take the evidence and have it analyzed. It will be official evidence, not tampering with evidence that way.”

“If you find something, it’s going to look like Kendric was involved,” Paige warned.

“True,” Rowan agreed. “But we know he wasn’t. I can have it analyzed and see if they left anything incriminating on it.”

“I’d like you to wait until later so I can go with you,” Paige decided. “I want to look for forensic evidence that can link the cop to the victim.”

“You think Rathbone killed that girl?” Dax wondered.

“I think it was either him, or one of his partners,” Rowan shrugged. “And I think Rathbone was the one that planted it — whatever it is. That way he knows exactly where it is, and he can stumble onto it when he has an audience.”

“You go to court tomorrow,” Dax decided. “Check out the judge and see what you think. The fed and I will find something to occupy our time until you return. I agree you should be there. We know these guys have a plan; and, so far, the one they’ve started is lacking.”

“I’ll meet you at the hotel, but we’ll need to be careful,” Paige warned. “They could have someone watching the house. None of us can afford to get arrested for burglary.”

“I’m sure you could convince Kendric to vouch for us,” Dax grinned. “But it’s better if we don’t get caught.”

\*\*\*

Paige entered the courtroom and settled into the chair next to August.

“What’s that look for?” August demanded.

“You’re keeping secrets,” Paige shrugged. “I’m thinking I might do the same.” She spotted Rathbone. He was standing against the back wall glaring at her. He wasn’t happy, but he had to know this was already in the works.

“What’s that about?” August looked away from Rathbone and focused on Paige. “And what are these secrets you think I’m keeping?”

“That cop pulled me over when I left the jail,” she told him. “He fell for the secretary bit, and he wants me to keep him in the loop. He threatened to mess up my face and harm my kid if I don’t warn him before you make a move.”

“He what?” August looked at Paige in shock. “How are you so calm about this? That man threatened you.”

“It might be a problem if I was just a secretary with a pretty face,” she glared at him. “I’m not. Don’t worry about that cop. I want to discuss the video. The one from the restaurant the night Willow was murdered.”

“How do you know about that?” August asked, resigned.

“Is there anything else you haven’t shared?” Paige ignored the question.

August hesitated for several seconds, then he reached into his file and pulled out a document. He slid it in front of Paige and waited.

Paige glanced at the document, frowned, focused on Kendric, then returned to the document.

“That’s not my signature,” Kendric whispered. “He has my signature, it’s not even close.”

Paige glared at August and waited. He opened the file and pointed to the signature on the bottom of his contract, the one he had Kendric sign to agree to his terms and his fees. Kendric was right, they weren’t even close. She grabbed her phone, took pictures of both, then sat back and considered. Why would someone forge a lease agreement? One that was for the apartment where Willow Delano, their victim, lived. She glanced back down and noticed the date. It was two days before Kendric was arrested. Coincidence? Not likely. But again, it was sloppy. Kendric could easily prove he didn’t sign that lease or pay Willow’s rent.

Paige glanced up when the judge entered the courtroom. The proceeding was interesting. By the time it was over, Paige was convinced the judge was not involved in the crime, Rathbone was furious, and Kendric was going to be a free man. Well, he was going to be released from jail once he forked over a huge sum of money to a bail bondsman. August didn’t get the case dismissed, but the judge was obviously intrigued and had taken his motion under advisement, claiming she’d rule on it before the next hearing. The fact the judge was female was another indication she wasn’t involved. Paige didn’t think Rathbone would work with a woman.

“Your cop is not happy,” August whispered directly behind Paige. “Watch yourself. He has his eye on you.”

“He’s going to follow Kendric,” she warned. “He’s not going to let his suspect out of his sight. How soon before he’s released?”

“Less than an hour,” August glanced at Rathbone. “I already dealt with the paperwork and Kendric authorized my company to pay the initial bail and he’ll reimburse me the moment he’s released. I need your help to get him away from here without a tail. He’s going to join his wife and son in hiding until this is over. I can’t do this without your help.”

“On it,” Paige nodded, then moved down the hall, away from the crowd, to call Dax. Once she relayed what she needed, Dax assured her both he and Rowen would intercept Rathbone and make sure Kendric had a clean getaway.

“My office has dealt with bail,” August informed her. “We need to head over to the jail, produce the paperwork and Kendric should be free to leave. I’ll be transporting him to the safe house. Did you get what you needed, or do I need to stall?”

“We’re good,” Paige glanced down at her phone and read the text. *That was fast*. “My guys are in position. Go ahead and get started. I’ll follow you over to the jail and make sure you get away clean. Stash your client, then we need to talk.”

“Get mad if you want, but I won’t change the way I do business,” August warned.

“Neither will I,” Paige smiled, then stepped into the elevator.

“What does that mean?” August frowned.

Paige just continued to smile.

\*\*\*

An hour later, Paige pulled into the parking lot of the hotel. Dax called to tell her Kendric got away clean and he and Rowen were waiting for her inside their room. When she stepped through the door, Dax nodded in greeting but continued to talk on the phone. Rowan was sitting at the table in front of his laptop.

“That cop is as dirty as they come,” Rowan greeted, but didn’t look up. “We all know it. His actions prove it. Plus, he just looks like he belongs behind bars — and not in a good way.”

“What are you doing?” Paige stepped up to the table.

“Digging into Rathbone,” Rowan studied the screen and frowned. “But I’m not finding anything. On paper, he looks clean.”

“I’m not surprised. If Carmen hasn’t found anything, there’s nothing to find.” Paige moved across the room and pulled open the small fridge. “I need something to drink. There was a machine around the corner, do you want anything?”

“Sure,” Rowan pulled out a couple one-dollar bills and handed them to Paige.

“What’s up with Dax?” she studied her husband for several seconds. He was having an intense discussion with someone… if she had to guess, she’d say Hawk.

“Someone wants to head out here, to provide backup after the situation today,” Rowan shrugged. “We had a little trouble and Rathbone tried to run us off the road. That husband of yours knows how to drive.”

“Dumb move,” Paige moved to the door. “I’ll be right back.” She shut the door quietly and slowly moved toward the soda machine. She was nearly there when she spotted Rathbone. Instinct told her he was up to no good. He glanced around, like he was making sure there were no witnesses, then marched toward her. She pulled out her phone and video called Carmen.

“I don’t have anything yet,” Carmen greeted.

“I need you to record this,” Paige slid her phone into her pocket just as Rathbone reached her. He didn’t crowd her this time. Instead, he grabbed her upper arms and slammed her into the wall.

“I don’t think you got my message,” he growled and leaned into her. “I guess you need a little reminder. You have no idea what I’m capable of — you stupid whore. Do not cross me, again. Because of you, that idiot finance guy is in the wind. And if I find out you had anything to do with that guy from earlier today, the one that got in my way, you’re dead. I’ll make sure it’s a long, painful death for you and that little brat you’re carrying. Say you understand me.”

“Hawk,” Carmen called. “Tell Dax Paige needs him. Immediately!”

“Hey, Paige is in trouble,” Hawk advised. “Call me after you deal with the cop.” He disconnected.

“Where is Paige?” Dax darted across the room.

“She went to grab some drinks,” Rowan glanced up. “Why?”

“Stay here,” Dax warned then rushed out the door.

“I won’t just mess up that pretty face of yours,” Dax heard the cop growl. “I’ll kill you, then chop you up in little pieces and dump you and that kid in a ditch out in the middle of a field where the wild hogs can feast for days.”

Dax moved fast; he closed the distance without making a sound, grabbed Rathbone by the neck and slammed him against the wall, pressing his face into the hard brick.

“Dumb move, buddy,” Rathbone growled. “You’re under arrest for assaulting a police office.”

Dax stepped closer, shoving Rathbone’s face further into the wall. “You ever lay a hand on my wife again and you’ll find out just how much pain a body can take before it breaks. I will destroy you — mentally, physically, emotionally. Nod if you understand.”

“I’m going to take you down the instant you let go,” Rathbone growled. “You and your little wife will regret the day you crossed me. You’re headed to jail, pal.”

“I think I may have forgotten to tell you I was on the phone with my friend,” Paige stepped forward and swung her phone around so he could see the screen. Carmen smiled and waved. “She recorded the entire incident. I’m pretty sure my husband has a clear case of self-defense. I’ll have to consult August on that, but I’m pretty sure I’m right. Go ahead and arrest him — if you’re sure that’s what you want to do. I just don’t think it’s going to turn out the way you think it will. I mean, August Dellinger… he’s a pretty big deal and he has some friends in the media. You have no idea how much those media guys love to speak with August.”

“Get off me,” Rathbone shoved backward, and Dax let go. “This isn’t over.”

Paige and Dax watched their prime suspect stomp down the stairs and across the parking lot. Paige turned and spotted Rowan headed their way. She ignored his questions and focused on her husband. “Um, can you put scary Dax back in the closet? Because that man is out of control, and we need to come up with a plan to deal with him immediately.”

“Scary Dax?” Rowan frowned. “What happened?”

“Rathbone threatened me and my unborn child,” Paige continued to watch Dax. She was afraid he might take off after Rathbone and make good on his promise.

“And?” Rowan asked.

“And I helped him to understand what would happen if he touched my wife again,” Dax turned and headed back to the room. “We need to clean up and get out of here.”

“Paige, should I be worried about this?” Rowan followed her.

“Yes,” Paige admitted. “Because Rathbone is going to go after Dax and I’m afraid he might kill him.”

“Rathbone will kill Dax or the other way around?” Rowan stepped into the hotel room and shoved his computer into a bag.

“Hell will freeze over before that idiot gets the jump on me,” Dax grabbed a black bag and moved toward the door. “Let’s go.”

“I’ll meet you two back at the house,” Rowan decided. “Maybe you’ll be cooled down by then and we can talk.”

“Not likely,” Paige mumbled before she opened the passenger door and dropped onto the seat. Dax climbed behind the wheel and they rode in silence all the way back to the house.

\*\*\*

“I’m sorry, Carmen,” Zeus told her. “I have to go.”

“I know,” Carmen glanced up. “I won’t try to stop you. That man threatened Paige. He’ll be lucky if Dax doesn’t kill him and ask questions later.”

“I’ll go with you,” Vato offered. “Nobody threatens Dax or Paige and gets away with it.”

“I need you to stay here,” Hawk stepped back into the room. “We have a class arriving tomorrow. I need you and Wooly to handle it,” Hawk told Vato. “The focus is on tactics and rappelling. That’s your forte. We didn’t include a shooting course so that rules me out. Plus —”

“Plus, Dax might need a sniper to back him up,” Wooly stepped into the room. “I’ll handle logistics from here. You know any one of us would head out and back Dax on this, but it makes sense for you and Zues to deal with this one. The look on that man’s face screamed trouble. I’ll stay here to help Carmen, and Vato can take the lead on the course. Zeus, I restocked the explosives last week. Take what you need, I’ll replace it while you’re gone.”

“Explosives?” Katie swallowed and locked eyes with Hawk.

“We’ll be fine,” he assured her. “Just follow Carmen’s lead and do whatever she tells you to. We’ll be back in a few days, a week tops.”

“But—” Katie watched Hawk leave the room, then she just sat here, worried and afraid.

“How long have the two of you been dating?” Carmen asked.

“We—”

“Don’t bother lying to me,” Carmen focused on her computer screen. “I saw the way he looked at you and I can see the turmoil brewing in your eyes right now. He’s going to be fine, by the way. He’s a professional and there’s no one better.”

“Do you think he’ll really have to shoot someone?” Katie stared at the empty doorway.

“I doubt it,” Carmen shrugged. “I’m pretty sure my guy will blow them up before it comes to that.”

“Your—” Katie sat frozen and silently stared at Carmen. Was she serious? “Blow him up?”

“Yeah,” Carmen focused on Katie. “If you’re going to work here, you need to understand these men don’t back down and they don’t tolerate threats. That man, he threatened Paige and her unborn child. That would be enough because she’s family, but she belongs to Dax. And those men would walk through fire for Dax. They would do that, because Dax would do the same for them — has done the same for them. Sooner or later, you’ll have to decide how you feel about that. Otherwise, this thing you’ve started with Hawk will be over before it starts.”

“Will you answer something for me, and will you be honest about it?” Katie asked.

“Sure,” Carmen focused back on her screen.

“Do you honestly think Hawk will murder someone?” Katie wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to that.

“Murder? No,” Carmen sat back. “He might kill someone, but it won’t be murder. These men, they have a code. They are testosterone filled adventure junkies who play hard and work harder. They have a bond that few will ever understand, but they are also courageous with more integrity than anyone I have ever met. If Hawk kills someone, he’ll do it because he didn’t have a choice. He’ll do it in self-defense or to defend Dax or Paige or that new agent they’re working with. He’ll do it because he has to, not because he wants to.”

“Okay,” Katie nodded. She could live with that.

“But it’s not going to happen,” Carmen grinned. “Because Zeus will blow that guy to smithereens before Hawk has to take him out. He’ll do it to protect Dax but also to protect Hawk.”

“Um,” Katie chewed on her bottom lip. “Won’t he get into trouble for that?”

“They’ll have to find him, first,” Carmen laughed. “Now, I think I’m onto something. I need to concentrate on this. Maybe you could head out and see if Wooly needs anything.”

\*\*\*

“I’m just saying,” Paige was pacing the room. “I think there was another way we could have handled that.”

“I don’t,” Dax crossed one leg over the other and relaxed into the pillows. “I let it go the first time, Paige. That man will not put his hands on you again or he’ll suffer the consequences.”

Paige threw her hands in the air and growled. “I’m a cop! Are you seriously telling me you don’t think I can handle myself?”

“No,” Dax disagreed. “I’m telling you that I’m going to handle it for you.”

Rowan knocked on the door. “Hey, I hate to interrupt this tantalizing conversation, but I think I have something.”

“What?” Paige demanded.

“Come downstairs and I’ll walk you through it,” Rowan turned and disappeared down the hall.

“Spill it,” Paige demanded before she dropped into a chair.

“Okay,” Rowan glanced at Dax then turned to the board. “I’ve been working on the bankers. I know you said Carmen was working on that, but you have her running the backgrounds, looking into the bankers, and digging on Rathbone. I think she needs to focus on the cop. He’s dangerous and we need to be prepared. That guy is not finished with you and after what happened today, I’m sure Dax is on his hit list. Anyway, I called Carmen and told her I was taking over the investigation into the bankers.”

“What did you find?”

“It’s what I didn’t find — on Bodine,” Rowan turned his screen so they could see. “I’ve looked at every transaction he’s made for the past six months. I can go back further, but I don’t think I need to. I wanted to make sure you guys agreed before I set it aside. Vincent Bodine is not involved in this. He’s as clean as they come. He’s so boring, I’m tempted to nod off just relaying the details.”

“Okay,” Paige nodded. “We can look through the specifics tomorrow but for now I believe you. What about the other two?”

“That’s where it gets interesting,” Rowan explained. “Rathbone knows both of them. Or, at least, he did. They’ve had dealings in the past.”

“Run us through it,” Paige insisted.

“Okay,” Rowan pulled up another screen. “Arlo Williams was born and raised in this one-horse town. He never left. After high school, he got a job as a teller at the bank and has slowly risen up the ranks to mid-management. He plays poker every Friday night with his buddies, which does not include Rathbone. He did play football with Rathbone in high school, neither had the talent to go any further. He owns a home and drives a pickup truck that’s three years old and paid for. He has no debt to speak of — which could mean he’s paying the bills with the stolen funds.”

“So, a connection to Rathbone, but an old one,” Dax considered. “The lack of debt is a red flag, but not definitive. What about the other guy?”

“Terrance Noble,” Rowan changed the screen again. “Terrance didn’t grow up here. He’s from Idaho. He attended college in his home state and met Chastity Rathbone his senior year. He graduated with a bachelors in finance with an emphasis in banking. He and his girl moved to Texas a few months after graduating to be closer to her family. They were married a year later.”

“Who is Chastity?” Paige pressed. “In relation to Levi Rathbone.”

“Cousins,” Rowan advised. “It doesn’t appear they are close, though. I doubt there was any kissing involved. Chastity moved away after she graduated and only returned when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She beat it and Chastity and Mr. Noble remained here in town. Hubby was hired as a low-level manager immediately and has moved his way up to mid-level after only a couple years.”

“Any suspicious transactions in their records?” Dax wondered.

“Not that I can find,” Rowan admitted. “I think Carmen will need to take this over and dig deeper than I can go. We eliminated one but it’s anyone’s guess on the other two. They both have ties that could go deeper than I’m seeing from here.”

“Right,” Paige agreed. “I want to work on this for a while, but then let’s sleep on it. We can always shoot it back to Carmen tomorrow.”

\*\*\*

Carmen called just after two that morning. She found an expensive beach house owned by Levi Rathbone in Corpas Christi. She was going to dig further and try to trace the money backwards and see if she could connect it to the bank somehow. They decided to turn the remaining two bankers back over to Carmen and she could look at all of it together while she tracked the money.

“I’m going to focus on Willow,” Paige decided. “I’ve been working the data, but my area of expertise is forensics. I want to get into Willow’s apartment and take a look around. I’ll head out first thing,” Paige told Carmen. “It’s late, put this away for the night and pick it back up in the morning. I’ll call you sometime tomorrow afternoon.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Carmen disconnected.

“We’ll head out and go through Willows apartment together,” Dax corrected.

“I can—”

“When we started this, you agreed we’d be partners,” Dax reminded her. “Nothing has changed. Rowan can dig into her background and see what he can find about her history. You and I will search her place for clues.”

“Fine,” Paige agreed. “Let’s go to bed. I’m tired.”

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\*\*\*

“I understand why you want to go to Willow’s apartment,” Rowan said, clearly frustrated and in need of a second cup of coffee. “I’m just saying we need to search Kendric’s home first. That cop is unpredictable and he’s livid. He’s lost Kendric and needs him back where he can keep an eye on him. What better way to do that, than to stumble onto evidence that points right at the man that was just released from jail?”

“Alright,” Paige agreed. “Make that cup to go, though. I’m not waiting. We’ll stop at Larisa’s house first, but you have to drive. Dax and I will spend some time helping you look for evidence before we continue over to Willow’s apartment and search for clues there. I know we have to find whatever was planted to convict Kendric, but that evidence will be manufactured. I want real evidence, something that August can use to point the finger in another direction.”

“I agree,” Rowan followed the couple out of the house. “But isn’t that what Carmen’s doing?”

“It is but there’s only so much she can do from Utah,” Paige stopped next to the SUV. “We’ll meet you there.”

The group was only inside the residence for twenty minutes when they found the planted evidence.

“The shoes are a size too small, and Kendric didn’t attend Texas A & M.” Rowan slid the mud caked shoes and the bloody sweatshirt into an evidence bag. “I’m going to take these to the lab and see what they can tell me. I’d lay odds the blood belongs to Willow Delano.”

“And the mud will match the dirt where the body was discovered,” Paige nodded. “It’s too obvious. The guy calls himself a cop, but this is amateur hour.”

“I’m guessing they’ve never run up against outsiders before,” Dax glanced around the room then focused on Paige. “He’s used to bullying his way through any situation to get what he wants. We’re not cooperating. I don’t think he expected Kendric to bring in a high-priced lawyer.”

“Why didn’t he expect that?” Rowan wondered. “The guy has money. Everyone in town has to know that. I don’t get it. None of what happened so far should be a surprise to these guys.”

“I think because he’s used to threatening his way out of trouble,” Paige decided. “He threatened Kendric using his wife and kid. He also told Kendric to plead guilty, so this thing never went to trial. Then, he threatened Larisa using her son. He threatened me and my unborn child. I think that’s his MO. I suspect it’s worked well in the past. Then, Rathbone just plants a little evidence that will convince the prosecutor there’s a case and it all goes away quietly.”

“Or the prosecutor is in on it,” Dax suggested. “We’ve focused on the cop and the banker, but Larisa believed there were others. Maybe a hacker and there could be an attorney or a judge.”

“Not the judge at the hearing,” Paige disagreed. “I saw her face when August challenged the foundation of this case. She was fuming but trying to hide it.”

“Fuming because the case is a dud, or fuming because August noticed?” Rowan wondered.

“She let Kendric out on bail,” Paige ran through the hearing in her mind again. “I think she was upset that the system, cop and prosecutor, made her look smalltown. I don’t think she liked it.”

“So, ego,” Dax nodded. “Not corruption.”

“Yeah,” Paige agreed. “That’s my take. Anyway, are we finished here? I want to get over to Willows apartment.”

“I’m going to transport this to the lab,” Rowan held out the evidence. “I want to see if we can link it to Rathbone or anyone besides Kendric. I’ll meet you back at the house later tonight.”

“Sounds good,” Dax took Paige’s hand and led her back to the truck. They rode in silence for several minutes. “Have you dealt with a case like this before?”

“A frame job or a corrupt system?” Paige asked absently.

“Either,” Dax was on alert, watching for trouble around every corner. He hadn’t felt this tense since his army days.

“Similar,” Paige admitted. “They’re all unique in their own way. Small towns, they’re notorious for problems. You take a local farm boy and hand him a badge, it’s easy for the power to go to his head. They’re not all like that, though. Some have more integrity and courage than the city departments.”

“Makes sense,” Dax glanced in the mirror again. He was pretty sure they were being followed but it didn’t look like the cop this time.

“What’s wrong?” Paige demanded.

“Not sure,” Dax shrugged. “Could be something, could be nothing. I’m just on edge and I’m seeing ghosts around every corner.”

Paige reached out and took his hand. “I’m sorry I got angry with you. I know you didn’t have a choice. Rathbone is dangerous and if he gets a chance, I think he’ll make good on his promise.”

“Which one?” Dax turned over his hand and linked fingers with Paige. “The one to arrest me or to leave you in a ditch?”

“I doubt he’s planning to arrest you now,” she frowned. “I think he’d like to leave you in a ditch.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Dax assured her.

“No, it’s not,” Paige smiled. “Because if he lays a hand on my husband, he’s going to find out how much pain a body can take before it breaks.”

“I’m glad we understand each other,” Dax laughed. Man, he loved this woman.

They pulled into the parking lot of the apartment building and took a minute to survey the area. Once they were sure the coast was clear, they casually walked across the lot and up the stairs to Willow’s apartment. In only took a few seconds for Dax to bypass the lock and open the door.

“I guess bringing a fancy Army Ranger with me has its benefits,” Paige stepped inside. “This might take a while. I need you to watch for trouble and warn me if someone comes this way.”

“I’ve got this,” Dax moved to the side of a window. “Just do your thing so we can get out of here.”

\*\*\*

“I suspect they’ll be a while,” Hawk told Zues. “I want to drive the area and scout out escape routes and obstacles just in case.”

“I agree,” Zeus glanced at the apartment door, then frowned when he spotted the truck drive by for the second time. “Did you get the plate off that truck? I want to call it in to Carmen and see why they’re trolling the area. I also want to find a route where I can leave a little insurance policy just in case we need it to get out of here.”

Hawk rattled off the plate and Zeus called it in to Carmen. They didn’t recognize the name, so they put it on the back burner for later.

“Pull down that road,” Zeus pointed to a dirt road that led to an old barn. “It looks deserted, but I want to make sure.”

\*\*\*

“Find anything?” Dax glanced over his shoulder when Paige stepped back into the room.

“Yeah,” Paige sighed. “Willow was dating Levi Rathbone. From what I can see from the box of mementoes, they’d been dating for months. The first one, a movie ticket, is dated eight months ago.”

“He’s not married,” Dax tried to remember everything they’d uncovered about Levi Rathbone. “Why all the secrets?”

“I found a gold necklace and some tiny diamond earrings in her jewelry box. I’m wondering if he bought her small tokens to keep her quiet. You know, things that were too expensive to afford on a cops salary, but items that were insignificant and cheap when you consider the kind of cash he’s stealing from the rich and famous.”

“A convenient girlfriend that’s disposable?” Dax wondered. “He kept her on a tight leash and in his back pocket to use if he needed to frame someone. That’s cold.”

“He’s a narcissistic egomaniac with delusions of grandeur,” Paige grumbled. “It’s not out of the realm of possibilities. I’ve bagged the evidence and I’ll get it to Rowan tonight. I think he should collect all the evidence and use it to build a case against Rathbone. One the FBI can defend when they charge these guys with federal racketeering and murder.”

“You’ll push for a RICO violation?” Dax realized.

“I think we have enough,” Paige agreed. “It’s definitely federal, the fraud crosses state lines, then add in the extortion, threats and murder — I’m sure Rowan can swing it.”

“Good,” Dax turned and strolled across the room. “Do you think Willow was the only death?”

“I hope so,” Paige leaned into Dax when he wrapped his arms around her. “I hate to think how long they’ve been getting away with this. And Willow’s death, it’s so callous and senseless. It’s just stupid.”

“And wasteful,” Dax agreed. “They tossed away a life like it was nothing and that pisses you off.”

“Yes,” Paige agreed. “Probably as much as it does you. Let’s get out of here. This girl lived a modest life and died a horrible death. There’s nothing else to find here.”

The instant they pulled onto the highway; they spotted the car. “He must be off duty,” Paige watched Rathbone through the rearview mirror. “That’s not a patrol car.”

“I don’t think he appreciates your tenacity,” Dax sped up, then slammed on his breaks when Rathbone tried to side-swipe him. “We might be in trouble here. This SUV is harder to handle than that souped-up BMW he’s driving.” Dax swerved, took a right a little too fast, then regained control just before the car tagged his bumper. “We can’t keep this up for long.”

“Find a dirt road,” Paige considered. “We’ll have better control than he will on backroads.”

“He’s pushing us toward that bridge,” Dax warned. “We need to get off this highway and we need to do it before we reach that bridge.” He swerved and slammed on his breaks again, barely missing a collision.”

“He’s being reckless,” Paige studied the area. “I don’t see a road.”

“Can you answer that,” Dax pointed to his ringing burner.

“We’re a little busy,” Paige greeted.

“Take the next left,” Zeus ordered. “Right before you reach the bridge, about a hundred yards out.”

“What?” Paige frowned. “Take the next left,” she told Dax before she put the phone on speaker.

Dax did as requested. The BMW followed and started to gain on them.

“Give it a little gas, granny,” Zeus demanded. “Floor it, when you reach the T-intersection, take a right, then a fast left.”

“Where are you?” Dax demanded. “I told you to stay in Utah.”

“I’m a little busy at the moment,” Zeus ignored the question. “Right there, take that right.”

“Zee?” Dax warned. “What are you up to?”

“Yeah, so — about that,” he lit the fuse and jumped into the waiting truck. “If you hear a little explosion, don’t be too alarmed.”

“What!” Paige barked just before they heard a loud boom, dirt and gravel erupted around them peppering the SUV with tiny granules — and the vehicle vibrated violently.

Dax took the next left, and spotted Hawk standing in front of an old barn with the door wide open. He pulled inside and Hawk slid the door shut.

Paige jumped from the truck. You crazy, idiotic, reckless maniac. Please tell me Rathbone isn’t dead. Because if you just blew that man up, I’m not sure even Nathan will be able to save you.”

“Looks like you two are okay,” Hawk observed. “And no, he’s not dead.”

“Unfortunately,” Zeus added before he and Hawk burst out laughing.

“But I do think we should get out of here,” Zues suggested. “I’d say leave the SUV, but I suspect that idiot cop will do a thorough search of the area and that last thing we need is for him to find your vehicle stashed in this barn.”

“I’ll follow you,” Dax studied his friends. He should be angry with them, but they just saved his life and the life of the woman he loved. He wasn’t sure Paige realized that yet, but she would— eventually.

“What were you thinking?” Paige didn’t budge.

“I was thinking that man wants you dead and I wasn’t willing to sit back and let that happen,” Zeus shrugged. “Get in the car, Paige. We need to get clear of this area. You can chew me out once we get back to that fancy compound Nathan calls a house.”

Paige slid into the passenger seat and studied Dax. “He’s right. Rathbone would have killed us both. He was pushing us toward that bridge so he could help us over the edge and resolve his problem. I know you didn’t want them involved, but I think they just saved our lives.”

“I know,” Dax followed Hawk as they wound through dirt roads, bounced into a large ditch, then surfaced a few blocks from the house where they’d been staying.

“How long have they been here?” Paige wondered, amazed at the convoluted trail they just followed to get back to their headquarters.

“I thought someone was following us to Willows, but I doubted myself when I couldn’t spot anyone. It was them; I’d bet this fancy house on that one.”

“Are you mad?” Paige wondered.

“At them? No,” Dax pulled into the garage. “I’m mad at myself. I should have anticipated this. I should have realized Rathbone would follow us and try to take us out. If they didn’t arrive when they did —”

“But they did arrive and we’re fine,” Paige took his hand. “Let’s go thank Zeus for being a pyrotechnic maniac.”

“Yeah,” Dax followed her into the house and waited for his friends to lock down the garage and join them. “Rowans in the far bedroom and Paige and I grabbed the master. The rest are open. Find a spot to crash, then let’s talk.”

Dax was standing in front of the large window staring at the pool when Zeus and Hawk returned. “You disobeyed a direct order.”

“You’re welcome,” Hawk dropped into a chair. “That man had blood in his eyes. We watched the video, Dax. We saw him attack Paige. Did you really think we wouldn’t head out here to help? Paige is family but she’s also yours. And we all know you would have done the same — so shelf this and let’s get to work. We need a plan to deal with that maniac cop.”

“I think my baby just came through for us on that,” Zeus answered his phone and put it on speaker. “Tell me you have something we can use to arrest that dirty SOB.”

“I’ve got something you can use to arrest that dirty SOB,” Carmen grinned.

“Are you serious?” Paige jumped to her feet and moved closer to Zeus.

“First, I want to remind Dax that he gathered up the crew and chased down Zeus when he was tracking Thor,” Carmen hesitated. “My guy said he was fine, and the rest of you guys shouldn’t worry. He insisted you shouldn’t get involved. You didn’t listen to him, and he wasn’t about to listen to you. Before you go off on him, keep that in mind. This is what you guys do. Accept it and move past your annoyance already.”

Dax sighed and moved across the room to settled into a large chair. “You’re right. It’s what we do. I’m not mad at my guys. I’m angry with myself. It’s my job to protect Paige and I failed today.”

“Hey,” Paige jumped in. “Maybe it’s my job to protect you and I failed. Did you ever think of that?”

“Well, I didn’t fail,” Carmen informed them. “I have a pretty good idea how Rathbone is selecting his targets. Do you want a few more minutes to kick yourself or should I explain?”

“Explain,” Dax smiled at the spunky hacker. Zeus definitely had his hands full with her.

“Alright,” Carmen settled into her chair. “Baby, put me up on the big screen and I’ll walk you through their system.”

“Hold that thought,” Paige answered her ringing phone. “It’s Kyra. I have to take this.” She stood and left the room.

“Larisa called me,” Kyra advised. “She’s discovered who the banker is. We’ve got two of them, Paige. We just need the third. There has to be one because the cop and the banker are pretty computer illiterate. Neither one of them would know Larisa was inside snooping around.”

“Alright, let me take this back to the group,” she glanced up when Rowan stepped through the door. “Uh, before I do that, there’s something else you need to know.”

“Hi, Kyra,” Rowan maneuvered around Paige so he could see the screen. “Paige was about to tell you I’m working this case. It’s official, so don’t think you can order me away.”

“Rowan,” Kyra sucked in a sharp breath. “You look good,” actually he looked amazing. “I’m not sure why you’re out there, but I’ll take any help I can get for my sister.”

“You look like you haven’t slept in days,” Rowan frowned. “And you’ve lost weight.”

“Wow, I don’t know how I’ll deal with all the compliments,” Kyra grumbled.

“You know my philosophy on telling the truth,” Rowan shrugged.

Paige saw something flash in Kyra’s eyes before she masked it. Was that pain, guilt? She wasn’t sure.

“Dennis will be calling you in the morning,” Rowan advised. “I talked him into reassigning you. You’re on the case, if you want it. He’s authorized you to fly out and officially join the investigation. Things are moving now so don’t push back the flight. If you’re coming, you need to be here as soon as possible.”

“What don’t I know?” Paige turned on him.

“The shoes belonged to Rathbone,” Rowan told the group. “His prints are all over it. I was also able to retrieve a water bottle he abandoned before I left. The lab has his DNA and they’re working to match that to the shoes. They were his shoes, he wore them, sweated in them and then used them to try to frame Kendric. I’m certain of that and the lab is working to prove me right. He’ll never overcome that little mistake. They need a couple days, then I’ll have enough to arrest the cop.”

“Can we get RICO?” Paige pushed.

“Not yet,” Rowan frowned. “But we will.”

“I can help with that,” Carmen jumped in. “Let me run through what I have.”

“Alright,” Paige motioned for her to continue.

“Okay, so the beach house in Corpas Christi belongs to Rathbone. I’ve been able to track his movements when he’s there. He goes out every month or so on a luxury vacation. But he doesn’t just lounge on the beach and enjoy that fancy house. He attends high class parties and events. You know, he hob-nobs with the rich to scope out his next victim. I’ve also identified a bartender you’ll want to bring in. I believe he records the credit cards after wealthy clients use them at these events. He then passes them to Rathbone, who turns them over to their bank contact. I’m close on that but I got distracted.”

“I have the bank contact,” Kyra provided. “It’s Arlo Williams.”

“Are you sure?” Carmen questioned.

“Larisa is sure,” Kyra corrected. “And I trust her. She’s been digging for days and she’s confident it has to be Arlo.”

“I’ll touch base with her, but if she says it’s Williams, I’m inclined to agree,” Carmen announced. “I was leaning that way myself.”

“Okay, so there’s at least one more,” Paige frowned. “How do we find him?”

“And how do we make sure we have them all?” Rowan added.

“Larisa said Kendric had a theory but you’re not going to like it,” Kyra warned.

“Tell us,” Paige demanded.

“Silas Higgins,” Kyra provided. The room went silent.

“The Congressman’s son?” Rowan frowned. “How did he land on that?”

“He’s the lead prosecutor in that town,” Kyra advised. “Higgins went to high school with Rathbone and Williams. They all played football together. Kendric said Higgins is intimately involved in his case. He also said he spotted Rathbone and Higgins at the courthouse. They were involved in an intense discussion. Then Rathbone stomped off angry.”

“That could be about anything,” Rowan disagreed.

“Higgins is a hacker,” Kyra left the best for last.

“Is he good?” Carmen demanded. “I can look into him and see what I can find.”

“Larisa said to tell you his online code name is Storm Tracer,” Kyra advised.

“Yeah, he’s good,” Carmen provided. “How did she find that? Storm Tracer has been careful for years. I don’t know anyone that knows his identity.”

“Kendric convinced her it was Higgins and she started to dig,” Kyra provided. “She’s pretty sure he’s the guy you want and she’s positive on the hacker bit.”

“Why would a congressman’s son, one he’s grooming to take his place someday, participate in a theft ring of this magnitude?” Rowan wondered. “He doesn’t need the money.”

“Boredom,” Hawk provided. “He’s a spoiled brat and he wanted to see if he could. He’s a narcissist like his cop friend and he’s just doing it for kicks? Take your pick.”

“Carmen, can you work with Larisa to nail this down? And make it airtight,” Paige decided. “With a congressman involved, we need to be sure, and we need concrete proof.”

“I’m gonna pack,” Kyra told the group. “I’ll be there tomorrow. Any chance I can bum a ride from the airport?”

“I’ll be there to pick you up,” Rowan jumped in.

Paige waited, but when Kyra didn’t object, she considered the matter closed.

“What’s our next move?” Zeus wondered.

Paige pulled out the evidence she collected from Willows. “This connects Rathbone to Willow. With this and the DNA evidence you uncovered today, I think you and Kyra can make an arrest once you get the results from the lab. Charge him with homicide. That will give us time to firm up the RICO charges.”

“I agree,” Rowan took the evidence.

“I’ll keep working on the money,” Carmen assured them. “Now, I’m going to sign off. I need to deal with a project for Nathan, then I’m going to get some sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow."

“Let’s go for a walk,” Dax stood and motioned for Hawk and Zeus to follow.

Once they were gone, Paige turned to Rowan. “Are you gonna be okay? I mean, working with Kyra that’s going to be—”

“I’m fine,” Rowan settled into a chair. “Maybe she’ll finally provide some answers. If not, I’ll deal. I always do.”

“I’m sorry,” Paige settled into the chair across from him. “I’m sorry I judged you and blamed you for the breakup. I’m sorry she cut all ties and never provided closure. I’m sorry that I’m not sure she’s going to give you the answers you desperately need now.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Rowan stood. “I need a little time alone, if that’s okay. Tomorrow is going to be a long, difficult day.”

“Alright, but before you go, I need to fill you in on the events of this afternoon,” Paige glanced out the window. “Um, someone may have set off an explosive device, but it was necessary. That idiot cop was trying to kill us.”

“Can it be traced back to you?” Rowan frowned. “Or them?”

“I doubt it,” Paige grinned. “Someone I’d prefer to remain nameless is careful and they know what they’re doing. The only one that will make accusations is Rathbone and he’ll blame us — me or Dax. He didn’t even know those other two were there.”

“Then we’re clear,” Rowan decided. “I don’t know anything about explosives, but I’ll be sure to look into it.”

“Thanks,” Paige relaxed. “We’re closing in, Rowan. We’re nearing the finish line and I have a feeling things are going to move quickly once you snatch up the first suspect.”

“I’m going to send someone down to arrest the bartender,” Rowan decided. “He’s low-level but he might sing once he knows he’s in serious trouble.”

“I agree,” Paige headed for the door. “Offer him a deal and he’ll sing even louder.”

“Maybe,” Rowan wouldn’t commit. He didn’t want anyone to plead on this one. He wanted the entire group to pay for messing with Kyra’s family. He smiled and realized that’s the reason the boys set off explosives. The cop messed with their family, and he needed to pay. He could live with that. And he’d see what he could do to protect them. If he failed, there was no doubt in his mind, General Nathan Porter would step in and deem the entire situation classified and a matter of national security — or some nonsense. For the first time in his career, that fact didn’t bother him.

\*\*\*

“Dennis told me I’m on this case because of you,” Kyra said once Rowan pulled onto the highway. “Thank you for that.”

“They attacked your family,” Rowan shrugged. “You have a right to be involved.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered but couldn’t look at him.

“For what?” Rowan wondered. “For tossing me like a bad sandwich or for avoiding me all these years? Or maybe you’re talking about something else entirely.”

“I’m sorry for all of it,” Kyra admitted.

“I wonder,” Rowan stared out the windshield. “Will you ever explain what happened, or do you plan to leave me wondering for the rest of my life?”

She couldn’t, could she? Maybe enough time had passed she could come clean.

“Never mind,” Rowan sighed. “I found something last night that I want you to look at.”

“What is it?” Kyra frowned but took the file Rowan pulled from between the seat and the console.

“An unsolved murder,” he glanced away and focused on driving. “Victim was Sandy Nelson.”

“You think they killed someone else?” Kyra flipped open the cover and began to read. She skimmed through the report and found the evidence log. “They have DNA.”

“I know,” Rowan frowned. “That kid worked at the bank. Then one day, she just disappeared. She was only eighteen. Two months later, her body was found in a remote area just outside of town.”

“Why was it inactivated?” Kyra studied Rowan. Her heart hurt and she wanted to reach out to him, but she couldn’t.

“The cops traced her back to the bank,” Rowan advised. “She worked for Williams. The detective suspected he was involved. Higgins refused their request for a warrant to look into Williams bank records. He said they didn’t have enough to proceed. Without the warrant, the case went cold. All they had was a statement from her mom and her sister that Sandy saw something she shouldn’t have seen at the bank and a feeling Williams was lying.”

“Higgins intervened to protect his friends,” Kyra nodded and continued to read. “But also himself. He was afraid the warrant would disclose the thefts and the fraud.”

“That’s my guess,” Rowan agreed. “I don’t think we have enough to prove our theory yet, but I was thinking we could pursue it. If we can show a conspiracy to murder, and throw in the murder of Willow, we might be able to turn it federal while we work on the RICO angle.”

“At least they’d be locked down where they can’t hurt anyone else,” Kyra agreed. “What did Paige think?”

“I brought it to you first,” Rowan admitted. “Paige is here helping you, but she doesn’t have jurisdiction. This is federal and she left the Bureau. We have to decide where to go from here and take it to the group once we agree.”

“I want to take it to the group and discuss it first,” Kyra decided. “Then we formulate a plan together. I brought Paige in on this because she’s good and if there’s any forensic evidence they overlooked in this new case, Paige will find it.”

“Alright,” Rowan wasn’t sure that was the best play, but they wouldn’t have gotten this far without Paige and her friends. “We’ll head back to the house and go from there.”

\*\*\*

“Yes, sir,” Rowan agreed. “I’ll keep you posted.” He hung up and glanced around the room. “Dennis is sending a couple guys from the closest office. He said the bartender is in custody and he wants us to pick up Rathbone and turn him over to be booked in a federal facility rather than the local jail.”

“And Williams?” Paige asked.

“He doesn’t think we have enough to arrest him — yet,” he added. “He wants Carmen to keep digging and he’s hoping the arrest of Rathbone will force them to do something stupid. He’s having a trace put on the funds Carmen located. If they try to move them, we’ve got them.”

“And Higgins?” Kyra asked.

“He’s a problem,” Rowan admitted. “His dad will cry foul. We need something solid to go after him.”

“August is going to court in the morning with a motion to dismiss the charges,” Paige informed them. “Higgins will be taken by surprise. If we do this right, he won’t know his friend was arrested for the same crime until he’s standing before the judge arguing to continue. Let’s do this right.”

“I agree,” Kyra stood. “We take down Rathbone and transport, but make sure he doesn’t get his phone call until after the hearing. Then I’ll head to the courthouse and tail Higgins. We’ll see what he does once he knows his little gang is falling apart — and proceed accordingly.”

“No,” Rowen disagreed. “We’ll head to the courthouse and follow Higgins. If he slips up, we need the testimony of two agents — one of which is not a family member of the previously accused.”

“Fine,” Kyra shrugged but inside she was terrified of spending so much time with Rowan. She still loved him, but Colby Denton could end both of their careers. She wasn’t sure she could risk it.

“Dax and I will take a trip down to Corpas Christi,” Paige informed them. “I want to scour that beach house and see if I can find anything that will link Higgins to the conspiracy.”

“We’ll go with you,” Hawk decided. “As backup. Don’t worry, we’ll drive and hang back just in case you run into trouble.”

“No more explosives,” Paige warned Zeus, then frowned when the man just laughed.

\*\*\*

“He’s on the move,” Kyra straightened in her seat. “Don’t lose him.”

“I do know how to tail a suspect,” Rowan growled.

“He doesn’t look happy,” Kyra grinned. “I think we might have ruined his day.” She snatched up the phone the instant it rang.

“August just called,” Paige informed her. “The judge dismissed the case. Kendric is a free man. If you talk to your sister, tell them to remain where they are until we have all three of these guys behind bars. Their lives are still in danger.”

“Alright,” Kyra agreed. “We’re following Higgins. He doesn’t look happy. And he just pulled into the bank. What do you want to bet he’s about to have a little pow-wow with the banker?”

“We’re just pulling up to the beach house,” Paige informed her. “I’ll let you know if I find anything. Carmen put a trace on the money. If they try to move it, we’ll know immediately, and it triggers the warrant. Those funds will be seized before they can ask themselves what happened.”

“Sounds good,” Kyra disconnected. “Will we get them?” She turned to Rowan. “Or will my sister have to go into witness protection for the rest of her life?”

“We’ll get them,” Rowan promised and reached for her hand. “I won’t stop until they’re safe.”

“Higgins is leaving the bank,” Kyra pulled her hand away. “Do we follow him or stay and watch Williams?”

“We follow Higgins,” Rowan decided. “We need more on him and he’s going to be the hardest to get to. Plus, Special Agents Broadhead and Conner haven’t been able to track down Rathbone. Higgins might lead us straight to our killer.”

“Alright,” they rode in silence as they followed Higgins. They were careful to stay a safe distance away, but he must have spotted them because moments later, a patrol car pulled up behind them and flipped on his lights.

“You ready to arrest a killer?” Rowan glanced at Kyra.

“I am,” she straightened and waited for Rowan to pull to the side of the road.

“Call it in,” Rowan pushed open his door and climbed outside.

Kyra called Broadhead and relayed their location. He assured her they were on their way and would be there in less than five minutes. She’d just have to stall until backup arrived.

“Lady, get out of the car,” Rathbone demanded.

Kyra pushed open her door and moved to the front of the car.

“Stop right there, unless you want to get shot,” Rathbone ordered.

“I’m Special Agent Kyra Black and that man is my partner, Special Agent Rowan Leavitt. I suggest you holster your weapon, unless you want to go up against the entire Bureau. We expect professional cooperation.”

“Yeah,” Rathbone laughed. “And I’m the President. Get your hands where I can see them.”

“Can you see this badge?” Kyra stepped into the clearing, making sure her badge was visible.

Rathbone hesitated. “That could be a fake.”

“It’s not a fake,” Rowan advised. “I already told you I am Special Agent Rowan Leavitt and you have interrupted an official investigation.”

Rathbone pulled out his phone and called Higgins. “Yeah, they say they’re FBI. What do you want me to do?” He waited for several seconds. “They have badges. Sure. Hold on.”

“What’s the official business?” Rathbone demanded. He glanced up when a black sedan approached, pulled to the side of the road and two additional agents emerged, guns drawn.

“Put down the weapon Mr. Rathbone,” one of the agents called out. “It’s four against one. You might get a shot off but then you’ll be dead. If that’s your plan, it’s suicide.”

Rathbone frowned, studied Kyra then Rowan, then slowly slid his gun back into the holster. “I’m a cop,” he called to the new agents. “This has to be some kind of mistake.”

“No mistake,” Rowan moved behind Rathbone. “You should do the honors, Kyra.”

She moved forward and cuffed him, then passed him to the agents.

“Thanks for the assist,” Rowan shook each of their hands.

“All in a days,” Conner shoved Rathbone into the back of the car. “I’ll call Dennis if we get anything.”

“Thanks,” Rowan watched them drive away before he turned to Kyra. “I guess we head back to the house and check in with Carmen.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Kyra pulled out her ringing phone. “Hey, Larisa.”

“I’ve been helping Carmen track the money,” Larisa said, excited. “This is so much fun, now I know why you do it.”

“Right,” Kyra rolled her eyes. “Did the FBI swoop in and take it?”

“With Carmen’s help,” Larisa giggled. “Those guys are broke. Carmen said she’ll try to research the deposits and track who they came from, but she found the Alcott funds and Higgie Jr. was also siphoning from dad. I wonder if the gentleman from Texas knew his son was stealing from him.”

“Can we prove it was Silas Higgins?” Kyra asked, excited.

“Absolutely,” Larisa practically yelled, she was so excited. “We got them, Kyra. All of them. Carmen said that since she can prove Arlo Williams transferred the money, we caught him red handed. He’s going down. And, that little transfer gave her what she needed to track the rest. Once the three of them are arrested, my family can go home.”

“Well, we just helped arrest Levi Rathbone. He’s on his way to Houston to be interrogated by Broadhead and Conner.”

“Really?” Larisa’s voice was muffled, but Kyra could tell her sister was updating Kendric.

“Hey, I gotta go,” Kyra finally decided. “I need to contact Paige.”

“Right,” Kyra grinned. “And we need to head back to the bank and arrest Arlo Williams. I need to catch Broadhead before he leaves town.”

\*\*\*

“Hey, can you get that?” Paige asked Dax when the phone started ringing. “Thanks,” she said when he picked it up. “So, you were saying?” She turned to the elderly woman that lived next door to the beach house.

“That man is bad news,” Mrs. Halbert declared. “And his two friends aren’t much better.”

“Two friends?” Paige asked.

“Right,” the woman pushed to her feet and disappeared down the hall.

“Rathbone’s been arrested,” Dax stepped back into the room. “So was Arlo Williams. They’re on their way to Houston. They’ll process the duo and decide what to do with them from there.”

“Good,” Paige was about to ask more questions when Mrs. Halbert returned with a box.

“Let me help you with that,” Dax stepped forward and gently took the box from her hands.

“Thank you, sweetie,” she settled back onto the couch. “Now, let me see here. Just put that on the floor so I can reach it.”

Dax placed the box on the floor directly in front of the elderly woman.

Mrs. Halbert began rummaging around, pulling out folders and setting aside envelopes. “Okay, here we go.” She pulled out a stack of photos. “This was the Independence Day Celebration, two — no, three years ago. Yes, here it is.” She passed a photo to Paige. “That’s that Rathbone fella with his two friends. He cozied up to Felicity White during the fireworks and fooled that girl into thinking he was kind and proper. Then he stole a big chunk of her inheritance. She was going to use that money to help the Rec Center install one of those new heating systems, you know the ones that cool in the summer and heat in the winter. See there, that’s Felicity speaking with those three men right there at the little bar.”

Paige smiled. “I wonder if you’d mind if I took this with me. It would be excellent evidence that the three men knew each other; and that they knew Felicity, and interacted with her just prior to the money being stolen.”

“Of course,” Mrs. Halbert handed Paige the entire envelope. “Take them all. See if any of those others will help. I don’t need them.”

“You’re a good citizen, Mrs. Halbert,” Paige took the woman’s hand. “The victims will be so grateful you had these.”

“Now what?” Dax slid behind the wheel and motioned for Hawk to follow.

“Now we head back with all the evidence we’ve collected. I’m going to turn it over to Rowan and let him finish this up.”

“Alright,” Dax pulled onto the highway. “Do you want to stay a couple more days to finish this out?”

“No,” Paige settled back in the seat. “I want to go home. Let’s see how far we get tomorrow but then I think we can turn it over to Kyra and Rowan and be home by Friday.”

“Sounds good to me,” Dax took her hand in his, then let her sleep the rest of the way back to the house. He could tell she was overdoing it and couldn’t wait to get her back home. He was worried about her and the baby.

The group entered the house and paused. It was silent and dark. Where was everyone?

Paige decided not to worry about it and headed for her room. She was a few feet away when Rowan stepped into the hall. “Is everything okay?” She frowned at the stressed look on his face.

“Yeah,” he glanced away. He wasn’t okay, but his problem was personal, not professional. “Rathbone isn’t talking. He still thinks he can outmaneuver his way through this. The bartender, Kyle Danbury doesn’t know much. He said someone paid him to collect credit card numbers and email them to a private account. He has no idea who paid him or who owns the account.”

“Smart,” Paige nodded. “Keep the hired help in the dark and they can’t talk.”

“Exactly,” Rowan nodded. “Arlo Williams is terrified, but not talking. The only loose end is Silas Higgins. I think we have enough on him, but we can’t actually place him with Rathbone or Williams. He could claim he doesn’t even know them or hasn’t been in contact since high school and skate.”

Paige handed him the envelope full of photos. “Now you can.”

Rowan shuffled through them and grinned. “We’ve got them, Paige. All of them. Larisa’s family will be safe. Now, we just have to arrest Higgins and compile everything into a nice little packet for the AG’s office. Oh, the lab got back to me regarding the DNA on Sandy Nelson. It’s a match. Rathbone is responsible for her death as well. We’ll include that in the official packet and charge them with all of it.”

“I’m going to let you do that,” Paige glanced over her shoulder when Dax approached. “We’re tired and I think you guys can handle the rest from here. It’s all going federal so I’m out.”

“Are you leaving?” Rowan frowned. “Before we pick up Higgins?”

“We’ll stay one more day, but we all need to get home.” Dax linked hands with Paige. “Now, I need to get my wife to bed. She’s exhausted.”

“Right,” Rowan stepped back, then watched the couple enter the large room and close the door. He sighed and headed for the back porch. The instant he stepped outside, he regretted it. He was about to slip back through the door when Kyra turned and spotted him. Busted.

“Hey,” Krya brushed the tears from her face.

“What’s wrong?” Rowan darted across the porch and stopped in front of her. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m fine,” Kyra evaded.

“You’re not,” Rowan settled onto the swing next to her. “Talk to me. I might be able to help.”

“I’m sorry,” she sniffed and looked away.

“You said that already,” Rowan took her hand. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m not sure I should tell you,” she admitted.

“Kyra we’ve always told each other everything,” Rowan argued. “Just because you left me, that doesn’t have to change.”

Kyra started to cry.

“Hey,” he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her against him. “What’s going on? Larisa is safe. We got them. Paige found some photos; it puts all three of our suspects together. They won’t get away with this.”

“I know,” Kyra sniffed and snuggled into Rowan’s chest. “I miss this. I miss you.”

Rowan jerked back in surprise. “I thought —”

“That I didn’t want you,” Kyra finished. “I know. I think I made a mistake. The biggest mistake of my life. I am so sorry. I know I hurt you and I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I truly am sorry.”

“Will you tell me why?” Rowan stared into the darkness.

“Colby Benton,” Kyra whispered.

“What does Colby have to do with us?” Rowan frowned.

“I— well, he’s the reason I left,” Kyra admitted.

“I don’t understand,” Rowan tried to pull her up so he could see her, but she wouldn’t let go.

“It’s a long story,” Kyra admitted. “Basically, he threatened us. He was going to destroy us. Well, mostly you. He said he’d forget what he saw and destroy the photos if I walked away.”

“What are you talking about?” Rowan demanded.

“He had a video and photos,” Kyra told him. “Of us. Of me. I think he was stalking me. He showed them to me and threatened to ruin our careers.”

“You walked away from us to save your career?” Rowan couldn’t believe he meant that little to her.

“No,” Kyra straightened. “I walked away from us to save your career. He had video, Rowan. He taped us, in the car while we were on duty — well, you were on duty. He said he was going to show it to your supervisor and get you fired. At first, he tried to blackmail me into dumping you and dating him. I refused and he got mad. He showed me pictures of me. Some of them were bad, like in my bathroom right after I got out of the shower. I don’t know how he got them, but he said he’d tell you I sent them to him. He was going to lie and say we were dating behind your back the entire time. And, as proof, he was going to say I sent him nude photos to flirt and seduce him. He swore, if I didn’t leave, he was going to destroy us. He would make sure you doubted me so much you’d never believe I loved you. I told him you wouldn’t believe him, that you knew how much I loved you. He just laughed at me and said to test you. He was so confident you would always choose him. So, I did.”

“You told me he made you uncomfortable and I defended him,” Rowan remembered. “I told you he was harmless and that’s just the way he was. I also said he was important to me and I wanted you to try to get along.”

“Yes,” Kyra brushed the tears from her face. “You said exactly what he told me you would say. I realized, after it was too late, that he was jealous of you. He was determined to destroy you and take what you had, no matter the cost. I’m not sure he even cared about me. I was just a way for him to get at you. I was a means to an end — one that would have ended your career. I couldn’t let that happen. The only way to stop him was to leave you. I knew you were about to get promoted. I couldn’t take that away from you — you worked so hard for that promotion. I couldn’t let him destroy your career — and your life.”

“You could have come to me,” Rowan insisted.

“And you would have confronted him, and he would have showed you the pictures and lied,” Kyra insisted. “I decided it was better to leave and let you wonder why than to let him destroy what we shared. He would have damaged everything that we had. But if I left, at least the memory of our love would live on forever.”

“Why are you telling me this now?” Rowan wanted to scream, and he wanted to punch Colby in the face.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she admitted. “I can’t sit next to you, work with you, and see the pain and betrayal written all over your face. I’ve tried to avoid you, to steer clear of any cases you were handling but being here with you — it’s killing me. Worse, I’m causing you pain and that’s the last thing I want to do. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I am sorry. All I can say is I left because I love you.”

“Loved,” Rowan corrected. “And you had a funny way of showing it.”

“Love,” Kyra repeated. “I will always love you, Rowan — even if you can’t love me back.” She jumped up and ran into the house.

Rowan sat there and wondered, was Colby right? He thought the man was a friend. For years, they were like brothers — until Colby betrayed him. But at the time, when Kyra asked about him, Rowan had defended him. It would be easy to blame Kyra for all of it. But he was blind to so many things when it came to Colby. He always backed his friend, no matter what. If Colby showed him inappropriate pictures of Kyra, would he have believed she sent them herself? He honestly didn’t know the answer to that. He always thought Kyra could do better. That she deserved a better man, someone that wasn’t an agent, that wouldn’t leave or get transferred to that next big case. Colby knew how vulnerable he felt and he exploited that.

And Rowan always let him get away with everything. Until that next big case. The one Colby wanted to use to make his career. He insisted it was his big break and Rowan was standing in his way. So, Colby stole Rowan’s file, falsified reports, lied to their supervisors, and took credit for Rowan’s work. That was the final straw, Rowan reported him and Colby never forgave him. Well, he’d never forgive Colby for this. The betrayal was too big, the pain too intense.

He jumped to his feet and rushed inside to find Kyra. When he reached her room, he knocked softly.

Kyra slid the door open a crack, then stepped back in surprise.

Rowan took advantage of the movement and pushed his way into her room, shutting the door behind him. When Kyra took another step backward, he advanced on her, wrapped one arm around her waist and the other behind her neck.

Kyra’s eyes grew wide, but she didn’t move away.

“I still love you, Kyra Black — and I always will.” Then he kissed her.

\*\*\*

The following morning, Paige walked into the kitchen and froze. “Uh, did I step into a time machine that I wasn’t aware of?” Rowan and Kyra looked cozy — and happy.

“Morning,” Rowan was sitting at the table with Kyra in his lap. “Have you decided what you’re doing today?”

Paige pointed at Rowan, then at Kyra. “Is this — I don’t know, permanent?”

“Yes,” Kyra kissed Rowan’s forehead then stood. “We talked things out and decided to give this another shot.”

“Good,” Paige poured herself a cup of orange juice. “I miss coffee.”

“We need to arrest Silas Higgins today,” Rowan downed the last of his coffee. “Did you and your boys want to join us?”

“I’ve been thinking,” Kyra set her mug in the sink. “I think Silas had to be the guy in charge. He’s got the power and the influence. Plus, he’s just a jerk and his daddy’s important. I think he’d hold that over his friends and, con them into doing his dirty work. Plus, I hate to admit it, but he’s the only one of the three with any brains.”

“He’s a sociopath,” Paige corrected. “And that’s why we’re going to catch him. He thinks he’s smarter than everyone and he believes his daddy will step in and save him. Carmen was able to tie him in with the others — through the financials. Between that and the photos, plus the rest, we’ve got him.”

“I think he killed that other girl,” Kyra glanced at Rowan. “Sandy Nelson, I think Higgins killed her, or maybe he got Rathbone to do the killing while he looked over his shoulder and told him what to do. She saw something at the bank and Willians is a snake, but he’s weak. He would have called Higgins to find out what to do.”

“Higgins could have ordered Rathbone to do it,” Rowan provided. “But I’m wondering the same thing. I think he’d want to watch.”

“I say it was a conspiracy and it doesn’t matter who actually killed either of those women,” Paige settled into a chair. “They’re all responsible and we have the DNA to prove it. Let’s find Higgins and arrest him so I can go home.”

“You look tired,” Kyra noticed. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes,” Paige scolded. “And don’t say that in front of Dax.”

“Dax already knows,” he stepped into the kitchen and pulled Paige into his arms. “How about you three go catch the bad guy so I can sleep in my own bed tonight.”

“How do we find him?” Kyra settled back on a chair and took Rowan’s hand.

Paige smiled but didn’t comment. She had Carmen tracking the elusive man and was pretty sure they’d know something within the hour.

“Carmen says Silas Higgins just purchased gas at the Chevron station on eastside of town,” Zeus stepped into the kitchen. “I think the guy is trying to flee.”

Rowan and Kyra jumped to their feet. Paige slowly stood and headed for the door.

“Uh, babe,” Dax called. “You might need these,” he held up her shoes.

“Right,” she rushed back and slipped into the comfortable slip-ons.

“What’s the plan?” Paige asked Rowan. “Are you going to rear-end the guy and hope he crashes?”

“No,” Rowan glanced at her then focused on the vehicle directly in front of him. “We have tactics to handle men like Higgins. I’m going to use one of them.”

“Which one?” Kyra gripped the bar above the passenger seat and gritted her teeth.

“PIT maneuver,” Rowan sped up and pulled to the side of Higgins vehicle. Higgins tried to accelerate but Rowan was good. He tapped the back bumper and the vehicle spun out of control and came to a stop halfway in the lane, and halfway on the shoulder.

Kyra jumped out and ran to the driver’s side, she yanked open the door and ordered Higgins out of the car.

A red-faced Higgins jumped out and slammed his hands on his hips. “Do you know who I am?”

“Uh-huh,” Paige walked up and handed Kyra a set of handcuffs. “And you’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. Do us all a favor and exercise those rights. I seriously am not in the mood to hear about your daddy.”

“My father —” Rowan shoved him into the backseat and slammed the door. He turned to Paige. “I think you should ride in front, Kyra can drive and I’ll sit in the back with him.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Paige shrugged. “But I’m not going to argue. Let’s get this done so I can go home.”

\*\*\*

Several hours later, Silas Higgins had been arrested and transferred to a holding cell, his car impounded, and he was threatening to sue everyone involved. The group stepped into the house and joined Dax and his men in the living room.

“Did you catch the bad guy?” Dax glanced up.

“We did,” Paige settled next to him. “He’s not happy about it and claims he’s going to destroy all of us.”

“Sounds like a job well done,” Hawk took a long sip of his beer. “So, when do we get to blow this joint?”

“Hold that thought,” Paige pulled out her phone and saw it was Nathan. “Hey, I’m glad you called. We’re going to be heading home soon. Can you tell your friend how much we appreciate his hospitality?”

“I heard,” Nathan informed her. “That’s why I was calling. Leave the car. I’ve arranged for a chopper. It should land on the back lawn in about an hour. Be ready. I’ve arranged for the car to be transported back tomorrow. The job is done, the bad guys are behind bars, and my wife is driving me crazy.”

Paige laughed. “Tell Sophie I’m fine and I’ll take the ride. I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed.”

“I second that,” Dax called out before Paige hung up.

An hour later, they said their goodbyes, invited Kyra and Rowan to stay as long as they wanted in the house and piled into the helicopter. Paige rested her head on Dax’s shoulder and sighed. “Don’t tell them —” she pointed to the group standing below. “But, I’m glad that case is over.”

“Me too,” Dax pulled her closer. “Now, rest. I’ll wake you when we get home.”

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 **Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets. Don't forget, this is the final season so you won't want to miss an episode.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S7

**Tags:** Season 7

---

### [The Portrait](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-portrait/)

**Published:** July 31, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** The Portrait (S7E3) Paige is injured responding to a burglary in progress.  While recovering, she stumbles onto a new case and has to call in backup to assist.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*THE PORTRAIT\*\*\*****

Paige pulled onto the highway and headed for the large church parking lot. She knew there would be shade in the back of the lot. If she was lucky enough to catch a slight breeze with the windows rolled down, it should be cool enough to hammer out her report. She felt bad for Mr. and Mrs. Ennis. They didn’t have a lot, and it didn’t make sense for someone to burglarize their home. She had a feeling the suspects were looking for something that wasn’t there. Or it was simply a crime of opportunity.

She backed under a large box elder, rolled down both windows, and adjusted her computer. Twenty minutes later, she saved her work and was about to pull away when Margie’s voice came over the radio.

“We have a burglary in progress,” Margie announced. The instant she relayed the address, Paige took off. The home was just around the corner.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PCS7-MPS.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/E3-The-Portrait.pdf)

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![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/the-backyard-of-a-modern-house-MPSmith.jpg)

Within minutes, Paige was parked in front of the residence. The garage door was wide open, but she couldn’t see anyone inside. “Margie, I’ve arrived. The large overhead door on the garage is open. I’m going inside to look around.” She absently wondered if this could be the same person who burglarized the Ennis residence. If so, she might recover the locket that belonged to Liz’s great grandmother and the pocketknife that was gifted to Jerry’s great, great… too many greats to remember… grandfather by Kit Carson himself. The burglar couldn’t have known the history — and wouldn’t benefit from it, either. He’d need the provenance to capitalize on his good fortune, which was still locked up in the Ennis family safe.

Paige pushed away thoughts of her previous detail and focused on the current burglary. She had to be alert if she wanted to trap the rat inside. She slid from her vehicle and slowly entered the garage. Once she was confident the area was clear, she started for the door that led inside the home. She was reaching for the handle when she heard a noise in the backyard. “Gotcha,” she grinned, pivoted, and bolted out the large opening. After a quick left, she rushed around the side of the house.

There was a wooden fence with a small gate standing wide open. Paige slid through and cautiously walked to the corner of the building. She took a few seconds to look around the backyard, then maneuvered around the corner, sticking close to the back side of the house. When she reached the large deck, she pulled out her flashlight and carefully swept the dark space underneath. It would have made a great hiding place, but she couldn’t see anyone crouched in the corner or hidden under an old piece of plywood. She’d come back later and do a more thorough search. Right now, she needed to investigate inside the house.

Paige silently crept along the side of the deck until she reached the stairs. She took another second to glance around, then cautiously ascended one stair at a time. Once she reached the top she took a step toward the back sliding door — which was currently open, then froze. She heard a noise to her left, but before she could react, a freight train struck her. Okay, it was a body, but the guy was one solid mass of muscle. Paige was still dazed when the man shoved her — hard. She tried to take a step back to regain her footing, but hit the edge of the stairs, lost her balance, and tumbled backward.

Her shoulder hit the railing, her back struck the sharp edge of one step, and her ankle bent at an unnatural angle as she tumbled downward. Finally, her back hit the hard dirt surface of the landing just as the back of her head struck a large post. Paige had a second to realize she was in trouble before she blacked out.

Gage parked in front of the driveway and rushed inside. He couldn’t see Paige or any sign of their suspect. He entered the home through the garage, cleared the residence, but still didn’t find Paige. The instant he stepped onto the large deck, he panicked. Paige was lying at the bottom of the stairs, motionless, and at a strange angle. He ran forward, took the stairs two at a time, and dropped to the ground next to his partner. His hands were shaking when he reached out and tried to find a pulse.

Gage closed his eyes and let out the breath he’d been holding when he felt the throbbing beat under his finger. He wanted to shake her, to demand she wake up, but he knew he couldn’t. If he had to guess, he’d say Paige fell down the stairs, and he didn’t want to risk additional injuries. Instead, he pulled out his walkie and called it in. Once he was confident medical was on the way, he straightened and fastened the walkie to his belt. Then, he glanced around and started to clear beneath the deck when his phone rang.

“Tell me what you know,” Jericho demanded. “I’m on my way, but I might not get there before medical arrives.”

“Not a lot,” Gage admitted. “The burglar is long gone. The house was wide open when I arrived, and I found Paige lying at the bottom of the outside stairs that lead up to the deck. I verified she has a pulse, but she’s out cold.”

“Call me back when they transport her,” Jericho decided. “If I haven’t arrived yet, I’ll change course and head to the hospital.”

“Yes, sir,” Gage frowned. “Uh, what about Dax?”

“I’ll notify him,” Jericho decided. “You focus on Paige.”

“And catching the guy that did this,” Gage added.

“We’ll all focus on catching the guy that did this,” Jericho sighed. “Go take care of Paige. I have a few phone calls to make.”

Jericho disconnected and glanced at his phone. He needed to call Dax and he should probably notify Nathan Porter as well. He just needed a minute to settle. When he heard Paige was unconscious, it was like a punch to the gut. The news knocked the wind out of him for several seconds. He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t move — all he could do was stand there and force air through his nose. Memories of Chaya ran through his mind. Would he lose the daughter as quickly as he lost her mother? The kid was sassy and, more often than not, a pain in the neck, but he loved her like a daughter. He was robbed of the chance to marry Chaya, to develop that close father-daughter relationship he should have had with Paige years ago. But since she moved back to town, they’d rectified that. They were close, they were family, and he couldn’t lose her to some sticky-fingered criminal burglarizing his community.

He glanced at the phone again, sighed heavily, and dialed Dax.

“Hamilton,” Dax punched a button and answered using the speaker option without looking at the display. His attention was on the new lesson plan Hawk and Vato had completed. The new advanced course was only a few months away and it had to be perfect.

“Dax,” Jericho hesitated.

Dax frowned and picked up the receiver. “What happened?”

“Paige has been injured,” Jericho swallowed. “Gage found her lying at the bottom of a section of stairs, unconscious. She’s being transported to the hospital in Gunnison.”

Dax jumped to his feet, worried about Paige and their baby. “I’m on my way,” he said before disconnecting.

“On your way where?” Hawk stepped into the room.

“They’re taking Paige to the hospital.” Dax stepped to the side and tried to get around Hawk, but his friend wouldn’t move.

“How bad?” Hawk sobered.

“I don’t know,” Dax growled. “Get out of my way.”

“No,” Hawk didn’t budge. “I’m driving.”

“I need you to call Grant DeVane and cancel the meeting,” Dax objected.

Hawk reached for Dax’s phone. He punched a button and waited. “Woolly, I need you to cancel today’s meeting with DeVane. In fact, clear the entire afternoon. Yes, I’m sure.”

Within seconds Wooly, Zeus and Vato were standing in the doorway.

“What’s going on?” Zeus demanded.

“I’m driving Dax to Gunnison, to the hospital. Paige has been injured.” Hawk moved past the group and stepped into the hallway.

“I’m coming, too,” Zeus announced. “I’ll meet you there. First, I need to stop by and pick up Carmen.”

“Have her notify Nathan,” Hawk demanded.

“No,” Dax shook his head. “I’ll handle that.”

Once they were on the highway, Dax pulled out his phone and just stared at it for several seconds. Finally, he scrolled through his contacts, looking for Nathan. Before he could initiate the call, his phone rang.

“Dax,” Nathan greeted. “I only have a minute. Sophie and I just landed in Salt Lake. We think we found a home. I know it’s short notice, but do you have a place we could stay tonight?”

“Nathan, I was just about to call. I don’t want you to panic, but Paige has been injured. I’m headed to the hospital right now. I’ll call you back once I know more,” he offered.

“Do you know how serious the injuries are?” Nathan sobered.

“They knocked her out, but it sounds like that’s the worst of it,” Dax warned. “Like I said, I don’t know much. I’m meeting Jericho and Gage at the hospital. If you can give me an hour, I’ll know more. There’s no need for alarm, but I thought you should know. I might not be home tonight, but you’re welcome to crash in the guest room, but you’d probably be more comfortable at Carmen’s old place. I mean the cottage, where you stayed the last time you visited.”

“Let’s play that by ear,” Nathan countered. “I’ll be waiting for your call. We’ll collect our luggage and head that way. Let me know if we should detour to Gunnison or head to the house.”

“I’ll be in touch,” Dax promised.

\*\*\*

Paige opened her eyes and was immediately confused. *Where was she?* She tried to sit up, but realized she was connected to several wires. She yanked on her arm and the wires went taught.

“Paige,” Dax warned.

“Where — what happened?” Paige turned to face Dax. The instant they locked eyes, she could tell he was upset. He was trying to hide it, to keep his emotions behind a neutral mask, but she knew him well enough to know he was stressed.

“You fell down a flight of stairs,” Dax advised.

“No,” Paige tried to focus, to remember exactly what happened. “I walked up the flight of stairs and was looking for my suspect when he rammed into me from the left. I lost my balance and took a step backwards. That’s when he shoved me, and I toppled down the stairs. I don’t remember anything after that.”

“You hit your head on the large post at the bottom of the stairs,” Dax advised.

Paige reached up and ran her finger over the lump on the side of her head. Then her hand flew to her stomach. “What about the baby? Is our baby okay?”

Dax reached out and placed his hand over hers. They sat there for several seconds. “The doctor said everything is fine, but he wants to keep you overnight as a precaution.”

“Is that necessary?” Paige frowned. “I’d rather go home.” She shifted and began rubbing her baby bump. “Can’t you monitor things and make sure we’re okay?”

“You have a concussion,” Dax advised. He began to run his hand gently over her stomach. “They said you should be fine, but he’s being extra cautious because you’re pregnant.”

Paige heard a noise and turned toward the door. Jericho was standing there, frowning.

“How long?” he demanded.

“I —” she locked eyes with Dax. When he gave her a subtle nod, she turned back to Jericho. “Come in and shut the door.”

“How long, Paige?” Jericho demanded.

“I’m not sure,” Paige admitted. “I —”

“I thought your doctor could tell you.” Jericho’s frown deepened. “I heard they were extremely accurate.”

The door opened and a man in a white coat walked in. “She hasn’t seen a doctor.” The man advised. “At least not one I could find. I appear to be the first and I’m dealing with the head, not the pregnancy. I’m here to speak to you about that, Mrs. Hamilton. Can you tell me why there’s no record of an obstetrician in your file?”

“I haven’t found one,” Paige admitted. “I called two, but one said they aren’t taking new patients and the other never called me back.”

“So, you just gave up?” the doctor frowned. “You’re approximately 20 weeks along. At this point, you’re nearly halfway through your pregnancy. You should have been taking prenatal vitamins for weeks. It’s time for your mid-pregnancy ultrasound to make sure everything is going as it should be. If you haven’t already, you will start to feel the baby move and kick. We need to know if the fetus is growing the way it should be and if there are any issues with the infant’s heart and lungs. How do you plan to deal with these things without a regular doctor?”

“I’m working on it,” Paige insisted. “I was thinking I’d call Doctor Seaton and see if he could help.”

“I think that’s an excellent idea,” the doctor nodded. “I’ll contact him immediately and see if he’s available.”

“Oh.” Paige watched the doctor leave the room.

“I’m going to give the two of you a few minutes alone,” Jericho decided. He could see Dax was struggling and he couldn’t blame him. “Paige, you haven’t been taking care of yourself and that needs to change immediately. You’re having a baby. That child needs to come first. Once the doctor releases you, we’re going to have a long talk about your duties and your schedule.”

“What does that mean?” Paige frowned. “I have to do my job.”

“Last I checked, I’m still your boss. That means I decide what your job entails,” Jericho said forcefully. “Things are going to change. You don’t have to like it, but you do have to live with it.”

“Jericho,” Paige sat up. “I don’t want special treatment.”

“Too bad,” Jericho shrugged. “Had I known about the baby, you wouldn’t be lying in that bed right now. You would have been chained to a desk weeks ago.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Paige insisted.

Jericho didn’t have a chance to respond because Nathan and Sophie pushed open the door and stepped inside. Sophie rushed to the bed. Nathan strolled across the room and stopped next to his wife, wrapping an arm around her waist.

“I’ve been telling you for years you have a thick head,” Nathan forced a smile. “Now I have proof.”

“I’ll let you visit with the Porters, but this conversation isn’t over,” Jericho turned toward the door.

Nathan glanced at Dax; he was upset. Paige was frowning, and Jericho looked annoyed. “I think we missed something.”

Paige watched Jericho leave, then turned to Dax. She wanted to ask him how they should handle this but didn’t know how to bring it up.

“Go ahead,” Dax nodded, then turned to stare out the window.

“I have news.” Paige hesitated. “We have news. Um… Dax and I are having a baby.”

“I’m going to be a grandma,” Sophie exclaimed.

“I’ll give the three of you some space while I head down and grab some coffee,” Dax decided. “Do you want anything?”

“We’re good,” Nathan frowned. He watched Dax leave before he turned back to Paige. “He’s upset.”

“Yes,” Paige agreed. “He hasn’t said anything, but I can tell he’s — I don’t know. Not angry, but frustrated — I guess.”

“Can you blame him?” Nathan moved to the window. “I mean, you’re pregnant with his child and you’re lying here in this bed after being attacked by a violent criminal. He’s worried about you, but he’s trying to be supportive.”

Paige thought about the conversation she had with Jericho and realized it didn’t help the situation. In fact, it probably made everything worse. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do about that.”

“You’re supposed to be cautious,” Nathan scolded. “You’re not supposed to be shoved down a flight of stairs and you’re not supposed to let some maniac knock you out cold.”

“Yeah,” Paige frowned. She was annoyed that all of that had happened, but she didn’t know what she could have done differently. Still, deep in her gut; she knew, somehow, she should have prevented it.

“I’m a terrible wife, and an even worse mother,” Paige swallowed hard and stared out the window.

“Nonsense,” Sophie took her hand. “You’re just focused, and you hate change.”

“But you need to get used to it, kid.” Nathan settled onto the couch. “Everything is about to change. You need to be prepared and you need to stop fighting it.”

“Nathan,” Sophie scolded.

“What?” Nathan shrugged. “Paige knows I’m not in the habit of blowing smoke.”

Paige laughed. “Everyone knows that, General Porter.”

“Retired,” he corrected, but grinned.

\*\*\*

Paige descended the stairs and headed for the kitchen. She heard voices and wondered who Dax was talking to this early. When she entered the kitchen, she spotted Nathan and Sophie.

“Paige,” Sophie moved to stand.

“Don’t get up,” Paige brushed her off. She moved to the counter and poured herself a large mug of coffee. Once she had it doctored, she settled in at the table. “What brings you two out so early? Is there a problem with the cottage?”

“It’s nine o’clock,” Nathan frowned. “And the cottage is fine. We’re going to need it for at least a month, but Dax insists it’s not a problem.

“It’s not,” Dax agreed.

“Are you feeling okay?” Sophie frowned.

“I’m fine,” Paige shrugged, but focused on Dax. “Why aren’t you at work?”

“I was just leaving,” Dax stood. “Congratulations.” He pushed back his chair, stood, and started for the door. He only took two steps before he paused, pivoted, pressed a quick kiss to the top of Paige’s head, then left the room.

Paige watched Dax leave, then turned to Nathan and Sophie. “Congratulations?”

“We put an offer on that house we told you about and the owners accepted,” Sophie advised. “We close in ten days. That’s why we’ll need the cottage for so long.”

“That was fast,” Paige sat back. “You’re really going to do this? The two of you are going to move to a small town; away from the rat race; away from the hustle and bustle of the Pentagon, Washington, important committees, and top-secret missions? You’re going to trade it all in for a life of relaxing on the back porch and summer barbeques with our motley crew of militants?”

“I am,” Sophie reached out and took Nathan’s hand. “He’s not.”

Paige frowned. “What does that mean?”

“It means I’m going to work. I’m just moving the committees and the top-secret missions out here,” Nathan admitted.

“How?” Paige looked from Nathan to Sophie.

“For now, I need to spend time in Washington, but once I complete my current project, I’m going to relocate and spend most of my time here,” Nathan admitted. “The new house has a space in the basement that is perfect for a secure workspace. It’s big enough for large screens that will accommodate video conferences, fancy computers I’ll have Carmen set up, and I can move my desk and files out here as well. I’ve also arranged for an office at the NSA building up north. It’s a bit of a drive, but no longer than I had back home.”

“I’m going to spend most of my time out here,” Sophie admitted. “I planned to do that anyway, but now that we know you’re pregnant, I want to be close just in case you need me.”

“We’re going to be grandparents and we want to spoil that kid rotten. You have our support,” Nathan added.

“I’m glad I have someone’s,” Paige mumbled.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Nathan narrowed his eyes at Paige.

“I don’t know,” Paige sighed. “Nothing, I guess.”

“Paige, what’s wrong?” Sophie asked, concerned.

“Dax is acting — I don’t know,” Paige sighed. “He’s acting strange. Not mad, but… annoyed. He’s present, but distant.”

“He’s worried,” Nathan sipped his coffee.

“There’s no reason for him to worry,” Paige objected. “Especially now. Jericho benched me.”

“And that right there,” Nathan pointed. “That’s a big part of the problem. Sure, you’re benched, but you’re pissed about it. If you had your way, you’d be dodging bullets in the middle of the intersection and chasing suspects over a cliff.”

“I don’t chase suspects over cliffs,” Paige objected.

Nathan stared, then raised one eyebrow and waited. “You should probably try that again. And remember, I know all there is to know about your cases, Paige.”

“Fine, but that was years ago,” Paige argued. “Now that I think about it, you’re acting just like Dax. Are you annoyed?”

“I’m worried,” Nathan said flatly. “Dax is worried. And he’s acting distant and out of character because he doesn’t know how to deal with the situation. He’s anxious and afraid. He’s terrified you’re going to get hurt; that the next time someone knocks you out, they’ll finish the job instead of running away. He’s also concerned about the safety of his unborn child. And, even with all of that, he wants to be supportive — and he doesn’t know how to deal with his conflicting feelings.”

“You scared all of us,” Sophie whispered. “You’ve always been tenacious and fearless, but you have a child to think about now. You’re angry that Jericho took matters into his own hands and forced the issue. He took away your control, but he did it for you. He did it for us, and Dax, and himself. He did it for that child that is growing inside of you. Instead of being angry and obstinate about it, you should be grateful he cares enough to look out for you.”

“He cares enough to force me into five months of tedious filing and staring out the window, waiting for the phone to ring,” Paige grumbled.

Nathan laughed. “Jericho knows you, Paige. I’m sure your department has phone reports and unsolved cases you can focus on. He will not waste your talent on filing.”

“Dax knows I’m benched,” Paige returned to the original conversation. “Why is he still worried? And how do I get things back to normal?”

“Be happy.” Sophie took Paige’s hand.

“And if you can’t be happy, pretend.” Nathan finished his coffee and set down his cup. “Stop moping around and stop complaining.”

“Dax and I don’t pretend.” Paige focused out the window. “We—” Paige stopped when Sophie’s phone rang. She didn’t pretend with Dax, and she would not start now. She was pretty sure that would violate some kind of marriage rule. If Nathan was right, and he usually was, she needed to sit down and talk to Dax. They needed to be open and honest and, she had to admit, she needed to act more like a pregnant mother and less like an invincible cop. It was only a few months, she could survive. For the sake of their child, she would stop complaining and accept her limitations. Because Nathan just hit a nerve. If the man that knocked her out the other day wanted her dead, she would be.

“Let me ask her,” Sophie placed her hand over the phone. “Paige, Carmen needs to drive out and pay the last installment on that painting she purchased. I told her I’d love to go; I need to find a large piece to break up the wall in that front living room. Would you like to go with us? It will get you out of the house.”

“Sure,” Paige glanced at her baggy pajama pants and t-shirt. “I need to shower first; do I have time?”

Sophie laughed. “Carmen said she’ll be here in an hour, but unless things have changed drastically, you won’t need over fifteen minutes.”

“She knows me well,” Paige stood. “Tell her to make it thirty. I’ll be ready.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/lake-on-sunsetMPSmith.jpg)

\*\*\*

“How did you even find this place?” Paige stared out the side window. “I patrol this town and I didn’t even know it was here.”

“It’s a small gallery but they have some great stuff,” Carmen opened the door. “The piece I got was kind of expensive. Zeus nearly had a coronary when I told him how much I spent. But he finally agreed because I love it and can’t wait to hang it over our fireplace.”

“Carmen,” Iris Garrett, the owner of the gallery approached the group. “I’m so glad to see you again. And you brought friends.”

“Yes,” Carmen turned to Sophie. “I’d like you to meet Sophie Porter and my best friend, Paige Hamilton.”

“It’s a pleasure.” Iris shook each of their hands. “I assume you’re here for your masterpiece.”

“I’d love to see Carmen’s landscape first,” Sophie glanced around. “Then maybe you could show me around a bit. I just purchased a home and could use a few pieces of my own.”

“That’s great,” Iris glanced over her shoulder. “Katie, I need you to cancel my ten o’clock appointment. Tell him I’ll call him next week.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Katie assured her.

“Follow me.” Iris led them down a long hallway and through a double door.

“You have a lot of beautiful artworks back here,” Sophie glanced around. “Seems like a shame to hide them in a backroom, away from the public’s eye.”

“Eventually, some of these will be rotated into the gallery,” Iris admitted. “Now, here we are.” She stopped in front of a large painting of a beautiful mountain landscape with a scenic lake, pine trees, and rays of sunlight reflecting on the water.

“I can see why you loved it.” Paige stood in front of the image and tried to take it all in.

“Will you be paying the balance today?” Iris asked Carmen.

Before Carmen could answer, Sophie stepped forward. “Actually, I asked Carmen to bring me over today so I could look at what you had to offer. I believe she’ll have the balance to you by next week sometime.”

Carmen stared at the painting. There was something in Sophie’s tone, something that told her to keep quiet and let this play out.

Paige was watching Sophie closely and knew the instant she realized there was a problem with the painting. Sophie had worked for the Smithsonian for years; but before that, she spent a few hours a week at a prestigious gallery in New York. Sophie knew her art and Paige knew Sophie. The woman she thought of as a mother was angry but trying to hide it. Paige continued to silently watch as Sophie maneuvered Iris out of the back room and into the front gallery.

“Do you know what that was about?” Carmen moved beside Paige.

“Not entirely.” Paige moved closer to the painting. “But I have a pretty good idea.”

“Do you plan to fill me in?”

“Not here.” Paige pulled out her phone and took a picture of the mountain scene before she turned toward the door. “Let’s find Sophie and make our escape. I want her to explain why she’s concerned about this painting.”

“I really don’t like the sound of that,” Carmen followed.

“Do you know who the artist is?” Paige pulled open the door and stepped into the long hallway.

“Sure,” Carmen hesitated, glanced over her shoulder at the painting that she loved knowing her dream just went up in smoke, then stepped into the hall and closed the door behind her. “A guy named Drew Raine painted it, why?”

“Drew Raine?” Paige stared at Carmen.

“What?” Carmen demanded.

“Can you tell me what you paid for it?” Paige asked hesitantly.

“Paige, what’s going on?” Carmen demanded.

“If that was a real Drew Raine, it would cost at least a hundred thousand. I know you said Zeus freaked at the price, but I highly doubt you spent that kind of money on a painting.”

“I—” she stopped and swallowed when she saw Sophie and Iris returning.

“I found this lovely piece and couldn’t resist.” Sophie held up her painting. “I bought it. It will go perfectly in that little sunroom off the kitchen, don’t you think?”

“Absolutely,” Paige tried to sound cheerful. “Um, I think we need to head out. Carmen isn’t feeling well. I’m going to help her to the car.” Paige guided Carmen through the front door and into the parking lot. “Breathe.”

“I paid seven thousand dollars for a fake, Paige,” Carmen choked out. “One the FBI will seize, and I won’t ever see again.”

“Sit down,” Paige opened the passenger door and maneuvered Carmen inside. “Give me your keys. I’m driving.”

Tears formed in Carmen’s eyes, and she couldn’t hold them back. “Zeus is going to kill me.”

“He’s not,” Paige disagreed. “Because he’s going to see how devastated you are, and he’s going to pamper you and love you. He’s going to understand — well, until he drives over and murders the gallery owner, that is.”

Carmen let the tears fall. Paige was right, but somehow, that just made everything worse.

“I’ll sit in the back.” Sophie pulled open the door and set the painting on the seat next to her. “Paige, drive up the road then pull over. We need to talk.” She reached up and gave Carmen’s shoulder a gentle squeeze.

Once they were clear of the gallery, Paige pulled to the side of the road in front of an enormous field.

“I’m sorry, Carmen,” Sophie began. “But you purchased a forgery. So did I,” she pointed to the small painting resting on the seat. “I did it willingly, though. I wanted to get it out of that gallery before it was destroyed.”

“You think she’s onto us?” Paige asked, worried. She couldn’t handle this case by herself, but who could she turn it over to? Not Gage. He didn’t know the first thing about art.

“I think she’s a little suspicious, but not too concerned. If we act quickly, I think you can stop her before she truly knows what hit her.”

“I can’t,” Paige considered. “I’ve been benched, remember?”

Carmen didn’t take part in the conversation. She was staring out the window, giant tears running down her face.

Paige reached over and took her friend’s hand. “If I can fix this, I will. I promise,” she gave the hand a quick squeeze before releasing it. “Sparrow was handling some kind of forgery case a few months back. Once Julianna was arrested, he had to rush back to Vegas to act on a new lead. Give me a minute, I need to call him.”

“Good idea,” Sophie considered. “Vegas is close, this could all be connected.”

“I agree,” Paige nodded then greeted her friend.

“This is becoming a habit. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you missed me,” Sparrow joked.

“Are you still working that forgery case?” Paige got right to the point.

“I am, why?” Sparrow asked cautiously.

“Carmen purchased a painting that was sold as a Drew Raine landscape,” Paige advised. “It’s not a Raine painting. It’s a forgery. Sophie also purchased a painting today. It too is a forgery, but the gallery owner passed that one off as a Reginald King.”

“Do they know you’re onto them?” Sparrow’s mind was reeling. This could be the break he’d been looking for in his own case.

“Sophie said suspicious, maybe cautious, but not spooked,” Paige advised.

“I need you to secure that painting,” Sparrow decided. “The one Sophie purchased. Where is the painting Carmen bought?”

“She’s still paying it off,” Paige admitted. “We went out to give the owner the balance and take possession of the painting, but Sophie stopped us. We all know, Carmen might be out the money she spent, and Sophie didn’t want her to lose even more funds on a worthless fake.”

“Alright,” Sparrow sat back. “Can you book the painting that belongs to Sophie? I’ll be there tomorrow afternoon to deal with the fraudulent Raine. Does your boss know you called me in?”

“Not yet,” Paige admitted. “I’ll book the painting and fill Jericho in on the rest. We’ll see you tomorrow sometime. I need to go.”

“Sounds good,” Sparrow hesitated. “I don’t know how you fall into this stuff, but I’m always glad you do.”

Paige dropped Sophie off first. When she got to Carmen’s house, Zeus was waiting. Paige smiled, knowing Carmen was in excellent hands. “Go talk to your man. Everything is going to be okay, Carmen. I promise. Just don’t let him kill Iris. Sparrow needs her alive.”

Carmen just nodded and climbed from the car.

“I’ll get Dax to shuttle the car back tonight,” Paige called out the window, before she backed out of the driveway. She’d only gone a block when she spotted a *For Sale* sign. On impulse, she pulled to the side of the road, shut down the engine and climbed out of the vehicle. She walked the property for nearly twenty minutes before she slid behind the wheel and headed home.

\*\*\*

Dax stepped through the door and spotted Paige immediately. “You ready to head out and shuttle Zee’s car?”

“I guess he filled you in on everything that happened with the painting,” Paige stood.

“He did,” Dax held the door for her and took a step back.

Paige stopped directly in front of Dax, gripped his shirt in her hand, and kissed him. At first, he hesitated, but within seconds he deepened the kiss and pulled her tighter against him.

“Better,” Paige stepped back. “Now, I’m ready to shuttle the car. I thought we could grab something quick for dinner while we’re out.”

“I got sandwiches already,” Dax shut and locked the door. “I’ll follow you over.”

Paige was nervous all the way to their friend’s house, but she couldn’t decide if she was nervous to see Carmen or the conversation she needed to have with Dax. Once she pulled into the driveway, she approached the front door, still worried about Carmen. The woman loved that painting, and her heart was broken, knowing the forgery would be confiscated, and eventually destroyed. She rang the bell and waited. It didn’t take long.

Zeus slid the door open and thanked her for the car and the keys.

“How is she doing?” Paige wondered.

“She understands, but she’s devastated,” Zeus admitted. “The silly woman thought I’d be angry with her.”

“She loves you,” Paige shrugged. “Anyway,” she glanced over her shoulder at Dax waiting in the car. “I’ll call her tomorrow. We’ll help her through this. All you have to do is find another painting she loves just as much.”

“Right,” Zeus frowned. “Like that’s possible.”

“It is,” Paige assured him. “And I’ll help you.”

“Go spend time with your man,” Zeus nodded to Dax. “He’s —”

“I know,” Paige cut him off. “Call if you need anything.” Paige turned and made her way to the waiting vehicle. Once Dax pulled onto the roadway, Paige started her pitch. “Can you pull over, right up there,” she pointed to the side of the road and the sign.

Dax pulled over, spotted the sign and glanced at Paige.

“Are you up for a short walk?” she asked.

“Sure,” Dax rounded the vehicle and stopped in front of Paige, who had climbed out without him. “You’re supposed to wait for me.”

“Not tonight,” she reached for his hand and led him onto the property. “I spotted this lot when I left Carmen this morning. I stopped to look around and wanted you to see it.”

“Because?” Dax smiled inwardly. He was pretty sure he knew what Paige wanted.

“It’s not perfect,” Paige turned to face the road and the city below. “I’d like a little better view but property in this area doesn’t come up for sale often. I — well, I’m wondering what you think. I know you’re happy in our home and I love my mom’s little house, but I just think we should consider the future — and space, once the baby comes.”

“It’s not bad,” Dax agreed. He moved behind Paige and wrapped her in his arms. “You know, even when we’re off; somehow, we’re always in sync.”

“What does that mean?” Paige leaned against him and relaxed, loving the way she felt in his arms.

Dax kissed her temple, took her hand and led her back to the truck. “Now, I want to show you something.”

Paige frowned but let him guide her back into his truck. He headed back toward Carmen’s but passed their property and pulled onto an overgrown dirt path that led into a field full of weeds and wildflowers. “What are we doing?”

“I’ve been looking into this place for a few months now,” Dax confessed. “Even before you told me about the baby. I think it was after that whole mess with Julianna. Anyway, the property is owned by a family trust. Wooly did the legwork, but I finally got ahold of the owner last week. He referred me to their lawyer and long story short; they’re willing to sell. The price is a little high but not too excessive.” He led her to the spot where he wanted to build their dream home, pulled her into his arms and turned her so her back was against his chest. “What do you think of this view?”

“It’s stunning,” Paige admitted. “How high? Can we afford it?”

Dax whispered the asking price into her ear before he pressed a gentle kiss to her neck.

“We can do that,” Paige considered. “It is a little on the high side, but not overt. For this, I’m willing to pay a little extra. Plus, we’ll be close to Carmen and Zeus. If they’re able to—” she stopped.

“I know they’ve been trying,” Dax tightened his grip around her. “Zee told me. It might take a little time, but soon we’ll have a little Carmen or a miniature Zee running around the neighborhood.”

“I agree. I’d like our kids to be neighbors. We both know they’re going to be great friends.” Paige glanced around. “Do you think we could stay here, maybe have a picnic dinner with those sandwiches you bought?”

“I’ll be right back,” Dax stepped away. “Walk around and check the place out. Once we get settled, I’ll tell you what I envision, and you can see if you agree, or if you want something entirely different.”

Paige watched him jog back to the truck before she walked the area. She might have a few changes, but she knew her vision and Dax’s vision would be similar. Dax was right, even when they were off — they were still in sync. A feeling of peace washed over her. They were going to be okay. She’d have that difficult discussion with him, and they’d work things out and get back on track. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that Dax had a blanket spread out over the weeds and he’d placed a bag and two paper cups on a small board at the edge. She headed back and settled across from him on the blanket.

“How did Jericho take the news that you stumbled onto a new case?” Dax tried to keep the worry out of his voice but was afraid he failed miserably.

“From that tone, I’d say about as well as you did,” Paige studied him. “I’m not getting involved. I told Jericho that as well. I called Sparrow in. He’s been working a forgery ring in Vegas and I’m pretty sure this has to be connected somehow.”

“Because coincidence is hooey,” Dax grinned.

“Exactly,” Paige nodded.

“The boss was okay with you calling in the feds again?”

“Jericho mumbled some nonsense about chaining me to my desk, then agreed contacting Sparrow was the right call,” Paige picked up her sandwich. “I’m going to eat this, then you and I are going to talk.”

Dax watched her and wondered how he could explain the turmoil he’d been experiencing since he got Jericho’s call informing him Paige was headed to the hospital.

They ate in silence. Once they finished, Paige gathered up the garbage and slid it into the small bag before she set it aside. “Now for the hard part. I scared you. I know that.”

“Paige,” Dax objected.

“No,” Paige put a finger over his mouth. “I need to say this. I know what happened scared you, because it scared me. Before going to the hospital, I didn’t think twice about doing my job. When Jericho benched me, I was furious. Not because I was benched, not really. But because I didn’t have a say. If he talked to me, asked for my input, I would have come to the same conclusion and suggested the same solution. I can sit at my desk for the next few months. I need to take a step back and I have. I stumbled onto a crime today, but I handed it off. I called Sparrow immediately. I’m trying, Dax, but I need you. I need your support, because I can’t do this without you.”

“You have it,” Dax pulled her into his lap. “I love you, babe. I’m trying to support you but —”

“But you’re worried,” Paige kissed him. “Worried about me and worried about our child. I know. I’m going to be careful; I promise. And I’ll try not to complain too much.”

“Now, that would make me worry.”

“Shut up,” Paige laughed.

Dax leaned forward and kissed her again. He pushed aside the worry and the stress and focused on his love for this amazing woman.

Moments later, Paige leaned back, breathless and a little shaken from the intensity of that kiss. “Um, we should probably stop trespassing on some random family’s property.”

“Right,” Dax stood and held out his hand for her. “Let’s clean this up, then I want to walk around and tell you about my vision for this place. If you agree, we’ll contact the seller and buy the property immediately.”

“I already know I agree,” Paige let Dax lead her around the area. “I want this place. Our vision might change, or get altered slightly, but I love the view, I love the area, and I want it.”

“As you wish,” Dax pulled her into a hug.

“You and your movie references,” Paige smiled. “At least it wasn’t an eighties rock band moment.”

“That could be arranged,” Dax laughed. “So, will Jericho let you help with the forgery case?”

Paige stiffened.

“I think he should,” Dax smiled took her hand and started for the truck. “You have mad investigative skills. He should use them.”

“But I thought —”

“You thought I wanted to lock you up in a padded room until after our baby was born,” Dax helped her into the truck. “I don’t. I just need you to be safe. I think both is possible, if you’re careful. And you just promised me you would be careful. I trust you.” He shut the door and headed for the driver’s side. Paige was still staring at him when he started the engine. “What?”

“You are so getting lucky tonight,” she smiled and took his hand.

“I look forward to it,” Dax relaxed. “Before we get to that. I saw Jericho and Harper today. They were having lunch at the park. Do you think they worked things out?”

“I hope so,” Paige settled into her seat. “It was stupid of them to break up over something as basic and ordinary as a background investigation. Honestly, what’s the big deal? We’ve both had a dozen of them performed on us over the years.”

“I —” Dax hesitated. “Well, I should probably tell you I had Hawk do a pretty thorough check on Harper. She passed, but he uncovered some things I’m not sure Jericho or his PI looked into.”

“What?” Paige frowned.

“Harper was married,” Dax told her. “And the idiot wasn’t a nice guy.”

“Abusive?” Paige frowned; Jericho should have found that.

“Not that I can tell,” Dax sighed. “Hawk didn’t find any police reports or hospital visits. She has a kid with the guy, the son is an adult and attending college in Texas. He did a cursory on him, but the son seems like a good kid. Anyway, the dad, the guy Harper married is a narcissist. He runs a successful business, but everyone hates him. He’s arrogant and controlling. I suspect that’s the reason Harper freaked out when she realized Jericho had a friend run her. It hit too close to home.”

“I have to tell Jericho,” Paige decided. “He’ll overreact when he learns you ran Harper, but he needs to know about her past. He needs to understand the situation, and he needs to avoid doing something like that in the future.”

“I’ll tell him,” Dax decided. “I had Hawk do the run, I’ll confess my crime and take my lumps.”

“We’ll tell him,” Paige corrected. “We’re a team, we’ll talk to him together.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Dax pulled into their driveway and parked his truck.

The two of them walked inside, both looking forward to the rest of the evening. Both determined to reconnect and get back to normal.

\*\*\*

“It’s the same,” Sparrow stepped back from the painting and focused on Paige. “You accomplished something I haven’t been able to.”

“What’s that?”

“Identified a gallery selling fake pieces,” Sparrow settled into a chair and gave her a weary look. “With this painting, I can get a warrant for the rest.”

“I know,” Paige said in understanding. “Carmen will be okay. Just put her on the list for restitution. She’s upset, but she knows how it works. Zeus will find her another painting; one she loves even more — and he’s willing to spend any amount of money to do it. She’ll be fine.”

“It’s a beautiful landscape,” Sparrow studied the image Paige took with her phone. “I can understand why she fell in love with it.”

“So, you get the warrant and seize the property,” Paige changed the subject. “Feel free to store the evidence here until you can transport it.”

“I need you with me,” Sparrow studied her. “I want your eyes and ears and… well, I need your intuition.”

“The boss won’t go for it,” Paige objected. “Jericho wants me chained to this desk.”

“I think the gallery is safe enough,” Jericho stepped into the conference room. “Agent Sparrow.”

“Sir,” Sparrow moved to shake Jericho’s hand. “I’d like Paige to accompany me while I serve a warrant on the gallery if you don’t object.”

“We’ll both go,” Jericho decided. “If that gallery is linked to your case in Vegas, I want to know. I don’t like the idea of big city criminals taking advantage of my town to operate their underground business.”

“I don’t suppose you do,” Sparrow retrieved his phone. “I need a few minutes to get the warrant started. We have nothing that links the two cases yet, but hopefully the warrant will give us something we can work with.”

“I’m sure it will,” Paige turned to Jericho.

“Before we talk about whatever you have on your mind,” Jericho settled into the chair next to her. “Lovato just called. They caught your burglar. The neighbor had security and their camera caught a clear shot of the vehicle and a decent shot of the suspect. The boys have been working night and day to track the man down and they cornered him around four this morning. He’s locked up tight and won’t be going anywhere for the foreseeable future.”

“That’s a relief,” Paige relaxed. “I wasn’t worried, I mean he had the chance to hurt me if he wanted to but instead, he ran.”

“But knowing he’s no longer out there is a comfort,” Jericho nodded. “I have Gage and Dean scouring pawn shops looking for property. I understand Liz and Jerry lost property that is irreplaceable. Hopefully, one of the men will find the Ennis’ property in their sweep.”

“I hope so. Thanks, Jericho. I know you put pressure on the guys to drop everything and work this case, because you wanted to give me closure. It wasn’t necessary, but it’s appreciated.” Paige was truly grateful they caught the burglar so quickly. He didn’t worry her, but knowing he was locked up, did give her comfort.

“I didn’t have to put pressure on anyone,” Jericho disagreed. “Your fellow officers were livid when they found out what happened. They wanted justice and they were determined to get that man off the streets and into a cell where he belongs. I just gave them the flexibility to get the job done.”

“Then thank you for being flexible,” Paige reiterated. “Anyway, are you free for dinner? Dax plans to throw a couple steaks on the grill. We have plenty and would love you to come over.”

“Sounds good,” Jericho glanced through the door and confirmed Sparrow was still on the phone. “I’m not chaining you to the desk, Paige. I plan to utilize you in the best way possible but still keep you safe. It’s going to be difficult to balance your safety with the needs of the department, but I believe it’s possible. That means, you work this case. I doubt the gallery owner will come out shooting or take you hostage over this. It’s always possible, but not probable. We’ll help your Fed and send him back to Vegas before he demands his own desk in my store. First Wilkens, now the dashing pirate. What next?”

“I know,” Paige grinned. “Interagency cooperation is so overrated.”

 “And don’t think you get to sit around doing nothing for months, once this case is over. I’ll know if you start milking your condition to try to get special perks from me or pampered girly treatment from my men.”

“Milking my condition?” Paige grinned. “I think the whole milking thing comes later, once the baby is born and gets hungry.”

“No,” Jericho held up a hand. “We are not talking about that and I’m giving you a direct order to keep all of that private stuff private when you’re working.”

“Killjoy,” Paige grinned. “Any luck?” she asked Sparrow when he stepped back into the room.

“I have one of my men working on it,” Sparrow settled back in a chair. “Also, Special Agent Dixon eliminated another one of the galleries last night. We’ve narrowed it down to two. With any luck, the warrant will help with that. We might be able to connect your gallery out here with one of our possible targets in Vegas.”

“How does that help you?” Jericho wondered.

“It should help narrow down our suspect,” Sparrow admitted. “We discovered the forgeries when a wealthy client complained to our SAC. He was embarrassed when he learned he’d been conned. We’re also confident the mastermind is working in Vegas. He’s the one finding the clients, but we haven’t been able to identify him.”

“You say him,” Paige observed. “You’re sure it’s a man?”

“I’m sure our Vegas suspect is a man,” Sparrow advised. “Our victims dealt with a male — all of them dealt with a man.”

“Then why can’t you narrow down your suspect? Can’t they identify which gallery owner they dealt with?” Paige wondered.

“No,” Sparrow sighed. “They never visited the gallery. They received a phone call after attending a prestigious event. The caller said they met the night before but none of my victims actually remembered meeting a gallery owner. The man is elusive and very careful. He claimed they talked about art, and he was following up. The victims talked about art at the event with numerous people, all of them are collectors. They admitted to me they thought the initial contact was strange, but not unusual. The man dangled a rare acquisition under their nose, and they couldn’t resist.”

“How did they make the exchange?” Jericho wondered.

“They arrived at an office space that the suspect rented for the day. The location was never the same. He’d set up an official-looking office and hire a temporary secretary. Then, he’d call and say he was called away on an emergency, but his secretary could handle the transaction. The unsuspecting, temporary secretary handled the exchange and left the money inside the desk. The following morning, the office was gone, and the money had disappeared.”

“He’s been doing this a long time,” Paige decided. “He may have gotten caught in the past and put safeguards in place to make sure he doesn’t get caught again.”

“Maybe,” Sparrow shrugged. “Or he’s paranoid.”

“Just because he’s paranoid, doesn’t mean we’re not after him,” Paige grinned.

“We tried the normal techniques, but nothing has worked,” Sparrow said, clearly frustrated. “He’s a ghost.”

“What about the temps?” Jericho wondered. “Could they identify him or give a description? What about the temp agency? They should have records.”

“He doesn’t use one,” Sparrow admitted. “We haven’t figured out how he finds the secretaries, but they disappear as quickly as the money.”

Paige sat back and tried to think of another way to track the elusive criminal, but nothing came to mind. “Vegas is warm, could the women he employs be homeless and desperate for quick cash? Or maybe they’re struggling performers living from day to day trying to get a job at one of the casinos.”

“He could hire them as performers,” Jericho surmised. “It could be a job; one performance and they don’t know it’s real.”

Sparrow frowned. He hadn’t thought of that.

“It’s worth looking into,” Paige added. “And I think Carmen would jump at the chance to help. She feels like a victim. I think it would do her good to get involved.”

“It wouldn’t hurt,” Sparrow decided. “On a surface level, anyway. Carmen can’t be directly involved in the case, it taints things. She’s now a victim, but running backgrounds, tracking performers, I think I can justify that.”

“I’ll call her,” Paige stood and left the room. By the time she returned, Sparrow had his warrant.

“I’ll meet you there,” Sparrow decided. “There could be a lot of evidence and I’d like an extra vehicle just in case.”

“I’ll drive,” Jericho motioned for Paige to join him. “And I’ll have Logan bring the large evidence truck.”

\*\*\*

They pulled into the parking lot and waited for Sparrow to take the lead. He straightened his shoulders and strolled through the front door.

Paige stepped into the foyer and glanced around. The only person inside the gallery was the secretary from the day before. “Hello, I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Paige. I think Iris said your name was Katie.”

“Yes,” Katie looked from Paige to Sparrow to Jericho. “Can I help you with something?”

“I’m Special Agent Sparrow,” the agent took control of the situation immediately.

“Oh,” Katie looked at Paige, clearly nervous.

“I have a warrant to search the area and seize all of the property listed in that document and anything else out in the open that pertains to my case,” Sparrow handed her a copy. “Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Katie swallowed. “Well, no.” She glanced at the warrant. “Are you looking for something specific? Um — should I call someone?”

“I’ve got this,” Paige motioned for Sparrow to proceed. “The landscape is in the back room. Just follow that hallway and take the last door on the left.”

“Wait,” Katie stood. “That painting belongs to Carman Boudin. She’s nearly paid for it in full. You can’t just take it.”

“It’s evidence in a police investigation,” Paige motioned for Katie to sit. “Carman is aware of the situation.”

Katie watched Jericho and Agent Sparrow disappear down the hall. “I don’t know what to do. Can you help me?”

“Is Iris here today?” Paige felt sorry for the girl. She was coming across as innocent and Paige didn’t think she was involved in the forgery — or the fraud.

“No,” Katie frowned. “Did she know this was going to happen? She —” Katie glanced down the hall again. “Iris was supposed to be here today, but she called in, early this morning, and said she had to meet with a client. She said she was going out of town, and I wouldn’t be able to reach her until tomorrow.”

“I don’t think she knew,” Paige considered that. Did Iris know something was off? Maybe. She had a feeling yesterday that the woman was suspicious. Maybe she did a little research and fled. It wouldn’t be hard to discover Sophie was married to the infamous general, and that Paige was a cop.

“What did Iris do yesterday, after we left?” Paige questioned.

“Um,” Katie furrowed her brow. “Nothing, not really. She went into the office and made a couple phone calls, but other than that, nothing. Everything seemed normal. Why?”

“As you probably realized,” Paige pulled up a chair. “I’m a cop, Katie. Can you tell me your last name?”

“Thompson,” Katie whispered. “Am I in trouble?”

“Why do you ask that?” Paige sat back.

“Well,” Katie looked down the hall again. “Um, that guy said he’s an agent… a Special Agent.”

“He’s not really that special,” Paige smiled. “He works for the FBI. They all think they’re special but that’s just a title, like deputy or officer.”

“Oh,” Katie closed her eyes, still upset. “FBI?”

“Yes,” Paige nodded.

“You didn’t say if I was in trouble,” Katie pushed.

“Do you know what’s going on here?” Paige decided to be direct. They both looked up when Jericho and Sparrow approached their desk carrying Carmen’s painting.

“I need to load this in the back of the truck,” Sparrow paused. “Then, I’ll come back and leave you a receipt for it.”

“Okay,” Katie glanced at Paige then focused on Sparrow. “Um, Iris has an attorney. Do you think I should call him?”

“Up to you.” Sparrow shrugged absently and moved toward the door.

Katie frowned and chewed on her bottom lip.

“Katie,” Paige drew her attention again. “Do you know what’s going on here?”

“Not really,” Katie sighed. “I um, well Iris gave me a job when I needed one. She’s my aunt — sort of.”

“What does that mean?” Paige pulled out a recorder. “I’d like to record this. Do you mind?”

“I guess not,” Katie glanced at the recorder then focused out the window and watched the men load the expensive painting into the back of a large box truck that had just arrived.

Paige hit record. She started with the date, time and location of the interview, then gave her name and Katie’s information. “Katie, you are employed by Garrett Gallery, is that correct?”

“Yes,” Katie glanced at the recorder then focused on Paige.

“Before we started the recording, you mentioned that Iris Garrett is sort of your aunt. You were about to explain what that meant. Are you still willing to talk to me about the situation here at the gallery?”

Katie hesitated and considered, then she made a decision. “I am.”

“Okay, good,” Paige nodded. “Tell me about your connection to Iris.”

“My father died when I was ten. My mom struggled for a while; and, well — she’s currently on her fifth marriage. I think this one might actually work out. Jason adores her and they seem really happy. That wasn’t the case with Brian — Brian Garrett. Iris is Brian’s sister. There have been a lot of men in my mom’s life. Brian was one of them. Mom and Iris became friends during that brief marriage, and they’ve maintained contact for some reason. Anyway, I recently graduated, and I needed a job. Mom knew Iris owned this gallery, and she called in a favor. Iris hired me to work the front desk until I can find something that better suits me.”

“What does that mean?” Paige wondered.

“Iris did mom a favor, but she treats me like I’m an idiot,” Katie admitted. “She knows I have a degree in accounting, she knows I could help her and free up some of her time, but she won’t let me touch the books.”

“But you did?” Paige saw something in Katie’s eyes, but she couldn’t decipher it.

“No,” Katie looked away.

“You need to be honest with me,” Paige pushed. “I can help you, but you need to be honest.”

“I saw something,” Katie knew her mom was going to be angry, but she couldn’t protect Iris from illegal activity. Hopefully, her mom would understand. She taught Katie to be honest and responsible. And that meant Katie could not lie to a cop or the FBI guy. She had a duty and an obligation to report what she knew.

“Something that concerned you?” Paige wondered.

“I don’t — I guess,” Katie decided. “It was just something that didn’t add up. I got curious, and I started paying attention to the invoices.”

“From customers?” Paige wondered. “Here locally?”

“No,” Katie shook her head. “Iris has customers she deals with from out of town. I think she does that business off the books.”

Paige studied Katie. She was being forthcoming, but it seemed too easy. Why was this woman ratting out her former aunt? A woman that gave her a job when she needed one. “What makes you think she operates off the books?”

“That’s not what you really want to ask,” Katie observed. “You want to know why I’m telling you about it.”

“Okay,” Paige agreed. “Why are you telling me about it?”

“Because I saw an invoice that was questionable last week,” Katie explained. “I asked a generic question about it and Iris freaked out. She didn’t just get upset, she totally freaked. So, I started to dig, but I almost got caught. I decided to wait until I was alone to find answers. This morning, once I knew Iris wasn’t coming into the office, I dug a little deeper. I found a second set of books in her office, and I was sitting here trying to decide what to do about that when you guys marched in with a warrant. I’m not going to jail for Iris Garrett. I don’t even like her — she fooled mom, just like her brother Brian did. But she’s bad news, and I don’t want to get caught up in any of this. Whatever it is.”

It made sense, sort of. Paige studied Katie. “Where are the books? The second set?”

“I left them in her office,” Katie motioned to a closed door. “They’re in the bottom left drawer. There’s a hidden compartment. You trip the latch from the top drawer. There’s a tiny nub in the front. Press the little trigger thing, then open the bottom drawer. Once you do, the hidden compartment will slide open, and you’ll find the books.”

“And the regular books?” Paige asked. “Do you know where we can find those?”

“Iris keeps a ledger on her desk,” Katie answered immediately.

“Alright,” Paige looked up when Sparrow and Jericho stepped back inside.

“Jericho, can you sit with Katie?” Paige stood. “Sparrow, I need you to come with me.”

“We still have two additional paintings I need to load in the truck,” Sparrow objected.

“That can wait,” Paige headed for the office.

“This better be important,” Sparrow grumbled behind her,

Paige moved to the desk and followed Katie’s directions. “I’d say you probably want that.” She grinned at the ledger that dropped from the hidden compartment.

“How did you know?” Sparrow moved forward and took the book.

“Katie found it,” Paige pointed to the ledger on the desk. “That’s the public, or official ledger. This one is the second set, the private underground set.”

“The one that might contain the name of the man I’m looking for,” Sparrow took the book and slid it into an evidence bag. “Anything else I should know?”

“I don’t think Katie is involved,” Paige glanced through the window. “She’s smarter than Iris gave her credit for, and I think, if we hadn’t arrived when we did, she would have paid me a visit at the office.”

“Why?” Sparrow glanced at Katie.

“She saw something that didn’t make sense to her,” Paige explained. “She’s an accounting major, and she saw an invoice she wasn’t supposed to see. When she asked about it, Iris jumped down her throat. Katie waited until today, when Iris said she was going to be out all day, and went digging. She found those books and was trying to decide what to do when we arrived.”

“You believe her?” Sparrow asked.

“I do,” Paige decided. “I’ll let you listen to the recording but I’m not seeing anything deceitful or suspicious about her. I think she’s nervous, and she wants to be honest. That has made her more forthcoming than usual, but maybe she’s just a straightforward person and is trying to do the right thing.”

“I’m always suspicious of people trying to do the right thing,” Sparrow admitted. “I wonder if that says more about me than it does them.”

“Join the club,” Paige grinned. “I had the same reaction once she started talking. She called me out. She’s smart and perceptive, but not in a clever like a fox underhanded way.”

“You like her,” Sparrow realized.

“I think I do,” Paige admitted. “I also feel sorry for her. I don’t think she realizes it yet, but she’s going to be unemployed as soon as you find her boss.”

“Does she have any suggestions on that front?”

“Nope,” Paige shrugged. “I can’t do your entire job for you, can I?”

Sparrow silently glared — and waited.

“Okay, I do have something,” Paige admitted. “Katie said Iris called this morning, said she had an unexpected meeting and would be out of town all day.”

“Do you think she went to Vegas?” Sparrow pulled out his phone.

“I’d watch the two galleries you suspect,” Paige decided. “I think we made her nervous, and she rushed to Nevada to hook up with her partner,”

“Give me a minute,” Sparrow punched a button then began barking out orders. Moments later, he slid the phone back into his pocket and glanced around. “I think the books will help us and they’re covered in the warrant. I need to grab two more forgeries from the back, they’re identical to paintings purchased by two of my victims. Then, I need to lock this place down and bring in a team.”

“Let’s go deliver the bad news,” Paige headed for the door, Sparrow followed her out.

Sparrow approached Katie and began a muffled conversation. Paige held back, glanced at the paintings hanging on the wall and moved to get a better look.

“Anything I need to know?” Jericho stepped up behind her.

“Not really,” Paige glanced over her shoulder. “Sparrow has two sets of books to go through and you guys found a couple additional paintings in the back. I think that about covers it. Oh, and Iris said she was going out of town, so Sparrow has his guys in Vegas watching for her.”

“Sounds like things are pretty well covered,” Jericho moved forward and studied a western style painting. “Sparrow, you’ll want to take this one, too.”

“Which one?” Sparrow joined them.

“This is not a Remington,” Jericho motioned to the image a few feet away.

“Good eye,” Sparrow lifted the painting off the wall. “I think we’re going to find several others scattered throughout this place. I’m locking it down. I have a team on the way. Oh, and by the way, my men just apprehended Iris Garrett. She’s not talking, but we’ll figure out who her partner is before the night is over.”

Paige moved back to Katie. “Did he explain the situation?”

“By that you mean, did he explain that my sort of aunt just got arrested and this place is a crime scene?” Katie wondered.

“Yeah, that’s what I mean,” Paige watched Katie, then smiled when the woman grinned and let out a long, frustrated sigh.

“So much for an easy job to get me by,” Katie stood. “I can walk you through and point out the paintings I believe are questionable.”

“You knew they were forged?” Paige frowned, maybe she misjudged this woman after all.

“No,” Katie ran a frustrated hand through her hair. “But now that I know, I can pick them out in a few seconds. I spotted the Remington. There’s another one over here I think you’ll want to take.” She moved quickly across the room, but her movements were clunky, and Paige could see the situation was taking a toll. “For the life of me, I can’t understand why she’d forge other people’s work. Iris was talented. She taught me everything I know about painting. And she was good. I mean, you could hang her stuff in this gallery good.”

“You paint?” Paige perked up. “What kind of work do you do?”

“Mostly landscapes,” Katie reached the far wall and pointed to another painting that was labeled as Raine’s work.

“Katie,” Paige studied the painting. “Do you think your aunt painted these?”

“I do,” Katie looked at the floor. “I should have known, but I swear I didn’t. It’s just — well, she was secretive and would never show me any of her current work. I knew she was painting; I could tell from the turpentine and the specks on her shoes. They were fresh,” she added when Paige just stared at her.

“Sparrow,” Paige called out.

“What now?” Sparrow emerged with his phone pressed against his ear. “Another one?” He glanced at the painting and dragged it from the wall.

“Yes,” Paige said impatiently. “But that’s not why I called you over. Katie thinks Iris is the forger.”

“Iris is a painter?” Sparrow focused on Katie. “Do you have any examples of her work?”

“Um,” Katie considered. “Yes, come with me.” She led them to an indistinct door at the end of the hallway. “This leads upstairs,” Katie explained. “There’s an attic that Iris used for storage.” Katie reached above the door and retrieved a key.

“Not the smartest hiding spot,” Paige grumbled under her breath.

“I don’t think she believed anyone would ever break in,” Katie pushed open the door and ascended the staircase. “She told me if I was caught up here, she’d fire me. Since I’m already out of a job—” She let the sentence trail off.

“Maybe you should stay here,” Sparrow glanced at Paige’s midsection.

“Who told you?” Paige demanded.

“I asked Jericho,” Sparrow grinned. “He didn’t exactly confirm it, but he confirmed it.”

“I’m fine,” Paige followed them up the stairs.

At the top, Katie paused to turn on the lights, then gasped when she saw the easels full of partially completed paintings. “Um, I think my mom might kill me.”

“You need to leave,” Sparrow moved forward to protect the evidence.

“I’m not going to do anything,” Katie frowned. “Iris stores her stuff over there,” Katie pointed to the far end of the attic.

“I’ll escort her down,” Paige offered. “And I’ll let Jericho know we’re still going to need the truck.”

\*\*\*

Several hours later, Paige and Jericho were sitting in the conference room studying the ledgers that were removed from the gallery.

“You know,” Jericho sat back. “I was just thinking —”

“That’s dangerous,” Paige interrupted.

“I was recalling the number of times I’ve been stuck in this chair, at this table, going through someone’s books on one of your cases — and it hit me,” Jericho ignored her.

“What hit you?” Paige frowned, knowing whatever followed would not be a compliment.

“I have gone over more books, more ledgers, and more spreadsheets since I hired you than I dealt with in my entire life pre-Paige Carter.”

“Yeah,” Paige grinned. “Welcome to my world.”

“I’m pretty sure that was my point,” Jericho grumbled. “And I was looking forward to a nice juicy steak tonight.”

“It’s getting late,” Sparrow stepped into the room. “We have a ton of evidence against Iris Garrett and; thanks to you two, we finally discovered who her partner is. Thanks for dealing with that mess for me. I had my hands full coordinating things in Vegas from up here.”

“Was it one of the guys you suspected?” Paige stood.

“Yes,” Sparrow grinned. “I knew that guy was dirty, I just couldn’t prove it. They apprehended Martin Delano having dinner with a beautiful blonde at the Top of the World Restaurant. My men tell me he was extremely surprised to be caught. I suspect the woman was his next victim, or at least he was grooming her to be. And, I hate to admit this, but Jericho was right. Iris confirmed Martin hired struggling actresses and told them they were filming a commercial — or a one-day production of some kind. I think he deliberately picked women that were a little —”

“Ditzy?” Paige wondered. “Figures. Is he talking?”

“He’s singing, but he’s blaming Iris for all of it,” Sparrow rolled his eyes. “He’s playing the unsuspecting partner that got duped and knew nothing about the con. He wants us to believe he was completely in the dark.”

“Will it work?” Paige wondered.

“Nope,” Sparrow grinned. “Once we combine the evidence you two found in those ledgers with what we already had, that man’s goose is cooked. Sheriff, you should give this one a raise. She just closed a case that was driving me crazy for months.”

“Not an option,” Jericho stood. “But I will let her buy me dinner. We were just heading over to her place. That husband of hers promised to grill some steaks.”

“I’m in,” Sparrow turned to Paige. “If that’s okay.”

“It’s fine,” Paige pulled out her phone to call Dax and warn him they were heading home. “We have plenty. Once the grilling starts, our neighbors usually swarm. We’ve found it’s best to be prepared.”

“I’ll drive,” Sparrow motioned for them to head out. “I need to find a hotel where I can crash for the night, before I join you. And it’s going to be an early morning. I doubt I’ll see you before I leave.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Paige grabbed her stuff and headed for the door. “Crash in our guest room. It’s open.”

“The bureau —” Sparrow began.

“You’re crashing at my place,” Paige insisted. “I’ll see you there in five — both of you.”

“More like fifteen,” Jericho pulled his door shut. “Don’t argue with her. It’s futile.”

“That’s one thing I remember from her Bureau days,” Sparrow shrugged. “See you at her place.”

\*\*\*

Sparrow settled onto the chair next to Paige. “Dinner went well, but the boss seemed a bit perturbed when he left.”

Paige sipped a glass of cold lemonade and missed her wine nearly as much as she missed caffeinated coffee. “Dax confessed. He admitted he asked Hawk to run a background on Jericho’s girlfriend. The boss didn’t like it.”

“Seriously?” Sparrow laughed. “No wonder he was annoyed.”

“He’s family,” Paige defended. “And Jericho doesn’t have a right to be mad. He hired a friend of his to run his own background on the woman.”

Sparrow shook his head. “And what did the miscreants find on me?”

“I have no doubt they ran you,” Paige admitted. “They tend to do that with ease and without question. They didn’t tell me what they found. Was there something to find?”

“Nothing worth repeating,” Sparrow decided he could live with the intrusion. He probably would have done the same if he were in their shoes. “Things are a little strained between you and that husband of yours. Does it have anything to do with that baby bump you’re sporting?”

“We worked it out,” Paige insisted.

“He’s being supportive, but it’s costing him,” Sparrow observed. “Have you thought about hanging it up? If not now, after the kid is born?”

“What? No,” Paige frowned. “Are you crazy. This is my job. It’s my life. I can’t give it up. What would I do? It’s not like I have mad plumbing skills and I can’t paint.”

“You should think about it, Paige,” Sparrow stood. “Now, I’m going to call it a night. I have an early drive and I’m beat.”

“Goodnight, Sparrow,” Paige watched him for several seconds. “It was a pleasure doing business — as always.” She stood. “If I don’t see you before you leave, have a safe drive.”

Sparrow pulled her into a hug. “The pleasure was all mine.”

\*\*\*

The following afternoon, Paige ascended the stairs that led to Katie’s front porch. She hesitated, then rang the bell.

Katie pulled open the door and frowned. “I’m afraid to ask.”

“It’s not bad, it’s personal,” Paige said, hoping it would put her at ease.

“What can I do for you?” Katie opened the door and invited Paige inside.

“You said you paint,” Paige began. “I was wondering if you had anything finished I could see.”

“Why?” Katie dropped into a chair and studied Paige.

Paige glanced at the table and the papers spread across the entire surface. “Studying?”

“Job hunting,” Katie corrected. “But it appears nobody in the area wants to hire a woman that used to work for a criminal that was arrested for fraud.”

Paige frowned. “You had nothing to do with that.”

“Tell my neighbors,” Katie swiped a hand through the air. “Forget that. What about my paintings?”

“Carmen is devastated that she lost that painting,” Paige explained. “Her husband is desperate to find a replacement. He’s looking for something similar and he’s willing to pay for it. I thought, well you said Iris taught you everything you know. I was hoping you might have a painting of a lake, or a cabin, or the mountains — something that I could look at.”

Katie sat back and considered. “I might have something. Follow me.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/lake-on-sunset-3-MPSmith.jpg)

Paige followed Katie into what looked like a sunroom. Katie had converted it to a painting studio. She glanced around and was amazed at the vibrant colors and the sleek lines covering the canvas currently adorning the sturdy easel. Katie had captured a rose garden perfectly. It wasn’t her style, but it was good.

“Let me see,” Katie moved to a stack of canvasses and began scrolling through them. “Yes, here it is.” She lifted a large canvas from the stack and turned, holding the painting in front of her.

“Oh my gosh,” Paige moved forward. In her opinion, the painting was even better than the one Carmen lost. “It’s amazing. You captured the lake; the sunset; and you even captured that majestic elk on the edge of the water. Can I call Zeus?”

“Do you have the Greek Gods on speed dial?” Katie laughed.

“You’ll understand once he gets here,” Paige shrugged. “Are you willing to sell it? I need to know before I get his hopes up.”

“I’ve never sold anything before,” Katie admitted. “I’m willing to sell it but I don’t know how much it’s worth.”

“Let Zeus make you an offer,” Paige suggested. “He’s going to want it, I guarantee it. Plus, you’re unemployed at the moment. Sell him the painting but get a good price for it. It’s wonderful and you deserve it.”

“Call him before I change my mind,” Katie insisted.

Twenty minutes later, Zeus stood in front of the painting, speechless. “How much do you want for this?”

“Make her an offer,” Paige suggested. “We both know Carmen is going to love it. How much is your wife’s happiness worth to you, Zee?”

“What are you doing?” Zeus frowned at Paige.

“She lost her job,” Paige explained. “She worked at the gallery, and she lost her job when her boss got arrested. Now, the town has decided she can’t be trusted, and nobody will hire her. She needs the money to live on until she can find another job. So, make her an offer.”

Zeus glanced from the painting to Katie. “Five thousand,” he offered.

“Are you serious?” Katie choked back her surprise. “I was thinking two —”

“She’ll take it,” Paige interrupted. “Did you bring cash, studly?”

“I don’t suppose you have a frame, do you?” Zeus wondered.

“I—” Katie glanced at Paige. “Is that old saying true about possession and the law?”

“Sell him a frame if you have it,” Paige laughed. “The case is over and if Sparrow didn’t ask for the property, I assume it’s now yours. Call it compensation for yesterday’s salary.”

“I have a few that would work,” Katie admitted. “There’s one I think would be perfect. Come with me.”

Paige left Zeus and Katie framing the amazing painting for Carmen. She was pretty sure her friend was going to be even happier with this painting than she was with the last. She stepped into her house and headed upstairs. That’s where she found Dax.

“How did it go?” He pulled a clean t-shirt over his head. “Zeus was so happy, he practically ran to the truck. Did he like the new painting?”

Paige grinned. “He loved it,” she held out her phone so Dax could see the picture she took.

“Wow,” Dax handed the phone back. “She’s talented. Why is she wasting her time working as a secretary?”

“Painting is a hobby for her,” Paige settled onto the bed. “She has an accounting degree and wants to pursue a career doing that.”

“Her hobby could pay the bills until she lands her dream job,” Dax suggested.

“She has another painting that I think Sophie would love. I thought I’d wait a few days then ask Katie if I could bring Sophie out to see it.”

“Another landscape?” Dax wondered.

“No, not exactly,” Paige wished she had thought to take a photo of that one. “It’s a beautiful, old colonial cottage with a white picket fence lined with colorful hollyhocks, a cozy porch with an intricately carved wooden swing off to one side.”

“I’m sure Sophie will love that,” Dax agreed. “Do you think the secretary who paints will sell it?”

“Maybe,” Paige hesitated.

“What?” Dax settled next to her. “I know that look. You have something cooking in that busy brain of yours.”

“Well,” Paige looked away from him. “She seems like a good person and she’s having a hard time finding a job. I thought — um, well you guys said you needed some help booking classes and stuff.”

“And you thought we could hire her at the training center?” Dax considered. “We’d need to do a thorough background and if she’s experienced in finance, we’d need to keep the books out of her hands.”

“Oh wow,” Paige straightened. “I didn’t even think of that. Never mind.”

“I think, if she passes Hawk’s background, we can use her as a secretary,” Dax offered. “I know it’s not what she wants but I’m not comfortable giving her access to the money until we get to know her. If we decide we can trust her, we might ease her in and see how it goes.”

“I ran a preliminary background and found nothing,” Paige offered. “I know Sparrow also ran her through his system. She’s clean, doesn’t even have a parking ticket. But she was too quick to give up her boss. I’m not sure if this is a good idea. If she gave you up…”

“She won’t,” Dax pulled her in for a kiss. “Let’s start slow and see how things go. If we decide we can’t trust her, we’ll come up with a reason to let her go and just say things didn’t work out. Plus, I might commission her to paint a few pieces for the center.”

“Are you sure?” Paige fidgeted.

“What does your gut say, Paige?” Dax already knew Paige liked her or she wouldn’t have suggested this in the first place.

“It says I’ll be devastated if I asked you to hire someone that ends up sending you —and the rest of the guys — to prison for the rest of your natural life,” Paige frowned.

“What else?” Dax took her hand in his and began rubbing circles over her palm.

“I thought it was a good idea,” Paige focused on him. “But she’s good. She saw an invoice and realized there was something off immediately. Then, she went digging. You guys spend weeks out in the wilderness. That would give her plenty of time to snoop — and discover your secrets.”

“I’d like to think we’re a bit more secure than shady Aunt Iris,” Dax smiled. “Let’s try it and we’ll see what we see. We desperately need someone to book the classes. I think she could deal with those transactions, keep track of the income from the courses and coordinate payments from the attendees. It might be enough to appease her, and it will give us time to evaluate. First, I need to talk to Hawk and the others and see how they feel about it.”

“Whatever you guys decide, I’m on board,” Paige told him. “She was saying how nobody would hire her and I remembered you guys needed help, but you haven’t had time to interview —and that’s as far as my thinking went. The rest, the money from that plane and the creative accounting, that never even crossed my mind. Be careful, Dax. If you hire her, be careful until you have time to get to know her.”

“We will,” he took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s eat. I brought a pizza home. It’s been a long day, and I wasn’t sure how long you would take with Zeus and that painting.”

They walked into the kitchen and Paige smiled. It was good to be back to normal. She liked this routine, and she loved her husband. Working light duty at the office until the baby was born wouldn’t be that bad. Her smile widened when Dax pressed her against the counter, leaned down, and kissed her. Yeah, her husband was definitely back to normal.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets. We missed the month of June but don't worry, I'll make it up this season and publish two episodes in the next few months to catch up.**

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Subscribe-Now-2.png)](http://geni.us/Blogsignup)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PCS7_Landscape-MPS.jpg)

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**Categories:** Blog Series S7

**Tags:** Season 7

---

### [The Ghost Tree](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-ghost-tree/)

**Published:** July 20, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Chapter Books

**The Ghost Tree**
Spooky Sleuths
*by Natasha Deen*

**Gold Medal** — Children's Chapter Books
**Silver Medal** — Cover Design
**Overall #9**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Spooky-Sleuths_Final.jpg)

**Is it science...or strange and ghostly?**

Asim's new town is freaking him out! There are weird noises at night, eerie lights, and now an evil tree that is growing way faster than it should. he's sure there's something supernatural going on.
His friend Rokshar believes that everything can be explained by science. But even she's worried when the tree takes control of their teacher! It's starting to look like an evil spirit straight out of Guyanese folklore is to blame. Can Asim and his friends save their teacher--and the town--from the ghost tree?

Find out...if you dare! It's a new spooky series based on ghost stories from Guyana.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09RP1PD64)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Childrens Chapter, 2023 Cover Design, 2023 Gold Medal, 2023 Overall

---

### [Embracing the Magic](https://melaniepsmith.com/embracing-the-magic/)

**Published:** July 20, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Chapter Books

**Embracing the Magic**
A Town Magician middle grade fantasy
*by S.A. Schneider*

**Bronze Medal** — Children's Chapter Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Embracing-the-Magic_Final.jpg)

**Their hero is a fraud and only he knows it. When the truth comes knocking, can one boy conjure a way to save the day?**

Young Samual longs to perform magic of his own. And what's worse, he can't seem to convince anyone that their beloved Town Magician is a trickster without an enchanted bone in his body. When a wicked wizard challenges the pretender to a duel, Samual vows to keep his village safe by forcing the fraudster to rise to the challenge.

Determined to prevent disaster, he secretly shadows the phony protector during his training with the Grand Wizard. And when they barely escape an vicous attack, Samual realizes he must partner up with his bitter rival. But keeping the truth hidden any longer may not help them outwit a powerful sorcerer.

With his town in grave danger, can Samual protect the ones he loves from the forces of evil?

Embracing the Magic is the enchanting first story in the Town Magician middle grade fantasy series. If you enjoy unlikely heroes, coming-of-age adventures, and spellbinding creatures, then you'll love S.A. Schneider's fantastical tale.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BSCKPCX8)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Childrens Chapter

---

### [Green Shadow](https://melaniepsmith.com/green-shadow/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Fantasy-SciFi Books

**Green Shadow**
Mackenzie Green Series
*by JS Kennedy*

**2023 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Green-Shadow_Final.jpg)

**Two paths, one fate.**

Lucan now knows who—and what— Mackenzie truly is. She is Terra, the supernatural boogieman whose tales of carnage are used by parents to bring wayward children in line.

But she’s captive, and the longer it takes to free her, the less choice he has – break the bond, or die.

Mackenzie—thrust back into the nightmare of her childhood—learns the awful truth. Her captors have no mercy… and now they know how to force her to do their bidding. Her achilleas heel. And they’ll use that knowledge against her in the worst possible way. But as her hopes for rescue dwindle, she must use every bit of her wits and skills just to survive. Because even in darkness, light can be found.

Mackenzie must hold out long enough for those she loves to free her, but every passing second brings her closer to crumbling under the weight of a past she can’t outrun.

Book 3 of the Mackenzie Green series features twists and turns that will keep you reading until the final page.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BNLGH91D)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Fantasy-SciFi, 2023 Finalist

---

### [THINK Yourself CONFIDENT](https://melaniepsmith.com/think-yourself-confident/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Non Fiction Books

**THINK Yourself CONFIDENT**
THINK Yourself® SERIES
*by Nathalie Plamondon-Thomas*

**Gold Medal** — Non Fiction
**Silver Medal** — Cover Design
**\#10 Overall**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Think-Yourself-Confident_Final.jpg)

“It’s never going to work. You’re not good enough!” Are you tired of hearing that nagging voice inside your head? And what if you could do something about it? Do you have a dream or a project that’s been on the back burner for too long? Even with all your accomplishments, do you still doubt yourself sometimes?

Statistics show that 85% of people suffer from a lack of self-confidence in at least one area of their lives. Draining negative self-talk creates procrastination, stress, anxiety, and burnout. People know what they want or need to do, and yet they do the reverse—they resist change and can’t adapt to the fast world we live in. That makes them feel powerless, frustrated, and insecure. In a work environment, this can lead to a demotivated and unhappy team, low overall performance and a high employee turnover rate. With the layers of stress people are already buried under, important decisions are clouded by emotions or limiting beliefs, instead of being based on skills and experience. Bottom line: whether on a personal or professional level, most people admit to not working—or living—at their full potential.

Through Nathalie’s D.N.A. System, you will discover 15 proven Keys to Confidence, real-life, simple skills and strategies to transform your inner thoughts and beliefs into a serving force that will empower you to be your best. Get ready to ignite performance and get the tools you need to THINK Yourself® CONFIDENT.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BRM4SCQH)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Cover Design, 2023 Gold Medal, 2023 Non Fiction, 2023 Overall, 2023 Silver Medal

---

### [Inheriting Murder](https://melaniepsmith.com/inheriting-murder/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Cozy Mystery Books

**Inheriting Murder**
A Bobwhite Mountain Cozy Mystery
*by Jamie Rutland Gillespie*

**Bronze Medal** — Overall
**Silver Medal** — Cozy Mystery
**Silver Medal** — Popular Vote

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Inheriting-Murder_Final.jpg)

When Landry Burke’s favorite Aunt Tildie passes away, Landry inherits the entire estate. It includes a five story apartment building named Magnolia Place, as well as a bookstore across the street named Jasmine Bloom Books, both located in Bobwhite Mountain, Tennessee.

Landry packs up and leaves Bent Branch, SC for the hills of Tennessee. On her very first day there, she and her aunt’s attorney, Adam Wilcox, find the body of one of Magnolia Place’s employees. Between her panic attacks, anxiety and trying to adjust to her new surroundings, Landry wants this murder solved and fast.

Sheriff Wyatt Collins and his deputies are on the case. Now, if they can just keep Landry from trying to help and causing danger to herself.

And Jasmine Bloom’s manager, and late Aunt Tildie’s best friend, Ms. Millie, is convinced that Landry is trying to get her killed because of all the zany situations they find themselves in.

Take a visit to Bobwhite Mountain and find out what all of the fuss is about.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09Z9889D4)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Cozy Mystery, 2023 Overall, 2023 Popular Vote, 2023 Silver Medal

---

### [Murder in the Bluegrass](https://melaniepsmith.com/murder-in-the-bluegrass/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Cozy Mystery Books

**Murder in the Bluegrass** The Janet Simpson Mysteries
*by Sasscer Hill*

**Gold Medal** — Cozy Mystery
**Bronze Medal** — Overall
**Silver Medal** — Cover Design

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Murder-in-the-Bluegrass_Final.jpg)

Janet is invited to stay with the billionaire O’Sullivan family in Lexington, KY, for Keeneland's spring racing meet. Shipping her horses to the track, she arrives at the O’Sullivan estate only to discover it resembles a castle in a horror movie, complete with a dark and eerie tower.

Jealousy, rage, and sadness reside in this mansion. Sudden death and unraveling secrets leave Janet fearing for her life. Can she save herself or will a killer destroy her?

*Sasscer Hill’s horse racing mysteries and thrillers have won multiple awards, including the $10,00 Ryan Award for Best Book in Horseracing Literature.*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0C7HK76D7)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Cover Design, 2023 Cozy Mystery, 2023 Gold Medal, 2023 Overall, 2023 Silver Medal

---

### [The Prophecy of the Water Sprite](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-prophecy-of-the-water-sprite/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Romance Books

**The Prophecy of the Water Sprite**
*by K. Rose*

**Bronze Medal** — Romance Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Water-Sprite_Final.jpg)

Our kind has been enslaved by the Fae for as long as this kingdom remembers. They need us to keep water in their kingdom flowing, without it, their kind would surely all perish, as not even the powerful Fae have control over the waters that feed life to everything. Somewhere along the line, they all lost that ability, as if that element revolted against them.

For over twenty-one years I’ve been kept in the dark about my true heritage, being raised as a witch, like my auntie, that can wield water with spells. Soon I would be old enough to leave my childhood home and go beyond the protection spell that has kept me safe all these years to seek out my destiny.

A vision—perhaps even a prophecy, in the castle where I was born caused my parents to secret me away under the cover of darkness. I was saved by an unlikely partnership.

For the first time in thousands of years, the elements are set to combine into the greatest power ever known, and somehow I am the center of it all.

The power of the elements are told to bring about peace in the lands and restore life in the realm to a greatness more than it has ever been before.

No more struggles for food, no more starvation. No more taxation with penalties of death. No more hatred and fear of the rulers of the kingdom. Only prosperity, health, and maybe even something more?

Please note: This is a Reverse Harem Novel. It contains explicit content intended for adults only. 18+

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B094YS47JQ)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Romance Books

---

### [Secret Voice](https://melaniepsmith.com/secret-voice/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Romance Books

**Secret Voice**
*by Lesley Haye*

**Bronze Medal** — Romance Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Secret-Voices_Final.jpg)

Love is a mystery, isn’t it? All those secrets and deceits it can involve, and the choices it demands of a questioning heart. And so it is for Maggie, and her daughter, Sophie. The year is 1958 and women are still learning the heavy cost of liberation in a post-war England very different from today. Twelve-year-old Sophie is not as artless as she looks, and is keeping a watchful eye on her mother now the charismatic writer Robert has entered the scene. She has much to learn about the different levels of betrayal and her own capacity for duplicity. Maggie and Bruno’s marriage is crying out for understanding, and there are some painful truths yet to be uncovered for them both. What future will Maggie choose when the final curtain falls? Lesley Hayes once again unravels the complexities of sexual and family relationships, with insight and a sure eye for the enigmatic patterns of love.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0C1728KJ1)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Romance Books

---

### [Eternity's Mirror](https://melaniepsmith.com/eternitys-mirror/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Fantasy-SciFi Books

**Eternity's Mirror**
Eternal Chronicles
*by Zachary Hagen*

**Bronze Medal** — Fantasy \| Sci-Fi

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Eternitys-Mirror_Final.jpg)

**Flip the coin and find a whole new world on the other side.**

The Circle is uniting the countries of Lux Terra. Elior, Nyx, and Opal are finding that some things have changed as the result of their adventures with Michael. Yrahkaz has been tasked with squashing the growing obsession with Michael.

When an important clue to finding Eliam and fixing Nyx’s and Opal’s problems is given to them, they recruit the help of a disgraced magi-technician to get to him, but their initial success is more then they bargained for.

The other side of the Mirror of Eternity is filled with wonders and dangers they never imagined. Will they still be able to prevail against an evil that is bent on devouring them whole, or will they fall prey to its cunning pursuit?

*Eternity’s Mirror is the thrilling continuation of The Eternal Chronicles picking up where Eternity’s Well left off.*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09QH6VF91)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Fantasy-SciFi

---

### [To Kill a King](https://melaniepsmith.com/to-kill-a-king/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Young Adult Books

**To Kill a King**
Hollystone Mysteries
*by W. L. Hawkin*

**Bronze Medal** — Young Adult

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/To-Kill-a-King_Final.jpg)

Sorcha just wanted to warn Ruairí of his fate until she saw him and fell in love. How could she leave him to be ritually murdered and cast in a bog to cure for two thousand years?Though he's lost and grieving the loss of his lover, when Estrada realizes his fiery friend, Sorcha O'Hallorhan, is trapped in Iron Age Ireland, he demands that Cernunnos take him and Dylan back through time to rescue her. The Horned God obliges but states the rules: you cannot change history or develop bonds with anyone. How can Sorcha, the spirited archaeologist, survive this prehistoric warrior culture? Assuming she's fey, Ruairí's unscrupulous rival wants her power; but worse still, Ruairí's lover, the wicked Crow Queen, wants her dead.Can Estrada use his Wiccan powers and magician's skills to defeat these Iron Age Druids and bring his friends home without changing history?

A spin-off of To Sleep with Stones, Book Four tells the story of archaeologist Sorcha O'Hallorhan's deepest desire. Buy this romantic, time-traveling, prehistoric thriller today and find out what it takes To Kill a King.

*"Her fingers flew to the fey butterfly tattooed on the back of her neck. Her friend, Yasaman, had designed it for her when she finished grad school. It was her symbol of freedom. Sorcha never wanted to be a professor bound to lecture halls—all she ever craved were the wild places and their stories. Now she was deep inside Ruairí's story. Sometimes the butterfly brought her joy; other times, inspiration . . . but always a sense of hope. And she needed all three in this moment for her heart was breaking to see her man so broken."*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08YP712DP)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Young Adult

---

### [Good-Bye Too Soon](https://melaniepsmith.com/good-bye-too-soon/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Non Fiction Books

**Good-Bye Too Soon**
*by Randi-Lee Bowslaugh*

**2023 Finalist**
**\#5 Popular Vote**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Goodbye-Too-Soon_Final.jpg)

Addiction is a rampant mental illness that takes hold of individuals of any age. Brandon was only a teenager when drugs took over his life. The battle raged for decades before he lost.

Randi-Lee shares the truth behind the eulogy. Having a brother with addiction created a fissure and forced the need for boundaries. Stepping away and loving him from a distance was her only way to keep herself safe.

This book goes beyond losing a brother. It delves into risk factors, constructive coping strategies, and a family’s grieving process. Reminding those left behind to forgive ourselves and the person we lost.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BMKW6FQF)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Finalist, 2023 Non Fiction, 2023 Popular Vote

---

### [Overture](https://melaniepsmith.com/overture/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Fantasy-SciFi Books

**Allaigna's Song: Overture** 
*by JM Landels*

**Gold Medal** — Fantasy-SciFi
**Overall #2
\#7 Popular Vote**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Overture_Final.jpg)

You can’t hide from magic when it’s in your blood …
When Allaigna was seven she almost sang her baby brother to sleep — forever. She may be heir to neither her mother’s titles nor her secrets, but she has inherited her grandmother’s dangerous talent for singing music into magic. As her education proceeds from nursery to weapons ground to the rank of royal page, it becomes increasingly hard to keep her heritage and abilities hidden.

Secrets, it seems, are stock-in-trade for her family, and as Allaigna works to keep her own, she uncovers two that will affect both her life and the unstable peace of the Ilmar nations. One is the fate of her grandmother, who married a prince, turning the gift of the Sight into a double-edged weapon of state. The other is the truth behind her mother’s two-week disappearance following an ambush by outlaws en route to her wedding.
As she discovers who she is, Allaigna must decide what to become: the skilled courtier her mother wants her to be, the political chess piece her father bargained on, or the hero her grandmother foresaw.

Allaigna’s Song: Overture is a love story, a family saga, and a coming-of-age novel that braids together the stories of daughter, mother, and grandmother into a rich and deftly woven narrative.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B073R1HDYR)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Fantasy-SciFi, 2023 Gold Medal, 2023 Overall, 2023 Popular Vote

---

### [Delilah](https://melaniepsmith.com/delilah/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# General Fiction Books

**Delilah**
Women in the West Adventure Series
*by Kaye Lynne Booth*

**Gold Medal** — General Fiction
**\#5 Overall
\#10 Popular Vote**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Delilah_Final.jpg)

**Delilah is a woman haunted by her past.**

Her homecoming from prison quickly turns into a quest for vengeance when she is brutally raped and left for dead, and her fourteen-year-old ward is abducted. Sheer will and determination take this tough and gritty heroine up against wild beasts of the forest, Indians and outlaws to Leadville.

Can the colorful inhabitants of the Colorado mining town work their way into Delilah's heart, offering a chance for a future she thought she'd lost along with her innocence?

If you like strong and capable female protagonists, you'll love Delilah.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BZ3YGPFD)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 General Fiction, 2023 Gold Medal, 2023 Overall, 2023 Popular Vote

---

### [The High Priestess](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-high-priestess/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Paranormal-Supernatural Books

**The High Priestess: Persephone's Return**
Tales From the Unmasqued World
*by Val Tobin*

**Silver Medal** — Paranormal-Supernatural
**Overall #8
\#8 Popular Vote**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-High-Priestess_Final.jpg)

**Someone wants Jaycie Nevil to remain in Hades. Could it be the god of the underworld?**

A student mage who doubts her abilities, Jaycie strives to achieve success in her program. When she receives life-changing news, and the boyfriend she relies on accidentally traps her on the wrong side of the veil, her entire existence is jeopardized.

Meanwhile, hiding from a criminal organization and the authorities, human Kelsey Davis has reached the end of her tether. When her downward spiral hits rock bottom, a vampire finally takes action to force her recovery. While their two nights at a spa are close to heavenly, their return to the cabin they share brings a fresh hell.

With tragedy and horror invading all their lives, will they survive this fool's journey, or are they fated to perish?

The High Priestess is the exciting third book in the Tales from the Unmasqued World urban fantasy series. Each story in the series draws inspiration from a different card in the tarot’s major arcana. If you like high-stakes moral dilemmas, the tarot, and unforgettable characters, then you will love Val Tobin's The High Priestess.

***Get The High Priestess now and journey through the unmasqued world today.***

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09Q2G8JJC)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Paranormal-Supernatural, 2023 Popular Vote, 2023 Silver Medal

---

### [Falling for Murder](https://melaniepsmith.com/falling-for-murder/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Cozy Mystery Books

**Falling for Murder**
A Bobwhite Mountain Cozy Mystery
*by Jamie Rutland Gillespie*

**Bronze Medal** — Cozy Mystery
**Bronze Medal —** Popular Vote **\#4 Overall**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Falling-for-Murder_Final.jpg)

Welcome back to Bobwhite Mountain, TN. It’s early fall and the leaves are beginning to change colors and the night air has a crispness to it. Landry Burke is grateful that she is now a resident of this quaint little town. The two businesses she inherited from her late aunt are thriving and she’s made wonderful friends here.

Things are going great until there’s a kidnapping and murder in this peaceful oasis. Landry is the unfortunate one to find the body and now she, Adam and Wyatt are all trying to figure out who could have done such a horrible thing. To add to the tension, two local and well known girls are also kidnapped and haven’t been seen or heard from since.

As usual, Landry and Ms. Millie get into more precarious predicaments that will have you laughing out loud. Landry and Adam are trying to figure out just where their relationship is headed as the mayor insists that the town go ahead with their Fall Festival even though everyone is on edge about the crimes.

Come along as they follow the clues to figure out just what is going on.

This is the second book in A Bobwhite Mountain Cozy Mystery series.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0B51YWRLC)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Cozy Mystery, 2023 Overall, 2023 Popular Vote

---

### [The Ghost In Me](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-ghost-in-me/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Young Adult Books

**The Ghost In Me**
*by Theresa Jacobs*

**Bronze Medal** — Cover Design
**Gold Medal** — Young Adult

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-GHost-in-Me_Final.jpg)

My best friend Carly went missing, and I was frantic. When twenty-four hours later, her spirit entered my body, it devastated me. How did she die and why did no one know about it?
Unable to tell anyone Carly was dead; I went on a mission to find out what happened and learned secrets that made me question our friendship.
Can Carly’s ghost help me find out what happened to her?

What will happen to me if we don't? But what will happen to her spirit if we do?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0C2WN8N4Y)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Cover Design, 2023 Gold Medal, 2023 Young Adult

---

### [When You Least Expect It](https://melaniepsmith.com/when-you-least-expect-it/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Young Adult Books

**When You Least Expect It**
*by Lorna Schultz Nicholson*

**2023 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/When-you-Least-Expect-It_Final.jpg)

Seventeen-year-old Holly Callahan desperately wants to make the national rowing team so she can compete overseas, but she is the last rower cut. Her summer dreams are shattered, and she finds herself back at home, living with her mother's annoying new boyfriend, Super Stew.

Holly's not a quitter. She lands a summer job, and then is handed an unexpected lifeline in the person of a man who offers to coach her in a single rowing boat. For a girl raised without a father, the coach's generosity — and rigorous demands — are a gift. But where did he come from and who is he, really?

Discovering the answer plunges her into sadness — but then he inspires her to work beyond her comfort zone.

Lorna Schultz Nicholson's compelling account of a teen athlete's life-changing summer will keep readers riveted until the last page is turned.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09QQS6CY1)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Finalist, 2023 Young Adult

---

### [Behind the Label](https://melaniepsmith.com/behind-the-label/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Young Adult Books

**Behind the Label**
*by Lorna Schultz Nicholson*

**Silver Medal** — Young Adult

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Behind-the-Label_Final.jpg)

Gloria, an impulsive, naïve and likeable teen with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), tries to keep her family together while their mother's addictions threaten a move to foster care. Willa, an older teen with a learning disability (LD), wants to play in a rock band where her gifts truly shine, but her mother's controlling and perfectionistic personality — and Willa's increasingly abusive boyfriend — cause her unhappiness. When Gloria and Willa are partnered in a school club, they soon come to appreciate and depend on each other in a world that at times seems counter to their dreams.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BBKS5GJX)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Silver Medal, 2023 Young Adult

---

### [The Elven Prince](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-elven-prince/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Young Adult Books

**The Elven Prince**
*by K. Rose*

**Gold Medal** — Young Adult

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Elvin-Prince_Final.jpg)

Join the Elven Prince on an adventure to take the Oracle’s treasure to The Fire Keepers— a journey that will take him through unknown lands outside of his safely guarded kingdom. The realm, full of mischief and magic surrounding every living creature, will surprise you. Follow along his trek, taking you beyond your dreams to a place that amazes at every turn. Magic and myth will surround you, pushing the boundaries of what could be reality and fantastical but still no less real. The Elven Prince is ready for his epic adventure. Are you?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09M8TKPZR)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Gold Medal, 2023 Young Adult

---

### [Eternity's Well](https://melaniepsmith.com/eternitys-well/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Fantasy-SciFi Books

**Eternity's Well**
Eternal Chronicles
*by Zachary Hagen*

**2023 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Eternitys-Well_Final.jpg)

When you lose family, friends, and country, how far is too far?

Elior watched as his twin brother, the only real family he had left run into a building as it disappeared.

Nyx, a cursed merman, watched as his father and best friend were killed in front of him.

Opal’s father died leaving her with a legacy to live up to and a throne to protect.

When they join forces with a wise professor to find the Well of Eternity, can they find answers to their problems? Can the ancient evil lurking in the shadows of society be stopped before it’s too late, or will blood be spilled killing their hope and dooming Lux Terra forever?

*Eternity’s Well will hook you from the very beginning and take you on a spellbinding, breathtaking journey through a new world where anything is possible.*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09BLGRTV1)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Fantasy-SciFi, 2023 Finalist

---

### [A Snake by the Tail](https://melaniepsmith.com/a-snake-by-the-tail/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Fantasy-SciFi Books

**A Snake by the Tail**
A SUN Universe Novel
*by Cherime MacFarlane*

**2023 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/A-Snake-by-the-Tai_Finall.jpg)

**Sci-fi fantasy romance.**
Pirates abducted her from her planet. The Mercenary Union ship which rescues her may be no better than the pirates. Captain Maden of the Long Sword refuses to take her home.
The Messerian spy tells the captain he is not alone. There are others seeking to eliminate the pirates. He must keep the girl, Dahteste, close. She must not discover she is simply bait in the larger game they play. What gift does the girl have which makes her such a prize?

The predator his ancestors used to be claws it way to the surface around the girl. He wants things he shouldn’t. He craves Dahteste.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09676B7R7)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Fantasy-SciFi, 2023 Finalist

---

### [The Reefs of Time](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-reefs-of-time/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Fantasy-SciFi Books

**The Reefs of Time**
The Chaos Chronicles
*by Jeffrey A. Carver*

**\#10 Overall**
**Silver Medal** — Fantasy \| Sci-Fi

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Reefs-of-Time_Final.jpg)

***The starstream is beautiful. But beauty turns deadly when an ancient AI bent on destruction uses it to travel uptime, to our near-future.***

The Mindaru are dead. Or so exiled-Earthman John Bandicut and his alien companions believe, when they return to Shipworld after saving the Orion Nebula and countless inhabited worlds. But now another horde from this ancient and malicious AI colony is swarming toward the present from its birthplace deep in the past. Their opening: a temporal disturbance in the starstream, a hyperspatial thoroughfare used by myriad civilizations. The disturbance emanates from the planetary defenses of nearby Karellia, whose people know nothing of the starstream or the galaxy-threatening Mindaru.

Only Bandicut and his friends have the knowledge and experience to act. But several of Bandicut’s company have gone missing. Bandicut and Li-Jared must team with the pandimensional Ruall and her gokat—the oddest aliens Bandicut has met since the shadow-people—and journey to Karellia to find a way to cut off the timestream.

Meanwhile, on Shipworld, the "missing" Ik meets another human of Earth—a former lover of Bandicut’s—and embarks with her on a perilous mission far back into deep time, seeking a way to stop the Mindaru at their source.

*The Chaos Chronicles returns at last in The Reefs of Time, part one of a heartstopping, two-part adventure. Concluded in Crucible of Time—from Nebula-nominated Jeffrey A. Carver!*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07R3D5WZL)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Fantasy-SciFi, 2023 Overall, 2023 Silver Medal

---

### [Ice And Secrets](https://melaniepsmith.com/ice-and-secrets/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Romance Books

**Ice And Secrets**
Steamy romantic suspense in Alaska
*by Cherime MacFarlane*

**Silver Medal** — Romance Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ice-and-Secrets_Final.jpg)

**A melting glacier, a wild river, gold, and a killer on the prowl… again.**

Lying on the tundra, the churning blades of the helicopter above her, Lane can’t believe her best friend wants her dead. She planned to share the gold. They think they have the proper coordinates… they don’t. She’s injured but not bleeding. Blood would bring bears. When she tries to rise and walk out, the wolves gallop toward her. No one is getting the gold. Micha saw them push the woman from the hovering chopper. Out hunting with his wolf-hybrids, this is an unexpected complication in his life. He stays as far from civilization as he can get. His dogs are illegal. If caught, the state will euthanize the dogs and he’ll be in trouble. Still, he can’t leave her here for bear bait.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08KPQGHTT)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Romance Books, 2023 Silver Medal

---

### [Lure - Jesse & Hawk](https://melaniepsmith.com/lure-jesse-hawk/)

**Published:** July 22, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Romance Books

**Lure: Jesse & Hawk**
*by W. L. Hawkin*

**Gold Medal** — Romance Books
**Overall #7**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Lure_Final.jpg)

Hawk is a wounded doctor bent on losing himself on the Chippewa reservation in Minnesota.

Jesse’s a vegan nature photographer trying to find herself on that same wild land.

When Hawk shoots the deer that Jesse’s photographing, passions flare. Then Jesse hears that Hawk’s friend is dying and sets off alone on horseback to warn him. He deserves the chance to say goodbye she never had.

**But danger lurks everywhere near the small Midwestern town of Lure River.**

Jesse’s just discovered the twenty-year-old bones of a missing Indigenous girl in her shed and drawn the unwanted attention of two local men.

**Can Hawk find Jesse before they find her?**

Ruby Little Bear's tragic tale weaves through the narrative, reminding us that one moment can change everything.

**Romantic Suspense—Small Town Grit**

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09KX6Y84W)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Gold Medal, 2023 Overall, 2023 Romance Books

---

### [Monster Gunslinger](https://melaniepsmith.com/monster-gunslinger/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Paranormal-Supernatural Books

**Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger**
*by KC Grifant*

**Bronze Medal** — Paranormal-Supernatural

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Melinda-West_Final.jpg)

**In an Old West overrun by monsters, a stoic gunslinger must embark on a dangerous quest to save her friends and stop a supernatural war.**

Sharpshooter Melinda West, 29, has encountered more than her share of supernatural creatures after a monster infection killed her mother. Now, Melinda and her charismatic partner, Lance, offer their exterminating services to desperate towns, fighting everything from giant flying scorpions to psychic bugs. But when they accidentally release a demon, they must track a dangerous outlaw across treacherous lands and battle a menagerie of creatures—all before an army of soul-devouring monsters descend on Earth.

**The Witcher meets Bonnie and Clyde in a re-imagined Old West full of diverse characters, desolate landscapes, and fast-paced adventure.**

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BNWR19WN)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Paranormal-Supernatural

---

### [The Seething](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-seething/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Paranormal-Supernatural Books

**The Seething**
*by Ben Monroe*

**Gold Medal** — Paranormal-Supernatural
**Overall #6**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Seething_Final.jpg)

A family's relocation looked like a chance to relax and regroup—but as they settle into their new home, teenage Kimmie Barnes’ special senses make her the target of something primordial, evil, and utterly malign.

*Darkness…*

Golden Oaks, California is a sleepy town on the shores of Oro Lake, and the residents have no idea what horrors lurk below the glittering waters.

*Beneath the waves…*

One by one, as people begin to disappear, the once quiet town is soon in the grips of a waking nightmare. An unimaginable horror consuming everything before it.

*Hungry…*

All while echoes of an ancient evil spread out like malignant spider webs, like dead hands reaching, grasping…

**SEETHING…**

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BRPQN12C)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Gold Medal, 2023 Overall, 2023 Paranormal-Supernatural

---

### [THINK Yourself HEALTHY](https://melaniepsmith.com/think-yourself-healthy/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Non Fiction Books

**THINK Yourself® HEALTHY: 27 Simple, Practical Applications For a Vibrant Life**
THINK Yourself® SERIES
*by Nathalie Plamondon-Thomas*

**Bronze Medal** — Non Fiction
**Silver Medal** — Cover Design

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Think-Yourself-Healthy_Final.jpg)

You just ate a cookie. Oops. You might as well eat the whole box now, right? Your day is ruined anyways. Sometimes our brains make up stories for us and we end up doing things that we don’t want to do. Just like you can take a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink, all the tips in the world will be useless, unless you decide to do something with them. Your brain needs to be on board. How do you trick yourself into showing up to a workout? What should you order in a restaurant? Should you eat before a workout? How do you prepare to eat optimally all week? These and many more common questions are answered in these simple tips from my own life. The 27 tips in this book will specifically help you program the six different layers of your brain. Instead of creating self-limiting stories, you will feel driven to do what you know you should be doing, instead of giving in to self-sabotage. You will be guided through setting up your mindset in a way that will get you transformational results for a vibrant life.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07DVVGHKV)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Cover Design, 2023 Non Fiction, 2023 Silver Medal

---

### [Dream Journaling For Self-Therapy](https://melaniepsmith.com/dream-journaling-for-self-therapy/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Non Fiction Books

**From the Bamboo Grove Dream Journaling For Self-Therapy**
*by Janet C. Lindeman PhD*

**2023 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Dream-Journaling_Final.jpg)

**Dream Journaling For Self-Therapy**
Wonder what that odd dream meant? Is there a reason behing the dream? Does your subconscious have a message for you? There is a genuine possibility that dream means more than you realize. The author of this book has years of interpreting her own dreams under her belt and using them to inform and heal her life. You CAN change your life.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08XWRNBGC)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Finalist, 2023 Non Fiction

---

### [Letters to Chris](https://melaniepsmith.com/letters-to-chris/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Non Fiction Books

**Letters to Chris**
*by Holly Barbo*

**2023 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Letters-to-Chris_Final.jpg)

**Everyday laughter and communications with loved ones can change between heartbeats.**
Joy becomes hollow. Loss takes its toll. The last two years have increased the number of people coping with loss. For an author used to taking words and making them her own, Holly found one way; she wrote her beloved husband letters. A burden bared is a burden shared.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0B1XMQ8C4)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Finalist, 2023 Non Fiction

---

### [Light Needs Darkness to Shine](https://melaniepsmith.com/light-needs-darkness-to-shine/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Non Fiction Books

**Light Needs Darkness to Shine**
*by mehran hashemi*

**Silver Medal** — Non Fiction
**Popular Vote #4**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Light-Needs-Darkness_Final.jpg)

light needs darkness to shine is a poetry collection, or better said, it's the seasons, motions, and emotions of living. it's a journey of love, passion, depression, and healing.

the author lives in iran and hasn’t been able to visit any other country despite how much he would love to travel around the world, but poetry made his wish come true!

with words, he was able to visit his inner world and, in the darkness, find the light. it made him realize how bright his inner light shines.

and now, at this very moment, when you are holding his book in your hands, he hopes to lighten your heart, he hopes you believe that your inner light shines brightly too!

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0C126THZJ)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Non Fiction, 2023 Popular Vote, 2023 Silver Medal

---

### [Exposed](https://melaniepsmith.com/exposed/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Mystery-Suspense Books

**Exposed**
Circle of the Red Lily
*by Anna J. Stewart*

**Gold Medal** — Mystery & Suspense

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Exposed_Final.jpg)

Working as a Hollywood photographer means Riley Temple has seen it all. But then she finds herself staring at the chilling image of a dead woman. When her questions about the film lead to violence, she reluctantly turns to the only person who can help. Detective Quinn Burton, the police commissioner’s son. Her history with the LAPD is complicated, her trust in authority, tenuous. But to find those responsible and protect those closest to her, she’s willing to do anything. Even trust a cop.

After more than a decade on the job, Quinn knows a dangerous situation when he sees it and Riley Temple is up to her ears in trouble. But not for the reason she thinks. The pictures she’s stumbled on call into a question a notorious murder conviction—one that powerful people have a vested interest in keeping in place. Seeing this case through means betraying someone: his job, his family, or the woman he’s falling in love with.

As old secrets are revealed, Quinn and Riley find themselves targeted by members of a secret society that has long maintained violent control over Hollywood’s powerful elite. A society that, until now, has remained hidden in the shadows. A society that will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09ZFRQW7C)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Gold Medal, 2023 Mystery-Suspense

---

### [Jailed](https://melaniepsmith.com/jailed/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Mystery-Suspense Books

**Jailed**
Cal Rogan Mysteries
*by Robert P. French*

**Silver Medal** — Mystery & Suspense
**Bronze Medal** — Cover Design

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Jailed_Final.jpg)

**How do you get an innocent kid out of jail, when even the DNA evidence says he’s guilty?**

Twenty-year-old Micah Weston is in jail for killing his girlfriend. When PI Cal Rogan investigates, he discovers that an intricate web of lies has been woven around the victim. Can Cal get Micah out of jail before a prison gang keeps their promise to kill him? And what will the gang do when they discover what stones Cal is turning over?

Jailed won Gold Medal for crime thrillers at the 2022 Global Book Awards for Self Publishing.

***Get Jailed now for a non-stop thrill ride that will keep you guessing right up to the very end.***

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09JV5KMBG)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Cover Design, 2023 Mystery-Suspense, 2023 Silver Medal

---

### [The Extra](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-extra/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Mystery-Suspense Books

**The Extra**
The Monument Studios Mysteries
*by Mel Anastasiou*

**Bronze Medal** — Mystery & Suspense
**Popular Vote** — #9

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Extra_Final.jpg)

#### The casting call is murder ...

Vancouver schoolmarm Frankie Ray runs away to Silver Screen Hollywood to test her conviction that an actress who lacks glamour but has talent and an enterprising attitude can make it in the movies. But when a dissolute, womanizing matinee idol turns up dead on her sofa, Frankie's career hopes shatter. She'll need all her acting chops to sleuth out the murderer and clear her name.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BFB6LF1W)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Mystery-Suspense, 2023 Popular Vote

---

### [The Killer Enigma](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-killer-enigma/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Mystery-Suspense Books

**The Killer Enigma**
Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles
*by Charles Breakfield & Rox Burkey*

**2023 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Killer-Enigma_Final.jpg)

#### Enough is Enough - JJ rumbled when the Paparazzi invaded dinner

When JJ and Jo recognize privacy doesn’t exist for them, they head back to Magnolia Bluff to check on their friends and recapture the small-town anonymity.

They reject the status of urban legends in favor of acceptance and a quiet, peaceful life. A supermodel needs time and space to recharge herself between jobs, and he needs time to adore his wife.

Does Magnolia Bluff hold the answers to their prayers, or will a dark past overtake them?

Past, present, and future collide in a perfect storm no one expected. JJ and Jo need to take action. Chief Tommy Jager states he likes them, but he can’t wait for them to get back to their day jobs.

Who will live or die to prevent the truth from being exposed? The answers may be in the graveyard with the fresh flowers.

#### Their friends are targets – Their dreams are broken – They must fight

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0C4TWZQFB)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Finalist, 2023 Mystery-Suspense

---

### [A Man in Winter](https://melaniepsmith.com/a-man-in-winter/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Horror-Thriller Books

**A Man in Winter**
*by Katie Marie*

**2023 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/A-Man-in-Winter_Final.jpg)

A mesmerizing psychological mystery from an author who brings a refreshing new voice to horror. This is a quick read, but one that keeps the reader thoroughly intrigued and entertained from beginning to end.
—Catherine Cavendish, author of In Darkness, Shadows Breathe and Dark Observation (coming in September 2022)

Arthur, whose life was devastated by the brutal murder of his wife, must come to terms with his diagnosis of dementia. He moves into a new home at a retirement community, and shortly after, has his life turned upside down again when his wife’s ghost visits him and sends him on a quest to find her killer so her spirit can move on. With his family and his doctor concerned that his dementia is advancing, will he be able to solve the murder before his independence is permanently restricted?

A Man in Winter examines the horrors of isolation, dementia, loss, and the ghosts that come back to haunt us.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0B65STS5X)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Finalist, 2023 Horror-Thriller

---

### [Crusader](https://melaniepsmith.com/crusader/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Horror-Thriller Books

**Crusader**
*by Tom Benson*

**Gold Medal** — Horror \| Thriller
**Bronze Medal —** Cover Design
**Overall #8

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cover-Design-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Crusader_Final.jpg)

Detective Sergeant Jason Knight knew who murdered his partner and mentor. In court, he saw the three killers smile as they walked out, freed on a technicality.

Within weeks Jason would resign from the London Metropolitan Police, and what he planned wasn't in a handbook. All of the training and advice he'd received from his old boss would prove useful.

Jason was a good police officer but intended to be a bad civilian.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BZTKX941)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Cover Design, 2023 Gold Medal, 2023 Horror-Thriller, 2023 Overall

---

### [Deadly Envy](https://melaniepsmith.com/deadly-envy-2/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Horror-Thriller Books

**Deadly Envy**
A DCI Gerald Croft Thriller
*by Sarah Stuart*

**2023 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Deadly-Envy_Final.jpg)

DCI Croft returns from a family holiday to find his house has been burgled. An armed raid at a jeweller has ended in tragedy, with the owner shot dead. Was it a robbery gone wrong or revenge? Kidnap, suicide pacts, murder, and theft – can DCI Croft stop the crime wave before he finds himself in the chief superintendent’s firing line, literally!

Reader's Favorite Review: Deadly Envy by Sarah Stuart is one of the best thrillers I have ever read. Each chapter tells the story of a different character, drip-feeding their backstories throughout the book. All the characters are well-developed to the point where you feel like you know them; you'll even find yourself rooting for one of the baddies. Suspense builds throughout this expertly written tale, and you won't put it down, desperate to know what happens next and how it all ends – you won't be disappointed. Highly recommended to anyone who likes crime thrillers and wants a suspenseful, action-packed plot to test their skills of deduction.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09XZ3L5C1)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Finalist, 2023 Horror-Thriller

---

### [Enigma Tracer](https://melaniepsmith.com/enigma-tracer/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Horror-Thriller Books

**Enigma Tracer**
Enigma Heirs
*by Charles Breakfield & Rox Burkey*

**Bronze Medal** — Horror-Thriller

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Enigma-Tracer_Final.jpg)

#### The clock is ticking ... can Gracie uncover the truth?

Phillip Pliant is the wealthy opportunist plastics dealer, and CEO of Pliant Industries. He’s also a master thief—creating a pervasive threat to the manufacturing infrastructure in the Caribbean islands. With the cartel as his stealth client, the naïve city leaders have been seduced, enabling the production of more than 3-dimentional building materials.

**And set the stage for massive chaos and destruction.**

Pliant has locked up contracts, assets, and control of any future expansion. His contacts and clients salivate over their probable financial reward—the expected profits are monstrous.

Is the R-Group, now led by Gracie and the family heirs, strong enough to win against this predator? Can JJ’s CATS (Cyber Assassin Technology Services) act on the root-cause analysis in time?

- Will the R-Group and CATS sabotage Pliant’s plan before it’s too late?
- Can Jeff and Keith use their covert skills to put the bad guys away for good?
- Will Gracie be able to squash Pliant and the cartels?

Can the chain of islands survive the underhanded tactics and threats?

Gracie never considered their lives would hang in the balance between winning and losing. Will the devious plot be uncovered in time? The clock is ticking. **Five ... four ... three ...**

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BRD6BWSG)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Horror-Thriller

---

### [They Hide](https://melaniepsmith.com/they-hide/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Horror & Thriller Books

**They Hide**
Short Stories to Tell in the Dark
*by Francesca Maria*

**Silver Medal** — Horror & Thriller

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/They-Hide_Final.jpg)

Who are we if not for the monsters that we keep?

They Hide: Short Stories to Tell in the Dark collects thirteen chilling tales that weave through the shadows, exploring the nature of fear, powerlessness, and control.

\- A series of murders in a New England colony
\- An untamed beast in pre-revolutionary France
\- A mysterious stranger who invades 18th-century Ireland
\- A traveling circus that takes more than the price of admission
\- A gathering of the Dark, telling tales on the longest night of the year, and more.

Come play with vampires, werewolves, ghosts, zombies, ghouls and the devil himself. Make sure you check under the bed and don’t turn out the lights.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BRPML3L5)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Horror-Thriller, 2023 Silver Medal

---

### [Cuddy](https://melaniepsmith.com/cuddy/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# General Fiction Books

**Cuddy**
Tales From the Unmasqued World
*by Benjamin Myers*

**Bronze Medal** — General Fiction

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Cuddy_Final.jpg)

Cuddy is a bold and experimental retelling of the story of the hermit St. Cuthbert, unofficial patron saint of the North of England.

Incorporating poetry, prose, play, diary and real historical accounts to create a novel like no other, Cuddy straddles historical eras - from the first Christian-slaying Viking invaders of the holy island of Lindisfarne in the 8th century to a contemporary England defined by class and austerity.

Along the way we meet brewers and masons, archers and academics, monks and labourers, their visionary voices and stories echoing through their ancestors and down the ages.

And all the while at the centre sits Durham Cathedral and the lives of those who live and work around this place of pilgrimage – their dreams, desires, connections and communities.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0B292F35G)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 General Fiction

---

### [Give Us This Day](https://melaniepsmith.com/give-us-this-day/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# General Fiction Books

**Give Us This Day**
The Merthyr Rising
*by Rebecca Bryn*

**Silver Medal** — General Fiction
**\#9 Overall**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Give-Us-This-Day_Final.jpg)

**A battle for justice and survival!**

Merthyr Tydfil, Reverend Evan Rees’s ministry in the South Wales coalfields, is dubbed “a den of iniquity and ungodliness. A hotbed of vice, disease, and violence". As the 1830s depression bites, and wages are cut, desperate workers march through the streets in protest.

While Evan struggles with a crisis of faith and attempts to bring his flock to God, his wife Elen ministers to the needs of the women of the town, and his rebellious daughter, Gwenllian, keeps forbidden assignations with the boy she loves, local rapscallion, Sam.

As protests explode into a full-scale riot, and Evan tries to keep his family safe, the red flag is raised over Merthyr. Can he broker a peace between starving workers and wealthy ironmasters before the militia is called, and there’s a massacre?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BM81S8HJ)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 General Fiction, 2023 Overall, 2023 Silver Medal

---

### [Meth Murder & Amazon](https://melaniepsmith.com/meth-murder-amazon/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# General Fiction Books

**Meth Murder & Amazon**
A Humorous Real Life Nightmare
*by G.S. Gerry*

**2023 Finalist Medal**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Meth-Murder_Final.jpg)

The hilarity ensues when the body of an unidentified child is found under the bed during an open house. Alive or dead? Murder or myth?

Derald Grake destroys his life the moment he decides to sell the family home. After capturing the American dream, this father of 4 hopes to solve the complex formula of buying low and selling high. Witness one ‘normal’ family embark on a hilarious and entirely unexpected journey involving, among other surprises, assassins, meth, murder, and the end of Amazon.

Wrapped inside this intriguing mystery are eye witness accounts and compelling evidence to separate truth from fantasy. Follow the clues, sort through the lies, and put the pieces together of this twisted reality.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09RZN6DJZ)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Finalist, 2023 General Fiction

---

### [The Fungus Among Us](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-fungus-among-us/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Picture Books

**The Fungus Among Us**
The Fungus Among Us for Kids
*by Jessica Dawn Birks*

**Silver Medal** — Children's Picture Books
**Popular Vote** — #6

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Fungus-Among-Us_Final.jpg)

This charming rhyming book will take you on a journey through the forests and moors as you learn about mycelium, the underground network that helps our world thrive. Discover the variety of mushrooms that grow from mycelium, from the delicious oyster mushroom to the strikingly beautiful lion's mane. With whimsical illustrations and delightful rhymes, this book is a perfect introduction to the wonders of foraging and the magic of the mushroom kingdom. Whether you're a seasoned forager or a curious beginner, "The Fungus Among Us" will inspire you to venture into the great outdoors and discover the treasures that await you.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BWTQ1FPV)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Childrens Picture, 2023 Popular Vote, 2023 Silver Medal

---

### [Hare-Raising Haunting](https://melaniepsmith.com/hare-raising-haunting/)

**Published:** July 21, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Cozy Mystery Books

**A Hare-Raising Haunting**
A Short Cozy Mystery
*by C.K. Fyfe*

**2023 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hare-Raising-Haunting_Final.jpg)

When Emma purchases a rustic train depot in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, she expects the station to be steeped in history, not mystery. She and her rabbit Pepper settle into their new life in the woods, but they aren’t exactly alone—a specter from a long-gone past seems intent on haunting them. Is Emma’s imagination running wild, or is she chugging down a dangerous track?

\*A cozy mystery short story.\*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BH81RYMR)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Cozy Mystery, 2023 Finalist

---

### [My Mummy is a Worm](https://melaniepsmith.com/my-mummy-is-a-worm/)

**Published:** July 20, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Picture Books

**My Mummy is a Worm**
*by Jessica Dawn Birks*

**2023 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/My-Mummy-is-a-Worm_Final.jpg)

Timmy is nervous about careers day at school. He has a secret and

doesn't know what to do.

Join Timmy in school as he

learns that friends will still

like you no matter how different

you or your family are.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BVCWNJGY)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Childrens Picture, 2023 Finalist

---

### [Teddy Loses His Ears](https://melaniepsmith.com/teddy-loses-his-ears/)

**Published:** July 20, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Picture Books

**Teddy Loses His Ears**
The Adventures of Teddy
*by Christine Milkovic Krauss*

**Bronze Medal** — Children's Picture Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Teddy-Ears_Final.jpg)

Teddy Loses His Ears is the first book in the Adventures of Teddy Series. Teddy is my real life rescue cat who lost his ears to frostbite in Saskatchewan, Canada. Teddy has had an incredible journey to find his way into our home and hearts and to raise awareness to rescue organizations who volunteer tirelessly to save thousands of animals every year. All of the illustrations in the Teddy series are hand painted by the talented Cierra Van Nes.

Follow us at www.christinemilkovickrauss.com or on Facebook at The Adventures of Teddy to see candid shots of Teddy enjoying his home with his loving family, print off colouring pages for your children, and be sure to help Teddy find his favourite toy on every page of his stories!! Teddy hopes by sharing his story, he can help prevent other animals from preventable injuries like his.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BN3QMFXM)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Bronze Medal, 2023 Childrens Picture

---

### [Teddy Loves Spaghetti](https://melaniepsmith.com/teddy-loves-spaghetti/)

**Published:** July 20, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Picture Books

**Teddy Loves Spaghetti**
The Adventures of Teddy
*by Christine Milkovic Krauss*

**2023 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Teddy-Spaghetti_Final.jpg)

Teddy Loves Spaghetti is the second book in the Adventures of Teddy series. Teddy is our real life rescue pet who lost his ears to frostbite and just happens to have a serious love for pasta!! This book uses humour to educate children about nutrition, alternatives to food based rewards, pet care and introduction to diabetes awareness.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BSWCC3L2)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Childrens Picture, 2023 Finalist

---

### [The Christmas Bird](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-christmas-bird/)

**Published:** July 20, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Chapter Books

**The Christmas Bird**
*by Robbie Cheadle*

**2023 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/The-Christmas-Bird_Final.jpg)

The Deanne family is having a difficult time financially. Mr. Deanne's business has failed and there is no money for Christmas presents and other luxuries. The family's undernourished dogs discover a bird's nest on Christmas Day and attack and kill the chicks. All except one tiny ball of fluff with luminous bright eyes like drops of oil. The baby bird is in shock, but the four Deanne girls try to save it. Will the Christmas Bird survive?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BMMB2H75)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Childrens Chapter, 2023 Finalist

---

### [Mortimer Rat Race to Space](https://melaniepsmith.com/mortimer-rat-race-to-space/)

**Published:** July 20, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Chapter Books

**Mortimer: Rat Race to Space**
*by Joan Marie Galat*

**Silver Medal** — Children's Chapter Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Mortimer_Final.jpg)

**Mortimer T. Flightdeck, Ratonaut and Future YouTube Sensation, has big plans for ratkind.**

A spot on the International Space Station (ISS) has opened up, and Mortimer, is not about to miss his chance to become an intergalactic space rat. And that’s just the first step in his master plan to prove that rats are much better suited than humans for a future mission to Mars. He packs his camera and prepares to take to the internet with his evidence of rat superiority.

But when Mortimer’s schemes go awry, he is forced to face new truths about dreams, friendship, and choosing the right thing to do. Maybe not everything is a rat race.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BFRNS2ZX)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Childrens Chapter, 2023 Silver Medal

---

### [Time To Shine](https://melaniepsmith.com/time-to-shine/)

**Published:** July 20, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Picture Book

**Time to Shine**
*by Sylva Fae*

**Gold Medal** — Overall
**Gold Medal** — Children's Picture Book
**Gold Medal** — Cover Design
**Gold Medal** — Popular Vote

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Time-to-Shine_Final.jpg)

Lumi the firefly was sad. All of her friends had lights that sparkled and glowed, but her light was small and dull. No matter what she tried, Lumi just didn’t shine as brightly.

Can Lumi learn to shine like her friends?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0C4VLGMY9)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2023

**Tags:** 2023 Childrens Picture, 2023 Cover Design, 2023 Gold Medal, 2023 Overall, 2023 Popular Vote

---

### [Runaway Bride](https://melaniepsmith.com/runaway-bride/)

**Published:** May 31, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Runaway Bride (S7E2) A bride disappears the night before her wedding.  Is it cold feet or something more sinister?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*RUNAWAY BRIDE\*\*\*****

“Paige,” Deputy Gage Clayton greeted the instant she exited her vehicle.

“Hey,” Paige hesitated once she reached the sidewalk. “What do we have?”

“Well.” Gage studied her. “You look like you have the flu. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Paige shrugged. “Bad takeout. I’ll get over it. Anyway, all Margie said was you need a back. It’s eight o’clock. What are we doing at a reception center this early in the morning?”

“Missing person.” Gage glanced at the front door. “Or cold feet.”

“Awe, well let’s go see what we see,” Paige grinned and headed for the door.

“Officer,” a man rushed toward them the instant they stepped into the large open room. “Something happened to Amber. You have to find her. She could be hurt.”

“Who are you?” Gage wondered.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PCS7-MPS.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/E2-Runaway-Bride.pdf)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Wedding-Dinner-04-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Weddomg-Dinner-02-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Wedding-Diner-03-MPS.jpg)

“Chet,” the man brushed his hand through the air. “Chet Rivers. I can provide my information and everything you need to know about my family, friends, everything — later. First, you need to find out what happened to Amber. She’s the priority.”

“Chet,” a sophisticated woman in her fifties, moved forward and wrapped an arm around the man’s shoulders. “It’s obvious what happened, Amber got cold feet.” She glanced around the room. “Unfortunately, she didn’t figure it out before we paid for all of this. I told you she wasn’t right for you. It’s time to accept that and move forward.”

“Mom, I told you, she did not leave me.” Chet took a step away from the woman. “Something happened, otherwise she would be here. She would never miss our wedding and she wouldn’t leave without talking to me first.”

“He’s in denial,” the woman sighed.

“Who are you?” Paige wondered.

“Oh,” the woman shifted her gaze between the cops and her son. “I’m Diana Rivers, Chet’s my son.”

“Chet, have you heard anything?” a middle-aged couple rushed into the room.

“No,” Chet seemed to break a little. “She wasn’t there?”

“Son,” a man in his late fifties stepped toward the group. “I’m sorry, but you have to stop this. Amber finally accepted the situation and the futility of this wedding. She walked away before it was too late. I tried to tell you she wasn’t the girl for you, but you wouldn’t listen. I’m sorry she broke your heart, but this is not a police matter. We need to accept that. I’m sure these two police officers have important business to attend to.”

“My daughter is missing,” the middle-aged man took a step forward. “That makes this a police matter.”

“Who are you?” Gage asked.

“Grant Metcalf and this is my wife, Alison.”

“They’re Amber’s parents,” Chet advised.

“The girl ran,” Diana Rivers insisted. “It’s for the best.”

“You never wanted her to marry your son,” Alison accused and turned to address Paige. “They were horrible. They treated my daughter with such contempt. They did everything they could to stop this marriage. I don’t know what they did; but, mark my words, that family is behind this.”

“Now you wait just a minute,” Lance Rivers took a step forward.

Diana gripped his arm. “Lance, you need to calm down. Come on, sit over here. The last thing we need today is for you to have a heart attack.”

Paige frowned and watched a large gathering of people head their way. “Gage, we need to separate this group and interview each one of them individually.” She turned to Lance. “Do you have a medical condition?”

“He had a heart attack a few months ago,” Chet answered for him. “He shouldn’t get upset.”

“Alright,” Paige glanced around. “I’m going to track down an employee, find a place to conduct the interviews, then I’ll be back to speak with your parents first. Once I’m finished, they can head home. Get comfortable. This might take a while.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding,” a man in his thirties barked. “The chick took off. She finally figured out she didn’t belong. Seriously, I have no idea what my cousin was thinking but a Metcalf and a waitress — that relationship was doomed from the start.”

Chet took a step toward the belligerent cousin.

“Chet,” Diana scolded.

He froze, turned to study his mother, then sank into a nearby chair — defeated.

“Alright.” Paige focused on Gage. “You think you can handle this crowd alone? I should only be a minute.”

“I’m good,” Gage assured her.

\*\*\*

Paige returned and escorted Chet’s parents into the room they had provided her. She reluctantly agreed to interview them together. The wife insisted on it because of her husband’s medical condition.

“I don’t understand why your department is spending so much time on a woman that skipped her wedding,” Diana dropped into a chair. “That girl all but abandoned my son at the altar and you’re just making things worse. Hasn’t he suffered enough?”

“I think the woman doth protest too much,” Paige glanced at Gage.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Lance scowled.

“Why are the two of you so adamant the girl ran off?” Paige pushed. “You’re beginning to sound pretty desperate.”

“I’d say determined,” Gage corrected. “To make sure there’s no investigation into what happened to the bride-to-be.”

“I call it protective,” Diana corrected. “The woman my son thought he was in love with abandoned him the night before his wedding. He needs to deal with the loss so he can move on. He does not need a lengthy police investigation. It’s frivolous and will only give him false hope. The girl left. There’s nothing suspicious about that and there’s certainly no crime.”

“You’re pretty confident about that,” Gage observed.

“I am,” Diana nodded.

“Are we finished here?” Lance asked impatiently.

“No,” Paige sat back. “When was the last time you saw Amber Metcalf?”

“Last night,” Lance sighed. “She left abruptly — after dinner.”

“Why?” Gage wondered.

“Who knows,” Diana grumbled. “I’m sure she got offended — yet again — about something or other and was throwing a tantrum.”

“Okay, so the dinner?” Paige ignored the comment. “Was it the rehearsal dinner?”

“Yes,” Lance frowned. “Everything went according to plan. We walked through the ceremony, had dinner, and Amber left.”

“Alone?” Gage asked.

“Yes,” Diana insisted. “Look, we don’t know anything, and my husband needs to rest. Can we leave?”

“For now,” Paige agreed. “But I may need to talk to you again — later. Once we get further into the investigation and have a better understanding of the situation. Please send in your son.”

“Oh, but —” Diana began.

“I’ll tell him on our way out.” Lance took his wife’s hand.

Paige watched the couple leave. Once she was sure they were gone, she turned to Gage. “They’re hiding something.”

“Or lying,” Gage nodded. “They made it pretty clear they didn’t approve of their son’s marriage. Maybe they said something at dinner, made sure it was enough to upset the intended bride, then threatened her or coerced her into leaving. She may have taken off without a word to the man she loves, but if she did, the catalyst was his parents.”

“Without telling her parents? Or any of her friends?” Paige shook her head. “I don’t think so. We’ll talk to them, see what they have to say, but I don’t think they’d let this continue if they knew where she was.”

“I’m not sure who you’re talking about,” Chet stood in the open doorway. “But Amber is missing. She didn’t get cold feet, she didn’t change her mind, she didn’t just leave me without a word. Something happened to her, or someone is preventing her from being here — it’s the only explanation.”

“Come on in and take a seat,” Paige motioned to the chair. “Let’s talk.”

“I don’t want to talk,” Chet objected. “We need to search for Amber. She could be injured somewhere.”

“What makes you say that?” Gage asked casually. “Do you know someone that would want to do her harm?”

Chet ran his hands over his face in frustration, or maybe desperation. “I don’t know. I don’t understand any of this.”

“Tell us when you last saw Amber,” Paige requested.

“At dinner last night,” Chet answered instantly.

“Can you walk us through your evening?” Paige requested. “Give us as many details as you can.”

“There was nothing special about the evening,” Chet began. “The rehearsal went long because my cousin shot off his mouth, and that idiot Derek joined in.”

“There was an argument?” Paige quizzed.

“Not an argument, exactly,” Chet disagreed. “Karl, that’s my cousin. He decided to bring up the business, and the timing was inappropriate. He was spouting off about the new client I made him deal with because he was unhappy about it, and complaining about the added workload. Then Derek joined in. I shut them both down, but after dinner, they started up again and my parents joined in. They blamed Amber, said I was neglecting my duties to appease her.”

“She was upset?” Gage realized.

“Maybe a little,” Chet evaded. “No more than usual. She was used to it — we’re both used to it. But it was the night before our wedding. I think she had a right to expect a smooth evening without all the drama. Anyway, Amber was fine when she left. She was excited about our wedding. We both were. If you think she abandoned me the night before our wedding because of a brief argument over company politics, you’re wrong.”

“Did the two of you leave together?” Paige asked.

“No,” Chet frowned. “I got called back to the office. There was an unexpected problem, and I had to head over and deal with it immediately.”

“The night before your wedding?” Paige challenged. “There wasn’t anyone else that could handle this pressing issue?”

“No,” Chet’s features hardened. “There was an issue with a long-standing client, one that will only deal with me. There was a glitch and their system stopped working. I knew it would only take an hour — tops — so I headed over and dealt with the problem, then I joined my cousins at the bar. It was my version of a bachelor’s party. I had a couple drinks, listened to the band, and was home by one.”

“When did you realize your bride-to-be was missing?” Gage asked.

“This morning,” Chet swallowed. “When her parents contacted me. They were frantic. Look, I know it’s common for a bride or a groom to back out at the last minute, but that’s not what happened here. Amber is missing. I’ve spoken to her parents, her cousins, her friends. Nobody knows where she is. She just walked out of the building and vanished. You have to find her.” He covered his face with his hands and started to shake when he looked up. His eyes were filled with moisture. “Please find her. I can’t live without her.”

“You should go home, Chet,” Paige stood. “Go home and we’ll be in touch.”

“I —” he stood and glanced around the room. “Alright. Okay, I’ll be at home if you find anything, anything at all, please let me know.”

“We’ll be in touch,” Paige evaded. “Could you send Amber’s parents in next?”

They spent the next several hours interviewing friends, family, and the staff. Finally, they stepped outside, and Paige raised her face to the sun. A slight breeze drifted over her face and blew a stray hair along her cheekbone. Paige reached up to brush it aside, closed her eyes and took a second to enjoy the heat of the sun as it beat down on her exposed skin. “I could stand here for hours,” she admitted. “After the winter we had, I could bask in the afternoon sun all day.”

“I realize it might sound paranoid or jaded, I guess.” Gage ran a hand through his hair. “But every single person we interviewed in there was lying through their teeth.”

“Yeah,” Paige agreed, but didn’t open her eyes. “You should be used to that by now.”

“But the man she’s supposed to marry, her parents, her best friend, they all lied,” Gage replied, perplexed and exasperated by that fact.

“You say that like you think they’re responsible for the girl’s disappearance.” She turned and faced him.

“Why else would they be lying?” Gage insisted.

“I think lying is a little strong,” Paige disagreed. “They’re hiding something.”

“Maybe,” Gage conceded. “Some of them, but some are flat out lying.”

“True, and I think something happened to that girl. I don’t think this is a simple case of cold feet. But I don’t think her parents, her best friend, or even her fiancé had anything to do with her disappearance. I think they lied because they think holding back secrets or minimizing the truth will help keep us focused.”

“You’re saying you don’t think the lies were nefarious,” Gage considered.

“Right,” Paige agreed. “It could be that Amber had a terrible fight with Chet after the minor disagreement he had with his family. Maybe the company stuff turned personal, and he doesn’t want to tell us that; because, he thinks, if we knew we’d just chalk this up to a change of heart. So, he lied, minimized, and evaded.”

“So, how do we tell the difference?” Gage started toward their vehicles.

“The difference in what?”

“The white lies meant to hide insignificant details, and the real lies meant to lead us in the wrong direction?” Gage reached out and opened the door to his truck. “I mean, we have to sift through it all and decide what’s worth pursuing and what’s irrelevant.”

“Let’s get back to the office and commandeer the conference room,” Paige suggested. “Then we can lay all of this out and decide where to go from here.”

“Alright,” Gage slid behind the wheel. “I’ll meet you there.”

Paige started for her vehicle, turned, and decided to search the area for clues. She was headed down the sidewalk when something glistened in the sunlight. It took her several minutes, but she finally found the delicate golden chain. When she picked it up, she realized it was broken — and expensive, with tiny diamonds and sapphires dangling like charms. After returning to her vehicle for an evidence bag, she secured the broken bracelet and spent another twenty minutes searching the area for additional evidence. She found several scuffs in the dirt that looked like footprints and some branches on the nearby bush were broken. Paige took pictures of everything, then returned to her vehicle and headed back to the office to meet with Gage.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Wedding-DInner-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Couple-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Bride-Reflection-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sidewalk_MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Bench-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Green-Sidewalk-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Woman-Lost-MPS.jpg)

\*\*\*

“I was getting ready to head back to the truck and come looking for you.” Gage glanced up when Paige stepped into the conference room.

“I decided to stop and search for evidence,” she dropped the bag with the broken bracelet onto the table. “And I’m glad I did.”

“What is that?” Gage reached for the bag.

“Broken chain with expensive looking charms I’m pretty sure are precious gems,” Paige answered. “I also found scuff marks in the dirt that could indicate a struggle and some broken limbs on a nearby bush.”

“What are you saying?” Gage studied Paige. “You think she was abducted? And why can’t you just say diamonds and sapphires? You gotta use all that fancy talk like expensive precious gems?”

“Because that’s what they are and I don’t know if she was abducted,” Paige said honestly. “But I’m also not convinced she changed her mind and left the man she loves hanging on their wedding day. There’s more to this story and we just haven’t figured it out yet.”

“Well, it would help if everyone stopped lying to us,” Gage grumbled.

“I agree, but that won’t happen, so you need to get over it,” Paige suggested. “Let’s go over the interviews. I think the first step is to create a diagram. We’ll map out where everyone was when Amber left the facility.”

“Alright,” Gage stood. “Let’s use the whiteboard. Do we think it was someone involved in the wedding or someone outside of this small group?”

“At this point, I have no idea,” Paige sighed. “The Rivers family clearly didn’t approve of the wedding, but we don’t know who would have the most to gain if they canceled it. I think that’s the first thing we need to figure out.”

“And if anyone left early,” Gage agreed.

“Follow the money,” Jericho said from the doorway.

“What?” both Gage and Paige asked at the same time.

“If two of my best deputies responded on a runaway bride case and came back with this,” he pointed to the whiteboard. “There must be a reason. So, if the girl is missing, and there was some kind of foul play here, the family is rich — follow the money.”

“I don’t think —” Gage began, then paused.

“The girl was common, a middle class a waitress, and she doesn’t have a lot of money. The Rivers are rich, paid for the wedding, and they’re all snobs, which is why they don’t approve of the match. I think that’s the only way money plays into this — a battle of two classes.”

“The boss might have a point,” Gage considered. “Remember, Lance Rivers has health problems. Nobody said it, they were too busy lying and evading, but rumor has it the boss is planning to retire.”

“I assumed Chet would take over. He’s the current VP, at least one of them. It would only be natural for him to inherit the family empire once dad buys a luxury yacht and sets sail for calmer waters,” Paige considered. “How would the marriage to an unworthy commoner — they clearly believe is beneath them — play into that?”

“Or would it?” Jericho wondered. “Before we take this any further, I have to ask, how confident are you that girl didn’t just change her mind and head off to enjoy a little honeymoon for one?”

“Gage?” Paige waited.

“Um,” Gage considered. “Eighty percent.”

“Paige?” Jericho prodded. “Do you agree?”

“I do,” Paige nodded, then picked up the bag that contained the bracelet. “If the parents confirm this belonged to Amber, I’d bump that up to ninety.”

“Why only ninety?” Jericho frowned.

“Because they lie,” the two deputies said together, then laughed.

“Everybody lies,” Jericho grumbled. “Paige, you head over and talk to the parents again. Take the bracelet and see if you can get answers. Gage, you and I will go through all these documents and try to organize them into a simple system.”

“Actually, I think Gage should talk to the parents,” Paige countered.

“Why?” Jericho wondered.

“Because they liked him,” Paige shrugged. “He seemed to have a good rapport with those two. I just thought he might get more information than I could,”

“Dad’s a fan,” Gage corrected.

“Why are we talking about your dad?” Paige glared at Gage.

“Not mine,” Gage laughed. “Amber’s dad, Grant Metcalf, he’s a fan. He loves football and —”

“And the hometown hero,” Jericho smiled. “Use that to your advantage and see what he’s hiding. That means, Paige, you’re with me. Let’s get started.”

\*\*\*

Gage stepped onto the porch and rang the bell. It only took seconds for the door to swing open, with Grant blocking the entrance.

“Do you have news?” he asked eagerly.

“No,” Gage apologized. “I have more questions. Can I come in?”

“Alright,” Grant stepped back, defeated. “I’ll get Allie — my wife. Go ahead and take a seat.” He motioned to the large living room, then disappeared down the hall.

Gage settled onto the couch, but while he waited, he took in the room. It was cozy, but lived in. The Metcalf’s appeared to be a typical family with a pleasant home. There were no red flags here. He just wondered why they were being dishonest. Their daughter was missing. They should cooperate completely. They should be open and honest about everything. Paige said this was normal, but not for him.

“Grant said you have more questions.” Alison entered the room and settled into a chair across from Gage. “We’ll help in any way we can.”

Grant sat in the chair next to his wife, then reached out and took her hand. “Ask whatever it was that you came here to ask.”

“First,” Gage pulled out the evidence bag. “I need to know if you’ve ever seen this bracelet before.”

“Grant,” Alison gripped her husband’s hand with so much force it turned white.

“That belongs to Amber. Where did you find it?” Grant asked.

“Do you know if she was wearing it last night?” Gage evaded.

“She was,” Alison nodded. “So, now you believe us? You know something happened to our daughter?”

“It’s not that simple,” Gage answered carefully.

“It is that simple,” Grant disagreed. “That was her favorite bracelet. If you found it, that means something happened to her, and she lost it, or it was yanked from her wrist.”

“Can you tell me about the bracelet?” Gage focused on Alison.

“Chet gave it to her,” Alison admitted. “She loves that bracelet. I know you’re thinking they had a fight, and she tore it off herself. She wouldn’t do that. Even if she decided to call off the wedding, which she didn’t, she would never part with that bracelet.”

“Why?” Gage wondered.

“Because Chet gave it to her. He bought it to mark one month together as a couple.” Alison stared at the evidence bag and the bracelet. “Amber cherished it — partially because it’s so beautiful, but also because of what it signified. Plus, she wouldn’t let Chet buy her anything else. That bracelet was so expensive, she worried it would make things worse. If he kept buying her expensive gifts, she knew his parents would interpret that to mean she was only after their money. It didn’t matter whether or not Chet bought her stuff, those arrogant snobs have already judged my daughter, and I’m not sure they will ever give her a real chance.”

“Wouldn’t that support the theory she left voluntarily?” Gage wondered.

“I knew you’d think that,” Alison accused. “But you’re wrong. My daughter found the love of her life and she strongly believed the feeling was mutual. You don’t throw that kind of connection away without a word to anyone.”

“Alright,” Gage agreed. “I’ll trust your judgement on that. Now, tell me what you’re hiding.”

“Nothing,” Grant barked.

“Look,” Gage softened. “In football, keeping the next play a secret is tactical. In a police investigation, it’s detrimental. It’s obvious you’re hiding something. I felt it this morning at the reception hall, and I’m even more sure of it now. Nothing good will come of concealing things from us because instead of following leads that might help us find your daughter, we’ll have to spend time looking into your family. We’ll waste valuable time while we determine the reason for the secrets, uncover the secrets, and decide how they pertain to your daughter. Is that what you want?”

“No,” Grant studied his wife for several seconds. “Tell him.”

“But —” Alison sighed. “Oh, alright. It doesn’t pertain. I know that in a way only a mother can.”

“What doesn’t pertain?” Gage pressed.

“There’s been some trouble,” Alison admitted. “Chet’s been having trouble at work. Amber confided in me. She said it was sabotage. As the date of the wedding drew closer, the more problems Chet encountered. Apparently, Chet thought it was coming from a family member.”

“Who?” Gage asked.

“She didn’t say,” Grant answered. “I honestly don’t think Amber knew. Chet told her not to worry. He said once they were married, everything would be fine. But —”

“She did worry,” Gage realized. “Did she do anything about it? What kind of incidents are we talking about?”

“Small things, I think,” Alison fidgeted. “Someone keyed Chet’s car.”

“And Amber said there were problems with some accounts,” Grant offered. “I suspect the emergency that pulled him away last night was part of the pattern.”

“Why?” Gage asked.

“It was sudden and unexpected,” Grant shrugged. “And it fits the pattern. Plus, once Chet got the phone call, he confronted a group of relatives that work at the company. They started to argue, then Chet pulled them into a room and shut the door. You could tell it was heated from the yelling, but it was muffled, and I don’t know what they were saying.”

Gage considered. “I don’t understand why you tried to hide this.”

“Because Amber was upset,” Alison answered. “It came on the heels of the previous confrontation. One man, I think his name is Karl, got angry. He started heckling Chet, accusing him of neglecting the company for a girl. Then, the banter became serious, and Kyle insisted Chet deal with a client that was being difficult. Derek joined in, and things got ugly. That’s when Chet’s parents joined the conversation and threatened to give the company to Derek if Chet didn’t straighten up and put the family and their business ahead of my daughter.”

“And Amber got upset?” Gage realized.

“Yes,” Alison said defiantly. “But she didn’t call off the wedding, or runaway because of it. She knew Chet’s parents didn’t support the wedding. She knew it was going to take a lot of time and work to make them come around and accept her. Amber was willing to put in the time and the effort. She was willing to do whatever she needed to do to make them understand she loved their son. She also knew Lance would never leave the company to Derek. It was a stupid threat he made in the heat of the moment to force his hand.”

“And you didn’t tell us about the conflict because you thought we’d stop looking for your daughter?” Gage wondered.

“Yes,” Grant nodded. “Are we right? Because my daughter is missing. She loves Chet Rivers, and she would do anything to make him happy. He’d do the same for her. Chet knows his parents are unreasonable. He hates it, but he’s willing to take it because he loves Amber. Those two kids are perfect for each other. I know you’ve only seen that boy at his worst, but he’s a good kid. He’s down to earth and he loves my little girl so much he was willing to give it all up — for her. She wouldn’t let him.”

“What does that mean?” Gage quizzed.

“Chet offered to move away.” Alison swallowed hard. “He proposed they get married and then move. He was willing to take a job with another company — far away from his family, to protect her from the constant attacks and the condescending attitudes. Amber refused. Instead —” She hesitated and glanced at her husband. When Grant nodded, she continued. “Amber spoke with a family friend, a lawyer. She asked him to draft a prenup. It says, if they divorce, she gets nothing but what she brought into the marriage. She signed it and gave it to Chet.”

“The boy refused,” Grant said, pride and love clear from his tone. “He wouldn’t go into a marriage planning for it to end. He also said he wanted Amber to be provided for if the marriage didn’t last.”

“What happened to the document?” Gage wondered. If they could prove what they were saying, it would show Amber was willing to do anything to make this marriage work.

“I have it,” Alison studied her husband. “We have it in our safe.”

“Would it help?” Grant wondered. “If we gave you a copy?”

“I’m not sure,” Gage admitted. “But I’d like to take a copy, if you don’t mind.”

“We have a copy you can take,” Grant stood. “Amber signed the agreement, and we took a copy before she gave the original to Chet. He refused to sign it or have anything to do with it, so we placed both of them in the safe. I’ll get you the copy.” He left the room.

“Is there anything else?” Gage asked Amber’s mother.

“I know that bracelet is broken, but can we have it back?” Alison practically begged. “Once this is over, I know Amber will want it back.”

“As long as Chet confirms it was a gift to your daughter, I don’t see any reason she can’t get it back — once the case is over, that is. We’ll need to keep it until then.”

“I understand,” Alison dropped her head and stared at her hands. “My girl is strong, independent and loyal. She didn’t run away. She wouldn’t do that to us, or to Chet. Please find her. I am so afraid for her. I get so scared and terrified when I think what might have happened to her. Please, Deputy Clayton, find my daughter.”

Grant stepped back into the room, handed Gage a large envelope, then moved to his wife. “If there’s nothing else, I’d like to tend to my wife. It’s been a long, strenuous day. We need some time alone. I hope you understand.”

“We’ll be in touch,” Gage pivoted and stopped. “Thank you for cooperating and for this,” he held up the envelope. “I’ll make sure you get these back.”

\*\*\*

“Well, I guess that proves she wasn’t after his money,” Paige said once she finished reading the prenup.

“Or, she was brilliant,” Jericho set the last page of the document aside. “It’s an excellent strategy. Draft this document, present it to the man you claim to love, then sit back and let him toss it away. After reading that, anyone would believe the girl was in it for love and didn’t care about the money. But she had to know Chet would reject something like that. It appears risky on the surface, but I don’t think there was any risk involved at all.”

“You think this was a ruse?” Paige asked, appalled.

“I think it could be,” Jericho corrected.

“No,” Paige disagreed. “I’m not buying it. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Why?” Jericho challenged.

“Because she’d have to go through with the wedding,” Paige said confidently. “If it was all a scam for his money, she wouldn’t take off. She’d have to go through with the marriage to get the money. So, where is she?”

“That’s the hundred-thousand-dollar question,” Jericho grinned. He wasn’t nearly as skeptical as his deputies thought he was. He just liked to play devil’s advocate to keep them thinking.

They all looked up at the knock on the door.

“Warrant was denied,” Margie advised. “Sorry.”

“I expected it,” Paige sighed. “I was just hoping for a miracle.”

“What warrant?” Jericho frowned.

“I wanted to get the financials on the business,” Paige admitted. “It seems there’s a lot of family drama associated with that company. I wanted some insight before I cornered the Rivers family again.”

“That’s not a miracle,” Jericho grinned. “I’m not sure even divine intervention would have gotten you that warrant.”

“Not with Trent Malloy for a lawyer,” Gage was studying the file and didn’t look up.

“So, what’s our next move?” Jericho wondered. “We still have a young woman missing and no idea where to look.”

“I’m going to talk to Chet Rivers again,” Paige decided. “Maybe, now that he’s had time to settle, he might have better insight.”

“Tread carefully,” Jericho warned. “Lance and Diana are very protective of their son. If they think he’s being railroaded, they will close ranks and call in their attorney.”

“Clearly, they already did,” Paige stood and headed for the door. “He blocked my warrant.”

\*\*\*

“Deputy Carter,” Diana Rivers scolded. “It’s a difficult time for our family. I thought you’d respect that and give us some privacy.”

“It’s a difficult time for the Metcalf’s as well, I mean their daughter is missing and all,” Paige didn’t budge. “I need to speak with Chet, is he here?”

“I don’t think —” She began.

“Mom, it’s fine,” Chet stepped into the room looking shattered and a little gaunt. “I’d like to help.”

Paige watched the man slowly walk into the room and lower himself onto a chair. The guy looked about ninety.

“How can I help?” Chet finally asked.

“Well, for starters, you can try to get some rest and eat something,” Paige settled across from him. “Chet, once we locate Amber, she’s going to need you. If you make yourself sick, won’t be in any condition to give her the support she needs.”

“Stop giving my son false hope,” Diana demanded. “Amber is gone. She’s no longer a part of our lives and we just need to figure out the best way to move forward.”

“Mom, stop it,” Chet demanded. “I know you’re right,” he turned back to Paige. “It’s just —”

“You’re worried,” Paige nodded. “I understand that. I’m worried, too. Chet, I need you to be honest with me.”

“Alright,” he pushed himself further into the chair.

“When I asked you to explain what happened last night, you left some stuff out,” Paige accused. “Like the argument you had with Kyle and Derek, and how your parents joined in and upset Amber.”

“Now you wait just a minute,” Diana pulled out her phone. “I don’t like your tone and I won’t stand for it. Lance, Deputy Carter is here questioning Chet. I think she’s trying to accuse him of something. I need you out here, immediately.”

Seconds later Lance Rivers stepped into the room. “I think we should call our lawyer. Trent insisted we shouldn’t speak with anyone from the Sheriff’s Office without him in the room. I’ll make the call,” Lance stepped out of the room.

“Are you worried about your son Mrs. Rivers, or yourself?” Paige accused. “I mean, your hostility toward the woman your son chose to marry has been obvious from the start. Then, I learned that you verbally attacked her at the rehearsal dinner. What else did you do?”

“Mom didn’t hurt Amber,” Chet insisted. “I know they can be a little hard to take and it looks bad — the denial and the snide remarks, all of it. But I know, without a doubt, my parents did not hurt Amber.”

“How can you be so sure?” Paige wondered.

“Because it’s beneath them,” Chet shrugged. “They wanted her gone and they tried everything in the book to make that happen, but in the end, they simply wouldn’t get their hands dirty. Something else happened to Amber, I know it.”

“Chet,” Diana scolded, clearly shocked by her son’s response. “We’re only trying to protect you,” Diana glanced up when Lance stepped back into the room. “The girl was after your money.”

“Well,” Paige glanced at Chet. “Actually, Amber hired an attorney and had him prepare a prenup, one that shielded your son and gave Amber nothing if the marriage failed. She even signed it, but Chet refused.”

“Is that true?” Lance studied his son carefully.

“Yes,” Chet shrugged. “Deputy Carter, I can tell you about the incident last night, but I don’t think it’s relevant. I got a call, a referral from one of our loyal clients. His name is Scott Olson if you need to check. Scott had a friend that needed our services, but I was knee deep in the wedding and I planned to take Amanda on a two and a half week honeymoon to Italy. I couldn’t give the new client the attention he would need, so I assigned it to Kyle.”

“Why on earth would you give it to Kyle?” Lance demanded. “The kid is lazy, and you know he’ll cut corners.”

“It was the only option,” Chet insisted. “Anyway, I expect him to pull his weight or he’s going to be reassigned. I need someone I can depend on. If Kyle can’t, or won’t, rise to the occasion, I’ll move him to troubleshooting and bring Alan in to do his job.”

“Chet,” Lance frowned. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Chet cut him off. “I gave the account to Kyle, and he was grumbling about it all through dinner. Then, Derek jumped in — he’s not one to let an opportunity to pass him by.”

“Opportunity for what?” Paige asked.

“Opportunity to make me look bad in public,” Chet shrugged. “He was making some remark about me neglecting my duties at the company to dote on Amber. Of course, my parents also jumped in. They’re not in the habit of passing up an opportunity, either.”

“We only want what’s best for you,” Diana insisted.

“That’s when I got a call from the office,” Chet ignored his mother. “I wanted to spend some time with Amber, calm her down a little before I left but she insisted she was fine, and I should handle the problem. I hesitated, I know she was upset, and I didn’t want to leave her that way, but she convinced me it was important, and we were going to be gone for weeks. The problem needed to be rectified before I left the country.”

“What was the problem?” Paige quizzed.

“I think that’s enough,” the doorbell rang, and Lance left the room. He returned with Trent Malloy.

“Deputy,” Malloy stared at her. “I specifically requested no interviews until I was present.”

“I wasn’t interviewing Lance or Diana Rivers, they inserted themselves into my conversation on their own. And Chet didn’t seem to need your assistance — in fact, he didn’t ask for it, and he agreed to answer a few questions without your help. He’s an adult, it’s his right to refuse your overbearing presence if he wants to. I’ll let myself out.”

\*\*\*

Paige pulled onto the highway and headed for the office. She hadn’t gone far when she suddenly felt nauseous and pulled over. Her vehicle barely came to a stop before she jumped out and darted for the ditch that ran the length of the road. The instant she reached it, she dropped to her knees and nearly puked out a lung. Minutes later, she crawled back to her police unit and leaned against the front tire.

She could no longer pretend she was suffering from nerves or stress. There was something else going on. It made sense while she was searching for Julianna, while that psychopath was trying to kill her husband. But Julianna was no longer a threat, and her stomach problems were getting worse. She’d need to make an appointment with her doctor, but first she was going to rule out the obvious. She allowed herself a few more seconds before she stood and climbed back into her vehicle.

The instant she stepped into the convenience store; she spotted Harper. Embarrassment replaced common sense, and she decided to wait until after her shift to purchase a test. Instead, she moved to the drink dispenser and got herself a medium soda. She pivoted toward the checkout and nearly collided with Harper.

“Paige,” Harper greeted.

“Harper,” Paige nodded.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“I’m in a hurry,” Paige stepped up to the counter and handed the clerk some cash. “Keep the change.”

“I only need a minute,” Harper insisted.

“Alright,” Paige reluctantly agreed. They stepped outside and settled onto a wooden bench near the entrance. “How have you been?”

“Fine,” Harper answered immediately. “Well actually that’s a lie. I’m struggling.”

Paige took a closer look and could see Harper was depressed, maybe even a little broken. “You could always call him.”

“I can’t,” Harper looked away.

“Look,” Paige stared off into the distance. “He misses you, too. I’m not sure why a simple background check is a deal breaker, but you made your decision so tell me what you needed to talk about. I have a missing woman to find.”

“It’s a big deal because he betrayed me,” Harper answered. “He betrayed my trust and if we don’t have trust, we have nothing. Jericho had me investigated, I can’t just get over that.”

“First,” Paige took a deep breath. “There is a big difference between running a background and having you investigated. And second, you were dating a cop — you should have expected it.”

“I should have known the man I was falling in love with didn’t trust me?” Harper asked, appalled.

“Harper,” Paige shook her head in frustration. “It wasn’t about trust and don’t give me that look. Jericho’s a cop. He called a friend and asked him to do a quick run, just to make sure he wasn’t making a mistake. Honestly, the fact he went to the trouble to do the background in the first place is a compliment.”

“Do all cops think like you?” Harper just stared at Paige in shock. “Because I think that’s sad and a little disturbing. I bet you didn’t run a background check on Dax.”

“No,” Paige smiled. “Nathan did. And, if Nathan Porter didn’t find any red flags, there was nothing to find.”

“Nathan investigated Dax?” Harper asked for clarification.

“Sure,” Paige shrugged.

“And he was okay with that?” Harper frowned.

“I’m sure he expected it,” Paige waited.

“But —”

“Harper,” Paige smiled. “Nathan investigated Dax. When Hawk and the rest of the motley crew of militants arrived, they investigated me. They also looked into Nathan, Sean, and Carmen. I’m pretty sure they also gathered their secret intel on Jericho and the entire crew — Gage, Havi, Dean and all the rest. Then, Nathan had Carman ran a deep background on Hawk, Zeus, Ken, and Thor and Doc who you didn’t meet. There were background checks being conducted all over the place. It’s what we do.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?” Harper challenged.

“Not really,” Paige answered honestly. “Especially when I factor in what was happening at the time. Dax had been kidnapped and was being tortured by a sadistic, sociopathic terrorist. A former contact was brutally murdered. The bad guys were generating a plan to kill Nathan, destroy me, and wipe out Dax’s entire team. Sean was under attack at the Bureau and Jericho was dealing with a couple ATF agents harassing him. Then the guys returned from Arizona where Vato was seriously injured. That’s about the time when you arrived. It would have been stupid and naïve of Jericho not to run a background. And Jericho might be a lot of things but he’s not stupid or naïve.”

“I don’t understand half of what you just said, but Jericho told me some of that,” Harper admitted. “I’m trying to understand what that has to do with me.”

“A woman from his past suddenly appears out of nowhere,” Paige raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t seem suspicious to you?”

“I didn’t suddenly appear,” Harper objected. “I moved here for work.”

“And Jericho just wanted to make sure he could trust his heart,” Paige shrugged. “It’s difficult for him, especially after what happened with my mom. You came into town, and I think it spooked him, then add in the rest and he had to make sure.”

“I didn’t think of that,” Harper admitted. “I’ll let you go. I know I pulled you away from something important. Thanks for the insight. I don’t know if it changes anything, but I want to think about it and consider what I would do if I were in his shoes.”

“Then my job here is done,” Paige stood. “Now, I need to find my runaway bride.” She climbed into her vehicle, then sat and pondered for several seconds. Everything they had all gone through was common knowledge to their tight little group, but it had to be hard for an outsider like Harper to gain her footing — and learn the history. She laughed and backed out of the stall. She had to admit they were all a little neurotic — and sometimes too paranoid for their own good.

\*\*\*

“Where have you been?” Jericho demanded the instant she stepped into the office.

“I stopped to get a drink,” Paige held up the cup. “Why? What’s going on?”

“The Rivers family is waiting in the conference room,” Jericho advised. “But they’re getting impatient.”

“Why? They threw me out,” Paige advised. “They brought in their attorney and told me to leave.”

“Obviously they had a change of heart,” Jericho motioned to the conference room. “Let’s go see why.”

Paige stepped into the room and glanced around. “Apparently, you now want to talk to me.”

“We made a mistake,” Lance admitted.

“We’ve made so many mistakes,” Diana was near tears.

“We’re here to see if there’s anything we can do to help you find Amber,” Chet explained. “You had questions, but their attorney interrupted us.”

“Okay,” Paige wondered just how cooperative the family would actually be. “Amber’s parents said you’ve been having problems at work. Is that true?”

Chet glanced at his parents, then focused on Paige. “It’s true.”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?” Lance demanded. “What kind of trouble?”

“Nothing serious,” Chet insisted. “I’ve had files go missing. And the glitch last night was deliberate. I asked Donny to look into it. Well, and Derek keyed my car.”

“How do you know it was Derek?” Paige asked.

“I have it on video,” Chet sighed. “I downloaded it just in case I needed it.”

“Why didn’t you call the police?” Jericho asked.

“Because he’s family,” Chet frowned.

“Are you willing to press charges now?” Paige asked. “If it helps us get to the bottom of Amber’s disappearance?”

“Um —” Chet looked at his father.

“I say we keep that as an option,” Lance nodded to his son. “Especially considering everything else. You say someone tampered with the program, that had to be from the inside,” Lance concluded. “The only person who would do that is Derek. I suspect we can trace it back to Derek. And if Derek is involved, Donny will cover for him.”

“I trust Donny,” Chet disagreed. “He wouldn’t sabotage an account.”

“The account has been fixed,” Lance reminded him. “He only needs to cover up Derek’s involvement. Hiding what Derek did won’t impact our client. That’s all Donny will care about.”

“I can’t believe —” Chet began before he was interrupted.

“Let’s focus on Amber,” Paige suggested. “Do you think the trouble with Derek at the office has anything to do with Amber’s disappearance?”

“How could it?” Diana wondered.

“The timing seems too perfect to be a coincidence,” Paige pushed. “You got called away at just the right time to pave the way for Amber to disappear. If you didn’t have that trouble with the account, Amber wouldn’t have been alone.”

“I—,” Chet considered. “I want to disagree, but when you put it like that, I have to say maybe. It’s possible.”

“Let’s start with the basics. How did you instantly know Derek was responsible?” Jericho demanded.

“History,” Lance sighed. “This might take a little time.”

“Will it help us find Amber?” Paige wondered.

“Maybe,” Lance told them. “Chet has convinced us Amber would never willingly disappear the night before their wedding. That means someone took her or forced her to leave. If that’s the case, that someone could be Derek.”

“That’s an enormous leap from harassing Chet at work to preventing his wedding,” Paige pointed out. “What would Derek have to gain if Amber and Chet didn’t get married?”

“I don’t know,” Lance answered honestly. “Derek wants my job, but I can’t see how preventing my son’s wedding would get him what he wants.”

“He’s been different,” Chet admitted. “Since you decided to retire. Derek has been different. It’s subtle, but he’s distant and I believe he’s behind the trouble I’ve been having. All the trouble. Even so, I can’t see how this gets him control of the company.”

“Often, only the suspect can explain their motives,” Jericho advised.

“And most of the time it only makes sense to them,” Paige added.

“If Derek did this,” Diana said softly. “You can ask him why after you arrest him.”

Lance and Chet stared at her in surprise.

“What?” Diana shrugged. “I know he’s family but if he did anything to harm that girl, he belongs in jail.”

“Tell us about Derek,” Paige encouraged.

“If you can bear with me, I think I need to give you a brief family history,” Lance began.

“Alright,” Jericho motioned for him to continue.

“Arthur and Daisy Rivers had two sons — my father, Darian, and his brother Kevin. Together they founded River Technologies. Unfortunately, Kevin was wild and out of control. He suffered from addiction. Gradually, that addiction controlled his entire life.”

“What kind?” Paige asked.

“Do people really have just one?” Lance wondered. “Gambling was the worst, but he drank a little too much and he liked women.”

“Dangerous combination,” Jericho observed. “What happened?”

“He was killed,” Lance told them. “Our family believed a dangerous gang of individuals murdered him. It was a group he tried to con so he could place a bet on the game. He used to brag that he could get money from anyone. He spent a lot of time in Vegas. But the casinos, the environment wasn’t the same back then. Most of the casinos were owned and controlled by the mob. Kevin knew that, but he thought he could outwit anyone. Anyway, after he died, my father officially held full control of the company.”

“So why does Derek think he has a claim?” Jericho asked.

“As I said, Kevin was an addict. He was addicted to gambling, but he also had a woman by the name of Venus. He was obsessed with her, but they couldn’t get along. They were both strong-willed, sometimes violent individuals. Basically, the union was toxic. The relationship was on and off for several years. She eventually got pregnant and gave birth to Leon, Derek’s father.”

“Awe,” Paige nodded. “So, he thinks he has the same right to the company as Chet.”

“Yes,” Lance admitted. “He’s wrong, but he feels cheated. Kevin was a founder, but he got bored easily. By the time he died, my father was running the company alone. In fact, Kevin had actually signed ownership over to his brother a few months before his death. My father hoped Kevin would overcome his demons, so he held on to the document — hoping he’d never have to produce it.”

“Does Derek know that?” Paige wondered.

“He does,” Lance sighed. “But he doesn’t care. He accused my father of coercing Kevin while he was under the influence. Derek went so far as to claim dad was responsible for Kevin’s death. He believes, or wants to believe, dad contacted the mob and had Kevin killed. Therefore, he insists he has a right to the company. In fact, his position is that he has more rights to it than I do because I inherited it under illegal means. I’ve tried to reason with him, but he’s obsessed. Maybe he inherited that from Kevin. Maybe he developed it on his own. Regardless, he’s not entitled to anything the Rivers owns. He wasn’t even born with the Rivers name. He changed his name legally before he came to work for us.”

“Okay, so Derek wants the company,” Jericho surmised. “How does stopping Chet’s wedding get him what he wants? Actually, what I really want to know is what would he do with the girl? Would he hurt her?”

“I hope not,” Lance sobered. “But I just don’t know. Like I said, he’s obsessed.”

“No,” Chet insisted. “I don’t believe he’s going to hurt her. He doesn’t have it in him to be violent.”

“Just passive aggressive?” Paige asked.

“Exactly,” Chet agreed. “He keyed my car and stole a few files, but I don’t think he could hurt anyone.”

“Can you finish up here?” Paige asked Jericho.

“Why?” He frowned when she stood to leave.

“I need to go back to the reception center,” she paused in the doorway. “Now that I know what I’m looking for, I need to see if there are any additional clues.”

“Alright,” Jericho agreed. “Keep me posted.”

“I want to come with you,” Chet stood.

“No, I need you to stay here and finish the discussion with the sheriff. Give him all the information you can. I’ll be in touch.” She didn’t wait for an answer, before she turned and rushed out the door.

\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the parking lot, shut down her vehicle and just sat there. She studied the area and tried to get into the mind of a kidnapper. Finally, she climbed out of her vehicle and approached the sidewalk. When she reached the place she found the broken bracelet, she conducted another search. Unfortunately, she found nothing that would help.

Sighing, she stood and ran her hand over her face in frustration. There had to be something, another clue, a way to find the missing girl. She moved backwards to study the area from another angle. *Think, Paige.* She was about to leave when she spotted a large puddle of oil. It wasn’t in a parking stall; it was parallel to the sidewalk.

Paige crouched to study the remnants more carefully. It looked fresh. She had just reached out to touch it when her phone rang. She stood, wiped her oil covered fingertip on her pants and answered the phone. “Deputy Carter.”

“Hey, Paige,” Gage responded. “We’ve been talking to the Rivers family, and it occurred to me that if Amber was abducted against her will, there had to be two people involved. There’s no way one person could grab her and disappear without someone noticing.”

“Not impossible,” Paige considered. “But not likely.”

“So, I asked the family if Derek was involved, who would he trust to help him,” Gage continued. “They have two names, Donny the tech guru and Derek’s administrative assistant, Becky Turner.”

“Can you ask Margie to run both of them and find out what they drive?” Paige focused on the oil spill. The location was perfect for a quick snatch and grab. If Amber exited the building, upset and not paying attention, it would have been easy to take her by surprise. But wouldn’t she fight and struggle, even if she didn’t see the attack coming?

“Uh, looks like Donny Miller drives an Escalade and Becky Turner — sweet, she drives a vintage Mustang.”

“It’s Becky,” Paige smiled. They just got their first genuine lead. “Can you pick her up? I’ll head to Gunnison and bring Derek in for a more thorough interrogation.” She was about to disconnect when something caught her eye. “Gage, you talked to Derek this morning, right?”

“Yeah,” Gage frowned. “But I didn’t get any red flags or anything.”

“Did he have any visible wounds?” Paige pulled an evidence bag from her pouch, slid on a pair of gloves, and slipped a medium-sized rock into the bag. If she got lucky, the lab could match the single drop of blood on the rock to their suspect. She just needed a judge to sign off on a warrant for Derek’s blood. She pulled out a flashlight and carefully studied the area more thoroughly. It paid off, she found blood on a branch in the small bush that lined the sidewalk.

“He had a rash, or redness maybe, I don’t know, some kind of irritation on his neck, but I couldn’t swear that it was an injury,” Gage advised. “He was wearing a suit and with the tie, he was buttoned up tight. I asked him about it, he said the aftershave the hotel provided irritated his skin. Did you find something?”

“A tiny bit of blood,” Paige moved forward, pulled out her tweezers and retrieved what looked like a fingernail. “Do we have pictures of the dinner last night? What I’m looking for is a picture of Amber, one that shows her hands.”

“Why?” Gage began rifling through the file. “Got one. What am I looking for?”

“I found a broken nail,” Paige informed him. “I need to know what her fingernails looked like.”

“Alright,” Gage grabbed a magnifying glass and studied the photo more closely. “It looks like a deep pink, or maybe a red polish with some kind of decoration on them. Could be dots, or maybe silver stars.”

“Stars,” Paige dropped the nail into a bag. “If you can get Becky, I’ll bring Derek in. We’ll reconvene at the office and figure out our next step.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Gage agreed. “See you in an hour or so.”

\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the Walmart parking lot and just stared at the enormous building. She had to do this and buying the test in Gunnison would allow her to make the purchase without the entire town knowing about it. She glanced at the phone again, then picked it up and dialed home.

“Hey, baby,” Dax greeted. “Are you on your way home?”

“Sorry,” Paige focused out the side window. “I’m working a case and I thought I’d call to let you know I’m going to be late.”

“Sounds serious,” Dax observed. “Anything I can do to help?”

“No,” Paige finally relaxed. “It’s just a missing person case. The girl was last seen at an event last night.”

“Is it a kid?” Dax asked. “Those are always tough.”

“She’s twenty so yes, a kid — but not the way you mean,” Paige corrected. “She was supposed to get married this morning, but she vanished.”

“Runaway bride,” Dax grinned. “Pour sap.”

“I don’t think it’s like that,” Paige disagreed. “I suspect foul play. Anyway, I’m in Gunnison to pick up a suspect and bring him in for questioning. Hopefully, I can get answers and locate the girl tonight.”

“Right,” Dax agreed. “Time isn’t on your side. I’ll see you when I see you. Before I let you go, how are you feeling?”

“Fine,” Paige said immediately.

“I think you should make an appointment with your doctor,” Dax suggested. “You’ve been sick for a while now. And don’t give me that nonsense about stress and anxiety. Julianna is no longer trying to kill me; the threat is gone, and you’re still struggling to keep anything down.”

“I’ve gotta go,” Paige evaded.

“Paige,” Dax warned.

“I’ll think about it,” she relented. “Now, I really do need to go. I have a suspect to harass.”

“I’ll see you tonight,” Dax gave in. “I love you.”

“Yeah, me too,” Paige disconnected and focused on the building again. It was time. She wandered around the store for several minutes before she found what she was looking for. Once she did, she grabbed one box, hesitated, then snatched up a second test. It couldn’t hurt to have a backup just for confirmation. She headed for the checkout, absently grabbed a bag of chips on the way and got into line. Once the clerk bagged her purchases, Paige started for the exit. When she spotted the bathroom sign, she pivoted and darted through the door. Might as well get this over with.

“Okay,” Paige tore open the box. “I pee on this stick, wait fifteen minutes, and see if my life is about to change forever.” She didn’t wait fifteen minutes. She followed the instructions, tossed the stick in the bag and headed for her car. She had a suspect to question.

\*\*\*

Derek’s house was easy to find. Paige pulled into the drive and watched a dog run the length of the fence line. A light flipped on, and Paige could see movement inside the house. As she ascended the stairs to the front porch, she heard a television in the distance. The instant she rang the doorbell, everything went silent. Suddenly, the door swung open, and Derek stood in the doorway.

“Derek Rivers, I’m Deputy Paige Carter,” she greeted. “I’m working on the Amber Metcalf case, and we have a few additional questions for you.”

“I already spoke to that other deputy,” Derek’s face hardened, and he stepped onto the porch.

“I understand that, but I need you to come with me,” Paige insisted. “We just have a few more questions.”

“Then ask your questions, I’m busy,” Derek folded his arms in front of him.

“Like I said,” Paige didn’t budge. “I need you to come down to the station with me.”

“And if I refuse?” Derek asked.

“That’s not an option,” Paige advised. “I need you to come with me now.”

“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen,” Derek turned and reached for the door.

Paige grabbed his arm and snapped her handcuffs onto one wrist then the other.

“Wait,” Derek protested. “Are you arresting me for something?”

“Derek Rivers,” Paige turned him toward the steps. “You are under arrest for vandalizing Chet River’s Ferrari. I think that might be a felony — those things are expensive.”

“This blows and you know it,” Derek growled. “That stupid bimbo decided to leave the idiot at the alter and I get arrested for a stupid family prank. You know this is messed up. I’ll have your badge for false arrest.”

Paige guided him toward her vehicle. “You have the right to remain silent,” she continued with his Miranda warning before she maneuvered him into her back seat. As she slid behind the wheel, she casually reached over and turned on her recorder. Derek had that look… the one that said he wanted to talk, and she didn’t think he’d resist for very long. Or he planned to make something up to get her fired. Either way, she’d record it.

She had just pulled onto the highway when her phone rang. “Deputy Carter.”

“Hey, Paige,” Gage began. “I’m at Becky’s residence and she’s not here. From the looks of things, she’s been gone a few days. I checked the mail and there’s at least two, maybe three, days’ worth in the box.”

“That’s not possible, Amber went missing yesterday.” Paige frowned and glanced in the rearview mirror.

“I put out an ATL and Jericho is trying to track down her family,” Gage advised. “At this point, I think that’s all we can do.”

Paige disconnected and stared out of the windshield.

“Look,” Derek fidgeted. “You don’t have to go this far. I know you’re only arresting me because I won’t answer your questions. So, I’ll explain what happened. I admit, I talked to Amber. She was upset after that seen last night at dinner. Chet’s parents made it clear they did not support their marriage. They didn’t want Amber to be part of their family. She was devastated and I understand how she felt. I simply suggested it would be better for everyone if she went away for a while. I guess she decided I was right, and she took a little break to get her head straight.”

“And by everyone, you meant it would be best for you?” Paige suggested.

“Sure,” Derek shrugged. “I might get something out of it, but I was thinking of Amber — and Chet, of course.”

“What do you get out of it?” Paige pushed.

Derek stared out the side window for several seconds. “I figured if that little imp left, just disappeared for a few days, a week, whatever, I figured Chet would be so focused on finding his woman he’d neglect his duties at the company.”

“And after all the sabotage you’d already done,” Paige glanced back. “You thought Lance would change his mind and give the CEO position to you? Over his son? You’re delusional.”

“Not Lance,” Derek disagreed. “Lance Rivers will always choose his son, even if that choice was detrimental to the company. No, I figure after a week or so, the board would figure it all out themselves. They’d see I’m the true leader in that company. They’d realize Chet is too emotional to be trusted with that much power. And they’d see that I have just as much right to that position as that sniveling spoiled brat and his arrogant father.”

“So, you kidnapped Amber and thought you’d just wait it out and get everything you wanted — even if you don’t deserve it.”

“I deserve it,” Derek disagreed. “My grandfather founded that company. My grandfather was responsible for the success of the business and his brother got him killed. Damian Rivers is a murderer, maybe not by his own hand, but he told that gang where to find my grandfather. He sold out his own blood for money and power. Now, I’m going to take it back and there’s nothing Lance or Chet Rivers can do about it.”

“We’ll see about that,” Paige grinned. “It’s gonna be hard to run a company when you’re serving ten to fifteen behind bars.”

\*\*\*

Paige, Lovato, and Gage took turns interrogating Derek but after three hours, they still had gotten nothing from him. He insisted Becky was on vacation and Amber just needed some space to think. He refused to take responsibility for any of it.

“Well,” Paige stood. “I guess it’s my turn again.” She started for the conference room but stopped when Chet and his parents stepped through the front door.

“Can we speak to you for a minute?” Lance asked.

“Of course,” Paige motioned to her desk. “Have a seat over here.” Paige settled into her chair and waited. It didn’t take long.

“We’ve been thinking,” Diana spoke first. “If Derek is behind this, he has to have a place where he can hide Amber. Someplace secluded and out of the way.”

“He’s not talking,” Paige admitted.

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“My grandparents had a cabin,” Lance told them. “It’s up Mayfield Canyon. It takes approximately forty minutes to get there. It’s secluded but comfortable. And the entire family has access.”

“We think it would be the perfect place to take Amber and hide out for a while,” Chet added. “If they had supplies, they could stay there for a month, maybe longer.”

“Show us where it is,” Jericho ordered. “Margie, pull up that mapping thing on the overhead.”

Lance stood and moved to the large screen. “Can you drag the map a little further south? Yeah, right there, now to the east and zoom in. Okay, a little more. Right there. This is the road that leads into the cabin. It might be overgrown — the drive into the cabin. We don’t go there a lot and it’s off the main path, so it doesn’t get a lot of traffic.”

“Are there weapons in the cabin?” Jericho asked.

“No,” Lance answered immediately. “We don’t leave weapons there. If anyone wants that kind of protection, they need to bring their own.”

“Do you think Becky would bring anything with her?” Gage asked.

“I really don’t think so,” Chet jumped in. “I don’t think she’s violent. She’s fascinated with Derek and just trying to help.”

“I hope you’re right,” Paige glanced around the room. “What should we do with Derek?”

“Gage, take him to the cells,” Jericho ordered. “He can spend a little time behind bars while we apprehend his accomplice. Everyone else, pack up, let’s head out.”

Forty-five minutes later the group arrived at the cabin. They were staged at the edge of the driveway, out of sight of anyone that might be watching from inside the target.

“Since weapons are unlikely, I think we should just go knock on the door and see who answers,” Paige suggested.

“And if they do have weapons?” Haviland asked. “You’d be vulnerable and unprotected.”

“It’s a risk,” Paige shrugged. “A small one, but a risk.”

“We surround the cabin,” Jericho decided. “Gage you and Haviland take the back. Dean and Lovato, you hang back and cover the front from those trees over there. Paige, you and I will approach the cabin and knock on the front door.”

“You sure that’s the best idea?” Lo asked, concerned.

“No, but that’s the plan,” Jericho insisted. “Move out and notify Margie once you’re in position. As soon as we get the word, Paige and I will move in.”

“You ready?” Jericho glanced at Paige. “Everyone’s in position and ready to move in on our signal.”

“Let’s head up,” Paige motioned toward the door. “You want left, or right?”

“I’ll take the left,” Jericho decided. “You take the lead. If she opens the door and spots a woman, she might not spook.”

“Right,” Paige rolled her eyes but continued forward. She slowly ascended the stairs, moved forward and to the right, then hesitated to make sure Jericho was in position before she knocked.

“Can I help you?” a petite woman peered through a tiny crack in the door.

“I hope so,” Paige shifted, sliding her foot in the door to prevent the woman from closing it. “I’m looking for Becky Turner, I was told I could find her here.”

“Um —” the woman frowned. “I’m Becky. Do I know you?”

“Could I come in and speak with you for a moment?” Paige used her foot to push the door open another crack. “I have a few questions I’m hoping you can help me answer.”

“I don’t know you,” Becky tried to close the door. When it didn’t budge, she gave it a hard shove. When it still didn’t close, she glared at Paige. “If you don’t leave, I’m going to call the police.”

“Well, that’s handy,” Paige shoved the door open. “We are the police.”

“You can’t come in unless you have a warrant,” Becky pushed at the door again.

“I don’t need one,” Paige smiled. “I have the cabin owner’s permission.” She gave the door one last shove, and it flung open, striking the back wall with a loud thud.

Becky squealed — she actually squealed. Paige stared at her in shock for several seconds before she reacted. Becky flung around and started running toward the back of the house, her arms flailing like a small child. Paige followed, caught up with her in the kitchen and tackled the squealing maniac. Becky continued to scream and started to kick and thrash her arms.

“Knock it off,” Paige grabbed her left arm and locked a cuff around it, then she was able to secure the right hand and within seconds had that arm cuffed as well. She stood, lifted Becky off the floor and shoved her into a chair. “Now, where is Amber?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Becky pouted and turned her nose up in defiance.

“Dean, I need you to remain outside and watch for anyone trying to approach the cabin. Everyone else, get inside. We need to conduct a thorough search,” Jericho demanded. “I’ll watch her, you head upstairs and see if you can find our missing girl.”

Paige studied Becky, trying to give her one last chance to do the right thing. Something in Becky’s eyes told Paige the woman would not cooperate. She pivoted and rushed up the stairs.

The group gathered on the main floor, Becky was now double cuffed to a chair and Jericho was scowling as he held a damp cloth to the side of his head.

“What happened to you?” Paige demanded.

Jericho nodded at Becky. “She thought she could take the old guy, she was wrong. It would take more than a tap to the side of the head with those cuffs to take me out.”

“Idiot,” Paige mumbled.

“What’s the next move?” Gage asked. “We’ve searched the entire cabin. Amber is not here.”

Becky smirked.

“I think she is,” Paige studied Becky. “And she’s going to talk.”

Dean’s voice filled the room “Incoming, I think it might be the Rivers family.”

“I told them —” Jericho began.

“No, this is good,” Paige moved to the door. “They know this place, the layout, the crawl spaces, all the little gems we didn’t find. Let me go out and talk to them. I’ll see if they know anywhere large enough to hide Amber.”

“Be careful,” Jericho warned. “We don’t know Amber’s condition and — well, it might not be good.”

Paige nodded and pivoted when the door swung open, and Chet and his parents stepped inside.

“I know you said to wait,” Chet began.

“My son is frantic,” Lance explained. “He couldn’t just sit at the station and wait for news.

“Come in and have a seat,” Jericho invited.

Diana stepped forward. “Let me take a look at this for you.”

Jericho just stared at her in confusion.

“The wound,” Diana clarified. “Before I married Lance, I was a nurse. Did Becky do this?”

“She did,” Jericho removed the cloth. There was a large goose egg on the side of his head and a slight cut about an inch long that was still bleeding.

“It’s not large, but it’s deep,” Diana observed. “I think you need a couple of stitches. If you trust me, I can handle that for you.”

“Here?” Jericho wondered.

“Yes,” Diana nodded. “We keep medical supplies in the closet. Just give me two minutes and I’ll have this taken care of. That way, you can avoid the hassle of an ER visit.”

“Alright,” Jericho glanced at Paige then over to Gage. “You two are in charge. Find that girl.”

“You haven’t found her?” Chet frantically looked around the room.

“We’ve searched the cabin, but she’s not inside,” Paige advised. “Can you think of anywhere else they might hold her? Maybe an outbuilding? An old outhouse further into the woods? A nearby cabin, anything?”

“No,” Lance focused on Becky. “Tell us what you did with Amber.”

Becky looked away.

“Becky, tell us,” Chet demanded. “She’s innocent in all of this.”

Becky closed her eyes but remained silent.

“Dad,” Chet focused on his father. “What about the crawl space?”

“It’s so small,” Lance frowned.

“What crawl space?” Paige demanded. “We didn’t find any crawl spaces.”

“I’ll show her,” Chet offered. “You stay inside and wait for Mom.”

“I’ll stay inside and try to talk some sense into this girl,” Lance glared at Becky. “She’s already ruined her life but maybe, if she cooperates, she can minimize the consequences.”

“Doubtful,” Haviland grinned. “She clocked the boss.”

“Right,” Lance sighed. “Go on, show Deputy Carter how to access the water system.”

“Water system?” Paige asked once they were outside.

“Yeah,” Chet answered then headed for the back of the house. “The cabin is secluded and for recreation, not residential living. When my grandparents built it, they were worried about trespassers. We get a lot of hunters up here as well as summer hikers, campers, and fishers. They wanted running water, but didn’t want to deal with vandalism or break-ins. So—” he reached out and removed a small section of the back wall. “This was their answer.” He set the section aside and crouched to peer into a small hole. “I’ll go down and see if Amber’s inside.”

“No,” Paige held out an arm to stop him. “I need to go in first. I’ll let you know if I find anything.”

“It’s not that long,” Chet informed her.

“Chet?” came a weak voice, followed by a dry, hacking cough.

“Amber?” Chet called out. “I have to get her out of there.”

“No,” Paige stepped forward. “I’m going to get her out of there. And it’s going to take me a few minutes because I’m going to document the evidence. You want Derek to pay for what he did, right?”

Chet closed his eyes. “I do, but you need to get in there. You have to help Amber.”

“Can I trust you to stay right here?” Paige ordered more than asked. “Because if I can’t, I’ll have to drag you back to the house so one of those big men inside can restrain you.”

“No,” Chet answered immediately. “I’ll wait right here. I need to be here when she gets out of there.”

“Alright,” Paige hit a button on her walkie. “I’ve located the victim. She’s in a small crawlspace on the rear east side of the building. I’m going in but could use someone to head out and back me up.”

“I’m on it,” Havilland answered.

Paige had barely slid into the hole when Havilland arrived. “Keep him out here,” she clicked on her flashlight and let out a sigh of relief. “It’s not bad. Amber has already called out to Chet, so we know she's in there. I need to snap a few pictures, then we’ll be back. Easy enough.”

“Yeah,” Havilland laughed. “Because I know how much you love spiders.”

“Shut up,” Paige tried to crouch and walk but the opening was too small. Finally, she got down on all fours and crawled through the space. It actually wasn’t that bad. It also didn’t take long to find Amber. She was sitting against the rough dirt wall, secured to a water tank with plastic ties. Paige took several shots before she pulled out her pocketknife and cut the restraints. “Let’s get you out of here. There’s a groom outside eager to see you.”

Amber started to cry.

“Hey,” Paige put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I think you’re a little dehydrated. It’s probably not a good idea to waste all that liquid right now.

Amber snorted then coughed. “My throat is so dry.”

“Let’s head out,” Paige suggested. “We’ll get you some water and then you can tell us exactly what happened.”

The instant they crawled from the opening, Chet pulled Amber into his arms and wouldn’t let go. Amber wrapped herself around Chet and cried harder.

“Let’s get them inside,” Paige whispered to Havilland. “I want Diana to do a quick exam and make sure the girl is okay. It may have been a blessing to have a nurse show up at our crime scene.”

“Let’s see how it went with the boss before we jump ahead,” Havilland moved forward and maneuvered the couple toward the house.

After a quick exam and orders to drink plenty of water, Amber was ready to tell her story. Jericho contacted Amber’s parents with the good news, let them speak to Amber to verify she was okay, but insisted they remain at the station. They reluctantly agreed. The group gathered around the gigantic fireplace. Becky was still handcuffed to the chair but now she was the one crying. Apparently, she finally figured out what she’d done, and that she was facing a future behind bars rather than an executive desk.

“I was upset when I left the reception center,” Amber began. “Everything was so perfect, and I hoped we could get through the ceremony without another fight. Then Karl started in, and Derek pounced.”

“And then we joined the argument,” Diana reached out and placed a supportive hand over Ambers. “I — we, Lance and I that is — we are so sorry for not seeing how much you loved our son until it was almost too late.”

“I understand,” Amber gripped Diana’s hand. “I always understood and just hoped that eventually you would see that you were wrong. I don’t care about Chet’s money. I love Chet.”

“We do see; and, I promise you, things will change from now on,” Lance told her. “Tell us the rest.”

“So, I was upset when I left,” Amber continued. “I wasn’t really paying attention to my surroundings because I was worried about the wedding — if everyone would behave, if I’d get to have one good day without all the quarrelling, there were so many things running through my mind. I didn’t see Derek until I nearly collided with him. I looked up to apologize when he grabbed my arm and started to drag me toward a Mustang I didn’t recognize. I fought, and that’s when I lost my bracelet.” She turned to Chet and tears filled her eyes. “I lost it.”

“Deputy Carter found it,” Chet assured her. “It’s broken, but we’ll get it repaired.”

“Thank you,” Amber turned to Paige. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”

“We’ll need it for evidence, but I promise you will eventually get it back,” Paige assured her.

“I fought with Derek, scratched and kicked and punched, but he was too strong for me,” Amber admitted.

“Do you remember where you scratched him?” Jericho asked. “Did it leave a mark?”

“Yes,” Amber smiled. “I got him good on his right arm, right here,” she turned her arm and ran a finger over the inside of her right arm just above the wrist. “I also got him on his neck, right by the collar bone. I was aiming for higher, so it would show no matter what kind of shirt he wore, but he turned, and I missed. I know he has marks because he was bleeding when he shoved me into the car.” She pulled down her sleeve and showed them the smeared blood.

“That’s great,” Paige smiled. “I’m going to need that shirt. Do you have anything here she could change into so I can preserve that evidence?”

“I’m sure there’s something,” Diana stood. “Let me go look. Can Amber come with me? We can change upstairs immediately.”

“Sure, but I’ll need to come as well,” Paige stood.

The women returned with Amber wearing a clean blue golf shirt that was several sizes too big, Paige was carrying an evidence bag that contained the evidence they would need to put Derek away for a long time.

“Should I continue?” Amber settled back in her chair. Chet wrapped a supportive arm around her and waited.

“Go ahead,” Jericho prompted.

“So, Derek shoved me into this Mustang and that’s when I saw Becky. She was just sitting there, waiting behind the wheel with the car idling. I couldn’t believe she just sat there and didn’t help. Then it hit me, I realized what they planned to do. I started to scream but Derek shoved a rag over my face, and I blacked out. When I woke up, I was tied to that tank with no idea where I was and no means of escape. And my throat felt raw, like it was burning or something.”

“Chloroform?” Chet asked.

“We’ll have her tested, but that would be my guess,” Paige nodded.

“Where would Derek get chloroform?” Lance wondered.

“Her father is a veterinarian,” Diana explained. “I’m sure he has some on hand to euthanize animals.”

“How did you know that?” Lance asked his wife.

“I pay attention,” Diana grinned.

“I think that’s all we need for now,” Jericho stood. “Gage, you transport Becky and get her booked. Chet, I think your bride could use a little TLC and her parents are eagerly awaiting her arrival. Everyone else, go home. It’s been a long day.”

\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the driveway, shut down the engine and just stared at the bag on the passenger’s seat. She never got a chance to read the results of that test. She was still contemplating what to do when she spotted movement on the front porch. Dax was sitting there with Hawk, but the two men had stood and were now headed toward her. Instinct told her to grab the bag and hide it. She was too late. Before she could react, Hawk was headed across the lawn towards his house and Dax was climbing into the passenger’s seat. He grabbed the bag, then slid inside.

“Long day,” he observed. “Did you find your missing girl?”

“Yeah,” Paige tried not to focus on the bag, but she couldn’t help it. The unopened box was dangling halfway out of the bag and was about to fall to the floor. “It’s a long story, but she was being held in a cabin up the canyon near Mayfield. She’s back with her family and the weddings still on, so all’s well that ends well, I suppose.”

“And who abducted her?” Dax shifted, then froze when he spotted the box that fell from the bag he was holding. He turned to Paige in shock. “You’re pregnant? That’s what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know,” Paige couldn’t take her eyes off the bag he was holding. “I—”

“Right, the box hasn’t been opened,” Dax reached down and retrieved it. “We should go inside and —”

“I already took a test, I just don’t know what it says,” she admitted.

“I don’t understand,” he held up the unopened box.

“That’s the second test,” she swallowed hard. “The backup test, just in case I needed it.”

“And the other test?” Dax studied her.

“In that bag,” Paige admitted. “I took the test, but I was on my way to confront a suspect, so I didn’t want to wait the requisite fifteen minutes to learn the results. I just tossed it in that bag and did my job.”

Dax stared at her. “You thought you were pregnant… that we might have a baby and decided to take the test alone, without telling me. Then, after you took the test, you just tossed it in a bag and headed off to confront a suspect? Who does that, Paige?”

“I guess I do,” Paige said defensively. “I — was scared, alright. If that stupid stick has two pink lines, my life is going to change forever.”

“Our lives,” Dax corrected. “Where is the test?”

“In that bag,” Paige closed her eyes and waited. “You do it. You read it and tell me what it says.”

“We’re going to do this together,” Dax corrected. He rummaged around in the bag until he felt what had to be the testing stick. “You ready?”

“Not even close,” Paige locked eyes with his. “I’m sorry. I just — panicked.”

“How long have you known?” Dax reached out and took her hand. “How long have you been hiding behind fake stress and bad take out?”

“A few hours,” Paige answered honestly. “What time is it? I’ll do the math.”

“You figured it out today?” Dax needed to confirm he’d read that right.

“Yeah,” Paige sighed. “I was sitting on the ground next to my patrol car after puking my guts out in a ditch and it hit me. I drove over to the Chevron to buy a test but ran into Harper — just my luck. So, I decided it could wait. But when I hit Gunnison and saw the Walmart, I pulled in without thinking. Then, I called you to let you know I’d be late, and it gave me the courage I needed to walk through those doors and buy the stupid test.”

“You were sitting in the parking lot of Walmart when you called?” Dax glared at her. “And you didn’t tell me what was going on?”

“I —” she looked away. “I panicked, alright?”

“No, Paige,” Dax scolded. “It’s not alright. We’re supposed to be partners. Especially in something like this. You did this on your own. You said yourself you panicked, then you went to confront a suspect, alone, distracted, and in no condition to handle yourself if something went wrong.”

“You’re right, I should have told you,” Paige considered. “But you’re wrong about the rest. I took the test, and I was a bit panicked about the entire situation. Then I tossed that stick in the bag and refocused. I wasn’t distracted — and that worries me. I should have been thinking about a possible baby, our lives, how things would change. Instead, I tossed the test in the bag and didn’t think of it again until I pulled into our driveway. What does that say about me? If I am pregnant, I’m going to be a horrible mother.”

“I disagree, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It’s time to look at the test results,” Dax pulled the stick from the bag and turned it over before holding it under the interior light.

Paige’s heart dropped and she couldn’t breathe. “Pregnant,” she whispered.

Dax grinned. “I’m going to be a dad.” He shoved open the door and climbed out, then rounded the front of the vehicle, and flung Paige’s door wide open.

Before Paige knew what he was doing, Dax had unbuckled her belt, lifted her out of the vehicle and had her pinned against the back door. He kissed her. A long, seductive, happy kiss. After a while… a long while, he pulled back. Paige just stared at him, still shocked. How could he be so happy when she was so — what? Overwhelmed.

“I guess we should have expected this, it was bound to happen eventually,” Dax smirked. “Now, for the other thing. You are going to be the most amazing mother that ever existed. You’re the smartest and most intuitive woman I know, so we’ll always know what our kid needs and when he or she is up to no good. You are the most compassionate woman on the planet, you’re a natural protector and you are a good person. I can see how wonderful you are, and our child is going to be lucky to have you as a mother.” He took her hand and led her to the house. “Now, enough moping. Tonight, I want to celebrate. I’m going to be a dad!”

Paige laughed and followed him up the stairs. Dax was going to be a great dad and, if she worked hard at it, she might figure this mom thing out — eventually. She was starting to get the hang of this whole wife thing. Yes, she stumbled now and then but not nearly as much as she used to. Being a mom had to be easier, right?

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 **Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets. Don't forget, this is the final season so you won't want to miss an episode.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S7

**Tags:** Season 7

---

### [An Eye for an Eye](https://melaniepsmith.com/an-eye-for-an-eye/)

**Published:** April 30, 2023
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** An Eye for an Eye (S7E1) The past catches up to Paige when a killer comes to Manti.  Will she target Paige, or someone she loves?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*AN EYE FOR AN EYE\*\*\*****

Paige glanced at her phone display and smiled. “I hope you called to tell me you’re on your way home. Not that you decided to stay another day.”

“Actually, I’m already here and I’m starving. I was hoping your shift might be over and you could meet me at the Chophouse for dinner. I owe my wife a date.”

“Your wife accepts. I’m starving, too,” Paige pulled to the side of the road and headed in the opposite direction. Fifteen minutes later, she glided to the curb and parked her vehicle. She spotted Dax immediately, leaning casually against the brick wall of the restaurant. She climbed from the car, grinned, and casually strolled toward him. “Hey stranger, what does a girl have to do to get dinner around here?”

Dax reached out, grabbed her shirt, and yanked her against him. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and grinned just before he pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was loving and hot at the same time. Dax lingered just long enough to convey how much he missed her before he pulled back and whispered in her ear, “Honey, I’m home.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PCS7-MPS.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/E1-An-Eye-for-an-Eye.pdf)

Paige straightened. “Okay, you earned dinner.”

“You know you missed me.” Dax took her hand and kissed her palm. Suddenly, he straightened and became stiff and alert. He tightened his grip on Paige’s hand and spun her around in a smooth move that placed his body protectively in front of hers.

Paige was so shocked; she was slow to react. Before she understood what was going on, he pushed her back toward the restaurant entrance. “Dax! What’s wrong?” Paige tried to move around him but failed.

“Get inside,” Dax ordered.

“Why?”

He reached back, pulled on the door handle, and shoved Paige inside.

“What did you see?” Paige demanded, alert now.

“We were being watched,” Dax finally explained.

Paige moved forward; her eyes darted in all directions, trying to see what spooked her husband. It was too dark to make out anything. Especially through the thin windows that lined the sturdy entrance doors. “I don’t see anyone. Where are they?”

“Gone,” Dax reached out, gently took her hand, and pulled her toward the waiting hostess. “Let’s go eat.”

“You’re sure they’re gone?” Paige frowned, but followed the hostess to a table near a window.

“Someone was watching from that alley, over there,” Dax pointed across the street. “You can see for yourself, they’re gone.”

“Will it be just the two of you tonight?” the hostess asked.

“Yeah,” Paige nodded. “Can we have that table over by the window?”

Dax tightened his grip on her hand. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“Yes,” Paige insisted.

Dax settled into a chair and studied his wife. “Did you catch a new case? Could someone be worried about an investigation you’re handling?”

“No,” Paige said, clearly perplexed. “I have no idea who that could be. Why was somebody watching us?”

“I’ve been out of town, in the back country,” Dax reminded her. “I have no idea, but this can’t be about me.”

The waitress approached the table, they ordered dinner, and waited for her to leave before they continued the conversation.

“So, tell me what you’ve been working on while I was gone,” Dax requested.

“Nothing big,” Paige settled back. “A couple domestics, a group of high school kids playing a shoplifting game, and the usual — gas thefts, vehicle burgs, that sort of thing.”

“Clearly, it wasn’t the high school kids watching you.” Dax sat back. “I also doubt it’s related to the domestics.”

“I told you, there’s nothing hot right now,” she glanced at the window and froze in shock. “Julianna Barrow,” she whispered.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Julianna-06_MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Julianna-02_MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Julianna-04_MPS.jpg)

“Who?” Dax turned and saw a young woman with thick, wavy, long red hair standing on the sidewalk a few feet away from the window. She was staring at Paige and grinning. “Who is Julianna Barrow?”

Paige didn’t answer. Instead, she suddenly jumped up and ran out of the restaurant.

Dax slid from the booth and started to follow. He paused when he spotted the waitress. Once he got her attention, she rushed over. Dax pulled out a twenty. “Something has come up; can we get that order to go?” He handed her the twenty then rushed out of the building.

“I’ll take care of it,” the waitress called after him.

Dax pushed open the door and stepped into the cool night air. He was alert and cautious as he took in his surroundings and frantically searched for his wife. In the distance a door slammed, tires squealed, and a blue Camry sped away. Seconds later, Paige came running down the sidewalk. “Stop and tell me what’s going on.”

Paige darted past him. “I’ll meet you at home.”

Dax watched in shock as his wife jumped into her vehicle and maneuvered away from the curb. She barely missed a parked car, activated her lights, and sped away. Seconds later, she disappeared around a corner. Dax stood there for several seconds, fuming but worried. He stepped back inside the restaurant, retrieved their dinner, and drove silently home.

\*\*\*

An hour later, Paige pulled into her driveway. She stepped from her vehicle and slammed the door in frustration. She couldn’t believe she lost the car. Julianna must have plotted out her escape ahead of time. How long had the woman been in Manti — watching her? Memories flooded her mind, and she tried to push them away. She needed to focus on today. Recalling the frustration, sadness, and the anger she felt years ago wouldn’t help her deal with her current situation. She shoved open her front door, stepped inside, and froze. Dax was sitting on the couch — waiting. There was a dim lamp glowing in the background, but it didn’t illuminate his face. She didn’t need it; she could tell he was angry.

“From the look on your face, I’m guessing the woman got away.” Dax watched and waited.

“I’m sorry I took off, but that’s the job.” Paige shrugged and draped her gun belt over a chair. “By now, you should understand what I do — and why. You know there will be times I miss dinner or other important events because something comes up that I can’t control.” She walked through the room and into the kitchen.

Dax stood and slowly followed. He retrieved his dinner from the oven, settled in at the table, and waited.

Paige frowned, grabbed her own dinner and dropped into the chair across from him. When he didn’t say anything, she got mad. “What? I don’t know what you want from me.”

“I want to know who Julianna Barrow is.” Dax sat back and pushed his plate aside. He was no longer hungry.

“She’s someone I arrested a long time ago.” Paige was trying to act casual and detached, but there was nothing casual or detached about Julianna Barrow.

“How did she get away?” Dax pushed. Paige was hiding something, and he didn’t like it. “You guys have radios and can easily block and secure a fleeing suspect. What went wrong?”

“Nothing,” Paige evaded. “She had a plan, and she executed it before I could catch up.”

“And nobody else could locate a blue Camry speeding through the city?” Dax studied Paige for several seconds before he finally got it. “You didn’t call it in.”

“No, I didn’t.” Paige pushed her own plate aside.

“Why?” Dax demanded.

“Because as far as I know,” Paige glared at him. “Other than violating a few traffic codes, Julianna Barrow didn’t break the law.”

“Then why chase her?” Dax would not give up until he had answers. “And why did she flee? Which I believe is a felony; and, that means, she broke the law.”

“I didn’t have the right to chase her in the first place,” Paige disagreed.

“Then why did you?” Dax challenged.

“I need to know why she’s here.” Paige ran a frustrated hand over her face. Nothing tonight was going as planned.

“Who is she, Paige?”

“I told you, someone I arrested a long time ago,” Paige stood abruptly. “I’m going to bed.”

Dax waited for Paige to reach the doorway. “You can tell me yourself, or I’ll figure it out on my own. Either way, I will know all there is to know about Julianna Barrow.”

“And by that, you mean you’ll have Carmen compile a detailed report,” Paige whirled back around. “Not if I talk to her first.”

“I have other people in my life with the skills to dig out information,” Dax shrugged. “If you block Carmen, I’ll just tap someone else.”

“Hawk,” Paige spat. “Fine, I’ll give you the short version.” She practically stomped back to the table and dropped into her chair. “I arrested Julianna Barrow when she was eighteen. She’s diabolical, manipulative, and a liar. She’s also a stone-cold killer. She’s a sociopath that fooled her therapist, fooled the court, and fooled the system.”

“But she didn’t fool you,” Dax nodded.

“She didn’t fool her parents either,” Paige sighed. “They knew what she was because they’d been dealing with her for sixteen years. They wanted her to get help. The system wanted a simple resolution.”

“Tell me the rest,” Dax prompted.

“Julianna disappeared when she was sixteen,” Paige began. “Her parents reported her missing, but admitted she was likely a runaway. I think they were relieved to have her out of the house, but they also felt guilty about it. So, they made the report and waited to see if she’d return. She didn’t.” When Dax didn’t respond, Paige continued. “It was about a year later, or maybe a little longer, that I got involved. The FBI was called in and I was one of several agents assigned to the case.”

“Because?”

“Because a group of women were breaking into homes in the Great Lakes area,” Paige was trying to remain vague, but she should have known Dax wouldn’t allow it.

“Burglary doesn’t fall under the FBI’s jurisdiction,” Dax disagreed.

“They started out committing residential burglaries, but eventually, it escalated. The women, there were five of them, and they were all young. A couple of them were teens — including Julianna — the others were in their early 20s. Burglary turned into assault; and, before long, it escalated to murder. Anyway, the leader of this posse of thugs was a man named Rod Anderson. They called him Master Saber — like the tiger, I guess. He was twenty-nine, just shy of thirty, when we caught them. He tried to skate, claimed he did not know what his girls were doing and shouldn’t get punished for their actions.

He swore they were free spirits, and he didn’t want to inhibit them with rules. He insisted his only mistake was trusting the people he loved. He said he assumed the girls would control themselves and limit their activities to legal pursuits while they were away from home. Nobody bought it, not even a jury. He’s locked up tight, serving several life sentences and will never get out.”

“I could find all of this on the web. It’s a matter of public record. Tell me what you don’t want me to know,” Dax pushed.

“Julianna was involved with Saber — intimately.” Paige glanced out the window. “It’s a ridiculous name used by an absurd man. The guy was batshit, don’t get me wrong, but I think she was the true leader of that clan. The group called themselves the Crimson Nomads. All of those women were devoted to Saber. They probably still are. He created a little harem and enjoyed the power and benefits that came with that lifestyle.

Julianna was the exception. She’s only devoted to herself and didn’t mind sharing because the relationship was never real. She became infatuated with the idea of him, but Saber was just a conquest. I believe she manipulated him, maybe even controlled him. The man was completely captivated by her youth, her beauty, and her uninhibited spirit — as he put it. He would have done anything to make her happy. All Julianna had to do was whisper a suggestion to her devoted lover, and she’d instantly have his cooperation. Then Anderson would take the idea to the other girls and convince them to follow Julianna’s lead. It was actually pretty simple to put their sadistic plans in motion. She’s diabolical — he was obsessed. It was a lethal combination.”

“But she got away with it — and he’s doing time,” Dax pointed out. “How did she manage that?”

“She claimed she was kidnapped and forced to do those things against her will. She insisted she complied out of fear.” Paige focused on him. “She fake cried, and played it up for her attorney, the court appointed therapist, the judge, and the FBI supervisors overseeing the investigation into the crime spree. They bought it. I didn’t, but I couldn’t convince anyone I was right. The guy was a freak. He ground his teeth into points, had demonic tattoos covering his arms and torso, caked on heavy black makeup, and would only wear orange and black clothing. The guy actually drank blood. I think everyone involved wanted to believe he was the bad guy, and she was a victim. She’s a master manipulator. She came in looking like this cute little innocent girl, like an angel that was victimized by the big bad demon — and it worked.”

“What happened to the other women?” Dax wondered.

 “They’ll spend the rest of their lives in prison. The four of them were loyal. I mean, cult level devotion, without question, to that man. They parroted the same nonsense, insisted they were above our laws and couldn’t be touched by mere mortals. They fully embraced the doctrine and ideals of the coven Anderson created. It was kind of freaky. They dressed alike, did their makeup the same, walked the same, moved the same. Seeing them together was like watching synchronized swimming or something. It reminded me of the Stepford Wives on steroids. They were completely brainwashed, and insisted they were living an exulted demonic life with an undead being.

Their Master — Saber — convinced them they were succubus minions, and he was an immortal vampire. Those women truly believed they had risen above societal norms and couldn’t be restricted by antiquated laws and civil servants. I think the steadfast devotion and unwavering loyalty was all Rod Anderson’s doing. Julianna wasn’t capable of emotional connections. She couldn’t entice or charm those women the way Saber could. He was completely out there, but he was charismatic and alluring. He sold those women a bag of magic beans and they were so insecure and malleable they rushed to the garden and started planting. All of them were social outcasts. They’d been rejected in one way or another their entire lives. Saber used that against them and gave them purpose.”

“So, a Charles Manson copycat,” Dax said flatly.

“Basically, other than the drinking blood thing,” Paige admitted. “Ron Anderson, the man they called Master Saber, had dead eyes just like Manson, and he was able to con those women into giving him complete control over their lives.”

“Which led to murder — to prove their devotion to him,” Dax was starting to understand. “With each kill, he felt more powerful. He went along with the rest to perpetuate the illusion of immortality — he used the blood drinking and theatrics to continue the myth so he could feel invincible. If Julianna truly is a psychopath, she did it to feed her ego and prove to herself she was smarter than all of them.”

“Exactly,” Paige nodded. “And, I think, just to see if she could. Plus, she liked the killing.”

“Did she serve any time at all?” Dax wondered.

“They sent her to a psychiatric hospital,” Paige shrugged. “To help her deal with the trauma of being kidnapped and to overcome what they deemed Stockholm’s. Maybe she just got out.”

“And the first thing she did was come after you?” Dax frowned. “She’s dangerous, Paige. You need to talk to Jericho about this.”

“No, I don’t,” Paige stood again. “I need to go to bed so I can develop a plan to deal with the threat myself.”

“You have a team,” Dax insisted. “You should use them. Jericho needs to know about this threat. You’re obviously in danger, at the very least, you have to talk to Gage, he’s your partner.”

“I’m a cop, there’s always danger,” Paige barked. “But out, Dax. I’m the expert and I’ll handle this my way.”

“If you don’t talk to Jericho, I will,” Dax insisted.

“I don’t tell you how to do your job,” Paige said, clearly angry. “Don’t tell me how to do mine.” She jumped to her feet and abruptly left the room.

\*\*\*

Paige woke, rolled over, and realized Dax was already gone. She couldn’t believe he just left without saying goodbye. Okay, she ignored him last night and shut him down. Then, when he came to bed, she pretended to be asleep. Still, he just left. He was obviously angry with her, and she couldn’t really blame him. She should stop by the training center today and talk this out, but what could she say? Her position hadn’t changed. She was going to track down Julianna Barrow and find out why she was lurking around Manti. Then she’d find a way to make her leave. What she wouldn’t do was risk the lives of her fellow officers in the process.

Frustrated, she sat, swung her legs over the edge of the bed, and immediately felt nauseous. She bolted across the room and rushed into the bathroom, barely reaching the toilet in time to toss last night’s dinner. Great, now she had food poisoning, an angry husband, and a sadistic killer to deal with. What next? A furious swarm of murder hornets? She pushed her body backwards, leaned against the wall and remained on the cold tile floor for nearly twenty minutes before she finally felt well enough to stand.

After a quick shower, Paige walked slowly into the kitchen, determined to enjoy her first cup of coffee. Unfortunately, the potent smell of her favorite dark roast sent her running back to the bathroom. Resigned, she decided coffee was out. She’d stop at the convenience store and grab a large mug of ginger ale.

The cool liquid soothed her aching throat and Paige decided to take a little walk. If Julianna wanted to find her, she’d make sure she was out in the open and readily available. She hadn’t gone far when the call came in from Jericho.

\*\*\*

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Dax brought the vehicle to an abrupt stop, threw it in park, and flung open his door. The scowl on his face told his men to steer clear of the boss today. Dax moved to the back of his truck, snatched up his gear, and headed for the steep overhang.

“We should check that,” Vato began. “Or not,” he mumbled under his breath when Dax glared at him and continued walking.

“Vato,” Dax dumped the rope on the ground. “I’ll head down first. You follow. I want you to focus on the terrain and the level of experience necessary to manage this descent. We need to know if an intermediate class can handle the obstacle.”

“Hold on,” Vato reached out and grabbed Dax by the arm. “You can shoot daggers at me all day, but there are certain safety precautions we all agreed we’d never skip. You’re not going over that cliff until I see your friction knots with my own eyes.”

“You’re right,” Dax took a deep, calming breath. “Would you mind taking care of the knots while I grab the rest of my gear from the back of my truck?”

“Sure, I got this,” Vato offered.

Dax rounded his truck, dropped the tailgate, and grabbed his gear. When he turned, he nearly collided with Hawk and Zeus.

“What’s going on?” Zeus asked.

“It has to involve Paige. You were fine when you left last night,” Hawk added.

“I’ll fill you both in later. But, Hawk, when we get back to the office, I need you to get me everything you can find on a woman named Julianna Barrow, late twenties, red hair, five-six about one-forty.”

“Who is she?” Zeus wondered.

“A killer Paige dealt with when she worked for the FBI,” Dax told them.

“Why am I doing a background, then?” Hawk frowned.

“She’s here.” Dax flung his gear over his shoulder. “In Manti.”

“How? If Paige arrested her for murder, shouldn’t she be in prison?” Zeus asked.

“Wouldn’t Carmen already have all the details on her?” Hawk was watching Dax and knew there was more to the story.

“Paige said she’s playing the friend card, and Carmen won’t help me,” Dax ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

“She’ll help me. I have the husband card,” Zeus pulled out his phone and called his wife. “You busy, honey?”

“I have a few minutes. What’s up?” Carmen asked.

“I’m going to put you on speaker. I’m here with Dax and Hawk,” he told her.

“Sounds ominous.” Carmen was curious now.

“We need you to tell us everything you know about Julianna Barrow,” Hawk requested.

“Why?” Carmen demanded, instantly alert. “The woman is depraved and dangerous.”

“She’s here — in Manti,” Dax provided. “And Paige won’t talk to me about her — not more than the basics. She won’t talk to anyone. She refuses to warn Jericho or Gage that danger has come to their town. I think she plans to handle it herself, and I’m worried.”

“Right,” Carmen said in understanding. “She’s trying to avoid another Tommy Malone.”

“Who?” Zeus asked, confused.

“The math genius?” Hawk clarified.

“Yeah,” Carmen answered, surprised. “You know him?”

“I’ve worked with him,” Hawk evaded.

“Never mind,” Carmen sighed. “It’s top secret, super classified stuff. I get it.”

“What does Tommy Malone have to do with Paige?” Dax asked impatiently.

“Malone was a field agent,” Carmen provided. “He was good — like, amazingly good. He was assigned to the team working on the Julianna Barrow case. He and Paige got really close. They played off each other. Her forensics complimented his math — somehow. Those two worked for hours mapping out the crazy cult’s most likely targets. Malone used some of that fancy genius math stuff he’s so good at and was confident he knew the women’s next target. Paige trusted him and tried to get extra manpower assigned to that house, but the brass wouldn’t listen. So, the two of them headed out on their own.”

“What happened?” Dax was sure he already knew. Malone told him he was injured on a case while he was tracking a crazy cult. Dax had no idea the man was working with Paige at the time.

“They scoped out the house for a while before they evacuated the family. Once they knew the residents were safe, Paige set up around back. Malone hid in the shadows out front. The succubus chicks arrived and broke into the house through the front. Paige was supposed to confront them and push them back outside, where they’d hook up with Malone and safely arrest the entire group. Paige had some trouble inside and before she could get the group to the front door, that vampire freak came barreling up the driveway and struck Malone from behind with his car.

Nobody knew the guy would even be there. Before that night, everyone thought the women committed the crimes on their own. We figured he gave the order, and they carried it out. We were wrong. Anyway, Paige reached the front door just in time to see Malone fly through the air and collide with a stone wall. His days of field work were over for good.”

“I didn’t realize Paige was the agent with him when he was paralyzed,” Hawk practically whispered.

“She blamed herself,” Carmen told them. “She had a split second to make a choice that wasted time and had dire consequences. Then, once she finally got outside, she was frantic and conflicted. Worse, she was faced with another tough choice. She could have chased after the vehicle and probably would have arrested the entire cult that night. Instead, she stayed with Malone and insisted on riding with him to the hospital. It devastated her when she found out he was paralyzed, and she blamed herself. They were partners, and she wasn’t there when he needed her. The following night, she got another blow when she learned the same group hit one of the homes Paige and Malone identified as a likely target. They killed a young couple and the girl’s elderly grandmother. Paige swore that the group would never hurt anyone else — especially no one she cared about.”

“Malone doesn’t blame her,” Hawk provided. “He’s accepted his life and even told me the injury forced him to make a move he should have made long before that incident happened. He’s doing what he was born to do, and he excels at it. He loves his job at the Bureau and wouldn’t change it if he could.”

“I know that,” Carmen sighed. “But Paige insists she ruined his life. She accepted Malone’s fate but never got over it and never stopped felling guilty and responsible.”

“Yo,” Vato called. “Are we doing this or what?”

“If Julianna has come to Manti,” Carmen sobered. “She’s here for revenge and Paige will try to handle this herself. You can’t let her. You guys have to step in. That woman is dangerous and the two of them share an emotional connection that makes the situation even worse.”

“Once we’ve finished up here,” Dax decided. “Hawk will head over to your place. I need the two of you to pull everything you can on Julianna Barrow. If possible, I could use the old FBI file as well. Paige will have backup whether she wants it or not.”

“Damn straight, Paige is family,” Zeus held up a hand to stop Vato. “Now, we need to get to work. We’ll dive deeper into this tonight. Love you, babe.”

Dax had descended approximately halfway down the side of the cliff. Vato was casually suspended a few feet below him, when disaster struck. The harness snapped and the force of the break catapulted Dax toward the side of the mountain. His knee struck a tree that was protruding from a small outcropping just before his head collided with a large rock. White lights began popping around his eyes and he worried he might pass out. He gritted his teeth, gripped the rope with both hands, and held on — knowing Vato would do his best to rescue him. He just hoped his friend was quick enough.

Vato saw the line jerk and looked up to see Dax collide with the mountain. He immediately realized the harness failed and his friend was in serious danger. Within seconds, he had climbed the rope and was dangling by his friend’s side. He twisted his spare rope into an elaborate new safety harness, flung it around Dax, and pulled it tight to hold him securely in place while he studied Dax’s injuries. “Don’t black out,” Vato ordered.

“Working on it.” Dax gripped the rope tighter.

“You can let go of that,” Vato instructed. “You’re locked in tight; the new harness will hold. Now, we need to get you back up to the top so we can doctor those wounds.”

“You’re sure?” Dax pressed.

“Trust me,” Vato requested.

“I do.” Dax held his breath, and let go of the rope. It held.

“What do you guys need?” Zeus called down from the top.

“Grab the rope and try to pull him back up,” Vato instructed. “I’ll see what I can do from down here.” He reached out, retrieved the damaged harness, and shoved it into his pack. “We’re ready when you are. Just start pulling.”

They worked together carefully raising Dax back to the top of the overhang. It didn’t take long before he rolled over the side, landed on his back, and got tangled in the rope.

“What happened?” Hawk demanded and impatiently untangling his friend.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Rappelling-05_MPS.jpeg)

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“No idea.” Dax closed his eyes and tried to catch his breath. His head was pounding, and his knee was killing him. “The harness broke and flung me into the side of the mountain.”

“The harness was cut,” Vato fumed and focused on the group. “This was deliberate.”

Hawk and Zeus looked down at Dax in understanding.

“What?” Vato demanded.

“I’m not so sure Paige is the one in danger,” Zeus turned, kicked the dirt, and headed for his truck.

“We need to call Jericho,” Dax tried to sit up but a wave of blackness engulfed him. He blinked it back, gritted his teeth and willed himself not to lose consciousness. “Someone find my phone.”

Hawk handed him the cell phone just as Zeus returned with a medic pack. “Let’s get the pants off and see what we’ve got here.”

“I think we should take pictures before we do anything.” Hawk moved forward and pulled out his own phone.

Dax tried to dial Jericho, but his vision was so blurry he couldn’t read the screen. Frustrated, he gave up and dropped his phone on the ground.

Hawk retrieved it and contacted Jericho. He handed his own phone to Zeus so he could finish documenting the damage.

“When you’re done, just cut the pants above the knee. They’re junk now anyway; those rips can’t be repaired.”

“I don’t know,” Vato grinned. “I think that’s the style these days.”

“Cut them,” Dax ordered before he leaned back, closed his eyes, and tried to ignore the pounding in his head.

\*\*\*

“Where are you, Paige?” Jericho demanded. “Margie has you checked out at the convenience store, but I don’t show a call there.”

“I went for a walk,” she evaded.

“Well, you don’t have time for a leisurely stroll,” Jericho scolded. “Meet me at the mouth of the canyon.” He disconnected, knowing she’d have questions he wasn’t prepared to answer.

Paige frowned and stared at her phone. That wasn’t like her boss. Something was up. She shoved her phone into her pocket and headed back to her vehicle. An uneasy tingle slid up her spine, and a feeling of dread threatened to consume her. Why were they headed up the canyon? Margie hadn’t dispatched anything. Maybe Jericho intercepted the call — or it came to him directly from someone he knew. Dax? Was he working in the office today, or was this about him? Fear consumed her. Did Julianna get to Dax? Or was it one of the other men? For the first time since she saw an old nemesis standing in front of that window, she wondered if she had handled this all wrong. Dax’s words came back to her, ‘You have a team, you should utilize them.’

She slid into her vehicle and dialed a friend.

“Carter,” Agent Zach Sparrow greeted happily. “I didn’t expect to hear from you again so soon. To what do I owe the honor?”

“Julianna Barrow,” Paige practically whispered. “I need your help.”

“What?” Sparrow barked in shock. “She’s out?”

“She’s here,” Paige pulled onto the road and headed for the canyon. “She’s in Manti and she’s playing some kind of game. She deliberately stood in front of a window and glared at me in challenge, then she fled. By the time I got out of the restaurant and to my vehicle, I lost her. I trust the guys I work with, but this is different. You know how dangerous she is. I need help and I was hoping you had time to head up and give me a hand.”

“Of course,” Sparrow promised without hesitation. “I’m working a case, but there’s nothing hot at the moment. Give me a day to talk the SAC into it. I’ll call once I have his blessing and we’ll coordinate from there. Have you considered calling in Houston?”

“That’s my next call,” Paige admitted. “Sean’s tied up on something for Nathan or I’d tap him as well.”

“We’re going to need Carmen,” Sparrow warned. “Will the good General object if we pull her in, too?”

“I’ll talk to him tonight,” Paige promised. “Go do whatever it is you have to do and be convincing. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Be careful,” Sparrow warned. “She’s got a beef with you — a big one. Watch your back until I arrive to watch it for you.”

“Thanks,” Paige said sincerely. “I owe you about a hundred for this one.”

“Not if we put that maniac away for good this time,” Sparrow disagreed. “You, me, Malone, we all knew she was involved up to her eyebrows in those murders. Nobody wanted to hear it. The Bureau should have known better, we deal with sadistic sociopaths as a matter of routine. Why they allowed that woman to blatantly manipulate the system is still a mystery to me.”

“I know,” Paige pulled up behind Jericho and parked. “Look, I’ve gotta go. My boss needs my help with something. Call me tomorrow.”

“Will do,” Sparrow disconnected.

Paige took several deep breaths, then shoved open her door and approached Jericho.

“Lock up and ride with me,” he ordered and pointed to his passenger seat.

“What are we doing?”

“Lock up,” Jericho repeated.

Paige gritted her teeth in frustration but complied with the order. She silently climbed into the passenger’s seat and waited for Jericho to explain where they were headed.

They were halfway up the canyon before he spoke. “Hawk called. The call came to me directly. There was a slight incident and Dax was injured but he’s okay.”

“Injured how?” Paige stared out the window and tried to remain calm.

“Hawk said the equipment failed but they have safeguards in place.”

“Jericho,” Paige said in warning. “Injured how?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “They didn’t elaborate.”

“Why call you?”

“Someone tampered with the equipment,” Jericho pulled off the dirt road into a flat meadow and stopped next to a black truck.

Paige glanced at Dax’s truck, then shoved her door open. She slowly made her way to the group of men standing over her husband. When she saw him, she swallowed hard but remained calm.

The group looked up and froze. “I requested you, sheriff,” Hawk finally spoke. “I didn’t request Paige. You just complicated an already difficult situation.”

Jericho frowned but didn’t respond.

“Tell me what happened,” Paige demanded.

“Equipment failure,” Dax rolled and tried to stand but he couldn’t make it on his own. “Zee, help me to the truck. I need to get a look at the area from that trail down below. Vato, you come with us. Hawk —”

“I’ll stay here and deal with the rest,” Hawk offered.

“Wait,” Paige blocked Zeus and stared down at Dax. “You called us. Explain what happened. And don’t be an idiot, wandering around with that head wound is dangerous.”

Dax gave her a humorless smile. “I’m a ranger, there’s always danger. I don’t tell you how to do your job, don’t tell me how to do mine. Zee, help me to the car.”

Paige stepped back and watched Dax hobble to a company SUV with the training center logo on the door. Zeus and Vato joined him, and the group drove away. She did her best to brush the disappointment and hurt aside before she turned. “Hawk, what happened?”

“We came out to rappel the mountain ourselves,” he began. “We have a course coming up and we never drop a class over terrain we haven’t rappelled ourselves. Dax and Vato started the descent together. Vato’s the expert but Dax is nearly as good. Anyway, we needed to know if our intermediate class could handle the obstacle, or if it was too advanced for their skill level.

Zeus and I waited up here and planned to hop in the truck and head down the trail to retrieve them once they reached the bottom. About halfway down, the harness broke and the force of the break pushed Dax into the side of the mountain. Vato was on him almost immediately. He rigged some fancy brace out of rope, and we pulled Dax back up to safety.”

“What makes you think someone tampered with the equipment?” Jericho asked. “Couldn’t it just be an accident?”

“No,” Hawk began walking toward the edge of the cliff. He pointed to a harness draped over a large rock. “Vato examined this, but once he realized someone sabotaged it, he set it on the rock and none of us have touched it since.”

Paige stepped forward and studied the torn strap. “It’s been cut.” She pulled out her gloves and a magnifying glass and crouched to get a better look. “There are straight, obvious slices in several places. Whoever did this sliced the strap just enough to compromise it; then, placed clear tape over the damage to hide the weakened line. It would have been impossible to see, but it was extremely effective.”

“The person who did this doesn’t know us,” Hawk provided. “They didn’t do their homework and don’t understand how we work. I guess they were too obsessed with someone else and didn’t bother to look into the man they targeted — or his men. She didn’t know we always have safety measures in place, no matter how mundane the task. If it were anyone else, they’d be dead.”

Paige looked up and realized Hawk knew who did this and why. Dax had already spoken to his men about the situation. She looked away, pulled out an evidence bag and retrieved the harness. “I want to get a look at the area from down below. Can you guide us to that trail?”

“I know where it is,” Jericho interrupted. “Hawk, would you mind remaining up here, to secure the equipment while we join the rest of your group?”

“Sounds good to me,” Hawk shrugged. “I took pictures of the scene before we went to work on Dax. I can send them to you, if you want.”

“That would be great,” Jericho answered before Paige could. “Email them to me.”

Jericho turned onto the dirt trail and glanced at Paige. “Tell me. I can see you and Dax are fighting, but I think there’s more to it than that. In fact, I think everyone on this mountain knows who tried to kill Dax but me.”

Paige glared at him. “We don’t know…”

“Who is it, Paige?” Jericho demanded.

“Her name is Julianna Barrow,” she sighed. “She’s dangerous and unpredictable. I thought she’d go after me, not my husband. I guess I should have seen this coming.”

“Which is why you were wandering around out in the open this morning,” Jericho realized. “You were setting yourself up as bait — without backup. Without telling me there was a dangerous and unpredictable woman in my county.”

“Yes,” Paige said defiantly. “Because she is dangerous and unpredictable, and I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“Well, now that we’ve established your plan was an epic failure, tell me what I need to know,” Jericho stopped behind the men’s vehicle and waited.

“Can this wait?” She focused on Dax. She could see he was in pain and Jericho was right, Julianna tried to kill him today.

“I don’t know, can it?” Jericho raised an eyebrow.

“I’ll tell you everything,” Paige reached for the door. “I promise.”

“Wait,” Jericho stopped her. “I realize your head is just as hard as that stubborn husband of yours; but, if this woman is as dangerous as you say, and if she’s really going after Dax, you need to find a way to sort this out. You need to work together to stop her before that man of yours gets hurt worse than he already has.”

“I know,” Paige sighed. “I messed up and fixing it won’t be easy.”

“Nothing worth doing ever is,” Jericho slid open the door and climbed from the truck.

\*\*\*

Once Paige processed the scene and the men cleaned up the rest of their gear, the group decided to reconvene in the conference room at the sheriff’s office. Paige offered to drive Dax so they could stop at the clinic for treatment, but he refused. Instead, he rode with Hawk who advised Jericho they would make a detour to the clinic on the way to the office and might be a little late. Paige didn’t like it, but she didn’t argue. The conversation they needed to have was one she’d start once they were alone — in private. For now, she’d bite her tongue and give her husband what he wanted.

Once they exited the canyon, Jericho called Gage and instructed him to meet them at the office. Less than an hour later, Gage, Jericho, Zeus, Vato, and Paige sat around the large table and silently waited for Hawk and Dax. They all looked up when the two of them, plus Carmen, stepped into the room.

Carmen glanced around the table, then moved to settle in next to Zeus. She had a large stack of files that she set on the table in front of her, then focused on Paige. “You’re going to listen and you’re going to cooperate because we both know you can’t handle Julianna Barrow alone, and if you insist on continuing this idiotic solo expedition, I’m calling Nathan.”

“Nathan’s already aware of the situation,” Dax told the room. “He’s tracking down some information I requested but doesn’t expect to have answers before tomorrow.”

“What information?” Paige demanded.

“I’ll show you mine after you show us yours,” Dax settled into a chair at the opposite end of the table from Paige.

“That’s enough,” Jericho jumped in. “It’s obvious to me that some people in this room understand the situation we’re faced with, while the rest of us are completely in the dark. I really don’t care who provides the information, but somebody better start talking.”

Carmen cleared her throat. “Do you mind if I conduct the briefing? I know what happened today, and I was involved in the previous case nearly a decade ago.”

“I’ve got this,” Paige interrupted.

“Sheriff Walters?” Carmen turned to face him. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for Paige to conduct this meeting. She’s too emotionally involved and I’m not sure she’ll relay all the pertinent information. If we’re going to stop this bimbo psychopath once and for all, you need to know everything.”

“Carmen,” Paige warned.

Jericho glanced from Carmen to Paige and back to Carmen. “I agree. Go ahead.”

Carmen ran them through the history, explained the situation and described Rob Anderson, the other girls, and the dynamics they believed were at play in the cult like group. “Anderson called himself Master Saber. He only wore orange and black to mimic a sabertoothed tiger and claimed he was an actual vampire who drank blood. He convinced the girls that having intimate relations with him would turn them into a succubus; and, once that happened, they too would need to consume blood — or die. He enticed them with an ‘anything goes’ philosophy. They all experimented with drugs, sex and alcohol. Besides the burglaries turned murder, they sought adventure and mayhem. I’ll call it extreme sports with a twist. We know they bungee jumped from the Mackinac Bridge, paraglided off Harbor Towers, and went cliff diving at Black Rocks in Michigan — naked. They were up for anything that would give them an adrenaline rush. Once they started killing, the extreme sports took a backseat to more violent escapades. I guess nothing was more extreme than taking a life from innocent, unsuspecting homeowners.”

“And one of the dangerous, uninhibited, thrill-seeking women is prancing around my county looking for her next thrill?” Jericho glared at Paige. “And you didn’t think it was important to share that information with the rest of us?”

“Let me continue and I think you’ll understand,” Carmen held up a photo of Tommy Malone. “I will not pass this around, because this man is an FBI agent, and he sometimes works undercover.”

Paige stood up and left the room. Dax followed.

“What happened to Malone — it was not your fault,” he settled into one of her visitor chairs. “I know you think it was, and in a way, I understand. It’s the same sense of responsibility I felt when one of my men took a hit on a mission I commanded.”

“It’s not the same,” Paige glanced down at her desk.

“You’re right,” Dax settled back. “Because I was responsible for my men, the mission, and everything that happened while they were under my command. You were not responsible for your partner. Malone doesn’t blame you. In fact, he’s happy. He’s thriving at the Bureau and that injury gave him the push he needed to pivot and move in the right direction.”

“You don’t know that,” Paige disagreed. “He’s coping with the hand life gave him, but he loved field work and I know he misses it, even if he pretends otherwise.”

Dax pulled out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and punched a few buttons.

“Hamilton,” came a familiar voice. “Long time. What’s up?”

“I just found out you used to be friends with my wife,” Dax watched Paige carefully. “She’s dealing with an old nemesis, one that will hit close to home for you, and she insists she ruined your life. I was hoping you could talk to her for me because I’m hitting a brick wall, and we don’t have a lot of time to work through the irrational guilt. We need to get to work.”

“Wife?” Malone laughed. “The terminal bachelor is married? I must have been isolated and didn’t hear the good news. I’m speechless. Who’s the lucky woman that finally knocked some sense into you?”

“Paige, formerly Carter, currently Hamilton,” Dax grinned.

“Now I’m really speechless,” Malone admitted. “Give her the phone, I haven’t talked to Paige for at least ten years. Not since—” he hesitated. “You said an old nemesis. Is it Julianna Barrow?”

“Yes,” Dax sobered. “And Paige needs a little guidance on this one. Can you help?”

“I’ll try,” Malone agreed. “Pass the phone to your wife. We have a few things we need to discuss. Things I should have tracked her down and forced her to listen to before.”

“Thanks,” Dax held the phone out to Paige. “I’ll be in the conference room when you’re finished.”

“Who—”

“You know who,” Dax stood and walked away.

\*\*\*

Paige stepped into the house and glanced around. Dax was relaxing on the couch, watching television. “You left before I had a chance to talk to you.”

“You guys were doing cop stuff, and I needed a little rest,” Dax watched Paige step into the room and settle onto the couch.

“How are you feeling?”

“A little sore, but not bad,” Dax shrugged. “Did you come up with a plan of action?”

“First, I want you to know, I heard what you said.”

“Which part?” Dax wondered.

“All of it,” Paige admitted. “And I called Agent Sparrow — from Vegas. He worked the original case, and he’s familiar with the situation. I asked him to talk to his SAC, see if he could head up and help. I did that before I hooked up with Jericho and before I knew Julianna was coming after you rather than me. I also called another agent that worked the original case, but Houston is tied up and can’t help.”

“I guess that’s something,” Dax conceded. “You might be determined to handle this on your own, but that’s not the way this marriage works. It’s not the way friendship works, either. Hawk, Zee, even Vato — they’ll all in. Your family, Paige. We protect our family. You should understand that by now.”

“I do,” Paige settled back. “I just — Carmen was right. Well, partially right. This case is emotional for me. It’s also emotional for Julianna. I didn’t realize that. I forgot that psychopaths do have emotions. The emotions are just centered on themselves. I took her man, now she’s determined to take mine.”

“Do you think it’s really that simple?” Dax considered what Paige was saying. “Because if it is, I think we can work with that.”

“You’re not bait,” Paige immediately rejected that idea.

“I guess you think you’ve cornered the market on that role?” Dax waited. “Yes, I know what you were doing, wandering around out in the open this morning. If we’re going to work together on this, there have to be rules. I don’t like that anymore than you do but we need to set boundaries. And we both need to accept those boundaries and work together.”

“I agree,” Paige reached out and touched the large bruise on the side of his face. “I hate that she hurt you.”

“You’re lucky Vato insists on strict safety precautions,” he grinned. “I think he saved my life again today. I really wish he’d stop doing that. We’re going to reach a point I can’t pay my tab.”

“We’ll get a loan,” Paige dropped her head onto the back of the couch. “It terrifies me to think what could have happened to you. I’m sorry I brought a sadistic lunatic into your life. I’m sorry being married to me puts you in danger.”

“I’m pretty sure I have more skeletons in my closet and being married to me is far more dangerous for you,” Dax reached out and took her hand.

“Are we okay now?” Paige wondered.

“We will be,” Dax evaded.

“So, that’s a no?”

“I’m going to say something you probably won’t like, and I doubt you’ll agree,” he decided. When she didn’t object, he continued. “What you did last night was dangerous, and it was reckless. I understand why you took off and why you felt compelled to chase after that woman. As an outsider, I can also see that’s exactly what she wanted. But you didn’t think — you reacted.”

“I’m a cop,” Paige began. “That’s what we do.”

“I know you’re a cop and I know what you do,” Dax snapped, then took a deep breath and tried to calm himself before he continued.

“Sorry,” Paige sighed. “I’m sorry. I know. I’m just not myself right now. I have so many conflicting emotions swimming around in my head, I can’t think.”

“I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have snapped at you,” Dax paused to organize his thoughts. “What you did last night was reckless. It was dangerous for you to run off alone to chase after a killer, especially when I was right there and could have helped. But it was dangerous for me, too. You left me there, unaware of the threat. I had no idea what was going on. I had no idea who that woman was. I walked outside; well, chased you outside, and they could have ambushed me. This Julianna woman worked with a man, manipulated a man, controlled a man, when you caught her. What’s to say she’s not working with someone else now? You took off and left me oblivious to the danger I might have been facing. We now know, you’re not the target. I am. What if she wanted to lure you away from me so a partner could step in and take me out while I stood on the sidewalk wondering what the hell was going on — and what I should do about it.”

Paige’s eyes grew wide. “I didn’t even think of that. I would never—” she closed her eyes. “I did. I left you vulnerable and in the dark.”

“That can’t happen again,” Dax insisted. “I will tolerate a lot when it comes to your job, but I will not accept that. You know you can trust me. You know I can help. Still, you left me there in some misguided attempt to protect me — you left me. Do not do that again, Paige.”

“You’re right,” Paige admitted. “About all of it. All I can do is say I’m sorry and I’ll work hard not to do that again.”

“You need to work harder,” Dax countered. “So, when does the pirate arrive?”

Paige smiled. “Don’t start on that, again. It’s Zach Sparrow the lawman, not Jack Sparrow the pirate. He’s a respected agent with the FBI. We’re lucky he could get his supervisor’s blessing to help us. And, to answer your question, he’s driving up first thing. He should be here sometime tomorrow afternoon.”

“Nathan called,” Dax informed her. “He’d like to talk to you. He said Sophie planned on coming out this week to continue her house hunting efforts, but he talked her out of it. He doesn’t want her too close with a killer on the loose.”

“Good,” Paige let out a huge breath. “So, how are we going to keep you safe until we can lock this woman up for attempted murder?”

“The guys are on alert,” Dax promised. “They’ll monitor things from next door. I don’t think she expected to come up against former army rangers when she slithered into town. We’re cautious and we’ll be extra cautious until this is over. Carmen also agreed to work on the security system. She said it would be easy to get the surveillance cameras running again — the ones we installed here at the house while we dealt with your mom’s killer and a violent terrorist. Julianna Barrow won’t mess with the truck or my equipment again. That covers the house, and we have a good system at the center already. We’ll work to beef it up a bit, but that place is safe and locked up tight. I think you should focus on catching the homicidal maniac. I’ll focus on staying alive until you do.”

“I hate how casual you are about this,” Paige admitted. “You’re the target of a vicious and diabolical killer, but you talk like it’s just business as usual.”

“A sadistic terrorist kidnapped and tortured me and that was after I retired. This is business as usual,” Dax shrugged. “You should be grateful you didn’t marry an accountant. If you did, there’s a high probability I’d have a coronary and whisk you off in the middle of the night to somewhere safe.”

Paige shook her head. “I think we’re both — I don’t even know what word to use to describe our situation.”

“Jaded but living in paradise?” Dax grinned. “Enlightened? Basking in nirvana?”

“Stop,” Paige smiled. “I’m going to call Nathan. Do me a favor and don’t get too close to the windows.”

“I can do that,” Dax agreed.

“Oh, tell me what Nathan is working on for you, on this case,” Paige requested.

“I asked him to check on the other members of that cult,” Dax admitted. “I want to know that this Anderson character is locked up tight, as well as his deranged sycophants. I also asked him to get me anything he could on recent visitors. He said tapping into people that visited Julianna in the Psych ward might be problematic, but’s he’s working on it.”

“I should have thought of that,” Paige frowned. “And I think I can help him. Thanks, I’m gonna go call my favorite general.”

Dax watched her leave the room then he switched the TV back on and began to surf.

\*\*\*

Paige woke alone for the second day in a row. This time she knew Dax was downstairs. She could hear him moving around in the kitchen. She swung her legs over the bed, stood, and bolted for the bathroom. Once she was sure the stress vomiting was over, she moved to the sink and studied her reflection in the mirror. She thought the days of weak stomachs, extreme stress, and bland crackers were behind her. Apparently, she was wrong. Clearly, facing Julianna Barrow had brought it all back. The emotions, the worry, and this time the knowledge that a dangerous killer was focused on the man she loved, it was taking a toll. If she wasn’t careful, the anxiety and fear would take over again. Ten years ago, the first time she chased Julianna Barrow and the idiot that called himself Master Saber, she lost almost twenty pounds. She reached the point where she couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, and she nearly put herself in the hospital. She would not let that happen again.

Paige turned on the water and scrubbed her face with the cool liquid. She had a good, strong team. Nothing was going to happen to Dax, she wouldn’t let it. Julianna made her first mistake when she zeroed in on Dax. She went after a man that had loyal friends, men that would stand with him, protect him, and outmaneuver anyone that tried to hurt him. This was no longer a contest between the convict and the cop. Julianna thought she was targeting Paige’s husband. Instead, she rattled the cage of a big, mean, tactical machine. Smiling and a little more confident, Paige descended the stairs and headed for the kitchen.

“Are you okay?” Dax glanced at Paige and frowned. “You look pale and a little sick.”

“Stress,” Paige settled onto a chair. “This was normal when I worked for the Bureau. It’s part of the reason I left.”

“Do you want coffee?” Dax stepped over and kissed the top of her head. “Eggs?”

“No,” Paige brushed her hand through the air in dismissal. “I’ll stop and grab something on the way to the office.”

“Alright,” Dax hesitated for an extra second. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Positive,” Paige forced a smile. “Be careful today. Don’t go anywhere alone.”

“I promise,” he moved forward and gave her a quick kiss before he strolled out the door.

\*\*\*

Dax pulled into the parking lot of the training center, careful to study his surroundings. He relaxed a bit when he saw nothing unusual. He paused, studied the area, parked on the far side of the lot, and slipped inside through the north entrance. He knew the place was secure, but he hesitated and focused out the window for an extra second before he made his way to his office. He had a staff meeting to attend.

“I think we should add a firearms competition to the advanced course,” Hawk began. They all straightened, alert and on edge when the alarm sounded. Hawk moved to Dax’s computer and pulled up the security feed. They watched as a red-haired woman crouched in front of the north door; the edges of a small device protruded from her hands. Suddenly, she straightened, grinned, and darted toward a white Explorer parked on the far edge of the lot.

Zeus jumped from his chair and bolted out the door.

“Wait,” Dax was only a few feet behind him.

“It’s a bomb,” Zeus called back. “Stay inside, I got this.”

“Not likely,” Hawk called seconds behind Dax.

“Watch the door,” Vato flew past Hawk and darted around Dax.

Just before they reached the end of the hallway on the north end of the building, Vato and Zeus pivoted and disappeared into the storage room.

“What are they doing?” Hawk called out.

“No idea,” Dax answered before he followed them into the room. He came to an abrupt stop near a window.

“When did you do this?” Hawk frowned and watched his friends slide open the window and drop a ladder that provided an easy exit.

They didn’t answer, Zeus flew through the window, Vato on his heels.

“When did they do this?” Hawk turned to Dax.

“No idea, but we should have thought of it when we built the place.” He climbed through the window and waited for Hawk to follow before he approached the outer door and studied the bomb. “She rigged it to take anyone out that came through that door. She’s not just after me, she didn’t care who she killed.”

“She’s not killing anyone today,” Zeus said confidently. “Hawk, I can see a box under Dax’s truck. Can you check that out while I deal with this? Be careful, I suspect it’s wired to the ignition. If so, hook the thing to your truck and drag it out to the middle of the lot, away from the building. That way, if it explodes it won’t take down a wall.”

“You’re going to let my truck explode?” Dax said incredulously.

“I’ll get to it as soon as I can, but we need to deal with this one first. It’s larger and will do more damage if we don’t stop it,” Zeus answered absently as he continued to work on the bomb.

“Vato, you come with me,” Hawk decided. “Dax, you stick with Zeus. Our killer could be on a rooftop somewhere just waiting for you to exit and venture out in the open, so she can take you the old fashion way. She might not like it if you avoid the presents she left you this morning.”

“And if you move the truck instead of me, she might take a shot at you,” Dax grumbled. “I’m not hiding behind the building so you can take the risk for me. Let’s go.” He jogged to Hawk’s truck and waited by the door. Hawk slid behind the wheel, circled around, and slowly backed toward Dax’s truck. He stopped when their hitches were nearly touching.

Dax jumped out and was securing the strap when he spotted the timer. They only had a few minutes before the world would erupt. He quickly wrapped a strap around his hitch and secured it to Hawk’s truck. “It’s on a timer,” Dax advised once he jumped back inside. “We’re running out of time.”

Before Hawk could bring the vehicle to a complete stop in the center of the parking lot, Dax jumped out, disconnected the strap, and tossed it into the back of Hawk’s truck. His butt barely hit the seat when Hawk sped way. Dax gripped the door and struggled to pull it shut as they flew across the parking lot. They came to a screeching stop next to the building and joined Vato, who was still watching Zeus deactivate the second bomb, but he had moved to the corner of the building and was standing guard.

“I’ll just clip this little bugger,” Zeus mumbled. “And… we’re good.” He straightened and grinned just as Dax’s truck exploded.

“She must have had it on a switch,” Zeus frowned.

“Timer,” Dax corrected.

Hawk moved forward and slowly walked around his truck looking for damage.

“The truck is fine,” Zeus shook his head. “Now, that truck — that’s a different story, but we saved the building.”

“If she had a remote detonator, you could have been killed,” Dax studied his truck and shook his head. “I guess I was due for a new one, anyway.”

Vato approached. “Have the three of you lost your minds?”

“Why?” Hawk frowned.

“Because that woman sat across the street watching all of us for the past ten minutes. If she was armed, you could be dead. What happened? You were all completely unaware of your surroundings — so much for situational awareness, I think it went up with that truck.”

“I guess we’ve become complacent,” Dax agreed. “Too many years out of the hot zone.”

“Well, we’re in a hot zone now,” Vato scolded. “We all need to be careful and aware of what’s happening around us.”

“I guess I better call Paige,” Dax pulled out his phone, then dropped it back into his pocket when two patrol cars flew into the parking lot.

\*\*\*

Paige was just finishing up a report when the phones went crazy. Margie was trying to keep up but there were too many calls. Paige reluctantly helped. “Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office.”

“Yeah,” a man cleared his throat. “I um… well, I think there… I know there was an explosion at that fancy new building near the canyon. I was pouring myself a cup of coffee when I heard this loud boom and the walls on my house shook.”

“Hold please,” Paige didn’t wait for a response. She waved at Margie to get her attention, then pointed to the phone, grabbed her jacket and ran out the door. She was about to pull onto the highway when Gage flew past her. He had to be going at least eighty. She accelerated and caught up just in time to follow him to the training center.

Her heart was beating a mile a minute when she slowed her vehicle then finally came to a sliding stop. Panic engulfed her as she frantically took in the scene. She spotted the men standing around the side door and she could breathe again. Dax was okay. She shut down her vehicle and ran to where he was standing. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” She reached out and began running her hands over her husband’s arms, his torso and his head.

Dax grabbed Paige’s hands and maneuvered her inside. Once he knew they were safe, he pulled her into his arms and just held her. “I’m okay. I’m not hurt. I promise.” He kissed the top of her head, then pulled back. “Look at me. I am not hurt, but it’s not for lack of trying. You need to get the bomb squad out here.”

“They’re on their way,” Paige pivoted when she heard the loud pounding on the door before it flew open.

“Just wanted to give you a heads up,” Hawk smiled. “Bomb guy is here. Zeus turned over the device he neutralized. They said they want to tow the truck back to the shop before they sift through that mess. Gage is stalling, he doesn’t want anything removed until the boss arrives.”

“Alright,” Dax nodded. “Do they need us?”

“I think we’re good,” Hawk glanced at Paige. “He’s fine.” He stepped backward and shut the door.

“Let’s go into my office and I’ll give you a statement,” Dax offered.

Before they could take a step, the door flew open, and Jericho stepped inside. “Paige, I hate to interrupt but it appears Dax is fine. I’m glad to see that, kid. Anyway, I need you to go over that truck — thoroughly, before the bomb guys take it back to do what they do. In other words, find me some evidence that we can use to prove Julianna Barrow did this. She will not escape this time; I want that woman arrested for attempted murder, but we need evidence.”

“We can prove it,” Dax offered.

“How?” Jericho and Paige asked together.

“Surveillance video,” Dax shrugged. “Come on, I’ll show you. We saw her plant the bomb on the door.”

The three of them watched the video together. Dax began to shut it off when the group exited the building, but Jericho stopped him. They continued to watch as Zeus deactivated the bomb on the door, and minutes later when Dax’s truck exploded.

“There was a timer on the truck,” Dax provided. “Zee told us not to start the vehicle because she could have linked the switch to the ignition, but it was on a timer. I saw it.”

“So,” Jericho considered. “She put a bomb under your truck and used a timer for that one. Then she attached a second bomb to the side door.”

“And she sat across the street and watched,” Dax added. “She drove off, after the truck bomb detonated.”

“What?” Paige turned to Dax in surprise.

“Vato watched her, but he figured as soon as he approached, she’d speed away,” Dax provided. “He observed her from a safe distance just in case she had something else planned.”

“She planted the bomb on the truck, secured the bomb to the building, then sat and waited,” Jericho considered. “Why?”

“She wanted to watch,” Paige tried to keep the emotion out of her tone. “She wanted to see my husband die.”

“She’s diabolical,” Jericho glanced at Dax. “Her plan was foiled again. She’s going to be livid.”

“She blew up Dax’s truck,” Paige disagreed. “I think half of her plan was a success.”

“No,” Jericho disagreed. “The truck was the trigger. Once it exploded, the boys were supposed to come running out the side door and get blown up. Opening the door was supposed to activate the second bomb. She failed, again.”

“Right,” Dax nodded. “Makes sense. She was sure I’d be one of the first ones outside because it was my truck. She thought she’d take me out and hoped to get a bonus and take out a couple of my men. That’s why she waited across the street — she wanted to watch this time, make sure nothing went wrong, but she failed again.”

“Which only means she’ll try again,” Paige warned. “And we’re no closer to catching her. At least this time, once we do, that video will nail her. She’s going away for a very long time and she won’t be able to lie and scheme her way out of this one.”

“Especially since the bomb guys have a fully intact bomb,” Jericho stood. “Thank Zeus for that, will you? We have a fed to meet. Your Agent Sparrow should be at the office by now.”

“Right,” Paige pulled out her phone and realized she missed a text. “He says he’s in the conference room going over the new information.”

“I’ll give the two of you a minute,” Jericho moved to the door. “Don’t take long.”

\*\*\*

While Paige and her team organized everything they knew about Julianna Barrow, Dax and his team set up in their own conference room going over their copies of the same file.

“I’m tired of sitting around waiting for the next attack,” Hawk sat back and studied his friends. “I think we should shift the balance.”

“What did you have in mind?” Dax considered.

“Remember that op we had in Kandahar?” Hawk focused on Dax.

“Which one?” Dax began sifting through Afghan missions in his mind.

“The one where I was bait,” Hawk grinned.

“We’d need to find a location,” Zeus smiled. “But it might work.”

“We’re a man short,” Vato stood and moved to the white board. He began diagramming what he remembered from the mission.

“Mark the spot on that diagram where we want her to end up — where I’d lure her and wait,” Hawk requested. “A few inches to the left of that doorway.”

Vato began to write Hawk’s name.

“Not Hawk,” Dax disagreed. “That will be me.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?” Zeus wondered. “What if she just pulls a gun and takes you out?”

“She won’t,” Dax answered confidently. “Because Hawk will be on a nearby rooftop with his rifle. If she so much as twitches wrong, he’ll take her out.”

The men spent the next several hours hammering out the details. By the time they were done, they didn’t have a location, but they had a solid plan.

“Alright,” Dax sat back. “There’s nothing more we can do about that situation today. We need to talk about the tactical course we have scheduled for mid-May.”

\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the driveway, hesitated long enough to check for danger, then headed inside the house.

“Hey,” Dax stopped at the top of the stairs. “I just got home myself, so I ordered pizza. Did you guys come up with a plan?”

Paige dropped onto the couch, exhausted. “We checked every hotel, motel and rental property in a hundred-mile radius. Then we contacted all the car rental agencies and even searched the used car dealerships for that blue Camry. There’s no sign of her or the car anywhere. If she’s not renting a room or a car, she has to be staying with someone. Unfortunately, we can’t find a connection, relative, previous classmate or grade-school teacher that might have crossed paths with Julianna Barrow. I’m stumped.”

“Well,” Dax settled into the chair across from her. “She hooked up with a guy before, she may have done the same thing out here.”

Paige frowned. “She could have, but we did a thorough trace on her, and nothing popped.”

“She was getting help to cope with a perceived trauma. She wasn’t incarcerated,” Dax shrugged. “It’s possible there’s no record of the meeting. Could be a brother, cousin, uncle or best friend of someone else that was staying in the same facility.”

“There has to be hundreds, possibly thousands of names,” Paige realized. “There’s no way we could run them all.”

“Aren’t you feds — or former feds — known for your profiling skills?” Dax pointed out. “Profile the type of guy that would be vulnerable to Julianna’s charm, then check around and see if anyone fits the description.”

“That’s not my area,” Paige grabbed her phone. “But it is Sparrows.” She scrolled through her contacts, selected his number and stood to pace. Moments later, she dropped back onto the couch. “Sparrow is on his way.”

“Hum,” Dax stood to answer the door when he heard the knock. He returned with two large boxes of pizza. “I’ll grab mine and head next door. You and the pirate can have the house.”

“Wait,” Paige stopped him. “Will you stay? I’d like your input on this.”

“Why?”

“You have good insight,” she evaded.

“I’m perfectly safe, Paige. I assure you; I can walk next door without being killed.”

“I just —” she sighed. “I think there’s still some underlying tension between us. And I thought — well, we usually connect while we’re working a case. With this one, you’ve been off working with your guys and I’ve been working with my team. We haven’t had a chance to walk through the situation together. I just thought maybe we could do that tonight, while we’re trying to outline the kind of man Julianna would target.”

“Alright,” Dax agreed. He glanced at the door when he heard the second knock. “You want me to get that?”

“I’ve got it,” Paige walked to the door and casually flung it open. “Did you eat? We have pizza.”

“I’d love a slice,” Sparrow stepped inside. “I know we’re here to work, but this will also give me a chance to get to know your husband.”

They were spread out in the living room beer and pizza covered the small table. Dax and Paige were lounging on the couch, Sparrow was sitting in a comfortable chair, large notepad in hand. Paige and Sparrow were arguing over every detail. Dax remained silent, listening and watching them work. It was interesting to see Paige slide her invisible FBI hat back on. Sparrow also had some good points, and he didn’t hesitate to push when necessary, in order to get his way.

“I just think women are drawn to a type,” Paige insisted. “Anderson was nearly thirty when we arrested him. Julianna was only eighteen. If she has a partner, he has to be at least eight to ten years older than she is.”

“I think younger,” Sparrow disagreed. “My profile is going to cover men between the ages of say thirty-two to forty-five.”

“I think that’s a mistake,” Paige grumbled.

“He could be any race, but likely white or Hispanic.” Sparrow ignored her. “And he’ll be a social outcast, unemployed or working a low-paying job without real responsibility.”

“Anderson was a charismatic leader,” Paige argued. “Why do you say little or no responsibility?”

“She needs someone easily controlled, and she needs a partner with no ties to the community. She hasn’t been here long. I don’t know where or how she met this guy, but he would have to be flexible. He couldn’t have a job that ties him down to one place.”

“Can I ask you a question?” Dax finally cut in.

“Sure,” Sparrow grabbed another slice of pizza and settled back in his chair. “Fire away.”

“It seems to me, both of you are using the fake blood-sucking fiend as a measuring post,” Dax focused on Paige. “Why?”

“Because we know they were tight,” Paige said defensively.

“And women have a type,” Sparrow added. “Her first boyfriend is locked away for good, so it only makes sense that she’d seek a similar guy to replace him.”

“What if she’s not looking for a replacement?” Dax considered. “What if she’s just looking for convenience?”

“What do you mean?” Paige wondered; he had her attention now.

“I get Julianna is a psychopath or a sociopath or whatever,” Dax began. “And many people have the misconception that people like that don’t have emotions. I’ve dealt with enough of them to know they can have feelings. Those feelings are just centered on themselves.”

“Right,” Sparrow agreed. “I’m with you so far.”

“You are both assuming this Saber guy is part of her past,” Dax explained. “What if he’s not? What if this entire scenario, mission, whatever you want to call it — what if it’s all emotional? What I mean by that is emotional for her. What if she was obsessed with this Master Saber, creepy vampire extraordinaire to the point she can’t move forward? She wouldn’t just forget him because you took him away. She wants revenge — that’s obvious — but she could think, once she’s finished here, she can break him out and run away again.”

“Paige took the object of her obsession, so she’s going to take what she sees as an obsession for Paige — her husband,” Sparrow provided. “It’s personal, in that she wants Paige to lose but the players aren’t personal. Not like before. I can work with that. But, if you’re right, that means she could have shacked up with anyone. It doesn’t get us closer to finding her. It actually pushes us further away.”

“She wouldn’t understand love,” Paige considered. “Not true love. She only understands her own wants. She was obsessed with the man they called Master Saber. I firmly believe he was obsessed with her, too. If Dax is right, we’re approaching this all wrong. We need to focus on her needs — I mean, immediate needs. Like you said, she thinks she’s smarter than all of us. She might truly believe she can break Anderson out of prison and ride off into the sunset when she decides the time is right. She’s not thinking about that now. She’s here, in Manti, to get revenge on me — to take my man because I took hers. If she hasn’t found a new partner, that opens the door for anyone. It’s just as likely she’s staying with a woman as it is a man.”

“A woman that is easily manipulated, like the freaky succubus women that were drawn in by Anderson,” Sparrow jotted down some notes. “I never got the impression they were overly fond of Julianna, but they were devoted to their master, and he told them to follow Julianna. It could be a woman, but I think it’s far more likely she’s using another man. It would be easier to control a man. She’d just use seduction and punishment and reward.”

They talked for several more hours. Finally, Sparrow set his notepad aside and stretched. “I’m beat. Let’s pick this back up in the morning. I’ll meet you at the office, say around nine?”

“Sounds good,” Paige stood and began cleaning up the pizza mess.

“I’ll get this,” Dax offered. “You see our guest to the door.”

Paige returned and paused to watch Dax. “The leg looks better today.”

“It’s not bad,” Dax dropped the boxes in the trash. “I barely have a limp, the brace helps. I have an early morning, you ready to crash?”

“Yeah,” Paige frowned. “How early?”

“I’ve got a conference call at seven. Hawk agreed to give me a lift. Don’t worry, we’ll head straight to the office and once inside, I won’t venture out alone,” Dax assured her.

“Alright,” Paige climbed into bed. “If I don’t wake up before you leave, be careful.”

“Don’t worry,” Dax wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “I love you, baby.”

“Me too,” Paige mumbled, already half asleep.

\*\*\*

Dax was sitting behind his desk, Hawk sprawled out in his visitor’s chair discussing the call they just finished when suddenly gunfire erupted outside. Both men dropped to the floor and used the desk for cover. Seconds later there was a thud, the window cracked, and shook from the impact.

“I thought you guys were being excessive when you told me you installed that ballistic glass in our offices,” Dax shoved his chair to the side and crawled toward the door. There was another thud and another crack.

“If she keeps this up, it might not hold,” Hawk frowned. “Maybe we should have sprung for the heavy stuff.”

“I think under normal circumstances that window is fine,” Dax made it to the hallway, stood and began to run. Hawk was only a few seconds behind. They approached the foyer and realized the shooting was over — everything was eerily quiet. Dax stopped at the end of the hall and slowly peered around the corner.

Hawk stepped behind him, glanced through the large window, and spotted the Camry speeding away. He kicked the wall then frowned at the dent he made in the sheetrock.

“You’re fixing that,” Dax walked cautiously forward but hesitated when his phone rang. He glanced at the display and saw it was Zeus. “Hey man, can I call you back?”

“I saw what happened,” Zeus informed him. “She came barreling onto the highway right in front of me. Nearly collided with the side of my car. I decided to follow her. I’m closing in, but this chick is nuts and my SUV can’t keep up. Are you guys okay?”

Dax switched to speaker then turned to Hawk. “Call the police, Zee’s chasing her car, but he’s having a hard time. He needs backup. We’re fine, Zee. The damage is going to hurt, but the glass held, so we’re fine.”

“Glad to hear it,” Zeus had just relayed his location when the sound of tires squealing rang through the speaker followed by a loud crash, metal scraping and crunching, and several loud horns. Finally, everything went silent. It took Dax a second to realize the phone had been disconnected.

“I’ll drive,” Hawk shoved open the door and ran for his truck. Dax was right behind him.

They approached the address Zeus gave them and immediately spotted the wreckage… and the vehicle. Hawk swerved to the side of the road and the two of them jumped out and ran toward the car. Paige intercepted them.

“He’s on his way to the hospital,” she grabbed Dax’s arm and pulled him toward her car. “We’re still talking to witnesses, but from what I can gather, Zeus was chasing a blue Camry.” She glared at the two men. “We all know who he was chasing and you’re going to explain what the hell you were thinking once I’m done here. Seriously, what was the plan? Once he caught up to her what did you guys think Zeus would do with that homicidal maniac? If he survived, which is highly unlikely, he’d be in the clutches of a violent psychopath.” She turned and kicked the tire on her patrol vehicle. “Why was he alone? What kind of hairbrained plan did you maniacs devise that had Zeus chasing after a killer all by himself?”

Dax studied Paige and wondered how long it would take for her to recognize the irony. Zeus wasn’t the only person who chased after a killer all alone. When she spun back around, he just raised one eyebrow and waited.

“Shut up, Dax,” she sighed.

“What happened to Zeus?” Hawk demanded.

“He’s injured, but he should be fine,” Paige softened. “He hit his head pretty good, and I think he probably broke his foot. His ribs slammed into the steering wheel, I think he might have broken one or two, but he insists they’re just bruised. He’s lucky to be alive,” she glanced back at the car and shook her head.

“What happened?” Dax sobered.

“Zeus was chasing the Camry and she couldn’t shake him, so she swerved into oncoming traffic and nearly collided with a truck. The driver reacted, swerved to avoid the Camry, clipped the backend of that white Escape, and landed in that ditch over there. The Escape spun out of control and collided with Zeus’ SUV. He was trying to swerve to avoid the collision so when he was hit, his vehicle rolled. I called Carman. She’s going to meet Zeus at the hospital. Now, tell me how this happened. What did you guys have planned and why were you doing it behind my back?”

“Well,” Dax sighed. “Once you’re finished here, you’ll want to head over to the training center. We’ll wait for you there.”

“Why?” Paige frowned.

“Let’s just say, this morning we learned firsthand that the ballistics glass we installed in the offices worked,” Hawk answered.

“What?” Paige yelled. “She shot at you, and you didn’t call me?”

“Well,” Dax shrugged. “We were kind of busy at the time. You know, getting shot at and all. Then Zee called, and we heard the crash. We planned to call you but didn’t get the chance.”

“I’ll turn this over to Gage, then meet you at the office,” Paige decided. “I’ll need a minute to let Jericho know what’s going on.”

\*\*\*

Paige inhaled sharply when she saw the damage.

“You know they’re okay,” Jericho said in understanding. “She didn’t hurt them.” He parked in front of the building and walked to the window. “She used a .223,” Jericho pulled a pen from his pocket and poked at the window. “I always wondered how well this glass worked, guess it really does stop a bullet.”

“I want to start inside, get a statement from Dax and Hawk, then we can come back out and deal with this mess. Honestly, I doubt there’s anything out here. We’ll have Heidi get photos and I want the window.”

“Looks like Lovato arrived,” Jericho motioned to the parking lot. “I’ll have him process this while we get statements from the boys.”

“Do you want to speak with us together?” Dax asked when he spotted Paige. “We were both here when she fired the shots, but I can leave if you want individual statements.”

“What is this?” Jericho asked, studying the whiteboard.

“Oh, um…” Hawk glanced at Dax.

“You are not bait,” Paige glared at Dax. “We talked about this.”

“It was just a thought,” Dax told her. “A work in progress. We started talking about the situation and remembered a mission we led in Afghanistan. That’s the op — in a nutshell.”

“You are not bait,” Paige insisted.

“It’s a cunning plan. Did it work?” Agent Sparrow asked from the doorway.

“It did,” Hawk gave Dax a mysterious look.

“Dax is not bait,” Paige studied the diagram and had to admit it was brilliant, and unconventional, but too dangerous.

“Looks like you guys had an interesting morning,” Agent Sparrow settled into a chair.

Dax walked them through the shooting, Hawk added a few details and explained how Zeus got involved.

Once they were finished, Jericho motioned to the diagram. “Now, explain that. It might work to draw her out, but where did you plan to do it?”

“That’s the one detail we haven’t figured out,” Dax admitted.

“We are not using Dax as bait,” Paige growled. “It’s too risky.”

“Not really,” Hawk disagreed. “We just need to find a location where I can set up and wait. If she makes a move, I’ll take her out.”

“We’re not using…”

“Paige, stop,” Jericho ordered. “We haven’t been able to find our suspect. We’ve spent days trying without a single lead. We need to flush her out. She’s determined to get to Dax. I don’t like using a civilian as bait, but it might be the only way to control this situation.”

“Then use me instead,” Paige countered.

“Absolutely not,” Dax answered immediately. “If it’s too dangerous for me, you are not taking my place. I will not hide away while my wife puts herself in the line of fire.”

“This is my job,” Paige countered.

“She’s after me,” Dax disagreed. “What makes you think she’d even take the bait if you try to lure her instead of me?”

“You’re both right,” Jericho cut in. “So, we’ll use both of you as bait?”

“I don’t understand,” Paige frowned.

“She’s tried to kill your husband three times now,” Jericho pointed out. “I doubt it would surprise her to learn I’ve assigned you, his spouse, to protect him from further attempts on his life.”

“Okay,” Dax considered. “So, Paige accompanies me whenever I leave the center.”

“Exactly,” Jericho nodded.

“And after a day of being seen, we could lure her to a location of our choosing,” Sparrow grinned. “We could have Hawk set up as our sniper and the rest of us will surround the area and close in when the time is right. If Paige can get close enough, she can make the arrest herself.”

“Now we just need a location,” Jericho glanced around. “You got a map in this place?”

“I’ve got a computer and a large screen in the conference room. Let’s move in there. I’ll notify Vato and we can all get to work,” Hawk offered.

“I’m bringing in Gage and Mike,” Jericho pulled out his phone. “We might also need Havilland for this one.”

Paige hesitated and waited for the group to leave. “We’ll need to be alert at all times and work together if we want this to work. That means I don’t try to protect you and you don’t protect me. We’re a team and we assume the risks together.”

“I can do that,” Dax agreed.

“Can you?” Paige wondered. “Watching me walk into danger, standing by your side while we both walk into danger is going to go against everything you stand for.”

“Can you trust me to handle myself? I suspect that goes against what you stand for,” Dax pointed out.

“Which is why I know how hard this will be for you,” Paige sighed. “We have to work together and treat each other as equals. If we walk into this trying to protect our partner, she’s going to win and one or both of us might not walk away alive. Unfortunately, I think her main target will be you. She wants me to know how it feels to lose the way she has.”

Dax realized she was right and a part of him relaxed at the knowledge. He was the target; Paige was just the audience. Julianna would welcome a chance to take him out while Paige watched. He could live with that because Julianna was going to be disappointed. He trusted Paige. He trusted Hawk, and he trusted the rest of the men. He didn’t know Sparrow, but Vato, Gage, Havilland… they would protect him. He knew that for a fact. But the person he trusted more than anyone else in the world — Paige — would be standing by his side, just waiting to make her move. Yeah, he could live with that. And if they found the right location, they might neutralize the threat before she had time to put another attack in motion.

“Dax?” Paige pushed. Can you set aside your personal feelings and trust me to handle myself?”

“Yes,” Dax said confidently. “Now let’s join the others and figure out the best place to put our plan into action.”

Paige studied Dax. He appeared calm but determined. Could he really do this? Could he set aside his feelings, avoid being distracted by her safety, and carry out a mission knowing both of them would be in danger? Then it hit her, Dax was the one risking his life for this plan. Julianna might get off one good shot; and, if she did, that attempt would be directed at Dax. Of course, he was okay with the situation. He knew he was risking himself, not her. But was she? Could she give Dax the same trust she was requesting from him? She didn’t know, but she’d have to try. They needed to arrest Julianna so their lives could return to normal.

They stepped into the conference room and began to plan their next move.

\*\*\*

Dax finished his bacon and studied Paige. “You’re not eating much this morning.”

“It’s this case,” Paige sipped her juice. “Stress. I told you; this happened a lot when I worked for the Bureau.” She glanced to her right and got a nod from Sparrow, who was dining at a nearby table.

“Hawk said Julianna just walked by,” Dax informed her. “She stepped into the drug store.”

“Then it’s working,” Paige nodded. “We could try to apprehend her inside the store, but I think it’s too dangerous.”

“I think we should continue with the plan,” Dax took a sip of coffee. “We hoped for this. Let’s let it play out.”

“Did you do this a lot?” Paige wondered. “For me, it’s hard. If I see my suspect, I want to arrest them. This feels unnatural.”

“I guess it would,” Dax nodded. “It’s different for us. We do a lot of surveillance before a mission. This is more natural for us. Don’t worry, it won’t take long. I think we should stick to the plan today and we’ll lure her to the target tomorrow, see if she takes the bait.”

“Let’s head back to the training center,” Paige suggested.

They spent the day working at the training center. Hours later they ventured out, making sure they were seen. They ate dinner at the Chophouse, then returned home and went for a late-night walk.

“Do you think it worked?” Paige climbed into bed.

“Yes,” Dax settled in next to her. “She was hiding inside the vacant house up the street. I saw her watching through the window. I think she’ll be annoyed that we appear to be unconcerned about the attacks. She’ll bite. I have a couple things I need to take care of in the morning. Can you meet me around ten? We’ll head over to the bakery and finish this once and for all.”

“That should give us time to get everyone in place before we arrive. What about Hawk? Will he need to work in the morning, or can he set up and be in place by zero nine hundred?”

“He’ll be ready,” Dax assured her.

\*\*\*

Paige and Dax stepped into the bakery and approached the counter. Deputy Mike Lovato stood at the counter. Duncan Havilland sat at a table in the corner. Gage was positioned at a table on the other side of the building and Agent Zach Sparrow sat a few feet from the front door. Jericho and Zeus waited in the kitchen. Wooly was located up the road watching from the café, Logan Reed was at the opposite end of the street, waiting inside the thrift store. Vato was on the roof with Hawk, serving as his spotter.

“We’ll have two coffees, a cinnamon roll, and a blueberry muffin,” Dax told Lo.

“Try to get it right this time,” Paige grinned. “Last time you waited on me, you got the order all wrong.”

“Right,” Lovato nodded. “That was one coffee, one black tea, a cinnamon roll, and a lemon cookie. Is that correct?”

“Just get our stuff,” Paige grumbled. “You know what we wanted. If you give me a lemon cookie, you will pay. You won’t know when, you won’t expect it, but you will regret it.”

“Target acquired,” Wooly announced through his headset. “Julianna just passed the café, and she is carrying a large bag. ETA approximately two minutes.”

“Hold your positions and stay alert,” Jericho ordered. “Hawk, do you have the subject in sight?”

“Affirmative,” Hawk acknowledged. “She’s approaching the front door.”

Lovato returned with the coffee and pasties and handed them to Paige. “It’s showtime.”

“Can you see her?” As much as she wanted to, Paige didn’t dare turn around.

“Yes ma’am,” Lo nodded toward the door.

Paige stiffened. When she heard the door shut, she knew their suspect had arrived.

Julianna strolled to the counter and stopped next to Dax. “You’re a hard man to kill.”

“You’re a hard woman to find,” Dax shifted slightly but continued to watch Julianna. He was ready for anything.

“Well, here I am,” Julianna grinned. “As are you.” She turned toward Paige. “So, we meet again. How is your old partner these days? The one Saber maimed? I suspect living your life in a wheelchair is a fate worse than death. I’d say you could ask your husband once I’m finished with him, but I guess you can’t really talk to the dead, can you?” She threw her head back and laughed.

Paige took a step forward but froze when Julianna pulled a knife from her large bag and shifted closer to Dax.

“Nu-huh, no you don’t,” she warned. “One step closer and I’ll gut him like a fish.”

Dax was quick. He pivoted, gripped Julianna’s wrist and kicked her feet out from under her. She went down immediately. The knife skittered across the floor and collided with the far wall.

Paige pounced. It only took seconds to pin Julianna to the floor. She reached for her cuffs, but Agent Sparrow beat her to it. He grabbed Julianna’s arm and her leg, flipped her over and cuffed her hands behind her back.

Julianna looked at Sparrow in surprise. “Please, help me. They attacked me for no reason.” She focused on Lovato. “You have to call the police. They’ve been stalking me. I rushed inside to get away, but they followed me inside and tried to kill me.”

Lo leaned forward, invading Julianna’s space. “See that camera, sweetheart? We got it all on video. You’re not in Kansas anymore. And the local DA, he doesn’t take kindly to pampered brats setting bombs or shooting at his citizens. You’re going away for a very long time.” He plucked her off the floor and shoved her toward the door.

“Somebody help me,” Julianna glanced around the bakery. “Please, anyone? At least record this so I can prove police brutality.”

“I’m afraid you’re out of luck,” Jericho stepped forward. “You walked into a trap young lady. Nobody inside this room will help you with anything. This is my town, and I don’t take kindly to violent strangers waltzing in and taking shots at my citizens.” He turned to Paige. “Meet us at the station. Mike transport her to the conference room. I’m going to have a little talk with Ms. Barrow before you introduce her to an eight-foot cell.”

“You’ve got nothing!” Julianna screamed. “I’ll beat this, just like I did before.”

“Not likely,” Jericho followed Lovato out the door.

Sparrow turned to address Paige. “Looks like we got her this time. I hate to play and run but my case just heated up and I need to get back to Vegas. I trust you can handle this without me.”

“I’ll try to talk to her, but I doubt she’ll say anything,” Paige sighed. “She’ll try the insanity thing again but it won’t work out here. Everyone knows her history. She won’t fool the cops or the DA this time. She’s going down for all of it. Jericho already talked to Tolman. He’s charging her with domestic terrorism for the bombing. Add that to attempted murder and she’s going to be locked up for a very long time. We can handle this locally. Go ahead, get back to your case. Thanks for the assist. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“I’m not sure about that,” Sparrow glanced around the room. “You had a pretty good team. I’m surprised she went down so easily. Anyway, thanks for including me. It feels like we got a little closure today. I never did like the way things ended up. It felt like that woman got away with murder.”

“You know,” Paige considered. “They did not charge her with the crime. She convinced everyone she was innocent and forced to participate. Considering her current charges, we might be able to convince the feds to pick that back up and finish things off. And by that, I mean District Attorney James Tolman might be able to make a case that will keep her locked up for the rest of her life.”

“Hope springs,” Sparrow turned to Dax. “It was a pleasure meeting you. I hope to do it again sometime, minus the deranged psychopath trying to kill you.”

“You’re welcome any time,” Dax reached out and shook Sparrow’s hand. “Have a safe trip back and good luck on that other case.”

Sparrow turned to the rest of the group. “Until we meet again.”

They watched him exit the building and drive away.

“I need to get to the office,” Paige told Dax. “I’ll see you at home.”

Paige got home that night, tired but relieved. Julianna was locked up tight in the Sanpete County Jail and would remain there for a very long time. The judge denied bail. He agreed she was dangerous and a flight risk. Tolman called the federal prosecutor assigned to Utah. He promised to look into the case and see if they could file charges against Julianna for the murders that were committed years ago. She figured that was all they could do. In the meantime, Tolman planned to throw the book at her locally. They had a solid case, which would give the feds time to decide what to do on their end. All in all, it was a pretty good day. Best of all, Dax was safe. The stress and worry were over and their lives could go back to normal — whatever that was.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets. Don't forget, this is th final season so you don't want to miss an episode.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S7

**Tags:** Season 7

---

### [Festive Repercussions](https://melaniepsmith.com/festive-repercussions/)

**Published:** December 31, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Festive Repercussions (S6E9) Paige is involved in a multi-agency investigation.  People are dying from poison candy delivered just in time for the holidays.  Can the group stop a madman before more people are killed?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*FESTIVE REPERCUSSIONS\*\*\*****

“Paige,” Margie placed her phone on the receiver. “Are you busy, or can you handle a welfare check?”

“Sure, there’s nothing here that can’t wait. What’s the address?” she stood and moved to stand in front of Margie’s desk.

Margie ripped the sheet off the pad and passed Paige the information. “The complainant is Tiffany Sanchez. She’s a co-worker and a friend of the subject in question, Brenda McKay. Tiffany said Brenda didn’t show up to work this morning. They had a big project they were working on and even worked late into the evening on Friday. They called it a night, each promising to pick things back up first thing this morning. Taking a break over the weekend would allow them to clear their heads and come back refreshed. Tiffany insists Brenda wouldn’t just blow off work. She tried to call several times but got voicemail.”

“Alright. Show me en route and send the detail to my computer,” Paige turned and headed back to her desk. “I’ll advise once I arrive.”

“Do you want a back?” Margie wondered.

“Not at this time.” Paige grabbed her coat and started for the door. “Do we have an approximate age for Brenda McKay?”

“Late-twenties,” Margie glanced at her notes. “Medium blonde hair, blues eyes, average build. Tiffany said she’s about five-six, maybe one-twenty.”

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[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Festive-Repercussions.pdf)

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“Thanks.” Paige shoved open the door and stepped into the crisp, cool morning. Bitter icy wind whipped around her, sliced across her face, then slithered beneath her jacket. She shivered and tugged at the cold metal zipper. It took two tries, but finally the insulated leather — zipped up to her chin — blocked out the frigid air. She reached into her pocket and retrieved the new pair of winter gloves Dax had shoved in there this morning. The man was always right — annoying, but true. He predicted below zero temps today and insisted, if she didn’t use the gloves, her fingers would shrivel into frozen nubs and fall off before her shift was over. Definitely an exaggeration, but her hands were already frozen and stiff after only a few seconds — and they shook uncontrollably as she slid the leather into place. With a sigh, she squinted past the sun, trying to block out the bright flashes of light that shimmered and danced over the powdery snow, and located her police car. Today was going to be a cold, miserable day — but, at least, it was no longer snowing.

She made her way cautiously across the parking lot, careful not to slip on the hidden ice. Once inside, she started the engine and flipped the heat to high. Cold air swirled through the vents and filled the already freezing cab as she pulled onto the highway. The dry air circled inside the car and gradually turned from frigid to hot. She was just beginning to feel comfortable when she pulled to a stop in front of the cozy little cottage. She hesitated, taking in the surrounding scene. There were no footprints in the yard, no tire marks in the driveway — in fact, her subject’s car was covered with at least a foot of freshly fallen snow. Paige frowned and shoved open her door. The blizzard had blown in Saturday morning around three and lasted all weekend. If the girl — Brenda — hadn’t left home because of the storm, she had to be inside. *So why wasn’t she answering the phone?*

Paige waded through the deep snow and stomped her feet once she reached the tiny landing in front of the door. She hadn’t gone twenty feet and her nose already felt like an icicle. She paused and rang the bell, then waited. The house was eerily silent. She took a step to the side and tried to peek inside the front window. No luck. The curtains were shut and blocked her view completely. She pounded on the door with that thundering police knock that could wake the dead. Still no answer. After ringing the bell one last time, she made her way around to the back of the house. Snow covered the entire yard. It was crisp and clean — and undisturbed. Paige crossed the back patio; a sinking feeling had settled in the pit of her stomach. The screen door creaked, breaking the silence when she yanked it open. Paige waited, hoping to hear something inside. After a few seconds, she reached out and banged on the back door. Still nothing. Resigned, she moved to the right, maneuvered a chair under the window, and climbed onto the seat — hoping it was as sturdy as it appeared. The instant she looked through the clear glass barrier; she saw the body. Anger and pity shot through her, but she pushed it aside. If she let the emotions surface, she wouldn’t be able to do the job.

Once she climbed from the chair, she called it in and asked Margie to contact the Medical Examiner. After a quick glance around, she took a minute to search under pots, inside a plastic storage container, and beneath a small statue of a garden gnome — for a key. When she didn’t find one, she broke through the door and stepped inside. The smell hit her immediately. She slapped her hand over her face, pivoted, and rushed outside. She paused on the edge of the back porch, reached into her go-bag, and retrieved a small container of vapor rub. Once the large glob was slathered generously over her nose, she dropped the container back into her bag and stepped inside the home.

The smell of death clawed at her nostrils and clung to her clothing, but she had to ignore it. She maneuvered around the vomit and body fluids that mingled with the putrid smell of decay and got to work. She was crouched over the woman’s lifeless form when she heard a noise. Glancing up, she spotted Gage. “Hey.”

“Do you need help in there?” Gage offered hesitantly from the doorway, breathing through clenched teeth.

Paige smiled. “Naw, I got it. Has Benny arrived?”

“I told him to wait in the van. You need him already?” Gage wondered.

Paige stood and headed for the door. “Let’s take this outside for a minute.”

“Best idea I’ve heard all day.” Gage stepped back and moved away from the open door. “Any idea what killed her?”

“Maybe, I’ll fill you in once I’m done here. Uh, I’m nearly out of evidence bags.” Paige moved to lean against the wooden railing. She needed fresh air, if only for a moment. “Since you’re such a boy scout, I’m hoping you’re prepared, and you’ve got a few extra in your truck.”

“I have plenty,” Gage nodded. “What size?”

Paige pointed at the box lying next to the body on the floor. “I need that box of chocolates taken to the lab.”

“Death by chocolate?” Gage grinned.

“You could say that,” Paige frowned when Jericho emerged from the side of the house and joined them on the back porch. “I’m not sure this required the boss.”

“It’s a death,” Jericho said in response.

“Right,” Paige shrugged. “Anyway, I’d like the lab to analyze the candy, see if it contains poison. Well, more to the point, what kind of poison it contains.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/christmas-chocolate-candy-box-wooden-table-with-seasonal-holiday-decoration-MPSmith.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/valentines-day-still-life-design-MPSmith.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/chocolate-candies-MPSmith.jpg)

Jericho frowned, stepped forward, and glanced through the open door. “It’s Christmas time, Paige. Receiving a holiday gift isn’t that unusual.”

“Finding a box of Christmas candy next to a dead body is,” Paige countered. “Especially when you factor in the partially consumed chocolate next to her right hand.”

“You have a point,” Jericho sighed. “Did you find anything else in there?”

“No,” Paige glanced back, pity clouded her eyes for just an instant before she blinked it away. “I want the chocolates, the envelope with the card, and her phone. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find a stalker or a jealous ex-boyfriend.”

“Do what you need to do,” Jericho stepped back. “I doubt she’d happily tear open a box of chocolates from an ex-boyfriend, though. Not if he truly was an ex.”

“She might, if she wanted it to be a temporary condition,” Gage disagreed. “Maybe she thought it was a reconciliation, but he was set on termination.”

“It would have to be some breakup for the guy to kill the girl — easier to just walk. Let me know what you find,” Jericho decided. “I have a meeting that I can’t miss, but don’t hesitate to call if something comes up. I’ll be available.”

“I’ll follow you up,” Gage decided. “I need to grab a stack of evidence bags and I’ll bring Benny on back.” He paused and glanced around. “The blizzard might be over — but so far, it’s been a really sucky day.”

“I’m sure Brenda McKay would agree,” Paige grumbled, then stepped back inside and got to work. She had a scene to process before she shattered the holidays for the McKay family and Brenda’s friends. For them, Christmas would never be the same again.

\*\*\*\*\*

The following morning, Paige sat at her desk, contemplating. The candy box was a bust. Since it arrived by mail, there were a dozen prints covering the surface — including Brenda McKay’s. The envelope didn’t help, neither did the card inside. The sender must have worn gloves when he prepared his lethal holiday gift — telling Paige this was premeditated and not an accidental contamination. The return address printed on the outside was the same as the mailing address, which was a guarantee the package would arrive at the desired location. For Paige, that would also mean a quick toss in the nearest trash can. Apparently, the clue was so subtle Brenda didn’t notice, or she didn’t care. Paige leaned back and closed her eyes. She had to think of something, needed to find a new lead to follow — but there wasn’t one.

She opened her eyes, thinking she’d read through Benny’s autopsy report again, and spotted Jericho standing next to her desk, studying her. His mouth twitched in amusement when she jumped, straightened abruptly, and pushed her chair forward.

He settled into one of her chairs and waited.

“You’re enjoying this,” Paige accused.

“Of course,” he sat back. “Do we have anything new — anything that will tell us who killed that girl?”

“No,” Paige sighed. “I was trying to come up with a new strategy, but I’ve got nothing.”

“She was just a kid,” Jericho grumbled. “By all accounts, she was a young, hard-working, innocent kid that had her entire life ahead of her.”

“And now she’s dead,” Paige frowned.

“Yeah, she is,” Jericho agreed. “And I want to know why.”

“So do I,” Paige scowled. “Unfortunately, we might have to learn to deal with disappointment because whoever did this, didn’t leave any clues. There’s no such thing as the perfect murder, but this one comes close.”

“I—” Jericho motioned to the phone when it rang. “Go ahead, answer it.”

“Deputy Carter,” Paige said in greeting.

“This is Amy Reeves,” a woman greeted. “From the Utah State Lab.”

“Oh, right,” Paige sat back.

“I’m calling about the box of candy you sent us,” Reeves informed her.

“You’ve already analyzed it?” Paige asked in surprise.

“Sort of,” Reeves sighed. “The chocolate was poisoned. I’ll be running more test, but I wanted to confirm that right away.”

“We knew that,” Paige grumbled. “That’s why we sent it up north to have it analyzed. How soon before you identify the toxin?”

“Tetrodotoxin,” Reeves answered.

“TTX,” Paige sat back. “That’s unusual. Have you identified the host?”

“Pufferfish liver,” Reeves provided.

“How did you identify it that quickly?” Paige wondered.

“Because it’s the third box of contaminated chocolates I received. Yours arrived yesterday, and I had two others last week,” Reeves advised.

“Third?” Paige straightened in surprise.

“Yes,” Reeves clipped tone telegraphed her displeasure. “Richfield PD sent the first box to my lab Friday morning. The weekend crew received the second box Saturday afternoon. That package is connected to an incident in Riverton. When I arrived this morning, I discovered the third box that was sent from you.”

“There were enough similarities that you believe they’re connected?” Paige wondered.

“They’re identical,” Reeves corrected. “Down to the tape used to wrap the boxes for shipping — and the paper used to package them.”

“Identical,” Paige glanced at Jericho. “Can you send me the contact information — for the other cops that submitted contaminated samples?”

“I’m just putting the finishing touches on an email that will go out to all three of you,” Reeves advised. “I wanted to touch base with you in person first, to let you know we will test the contaminated candy thoroughly, but I don’t need to — not to give you the basics. I already did that, twice.”

“I appreciate the call.” Paige hung up and considered.

“Problem?” Jericho wondered.

Paige had just finished giving him the details when the email from Amy Reeves arrived. She skimmed through it, then printed a copy and handed it to her boss.

Jericho dropped the message back on the desk and focused on Paige. “Three victims. Three random individuals that live miles apart.”

“Yeah,” Paige considered. “I need to run a background on all three, see if we can find anything that connects them. This could get tricky, now that we have two additional agencies involved.”

“I’ll step in and help pave the way if it becomes necessary,” Jericho assured her. “In the meantime, I think you should contact the detectives working the other cases — go ahead and answer that,” Jericho motioned to the ringing phone.

“Deputy Carter,” she said in greeting. “Great minds, I was just about to call you.” Paige sat back. “Looks like we have a cluster on our hands. Yeah, I’ll hold.” Once the line went silent, she pressed her hold button, transferred the phone to the speaker, and focused on Jericho. “It’s Detective Thomas from Richfield PD. He said he’s patching in the detective up north so we can all discuss the situation together and decide how to proceed.”

“Carter, you there?” a male voice came through the speaker.

“I’m here,” Paige called out. “I switched you to speaker. My boss, Sheriff Jericho Walters is also present.”

“Sir,” the voice acknowledged. “Jake Thomas here, from Richfield PD. I’ve also patched in Detective Robison.”

“Just Brad is fine,” a second voice cut in. “I work for Riverton Police Department. I understand we have two homicides that are connected to my attempted. As of an hour ago, my victim was upgraded and the medical staff that’s been treating him the past couple of days believe he should make a full recovery.”

“That’s good news,” Paige answered. “Did you have time to question him?”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/woman-opening-box-chocolates-MPSmith.jpg)

“I did, briefly,” Brad advised. “But it didn’t do much good. Trent Whitmer received the package in the mail after returning home from a business trip. He couldn’t say when it arrived as he hadn’t been home for a couple days — holiday commitments that coincided with the business trip. Anyway, he said he dropped it on the counter and basically forgot about it while he unpacked and prepared for a romantic dinner with his girlfriend. After the meal, the two of them settled in for a relaxing evening at home. They picked out a movie, prepared some popcorn, and he grabbed the box off the counter as an afterthought.

They were well into the movie when he started craving something sweet. That’s when he randomly grabbed one of the chocolates and took a bite. Both he and the girl said he only took one bite. His girlfriend said Trent, that’s my victim, complained that there was something wrong with the candy. He thought it was bad or rancid. He tried to get rid of the taste by downing a handful of popcorn, but it didn’t help much. That’s when he jumped up, darted to the kitchen, and rinsed out his mouth. The girlfriend, Trina Fairmont, stopped the movie and followed him out of the room. She said she had a bad feeling and wanted to check, to make sure he was okay. When she walked into the kitchen, Trent told her his lips and tongue were tingling. Then the side of his face went numb. He thought he was having a stroke. The guy was lucky his girl is a nurse. She helped him to the car and rushed him to the emergency room. They ran tests and ruled out a stroke within a few minutes. Trina pushed, and she pushed hard, insisted they test him for poison. She told them if they refused, she’d go over their head.”

“Is that why he survived?” Jake asked.

“Yeah,” Brad affirmed. “The ER doc was a young guy, fairly new on the job, and inexperienced. When Trina wouldn’t back down, he brought in a specialist. Based on the symptoms, and the fact that it all happened after eating that candy, the veteran doctor suspected TTX. I spoke to him, the specialist, he said there’s no antidote. They did their best to pump his system, inserted a breathing tube so the swelling wouldn’t constrict his airway, and waited it out. It was touch and go there for a while. Trent was weak, his speech was so slurred they couldn’t understand anything he said, and he experienced paralysis, profuse sweating, muscle weakness, and an abnormal heart rhythm.”

“He’s lucky he was dating a nurse,” Jake mumbled.

“Does he know anyone that would want him dead?” Paige wondered.

“He says no,” Brad sighed. “I pushed, but he seemed baffled. I believe him.”

“It sounds like that line is basically a dead end,” Paige considered. “I’m going to do a deep dive into my victim, see what I can find on her. I assume you ran each of your victims through the system, but let’s try to find a link — no matter how tentative. I doubt some maniac chose these three at random.”

“Uh,” Jake interrupted. “I agree with that line, but there’s something else I’d like to discuss first.”

“Alright,” Paige prompted.

“My victim, Stephanie Lancaster, received her candy at least four — probably five — days ago. Her body was discovered basically the same way as yours — welfare check called in by a friend. ME put TOD approximately twenty hours before discovery. I think she was the first victim. She lived alone. Probably received the package, tore it open and dove right in. For whatever reason, she didn’t seek medical attention for her symptoms and died on the living room couch. Anyway, I found the box minus two chocolates — along with the packaging in a nearby garbage can. At the time, I assumed the victim threw it away because it made her sick. With the new intel from Brad, she probably tried one, thought it was rancid, gave it another try, then tossed the box when chocolate number two tasted off as well. Anyway, it was wrapped in your basic run of the mill brown paper. I didn’t think it was worth tracking down because that would be next to impossible, especially this time of year.”

“Right,” Brad agreed. “Everyone and their dog are sending wrapped packages to family and friends for Christmas.”

“Exactly,” Jake agreed. “But the package had a postal stamp with all the routing information on it. I was able to confirm someone mailed that thing from the post office in Ephraim, Utah last Wednesday at 1326 hours.”

“Hold on a minute,” Paige jumped up, retrieved the evidence bag that contained the packaging from her case, and returned to her desk. “Mine matches yours. He mailed the packages together — at the same time.”

“Yeah,” Brad agreed. “Jake gave that same information to me and I checked — mine was dropped off and mailed along with both of yours.”

“Which begs the question,” Jericho jumped in.

“How many packages were mailed?” Jake finished.

“Have you contacted the post office?” Jericho wondered.

“That’s where I’m hitting a wall,” Jake said, clearly frustrated. “I’ve completed a boat load of paperwork, submitted the forms, then submitted more forms. Apparently, the feds aren’t big on interagency cooperation. I’ve done everything I can think of to nudge them along. My leads have dried up here, but if we could get them to pull the video from the surveillance cameras, track down the paperwork, locate the payment details — anything damn thing, we might have a line to tug. We could get really lucky and discover the guy paid with a credit card or parked his vehicle in view of a camera. Information from that alone could help us identify the sender.”

“They’re blocking you?” Jericho wondered.

“Not blocking,” Jake disagreed. “Just taking their sweet time; because, according to them, it’s not a priority. I’m getting the runaround, excuses about Christmas, shortages, and deadlines. My boss is worried there could be more — packages, I mean — so he finally ordered me, about an hour ago, to head to Ephraim and put pressure on the supervisor at the post office. I’m to stay there and push until they give me what I need. Then he wants me to remain in your fair city for as long as it takes to close the case. I’ll be heading out of town just in time for the holidays — does wonders for the home life, let me tell you.”

“That sucks,” Paige said sympathetically.

“You don’t know the half of it,” Jake grumbled. “I finally got Darcy to marry me and four months later, I’m pretty sure she’s contemplating divorce. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, hooking up with a cop, but this was supposed to be our first Christmas together. Our first *married* Christmas — whatever that means. She had all these plans, memories she wanted to make, traditions she wanted to start, and I had to tell her — *sorry, babe. I caught a case.*”

“Try explaining a sudden trip to your eight-year-old son,” Brad cut in. “A cop’s wife learns to deal with missed events and interrupted holidays. Our kids — that’s different. Oh, they pretend to understand, but they don’t — not really. Anyway, I’m headed your way as well — same directive from the brass up here. Carter, can you point us in the right direction? You know, find us a five-star hotel we can rent during the holidays, for an unspecified amount of time — all on a two-star budget?”

“One that’s close to the office and has a couple of restaurants close by,” Jake added.

“Hold off on that,” Paige considered. “I think I have a better idea. I’ll call you back with the details within the hour.”

“Alright,” Jake frowned. “Anyway, back to the case. I tried to get a warrant — to light a fire under their feet at the post office — but the judge is stalling. He’s hesitant to issue an order that could prove time consuming in another district — especially this time of year. Guess he doesn’t want an overworked employee to go postal.”

“He’s afraid he’ll get the blame if some overworked employee goes postal,” Brad corrected.

“Let that sit for a while,” Jericho advised. “Paige and I will head over to the post office in person once we conclude here. I’ll see what I can do to light my own fire under the supervisor without a warrant. Excuse me,” he stood when his phone rang. “I need to take this.”

“Any chance his fire will do the trick?” Jake wondered.

“I’d say the odds are in his favor,” Paige glanced at Jericho. “You just met Sheriff Jekyll. Those people over at the post office — they’re about to meet Sheriff Hyde. We should have some answers by the time you two arrive. In the meantime, while I do a little graveling to arrange housing, maybe you could work on a deep dive into your victims. Let’s see if any of these three knew each other, or if they were associated with the same people. There must be a connection. We’re just not seeing it.”

Once she disconnected, she stepped up to Jericho’s doorway and waited for him to acknowledge her.

Jericho placed a hand over the speaker on his phone and motioned to Paige. “It’s the mayor. I need a few. Once I’m done here, I want to call Tolman, then we can head to the post office.”

“I need twenty to arrange housing,” Paige smiled. “I’ll check back when I’m done and see if you’ve finished playing politics.”

“I understand,” Jericho said into the phone. “Yes.” He glanced back up and motioned for Paige to leave.

Paige nodded and headed for her car.

\*\*\*\*\*

The building was eerily quiet as she made her way down the sleek hallway. When she reached the office, she paused in the doorway, amused. Dax was stretched out, his chair leaning back, legs propped on the desk — one ankle crossed over the other, watching a video of an old guy shooting a large caliber rifle. “Great gig, if you can get it.”

Dax glanced over and smiled. His eyes sparkled with — something, Paige wasn’t sure what.

“Jealous?” He pressed a button on the remote and the video paused.

“You don’t have another course planned until mid-January, right?” she approached his desk.

“Right.” Dax dropped his legs to the floor and straightened. “Before you tell me the significance of that question, I think you’re contractually obligated to kiss me hello.”

“I’m on duty and I’m pretty sure police SOP supersedes that clause in the marriage contract,” she moved around the desk and leaned her hip on the edge.

Dax grabbed her arm, pivoted, and knocked her feet out from under her. She lost her balance, swore, and toppled into his lap. Before she had time to react, he leaned forward and covered her mouth with his.

Paige resisted — for form, but her heart wasn’t in it. After a moment, she relaxed and let herself enjoy the contact. Instead of releasing her, he deepened the kiss. She felt one palm slide across the small of her back as the other gripped the back of her neck and forced her body forward. She was now plastered against his chest in an intimate embrace. Paige tried to pull back, thinking they had to stop before this got out of control, but Dax shifted and held her tighter. The man could go from zero to sixty in a millisecond. And that talented mouth of his left her brain foggy and the rest of her revved, ready to explode. “Not fair,” she gasped when he finally let her come up for air.

His eyes sparkled and danced with amusement, which was bad enough; then, he gave her that sexy grin she always loved, and she was ready to dive back in for more.

“Better,” he leaned in for another gentle, but equally amazing, kiss. “Now if I could just convince you to play sensual cop arrests the big, bad ranger, my day would be complete.” He slid his hand up her side.

“Stop it.” Paige slapped his hand away and stood. “You’re certainly in a mood today, but this is official business. I don’t have time to play Studley Do-Right gets detained.”

“Studley Do-Right?” he considered. “I certainly try.” Dax also stood and invaded her space a little. “Now, I always love to see my gorgeous bride, but there must be a reason for this unexpected visit. What’s up?” he leaned in and gave her another quick kiss, lingering an extra second before he pulled back.

Paige swallowed and tried to push the lust aside. It took a couple seconds but, after another deep breath she outlined the new information from the lab, relayed the details of the conversation she had with the other cops, and told him both detectives had orders from on high to make an unexpected trip to Manti. “The guy from Richfield is a newlywed, and he’s already in the doghouse because he’s being sent out of town so close to Christmas — it’s their first and his wife had all these elaborate ideas to start new traditions. Then Brad, the detective up north, pipes in and says how his son doesn’t understand why the job is taking Dad away. They had all these plans once school let out and now he’s left with disappointment and holiday frustration — instead of cheer.

“We have space,” Dax offered, immediately realizing what Paige was asking. “They’re welcome to use the housing units out back,” he took her hand and led her from his office. “In fact, I think you’ll like our recent additions. As far as the holidays go, they can decorate all they want while they’re here. None of us will mind. Tell them to head out and make things comfortable for their family.”

“There’s one more thing,” Paige followed Dax out the back door. “We’ll need a conference room. A place we can set up three complete cases, then lock everything down for the night, and leave the details pinned to the boards and spread out across the table.”

“Use Conference Room B.” Dax took her hand again and walked toward the enormous building off to the right.

Paige glanced around and halted.

“What?” Dax immediately went on alert.

“It’s amazing.” Paige ran a hand down the side of his arm.

“Huh?” Dax confirmed there wasn’t any sign of danger, then turned back to Paige, confused.

“This,” she pointed to a running track at the far end of the property. Next to it was a large basketball court — it was currently covered in snow, but she could see it was regulation size. To the side of that was a large open space they could use for a quick baseball game or to toss a football. Next to the housing building, there was a large, covered slate patio decked out with a cozy sitting area, lounge chairs, a large firepit, and an outdoor cooking area. “You told me it was finished, but I never imagined something this incredible.”

“Too much?” Dax wondered.

“No,” Paige shook her head. “It’s just right. It’s good, Dax. It’s really good.” This time, she leaned in to kiss him. “I know I get busy and preoccupied, which means I don’t tell you as often as I should, but I’m proud of you — all of you — for this. You took a basic idea and created something even more spectacular than anyone could have imagined. It started as nothing more than an intriguing idea, and now you run the top training center in the western United States — custom outfitted with all the bells and whistles.”

“It’s getting there,” Dax started walking again.

“Any word on the tower?”

“That’s right, I didn’t tell you.” Dax pulled open a heavy metal exterior door and flipped on the interior lights. “The council finally approved the plan. Wooly finalized the contract with the construction crew this morning. They’ll start erecting the tower once the weather breaks this spring.”

“I know you have the climbing wall inside, but that tower will push demand even higher.” Paige was sure of that.

“That’s what we’re hoping.” Dax pushed open a door and motioned for Paige to step inside.

“Wow,” she glanced around the comfortable space, trying to take it all in. There was a small, but functional kitchen off to one side that flowed into a huge lounge area with big cozy chairs and a comfortable looking couch. To one side there was a door, to the other was a short hallway. “You guys have been busy,” she focused on Dax. “This looks like it was built for a family. Why add it into the plan here at the center?”

“Teams,” Dax pushed open the side door and motioned her inside. “This would work for your cop and his wife, sort of a master bedroom — we designed it to function as the supervisor or team leader’s room. The bed is larger and there’s more space.”

“It looks comfortable,” Paige observed. “The bed, I mean. I can see the room is spacious and cozy. It would have to be to accommodate this king-sized bed.”

Dax picked her up and tossed her onto the mattress. “Let’s test it out and see. We wouldn’t want to offer a defective mattress to a fellow colleague working a homicide.” He grabbed her before she could roll off, straddled her body, and yanked her arms above her head.

“Dax,” Paige laughed. “We are not having a morning quickie. I’m on duty. What’s gotten into you today?”

He nibbled on her ear. “I’ve missed you. We’ve both been so busy lately. That last course took me away for over a week and once we got back, you’ve been working overtime — dealing with all the storms. Plus, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy having the Porters out for a visit — but it limits our time together. When I looked up and saw you standing in the doorway, it just hit me. I had this overwhelming need for my wife.”

Paige pulled her hands free and gently cupped his face. “I’ve missed you, too. I wish I could stay and enjoy this — and you,” she grinned. “But I have to go. Jericho is waiting for me to get back so we can go push some exhausted, underpaid, postal workers over the edge. I’d really hate to miss that.”

Dax rolled over and climbed from the bed. “I want a night alone with you. Nathan and Sophie are settled into the guest house, and I’ll warn my men to stay away. I need some time — just you and me. No work, no phone calls, no visitors. We both know this case is going to keep you busy. I want some time, Paige. Tonight. No excuses.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Paige climbed from the bed. “Talking to those guys, especially the one from Richfield, made me realize how much our lives have been getting in the way of us — you and me. We don’t just hang out together like we used to. I guess that’s why I drove over in person, rather than settling for a quick phone call.”

Dax wrapped an arm around her shoulders, leaned in and kissed her temple. “I can show you the rest of the suite if you want, but basically, there’s a bathroom down that hallway and a couple of private rooms. Like I said, we built it for teams, but I think a family could settle in, decorate a tree over there, and have a pleasant holiday.”

“I agree,” Paige leaned closer. “And the newlyweds?”

They stepped into the main hallway and secured the door behind them. “That one,” he pointed to a door on the other side of the corridor. “We set it up for an instructor, to make it more comfortable when we bring in experts. It should accommodate their needs better than a hotel. It has a large bedroom, a kitchen, bath, and another room off to the side that is outfitted as an office. The lounge area isn’t as elaborate as the one in the suite, but it’s comfortable and I’m sure it’s large enough for a couple at Christmas time.”

“Alright,” Paige headed for the exit. “Now for the conference room.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Dax took her hand again as they strolled up the sidewalk. “I’ll have Hawk set it up today. It’ll be ready for you and your team when they arrive.”

Instead of returning to the building, Dax walked Paige to her vehicle.

She climbed behind the wheel, started the engine, then turned and just looked at him. “I’ll be home as close to quitting time as I can manage, I promise.”

Dax stepped forward and brushed a stand of hair away that had escaped her tight ponytail. “No excuses,” he kissed her, then stepped away and watched her pull onto the highway. Resigned, and freezing, he made his way back to his office.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige sat next to Jericho, crowded in front of a panel of monitors. This was their last chance at getting a good, usable photo of their suspect. They had his back and a partial side view, but he was bundled up in a coat, hat, gloves and an enormous scarf. He was smart, and he was careful. Since the moment he stepped into the building, he used the boxes to shield his face. Once he moved up to the counter, he maneuvered his body to the side, preventing a clean shot from the camera as he interacted with the postal worker behind the desk. They had already skimmed through the rest of the footage and now, they were down to this footage at the counter and the last angle that captured the entrance. They pulled up the final camera to watch his exit.

“There he is, but he knows where the cameras are and he’s avoiding them,” Paige grumbled. “Look how he side-steps at just the right moment to use that other customer as a shield. We’ve got him strolling out and turning left before he vanishes — no car, no plate, nothing we can use to identify him.”

“He’s good,” Jericho sat back. “We’re better. We’ll find him, Paige.”

They both looked up when a woman stepped hesitantly into the office. “I found that transaction you needed. The man paid cash, I’m sorry, but there’s no record that will help identify him. I can tell you he mailed five boxes.”

“Do you have the information on where those five boxes went?” Paige asked, irritated. The instant they spotted the guy — and the packages, they knew there would be additional victims.

“Yes,” she stepped forward and handed Jericho a sheet of paper. “I pulled the tracking information and identified all five of them. We delivered those packages to these five addresses.”

“Thank you,” Jericho stood. “We appreciate you taking the time to help us with this.”

“I um —” she swallowed, visibly distressed. “I think I need to notify the Postal Inspector. Should I—”

“I’ll do that,” Jericho gave her shoulder a quick pat. “Don’t worry about this. I’ll contact the proper authorities and I’ll let them know you wanted to contact them yourself, but I stopped you. Don’t worry about anything. Go back out, deal with the holiday chaos, and put this behind you.”

“Thank you,” she relaxed. “Thank you.”

Once they were back on the road, Paige calculated. “I think the first thing I need to do is contact the local police. There’s one in Idaho and the other is in Colorado. We need to check and see if we have additional victims — or just targets unaware they’ve been marked for death.”

“I agree,” Jericho nodded. They were traveling along Highway 89, headed back to the office when they spotted the accident. There was only one vehicle, so unless it was a result of a hit and run, it was a single car incident. Most likely, the driver lost control on the slick roads. Jericho dropped Paige off and headed back to the office. He’d have the guys shuttle her vehicle over while she dealt with the crash.

That was only the first of several calls that came in. Paige was swamped, rushing from one detail to the next for the rest of the day. She finally made it back to the office ten minutes before end of shift.

“Paige,” Jericho called from his office. “We need to make those calls. Give me the information on the first one, you take the other — then go home. There’s nothing that won’t hold until tomorrow.”

The instant Paige stepped through her front door, she smiled. Dax was setting the stage for romance tonight. She dropped onto the couch and held her hands in front of the fire, hoping they would thaw a little before she made her way to the kitchen. She pulled off her boots and stood, eager to find her husband and begin what was promising to be a memorable night. She didn’t know what Dax was cooking, but it smelled wonderful.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax set a large plate with warm Danish on the table and settled across from Paige. He took a sip of coffee and watched her over his mug, smiling when she snatched up the fresh pastry and took a huge bite. “What’s on the agenda for today?”

Paige gulped her coffee then sat back and wiped crumbs from her chin. “I’ll set things up while I wait for the other cops to arrive and get settled in. Then, we’ll coordinate our cases and skim through the evidence from each scene. The guy mailed five packages. We’ll sift through, see if they have anything in common and go from there. We had another victim in Idaho, Detective Mick Singleton is headed down to join us. Oh, I forgot, can we set up another room for him?”

“Sure,” Dax took a sip from his mug. “We have another instructor room just down the hall from the others. Does he have family?”

“No,” Paige sat back. “I asked. He’s single. He planned to spend the holidays with his family down in Texas, but he cancelled that trip. Said he could juggle things around and go next year.”

“Alright,” Dax reached for another pastry. “And the fifth victim?”

“She isn’t a victim,” Paige hesitated. “Well, she is — but she still had her package. She didn’t even open it. I think she’s the only one that really looked at it. She told the Denver cop, the one that responded to check on her and seize the candy — she told him she brought it into the house and wondered who sent it. She’s single and hasn’t dated anyone for months. When Angela — that’s the victim — when she saw the return address and recognized it as her own address, she didn’t trust it. She set it on a shelf in her workroom and forgot about it. She told him she planned to toss it initially, but then wondered if it could be dangerous. She took it in, turn it over to the police once the holidays were over and her schedule settled down.”

“That’s a bit of good news,” Dax continued to study her. “So, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Paige evaded.

“Something,” he took her hand. “Personal or professional?”

“I feel like I’m missing something,” she admitted. “I have this feeling that something was overlooked. Something I should have picked up on. I keep going over the scene and the steps in my head, but nothing pops. Sorry, I guess I’m just distracted.”

“Walk me through it,” Dax offered. “You know that helps sometimes. Start at the beginning. Tell me about the call and how you discovered your victim.”

She did, but it didn’t help. Once she finished, nothing new came to her, but she still felt like they all missed something vital.

“And there’s nothing that ties them together?” Dax asked, knowing there had to be something.

“Not that I can find,” Paige let out a frustrated sound that was a cross between a growl and a moan. “They don’t work in the same field or attend the same church. They live in different areas, some in different states, and have different hobbies. We all got a list of friends and associates from family and co-workers — none of them match. There’s no crossover — nothing that ties all our victims together; but, there must be a connection.”

“What do they do?” Dax smiled at the confused look on her face. “For work. What did your victim do for a living?”

“Marketing,” Paige sat back. “Not an exec but it sounded like middle management, or a team leader sort of thing.”

“Okay,” Dax considered. “And the victim from Richfield? What did he do?”

“She,” Paige hesitated. “I think she was a graphic designer.”

“And the one up north, near Salt Lake?” Dax continued.

“Uh,” Paige frowned. “I think he was a project manager for a large construction company.”

“Do you have the details on the victim from Idaho?” Dax wondered.

“Not a lot,” Paige sat back and considered. “Not yet. I don’t know what he did for a living, but I’m going to find out. Graphic design, project management, and marketing — not entry level but management,” she ticked them off on her fingers. “Wouldn’t all of those careers require a college degree?”

“I believe they would,” Dax nodded. “More, I think some courses would cross over. All of them fall under the category of business, don’t they?”

Paige stared at him in surprise, then she jumped to her feet, rushed over, and kissed him. “You’re brilliant. I knew there was a reason I married you.”

“I thought it was my good looks and charming personality,” Dax called out.

“That didn’t hurt,” she replied before she rushed out the door.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was halfway to the office when she was redirected to a shoplifting incident. Once she handled that case, Margie asked her to respond up the canyon to deal with a simple assault that occurred on a tubing hill that was popular with local families. On the way back to the office, she came across a fender bender at the mouth of the canyon. Then she was dispatched to deal with a gas theft, followed by a vandalism. By the time she reached the office, she was tired and annoyed.

“You’ve got company,” Margie advised. “The family from Riverton. Gage took them over to the training center so they could get settled.”

“Thanks,” Paige turned to leave, but Jericho stopped her.

“Grab the files and plan on working out of the center until this thing is solved,” Jericho ordered. “I’ll try to stop by now and then to check in and see if you need anything. Otherwise, keep me appraised on your progress. If you need help, I’ll send in Gage when I can spare him.”

“Thanks,” Paige sighed. “I’m hoping we can resolve this quickly, but you never know.”

“Don’t worry about the detective from Richfield,” Jericho decided. “Once he gets here, I’ll bring him to you. Send Gage back as soon as you can but if you need him for an hour or so, that’s fine.”

“I should be good for now. I’ll keep you posted,” Paige promised and headed for the door. She pulled into the parking lot of the training center and just sat there, studying the family unloading their vehicle. Besides the eight-year-old son, the detective also had a daughter. Paige would guess the girl was around ten or eleven. She was focused on her phone and doing her best to ignore the rest of the family. Paige spotted what had to be Detective Brad Robison. He was alert and working to keep his son focused while his wife — a pretty brunette that was clearly in charge — pointed and gave orders to her small family. Paige smiled and slid from her car.

“You must be Deputy Carter,” the woman said in greeting. “I’m Madison Robison, but most people call me Maddie. Thank you so much for all of this,” she swept her arm toward the building. “It’s an adventure for Ryley. I think he took it the hardest when Brad announced he had to go out of town over the holidays.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Paige moved forward. “Clearly, the timing couldn’t be worse. I realize, you must have years of experience adjusting to the demands of the job, but you seem to handle all this better than I expected. If you guys want to take the day to relax and get settled, I don’t mind. I have plenty to keep me busy. Tomorrow would be soon enough for Brad to start working. Even if you are used to this life, the last couple days had to be hectic. Plus, you could probably use some down time to recover from the drive. I can arrange the boards and get things started on my own.”

“If you could give him a couple hours, that will be enough,” Maddie offered. “Brad will need to get back to it. Don’t worry, he always finds a way to shuffle in a little family time. We’ll be fine.” She turned away, called out for Ryley to stop playing with the luggage and carry it into the room, then turned back to Paige.

“There’s nothing that pressing,” Paige began. “It really can wait.”

“We both know that’s not true,” Maddie interrupted. “Brad talks to me about his cases. I understand the situation. He told me there were five packages, and you guys located all of them; but, there’s no guarantee the madman that sent them is finished. Those five might just be the first wave. This killer needs to be stopped before anyone else dies — before he mails another batch of poison candy. Brad will head over and work tonight, but we do need an hour or two so we can get the kids settled before he gets started.”

Paige stared at the woman in surprise. Not because she discussed cases with her husband — Paige did that with Dax. It shocked her to realize she hadn’t thought things through to the next obvious step — more victims. She assumed the maniac was finished, that the deaths were done, and they just needed to find and arrest the killer. Realizing it might only be the beginning was frightening — and it gave this case a renewed sense of urgency.

“I surprised you,” Madison realized.

“A little,” Paige admitted. “I’ll let you get back to your kids. It was a pleasure to meet you. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other over the next few days.”

“Thanks again, Paige,” Madison placed a warm hand on her arm. “Can I call you Paige?”

“Of course,” Paige smiled. “And you should thank my husband and his merry band of troublemakers. I was just the messenger.”

“Well then,” she glanced over her shoulder when they heard her son yelling. “I better get back to that.”

Paige watched her leave then turned and collided with Dax. He reached out and gripped her hips, but her foot glided across a patch of ice, slipped out from under her, and they both tumbled to the ground.

At the last minute, Dax shifted their weight, so he landed on the bottom with her toppling onto his masculine chest with a thud.

“Did I hurt you!” Paige asked, a little panicked.

Dax laughed. “Yes, and now you have to kiss it better.”

“Is that your clever way of telling me to kiss your butt?” Paige narrowed her eyes at him. “You have to know that’s never going to happen.”

He continued to laugh, shifted, and pinned her to the ground. “Surrender and pay your debt, woman.”

Paige reached down, scooped up a handful of snow and dumped it down his shirt.

“You little,” Dax raised her arms over her head and pinned them in place with one hand while he scooped up snow with the other and rubbed it over her face.

Paige turned her head and tried to buck him off her, it didn’t work. When he grabbed another fist full of snow, she yanked her arms free and shoved at his chest. Dax just wrapped an arm around her body and pulled her against him.

“Stop it you maniac,” she was laughing so hard, she could barely talk.

“Never,” Dax tightened his grip and grinned. When she wiggled and tossed her head back, still laughing, Dax froze. Sometimes the love he had for this woman could sneak up and grip him with so much force, he could barely breathe. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was intense and possessive. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her.

Paige went from laughing and enjoying the frivolity of the moment to hot powerful need in a matter of seconds. She saw the raw and intense love in Dax’s eyes for just a second before he pressed his mouth to hers and immediately stopped her laughing. When they finally came up for air, she focused on him and waited. “What was that?”

He stood and held out his hand to help her up. When she took it, he pulled her to her feet and was about to speak when he spotted movement in the parking lot. “I think the newlyweds have arrived, and she doesn’t look happy. You should probably just go and—” he nodded toward the couple. “I don’t know, do something.”

“Right,” Paige sighed and strolled toward the couple who was now standing on the sidewalk, tension radiating around them in waves. “I’m Deputy Paige Carter, but you can just call me Paige. You must be Jake Thomas and —” Paige turned to the woman.

“This is my wife, Darcy,” Jake glanced at his wife then down at the bags in his hands and back to Paige, signaling he couldn’t shake her hand in greeting.

“No formalities necessary,” she smiled in understanding, turned and started toward the building. “Let me show you where you’ll be staying. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. There aren’t any courses running at the moment, so feel free to walk around, explore the place, and make use of the facilities.”

“We appreciate that,” Jake stopped the door with his foot and waited for Darcy to enter.

“Oh,” Darcy exclaimed. “It’s so cozy and… well, it’s like a little apartment.”

“Settle in,” Paige offered. “We can start working in the morning.” She silently walked away, hoping the two of them would work through their conflict. If that display was still residual anger and disappointment because Jake had to work, things just might get interesting around here over the holidays. Maybe it was something else. Maybe they were arguing over another problem, something that happened on the drive over from Richfield. With a shrug, Paige started down the hallway. Whatever was causing the rift, it wasn’t her problem. Once outside, Paige made her way to the conference room and began setting up the boards.

Two hours later, Jake and Brad joined her in the conference room. They both moved forward and began silently studying the images, notes, and other details of the case.

“It’s a good start,” Brad moved to the information on his victim. “We’ll need to fine tune it but most of the information is here.”

“How do you guys do it?” Jake wondered.

“Do what?” Paige asked absently.

“Maintain balance,” Jake added. “Between your personal life and the job.”

“Balance,” Paige glanced at Brad. “I think I’ve heard of that.”

“It’s a myth,” Brad shrugged. “Don’t waste your time. It’s easier to find a unicorn lounging next to that pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.”

“That’s encouraging,” Jake grumbled.

“Okay,” Paige turned to face him. “You may not achieve true balance, but my advice is to seize all the little moments and make the most of them. Your wife’s upset because all of her plans for the season were shattered and she’s stuck in a strange town, with strange people and nothing to do. You’re worried about her, so you can’t concentrate on the work. Give us two hours. We need to go over the information I’ve compiled and discuss the two cases I haven’t listed, yet. I have the basics on these three, but each of you can add details I missed. Once we’re finished, let’s call it a night. You can go make up with your wife and I can enjoy a hot meal and a quiet evening with my husband. And Brad can do whatever men do when they have a wife and two children to entertain. Two hours, then we’ll all work on that balance.”

“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Brad agreed. “I’ll go first. You have most of the information from my case, but I stopped in and talked to Whitmer again last night. I asked him if he knew any of the other victims. He insisted he didn’t know any of them. He lied.”

“You think they knew each other?” Jake wondered.

“I know they did,” Brad insisted. “I could see it, for just an instant, before he blanked his face and played innocent. He dug in, I went at it from a different angle, but he still denied knowing any of them. I pushed hard and I think he was close to breaking. Then, the nurse interrupted, said it was late, and forced me out. I think we need to pursue that avenue. We need to figure out the connection — because there is definitely a connection.”

“You missed my interview with Sandy Jones,” Jake stood in front of the board. “She worked with Lancaster. When I asked her if she knew of anyone that would want to hurt Stephanie, she said there was something — but she didn’t have the details. It was a secret that Stephanie wouldn’t explain, but her friend felt guilty about something. Something that happened a long time ago.”

“Could tie in with your college idea,” Brad offered. “I called Trent’s girlfriend on my way down, after you contacted me. When I quizzed Nurse Nadia on where Trent went to college, she said he graduated from the University of Utah. She was sure about that because it’s where she went to nursing school. They’ve spent a lot of time talking about their time there and laughing about the crazy things they did when they were young and stupid.”

“They’re still young,” Paige insisted. “I was told by a close friend of Brenda’s, my victim, that she graduated from UNLV. The information seems solid. The friend said she was positive, and it sounds like the same sort of deal. They laughed about it, Brenda said how crazy it was living in Vegas and how entertaining people watching could be on The Strip. It sounds like we hit another dead end. I was sure the college angle would get us a connection, but it seems to be a bust.”

“My victim got her degree from San Diego State University,” Jake added. “It doesn’t sound like any of them went to the same place.”

“I have a call into a contact in Las Vegas,” Paige advised. “He agreed to head over to the college and talk to someone in administration. I want to know if Stephanie went there all four years or if she transferred from somewhere else.”

“I’ll call Trina,” Brad decided. “She might know if Trent was a transfer or if he did all four years at the U.”

While they waited, the three of them discussed the case, added details and fine-tuned the investigation. It was nearly eight o’clock that evening when they finally called it a night. Paige headed into the main building, found Dax and enjoyed one of those stolen moments she talked to Brad about. They grabbed a pizza on the way home, built a fire and stretched out on the couch to enjoy a rare movie night — it felt like an actual date, something they hadn’t enjoyed for a very long time.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Brad, your wife said something yesterday that I think we need to discuss,” Paige began the following morning.

“What’s that?” Brand asked absently as he tacked photos to a large board. They had images of all five victims now, including the woman in Colorado that hadn’t touched the candy and the deceased victim from Idaho. Detective Mick Singleton would be arriving sometime later that evening and they wanted all the data up to date when he arrived.

“She said this might just be his first wave,” Paige frowned when Dax stepped into the room. Her frowned deepened when she saw the look on his face. It was a mixture of anger and pity clouded with a flash of shock. “Uh —” She took a step to the side to block his view.

“I’m not staying,” Dax assured her. “I just wanted to let you know something came up and I need to take my crew and head out for a few hours. We should get back around noon. Wooly arranged for lunch and we ordered enough for you and the rest of the guests. Bring your wives and your kids on over to the main building. If you get there before I make it back, there’s no need to wait, just dig in and help yourself.”

“Catered?” Paige wondered.

“Delivered,” Dax corrected. He moved to her side, leaned in, and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “I know — you’re working.” With a smile, he pulled her against him and gave her a deeper, more intimate kiss, then he released her, turned, and walked away.

Paige watched him cross the room and stroll casually out the door.

“We all know you’re married,” Brad grinned. “Why does that embarrass you?”

“Baffles,” Paige disagreed. “It baffles me, and it messes with my head. He’s a distraction, one that fogs my brain and makes it impossible to concentrate. Forget it, let’s get back to work.”

The two men grinned but complied. “You were saying something about my wife,” Brad reminded her.

“Right,” Paige focused on the board and the images of their victims. “She said we needed to work on this because it might just be the first wave. I was working the case, thinking we located all the victims, and we just needed to identify our suspect. But Maddison is right, a lot of packages are mailed this time of year. What if he’s not finished? What if he has another five or seven or ten packages ready to be sent to a fresh wave of unsuspecting targets?”

“What if he’s already mailed them?” Jake sobered.

“Maddie mentioned that to me,” Brad shrugged. “It’s certainly possible. I think it’s more likely he’ll try to figure out a way to get to the girl in Colorado. He’s not finished. She didn’t take the bait. At least Trent, my victim, sampled the goods and ended up in the hospital. That Angela woman tossed it aside and forgot about it. You’re also forgetting — Trent knew the other victims. I still think there’s a connection. Our bad guy might believe this round was such a fun filled success that he wants to do it again, but I think those first five are personal. He knows them and Angela didn’t cooperate.”

“Maybe we should call the cops up there,” Paige considered. “It wouldn’t hurt to at least call them and let them know this Angela Young woman could still be in danger.”

“I’ll call,” Brad offered. “Because I want to convince one of their detectives to head out and question her in person. I want to know what secret Stephanie was keeping, and if it’s connected to the others — maybe it’s the reason they ended up dead. I want to know how she knows Trent and if she admits she knows the others — because they all know each other. I think if a detective from Denver corners the woman in person, she might provide the information we’re missing.”

“I agree,” Paige waited for Brad to hang up before she admitted she was out of ideas.

“Unless we get answers from your contact in Vegas, or the detective from Denver comes through for us, we’re at a dead end,” Jake agreed.

“Let’s take a break,” Paige decided. “Go spend some time with your family. I need to check in at the office, anyway. Go work on that balance, we can dig in harder when Detective Singleton arrives from Idaho. I’ll be back in a couple hours to set up for lunch. Just head over to the main building when you get hungry.”

Brad stopped to stare at the board but finally had to agree. They were at a standstill until additional data came through. “We’ll hook back up around noon,” he announced before he turned and headed for the door, Jake followed him out.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into the office and approached Margie’s desk. “He sounds busy. Angry citizen?”

“Sort of,” Margie evaded.

“Not my case, I hope,” Paige settled into one of the chairs that lined the wall in front of Jericho’s office.

Margie hesitated. “It’s Harper. She —”

“Found out he tapped his investigator to look into her,” Paige realized.

“We both told him it was a bad idea,” Margie sighed.

“I told him to come clean,” Paige glanced at the door. “Apparently, he ignored my advice.” She winced. “Sounds bad. Do you think he can salvage it?”

“I hope so,” Margie sighed again. “She—”

The door flew open, and an angry, red-faced Harper stormed from the room. She didn’t even glance around, she just marched to the front entrance, threw it open and practically stomped out the door.

Jericho emerged, stopped in the doorway and motioned for Paige to join him in his office. “Not one word, Paige. I mean it.”

“Understood,” Paige settled into one of his chairs. “I just need to know if you’re okay.”

Jericho settled back in his chair and rubbed his hands over his face. He looked tired and a little sad. “Yeah. No. I don’t know. I just don’t know,” he looked up. “Maybe I messed up. Maybe I took a right when I should have jogged left, I don’t know. I do know I should have talked to her about it, explained my reason for all of it, but now — I don’t know, Paige. I need to put that aside and let it sit for now. Tell me about the case.”

Paige hesitated. She knew Jericho really cared for Harper and she was pretty sure Harper was falling for the amazing sheriff as well. Maybe if he set it aside, let Harper cool down a little, and cornered her later to grovel, they could discuss the situation like rational adults. An image of Harper’s angry face popped into Paige’s head; and she knew, without a doubt, it would take more than time to fix this mistake. It might take more than Jericho was willing to give. Paige frowned but tried to push it aside, that was a problem for later. Right now, she needed to relay the new information to her boss.

Once she filled Jericho in, they discussed the case for nearly an hour. Neither one of them had any answers and before long Paige realized they were just going around in circles, debating the same points over and over. She was frustrated and Jericho was distracted. With no clear path to solving this case, she cut the conversation short, and headed back to the training center.

Paige ran the case through her head as she drove. There had to be a way to force the truth out of witnesses they didn’t have access to. It made little sense for her to drive up to Salt Lake to interview Trent Whitmer alone. Doing so would probably be a waste of time, anyway. There was no guarantee he’d talk to her. She had to trust Brad, it was his case and his victim. He already pushed and Whitmer shut down and lied rather than explain the connection. The Manti victim was dead — nobody to interview there — so were the victims out of Richfield and Idaho. The killer had to be feeling pretty cocky about this round — three dead and one in the hospital. Not bad odds, and pretty slick for a first round. Was it a first round? It had to be. Otherwise, they would have found similar unsolved crimes. This kind of poisoning was unusual and would stand out. So, what would the suspect do next? She had to agree with Brad, the killer would need to go after Angela Young. She just hoped Denver was taking the threat seriously. She hoped Angela Young was taking precautions; because it was nearly impossible to stop a killer that used poison as a weapon, even when you knew it was coming.

\*\*\*\*\*

It was nearly one that afternoon when Dax stepped into his office and spotted Paige sitting behind his desk. She was wearing headphones and making notes on a pad. He moved forward and settled into one of his spare chairs before she glanced up, stopped the player and pulled off the headset. “Did you eat?” Dax wondered.

“Not yet,” she relaxed into the chair. “I was about to go in when the detective from Denver sent this interview over. I wanted to see what Angela Young had to say.”

“Digital recording?” Dax wondered.

“Yeah,” she sighed. “He recorded the interview and then sent it right over.”

“Did you learn anything you didn’t already know?”

“Maybe a little,” Paige stood. “Let’s go eat, I’m starving.”

“Alright,” Dax took her hand, and they headed down the hallway.

“Angela,” Paige began. “That’s the woman in Denver. She admitted they all knew each other — Stephanie Lancaster, Brenda McKay, and Trent Whitmer. The last guy, the one from Idaho is Gary Pembrooke. She knew him as well. She’s pretty freaked out, learning all her old college pals are dead, or nearly dead. That was a good lead, by the way.”

“Glad to be of service,” Dax grinned and pulled her through the door that led to a long corridor. “You know, I kind of like seeing you here. It’s nice, spending the day with you like this. Anyway, I thought you said they all graduated from different colleges.”

“They all transferred from Snow College,” Paige studied him. “I think that’s why he mailed the packages from Ephraim.” She paused, considered, then grabbed his hand before he could open the door that led to the break room. “I agree with you, about working together. It’s a little weird, but nice to see you several times throughout the day.”

“But?” Dax lifted her hand to his mouth and gently kissed her knuckles.

“I’m sorry you had to see the board this morning,” she decided to be direct. “I saw your face and I’m sorry you had to see that. Death is never pretty, no matter how you go. I should have realized — sometimes forget, but I should have shielded you guys from that, made sure we concealed the board in case one of you walked in. Those images, that’s part of the job but I brought that ugliness home and I’m sorry. That’s all.”

“It wasn’t that bad,” Dax frowned. “I mean, the evidence photos weren’t all cheerful and rosy, but I’ve seen worse. I’m a combat veteran, death and carnage were part of my life for a long time. It was just a surprise, I think. When I stepped into the room and saw it laid out like that, it just hit me how senseless and pitiful it all was. They’re so young and from what you’ve told me, they were all making their way. They went to college, got a good job, and they were moving up, carving out a life; and then, one day, a guy sends them a box of chocolates for Christmas — and they’re dead. It pissed me off and made me sad — and it just hit me, seeing it on display like that. I felt sorry for them, and their families, and I couldn’t get past just how pathetic and pointless it was.”

Paige nodded in understanding, she had all those same feelings standing over Brenda’s body in that tiny little cottage, with the silly dancing pig salt and pepper shakers, and the cookie jar that looked like a cow. She stood there and thought — *I bet when you lift the head, it moos.* “I don’t know why this group of college pals were targeted, not yet. But I’ll find him, Dax. I’m going to track him down and make sure he never kills anyone again. Because it is senseless and it's abhorrent and ugly. I’ll get him, because underneath it all — he’s a coward. He didn’t even have the guts to confront them. He poisoned a box of Christmas candy and sent it anonymously through the mail. He’s a sad, pitiful little man with a despicable sense of entitlement. And when I find him, he won’t be able to avoid a confrontation with me.”

“How do you know it was a man?” Dax wondered. “I thought poisoning was typically a method used by women.”

“I guess it could be a woman,” Paige considered. “It just feels like a man to me. Like a weaselly little pimple seeking revenge. I bet he went to college with them. I bet they were all friends; or, at least, acquaintances and kids that age are stupid and reckless. I bet they offended him, slighted him somehow — intentionally or otherwise — and now he wants them to pay. The pathetic little weasel probably got his feelings hurt, and he didn’t have the guts to confront them. So, he snuck away with his tail between his legs to stew and simmer in his warm little basement until he got up the nerve to poison them with chocolate.”

“I think it feels like a guy. To me, it feels that way, but I could never explain why,” Dax pulled open the door. “Let’s put this aside for a little while. Let’s set it aside, have lunch, and visit with friends. We could both use the break.”

“Alright,” Paige let him lead her into the break room. “Where did you guys go, anyway? You don’t normally have an issue that requires all of you to head out together.”

“Problem with the tower,” Dax handed Paige a plate and took one for himself. “Just a minor structural issue. Normally I’d go, maybe take Hawk but we needed Vato — he’s the expert. Plus, Wooly’s been handling the project, so he was essential, and Zeus wanted to make sure if we made any changes, it would hold up if we had a little explosive incident in the hot house.”

“Explosive incident?” Paige narrowed her eyes at him.

“Yeah,” Dax shrugged. “You do what you do, I do what I do. It works for us, babe. Don’t try to change things now.”

Paige decided she would not think about explosives or towers or incidents. She was going to enjoy her meal and visit with friends. Then, she was going to get back to work.

\*\*\*\*\*

“You have a lot of information, but no leads to follow,” Detective Mick Singleton said. “I’m not sure I can add much to it. Give me a minute here, let me get the information from my case up on the board and we can go from there.”

“What’s the incident? That note you added up there on the left,” Brad wondered.

“No idea,” Mick shrugged. “Once I received the updated information, I went back, talked to friends and family again. His sister, uh… Darla, said there was an incident. Something my victim refused to talk about. She didn’t know the specifics, and she wasn’t even sure when or where it happened. She just knew her brother was worried about something in his past. One night, after a party where he’d been drinking heavily, he let it slip that there was an incident. He told her there was a secret. Something he’d sworn on his life, and the life of his mother, he would never reveal. He said something about a blood oath and retribution. He was rambling and when Darla asked him about it the next day, the guy freaked out. Said he was drunk, and he had no idea what she was talking about.”

“Another guy with a secret,” Paige paced the room.

“I’m not a betting man,” Jake considered. “But I bet that secret has to be the reason for the murders.”

“Me either,” Brad tipped his chair back. “But I’d take that bet.”

“Now we just need to figure out what the secret was,” Paige moved forward to study the boards. “Let’s see what we can dig up. Could be an incident at the college, one that happened when they all attended Snow College together. Do you think it was big enough to make the papers?”

“Let’s see what we can find,” Brad let the chair drop back to the floor and got to work.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax glanced up from the documents he was reading when the young woman passed by his door for the third time. He stood, moved to the entry and waited. It didn’t take long. When she pivoted and headed back toward him, he stopped her. “Can I help you with something?”

“Oh!” she jumped in surprise. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you. I think I might be lost.”

Dax leaned against the jamb and waited. It didn’t take long.

“Do you have a minute?” she finally asked.

“Sure,” Dax straightened. “Do you want to come in and sit, or should we take a walk?”

“I’d love a walk, if you don’t mind,” she glanced at him then immediately looked away.

“Walk it is,” he motioned her forward, then followed a few steps behind. When they reached a door a few feet away, he stopped her, directed her through, and guided her toward the stairs.

“Where are we going?” Darcy asked nervously.

“Jake told me you’re a swimmer. I thought you might like to see the pool,” Dax casually explained. “You’re welcome to use it any time. We’re installing a couple of saunas next month so that area is sectioned off and could be hazardous, I’d appreciate it if you steered clear, but the rest is available and open any time you need an escape.” He pushed open another door, reached around to the wall, and flipped on the lights.

“This is amazing,” Darcy moved forward to admire the pool — both of them. Off to one side was a long lap pool with three lanes. The center of the room was taken up by a huge recreation pool with a tall diving board. To one side were two doors, she assumed they led to locker rooms and a shower area. Next to the door was a long bench and the other side was blocked off with plywood. That must be where they were adding the saunas. Along the far wall on the other side, in front of a bank of windows that led to a weight room, were four hot tubs — they currently covered with brown tarps. She glanced behind her and spotted several round tables with comfortable chairs. She moved forward and settled into the closest one.

Dax followed her over and took the chair across from her. “Like I said, come down whenever you want. I can show you how to work the hot tubs if you want. They work, just let me know if you decide to take a soak. We like to test the water and keep the chemicals balanced between uses.”

“I — thank you,” she corrected. “I know you and the female cop that is working with Jake are together — what I mean to say is I know you’re in a relationship. I don’t know if you’re married or dating or what; but, I saw you. I saw —” she swallowed, unsure how to continue.

“Paige is my wife,” Dax settled back. “You saw us, when you arrived, you saw us wrestling around in the snow.”

“Yes,” Darcy looked away. “I saw what looked like a really sweet moment between two people that love each other.”

“It was,” Dax agreed.

“How long have you been married?” she finally asked.

“Just over two years,” Dax frowned. “But we’ve been together longer.”

“How do you do it?” Darcy practically whispered.

“Do what?”

“How do you enjoy those sweet, tender moments when you’re married to a police officer? How do you get past the disappointment and the bitterness?”

Dax wasn’t sure how to answer that because he didn’t feel bitterness toward Paige or the department. Maybe because he understood the sacrifice it took to dedicate your life to protecting others and accepted it.

 “I know Jake is a cop,” Darcy said impatiently when he didn’t answer. “I knew what our life would be like when I married him — at least, I thought I did. But I had all these plans, special traditions I wanted to start for our first Christmas, and now it’s all ruined because he’s a detective and he has to stop a killer. Sure, I know that’s important, but I can’t plan anything and I resent it. I don’t think I was prepared for that part. I know his job is dangerous. I’m proud of what he does, how he lives, the sacrifices he makes for strangers and victims. When he walks out the door, I’m so proud I could burst — and I’m so terrified I could drop to the floor and cry. That’s the part I expected, the part I was prepared to deal with. This? This is different, and it blindsided me. I wasn’t prepared, didn’t know I couldn’t even have one holiday tradition that wouldn’t be tossed aside for a case. It’s not fair, and he won’t even talk to me about his work. He can’t share the job with me, so I’m left bored and alone — and it makes me feel isolated and rejected. I’m left to deal with the disappointment and the bitterness alone. He says he’s trying to protect me, to shield me from the darkness and the ugliness, but I feel like he’s pushing me away and building a wall.”

“I think every marriage is different,” Dax considered. He didn’t have that problem; Paige discussed her cases with him. It was their own kind of tradition and it worked for them. “There are things — horrible things — that happen in the world. Tragedies, atrocities and the ugliness you mentioned. I think it’s natural for a husband to shield the woman he loves from that kind of vicious brutality. Pushing against that, insisting that Jake change and share those things with you — that will form a wall. Instead of resenting it, I think you should be grateful he loves you enough to protect you.”

“But where does that leave us?” Darcy asked in frustration. “How do we share our lives if we can only share part of our lives?”

“Think of it this way,” Dax focused on the pool. “You have hobbies — swimming, for instance. Does Jake have to share that with you? Does he have to love the sport, take part in a competition, dedicate time to engage in a race?”

“No, of course not,” Darcy frowned. “Jake doesn’t really like to swim. That’s not something we share.”

“So, how do you share your lives if you can’t share that part of your life?”

Darcy continued to frown. “I understand what you’re saying and I’m going to think of it that way. We don’t have to share everything. We just need to support each other and share the things we have in common.”

“Exactly,” Dax nodded. “As for the other stuff, I think in time you’ll learn to adjust. Instead of focusing on the actual holiday, you’ll find ways to focus on each other. You’ll appreciate those little stolen moments, like wrestling around in the snow. You won’t miss getting all dressed up to go out on the town. Instead, you’ll cherish the days when Jake comes home early, and you can snuggle on the couch with popcorn and a good movie.”

Darcy pulled out her phone and began punching keys.

“What are you doing?” Dax asked, bemused.

“I’m taking notes,” she said, not looking up. “Rule number one — be flexible and treasure the little things.”

Dax laughed. “I’m not sure I’m the best person to be giving advice.”

“Who better?” Darcy wondered. “Okay, what’s rule number two?”

“I guess I’d have to say accept Jake for who and what he is,” Dax considered. “Don’t pry. If he wants to talk about his day, he will.” He thought of the images tacked to the board in the conference room and was pretty sure Jake would never reveal that part of the job to his wife. “There are some things that are too horrible to share. Accept that and gear the conversation to something you can share.”

“Okay,” Darcy stared at the wall for several seconds then began to type. “Accept Jake and don’t try to change him — and don’t pry. Next?”

“I think I’d add a caveat to that,” Dax said cautiously. “What I mean, is if Paige comes home distracted, I can usually tell if it’s work related. If we had plans to hang out that night, to watch a movie or visit with friends, and Paige has her attention split between what’s happening around her and a case she’s working — I don’t take it personally. I tell myself to be grateful she could be there with me, instead of at the office. Does that make sense?”

“It does,” Darcy nodded. She held up a finger and punched out her next rule. It took longer than the others. “Okay, go ahead.”

“I think the final and maybe the most important rule — if that’s what we’re calling this,” Dax hesitated.

“What?” Darcy demanded.

“When Paige gets exhausted and worn down,” Dax tried to formulate his thoughts. “When she comes home, and she has that look, the one that says she’s dealing with something that is too difficult for her to handle on her own — do you know what I mean?”

“Yeah,” Darcy nodded. “Jake had that look for over a week just before our wedding. I thought he was getting cold feet, but he finally told me he was working a tough case that involved children. The case, plus the wedding stuff was almost too much for him.”

“When Jake gets that look,” Dax said again. “The one that says he’s on the brink. That’s when you step in. That’s when you push, you intervene, and you do something drastic.”

“Like what?”

“Convince him to take a drive with you,” Dax shrugged. “Take him out, somewhere that is special. I can take Paige up the mountains, but anywhere is fine. Take a blanket, trick him, manipulate him, coerce him into your car, and drive away. Take a picnic, a bottle of wine, anything. You’ll know what’s right for you. Go out, sit under the stars, and seduce him. Take that moment to show him he’s loved and cherished. It will strengthen your marriage and it will give him the strength he needs to face whatever gave him that look in the first place. Be spontaneous.”

“Be spontaneous,” Darcy grinned. “That’s my favorite rule so far. So, basically the secret to a happy marriage is to find a way to be happy.”

“Well said,” Dax stood. “And I think I have an idea. Go change into something warm. I’m going to round up the guys so we can all have a little fun.”

“You really don’t mind if I use the pool?” she glanced back, longingly.

“Not at all,” Dax assured her. “Let’s see if you can find your way out of here.” He stood back and followed her back up the stairs and out the door. Once she was heading toward the housing unit, he turned and made his way to the conference room.

\*\*\*\*\*

It took more convincing than it should have, but an hour later, the group was flying up the canyon on the back of several snowmobiles. Hawk and Zeus were riding solo, so was Mick Singleton. Paige was snuggled against Dax’s back, holding on for dear life. Darcy was riding with Jake. Brad had Ryley seated in the front, and the boy was laughing and giggling nonstop. Maddie had their daughter, Nadia, on the back of her machine. The girl had her arms firmly wrapped around her mother’s waist, but she too was grinning.

They spent over an hour on the main highway before Hawk veered off the road onto a smaller, narrow trail that led to an amazing overlook. When they reached the top, Zeus pulled a thermos out of a hard case and began pouring everyone hot chocolate. The group was happy, relaxed and enjoying the fresh air and the spontaneous outing. Everyone except Paige.

Dax linked his hand with hers and pulled her away from the group. He led to her to the jagged edge of a cliff and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Spill it. What’s eating you? This was supposed to be fun.”

“It is,” Paige sighed. “I promise, it is. I’m just frustrated. I finished listening to the interview with Angela from Denver. She confirmed they knew each other, all of them. She said the five of them did everything together. She knew nothing about a secret and said whatever it was, she wasn’t involved. He believed her — the detective that interviewed her, which gives us another dead end. If I don’t find something fast, a dangerous man is going to get away with killing three people and nearly killing a fourth. I don’t think I can live with that.”

“I know,” he leaned forward and kissed the back of her head. “Can’t you put it away for just a little while? Push it aside and enjoy the crisp air and the feel of a sturdy machine beneath you while you slice through the air and rocket across the slick snow packed trail?”

 “No,” Paige grinned. “Because when I’m on the back of your machine, all I can do is hold on for dear life and watch as my entire life passes before my eyes.”

“Good,” Dax grinned. “Just focus on that then.”

“You’re a lunatic,” Paige slugged him in the arm.

“Yes, but I’m your lunatic,” Dax turned her around and pulled her into his arms.

They stood there, enjoying the view for several minutes. Finally, Paige straightened, sighed and took a step back. “I think I need to talk Brad into making a long trip to Salt Lake. I think we need to interview his victim again. And this time, we need to post a guard at the door so we’re not interrupted by a grumpy nurse with control issues.”

“Then go,” Dax took a step forward, yanked her against him and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Go to Salt Lake, drag the truth out of the guy, then come home and close this case so we can all enjoy the rest of the holiday.”

“That’s it?” Paige wondered. “You’re not mad?”

“No,” Dax took her hand and led her back to the group. “I expect compensation. I expect a boatload of the payment of my choice for my supportive nature and because you’re leaving me all alone to fend for myself so close to Christmas — with strangers. And be prepared because I plan to have your bill waiting when you return.” He leaned in and nipped her right ear.

Paige elbowed him in the stomach but grinned. Now she just had to convince Brad.

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\*\*\*\*\*

It wasn’t hard. It surprised her to learn he had the same thought. He’d already spoken to Maddie, which was a relief. His wife wasn’t exactly happy to be left in a strange town with people she barely knew, but if Brad thought cornering his victim would get them home for Christmas, she was willing to go along with the plan.

Once that was settled, she called Jericho. Her boss approved the trip, told her to book a hotel if the interview took too long, and cut her off. Paige wondered if he was busy, maybe working things out with Harper. But, he didn’t offer an explanation, and she didn’t think asking over the phone was a good idea.

The following morning at seven o’clock, Paige and Brad Robison were on the road, headed back to Salt Lake. Two and a half hours later, they were pulling into Trent Whitmer’s driveway in Riverton. He wasn’t happy to see them.

Once they gained entry — through a little intimidation — Paige took the lead. They discussed their approach, at length, on the way up and they both thought it might throw Trent if Paige jumped right in and started to push.

“We know you were friends — very good friends — with Brenda McKay, Stephanie Lancaster, Angela Young and Gary Pembroke. Don’t lie to me. Angela already confirmed the connection. Now we want to know who you pissed off enough, when you were all attending Snow College — that they would want to kill you.”

“I—” he slowly pushed himself off the sofa and moved to stand in front of the window.

Paige and Brad waited, positive they were boxing him in.

Finally, he turned, gave them a resigned look and settled back onto the couch. “I don’t know if this is connected. I mean, it was so long ago and — well, it wasn’t life altering or anything. Not for us. But I guess — with a twisted mind like his, it could be enough.”

“What was enough?” Brad demanded.

“The five of us,” Trent began. “We were tight. If he’s part of this, it started in a business class, just a casual brush that didn’t mean that much, not to us. We were all working on our general requirements — you know, getting them out of the way so we could transfer to another university somewhere to finish out the specialty courses. I met Gary the first week of school and we hit it off instantly. We had a lot in common and we just seemed to click. He planned to work at his dad’s firm — architect and he was good. I had a contact in construction. It fit, I guess. We could talk shop, had a lot of the same interests, and we took a lot of the same courses. It was about a month later that Gary met Angie. They went on one date and realized it wasn’t a match—no spark — but he invited her to something or other at the college. I can’t remember, it was so long ago. There were always events going on and there wasn’t much else to do. Anyway, Gary invited Angie who brought Stephanie. The four of us slid into an easy and smooth friendship.”

“And Brenda?” Paige wondered.

“I think we met her about a month later, at a party,” Trent shrugged. “I think. She clicked, too. From that point forward it was the five of us. We’d hang, study together, plan adventures on the weekend, that sort of thing. We were focused on school, but we liked to have fun. It didn’t take long to realize we were all going into some kind of business career, and we started taking the same courses. The prereqs were basically the same and that way we could study together. You know, kind of help each other along if anyone got stumped.”

“You talked about a sixth guy,” Paige tried to get him back on track. “Who was the guy and why do you think he could be involved?”

“We all needed another credit,” Trent continued. “Something in math so we took an accounting course, you know because of the business angle. It would satisfy the general requirement and fulfilled one of the business credits we would need later. We were acing the course. It was easy because we did the assignments together, helped each other out and glided along for the first half of the course. All five of us aced the midterm. I guess the rest of the class took notice. We didn’t realize there were other students that resented us. The professor graded on a curve, and we were messing up their grades.”

“Maybe they should have studied more,” Paige shrugged. “What happened?”

“A guy from class approached us one day,” Trent stared into the distance. “I think it was just after the midterm, but I’m not sure how long. Weeks, maybe a month, but no longer. We were just hanging like we did, outside on the lawn near a large tree where we liked to crash when it was warm. Martin approached us and asked if he could join. We figured no big deal, we recognized him, so we said sure.”

“Martin who?” Brad tried to sound casual. He didn’t want Trent to close up and shut down the story.

“Uh… Martin Weiss. He was a year or so older than us. He never said why he got the late start, not to me anyway.” Trent shifted and tried to get comfortable. “He just used his age to try to control us. Then, he started flirting with Angie and that annoyed me a little. Not that we had anything going, but we were tight, and he was there — flirting and making her feel sorry for him, then using his age to control us. She fell for it, all the girls did. Gary hated his guts but the girls — well, the girls convinced us to let him tag along now and then. It didn’t take long to realize he was gone for Angie. She couldn’t see it, though. She thought he was lonely and just needed a friend. I knew better — the guy was obsessed, and he was a little whacked.”

“Whacked how?” Paige interrupted.

“It’s hard to explain,” Trent shrugged. “For one thing, he was always there. We didn’t have to tell him what we were doing or where we were going. He was just there. That’s why I think he was obsessed. I told Angie I thought he was stalking her, but she brushed that off and didn’t take it seriously. He was in the accounting class with us, so he used that and always wanted to study together. Then, he’d weasel his way into other things — a hiking trip up the canyon, a movie night to see a new release, he somehow got tickets close to us for a play we were attending at the school. He was always just there, bumping into us when we were goofing around. Then it got worse. Brenda told me and Gary she went grocery shopping with Angela and when they came around the corner in the cereal aisle, there he was — lurking and waiting. It spooked Brenda. Angie said it was a little annoying, but she never bought into the creep factor.”

“What happened?” Brad pushed.

“We were stupid kids,” Trent sighed. “Stupid, full of energy and on top of the world if you get me.”

“We’re not going to hassle you over a stupid prank or a college caper,” Paige said impatiently.

“Alright,” Trent relented. “I don’t think anything we did was illegal, so it doesn’t matter, I guess. One night, we were bored. The five of us met up — there’s this art gallery by the library and outside is a big open area — lots of lawn and some trees. We met up there, connected with a buddy who gave us a case of beer and a couple bottles of cheap wine. We thought we’d head up the canyon and party a little. Angie had to work, so she was going to follow us up and leave early. The rest of us thought we’d just crash in the back of the truck and sleep it off if we got drunk.”

“Martin showed up?” Brad surmised.

“Yeah,” Trent scowled. “He was livid. Tried to make us all feel guilty for not inviting him. He was whining and carrying on, basically throwing a tantrum. I glanced at Gary, and we exchanged a look — nothing big, just a mutual exasperation type thing. I think Gary rolled his eyes and Martin saw us. He lost it. He went on for I don’t know how long. When his outburst finally wound down, Angie said she had to book it. The argument lasted so long; she didn’t have time to go anywhere. That set him off again, but Angie shut him down immediately. For the first time since we met him, Angie was angry that Martin ruined our fun. The rest of us were furious that he crashed our party and tried to take over — and we just knew we were going to be stuck with him for the rest of the evening.

Angie took off and Martin sulked. He was beyond pissed that Angela left. He wanted her to ditch work and hang with him. When she told him it wasn’t going to happen, he lost it. I mean, after she drove off, he bugged out. The guy went completely wacko, like he was unhinged. The guy went stark raving mad — if you get me.”

“Was he violent?” Paige wondered.

“No, he just pulled a full-on lunatic,” Trent sighed. “He started ranting and raving about crazy stuff, said he wanted to head over to the restaurant where Angie worked and set the place on fire. It scared us — all of us. I think he realized how appalled we were because he suddenly backed off, started saying how we should put together some Molotov cocktails and toss them at a few of the cars parked in the lot.”

“What did you do?” Brad was studying Trent, not sure if he was getting the entire story or not.

“We told Martin we were tired and said we were going to call it a night,” Trent’s explanation became cautious.

“Trent,” Paige warned. “We need you to finish this out. Tell us what happened and don’t try to lie to us or leave anything out. We need the truth.”

“We walked off, but Martin followed us,” Trent dropped back against the couch. “We thought we’d ditch him and follow through with the plan. You know, go up the canyon and shake off all the negativity — but he latched on and wouldn’t let go. He stuck, leaned against Gary’s truck and wouldn’t leave. He wanted to do something daring and risky. We pushed back. Then, he told us about a party up the road. He convinced us to go. We were all stressed and just wanted to have some fun, so we finally gave in. I got tipsy but Gary got drunk. I mean totally smashed, falling down wasted. Brenda drank some and so did Stephanie. Again, we tried to ditch Martin, but we couldn’t. He was always just there, lurking in the shadows. Finally, we all had enough and started for home.”

“I’m not hearing anything that would make Martin send you poison candy,” Brad barked.

“I’m getting to it,” Trent insisted. “We left. Martin followed. We were cutting across the campus when Martin announced he was going to break into the campus store. We resisted, but he wouldn’t budge. He told us to stand by, to be his lookout while he snuck in and grabbed us all something memorable. He said he wanted to give us something special, something that would tie us together — a souvenir we could keep forever, like a talisman that would symbolize friendship or some nonsense. He made us promise we wouldn’t leave, that we’d stick and let him know if trouble was coming. We finally gave in and swore we’d stick. We promised him we’d hang out and make sure he didn’t get caught. We lied, the instant he stepped inside, we bolted. None of us wanted any part of what he had planned. We were there to get an education and have fun, we didn’t want to ruin our entire life stealing something stupid in the campus store.”

“He got caught,” Paige realized.

“Yeah,” Trent rubbed his hands over his face. “He snuck in, stole a ton of crap. Hoodies, half a dozen flags with the badger mascot on them, he pried open the cash register and swiped the cash, then he took a business laptop that was left in the back office. I guess there was also an expensive bronze statue on the bookcase behind the desk. He took that, too. By the time he left the store, he had over five thousand dollars’ worth of possessions in his bag — a large gym bag with the football team logo on it he also stole. It was crazy, and it had nothing to do with me or any of my friends. Martin got caught, I don’t know the details. I didn’t care enough to learn the details. I just knew he was gone. He was no longer a nuisance, and we didn’t have to deal with the irritating lunatic for the rest of that year. It was a relief — for all of us, even Angie. The rumors circulated and the five of us — we made a pact. We swore none of us would ever admit we were there. We’d keep our mouth shut and pretend we didn’t know anything. We renewed that promise — that oath — when we learned Martin was convicted and sentenced.”

“Five thousand would be a felony,” Brad surmised.

“I want details,” Paige demanded. “Everything you know about Martin Weiss. How old was he, what did he look like, what did he eat for breakfast? You tell us everything you know, and this is finished. You can go back to your life, pamper that nurse of yours, and celebrate the fact that you didn’t end up dead like your friends.”

“And if you arrest him, I’ll have to testify against the maniac,” Trent grumbled.

“Maybe,” Paige shrugged. “Maybe, but once it’s done, just like before, you can sit back and feel relief because he’ll be locked away where he can’t hurt you or those you care about.”

“I guess that will have to be enough,” Trent said. “He killed Gary and Steph and Brenda. I’m not sure a life sentence is enough to compensate for that.”

The two cops remained silent and waited for Trent to relay the details.

\*\*\*\*\*

It was nearly midnight when Paige and Brad arrived at the training center. She climbed behind the wheel, watched her colleague disappear into the building, and headed for home. Brad drove back from Salt Lake and Paige used the time to run a background on Martin Weiss. From the data she gathered, it looked like they arrested the man for the theft, he skipped bail, went on the run, and was captured two years later in Colorado. Paige wondered if he was still stalking Angela Young at the time. The Denver detective finally got back to her. Angie went to the University of Northern Colorado, graduating with a master’s in business administration. Coincidence? Paige didn’t believe in such things. She stumbled through the front door and was surprised to see Dax sitting on the couch, working.

“I thought you’d be sleeping,” Paige dropped onto the couch next to him. “How are the guests?”

“Managing,” Dax set his computer aside and wrapped an arm around Paige. “Productive trip?”

“It was,” she told him about the theft and Martin’s eventual capture, as well as her theory that he was still stalking the innocent girl he had an obsession with.

“Then why did he try to kill her?” Dax wondered.

“Rejection, I suppose,” Paige shrugged. “He was on the run for two years before he got caught. Then, the trial took another six months before they sentenced him. He served seven years and was released six months ago. Six months, and the first thing he did was put a plan in motion to take out a group of college pals because they refused to take part in his late-night felony.”

“And because they rejected him,” Dax stood and held out a hand. “What’s your next step?”

“Martin’s out on parole,” Paige followed him up the stairs. “Brad said he’d touch base in the morning, see if his parole officer knows how to find him. If he hasn’t skipped, we’ll go pay good old Martin Weiss a little visit.”

“Can you bring him in for questioning?” Dax asked before climbing into bed.

“We can do one better,” Paige smiled. “He’s on parole. That means his PO can drop in and do a thorough search of the residence just because he wants to. Brad is determined. He plans to be very persuasive and when he’s finished, I know Martin’s parole officer will want to assist us.”

“And if you find anything that connects, they can revoke his parole, and he’s on his way back to prison,” Dax realized.

“Exactly,” Paige slid into bed and snuggled against Dax. “Night,” she yawned.

“Goodnight, baby,” Dax wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in tighter. “I love you.”

“Me too,” Paige managed before dropping into oblivion.

\*\*\*\*\*

The following morning the group was gathered in the conference room. Martin’s parole officer, Bill Astin, had joined them.

“I think we should just head over,” Bill told the group. “I’ll go to the door, secure him and pass him to one of your men.” He glanced at Jericho.

“His residence is located in Gunnison,” Jericho disagreed. “I don’t have men in Gunnison. We need to notify Chief Patrick Strong. You can pass this Martin guy to one of his men and the rest of you can enter the home and search for the poison. I want Paige inside that house. The rest is up to Astin.”

“I don’t have any problem bringing four of you with me,” Astin shrugged. “If he’s responsible for three murders and one attempted, each of you have an interest in searching the home. I’ll stay out of your way, but I have to be there.”

“Then let’s go,” Jericho stood. “I’ll call Patrick on the way.”

Martin Weiss wasn’t home. From the stack of mail and the fresh snow, it looked like he hadn’t been home in weeks. Bill Astin insisted on entering the residence. He had a signed document that gave him the authority to enter as a condition of Weiss’ release. The other cops stood back and waited to see if there was anything inside that would help with their case. They would need probable cause to get a warrant to enter and they wanted everything they did to stand up in court.

“I think you should get a warrant,” Astin said, stepping onto the front porch. “He’s got a fish tank inside. I’m not an expert, but I think it might contain the pufferfish you’re looking for. I could let you in, but its cleaner if you call a judge.”

“I’ll call Patrick,” Jericho decided.

Twenty minutes later, the Chief himself arrived on scene, warrant in hand.

The group stepped inside and fanned out. Paige took her time, walking slowly through each room, looking for evidence that would link Martin to the killings.

“Carter,” Brad called from the back of the house. “You’re gonna want to see this.”

Paige stepped into the kitchen and froze. The table contained several fish tanks, each with two exotic pufferfish swimming inside. They took up half the surface of the table. On the counter were seven carefully wrapped packages identical to the five that were mailed to their victims. “Seven more.”

“Looks like I was wrong,” Brad frowned. “I was sure the guy would head north and hunt down the one that got away.”

“Maybe he did,” Paige pulled out her phone and dialed Denver. Angela Young could be in serious trouble. Once she hung up, she moved to the boxes stacked meticulously on the counter. They were all perfectly lined up, with the odd box positioned on the end. She read the names and frowned. “Any idea who these people are?”

“Nope,” Brad shrugged. “I want them bagged and sent to the lab to be analyzed, though. We can worry about the intended targets later. First, we need to find the killer and we need to open those up and make sure he was using the same method on round two.”

“And we need to seize those fish,” Paige glanced over her shoulder. “Think we can pass that on to Gunnison, or Atkins?”

“Atkins,” they said at once, then laughed.

“Patrick said his man would take care of the evidence,” Jericho stepped into the kitchen. “He’s going to deliver the packages to the lab in person and they’ll figure out what to do with those fish. Let’s get home. I’ve had about all I can take of this place. We need to locate our killer.”

“How do you plan to do that?” Jake wondered.

“Follow the money,” Paige glanced at Jericho.

“Follow the money,” Jericho agreed.

Once they got back to the office, Jericho and Paige convinced Tolman they had enough for a warrant on Martin’s financials. He told them to wait while he contacted the judge. Moments later, he returned with the signed document.

“Before you leave, I need a minute,” Tolman explained, stepping into his office and shutting the door.

“What’s up, James?” Jericho wondered.

“I’ve completed my preliminary review and relieved Stan of duty until a more thorough investigation can be conducted. I have to be honest; I’m leaning toward termination. I just wanted the two of you to know where things stand,” Tolman advised.

“I think that’s a mistake,” Jericho glanced at Paige.

“From what I understand, Stan didn’t take part in the criminal activity,” Paige considered. “In fact, I’d be more inclined to call him another victim. He was being blackmailed — coerced for sure. His job was threatened. And, when the activity became criminal, he got out. He shouldn’t be punished for that. Since I’m the only one you could call a victim in this, I think my opinion should have weight.”

“The man knew you were being attacked, and he said nothing, did nothing,” James objected. “He may not be criminally responsible for Daniel’s actions, but he had a moral and an ethical responsibility to speak up. I’m not sure I can trust him, not anymore. I have to trust my people.”

“We can’t tell you what to do with your employees,” Jericho stood. “I will ask you to consider one thing, though.”

“What’s that?”

“If you fire him,” Jericho glanced at Paige. “If he loses his job over this, who benefits? Not my department. Some of my men have a good report with Stan, they like working with him, they’re comfortable with his style. They won’t benefit from this. Firing him serves no purpose, expect maybe to punish him. We all know he won’t do anything like that again, so rehabilitation isn’t a factor. Paige just voiced her opinion. Firing the man wouldn’t be for her, wouldn’t benefit her — the victim. So, who is it for James? Because where I’m standing, it looks like you’re coming down hard on that man because he made you look bad. He succumbed to outside pressure. A killer extorted him with secrets that were supposed to remain secret. If you’re honest with yourself, you must admit, this isn’t for us, it’s not for the community, and it’s not about justice. This is about punishing a man that didn’t trust you enough to tell you he was being victimized by a madman. Who benefits if you follow through with this, James? Because, from where I’m standing, I think we would all benefit from a little leniency and mercy.”

“I’ll let you know,” Tolman settled into his chair. “The warrant covers the financials. If you need to use Carmen, do it officially and on the books. I want this guy to pay. We don’t give him any room to wiggle out and slide under a rock. Let’s find him and take him down.”

“On that we do agree,” Jericho opened the door and waited for Paige to leave before he silently followed.

“Do you think he’ll listen?” Paige wondered.

“I think he expected us to agree,” Jericho slid behind the wheel. “I think it surprised him we objected. And, I think that will make him reconsider. He’ll conduct that thorough investigation. When its done, I’m confident he’ll remember that conversation. The rest is up to him. We did all we could. I do know James Tolman is a fair man. If he fires Stan, he’ll feel justified in doing so. That has to be enough.”

“Then it will be,” Paige snapped her seatbelt into place. “I want to head back to the training center. If I hit a snag, I’ll tag Hawk to help me. Carmen’s trying to finalize a few things so she can relax and enjoy the holidays. I don’t want to bother her unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Do what you need to do,” Jericho pulled into the lot and dropped her at the front door. “Keep me apprised.”

She watched him pull away, then turned and went inside to brief her team.

Three hours later, they had tracked Martin Weiss to a cheap, rundown hotel on the outskirts of town near Denver, Colorado. Brad was right, the guy was obsessed with Angela and had resumed the stalking. The local cops were actively trying to locate him. They already checked the hotel. The room was empty, but Martin’s belongings were still there. The local cops were holding surveillance on the hotel in case he returned. If he showed, they’d swoop in and snatch him up before he could barricade himself inside. With a solid plan in place and nothing productive left to do, the group called it a night.

It was just after midnight when the call came in. Martin Wiess was in custody and locked in a cell awaiting extradition. Paige decided she’d wait and call Jericho in the morning. They could hash out logistics in the morning. Jake and Mick announced earlier that day, they wanted to do the transport once Weiss was caught. Paige was inclined to let them and was pretty sure her boss would agree. Once they got him back to Utah, Bill Astin was more than happy to revoke his parole and lock him up tight while they prepared their individual cases and filed charges. The man would never be free again — that would have to be enough.

\*\*\*\*\*

Two days later, Martin Weiss was locked up tight. The judge denied bail, his parole was revoked, and he was sitting in his old cell compliments of Gunnison Utah. Paige stood on the sidewalk of the training center and watched with interest as Darcy Thomas approached Dax, whispered a few words, then gave him an enormous hug. *What was that about?*

“It’s been a pleasure,” Brad held out a hand to Paige, his other arm was casually resting on Maddie’s shoulders.

“Same goes,” Paige took the offered hand then nodded to Maddie. “You guys are welcome any time. If the housing unit is full, I’ll figure something out. Drive safe and keep in touch.”

“Will,” Maddie pulled away and gave Paige a friendly hug. “Thank you for everything. And we’re especially grateful for the accommodations. Without them, we couldn’t have spent this time with Brad and that would have been difficult for all of us.”

“It was our pleasure,” Dax moved in next to Paige. “You’re welcome any time.”

Once Brad’s family pulled away, they said their goodbyes to Jake and Darcy, then to Mick.

“Another successful mission complete,” Dax kissed Paige’s temple. “What time does the vacation start?”

“I’m off now. No more work until after Christmas,” Paige took his hand. “Maybe you could sweet talk the boss into giving you time off and we could play hooky, gorge ourselves on popcorn, and veg in front of the TV all night.”

“Sounds like —” he trailed off when he spotted the vehicle headed their way. “I wonder why Nathan and Sophie are here.”

They continued to watch as Nathan parked the car, opened the door for Sophie and approached the sidewalk where they were still standing.

“Could we head inside where it’s warmer?” Nathan requested. “Let’s go to your office. We need to talk to you both.”

“Alright,” Paige let Dax take her hand and lead her inside. “Is anything wrong?”

“No,” Sophie assured her. “There’s just something we wanted to discuss with you.”

“Alright,” they stepped into the office and Dax closed the door behind them. “Discuss away.”

“I know you’ve realized by now I’m comfortable here,” Sophie began.

“And she’s not comfortable alone in our home back east,” Nathan added. “Since we’ve been here, I’ve had to travel to Washington several times. Sophie has opted to stay here.”

“We noticed,” Paige reached out and took Sophie’s hand. “You experienced something traumatic. If we didn’t find you —”

“Yes, but you did,” Sophie cut her off. “It’s in the past, but I’m comfortable here and with each passing day, I love Manti even more.”

“We’ve decided we’d like to purchase a home here,” Nathan said, getting to the point. “We just need to know how you feel about that.”

“Here?” Paige glanced from one to the other. “But you work in Washington,” she frowned at Nathan. “How will you —”

“We’re not selling our home in Virginia,” Nathan interrupted. “We’re just buying an additional home here. I can still travel back and forth between the two. For now, Sophie will live here. Well, that’s the plan once we find a place we like. The first thing we needed to discuss with the two of you is how you feel about our plans and then we’ll need to address the timetable. We’re occupying a home slated for renovation. If it takes a longer than expected to find a permanent location, will that be a problem?”

“No,” Dax said immediately. “Stay as long as you need to. And to answer your other question — how do we feel about having you close? We’d both be thrilled to have you nearby as often as possible. You’re family. If there’s anything we can do to help, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you,” Sophie jumped up and pulled Dax into an enormous hug. Then, she turned to Paige and wrapped her arms around her. “We are family,” she wiped a tear from her cheek. “I can’t wait to start house hunting. And it will be such a relief knowing we have a home here and I can visit whenever I want. It’s been hard, living on the east coast while Paige is all the way out here. I think of you as my daughter and I miss our visits — have missed them since you moved away.” She rubbed her hands together. “Nathan, I told you this was a good idea and nothing to worry about.”

“And you were right,” Nathan gave Sophie’s hand a gentle squeeze then moved to Paige. He leaned down, pressed a fatherly kiss to her forehead then wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug. “We’re staying for the holidays then we’ll start our search. Thank you. Sophie is happy here and, if I’m being honest, I too find it refreshing and relaxing. As long as you don’t mind, I think this is the right move at the right time. We’ll remain in Virginia. I’m not ready to hang up my hat just yet, but my work is mobile, and I can easily accomplish most of it from here.”

“It’s going to be nice, seeing you more often,” Paige stepped back. “I’ve missed having you close the past few years. I think this is the best Christmas gift you’ve ever given me.”

“Then we’ll get out of your hair,” Nathan took Sophie’s hand and started for the door. “We’ll see you on Christmas if we don’t see you before then.”

“Let’s head home,” Paige turned to Dax once they were gone. “I’m beyond ready to start my holiday vacation. It’s a time for celebration. With Nathan and Sophie looking for a secondary, permanent home here, close to us, the holidays are almost perfect.”

“Almost?”

“Yeah,” Paige frowned. “Jericho is depressed and lonely. He tried to talk to Harper, to explain why he did what he did, but she’s freezing him out. I’m not sure he can repair the damage to their relationship, and that just sucks. I thought he might finally find a little happiness after all this time. After the way he lost Mom, he deserves a break and the fact that they broke up, especially at this time of year, is a devastating blow. Not that he’d admit that, but I can see it.”

“They could still work things out,” Dax ushered her into his truck. “Don’t give up just yet. If it’s right, love will find a way.”

“I hope so,” Paige smiled and relaxed. She was beyond ready for some holiday cheer and a little of that balance that always seemed to elude her.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

**Be sure to come back next April for the beginning of another season with Paige Carter. She'll be solving crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S6

**Tags:** Season 6

---

### [Tamikio L. Dooley](https://melaniepsmith.com/tamikio-l-dooley/)

**Published:** December 28, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Tamikio L. Dooley -- New Release coming December 30th. Tamikio is an award-winning author of Inspire Me to Heal, A Better You, My Skin is Beautiful, Woman on the Shore, The Train to Krakow Izabella Poliavok Story, The Perfect Autumn Poetry, In the Heart of December and the Co-author of Wide Awake.

**Content:**

# Tamikio L. Dooley

***Interesting facts...***

Tamikio is an award-winning author. She is the author of *Inspire Me to Heal, A Better You, My Skin is Beautiful*, *Woman on the Shore, The Train to Krakow Izabella Poliavok Story, The Perfect Autumn Poetry, In the Heart of December* and the Co-author of *Wide Awake.*

Tamikio has received awards and certificates for her short stories, articles, essays, and poetry published in Ukiyoto Publishing Anthologies, Bard’s Day Key Anthology, Magazinehorsowar Magazine, Multinational Magazine, and Multinational Pen Soldiers Poetry Anthology.

**Tamikio received an honorable recognition as the best crime author in September 2016**, a nominee for World Literacy Award, and she **won her first crystal trophy award in the crime category.**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dooley_MPSmith.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/authortamikioldooley)

[CreatiVIngenuitiy Magazine](https://www.creativingenuitiy.com/)

[Amazon Author](https://amazon.com/author/tamikioldooley)

[Books](https://www.dooleysbooks.com/)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MPS-Line-long.png)

**Tell us a little about yourself?**

Hi, my name is Tamikio L. Dooley. I’m an award- winning author. I write fiction and nonfiction of crime, thriller, mystery, fantasy, zombie apocalypse, historical, romance, western, and paranormal. In my spare time, I write poetry, health books, children’s books, diaries, journals, articles, essays, inspirational books, women’s fiction and nonfiction books.

**Tell us your latest news.**

My upcoming book entitled *Inspire Me to Heal* releases on December 30, 2022. I launched my initial podcasts program introducing authors and poets. Readers, authors, and poets can read poems by talented authors and poets on Poetry Thymes. Also, I launched my first zoom meetings and author interviews with authors and poets entitled “Newsworthy Channel Authors”. Everything is coming together, beautifully.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Inspire-Me-To-Heal-Platform-MPS.jpg)

**When and why did you begin writing?**

I started writing for the public in January 2015. At sixteen, I wrote ghost and horror stories by hand and read them to my younger sibling. I’ve always been obsessed with books from the time I learned how to read, but never pursued writing for the public until eight-years earlier. How did I pursue writing for the public? Social media. Facebook introduced me to networking and interacting with fellow authors, publishers, poets, editors, and other book related sources.

**When did you first consider yourself a writer?**

I first considered myself a writer at sixteen.

**What inspired you to write your first book?**

Movies and my dreams inspired me to write my first book. My first book entitled *Ghost and the Supernatural*, written, and published in January 2015. Soon after, I unpublished the book because of unfortunate circumstances.

**Who designed the covers for your books?**

I design all of my book covers.

**Other than writing do you have any hobbies?**My hobbies are reading, researching, crocheting, collecting candles, wax cubes, mugs, books, Bath and Body Works care.

**How did you come up with the title for your last book?**I came up with the title of my last book *Chaotic Souls* related to a short story I wrote in 2017. The short story entitled *A Dead Man’s Folly.*

**Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?**

Yes, written in my women’s fiction and nonfiction novels. I encourage women of all ethnic groups to embrace their inner-beauty, talents, self-worthiness, and creativity. I inspire them to believe in themselves and close their ears to negativity. We as women can accomplish anything positive and uplifting, overcome any obstacle, trial, and tribulation life throws at us. We are passionate overachievers!

**How much of the book is realistic?**

My nonfiction books are based on research and true events.

**What books have most influenced your life most?**

Yes, my upcoming book *Inspire Me to Heal* is based on coping with mental, emotional, and verbal trauma. I share with individuals suffers from mental, emotional, physical, psychological, and verbal abuse.

Most books influencing me are history, memoirs, autobiographies, biographies, things of the nonfiction genre, which inspires me to write fiction.

**Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?**

Yes, I do. God is my mentor. He gives me ideas daily inspiring me to come up with titles for my books and projects. I give the highest praise in him I trust.

**What book are you reading now?**

I’m reading *The Snowman* by Jo Nesbo*, Miss Pearly’s Girls* by ReShonda Tate Billingsley, and will read *Christmas in Silver Springs* by Brenda Novak in my book club called Book Lover’s Café. I’m the creator of the book club starting December 5th, on Bookclubs.com. I invite readers to join the club at

[https://bookclubs.com/book-lovers-cafe-2/join/](https://bookclubs.com/join-a-book-club)

**Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?**

Tons of authors, too many to name, that grasp my interest. I’m always looking for a great story to write, and a fantastic story to read.

**One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it?**

Dooley’s Books:
<https://www.dooleysbooks.com>

Author Amazon Page:
<https://amazon.com/author/tamikioldooley>

Facebook Author Page:
<https://www.facebook.com/authortamikioldooley>

CreatiVIngenuitiy Magazine:
<https://www.creativingenuitiy.com/>

## Coming December 30th

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/INSPIRE-ME-TO-HEAL-1-MPSmith.png)

## Additional Books...

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/51eovvdiymL._SY346_.jpg)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2022, Author Spotlight

---

### [Listless in Turkey](https://melaniepsmith.com/listless-in-turkey/)

**Published:** October 2, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Thriller \| Suspense

**Listless In Turkey**
Jessica Taylor Suspense Thrillers Book 1
*by Onia Fox*

**2022 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Listless-in-Turkey_Final.jpg)

Listless In Turkey is a standalone prequel to my debut novel Covid Blues And Twos; they can be read in either order. It is a page-turning romp with adult references and is embarrassingly autobiographical – with some names changed to protect the guilty. Onia Fox is most definitely a pen name. People are seldom who they seem and always who they areJessica has a few balls to juggle, both at home and at work, as her personal life unravels in the spring of 2016. To put some order to the chaos and with the help of her best friend, a bowl of noodles and a second bottle of Pinot, Jessica writes another list – a plan for her future.The list becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, safely folded into her journal as she romps across Europe and beyond, to the backdrop of the unfolding Turkish Military Coup. Be careful what you wish for. Listless In Turkey is a believably accurate suspense thriller – rooted firmly in fact and personal experience, with just a smattering of fiction to keep it real. This novel is part genuine travel memoir and part fictional thriller, with plenty of intriguing, insightful and fun glimpses into the rich culture and history of the modern Republic of Turkey. The narrative is very much character led, following our hero Jessica Taylor (nee Khan) bouncing around life whilst applying her own, sometimes reckless, logic and coping mechanisms to the situations in which she finds herself. Love Jessica and you will love Listless In Turkey – and everyone loves Jessica.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08W8HXBBR)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Finalist, Thriller-Suspense

---

### [Deadly Envy](https://melaniepsmith.com/deadly-envy/)

**Published:** October 2, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Thriller \| Suspense

**Deadly Envy**
A DCI Gerald Croft Thriller
DCI Gerald Croft Crime Thrillers Book 2
*by Sarah Stuart*

**2022 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Deadly-Envy_Final.jpg)

DCI Croft returns from a family holiday to find his house has been burgled. An armed raid at a jeweller has ended in tragedy, with the owner shot dead. Was it a robbery gone wrong or revenge? Kidnap, suicide pacts, murder, and theft – can DCI Croft stop the crime wave before he finds himself in the chief superintendent’s firing line, literally!

Reader’s Favorite Review: Deadly Envy by Sarah Stuart is one of the best thrillers I have ever read. Each chapter tells the story of a different character, drip-feeding their backstories throughout the book. All the characters are well-developed to the point where you feel like you know them; you’ll even find yourself rooting for one of the baddies. Suspense builds throughout this expertly written tale, and you won’t put it down, desperate to know what happens next and how it all ends – you won’t be disappointed. Highly recommended to anyone who likes crime thrillers and wants a suspenseful, action-packed plot to test their skills of deduction.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09XZ3L5C1)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Finalist, Thriller-Suspense

---

### [Small Things](https://melaniepsmith.com/small-things/)

**Published:** October 2, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Thriller \| Suspense

**Small Things**
Small Things Series Book 1
*by Joe DeRouen*

**Bronze Medal:** Thriller and Suspense

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Small-Things_Final.jpg)

It’s a hot June morning in a small Midwestern town when fifteen-year-old Shawn Spencer arrives at the church for his best friend Tanner’s funeral. Though his drowning was officially ruled an accident, Tanner’s sister Jenny swears she saw something rise up from the Carthage Lake to pull the struggling teenager beneath the surface.Shawn doesn’t believe in monsters… but he will…The real threat, however, lies in the man behind the monster, a mysterious old man who has vowed to settle an old grudge and regain something that was stolen from him decades earlier. To survive the dark days and nights ahead, Shawn must not only decipher what the man is after, he must move past his own grief, fears, and insecurities, and learn to trust in Jenny, the disgraced town sheriff, and, most importantly, in himself. A small town horror, fantasy, paranormal, and coming of age romance. The Small Things trilogy spans forty years and three generations in a tale of murder, betrayal, corruption, sacrifice, love, redemption, faith and magic that culminates in a showdown that will pit the very forces of heaven and hell against Shawn and his family in a battle for the future of mankind and the world itself.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00AJDNBTA)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Bronze Medal, Thriller-Suspense

---

### [The Wrong House](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-wrong-house/)

**Published:** October 2, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Thriller \| Suspense

**The Wrong House**
A Victorian Era Medical Suspense
Dark Victoriana Collection
*by Christie Stratos*

**Bronze Medal:** Thriller and Suspense

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Wrong-House_Final.jpg)

#### **“Don’t let the doctor think you’re ill.”**

A heavy nighttime blizzard forces Gerald Bitteson into the first building he finds, but the man he meets may be even colder than the storm he came in from. Gerald quickly finds out that Dr. C. L. Blood is no ordinary doctor, and the two have an ugly history even Blood himself doesn’t realize. But could this affable doctor really be the fraudster Gerald thinks? It may cost him his life to find out.

*This historical fiction short story is based on true events from the real Dr. Blood’s life.*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08NP348WH)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Bronze Medal, Thriller-Suspense

---

### [Codename Foxglove](https://melaniepsmith.com/codename-foxglove/)

**Published:** October 2, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Thriller \| Suspense

**Codename: Foxglove**
Beyond the Law Series
*by Tom Benson*

**Silver Medal:** Thriller and Suspense

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Foxglove_Final.jpg)

*\*(This story is a sequel to Codename: Nightshade and is a spinoff from the Beyond The Law trilogy).*

Dominique McEwan studied criminology but thanks to a miscreant brother, the young woman lost a chance to join the police.

Fate offered an optional lifestyle.

In March 2005, Dominique met Rachel Donoghue aka Deadly Nightshade, the vigilante. The two women found common ground in their attitude to organised crime. Within one month, Dominique killed a man, and within six months the new operative was Foxglove, beautiful but deadly.

What could be better for Scotland than one deadly female vigilante … perhaps two?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09N2TQJXT)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Silver Medal, Thriller-Suspense

---

### [After the Devil](https://melaniepsmith.com/after-the-devil/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Thriller \| Suspense

**After the Devil**
*by Kayla Krantz*

**Gold Medal:** Thriller and Suspense
**\#10 Overall**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/After-the-Devil_Final.jpg)

**It’s our darkest parts that know us best.**

Alex Alpine is unhappy with her life—a dead-end job, a marriage that’s falling apart, and a failed string of self-published books. In an effort to better her life for her and her daughter, she makes the decision to quit writing in order to get a second job. Jamie, a recovered addict and Alex’s only fan, can’t bring himself to accept her decision.

Convinced he can fix her, he kidnaps her and holds her hostage in his home in the woods. As Alex’s captivity extends from weeks to months, Alex finds herself torn between her duties to the daughter she left behind and the life Jamie has made for her. To figure out where her true priorities lie, she must dive into not only her own past traumas but Jamie’s as well.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08LS9SR4F)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Gold Medal, Overall, Thriller-Suspense

---

### [Amsterdam Calling](https://melaniepsmith.com/amsterdam-calling/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Romance Books

**Amsterdam Calling**
*by Tom Benson*

**Bronze Medal:** Romance Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Amsterdam-Calling_Final.jpg)

Dan and Crystal meet by chance in Amsterdam. He is a British journalist taking a break. She is an American fashion designer, eager to trace her European ancestors.

A chemistry develops as they visit many places of interest in the wonderful city of Crystal’s heritage. It comes to light she has at least one living relative still connected to the Dutch Resistance.

During their first days together, the couple discover they are both being stalked, but for different reasons.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00M66J8RM)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Bronze Medal, Romance Genre

---

### [When Angels Mourn](https://melaniepsmith.com/when-angels-mourn/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Romance Books

**When Angels Mourn**
*by Sarah Beth James*

**Silver Medal:** Romance Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/When-Angels-Mourn_Final.jpg)

A twisted piece where the old pagan gods are returning to retake Earth from the Christian God and Devil who have enslaved them to gain the earth for themselves by using Lethe’s throne from the Underworld to erase the memories of the lesser gods — making them think they are ‘angels’ and ‘demons’ serving each side. To warn them when the older gods start to return from their slumbers, they have kept two captives. A male and female, who think they are an angel and a demon, working in the service of their betters. When the pair fall in love, it is a warning that the Unity between Christian God and Devil is failing. Unity will do anything to keep the pair apart, even kill them while the pair are left fighting for their lives and their memories.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B083FH2YJD)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Romance Genre, Silver Medal

---

### [Graham](https://melaniepsmith.com/graham/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Romance Books

**Graham**
The Brothers of Hastings Ranch Series Book 1
*by Katharine E. Hamilton*

**Gold Medal:** Romance Books
**\#4 Overall**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Graham_Final.jpg)

Receiving a frantic call from her friend Alice, Julia McComas packs her bags and heads to a ranch in Texas where she encounters critters, cows, and a handful of handsome cowboy brothers. Her presence interrupts their daily routine, and one brother in particular makes his annoyance well known: Graham.

As the oldest of seven brothers, Graham Hastings takes his role as leader of the family business seriously. Not only does he keep the family ranch running, but he also keeps a tight rope on all his brothers. But when Julia McComas winds up living in his guest house, her presence shakes up more than just ranch life. It shakes up his heart.

Can Julia learn the ways of the ranch?

Can Graham let go of the reins enough to let love into his heart?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08777YG9R)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Gold Medal, Overall, Romance Genre

---

### [Handprints](https://melaniepsmith.com/handprints/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Paranormal \| Supernatural

**Handprints**
*by Wanda Adams Fischer*

**2022 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Handprints_Final.jpg)

After their husbands commit them to a state mental institution in Massachusetts, two women become friends. Were they–and the other women who filled the place–even mentally ill? Anne was eccentric, to be sure, and her Boston fireman husband decided it was more than he could bear. Edna loved to read and write poetry; her husband said she wasn’t “a good wife,” so he called the constable and had her taken away to the state mental hospital. She craved companionship and found Anne during her first night at the place. Edna called Anne “Anne of Green Gables”; she told everyone who’d listen that she was Edna St. Vincent Millay. This novella looks at the way they cope with spending the rest of their lives in a state mental institution with humor and Anne’s visitors from the outside world–and how they make a Christmas surprise visit to the site of the old mental hospital as spirits after their deaths.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09GLC26NQ)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Finalist, Paranormal - Supernatural

---

### [A Ghostly Affair](https://melaniepsmith.com/a-ghostly-affair/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Paranormal \| Supernatural

**A Ghostly Affair**
A Paranormal Romance
*by Joshua Griffith*

**2022 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/A-Ghostly-Affair_Final.jpg)

Daniel Powell has been living in a small cabin on the outskirts of Portland Oregon, never able to leave it because of a dark entity keeps his spirit trapped to be tormented. Anytime people come to reside in his cabin, he does what he can to run them off before the shadowy thing can get its deathly hold on them

Brianna Monk and her boyfriend finds themselves in the same predicament, evicted and no place to call their home and their relationship on shaky ground. With the aid of their parents and a Realtor, the couple finds the cabin in the middle of the forest that comes with many amenities and at a cheap price. Rumors swirl around that the quaint shack is haunted, which causes Brianna’s curiosity to discover if it’s true.

*Can the couple coexist in the haunted cabin or will the shadowy thing mark their souls for torment like Daniel?*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B099RH1F1C)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Finalist, Paranormal - Supernatural

---

### [Sable](https://melaniepsmith.com/sable/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Paranormal \| Supernatural

**Sable**
A Sea-faring Tale
Kingdom of Durundal
Age of Heroes Book 10
*by S.E. Turner*

**Bronze Medal:** Paranormal \| Supernatural

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sable_Final.jpg)

**In her dreams, a voice whispers to her. The voice tells her she is destined to wield a legendary sword and that her path will lead to greatness. It says the way forward lies in the handsome Viking set on winning her heart, but only if she unravels the mystery hanging over her first.**

Waking up to a burned out village where everyone has been slaughtered, is nothing short of a nightmare for Sable. In an instant, every hope she had for the future has disappeared, along with her one true love who is lost somewhere at sea. But survival is just the beginning of an incredible adventure that will take her across mighty oceans, through many storms, and into the paths of murdering undesirables as she embarks on a journey to find the man she loves and unravel the mystery that surrounds her.

With great loss comes great determination and none more than Sable, even if it is painted with blood, strewn with bodies and scattered with the pieces of her own broken heart.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08N6SH4XC)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Bronze Medal, Paranormal - Supernatural

---

### [The Child of Time](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-child-of-time/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Paranormal \| Supernatural

**A Child of Time** *by Penny Luker*

**Silver Medal:** Paranormal \| Supernatural
**\#7 Overall**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Child-of-Time_Final.jpg)

This book contains gentle, paranormal and ghost, short stories. There are fourteen brand new stories, and three bonus stories from previous collections, to give you a taster of the books, Missing, Pebble on the Beach and The Mermaid. If you like the idea that humans may have insights into other worlds or just want to step out of everyday life and indulge the imagination, then this book is for you. Ideal for a quick read in your coffee break.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09MMHJPF3)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Overall, Paranormal - Supernatural, Silver Medal

---

### [Summer Camp Culprit](https://melaniepsmith.com/summer-camp-culprit/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Mystery Books

**Summer Camp Culprit**
*by C.K.Fyfe*

**Gold Winner:** Mystery Books
**\#8 Overall**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Summer-Camp-Culprit_Final.jpg)

**Camp Starfall is closing. But that doesn’t mean the past is going with it.**

Despite her misgivings, Lindsey returns to the campground she last left as a broken-hearted teen. She’s determined to spend Camp Starfall’s farewell weekend focusing on the good memories she has of her time as a camper. But fate has other plans.

Lindsey’s teenage sweetheart Tyler shows up, stirring up feelings in her that had long lain dormant. Too bad she doesn’t have time to dwell on him. Someone is breaking into the cabins, and if she doesn’t find the culprit, more than her heart will be at stake.

*\*A romantic cozy mystery short story\**

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0B174X5TM)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Gold Medal, Mystery Genre, Overall

---

### [77 1/2 Herbs](https://melaniepsmith.com/77-1-2-herbs/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Non Fiction

**77 1/2 Magical Herbs**
*by Ronesa Aveela*

**Gold Medal:** Non Fiction
**\#9 Overall**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/77-Herbs_Final-MPS.jpg)

Venture into the magical, healing world of herbs and embrace the power of nature. The book is an introduction to herbs found in a special Midsummer’s wreath. This is an especially enchanting time of year. Among the Bulgarians, the day is called Eniovden.

This unique herbal book is an essential guide for tapping into the power of herbs. It highlights centuries of lore and historical facts about healing and magical uses of herbs from Slavic and other traditions.

You may think herbs are only for spicing up food and healing the body and mind, but they have other uses, as well. Herbs can:

\*Help prevent hair loss.
\*Eliminate turkey neck.
\*Repel insects.

[Buy Now...](https://77-1-2-herbs.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Gold Medal, Non Fiction, Overall

---

### [Karadas: The Veiled Realm](https://melaniepsmith.com/karadas-the-veiled-realm/)

**Published:** September 29, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Chapter Books

**Karadas: The Veiled Realm**
Spectre of Destiny
*by J.T. Mather*

**Gold Medal**: Children’s Chapter Books
\#5 Overall

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Karadas_Final.jpg)

**Not to be missed. An original young adult fantasy adventure.**

Theodore Reed seems destined to suffer, surviving one harrowing dilemma, only to find himself marooned in quite another. Worse still, his young sister, Minnie, has vanished.

He has to find her, no matter the cost. Theodore’s frantic search leads him deeper into a remarkable, uncharted realm concealed from the outside world, filled with dark magic, mystery, unspeakable jeopardy, and heart-stopping creatures.

Can a thirteen-year-old orphan boy from beyond the shores of Karadas possibly survive such a perilous quest?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09YTCLBCC)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Childrens Chapter, Gold Medal, Overall

---

### [Into the Salton Sea](https://melaniepsmith.com/into-the-salton-sea/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Paranormal \| Supernatural

**Into the Salton Sea**
*by Theresa Jacobs*

**Gold Medal:** Paranormal \| Supernatural
**\#6 Overall**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Salton-Sea_Final.jpg)

Abandoned as a baby, Harlow spent her life asking unanswered questions. Who was she? Where did she come from? And why was she plagued by dreams of drowning?
As she matured, the torturous dreams lessened.
Becoming a reporter, Harlow is sent to the deserted towns bordering the Salton Sea. Upon her arrival, the unwelcome dreams awaken, drawing her into the toxic water.
Something in the depths yearns for her.
But when secrets about her past start coming to light, she can’t leave until she finds the answers.
Will she be able to piece together her lost history before it’s too late?
Or will the Salton Sea be her undoing?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09Z8NF4X1)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Gold Medal, Overall, Paranormal - Supernatural

---

### [Teddy's Boys](https://melaniepsmith.com/teddys-boys/)

**Published:** September 30, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Fantasy \| Sci-Fi

**Teddy’s Boys**
A Dark, Magic Academy,
Why Choose Romance
*Bad Boys of Bevington Book 1*
*by E.J. Frost*

**Bronze Medal:** Fantasy \| Sci-Fi

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Teddys-Boys_Final.jpg)

**Three boys. Two murders. One terrible choice.**

Twelve years ago, my mother climbed into a limo with a fae stranger and left without looking back. Seven years ago, my magic came in, marking me as an Earth-witch, the Element most feared by other mages. One month ago, my father exiled me to college in another country.

I may be a stranger in a strange land, but no one will keep me down.

Charlie, Gabe, and Darwin.
Three boys who are more than my match.
My best friend. My new love. My worst enemy.

Are they also killers?

When a fellow student is murdered, the finger of suspicion points at my boys.
Can I prove their innocence?

Or will I be their next victim?

Meet the Bad Boys of Bevington …

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09DWHJLMS)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Fantasy- SciFi, Finalist

---

### [Poisoned Lily](https://melaniepsmith.com/poisoned-lily/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Other \| General Fiction

**Poisoned Lily**
*by Nik Grybaski*

**2022 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Poisoned-Lily_Final.jpg)

**Was Lily murdered, or did her sinister secret force her to take her own life?**

In a room above a tavern, on the hedonistic streets of Praterstrasse Vienna, is the dead body of a kept woman.

A mysterious lady sits alone in the bar. A man exits the premises through the back door, gripping onto a cane with an amber head. A youth, clutching a bottle, stumbles down the stairs and drinks the remnants of the poison his dead lover, Lily, took just minutes before.

Was it suicide?

It’s up to photographer Leo Katz and his new friend, pathologist Klaus Rosenbloom, to solve the mystery. But how can they discover who the killer is when vicious thugs steal vital evidence and threaten their lives?

*Grab you copy of this thrilling murder mystery now!*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09XFH5558)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Finalist, Other Fiction

---

### [Brianna in Cymru](https://melaniepsmith.com/brianna-in-cymru/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Other \| General Fiction

**Brianna in Cymru**
*by TN Traynor*

**Bronze Medal:** Other Fiction

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Brianna-in-Cymru_Final.jpg)

‘A powerfully written story filled with a host of memorable and charismatic characters.’ **The Wishing Shelf**

**Christian Historical Fiction – with just-a-dash of magical realism, and a sweet romance.**

1664\. Rhiannon and her daughter Brianna have been given a powerful gift, when they lay hands on people they are healed. Instead of being seen as beautiful demonstrations of faith, the miracles are called witchcraft. When the witch hunter Black Wolf embarks on his relentless hunt for them, Brianna’s world is torn apart. On the run from him and racing for her life, she receives respite in the sleepy hamlet of Trapp. Among the villagers who welcome and hide her, she meets Arwen and soon begins to fall in love.

As much as she wants to be with Arwen, there is a problem. Her mother told her to find the place where the Nightjars sing; only in that place will she find the man she is destined to be with. Can Brianna find the valley of the Nightjars and her future husband before the witch hunter discovers her hiding place? And more importantly, will she be able to hold onto her faith as she goes through the fire of testing?

**Much more than a historical romance novel, Brianna is an exploration into one woman’s courageous faith, and stands firmly and proudly in its own genre.**

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09VCSX2W7)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Bronze Medal, Other Fiction

---

### [Woman of Flames](https://melaniepsmith.com/woman-of-flames/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Other \| General Fiction

**Woman of Flames**
*by Kim Stokely*

**Bronze Medal:** Non-Fiction

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Woman-of-Flames_Final.jpg)

Based on the life of a Jewish prophet, Woman of Flames is a sweeping epic of how faith, lust, and revenge can drive nations into war.

As a child, Deborah must convince those around her that her visions are a gift from the Hebrew God, whom she is called to serve. As she matures, Deborah battles the prejudices of her people to achieve the position God has ordained, that of a spiritual leader for Israel. Growing in confidence and power, Deborah accepts God’s promise to use her to free the Israelites from their oppressors. One man stands in her way‒Sisera, general of the Canaanite army.

With nine hundred chariots, thousands of soldiers and the help of a sadistic priest, Sisera relentlessly pursues his one objective—total annihilation of the Israelites. After he captures Deborah, his life is altered in ways he never dreamed possible. Attracted to her power and consumed by her beauty, Sisera’s single obsession becomes to possess Deborah, body and soul.

Deborah fights against the temptations of her enemy, and her own fears, to ignite a fire of rebellion that could set her people free.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00GG5BDBS)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Bronze Medal, Other Fiction

---

### [The Peaceful VIllage](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-peaceful-village/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Other \| General Fiction

**The Peaceful Village**
*by Paulette Mahurin*

**Silver Medal**: Other Fiction

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/The-Peaceful-Village_Final.jpg)

During the German occupation of France, nestled in the lush, verdant countryside in the Haute-Vienne department of central France was the peaceful village of Oradour-sur-Glane. It was a community where villagers woke to the medley of nature’s songs, roosters crowing, birds chirping, cats purring, and cows plodding on their way out to pasture. The people who lived there loved the tranquil nature of their beautiful home, a tranquility that existed year-round. Even with the German occupation, Oradour-sur-Glane – the village with cafés, shops, and a commuter tram to Limoges – remained relatively untouched by the stress of the occupation.

While Oradour-sur-Glane enjoyed the lack of German presence, twenty-two kilometers to the northwest in Limoges, the Germans were reacting with increasing cruelty to organized attacks on their soldiers by the armed resistance organization Francs-Tireurs et Partisans (FTP). Headed by Amédé Fauré, the Limoges FTP was considered the most effective of the French Resistance groups. Fauré’s missions prompted the German military to kill and incarcerate in concentration camps anyone perceived as supporters or sympathizers of the Resistance.

Up until the middle of 1944, the German anti-partisan actions in France never rose to the level of brutality or number of civilian casualties that had occurred in eastern Europe. A little before the Allies landed in Normandy, all that changed, when German troops, and in particular the Waffen-SS, stationed on the Eastern Front were transferred to France. It was then that FTP’s increasing efforts to disrupt German communications and supply lines were met with disproportionate counter attacks, involving civilians. Fauré’s response was to target German officers. When he set his sights on two particular German officers, all hell broke loose.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0B2MBB4HT)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Other Fiction, Silver Medal

---

### [Revenge](https://melaniepsmith.com/revenge/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Other \| General Fiction

**Revenge**
England and Scotland
Rivalry and Retribution
*by Rebecca Bryn*

**Gold Medal:** Other Fiction

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Revenge_Final.jpg)

**The most heinous act of treachery in Scottish history and piracy on the high seas bind the lives of strangers, Tom and Andrew, inextricably together.**
**Tom is a young Englishman trying to prove himself worthy of the girl he loves.**

Andrew, a Scot, hopes to build a better life for his family in New Caledonia, a Scottish trading post on the Darien Isthmus.
Driven to revenge, because of England’s stranglehold on the trade routes, the merchants of Scotland bring England and Scotland to the brink of war.

Tom and Andrew are on opposing sides when they are thrust together by a chance meeting. Will one of them have to die before England and Scotland can unite in peace?

*An action-packed adventure with courtroom drama, suspense, a love interest, and a surprise ending.*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09VCRJSDQ)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Gold Medal, Other Fiction

---

### [The Marketing Psychology Playbook](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-marketing-psychology-playbook/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Non Fiction

**The Marketing Psychology Playbook**
The Best Strategies Marketers Miss & Misuse
*by Becky Davis*

**Bronze Medal:** Non Fiction

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Marketing-Psychology_Final-MPS.jpg)

Marketing psychology offers a scientific way to connect deeply with you audience, capture their attention, and communicate a powerful message. But it’s all too often misunderstood, applied incorrectly, or missed entirely. This book fixes that. You’ll learn:

- How commonly misused tactics actually work.
- Little-known but powerful copywriting strategies developed from techniques used in clinical therapy for behavior change.
- How to capture and control attention with easy-to-apply designs.
- Why people are missing your best offers.

Each tactic included in this book was developed through psychological research and verified through real world testing. You’ll learn not only how to use them, but why they are so effective and how to adapt them to any marketing you create.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08W4L9TG7)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Bronze Medal, Non Fiction

---

### [Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter](https://melaniepsmith.com/get-your-book-selling-on-kickstarter/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Non Fiction

**Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter**
Why You Should Use Kickstarter
Book Sales Supercharged Book 9
*by Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle*

**Silver Medal**: Non Fiction

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Book-Selling-Kickstart_Final-MPS.jpg)

**How to Design Your Campaign**
**Budget for Profitability**
**Market… and More**

With $300,000 in fundraising across 20+ Kickstarter projects, Russell Nohelty knows a thing or two about running publishing campaigns for novels, nonfiction, anthologies, comics, audio dramas, and more. He tested his system with 70+ authors with great results, and is now generously sharing everything he knows about the platform for authors with an audience of zero as well as those with a fanbase.

In this book you’ll find:

- Why using crowdfunding is an important avenue for authors and how authors are currently using it
- Choosing the right project for Kickstarter and designing your campaign
- Budgeting your campaign for profitability (and why it’s critical for your success!)
- The types of messages you should send to your audience vs. cold traffic
- Delivering your rewards for your Kickstarter project
- Keeping momentum going after Kickstarter

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09TQ4G5S6)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Non Fiction, Silver Medal

---

### [Auction Block Bandit](https://melaniepsmith.com/auction-block-bandit/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Mystery Books

**Auction Block Bandit**
A Short Cozy Mystery
*by C.K. Fyfe*

**2022 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Auction-Block-Bandit_Final.jpg)

As a regular auction-goer, Trixie has seen most everything up for bid, from celebrity pet hair to used rental caskets. A plethora of pieces routinely come and go, with short-lived fanfare. That is, until one winter night, when a hot ticket item disappears, and an absorbing mystery ensues. An amateur sleuth at heart, she plunges in to crack the case.

*\*A cozy mystery short story.\**

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09F8HH7K2)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Finalist, Mystery Genre

---

### [Dying for a Date](https://melaniepsmith.com/dying-for-a-date/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Mystery Books

**Dying for a Date**
A Humorous Cozy Mystery
Laurel McKay Mysteries Book 1
*by Cindy Sample*

**Bronze Medal:** Mystery Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Dying-for-a-Date_Final.jpg)

**AMAZON # 1 BESTSELLER IN HUMOR AND COZY MYSTERIES**
Unsure if she is looking for Mr. Right, or Mr. Every Other Saturday Night, divorced mother of two, Laurel McKay reluctantly joins THE LOVE CLUB, a popular local dating service. Dressed to kill, she meets bachelor number one at a trendy restaurant. But the date is a bust, literally, when the guy decides Laurel is dessert, and she breaks his nose with her cell phone. It gets even worse when the man is found murdered the next morning, and Laurel has his blood on her clothes.

Despite her now being a person of interest to the police, Laurel bravely ventures out on date number two. When that unlucky bachelor disappears during dinner, Laurel’s only alibi is a bottle of Dom Perignon. The sexy investigating detective thinks she’s innocent and is worried she may be the next target. That’s more than enough motivation for Laurel to find a murderer determined to kill her social life–before dating becomes a dead end she can’t escape.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00F5MNLPY)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Bronze Medal, Mystery Genre

---

### [Read Herring Riddle](https://melaniepsmith.com/read-herring-riddle/)

**Published:** October 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Mystery Books

**Read Herring Riddle**
A Short Cozy Mystery
*by C.K. Fyfe*

**Silver Medal:** Mystery Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Red-Herring-Riddle_Final.jpg)

For Laura, house-sitting at an old Victorian mansion seems the perfect job. However, little does she know that the house holds an abundance of secrets, including a mysterious book that’s much more than it seems. When the owners’ cat goes missing, Laura accepts help from an unlikely source to find the feline. But in doing so, has she crossed the line between fantasy and reality?

*\*A cozy mystery short story.\**

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09B1Q82ZW)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Mystery Genre, Silver Medal

---

### [Love and Loki](https://melaniepsmith.com/love-and-loki/)

**Published:** September 30, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Fantasy \| Sci-Fi

**Love and Loki**
*by Sarah Beth James*

**2022 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Love-and-Lok_Finali.jpg)

“A master of words, yet I could take you apart with my silver tongue if I truly tried,” Loki commented.“I bet you say that to all the boys.” The prince retorted rolling his eyes.
Loki is tired of his existence, looking for a way to hold on after Odin took everything from him or at the very least, a permanent escape from his pain.

Stuart is a Prince, looking for a marriage to unite his kingdom and crown him King. Sent on a mission to destroy the evil mage in the mountains to earn the hand of the fair princess.

Nothing is as it seems when Stuart discovers that Loki is neither evil nor does the kingdom want him to successfully marry the princess. As they are thrown together trying to break a curse, can they find love in each other’s arms?

*\*TRIGGER WARNINGS\**
*Gay sex, angry sex, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt.*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B086NR1V9F)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Fantasy- SciFi, Finalist

---

### [Storm Chaser](https://melaniepsmith.com/storm-chaser/)

**Published:** September 30, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Fantasy \| Sci-Fi

**Storm Chaser**
A Novel of the Black Pages
*by Danny Bell*

**2022 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Storm-Chaser_Final.jpg)

Elana has taken something that didn’t belong to her. Or at least she tried to, someone beat her to it. Whoever the thief is, it makes no difference to the Japanese storm god Susano-o and his eight headed snake monster, Yamata no Orochi.

Susano-o has sent a mystical storm to flood Los Angeles until his property is returned or Elana is defeated, and for once in her life, no amount of luck is going to save Elana. If she can’t figure out how to best a god, everyone she knows is doomed.

How much of herself is Elana willing to sacrifice to save her city from drowning?

And if she changes, will her city even recognize her?

Storm Chaser is the fourth book in the series The Black Pages

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B099SBHDLY)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Fantasy- SciFi, Finalist

---

### [The Trials of Ascension](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-trials-of-ascension/)

**Published:** September 30, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Fantasy \| Sci-Fi

**The Trials of Ascension**
The Frostmarked Chronicles Book 2
*by Brendan Noble*

**2022 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Trials-of-Ascension_Final.jpg)

**Salvation does not come without sacrifice.**

Rise. Otylia will never forget the betrayer’s blade slicing across her throat. Nor will she forgive.

Trapped by Weles in the underworld of Nawia, she is further from Wacław and Dziewanna than ever. The Trials of Ascension are Otylia’s only hope to escape her father’s grasp, but is she ready to pay the price of immortality?

Fall. Wacław would do anything to get Otylia back. But no demon has ever entered Nawia’s paradise.

Marching west with the nomadic clans, Wacław senses the darkness inside him growing with his power. As Marzanna threatens his hopes of saving both Otylia and his tribe, will he surrender to the demon’s call or resist as the world he knows burns before him?

*Immerse yourself in Slavic mythological realms both new and old as The Frostmarked Chronicles continue in the dramatic sequel to A Dagger in the Winds.*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0973MC8LD)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Fantasy- SciFi, Finalist

---

### [Keeper of the Jewel](https://melaniepsmith.com/keeper-of-the-jewel/)

**Published:** September 29, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Fantasy \| Sci-Fi

**Keeper of the Jewel**
Highcliff Guardians Epic Fantasy Series
*by Richard H. Stephens*

**Bronze Medal** — Overall
**Silver Medal** — Fantasy \| Sci-Fi
**Bronze Medal** — Popular Vote

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Keeper-of-the-Jewel_Final.jpg)

“It’s time to bestow your sword with a magic befitting a future queen. A queen who will walk the winds of fate on the back of dragonkind.”
~Eolande, Crystal Cavern Caretaker

\* \* \* \* \*#### **Something evil lurks beneath the palace.**

A phantasm from a darker past makes its presence known to Khae Wys, Queen of the Elves.

Braving the perils of a haunted tower, the queen seeks the counsel of the mysterious Fae, for only they can predict what is to come. A future that doesn’t bode well for her only living child.

In a desperate attempt to save the heir to the Willow Throne, Princess Ouderling is exiled to the only place capable of protecting her. Highcliff, the home of the coveted Crystal Cavern and the dragons that watch over it.

The Duke of Grim, however, has other plans for the princess.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B096R3RBST)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Bronze Medal, Fantasy- SciFi, Overall, Popular Vote, Silver Medal

---

### [Woodland Warriors](https://melaniepsmith.com/woodland-warriors/)

**Published:** September 29, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Picture Books

**Woodland Warriors**
*by Sylva Fae*

**Silver Medal** — Overall
**Gold Medal** — Children’s Picture Books
**Silver Medal** — Popular Vote

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Woodland-Warrior_Final.jpg)

Ayla and her puppy, Willow loved playing out in the woods. One day, she asked her mummy if she could learn how to do bushcraft. Mummy agreed it was a great idea and gave Ayla some tasks to do around their camp. Ayla was keen to help but there were so many tasks to complete, that she wondered if she would ever get a chance to learn some bushcraft skills.

Join Ayla and Willow (and a sneaky little mouse) in the woods, as they have fun finding out what bushcraft is. You too can become a Woodland Warrior.

In association with Women in Bushcraft.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/1989022405)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Childrens Picture, Gold Medal, Overall, Popular Vote, Silver Medal

---

### [The Potomos and The Papyrus](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-potomos-and-the-papyrus/)

**Published:** September 30, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Picture Books

**The Potomos and The Papyrus**
*by Jean Paul*

**2022 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Potomos-and-Papyrus_Final.jpg)

This fully illustrated delightful story takes place in an alternate world populated by anthropomorphic hippopotamuses called potomoses during the human equivalent time frame of the 1930s. It is the story of a family of very excellent and interesting potomoses who live in Belgravia, in the centre of London, and whose adventures take them to Egypt and back in search of the lost treasure of King Tutanpotomos. This is the first of a planned series of adventures which will follow the Potomos family generation to generation from the 1930s to the present time. The book has 22 wonderful full colour illustrations.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09YP21H3L)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Childrens Picture, Finalist

---

### [Messy Christmas](https://melaniepsmith.com/messy-christmas/)

**Published:** September 30, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Picture Books

**Messy Christmas**
*by Sylva Fae*

**Bronze Medal:** Children’s Picture Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Messy-Christmas_Final.jpg)

A mischievous elf and a naughty cat are feeling bored one Christmas night. How much mess can this cute pair make in just a few hours? With tumbling trees, bouncing baubles, bursting balloons, and a blizzard of flour, it’s going to be a Messy Christmas!

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09KNJKY56)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Bronze Medal, Childrens Picture

---

### [The Very Stubborn Camel](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-very-stubborn-camel/)

**Published:** September 30, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Picture Books

**The Very Stubborn Camel**
*by Silviya Rankova*

**Silver Medal**: Children’s Picture Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Stubborn-Camel_Final.jpg)

Pete, the camel, was munching hay, refusing to take any commands when a little girl kindly pleased him with an apple and made him stand and continued his journey. Their friendship helped Pete’s owner to sell his merchandises on the market and saved the little girl’s father who was lost in a sandstorm.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09C1C6NHH)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Childrens Picture, Silver Medal

---

### [One of Our Gorillas is Missing!](https://melaniepsmith.com/one-of-our-gorillas-is-missing/)

**Published:** September 30, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Chapter Books

**One of Our Gorillas is Missing!**
A School of Animal Magic Adventure
Book 5
*by Burt Kempner*

**2022 Finalist**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Finalist-Medal.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Gorilla-Missing_Final.jpg)

Professor Artemus Quinn, a silverback gorilla who’s the headmaster of the School of Animal Magic (SAM), has taken a leave of absence to search for his missing young nephew Kembi. When Professor Quinn himself vanishes, SAM’s boldest action team — Maisha the elephant, Jonas the cattle egret and Maliki the white lion — sets off to discover who’s behind these mysterious disappearances. Will they make it in time to save their friends?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09TTZJ7L4)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Childrens Chapter, Finalist

---

### [Mystery of the Egyptian Mummy](https://melaniepsmith.com/mystery-of-the-egyptian-mummy/)

**Published:** September 29, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Chapter Books

**Mystery of the Egyptian Mummy**
An Ancient Egypt Children’s Mystery
Kid Detective Zet Series
*by Scott Peters*

**Bronze Medal:** Children’s Chapter Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bronze-Medal-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Egyptian-Mummy_Final.jpg)

#### **Welcome back to the world of Zet, where a kid can be a hero and fight for the good of all.**

12-year-old Zet is supposed to be helping out at his family pottery stall. But how can he focus when there are mysteries to be solved? Like his latest problem: there’s a mummy in town that’s haunting the streets at night. Why won’t it leave Zet’s dusty, ancient civilization in peace? By the beard of Osiris, this new case is destined to throw Zet into serious hot water. Still, he can’t help himself. A run-in with the Royal Mummy Maker reveals the strange secrets of mummification. But will it be enough to unwind this puzzling mystery? Zet wants answers. Then again, what kid wouldn’t? He’ll have to think fast if he wants to rid ancient Egypt of crime. Can Zet unwrap this tangled tale and still make it home for dinner?

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B079KWNQ2Z)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Bronze Medal, Childrens Chapter

---

### [Up and Down: Glugg and the Gangoils](https://melaniepsmith.com/up-and-down-glugg-and-the-gangoils/)

**Published:** September 29, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Children's Chapter Books

**Up and Down: Glugg and the Gangoils**
*by Sarah Hindmarsh*

**Gold Medal:** Popular Vote
**Silver Medal:** Children’s Chapter Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Silver-Medal-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Popular-Winner.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Up-and-Down_Final.jpg)

Gluggity Bubbletop never wanted to be special. Except that he did want to be a fish-wizard (or is it wizard fish?). More than that though he would like to survive a few more seasons and the fire demons in the land of Up are definitely making that difficult. Can he dodge the extra-hot fireballs, evade the gangoils and stop the fire demons destroying the village of Down long enough to find out if he has a magical talent?

This extraordinary book has the unique distinction of being written FOR twelve year old boys (and girls) BY twelve year old boys. Children from ages ten to fourteen will love this high-stakes, fast-paced adventure and be lost in the outrageous world of Up and Down. Invented by twelve year old students, Dominic and Sam, the world of Up and Down, the fish people that live there and the fire demons who cause all of their problems is a world like nothing you have ever encountered before. With a penguin king, hot sauce everywhere, and not forgetting the exciting (and bloodthirsty) sport of bubbleball, and even more hot sauce, it is truly unforgettable, for all the right reasons.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09MMRS483)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Childrens Chapter, Popular Vote, Silver Medal

---

### [The Fool: New Beginnings](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-fool-new-beginnings/)

**Published:** September 29, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Fantasy \| Sci-Fi

**The Fool: New Beginnings**
Tales From the Unmasqued World
*by Val Tobin*

**Gold Medal** — Overall
**Gold Medal** — Fantasy \| Sci-Fi

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Gold-Medal-2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/The-Fool_Final.jpg)

**She believes vampires are monsters. So why is she risking her life to help one?**

After a divorce and much soul-searching, Kelsey Davis opens a bookstore café at the crossroads where several hypernatural communities converge. She’s ready to find herself and prepared to face her fear of those who aren’t human by living and working in the heart of their communities. But she’s not prepared for the tall, snarky vampire who bursts through her door and demands to talk to her son.

When Kelsey learns the vampire’s daughter is missing, and her own son isn’t where he’s supposed to be, she frantically gets involved in the search. Following one clue after another, they confront the man who can lead them to the missing girl — a mistake they may not live to regret.

The Fool: New Beginnings is book one in the Tales from the Unmasqued World urban fantasy series. If you enjoy the paranormal, the magickal, and the mystical, then you’ll love Val Tobin’s thrilling world.

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08YFJPN4N)

**Categories:** Readers Choice 2022

**Tags:** Fantasy- SciFi, Gold Medal, Overall

---

### [Reasonable Doubt](https://melaniepsmith.com/reasonable-doubt/)

**Published:** January 1, 2022
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Reasonable Doubt (S6E8) An annual trip turns into a mystery.  Paige must uncover secrets that have been hidden for years.  Was an innocent man sent to prison or was this all an elaborate scheme to cast doubt on the truth?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*REASONABLE DOUBT\*\*\*****

Maddie sliced through the air, grinning. The sky was clear and bright today, but it was deceiving. The air was so cold, her snow pants crackled every time she shifted her weight. She was dressed in layers — thermal underwear, insulated jeans, long-sleeved turtleneck, and a heavy parka. Between that and the heated seats and grips, she was more than comfortable. And she was having a blast.

She leaned hard to the side to make a turn. The tracks slid, then straightened, as girl and machine glided over the snow packed trail. Once the snowmobile straightened back out, she took a minute to look around. She loved it out here. The trail had just enough powder to make things challenging and fun. She sped up, powdery dust burst into the air, swirled, and settled as Maddie glided over the surface. Tiny, frozen particles struck her face and settled on her arms and legs, leaving the only tracks for miles. She grinned, grateful to be alone in this enchanting winter wonderland. A thick forest of quaking aspen lined the frosty trail, sporadic dark spots peppered the landscape with knots that looked like a hundred M’s floating on the horizon. The rough white bark blended with the crisp bed of snow covering the ground and the sparkling crystals frozen to each limb high above. The frozen crystals sparkled and danced in the sun, making it feel hypnotic and magical.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PaigeS6.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Reasonable-Doubt.pdf)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PCS6E8_MPSmith_WinterForest.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PCS6E8_MPSmith_GIrlSnowmobile.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PCS6E8_MPSmith_Snowmobile.jpg)

Maddie slowed as she approached the bridge. Memories flooded her mind, and she paused for a minute to remember. Seely Creek was frozen today. The air was sharp, and the sky was clear. Suddenly, a memory hit her, and she laughed. It was the last year she came here with Scarlett; they were racing to the lake and reached the bridge together, both determined to win the race. She nearly drove her snowmobile over the bank of the river before she gave in and let Scarlett win. It was always like that with Scarlett, pushing their limits to the very edge. Maddie always gave in; she wasn’t nearly as brave as her friend had been.

She glided over the bridge and continued down the slick trail. The closer she got to the turnoff, the more painful the memories. She was crying when she reached the trail that led down the hill to the tiny body of water called the Soup Bowl. It was only a short distance from Pete’s Hole. They had camped at both, depending on which was less crowded. She had spent so many summers fishing in the tiny reservoirs; hot, muggy nights under the stars, laughing until they cried; a campfire breakfast of burnt bacon and runny eggs, and a lifetime of fun. She swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat. Her heart ached for Scarlett and the time that was stolen from them. With a shake of her head, she tried to shake off the emotions — and the pain. She failed.

She pulled to the side of the trail and shut down the engine, not quite ready to descend the hill and enter the area where they had camped. She brushed away a tear and tried to regain control of her emotions while she sat there, taking in the frozen surface. She could just see the water — well, ice — through two large pines. Summers were fun, but she enjoyed the winter trips just as much. She loved racing Scarlett, nearly getting stuck in the thick snow as they sped across a pristine meadow and flying down the icy trail on the verge of losing control, barreling toward their favorite spot. The near misses, the laughter, the excitement, and the giddy feeling of adventure each trip brought was something she knew she would never forget.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PCS6E8_MPSmith_FrostyTrees.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PCS6E8_MPSmith_WinterPortrait.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PCS6E8_MPSmith_WinterRoad.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PCS6E8_MPSmith_Pond.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PCS6E8_MPSmith_PondPortrait.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PCS6E8_MPSmith_WinterRiver.jpg)

With a sigh, she started the machine, twisted the throttle, and made her way down the hill. Once she reached the camping area, she swung her leg around, slid from the snowmobile, pulled off her helmet, closed her eyes, and just inhaled. The air was so cold it froze the tiny hairs inside her nose, but she loved it. There was no place she would rather be right now. She wouldn’t stay long, not today — but she had to come. Maddie made this trip every year since she was nine. She had made it alone the past eight years, and she knew she’d make time for this adventure for the next eight — and probably the eight after that. It was her way of honoring the memory of the best friend she ever had.

A movement off in the far trees caught her eye and she straightened, then squinted, trying to get a better look. *Was that a person?* It looked like a woman. Honestly, it looked like Scarlett — but that was impossible. Scarlett was dead — murdered by her abusive husband eight years earlier. Levi Thayer, the monster Scarlett married while they were still in college, was rotting away in prison, and he’d stay there for the rest of his miserable life.

But that woman — Maddie jumped onto her machine and raced across the trail that ran around the lower section of the lake. When she reached the other side, she made an abrupt left and gunned it. Her machine lurched and whined but climbed the steep trail. Moments later, it leveled out on the edge of what looked like a small meadow between the trees. The tracks continued across the opening and disappeared back into the trees, following a distinct and well defined drainage. Maddie scanned the area and thought she spotted the snowmobile darting through the trees on the way back to the main road. The woman was racing away, recklessly flying over the wet, fluffy snow with so much speed, she looked like she was about to lose control. Maddie knew she’d never catch her. Her breath caught, and she stared in shock when the woman glanced back over her shoulder. It looked exactly like Scarlett Thayer — Carmel hair pulled into a tight ponytail, long angular face, and large walnut shaped eyes. She even managed the snowmobile like Scarlett.

Maddie blinked; certain she must be hallucinating. Nope, the powdery dust from the fleeing snowmobile was still there. Whoever that woman was, she was racing away like a thief in the night. Maddie reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, snapping a picture before the sled and rider disappeared over the ridge. Frowning, she climbed from her own machine and began walking the area. It wasn’t hard to find the footprints. She snapped photos of those as well before she straddled her snowmobile and headed back the way she came. It was getting late; she needed to reach the truck and load up the snowmobile before it got dark.

\*\*\*\*\*

Several hours later, she sat in the corner of Dirk’s Farmhouse Restaurant. She was completely exhausted with that aching muscle, bone deep fatigue she always got after doing something exhilarating. Normally, she’d be thrilled, on top of the moon right now, but she couldn’t get that mysterious woman out of her mind. She glanced up when the door chimed and spotted Gage Clayton.

“Hey stranger,” Gage approached Maddie’s table. “I didn’t realize it was already that time of year. Are you heading out tomorrow for the annual ride?”

Maddie shook her head. “I sort of did it today.” She frowned. “It’s crowded. Would you like to join me?”

“Sure.” Gage settled into the chair across from her. Maddie Rowley wasn’t exactly a friend, but she was more than an acquaintance. “How did it go?”

Maddie frowned. “We’re coming up on a decade, Gage. I thought, with time, it would get easier. Every time I go there, I just feel intense pain from the loss, and I leave sad and depressed.”

“You come here once a year,” Gage glanced up at the waitress, rattled off his order, then focused on Maddie. “You come out every winter, relive the past, and leave with a void that can’t be filled because you don’t fill it.”

“What are you saying?” Maddie wondered

“Tell me about your life,” Gage sat back. “Are you seeing anyone? How’s the job? Give me the basics.”

“The job is the same as the last time we talked,” Maddie relaxed. “Except I got that promotion I was hoping for. And there is a guy.”

Gage watched her face light up. “Better.”

“What?” Maddie asked, surprised.

“You’ve been on edge and distracted,” Gage observed. “More so than usual. But that changed as soon as you talked about your guy. Why didn’t you bring him with you?”

Maddie sobered and thought of Jordan. “He wanted to come. He called last night and offered to head out today if I wanted him to. I just thought this was something I should do alone.”

“Which brings me back to my original point,” Gage raised an eyebrow. “You come here once a year and visit the one place that holds a ton of memories. Then, you pack up and leave. You never make any fresh memories out at Pete’s Hole or at the Soup Bowl. Which is why, every year, you drive away sad, a little lonely, and empty. If you brought your guy out, if things are serious, that is—”

“I could make new memories and it wouldn’t be so depressing and difficult,” Maddie nodded. “I understand. Maybe next year.” She turned to stare out the window. Maybe it was time to make new, happy memories. Maybe she should share this place with Jordan. He would love it, probably as much as she did.

“So, this guy? Is he important?” Gage pushed.

“I think so,” Maddie smiled. “We’ve been dating for about ten months. I met him at a New Year’s celebration. We hit it off instantly and I —” she paused to consider. “I think he’s the one.”

“Then you should bring him next year,” Gage decided. “Now, tell me why this visit was different. I can tell, something has you upset — more than usual.”

“I—” Maddie glanced out the window again. “I saw something, but if I tell you, it’s going to sound crazy.”

“Tell me anyway,” Gage sat back.

“I saw a woman today,” Maddie practically whispered. “She was hiding in the trees. She looked just like Scarlett.”

“But Scarlett is dead,” Gage frowned. This did sound crazy. “Are you saying you saw Scarlett’s ghost?”

“No,” Maddie locked eyes with Gage and debated. Finally, she pulled her phone from her pocket, found the last photo, and set it on the table in between them. “She was real.”

“This just looks like a woman riding away on a snowmobile,” Gage pushed the phone back across the table. “I think your mind was playing tricks on you. It’s normal, natural even. You rode out to the reservoir where you have a lot of history, thinking about Scarlett the entire time. Once you got there, I’m sure your mind was filled with memories. Then, a woman appeared, and you thought it looked like Scarlett. Not because she did, but because that was the only thing on your mind at the time.”

“I told you it would sound crazy.” Maddie slid the phone back into her pocket. “Anyway, I think I’ll go back tomorrow. I wasn’t going to. I planned to check out in the morning and head home, but I think I want one more ride out there before I go. And, I think I’ll take your advice and bring Jordan with me next time. He’d love it out here and I need some new, happy memories.”

“Good for you,” Gage watched as the waitress set their dinner on the table. They talked about her job, Maddie talked about Jordan, and Gage relayed funny stories about coaching high school football.

The time passed quickly and by the time they were finished, Maddie was relaxed and eager to call Jordan and lay the groundwork for next winter. She was pretty sure he’d love the wild ride through the wilderness, and she was looking forward to showing him. If they could swing it, maybe they’d even come back during the summer — for a camping trip. Fresh memories. Gage was right, it was time.

\*\*\*\*\*

The following afternoon, Maddie rushed into the Sheriff’s Office and stopped at the desk. “Is Gage Clayton here?”

Margie looked up and frowned. The woman looked spooked. “Gage is on a call and out of the office. Can I help you with something?”

“I—” she glanced around in desperation. This was crazy. She couldn’t explain it to a stranger. This woman would think she lost her mind. “Can I wait for Gage?”

“He might be awhile,” Margie sat back. “Maybe Deputy Carter can help you.”

Paige heard her name and glanced up. Margie was talking to a citizen.

“I don’t know her,” Maddie glanced around. “I’d rather wait for Deputy Clayton.”

Paige stood and moved to address the woman. “What if you start with me and when Gage gets here, he can take over?”

“I—” Maddie panicked. “I don’t think you’ll understand.”

“Let’s go into the conference room and we can call Gage,” Paige offered. “He might not answer, but he might. We can ask him how long he’s going to be, and you can decide what you want to do.”

“Alright,” Maddie relented.

“Deputy Clayton,” Gage answered.

“It’s Paige. Are you busy?”

“I’m waiting for Dan to find his receipt,” Gage sighed. “He thinks it has the serial number for the chainsaw that was stolen. Could be awhile, what’s up?”

“I have a woman here,” Paige glanced up and waited.

“Maddison Rowley,” Maddie provided

“Maddison Rowley,” Paige repeated. “She says she needs to talk to you. I tried to help, but she’s insisting I won’t understand.”

“Can you put her on speaker?”

“Sure,” Paige punched the button, then checked to make sure Gage could still hear her.

“Maddie?” Gage asked. “What’s going on?”

“I saw her again,” Maddie admitted. “I went back out to the reservoir, and I saw that woman again. I have a picture — a better picture. Gage, I know it sounds crazy, but she looks exactly like Scarlett.”

“We talked about this,” Gage began. “Scarlett is gone. You need to accept that.”

“I know, but I got video this time,” Maddie interrupted. “I need you to see her. I have her face; well, the side view, but I need this, Gage. I need a second opinion.”

“This call is going to take some time,” Gage sighed. “Give the pictures to Paige. Let her watch the video and I need you to explain everything to her. I’ll connect with her once I’m done here, and I’ll watch the video and look at the pictures. I’ll call you later today. Are you staying in town or heading home?”

“I’m staying,” Maddie didn’t hesitate. “I called work; told my boss I had an emergency. He gave me a week to figure this out. Gage, I know you don’t believe me, I know you think this is my mind playing tricks on me, but I need you to really look.”

“I’ll call you,” Gage promised. “Now, I have to go. It looks like Dan found his receipt.”

Paige disconnected, sat back, and watched. She didn’t understand what was going on here, but from Gage’s reaction, it was something strange.

“I know I need to explain this,” Maddie began. “I know you need the information. Unfortunately, every sentence that forms in my head makes me sound delusional. I just don’t know where to begin.”

“Let’s start with the video and the pictures you took today,” Paige suggested. “I assume they’re from today.”

“Yes, today and yesterday.” Maddie snatched up her purse and pulled out her phone. “Do you want—” she glanced down at the image.

“Maybe you could send them to me?” Paige provided her email address and waited while Maddie sent her several files.

“Alright.” Paige hooked her laptop to the large screen television and opened the first image. “What am I looking at here?”

“Those are from before,” Maddie explained. “Gage already saw those. They’re just footprints — from yesterday. I went snowmobiling to the Soup Bowl out by Pete’s Hole Reservoir. While I was there, I saw a woman. Can you go to the next image?”

“Alright.” Paige pulled up the next photo. It was a woman speeding away on a snowmobile. You could only see her back and a long ponytail swaying in the wind. “And I assume those footprints belong to this woman?”

“Yeah,” Maddie glanced at her hands folded on the table. “I don’t know why I took those. It just seemed — important somehow.”

“Okay.” Paige pulled up the next email. “What are these?” She scrolled through several shots of what looked like the same woman. The girl had the same dark brown ponytail but different clothing. Her face was either obscured by the trees or she was looking away from the camera in all of them.

“Those I took today,” Maddie swallowed. “The last email is the video. Maybe we could watch that before I explain any further.”

“Alright.” Paige pulled up the email and silently watched the video. The woman looked to be the same age as Maddie. She moved through the trees like she was hiding from someone or hiding something. Throughout most of the video, she had her head tucked down or her face was turned away from the camera. Toward the end, there was one brief glimpse of the woman’s face. She didn’t act like a carefree, innocent vacationer out for a little fun. Once the video concluded and began playing again, Paige stopped it and turned to focus on Maddie. “Now what?”

“Now I tell you why Gage thinks I’m crazy.” Maddie took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. She gripped her hands together with so much force they turned white.

“Relax,” Paige prompted. “Do you want some coffee or hot chocolate?”

“No, thanks,” Maddie sat back in her chair and tried to relax, but failed. Then she had a thought. She pulled up another photo, one she took before Scarlett disappeared. “I sent you one more email. Can you look at that first before I begin?”

Paige pulled it up and cocked her head, studying the image on the large screen. “It looks like the same person. They have similar bone structures. Is this the Scarlett that you mentioned to Gage?”

“Yes,” Maddie nodded.

“Alright.” Paige pushed away from her chair and moved to stand closer to the screen. “Gage said she’s gone. Are you ready to tell me what happened?”

“What happened to Scarlett, or what happened today?” Maddie wondered.

“Let’s start with Scarlett. When Gage said gone, did he mean deceased?” Paige wondered.

“Yes.” Maddie focused on the two images. “I took that picture at the same place, except it was at Pete’s Hole, eight years ago.”

“How did she die?” Paige continued to study the images.

“I don’t—” Maddie closed her eyes and remained silent.

“I had a lady come to see me one day.” Paige settled back in her chair. “She was the sister of a good friend of mine. He referred her to me because he was stuck on another case. He told her to come in and tell me her story. This girl, she had a baby, and the hospital told her he didn’t make it. Call it mother’s intuition, call it denial, call it whatever you want, but she knew her baby didn’t die. Everyone told her she needed to accept the obvious and move on. Instead, she came into this very room and laid it all out for me. I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t have enough information to believe her, but she knew something was off. She was so certain she was right. I found myself compelled to look into it. I became invested, and I needed to get answers because after she told me her story — I had to admit, there were signs. There were things that didn’t add up. She also came in believing I would brush her off and assume she was delusional.”

“What happened?”

“I made her a promise,” Paige sat back. “The same one I’m going to make to you.”

“What was the promise?” Maddie couldn’t look away. She held her breath and held back the hope she was feeling.

“I promised her I would investigate the situation.” Paige watched Maddie and thought she had that same stubborn determination Amy had when her baby was stolen. “I told her I would follow the evidence and I would do everything in my power to determine what happened to her child. Then, I asked her for something in return. I asked her to trust me, to trust what I uncovered — no matter what that was. Even if it wasn’t what she wanted to hear. Now, I’m asking you to do the same. Can you trust me to investigate this, whatever this is, and can you accept my findings, whatever they are, and move forward knowing I took the time to get you the answers you obviously need?”

“Yes,” Maddie said without hesitation.

“That was fast,” Paige frowned.

“Because I thought I already knew what happened,” Maddie explained. “I already accepted what looked like a logical conclusion. Then this—” she pointed to the pictures. “What happened to the baby?”

“He was kidnapped,” Paige said flatly. “We uncovered the truth and arrested a married couple who had been stealing and selling babies that way for years. We found the missing children, and we returned them to their biological parents.”

“So,” Maddie let out a relieved breath. “She wasn’t crazy. Which means maybe I’m not crazy, either.”

“I need you to tell me about Scarlett,” Paige didn’t answer.

“My dad was a photographer,” Maddie began. “He traveled to exotic places, taking pictures for National Geographic. Mom loved to see the world, so she went with him. We had some wonderful adventures. As a child, I always went with them and it was fun, planning the next great journey into the wilderness. I was seven when mom decided I needed more structure. They bought a home down south, near Panguitch. Dad cut back on traveling and spent his time exploring the Dixie National Forest, Bryce Canyon, and Zions. He was doing really well, selling his photos and they decided to stay, settle in permanently — mostly for me, I think. I went to public school for the first time. That’s where I met Scarlett. We became instant friends. Her parents were divorced. Her mom lived in Panguitch, her father lived in Cedar City.

“Um—” Paige interrupted.

“I know,” Maddie smiled. “It feels like I’m taking the scenic route, but I’m not. Scarlett spent most of the year with her mom, but she spent summers with her dad — except for one week, when she joined my family for our annual camping trip. It took us two years to convince him to give in. We were both nine when the trips started. Then, when we were twelve, her mom got married and they moved away. We were both devastated. My parents finally convinced her father to let Scarlett continue our annual camping trip to Pete’s Hole. There were several years when that’s the only time I saw Scarlett. I need you to know that place was special— to both of us. We never missed our annual trip — not once since we were nine. When we got older, we tried to visit twice a year, once in the summer and a second time snowmobiling in the winter.”

“And that’s why you’re here?” Paige realized. “To go snowmobiling and stop in to visit the Pete’s Hole area.”

“Yes,” Maddie smiled. “We both went off to college and my parents resumed their traveling. Scarlett got married, and it was more difficult for her to get away, but we always managed at least one trip a year. I always suspected her marriage wasn’t as ideal as she claimed it was, but she insisted she was happy. Then, eight years ago, she disappeared. Levi was arrested and all the horrible details came out in the trial. Levi was a violent, abusive husband. They had money and partied a lot and apparently, he was a mean drunk. They found him guilty. He’s been in prison the past seven years for killing my best friend.”

Paige frowned. “She was never found?”

“No,” Maddie sighed.

“Did he ever admit to killing her?” Paige wondered.

“No,” Maddie looked away. “He adamantly insists he’s innocent. I heard he’s trying to get a new trial.”

“Does it sound promising?” Paige didn’t like coincidences. Was it possible this Levi guy hired someone to come out and shed doubt on the murder? Someone that looked enough like his later wife that Maddie would fall for it. Something to consider, although that would be difficult to arrange, so it wasn’t very likely.

“I don’t know,” Maddie said honestly. “I told the prosecutor — maybe six months ago — I wanted to know if he was successful. If he had a new trial, I would attend. Otherwise, I didn’t want to hear about it, or him.”

“Makes sense. So, you planned the annual trip and saw a woman that looks like your missing friend at a place that — if she were alive — she would visit.” Paige considered, it was possible the woman fled, went into hiding and came to the La Sal’s because she also has a connection to that tiny reservoir. It seemed improbable, with the conviction for murder — but not impossible.

“You’re not saying anything,” Maddie accused.

“I’m just taking it all in,” Paige shrugged.

“Well,” Maddie considered. “You’re also not running out the door dialing the psych ward. I’m going to take that as a good sign.”

“I’m going to look into your friend’s disappearance,” Paige decided. “There’s a reason a man went to prison for murder. That’s difficult without a body.”

“I know,” Maddie nodded.

“I’m going to pull everything on Scarlett — what was her last name?”

Maddie spent the next hour telling Paige everything she knew about Scarlett Thayer, her husband Levi, his parents, the family business, and their address in Draper, Utah. Maddie believed it was Draper Police Department that investigated the original incident.

“Alright,” Paige sat back. “Now tell me about today.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PCS6E8_MPSmith_ScenicWinter.jpg)

“Right.” Maddie focused on the image still displayed on the large screen. “After yesterday, I decided to go back out there. I felt like I had unfinished business. Anyway, I didn’t play around the way I did on that first trip. I headed straight for the reservoir. I got there fairly early and parked the snowmobile next to an area with a lot of trees. I wasn’t trying to hide it, not really. I guess I hoped, if the woman returned, she wouldn’t see it until it was too late. I hadn’t been there long when that same woman showed up. I knew it was the same one from the day before. I hid from her and took a couple pictures, then I switched my phone to video and you saw what I got.”

“Did she see you?” Paige wondered.

“Yeah.” Maddie let out a frustrated breath. “I was hoping she’d get close enough that I could basically ambush her. I was going to jump out and call Scarlett’s name, see if she reacted. I didn’t get the chance. She spotted me and ran to her machine. I didn’t stop filming until she was gone.”

“Okay,” Paige stood. “That’s all for today. I’m going to discuss this with Gage, and then the two of us will look into it. Remember my request. Whatever I find, you need to accept it. I’ll do my best to get answers, but you need to trust me enough to accept I did my job.”

“I don’t know you,” Maddie stood. “But I do know Gage, and I trust him. If he says you did everything you could, I’ll trust that.”

“Good.” Paige watched the woman walk out of the room. She settled back in her chair and just stared at the wall, considering her options.

That’s how Gage found her. He stepped into the room, dropped into the chair across from her, then froze when he saw the two images displayed side-by-side on the large TV. “No wonder she’s spooked.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PCS6E8_MPSmith_SunrisePond.jpg)

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“Did you know her?” Paige asked absently.

“I wouldn’t say Maddie or Scarlett were friends.” Gage studied the images. “I met them one year while they were camping out at Pete’s. They were stranded, truck hit a rock and sliced the tire. I helped them out, got them back on the road and the following year, when they came back, they looked me up. They continued to track me down year after year. Pretty soon, I found myself looking forward to their visit. Over time, I guess they became — I don’t exactly know what. Not friends, but more than casual acquaintances.”

“What’s your take on this?” Paige wondered.

“On what?” Jericho stepped into the room.

Paige proceeded to explain the situation. When she finished, she waited for Jericho to shut the case down before it even got started.

“There’s a reason it’s difficult to convict without a body,” Jericho studied the two images. “There’s always a possibility the missing person is just hiding. Do you know how they convinced a jury he did it?”

“I don’t,” Paige admitted. “I know nothing about the case.”

“I’d have to look up the details,” Gage said, surprised at Jericho’s reaction. “I do remember the husband said he was fishing all day at Willard Bay with a buddy. The police discovered the alibi wasn’t as tight as it initially appeared. I’m guessing they convinced the jury he did have an opportunity to commit the crime.”

“Okay,” Paige frowned. “But that’s not enough.”

“A neighbor, maybe two, testified there was a lot of fighting, loud arguments that may have turned violent in the home,” Gage continued. “Plus, she didn’t take anything with her. Her car was still in the garage, her clothes were still in the closet, and an expensive rug was missing. I think there was a mysterious trip in the middle of the night, too. Levi couldn’t account for his whereabouts during that time.”

“Any evidence there was a struggle?” Paige wondered.

“Not that I remember,” Gage shrugged. “It was eight years ago. The trial happened seven years ago, it took them a full year before they got it into court. I’m sure if we were close, I’d remember every detail, but Scarlett was an occasional friend that I sort of knew. I followed it, but I wasn’t traumatized by it.”

“I’ll call the Chief up there, see if we can get the details,” Jericho offered.

“Why?” Gage wondered. “I mean, I thought you’d start in with the lecture about manpower and jurisdiction.”

Jericho grinned. “Maybe I want to keep you on your toes. Can’t have my men thinking they know me well enough to predict what I’ll do next.”

“Seriously,” Gage pushed. “Why?”

Jericho glanced at Paige. “Because I know a little something about unanswered questions.”

Paige froze and studied Jericho. They both knew a little about that. “Do you think you can get anything from the cops up north? I mean, they’re convinced they got their guy. They put him away for life. The last thing they want is someone questioning their conclusions.”

“I won’t know until I call,” Jericho admitted. “And they might hang up once they know why I’m calling. However, they didn’t put that man away. They followed the evidence they had at the time and the prosecutor decided he had enough to proceed. If I need to, I’ll get James to help.” He turned to Gage. “Why don’t you head home? It’s been a long day and tomorrow might be even worse.”

“Paige?” Gage glanced at his partner. “She came on before me this morning.”

“I’m right behind you,” Paige assured him. “I need to talk to Jericho about something personal. It will only take a minute. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Once Gage left, Jericho turned to Paige. “Have you talked to Stan Donaldson lately?”

Paige shook her head. “I think he’s avoiding me. Every time I see him, he gets all nervous and tries to mask it with annoyance. Then, he walks away. I know Tolman wants to handle this, but I think he’s getting suspicious. He really needs to put the poor guy out of his misery.”

“I agree,” Jericho leaned against the door jamb. “And I told him that this morning. He says he needs to confirm one last thing before he confronts Stan with the evidence. I’m worried he might fire the guy and I’m not convinced the kid deserves it.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Let’s just wait,” Jericho decided. “We’ll let this play out and decide our next move once James makes his decision.”

“Alright,” Paige shut down the computer and gathered up the notes she took during her meeting with Maddie. “What about this case? You seemed to jump onboard the Maddie train quicker than usual.”

Jericho shrugged. “Like I said, I understand how it feels to have unanswered questions. I also don’t like making assumptions. Everyone assumed that girl was dead, but a missing rug and a fishing trip doesn’t check all the boxes for me. Especially after seeing those photos.”

“Well,” Paige headed for the door. “Wait until you watch the video.”

“What’s your gut saying?” Jericho flipped off the lights and followed Paige to the parking lot.

“Mostly that I’m starving,” Paige laughed. “But there’s a little niggling feeling of doubt in there. I can’t say we’re standing on solid ground with the — I don’t even know what to call it, possibility, I guess. There’s a possibility the woman is still alive. She was in an abusive relationship and there are underground organizations that help with that sort of thing. If she did escape, why stage the house to look like he killed her? Did she hate him that much? Was she just a vindictive human being? What?”

“Maybe she just wanted to make sure nobody ever went looking for her,” Jericho shrugged.

“Like that movie,” Paige considered. “The one with Julia Roberts. She faked being afraid of the water so she could swim away and make it look like she drowned. She thought nobody would look, but Mr. Monster ran into the wrong person and the gig was up. If that was Scarlett, she made the same mistake. She went somewhere she shouldn’t have and ran into the wrong person. If she’s alive, she may have just flushed all that hard work down the proverbial toilet.”

“If,” Jericho pulled open his door. “Go home, spend some quality time with that husband of yours. I’m late for a date.”

“Harper?” Paige asked, knowing the answer.

“You know it is,” Jericho climbed behind the wheel.

“Things are going well, then?” Paige wondered how long that would last.

“They are,” Jericho studied Paige. “Is that a problem?”

“Not for me,” she shrugged. “I like Harper and I can see she likes you. Unfortunately, that’s all going to change when she discovers you had her investigated. She might be willing to forgive that, but your lack of honesty about the whole thing is going to catch up to you. Come clean, Sheriff. She might throw a coffee mug at you, but she’ll eventually forgive you. If someone else rats you out, I guarantee your toast.”

“I have an idea,” Jericho gripped his door. “You handle your domestic affairs and let me handle mine.”

“I will,” Paige stepped back. “As soon as you start handling them.” She frowned when Jericho slammed the door shut and pulled out of the lot.

“Stupid, stupid decision,” Paige mumbled all the way to her own vehicle.

\*\*\*\*\*

“So,” Dax dropped into a patio chair. “Why did you summon me to the back porch?”

“It’s never easy with you, is it?” Nathan settled across from him. “I simply asked if I could talk to you.”

“Alright,” Dax sobered. Nathan was unusually serious. “What’s going on?”

“Sophie and I have imposed on your hospitality long enough,” Nathan stared off into the distance. “It makes little sense to head back to Virginia. We’d just need to turn around and come back in time for Thanksgiving.”

“Then stay,” Dax shrugged. “It’s not a problem. We’re happy to have you.”

Nathan ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I have no idea what I’m supposed to do here.”

“Tell me what’s going on?” Dax studied Nathan. He’d never seen him like this before.

“Sophie is still struggling,” Nathan admitted. “She tries to put up a good front but just the mention of returning home sets her off. Her hands start shaking and she has to turn around so she can try to hide the tears she insists on fighting.”

“She doesn’t feel safe there,” Dax nodded. “She feels safe here. Just another reason to stay a little longer. Plus, Paige will probably fly to Virginia and drive you back herself if you try to miss the holidays.”

“She insists on leaving,” Nathan turned back. “Sophie can’t deal with the slightest suggestion that we go home, but she feels like a burden — to you and Paige. I’m stuck. I can’t stay here, and I can’t go home. I broached the subject of a hotel, but Sophie won’t have that either. She thinks it will hurt Paige’s feelings.”

“It would,” Dax said immediately. “I have another option, if you want it.”

“I’m open to anything at this point,” Nathan admitted.

“Carmen and Zee have moved into their new home. We completed the purchase on Carmen’s old place, the Pearl Ledbetter’s home. She’s happy, the funds will pay for her housing for years and now we have a place we control where guest speakers and wayward generals can crash while they’re in town. It’s yours, if you want it. It’s not the Ritz-Carlton, but it’s comfortable.”

“You’re sure it’s available?” Nathan questioned.

“We just finalized the sale,” Dax stretched out his legs and shifted in his seat, his arm was still bother him where he’d been shot — well, grazed. “The plan is to renovate after the first of the year. None of us want to deal with that during the holidays. Come January, we thought we’d start looking for contractors and schedule a few bids. There’s no chance we’ll do anything with that place for three, maybe four months. Realistically, it could be longer.”

“That would solve the immediate problem,” Nathan sighed “Do you need to speak with the others first?”

“Nope,” Dax stood when he heard a car pull in. “That sounds like Paige. Let’s get you the keys, then we can break the news.”

Nathan stood. “One question. Why aren’t you doing the work yourself?”

“Time,” Dax stepped into the kitchen. “Between the training center and this old general that keeps sending me out of town—”

“That’s going to stop,” Nathan promised.

Dax glanced back, surprised. “Sounds like we need to have another conversation.”

“Sophie’s not the only one evaluating her life choices — and her future.”

“What does that mean?” Dax wondered. They both glanced up when Paige stepped into the room.

“You look —” Nathan cocked his head to the side. “I’m not sure. I was going to say tired, but that’s not accurate.”

“Perplexed,” Paige draped her coat over the back of the chair.

“New case?” Dax moved forward and pulled Paige into a hug. He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back.

Paige leaned back, gave Dax the usual ‘Honey, I’m home’ kiss and dropped into a chair. “New case that is going to cause problems.”

“Before you tell us about that,” Dax settled down next to her. “I offered Pearl’s cottage to Nathan. He and Sophie will move over there. They’re going to remain here through Thanksgiving, and they might extend their vacation and hang out until after Christmas.”

“I didn’t say—” Nathan began.

“Sounds like an excellent idea,” Paige pointed to the wall next to the fridge. “The keys are on that hook. If you can wait until the weekend, we’ll help you move.”

“Now that we settled that,” Dax sat back. “Tell us about the new case.”

Paige did. She told them about Maddie’s trip, the husband, and Jericho. Both of them agreed with her, Jericho needed to come clean with Harper.

\*\*\*\*\*

 “Meeting in the conference room in ten,” Jericho announced before stepping into his office.

“That means you, Clayton,” Paige stood and grinned.

“That means you, Carter,” Gage grabbed a notepad and headed for the conference room.

They both settled into a chair and waited for Jericho to return.

“I talked to Chief Bonner up in Draper,” Jericho settled across from his deputies.

“How did that go?” Paige wondered.

“He was less than enthusiastic at first,” Jericho admitted. “Once I emailed him the photos, he agreed the two women looked similar enough we had to look into it. He still insists our mystery woman is not Scarlett Thayer because Scarlett is dead, but he won’t interfere.”

“Did he agree to send a copy of the full report?” Paige wondered.

“He did,” Jericho sat back. “He said the full report is over two hundred pages so it’s going to take some time. Once Margie gets the report, she’ll print out several copies.”

“I’d like her to email it to me as soon as it comes in,” Paige decided. “I can start reading the electronic copy while I wait for the hard copy.”

“Go ahead and let her know,” Jericho nodded. “I’ll wait.”

Paige returned and settled back into her chair. “Where do we go from here?”

“I want you to start contacting snowmobile rental agencies and see if you can get a list of people that rented machines the past week,” Jericho told Paige. “Gage, you contact motels and hotels. See if they’re willing to give you a guest list and we’ll compare the two and see if we can get a match. I doubt she used the name Scarlett Thayer, so we’re looking for an alias.”

“The report came through,” Margie said from the door. “I forwarded the email to all of you.”

“I’ll take both the hotels and the snowmobile rental companies,” Gage offered. “Paige, you read through the report and see if you identify any leads.”

“Does that work for you?” Paige asked Jericho.

“It’s your case,” Jericho decided. “Work it however you think is best. What do you need from me?”

“Let us work through this,” Paige decided. “I think what we need from you is influence. If I find anything, it might help if you handle all contact with Draper PD. You’ve already had the initial discussion; the Chief up there might be more cooperative if we continue along those lines.”

“I can do that,” Jericho agreed. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave you to it. Let me know if you need anything.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Several hours later, Paige stepped into Jericho’s office. “Hey, boss—” she stopped abruptly when she spotted Jericho standing in front of the window. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, what’s up?” Jericho turned to face her.

“This can wait,” Paige moved forward and leaned against the sill of the window. “What’s going on? It doesn’t have to be work related; you know that.”

“I don’t know how to talk to you about this,” Jericho admitted.

“This is about Harper,” Paige realized. “Let me guess, you’ve finally realized that your attractive, brilliant, deputy was right all along, and you need to come clean but now you don’t know how.”

“When I lost your mother—” Jericho began.

“Wait,” Paige held up a hand. “I think I understand. You don’t know how to talk to me about this because you care about Harper. I mean, you really care about her. If you think I won’t support that—”

“I was in love with your mom, Paige,” Jericho settled into his chair. “I truly believed I would love her for the rest of my life. I never expected to feel, even a portion of what I felt for Chaya for anyone else.”

“I never wanted you to live your life alone,” Paige moved to one of his visitor’s chairs. “Mom wouldn’t want that either. She wouldn’t want you to close yourself off and stop living. She would want you to love again, Jericho. She wouldn’t want you to waste away, sad and lonely, wallowing in grief. She wouldn’t want you to die a miserable old man who spent the rest of his solitary life unhappy and depressed. I don’t want that for you, either. If Harper makes you happy, that’s a good thing.”

“Is it?” Jericho sighed. “Because every time I see her, I have this annoying voice in my head that sounds an awful lot like you, telling me to come clean. I think you’re right. I need to tell her I had her investigated. I’m worried I waited too long and now it’s going to be a problem.”

“You’re making this too big,” Paige decided. “Just tell her, and make it sound normal. Just casually mention that you had her investigated. Tell her you did it because of your job and some of the problems you’ve had in the past. Just make it sound like we all do it.”

“She’s going to see right through that,” Jericho insisted.

“You think Nathan didn’t investigate Dax?” Paige countered. “It is normal. You just have to help her see that.”

“Maybe,” Jericho sighed. “Enough about that, what do you have? Did you find something that we need to follow up on?”

“I want to take the time to read this report more thoroughly,” Paige shuffled through some papers until she found the one she wanted. She’d let the personal stuff go for now, at least Jericho was coming around to her way of thinking. Hopefully, he’d take that next step before it was too late. “Okay, here’s the part I want. Draper didn’t find a body, but there were red flags. It’s the reason they could get a conviction. I’ll give you the condensed version. Several neighbors testified there was a history of fighting at the house. They didn’t know how serious it was, but it did get loud — loud enough that a few months before her disappearance one of them called the police. The cops arrived, and both parties said they were fine and there wasn’t a problem.”

“I assume there was no evidence of violence?” Jericho wondered.

“No,” Paige agreed. “So, a few months go by with no further incidents. On the day Scarlett disappeared, her husband, Levi, goes fishing with a friend at Willard Bay. He claims he was there all day and his friend, says a guy by the name of Jason Davis was with him the entire time. That was his first mistake. He lied. Investigators discovered Jason Davis was having an affair, and he left Willard Bay for a couple hours to see his mistress.”

“Okay,” Jericho made a note on his pad. “But one lie didn’t get him convicted of murder.”

“No, but it helped,” Paige insisted. “Prosecutors claimed that gave him opportunity.”

“Well, they still needed motive and means,” Jericho argued.

“That’s where they lose me,” Paige admitted. “I don’t see any motive. Sure, you have a history of marital problems. And this Levi guy was wealthy, so he probably had the means. But they couldn’t prove Levi’s car ever left the parking lot. There weren’t any cameras in the area so he could have, though. That gives his story doubt, but it’s a pretty big jump to premeditated murder. After all this time, the husband still insists he never left. He said he was fishing all day and returned home at around eight o’clock that night.”

“I’m still wondering how they got a conviction,” Jericho questioned.

“I’ll get to that,” Paige promised. “Here’s the thing. The motive, according to the prosecutor, was domestic violence. I’m not buying it. They had several arguments but all of them occurred when Levi was drunk. Witnesses testified he was a great guy unless he was drinking, and several people admitted he was a mean drunk.”

“Was he drunk that day?”

“Nope,” Paige said confidently. “His friend, this Jason guy, said they drank a couple beers, but that’s it. He says they had a whole cooler full of beer, but Levi got a mild case of sunstroke that day. Davis said Levi developed a headache and stopped drinking because the alcohol would make it worse. Davis claimed he drank more than Levi Thayer did that day.”

“Well,” Jericho considered. “That brings the motive into question. If the motive was an argument gone bad.”

“I agree,” Paige frowned. “So, Levi gets home to find police at his house.”

“Already?”

“Yeah,” Paige smiled. “Odd, right? The police wanted to question Levi, and they asked him if he was impaired. Levi told them he’d had a couple beers that day, so they did a blood draw. He wasn’t impaired. His alcohol level came back as a .03.”

“Who called the cops and why?” Jericho demanded.

“A woman by the name of Leslie Davis made the call,” Paige flipped through the pages for a second, then grabbed the one she was looking for. “In her original statement she says Scarlett called her the night before crying and said she was afraid, and she needed to get out. She claims Scarlett was threatening to leave Levi because she couldn’t take the volatile situation anymore. She said Scarlett called her back about a half an hour later and said she overreacted, and everything was fine.”

“That was the night before Scarlett went missing? Then the next day the husband went fishing with a friend?” Jericho wondered.

“That’s what she says,” Paige confirmed. “She further stated that she called Scarlett the following afternoon, the day Levi went fishing, and Scarlett never answered. Worried, after the conversation from the night before, Leslie drove over to the house to check on her friend. She said Levi’s car was missing and when she pounded on the door, nobody answered. She walked around to the back, to see if Scarlett was in the kitchen and didn’t hear the door, and that’s when she spotted drag marks in the dirt. She immediately called the police.” Paige passed over a photo that contained the marks left just outside the back door.

“Okay,” Jericho frowned and considered. “Suspicious, I’ll give you that.”

“The cops locked down the area and requested a search warrant to enter the house and check the wellbeing of the occupants,” Paige told him. “They went in and spotted a small amount of blood on the headboard in the master bedroom. They did a thorough search of the home but didn’t locate Scarlett. At that point, they again secured the residence and requested another search warrant so they could do a thorough search and seize the evidence. They retrieved the blood and positively identified it through DNA testing. They confirmed it belonged to Scarlett Thayer. They also realized an expensive rug was missing. Leslie told police the couple purchased the rug on their honeymoon in Fiji and she explained it was Scarlett’s favorite souvenir.”

“So, the prosecutor walked the jury through a story of violence, abandonment and a betrayal that ended in a woman’s death,” Jericho frowned. “It sounds good, but when you scrutinize the evidence, I’m not sold on their theory. What do we know about this Leslie Davis woman?”

“Nothing,” Paige admitted. “Once she gave her statement and led the cops down the path, she wanted them to follow, she disappeared. In fact, I’m not convinced she ever existed.”

“Meaning?” Jericho studied Paige. “You said the cops talked to her.”

“Let me rephrase that,” Paige pulled out the sheet that had her information on it. “A person existed, but not a woman by the name of Leslie Davis. It’s a fake name. I can’t find anyone with that name in Utah or any surrounding state. I asked Margie to do a nationwide search and she can’t find a driver’s license anywhere.”

“So what do we think really happened?” Jericho wondered.

“I’m still working on that,” Paige admitted. “I want to read through the report again and I asked Margie to get me the transcripts of the trial. I need a little time to go over it all, maybe we could regroup tomorrow afternoon. That will give me time to look into this and Gage might have something on the rentals.”

“I’m fine with that,” Jericho agreed. “Why don’t you call it a day and head home? We can all sleep on it and come back tomorrow and take a fresh look.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Okay,” Jericho settled in at the conference table. “Where are we on the missing woman case?”

“I read through the report and the court transcript,” Paige began. “I know that man was convicted of murdering his wife, but I’m not so sure she’s dead.”

“Based on what?” Gage asked skeptically.

“First, no body,” Paige began. “Also—” she continued when Gage was about to interrupt. “There was violence in the marriage. However, I can’t find a single report of violence when both parties weren’t drunk. I’m not excusing the husband, violence is violence, and it’s never okay. I’m just saying he wasn’t drunk that day and we know that because the cops ran a test. It doesn’t fit the pattern. There were also reports of her fighting back. I don’t know if there’s any truth to it, or if those claims were well-meaning friends and family trying to justify Levi’s behavior. I’m just saying there are reports and it sounds like this could be a mutual combat situation rather than a one-sided domestic situation.”

“Blame the victim?” Gage grumbled.

“I don’t believe that’s what Paige is saying,” Jericho frowned. “I know you have a personal interest in both Maddie and Scarlett, but I need you to be unbiased and objective, Gage. You knew Scarlett, if someone hit her, would she fight back?”

Gage started to speak then stopped himself. Jericho was right, his response couldn’t be knee jerk. He had to answer accurately without bias. “Maybe,” he finally decided. “I could see her striking back and getting volatile, especially if she was drunk. I don’t know why that means she’s still alive, though. I want to go on record and say we can’t give Maddie hope if we don’t know for certain that Scarlett is still alive. She’s been through a lot and she’s still struggling.”

“I agree,” Paige nodded. “There’s another reason I’m not sure the picture painted is the correct one.”

“What’s that?” Jericho asked.

“The blood,” Paige pulled out a photo and passed it to her boss. Gage moved closer so he could see the picture as well. “They claimed that meant there was some kind of trauma. The working theory was that the two of them got into a fight and Scarlett hit her head against that board.”

“Okay,” Jericho frowned. “That looks more like a smear to me than blunt force trauma.”

“Exactly,” Paige smiled. “If she hit her head, hard enough to kill her, the blood evidence would look different. For one thing, there would be a ton of it, not just that little smear mark.”

Gage frowned. Paige had an excellent point. “Didn’t the defense have a blood expert?”

“Yes,” Paige shrugged. “The prosecution explained that away by saying Levi cleaned up the blood after disposing of the remains.”

“But you don’t think so?” Jericho sat back.

“No,” Paige shrugged. “That blood was obvious. They saw it immediately when they entered the room — almost like someone planted it there on purpose to make it look like there was a struggle.”

“You think she faked her death and disappeared?” Gage frowned. “Why?”

“I don’t know the why,” Paige admitted. “But yes, I think she staged the house to make it look like something may have happened there and she fled.”

“Then why risk coming back now?” Jericho wondered. “She got away with it. Her husband is serving time for murder.”

“I might be able to answer that,” Margie stepped into the room. She handed Paige a sheet of paper. “I just found that this morning. I thought I’d do a quick search to see if there was any record of a name change.”

“What is it?” Gage asked.

“They officially declared Scarlett Thayer dead on September 10th of this year,” Paige sat back and considered. “Maybe she decided it was finally safe to return.”

“What are you thinking?” Jericho studied Paige.

“I’m wondering if that was the trigger,” Paige glanced at her friend. “If she felt comfortable returning to a place that was important to her this year because she was officially declared dead—”

“Where else did she feel comfortable going?” Gage realized where Paige was going with this. “I’ll look into her parents. And, I’ll add hotels in Panguitch and Cedar City to my list. I have a couple of crossovers — people who rented machines and stayed in hotels. This time of year, that’s to be expected. I’ll get her parents birthdates and start with those. If nothing pans out, I’ll move to Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and any other holiday I can think of where kids might be drawn back to their parents.”

“While you work on that, I want to talk to Maddie again,” Paige decided. “I want to do a more thorough interview now that I’ve read through the report and the trail record. I have a couple questions I think she might be able to answer. Also, I want to ask her about any other dates that might be significant. If she came out here, to make her annual trip, what other events might she revisit that we don’t know about?”

“I’m coming with you,” Jericho decided. “And when we’re finished with Maddie, I want to take a trip to Gunnison and talk to the husband.”

“He’s housed out here?” Gage asked, surprised. “I assumed he’d be up north at the Draper facility.”

“He was,” Jericho pulled out a sheet of paper. “He had some trouble with a prison gang and prison officials decided to transfer him out here for his own safety.”

“Alright,” Paige stood. “So, we go over to the hotel, talk to Maddie then the two of us will venture into the cesspool and see what we can learn from the guy that claims he didn’t do it.”

“Only, this time, he might be right,” Jericho stood. “I never thought I’d say that but, I’m beginning to think, it’s possible they got it wrong.”

“Maybe I should go with you to interview Maddie,” Gage said, worried. “She might feel more comfortable if I were there.”

“She also might minimize things,” Paige reached out and laid her hand on his arm. “You knew Scarlett and you’re friendly with Maddie. We need this to be official and I want you to remain friends once we’ve finished. I will not be as gentle and accommodating this time. I need answers and I plan to push if she tries to hide something. It’s better if you’re not there.”

“I agree,” Jericho motioned to the door. “Paige, let’s get started. We have a busy day ahead of us.”

Gage watched them go, then continued to stare out the side window. Was it possible Scarlett was still alive? Had she faked her own death to escape? If so, why? There had to be a reason she went to these lengths to get away. He considered the possibilities for several minutes, then he picked up the phone and called his next contact.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Come in,” Maddie took a step back and waited for the two cops to enter. “I talked to Jordan last night. That’s my boyfriend. He’s on his way out here. I tried to tell him it was okay, that he didn’t need to come but he insisted. I just thought you should know.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Jericho settled onto the lounge chair and left the two chairs at the small table for Paige and Maddie. “This situation is emotionally difficult. Having someone here, to give you moral support, it’s going to help when this is all over.”

“Did you find something?” Maddie asked, eager to hear anything new they had discovered.

“Not exactly,” Paige settled onto the chair. “Have a seat. We have a few questions.”

“Alright,” Maddie slowly lowered herself onto the chair across from Paige. “I told you everything I know yesterday but I’ll try to help.”

“I was able to get the full report from Draper Police,” Paige glanced over at Jericho. “Well, actually, my boss got the report. I also obtained the transcripts from the trial. I spent several hours yesterday and last night going over them. Now that I have a better idea of what happened, I’d like to ask you some questions. Do you mind if I record this?”

“Oh,” Maddie looked at the recorder. “No, I guess not.”

Paige switched on the recorder and pulled out her notes. “I think this will go quicker if I just dive right in. Are you okay with that?”

“Sure,” Maddie glanced at Jericho then focused on Paige.

“Okay. The prosecution had a theory,” Paige began. “They believed that Levi Thayer was violent and that he got into an argument with her the night before, went fishing with a friend, and when his buddy ditched him to hook up with his mistress, Levi rushed home, killed Scarlett and rushed back to the boat, arriving before his friend returned to resume the fishing excursion.”

“When you put it like that, it doesn’t seem likely,” Maddie frowned.

“Why do you say that?” Jericho wondered.

“Well,” Maddie turned to focus out the window. “I told you I didn’t think Scarlett was happy in her marriage. I got the impression there were problems. I didn’t realize they were as serious as they were until the trial but still—” she hesitated.

“You can be honest with us,” Paige pushed. “What are you thinking?”

“If Scarlett was fighting with Levi the night before, she would have resolved it the night before. Scarlett wasn’t the type to placate or back down just to make things blow over, if you know what I mean.” Maddie considered. “I didn’t know her before her parents divorced. She talked to me about the way it was before they split. They argued constantly and there was a lot of screaming in that house. Scarlett hated it, but — I don’t know, I think she also learned from it. Confrontation didn’t make her uncomfortable like it does most people. She was the type of person to hash it out, get it out on the table, then move on.”

“So,” Paige pulled out a witness statement. “When this Leslie Davis person who said she was Scarlett’s friend, told police Scarlett called crying and scared, then called back and said everything was okay, you think it was okay?”

“I have no idea who that woman is,” Maddie admitted. “I was never convinced they were friends. I realize I lived in a different state and Scarlett, and I didn’t see each other often, but we talked. I don’t think she was close to that Leslie woman, and I don’t believe that conversation happened. It doesn’t sound like the Scarlett I knew.”

“Maddie,” Jericho leaned forward. “If Scarlett wasn’t murdered, if she went into hiding and the woman you saw was your friend, what could have happened that made her flee?”

“Do you think she might not be dead?” Maddie jerked her head back to Paige.

“You thought so,” Paige said in response. “You’re the one that asked us to look into this. We’re simply asking why? Other than seeing a person who might look like your friend, what made you come into the office and ask us to help you?”

“Scarlett’s mom will no longer speak to me because I voiced my opinion out loud,” Maddie said hesitantly. “I know she’ll never forgive me if her daughter remains missing and the man she believes is a monster, is successful — if Levi gets out of prison, I mean. She’ll blame me because I talked to you about this.”

“But you know you have to talk to us,” Paige said flatly.

“It never made sense to me,” Maddie admitted. “None of it. I know Scarlett wasn’t happy in her marriage. I also know she was fearless and adventurous. I just can’t see it. Unless—”

Paige and Jericho waited. When Maddie didn’t continue Jericho asked, “Unless what?”

“Scarlett was a fighter,” Maddie admitted. “I sat through that entire trial. When Levi’s friends said Scarlett was also violent and the arguments were mutual, I believed them. I believed them because Scarlett admitted they fought. She told me on one of our trips that they knew how to push each other’s buttons and they could be cruel to each other.”

“So,” Paige glanced at Jericho. “Do you think it could have been a mutual combat situation rather than a one-sided domestic violence situation?”

“I do,” Maddie sighed. “I don’t think that matters, though. There’s no excuse that could justify Levi hitting his wife, not even once. But I suspect Scarlett hit him right back, and the fighting got more nasty because of it.”

“So, you think she hit him back in self-defense?” Jericho wondered.

“No,” Maddie looked away. “I suspect she started it sometimes. I honestly think the two of them were toxic together. I hate that man. If he killed Scarlett, I will never forgive him and I will hate him for the rest of my life. But I have to be honest. It’s the only way I can accept what happened and move forward. I know Scarlett had a temper. She unleashed it on me more than once. We worked, because I backed down and once I did, she calmed down. I don’t want you to think I’m blaming Scarlett or that I’m making excuses for her husband. What he did was wrong. I’m just saying maybe the situation wasn’t entirely his fault. Maybe it wasn’t as cut and dried as the prosecutor made it sound.”

“Did you tell anyone this?” Jericho wondered. “Did you express this feeling that the fighting might have been mutual?”

“I did,” Maddie swallowed. “It’s why I wasn’t involved in the trial. They interviewed me, the District Attorney’s office did. Then they said I wouldn’t make a good witness and they didn’t think it was wise to use me. They thought I would confuse the jury.”

“Did they tell the defense?” Paige wondered.

“I think so,” Maddie shrugged. “They also called me, brought me in for an interview, then said they couldn’t use me, either. I think I knew too much; I mean about the marriage being toxic and explosive. I know Scarlett wasn’t happy, but when we talked about it, she said nobody is truly happy and you have to work to make a marriage succeed. She told me Levi was worth the effort.”

“She loved him?” Paige asked.

“I think she did — or maybe she just thought she did,” Maddie closed her eyes, trying to regain her composure. “I think, in his way he loved her, too. But sometimes, the one you love isn’t good for you. They weren’t good for each other.” She hesitated. “Anyway, I don’t really know what to think. I accepted the conclusion of the jury. I believed she was dead and that her husband killed her, then—”

“Then you saw someone that looked a lot like her,” Paige nodded. “And, because she’s important to you, it made you hope.”

“It all seems surreal,” Maddie whispered. “I’m so afraid to hope. And when I do hope, I find myself feeling a little sorry for Levi. Then, I get angry because he doesn’t deserve my sympathy. No matter how many times I tell myself she’s dead, there’s still this little sliver of hope and I’m worried it might destroy me.”

Jericho silently listened and understood her dilemma. He wondered, was it better to know? To have the closure that came with a body, but no answers. Or, was it better to have answers and the closure of a trial, but never locate the remains? It took over ten long years, but he finally got his answers — so did Paige. He just hoped, somehow, they could help this woman find the truth that she needed. He was worried, no matter what they did, the wounds that had started to heal for her, would reopened and she’d be back at the beginning again, trying to deal with the fallout. Couldn’t be helped but maybe it could be minimized.

“Is there anything else you think we should know?” Paige asked.

“I don’t know,” Maddie considered. “Not that I can think of.”

“What about the rug?” Paige shifted gears. “This Leslie Davis said it was important to Scarlett. Do you know if that’s true?”

“It is,” Maddie admitted. “That’s another thing. They claimed that since it was missing, that meant Levi used it to remove the body. But that’s not the only possibility. If Scarlett left, she would have taken that rug with her. It meant that much to her — she loved it.”

Paige considered. “But she didn’t take any clothes and her car was still in the garage.”

“Right,” Maddie sighed. “Which is why I keep going around in circles.”

“Anything else?” Jericho asked.

“No, I don’t think so,” Maddie took a long breath. “Do you think Scarlett is still alive?”

“We don’t have any answers,” Jericho jumped in. “We’re doing our best to find those answers, though.”

“I promise,” Paige added. “If we find anything, we will let you know.”

“Alright,” Maddie glanced at Jericho then looked at Paige. “Jordan should be here tonight. We’re going to stay here in town for a few more days. If you have any further questions, we’ll be here.”

Paige stood. “Thank you for your time. We’ll be in touch.”

They were back in the car and headed for the prison when Jericho finally spoke. “What do you think?”

“I think she was an excellent witness,” Paige stared out the window. “I also think the prosecutor was honest. They didn’t use her because her testimony would confuse the jury. They painted a picture of a violent man that murdered his wife. Maddie would have told a story of a toxic, unhealthy relationship that was equally destructive. They couldn’t take that risk.”

“And the defense couldn’t use her because she was too close to Scarlett, and they were afraid of what she knew and would reveal on the stand,” Jericho agreed. “Let’s go see what the homicidal husband has to say.”

“It’s heartwarming and refreshing to have a boss that’s so open minded and unbiased,” Paige grinned and climbed from the truck.

“Uh-huh,” Jericho opened the front door. “Ladies first.”

“Why did that sound sarcastic?” Paige asked, stepping past him.

“Look at that, you should be a detective,” Jericho stepped in behind her.

“We don’t have detectives,” Paige moved to the guard. “Deputy Paige Carter and Sheriff Jericho Walters to see Levi Thayer.”

“We’ve been expecting you,” the guard handed them a sign-in sheet. “Guns can be placed in the lockers over there. Let me know when you’re ready and we’ll escort you back.”

They were seated in a small room with a metal table that had a bar that ran from one end to the other, and three chairs. It only took a few minutes for a guard to escort Levi Thayer into the room and handcuff him to the bar. He turned to address Jericho. “You good or do you want me to stay?”

“We’re good.”

“Mr. Thayer, I’m Deputy Carter and this is Sheriff Walters. Are you willing to talk to us without your attorney?”

“He says I should say no,” Levi settled back in his chair. “But he also said I’d never get convicted so I’m not sure it’s wise to listen to that guy.”

“Is that a yes or a no?” Jericho wasn’t amused.

“Sure,” Levi shrugged. “It’s a yes. I’m beginning to think my attorney only cares about my case because he thinks it’s going to get him better clients in the future. What can I do for you Deputy Carter?” He grinned and winked at Paige.

Paige gritted her teeth and understood why the jury hated him. No wonder they found him guilty of a crime he may not have committed. “I was wondering if you could tell me about the day your wife disappeared.”

“Why?” Levi narrowed his eyes at her. “Why would a deputy and the Sheriff from — where are you from?”

“Sanpete County,” Jericho answered coldly.

“Why would a couple cops from Sanpete County care about the disappearance of my wife?”

“Are you willing to talk to us or not?” Paige evaded.

“I went fishing,” he shrugged. “When I got home, she was gone. I’m sure you already know that.”

“I’m interested in the testimony from your neighbor that said you left the night they released you from custody and didn’t return until the following morning. Where did you go, Mr. Thayer?” Jericho sat back, mirroring Thayer’s casual demeanor.

“Didn’t,” he shrugged. “That guy is delusional. I never left my house that night. He’s a crackpot, and he thought I was having a fling with his wife — so he lied.”

“Were you?” Paige wondered.

“No,” Thayer sighed. “Look, once this all went down, the neighbors, they wanted their fifteen minutes. That’s all that was. I never left.”

“What happened to the rug?” Paige asked.

“No idea,” Thayer frowned. “I assume Scarlett took it with her. She loved that rug. That’s why I bought it for her.”

“On your honeymoon, right?” Paige wondered.

“Yeah,” Levi studied her. Clearly, she’d been talking to someone. “Look, unless you’re here because you realize I’m innocent, there’s not a lot to say.”

“I can think of a lot of words to describe you,” Paige sat back. “Innocent isn’t one of them.”

“Domestic abuser,” Jericho added. “Violent felon, coward, pathetic drunk—”

“Yeah, I get the idea,” Thayer grumbled. “But I’m not here because I hit my wife a few times.”

“You sure about that?” Paige said flatly. “Do you honestly think you would have been convicted if it wasn’t for your violent marriage?”

“Maybe not but they did not convict me of hitting my wife,” he corrected.

“So you admit you did hit your wife?” Jericho wondered if he’d answer honestly.

“I’m getting bored,” Levi pretended to yawn. “We all know something happened and you’re here to see if I’m serving time for a crime I didn’t commit. There’s no other reason for you to be here. So, what happened?”

“You didn’t answer the question,” Paige stood. “If you’re not willing to talk, we’re leaving.”

“Fine,” Thayer sighed. “I drank too much back then. Prison tends to cure you of that. When I drank, I — got impatient. I hit Scarlett. What nobody seems to care about is, when she got drunk, she was just as mean. I’m not excusing what I did. I know better and you’re right, it’s probably the reason I landed here. Still doesn’t make it right. I know you don’t believe me, but I loved Scarlett and I did not kill her.”

“It doesn’t really matter what we believe,” Paige informed him. “We’re not here to question your conviction. We came to get answers.”

“And did you?” Levi wondered.

Jericho studied him for several seconds. “What do you think happened?”

“I don’t know,” Levi said honestly. “I assume she left me.”

“And made it look like you killed her?” Paige asked. “Why would she do that?”

“Like I said, I was an SOB when I drank,” Levi admitted. “I’m not proud of that. But I wasn’t stupid. Do you honestly believe Jason would have left if we knew Scarlett was planning an escape that day?”

“He left to meet with his girlfriend,” Paige disagreed. “It was spontaneous.”

“No,” Levi disagreed. “It was planned. We would have planned it better if we knew I needed a solid alibi.”

“So, you think she staged the scene to make it look like you killed her, and she walked away dragging that rug behind her?” Jericho pushed.

“I think she had help,” Levi considered. “I also don’t believe she wanted me to rot away in a prison cell for a crime I didn’t commit.”

“Then why the staging?” Paige asked.

“Sounds like you believe me,” Levi realized. “You know I didn’t do this but you’re not doing anything about it.”

“I never said that,” Paige disagreed. “This prison is full of guys that say they didn’t do it. I’m simply humoring you. You said she’s not dead, and she’s not missing. You claim she took off. So, why the staging?”

“I have no idea,” Levi admitted. “We drank a lot the night before — or, I did. I don’t think she drank that night. We fought. She wanted me to go to rehab, to stop drinking, so we could try to have a less contentious marriage. I brushed her off, said I didn’t need rehab, I wasn’t a drunk. She was right,” Levi admitted. “I’d still be drinking if I was free. I’m sober now and plan to stay that way — I guess, in here, I don’t have a choice. Anyway, I needed help to stop. It was going to take something drastic. Prison is pretty drastic.”

“True,” Paige nodded. “Maybe you can’t get alcohol in here but there’s always a way to get narcotics. You haven’t, not as far as I can tell. At least you didn’t trade one vice for another. Anyway, I think that’s all I have.”

“Yeah,” Jericho stood. “I’m done.”

Levi frowned when Paige knocked on the door. The guard came in, unhooked him from the table, and escorted him out the door.

Paige climbed into Jericho’s car and just silently sat there looking out the windshield at the enormous building. “Horrible life.”

“Yeah,” Jericho started the engine. “I can’t recommend it.”

“What’s your take?” she turned to face him.

“I think he’s served seven years for a crime he probably didn’t commit. I don’t get the sense he’s lying. And he makes a good point. If he was planning to kill his wife, he would have had a better alibi. I also agree with him, she had help.”

“Leslie Davis?” Paige wondered.

“I’d bet the farm on that one,” Jericho pulled out of the lot.

They were nearly back to Manti when Paige finally spoke. “What we think we know doesn’t matter. Not if we don’t find her.”

“I know,” Jericho pulled into his parking spot and just sat there, thinking. “Maybe Gage found something we can follow up on. I don’t feel like we got anything from our visit to the cocky prisoner.”

“He’s not cocky,” Paige pushed open her door. “He’s terrified. This appeal is his last shot. He was desperate for us to give him something, anything that he could hang onto. I think, just like Maddie, allowing that one sliver of hope will destroy him if it doesn’t work out.”

“You’re probably right,” Jericho joined her and they walked silently into the building.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I want to hear about your interview with Maddie and the visit to the prison,” Gage said the instant they stepped into the bullpen. “But first, I think I found something.”

Paige shrugged out of her coat. “Alright.”

“Let’s take this back into the conference room,” Jericho suggested. “Margie, you can head home. We shouldn’t be long.”

As soon as they were settled around the large table Gage flipped on the large screen. “As you know, I called around and talked to all the snowmobile rental agencies and the hotels. There were several names that overlapped. I wasn’t surprised, we have a lot of tourists that come out, rent a room for a few days, grab a machine and explore.”

“Right,” Paige leaned forward to study the data.

Gage hit a button and several of the names were instantly highlighted.

“Fancy,” Jericho studied the information.

Gage hit the button again and two names appeared. “I narrowed it down to these two. Leah Mancini is the right age. She was staying at a hotel in Mayfield but she checked out earlier today. I sent the photo over to have the staff look at it. They said maybe, but they couldn’t be sure.”

“Alright,” Jericho studied the information on the screen. “It’s a good start. What about Diane Huffington?”

“Basically the same,” Gage admitted. “She was staying at a hotel in Sterling, checked out this morning. The staff said the picture matches her basic features but they don’t know.”

“Okay,” Paige sighed. “We’ve narrowed it to two, then.”

“Not so fast,” Gage clicked a button and different information filled the screen. “Scarlett’s dad is Grayson Peters. His birthdate is October eighteenth. Guess who spent the seventeenth to the twentieth in a hotel in Cedar City?”

“Who?” Paige asked, excited.

“Leah Mancini,” Gage grinned. “I checked Panguitch in May, that’s her mom’s birthday. Barbara Bentley had a celebration, but I couldn’t find Leah anywhere near that region at the time.”

“Maybe she was out of town,” Paige offered. “Maybe she was still in hiding and only came out now because they declared her legally dead.”

“It’s possible,” Jericho continued to study the screen. “Am I reading that right? Has Leah used the same address in Loa on every stay?”

“Yes,” Gage nodded. “I contacted the county. They said the title was changed last June, about five months ago.”

“That long?” Paige frowned. “Then why not come one month early and see your mom’s birthday?”

“I’m guessing we’ll have to ask her,” Jericho decided. “You two head home. I want you to meet up here in the morning and head to Loa. Go see if Leah Mancini is actually Scarlett Thayer.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Gage pulled the vehicle into the driveway and just stared at the modest house.

“You okay?” Paige wondered.

“I am,” he shut down the engine and pushed open his door. “I might need a minute, especially if she’s here. Can you take the lead on this one?”

Paige climbed from the vehicle and started down the sidewalk. “No problem. Just jump in whenever you want. I’m not going to introduce you. Let’s see how she handles that.”

“Alright,” Gage stood back and let Paige ring the bell.

Leah Mancini stood in the doorway wiping her hands on a small towel. She was in her early forties, with hazel eyes, and long brown hair. It was definitely the woman from Maddie’s photo. Paige was also certain it was Scarlett Thayer.

“Can I help you?” Leah asked.

“I’m Deputy Carter from Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office,” Paige held out a hand. “Are you Leah Mancini?”

“I am,” Leah noticed Gage and her eyes grew big, but she recovered quickly.

“What is this about?”

“I was wondering if we could come inside and speak with you for a moment,” Paige took a step forward.

“I, uh—” she glanced back, appeared to regain her composure, and motioned for them to enter. She led them to a small living space and settled onto a large couch.

Gage took a chair across from her, Paige settled onto the couch next to her. They sat there in silence for several seconds.

Leah turned and nervously glanced down the hall again.

“Do you have company?” Paige inquired.

“What? Oh, no,” Leah placed her hands in her lap and began fidgeting. “How can I help you?”

Paige studied her, something was wrong. “Ms. Mancini, if someone else is in the house, someone that poses a danger—”

Just then a kid that looked about six or seven barreled down the stairs. “Mom! I can’t get it. Can you help with—” he spotted the group in the living room and froze, but his stocking feet didn’t stop the momentum on the hard wood floors. He slid at least three feet before he reached out and stopped himself with the wall. “Mom? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Benji,” Leah stood and moved to stand in front of her son. “I need a minute to visit with these police officers then I’ll come up and help you with your math. Is that okay?”

“Should I call Nana?” Benji whispered.

Leah smiled. “No, I know them. It’s really okay. Go on up and work on your spelling.”

Benji glanced around his mom and focused on Paige and then Gage. “I’ll go up, but I’m going to be listening.” He glared at Gage for another few seconds before he turned and ran up the stairs.

“He’s the reason you ran,” Paige asked.

Leah settled back onto the couch and closed her eyes, sighed, then opened them and focused on Gage. “He was.”

“Before we go any further,” Gage interrupted. “I want to hear you say it. I want you to acknowledge who you really are. Then you can explain how you can live with yourself, knowing you hurt everyone that loved you. Knowing what you put Maddie Rowley through all these years.”

“Gage,” Leah swallowed, then gave him a tentative smile. “I’m glad it was you that found me. I knew Maddie would talk to you and I think, deep down, I knew you’d be the one that realized it really was me.”

Gage just waited.

“Yes,” Leah swallowed again. “I am Scarlett Thayer, or I was. Scarlett has now officially been declared deceased.”

“And that’s why you came back?” Paige could see her partner was too emotionally invested in this. She’d have to do the questioning and keep them on track.

“I came back because my son has reached an age he needs to know his father,” Leah glanced at Gage.

“How’s that conversation going to go?” Gage wondered. “Benji, we can go meet your dad but unfortunately, he’s in prison for killing me. Yes, I know I’m not dead.”

“Gage,” Paige warned.

“No, he’s right,” Leah settled back into the couch. “My situation is hard to explain so I think maybe I should start at the beginning.”

“First,” Paige took out a notepad and her recorder. “Do you mind?”

“I don’t,” Leah smiled. “I’m pretty sure my attorney would.”

“You already have an attorney?” Paige wondered. “To deal with the legal ramification of faking your own murder?”

Leah frowned. “No, not at first. My lawyer was working to get Scarlett pronounced legally dead.”

“Why was that important?” Paige wondered. “First, can I record this?”

“I suppose,” Leah focused on Gage. “I really am sorry and I hope you’ll help me unravel all that’s happened instead of nitpicking what I say to find a reason to punish me.”

Paige turned on the recorder and set it on the coffee table. “Okay, you came back to make sure Scarlett Thayer was official listed as deceased. Why? I guess we should step back. I’m in the home of Leah Mancini. Leah, are you Scarlett Thayer?”

“Yes, I was,” Leah admitted. “Although I’m not anymore. Scarlett is officially gone now. I prefer to be known as Leah.”

“Okay,” Paige agreed. “Why was it important to have Scarlett declared dead?”

“For Levi,” she turned and stared out the window. “I wanted to do that for Levi. I know it’s going to be hard for you to believe but I loved my husband. We had problems, big problems. We were both young, passionate; and, often times, out of control. But I honestly believe we did love each other.”

Gage glared at her, skepticism written all over his face.

“I’m not following,” Paige admitted. “How does having Scarlett declared dead help Levi Thayer?”

“I left him,” Leah provided. “I left. I decided to end the marriage and go into hiding. He shouldn’t have to go through a public divorce, and he shouldn’t be forced to pay for a child he never knew he had.”

“So, Benji is Levi Thayer’s son?” Paige knew he was, she just wanted Leah to admit it.

“Of course,” Leah glanced at Gage, then looked away. “It was the reason I left.”

“Why did you leave?” Paige asked. “More to the point, why did you leave that way?”

“I think I need to start at the beginning,” Leah shifted. “Oh, I didn’t offer you anything to drink.”

“We’re fine,” Paige motioned for her to begin her story.

“Okay,” Leah settled back. “Levi and I, our relationship, it was a series of highs and lows. When I met him, we clicked instantly. We dated for a year then Levi graduated and I went home with him, to meet his family. He asked me to marry him and I thought I was living the fairytale. Of course, I said yes. I was in love. I truly was. The problem wasn’t emotion, it was too much emotion. We seemed to bring out the best and the worst in each other. I pushed him to excel, and he did. His family business took off once he got involved. But our fights, they were also off the charts. There was no middle ground with us. We were either on top of the world, or about to kill each other.”

“Which is fine when you’re a couple, but not a suitable environment to bring a child into,” Paige realized.

“Yes, but I’m not there yet,” Leah shifted then appeared to settle. “Several months before I left, we attended a party. It was a big deal for some important client, and we got all dressed up, determined to look our best. Levi was nervous about the meeting; he fidgeted the entire way to the party. I tried to help him relax but nothing I did could settle him. Once we arrived, they disappeared into a study and conducted business. The meeting lasted over an hour, I paced the room the entire time, waiting to see if it went well.

Levi came out, and I instantly knew he landed the client. He was so relieved, he started to drink. At first, in celebration but then because he was at a party and he was having a good time. He was pretty drunk that night, but I was worse. Toward the end of the night, an extremely attractive woman hit on Levi. He laughed and acted like he was flattered but didn’t rebuff her. She came back and invited him to her room. That’s when I lost it. I shoved between them and told her I’d be helping my husband to the car, it was time to go home.”

“You fought?” Gage realized.

“Not exactly,” Leah rubbed her hands over her face. “I fought. We always knew we’d be drinking at those events, so Levi arranged for a driver. We settled into the backseat and I confronted him. He brushed me off, said I misread the situation, and I needed to calm down. Then he motioned to the driver and said he would not discuss anything until we were alone.”

“I agreed, but all the way home I seethed,” Leah admitted. “It was his reaction; my jealousy and I suppose it was a little fear. Then add in all the booze and it was a recipe for disaster. The woman was beautiful, I kept asking myself if he would have refused or joined her if I wasn’t there. By the time I got home, I was ready to explode.”

“Did you?” Paige wondered.

“I did. He didn’t,” Leah admitted. “And that made me even more irate. I was standing there, yelling, accusing him of wanting to cheat, of not loving me, and he just stood there looking at me like I was insane. I lost it. Before he knew it was coming, I shoved him. He wasn’t prepared, lost his footing, tripped on the rug, and smashed his head into an end table. He was just lying there unconscious, head bleeding all over the hardwood floor. I panicked, but I didn’t know what to do. I shook him and begged him to wake up. I was crying so hard I could barely breath. Finally, he woke up, told me he was okay, and we helped each other upstairs.”

“You just went to bed?” Gage asked, shocked.

“We did,” Leah looked down at her hands for several seconds. “That was a normal pattern for us. Fight, get it out, then let it go.”

“Did that change anything?” Paige wondered.

“It changed everything,” Leah nodded. “For a while. The following morning, we talked, really talked. I explained why I was so mad, and he assured me it wasn’t a big deal because he wasn’t tempted. We worked it out, but we also realized the drinking was getting out of hand. I could have killed him. We both agreed we had to make a change. And we did, for several months. We went to parties, supported each other, and we never drank a drop of alcohol. We were proud of our progress and our relationship was better than it had ever been. That’s when Benji was conceived, during that temporary respite.”

“Who started drinking?” Gage wondered.

“Levi,” Leah sighed. “We went to a party and his father pulled him into another room to talk business. His dad never understood why alcohol was a problem. So, they went into this meeting and when Levi came out, he was smoking a cigar and drinking a glass of scotch. I tried to talk to him, but he brushed me off. Said his dad helped him to realize it wasn’t a problem. He’d just control his drinking and everything would be fine.”

“Did you start to drink again?” Paige asked.

“No,” Leah shrugged. “I probably would have but my stomach was bothering me. I stuck to Ginger Ale all night. When we got home, Levi tried to start a fight, but I was tired and didn’t take the bait. He slept in the master bedroom and I crashed in one of the guest rooms. We continued to argue about the drinking until the day I left.”

“I finally realized I must be pregnant. I was worried, would that set Levi off, or would it be the trigger he needed to stop? I didn’t know. I went to the doctor and while I was there, I met a woman. She had a black eye and bruises around her left wrist. We got to talking and to this day I don’t know why I did it, but I told her my husband would get mean when he drank. We talked, she went to her appointment, and I went to mine and I didn’t think I’d ever cross paths with her again. When I walked outside, she was waiting for me. She handed me a card and told me if I decided I wanted out, I should call that number.”

“An underground network for battered women?” Paige asked.

“Yes,” Leah glanced at Gage. “I tried several times to talk to Levi about his drinking, but his dad believed Levi did better work, socialized better, worked the clients better, when he was a little tipsy. I was fighting against his family, and I knew I couldn’t win. We had one last fight, a really ugly one, the night before I left. I called the number on the card and told them I needed out. They asked when my husband would be away, and I told them he was going fishing with a friend the next day. They showed up, we left, and I tried not to look back. That proved impossible.”

“You just skipped over every detail that put your husband in prison,” Paige stopped her. “What happened to the rug?”

“I have it,” Leah pointed out the door to a large, spacious room that held a fireplace, two large French doors leading to a back patio, a comfortable lounge area and a big screen television. On the floor, in the center was a large, beautiful rug.

“And the blood?” Gage asked.

“What blood?” Leah frowned.

“On the headboard?” Gage pushed.

“I—” Leah frowned. “Wait, I wanted to bring a jewelry box with me. It had belonged to my grandmother, and it was important to me. The woman, she called herself Leslie, but that’s not her name. Anyway, she insisted I had to leave it there. When she turned away, I snuck it into my bag. She saw me and forcefully took it from me. When she pulled it away, the tiny hinge sliced my finger. I must have touched the headboard—” he scowled, trying to remember. “I did. When I went into our bedroom, the enormity of what I was doing hit me. I was leaving the man I loved. I remember placing one hand on my stomach and I braced myself with the other hand on the headboard. I just stood there, for the longest time, trying to decide what to do. Finally, Leslie returned and told me we had to go. I insisted on taking the rug. She argued, I refused to listen. Finally, she helped me roll it up, and we dragged it outside and hefted it into her trunk.”

“The drag marks,” Paige mumbled.

“What?” Leah asked.

“Nothing.” Paige considered. “So, you fled, then what? Was it always part of the plan to have this woman that called herself Leslie return to the house and make false statements that led the investigators to believe there was foul play?”

“I don’t know what Leslie did,” Leah glanced at Gage. “I only know what happed to me. We drove for hours, then Leslie handed me off to another couple. We did that for days. I’d ride, sometimes stop at a house to eat and sleep, then it was back on the road to another location. I won’t tell you where they are, I couldn’t tell you about most of them but the ones I do know, I won’t discuss it. Some of those women barely escaped with their lives. I won’t do anything that puts them in danger.”

“Okay, so you didn’t know about it that night,” Gage said without emotion. “But why didn’t you come forward, or at least find a way to let someone know you were alive, when Levi was arrested for your murder.”

“I didn’t know,” Leah whispered. “I thought he’d come home, find me gone and know I left. I convinced myself he’d know it was the drinking that pushed me away.”

“I get you were in hiding, but you can’t tell me you didn’t see the news, read a newspaper, see a magazine in a convenience store. The story went national. It was the headline of every network for weeks.”

“I will not tell you where I went,” Leah repeated. “I will tell you, for that first week, I wasn’t watching the news or reading magazines. I was traveling, and I never went into a store because they have cameras. It took some time, but I ended up in Italy. My choice. They set me up in a small home and I got a job. I gave birth and lived my life for the past eight years. I gave birth to Benji, and I tried to move on.”

“What happened?” Paige asked when she didn’t continue.

“Benji got older, and he kept asking questions about his dad,” Leah admitted. “Once I told him how wonderful his father was, he didn’t understand. If his dad was such a great guy, why wasn’t he with us. I couldn’t do it anymore. Plus, I missed my parents and I miss Maddie. I just kept thinking what I did was wrong. I understand why women do it. The others, the ones that I became friends with, they needed that network. I didn’t. I felt like a fraud, with Benji, with the other women, even myself. Finally, I couldn’t take it any longer. That’s when I contacted the administrator and asked about a lawyer. I wanted to be declared dead before I returned and messed up Levi’s life. Honestly, I wondered if he got remarried and moved on with someone else.”

“When did you find out?” Paige asked. “And be specific.”

“The group,” Leah focused on Paige. “They helped me get this place in Loa. I got settled in, found a sitter for Benji and I drove to Panguitch to see my mom. It was almost her birthday and I wanted to surprise her. It’s less than two hours away. I planned to drive over, spend a little time with her, then come home that night. She told me Levi was in prison for killing me. I freaked out, I was so upset my mom wouldn’t let me drive. I had to call the agency and get someone to take Benji for the night. I wanted to come clean immediately, but the lawyer said it would be better to have me declared dead, then decide how to proceed. They finalized the request in September, and I told her to start working on a plan to get Levi out of that place.”

“You do realize, if you come forward, Levi will find out you have a son?” Gage wondered how she planned to deal with that.

“I don’t plan to keep Levi and Benji apart,” Leah said without hesitation. “It’s going to be up to Levi what that looks like. Benji is his son, and as long as he’s not drinking, I trust him to love and care for Benji. Any visitation agreement will have to include that restriction — no alcohol, not even one beer.”

“That will be up to the judge,” Paige warned.

“I know,” Leah looked down, then focused on Gage. “Now what happens?”

Before they could answer, there was a knock on the door.

“You expecting company?” Gage wondered.

“No,” she glanced out the window and smiled. “Benji,” she called upstairs on her way to the door. “I told you not to call Nana.”

“I know but—” he glanced from his mom to Paige to Gage, then focused on the woman standing just inside the foyer. “Nana?”

“Don’t punish the boy for doing the right thing,” Barbara Bentley pulled off her coat. “I assume you have some place I can stay the night. That was a dreadful drive this time of year.”

“Hello, mother,” Leah took the coat and draped it over the couch.

“Come on down here, Benji,” Barbara demanded. “This will impact you as much as the rest of us.” She turned to focus on Paige. “What do you plan to do with my daughter?”

“Nothing,” Paige shrugged. “Once I return, my boss will need to notify the Draper Police Department of our findings. I suspect they will conduct a thorough investigation and the District Attorney’s office up in Salt Lake will decide what charges to file, if any.”

“Maddie needs to see you,” Gage focused on Leah. “This has been difficult for her and she needs to see you.”

“I know,” Leah glanced at her mom. “If these two are willing to give me a ride, can you stay with Benji? I need to see Maddie and try to explain everything to her. She might not forgive me, but I have to explain.”

“I—” Barbara glanced at the deputies then focused on Benji. “I’m happy to babysit, but do you think that’s a good idea? Can you trust them?”

“Ma’am,” Paige stepped forward. “Your daughter didn’t break any laws in our jurisdiction. You can trust us. We just want to give the friend that brought this to us closure.”

Barbara sighed. “Alright, if that’s what you want, Leah.”

Paige smiled when the woman pulled a strange face. Clearly, she wasn’t sold on the name change.

“If you ride with them, how will you get home?” Barbara wondered.

“If Maddie won’t bring me, I can rent a car or something.” Leah decided.

“If Maddie won’t bring you, I will,” Gage offered.

“Alright,” Leah glanced around the room. “Benji, come upstairs with me for a minute. I need to pack a bag and then you’re going to have a slumber party with Nana.”

Once they were gone, Barbara turned to address the cops. “If anything happens to my daughter, you will answer to me. I will go on every news network, every blog, every podcast I can and tell the world how my daughter, a victim, is being vilified and mistreated. I will become your department’s worse media nightmare.”

“Like I said,” Paige sighed and reminded herself this woman was only protecting her child. “Leah didn’t break any laws in Manti. Our only interest in this case, from this point forward, is reuniting Maddie with a friend she’s been grieving for years.”

“I’m ready,” Leah hugged Benji, hugged her mother and followed them out the front door.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Hi,” Maddie stopped at Margie’s desk. “I’m Maddie Rowley, Deputy Clayton called and said I should come here immediately. Uh, this is my boyfriend Jordan Hinkley, I hope that’s okay.”

“Maddie,” Gage called from the conference room door. “Come on up here. And, if that’s the man you told me about, bring him with you.”

Maddie tightened her grip on Jordan’s hand and slowly moved toward the open door. The instant she stepped inside, she burst into tears.

Leah jumped to her feet, darted across the room, and pulled Maddie into a hug. “I am so sorry. I’m so very, very sorry. Can you ever forgive me?”

Paige watched the two women reunite. She glanced at Jericho, then Gage. The three of them had solved another mystery. She wondered if Leah knew just how difficult the next few months were going to be. Sure, she reunited with Maddie. But, Levi was still in prison for a crime he didn’t commit and Leslie Davis was partially to blame for that. If Leah continued to insist on keeping the woman’s identity and location a secret, the authorities up in Salt Lake might not be that understanding. There was no doubt, once Levi got released from prison, he’d be filing a lawsuit.

Smiling, she backed out of the room. They should give the reunited friends a little privacy. Gage and Jericho followed her out.

Jericho pulled the door shut. “Good work, you two. Things are bound to get hectic and difficult for them — soon. But we gave them this and that’s a good thing. Gage Havilland came on early so you can head home. Paige, I need to see you in my office.”

“Now what?” Paige asked the instant they were behind Jericho’s closed door. “Before we get into whatever this is, I want to make sure you and Harper will join us for Thanksgiving.”

“Oh, yeah,” Jericho settled into his chair. “We’ll be there. I wanted to let you know, just before you arrived back at the office, I had a conversation with Tolman. Stan Donaldson couldn’t take the pressure any longer. He decided something was up and he wanted to take a proactive step to resolve it. He met with James and told him everything.”

“Really?” Paige asked, surprised. “I didn’t think he had that in him.”

“Neither did James,” Jericho smiled. “He said he didn’t know what to do, so he sent Stan home. The kid’s suspended, pending an investigation.”

“That sucks for him,” Paige leaned against the back of the chair. “It’s going to make the holidays difficult.”

“Maybe,” Jericho grabbed his coat. “We can talk about that later. Let’s get out of here.”

“I’m all for that,” Paige agreed. “Did you talk to Harper, yet?”

“No,” Jericho frowned. “But I will.”

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**Be sure to come back next month for the exciting conclusion of Season 6. Paige will be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S6

**Tags:** Season 6

---

### [Make It a Double](https://melaniepsmith.com/make-it-a-double/)

**Published:** November 30, 2021
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Make It a Double (S6E7) Paige investigates an apparent hiking accident up the canyon — or, was it? Dax and his team execute their rescue mission and everyone is eager for them to come home.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*MAKE IT A DOUBLE\*\*\*****

“Either you want in, or you don’t.” Joel turned to Troy. “Go again. Open it wider.”

“Joel,” Vince protested. “I think they’ve had enough. The flow is fast enough. If you open the valve, they might choke.”

“If they want in, they have to prove they're worthy,” Joel insisted. “Just like we did. This is a brotherhood; they want to join the most coveted fraternity on campus. Which means they have to prove their dedication. They need to show how loyal they are to our organization. They must show they’ll do anything for their new family. Keep going.”

Joel started chanting, “Gamma, Gamma, Gamma…” The rest of the group joined in.

Troy studied each of the two guys, shook his head, and shut off the valve. “I’m not doing this.”

“Put that hose back in your mouth,” Joel told Tyler and Jonas. “Either you finish, or you’re out.”

Tyler glanced at Jonas, who looked a little dazed but complied. Tyler swallowed and slid the hose back into his mouth. He barely got it situated when Joel twisted the valve, and the alcohol filled the tube and flowed freely into his mouth again.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PaigeS6.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Make-It-a-Double.pdf)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/keg-of-beerMPSmith.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/scotch-whiskey-bottle-and-glass-MPSmith.jpg)

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Jonas tried to swallow, but he felt like he was drowning. He couldn’t think and his heart was beating like an eighties rock band was performing a concert inside his chest. He started to gag, then suddenly began to choke. He couldn’t catch his breath and he felt so cold. He gasped, tried to inhale but failed and collapsed, knocking his forehead on the surface of the ancient table.

“Joel, stop!” Troy insisted.

The fraternity brothers grew silent.

“He’s faking,” Joel insisted. “He dumped more Everclear int the funnel.

“He’s not,” Vince demanded. “Stop. If you don’t, I’m leaving. And I’ll go find campus security.”

Joel cursed and moved forward, crowding Vince until he backed up against a nearby wall.

“Uh, guys—” Doug stepped in. “His lips are turning blue. What do we do?”

“He needs help,” Troy panicked, shoved the tube away, and began to shake Jonas. The long piece of rubber disconnected from the metal keg and slid across the marble; A golden stream of beer flowed over the white floor, leaving a river of liquid and bubbles in its wake.

“I told you not to use Everclear,” Vince barked. “The beer was enough, adding hard liquor into the mix was too much, Joel.”

“Shut up.” Joel and Troy yanked Jonas from the chair and set him on the floor. “Go get Jeff.”

“Good idea.” Doug jumped up and ran from the room.

“This better be important,” Jeff grumbled on his way down the stairs. “I’m studying. I told you I don’t have time for this nonsense tonight. This test is a third of my grade.”

“He’s in trouble,” Vince insisted. “You work at the hospital and you’re pre-med. We need your help.”

“What do we do?” Troy ran a hand through his hair. He was terrified. He glanced to the side and realized Tyler was also extremely ill and currently projectile vomiting as he gripped his stomach and leaned over the large sink. The guy looked like he was about to pass out.

“Someone needs to get him to the hospital,” Jeff pointed to Tyler. “Hurry, load him in the communal van and drop him at the door of the emergency room.” He moved to Jonas, who was now lying motionless on the floor. Within seconds, Jeff knew his friends had gone too far.

“What about him?” Joel demanded.

“He’s gone.” Jeff stood and wiped his hand on his jeans.

“What do you mean, gone?” Doug stared at the lifeless form.

“You don’t mean he’s dead?” Troy asked, shocked.

“Yes,” Jeff took a step back. “He’s dead. I told you this was stupid. We need to call the police.”

“No,” Joel said defiantly. “We get rid of the body, make it look like an accident. If we call the cops, they’re going to shut the Frat house down. I don’t have anywhere else to go — do you?” He focused on Jeff, knowing he was barely making it with all the extra medical courses he was jamming into his already tight schedule.

“Unless you want a second body on your hands, I suggest you get that guy to the hospital,” Jeff motioned toward Tyler.

“I’ll take him.” Doug wrapped an arm around Tyler’s waist and slowly maneuvered him out the door toward a vacant van. Once Tyler was stretched out on the back seat, Doug floored it, eager to get to the emergency room before it was too late.

“Call the police,” Jeff turned toward the stairs. “You need to report this.”

“I’ll call,” Troy decided. “We can just say it was an accident.”

Jeff reached the top of the stairs, stepped into his room, and closed the door securely behind him. He didn’t need this tonight. At least they were being sensible. It might get complicated, but they had to report it. He settled back at his desk, grateful they decided to do the responsible thing this time — with Joel involved, that was always a Crapshoot.

“You’re an idiot,” Joel grumbled. “You think they’ll believe he accidentally inhaled half a keg of beer and mixed it with the hard stuff all by himself? Who gave it to him? He’s underage.”

“Well, Tyler is also suffering,” Vince considered. “We can tell them Tyler and Jonas were having a competition. We’ll just stay out of it—claim we didn’t take part. None of us are drunk. We can’t get into trouble if Jonas did this to himself.”

“Like they’ll believe that,” Joel scoffed. “We need to get him into my car and find a place to leave him.”

“I will not do this,” Troy insisted.

“Me either,” Vince agreed. “I think we should call the police”

“I think you’re all idiots,” Joel grumbled. Before they knew what he was going to do, Joel had snatched both of their cell phones off the desk and shoved them into his pocket. “Just get out of my way, I’ll take care of it myself.”

Troy looked at Vince. They both glanced at the body, focused on Joel, then headed for the front door.

“Where are you going?” Joel rushed after them.

“To find campus security,” Vince replied over his shoulder.

“If you take one more step,” Joel threatened. “You’re no longer a Gamma.”

“You don’t scare me.” Vince shoved open the gate. The two of them disappeared down the sidewalk.

Twenty minutes later, they returned, alone. “Where’s the body?” Tony demanded.

“Where’s security?” Joel countered.

“We couldn’t find them,” Vince admitted. “We came back to call the cops.”

“Go ahead, call,” Joel laughed. “When they get here and you can’t produce a victim, then what?”

“Where is he?” Troy insisted.

“He got better,” Joel shrugged. “He woke up and went home.”

“I don’t know what you’ve done,” Troy frowned. “But you need to call the cops, Joel.”

“Just stay out of my way,” Joel barked. “Go upstairs and keep your mouths shut.”

“Give me my phone,” Troy demanded.

“Yeah,” Vince glared. “Mine, too.”

“You’ll get them back tomorrow,” Joel glared at them.

They both hesitated, but ultimately rushed up the stairs.

“I think this looks good.” Lars pulled to the side of the road.

“Now what?” Joel asked, over an hour later, grateful he’d enlisted Lars’ help. His secret friend was resourceful, and Joel could always count on him to help when he found himself in a jam — unlike his fraternity brothers that were supposed to have his back. He glanced at the pack he tossed on the back seat. It contained all the cell phones he could find inside the frat house. His college friends talked a good game, but when it came down to it, none of them were willing to get their hands dirty. He also knew he couldn’t trust them to keep quiet.

But Lars would. He might have grown up on the wrong side of the tracks, and Joel’s parents insisted Lars was trouble, they even insisted Joel had to avoid the local bad boy completely or suffer the consequences — but Lars was the only person Joel knew he could rely on. He climbed from the vehicle and moved to stand on the edge of the steep cliff, knowing what they had to do. It was after one in the morning and completely dark but, from what he could see, the overhang was steep and jagged — and perfect.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Show me en route,” Paige said over the radio.

“Margie, I will also be en route,” Jericho advised.

“Copy,” Margie acknowledged. “Sgt. Alva is on scene with Clayton. Search and Rescue is standing by.”

“Thanks,” Paige answered. “The roads are snow packed from that storm last night. It might take a little longer to get up the canyon.”

“I copy,” Alva answered. “I’ll give you the details once you arrive.”

Paige pulled in behind Sergeant Alva’s patrol car. The instant she stepped from the vehicle, the icy wind slapped her in the face and swirled around her. She was grateful for the warm boots and the leather coat. That conjured memories of Dax, but she pushed them away. Thinking about her husband — or his two cohorts still stuck in Iraq — would only be a distraction. She spotted Gage standing next to Sgt. Alva and headed that way. “What do we have?”

“The couple over there,” Gage pointed to his vehicle. “They wanted to take advantage of the fresh snow. They were out cross-country skiing and stopped on this trail to take a quick break. They were admiring the view when they spotted the body.”

“I only see ski prints,” Paige observed.

“I’ve walked the entire area,” Gage moved up next to her. “I couldn’t find a single set of footprints, only the prints left by that couple and their skis.”

“Which means he went over that cliff before the storm hit,” Paige sighed. “It also means any evidence that might have been left is now gone. No tracks, no footprints, nothing. I could dig around in that snow all day and still come up empty.”

Gage frowned. “What does that mean?”

“I believe it means Paige questions the obvious,” Jericho stepped up behind them.

“If it’s obvious, why would she question it?” Gage wondered.

“He means I’m not convinced this was an accidental fall,” Paige clarified.

“I contacted Benny,” Jericho advised. “He’s going to head up once he finishes the report on the Benson autopsy.”

“It looks like that guy was hiking and just fell,” Gage insisted. “Maybe he tripped.”

“Nope.” Paige turned and moved to the edge, next to the rappelling ropes. “Can you get me down there, Alva?”

“Sure,” he shrugged. “If you want. But the guys are just waiting for your signal to bring him up. With the weather, I don’t see a reason for you to make that trip. You do realize what goes down has to come back up, right?”

Paige moved closer to the edge and glanced down. She wasn’t buying accidental fall on this one. “Where’s his vehicle?”

“I couldn’t find one,” Gage admitted.

“Then how did he get here?” Paige continued to study what she could see of the lifeless form. “This was no accident, Gage.”

“I was afraid you were going to stay that,” Gage sighed. “But, for the record, I also had unanswered questions.”

“What is he wearing?” Paige turned to focus on the sergeant.

“Snow Canyon Hoodie, cargo shorts, and sneakers.” Alva glanced at his notes. “Also, a light jacket over the sweatshirt.”

“He wasn’t hiking,” Paige insisted. “Look at that couple over there,” Paige pointed. “They went for a morning ski trip, and they have at least four layers, including ski pants, warm boots, a wool hat, an insulated coat, goggles, gloves, gaiters, a face shield —”

“Alright,” Gage grumbled. “I get the idea. But we also know that guy came out here before the storm hit. He wouldn’t be wearing all the fancy gear if this happened yesterday or even the day before.”

“Alva?” Jericho turned to the sergeant.

“A day, tops,” Alva gave Gage a sympathetic look. “Based on decomp, I’d say he went over that ledge sometime last night or early this morning before the storm blew in. With the dip in temps, Benny will have to determine time of death.”

“Do we know what time that storm hit?” Paige wondered.

“Around four, I think,” Gage glanced up the road. “Sounds like Benny’s here.”

“Say the word and my people will hoist the body up the mountain,” Alva turned to Jericho.

“Paige?”

“I need just a minute, then you can do your thing,” Paige decided. Once they loaded the remains onto the stokes, slowly raised him to the top, and loaded him into the waiting ME vehicle, Paige took a minute to study the body of a kid that died way too young.

“Any ideas?” Jericho moved up next to her.

“I guess we’ll need to start at the college,” Paige decided. “He didn’t have any identification, other than the college hoodie. Our first step is to identify him. Then we can try to determine what happened. Plus, Benny will help with that.”

“You still think this was a body dump?” Jericho wondered.

“Don’t you?” Paige focused on her boss.

“I’m not typically a betting man,” Jericho motioned toward the vehicles. “But I’d bet the farm that’s exactly what happened. The question is why.”

“And who,” Paige kicked the tire to knock the snow off her boot.

“Any word from your other half?”

“Nothing new,” Paige sighed. “Sean is improving. Zeus is building explosive devices and Dax is generating a plan to storm the castle. I just hope they don’t all end up dead in the process.”

“Trust them,” Jericho softened. “They know what they’re doing. I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

“Uh-huh,” Paige pulled open her door. “There’s nothing more we can do here. If there was evidence, it was destroyed in that storm.”

“We can only do what we can do,” Jericho turned and headed for his own vehicle.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into her house and immediately headed upstairs to change. She slid into a comfortable sweatshirt, lounge pants, and her favorite thick, fluffy socks. She laughed when her stomach let out a loud growl. She hadn’t had time to stop and eat today. Hopefully she’d find something edible in the fridge.

Moments later, she had some kind of rice and vegetable concoction in the microwave and a steaming cup of coffee in her hand. She settled in at the table to sip her favorite drink and think. It took all day, but she finally identified her victim. Jonas Medford was a freshman at Snow College. Benny had finished his preliminary assessment. Jonas did not suffer a fatal fall down the side of a mountain. He would have to wait for the lab results, but he believed the kid died from alcohol poisoning. He said Jonas had a heart attack and suffered asphyxiation — all consistent with drinking too much alcohol in a short period of time.

“Now I just have to figure out why?” Paige retrieved her dinner from the microwave and considered. If he was attending Snow College, it could have been a drunken party gone wrong. The kids throwing the party might have found him in a room, or on the back patio and panicked. Didn’t excuse what they did but they were just kids. She sighed and wished Dax was here. It always helped to talk through a case with her husband.

She pulled out a notepad and began jotting down the steps she would need to take to resolve this. First, she’d head to the college first thing and see if she could get a list of Jonas’ courses, housing information and names of his roommates. Then, she’d start running backgrounds…

\*\*\*\*\*

 “I think we’ve learned everything we can from the outside of that structure,” Dax announced.

“The explosives are ready,” Zeus advised. “Now we just need the invalid over there to recover enough to put this plan in motion.”

“I keep telling you I’m good to go.” Sean pushed himself into a sitting position and sipped his coffee.

“I think he’s good enough to manage his small but essential part in this,” Zeus studied Sean.

“I think he needs another day — maybe two,” Dax disagreed.

“I’m fine,” Sean insisted. “We should head in tonight once it gets dark.”

“You should eat your fake eggs,” Dax suggested. “Once you get stronger, we’ll talk about it.”

“Tonight,” Sean insisted. “I’m calling Nathan.”

“We’re half a day ahead of the good general,” Dax warned. “I doubt he’ll appreciate you bothering him at this hour. He probably just went to bed.”

“I thought Paige said he was still in Manti,” Sean corrected. “It’s only what? Nine out there?”

“About that,” Dax shrugged. “I was just about to call Paige. I’ll let her know we’re thinking about proceeding with the plan tonight and she can notify Porter.”

“We are going tonight,” Sean insisted. “We need to get Webb out of there before they realize who he is and why he’s here.”

“They might already know,” Zeus warned. “And if they do—”

“He could be dead already,” Sean nodded. “I know that. It’s part of the reason I don’t want to wait.”

“You guys finalize the plan,” Dax told them. “I need to call Paige.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Hey, baby,” Dax said when Paige answered the phone.

“Hi,” Paige whispered. “Are you guys okay?”

“I know you’re worried.” Dax settled onto the ground and leaned against the crumbling wall. He was up on the roof and hearing her voice made him long for home. “I also know telling you it’s time for us to put our plan into action isn’t going to help.”

“When?” Paige tried to push away the worry. “And what time? I want Nathan ready just in case—” she didn’t know how to finish that statement.

“Tonight,” Dax admitted. “Once it gets dark, well move in. Then we’ll evaluate the target and execute the plan as soon as it’s safe.”

“That would be never,” Paige argued. “Which means you might as well come home now.”

Dax smiled. “I promise we will be safe and I’ll be home soon.”

“Not soon enough,” she whispered. “I’m going to try to be supportive, but just be careful.”

“I will,” Dax assured her. “Now, tell me about your day. Any new cases?”

She started to skim over the college mystery, but Dax stopped her and insisted he wanted to know the details. They talked for over an hour before he reluctantly told her he should go help Zee walk through the plan one last time. Paige reluctantly said goodbye, then just sat there staring into the fire, terrified she’d never see her husband again. An hour later, Paige was still sitting there, frightened, stressed, and eager to have this mission over. That’s when it hit her. This was the life her mom lived with Dillan Carter.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige,” Jericho stepped from his office and focused on his deputy. “I need you to come with me.” He didn’t wait for an answer, just headed for the door.

Paige followed and silently climbed into his passenger’s seat. She absently buckled the seatbelt and then just stared out the window.

Jericho suddenly swerved to the right and pulled into a nearly empty parking lot. “Spill it.”

“What?” Paige glanced over. “Oh, right. Dax and the guys are putting their plan in motion. Well, they’re probably doing the final run through right now. They’ll execute the plan as soon as it gets dark. They’re ten hours ahead of us so—”

“He’s going to be fine,” Jericho assured her without hesitation. “I know it’s difficult, with him there and you here, but he knows what he’s doing. The sooner he rescues the British operative, the sooner he can come home.”

“I wish that were true,” Paige sighed. “We both know this is only the first step. Dax wants to come home, I can tell. He wants that as much as I do, but they won’t leave a man behind. Sean and this Webb guy, they went over originally to rescue someone else. They won’t abandon him — none of them will. This is only the first step. And finding the missing scientist — well, Sean’s been looking for him for months.”

“Which means he probably has a few leads,” Jericho decided. “Sean’s tenacious, and he’s an excellent investigator. He probably had a few ideas where to find the guy when his partner went missing. They’ll just pick that up and move forward. Dax will be home soon.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Paige focused out the large windshield. “Where are we going?”

“To the college.” Jericho pulled out of the lot and returned to the highway.

“I thought I was helping Gage this morning.”

“Clayton got called over to the high school,” Jericho advised. “I told him we could handle things at the college this morning.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Okay.” Paige stepped up to the apartment door. “The admission office said he lived here with two guys; Tyler Booth and Keith Snow.”

Jericho reached up and pounded three times on the door with his fist. He was about to pound again when the door flew open.

“What?” a guy in loose fitting pajama bottoms demanded.

“We’re looking for Tyler Booth or Keith Snow,” Paige answered.

“Tyler’s still in the hospital,” he glanced at Jericho and frowned. “I’m Keith. What do you need?”

“Why is Tyler in the hospital?” Paige wondered.

Keith frowned. “I thought you were the police.”

“Why is Tyler in the hospital?” Jericho demanded.

“That whole alcohol thing,” Keith frowned.

“Can we come in?” Paige wondered. “We have a few questions.”

“I’m kind of busy,” Keith started to close the door.

“We won’t take long,” Jericho reached out and pushed the door open even further.

“Do I have a choice?” Keith glared.

“Not really.” Paige stepped inside the small apartment. She settled onto the couch and pulled out a notepad. Jericho sat down next to her. “We need you to tell us about this alcohol thing.”

“I already told campus police everything I know,” Keith objected.

“And that’s a good start,” Jericho pushed. “But now we need you to tell us.”

“Can’t you just read their report?” Keith protested.

“We will,” Paige assured him. “But we need to hear it directly from you.”

“Fine,” Keith dropped into a chair across from them. “Tyler and Jonas moved in, but they wanted a bigger place. Said this space isn’t conducive to studying or some nonsense. I didn’t care. If they move, that’s more space for me.”

“Where did they plan to go?” Paige wondered.

“Epsa Gamma something,” Keith shrugged.

“Is that some fraternity organization?” Jericho wondered.

“Yeah,” Keith hesitated. “Technically, the college discourages fraternities and sororities, but they claim they don’t do the whole hazing thing.”

“But they do?” Paige realized. Is that how Jonas ended up at the bottom of a cliff?

“Well,” Keith shrugged. “Tyler is in the hospital and Jonas hasn’t come home.”

“Was he reported missing?” Paige knew he wasn’t, or she would have seen him in the system.

“Naw,” Keith settled back, more comfortable now. “I told them Tyler and Jonas left together but that campus security guy said people go home all the time. He said we have to wait and see if he shows up next week. If not, they’ll do a report or something.”

Paige glanced at Jericho. They’d need to stop at the security office and see if they looked into this at all.

“Tell us about Tyler,” Jericho switched gears.

“I don’t know much,” Keith admitted. “The campus guys showed up and said some guy dropped Tyler off at the emergency room. He was pretty sick because he drank too much. They said his levels were dangerously high, and he got there just in time. The guy, the one that came here, he wanted to know if I dropped him off. I didn’t. I was at work. I asked them if the guy also dropped Jonas off, but they said no. That’s when I told him Jonas left with Tyler. They were going to that big house at the end of College Avenue. I think something happened there but Tyler won’t talk about it.”

“Do you know who lives there?” Jericho asked. “In that big house?”

“No,” Keith shrugged. “I’m just a freshman. I heard it’s unusual for those guys to let someone join mid-year. We’re just a two-year college. But if you get into Gamma here, I guess it’s an automatic entrance into Gamma at the University of Utah — or, I guess anyway. That’s why Tyler and Jonas wanted to join. Mostly for later, plus they’d have better space next year.”

“Makes sense,” Paige nodded. “So, they went over to the frat-house. What night was that?”

“Uh, the night before last,” Keith considered. “Yeah, two nights ago.”

“We appreciate your help,” Jericho stood. “If you think of anything that might help, Paige will give you her card.”

Paige stood and handed him a business card. “I hope Tyler recovers soon.”

“I think he’s going home once he gets released,” Keith told them. “I went by last night, but like I said, he won’t talk about what happened. Not to me, anyway.”

Paige silently followed Jericho back outside. They continued to across the parking lot and climb into Jericho’s vehicle.

“Hazing gone wrong?” Paige wondered.

“Probably,” Jericho started the engine. “How do you feel about dropping by that big house at the end of College Avenue?”

“I’ve always wanted to see what happens inside a frat house,” Paige buckled her seatbelt.

Jericho studied her for several seconds. “You went to college. Are you telling me you never went to a wild kegger?”

“I’m telling you I never went to a wild kegger at a fraternity house,” Paige settled back. “Or a sorority, for that matter.”

“Why?” Jericho pulled onto the road.

“I went to college to make a better life for myself.” Paige stared out the window but she wasn’t really seeing her surroundings. She was lost in thoughts of the past. “Mom was gone, and I was on my own. I didn’t have a parent to fall back on if I failed. For me, college was a means to an end. So, I got lost in the studies and I excelled. I guess that’s what makes me good at what I do. I wanted to learn — as much as I could, as quickly as I could.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Jericho considered. “Sometimes I think you missed out on just being a kid.”

“Maybe,” Paige looked back at him. “But I choose to believe that’s overrated.”

Jericho didn’t answer. He was too focused on Paige’s life — current and past. She had to grow up way too quickly. Then, she hid behind her studies, got hired by the FBI and ultimately moved to Manti. Not too traumatic on the surface. But she lost her father when she was a child, her mother was murdered when she was a teenager and now her husband was halfway around the world in a hostile country, risking his own life to rescue a stranger. It didn’t sit well, but he wasn’t sure he could change it. He could have a talk with that husband of hers when he returned home.

“Let’s go harass some frat boys,” Paige said once Jericho pulled into the long driveway. “Nice digs. My college experience looked more like Keith’s than this place. Has to be nice.”

“What’s that?” Jericho joined her and they headed for the front door.

“Money,” Paige shrugged. “These kids, they have privacy, a quiet place to study, a kitchen to make their own meals, I’m just saying it would have changed the experience a bit — for the better. I can see why Tyler and Jonas wanted to move here.”

“Your own kitchen means cooking your own meals,” Jericho corrected. “I doubt these guys bother. I get the quiet and the independence, but that also means temptation and no supervision.”

“Which is why Tyler ended up in the hospital,” Paige glanced up when the front door flew open and a kid around nineteen, maybe twenty, stepped onto the front porch.

“Can I help you?” he asked reluctantly.

“Deputy Carter,” Paige held out a hand. “And this is Sheriff Walters. Do you live here?”

“I do,” the kid frowned and glanced at his watch. “I’m actually going to be late for a test. What is this about?”

“What’s your name?” Jericho moved forward.

“Oh,” he shifted his books. “David. David Klein.”

“You’re not on the list,” Paige glanced up. “The admin office over at the college gave us a list. You’re not on it.”

“I—” he sighed. “I’m in Greg’s room. Greg Baker. He’s my cousin. He went home, and I moved over, his family had paid for the entire year and I was grateful for the change.”

“But nobody told the college,” Paige pushed.

“I don’t think we needed to,” David shrugged. “It’s not a closed campus. I could rent that place,” he pointed to a modest home up the road. “It’s a private residence. If I rented it, that’s up to me and I wouldn’t need to notify the college. As long as I pay my tuition and fees, the rest is up to me. I assume it’s the same with this place.”

“Did you make arrangements with the owner, when you switched with your cousin?” Jericho didn’t think it was important but he wanted a clear picture.

“We didn’t switch,” David objected. “Greg’s mom got cancer, and he had to drop out to help his dad with his brothers. I worked it out with the other guys that live here. I don’t know if they spoke with the owners. Can I go? I can’t miss this test.”

“Not yet,” Paige moved to block his path. “I need to speak with you about Tyler Booth and Jonas Medford.”

“I don’t know them,” David glanced at his watch again.

“They were here two nights ago,” Paige was watching the kid carefully, but there was no sign he was hiding anything.

“I wasn’t,” David relaxed. “I just got back today. I went home, my brother just got back from his mission and we did a big family thing. Now can I go?”

“Where is home?” Jericho asked.

“Ogden,” David smiled. “Too far to drive home, but close enough to make it manageable.”

“I’ll need the information for your parents, your brother, anyone that can verify you were in Ogden two nights ago and not here, with your housemates,” Paige demanded. “Once I have that, you’re free to go.”

David pulled out a sheet of paper and jotted down a few names and numbers. Once he handed it to Paige, he pushed past her and practically ran toward the school.

“We’ll call,” Jericho motioned to the list. “But he’s not in this.”

“Let’s see who else is home,” they ascended the stairs and once again, Jericho pounded on the door. Nobody answered. He pounded again. Still nothing.

“They are college kids,” Paige shrugged. “We might have to come back tonight. Some of them could have night classes but most will stick to a daytime schedule to leave their nights free and open.”

“Is that a voice of experience?” Jericho wondered.

“Sort of,” Paige shrugged. “Let’s head over to the security office. I want to see the report.”

There wasn’t much to it. Paige glanced at Jericho, got his nod to proceed and sat down in the chair across from the guy currently on duty. He also happened to be the one that took the initial report. “Officer Shaw, I get the attitude about the alcohol — with Tyler. He drank too much and ended up in the hospital.”

“You have no idea how many kids drink too much and end up sick,” Shaw shrugged that off immediately.

“I’m more concerned about the missing persons report you never filed,” Paige continued.

“Kids come and go,” Shaw shrugged again, unconcerned. “I’m sure that kid just went home, decided to spend a little time with his family and he’ll be back. Probably in the next couple days, if not next week.”

“That’s going to be difficult,” Jericho dropped a crime scene photo on the guys desk, tired of the man’s attitude.

“Whoa,” he jumped back. “What is that?”

“That’s the body of Jonas Medford,” Paige said without emotion. “Your missing kid that you never put into the system. The kid that won’t be returning tomorrow or next week or next month. The kid that was reported missing, but you couldn’t be bothered to follow up.”

“Now wait a minute,” Shaw glared at Paige.

“And, because you didn’t do your job,” Jericho added. “We’ve wasted an entire day tracking down the information that should have been on the missing persons entry in the system.”

“We’ve got protocol,” Shaw scrambled. “He has to be missing—”

“Don’t give me some nonsense about waiting twenty-four hours before taking the report,” Paige cut him off. “It’s been a lot longer than that and he’s still not in the system. I checked. Plus, you add in the fact that he was with Tyler Booth when he disappeared…”

“And Tyler Booth is currently in the hospital fighting for his life after drinking too much,” Jericho added.

“And you should have taken that report immediately,” Paige finished. “You should have called us in to help. At the very least, you should have put out a bulletin, got Jonas’ picture out on social media. Basically, you should have done something.”

“I assumed it was just another kid that got homesick,” Shaw settled back. “How can I help now?”

Paige passed him the list of names she had for the guys living in that large house. “You can get me everything on these guys, including class schedules. I also need to know if Jonas or Tyler have ever been in trouble.”

“I can tell you most of these guys are good kids,” he pointed to the list. “Joel Bunton is your one glaring exception. He’s got an attitude and — I don’t know how to explain it. He’s arrogant. He also thinks he’s better than everyone and the rules don’t apply to him. His dad’s some bigwig financial advisor or some nonsense. I’ll have to dig further, never had a reason to follow up before, but there’s a rumor that Joel got kicked out of BYU, tried to transfer to USU but was denied on account of his expulsion in Provo. I can see what I can get but you might have more luck—”

“I’ll look into it,” Paige decided. “Just give me what you have and I’ll get back to you if I need your assistance.”

“We have some other things we need to do,” Jericho stepped in. “We’ll be back later tonight, can you make sure the packet is available after hours?”

“I’ll take care of it,” Shaw promised.

“One more thing,” Paige stood. “I need you to keep the death of Jonas Medford to yourself for now. People are more likely to talk if they think the guys is missing. Once they know it’s more serious than that, they tend to shut down and they’re more cautious about what they say.”

“No problem,” Shaw nodded. “I will need to tell my boss, but I’ll let him know how you want to work this.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Two hours later, Paige stood next to Jericho’s vehicle. “I don’t feel like we’re any closer to getting answers.”

“It’s a slow process,” Jericho climbed behind the wheel. “Let’s get you home. Take the rest of the night off. I’m sending Dean and Havilland back out here tonight. I think they might blend in a little better with those frat boys.”

“But—”

“Go home, Paige,” Jericho ordered. “I’ll get you back to the office then you’re off the clock. Focus on that husband of yours, do what you need to do to confirm he’s okay, then come back tomorrow refreshed and ready to work whatever leads the boys uncover at the party house.”

Paige wanted to argue, but she also wanted to go home and corner Carmen, find out if she had any updates. “Alright,” she finally relented. “Too bad those guys are football maniacs. Gage could probably get a confession in a matter of minutes.”

“I looked,” Jericho smiled. “As did you. One is pre-med, the others are just getting their generals out of the way before they transfer. We’ll figure this out. Call Benny, see if he has an update.”

He did. Benny’s autopsy confirmed his original assessment. Jonas died of alcohol poisoning. Benny said the kids core temperature dropped so low it led to cardiac arrest. He couldn’t tell if that was the primary cause of death or if it was asphyxiation. At some point, Jonas vomited, probably choked and inhaled the vomit into his lungs blocking his ability to breathe.

Benny suspected that Jonas either passed out and fell to the floor, or someone laid him on the floor after he passed out. This worsened his condition, and that’s where he likely died. There was settling that told him they left Jonas on his back for some time before they moved him and eventually rolled him over the edge of the cliff to make it look like an accident.

“Stupid kids,” Paige said once she disconnected. “They just made things worse for themselves.”

“Yeah,” Jericho sighed. “Yes, they did.” Before he had a chance to respond further, Margie called. Jonas was an orphan. His parents were murdered when he was fourteen. He spent the next four years in a series of foster homes before he aged out of the system. Margie couldn’t find any living relative, neither could the state.

“He was trying to make a better life for himself,” Paige stared out the front window. “His death feels more tragic now that I know his history. Why is that? The facts haven’t changed.”

“Empathy,” Jericho reached out and gave her knee a gentle pat. “We’ll figure this out, Paige. That boy, he probably felt alone and a little lost. He enrolled in college, made a friend, and ended up at the wrong house. The system failed him, life failed him, we won’t make that mistake.”

Paige nodded but remained silent.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I can do more than drive the stupid car,” Sean objected.

“Okay,” Dax shrugged. “But I still need you to drive the stupid car.” He turned to Zeus. “You ready?”

“Good to go,” Zeus dropped the last pack onto the back seat then climbed in next to it. “We have a plan and it’s a good plan. Sean, stop whining and let’s get this done.”

Sean climbed behind the wheel and Dax slid into the passenger’s seat. “Head out.”

They pulled off the road and maneuvered the vehicle behind a large crop of date palms, in the dark, the crumbling structure to the left of their location easily hid the vehicle. It gave them a clear view of their target but obstructed the road leading into the village.

“There’s more activity tonight,” Zeus frowned.

“We’re switching to Plan B,” Dax decided.

“If there are more people, you need me,” Sean insisted.

“I need you out here, ready to swoop in and snatch us out of the jaws of hell,” Dax disagreed. “Sean, I’m willing to get your man out, but you need to start acting like a team player. We stick with the plan. If we can make it, we’ll exit from that far door. That’s not a given, so stay alert and scan the entire complex for us. This could get ugly.”

“And watch your back,” Zeus warned. “You have this attitude that you’re safe and secure up here. You’re not. These guy know the area and they patrol these abandoned homes, especially when they’re housing prisoners in a nearby residence. Keep an eye out for us, but you need to constantly scan your own back door.”

“I have been operating in this country for months,” Sean grumbled. “I know how they operate.” He frowned when he spotted a child exit the house with a large bag. The kid climbed onto a donkey and headed away from the target.

“What?” Dax turned to see what Sean was watching.

“They just sent that kid out,” Sean pointed to the boy.

“I saw him leave,” Zeus nodded. “Could be other kids inside.”

“No,” Sean disagreed. “They’re using him. That bag, it’s to collect the ransom. They’re selling a prisoner tonight.”

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“Then we need to move,” Zeus flung his bag over his shoulder.

“Watch for us,” Dax focused on Sean. “We’re depending on you. Let’s go.”

Dax and Zeus made their way down the dirt road, using the trees, abandoned vehicles and empty propane tanks for cover. Dax held up a hand and then froze in place, watching and waiting before they made entry into the structure.

“Let’s just blow the door and take them by surprise,” Zeus whispered.

“If we blow the door,” Dax considered. “They’ll only be surprised for a minute, then they’ll come at us, guns blazing, before we can find and rescue our target.”

“True enough,” Zeus agreed. “What do you suggest?”

“They have a couple tanks piled next to the door,” Dax offered.

“We use those to breach the door and go in a little more subtle like,” Zeus nodded.

“I need you to cover me, but keep that device handy just in case,” Dax added. “I’ll deal with the door.”

Zeus slid the makeshift bomb into his pocket and gripped his gun. They went in hot, expecting trouble. When they stepped inside an empty room, they both frowned, knowing it had to be a trick.

Dax dropped the tank and moved forward, cautious and alert. He was expecting trouble when the man jumped from behind a chair and began firing. He and Zee lunged for cover. Dax watched and waited, choosing just the right moment to act. When the gunman sprayed the room to the right, he shifted and balanced on one knee. Taking aim, he fired and struck the man in the chest. The gunfire stopped, and the man fell to the ground.

“One down, but with all that racket,” Zeus watched the door that led to a hallway.

“We’re walking into a fatal funnel, and they know we’re coming,” Dax nodded. “Maybe now’s a good time for a minor explosion.”

Zeus grinned. “Or a slightly larger one.” He reached into his bag and pulled out a square object with cord hanging out one side. “I say we dodge back in there, I toss this thing as far as I can then we hunker down and wait. The second that thing explodes; we need to book it down that hallway. We’re not going to have much time before they recover and start shooting.”

“I agree,” Dax nodded. “We take cover in this room, but we stand on either side of the door so we can get to the end before they know we’re coming. I’ll go first, you better be right behind me with another device, just in case.”

The plan worked well. They were halfway down the hall when they saw the barrel of a gun emerge from the end of the hall. Zeus tossed another device, and yanked Dax through a door he hadn’t seen before. Dax pulled his gun and cleared the room. He spotted a small lump huddled in the corner. Cautiously the two of them approached, guns drawn, ready for another attack.

“Can you help me?” the man finally asked. He moved his arms away from his body to show he wasn’t dangerous.

“Who are you?” Zeus asked.

“Lucas Brown,” he croaked. “I’m a journalist.”

“From Australia,” Dax added, amazed they found a guy that had been missing for months.

“Yes,” Lucas tried to sit up.

“We’re looking for someone,” Zeus handed the man a bottle of water. “Have you seen another prisoner in this building?”

“Yes,” Lucas took the water and sipped. “He’s being held at the end of the hall to the left. There are two rooms. The man you are looking for is in the second room.”

“We need to leave you here,” Dax warned. “Once we get the man we came for, we’ll be back. Can you hang tight for just a little longer?”

“I’ll be fine,” Lucas held up the water. “I haven’t had anything this good for a long time.”

“Heads up,” Zeus moved to the door. “Incoming.”

Dax glanced around the room. “You need to move, get behind those bags over there.”

“I don’t think—”

“Move,” Dax joined Zeus at the door. “Looks like at least three of them. You go high, I’ll go low.” He dropped onto one knee and began firing. Zeus remained standing, but joined him. It didn’t take long before all three of the men were neutralized.

“Looks like you still have it,” Zeus observed. “I can’t wait to tell Hawk he’s no longer needed.”

“Hawk will always be needed,” Dax stood. “And it’s not that hard. Precision will always rule over spray and pray. Let’s go.”

They encountered one more guy before they reached the door the reporter identified. Dax slid it open with Zeus ready to react if they were ambushed. The room was dark, but they could make out a single figure on the other side of the room.

“Stop,” Webb wheezed. “They’ve rigged that line to explosives. You take one more step and we’re all dead.”

Zeus followed the line to the side of the room and within seconds the device was inoperable and harmless. “Go! I’ll keep watch.”

“You help him,” Dax disagreed. “Just in case they have something else rigged to go off the instant you cut that line. I’ve got this.” He shifted his position and fired another round through the door. “Hurry, I think they’ve called for reinforcements.”

Zeus disarmed a second device then freed Webb and helped him to his feet. “You think you can manage on your own?”

“I’m good,” he half stumbled, half walked toward the door. “There’s another man.”

“The reporter, we know,” Dax nodded and motioned for Zeus and Webb to follow. They made it to the room, retrieved Lucas and headed for the exit. Once again, they encountered gun fire.

“This time it’s my turn,” Zeus pulled several devices from his pack. He went to work rigging them to go off within seconds of each other.

Dax watched and realized what Zeus was doing. “New plan. We’re leaving through that other exit. Can you steady each other and make your way to the other side of the structure? We’ll be right behind you.”

“You go with them, I got this,” Zeus tipped his head to the side, motioning down the hall.

“I never leave a man behind,” Dax focused on Zeus. “Do this already, we need to get out of here.”

Zeus lit the fuse and they bolted down the hall. They caught up with the two prisoners, gripped their elbows, and rushed them through the door. They only made it a few feet when the entire wall exploded.

They fell to the ground, Dax and Zeus protecting Lucas and Webb. Dax looked up and spotted Sean with the vehicle. “Move,” he ordered, pushing Webb toward the open door. The four of them scrambled in and Sean sped away.

One vehicle followed them, but they lost it by maneuvering over rarely used pathways and darting between palm trees. They continued to evade for another twenty minutes before Sean pulled onto the highway headed toward Kuwait.

“Where are you going?” Webb demanded.

“Both of you need medical assistance,” Zeus said flatly. “You need a doctor to evaluate your injuries.”

“We need to find somewhere to hide,” Webb disagreed. “Then we need to complete our mission. A man is still missing.”

“Our mission is complete,” Zeus informed him. “We came here to find you. We found you. I’m not going to make my wife a widow just so you can find a scientist that wandered into hostile territory.”

Webb went off on Zeus, who argued back.

“What is it?” Dax asked Lucas.

“I know where he is,” Lucas whispered.

“The scientist?” Dax asked for clarification.

“Yeah,” Lucas admitted. “They were forcing him to use drone parts left by the US to make a workable device they could use to find more prisoners.”

“So,” Dax glanced at Zeus who was now silently listening. “He’s still alive.”

“Yes,” Lucas nodded. “I’m sure of it. He was procrastinating, hoping to find a way to escape before he completed a drone.”

“Do you know where he is?” Sean wondered.

“Radari,” Lucas glanced around. “Do you know what that is?”

“Yeah,” Zeus sighed. “If we’re going after the scientist, we’re headed in the wrong direction.”

“I need to call Porter,” Dax decided. “Find somewhere to hunker down tonight and we’ll decide how to proceed after I talk to the general.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige moved to the counter and poured herself a steaming mug of coffee. She just finished doctoring it when Nathan stepped into the room.

“I assume that obstinate husband of yours told you he’s coming home,” Nathan poured his own cup of coffee.

Paige glanced at him then moved to settled in at the table.

“What?” Nathan sat down next to her.

“I’m trying to decide how to respond to that,” Paige sat back.

“Meaning?” Nathan frowned.

Paige sipped her coffee and watched Nathan process what she hadn’t said.

“That pigheaded, insubordinate, defiant—”

“You would have done the same thing and you know it,” Paige grinned. “All those adjectives were redundant. All you had to say was soldier. It would have covered pretty much all of that. I need you to have their back — just in case.”

“I told him to come home,” Nathan insisted.

“I know,” Paige reached out and took his hand. “And I also know you did that because it was Dax and Zeus. You’re trying to protect us — me and Carmen, but also the guys — and I love you for that. However, we both know they need to rescue that scientist. They needed to do that anyway, add in the new information about the drone, and it’s even more important. If the kidnappers have access to that kind of technology, there’s no way to guess how they will use it.”

“Are you going to be okay?” Nathan studied her. “I know you’ve been stressed about this one.”

“I miss him,” Paige admitted. “I’m worried about him. It’s dangerous over there. What he’s doing makes it even more dangerous and I don’t trust our government officials to help if anything goes wrong.”

“You can trust me,” Nathan assured her.

“And I do,” Paige smiled. “Which is why I need you to promise me you’ll keep him safe and bring him home as soon as you can.”

“I promise,” Nathan pulled her in for a hug.

“I don’t know how Mom did this,” Paige whispered. “And Sophie. They’re so much stronger than I am.”

“I think they might disagree with you on that,” Nathan kissed the top of her head. “Don’t you need to get to work?”

“I do,” Paige stood. “I’ll talk to you tonight.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige,” Havilland called. “We’re in here.”

Paige stepped into the conference room and glanced around. “Did you learn anything from the party brigade?”

“I learned they’re all a bunch of liars,” Havi said flatly.

“I learned they’re bad liars,” Dean added.

“The boys were just about to fill us in,” Jericho advised. “Come on in and take a seat.”

“Basically,” Dean began. “We both got the same fake, rehearsed speech from each of the tenants.”

“They don’t really know Tyler or Jonas,” Havilland added. “They remember them stopping by the house — only briefly, of course.”

“Uh-huh,” Paige wasn’t buying it.

“They asked about a room,” Dean continued. “The group told them there was no room at the inn and then Tyler and Jonas left.”

“Nobody knows where they went or how they got drunk,” Havilland provided. “And they certainly don’t know where Jonas could be.”

“But?” Jericho asked.

“I spoke to Joel Bunton and Doug Chilcott,” Havilland answered. “They’re both lying. Doug comes across as scared and intimidated by the others. Joel strikes me as the leader of that group, and I think he’s calling the shots.”

“I spoke with Troy Dewey and Vince Rowley,” Dean added. “I get the impression they’re both in this up to their necks, but they’re worried about the consequences, and someone is directing them. Their stories were fake. They rehearsed what to say and those guys are sticking to the script.”

“What about Jeff Arnold?” Paige wondered.

“He wasn’t there,” Havi advised. “The others said he’s pre-med, and he had labs last night. I get the impression he’s rarely there, and he takes his studying seriously.”

“Then he may not be involved in this,” Paige considered.

“So, what’s our next move?” Dean asked.

“You’re going home,” Jericho answered. “Both of you. Clayton should be here any minute. Paige, I want the two of you to pick this back up and work it today.”

“I can help,” Havilland offered.

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“Go home,” Jericho repeated. “Paige can work this today and she’ll pass it back off to you tonight if she needs to. I want you to interview this Jeff kid and see what he knows.”

“Right,” Paige agreed. “I want to check into a few things during the day, so I doubt I’ll make it back out to the college before end of shift. If you two could track down Jeff Arnold, that would really help.”

“Alright,” Dean stood. “Susie transcribed some of the interviews and Margie said she was almost finished with the rest. Just let us know what you need and we’ll handle it.”

Once they were gone, Jericho turned to Paige. “Any word from your other half?”

“The mission went well,” Paige smiled. “In fact, they got a two-for. Remember that journalist from Australia that disappeared a few months back?”

“They found him?” Jericho raised an eyebrow.

“And rescued him,” Paige admitted. “He’s on his way to Kuwait with the British agent Sean was working with. Dax tried to talk Sean into joining them, but he refused. That man is stubborn.”

“Must be a fed thing,” Jericho mumbled. “So, the boys are on their way home?”

Paige frowned. “Not yet. They have one more mission, then Dax will come home.”

“The original mission?” Jericho realized.

“Right,” Paige stood. “I’m going to see where Gage is. Then I have a couple places I want to hit this morning. I’ll try to drop back and brief you later this afternoon.”

Jericho took the hint. Paige didn’t want to talk about the danger Dax was still facing. He could understand that.

\*\*\*\*\*

“We’ve got Vince Rowley cold,” Paige hopped into Gage’s passenger seat and pulled the door shut. “I think if we bring him in, lean on him hard, he’ll break.”

“Maybe,” Gage started the engine. “But what if he doesn’t? We only have one shot at this. If he has a well-rehearsed story, we’re done. We have nothing else to throw at him.”

“What do you suggest?” Paige wondered.

“I don’t know,” Gage considered. “Just because Vince rented the keg, doesn’t mean we can link him to a crime. The rental was legal.”

“But giving that alcohol to a couple underaged kids wasn’t,” Paige disagreed.

“Unfortunately, we can’t prove he gave it to those guys.” Gage argued.

“I want to argue, but I can’t because you’re right,” Paige admitted. “So, what’s our next move? How do we get more? I went over that scene up the canyon thoroughly. There’s nothing there. The storm destroyed anything they may have left. None of my usual tricks will help us this time.”

“What about the hospital?” Gage turned to face Paige. “Somebody took Tyler to the emergency room. They have cameras everywhere. Let’s go watch the footage and see if we can identify anyone.”

“Campus police already did that,” Paige dismissed the idea. “They said you couldn’t make anyone out. They thought it was David, Tyler’s current roommate, but it wasn’t. He has a solid alibi.”

“We should review the video for ourselves,” Gage put the vehicle in gear. “What do we have to lose?”

“Time,” Paige grumbled.

“When does Dax get back?” Gage wondered. “You’re grumpy and uncooperative when he’s gone.”

“I’m not grumpy,” Paige objected.

“You are off your game,” Gage warned. “Because if Dax was here, you’d never trust the opinion of some campus cop. You’d insist on watching the video yourself. Do you want to talk about it?”

“Can’t,” Paige focused out the window. *Was Gage right?*

“Won’t,” Gage corrected, “But the offer still stands.”

“He’s working on something dangerous,” Paige stared out the side window. “They’ll probably go in, deal with things tonight. Or after sunset where they are right now. I guess I’m just on edge and I’m worried. You’re right, I’m off my game. I’m cutting corners and I’m not concentrating. I’m missing things. We should go to the hospital and watch the video.”

“What you do — we do, is dangerous too,” Gage reminded her. “Dax trusts you to do your job. You need to trust him to do his job. And, hopefully, once this dangerous thing is over tonight — or whenever — he can come home.”

“I feel like I keep having the same conversation again and again,” Paige admitted. “I want to support him. I want to trust that everything will be fine. Then, he goes off to do something dangerous and I start worrying again.”

“You love him,” Gage shrugged. “We should probably stop and check in with Jericho before we head to the hospital.”

“I guess it is that simple,” Paige turned to face Gage. “Let’s go in and update the boss then we’ll stop at the hospital and watch the video. I also have my secret weapon.”

“Carmen,” Gage smiled. “Alright, let’s go corner the boss.”

\*\*\*\*\*

 “Let’s just go with the same plan,” Dax studied the building. “Sean, you stay here out of sight and watch for us to exit.”

“We’ll head in,” Zeus added. “Clear the place one room at a time, rescue the fair maiden, and get out of Dodge.”

“And this time,” Dax turned to Sean. “We are getting out of Dodge.”

“You won’t get any argument from me,” Sean agreed, more than ready to go home.

Just like before, Dax rammed the door and started to step inside. Zeus saw the muzzle of the gun just in time. He tackled Dax and tossed in one of his explosive devices. The room erupted. Before the dust even settled, the two of them rushed inside, crossed the room, and stood guard in the doorway.

“Which direction?” Zeus asked, glancing from one side to the other.

Dax hesitated but went with his gut. They rushed down the hall and darted into the first room they came to. Seconds later, they were confident it was empty and they moved to the next room. They continued to clear the building one room at a time. When they finally reached the room that contained the scientist, this time he was being guarded by two men. Dax took out one, Zeus dealt with the other.

Zeus took a step forward, but this time Dax tackled him. The bullet flew by, barely missing Zeus and sliced through Dax’s upper arm. Annoyed that it came so close to hitting its mark, Dax fired in rapid succession, hitting his target again and again and again.

“That’s enough,” Zeus pushed into a sitting position. “How bad?”

“It’s just a flesh wound,” Dax stood. “Let’s get him out of this hell hole so we can go home.”

“The Black Knight sort of flesh wound, or he just winged you and you’ll be fine sort of flesh wound,” Zeus pushed.

“I don’t think we need to rehash Monty Python at the moment,” Dax glanced toward the corner that contained their prisoner. “Is it safe to unhook him or do you need to do a more thorough assessment?”

“Since they were more prepared, I think I should assess,” Zeus decided. “I’ll deal with him; you wrap that wound so you don’t bleed to death before we find shelter. I’ll stitch you up once we’re clear.”

They freed Elijah Turner and made their way out the back, thankful to be alive when Sean brought the vehicle to a sliding stop. They all jumped in and sped away. Finally, the mission was complete and they could head back to Kuwait and hop a plane home.

“I hope the good general came through for us,” Zeus snatched up the first aid kit and began wrapping gauze around Dax’s arm. “All I want right now is to go home.”

“Let’s head to that abandoned home we found,” Dax gritted his teeth and glared at Zeus. “I’ll call and confirm our ride’s ready. Pass me the phone.”

“Hello,” Nathan snatched up the phone.

“It’s done,” Dax said in greeting. “Tell me you have a plan.”

“I have a plan,” Nathan said without hesitation.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Alright,” Jericho focused on Havilland. “You’re absolutely sure that’s Doug Chilcott?” he passed the still shot Gage brought back from the hospital.

“Positive,” Havilland nodded. “And I also recognize that van. See the sticker in the back, it’s the vehicle that was parked in the driveway, out next to the large storage shed on the night we interviewed these guys. I also think Doug will crack as soon as we confront him with the evidence. When I talked to him before, I could tell he wanted to come clean but he was afraid.”

“Of you or someone else?” Jericho wondered.

“That, I couldn’t begin to guess,” Havilland shrugged.

“I think we should head out to the house,” Jericho decided.

“We?” Paige wondered.

“I want a show of force,” Jericho stood. “All of us. Gage, you too. We’ll converge on the house, separate the suspects, interview them all at once, and see if we can break at least one of them.”

They arrived at the house and Paige reached out to ring the bell, but Jericho did his usual pounding. The door immediately flew open.

“What now?” Joel demanded.

“I’ll deal with you,” Jericho decided. “The rest of you head in, select one occupant and start your interview. I want them secured in separate rooms. We’re not leaving until we get answers.”

“You can’t—” Joel began, worried one of his friends would give in and reveal their secret.

“You have the right to remain silent,” Jericho advised Joel. “Feel free to exercise that right.”

“I’ll talk if I want to talk,” Joel grumbled.

Havilland stepped into the house and located Doug. “I’ve got this one.”

“I’ll speak with Vince,” Gage motioned for the guy to follow him into the kitchen.

Paige glanced around and spotted a tall guy she hadn’t seen before. “What’s your name?”

“Jeff Arnold,” he glanced around. “What’s going on here?”

“So, you’re the elusive tenant,” Paige nodded. “I’ll take you. Let’s go in here.”

They stepped into a room that looked like a library. “First, let’s get the legal stuff out of the way.” She read him Miranda then got his personal information. “Now for the hard part.”

“I don’t understand,” Jeff sat back and studied Paige. “They called the police and Tyler is going to be fine. I heard he’s going home for a while, but he shouldn’t have any permanent damage. Why the show of force and intimidation? We’ve been cooperating.”

Paige frowned. “Have you talked to your friends out there?”

“Not for a few days, why?” Jeff stared at the door.

“I’m going to record this,” Paige flipped on the recorder. “The first thing I need to know is your connection to Jonas Medford and Tyler Booth.”

“I don’t have one,” Jeff frowned. He had to be missing something, he just didn’t know what.

“You must have some connection to Tyler,” Paige insisted. “You told me he was in the hospital, but he’s going to be okay.”

“Oh,” Jeff relaxed. “I want to be a doctor.”

“Right,” Paige nodded. “The college said you listed your major as pre-med.”

“Yeah,” Jeff glanced at the door again. She wasn’t asking anything difficult, but he knew his father would tell him to have an attorney here before he talked to them. “I can’t really declare that I’m pre-med until after I transfer to the University of Utah, but I am. I’m taking extra biology courses and I volunteer at the hospital. That’s how I talked to Tyler — during one of my shifts.”

“Okay,” Paige considered. “So, tell me what you meant when you said they called the police.”

“I don’t understand what’s going on here,” Jeff decided. “My dad is a lawyer. He told me never to talk to the police without an attorney in the room. Since you read me the Miranda Warning, I assume there’s been a crime of some kind. I think I want to exercise my right to remain silent until I speak with my attorney — which is also my father.”

Paige was disappointed, but that was his right. She stood and moved to the door. Before opening it, she turned back to Jeff. “I understand why you’re refusing to talk to me. That’s your right, and it’s what your father taught you. But, I need you to stay in this room until I tell you it’s okay to leave.”

“Alright,” Jeff watched the deputy leave the room and close the door. Something wasn’t right here, and he didn’t know what it was. He just hoped, whatever these guys did, it would not stop him from becoming a doctor.

Paige stepped out of the room and spotted Havi. Doug was handcuffed and sitting on the couch. “What’s the plan?” she asked her colleague.

“We’re waiting for Gage,” Havilland advised. “This one admitted to dropping Tyler off at the hospital. Didn’t really have a choice, we had him in brilliant technicolor.”

“Right,” Paige glanced at Doug, who looked white as a ghost. “Is he okay?”

“Sure,” Havilland shrugged. “He’ll be fine.

“And the guy that went with Jericho?” Paige wondered. “Did he get anything from him?”

“Attitude,” Havilland smiled.

“So, once Gage gets finished with Vince, what does Jericho want to do with these guys?” Paige wondered.

“I don’t know what you discovered about your guy, but Jericho is arresting Joel. I’m arresting Doug here and I suspect Vince will be arrested for the contributing charge. Dean is still talking to Troy Dewey. I’m not sure what the status is on him. None of these guys are cooperating so I suspect they’ll all be charged and Tolman can work it out later.”

“Jeff Arnold has asked for an attorney,” Paige shrugged.

“That was quick,” Havilland glanced at Doug, when he wasn’t paying attention, he continued. “You think that means he’s an instigator?”

“I’m not getting that feeling,” Paige sighed. “His dad is a lawyer. I think it was reflex, ingrained into that kid since birth.”

“Do we bring him in or let him stay?” Havilland wondered.

“I’ll talk to the boss; but, at this point, I think we tell him to have his attorney contact us and arrange a time we can conduct an interview in the next couple days,” Paige decided. “We won’t get much, but we might get enough to lean one direction or the other.”

They both glanced up when Dean and Troy exited a room. Jericho opened the front door. “Let’s get these jokers back to the office. Tolman said to transport them all and he’ll meet us there.”

“My guy requested an attorney,” Paige stepped to the door and whispered. “You want him brought in? I was going to tell him to have daddy lawyer call and schedule an interview.”

“Leave him,” Jericho agreed. “Did you think he was involved?”

“If so,” Paige glanced back. “It was very limited. He knows something, but he also thinks these guys called the police that night.”

“Then he’s either a good liar or he’s not involved,” Jericho decided. “We’ll deal with him later. Let’s get these guys transported.

\*\*\*\*\*

Two hours later, the group gathered around the conference table. Joel Bunton still wasn’t cooperating. He insisted Jonas left on his own and he does not know where he went. They confronted Doug with proof that he dropped Tyler off at the hospital. He realized he couldn’t deny it, so he started to cooperate — to a point. He was minimizing his participation, but admitted he was there, and he was so worried about Tyler he drove him to the emergency room. Vince also broke down and admitted he bought the keg. He said he was there, but he claimed he had nothing to do with the actual drinking.

Troy seemed to be the most truthful of the bunch. He admitted this was a hazing to test both Tyler and Jonas before they could join the fraternity. He explained that the college no longer supported the brotherhood, but the house is owned by the Epsilon Gamma Betas. He also said it doesn’t matter, because entrance into their group would ensure admittance to any Gamma fraternity across the country.

Troy also confirmed Vince rented the keg, but he said Joel added the extra alcohol through the funnel. Then, he walked them through what happened. His version supported the evidence better than the others. He insisted Jeff wasn’t involved. When pressed, he admitted they talked Jeff into coming down and evaluating the two guys. Jeff demanded they take Tyler to the emergency room immediately and Doug offered to take care of it. Jeff also told them Jonas was deceased and insisted they call the police. Tony said he agreed to call the cop before Jeff went back upstairs to study but then he left with Vince and tried to find campus security. When they got back, Jonas was missing. No matter how many times they asked, his story stayed the same. They left Jonas with Joel and when they got back, he was gone.

When they asked him why they didn’t call the cops, he said Joel took all their phones. They had no idea what happened to Jonas, and they didn’t know what to tell the cops. They originally thought Jonas had died but when he disappeared, and Joel said he left on his own, they didn’t know what to do. Plus, there wasn’t a body, so they didn’t think they could report a death without proof.

“Joel Bunton did not dispose of that body alone,” Tolman insisted.

“You watched the interviews,” Jericho countered. “Same as I did. I’m not convinced any of those guys helped him push that body of the cliff. Are you?”

“No,” Tolman sighed. “Bring in this Jeff guy. See if he’ll confirm the story.”

“If he brings his dad, the attorney — I doubt we’ll get anything from him.” Havilland glanced around the room but focused on Paige.

“I agree,” Paige began then stopped when Margie stepped into the room.

“Paige, Nathan Porter is on the phone. He says it’s an emergency — let me rephrase that. He says it’s important but there’s nothing to worry about. He just needs to talk to you and you’re not answering your phone.”

“Go on,” Jericho nodded. “Take it. I think we’re finished here, anyway. I’m dumping this in Tolman’s lap, and he can decide who to charge with what.”

“Thanks,” Tolman frowned.

Paige rushed out of the room and snatched up the phone.

“Hey, kid,” Porter greeted. “The boys are on their way home. In fact, they should arrive at the Ephraim airport within the hour. Can you break away and head over? Sophie and I will meet you there.”

“He’s home?” Paige said in surprise. “I thought— well, I thought it would take longer in Kuwait.”

“I was able to get him on an earlier flight. The boys arrived in Salt Lake about forty minutes ago. They transferred to a smaller plane, and they should be on their way home as we speak. Can you get away?”

“Yes. Yes,” Paige jumped to her feet. “I’m on my way. What about Carmen?”

“She’s riding over with us,” Nathan assured her. “We’ll see you over there.”

Paige hung up the phone and turned to see the group standing just outside the conference room waiting. “He’s home. I need to get to Ephraim, to the airport. Are we finished here?”

“Go,” Jericho ordered. “We’ll take care of anything that’s left. Like I said, this mess belongs to our good friend James Tolman now.”

Paige pulled into the parking lot, slammed on the brakes and rushed inside the airport. She froze when she saw him talking to Nathan. When he looked up and locked eyes with hers, she smiled and ran.

Dax grinned and braced for the collision. Paige flew across the large room, slammed her body against his, and wrapped her arms around him. He grimaced when the stitches in his arm pulled and throbbed, but he didn’t care. He pulled her closer and just held on — home at last.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S6

**Tags:** Season 6

---

### [Toxic Indifference](https://melaniepsmith.com/toxic-indifference/)

**Published:** October 31, 2021
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Toxic Indifference (S6E6) Nathan and Sophie Porter make a surprise visit to Manti and Nathan comes with a request. Paige and her colleagues must find out what is poisoning local crops and who is responsible.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*TOXIC INDIFFERENCE\*\*\*****

“Paige,” Margie called across the room.

“Yeah?” Paige said absently, studying her report.

“Can you respond out to Ryan Chilcott’s Farm?”

“Sure,” Paige stood. “What’s the call?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure,” Margie admitted. “He said someone destroyed his crop. When I asked for details, he just said he needed a deputy to come out to his farm immediately.”

“Just classify it as a vandalism for now,” Paige decided. “Once I arrive, I’ll evaluate and let you know if I need it changed.”

“Alright,” Margie shrugged. “Sorry, I don’t have more details. You know Ryan, he can be difficult.”

“Ryan Chilcott has never been what you would call a great communicator.” Paige grabbed her car keys. “I’ll handle it and let you know.”

Paige pulled onto the long drive and slowly made her way to the old farmhouse. So far, she didn’t see any vandalism. “Mr. Chilcott,” Paige said the instant he opened the door.

“Deputy Carter,” Chilcott joined her on the front porch and pulled the door shut behind him. “It’s about time.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PaigeS6.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Toxic-Indifference.pdf)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/farm-2021-08-30-15-03-21-utc-scaled.jpg)

“Right,” Paige sighed. “Can you tell me why you called?”

“I’d rather show you,” he motioned toward the steps.

Paige followed the stoic farmer around to the back of his house and down a long drive. He stopped on a berm overlooking an enormous field.

“I gather you think there was foul play here?” Paige studied the wilting field. All the plants were withered and drooping, many of them had turned black.

“Clearly someone killed my crop,” Chilcott forcefully pointed at the damage. “They murdered my livelihood. What are you going to do about this?”

“Mr. Chilcott, this might be a vandalism,” Paige began.

“I know that murder gets more attention. There are funds available,” Ryan insisted. “If you classify this as death to my crops, I know you have special accounts — unlimited funds — to deal with a death.”

“Mr. Chilcott,” Paige tried to hide her annoyance. “We live in a safe community. There are rarely homicides in Sanpete County. We do not have a special, unlimited account with funds saved to investigate homicides.”

“I think you do, and my dead crop just isn’t important to you,” Chilcott said stubbornly. “Maybe I’ll just go to the news, let them report how our sheriff and his cops don’t care about farmers. We have a lot of farmers in Sanpete.”

“Alright,” Paige shrugged. “But I need a minute. I’ll need to contact Walters, see if he’ll approve your request.” She turned and walked a few feet away.

“Paige,” Jericho answered. “I told you I was unavailable this morning.”

“Yeah,” Paige sighed. “I know you’re in a meeting, but I have a situation.” She explained the call and Chilcott’s demand.

“Any idea what killed the crop?” Jericho glanced at Tolman.

“Not yet,” Paige admitted. “I could use an expert to take a look.”

“An expert?” Jericho grinned.

“Like an old farm boy turned sheriff,” Paige suggested.

“I’m on my way,” Jericho clicked off. “I have a situation that needs my attention. We’ll have to resume this conversation later.”

“Who owns the crop? The one that got killed?” Tolman asked.

“Ryan Chilcott,” Jericho stood and started for the door, but changed his mind. He turned back and explained the situation.

“I’ll join you,” Tolman grabbed his suit coat. “I’ll meet you out at Ryan’s place.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Any idea what caused this?” Tolman asked Paige.

“Jericho?” Paige turned to her boss. “Any brilliant old-school, earth whispering ideas?”

“I’m asking you,” Tolman focused on Paige.

“Yes, but you should be asking him,” Paige pointed toward her boss. “Jericho’s the expert here and your anger with him is irrational.”

“Irrational?” Tolman narrowed his eyes at Paige. “He went behind my back and investigated my employee.”

“Actually,” Paige glanced at Jericho. “We investigated your employee. And, if you put aside your anger and looked at this objectively, you could admit you would have done the same thing.”

“I wouldn’t investigate one of Jericho’s deputies without speaking to him first,” Tolman insisted.

“That’s ego talking,” Paige said flatly. “I’m not trying to make you mad, but it is. If you were tying up loose ends on a case and you realized I spoke to the suspect, or Gage did, or Havi—”

“I’d call Jericho immediately,” Tolman insisted.

“Would you?” Paige asked. “Take a step back. This isn’t personal. It was business. We discovered — well, actually, during the course of their investigation, the FBI discovered one of your employees spoke with the man that was trying to kill me. The communication occurred around the same time that I was targeted. That could be a serious crime. Under those circumstances, would you call Jericho immediately? Or would you take a step back, consider the possibility it was just a few random calls, and take a closer look. Maybe, determine if there was a legitimate reason that employee was conversing with a suspect?”

James Tolman started to speak, then stopped.

“Exactly,” Paige smiled. “We decided not to bring the problem to you until we were sure there was a problem. The instant we uncovered Stan’s history, the big guy over there brought the file to you. Instead of saying thank you, we’re standing on the edge of a field dealing with your irrational anger. And, to be honest, it’s interfering with my investigation. So, what do you say we all call a truce and get to work?”

Tolman grinned. “You might want to conduct a training session on insubordination, Walters.”

“Won’t take,” Jericho smiled. “I’m fairly certain what you see is what you get with Paige. The rest of us common folk just have to deal with her idiosyncrasies. I choose to keep her around because she’s usually effective. Although I am questioning her efficacy when it comes to that field.” He studied his old friend. “Are we good, now?”

“I suppose,” Tolman nodded toward the field. “What can you tell us? Any idea what happened here?”

“It looks like poison,” Jericho frowned. “That’s going to limit delivery possibilities. We’ll need to check, but this late in the season, I doubt it was bad pesticide. Crop dusters are typically closed down by now.”

“What about fertilizer?” Paige wondered. “Or irrigation? I asked Chilcott about that. He said he rotates the watering schedule. He watered this field yesterday and the one to the left last week. That field is fine, this one —”

“Dead,” Jericho considered. “Most of the farmers out here irrigate. It wouldn’t just impact Chilcott if the water was contaminated. As far as I know, we haven’t had any reports of damage from his neighbors. We should check before we head back to the office but, with what we know right now, it’s got to be something else. Get samples of the soil, the plants, and the water. We’ll have it tested; but until we talk to Ryan, we’re never going to figure this out. We need him to walk us through his day, explain what he did to care for his crop for the past several weeks… and if he did anything different over the past few days. At the moment, I’m at a loss. We need more information and that might take some time. Ryan won’t be happy about that. The man’s obstinate on a good day — and today is not a good day.”

“Then,” Tolman straightened. “We better get started.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the drive, tired and frustrated. She was ready to kick back, relax, and think. She studied the samples from the Chilcott farm before she dropped them at the lab. The plants were clearly poisoned, but she couldn’t determine what had killed them. The soil just looked like soil to her, and the water was typical irrigation water. It had a million tiny little particles and all of them would need to be identified. Like Jericho said, it was going to take time. Unfortunately, Ryan Chilcott was not a patient man. He was still threatening to involve the media. That would rile up the other farmers, but it wouldn’t resolve anything.

With a sigh, she climbed from her vehicle and made her way to the front door. The instant she stepped inside; warmth engulfed her. Dax sat in his favorite chair in front of the fire, visiting with Nathan and Sophie Porter. “Another vacation, already? With the exorbitant fee the government pays you, I’d think they’d require at least a few days at the office. You two just got home from the Hamptons. How did you talk them into another trip so soon after nearly three weeks lounging on the beach?”

Nathan glanced at Sophie. “I didn’t call it a vacation.”

Paige frowned. “Then what is it?”

Nathan hesitated. “I guess you could say it’s a mental health retreat, and an official mission,” he glanced at Dax.

“Sean Wilkins?” Dax wondered.

“Yes,” Nathan focused on his wife. “Sophie, why don’t you head to the bedroom and get us settled in?”

“I’m fine, Nathan,” she reached out and took his hand. “I know you’ve been worried about Sean — almost as much as you’ve worried about me. I could tell, even while we were at the beach house, not knowing is making you anxious. I’d like to stay if that’s possible. I know it could be top secret…”

“I’m beginning to think I’ve kept far too much from you over the years,” Nathan leaned in and kissed her temple. “If you want to stay, I’m not going to argue.”

“I’m worried, too,” Paige admitted. “But Sean’s smart. He knows what he’s doing. I think we need to trust him. He said he was going dark. He’ll surface once he’s completed his mission.”

“He hasn’t checked in,” Nathan disagreed. “There’s no way to know if he’s still alive. There are protocols, and reasons they were implemented.”

“Yes,” Paige settled onto the arm of Dax’s chair. “Which is why he sent me that message. He needed you guys to understand he planned to go completely dark. He was trying to avoid this; he didn’t want you to panic and burn his cover.”

“We have no intention of putting Agent Wilkins in danger,” Nathan assured her.

“But?” Paige demanded.

Nathan glanced at Dax and hesitated.

“He wants me to find him,” Dax realized. “You came here in person because you know I’d never agree to a trip to Iraq if you did your negotiating over the phone.”

“No,” Paige said immediately. “No. There are other people, special forces soldiers, that are trained for this. Send in a specialized team. Dax already served his country. He has a business to run. You can’t ask—”

“I’m afraid I am asking, Paige,” Nathan sighed. “We can’t get authorization to send in a team. Sean is FBI, not military. The DOD won’t activate military assets to locate and rescue him.”

“Then send in a task force from the Bureau,” Paige insisted.

“State is blocking any action to address this,” Nathan admitted. “And the current FBI Director won’t blatantly go against State, not for this. I’ve done everything I can. I’ve tried to call in favors, but there were issues long before I sent Sean over. They’ve dug in their heels, and they won’t budge.”

“Paige,” Dax took her hand. “Let’s talk about this in private.”

“No,” Paige gave him a sympathetic look. “Because if we do, you’ll give in. You’ll risk everything for duty. It’s no longer your duty, Dax. And just because the great and powerful Oz marched into our home and tossed out a request, neither one of us has to say yes.”

“I know you’re worried,” Dax pulled her onto his lap. “I’m not considering it for General Oz over there.”

“Oh, for the love of—” Nathan began.

“No,” Paige interrupted. “You don’t get to complain. You don’t even get a vote. This is between me and my husband.”

“And your husband thinks he should go,” Dax focused on Paige. “For Sean. I need to go because he’s out there alone and he needs backup. Apparently, Nathan is unable to provide that, but I can. We never leave a man behind — you know that.”

Paige studied Dax for several seconds but realized he was already dug in on this. If the military, the State Department, or the FBI wouldn’t save their friend, Dax would. “If I’m going to consider this,” she turned to address Nathan. “I need the details — all of them. I know you sent Sean and this British guy over to locate someone. Who?”

“I can’t,” he glanced at Sophie.

“I can leave,” Sophie started to stand.

“No,” Paige shook her head. “Don’t argue with me about this, Nathan. And do not spout off some nonsense about top secret intel or the freaking company line about national security. That’s a copout and we both know it. If the government isn’t willing to help Sean, they lose the right to control the information. We decide who knows the details and Sophie stays.”

“You know that’s not how it works,” Nathan insisted.

“That’s how it works today,” Paige insisted. “That’s how it’s going to work in my home. How it’s working if you want my husband’s help. And this part, it’s not up for debate. You want Dax, tell us everything you know.”

Nathan sighed. Trying to reason with Paige when she got like this was futile. “You’re going to get us both fired.”

Paige grinned and relaxed. Nathan was a bear to deal with, but he could be reasonable when cornered. “Not me, I don’t work for you, the FBI, or State. Don’t worry, if they give you the boot, we won’t make you live out of your car.”

“That’s thoughtful,” Nathan grumbled. “Seriously, the compassion is just oozing out of you in buckets.”

“Tell me why you sent Sean to Iraq.” Paige would not let him change the subject.

“I told you the truth, Paige,” Nathan said impatiently. “Sean went in undercover as an aid worker to locate a man who has been missing for several months.”

“And his backup was a British guy,” Paige nodded. “British intelligence? MI6?”

“Yes,” Nathan agreed. “We set the two of them up as competitors. We didn’t want them to be seen as friends, but they weren’t enemies, either. They were more like rivals that pushed each other to excel.”

“Who is the guy they were looking for?” Paige pushed. “Why does America and the UK want him?”

“Elijah Turner. He’s a brilliant geneticist,” Nathan told her. “Some of the world’s biggest breakthroughs have come from his work. He has dual citizenship. His father was American, his mother was British. Over the years, he’s lived in both the US and the UK. His disappearance concerned both countries.”

“Because he has valuable information that could be detrimental to both; but, not enough to send a team over to find him,” Paige considered. “So, you sent in Sean, and they sent in an operative of their own. Why was this Elijah Tuner guy in Iraq? Which country sent him?”

“Neither.” Nathan practically vibrated with annoyance. “He is somewhat of an amateur historian. He couldn’t resist the pull of Babylon.”

“Which is another reason the mission was basically off the books,” Paige realized.

“Yes,” Nathan settled into his chair and relayed the details he knew about Turner’s work, his personal life, and the mission that took Sean Wilkins into hostile territory to find him. The four of them discussed the situation for hours, only pausing to have dinner. It was after midnight when they finally called it quits and went to bed.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Are we going to talk about — everything?” Dax asked, lowering himself to the edge of the bed the following morning.

“Why?” Paige pulled on her boot. “We both know what you’re going to do. There’s no reason to talk about it. You’ve already decided.”

“In a previous life?” Dax took her hand. “Sure. But things have changed. We’re partners now. Initially, you went on record with a resounding no. Has anything changed?”

“I don’t want you to go,” Paige sighed. “But I don’t want Sean to die because he doesn’t have backup.”

“So,” Dax bumped his shoulder to hers. “Where does that leave us?”

“You know how I feel,” Paige focused on Dax. “Tell me what you think. What do you want to do?”

“I don’t want to leave you,” Dax looked away. “I don’t want you to worry, and I know it’s dangerous over there. I also feel an obligation to Sean.”

“Right,” Paige frowned. “Never leave a man behind.”

“We don’t need to decide today,” Dax stood. “I’ve got to head out, talk to the guys, and you need to get to work.”

“I do,” Paige also stood.

“You said you had a frustrating day, but with Nathan and his news, we didn’t have time to discuss it. Did you catch a new case?” Dax wondered.

“Not a big one.” Paige slid on her jacket. “Ryan Chilcott’s field died. We don’t know why, but I think it was poisoned. I’m waiting on lab results.”

“But?” Dax moved closer and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“I don’t think I know enough about farming to solve this one,” Paige admitted. “One field is completely dead. Another field, just a few feet away, was fine.”

“Well,” Dax pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Start there.”

“Huh?” Paige pulled back.

“Figure out why one field was poisoned, and the other is fine,” Dax suggested. He gave her another quick kiss before he walked out the door.

The instant he arrived at the training center; he called his men in for a meeting.

“I’m going with you,” Zeus insisted.

“Well,” Dax grinned. “Since you’re now married, same as me, I suggest you discuss this with your new bride before we make any plans.”

“Fine,” Zeus shrugged. “But Carmen will understand, and she’ll agree. You’re not going alone and I’m the extraction guy. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

“I don’t know,” Hawk said casually. “Taking your sniper to a hostile country also makes sense.”

“I need you to stay here, to run the business,” Dax focused on Hawk. “We have several courses coming up. I’m confident you guys can handle it, but I need you to take point, manage any problems that might arise while I’m gone.”

“I think we need to discuss this,” Vato sobered. “I’m familiar with the country. I was there not that long ago. I could help and you know it.”

“Or hinder it,” Zeus disagreed. “There could still be a bounty on your head over there.”

“What’s the plan?” Wooly finally asked. “You need logistical support, weapons, intel and a detailed mission plan with safe houses along the way. If State, the DOD, the FBI, all of them have turned their backs on this, where are you going to get your information and resources?”

“I don’t have a plan.” Dax stood and moved to the window. “I’m still working things out with Paige. Once we come to a decision, the next step is developing a mission plan. Porter will have to arrange the big stuff but I was hoping I could enlist a few members of my old team for the rest.”

“Paige is resisting,” Hawk realized.

“She’ll come around,” Dax said confidently. “We’re talking about Sean Wilkins.”

“Then let’s take a few hours and come up with at least a preliminary plan,” Hawk suggested. “Just in case we need it.”

“We’ll need it,” Zeus said confidently.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into her office and dropped into her chair. She should get started on the dead crop problem, but she couldn’t get past the worry and the fear. Dax was heading to Iraq. She knew she could stop him. He wouldn’t go if she said no, but that would be selfish. She had to let him go. She didn’t really have a choice. Then something else hit her, he’d be taking one of his men with him. Immediately, her thoughts turned to Carmen. Zeus or Hawk would be the obvious choice, but someone had to stay home to run the training center. She picked up the phone to call her friend, but stopped when she heard the sheriff call her name.

“In my office,” Jericho added.

“What’s up?” Paige paused in the doorway.

“Preliminary lab results are in.” Jericho motioned to a chair. “They’re inconclusive.”

“How can they be inconclusive?” Paige dropped into one of his visitor’s chairs. “I don’t understand. Why couldn’t the lab identify the poison? We submitted a large enough sample, there shouldn’t be a problem identifying the particles.”

“I said it was inconclusive.” Jericho passed a file across the desk. “Identification wasn’t the problem. The soil, water, and the plants all had excessive amounts of nitrite and sulfur.”

“Alright.” Paige picked up the file. “So, it had to be in the water, right?”

“Not necessarily,” Jericho disagreed. “It could be in the soil and that’s how it spread to the water and the plants.”

“Which means we know what killed the field, but not how,” Paige agreed. “What do we do now?”

“We need to go back out to Ryan’s place,” Jericho decided.

“I’ve gone completely over the Chilcott farm already,” Paige argued. “Why go back?”

“I want a closer look at the field that wasn’t impacted,” Jericho frowned. “And I want to look into the fertilizer he used. It could have been a bad batch. We need better information and Ryan is going to stop all this nonsense about going to the media so we can focus on the problem at hand.”

“Alright,” Paige sighed. She didn’t feel like they were getting anywhere, but she trusted Jericho and his instincts. Especially on this one. He was a farmer; she was a city girl. “I guess I’ll meet you out there.”

“First,” Jericho sat back and studied Paige. “Tell me what happened. You’re upset and stressed; I don’t think it’s this case.”

Paige sat forward and ran her hands over her face, then explained the situation, leaving out the classified information.

“When does Dax leave?” Jericho wondered. “Well, Dax and his team. Did he decide how many of the men will go to Iraq with him?”

“Who said he’s going to Iraq?”

“Sean told me where he was headed,” Jericho admitted. “I know, he broke the rules. He was worried and wanted a few things dealt with before he left. He needed my help, just in case.”

“He should have come to me.” Paige stood and began to pace. “That’s not like Sean. He knows he’s not supposed to reveal anything, but especially his location, to anyone when he’s undercover.”

“I’m not just anyone, Paige,” Jericho watched her and realized she was really upset. Was she mad Sean broke protocol or was she concerned her husband might be headed to the Middle East? “Sit down and I’ll explain.”

Paige dropped back into the chair.

“Sean asked me to handle a couple of things before he left,” he began. “He also needed me to know the details, just in case he didn’t make it out. He didn’t want his sister to get the company line. He didn’t want her to live with the secrets the way you did. Sean wanted her to know this mission was important and why he had to go. He knew it was against the rules, but he felt like it was something he needed to do. He didn’t tell you, because he didn’t want to put you in the position of having to hide things from Nathan. I know the details and you know I won’t tell anyone. So, it’s not an issue — if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I have a bad feeling,” Paige focused on Jericho. “If Sean talked to you before he left, that tells me he had the same feeling about this mission. It’s the only explanation. There aren’t many things that would make Sean deviate from protocol so blatantly. My gut says this one is different. Plus, even if Dax can find him, Sean won’t leave until he completes his mission. I don’t think this will be a quick in and out with Wilkens meekly going along. What if he talks Dax into helping and none of them comes home?”

“They will,” Jericho stood and moved to the chair next to her. “If anyone can sneak into a hostile country, locate Sean Wilkens when he doesn’t want to be found, and rescue everyone — it’s your husband. Trust him. He’ll be fine.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Paige stood. “Dax is going to do this whether I want him to or not. There’s nothing I can do to stop it.”

“Do you want to?” Jericho also stood. “This is Sean and those military men you hooked up with can’t abandon a friend.”

“Never leave a man behind,” Paige parroted. “I got the memo, and it wouldn’t matter if it was friend or foe. Dax needs to go. He’ll say no, if I insist, but he’ll resent me for it. Anyway, I don’t think I can leave Sean over there alone. I keep telling myself he’s fine, but what if he’s not?” Paige shrugged. “So, it’s a moot point. Dax is leaving and I have to learn to live with it.”

“While you’re sucking it up and dealing with your crappy life, let’s go inspect some fertilizer,” Jericho laughed at the look Paige gave him.

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“Jericho,” Margie called. “I just got another call and I think the two of you should handle it together.”

“What is it?” Paige turned and headed back toward Margie.

“Becky Giles,” Margie glanced at her boss. “She said her sunflower crop was poisoned.”

“Where does she live?” Paige demanded. “Where is her field?”

“Due east of Ryan’s place,” Jericho frowned. “We’ll handle it. Paige, let’s go.”

“I’ll follow you out,” Paige rushed toward the door.

Becky Giles' field was a repeat of Ryan Chilcott’s. The only difference was the product. Where Ryan lost his final alfalfa harvest, Becky lost her entire crop of sunflowers. They collected samples, and this time asked for a large container of the fertilizer she used. Becky had irrigated the previous day just like Ryan Chilcott. She said she hadn’t dusted the field since early spring and wasn’t doing anything different than she had before. Once they finished collecting the evidence, they headed back to the house. They found Becky sitting on the front porch, crying.

“You okay?” Paige asked, not sure how to help.

“No,” Becky wiped her face with a tissue. “I made very conservative calculations this season and cut back my crop because of the drought. I needed those sunflowers just to survive and now it’s gone. I have no idea what I’m going to do. This loss will destroy me.”

“I know it feels daunting, and it’s hard to have faith things will work out,” Jericho put a hand on her shoulder. “I understand how difficult this is. I’m going to ask for time and a lot of patience. We’re trying to pinpoint the problem. Once we know how your field was poisoned, maybe we can get you some relief for the damages. I plan to ask the courts to order restitution, but we can’t do that until we find out who is responsible. That process will take a little time. I’m asking you to support our investigation. We might come back, ask questions that seem strange or irrelevant. Don’t lose hope. I promise we are trying to get to the bottom of this.”

“I understand,” Becky swallowed. “I trust you and I can see you are working to solve this mystery. To be honest, you’re working harder than I expected. Just let me know what I can do to help.”

“We’ll be in touch,” Paige assured her.

\*\*\*\*\*

The instant they stepped back into the office; Gage jumped to his feet. “Boss, can I talk to you for a minute?”

“What’s up?” Jericho turned and headed into the bullpen.

“The Stewarts pig died,” Gage told him.

“Sorry to hear that,” Jericho settles into one of the visitor’s chairs. “I assume you offered our condolences.”

“The pig was poisoned,” Gage continued. “Do you think it’s related to Ryan Chilcott’s case?”

“Another poisoning?” Paige frowned.

“Poisoning an animal is a lot different than killing a crop,” Jericho warned. “What makes you think it’s connected?”

“Coincidence is hooey,” Havilland glanced up from the report he was reading.

“Yeah, that,” Paige pointed at her colleague. “Where’s the pig?”

“I confiscated it,” Gage glanced at Jericho. “Uh, I sort of took it to the morgue. The coroner’s not happy, by the way. I’m guessing you’ll probably get a call.”

“You asked Benny Park to autopsy a pig?” Jericho laughed. “I’ll get a call.”

“We need to know cause of death,” Paige supported the request.

“I agree,” Jericho nodded. “I’ll call him, explain the situation and the reason we need a full report.”

“If the pig is connected,” Paige considered. “That means we can rule out irrigation water.”

“Actually,” Gage shook his head. “It means the water is most likely the problem.”

“How?” Jericho settled back, curious now. “I know Dave and Iris didn’t force their pigs to drink irrigation water.”

“No,” Gage agreed. “They used their time slot to irrigate a large pen. The pigs use it to wallow in.”

“They used it to create a mud wallow for the pigs,” Paige realized.

“Exactly,” Gage grinned. “It’s the only common link in this whole situation.”

“Because they wouldn’t fertilize the mud,” Jericho considered. “And no pesticides would have been used around the livestock.”

“None of the normal things would apply,” Paige agreed. “Nothing Ryan or Becky did to nourish their crops would have been used on pigs. Nothing but the water.”

“Still doesn’t explain why Ryan’s field died, but Brandon Turpin next door was fine,” Jericho considered. “And why Becky’s sunflower crop was destroyed but the Burton pumpkin patch next door is healthy. In fact, those pumpkins are flourishing.”

“I need to go back out to those fields,” Paige decided. “More to the point, I need to go walk the irrigation ditch.”

“Why?” Gage wondered.

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They found Adnan grazing his goats next to a large palm date orchard. Some things never changed. When they approached, he pulled out a gun, but the instant he realized who it was, his entire demeanor changed.

“I heard you were no longer working for the American soldiers,” Adnan challenged. “Come, have some sharbat. Tell me what has happened, you are happy, yes?”

“Yes,” they both agreed.

“I see your flock has grown, Adnan,” Dax observed. “I trust things are good for you and your family.”

“Ah, yes. Very good,” Adnan glanced around the dark. “My flock has grown just enough. The rest is hidden. Secured for, what do you say? Insurance. My family is grateful, and we did not bring unwanted attention to our village.”

“That’s good,” Dax also glanced around, watching for trouble or unexpected guests.

“It is good to see my old friends, but I have to be honest,” Adnan glanced at Zeus then focused back on Dax. “I did not think I would see you again, not here in my country. Why did your people send you back?”

“They didn’t,” Zeus told him, refusing to elaborate.

“We were visiting a friend in Jordan when we got word that a colleague, someone like you that provided us with valuable information, is missing,” Dax offered. “Since we were close by, we thought we’d drop in, see if we could find some answers. I was hoping we could locate him, make sure he’s safe. If not, at least find out what happened.”

“An American?” Adnan asked.

“No,” Dax frowned. “I think he might be British or maybe Australian. I’m not sure, we didn’t really know him that well. He was a contact, but we didn’t get close, didn’t become friends.”

“He’s the good friend of a friend,” Zeus added. “Our friend, in Jordan, asked us to stop in, see if we could locate this missing guy, and make sure he was okay. Have you heard anything about a guy that might be missing?”

“I have heard rumors,” Adnan glanced around nervously. “Of an American. They call him the ghost. Nobody has seen him. The villagers, they say he’s immortal and can’t be seen or stopped. This could be the man you speak of.”

“How do they know he’s real if nobody has seen him?” Zeus asked.

“I don’t know,” Adnan said honestly. “I just hear the rumors. Missing food and supplies, they blame the ghost. It scares them. They fear what they cannot see.”

“And these rumors,” Dax said casually. “Do they put this ghost in a specific region or does he travel all over?”

“Mostly around Al Difar,” Adnan pointed north. “I heard the thefts occur at night, under the cover of darkness when most of the villagers have settled in for the night. Some claim he snuck in, right under their noses, while family and friends socialized on the roof, smoking hookah and relaxing at the end of a hard day. This ghost is bold, but elusive.”

“That’s not far from here,” Dax realized. “Maybe we should check it out, make sure it’s not the missing man we’re looking for.”

“You stay tonight,” Adnan offered. “You can leave in the morning.”

“No,” Zeus held out a hand. “We need to get back. I think we should just check it out tonight, and if we don’t see anything, we’ll head home and let our friend know we tried but came up empty.”

“Right,” Dax held out a hand. “It was good to see you again. Take care, Adnan.”

“He’s watching us,” Zeus whispered. “You think he’s waiting to get on the phone and call the tribal leader?”

“No idea,” Dax ducked into the thick grove of trees and began walking faster toward the vehicle. “Let’s not wait around to find out.”

“You think this ghost is Sean?” Zeus wondered.

“Could be,” Dax shrugged. “We have to check it out, you know that.”

“Yeah,” Zeus put the vehicle in gear and pulled away. “But I’m glad it’s still dark, just in case we’re walking into a trap.”

“Let’s find a place to set up,” Dax decided. “We stash the truck in one of those abandoned huts, make sure it’s well hidden, then we take a look around on foot.”

“After we make a couple phone calls back home,” Zeus insisted.

“After we make a couple phone calls,” Dax agreed.

Zeus maneuvered his way through the rough dirt trail with so much ease, Dax realized he’d been there before. “You’ve spent some time here.”

“Yeah,” Zeus suddenly veered off the road and disappeared into one of the fields. Moments later, he bumped over a thin ridge and was winding his way down another trail, one that was overgrown and probably hadn’t been traveled in years.

“You have a place in mind?” Dax asked. “Somewhere we can set up for the night?”

“Trust me,” Zeus made another turn.

“Because I need to understand the system, how it works, who gets the water first, where it came from before Ryan used it and where it went after that. The same with Becky. I need more information. I’m never going to figure this out until I understand it.”

“It’s late,” Jericho stood. “We’ll head out, first thing in the morning. Meet me at Ryan’s at zero-eight-hundred.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped through the door, unhooked her duty belt, and draped it over the back of the couch. She settled down next to it, removed her boots, then headed for the kitchen. Something smelled wonderful. The instant she stepped inside; she spotted the entire gang. Nathan and Dax were seated at the table, Sophie was standing at the stove cooking them all dinner.

“You make me feel guilty,” Paige stepped into the room. “You’re supposed to be on vacation, but every time you visit, you spend half your time cooking for us.”

“I enjoy cooking,” Sophie insisted. “It relaxes me.”

“You don’t seem relaxed,” Paige settled into the chair next to Dax. “You haven’t been relaxed since the kidnapping.”

“Not true,” Sophie disagreed. “I have good days and bad days. The bad days occurred back home. Mostly when I was out and about alone. I feel safe here in Manti. I am relaxed. It’s the reason Nathan brought me here. He knew it would be good for me to get away completely, and it has been.” She picked up a large tray of fried chicken and set it on the table.

Sophie pivoted to return to the stove but stopped when Dax reached out and took her hand. “You are safe here. Stay as long as you need to. No questions, no explanations needed. If this is where you’re comfortable, this is where you should be. Plus, I never say no to an amazing home cooked meal. You’re a much better cook than I am and don’t get me started on Paige’s culinary failures.”

Sophie blinked back the moisture that had formed in her eyes. “Thank you,” she glanced at Nathan, nodded, and returned to the stove.

“Are we going to discuss the elephant in the room?” Nathan finally asked.

“We don’t live in a zoo,” Paige snatched up a large piece of chicken. “There are no elephants in my kitchen. I do want to discuss the reason for your visit, though. We need to go over the plan. I want to know every detail and I want a promise that you’ll consider my input.”

“The plan?” Dax focused on Paige.

“We all know you’re going to Iraq,” Paige dropped a large scoop of potato salad onto her plate. “We knew it the instant Nathan arrived at the door. Well, you did. I was still working, but since we all know this mission is a go, there’s no use arguing about it.”

“And you’re okay with that?” Dax pushed.

“Not really,” Paige set her fork on the table and sat back. “I’m not okay with you rushing into danger to save the world. I’m also not okay with Sean being out there alone, trying to rescue his partner without backup. I know you said the choice is mine and I love you for that, but we both know there wasn’t a choice to be made. Not really. So, let’s start planning an air-tight mission that brings you back home to me as soon as possible.”

The room went completely silent, all eyes on Paige.

“What?” she finally demanded.

“Nothing,” Nathan shrugged. He dropped an enormous pile of potato salad onto his plate and then sat back. “I can give you the basics, that’s all I have. Now that the missions a go, we need to hammer out the details.” While they ate, Nathan explained his ideas of how to deal with the situation. Once dinner was over, Dax called his men. The group discussed options until nearly midnight.

Paige needed a break. Sophie had served them all cherry cobbler before announcing she was headed to bed. Paige glanced around at the empty plates and used them as a means of escape. She gathered up the plates and made her way to the kitchen, hoping for a few minutes alone. It surprised her when she turned around and spotted Carmen.

“You okay?” Carmen leaned against the counter next to her friend.

“Can you honestly say you’re okay with this?” Paige snatched up a dishrag and started drying her hands.

“I don’t like Zeus heading into danger any more than you do,” Carmen said carefully. “But he has to go. They’d go no matter who it was, but this is Sean. Plus, I’ll worry less knowing Dax has his back. And you should know Zeus would risk his own life to protect Dax. I can’t go that far, to say I’m okay with it, but I understand. We married warriors, Paige. I support Zeus and I’m proud of him. He’s making the right decision, so is Dax.”

“I know,” Paige sighed. “I just don’t have to like it.”

“Do you think Dax likes your job?” Carmen countered. “He supports you. He’s proud of you, but every time you walk out that door, it terrifies him. You need to accept him, all of him — the same way he accepts you. You need to get on board with this, because the last thing that man needs is a distraction. Thinking you’re upset and worried, is going to be a huge distraction.”

“I know,” Paige dropped the towel onto the counter. “Let’s go back and support our warriors.”

Dax shut the door and turned to focus on Paige. “It’s been a long night,” he reached out and brushed a lock of hair away from her face. “I want some time with you.”

Paige took his hand and led him upstairs. “Then let’s make time.”

“We’ll need to leave tomorrow afternoon if we’re going to make it onto that cargo plane,” Dax warned.

“I know,” Paige settled onto the edge of the bed.

Dax sat down next to her and pulled her in for a long, intense kiss.

\*\*\*\*\*

It was a little after two in the morning and Paige was still wide awake, staring at the window.

Dax rolled over and pulled her against him.

“You can’t sleep, either?” she asked, turning to face him.

“What’s keeping you up?” Dax gave her a gentle kiss.

“Too much on my mind,” Paige admitted. “I can’t settle.”

“Too much personal or too much professional?”

“Both,” she admitted. “What’s keeping you awake?”

“You,” Dax whispered.

“Me?” Paige sat up. “Why?”

“You’re saying all the right things,” Dax stared at the ceiling. “When we discuss Iraq, you keep your expressions neutral, but I can see you’re masking something, and I don’t know what it is. I can’t help wondering what I’m going to come home to.”

“I—” she hesitated. “Okay, I was going to argue, but you’re partially right.”

“If you don’t want me to go,” Dax sat up. “You need to be honest about that.”

“That’s not it,” Paige shifted and leaned against him. “Of course, I don’t want you to go. I also know you need to go. I’ve been honest about that. You live by a code, one that won’t let you abandon anyone behind enemy lines. I also have a code. As much as I want you here, I also need you to save Sean — for you, and for me. I don’t like the situation, but I support the mission.”

“Then what?” Dax pushed. “Because I can tell your holding something back.”

“Superstition, I guess,” Paige considered. “Cops never say it’s quiet because the instant they do, the world gets crazy. We also don’t admit it when a case feels off. When we do, Murphy always seems to pay a visit, and everything goes to hell.”

“Something feels off?” Dax realized. “In what way?”

“I don’t know,” Paige said in frustration. “Maybe I’m just off. This poisoning case is throwing me off my game. I don’t know enough about farming, and I feel out of my element.”

“It’s not work or the case,” Dax disagreed. “It’s the Iraq mission. Why?”

“I don’t know,” Paige sighed. “I have a bad feeling. I think Sean’s in trouble and if you guys go over there—”

“We’ll find trouble?” Dax finished for her.

“Maybe,” she ran a frustrated hand through her hair. “The whole thing feels off to me. Sean should have contacted someone by now. I know he said he’s going dark, but too much time has gone by. He should have checked in. Plus, he broke all the rules before he left and discussed classified information with Jericho. That has to mean he knew something would go wrong. Then factor in the plan, if you can even call it that. Nathan’s going to sneak you two in on a cargo plane filled with supplies. Then what? He’s working on getting you transportation, but you need to sneak into the country from Kuwait and hope you don’t encounter trouble. If by some miracle you make it to the FOB near Babylon, how are you supposed to get inside? You’re calling this a mission, but it’s a mission in need of a solid plan.”

“Alright,” Dax turned her to face him. “I understand your concern, but this is normal for us. Sure, we gather as much information as we can before we ship out; but, more often than not, we have to go in cold. I’m very good at gathering intel on the move and working the problem on the fly.”

“Sounds reckless,” Paige frowned.

“It’s not. We have a satellite phone,” he reminded her. “We’ll learn as we go, and the team will update us daily. I’m not going in dark like Sean. We’ll have constant contact with Carmen and my men. Porter will monitor everything from the best satellites in the world and we’ll be prepared for any danger that comes our way. I don’t want you to worry about this.”

“Well, I’m going to,” Paige admitted.

“You need to trust me,” Dax insisted. “And trust my team.”

Carmen’s words replayed in Paige’s head. Dax trusted her. She needed to do the same. She needed to get on board, because Dax was heading into danger, and he didn’t need to be distracted worrying about her. “I trust you and your team. And if you say this is normal, I’m going to trust that, too. Just promise me you’ll be careful and you won’t take any unnecessary risks.”

“I promise,” Dax said without hesitation. “I may have walked on the wild side in a previous life, but now I have too much to lose. So does Zee. We’ll be careful, I can make that promise for both of us.”

“There’s one other thing you need to know,” Paige took his hand. “Sean won’t leave until he finds his partner. He went dark to find the guy, he won’t just cut his losses and come home.”

“I realize that,” Dax pressed a kiss to her forehead. “It might take a little longer, but the mission is the same. We don’t leave a man behind. We’ll find Sean and the British operative, then we’ll come home.”

“Do you think the scientist is still alive?” Paige wondered.

“It’s possible,” Dax settled back into bed and pulled Paige with him. “We’ll talk to the locals and decide how to handle that situation once we know more. Now, you need to get some sleep. You have a mystery to solve before another farmer’s livelihood is destroyed.”

Paige turned and pressed the palms of her hands on either side of his face. “I love you.”

Dax pulled her even closer. “I love you more,” he whispered before he showed her how much.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I promise I’ll be home for lunch,” Paige insisted. “No matter what, so wait for me. I know you need to get on the road by one, but don’t leave until I get here.”

“I’ll wait,” Dax promised. “Go arrest someone. I need to pack.”

Paige was smiling when she climbed into her car and headed toward the Chilcott farm to meet Jericho. She was still worried about Dax, but something had shifted and the unsettled feeling that had been looming over her since Nathan arrived was gone now. She was going to trust Dax and his team. They were good and Sean needed them. She pulled into Ryan’s driveway and parked behind Jericho’s truck.

Jericho was waiting out back by the field. “I was thinking we should walk the ditch and follow the line all the way to the gate. You up for a short hike?”

“Sure,” Paige joined him. Along the way she took pictures and asked a ton of questions. By the time they made it back to the Chilcott farm, she thought she understood the way the system worked. “Do you want to head over to Becky Giles and go through the same routine?”

“Sure,” Jericho began.

“Hold that thought,” Paige held up a hand when Margie called her over the radio. “Go ahead.”

“Paige,” Margie’s voice crackled over the walkie. “Can you respond to the hospital?”

“Um…” she glanced at her watch, it was already ten.

“Problem?” Jericho studied her.

“Dax is leaving today,” she began.

“Say no more,” Jericho took the walkie from Paige. “Margie, send Havilland to the hospital and tell him I’ll meet him there.”

“Copy,” Margie said hesitantly. “Um, I don’t know if it’s related but Ivy and James Rycrofts baby is sick. The doctors are running tests, but she thinks it had to be the baby formula.”

“I’ll handle it,” Jericho glanced at Paige. “Go home. Spend a couple hours with that husband of yours then meet me at the office. I’ll brief you and we’ll decide how to proceed.”

“Are you sure?” Paige asked. She wanted to go home, but she didn’t want to leave them shorthanded.

“Positive,” Jericho started walking toward the driveway. “We’ve got this.”

Paige pulled into her driveway and rushed into the house. She pulled up short when she spotted the luggage sitting by the door. Dax was already packed and ready to go. She crossed the room and settled onto the couch next to him. Zeus, Carmen, Nathan, Sophie and Dax were seated in the family room going over last-minute changes to the plan.

The group visited, planned and laughed for two full hours before Zeus declared it was lunchtime and he was starving. He suggested they order pizza and have it delivered to the house. Once it arrived, Paige glanced around the room and relaxed. Everyone here was family and they would all do their part to get Dax, Zeus and Sean home safely.

They had just finished cleaning up when Nathan cleared his throat. “It’s time. If you don’t get on the road, you’ll miss your flight.”

Dax and Zeus stood, Carmen and Paige followed them outside and waited while the men loaded up their vehicle.

Zeus tossed his bag into the back, turned, and plucked Carmen off her feet. He pressed her up against the truck and pulled her in for an intimate kiss.

Dax smiled, shook his head, and pulled Paige against him. “I’ll call you once we’ve landed and we’re safely inside Iraq. Don’t worry, I still have contacts and if we run into trouble, I’ve got a few locals I can call, people I trust, places we can hide and regroup.”

“I think safely inside Iraq is a gross exaggeration, but I’ll be anxiously awaiting your call,” Paige wrapped her arms around his neck and savored the kiss he was now giving her. He’d be okay, he had to be. She’d just stay positive, and he’d be home in no time.

“I love you,” Dax whispered in her ear. “And I’m going to miss you.” Then he turned and climbed behind the wheel.

Carmen stepped in next to Paige and gripped her hand so hard it cut off the circulation in her fingers. “That maniac of mine better take care of himself. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to kill him.”

Paige wrapped an arm around her friend and the two women watched their warriors disappear down the road. “You gonna be okay?” Paige finally asked. “I need to get back to work.”

“Do you mind if I stay here?” Carmen glanced from Paige to Nathan and Sophie. “I don’t want to be alone right now.”

“Of course, you can stay,” Sophie put a supportive hand on Carmen’s shoulder. “Paige, you get back to work. We’re going to visit for a while, then I think I’ll make some stew for dinner.”

“Don’t wait for me,” Paige focused on Sophie. “I have a case and I’m not sure when I’ll be home. I might have to work late to make up for the time I took this morning.”

“We’ll see you when you get home,” Nathan answered. “Come on, you two. Let’s get back inside.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into the office and glanced around. Jericho’s truck was outside but his door was shut. “Is he in?” she asked Margie.

“Yeah,” Margie glanced at the closed door. “But he’s on the phone with James Tolman. I don’t think we should interrupt.”

“Alright,” she settled in at her desk and opened the file on Ryan Chilcott, then grabbed Becky Giles photos. She was so focused on what she was doing, she didn’t notice when Jericho opened his door and crossed the room. He settled into one of her chairs and waited. Finally, she spotted him and looked up. “Was the baby connected to the other cases?”

“I think so,” Jericho frowned. “But James is resisting. You busy or can you take a ride with me?”

“Let’s go,” Paige jumped to her feet and followed Jericho out the door. “Where are we going?” Paige finally asked once they were flying down the highway.

“Iris said she normally breast feeds the baby, but she hasn’t been feeling well, so she decided to switch to baby formula for a few days just in case she caught a bug or something,” Jericho advised. “I asked the doctor to draw blood and test Iris as well.”

“You think Iris was poisoned, which made her ill,” Paige realized. “Then she fed the baby, and he got really sick because he’s an infant?”

“I do,” Jericho scowled.

“But how?” Paige asked, confused. “They don’t drink irrigation water.”

“But they irrigate,” Jericho advised. “And they have a well. I think the tainted irrigation water seeped into their well and is making that family sick.”

“Alright,” Paige considered. “So we’re heading out to investigate their well?”

“We’re headed out to take samples from the well,” Jericho corrected. “Then we’re going over to the Harper place to do the same.”

“Why?”

“Because Andrea and Scott brought their six-year-old daughter into the emergency room just as I was leaving. Duncan is still at the hospital trying to get the details.”

“A six-year-old?” Paige frowned. “What about the parents? Are the Harpers sick as well?”

“No,” Jericho pulled off the highway onto a long dirt driveway. “But Angie’s condition is serious, that’s the six-year-old. Andrea said their daughter complained that she was dizzy, then she started to vomit. Scott told her to sit down on the couch, but she passed out before she got there. Then the corners of her mouth turned blue. The doctor said she was suffering from oxygen deprivation. I told him to test for nitrite and sulfur poisoning. Duncan hasn’t called with the results yet, but the Rycroft infant showed high levels of nitrite.”

“I’m sorry I abandoned you today,” Paige felt guilty now that she knew all that happened while she was gone.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Jericho glanced at her. “There was nothing you could have done that Duncan and I didn’t cover. Now, we need to get samples of the well water, the soil and I think we should check the plants as well.”

“Alright,” Paige glanced around. “Where do the Harpers live? How close are they to the Rycrofts?”

“Just over there,” Jericho pointed to the west. “See that big red brick house with the large windows?”

“Yeah,” Paige took a few seconds to glance around. “Is that the backside of Becky Giles property over there?”

“It is,” Jericho nodded. “We’re missing something and I want to know what it is. That’s Becky’s place, over there is Ryan Chilcott, and back that way is the Stewart place. Results came back, the pig died from nitrite poisoning.”

Paige turned a slow circle. “Where is the well?”

“Over here,” Jericho pointed to the south end of the property. “And the irrigation ditch is over there.”

“Yeah,” Paige moved forward to get a closer look. “But over here, it runs parallel to the well. Under normal circumstances that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“But these aren’t normal circumstances,” Jericho pulled out a plastic container. “I’ll get the water; you go walk the ditch and see where the line comes in.

“What is that enormous building over there?” Paige pointed to what looked like an industrial warehouse.

“Fertilizer plant,” Jericho said absently as he raised a bucket full of water.

“Fertilizer?” Paige said in surprise.

“And that’s going to be our next stop,” Jericho straightened. “I should have thought of that sooner.”

“It seems too far away,” Paige objected. “Even if they had a leak, that’s too far away to cause damage. Not in the sporadic way this poison is hitting the area.”

“Coincidence is hooey,” Jericho reminded her.

“It is,” Paige agreed. “Although, I’m not sure you should ever say that again. Havi can get away with it. You, Sheriff? I think you need a different expression. That just sounded wrong on so many levels.”

“You done here?” he glanced at the irrigation ditch, then focused on the plants. “They look fine.”

“I know,” Paige frowned. “This case is a mystery wrapped in an enigma, tied with a conundrum. I can’t figure it out.”

“We will,” Jericho assured her. “Let’s stop over at the fertilizer plant, then we can head back to the Harpers. I want to catch the top-level guys before they leave for the day.”

“I’ll leave my car here and ride over with you,” Paige decided. “I need to think.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Ten minutes later they were sitting in the executive office of Deke Morgan, Vice President of production for AmAgri-Science Incorporated.

“I suppose I should be used to this kind of questioning,” Deke sat back in his chair. “It just gets a bit tiresome. Whenever there’s a problem, the first instinct of law enforcement is to harass the closest fertilizer plant. I can assure you, we have had no leaks, any accidents, or any chemical spills in the past five years. We have strict safety procedures here at AmAgri. Employees that don’t take them seriously aren’t employed with us for long.”

“Are you willing to turn over your disposal records for the past six months?” Paige asked. “We’re looking for documentation on what happens to all the chemical waste that your manufacturing process creates.”

“I should make you get a warrant,” Deke considered. “But I’m not going to. I’ll tell Linda to pull the contract and the pickup orders for the past six months. If you need to go back further, I will make you get a warrant. Will that suffice?”

“It should do,” Jericho stood. “I know you’re busy, but it might help us understand the process if you could take us around, give us a quick tour.”

“I can give you exactly twenty minutes before I need to head out,” Deke Morgan stood. “I have an important meeting I can’t miss.”

“That should be more than enough time,” Paige also stood.

Twenty minutes later Paige and Jericho walked silently to Jericho’s truck. Once inside, Paige turned and addressed her boss. “I don’t see how they could be responsible. It made so much sense on the surface, but it took less than five minutes to see just how safety conscious they are. They could be hiding a dirty little secret, but my gut says no.”

“I agree,” Jericho shifted into gear and headed for the Harper residence. “Let’s get the other sample then we can regroup at the office. I also want to check in with Havilland and see how Angie Harper is doing.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped through her front door and was surprised to see Carmen seated on the couch, staring at a low burning fire. “Any word from our men?”

“No,” Carmen didn’t take her eyes off the flames. “Nathan talked to his contact at the military base. They got onto the cargo plane without any problems. I doubt we’ll hear anything from the guys for several hours.”

“You run a good bluff,” Paige settled down next to her. “But, I can see you’re as worried as I am.”

“I’ve done everything I can,” Carmen glanced at Paige. “I’ve tapped every source I have but I can’t find any sign of Sean — anywhere. How am I supposed to help Zee if I’m completely blind and I keep coming up empty?”

“That’s not what he needs,” Paige dropped her boots onto the floor and settled back. “If you found Sean, they wouldn’t have had to go over there. Nobody expects you to locate the elusive agent. Sean is good, and he’s experienced. If he doesn’t want to be found, you won’t find him.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?” Carmen asked, frustrated.

“I think what they need from you is information,” Paige decided. “They need to know if the route they’re taking is clear, or if there’s fighting in the area. Have there been any ambushes? What villages are still friendly, and which ones should they avoid? They need the kind of information that will keep them safe while they look for Sean.”

Carmen was silent for several seconds. “Why did it take you ten seconds to figure that out and I’ve been sitting here for hours and never thought of that?”

“Because I’ve been undercover and I’m familiar with Sean’s habits and his tactics,” Paige said, unconcerned. “I know him and I know Dax. I guess I know what they need. You know this stuff, you’re just not thinking straight because it’s Zeus. When Dax was missing, I had to put all the personal stuff aside and focus on doing the job. We both did that in Washington when we found Sophie. Now, you have to do that knowing Zeus could be in danger. He needs your amazing skills to help him navigate around the risks. You can do this. I believe in you, now you just need to believe in yourself. Dax or Zeus will tell you what they need, and you’ll get it for them.”

“You seem to have a lot of faith in me,” Carmen frowned. “They’ll be okay, right?”

“Yes,” Paige pressed a hand to her growling stomach. “But I won’t if I don’t find something to eat.”

“Sophie left a bowl of stew out for you,” Carmen stood. “Let’s head into the kitchen. I want a glass of wine to go with your stew.”

Paige put the stew in the microwave then moved to the fridge and started looking for a loaf of bread. “Do you know what happened to the bread I had in here?”

“Sophie threw it out,” Carmen said absently. “She bought some fresh rolls. They’re over here.”

“Why did she throw my bread away?” Paige shut the fridge and retrieved her stew before settling in at the table.

“You stored the bread on the same shelf as that ancient bottle of lemon juice,” Carmen complained. “The lemon juice leaked, and the liquid was directed around that old bottle of pickles and seeped into the bread. It was ruined, so Sophie threw it out.”

Paige started at her friend. “I need to take a drive.”

“Eat first,” Carmen insisted. “Whatever epiphany you just had can wait.”

“But—” Paige began.

“If you eat first, I’ll go with you,” Carmen offered. “And you can explain why you think you just discovered the cure to cancer.”

“Not cancer,” Paige took a huge bite of stew. “I just figured out why only some of the fields were impacted and others were left healthy and untouched.”

“Soggy bread solved the mystery?” Carmen scowled. “How?”

“The unaffected fields were blocked by a large jar of pickles,” Paige grinned.

“I have no idea what that means,” Carman admitted. “But if it works for you, I guess that’s what counts.”

“I’ll show you once we get to Becky Giles field,” Paige shoveled in the last of her stew and grabbed another roll before she stood and headed for the door.

Paige pulled to the far end of the field and shut down her car.

Carmen wrapped her arms around her chest and sank further into the seat. “I’ll wait here.”

“This shouldn’t take long,” Paige shoved open the door and flipped on her flashlight. She strolled to the edge of the field, looking for the junction where the irrigation water left the main line and was diverted to Becky’s system. It didn’t take long. Once she found it, she crouched and studied the ground around the pipe. Even in the dark, she could see the weeds around the area had died. She was pretty sure she’d find the same problem at the other farms. Paige was nearly back to her truck when she spotted a figure looming at the back of her vehicle.

“It’s late,” Becky Giles called out. “Is there a problem?”

“Can you tell me about that area back there?” Paige joined her and pointed the beam of her flashlight to an empty field that bordered a wild looking area full of tall weeds.

“There’s not a lot to tell,” Becky frowned. “The irrigation water comes in back there. I haven’t done anything with that field because there’s a vein of rock that runs through it. I’m told it flows all the way to those hills over there.”

“So, the other farmers in the area probably have an area that’s been left untouched just like you?”

“Sure, if their place runs along the line of bedrock like mine,” Becky confirmed. “There are stories of old timers trying to break through the rock but as far as I know, they all failed. What’s going on?”

“I think someone poisoned your field with the irrigation water,” Paige told her. “Not from the main line, or even the main ditch, which is why your neighbor’s pumpkin patch is fine. There’s some kind of poisonous leak between the main line and your ditch. When the water flowed over the contaminants, it picked them up and deposited them into your field, killing your sunflowers.”

“Poison from where?” Becky wondered.

“I’m still working on that,” Paige admitted. “It’s late, you go back inside. I’ll be in touch.”

“Didn’t you need to make another stop,” Carmen asked when Paige pulled back onto the highway, headed toward home.

“I changed my mind,” Paige told her. “It’s late, I need to get you home so you can rest, and I want to see if I can find a geological map of the area.”

“I can find you one,” Carmen offered. “What are you looking for?”

“Becky said there’s a vein of rock that runs through her property all the way to the hills back there. I need to see exactly where that vein is.”

“Now I get it,” Carmen said in understanding. “The soggy bread theory.”

“Exactly,” Paige grinned.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Jericho,” Paige joined her boss on the edge of Ryan Chilcott’s field.

“Paige,” Jericho glanced at her. “You ready to take a walk?”

“First, I need to show you something,” Paige pulled out a large printout of a map and spread it out on the hood of Jericho’s vehicle.

“You’ve been busy,” he glanced at her. “Guess that’s what happens when your man goes out of town.”

“Something like that,” Paige ignored him. “I’ve marked the Chilcott farm, Becky Giles place, the Stewarts where the pig died, the Rycroft infant incident, and the Harpers. Any word on their daughter?”

“Yeah,” Jericho said absently studying the map. “Uh, Havilland said she’s improving but they want her to remain in ICU for another day or so. Explain your conclusions, here.”

“I think the poison is coming from this field,” Paige pointed to a parcel that connected with each of the victim’s property line. “I also think the bedrock beneath the surface is blocking the hazardous waste from settling on some farms and diverting it to these others.”

“And this overlay is a map of the bedrock that runs through this area all the way to the hills?” Jericho pointed at a blue line that crossed over several property lines.

“It is,” Paige sighed.

“That would explain why some fields are impacted and others are not,” Jericho agreed.

“Now we just have to find out where the hazardous material is coming from and who is putting it there,” Paige said, frustrated.

“We’re here,” Jericho started down a dirt trail that ran along Ryan Chilcott’s ditch. “I want to walk the property like we planned and venture over to that empty lot. Let’s see if we notice anything unusual. We’ve been all over the property and the city irrigation system. Let’s go test your theory and see if anything jumps out.”

“Okay,” Paige joined him. “I’m game.”

“Have you heard from the boys?” Jericho asked casually. “The ones that aren’t on a top-secret mission to save the fed who didn’t go into a foreign county under questionable circumstances?”

“No,” Paige grinned. “But they won’t touch down until around noon our time — which should be about ten o’clock at night in the Middle East — specific location unknown.”

“You stick to that story, kid,” Jericho grinned. “Will they call to let you know everything’s on track?”

“Dax said he would,” Paige studied the ground next to the irrigation ditch where the pipes split off from the primary system into Chilcott’s ditch. He had the same black gooey dirt and dead weeds that Becky had. “Anyway, I don’t know how often he’ll be able to call, but I think he’ll at least touch base with me tonight. They can’t risk having the call intercepted by the wrong people.”

“Regardless of what we are doing at the time,” Jericho looked out over the weed infested field at the center of all this mess. “Take the call. It’s important.”

“Thanks,” Paige also stopped to study the field. “What do you think?”

“I think Dean’s been playing with that drone we purchased,” Jericho pulled out his phone. “Now feels like the perfect time to test it out, see if that fancy camera works.”

“Good idea,” Paige agreed. “I’m going to walk a bit. When I see Dean headed this way, I’ll come back.”

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\*\*\*\*\*

“You ready for this?” Zeus asked once the plane began it’s decent.

“The instant we touch down, exit the plane like we belong,” Dax instructed. “Nathan said he arranged for a Humvee and it should be parked at the airport. We get in, grab the keys, and get out as quickly as possible. Once we get on the road, we don’t stop for anyone or anything. The locals will be used to that.”

“It’s dark,” Zeus shrugged. “I bet nobody even notices we’re there.”

“Let’s hope you’re right,” Dax gathered up his supplies and impatiently waited for the plane to land.

The two men exited the plane and stood on the isolated runway, each one deep in thoughts of the last time they were here.

“Just as I remember,” Zeus motioned to a man in camo approaching them. “Hot and dusty.”

The man reached out and handed him a set of keys. “Compliments of the general. Humvee’s waiting over there.” He pointed to the left, several yards from the runway.

“Thanks,” Dax accepted them, then turned to Zee. “Let’s go.”

Zeus dropped his bag into the back and slid into the passenger’s seat. “Let’s see if we can get out of the airport.”

“The security’s not that tight,” Dax put the vehicle in gear. The exit from Kuwait International Airport was smooth and easy. Once they drove through the gate, they made their way to the highway and headed northbound toward the Iraqi border. The instant they entered Highway one, both men grinned.

“Al Hillah, here we come. I guess Porter is good for something,” Zeus stretched out his legs. “Now what?”

“I want to head to the village, see if Adnan still grazes his goats in the evening,” Dax decided.

“Good place to start, I suppose,” Zeus glanced at his friend. “I still don’t trust him, but as long as we don’t give him any details, he might be useful.”

“I agree,” Dax sobered. “We’ll just tell him we’re looking for a colleague that went missing, an aid worker that helped us out once. He doesn’t need to know we’re here trying to locate someone we care about.”

“Because he’ll try to extort us for more money,” Zeus frowned.

“Or a few more goats,” Dax shrugged. “I don’t plan to add to his family fortune this time around.”

“Yeah,” Zeus agreed. “This time, he’s going to give us something we want, and he’s going to do it for free.”

“If he can’t,” Dax remained alert, scanning the area for trouble. “We continue north. The original asset was near Babylon. The aid camp had to be somewhere near FOB Alpha. They’d want the protection.”

“They could have taken the Brit anywhere,” Zeus warned. “But I think they’d keep him close, near one of the villages, maybe headed toward Kuwait where they know they’ll find Americans willing to pay for a prisoner.”

“That’s what I’m thinking,” Dax agreed. “So, we check in with Adnan, see if he’s heard any rumors and then continue on toward Al Hillah, but we scour the villages on the way.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Zeus agreed.

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Dax studied the area through the darkness. It was obviously an abandoned farm with several rundown outbuildings and one adobe structure that was barely standing. Zeus pulled the Humvee into a building that was missing a door and parked off to the side, in the dark.

Dax slid from the Humvee and made his way back outside. That building over there looks steady. We should be able to get up on the roof and see for miles, use it as a lookout while we’re here. He stepped back inside the old building and paused at the Humvee. “There was a mission, years ago. I remember you and Narco ran into some trouble. If memory serves you were missing for three days. Is this where you spent that time?”

“Yes,” Zeus moved in next to Dax. “The mission was complicated, and we ran into trouble almost immediately. I think the entire village was hot on our tail. We were speeding through farms and orchards, dodging bullets with no idea where we were going. Suddenly, Narco pulled off the road and followed a small trail. I thought he was crazy, and I was sure he was going to get us killed. We ended up here, hunkered down until we figured it was safe to bolt, and flew back to our rendezvous point like a bat out of hell. I think the extraction team had basically given up on us.” Zeus shook his head, lost in memory. “That mission was close, worst Op I ever had, we barely made it out of that one alive. Never thought I’d be forced to spend a night out here again. Don’t worry, we’re well hidden and we have the advantage. Your right, we can see for miles from that roof but, if we’re careful, the enemy can’t see us.”

“Looks perfect,” Dax moved to his bag and pulled out his satellite phone. “You want go first?”

“Naw,” Zeus headed for the abandoned structure that had to be the primary residence. “I’ll keep watch while you call your cop. That way, I won’t be rushed when I talk to my girl.”

“I hate to break it to you,” Dax followed him toward the home. It was large enough he could find a little privacy. “I’m not going to rush either.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige watched the drone make one last sweeping circle then start back toward the edge of the property where she stood with Dean and Jericho.

“I think that will do it,” Dean said, slowly lowering the device to the ground.

“Go on back to the office,” Jericho told him. “Download the footage and we’ll see if it sheds any light on this situation.”

“We—” Paige glanced at her phone’s display. Unknown number. “Hold that thought, I need to get this.” She stepped away before answering. “Deputy Carter.”

“Hey babe,” came Dax’s low voice. “Miss me yet?”

“You have no idea,” Paige smiled. “Did everything go okay?”

“Better than okay,” Dax answered, then proceeded to explain what had happened so far.

“So,” Paige considered. “You think this ghost could be Sean?”

“What do you think?” Dax asked. “You said he’s good and you know him better than I do. Would he drop down and replenish his supplies that way?”

“Yes,” Paige said without hesitation. “And, if he did, nobody would see him. Sean is quick and nimble. I don’t know if you knew this, but he played baseball in college — shortstop. He’s fit and his build is small enough to be agile and wily. If this ghost is Sean, how will you find him?”

“We’ve set up for the night,” Dax told her. “Zeus had a secret place that is perfect. We’re safe and we can watch and wait, see if we spot any movement. We’ll each get a couple hours down, then we’ll start searching before daylight.”

“I was thinking today,” Paige began.

“Worrying today,” Dax smiled.

“I was thinking,” Paige repeated. “I had this case, a long time ago. Anyway, there were four of us — me, Sean, Sparrow and Trent Brinkley. It was a complicated case and the details don’t matter, but the important part was how we dealt with being separated. They split us into twos and we came up with a code, to let the other group know we’d been there. We called it our knock. While you’re looking for Sean, take a rock or some chalk if you have it, and make a mark somewhere fairly obvious with one straight line and then three short lines the same length.”

“Okay,” Dax frowned. “What’s the message?”

“If Sean is in the area, he’ll recognize it and he’ll add two solid lines at the end. Kind of like you knock, and he knocked back,” Paige explained.

“What kind of case required you to knock at your team?”

“Like I said, it was complicated,” Paige repeated. “It’s a long story, I’ll tell you all about it when you get home. Anyway, it will tell Sean you’re there looking for him and it will also let you know he’s nearby.”

“You sure he’ll answer the knock?” Dax considered; it might work if Sean would bite.

“Positive,” Paige said confidently. “If he discovers any sign of you and Zeus, he’ll evade but if he sees that mark, he’ll probably come find you.”

“It’s worth a try.” Dax asked Paige for an update on her case, and they talked for a little longer before Dax decided he needed to go. “Is Carmen with you?”

“No,” Paige admitted. “I’m still at work. I think she’s at the house with Nathan and Sophie.”

“Well, I better let you go. Zee’s impatiently waiting to call his wife,” Dax said reluctantly. “I don’t know when I can call again. We don’t want anyone to realize we’re here.”

“I love you, and be careful,” Paige didn’t want to let him go, but she knew she needed to.

“I love you too, baby. And same goes,” Dax told her.

\*\*\*\*\*

“We need a warrant,” Havilland said once they finished watching the video Dean took that morning. They were all gathered in the conference room deciding how to proceed.

“For whom?” Paige frowned.

“For the field,” Jericho agreed. “We need to dig up those damaged areas and see what’s below the surface.”

“Do you think we have enough to convince Judge Potter?” Paige wondered.

“I don’t need to convince Potter,” Jericho disagreed. “I need to convince Tolman, and he’ll convince Potter. Give me just a minute.” He headed for his office to make the call. Minutes later he returned. “Tolman’s on board.”

An hour later, the group stood on the edge of the vacant field watching the backhoe driver carefully remove dirt and set it aside. When he paused and motioned toward the group, Paige and Havilland broke away and joined him next to the shallow hole.

“AmAgri-Science Incorporated,” Paige read the labeling on the aluminum barrel. “I didn’t see that coming.”

“I still don’t think they’re responsible,” Jericho joined them. “I went over the documents Deke Morgan provided. I think we need to focus on Dyna Disposal Services. The orders look legitimate, and the fertilizer plant is too strict about safety and following procedures.”

“I got the same feeling,” Paige agreed.

It took several more hours, but they discovered over a dozen barrels, several were corroded, and the waste had leaked into the soil.

“You two head back to the office and see what you can find on Dyna Disposal,” Jericho told Paige and Havilland. “I’ll meet you there once we’ve finished here. James is on the phone right now with Waste Management and I assume they’ll be contacting the EPA.”

“That could take a while,” Paige realized. “We’ll be in the conference room.”

“Everything okay with that man of yours?” Havilland asked once they were settled in at the large table.

“So far,” Paige evaded.

“I know you can’t talk about it,” Havilland fired up his laptop. “But we’re all here if you need anything.”

“I appreciate that,” Paige answered sincerely. “So far things are moving according to plan.”

“So,” Havilland glanced up. “I already ran the property owner, on that field. The place has been owned by the Peterson’s for years. If I had to guess, some ancestor bought the place, realized it was worthless for farming because of the bedrock, and moved on. It’s part of the Peterson family trust and the trustee lives in Florida. We can dig into that deeper if we need to, but I don’t think they’re involved in any of this.”

“Doesn’t sound like it,” Paige sat back. “Let’s see what we can find on Dyna Disposal Services. You identify the owners and start digging into them, I’ll look into the company itself, see if they have any complaints or if they’ve cut corners in the past, have any fines or disciplinary actions for sloppy disposal.”

They worked for nearly two hours before Jericho joined them. He advised that Waste Management had secured the area, deeming it a biohazard. EPA reps would arrive in the morning and the two agencies would decide how to proceed with cleanup. That situation was no longer their problem.

“I assume they’ll be sending in their own investigators,” Paige considered.

“They will,” Jericho sobered, “I don’t know if the state will assist, but the EPA has jurisdiction on this. We’ll offer our assistance, but I doubt they’ll take us up on that. They’re the experts in this type of situation, and we’ve done about all we can do from our end.”

“What do we need to accomplish?” Havilland asked. “I mean, today before we turn the case over to them. If they’re going to investigate anyway, what can we offer they can’t handle themselves?”

“James wants to make sure we have a tight case,” Jericho advised. “The EPA only cares about the spill and prosecution. The victims, our citizens, are just stats to them. Becky Giles has a loan on her land and she needed that crop to survive. We’re not going to leave them destitute over this. Ryan Chilcott needed that last crop to get him through the winter. The Rycrofts and the Harpers have medical bills. James is determined to make sure our people are compensated for their damages. When I left James, he didn’t care if he had to step on some bureaucratic toes in the process, he’s going to get those people justice.”

“He’s mad,” Paige realized.

“Furious,” Jericho admitted. “He even mentioned going to the media to create public support if he needs to. So, tell me what we have and let’s get this done.”

“Dyno Disposal is owned by two cousins,” Havilland offered.

They all looked up when Gage entered the room. “The Rycroft’s baby has been released from the hospital and they’re on their way home. I told them to stop by the office and grab half a dozen cases of bottled water. If that’s a problem, I’ll replace them myself.”

“It’s not a problem,” Jericho told him. “Have a seat. That’s only going to last a few days. We’ll figure out a better solution before they run out. In the meantime, Havilland was briefing us on the disposal company.”

“First, I have more. They moved Angie Harper out of intensive care and she is now recovering in a private room,” Gage continued. “The doctor said he thinks she’ll need to stay at least another day or two but he’s confident she’ll make a full recovery.”

“Any idea how she came in contact with the poison and her parents didn’t?” Paige wondered.

“Yeah,” Gage settled into a chair. “Angie took the family pet, a yellow lab named Arlo, out to play in the field. Arlo is also sick and currently at the vet clinic. He was splashing around in a pond out back that was filled with irrigation water and drank enough to get poisoned. The Harper’s keep it as overflow. It comes in handy in years like this one when we have a drought and they’re worried about water.”

“She got that sick from splashing around in a pond?” Havilland asked in surprise.

“No,” Gage sighed. “They have an old well, out by the pond. Andrea said they switched over to the city years ago but the well still works. Angie was out in the field, playing with Arlo, got thirsty, and filled her water bottle with well water. She said she drank at least three bottles of the stuff before her stomach got upset and she went looking for mom.”

“The tainted pond had seeped into the well and contaminated the water,” Jericho realized. “I want these guys. Whoever’s responsible for this mess, I want them to pay dearly for the damage they’ve inflicted on these unsuspecting families.”

“That’s where I come in,” Havilland straightened. “Like I was saying, the company is owned by two cousins — Kirk and Ron Hull. They both live in Laurel Bluffs and the company is right on the border of the Bluffs and Manti. Kirk doesn’t have a record but five years ago, Ron did time for embezzlement. It looks like, when he got out, he went into business with his cousin.”

“Anything on the company?” Jericho wondered.

“Yes,” Paige jumped in. “On paper, Dyna Disposal looks like they’ve been in business for two years. I think, realistically, it’s only been fourteen months.”

“Explain that,” Jericho demanded.

“The business license was issued over two years ago but I can’t find anything else on the company, no expenses, no utilities, nothing. Then, fourteen months ago, the electricity, phones, internet, everything is hooked up, and they bid on the job at AmAgri. I called Deke Morgan, he confirmed they’ve only been using Dyna Disposal for the past year. Before that they contracted with a place called Mercer out of Price. He’s upset. Waste Management has already contacted him. He said they looked into Dyna Disposal before they signed the contract, and everything checked out. He thought they were dealing with a reputable company, and he’s devastated to find out Dyna was dumping the waste in an empty field. I believe him because, like I said, it all looks legit for the past fourteen months. Two years, if you go by the license.”

“So, they’re technically victims in all of this,” Gage surmised. “Just like the Harpers and the Rycrofts?”

“And all the rest,” Havilland added.

“They are,” Paige agreed. “I don’t know if they’ll convince the hazardous waste people, but I believe him.”

“So, what was Ron and Kirk doing two years ago?” Jericho wondered. “Before they went into the waste disposal business.”

“Running a pawn shop,” Paige pulled up the information on her laptop. “The Treasure Hull. You’re Hull is our Treasure.”

Havilland just stared at her. Paige shrugged.

“How did they go from running a pawn shop to getting a lucrative contract in waste disposal?” Jericho wondered.

“They got into some trouble with the pawn shop,” Paige advised. “It was a small business they ran out of New Mexico. The local police were looking at them, trying to build a case, when the cousins suddenly shut down operations and left town.”

“Was it a front?” Gage wondered. “A place to fence stolen property for Ron’s friends — guys he met in prison, maybe.”

“Maybe,” Paige shrugged. “I have a call into the detective that was working the case, but I haven’t heard back yet. What I do know, is while they were still in New Mexico, they got the business license and started setting up the phony disposal company. I say phony, but the company really exists. They also have a contract to dispose of used oil out of Salina.”

“They could have another dump site out there,” Gage considered. “Oil wouldn’t be as toxic so there might not be obvious indicators.”

“We’ll notify James, he can coordinate with the Waste Management on that,” Jericho decided.

“So,” Paige focused on her boss. “Where do we go from here?”

“I think we’ve done all we can do,” Jericho decided. “We call it a night for now. James said he’d bring the EPA investigator over in the morning. Once he arrives. We’ll brief him, turn over everything we have, and offer to help in any way we can. Then, I think we need to let the feds do what they do and trust James to get the victims compensation.”

“I agree,” Paige added before anyone could argue. “The EPA has jurisdiction and they’re good at this. They’ll build an airtight case and, now that Tolman is vested in the outcome, he’ll do everything he can to help those guys recoup their damages.”

“Can we ask the community for help?” Gage wondered. “A fundraiser or a drive to get them drinking water and maybe a little cash to help them get by until they recoup those damages?”

“I’ll turn that over to Margie,” Jericho decided. “She has people.”

“And those people are far more effective than any of us could ever be,” Havilland stood. “I guess I’ll see the lot of you first thing.”

“Yeah,” Jericho stood. “Go home, all of you.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped through the front door, tired and a little unsettled. It always made her feel this way when she passed a case onto another agency. It never felt complete, but there was no way around it.

Carmen jumped from the couch. “I promise, I won’t stay here forever.”

“Stay as long as you like,” Paige invited. “I know it’s probably lonely up on that hill in that big monstrosity you and Zeus call a house.”

“It is,” Carmen admitted.

“Plus, I think having someone to talk to all day is helping Sophie,” Paige removed her gun belt and settled onto the couch. “I assume you talked to Zeus.”

“I did,” Carmen sat in the chair opposite Paige. “I still haven’t found anything but I know where they are and I’m monitoring hostile encounters in the area. I might not find our man, but I’m going to make sure our warriors are safe while they look.”

“Sounds good,” Paige sat back, exhausted.

“You look tired,” Carmen realized. “Rough day?”

“Not bad,” Paige sighed. “I think it’s the stress and the worry. It’s taking a toll.”

“Me too,” Carmen focused on the window. “But we talked to them. They’re doing okay and Zeus said you gave them an idea of how to find Sean. Hopefully, it won’t be much longer and then all of them will be home where it’s safe.”

They both glanced up when Nathan stepped into the room. The three of them talked for a while before Sophie informed them dinner was ready. They had a comfortable dinner together and Paige couldn’t help thinking this felt like family. Once they cleaned up, the group settled back into the living room where Paige told them about her case.

“That’s awful,” Sophie finally said. “I hope our government will do the right thing and take care of those poor people that have suffered so much over this.”

“I think James Tolman will make sure of that,” Paige smiled.

“It’s getting late,” Nathan stood and held out a hand for Sophie. “I think we’re going to turn in. With any luck, the boys will have news by morning.”

“I hope so,” Carmen also stood. “I didn’t sleep well last night. I think I’m going to bed as well.”

Paige watched Nathan and Sophie disappear down the hall and Carmen ascend the stairs that led to her room. Once they were gone, she sprawled out on the couch and pulled a thin blanket over her. She’d get up, go to her own room… in a while. It took less than five minutes for her to drift off to sleep.

\*\*\*\*\*

“You know,” Zeus finally spoke. “The past couple months, I was starting to think I missed this — the adventure, the excitement, the thrill of the chase.” It was late afternoon, and they were making their way back to the hidden location they had set up their base camp. They were both tired, dirty, and miserable. Once they spoke with their wives, they took turns sleeping while their partner guarded their position. Then, just after dawn, they headed out in search of Sean willing to put Paige’s secret code to the test. They still didn’t trust Adnan, but it looked like — so far — he’d kept their presence a secret. None of the villagers seemed to notice two strangers wandering around the neglected farms.

“And now?” Dax left the overgrown path, wiped the sweat from his forehead, took a few steps to the left, and marked another abandoned building with the symbols Paige had instructed.

“Now,” Zeus grinned. “I’m traipsing through this powdery crap the locals call sand, exhausted and hungry, marking buildings that are barely standing with a stick of chalk and thinking just how good it would feel to sleep in my own bed, next to the woman I love.”

“Yeah, the simple life sounds pretty good about now,” Dax agreed.

“We’re good at what we do,” Zeus finally added. “But I think we’re getting too old for this nonsense. I remember when I could walk for days, hyped up on adrenaline and anticipation, only stopping because I knew I had to. Now? We’ve spent one day out in the sun, the sand, and the filthy air — and, I can’t wait to get back, scarf down a quick meal and crash.”

“That sounds like a plan,” Dax marked another building. “I’ll take first watch tonight. We’ll take a few hours down, then come back out and see if our elusive Sean Wilkins knocked back.”

“You do realize there’s not even a hint of evidence a man or a ghost has been living in this area,” Zeus warned. “We’ve walked for miles today and I haven’t seen one footprint, one broken branch, one waded down field.”

“Do you think a ghost would leave a print?” Dax wondered.

“If the ghost were human?” Zeus growled. “Yes.”

“Paige said Sean’s good,” Dax disagreed. “At hiding and tracking. I think he’d know what signs you were looking for and he’d make sure he didn’t leave any. I’m not ready to give up, not yet. We head back to base, regroup, have dinner, and get a few hours rest. Then we come back out and check the code. If we still don’t see any sign of Wilkens, we’ll camp here one more night and move on.”

“I can live with that,” Zeus decided. “I’ll pull out the map, see if I can find a good place to hole up on our next leg.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the lot of the Chevron and sighed. She felt guilty about it, but she longed for something big to happen. An interesting, or even dangerous, case that would take her mind of Dax, Zeus and the mission to find Sean. The day was dragging, and she still had three hours before she could check off duty and head home. Then what? Another night sleeping on the couch because she couldn’t bear to sleep in her own bed without her husband. She was pathetic. Frustrated and restless, she shoved open the door and headed inside to deal with another routine, mundane call. This one was a gas theft. The one before this? Graffiti on a white vinyl fence near the skateboarding park.

“Sorry,” Denise said the instant Paige stepped inside the building. “I know this is stupid, but I had to call it in.” She gave Paige the details of the theft.

Three hours and twelve minutes later, Paige finally checked off duty and headed home. She stepped inside the house, expecting a repeat of the previous evening. Instead, she found Carmen and Nathan hunched over a computer reading through a lengthy report. “Honey, I’m home.” Paige called out.

Nathan looked up, ignored the comment, and returned his focus to the report. Carmen stood and approached Paige. “I found something.” She was clearly excited, but also a little apprehensive.

“What did you find?” Paige removed her coat and crossed the room, stopping directly behind Nathan.

“A report,” Carmen advised. “There was shooting in the area, just outside of Babylon.”

“Recently?” Paige pulled up a chair.

“Yes,” Carmen told her. “About a week ago. The team that went in says there was some chatter about a man attempting to rescue another man that was being held for ransom. Militants in the area frequently kidnap anyone they think will get them money. There was a gun battle in Al Difar. Some villagers were injured, and two members of the militant group were killed. The locals believed the other man was badly injured. The soldiers that were sent in to investigate couldn’t confirm any of it. They also didn’t locate anyone being held against their will.”

“And the villagers wouldn’t talk because they were afraid it would endanger their family,” Paige realized. “There’s really no way to know how much of that report is factual and how much they fabricated to make the soldiers go away.”

“I agree,” Nathan turned. “Read it, then I want to look into this a little closer. I have other databases I can tap, other resources where we can try to piece this together. How’s the case?”

“I don’t have a case,” Paige sat back in her chair. “The investigator for the EPA arrived this morning. It took less than an hour to brief him on our findings and then get ceremoniously dismissed. It’s fine, I expected it. And, Tolman said he’s not going anywhere. He’s inserting himself where he can — to make sure restitution is part of the deal. It’s the best we can hope, I suppose.”

“But not very satisfying,” Nathan said in sympathy. “No, but this gives me something to focus on.” The three of them worked for another two hours before Sophie insisted they had to stop and have dinner. Once the meal was over, they returned to the work. Nathan broke off around eleven and called it a night. Carmen and Paige worked for two more hours before Carmen announced she couldn’t stay awake another minute and headed for the guest room. Paige stared at the couch for a full minute before she forced herself to retreat to her room and drop into bed.

Paige pulled a pillow over her head and tried to drown out the ringing, but it was no use. Suddenly, she realized it was the phone, and she bolted upright and snatched the handset off the base, glancing at the clock before she said hello. Two-thirty in the morning. This had to be an emergency.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I’m telling you, there’s nobody here,” Zeus insisted. “We’ve been walking since six o’clock this morning and we haven’t seen a single sign. Nothing fresh. Nothing to indicate Sean, or anyone else for that matter, is hiding in the trees.”

“I already said I agree,” Dax grumbled. “You don’t need to beat a dead horse. We’ll head back, grab a quick lunch, and then load up. We can spend a couple hours driving the area, then we’ll move on. I think if Sean was hiding out here, he would have responded to the chalk message Paige told us to leave.”

“Okay,” Zeus relaxed. “So, we strike camp, head further north and do this all again in the next village. We’ll continue the same routing all the way toward Babylon. There’s a tiny village, not on any maps that I know of, I think we should stop in, talk to the locals, and see if anyone knows anything. If not, we continue on from there.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Dax said maneuvering his way through the dying orchard. It was a shortcut that led back to the overgrown trail, the hard-packed dirt masked their footprints, making it impossible for anyone to track them back to their hideout. It seemed counterintuitive, but Dax had hesitantly carved a long line followed by three short lines with his pocketknife into a tree right next to the driveway. Out of habit, he checked the simple code and stopped abruptly, shocked and intrigued at the mark that had been added. He held up a hand to stop Zeus before he crouched and studied the symbol.

“Is that—” Zeus whispered.

“Blood,” Dax nodded. “Keep an eye out. It looks like Sean was injured.” He stared at the two additional lines that had been added to the code for several seconds before he straightened and rushed toward the rundown home.

“He’s dragging a leg,” Zeus said, reading the signs before them. “So, why wasn’t there a single sign out there? He didn’t just drop out of the sky and land at the base of that palm tree.”

“Paige said he was good,” Dax picked up his pace. His gut was telling him Sean was in trouble. The two of them followed the trail all the way back to camp.

“You hang back,” Dax decided. “Maybe go check the vehicle and the supplies. Then, wait for my signal before you head up. We don’t know if he’s alone. If someone spotted us, this could be a trap.”

“Sean wouldn’t lead us into a trap,” Zeus disagreed. “But I’ll wait we can check the Humvee later. Go on up and see how bad it is.”

Moments later, Dax cautiously stepped through the door, gun drawn, every sense he possessed alert and on edge. He cleared the first room and was heading for the stairs when he spotted Sean’s crumbled mass on the ground next to the opening that was once a window. Dax hesitated and took a few seconds to glance around before approaching the body to see if Sean was still alive. Relief flooded him when he felt the pulse. “Zee, come on in. I need your help.”

Zeus practically darted inside but came an abrupt stop when he spotted Sean. “Is he alive?”

“Yeah,” Dax answered absently. “I need you to head out to the truck, get the medical kit from the back, there’s a bag on the driver’s side next to the MREs. And grab the satellite phone. We need Jeeves. He’ll have to walk us through what to do.”

Zeus dropped down next to Dax and inhaled sharply. “It looks like someone went all Mike Tyson on him. You’re sure he’s still alive?”

“I’m alive,” Sean croaked.

“What’s the worst of it?” Dax asked.

“Gunshot,” Sean tried to shift but only groaned in pain. “You had to pick the one building that’s light years from the civilization, didn’t you?”

“Best vantage point,” Dax smiled. “Where are you hit?”

“Upper thigh,” Sean coughed out. “Water?”

Zeus opened his jug and dripped a few drops into Sean’s mouth.

“What about this?” Dax asked, pulling up Sean’s shirt and spotting the deep bruising around his stomach.

“Hurts,” Sean nodded.

“I think you might be bleeding internally,” Dax advised him. “We need to address that before we deal with the leg.”

“Alright,” Sean whispered before he passed out.

“Call Jeeves,” Dax ordered.

“Wait,” Zeus jumped up, grabbed a tablet from his pack, and connected it to the satellite phone.

“What are you doing?” Dax wondered.

“Something Carmen taught me,” Zeus said absently. “She said only to do this in case of emergency. I think this qualifies. I need to… yeah, there we go. Alright, let me call Jeeves and see if he answers. I’m putting him on speaker.”

“Hello?” Jeeves greeted hesitantly.

“Hey Jeeves,” Zeus spoke up. “It’s your two favorite people. Dax and I have sort of a situation here and we need your help.”

“What kind of situation?” Jeeves frowned and wondered what the daredevil partners had gotten themselves into this time.

“Hey, Jeeves,” Dax glanced at Zeus. “What are you going to do with that?”

“Video,” Zeus told him. “I need to switch this to a video call, Jeeves. I’m really hoping you have that ability where you are.”

“Okay, sure,” Jeeves waited. Suddenly there was a video call coming through on his phone.

“Alright,” Zeus said, relieved. “I can see you; can you see us?”

“Where are you?” Jeeves demanded. “I know that’s not Manti.”

“Can’t say,” Dax cut in. “Here’s what I need. I have a man that’s injured. I’m going to scroll across his abdomen. I think he might have some internal bleeding. I need you to walk me through what to do to save him.”

“The crazy, impossible and often hopeless situations you two get yourselves into,” Jeeves broke off when he saw the injury. “We need to open that up immediately. He’s bleeding internally and we need to stitch that up before it gets any worse.”

“That’s what I thought,” Dax yanked open the medical kit. “We have a ton of morphine. How do I know what to give him?”

Jeeves walked him through the calculations then waited while Zeus shoved in the needle and injected the pain medication. Within minutes, Sean’s body seemed to relax.

Over two hours later, Dax shoved his body backwards until it collided with the side of the dilapidated hut. He leaned his head back, closed his eyes, and told himself Sean would be okay. He glanced up when Zeus bumped a plastic water bottle against his shoulder. Dax twisted off the cap and slowly began cleaning the blood from his hands and arms.

“The gloves may have kept the germs out of Sean, but it didn’t keep the blood off of us,” Zeus settled down next to his friend. “Jeeves said he thinks that was a success. We won’t know for maybe forty-eight hours or so, but he thinks it went well. Good call, not telling him it was Sean until we finished. His nerves aren’t what they used to be, and he was visibly upset when he heard what happened to his favorite agent.”

“I have to call Paige,” Dax wiped his hand on a disposable towelette and shoved the bloody cloth into the empty water bottle. “I don’t know what to tell her.”

“The truth,” Zeus stood and retrieved the phone. “We don’t know the details of what happened to him, but we know we did all we could to save him. The rest is up to him, but Paige needs to be warned. And she needs an update. So does Porter.”

Dax banged the back of his head against the wall again and let out a frustrated sigh. “All this only to find him barely alive.”

“It was better than barely dead,” Zeus responded. “Call Paige.”

“It’s what — two o’clock in the morning, back home?”

“About two-ten,” Zeus shrugged. “Make the call.”

He did. “Hey baby, I know it’s late, but this is important.”

“Are you okay?” Paige demanded.

“I’m fine,” Dax assured her. “Zee’s fine, too.”

“Sean?” Paige asked, alert now. She glanced up when she heard a soft knock on the door, then it opened to reveal Carmen and Nathan. “Come in,” Paige motioned to them.

“You’re not alone,” Dax realized.

“The phone woke Carmen and Nathan.”

“Can you switch to speaker?” Dax asked.

“Alright,” Paige studied the phone for several seconds before she found the right button, then she set the phone on the bed between her and Carmen — who had now climbed in next to her. Nathan had pulled up a chair and settled in next to the bed. “We’re all here. I take it you have bad news.”

“We found Sean,” Dax informed them.

“Alive?” Nathan asked.

“Barely,” Dax told them the basics of his injuries.

“He needs a medical evac,” Nathan decided. “If he’s bleeding internally, he won’t last long.”

“He’s not,” Dax interrupted. “He was, but I called Jeeves and he walked Zeus and I through the procedure. We’ve stitched him up, removed the bullet from his thigh, and now we just have to wait. Jeeves said we’ll know in the next forty-eight hours and moving him could be fatal. We just have to wait this out and see.”

“What about infection?” Paige wondered.

“I don’t know what Nathan said to that supply colonel. but he hooked us up better than I expected. I’ve got plenty of morphine to manage the pain and enough antibiotic to deal with any infection. Jeeves gave me very strict instructions. We’ll stick to the routine he outlined and wait this out. I’m sorry to wake you all up just to give you bad news but I thought you should know as soon as possible.”

“You did the right thing,” Nathan answered immediately. “Now, let us tell you what we found.”

They walked Dax through the information they uncovered about the botched rescue attempt and the attack.

“The information would match Sean’s injuries,” Dax decided. “If he’s stabile in the morning, I’ll take Zee and scout out that village. I don’t want to leave him alone for too long, but that’s not too far away, I think we can manage it and get back before he needs the next injection.”

“Be careful,” Nathan warned. “If the militants know someone is trying to steal their prized hostage, they won’t hesitate to attack. I think Sean is proof of that.”

“I thought of that,” Dax assured him. “We’re not going in. Not yet. I need more information and we can’t move Sean. We’re going to hunker down here and monitor things while we wait for super-Agent Ghost to recover enough to fill in the details. We need to know what he knows before we can take action. I’ll keep you posted as much as possible. If you hit on anything else, let me know.”

“Be careful,” Paige told him again.

“I promise,” Dax answered immediately. “Now Zee would like to have a minute to speak with his wife. When he’s done, I’d like to say goodnight to my bride and then we’ll be in touch. Goodnight, Nathan.”

“Goodnight, kid,” Nathan stood. “I’m heading down. I need to explain everything to Sophie. I’ll see you two in the morning.”

Paige flipped the phone off speaker and held it out to Carmen. Her friend climbed from the bed, took the phone, and walked to stand in front of the window. She had a muffled conversation with her husband for several minutes before she walked back and handed the phone to Paige.

“I’ll give you two privacy,” Carmen decided. “I’ll be in my room when you’re done.”

“Thanks,” Paige took the phone and raised it to her ear. “Hello.”

Dax stood and moved away from his friend. “Baby, I am so sorry I didn’t have better news. It’s bad, but Jeeves seemed to think Sean could make a full recovery. I’m going to stay optimistic. He’s strong and he’s nearly as obstinate as I am.”

“I know,” Paige whispered. “It’s out of our control. I won’t give up on him. Don’t you give up, either. Tell Zeus I expect his unwavering optimism. The same as he had when you were in a coma. We believed in you when nobody else did. I need Zeus to believe again.”

“He does,” Dax assured her. “I promise, we will do everything in our power to help Sean pull through this. Do you think he’d leave once he can travel? Do you think he’d agree to an evacuation if he knew we’d take it from here?”

“No,” Paige said confidently. “He’ll stay. Even if he can’t help with the extraction, he’ll insist on staying. I know that makes things more difficult, but if you can accommodate him, I’d consider it a personal favor — for me.”

“Let’s just play this by ear,” Dax decided.

“Are you really safe enough to stay in one place for that long?” Paige wondered.

“Yeah,” Dax assured her. “Zeus and another one of our men holed up here for three full days before they made a run for it. They could have stayed longer. It’s a perfect hideout with a clear view of the village and surrounding area. If anyone tries anything, we’ll see them coming a mile away. Don’t worry about that. We’ve got security covered. Now, we just need Sean to fight hard and brief us on the details we’ve missed.”

“I don’t want to hang up,” Paige told him. “I know we need to, but I just don’t want to.”

“I love you,” Dax ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I’ll be home soon. Count on that. We’ll help Sean fight through this, rescue his partner, then I’ll be home. I promise.”

“I know,” Paige whispered. “Call me when you can.” She hung up and just sat there staring at the black window. She was grateful Dax and Zeus found Sean in time to save him, but she wanted her husband to come home. Deep in her gut, she knew this had only just begun. Sean wouldn’t leave without his partner, and she was worried none of them would leave until they found the missing scientist.

Tears formed and slid down the corner of her eyes, glided over her cheek, and dripped off her chin, but she ignored them. She just sat there, silently staring at the window and the dark abyss looming outside.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets. One scheduling note… due to personal obligations the August episode was skipped. An extra episode will be added before the end of the year to complete this season.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S6

**Tags:** Season 6

---

### [Precious Treasure](https://melaniepsmith.com/precious-treasure/)

**Published:** September 30, 2021
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Salt of the Earth (S6E5) Sophie is abducted. The team travels to the east coast to save her but was one of Nathan Porter’s projects the catalyst, or something else?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*PRECIOUS TREASURE\*\*\*****

“As you may know, the Smithsonian Institute comprises seventeen museums and galleries. You are currently touring the most popular exhibit — the Museum of Natural History. Inside, you will find some of the most famous artifacts in the world. From ancient fossils to treasured gems like the Hope diamond, there is something for everyone. Contained within this large dome are millions of specimens and natural artifacts…”

Sophie Porter stood at the back of the group, only half listening to the same speech she’d heard about a hundred times before. She understood the need for consistency, especially here at the Smithsonian, but to her it was nothing more than white noise that was more monotonous than educational.

“If you will follow me down this hallway and to the right, we’ll be entering the Bone Hall,” Dustin, another volunteer, continued. Sophie did her best to block out her colleague and focused on the tour group. She always enjoyed people watching, and today was no different. It was interesting to see how the energized group of teens dealt with a stoic elderly couple and how the tired-looking mother of three interacted with the young flirtatious newlyweds. They were both oblivious to how their public displays of affection were impacting the rest of the group. *Oh, to be young and in love again*, Sophie mused.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PaigeS6.jpg)

[Download pdf](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Precious-Treasure.pdf)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/panorama-washington-MPSmith.jpg)

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![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/the-castle-smithsonian-museum-MPSmith.jpg)

She took this job years ago, when Nathan was out of town more than he was home. She was beginning to wonder if it was time to hang up her hat. She didn’t enjoy it as much as she used to; and, by the end of the day, her feet and her back ached. Some days she stumbled into the house so exhausted she could barely walk. She hated to admit it, but the signs were there — she was getting too old to do this much longer. Cutting back to half a day helped, but even that was exhausting.

It was nearly an hour later, when Sophie followed the tour group through a heavy steel door that led to the gem and mineral room. This part she did enjoy; and, in her heart, she knew she always would. It was fun to watch each of the faces as they took in the priceless sparkling stones. The Hope Diamond was the most popular by far, but Sophie’s favorite was The Hall Sapphire Necklace. She was drawn to it the very first time she saw it. Probably because the brilliant blue sapphires reminded her of Nathan’s deep blue eyes.

It was designed by Henry Winston and contained 36 large sapphires accented by 435 brilliantly cut diamonds. She knew the history by heart; well, to be honest, she was a total Smithsonian gem geek. She knew the story behind most of the jewels inside this room, but she’d devoured the information she found on the Hall necklace. She loved the story behind the elegant jewel and could relay it in detail — so much detail, she often bored her fellow volunteers talking about it and she knew she’d never tire of seeing it.

Sophie glanced up when Dustin moved in next to her. “Another one down,” he glanced around the room. “I’m beat. Thank goodness we only have one tour today. Instead of an hour for lunch, I have the entire afternoon to spend with my family. I know that’s normal for you, but for me, it’s a rare treat. Anyway, are you coming back tomorrow to do this all again?”

Sophie shook her head and grinned. “I’ll be lounging on the beach tomorrow. I think Tanya is on. I’m sure she’ll keep you entertained.”

“Good for you,” Dustin sighed when a small group broke off and returned to the display case that contained the Hope Diamond. “Will the Mighty General be joining you?”

“He is, yes,” Sophie thought of her husband again. It was so rare for him to have a few days off — especially now, with Agent Wilkins on a dangerous mission in Iraq. They needed this trip; they needed a few days alone together. She couldn’t wait to spend a weekend lounging in the sun, catching up with her husband. She couldn’t wait to relax on the open patio with the breeze flowing through her hair and the smell of saltwater wafting around her. Maybe she’d talk Nathan into a long walk on their private beach — at sunset. She smiled, thinking of the cool sand sliding between her toes, waves splashing all around them, water lightly dusting her ankles. Yes, she definitely needed this vacation.

“I think I lost you,” Dustin laughed. “It looks like the last of the stragglers just left, but let’s do a quick walkthrough to make sure.”

“Right,” Sophie visited with her colleague as they methodically searched the room, paused to lock up, then headed toward the employee lounge to retrieve their things. They were so focused on their conversation, neither one of them noticed the man loitering in the corner. They were so relieved to have the tour completed, they also missed it when he pushed off the wall and followed them down the hallway. The instant they disappeared through the door; the man casually headed for the exit.

“Alright,” Dustin turned to Sophie. “This is where I leave you. I’m parked around the corner. Don’t feel too guilty, knowing you left all the rest of us back here working away, entertaining the masses, while you lounge in the sun and build sandcastles.”

Sophie laughed. “You are great at entertainment.” She watched him walk away before she turned and headed for her own car.

Dustin got almost all the way to his vehicle before he realized he left his nephew's birthday present in the employee lounge. He was silently scolding himself for being so forgetful when he rounded the corner and spotted a strange man forcing Sophie into a vehicle. He froze, not sure what to do. That’s when Sophie glanced back and spotted him. Her look was filled with fear, panic, and an urgent sense of desperation. He was about to call out to her when the man gave her a forceful shove. Sophie stumbled and fell against the silver Camry.

Dustin yanked out his phone and began filming just in time to catch the man shoving Sophie into the back seat. He straightened, slammed the back door, and jumped into the passenger’s seat. Dustin rushed forward and continued to film the car as it sped away. He tried to focus on the license plate but wasn’t entirely sure he captured it. He didn’t stop until the vehicle disappeared — swallowed by the thick afternoon traffic. He hoped he captured the plate, but he wasn’t sure. At least he got a clear shot of the man’s face. He turned and rushed to his car; his nephews present completely forgotten. He had to find Nathan Porter.

\*\*\*\*\*

The Pentagon was always tightly secured, but today it seemed ultra-restrictive. There were more security guards than usual, each double-checking credentials before granting entrance. Dustin had been here before, too many times to count. His uncle was a general in the marine corps and was stationed at the Pentagon for years before he finally hung up his hat and move to Florida. Dustin knew he’d have to convince the guard at the visitor’s entrance to grant him access — and that wouldn’t be easy. He watched as two men were rejected and escorted to the doors. Chances were high he’d fail too, but he had to try. If they kicked him out, he’d come up with another solution — maybe call the local police. He probably should have done that already; but, he knew for a fact, getting the information to Nathan Porter was Sophie’s best chance at being rescued.

Dustin took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves as he approached the armed guard. “Sir?”

“The visitor line is to the left,” the guard said in dismissal.

“I know,” Dustin handed the guard his Smithsonian ID badge. “I’ve been here before, probably more than most — at least, more than anyone that doesn’t work here. My Uncle Martin, he gave me the grand tour a few years back. He was a general stationed in this building.”

“Your uncle was a general?” the guard asked skeptically. “What’s his name?”

“Martin,” Dustin repeated. “Martin Hancock.

“Brigadier general,” the guard corrected.

“What?” Dustin asked, confused.

“Martin Hancock was a Brigadier general, not a general.”

“Right, only one star,” Dustin mumbled under his breath. “Anyway, I need to get in touch with General Nathan Porter,” Dustin insisted. “I know he’s here today, and it’s an emergency.”

“If he’s expecting you,” the guard was now focused and alert. “Your name will be on the list. You’ll need to get in line with the rest of that group over there. That’s where you’ll be issued a visitor pass and a guard will be standing by to escort you up.” He pointed to the back of the line and turned to address the man standing behind Dustin.

“I’m not on the list,” Dustin began.

“Then, despite your connection to the Brigadier general, I’m afraid I can’t help you. You can try the line if you want. They might be willing to call up, see if General Porter’s staff will talk to you without an appointment. I can’t make any promises, but you can try,” the guard motioned to the side of the room.

“Sophie Porter,” Dustin blurted before he got thrown out — or arrested. “General Porter’s wife, she’s been abducted.”

“Are you threatening General Porter’s wife?” The guard grabbed Dustin and pushed him up against the nearest wall. “Are you even related to Martin Hancock?”

“I’m not threatening Nathan, or Sophie,” Dustin exclaimed. “I saw a strange man grab her and shove her into a car when we were leaving the Smithsonian. We work together — me and Sophie, not the man who took her. I need to get this information to General Porter immediately. You’re wasting valuable time. Can you please just call him and tell him what I said, what I saw? He knows me. He’ll know I’m telling you the truth.”

The guard grabbed Dustin’s arm and escorted him toward a door, subtly motioning for another guard to take up his position. Once they were inside the room, the guard silently watched Dustin. “Talk.”

“I assume you’re looking for an explanation,” Dustin finally said. “Here, this is better.” He pulled out his phone, found the video and hit play, then handed the device to the guard.

“This better be legit,” the guard warned. He picked up the phone and punched several buttons.

Dustin watched, realizing he hadn’t pressed enough numbers to make a call, so he must be dialing an internal extension. At least he wasn’t calling the police.

“Sir,” the guard cleared his throat. “I know this is a bad time, but there seems to be a situation involving Nathan Porter’s wife. I need to speak with him right away.” He continued to explain what he saw and gave Dustin’s information from his identification badge. “He says he’s the nephew of retired Brigadier General Martin Hancock. Yes, sir. I’ll hang tight.” He hung up and turned to Dustin. “Last chance to come clean,” he warned. “If this is some kind of trick to get inside…”

“It’s not,” Dustin interrupted.

The guard looked like he was about to speak, then snatched up the ringing phone.

\*\*\*\*\*

Major Derek Calder hung up the phone and just stared at the closed door. They were not going to like this. With a sigh, he pressed the button, signaling there was an emergency. It only took a few seconds for the door to fly open. Mike Harris, the Secretary of Defense, filled the opening — visibly annoyed at the interruption.

“This better be an emergency,” he barked.

“I believe it is,” Derek motioned to the retired general still seated at the large conference table. “There’s a Dustin Hancock downstairs. He claims someone has kidnapped Sophie Porter and apparently he has video.”

“Nathan,” Harris turned to address his friend. “I’m cutting this meeting short. Trent, you’re excused. We need the room.” He turned back to Derek. “Where is this man? Where is Dustin Hanson?”

“Hancock, Dustin Hancock. He’s downstairs,” Derek glanced at Porter, then continued. “He was intercepted at the main entrance and escorted into the security office.”

“Come on in and get him on the line.” Harris turned and gave a quick shake of his head when Porter moved to stand.

“He’s ready.” Derek hit a button on the phone. “You’re on speaker with myself, Retired General Nathan Porter, and Defense Secretary Mike Harris.”

“General Porter,” Dustin called out. “Sir, it’s Dustin Hancock. I need to speak to you at once. I know security is tight for a reason, but Sophie has been taken. I haven’t called the police. I knew you’d be more effective, but maybe I should have just…”

“What do you mean Sophie was taken?” Porter stood and glared at the phone.

“We finished our shift and walked out to the parking lot together. She was in the north lot; I was around the corner to the east. We split off to head home, but I forgot a present I bought for my nephew. I was on my way back to the lounge when I rounded the corner and saw a strange man shoving Sophie into his car. He then jumped into the passenger’s seat and the vehicle sped away. I think there was another man waiting inside the car — a driver, but I couldn’t get a good look at him.”

“But you can describe the first man?” Nathan asked. “The one that pushed her into the car. You have a good description of him?”

“I can do better than that,” Dustin said with confidence. “I have video and I was able to get a clear shot of the guy. The car is also pretty clear, but the plate’s a little fuzzy. I’m sorry, but it’s the best I could do from my location.”

“Bring him up,” Porter turned to Derek. “Now! I need to see that video.”

“Yes, sir.” Derek left the room. The second he was outside the door; he was back on the phone calling Saul. “Hey, it’s Derek again. Bring this Dustin guy up, take him to the secure elevator and get him and that video into conference room Charlie, stat.”

Nathan watched the video, then watched it again. A maniac had abducted Sophie. So many horrific scenarios kept running through his mind. Who was that man and what did he want with Sophie? She was innocent, naïve, and good — everyone loved her. So, who abducted her? And what were they going to do with her — or to her? She was strong in her own way, but she was too… honorable to fight back. She didn’t have it in her to be ruthless, not the way she would need to if she was going to survive this situation.

Sophie was his moral compass and had been since the day he met her. Now she was gone — her life was in the hands of a couple of lunatics. Was this retaliation for something he’d done? That was a rabbit hole he’d never get through in time. He’d participated, in one form or another, in too many operations — too many missions — to count. Any of them could have left enemies, unknown casualties who carried a grudge and spent years plotting their revenge. He was going to need help and there was only one group he trusted — only a handful of people he could depend on to get the woman he loved back home safely. And two of them were miles away, in Utah. Two were on their honeymoon. He’d have to make do. He’d need to figure out a way through this without his brilliant tech guru and her husband. Too bad, he kind of liked the idea of Travis Boudin blowing up Sophie’s kidnappers. He pulled out his phone and dialed Paige.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige,” Jericho called from his doorway, “I need you in my office before another call comes in that pulls you away.”

“What’s up?” Paige asked, dropping into one of the visitor’s chairs. She hoped this wouldn’t take long. She was starving and still had at least an hour before lunch.

“I talked to Steve this morning,” he began.

“And you told him you made a monumentally boneheaded mistake and you’ve decided to call off the dogs. I hope you were direct, clear, and concise. Please tell me you ordered him to stop looking into Harper’s background because you realized asking a friend to investigate your girlfriend is nuts and will only lead to heartache and pain for everyone involved.”

“No,” Jericho silently glared at her. “He finished that investigation weeks ago. He wanted to update me on the Stan Donaldson situation.”

“You are playing with fire,” Paige pushed.

“Drop it,” Jericho warned. “What’s done can’t be undone. Like I said, I received that report weeks ago.”

“And let me guess,” Paige settled into her chair. “He couldn’t find anything. Harper is so squeaky clean it makes the neighbor’s dog whine whenever she walks by.”

“I don’t even know what that means,” Jericho sighed. “Steve found very little on Donaldson. There’s nothing recent, which explains how he passed Tolman’s screening.”

“There’s something that’s not recent?” Paige frowned.

“There’s the situation Wilkens found, the sealed record.” Jericho shuffled through documents until he found what he was looking for. “Stan was involved in an armed robbery before he turned eighteen.”

Paige straightened. “Seriously?”

“It looks like he was just the getaway driver,” Jericho advised. “Here’s the file,” he passed the stapled section across the desk.

Paige reached out to take the documents, then frowned when Nathan’s familiar ringtone played from her pocket. “It’s not like him to call this early. I need to get this.”

“Go ahead,” Jericho motioned for her to answer the call.

“Nathan?” Paige greeted.

“I need you,” Nathan choked out. “Sophie’s been kidnapped.”

“What, when?” Paige jumped to her feet. “Do you know who took her? Have they made contact — did they demand a ransom or anything?”

“No ransom,” Nathan choked out. “Not yet.”

Paige inhaled, if they didn’t want ransom… she couldn’t go there. Not now. “What about the FBI? Are they involved?”

“I’m told they’re working on it,” Nathan said without emotion. “I need you — and Dax. I know…”

“We’ll get there as soon as we can,” Paige promised. Once she clicked off, she dropped back into the chair and just sat there in shock. Sophie — was kidnapped. She must be terrified.

“Paige?” Jericho moved from behind his desk and settled into the chair next to her. “Who did they abduct?”

“Sophie,” she whispered. “I —”

“Take whatever time you need,” he interrupted. “Get to Washington and call if you need anything.” He studied her and realized she was in shock. He reached out, gave her knee a quick pat, then moved back to his desk. After another glance at Paige, he reached for the phone.

“Hamilton,” Dax held up a hand, a silent signal for his men to quiet down.

“Paige needs you,” Jericho said in greeting. “My office, now. Sophie Porter’s been kidnapped.”

Dax slammed down the phone and jumped to his feet.

“Dax?” Hawk followed him out the door. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know.” Dax flung open the door to his truck. “Jericho said Sophie was abducted. Paige needs me. I’ll call once I have the details.”

“I’ll get Ken on it,” Hawk decided. “You’ll be in Washington before you know it. Don’t worry.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax stepped into Jericho’s office and pulled up short. Paige was sitting in one of the large visitor chairs and she was white as a ghost. Her eyes were glazed over, and she was just staring at the large window behind Jericho’s desk. He swallowed hard, then moved forward. He crouched down and took her hands in his. “Paige?”

“Dax?” Paige whispered; her eyes still glued to the window.

“Baby,” Dax glanced at Jericho. “Paige, honey, look at me.”

Her eyes shifted, and she focused on him instead of the window.

“We need to go.” Dax held out his hand. “Wooly’s making the arrangements — he’s finding a flight to Washington. We’ll find Sophie, we will. Between Nathan’s power and your skills, Sophie couldn’t be in better hands. Come on, we still have to pack.”

Paige nodded, stood, and leaned into him. “I don’t think I can do this again.” They were nearly at the door when she remembered Jericho.

“Call if you need anything, kid.” He stood, walked to the door, and pulled her into a hug. “Go rescue Sophie Porter. She needs you and so does that obstinate husband of hers. We’ll finish our discussion when you get back.” He turned to Dax. “Take care of her.”

“You know I will,” Dax nodded, placed a supportive hand on the small of her back, and guided Paige out the door. They were nearly home when his phone rang. “Tell me you found a flight out tonight.”

“Better,” Hawk replied. “Ken found a private jet that’s already at Ephraim airport. How soon can you get that wife of yours to pack? The owners in a rush and needs to leave immediately.”

“I’m just pulling into the drive,” Dax informed him. “Give us ten. We’ll be ready.” He disconnected and turned to Paige. “We need to hurry. Wooly got us a private flight, but the owner is eager to get in the air. Just grab what you think you need. We can buy anything we missed once we arrive.”

“Alright.” They entered the house and headed upstairs. Paige stepped to the closet and pulled out a couple of leather travel bags. She silently set them on the bed and moved to the dresser.

Dax moved up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her against him. “Just breathe. We’ll get through this — together.”

Paige turned and burrowed in, accepting the love and strength he was offering. “I’m so scared. What if I can’t find her in time? Last time —”

“Last time was different,” Dax tightened his hold. “I’m sorry I put you through that, but you found me. We will find Sophie. Now, hurry. Get packed. Wooly’s on his way — or Hawk. I’m not sure which one.”

When the vehicle arrived, it was both Wooly and Hawk. Paige and Dax locked up their house and climbed into the back seat.

“Do you really think a simple shuttle required two of you?” Dax clicked in his seatbelt, then reached for Paige’s hand.

“You didn’t tell him?” Ken glanced at Hawk.

“Tell me what?” Dax demanded.

“Hawk arranged three seats, not two,” Ken informed them.

“I’m coming with you,” Hawk insisted. “Don’t argue, it’s not up for debate.”

“I’ll hold down the fort here at home,” Wooly assured him. “I can work better here, anyway. I’d come, if I thought I could help, but here, at the training center, I’ve got all the space I need and fewer interruptions. Plus, I’ve got Vato. You call, tell us what you need, and I’ll arrange it.”

“Sounds like you’ve figured it all out.” Dax was grateful he had such great friends.

Twenty minutes later, they were on Kyle Brewers' private jet waiting for word they’d been cleared for takeoff. Paige was sitting in a lounge chair, staring out the window. Dax and Hawk were leaning over a laptop, skimming through the intel Nathan sent while they waited.

\*\*\*\*\*

Sophie rubbed her temple and felt the sticky wet liquid on her fingertips. She knew it was risky to push these men, but she wouldn’t go down without a fight. Nathan would come for her. If she could just hold out long enough, Nathan would find her, and he’d rescue her. Until then, she’d do everything in her power to fight back and make her husband proud. She just hoped the men who abducted her didn’t do too much damage. Otherwise, Nathan would probably kill them and ask questions later.

Sophie smiled at that, then pressed her palms to the cold concrete floor and forced her body into a sitting position. Her head throbbed and pain exploded from behind her eyes. She braced her feet and pushed her weight backwards until her body collided with the cinder block wall. She sat there, trying to hold back the nausea, grateful the guy only hit her once. One blow was severe enough, but his thick ring had sliced across her eyebrow, leaving a huge gash just above her eyebrow. Blood ran down her face and seeped into her eye, making it impossible to see where they were. The second man had yanked her from the back of the vehicle and the two of them flanked her and escorted her into this cold, dimly lit room. The only light inside was the sunlight that seeped in through the tiny window near the corner of the room. It was worse than a prison. At least in prison you got a cot and a working toilet. She glanced at the five-gallon bucket they’d placed in the corner.

Nope, she wasn’t desperate enough to use that thing yet. Eventually, she’d have to, but she was going to hold out until it was absolutely necessary. She knew it was too much to hope for, that Nathan would find her before she had to degrade herself that way, but hope was all she had, and she was going to hold on to it until the very last second. She closed her eyes and let the tears fall. She knew Nathan would find her — she believed that with every fiber of her being. She didn’t know what she’d have to endure before her avenging angel arrived, and that thought terrified her more than anything.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Tomorrow,” Zeus called from the deluxe bathroom. “Let’s spend the morning on the beach. There’s snorkel gear in the closet and we haven’t had any downtime since we arrived.”

“Alright,” Carmen said absently as she surfed through channels on the big screen. When she saw the ‘Breaking News’ banner, she stopped and sat up straighter. “No!” she exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand.

“What’s wrong?” Zeus rushed into the room.

“Sophie,” Carmen pointed to the TV.

“What?” he lowered himself onto the bed and stared in shock. They weren’t giving names, but he could clearly see a strange man shoving Sophie Porter into the backseat of an old, but clean silver Camry.

“Authorities have not released the identity of the missing woman, but sources say she was a volunteer tour guide at the Smithsonian. Anyone who thinks they may have witnessed this incident, or if you recognize the man in this video, please contact the FBI immediately.” A number started scrolling across the bottom of the screen.

“I know we still have two more days,” Carmen turned away from the television to focus on Zeus. “Would you hate me if I wanted to go back? I need to help—”

Zeus reached out and pressed a finger to Carmen’s lips. “I was about to ask the same thing. Nathan, Sophie — they’re family. And Dax and Paige need us. You pack, I’ll call Wooly.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/autumn-MPSmith.jpg)

\*\*\*\*\*

“Nathan,” Dax said in relief when Porter answered the phone. His first call had gone to voicemail almost immediately. “We’ll be setting down in about ten. Wooly came through with a car. It should be waiting at the airport. Paige wants to head over to the Smithsonian first thing. She needs to see exactly where Sophie was taken, and she wants to get a visual before it gets dark. She also needs access to the rest of the footage… from the cameras. Is there someone that can meet us over there? Someone with the authority to get her what she needs?”

“I’ll take care of it,” Nathan assured him. “I’ll meet you at the security office as soon as I can.”

Twenty minutes later, Dax pulled to the curb and shut off the engine. They climbed from the vehicle and just stood on the sidewalk, surveying the ground where Sophie had been taken. Paige glanced up when a tall man dressed in a navy suit and a red pin striped tie exited the front door of the Smithsonian and headed their way.

When he reached them, he held out a hand in greeting. “Lt. Tony Lancaster. I assume you’re General Porter’s family.”

“Dax Hamilton,” he took his hand. “And this is my wife, Paige.”

Hawk stepped forward. “Blaze Hawthorne, but most people call me Hawk.”

“I’m told you’d like to check out the security room. If you’ll follow me, I’ll lead the way,” Lancaster told them.

“You said lieutenant,” Paige observed. “I guess that means you don’t work for the Bureau.”

“No,” Lancaster frowned.

“Are you assigned to this case?” Dax wondered.

“Good question,” Tony glanced at Paige, then focused on Dax. “It’s complicated. Mainly because of Nathan. Mrs. Porter was kidnapped — the wife of a powerful general with a lot of classified knowledge. The FBI inserted themselves into the investigation immediately. In fact, they stepped in and declared they’d be handling the case completely. Unfortunately, the crime occurred at the Smithsonian. They’re a quasi-federal building, but they have their own police force. That dilutes jurisdiction enough, but then you have to factor me in. I’m a lieutenant with the Metropolitan Police here in DC. I’m involved because it’s possible Sophie’s abduction is just an abduction. It may not be connected to General Porter, or his top-secret pentagon work.

If that’s the case, jurisdiction would fall to the locals, not the feds. Plus, technically, it didn’t happen on Smithsonian property. It occurred on a public road that is policed by Metro. It makes this case even more complex and difficult. I’m here because I’ve interacted with Porter in the past, and he trusts me. When you asked for assistance, he requested me. I’m coordinating between agencies; I suppose you could say — and representing the locals as needed. We’ve all agreed to take a step back and let the FBI do their thing, as long as they include us in the process. However, the Special Agent overseeing the case has made it clear he doesn’t appreciate or want my help. Or anyone else’s, for that matter. It’s still a work in progress.”

“Who is it? The agent in charge of the case, I mean,” Paige wondered.

“SSA Gray,” Lancaster tried to keep a neutral expression on his face.

“That’s Super Special Agent Gray to you,” Hawk grinned.

“Very Super Special Agent — with honors,” Dax added.

“I see you’ve met,” Lancaster smiled and pulled an indistinguishable door open, motioning for them to enter.

“He will not like our involvement,” Paige warned. “I know Nathan isn’t himself, so he might have neglected to warn you about our history. Gray will do everything in his power to make us all go away.”

“He won’t succeed,” Lancaster shrugged. “Porter has far more power in this town than some fed nobody’s heard of — present company excluded.”

“True enough,” Hawk agreed.

“Nathan wants you on this case — you’re on the case.” Lancaster turned to address a middle-aged man sitting in the dimly lit room. “Larry, our guests have arrived. I trust you’ll help them in any way you can.”

“Yes, sir,” Larry motioned to a chair beside him. “Porter said you wanted to look at the feed, maybe go back further than the original footage we sent over to the Pentagon. Tell me what you need and let’s get started.”

Paige settled in next to him. She pulled out a notepad, found the correct monitor, and provided the time stamp where she wanted to begin.

The group watched as Larry skimmed to the location Paige indicated.

“We were able to get the plate off the vehicle,” Lancaster said absently as they watched. “It was a dead-end, stolen from Georgetown University three days ago. The owner is a student who rarely drives the car, so she didn’t even notice it was gone.”

“Stop,” Paige shifted to get a closer look. “We watched this part at least a dozen times on the plane. I need to know where that man is coming from. Do you have another view… another camera? One that captures that side of the building?”

“No,” Larry answered in regret. “We set up the system for security. They focused most of the cameras on the doors and windows. You know —”

“To catch a thief,” Paige nodded. “I understand. So, there’s nothing that will help over there on that side of the complex?”

“We have another camera that will get a partial image and then we have one in the back to capture anyone entering or leaving from that area.”

“Can we take a look?” Paige moved closer and squinted at the screen.

“Absolutely,” Larry agreed. He began punching buttons and within seconds the angle Paige requested was on the largest screen in the center of the room. They all watched as a portion of the suspect came into view.

“Where did he come from?” Paige wondered aloud. “It has to be him; there’s no way two people wore that same hideous shirt.”

Hawk moved forward. “Can you bring up the feed for that same time for this camera over here?” he pointed to the edge of the screen.

“There he is,” Dax declared, and Larry paused the video. “Same ugly shirt, but we still can’t see his face.”

“He looks like he came from the front door,” Paige frowned. “Can you pull up the video from the front entrance and go back about five minutes?”

“Right,” Larry transferred the front door video to the large screen and pulled up the requested time.

“Gotcha,” Hawk grinned. “Now see if we can follow him. What did he do inside the museum, where did he go? Is that possible? Just rewind the footage and follow him in reverse.”

“Sure,” Larry hit a slow rewind, and they watched the suspect until he rounded a corner.

“Where does that hall go?” Paige asked.

Larry frowned. “The employee lounge.”

“Where Dustin said he and Sophie stopped to retrieve their personal belongings before leaving,” Dax added.

“Right,” Paige considered. “Keep following him. I want to know where he picked up their trail.”

The group continued to watch the video in reverse as the suspect backed all the way to the gem exhibit. They followed his movements as he pushed off the wall, wandered aimlessly around the museum and finally left the building through a side entrance.

“What’s over there?” Hawk demanded. “Do you have a camera? There could be a good shot of the driver. If the footage is decent, we may be able to enhance it enough to see what the driver looks like. Might be enough to run it through the system.”

“That side of the building is covered,” Larry told them, a hint of excitement in his voice. “Let me just—” Within seconds, Larry had a new camera view displayed on the large screen. “Okay, here we go. That’s our guy backing out of the doorway.”

The group watched as the man in an ugly shirt, baggy jeans, and black boots leaned against the brick wall and ground out a cigarette.

“Let me go back a little more and then we can hit play and watch it the right way,” Larry suggested. “We might catch more if it’s moving forward rather than reverse.”

“Good idea,” Dax watched as Larry rewound the video in triple speed. He stopped when a silver Camry slowly turned into the parking area of the museum.

“That’s our stolen,” Tony moved closer. The vehicle sped up the long drive then came to an abrupt stop directly in front of the entrance — and the camera.

“That’s the suspect casually sliding out of the passenger side, as if he didn’t have a care in the world,” Hawk observed.

“And that’s our driver,” Paige smiled. “Stop the tape, can we get a snapshot of that? I’d like to send it to law enforcement first, see if anyone can identify him?”

“We don’t need to,” Tony was frowning. “It’s Oliver Barnam and he should have at least another year before he’s even eligible for parole.”

“Frequent flyer?” Paige glanced at him.

“Yeah,” Tony sighed. “The poster boy for frequent flyers everywhere. Burglary mostly, although he did up his game on that last hit — Agg assault. He tried to beat his accomplice with an expensive butter knife — his mistake was using one of the silver utensils from the set he stole. Sterling silver, extremely rare, belonged to some ancient Scottish Lord or something. He was looking at time for the burglary, but destroying the rare silver made it a felony. Then, add the additional time for the attack on his buddy and he was looking at several years. Stupid pandemic. Those guys are letting the dregs of society out early with no kind of screening. It's impossible to keep up with whose still in and who got released — for their own health and safety, of course.”

“Of course,” Dax grinned. “I hate to point out the obvious—”

“But kidnapping Nathan Porter’s wife is extremely hazardous to that man’s health and safety. I can almost guarantee he’ll end up six feet under by the time we’re done. Not exactly what I would call healthy.” Hawk laughed. “Maybe someone should report that to the prison officials and the politicians. The reward for their so-called compassion just might be a pine box.”

“I wouldn’t say that too loud,” Tony objected and motioned to the monitors. “Looks like your Super Special Agent and his entourage just arrived.”

“And Nathan,” Paige jumped up and headed for the door. She’d only taken two steps when the heavy metal barrier flung open, and Nathan filled the doorway.

Paige continued across the room and wrapped her arms around the man she thought of as a second father. She held on a little longer than usual when she felt his shoulders relax and heard the relieved sigh before he tighten his grip. “We’re going to find her,” she promised. “And I just found my first lead. Let’s get out of here before Gray finds us.”

Nathan stepped back and watched Paige leave the room. He turned and was surprised when Dax wrapped an arm around one shoulder and Hawk flanked him on the other side.

“Hey, old man,” Dax said softly. “I know you’re worried, but don’t underestimate Paige. She’s already found something everyone else missed. And your buddy Tony just identified the driver.”

“You did?” Nathan turned to focus on the lieutenant.

“I did,” Tony motioned down the hall. “I think Paige is on her way to retrieve that cigarette butt the passenger was smoking before he entered the building. I’ll secure it, take it to our lab and see if we can identify our second culprit as well.”

“I’ll take it to the FBI lab,” Nathan objected. “They’ll be faster.”

“I disagree,” Tony locked eyes with Nathan. “And you can’t go near that evidence. You know that, Nathan. Once we catch them, any involvement from you — the grieving husband, who is always a suspect — would compromise everything you touched.”

“I—” Nathan started.

“He’s right,” Paige said casually over her shoulder. “You’re not going near my evidence General. Don’t argue because you know you won’t win. I’ll package it, turn it over to the locals, and we can move on to the next lead. Time is our enemy — you know that — we can’t stop to deal with the details ourselves. We need to keep moving, processing, brainstorming, and acting on anything we uncover.” She glanced at Dax. “It’s imperative that we find Sophie as soon as possible, and that means we don’t stop, we don’t hesitate, and we don’t impede the case managers. In this case, I consider Tony the case manager. We drop off what we find, let Lt. Lancaster process it, and we continue to move forward.”

“Alright,” Nathan knew she was right. “I brought you in because I don’t underestimate you. If anyone can find Sophie, it’s you.”

“It’s us,” Paige suddenly stopped, crouched, and pulled a pair of tweezers out of her small bag. She passed a plastic evidence bag to Tony, dropped in the cigarette butt, and straightened. “Alright,” she glanced over Nathan’s shoulder and sighed. “Get that to your lab,” she told Tony. “If you hurry, he might not realize you were here.”

Tony followed her gaze, shoved the evidence bag into his pocket and turned to leave. He stopped when Special Agent Gray called his name. With a shrug he turned back and casually waited.

“I thought I was clear when we spoke earlier,” Gray said in greeting. “While we appreciate your willingness to help, the Bureau has plenty of resources and manpower devoted to this investigation. I’ll be sure to call you if we need you, but until then—”

“I called him,” Nathan stepped forward. “And, while I’m fully aware of the manpower and resources the FBI has to offer, I will request help from whomever, whenever, I please.”

Gray turned to Nathan and sighed. His face was puckered, lines of impatience and fury webbed out from his eyes and disappeared behind his hairline. “I’ve already shared my feelings with you regarding Paige Carter and her motley band of militants.” He glanced from Paige to Dax and finally rested on Hawk. “While you hid that from me until it was too late to stop them from coming here altogether, I will not tolerate your interference. This is my investigation, Porter.”

“General Porter,” Nathan corrected. “And, as my wife is the one that is missing, I’ll call in Paige, the highly trained, former military commander she’s married to, and any other member of his Special Forces unit I deem necessary. I will also use every friend, every contact, and every man within a hundred miles that owes me a favor if I think they can help resolve this quicker. The goal is to get my wife home safely. The goal is not for you to swoop in, take credit for our efforts; and use me, or my wife and our crisis, to get fifteen minutes of fame.”

“You know,” Hawk whispered so only Dax could hear. “You’d think that man would learn from past mistakes. Apparently, you’d be wrong. Will he ever realize, you do not stand in the way of Nathan Porter. Not if you want to live to tell the tale.”

“He’ll live,” Dax whispered back, grinning. “I’m not sure about his career, though. That might suffer a quick, but painful, death if he doesn’t take a giant step back. Pushing Nathan on a good day is not a wise move. Doing it today, when he’s wound tight, on the verge of exploding — not smart.”

“If you’ll excuse me,” Tony pivoted slightly to address Nathan. “Clearly, you’re in excellent hands here and I should get back to the office. I have a pressing matter I need to attend to.”

SSA Gray smiled, believing he just won that battle.

Paige shook her head and tried to ignore her former boss. “I’d like to see your headquarters now,” she told Nathan. “I guess we’ll just try to follow you over.”

“I have a better idea,” Nathan turned to the two agents standing behind Gray. “Agent Alders, can you drive that loaner vehicle back to the Pentagon? I’d like these three to ride with me.”

“Absolutely,” Jett Alders said in relief.

“Let’s head back,” Nathan took Paige’s arm and started for the parking lot. Dax and Hawk followed. Once they were situated inside the car, Nathan turned to Paige. “He’s going to be a problem.” They all looked at Gray, who was still standing in the same spot, glaring at the vehicle, his face red, eyes bulging in anger.

“Uh-huh,” Paige agreed. “But he’s going to be your problem. I need you to keep him out of my way.”

“What do you know about the others?” Hawk wondered. “The two agents he has with him.”

“The one on the right is Special Agent Waylon Ficknell,” Paige studied the trio. “He’s a company man through and through. You won’t be able to reason with him and don’t trust him. He’ll follow Grays orders blindly and he’ll get in our way, undermine our investigation, and turn anything he finds over to the boss. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not a bad guy. He’s just loyal to the Bureau and doesn’t question that loyalty.”

“Good to know,” Hawk continued to watch as the three agents slowly made their way toward the parking lot.

“And do you know the other one?” Dax wondered.

“Special Agent Jett Alders,” Paige smiled. “He’s solid and you can trust him. Rumor has it, he was transferred to Grays unit because he’s made a name for himself. The powers that be wanted him in Virginia so they could watch him in action. It’s kind of a trial run for bigger and better things down the road.”

“And will he share intel with Gray?” Nathan focused on Paige. “We need someone on this team that we can trust. Someone that will help us, not hinder what you and the dynamic duo are trying to accomplish.”

“I trust him,” Paige said without hesitation. “I’ve worked with Jett, in the past, before I resigned to head back home. He’s solid and he’ll understand the big picture. If we need something from the FBI, I have no problem taking it to Jett.”

Dax reached out and linked his hand with hers. She was holding up, but he could see all of this was taking a toll. Both Paige and Nathan were going to be off their game on this one. He’d just have to make sure he stepped in and filled the gap.

“Then let’s get back to Command and see what we can dig up on this Oliver Barnam character,” Nathan decided.

“Because we need to find him so I, in coordination with the other law enforcement members involved, can arrest him — without incident,” Paige glared at Nathan in warning. “And you’re going to take a step back and let us do our job.” She was giving the good general an order, and everyone knew it. No vigilante tactics from Nathan or the men.

“Sure,” Nathan smiled when he saw Dax and Hawk out of the corner of his eye. They were doing their best to hide their own grin. The boys knew him too well, so did Paige for that matter. It was the reason for the demand. He wouldn’t order anyone to kill Sophie’s kidnappers. He’d let Paige do her job and only step in if necessary. But he wouldn’t lose any sleep if both of those men ended up dead because of their own stupidity. In fact, he hoped that would be the ultimate result, but knew he might be disappointed. If so, life in prison would have to do. He just needed Sophie to come home safe and sound. He could accept any outcome as long as she was unharmed — to a point.

\*\*\*\*\*

“You slackers got anything to eat?” Zeus asked as he stepped into the room. “After a harrowing flight in a tiny bird, a slightly less traumatic jaunt in a Cessna, and two connecting flights, I need a shower and a hot meal.”

“What are you two doing here?” Paige jumped up and darted across the room pulling Carmen into a big hug.

“Sorry the whole marriage thing didn’t work out for you, man,” Hawk strolled across the room, grabbed Zeus’ hand, and pulled him for a quick man-hug. He grinned and winked at Carmen. “I always knew the amazing tech wizard was too good for you. Tough though, having to cut the honeymoon short because your bride realized you’re a loser. I suppose, not even a stress-free vacation in paradise could hide all the flaws.”

“We had to come,” Carmen ignored Hawk, walked to Nathan, and pulled him in for a long, tight hug. “I found something I need to show you guys. Can someone get me a computer? Mine died on the way over and the charger is hidden somewhere in our luggage. We packed in a hurry, just threw everything in and bolted.”

“I’ll have something sent up,” Nathan motioned to a man standing to the right of the door. After a brief conversation the stranger left, and Nathan turned to look at Zeus. “I was trying to figure out how I was… how we could get through this without you two. I told myself I couldn’t call; it was your honeymoon, and that’s sacred. I figured I’d just muddle through and find someone else to assist when needed. While I am grateful for your sacrifice, it’s too much. I don’t know how we’ll ever be able to repay you. How did you even know?”

“We saw it on the news,” Carmen dropped into the nearest chair. “They didn’t identify Sophie, but the instant we saw her we knew.”

Zeus dropped next to her. “And once we knew, we came. There was no question, no debate. We had an amazing honeymoon that was nearly over; we didn’t sacrifice anything. You guys are family. This is what you do for family. It’s really that simple.”

Paige slid a laptop onto the table in front of Carmen. “Thank you, we all appreciate it, Nathan and Sophie will owe you an enormous debt for the rest of their lives. Now, what did you find?”

Nathan laughed. “Sorry, but Paige is right. Time is running out and we need to locate Sophie as soon as we can. I’ve ordered food, it should get here within the hour. If you brought a change of clothes, once you show us what you found, the two of you can head into the executive bathroom. There’s a shower and some clean towels. There’s usually soap in there as well and they mounted the shampoo bottle to the wall.”

“Thanks,” Zeus glanced at Dax. “Wooly came through for us, same as he did for you. That man’s a miracle worker. We should send him and Jaimie on a cruise or something when we get home. He’s earned it.”

“I agree,” Dax dropped into the chair next to him.

“Okay,” Carmen jumped up, switched on a screen mounted to the wall then dropped back into her chair. “I’ve been going over the footage. You know, from the Smithsonian.”

“We already did that,” Paige interrupted. “The instant we arrived we went over and viewed everything they had from earlier today, from when our bad guys arrived.”

“I went back further,” Carmen advised.

“She means we went back several days,” Zeus corrected. “And they cased the place. Show them, babe.”

Carmen pulled up a video and hit play. It was immediately obvious she’d clipped out the footage she wanted and spliced it together to play one scene after the other. The video covered several days, and it was short but informative. “The vehicle isn’t the same,” Carmen advised.

“I bet that one is stolen, too,” Paige decided. “Play it again.”

 The suspects were driving a white SUV, and they took turns walking the perimeter of the museum as they filmed the building and the employees.

“How long?” Nathan asked. “What’s the date on that first run?”

“Two weeks,” Carmen told him. “I’m beginning to think this was a simple snatch and grab. They got in, located their target, and within a matter of minutes they did the grab and fled.”

“With the merchandise being my wife,” Nathan grumbled.

“Yes,” Paige patted his arm. “The question is why. From this, it doesn’t look like Sophie was a target — not at first. As I watch this, it’s obvious they’re spending a lot of time scouting out the place, maybe looking for an in. I know you’ve been worried about retaliation, Nathan. You didn’t say anything, but I know you. You’ve been operating under the assumption that you were the catalyst. Or, the kidnapping was because of one of those top-secret missions you ran. I’m not getting that feel, not from what we know so far.”

“What if they just want you to think that?” Nathan worried. “What if they’re trying to make this look like a simple burglary and abduction, when it’s really about me and something I took part in? I have my people going through the missions. They’ve started with the most recent and they’re moving backward, skimming through everything I’ve done the past several years. There are so many, getting through a single year takes hours.”

“Have them continue with that,” Paige gripped his hand. “I don’t think you’ll find anything. I really don’t think this was an attack on retired General Porter — or the United States. My gut is telling me, it’s a burglary. Maybe a jewel heist since he followed Sophie out of the mineral and gem room, but I’m not sure they even know who they kidnapped. If I’m right, we need to keep it that way. We need to keep Sophie’s connection to you a secret. If they realize who they abducted —” Paige was interrupted when the door swung open and Gray, Ficknell, and Alders strolled in.

“I need an update,” Gray announced as he settled into one of the chairs.

Paige gave Alders a friendly smile in greeting.

Jett rolled his eyes and lowered his enormous frame into the chair next to Hawk.

“Alright,” Nathan shrugged. “Zeus and Carmen have joined my task force. Effective immediately, they will be given access to everything. Oh, and I’ve ordered food. It should arrive any minute.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Jett turned to focus on Paige. “Miracles do still happen. Hallelujah!” He raised his arms in the air. “Don’t ask. I’m just going to say when my wife and I start having children, the first one is going to be named Nathan. I sincerely pray it’s a boy, but it truly doesn’t matter. Either way, the kids gonna be Nathan Alders.”

“In the spirit of saving your daughter from a lifetime of misery,” Nathan smiled, “I’m happy to feed you and compensation isn’t necessary.”

“Enough,” Gray barked. “I need a word in private Mr. Porter.”

Dax and Hawk cringed. Paige and Jett laughed. Ficknell just looked confused.

Once Gray slammed the door behind them, Jett turned to Paige. “You planning on filling us in — on the developments? We’re all on the same team, here.”

“Carmen,” Paige motioned for her to show them the video. “Carmen and Zeus spent their travel time on the flight over putting this together. Once you see what she’s done, you can ask questions. Go ahead, Carmen, play it again.”

Once the video ended Jett focused on the vehicle still frozen on screen. “Did you run the plate?”

“Not yet but it’s on my list,” Paige sat back. “I’m betting it was stolen, just like the other one.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Jett offered. “Should only take a minute.” He pulled out his phone, called a number and made the request. “Your SUV was reported stolen a week ago, but clearly it went missing long before that.”

“Why the delay?” Ficknell asked.

“No idea,” Jett shrugged. “It’s a dead end. We can get the details later. I think we should set that aside for now and talk about the rest.”

“They were casing the place for weeks,” Ficknell announced. “The behavior fits with what we already know. They watched Mrs. Porter and acted the instant she was vulnerable.”

Jett studied the group. “I’d like your take, Paige. Since I know you, I’d be willing to bet it’s the same as mine. So, I’ll go first. Feel free to jump in any time. Those two men appear to be a couple of common criminals.”

“Before you go any further with that, there’s something else you need to know,” Paige glanced around the room and then focused on Alders. “Lt. Troy Lancaster, from Metro, identified the driver. He recognized him as a frequent burglar who should still be in prison but was released early.”

“You got a name?” Alder asked.

“Oliver Barnam,” Hawk started punching keys on his laptop and another large screen on the adjacent wall lit up, revealing Barnams rap sheet. “He was released around two months ago.”

“You think they snatched Sophie Porter for access?” Jett asked Paige. “If so, it’s possible they don’t even know who she is.”

“I do,” Paige sat back. “And, if we’re right, keeping her identity a secret is essential. It’s extremely important they never discover Sophie’s connection to Nathan. As long as they believe she’s just some volunteer with access to an item they want, she might be safe.”

“Relatively safe,” Jett agreed. “But not for long.”

“I think you’re wrong,” Ficknell spoke up. “Everything points to retaliation against General Porter. All the evidence suggests this is an elaborate scheme to gain access to a powerful man by kidnapping his wife.”

“What evidence?” Dax demanded.

Ficknell glanced at Alder then looked away. “That’s classified.”

 “Look you pencil-necked—” Hawk was interrupted when the door flew open and Nathan Porter and SSA Gray stepped back into the room.

“Don’t stop on our account,” Nathan motioned for Hawk to continue.

“This is supposed to be a joint operation,” Paige focused on Nathan. “I’d like to know what they retrieved at the scene. I walked the area, where the car was parked, they swept it clean. What did you find?”

“That’s —” Ficknell began.

“Classified,” Dax and Hawk said together. “We know. Here’s the problem. I’d be willing to bet our classification is higher than yours. We’ve been cooperating, without questioning your credentials, now it’s your turn to reciprocate.”

“Go ahead,” Gray settled into a chair. “I already told both of you, those dirt particles could have come from anywhere. We swept up the place out of an abundance of caution but it’s a dead end. One that doesn’t need further discussion.”

“Did you identify the particles?” Paige asked Alder.

“Not exactly,” Jett frowned. “Which is why I collected them for evaluation. There was something unusual in the mix. Something I couldn’t identify. It was mixed in with normal dirt and leaves but there was also some kind of clay and other minerals. We’ll have the report by morning.”

“That’s too long. I’d like to see it myself,” Paige requested. “Is there any way I can get a look at the sample you retrieved tonight?”

“No,” Gray said immediately.

“Yes,” Nathan countered.

“While they hash that out,” Carmen glanced at Zeus, got a nod, and continued. She pulled up a map she’d been working on. “I traced the vehicle, through traffic cameras mostly, once they left the museum.”

“How did you do that without a warrant,” Gray demanded. “She hacked the system illegally, that’s how. Porter, this was the very reason I don’t want her involved.”

“I called Lt. Lancaster and asked,” Carmen advised. “We’ve worked together before, and I knew he’d be able to approve what I wanted.”

“Which is the very reason Troy should be involved, officially,” Porter glared at Gray. “And it’s the reason I’m calling him in tomorrow.”

“That’s not your decision,” Gray insisted. “I’ll consider it. Let’s break for now and pick this back up in the morning. I’m thinking zero eight hundred. I’ll have my decision by then.”

Zeus started to object but Nathan shook his head to stop him. “We’ll meet you at eight.”

Ficknell jumped to his feet and joined Gray at the door. He glanced back and realized Jett Alder was still seated at the table. “What are you doing?”

“I need to talk to Paige,” Jett carefully kept all emotion out of his voice. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Once the two men were long gone, Dax turned to Jett Alders. “We’re not leaving. We’re going to continue all night if we have to. We came here to rescue Sophie, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

“Don’t feel like you have to stay,” Paige offered. “I understand the politics of staying, and we won’t hold it against you.”

“I’m staying,” Alders sat back. “What’s our next move?”

“I’m not taking no for an answer,” Paige spoke up. “I want Lt. Tony Lancaster involved. I need him officially added to this task force. He has access to local systems and local knowledge that is invaluable. Gray can get what we need, but it’s going to take time. The video Carmen got, from the traffic cams, that would have required a warrant.”

“Lancaster just made a phone call, and I had what I needed in minutes,” Carmen added. “He’s a valuable asset and we should include him.”

“If I might,” Jett said hesitantly. “If you bring Lt. Lancaster in tonight, Gray will have to accept it. He’ll be livid, but he won’t be able to change it.”

“I can—” Paige began but stopped when Nathan’s phone rang.

“Good timing,” Nathan smiled at Paige. “Wonder if he knew we were talking about him. I’ll let Troy know we’d like him to come in, after I find out why he’s calling. He must have found something to call this late.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Porter,” Troy greeted. “We’ve arrested your driver. It was almost too easy, the idiot.”

“How did you find him?” Nathan wondered, impressed at the quick apprehension.

“My guys have been scouring the area since I left you earlier, at the Smithsonian,” Troy admitted. “Once I dropped the evidence off at the lab, I headed up to speak with my crew. We’ve been checking all Barnams usual haunts and finally found him at a dive-bar he’s been known to frequent.”

“Where is he?” Nathan demanded. “I’d like my people to speak with him, if that’s possible.”

“I figured as much,” Lancaster admitted. “He’s been mirandized, and he’s waiting inside one of our interview rooms. He’s belligerent but hasn’t requested a lawyer — yet. I have no doubt that’s coming. He’s done this before; he knows how to play the game. How soon can you get here?”

“The drive should only take about ten minutes so give us fifteen,” Nathan decided.

“I’ll have someone at the door waiting,” Lancaster promised. “See you in fifteen.”

“What?” Paige demanded. “Who did they find?”

“Oliver Barnam,” Nathan admitted. “They transported him to an interrogation room, but Troy’s worried the window is very short. He’s familiar with the process and will probably demand a lawyer the instant anyone starts to question him.”

“Is Tony open to our involvement?” Alders asked.

“He is, yes,” Nathan nodded. “He might want to split it up, one of his guys and one of mine, but he’s open, and he’s waiting. Let’s go and we can hammer out the details once we get to the station.”

“You won’t need us,” Carmen spoke up. “Does anyone mind if we take a break to shower and change? We’ll also deal with the food and have it waiting once you return.”

“And just like that,” Jett sighed. “My dreams are dashed.”

“I have an apple in my office,” Nathan offered. “I’m getting the distinct feeling Gray didn’t let you eat all day.”

“I’ll take the apple,” Alder agreed. “I have had nothing to eat since breakfast.”

“We’ll meet the rest of you at the car,” Nathan said to the room. “Carmen, you and Zeus stay and get settled. Special Agent Alders and I will be down shortly.”

“We’re working together,” Alders replied. “Can we drop the titles? I prefer you just call me Jett, or Alders. I’ll answer to either.”

“Let’s go,” Hawk stood. “Paige, when you negotiate with Lancaster, I need you to insist that he lets the rest of us watch the interrogation. I need to hear what he has to say. Transcripts take time and that’s something we don’t have.”

“I’d like to know why the guy was partying it up in a bar,” Dax added. “What did he do with Sophie?”

“I’m trying not to think about that,” Paige admitted. “What if—”

“She’s alive,” Dax took her hand. “And we’re going to find her.”

“It’s impossible for you to know that,” Paige headed for the door. “But I’m choosing to believe you. Until something changes to prove me wrong, I’m choosing to believe Sophie is still alive. Let’s go find out where she is.”

\*\*\*\*\*

A man in his forties, wearing khaki slacks, a crisp blue pin-striped shirt and a solid tie with tan and blue stripes greeted them at the door. “Follow me and I’ll take you up to the office.”

They were escorted up a large flight of stairs and into a foyer area. The man opened a secured door and motioned them forward. Once inside, Lt. Tony Lancaster emerged from an outer office.

“Come on back,” Lancaster led them down a long hallway. He turned into a conference room. “I’ve discussed this with my guys. My people know Barnam, and he knows them. I think we should start this out nice and friendly — just a couple familiar faces discussing the basics. I want to put a friendly face in the room with him to start the ball rolling.”

“You want my people to watch while your people handle the interview?” Nathan realized.

“To begin, yes,” Lancaster nodded. “Barnam has no idea why he’s here. He thinks we brought him in because he was causing trouble at the bar. I want to use that to our advantage. If you take in a federal agent, he’s going to clam up immediately. If we bring in Paige, he’s going to wonder why he’s dealing with a stranger. I’d like to play this like a friendly conversation between Barnam and Detective Adam Kingsley. They know each other well.”

“Can you give us a minute,” Nathan asked the lieutenant.

“Sure,” Lancaster shrugged. “Before I go, I’m going to say I know how hard this is for all of you. I’m not asking permission. I need to make that clear. We have video of that man driving a stolen vehicle, that crime is my responsibility.”

“Two,” Paige corrected.

“What?” Lancaster turned to her.

“Two stolen vehicles,” Paige focused on him. “There’s additional footage going back two weeks. They used a different stolen SUV to case the place before they took that next step and abducted Sophie.”

“I think there’s a lot I don’t know,” Lancaster hesitated.

“We need to watch the entire interaction,” Hawk insisted. “That’s not negotiable.”

“If you won’t give us at least that,” Jett added. “I’ll just take custody of the prisoner, transport him to my office and we’ll conduct the interrogation in our house. I should do that anyway, but I’m willing to defer to Nathan. This is his choice.”

“Nathan?” Lancaster moved to a bank of electronic equipment and began pushing buttons. Then he moved to the wall and flipped on an enormous, big screen television mounted to the wall. Within seconds, the image of Oliver Barnam appeared on the screen. He was seated in a small room with a tiny table and three chairs.

“We’ll do this his way,” Paige decided. She didn’t like it. She didn’t like feeling like she’d just been benched. But she also knew she’d do the same if something like this occurred in Manti. Plus, his men captured the prisoner. They had a right to take the first crack at him. “I don’t think we need that private moment. We’re all on board, go ahead and tell your detective to get started.”

“Go ahead,” Nathan nodded.

The group watched as a detective in his thirties entered the room. He settled into one of the chairs, leaned back and kicked out his legs, crossing one ankle over the other.

“This is harassment,” Barnam insisted. “Why did you bring me here?”

“You’re looking good, Oliver,” the detective said, undeterred. “Seems freedom agrees with you.”

“I know you,” Barnam realized.

The detective frowned. Barnam knew exactly who he was. What was this about? “You know you do, Oliver. I’m Detective Adam Kingsley. You know that, playing games won’t help, not this time.”

“I was just messing with ya,” Barnam shrugged. “What do you want? I didn’t do nothing. I was minding my own. You shouldn’t bother a guy when he’s having a beer and minding his own. That guy, he broke the code, got in my face and I didn’t do nothing.”

“Oliver,” Kingsley sat up straight and leaned forward. “I need you to walk me through what you did today.”

“Why?” Barnam demanded.

“Humor me,” Kingsley insisted. “Just walk me through the day. You said you didn’t do nothing. What’s the problem, then?”

Barnam shrugged. “You wanna know what I had for breakfast, fine. I headed over to IHOP and had pancakes and bacon.”

“Who was with you?” Kingsley asked. His tone was flat, like he didn’t really care.

“Just a friend,” Barnam shrugged. “No big deal. We had breakfast, so what?”

“If it’s not a big deal,” Kingsley cocked his head. “Why won’t you tell me his name?”

“Nolan,” Barnam glanced away.

Paige leaned forward and stared at the large TV. “Do you think he’s telling the truth?”

“Let’s see where the detective goes from here,” Nathan suggested.

“Does Nolan have a last name?” Kingsley wondered.

“Everyone’s got a last name,” Barnam grumbled.

“What is Nolan’s full name?” Kingsley pushed.

“I don’t know,” Barnam glanced away.

“I thought you said he was your friend,” Kingsley insisted.

“Not my friend,” Barnam shrugged. “I know a guy and he knows Nolan. We just sort of hooked up.”

“Okay, so Nolan is a friend of a friend,” Kingsley nodded. “I get that. What’s the name of the mutual friend?”

“Uh,” Barnam stared at the door, like he wanted to escape. “What’s it to you? He wasn’t at the bar.”

“I just need to verify you were with Nolan this morning,” Kingsley said smoothly. “Without a last name, I can’t track down Nolan. I just thought if you could give me the name of your friend, I’d call him, get Nolan’s contact info, and check that off.”

“What is this about?” Barnam demanded.

“Like I said,” Kingsley shrugged. “We just need to track your movement today.”

“I used a card,” Barnam frowned. “Track that. I’m not involving anyone else.”

“Alright,” Kingsley relented. “You went to IHOP with Nolan. Then what?”

“We took care of some stuff,” Barnam evaded.

“I’m going to need you to be more specific,” Kingsley insisted.

“I think I want to call my attorney,” Barnam decided.

“That’s your call,” Kingsley shrugged. “You can use that phone on the wall over there. While you do that, I’ll step out and contact your parole officer.”

“Well,” Jett Alders sighed. “Guess that’s that. I could take him over to the office, but I doubt we’ll get anything more.”

“I want to talk to him with his attorney,” Paige decided. “I want to confront him with the stolen vehicle and the kidnapping. We won’t get anything, but I want to see his reaction when he realizes he’s been caught.”

“Alright,” Lt. Lancaster said from the door. “I’ll let Adam know.” He pulled the door shut after leaving the room.

“You want company?” Jett asked.

“Yes,” Paige decided. “We’ll do this together but first I need to talk to Carmen.” She pulled out her phone and made the call. If there was a connection between Barnam and a guy named Nolan, Carmen would find it.

\*\*\*\*\*

Two hours later, the group was gathered in the conference room back at the Pentagon. It was nearly midnight, and they were all getting discouraged.

Dax glanced around the room. Nathan looked completely defeated. He’d never seen the powerful general look so hopeless and exhausted. Paige was stressed but trying to hide it and his men were somber and too reserved. He needed to do something. “We’ve made a lot of progress today,” he began.

“Not enough,” Paige sighed. “I was hoping Sophie would sleep in her own bed tonight.”

“We all hoped for that,” Dax took her hand. “But you had to know it was unlikely.”

“I understand this is personal for all of you,” Jett began. “It’s easy to get discouraged, but we have made a lot of progress. In less than twenty-four hours, we know more than I ever would have guessed. We arrested one of the kidnappers, we have the first name of the second man involved, and we’ve narrowed down the area of focus for the morning.”

“I understand if you need to head out,” Paige told Jett. “This is personal for us but it’s just another case for you.”

“There’s no such thing as just another case,” Jett disagreed. “And while it’s not personal for me, it is important. The first forty-eight hours of any case are essential. I already called my wife and let her know I’m working an all-nighter. I think we should pull out a map and focus on the wilderness around DC. Anything that could be accessed in under two hours.”

“You’re putting a lot of trust in the word of a criminal,” Hawk observed.

“Oliver Barnam’s attorney helped convince him to cooperate,” Paige explained. “He knows he’s going back to prison. The question is how long. If the information he provided helps us to find Sophie, he can probably cut that time in half. If he lied, the deal is off.”

“I think we should operate under the assumption he was telling the truth,” Jett added. “I also think we should assume he didn’t tell us everything he knows, and he left out a lot of the details.”

“So, what’s the next step?” Hawk asked.

“I want to focus on trying to identify this Nolan guy,” Carmen announced. “Maybe I can find property or something that will lead us to where he’s keeping Sophie.”

“I can go through the rest of the video,” Zeus offered. “We’ve been trying to track the route they took to see if we can figure out where they came from, and possibly where they went. If I can find a direction of travel, that might help. There’s a lot of wilderness area. We need to tighten that up a lot.”

“I can help you with that,” Hawk offered.

“You need down time,” Nathan insisted. “Carmen, you and Zeus were exhausted when you arrived. You need to take at least a couple hours to rest. I can watch the video and identifying the other man involved can wait until morning.”

“We’re fine,” Zeus took Carmen’s hand. “As long as you let us pull out that food you ordered, we’ve got a few more hours in us.”

“I completely forgot about that,” Paige jumped to her feet. “Nathan, can you help me bring the food back in here?”

“Sure,” Nathan slowly stood and headed for the door.

Dax leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Paige’s temple. “We’re going to find her.” He felt like he’d said that a hundred times today, but he was going to keep repeating it until she believed him. Once they left the room, Dax stood.

“What’s up?” Zeus could see Dax had something on his mind.

“Those two are struggling,” Dax began. “Paige is off her game, and I’ve never seen Porter like this.”

“Paige is okay,” Carmen insisted. “We’ve all experienced worse.” She glanced around the room. “You didn’t see what she was like, years ago when we were trying to find you.”

Dax nodded. “I’m not sure I ever thanked you guys for all you did back then. This team is the only reason I’m still alive.”

“That wasn’t my point,” Carmen began. “I just thought you should know that Paige is okay. Maybe she’s a little off her game, but she’s focused and determined. I am worried about Nathan, though. He’s devastated and struggling to keep it together.”

“The sooner we find his wife, the sooner he’ll return to normal,” Jett offered and started setting up his laptop. “I’m going to focus on the wilderness. The forest is thick out there and my gut’s telling me that’s where we’ll find our victim.”

“Does it bother anyone else that Barnam wouldn’t say why they took her?” Hawk wondered. “I think the theft is still on; and, after that interview, I also believe there are more than two people involved.”

“The mutual friend,” Paige agreed and set a large box on the table. “If Carmen can find Nolan, we might be able to narrow down the third guy. If he’s the common thread, I wonder if he’s also the leader.”

“Makes sense,” Dax stood and took several bags from Nathan. “How does that help us?”

“Identifying the leader might help us find Sophie,” Jett answered. “Even if it doesn’t, we need to identify him so we can apprehend everyone involved.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Sophie was lying on the cold concrete floor, trying to get some rest. She was freezing, humiliated and near tears. She hadn’t expected her husband to find her this soon, but she wasn’t sure how long she was going to last in these conditions. Using the offensive bucket to relieve herself was degrading, but it hadn’t been as bad as she originally believed. Her captors had filled the bottom with bleach to keep down the smell. Once she finished, she replaced the lid and tried not to think about what was inside.

Her stomach growled, and she longed for one of Nathan’s cheeseburgers, grilled to perfection. Would she ever enjoy her husband’s burgers again? She hoped so, but she was having a difficult time holding onto hope. When her stomach growled again, she glanced at the door that led to the tiny closet. She wasn’t desperate enough to try that again. Earlier in the day, she had found a gallon jug of water in the closet with a box that contained snacks. They hadn’t bothered to purchase anything substantial, just fruit snacks and granola bars, but it was better than nothing. She’d been so thirsty; she hadn’t considered we might drug the water. It was. Fifteen minutes after eating two of the granola bars, a package of fruit snacks, and gulping down about a cup of water, she felt dizzy and lightheaded. She had curled into a ball on the floor hoping it would pass, thinking she’d waited too long before eating. When the grogginess set in, she understood. The water contained some kind of sleeping agent. Within minutes, she was out cold.

When she woke, it was dark outside. It was still dark, but she could see a faint tint of orange highlighting the edge of the windowsill. It must be morning. She survived the night, but what would the day bring for her? If the men who took her returned, she might learn what they wanted, but that thought terrified her. What if they wanted to kill her? “Nathan, where are you?”

Suddenly, the door burst open, and a strange man filled the doorway. Sophie studied him for several seconds before she was positive this man hadn’t been involved in the kidnapping. This was someone different, but the angry look on his face told her he wasn’t an ally.

“Get up,” he demanded. “We’re going for a little ride.”

Sophie started to panic. If they moved her, would Nathan be able to track them? She couldn’t risk it. She had to get away. “I just woke up. Do you mind if I have a snack before we leave? I found a granola bar in the closet; may I have one?”

“Hurry up,” the guy growled and motioned toward the closet. The movement caused the front of his jacket to sway and Sophie spotted the gun. At least it was secured in a holster. She slowly moved to the closet, grabbed three of the granola bars and stuffed them into her pocket before she snatched up a fourth bar and a handful of fruit snacks and shoved them in her other pocket. She hesitated, trying to think of her next move when she heard the man moving across the room, coming toward her. Her gaze landed on the gallon jug of water, and she acted before she could change her mind. She reached out, gripped the handle of the jug, and swung around to face the stranger. She continued the momentum, swung out, using as much force as she could muster and struck the man in the side of the head with the gallon jug. He dropped to the floor, swearing, and reached for his gun.

Sophie kicked out and connected with his arm. The gun dropped to the floor and slid across the smooth concrete, colliding with the cinder block wall on the other side of the room. She struck him again in the face with the jug. Blood spurted from his nose, but she didn’t stop. She raised her foot and kicked him as hard as she could in the left temple. His head fell back instantly, and he didn’t move. Sophie cringed at the deep thud his head made when it connected with the floor. She hesitated, shocked, and a little surprised at herself as she studied the man’s lifeless form. His eyes were closed, and he looked unconscious — or dead. She couldn’t think about that. If she killed the man, she’d deal with that later. Right now, she had to escape.

Cautiously, she slid through the open door and made her way down the long hallway. She could hear movement upstairs and knew someone else was in the house. She climbed one stair, then waited. Nothing happened. She held her breath as she took another, then another. When she finally reached the top, she cautiously pushed the door open an inch and tried to look around. Her view was limited but she could tell she was in the kitchen, and it looked empty. She paused to listen and could hear someone in a nearby room. After one last, quick glance back down the stairs, she cautiously slid open the door and stepped into the bright morning light.

She immediately realized the kitchen was empty. Panic was setting in when she spotted the door, just a few feet to the right. Sophie bolted across the room, flung open the door, and ran. She darted into the forest and kept running. The trees were so thick, she could barely make her way between them. The entire area was nearly dark, the tall trees blocked out the sunlight. Her arm collided with a branch, and it sliced through the tender skin on her upper left arm. She gripped the wound with her right hand and continued to run. Seconds later, she was beginning to think she was free when she heard the distinct sound of gunfire behind her and knew it came from the house she just fled. Who was shooting at who? Had her captors turned on each other? Could it be Nathan, there to rescue her and she was no longer there? No, she hadn’t heard a motor. Nathan would come in a car, or a helicopter. It had to be the men who abducted her. Terror engulfed her, but she used the fear and the certainty that her husband would come for her to push her body forward. Running as if her life depended on it — because it did. She had no idea where she was or where she was going, but she had to get as far away from that death house as she possibly could.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I found something,” Carmen jumped up, then settled back in her chair and displayed the information on the large screen on the wall.

Jett jumped, rubbed his hands over his eyes and sat up. He had finally curled up on the floor, in the corner two hours ago and crashed. Paige and Dax sat up, they too had curled up together on the floor on the other side of the room. Hawk crashed hours ago and was now back at it, studying the detailed map on his screen, looking for an abandoned house or a cabin in the woods, any place someone could hide Sophie and not be discovered.

“What is that?” Zeus stood and moved closer to the screen. “It looks like some kind of booking report.”

“It’s actually a housing report,” Carmen corrected. “I’ve been searching through prison and jail records, looking for a cellmate named Nolan. I couldn’t find one, so I expanded the search to units. These two were housed in the same block.”

“Norman Dartnell,” Paige joined Zeus. “Can you run him through the system, see what details you can find?”

“I’m on it,” Hawk said absently, never taking his eyes off his own screen.

Suddenly, the door flew open and Special Agent Gray stepped in. “What are you doing here? Why are all of you here? We agreed to meet at eight, not seven.”

“We never left,” Nathan said, leaning against the far wall.

“You?” Gray glanced at the screen and frowned. “What is that? Alder, is that you on the floor? What in the world are you doing down there on the floor?”

“We never left,” Jett parroted Nathan. He pushed to his feet, brushed out the wrinkles on his slacks and ran a hand through his hair.

“I didn’t approve that,” Gray said automatically.

“I did,” Nathan used a chair to pull himself off the floor. “Why are you early?”

“I wanted,” Gray frowned. “Never mind that, I need an update.”

Nathan dropped into a chair, leaned back, and closed his eyes. “I need coffee.”

“I’ll find a pot somewhere,” Dax offered. He reached out and pulled Paige to her feet then strolled casually out the door.

“Alright,” Hawk interrupted the silence. “Carmen, I need the screen. Do you mind?”

Carmen punched a button on her computer and the screen went black, then suddenly a rap sheet filled the screen.

“Who told you about Norman Dartnell,” Gray demanded.

“Who told you?” Nathan narrowed his eyes at the federal agent.

“I got a call this morning,” Gray settled into a chair. “Apparently Lt. Troy Lancaster’s unit arrested a man by the name of Oliver Barnam last night. I don’t suppose you know anything about that?”

“We do,” Jett answered before anyone else could. “I was there when they interrogated him. The Bureau was represented. Once Metro finished, Paige and I conducted our own interview. We’ve been working on the limited information he gave us, trying to track down leads and determine the identity of a third man, likely the leader of the group. We’ve also been trying to locate Sophie. I planned to brief you this morning once you arrived.”

“And the DNA?” Gray demanded. “I spoke with the District Attorney, and she indicated there was a cigarette butt retrieved from the Smithsonian. She also indicated the tests would be processed by the locals. After several calls and just as many threats, I finally learned that video was obtained of our suspect smoking behind the building. That’s what led to the retrieval of the cigarette. The results are back, and the lab ran them through CODIS immediately. When they contacted me this morning, they indicated they got a hit. Nolan Dartnell kidnapped Sophie Porter.” He glanced at the information displayed on the screen. “But I guess you already knew that.”

“Not exactly,” Paige was studying the screen. “Carmen just discovered Nolan Dartnell. He was in prison at the same time as Oliver Barnam. I’d say the DNA results just confirm we’re on the right trail.”

“You mentioned a third man, where did that information come from?” Gray didn’t like being left in the dark, but he was the one that went home; and, he had to admit, the group made a lot of progress in a short amount of time. His boss would be happy. On his way home last night, he’d received a call reminding him just how important General Porter was to their director.

“Oliver claimed he doesn’t really know Nolan,” Jett answered. “He said Nolan is a friend of a friend. That brings in a third person. We need to identify this third person before we can determine the extent of his involvement.”

“That’s weak,” Gray grumbled.

“I agree, and Barnam could have lied. Can we set the value of looking for a third participant aside for a minute?” Jett asked. “I have something I want to run by you guys.”

Before anyone could answer, Lt. Troy Lancaster entered the room. “I realize this is the Pentagon and security has to be tight, but seriously? I was on the list. I can’t imagine the hassle if I wasn’t expected.”

“You wouldn’t get in,” Nathan grinned.

“Right,” Tony settled into a chair. “So, I have another lead. The DA sat down with Barnam and his attorney early this morning.”

“It is early this morning,” Hawk grumbled.

“Earlier this morning,” Troy grinned. “She refused to sign off on a plea deal because it was obvious Barnam was holding out and not being completely honest. She told him unless he provided information that led to Sophie’s location, the deal was off.”

“And he cooperated?” Paige asked, surprised.

“Sort of,” Tony admitted. “He’s sticking to his story and claims he doesn’t know where Sophie is being held. Nobody believes him, but he’s not budging. Can I use one of these computers?”

“Sure,” Hawk stood. “Use mine, just minimize that arrest record and do what you need to do.”

Lancaster pulled up a map. “Alright, let me see here.” He displayed the map on the large screen.

“That’s Quantico,” Jett glanced at his own map.

“It’s close to Quantico,” Lancaster agreed. “Barnam said they headed out on Interstate 95 for about forty to forty-five minutes. That puts him out near Joplin. The road that leads to the academy is restricted. I’m betting they turned off on Joplin Road and headed into the wilderness from there.”

“Alright,” Jett nodded. “As you head up that road, there are a couple little turnouts but those are populated with families living there year-round.”

“Right,” Lancaster agreed. “I’m not familiar with that area but I saw that on the map. I think we can assume they headed deeper into the forest.”

“Did he indicate how far?” Jett wondered. “I mean, that’s a huge vast area. We can’t search the entire forest.”

“He said they travelled into the wilderness for over an hour,” Lancaster told them. “She asked if it was closer to two hours or closer to an hour and a half and he said definitely less than two. Maybe an hour and twenty minutes.”

“Alright,” Jett began scrolling. “I can work with that.”

“What about the third man?” Paige wondered. “Did he provide anything further on that?”

“Not a word on his identity,” Lancaster sighed. “He started to say something, but then froze up. The DA thinks, based on Barnams comments, that the third man was waiting at the house or cabin or whatever, when they arrived. When she pushed, Barnam clammed up. He wouldn’t even discuss it and told his attorney if they kept pushing, he’d just take his chances in court.”

“He’s more afraid of his accomplice than he is of the police,” Dax observed.

“Or prison,” Hawk added. “That’s a clue. Carmen, can you start looking for anyone that might have had a connection to both Barnam and Dartnell? Start with the same time period they were in prison together. They could have hatched this plan on the courtyard during their rec time. They had to cross paths somewhere.”

“On it,” Carmen adjusted her own computer and got to work.

“Why don’t we just start driving up Joplin Road and see if we spot the Camry?” Nathan suggested.

“We might miss it,” Paige disagreed. “Or they might see us and panic, relocate and take Sophie with them.”

“Or they might decide to eliminate her and flee,” Nathan realized.

Dax returned with coffee and focused on Paige. She was rubbing her temples and trying not to look discouraged. He moved forward and took her hand, pulling her to her feet.

“What are you doing?” Paige demanded.

“We’re going for a walk,” Dax answered, casually.

“There’s no time,” she tried to pull her hand away.

“Yes, there is,” Dax held tight and pulled her toward the door.

“Dax,” Paige objected the instant they were in the hallway.

“Look,” Dax turned and placed his hands on her shoulders. “You need a break. You need a little breathing time and I need to discuss something with you.”

“What?” Paige frowned and studied his face.

“You know that every time you try to change the way you investigate, you get stuck,” Dax took her hand and pulled her down the hall. “That’s what you’re doing in there, right now. You’re not following the evidence. You’re so desperate to find Sophie, you guys are scrolling through maps trying to find a building that might or might not be the location where they’re keeping Sophie.”

“What do you suggest?” Paige demanded. “We don’t have any clues to follow.”

“Sure, you do,” Dax said, undeterred. “I have an idea. Walk me through it.”

“You already know—”

“At home,” Dax cut her off. “When you’re working a case and you get stuck, we start at the beginning. You give me the basics over breakfast, and I ask questions. It seems to help you put your thoughts in order and identify your next move. I don’t have anything to serve you for breakfast but walk me through it. Start at the beginning.”

“You already know—” she started again.

“Humor me,” Dax insisted.

“Fine,” Paige sighed. “I got a call from Nathan…”

“That’s not the beginning,” Dax realized. “It started when three men decided to rob the Smithsonian.”

Paige furrowed her brow. “Okay, three men decided to rob the Smithsonian.”

“Three friends, or three men? How do they know each other? Is there any record, other than what Carmen already found, that the two we’ve identified spent time together?”

“No,” Paige considered.

“What do we know about the third guy?” Dax continued to throw out questions. Suddenly Paige stopped abruptly. “What?”

“The third man,” Paige looked up at him in surprise. “He’s in charge. He’s the one that introduced them, or at least he’s the one that brought them together. And this morning, Tony said the third man was waiting when they arrived with Sophie. He’s in charge. He needed to see that the plan was working. See that everything went according to plan and Sophie had what they needed.”

“What does that tell you?” Dax considered.

“It tells me he’s calling the shots,” Paige turned and headed back toward the conference room. “He decides their next move. And it tells me, he’s a control freak. He had to see Sophie, make sure that phase of the plan was carried out without a hitch.”

“How do we use that?” Dax pulled open the door and motioned her inside.

“Everyone, stop what you’re doing,” Paige said once she entered the room. “The third man. We need to focus on him. I think that’s the key to find Sophie.”

“How so?” Jett wondered.

“He’s the leader,” Paige said confidently.

“We don’t even know that there is a third man,” Gray objected.

“Yes, we do,” Nathan corrected. “We just don’t know how involved he truly is.”

“I think we do,” Paige disagreed. “We know Barnam is afraid of him. We know he has to be a criminal and we know he was waiting after they took Sophie. He had to see the progress, make sure the mission was going according to plan.”

“Okay,” Hawk nodded. “So how do we use that?”

“We need to identify anyone that was in prison at the same time as our other two suspects,” Paige decided. “Carmen, can you go through the records again? We know Barnam was in for eighteen months, and Nolan Dartnell served two and a half years. But, I think there were only six or seven months that overlapped. I need the names of anyone those two came in contact with during that overlap time. I’ll start skimming through the video to see if the illustrious leader stopped in at the museum to get a look for himself. Then, Hawk can run the names of anyone we find, generate background information, and see if any of the individuals we identify owns property. Jett can locate that property on the map, see if it’s in the area we’re focused on. Tony, can you help him with that?”

“I agree with the premise, but I think we need to switch assignments a little,” Carmen decided.

“How so?” Paige focused on her friend.

“I’m quicker at running backgrounds. Give that assignment to me. If there’s anything to find, you know I’ll find it. Once I locate any property, I’ll pass it on to Jett and Tony.”

“Alright,” Paige agreed.

“If I’m not doing backgrounds,” Hawk spoke up. “I’ll work on the video.”

“I can help with that,” Zeus offered.

“Okay,” Paige paused. “Zeus, do you remember when we decided they stopped casing the museum, and they zeroed in on Sophie?”

“About three days ago, I believe,” Zeus squinted, like he was thinking. “Yeah, three days before the abduction.”

“Then go back four days,” Paige decided. “Look for anyone that seems out of place.”

“Why four?” Gray wondered.

“I think the two suspects selected Sophie then went back and told the leader they identified the person they should abduct. I think the leader would need to see for himself if Sophie was the right person. If he had to be there when she arrived, wouldn’t he also need to approve her kidnapping?”

Dax grinned, he knew getting Paige alone, to think things through would help.

“Okay, so we’re looking for someone that appears suspicious, but also someone that is paying attention to Sophie,” Zeus nodded.

“That should be easy enough,” Hawk moved to a chair next to Zeus. “But let’s go back five days. I want to be thorough.” The two of them got to work.

“I’ll continue to look at property up Joplin Road,” Jett offered. “Just toss me anything you find, and I’ll check it out.”

“And Dax and I will get started on prison records that span at least seven months,” Paige decided.

“If you find someone, get me a photo,” Carmen told Zeus. “I’ll run him through the system and see if we can come up with a name.”

“On it,” Zeus agreed, as he studied the video.

The room grew quiet as they worked.

“I—” Gray began.

“Not now,” Nathan turned to him. “Let them work.”

“I just think we’re putting too much emphasis on a mysterious third man that might not exist,” Gray grumbled.

“Not if Paige is right,” Nathan said confidently. “And she usually is. Even you must remember that. If you put aside the issues you have with Paige — and me, you have to admit she gets results.”

Gray sighed. “She does. I don’t always agree with her methods but working with her on this has reminded me she does get results. That’s never been her problem, and it’s the reason she was destined for greatness — until she let her emotions derail her career.”

“I didn’t understand her decision to leave either, not at first. But I’ve come to realize working for the Bureau didn’t make Paige happy. There’s no denying her happiness now. I think everything worked out the way it was supposed to. I also don’t believe the change was about emotions.”

“Paige has always operated on emotion,” Gray disagreed. “It’s why she ignores protocol and insists on breaking every rule in the book. It’s also the reason I developed those issues — as you put it.”

“I believe a little rule breaking distinguishes those who are great from those who just get by in life,” Nathan smiled.

“You would,” Gray huffed. “I think you’re the biggest rule breaker Washington has ever seen.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Nathan’s grin widened. “George Washington and the rest of the founding fathers were pretty notorious rule breakers. And, without them, we wouldn’t have a country — at least not the constitutional republic we all live in today.”

“Yes,” Gray conceded. “But if they hadn’t won, all of them would have been tried and convicted of treason and hung from the nearest tree.”

“I hope you’re not implying that Paige should be hung,” Nathan laughed. “Or that I should.”

“Of course not,” Gray focused on the group. “Paige and her unconventional ways tend to grind on my last nerve, but she is effective and that makes her successful. I think, in her absence, I let myself forget that. For the time being, I’m willing to put my displeasure with her unusual, and sometimes illogical, ways aside if it means rescuing your wife. That is the goal all of us are working towards. I hope you know we all want Sophie to come home safe and unharmed.”

“I do,” Nathan softened. “And I appreciate it.”

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\*\*\*\*\*

Sophie knew she was being followed. She also knew, she had to find a place to hide, or she’d end up back in that cold, dark room. Unless she ended up dead. Either was unacceptable. She slid between two large trees and paused to look around. *Where to hide?* Her gaze fell on a stand of thick brush, and she considered. Further back, she had investigated that area only to discover a steep drop-off that ended in a wide ravine. If she could somehow get to the other side of that brush, nobody would find her if she remained perfectly silent. She had to try. She just hoped the bush wasn’t on the edge of a cliff. In the dark forest, she couldn’t tell.

The bush was even thicker than it appeared, and that was saying something. It looked hearty, but the branches were so tightly woven together there was very little give. Sophie struggled to pull her body through, tripped on one of the thick branches and catapulted forward. She reached out but her hand just sliced through air. Unfortunately, her forehead struck a rock. Pain radiated through her entire skull. She reached up, hoping she wasn’t bleeding again and felt the lump forming. She was going to have a serious goose egg. She slowly moved her hand forward and felt the sharp edges of a rock. So, that’s what she ran into. She ran her hand over the hard surface and used it to pull her body the remaining few feet to the other side of the bush. It was dark back here. Not the edge of a ravine, a solid rock wall. The bush was growing against a large outcropping. On the other side of the thick rock, was the edge of the ravine. It was the perfect hiding spot.

She dropped to the ground and leaned against the cool stone wall. She was safe, for now. She would need to remain perfectly quiet, but she could do that. Suddenly, concern set in. How would Nathan find her? Was she hidden too well? Would she be able to distinguish a rescue party from her abductors? She swallowed hard; she’d have to. She’d just have to figure out a way to know the good guys from the bad guys. For now, she was being hunted by a bad guy. She stretched out on the soft ground and rested her head against a flat rock at the base of the formation. She was so tired. The stress and lack of food was making her weak. She’d just settle in for now. Nathan would come. Her husband would find her, and she’d be safe. She pulled out a granola bar and carefully slid open the package, careful not to make a sound. Then, she waited and listened.

Her hand gripped the bar so tightly, it almost broke in two when she heard a branch snap, a man curse and then footsteps clomping over dead leaves, twigs and rocks. She held her breath and waited. Once the sounds grew fainter, she continued to wait just in case it was a trick. Several minutes later, she carefully broke off a section of the granola bar and held her breath. Nobody returned. With a sigh of relief, she slid it into her mouth and carefully chewed. Still nothing. That’s when she devoured the rest of the bar and then settled back onto the loose dirt to wait. She had a long day ahead of her, but at least she was shaded from the harsh sun, and she was safe. She believed that now. For the first time since that man wrapped his powerful arms around her and pushed her into that car, she felt safe. And she was determined to stay that way.

\*\*\*\*\*

“We’ve got something,” Hawk called out.

“What?” Paige jumped up and rushed around to glance over his shoulder.

“Let me put it on the big screen so everyone can see,” Zeus offered.

Paige returned to her chair and was grateful when Dax reached out and took her hand.

“There’s actually two videos I want you to watch,” Hawk hit a button, and the footage stopped, then began to play.

“Can you rewind that and play it again?” Paige asked softly. Her instincts were telling her Hawk just found the third man, but her intellect disagreed. It could just be a coincidence. She grinned a little when Havi’s voice echoed in her head ‘coincidence is hooey’. Once the video finished playing a second time, Paige sat back and considered. “What day was that?”

“Four days before the abduction,” Zeus answered. “In that one, he just drives by all casual like but it’s enough to stand out. You can see, he starts to pull to the side, changes his mind, and drives off.”

“Right,” Paige nodded. “But what if it’s just a guy thinking about going to the museum then changing his mind?”

“That’s what we thought,” Hawk admitted. “So, we went back further. There were three days between the time those two appear to be aimlessly studying the place and when they obviously zeroed in on Sophie. We watched the other two days.”

“What did you find?” Carmen asked, knowing they found something.

Hawk was busy rewinding. “Here.” He hit play, and the screen was filled with passing cars and individuals hustling down the sidewalk.

Paige sat up straighter when the same blue Dodge changed lanes, slowed, and pulled up to the curb. The driver parked but never shut down the engine. He just sat there, studying the front door until minutes later, Sophie exited with another woman. The two of them continued to chat casually as they made their way to the parking lot on the side of the building. Once they disappeared, the driver pulled back into traffic and disappeared.

“I’m running that plate,” Jett announced. He stood and moved away from the table. When he returned, he was smiling. “That vehicle was not reported stolen.”

“Who is it registered to?” Tony asked.

“Owen Lewis,” Jett announced.

“There’s an Owen Lewis here, too,” Dax announced. “He was doing time for robbery at the same time Barnam and Dartnell were incarcerated.”

Carmen was frantically typing away on her keyboard. Seconds later she looked up and smiled. “Tony, can you pull up these coordinates on your map?”

Seconds later, the map zoomed into an area just off Joplin Road. They could see a brown roof and a dirt packed turnout. Thick trees surrounded the property. Tony zoomed out and they could see the small road that veered off from Joplin.

“If I had to guess,” Dax studied the map closely. “I’d say it took them closer to two hours to get there. I think the uncooperative Mr. Barnam lied.”

“Half-truth,” Jett nodded. “I don’t think Miss District Attorney is going to be happy.”

Nathan jumped to his feet.

“Hold on,” Gray also stood. “We need to develop a plan.”

“I plan to drive out and get my wife,” Nathan barked.

“Is there a vehicle large enough for all of us?” Hawk wondered. He glanced at Dax.

“If so,” Dax understood. “We can develop a plan on the way.”

“That’s not how we do things here,” Gray followed them out the door.

“I’ll arrange it,” Nathan pulled out his phone. He punched in a number, requested Mike Harris, then turned to Gray. “It’s how we do things. Mike,” he relayed the update and requested a large enough vehicle to transport his entire team. “Mike will have something waiting in the bay when we arrive.” Nathan advised after disconnecting the call.

It was almost two hours later when the group pulled off the main road and followed the small dirt road back to the house. They couldn’t see any lights on, but it was still early afternoon. If the electrical was on generator power, they might be conserving power.

“We stick to the plan,” Dax ordered. “Surround the structure and wait for my signal. Nathan, you stay in the van. We’ll let you know once we have Sophie secured.”

Nathan nodded but didn’t look happy.

“I’m still unsure how you, a guy with absolutely no police experience, ended up in charge,” Gray grumbled.

“Ask Nathan,” Dax jumped from the vehicle and waited for Paige to join him.

“Because someone has to lead and Dax is the only one here that has experience leading a dangerous extraction,” Nathan said impatiently. “I don’t know why you’re still complaining. We compromised and made sure each team had a cop. Carmen and I will stay in the van with you, Dax is with Paige, Zeus is with Tony, and Hawk hooked up with Alders. The boys also agreed to defer to the cops if things get hot inside. Take the win and be happy.” Nathan watched anxiously as the group assembled then moved into position. He focused on the radio and willed someone to say they found Sophie and she was alright.

“Be careful,” Carmen told Zeus before he jumped from the car.

“You know I will,” Zeus gave her a quick kiss.

“You better because I’ve only been married for five minutes and if you make me a widow, I’m going to kill you.”

“These guys are regulars in the penal hotel, but they’ve never been violent,” Zeus assured her. “Relax, everything will be fine.”

Moments later, they entered the residence.

“Zee,” Dax stared at the dead body on the living room floor. “You might have to alter that who no violence theory.”

Zeus moved in next to his friend and cringed. “Do we have to tell my wife about this?”

“I’m afraid so,” Jett said, pulling out his phone.

It didn’t take long for Nathan, Gray and Carmen to step inside the home.

“She’s not here,” Nathan said, defeated.

“Where is Carter?” Gray demanded.

“She went downstairs with Tony,” Jett informed him. “Sophie was here. There’s evidence they locked her in the basement. Paige is looking for clues.”

“Sophie has to be in the forest,” Gray decided. “She broke out of the basement and tried to escape but was confronted by this man. She shot him and fled. We’ll just call this in, get a search party to go after her.”

“Not possible,” Paige disagreed.

“Sophie didn’t shoot anyone,” Nathan said at the same time.

“Clearly—” Gray began.

“Nathan tried to teach Sophie how to shoot,” Paige began. “He was out of town too often and didn’t like leaving her home alone, unprotected.”

“She never got the hang of it,” Nathan admitted. “She struggled. The kick was too much for her. I tried, but the only gun she was comfortable with was a .22 and that wasn’t big enough to use as protection against anything. I ended up getting a guard dog.”

“When Sophie told me about the experience, I thought I could teach her. I was wrong,” Paige admitted. “She was adequate with a revolver, but she could never remember what she needed to with a semi-auto. She gave up. She does keep a .38 in the house, but that man was shot with at least a 9mm. Sophie didn’t kill that man. If I had to guess, I’d say she escaped and Owen Lewis killed Nolan in frustration and anger.”

“I do think you’re right about Sophie being in the forest, though,” Dax added. “We need to split up and see if we can find her. Be careful, though. If Paige is right, there’s also an angry killer with a gun in the forest.”

“And he’s already demonstrated he’s willing to resort to violence,” Paige added.

“I’m coming,” Nathan insisted.

“I’m not,” Carmen vowed. “That’s above my pay grade. I’m staying right here until you get back.”

“What about Carmen?” Paige raised an eyebrow. “Carmen is staying in the van. Do you really want her left alone to deal with an angry killer on the loose? We’re looking for Sophie. Do you want to find your wife, only to resume this mission because we have to find Carmen?”

“Fine,” Nathan glared at Paige, fuming because she was right. If he went into the forest, Gray would have to join him and that would leave Carmen alone and vulnerable.

“I know it makes more sense to split up,” Zeus said studying the ground. “But the dirt here is soft enough, I think I can track them.” He pulled out a flashlight and directed the beam at two footprints. “See? Follow me and watch my back. I need to focus on the signs, and I might miss a madman lurking in the shadows.”

“I agree,” Paige moved up next to Zeus. “We stick together and track them.”

“Beats wandering aimlessly hoping we get lucky and run into the damsel or the thug,” Tony Lancaster agreed.

The group slowly made their way deeper into the thick trees.

“Wait,” Zeus held up a hand. “The smaller prints take off that way, then disappear.”

“Naw,” Dax moved in next to his friend. “They resume right there. I think Sophie made her way over to the side of this cliff, realized there was nowhere to go and continued on. The guy wasn’t following the tracks because he never left the tree line or even ventured this way at all.”

“Okay,” Zeus studied the ground again. “Did Nathan teach Sophie to use the rocks and fallen trunks to hide her tracks?”

“Probably,” Paige shrugged. “Nathan is very protective of Sophie, but he also wanted her to be prepared in case the unthinkable happened. I wouldn’t depend on footprints alone. She’s smart and she would do her best to hide her tracks whenever possible.”

“Good to know,” Zeus continued forward. They walked in silence, following the tiny tracks, watching for other signs and brushing aside branches as they searched.

“Hold up,” Zeus called again.

“It looks like Lewis headed off that way,” Jett observed. “But there’s only one set of tracks.” He used the beam of his flashlight to slowly study the surrounding ground, making a large circle, then fanning out in search of rocks or logs Sophie could have used to hide her trail.

Paige moved over to a large bush and tried to see over the top. From this vantage point it was impossible to tell if the ravine still butted up against the forest or if it wound around and curved to the east.

“Now what?” Hawk was walking around the area, searching for broken limbs or skid marks that might indicate the direction Sophie traveled.

\*\*\*\*\*

Sophie sat up straighter, was that Zeus? No, it couldn’t be. Carmen and Zeus were still out of the country on their honeymoon. She moved closer to the bush, trying to hear what the voices were saying. They were just too far away to make out anything. She moved closer to the bush and waited. It sounded like a group of people were headed this way.

“Hold up,” Sophie heard someone say. That had to be Zeus unless she was dreaming. After eating a second granola bar and a package of fruit snacks, she was exhausted. She had curled into a ball and let herself sleep. Now, here she was hearing things. Was it a mirage, like those desperate people walking in the desert? She wanted to be rescued so badly, had she conjured the voice of the one person who couldn’t be looking for her in her mind?

Another voice, something about Lewis and tracks. Could they be part of the group that kidnapped her? Maybe the man that chased her into the forest got lost or something and these men were looking for him. Did they know she escaped?

“Now what?” Sophie was certain that was Hawk. She took a deep breath and slowly stood, carefully to remain hidden behind the large bush. Cautiously, she straightened and peeked over the foliage, expecting to discover strangers. Instead, she saw the most amazing sight she’d ever seen. “Over here,” she called out and raised her hand in the air.

“Sophie?” Paige called. “Sophie, is that you?”

“I’m here,” Sophie tried to push up onto tiptoes to gain a little more height.

“How in the world did you get in there?” Dax asked in amazement.

“Trust me,” Sophie laughed. “It wasn’t easy. Let me see if I can make my way back out. Did you guys locate the man that was after me?”

“No,” Paige admitted. “Be careful. We’re making a lot of noise. Can you guys keep watch while I help Sophie get out of that tangled mess?”

Hawk saw movement before he heard the distinct sound of a twig breaking. “We’ve got company,” he whispered to Dax.

“Yeah,” Dax whispered back. “I saw him.”

Jett moved in next to Paige. “He’s out there, be careful. I’ve got your back.”

Paige glanced up in surprise, spotted Dax and Hawk, and focused on Sophie. She had to get her out of there. They were all sitting ducks out here in the open like this. “Give me your hand. I’m going to pull you out. Watch your step and…” Paige grippe Sophie’s hand and gave it a forceful yank.

Sophie let out a surprised gasp, stumbled and was propelled forward. She broke through the bush and braced herself for a serious fall. Without the resistance of the bush, her body lunged forward but she couldn’t catch her balance because her foot was caught on a large vine. She had just resigned herself to landing flat on her face in the dirt when firm hands wrapped around her and stopped her decent.

“I’ve got you,” Jett soothed. “Paige, her foot is stuck. Can you untangle this lovely lady so we can move further into the trees and find safety?”

Sophie looked at both of them, confused. She barely noticed when Paige wrapped a hand around her ankle and pulled her leg free from the branch.

“Move,” Paige shoved Jett. They had Sophie sandwiched between them as they darted behind a tree and pulled Sophie to the ground.

“What’s going on?” Sophie demanded. She gasped and put her hand over her mouth when she heard the shot. Then, she covered her ears. The deep boom of gunfire echoed around them like a cannon blast. Then, everything went eerily silent.

“Is anyone hurt?” Dax called out. “Paige?”

“We’re good,” Paige called out. “I have Sophie and we’re good.”

“Yeah,” Tony emerged. “Me too.”

“Zeus,” Dax called.

“I’m mostly fine,” Zeus grumbled.

“What does that mean?” Dax demanded. “Exactly?”

“It means when I dove behind this trunk, I landed on a protruding branch, and I currently have a stick jutting out of my left shin.”

Hawk moved in next to Dax. “I don’t remember him being a blundering buffoon before he met that exotic vixen. I’m beginning to wonder if Carmen is bad karma for our mighty Greek warrior.”

“Bite you tongue,” Zeus glanced up and frowned at the two friends that were standing over him.

“That’s gotta hurt,” Dax observed.

“Can you walk?” Jett asked, joining the duo.

“Don’t worry,” Dax crouched and gripped the large branch. “Once I yank the thing out, he’ll be fine.”

“Wait,” Zeus began, but it was too late.

Dax tightened his grip and gave it one forceful pull. The stick slid free. “You want this?” he held out the branch. “Carmen might want a souvenir. You know, something to help her remember this trip.”

“And the reason for that scar you’re going to have,” Hawk added.

Zeus took the stick and tossed it into the forest. “Help me up already.”

Hawk reached out a hand and pulled Zeus to his feet then wrapped a supportive arm around his friend’s waist. “I’ve got this. Get Sophie to the van. She has someone waiting that is going to be anxious and out of his mind after that gunfire erupted.”

“I’ll get Gray, and we’ll process the scene,” Jett offered. “You good with that Lancaster?”

“Fine by me,” Tony shrugged and took Sophie’s arm. “Let’s get you out of here. I’m sure you can’t wait for a long, hot meal and a dip in a jetted tub.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Sophie let him lead her back toward the house.

Dax moved in and wrapped his arms around Paige. “I knew we’d find her. Let that be a lesson to you in the future. Never question the master.”

Paige stopped and suddenly wrapped her arms around Dax. “He shot at you. I was so focused on Sophie, I didn’t even realize you were in danger.”

“I was never in danger,” Dax said confidently. “I’d put my shooting skills up against that thug any day of the week, but I also have the best marksman in the universe standing right beside me. We’re trained, same as you. Sophie needed you more than I did.”

“It all brought back so many memories,” Paige pulled back. “Your kidnapping, you getting shot, the coma…”

“Shh,” he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Everyone survived this one, well except Zee but I can’t explain how a highly trained special forces expert tripped over a tree trunk and landed on the one branch that wouldn’t give an inch.”

They emerged from the forest to find Nathan and Sophie embracing.

“I’m afraid this is going to take some time,” Gray advised. “I’ve called the Attorney General’s office. They’re sending a team of investigators out. They’ll need to interview all of us before we’re released to go. I told them to take the Porters statement first and then I’ve arranged for a shuttle to take them home. The rest of you guys, hunker down and get comfortable. It might be a long afternoon.”

\*\*\*\*\*

The media went nuts when they realized the woman that had been abducted was Sophie Porter, wife of the powerful retired General, Nathan Porter. The team couldn’t get back to Manti soon enough. Cameras followed them everywhere until they boarded the plane, headed for Utah.

Jericho called once he heard the news. He wanted to congratulate the team and also discuss the Stan Donaldson situation with Paige. Paige’s suggestion was to turn everything over to James Tolman and let him decide what to do. Jericho agreed and assured her he would take care of it. With any luck, the entire thing would be resolved by the time she got back.

The flight landed in Salt Lake and, not surprising to anyone, Wooly had a car waiting for the ride back to Manti. Dax dropped Zee and Carmen off at their new home, then headed for his place to drop off Hawk. He pulled into the driveway, parked and was halfway out of the vehicle when he spotted the woman sitting on his front porch. “Looks like we have company,” he pulled open the passenger door and waited for Paige to climb out.

“Amy?” Paige rushed forward. “What’s wrong? Is Sean okay?”

“I think so,” Amy stood and held out a single sheet of paper.

“What’s this?” Paige took the folder paper and waited.

“I know Sean is on a top-secret mission,” Amy began. “I might know more than I should, so I don’t want to get him into trouble.”

“Just tell me,” Paige insisted. “I don’t work for the FBI, you know that. I don’t care what Sean told you before he left.”

“More than he was supposed to,” Amy shrugged. “Not enough to compromise anything. He set up a secret email address — well, he set up two. One for him and one for me. It looks like I work for that humanitarian group he’s pretending to work for.”

“Alright,” Paige flipped open the paper.

“We email, pretty regularly,” Amy told her. “We’re both careful. I talk about my kids, like they are missions some of our other volunteers are working. He does the same. We’ve kind of fallen into a rhythm, one we both understand — if that makes sense.”

“It does,” Paige skimmed the email and frowned.

“There’s trouble, isn’t there?” Amy asked immediately. “I knew Sean had to be in trouble. How bad is it?”

“I think he’s fine,” Paige assured her. “Really, I think he’s fine. He told you he won’t be able to write for a while and based on this email, I think he’s right. But that doesn’t mean he’s in trouble. In fact, this is a coded message. One that says he’s not in trouble and he doesn’t want you to worry. I’ll need to keep this, and I can’t explain. Trust me, Amy. And, if you can’t trust me, trust Sean. He’s okay. And I’m going to do everything in my power to keep him that way.”

“Alright,” Amy let out a little shutter. “I know you just got back from a long, stressful trip. I’m sorry to bring you this before you even got through the door, but it says to get the information to you as soon as possible. I spoke with Nathan, and he told me you were on your way home, so I came over. I had to wait, to give it to you immediately. I hope you don’t think—”

“I’m glad you did,” Paige folded the page and slipped it into her pocket. She reached out, gave Amy a hug and then stepped back. “Go home, I’ll handle this. Everything is going to be okay.”

Amy swallowed hard, then stepped past Paige and slowly made her way to her car. She glanced back, hesitated for several seconds, then climbed inside and drove away.

Dax carted the last of the luggage into the house and settled onto the couch next to Paige. “Now, tell me what you didn’t tell Sean’s sister.”

“I do think it’s okay,” Paige admitted. “It’s just —”

“Will you let me read it?” Dax held out a hand. “First, let me read it. Then, you can explain it.”

“Sure,” Paige handed him the note.

“What does he mean when he says he ran into Doug Egan, and they decided to spend time catching up over a cup of tea? Why would that mean he’s going to be out of contact for a while?”

“It’s code,” Paige studied the fireplace. “One that only I would understand.”

“But you do understand, right?” Dax pushed.

“I think so,” Paige turned to focus on him. “Sean and I worked a case together, it had to be ten years ago. Anyway, a guy by the name of Doug Egan was embezzling funds from the company because he had a serious gambling problem. The partner, I forget his name —”

“Doesn’t matter,” Dax decided. “What happened?”

“The partner discovered the missing money,” Paige told him. “He confronted Egan and, instead of working something out, Egan kidnapped him. I’m not sure what he planned to do, I’m not sure he knew.”

“What happened?”

“The partners brother, Danny something — he basically went off the grid. He told his wife not to worry, and he disappeared completely. Went completely dark, no cell phone, no credit cards, nothing that would help us track him. About a week later, he located Egan and rescued his kid brother.”

Dax settled back against the couch. “So, what does it mean? Why did Sean say he ran into this Egan guy? I assume that’s not possible.”

“No,” Paige settled back next to him. “Doug Egan is dead.”

“How does that play in?” Dax was trying to figure out the message but wasn’t sure he was right.

“Doug had the means to kill the hostage,” Paige admitted. “I’m not sure he would have followed through, but when Danny showed up, there was an altercation. Doug attacked Danny. Danny grabbed a knife off the table and stabbed him, in self-defense.”

“So, he mentioned Doug Egan to remind you of the case,” Dax guessed. “Not because he was dead.”

“Right,” Paige frowned. “Maybe. I think Sean is trying to tell me he’s gone off the grid to find his British counterpart who was taken by someone. I have to assume that someone was trying to hide something, the British guy discovered it and was kidnapped as a result. Sean has gone off the grid and will be going dark to try to find the Brit and we shouldn’t worry.”

“But you are,” Dax took her hand. “Worried. You need to tell Nathan. Not tonight, he deserves one night of happiness and Sophie deserves a night with her husband. But you need to call Nathan tomorrow.”

“I will,” Paige promised. “They were supposed to go to the Hamptons. I think they are going to the Hamptons. They have this amazing place out there on the beach. I’m going to wait until I’m sure they arrived at the beach house, then I’ll call Nathan. Once he’s there, Sophie will make him take a couple days off before he investigates this Sean thing. Sean said he’s okay. I’m going to take him at his word. It’s important, but not pressing. Now, I’m beat. Maybe my husband will give me a little TLC tonight. I think I’ve earned it.”

“That you have Mrs. Hamilton,” Dax plucked her off the couch and headed for the stairs. “That you have.”

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets. One scheduling note… due to personal obligations the August episode was skipped. An extra episode will be added before the end of the year to complete this season.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S6

**Tags:** Season 6

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### [Wendy H. Jones](https://melaniepsmith.com/wendy-h-jones/)

**Published:** August 5, 2021
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Wendy H. Jones grew up in the beautiful Scottish City of Dundee. In a home full of books and with family who read extensively she developed a passion for reading early in life. Having read all the books in the local library by the age of ten, she entered into a spirited discussion with a librarian as to why she should be provided with an adult library card. Showing steely will, and determination, she won her battle and moved on to reading adult crime novels.

**Content:**

# Wendy H. Jones

## ***Interesting Facts about Wendy...***

Wendy H. Jones grew up in the beautiful Scottish City of Dundee. In a home full of books and with family who read extensively she developed a passion for reading early in life. Having read all the books in the local library by the age of ten, she entered into a spirited discussion with a librarian as to why she should be provided with an adult library card. Showing steely will, and determination, she won her battle and moved on to reading adult crime novels.

True to her adventurous side she joined the Royal Navy to undertake nurse training after leaving School. After six years in the Navy she joined the Army where she served for a further 17 years. This took her all over the world and fuelled her love for travel and visiting exotic lands. Postings to Hong Kong and Israel allowed her to travel extensively in the Far and Middle East. She has now returned to Dundee where she turned to writing novels.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Wendy-scaled.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/wendy.jones1)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/WendyHJones)

[BookBub](https://www.bookbub.com/authors/wendy-h-jones)

[Website](https://www.wendyhjones.com/)

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Wendy-H-Jones/e/B00OABSKH0)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MPS-Line-long.png)

***Tell us a little about yourself?***

I am the author Wendy H. Jones and I write books to cover you from the cradle to the grave – adult mysteries, young adult mysteries, children’s picture books and non-fiction books for writers. I live in Scotland but before the pandemic could be found all over the world writing and speaking at conferences. Fortunately, my three favourite things to do are reading, writing and travelling, so this is the perfect career for me.

***When and why did you begin writing?***

I started writing at about the age of seven and have always loved words. When I travelled around the world, I wrote about what I was doing and where I was. I started writing seriously when I worked in Academia and wrote for academic journals and also textbooks. I turned to writing fiction seven years ago when I was chronically ill with my lungs. I didn’t need much energy to write and could do it sitting down. I’m recovered now but my writing remains.

***Tell us your latest news***

My latest book is *Bertie at the Worldwide Games* where Bertie the Buffalo and his friends are off to Tokyo to represent Scotland. Bertie is a baby water buffalo who lives on a buffalo farm in Scotland.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Bertie-MPSmith.jpg)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR…been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Bertie, from *Bertie at the Worldwide Games* …**

*Bertie the Buffalo is a baby water buffalo who appears in the books Bertie the Buffalo and Bertie at the Worldwide Games. The first book is based on a true story as Bertie is a real buffalo who ran away from a farm in Scotland and was missing for 14 days*.

**Bertie, Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?**

I’m still a baby so I’m not grown up yet. I’m having an amazing childhood as I get to play on the farm every day and go on adventures.

***What makes Bertie so special?***

I’m a Scottish Buffalo who loves adventure and I also get to wear a kilt. My clan tartan is Ancient MacLaren the same as the lady who wrote me. I’m also known as Scotland’s very own wee escape artist and have my own twitter account.

***Tell me about your reputation and how it has impacted your life and your relationship.***

I’ve got a reputation as a buffalo who likes to have fun. This means everyone wants to hang out with me. I like having adventures with my friends Emma the Emu, Hezzie, Jack, seven and Ari the Alpaca.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

 I’m a bit young to be having regrets. I’ve enjoyed all my adventures and they’ve taken me places I never know I would go, so I’m glad I had them.

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

I’m a buffalo who doesn’t grow up, a bit like an animal version of Peter Pan. I would like to see myself starring in my own TV series in 5 years.

***What are your dreams for the future?***

To have lots and lots more adventures and keep on running really, really fast. I also want to see myself on screen.

**If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go?**

That’s hard as I love all my friends. I suppose I would like to do a world tour with the lady who wrote me. She’s already taken me on a cruise around the Caribbean and for my own book tour for 8 weeks to several America States.

***Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation.***

I got invited to the Worldwide Games in Tokyo. Who can explain a wee Scottish Buffalo doing that.

***What was the best compliment you have ever received?***

That my books are so much fun for little ones and that I look cute.

***If you could go to anyone (living or dead) for advice who would it be and what would you ask?***

 I would ask my friend Ari the Alpaca as she’s been all over the world and has stickers on her suitcase to prove it. She knows everything. I would ask her how she managed to go on so many adventures.

***Mountains or Beach?***

Beach as I love water.

***Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?***

Even baby water buffalo are too big to go in an elevator. My stuffed toy doppelganger has been in numerous elevators and would like to meet Hamish McHaggis in one.

***Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?***

Even baby water buffalo are too big to go in an elevator. My stuffed toy doppelganger has been in numerous elevators and would like to meet Hamish McHaggis in one.

***Will we be seeing more of you in the future or has your story already been told?***

There’s another adventure being written, and my publishers are excited about it. I’m not allowed to say any more yet.

***If you could change one thing about the world… what would it be?***

I would want everyone to be nice to each other.

***Tell us about your best friend and what makes them so special.***

My friends are Ari the Alpaca, Jack, Hezzie, Seven and Emma the Emu. They are all special because they all have different talents and they all like having fun and adventures.

**Want to know more about Wendy? Continue reading her in-depth interview …**

***When did you first consider yourself a writer?***

When I started writing my first novel.

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

To be honest I just had an idea for a book and started writing it. I wrote a blog post saying I was writing it and everyone was so encouraging I just kept going.

***Do you have a specific writing style?***

There is a lot of humour in my books and I think that makes me distinctive.

***How did you come up with the title for your last book?***

I wanted Bertie and His friends to go on an adventure to the Olympics as they all love running so it was a perfect fit, especially with the Olympics coming up. However, you can’t use the Olympic name without sponsoring them, so I made it the Worldwide Games.

***How much of the book is realistic?***

Apart from the animals coming from the correct country and wearing the right national dress, none of it. You don’t see many water buffalo wearing kilts.

***What books have most influenced your life most?***

This is a tricky one as I have been a reader all my life. In terms of children’s books, I remember having many books at home but can’t remember what I read until I got to reading books like the Famous Five, Secret Seven, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys etc. By the age of ten I had worked my way through every children’s book at the library and was reading adult books such as Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie etc.

***Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?***

All the Scottish writers have been extremely supportive. The Scottish writing community is amazing and are always willing to help others.

***What book are you reading now?***

At the moment I am reading as much historical fiction as I can get my hands on as I am writing a book based on a real life Scottish Naval Surgeon from the early nineteenth century.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Killer-323x500.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Creativity-323x500.jpg)

[Buy Direct](https://www.wendyhjones.com/buy-direct/)

**What are your current projects?**

I am writing the next Bertie the Buffalo book, the next Fergus and Flora book and will be publishing the third book in the Writing Matters series in September. This is called *Creativity Matters: Find Your passion for Writing* and is aimed at writers and anyone interested in writing a book. This is a collaborative project and other authors are contributing chapters.

***Do you see writing as a career?***

Absolutely. This is my full-time career. I also run online writing courses and run a membership for writers and those in the business of writing, called *Authorpreneur Accelerator Academy.*

***Can you share a sample of your current work with us?***

I will give you two. One for children and one for adults.

Bertie Goes to the Worldwide Games

> Ari the Alpaca ran right up to them, she shouted full of glee,
> 
> Bertie you’ve got a letter, why don’t you open it and see,
> 
> Bertie ripped it open, the letterhead was clear,
> 
> You’re invited to the Worldwide Games, happening next year.

Killer’s Curse

> A robin trilled, the only sound disturbing the otherwise peaceful scene. A thin layer of snow carpeted the woods in a glittering white blanket and coated the bare, skeletonised, branches of the surrounding trees. Tiny icicles hung in a sparkling curtain - a myriad of festive ornaments ready for the Christmas season. Nature displayed its glorious winter beauty. The robin’s breast wasn’t the only red to be found in the woods that day. Red - the colour of rage, the colour of death and, conversely, the Chinese colour for luck, happiness and good fortune. The bodies lying on the ground, an equal pairing, wore clothes of scarlet, a colour mimicked by the blood that stained the otherwise pristine snow. Red hadn’t brought them much luck.

Killer’s curse, the seventh DI Shona McKenzie Mystery, will be out in the next few weeks

***Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?***

My biggest problem is I have far too many ideas. Time is also a big issue. There never seem to be enough hours in the day.

***Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?***

My favourite children’s author is Julia Donaldson and I like her diversity.

My favourite adult author is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Sherlock Holmes books are sheer genius.

**Who designed the covers for your books?**

The Bertie the Buffalo book covers are designed by illustrator Barry Diaper. The Adult book covers are designed by Cathy Helms of Avalon Graphics.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

My advice would be follow your heart and just write the dirty first draft. Then you can start worrying about editing. Enjoy the process.

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

Thank you for reading them and for saying you enjoy them so much. It means a lot to an author.

***What makes you laugh/cry?***

*Call the Midwife* makes me cry in every episode. I cry all the time – happy/sad, I cry. I laugh at Janet Evanovich’s books which are hilarious. Also, anything by Victoria wood has me in stitches. She was a creative genius and is a sad loss to the world.

*What makes you laugh/cry?*

*Call the Midwife* makes me cry in every episode. I cry all the time – happ/sad, I cry. I laugh at Janet Evanovich’s books which are hilarious. Also, anything by Victoria wood has me in stitches. She was a creative genius and is a sad loss to the world.

***What do you want written on your headstone and why?***

She brought joy to others. I want to be known as someone who brought some happiness into the world.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it?***

My website can be found at [wendyhjones.com](https://www.wendyhjones.com/) and I am Wendy H. Jones on all online platforms.

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2021, Author Spotlight

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### [Pilfering Ambition](https://melaniepsmith.com/pilfering-ambition/)

**Published:** July 31, 2021
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Pilfering Ambition (S6E4) Paige investigates an embezzlement case, but do they have the right suspect?  Carmen and Zeus plan their wedding, but family complicates the big day.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*PILFERING AMBITION\*\*\*****

Paige pulled into the parking lot and studied the large building. With a sigh, she stepped out and made her way to the front door. The instant she stepped inside, a man in his late thirties, wearing designer slacks and a polo shirt, with a flashy, expensive watch, rushed from an office to address her.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” he held out a hand in greeting. “I’m Nick Scott. This is my company. Macie’s in there,” he pointed to the office he’d just vacated. “I told her to stay in my office and wait for you to arrive.”

“Deputy Carter,” Paige took the offered hand. “Before we get to that, I need some information. Tell me about the theft.”

“She’s embezzled tens of thousands of dollars,” Nick growled. “I want her arrested, now! I want her gone, off my property immediately.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PaigeS6.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pilfering-Ambition.pdf)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/deMojo_MPSmith.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Conference_MPSmith.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Man_MPSmith.jpg)

“I understand,” Paige nodded. “But like I said, I need some information first. How did you discover the missing money?”

“I called the bank,” Nick sighed. “If we have to do this now, let’s move into the conference room. It will be more comfortable.” He glanced at a woman in her late twenties to early thirties with light brown hair and blue highlights. “Willa, let me know if Macie tries to leave.” He didn’t wait for an answer, just turned and practically stomped down the hallway. Moments later, he made a right through an open door.

Paige followed. Gage was going to owe her big time for this one. The instant the call came in, he did everything in his power to get out of responding. Nick Scott claimed to be the owner, but that was only half true. He had a partner, Tony Clark, who was a childhood friend to Gage. Paige recognized the potential conflict and volunteered to take the call. She thought it was a simple theft, but this was turning into something far more complicated.

“Okay, Mr. Scott.” Paige settled into a chair and set her pad on the table. “Tell me about the missing money.”

“deMojo is a demolition business,” Nick began. “We specialize in large projects and even have an explosives team. What we do, it requires money. We maintain a sizeable operating budget — to make sure we have the funds readily available for the initial outlay when we start a new project. We have a lot of upfront costs, but we make it up on the backend.”

“Alright,” that made sense to Paige. “I assume you tried to access those funds and discovered they were short?”

“Exactly,” Nick sighed. “I tried to dip into our account this morning, thinking we had more than enough to cover a new project. I got online to do a transfer and realized the balance was much lower than it should be. I immediately contacted the bank, and they confirmed those funds had been removed. I spent nearly an hour, getting the details. Then, I looked into things internally. There was an entry, one that required identification. It’s a system thing, a security precaution that we implemented. Do you need me to explain the system to you?”

“Not right now,” Paige decided. “I’ll get back to that later. Just tell me the basics.”

“Alright,” Nick took a deep breath. “The transaction required an employee number in order for it to complete the task. I checked the number, the one listed belongs to Macie… Macie Williams.”

“Are you telling me, the person you think took the money, entered their employee number next to the illegal transaction?”

“Yeah,” Nick shrugged. “It’s how I caught her. She made it easy for us.”

Paige frowned. *Too easy*, and she wasn’t buying it. “So, you saw the number and what did you do?”

“I went to her office to confront her, but she hadn’t arrived yet.”

“Alright, then what?” Paige wondered.

“I entered her empty office and found a stack of cash; it looks like there could be over a thousand dollars.”

“You found what looks like stolen money right there, out in the open, sitting on her desk?” Paige raised an eyebrow.

“Not in the open, no,” Nick frowned. “It was in her top right drawer.”

“And was her desk open or locked?” Paige requested.

“It was open,” Nick studied the deputy, wondering why she was asking these types of questions.

“And her office? Was that locked?” Paige jotted down a few notes.

“No,” Nick scowled. “What are you getting at?”

“Who was in the office when you realized the money was missing?” Paige ignored the question.

“Why?” Nick insisted.

“What’s going on here?” Tony Clark demanded from the doorway.

“I was hoping to have this finished before you arrived,” Nick admitted.

“Have what finished?” Tony stepped inside and slid the door closed. “Macie’s in your office on the verge of tears, there’s a deputy sitting in our conference room, and I want to know the reason for all of it.”

“I just…” Nick began.

Paige held up a hand. “Your partner discovered there is a large sum of money missing and he called me here to conduct an investigation.”

Tony glared at Nick. “Why is Macie in your office?”

“She’s the one that took it,” Nick practically whispered. “I’m sorry, but there’s absolutely no doubt — she stole from us. I’m sorry.”

“I have doubts,” Paige interjected.

“You—” Nick blinked in shock. “I thought I explained why she had to be the one that took the money.”

“You explained that there’s a boat load of evidence in her office,” Paige corrected. “You also said she wasn’t in the building when you discovered the missing funds. And it sounds like you haven’t let her inside her unlocked office all morning. I’d like to return to my previous question,” she glanced at Tony. “Will you please join us so we can try to get to the bottom of this?”

Tony was still glaring at Nick, but he settled into a chair at the end of the table.

“Thank you.” Paige nodded then turned back to Nick. “Who was in the office when you began looking internally for the missing money?”

“Um,” Nick scrunched up his face. “I was, obviously. Willa Hill was also here — she’s our CFO. You met her when you arrived. Um… Derek. He wasn’t here at first, but he arrived later.”

“And who is Derek?” Paige glanced at Nick, then focused on Tony.

“Derek heads up our explosive demolition team,” Tony said absently. “Derek Thomas. I ran into John last night. He told me he was headed in early to finalize a bid on the Moab project. Was John here?”

“John was just finishing up when I arrived,” Nick told Paige. “He wasn’t here when I discovered the theft. He left about twenty minutes before it all happened.”

“Alright,” Paige glanced at her notes. “What is John’s last name?”

“He wasn’t involved in this,” Nick objected.

“Then he can tell me that himself,” Paige didn’t budge. “His name?”

“John Marshall,” Tony answered. “And I agree with Nick. There is no way John had anything to do with this.”

“What about the secretary?” Paige wondered.

“Linda?” Nick shook his head. “No, she arrived just a few minutes before you did. She had a personal matter that needed her attention this morning. Why are you asking about the others? I already told you, it was Macie. I know you two are dating, Tony — but she did this.”

“No,” Tony disagreed. “She didn’t.”

“Alright,” Paige held up a hand to stop them both. “Nick, I know you believe Macie is responsible, but humor me. Walk me through it. You got out of bed this morning and left the house, headed for the office.”

“I stopped at the site before I came in,” Nick corrected. “I had a call just before we closed up shop yesterday. I told the contractor I’d swing by this morning and check out the property. I did a quick evaluation and headed back here to transfer the funds before I agreed to take on the project.”

“Alright,” Paige made some notes. “You arrived at the front door. Is it unlocked or locked? Was anyone else in the office when you arrived? Continue the story but include as many details as you can.”

“This is ridiculous.” Nick ran a frustrated hand through his hair when Paige just silently stared at him. “Fine. The front door was unlocked. Willa had already arrived for the day and was busy in her office. I passed John on his way out. He stopped to tell me everything was a go on Moab, and he was heading down for one last look in person before he finalized the contract.”

“Anyone else?” Paige pushed. She could tell there was something Nick wasn’t telling them.

Nick glanced at Tony, then looked away. “Byron was in the office with Willa.”

“I told you—” Tony began.

“I know,” Nick raised his voice. “I’ll talk to her. Let me handle this, Tony. You know it’s better for everyone if I handle it.”

“Who is Byron?” Paige wondered.

“He used to work here,” Nick explained. “There was an issue, with some of the heavy equipment. He cost us a lot of money.”

“And you fired him?” Paige realized. “Is he still here? I’m going to need to speak with him.”

“If you’re thinking he could have stolen the money,” Nick jumped in. “It’s impossible. He doesn’t have access. He couldn’t touch those funds. I really don’t think he would if he could. With all the evidence that points to Macie, why are you looking at everyone but her?”

“She’s on the list,” Paige said absently.

“She shouldn’t be,” Tony objected.

“Nick said you’re seeing her,” Paige focused on Tony. “How long have you been dating?”

“Seven months,” Tony shifted. “I know she didn’t take money from us. Macie wouldn’t steal a bottle of water if she was dying of thirst.”

“I didn’t want to believe it either,” Nick told him. “But there’s so much evidence against her. I’m sorry, but Macie has put us in a real bind.”

“Someone has put us in a bind, but it wasn’t Macie,” Tony corrected. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. What’s the next step?” He turned to focus on Paige.

“I want to look around her office,” Paige stood. “Macie’s office. Then I’ll need to speak with each of your employees.”

“I won’t have you interrogating my people,” Nick objected.

“You don’t mind her grilling Macie, but if she wants to talk to the others — that’s a problem?” Tony challenged.

“Okay, look….” Paige waited until she was sure she had their attention. “This is difficult for everyone involved. One of you believes Macie is guilty, the other is just as sure she’s innocent. Maybe both of you could take a step back and let me conduct my investigation. Let me determine who took that money.”

Tony studied Paige for several seconds. “I can do that. As long as I know you’re following the evidence, that you’re truly investigating, I can take a step back and let you do your job.”

“I don’t see how it could be anyone but Macie,” Nick told her. “But I can do the same. I’ll stay out of your way, I promise.”

“Great,” Paige pulled open the door and spotted Jericho. “Hey, boss.”

“Gage filled me in,” he glanced at Tony. “He wanted to be here, but I pulled rank. It’s a conflict.”

“I understand,” Tony reached out a hand to Jericho. “Good to see you, Sheriff.”

“Anything I need to know?” Jericho asked Paige.

“I was on my way to search one of the offices,” Paige advised. “Why don’t you join me?”

“What do you want us to do?” Nick wondered.

“When we’re done in the office,” Paige turned to Nick. “I want to interview your employees. I’d like to start with those that were here when you discovered the theft. Then, I’ll take them in the order they arrived. Johns in Moab, so I’ll talk to him later, but I want to speak with Willa and Byron, Derek, Linda, and anyone else that has access to the office. Not Macie’s office, but the building in general. Can the two of you make whatever calls you need to make to get your crew to come in?”

“Stagger them,” Jericho added. “We won’t speak to them all at once. We need them to arrive a few minutes apart. The two of you can decide the line-up.”

“Alright,” Tony glanced at Nick then turned and disappeared into an office.

“I still think this is a waste of time, but I agreed to let you work this your way, so I’ll be in Tony’s office. Let us know if you need anything else.”

“So, what didn’t you tell me?” Jericho asked the instant Paige shut the door.

“A lot.” Paige moved to Macie’s desk. “Nick says he discovered the missing money and contacted the bank.” She ran him through what she had, including her belief that it was all a little too easy for her liking.

“You think Macie is being set up by someone?” Jericho realized.

“I think it’s possible.” Paige slid open the desk drawer and pulled out a large stack of cash. “Convenient, how many embezzlers do you know that steals money, and then leaves it in their desk where anyone could find it?”

“I don’t believe I know any embezzlers,” Jericho frowned. “But I get your point.”

Paige pulled out a folded sheet of paper. “And here is a handy note with what looks like an account number, a username and a password. What do you want to bet, this information will line up with the details from the missing money?”

“I have a personal policy on that,” Jericho smiled. “I never make a bad bet.”

“And just in case I was too stupid to put it all together,” Paige lifted a handbag from the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet.

“A woman’s purse?” Jericho studied the accessory and waited for Paige to explain.

“Not just any bag,” Paige opened the clasp. “It’s Gucci.”

“And?” Jericho frowned.

“And it retails for over a thousand dollars,” Paige advised.

“That thing —” Jericho motioned to the bag.

“Yep,” Paige set it on top of the desk. “This one little, unattractive — and in my opinion butt ugly — bag, cost more than a grand. It’s the only bright light in this basket full of nonsense. I bet the crook hated leaving it behind, but they had to make sure we fell for the rubbish they left us. There’s a mountain of evidence that just screams… arrest Macie Williams.”

“I take it we’re not going to arrest Macie Williams,” Jericho straightened and focused on the items Paige piled on the desk. “It is just a little too tidy for my liking. What’s your next move?”

“I need to interview Macie,” Paige decided. “We can do that in the conference room. In fact, let me check back in with Nick and Tony. We’ll need to occupy that room for a few hours if we’re going to conduct all the interviews in there.”

“I’ll talk to the secretary and see how we can lock this room down,” Jericho decided. “It’s probably unnecessary, but I want Heidi to scour this place for prints.”

“I agree,” Paige stepped to the door. “Can you get her started this way?”

“Sure,” Jericho pulled out his phone to make the call.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Macie,” Paige said in frustration. “I’m trying to help you, but you have to help yourself.”

“By saying I did something I didn’t do?” Macie shot back. “How can that possibly help me?”

Paige pointed to the items on the large conference table. “How did they get into your office?”

“I have no idea,” Macie growled. “I told you, that money was not in my desk when I left the office yesterday. I have never seen that purse in my life, and I don’t have any idea what that account is, where that note came from, or why any of that was in my desk. I never, never lock my office. There’s no reason to. I don’t even have the key to the desk. I trusted the people I work with. Maybe that was a mistake, but I trusted them. I don’t know anything else.”

“If you didn’t do this, someone else is going to a lot of trouble to make us think you did,” Paige pressed. “Who would do that?”

“Nobody,” Macie sighed. “I don’t know. Somebody, obviously, but I don’t know who or why.”

“Let me ask it this way,” Jericho stepped in. “That stuff was in your office. That tells me, someone that works here put it there. If you had to choose someone… any one person who might have used you or your office that way, who do you think it might be?”

“I’m not going to guess and point a finger at someone that might have nothing to do with this just to give myself an out,” Macie refused. “I don’t know who did that. If you can find proof, some legitimate evidence that points at the person responsible, I’ll tell you what I know about them. Otherwise, I can’t help you. Are we finished?”

“I have a couple additional questions,” Paige dropped that line of questioning. The only thing it told her for sure was that Macie was not the thief; but, she had a good idea who was. “I’m told you are a mid-level manager, is that correct?”

“It is,” Macie narrowed her eyes, suspicious of the sudden change in topic.

“Does a mid-level manager have unrestricted access to company funds?” Jericho asked.

“No.” Macie glanced at him then back to Paige.

“Do you have any access to company accounts?” Paige pushed.

“No,” Macie shook her head. “Not really. I can use the petty cash funds. That’s just cash Tony and Nick have here at the office for incidentals. Other than that, for large items, I have to submit a request to either Nick or Tony. If they approve it, the signed form goes to Willa, and she makes the purchase or transfers the funds.”

“What do you manage?” Paige asked.

“I’m a project manager,” Macie told her. “Once a contract is completed by either Nick or Tony, they assigned it to either me or to Jerry. We manage the project and close it out once it’s complete.”

“And that doesn’t require company expenditures?” Jericho asked.

“Some,” Macie turned to address him. “But I have a credit card for that.”

“Any restrictions on the card?” Paige wondered.

“Sure,” Macie shrugged. “It has to be a business expense. I can’t just go shopping for a new dress and use the company card. When the bill arrives, I sit down and itemizing each purchase — assigning it to a project I’m currently working. We have codes we use to distinguish the item. You know EX12 for the pyrotechnics we use to bring down a large structure, CL82 for the dumpster rentals… that sort of thing. Any miscellaneous purchases have to be explained in detail. I attach my report to the bill and then it goes to Nick for approval. Once he signs off on it, Willa handles payment.”

“So, you never access the accounts?” Paige sat back. If Macie didn’t have access, she couldn’t have taken the money. It really was that simple. Sure, someone put the account information in her desk, but it was typed out. That was a bright, shiny red flag for Paige. Who would type out the account info and store it in their top drawer — nobody, that’s who. They left the note as another breadcrumb. An anonymous one, because there was no way to determine who put the note in the desk. If there was ever a case of reasonable doubt, this was it.

“No, I’ve told you that a million times now,” Macie complained, pulling Paige from her thoughts.

“But,” Paige studied her carefully. “You’re dating the boss. Surely, he has the account number and the login information. It would have been easy enough for you to sneak a peek. A late night in the office, a gentle touch while you watched over his shoulder and memorized the login details, or just a quick skim through his wallet after an intimate evening alone.”

“I doubt he has it in his wallet,” Macie scowled. “Honestly, I have no idea where Tony keeps that kind of information. And, business is the last thing on my mind after a romantic or intimate evening with my boyfriend.”

“One last thing,” the more Paige spoke with Macie, the more convinced she was that the woman was not involved in the theft. “Nick said, once he discovered the missing funds, he logged into the system to check the internal records. He discovered a transaction, one that needed approval, and it had your employee number listed. Can you explain that?”

“I have no idea,” Macie rubbed her hands over her face. “I don’t know how to make you understand… I don’t know anything about the financial systems. I don’t know how to approve something. I wouldn’t even know where to put my employee number. I just don’t know.”

“Alright,” Jericho stood. “I believe that’s all for now.”

“I can go?”

“Yes, will you pull that door shut on your way out?” Paige requested. “I’ll come out and get the next person in a few minutes.”

Once she was gone, Jericho addressed Paige. “Either she’s as oblivious as she says, or she’s in the wrong profession. Broadway would be a better fit.”

“I agree,” Paige stared out the window. “I don’t think she had anything to do with this. Which begs the question—”

“Who is trying to frame her?” Jericho interrupted. “And why?”

“She won’t point a finger at anyone, but she suspects someone. I could tell,” Paige said confidently.

“I caught that, too,” Jericho admitted. “Who do you want to talk to next?”

“I want Nick or Tony to show us the system. I need to know the details. I also want them to explain why only one transaction required an employee number to complete it.”

“Now you’re getting a little too far into the weeds for me.” Jericho moved to the door. “Unless you need my help, I’m heading back to the office. I can send Havilland over to assist with the interviews.”

“That’s fine,” Paige followed him out the door. “If he’s not busy, I could use Havi, he makes a good interview partner. I’ll see if I can get the dynamic duo to explain the system while I wait.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped through her front door, dropped her gear on the couch, and hesitated. She was starving, but she couldn’t smell dinner. That was unusual. She frowned; she couldn’t hear anything either. She started for the kitchen when her phone rang. “Hello.”

“Hey, babe,” Dax said in greeting. “I’m next door. Dinner is nearly ready. Carmen and Zee are arguing with her mother about wedding details. They could use your expert mediation skills.”

“Give me five to change and then I’ll meet you out back.” She rushed upstairs, slipped into her favorite jeans and a loose-fitting tank and rushed next door. She arrived just in time for dinner. Once the meal was over and the plates were cleared, the group settled outside to discuss the upcoming wedding.

“You’re a bride,” Persha Fennelly objected. “You have to wear white.”

“No,” Carmen objected. “I don’t. I’m an adult and I look like I’m trying to be a fairy princess when I wear white. It reminds me, and everyone I encounter, of Snow White. And while these guys are close, I doubt they want to be referred to as the seven dwarfs.”

Hawk choked on his beer.

Dax laughed, and Zeus remained unusually quiet.

“You can call these guys a lot of things,” Paige turned to focus on Carmen. “Dwarf is not one of them. However,” she continued over the objects of Carmen and Persha’s triumphant gloating. “I don’t think either of you should insist on anything, or rule anything out.”

“Stop trying to be neutral and tell us what you really think,” Carmen protested. “This unbiased impartial Paige is driving me crazy.”

“Did you guys get that issue with the bathroom figured out?” Paige turned to address Zeus, ignoring Carmen’s complaint.

“Mostly,” Zeus glanced at Carmen. He knew that face, and she wasn’t happy. She wanted Paige to take her side over Persha. In fact, he knew Carmen wanted him to side with her over her mother, but the woman was already nit-picking everything. He didn’t need even more grief, especially over a dress his beautiful wife to be would only wear once.

“Anything we can help with?” Paige wondered. “And by that, I mean anything Dax can do to help while I’m off scouring the city for criminals and vagabonds?”

“You mean, while you’re eating donuts and drinking coffee,” Hawk grinned.

“Or that,” Paige said, unoffended.

“Not really,” Zeus glanced at Carmen. “But thanks. The tile we picked out was discontinued. We need to stop in at the store and pick something else.”

“I can take care of that for you,” Persha sate up straighter. “That stuff you picked was boring. Let me find you something more colorful and livelier.”

“That’s alright, mom,” Carmen shot Zeus an annoyed look. “I already found something. If Zeus agrees, he can stop in and place the order on his way to work.”

“Let me see it, first,” Persha insisted. “Give me the sample and I’ll place the order for you.”

Carmen gave Zeus a pleading look.

“I thought you were busy trying to decide on flowers,” Paige said, hoping she could rescue the couple from a lifetime of looking at tile they hated.

“Pfttt,” Persha sliced her hand through the air. “My daughter thinks she wants roses and lilies. Flowers were meant to be vibrant and colorful. She needs to create something stunning with magnolias and dahlia’s. She claims this man is devoted to her. If that is true, his corsage should be made of Edelweiss.”

“Mother,” Carmen stood. “It’s time to go home.” Zeus joined her and silently waited for Persha. For a minute, nobody thought she’d budge, then suddenly she rose to her feet and seemed to glide across the porch and down the stairs.

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“It’s my wedding,” Paige heard Carmen complain. “I’m going to have the flowers I want. If you don’t like it, find a man you love and get married. Then you can make all the decisions.” Persha’s startled gasp was so loud they could still hear it on the back porch.

“I think they’ll be as glad to have the ceremony over with as I was,” Dax reached out and took Paige’s hand. “I feel for both of them. My mom was difficult in a different way. I’m not sure which is worse.”

Paige studied the vehicle as it backed out of the driveway and pondered Dax’s statement. She wasn’t sure, either. She just knew Mrs. Hamilton came pretty close to ruining her wedding. She hoped Persha wouldn’t do the same to Carmen.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Deputy Carter,” Paige set aside the documents deMojo had provided to answer the phone.

“It’s Nick Scott,” came the reply. “Could you come back over to the office this morning? I found something I need you to see.”

“What did you find?” Paige wondered.

“For one thing,” Nick pinched the bridge of his nose. “Travelers checks. Three of them.”

“And you think they were purchased with company funds?” Paige figured it was just another attempt to frame Macie.

“Yes, I know they were,” Nick admitted. “I… well, I came in early this morning, to do a more thorough search in Macie’s office. I wanted to take care of this before Tony arrived. He’s in denial and this thing with Macie — well, it’s destroying our friendship. The sooner we can put it behind us and figure out how to move forward, the better.”

“Did you have Macie’s permission to search her office?” Paige challenged.

“No, but I didn’t need it,” Nick insisted. “The building belongs to us. There’s no expectation of privacy. We made that clear when we hired her.”

Paige wasn’t sure that was true, but it didn’t matter, any evidence Nick found was planted. “I’m on my way. Don’t touch anything else.”

“You want company?” Havilland glanced up from the paperwork he was skimming. “I’m game, but I want to show you something before we go.”

“What did you find?” Paige moved to stand next to his desk.

“This account,” Havilland handed her a sheet of paper. “I tracked that account. It’s an off-shore, secret account in the Caymans.”

“So,” Paige studied the document. “Someone other than Macie was funneling sizeable sums of money to a secret, untraceable account. Do you think they took even more than the owners realize?”

“I do,” Havilland sifted through until he found another document and handed it to Paige. “My preliminary estimate is at least a hundred K.”

“Gutsy move,” Paige dropped the documents back on his desk. “When we get back do you mind following that lead? We’ll drop by, collect the additional evidence that points to Macie but I want to talk to the CFO again. She said all the right things, but she was in the office and she was fraternizing with a guy that had been fired and banned from the premises. Why?”

“Why fraternize with the enemy?” Havilland stood. “Or why was the enemy in the office?”

“Both,” Paige decided. “Nick seems protective of her, but Tony suspects her. It was subtle, but it’s there. He was also beyond livid when he found out Byron was allowed inside the building and Nick was the one that looked the other way.”

“I sensed it too,” Havilland agreed. “There’s something brewing just below the surface but they’re all hiding it.”

“Or avoiding it,” Paige stepped outside. “You want to ride over together?”

“Sure,” Havilland shrugged. “I’ll drive.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Mr. Scott,” Paige sat across from him in the large conference room.

“Just call me Nick,” he sighed. “By the time this is over, you’ll know more about my business than my closest relative. The formalities seem futile under the circumstances.”

“Alright,” Paige glanced at Havi, a silent signal she was about to broach a difficult subject. “Let’s talk about Willa.”

“What about her?” Nick looked from one officer to the next.

“In these types of situations,” Havi jumped in. “The most obvious suspect is the finance guy… the company accountant… the person who has easy, and typically unrestricted, access to the money.”

“No,” Nick immediately rejected the possibility. “It was Macie.”

“I don’t know who took the money,” Paige jumped in. “But, I’m nearly certain it wasn’t Macie Williams. With that in mind, who do you think might have done this?”

“Why?” Nick glanced back and forth between the two cops. “Why do you believe Macie didn’t do this? I mean, everything points to her. It seems obvious to me she did do it… that she’s the only one that could have done it.”

Paige studied the man carefully. He was conflicted and something just flickered in his eyes, something he wanted to hide, but he wasn’t quick enough. He turned his head abruptly and studied the window, but Paige caught it and she wouldn’t let it slide. “There’s something going on here, something everyone knows, but nobody will admit. This entire company is hiding something, and I need to know what it is.”

They all glanced up when Tony stepped into the room. “Now what’s going on?”

“I’m glad you’re here,” Paige motioned to a chair. “Have a seat. We need to discuss a few things and it’s better if we talk to both of you at the same time.”

“Did something else happen?” Tony settled into the chair next to his partner.

“Not exactly,” Paige glanced at Nick then focused on Tony. “Nick searched Macie’s office and found some travelers checks. He thought it was connected, so he called me.”

“You searched Macie’s office,” Tony glared at Nick, clearly angry but there was something else.

“I know you see that as a betrayal,” Nick turned to address his friend. “But it wasn’t. I just… we need this to end. We need answers and the longer this draws out, the more damage it’s doing — to us. To our friendship… to the business… I just needed to do something, I needed to find something that would put an end to all of this. I was hoping my search…”

“It’s okay,” Tony sat back, deflated. “I understand. I don’t believe Macie did this, but I understand. I’m trying to see things from your perspective. I’m trying, because I don’t want this to do permanent damage to what we’ve built — professionally, or personally. You’re my best friend, Nick. I don’t want that to change.”

“You can start by telling us what you’re hiding,” Paige took advantage of the silence.

“We’re not hiding anything,” Tony objected.

“We are,” Nick studied his hands. “Not on purpose, we just avoided it, I guess everyone avoided it.”

“What are you talking about?” Tony turned on Nick.

“Willa… and you,” Nick focused on Tony.

“There’s nothing to tell,” Tony insisted. “Don’t get started on that ridiculous theory again.”

“Before you joined us,” Havilland interjected. “Paige was explaining our position on this theft. Someone is trying to make us think Macie stole the money.”

“I keep telling you…” Tony stopped. “Wait, you said someone is trying to make you believe that’s what happened. You’ve realized I’m right, and Macie didn’t do this.”

“I don’t believe Macie took the missing funds,” Paige nodded. “You’re correct about that. So, who do you think would try to make it look like she did?”

“Nobody,” Tony frowned. “Nobody that works here. Byron was here, but how would he access the money? The systems are secure. That doesn’t make sense and even though we fired him, he understood. Plus, Nick helped him get another job… one that was more suited for him. I just can’t see him stealing from us.”

“Then why was he banned from the building?” Paige wondered.

“Because Byron sort of had a thing for Macie,” Nick provided before Tony could answer. “It wasn’t just the damaged equipment that got him fired. There were some comments and random gifts, stuff that made the environment in the office a little tense.”

“Macie made a complaint. For sexual harassment?” Haviland demanded.

“No,” Nick answered again. “Macie said she wanted to deal with it on her own. She never complained. We just saw the tension and the conflict it was causing, plus she had started dating Tony. It made things uncomfortable, so we used the damaged equipment to resolve the problem. It was serendipitous, I guess you could say.”

“I doubt Byron would agree,” Havilland grumbled.

“Actually,” Tony jumped in. “I think he would. Like I said, Nick helped him get a job with a friend of ours. He’s doing really well, and he’s not responsible for the equipment. It’s a better fit for everyone.”

“Then why was he here yesterday?” Paige sat back, curious about the answer.

Nick glanced at Tony. “We don’t know. I asked, but Willa she wouldn’t say.”

“I also asked, but Willa won’t talk to me about Byron, so I dropped it. I just told her he couldn’t visit her at the office. I know Macie said she could handle it, but I feel like it’s a liability. We both know there was a problem and I’m not comfortable having him here. I’d do the same for any of my employees. It has nothing to do with my relationship.”

“He would,” Nick agreed. “He absolutely would do that for any of our people. This isn’t about his girlfriend. I guess I agree with him, but it’s hard for me to take that hard line once I see Byron because I really like the kid. I also know it looks bad, him being here yesterday when I discovered everything, but I don’t believe he’s responsible.”

“Alright,” Paige decided to table that for now.

“Can I ask you something?” Tony focused on Paige.

“Sure.”

“Why are you so focused on who was in the building yesterday morning? I mean, sure that’s when Nick discovered the money was missing, but that’s not when it was actually stolen. Why does it matter?”

“Because I believe all the evidence that was planted in Macie’s office was done because Nick realized the money was missing. They didn’t plan on getting caught. They had a good thing going, why not continue?”

“I don’t understand,” Nick frowned and considered. “Anyone that works here had to know I’d realize the money was gone once I tried to tap the account for a new project.”

“That’s not the only money that was stolen,” Havilland said flatly. “That’s the other thing we need to speak to you about.”

“That’s not the only money?” Tony glanced around the room. “What else is gone?”

“I’ve been going over the records, the stuff you provided and the stuff you downloaded from the bank. So far, I’ve found over a hundred thousand dollars that’s been transferred into an untraceable, off-shore account.”

“What?” Nick jumped to his feet. “What account?” He focused on Tony. “This is worse than I thought. This is…”

“A crisis,” Tony nodded. “Which account is missing the funds? We have several, some of them we don’t really pay attention to because they’re emergency funds. Money we set aside in case of emergency, in case a project comes in that requires a lot of cash flow up front. We haven’t dealt with a project like that for over six months.”

“Since we completed the project for Manuva just south of Provo,” Nick agreed. “I haven’t looked at those accounts since then. In fact, we were so busy with that project, I didn’t do more than glance at that overflow account even then.”

“Me too,” Tony turned to look at Havilland. “Which account?”

“There are actually two,” Havilland pulled out his notes and rattled off the first account number and the bank.

“That’s the reserve account,” Tony ran his hands over his face. “We need to find a way to replenish whatever’s gone missing or our rating will suffer and we’ll be fined. We’ll need to make a call today; notify the authorities and hope they understand.”

“As soon as we’ve finished here,” Nick agreed.

“I’ve actually dealt with this sort of thing before,” Paige informed them. “I used to work for the FBI. Let me take care of that. There are some things I can do, people I can talk to that know me, I’m sure they’ll be willing to help. I think, with my help, you’ll avoid those penalties completely. Do you have any funds you can shift around and bring the account up to the required amount by the end of the week?”

“I’ll need to take a look, see how much we’re short and then do some fancy adjusting but I think we can make it happen,” Nick considered the dilemma and the consequences. There was no choice, they had to make it work.

“Then I’ll make a few calls once we’re done. Once you have the balance back where it needs to be, let me know and I’ll take care of the details,” Paige offered.

“You’d do that for us?” Nick asked, surprised.

“I will,” Paige nodded to Havilland.

Havilland listed off the second account number and the dates when the transfers occurred.

“That’s an even bigger problem,” Nick gripped his pen so hard; it broke in two. Ink splattered across the expensive table, but he ignored it.

Tony jumped to his feet and rushed to a small break area in the corner. He began yanking off paper towels and returned to clean up the mess.

“Stop it,” Nick grabbed them from him and began mopping up the mess. “That’s going to cause an enormous problem for us on the Moab project and John already approved it. We’re committed, there’s no way to pull out now. It was also the account I planned to rob to pay Paul and fix the problem with our reserve fund.”

“I know,” Tony settled back into his chair. “We’ll figure something out. The Moab job might just be a wash. I’ll talk to the bank, see about a small loan and when the job is complete, we use the proceeds to pay the money back. All of it, the stuff that was stolen and the temporary loan. We won’t make anything, but if we shuffle things around and watch our spending for the next while, we might be able to swing it. If we’re lucky, in a few months we’ll be able to get back on our feet.”

“I want you to find out who did this,” Nick seethed. “If you say it wasn’t Macie, I’ll trust you. But, I expect you to find the person responsible and charge them. I want them to rot in prison for the rest of their miserable life.”

“You do realize the person who did this… the one you say you want to rot in prison, they work for you — right now. The only way someone could have accomplished this, stolen this amount of money, is if they work here. If they have access to the funds and they knew which accounts to skim and go undetected,” Havilland warned.

“Then why take the money from the operating expense account?” Tony asked. “They had to know either Nick or I would find that in a matter of days.”

“Desperation maybe.” Havilland shrugged. “They wanted to set Macie up to take the fall, they got sloppy and arrogant, there are a thousand reasons. Only the person responsible knows why.”

“Deputy Havilland is going to proceed with that part of the investigation,” Paige informed them. “He may have more questions as he dives deeper into your accounts.”

“Call me with any questions,” Nick passed over his business card. “I have my cell phone on me at all times. I’m more involved with the financial aspects of the business while Tony is better at the wheeling and dealing. He gets the jobs and I fund them.”

“Alright,” Havilland took the card. “I have one question while we’re here and it’s on the table.”

“What’s the question,” Nick sighed heavily.

“I see a transaction roughly three weeks ago,” Havilland passed over the account summary. “It’s about a third of the way down the page, just under four thousand to Vicelane Incorporated, the code was TM18.”

“Right,” Nick found the entry. “Okay, that’s for tree trimming and removal on the Bellor job in Price.”

“Cutting down trees and removing the debris?” Havilland asked.

“Right,” Tony agreed.

“Now look about eight lines down,” Havilland instructed. “That entry looks like an exact duplicate to me. Is it the same job or a different site that just looks the same?”

Nick focused on the ledger for several seconds before he looked up. “It’s the same. This is a double expenditure but if we paid Dan twice, he would have called to make it right.”

“We didn’t pay him twice,” Tony said, studying Paige. “We have a bigger problem than we thought. How many double payments did you find?”

“Only a couple,” Havilland admitted. “But I wasn’t looking for that so once I dig deeper, I’m sure there will be more.”

“On the bright side,” Tony shook his head. “Those transactions are in the past. We’ve been losing money and didn’t know it, but at least we don’t have to come up with the cash to replace it right now.”

“The only person that could have done that,” Nick focused on Tony. “The only person who dealt with payments and reconciliation —”

“Was Willa,” Tony nodded.

“Which goes back to the question you still haven’t answered,” Paige pressed. “Nick said there was something between you and Willa. Did you date her, too?”

“No,” Tony sighed.

“He didn’t,” Nick insisted. “But for about a year now, maybe a little longer, I got the feeling she wanted to date him. She was infatuated, I guess.”

“That’s his theory,” Tony interjected. “I didn’t see it and I’m not sure he’s right.”

“I suspect he is,” Paige disagreed. “I also suspect the entire company knows it. When I did the interviews, there was something —”

“It was just below the surface,” Havilland added, “but it was there. Your employees know Willa has the hots for you, Tony. Everyone knows, except maybe you.”

“If you’re right,” Tony deflected, “how does that help? Does it tell you anything about the case?”

“It tells me she either wants to hurt you because you didn’t return her love,” Paige said cautiously. “Or, she just saw an easy mark and would have taken the money, anyway. She just framed Macie for it because she had something Willa wanted.”

“That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?” Nick defended.

“What about you?” Havilland asked. “You seem to have a habit of jumping to Willa’s defense. Anything going on there?”

“No,” Nick said, clearly offended. “She’s just been reliable. I value her work and her commitment to the company.”

“Is she committed because she see’s this place as the golden goose?” Paige asked.

“She’s committed because she’s a hard worker,” Nick insisted.

“Maybe,” Tony mumbled. “She is a hard worker, that’s true. But I also see your point. The harder she works, the better the machine functions and the more money we make. The more we make, the more opportunity there is to take it. I hope you’re wrong about Willa, I like her — as a person, not a girlfriend. But — I have always liked her. It’s going to be extremely disappointing if she’s the one that put us in this mess.”

“I think the only way to know for sure how much damage she’s cost us is to hire a forensic accountant to go over the books completely,” Nick decided. “If we do that, won’t it tip off Willa that we’re onto her?”

“I’d rather do that from my end,” Paige decided. “I have someone that I worked with at the FBI, in fact, I might bring in the feds on this one because of the wire fraud.”

“Wire fraud?” Tony asked.

“Wire transfers to the Caymans,” Havilland explained. “That’s federal. If we bring them in, they have experts that deal with this stuff.”

“Alright,” Nick agreed. “Do what you have to do. We need to sort this out. It’s the only way to stop the bleeding.”

“I agree,” Tony said, resigned.

“Is there anyone else that could have accessed the books?” Paige wondered. They were zeroing in on Willa, but she had to know if there were others that could have accomplished the fraud.

“No,” Nick glanced at Tony.

“Yes,” Tony disagreed. “Technically, either one of us could have managed it. We didn’t, but you have to check. I understand the need. I just hope you’ll do whatever you have to do to rule us out so you can focus on the real problem.”

“I will check,” Paige agreed. “But at this time, unless something changes, there’s no reason to believe either of you were involved. Unless there’s a complication or a conflict you haven’t revealed, the theft hurts your business. I’m not seeing a motive for either of you.”

“Is there a problem?” Havilland asked. “Are there strains in the relationship, personally or professionally, that might come into play?” He figured if one of these men were guilty, the other one would admit there was animosity between them.

“No,” Tony focused on Nick. “He’s my best friend, has been for years. I trust him with my life — and my business. It’s why we started this partnership in the first place.”

“If you’re thinking there’s resentment or — I don’t know, bitterness or hostility because he’s dating Macie, you couldn’t be further from the truth. I know I insisted she did this. It’s not because I have a problem with Macie. It’s because everything pointed to her. I believed the evidence. You say it was planted and I’m going to trust you. I hope you’re right, for Tony’s sake I hope you’re right. With the new information, I think you are and I’m sorry I doubted her.” He turned to face Tony. “I’m sorry.”

“I understand,” Tony put a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Let’s just get through this and figure out how to stop it. We’ll figure out the rest later.”

“I’m going to contact an agent by the name of Sparrow,” Paige advised. “I’m telling you that in case he calls, you’ll know he’s working with us. Cooperate with him and give him anything he needs. One of us will contact you with the name of the forensic accountant that will audit the books. In the meantime, Willa needs to be kept in the dark. Can you do that? If she knows you suspect her, she might clean out a few accounts and go into hiding.”

“Would she do that?” Nick looked at Tony in surprise.

“I don’t know,” Tony admitted. “I never would have suspected she’d do this. How do we handle it? I mean, shouldn’t we restrict her access until you close your case? How do we make sure she doesn’t keep stealing?”

“Can you send her out of the office for a day or two?” Havilland asked. “You said you have a project in Moab. Can you send her down, make up a reason John needs her help, and give her limited access to credit cards? Then, you can shut things down up here so she can’t access the primary accounts. If she discovers it, claim there’s a computer glitch and you’ve called in IT but they’re backlogged and can’t get here for a day or two.”

“Or,” Paige considered. “Tell her they came and assessed the system and they had to order a part. You can say it’s being sent over night, but once it arrives the entire system will be down for a full day to do the repairs. Two days should cover it. I think a more thorough search by the accountant will take weeks, maybe months, but in a couple days we should be able to get what we need to charge her with the theft and the fraud. Once she’s behind bars, you can change passwords and usernames to lock her out permanently.”

“Alright,” Nick stared out the window. “Alright.”

“What if you’re wrong?” Tony asked. “I mean, for two days you’ve been investigating Macie. You were wrong about her, what if you’re wrong about Willa?”

“I haven’t been investigating Macie for two days,” Paige disagreed. “I knew almost immediately she had nothing to do with this.”

“But—” Tony began.

“She was on the list,” Paige continued. “Everyone was on the list. She was close to the bottom, but she couldn’t be ruled out completely. It was too clean, too obvious. Sheriff Walters knew she wasn’t the thief before he even left the building.”

“Macie told me about her interview,” Tony challenged. “You were hard on her. You made her believe you thought she did it.”

“I had to be hard on her,” Paige shrugged. “Someone went to a lot of trouble to plant evidence that implicated her. I had to know for sure the evidence was planted. I also needed to know if she planted the evidence herself, then pretended to be an innocent victim.”

“Do you have any idea how much stress and anxiety you caused an innocent woman?” Tony demanded. “It’s not right. It may have been a means to an end, but it’s not right. It will never be okay.”

Paige wasn’t going to apologize for her methods. They worked. They might not be popular, but they worked.

“You have a valid point,” Havilland stepped in. “We asked this before, but I’m going to ask again. Other than the two of you, is there anyone — anyone, in the company that could access those systems and steal money by double paying legitimate companies? They didn’t pay twice, they took the funds but made it look like they double paid the bills. Anyone besides Willa have that kind of power?”

“No,” Tony admitted. “No one but me, Nick and Willa. If we didn’t do this, and we didn’t, it had to be Willa.”

“Alright, we’ll be in touch,” Havilland stood and walked out of the room expecting Paige to follow.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stood on the edge of the large piece of property and studied the nearly finished home. “It’s come a long way,” she turned to Zeus. “How do you feel about it?”

“It’s our dream home,” Zeus admitted. “I have to admit, I never thought I’d want something like this. I’ve been independent and care free my entire life. I don’t have family — other than the guys. I don’t consider myself a gypsy but more of a traveler. I never thought I’d land in any one place permanently. I drifted from place to place until I joined up. Even then, the army kept me moving. Once I graduated from bootcamp, I knew that’s where I belonged. I met Merlin, and he convinced me to do the time and focus on becoming a Ranger.”

“Merlin?” Paige wondered. She’d never heard anyone talk about Merlin.

“He was a mentor,” Zeus shrugged. “Early on. That man was a wizard, he could get anything, talk the bosses into anything. I think he had superpowers.”

“Sounds like a good friend to have,” Paige bumped his shoulder with hers. “What happened to him? You guys don’t talk about him.”

“They didn’t know him,” Zeus admitted. “That was a different time, a different life. He was a trainer, a good one. I met him in basic, but man did he know how to sift out guys like me. He approached me that first day, got me headed in the right direction, then took a step back and focused on someone new. He must be about a hundred now.”

“Do you know if he’s still alive?” Paige assumed he wasn’t really a hundred.

“Last I heard,” Zeus shrugged. “He retired, went to live with his daughter and her family. I’m not kidding, the man is ancient. Maybe not a hundred but early nineties at least.”

“Good living?” Paige realized Carmen and her mother were arguing again. “I wonder if they’ll ever agree on anything.”

Zeus sighed. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

They both looked up when Dax approached. “Zee, I need to show you something.” He reached out and took Paige’s hand. “It’s more comfortable on the back deck. You want to head down, take a look around?”

“I do,” Paige decided then laughed. “Sorry, Zeus. I think I just stole your line.”

“I’m beginning to wonder if we’ll make it that far,” Zeus admitted.

“What? Why?” Paige was shocked.

“Persha,” Zeus shrugged. “She’s — concerned.”

“She’s a control freak,” Dax corrected. “And — never mind. Don’t listen to her, Zee. You’re going to marry that woman. Look at her, not even her mother can stop her.”

“There is that,” Zeus said, clearly concerned.

Carmen joined them on the back deck just in time to hear Dax inform Zeus there was a problem with the windows. Some of them were the wrong size and wouldn’t fit in the opening. “I give up.” She dropped into a chair and closed her eyes.

“I wasn’t finished, *ma chérie*,” Persha settled into the chair next to Carmen.

“I was,” Carmen answered without opening her eyes.

Persha glanced up, made sure Zeus was out of ear shot, and continued. “Where is the mirror I bought you? It was hanging right there, did that man of yours take it down already? I knew he was careless with your safety but—”

“No,” Carmen sighed. “I took it down.”

“You want the devil to come visit?” Persha spit three times on the back deck.

“That’s gross mother,” Carmen sat up. “I don’t want your superstitions here. The devil hasn’t stopped in for a visit, yet. And I’ve lived in the area for years. Don’t spit on my floor and stop buying me mirrors.”

“Wait,” Paige grinned. “You lost me.”

“She thinks she needs to hang a mirror outside my door to keep the devil from entering,” Carmen explained.

“It’s too late for you, I’m pretty sure you’ve already been corrupted,” Paige joked.

Persha spun around and glared at Paige. “Don’t mock me, bon ami.”

“Sorry,” Paige held up her hands. “Why a mirror?”

When Persha just continued to glare at Paige, Carmen answered. “It’s a thing, in New Orleans. Legend has it that if you hang a mirror outside your door, it will protect you from the devil because he’s so vain, he’ll get distracted watching himself and leave you alone.”

“Sounds like a simple solution to an otherwise dire situation,” Paige barely held back the grin. She thought she pulled it off when Persha didn’t scold her again, but Carmen rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“Persha,” Paige settled into one of the chairs. “Can I ask you something?”

“Alright.”

“You are being awfully hard on Zeus all of a sudden,” she chose her words carefully. “What happened? He’s a great guy and there’s not a man alive that will love Carmen more than Zee. What gives? Why the sudden attitude?”

Carmen sat up straighter and started to speak but Paige gave her a warning look. Persha needed to be honest and upfront with this. Paige would not back down.

“I don’t believe that concerns you,” Persha finally grumbled.

“You’re being unfair,” Paige challenged. “He doesn’t deserve that. He’s been nothing but kind to you. He’s accepted you completely, superstitions and all. Why can’t you do the same?”

“Paige,” Carmen warned.

“No,” Persha stopped her. “The girl has a point. She spent over two hours on the ride down singing that man’s praises. She must believe she had me convinced of his — worth.”

Dax and Zeus stepped onto the deck. Zeus turned to head back inside but Dax stopped him.

“I’m going to marry Zeus, mom,” Carmen spoke up. “There’s nothing you can say or do to change that. I brought you here because I wanted you to share my special day. Not so you could breeze into town and make the man I love feel inferior and unworthy. Not so you could try to change every little thing I want at my wedding. I’m tired,” Carmen glanced at Zeus. “At the moment, I’m seriously considering climbing into the car and fleeing to Vegas.”

Zeus shuffled his way around Dax and settled onto the lounge chair behind Carmen, pulling her into his arms.

“I won’t—” Persha began.

“Let’s go for a walk,” Dax moved forward and took Persha’s arm. “Please?” he added for effect.

“Oh, alright,” Persha let him guide her to the steps. “If you weren’t already taken, I’d talk my daughter into marrying you.”

“And that would be a mistake,” Dax countered without emotion. They continued to talk but the group could no longer hear them.

“Sorry about that,” Carmen immediately turned to Paige.

“Don’t apologize,” Paige took her hand. “If anyone was out of line, it was me. I just couldn’t sit there and let her blame Zeus for not diving head first into her quirky traditions and superstitions.”

“She knows it’s me, not you,” Carmen turned to face Zeus. “She’s just taking it out on you for some reason and I do not know why.”

“Because I’m taking away her daughter,” Zeus leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Carmen’s forehead. “She’s right, I don’t deserve you. She’s wrong about your safety. I’m not careless.”

“No,” Carmen laughed. “Your hypervigilant. You’re an overachiever when it comes to my protection and my safety. Don’t let her get to you. Once the ceremony is over, she’ll go home.”

“I want this to be special for you,” Zeus wrapped his arms around Carmen. “I want this to be fun and memorable.”

“Oh, it is,” Carmen said sarcastically.

“Not that way,” Zeus insisted. “And the constant trouble with the house isn’t helping. I have to call the contractor in the morning. Those windows won’t fit. I have no idea how he ordered the wrong ones but half of them are useless.”

“We’re not paying for them,” Carmen insisted. “I know we can afford it, but we’re not paying for their mistake.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Zeus evaded.

They continued to talk wedding plans, flowers and construction for the next twenty minutes.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Where are we going?” Persha finally asked.

“There’s a bench just up ahead,” Dax assured her.

“Whatever you have to say, you can say it now,” Persha nearly tripped over a branch but Dax caught her.

“We’re here,” Dax pointed to a beautiful white bench that was obviously new. It was, he made himself and gave it to Zeus as a house warming gift.

“Alright,” Persha settled onto the bench. “Get it off your chest.”

“Paige is my soulmate,” he began. “She’s the best part of me. She understands me in a way nobody else ever has.”

“I can see you are matched well,” Persha agreed.

“My mother didn’t see that,” Dax confided. “She flew out for our wedding, and she blamed Paige for our strained relationship. She knew Paige had nothing to do with the situation. We’d drifted apart years before I ever met Paige. Still —”

“You think I blame Zeus for taking my daughter away from me?”

“Don’t you?” Dax challenged. “You’re critical of everything he does. You say you want to get to know him, but you push him away, blame him for the tiniest thing that goes wrong, condemn him without justification. He’s a good man. The best man I know and he’s perfect for your daughter. I don’t know what’s going on, why you’re doing everything in your power to undermine their relationship, but it’s not going to work. And in the end, just like me, Carmen is going to be relieved when you finally go home. And she’s going to resent everything you did to spoil her wedding.”

“I’m not —”

“You are,” Dax disagreed. “Trust me. I love my parents. I love my mom. But, I can’t easily forgive the way she treated Paige. We were already going through a tough time and my mom made things worse. She did it on purpose and it hurt Paige. I can handle the trouble and the disagreements between me and my parents. I won’t tolerate anyone mistreating the woman I love. Carmen is a lot like me in that way. You’re hurting her. If there’s a specific reason, something Zee has done to cause you concern, talk to me about it. He’s my best friend. I think I can help you understand him and assure you he’s not only perfect for Carman, but nobody will love or protect her more.”

Persha looked out over the hill for several seconds before she spoke. “I like Zeus, although I’m not fond of the nickname.”

“That makes two of us,” Dax grinned.

“I have noticed you selected your own,” Persha smiled back. “I can also admit, a blind gypsy could see how much he loves my Carmen.”

“But?”

“I don’t know,” Persha sighed. “I think — maybe, he wasn’t what I expected. Your Paige spent two full hours talking up the man that did the impossible. He talked my girl into marrying him. I was resigned, knowing she’d never trust a man enough to give him a chance. Then, suddenly she’s getting married, and Paige is relaying stories of sacrifice and courage. I showed up believing he could leap tall buildings and save the world from destruction.”

“And then you got here and saw that Zeus is just a man,” Dax nodded. “A good man, but a flawed man because he’s human. We all are. You, me, Zee, and even Paige. We’re mortal creatures and that comes with faults, weaknesses, and imperfections.”

“Well,” Persha frowned. “It sounds stupid when you put it that way.”

“It’s certainly illogical,” Dax agreed. “You have a week to finalize the details before the wedding. Carmen picked out a dress I hear she loves. She ordered the flowers she wants, and she designed an amazing cake. Let her enjoy the time she has left. Give her a week of love and acceptance. Take that week for yourself as well. Zee loves your daughter, Persha. He’d give his life to protect her. Look at that amazing house up on that hill. That is Carmen’s dream and Zee is working hard to make that perfect for the woman he loves. Give him credit for that and let the rest go. You have the power to make this time special or difficult. It’s my hope, you’ll make it special.” He stood and held out a hand.

“Thank you,” Persha took it. “Paige wasn’t afraid to challenge me, but her direct and confrontational approach was only making things worse. She’s lucky to have you. Sometimes the gentle, persuasive approach is better.”

“We’re lucky to have each other,” Dax gripped her elbow and turned her toward the house. “Carmen and Zee — they’re just as lucky. If you start to worry, remember that.”

“Can I ask you something?” Persha hesitated.

“Anything,” Dax waited patiently for the question.

Persha stopped and turned to face him. “I know this is going to sound tacky. I know it’s not appropriate to ask, but does Zeus know Carmen’s wealthy? I’m looking at that house and it has to be expensive. It’s Carmen’s dream, but every day there are complications, delays and added expenditures.”

Dax studied the woman in surprise. He didn’t know Carmen was wealthy.

“I can see I surprised you,” Persha continued to watch and wait.

“Carmen,” Dax considered. He wasn’t sure how to explain the situation to her without explaining. “Let me shift gears. I can’t speak to Carmen and her financial situation because I know nothing about it. I can speak for Zee. He’s not marrying Carmen for her money if that’s what you’re worried about. Our business is flourishing. Zee has his own money and while I don’t know what you mean by wealthy, I can tell you it doesn’t matter. In fact, some might say Zee has his own wealth. Does that help?”

“It does,” Persha started walking again. “Carmen won’t touch her inheritance. I think she’s worried her no-good father will find out she’s finally tapped into the money, and he’ll show up at her door with his hand out.”

“Did it come from his family?”

“No,” Persha laughed. “My grandfather followed his dreams and invested well. His dreams were profitable. I inherited more than I could ever use. The same goes for Carmen. When I’m gone, her account will grow substantially. I need to know that’s not the reason Zeus is marrying her.”

“It’s not,” Dax said without hesitation. “Like I said, he has his own money and we’re making more. The business is growing and we’re in demand. What they have, what they share, it has nothing to do with money. It’s real, Persha. If you can’t trust me, you can’t trust Paige or Zee, then trust your daughter.”

“I’m going to try,” Persha decided. “And for now, I’m going to do everything in my power to make this the best wedding in the history of Manti.”

They rejoined the group and spent a relaxing evening enjoying the cool night air under a bright backdrop of vibrant stars.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Deputy Carter,” Paige answered her desk phone without looking at the display.

“We’ve got her,” Agent Sparrow said triumphantly.

“Explain,” Paige sat back and waited.

“Our lab found a print on the inside of the bag,” Sparrow began. “We’ll match that to Willa once we process her.”

“You hope,” Paige warned.

“I know,” Sparrow disagreed. “Because I have a handy little video illustrating one Willa Hill purchasing that bag two weeks before you discovered it in Macie Williams office.”

“Seriously?” Paige grinned. “What else? I know you and there’s more.”

“I brought Teflon in on this,” Sparrow admitted. “And I don’t want to hear it. He’s good and your secret weapon was busy picking out flowers and table settings.”

“What did he find?” Paige understood. Teflon was difficult to work with. He got his name because nothing was ever his fault. He spent more time deflecting blame onto others than he’d exert if he just took responsibility. But that was her issue and Trent didn’t seem to have the same problem with the computer expert. She wondered if the problem was amplified because of her relationship with Carmen.

“Tef tracked the money,” Sparrow said triumphantly. “All the money. Willa Hill took just over a quarter of a million paying false bills. Then there were the other funds, the hundred thousand Frick or Frack —”

“Nick and Tony,” Paige corrected.

“Right,” Sparrow laughed. “Nick discovered the missing money and your guy, Havilland identified just over a hundred thousand from the two accounts. There was money taken from every account that company had. Combined, what I have so far, there was a little over four hundred thousand and change.”

“Seriously? Paige was surprised by the amount.

“The owners said Willa started working for them about four years ago.”

“Right,” Paige knew that already.

“It looks like she only waited a month or so before she started double payments. When nobody noticed, she took more risks. She was skimming anywhere from three to six thousand every month. You’d think someone would notice.”

“I think they trusted her and thought those were just business expenses,” Paige was a little surprised she’d gotten away with something that obvious for so long. “Did she transfer the money that got her caught all at once, or a little at a time?”

“Both,” Sparrow sifted through his documents until he found the one he wanted. “She started small, same as the double billings. Then, she got arrogant. She took forty thousand at one time, which is why Nick Scott noticed it when he wanted to use those funds.”

“How much does she have left?”

“That’s the crazy part,” Sparrow admitted. “She spent some, I mean nearly half a million had to be burning a hole in her pocket. She bought a vacation home on the beach in Texas and went on a few online shopping sprees. Then, she took a trip up north and bought the Gucci bag at a store called The Lady Bag in Salt Lake. That same day, she dropped in for a new set of luggage at Louis Vuitton. Other than that, she just let it sit in that off-shore account.”

“Any chance you can seize it and return it to the rightful owners?” Paige knew that was exactly what Sparrow planned to do.

“There are hoops, but I’m jumping through them,” Sparrow assured her. “You busy or can you join me for a little take down?”

“I don’t think she knows we’re onto her,” Paige hoped Willa was still in the dark. “I doubt you need my help to apprehend the feisty brunette.”

“Naw,” Sparrow joked. “But I thought you could do the honors while I give the gorgeous blonde-haired, blue-eyed manager the good news.”

“She’s clearly taken,” Paige laughed. “Tony will throw you out himself if you hit on his girlfriend.”

“You know me,” Sparrow joked. “Taken is the best kind. I’m not buying, it’s just fun to window shop.”

“I’ll meet you there in ten,” Paige decided it was time to end that conversation for the sake of both of them.

“Good news?” Havilland asked when she hung up the phone.

“Great news,” Paige retrieved her gun and slid it back into her holster. “Sparrow has enough for an arrest. We’re heading over to cuff the arrogant Willa Hill. You’re welcome to join us.”

“That’s okay,” Havilland shifted away from his computer to focus on Paige. “I caught one this morning. Something that can’t wait. You can give me the highlights when you get back.”

“I doubt there will be any highlights,” Paige admitted. “We’ll have her cuffed and in the back of the car before she even knows what hit her.”

“Best kind,” Havilland turned back to his computer.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige and Agent Sparrow stepped into the elegant foyer of deMojo and glanced around.

“I don’t see her,” Sparrow took a step forward. “You know which office is hers?”

“It’s down the hall,” Paige pointed to the right. Just then, Nick and Tony emerged from an office and headed toward them.

“Is it… do you—” Nick began.

“Give me a minute,” Paige stepped into Willa’s office, moved around the desk and yanked Willa to her feet. The cuffs were on before Willa realized what was happening.

“Pretty anticlimactic,” Nick said, relieved.

“What’s going on?” Willa demanded. “Get those cuffs off me.”

“Willa Hill,” Sparrow began. “You’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent….”

Paige watched her colleague escort Willa from the room. “Do you have any questions before we leave?”

“Does this mean you proved Willa was the one that took the money?” Tony asked.

“We have,” Paige softened. She could see this was hard for both of them. They trusted the accountant, and that trust had been betrayed. “Agent Sparrow will go over the details after we interview Willa. I think you’ll be surprised at what he found. I know this is hard, but there is good news. Willa didn’t spend everything she took. There was money left. The FBI seized it and they’re working through the red tape, trying to recover the funds so they can return it to you. It’s going to take some time, but I can promise you will get at least some of your money back.”

“That is good news,” Nick glanced at Tony. “If we can recover at least a little of it, we might break even. We might save the company after all.”

“I’ll let Sparrow explain the details, but I’m pretty sure you’ll be happy with the news,” Paige turned to leave. “I assume you’ll break the news to Macie. Tell her to call if she has questions. I need to get out there, we’re headed back to my office to interview Willa.”

“Will you be able to tell us what she says?” Nick wondered.

“I’ll tell you what I can,” Paige agreed. “But she may not talk. Unfortunately, we may never know why she did what she did.”

“But you can still charge her, right?” Tony asked. “If she doesn’t talk, that doesn’t matter. You have enough to convict her, anyway?”

“We have enough,” Paige assured him. “Go talk to Macie and relax. This is nearly over.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Willa Hill,” Sparrow sat back in his chair. He was in the conference room with his suspect and Paige, hoping the more casual setting would encourage her to talk. “I read you your rights. Are you willing to talk to us at this time?”

Willa swallowed hard. “I don’t understand. Why am I here?”

“You’ve been arrested,” Paige leaned forward. “We know you are the one that stole the money. Then you planted the clues in Macie’s office to make it look like she took the funds.”

“That’s not true,” Willa insisted. “It was Macie. I never trusted her. I know Tony thinks she walks on water, but she’s deceitful and…” she looked away briefly, composed herself and turned back to Paige. “She’s devious and manipulative. If she said I took that money, you can’t believe her. She lies.”

“Macie didn’t say you took the money, although I think she suspected you from the start,” Paige sat back. “I said you took the money. I’m not sure if he had a chance to introduce himself. This is Agent Sparrow. He works for the FBI. He also says you took the money. He traced it, with a little help from a computer geek we know. They tracked those funds from the deMojo account to — where did it go next?”

“Denver,” Sparrow provided. “Then to London, then Sydney, then it landed conveniently into another account opened in the Cayman Islands. An account that belongs to Willa Hill.”

“I—” she sputtered, then swallowed.

“We caught you, Willa,” Paige added. “Now we’re giving you a chance to explain.”

“Tony asked me to take the money,” Willa blurted. “It was his idea. He said we could run away together. He’s tired of sixteen-hour days, never having time to travel the world. He wanted to skim a little off the top. He earned it, he’s the one that keeps that business running. He just wanted some spending money. We set it aside, like a retirement account that we could use while we were young. I don’t think that’s stealing. I mean, the money belonged to Tony. I think he can move it if he wants.”

“Nice try,” Sparrow pushed a sheet of paper in front of her. “That’s called fraud, Ms. Hill. You embezzled money from your own company. Nick Scott and Tony Clarke, they trusted you. They hired you, gave you access to everything, and you betrayed them. Tony didn’t tell you to disguise those transactions as payments to their clients and vendors. Tony didn’t approve the movement of those funds overseas, did he?”

“He —” Willa glanced at Paige then down at her hands. “I don’t know.”

“Willa,” Paige sat forward again. “Tell us what happened. If Tony asked you to do this, we can help.”

“He did,” Willa looked up. “He said he loved me. He said we could use the money to live the life we both deserved, together.”

“What about Macie?” Sparrow asked.

“It was his idea to blame her,” Willa said, clearly getting into her lie now. “He told me he was tired of her. He said he wanted to break up, but he knew that would cause problems at the company. But, if she was blamed for the missing money, she’d have to quit… or she’d be arrested. Either way, she’d be out of the picture for good. Once she was gone, we could bring our relationship out in the open.”

“I want to shift gears for a minute,” Paige said, disgusted with the road this interview was going. “The day Nick discovered the money missing, you had a visitor.”

“Yeah,” Willa nodded. “Byron.”

“Why was he there?” Paige asked. “I asked you that before, but you refused to tell me.”

“He said he knew what I was doing,” Willa admitted. “He said he knew about the money and he was going to tell Nick if I didn’t come clean. He said I had two days to return the money and make arrangements to repay it.”

“How did he find out?” Paige wondered.

“His stupid cousin,” Willa grumbled, then glanced up at Sparrow and tried to recover. “Tony said I could use some of the money to buy me one of those Gucci bags. I had the best time shopping and picking it out. Then, when I went up to pay for it, I realized Bryon’s cousin was the one working the checkout. I had met her a couple months before that, at one of the job sites. Anyway, she recognized me, and she must have told Byron about the bag.”

“So, he knew you bought an expensive bag, but how did he know you were taking money from deMojo?” Sparrow pushed.

“He said he followed me,” Willa admitted. “He said he was watching, and he knew I went to the bank and deposited cash into my account. He said he knew it was petty cash from the office and he was going to report me. He was going to tell Nick I was taking money from the slush fund and putting it into my own bank account.”

Paige smiled; they didn’t know about that. What else had she done that they didn’t discover yet? The forensic accountant would find it. They’d sort it all out and come up with a concrete figure.

“So, you were arguing with Byron the day Nick discovered the missing money?” Paige asked.

“Yeah,” Willa nodded. “Then, Nick came into the office and saw Byron. He told him he needed to leave. Byron just looked at me, in a scary way, like he was warning me, then he left. Nick said how there was money missing and I knew it was time. I had to make it look like Macie took the money Tony gave me… like he said. It was time to make Macie leave so Tony and I could have the life we wanted.”

“So, you went into her office and you put some of the money in her desk drawer?” Paige asked.

“First, I typed up the information and printed it out,” Willa admitted. “I slid the account information and the login stuff into the drawer on her desk, and I thought it would be even better if I put the bag in her filing cabinet. I hated to do that, I loved that bag, but it was causing problems with Byron, and it was better if you thought Macie bought it. I knew you’d take it as evidence and then Byron could tell Nick I bought it.”

“And the travelers checks?” Sparrow asked.

“I put those in the office that night, after everyone left. I had them for the trip, you know for when Tony decided he could take some time off. I thought we could use them for drinks or dinner or something when we went to Cabo.”

“Did Tony tell you he was taking you to Cabo?” Paige asked. “Be specific. Did he say I want to go to Cabo next month?”

“Well, no,” Willa glanced around then looked at her hands again. “He said he wanted to go on a trip. He said once Macie was out of the way, we could start slow. You know, so the people we work with wouldn’t know about the relationship. Then, once everyone accepted us as a couple, we’d start traveling.”

“When did this relationship begin?” Paige asked in challenge.

“Um,” Willa’s eyes darted around the room like she was searching for the answer. “A few months ago, I guess. We were close before that. Before he started to date Macie. We were close, but then he asked her out and she seduced him. He couldn’t reject her… it would cause problems in the office.”

“Uh-huh,” Paige was done with this. Willa had answered her only questions. She just wanted to find out if Byron was in on it. He wasn’t, in fact, he was pressuring her to do the right thing. “How much money did you take?”

“Um… I don’t know,” Willa shrugged. “Tony would know, he’s the one that asked me to move it.”

“If this was all Tony’s idea,” Sparrow glanced at Paige. “Why isn’t his name on the account?”

“What?” Willa’s head jerked up, and she looked at Sparrow then looked away.

“Why did Tony ask you to open an account in the Cayman’s… for the two of you, then he made sure you were the only one that could access the funds?”

“Uh…” Willa looked at the wall. “I don’t know.”

“I think I’m finished here,” Sparrow decided. “Paige, do you have anything further?”

“Nope,” Paige stood and left the room.

“What does that mean,” Willa demanded.

“It means you’re under arrest,” Sparrow advised.

Paige grinned when she heard Willa scream she wanted a lawyer. *Too late, missy. You should have thought of that before you tried to con us.*

\*\*\*\*\*

“You were right,” Persha told Carmen, blinking back the moisture that was forming in her eyes. “You are so beautiful. That dress is perfect.”

“I think the cream is much better on you than white with your complexion,” Sophie Porter smiled. “I brought my mother’s pearls,” she moved forward to wrap them around Carmen’s neck. “Something borrowed.”

“And I have something blue,” Persha pulled out a long, slim box. It was burgundy and fragile. “The box is old, so is the bracelet, but it was my mother’s and I want you to have it.” She lifted the lid to reveal an elegant bracelet covered in diamonds and sapphires.

“Mom, I can’t,” Carmen protested.

“You must,” Persha held firm. “It’s tradition.”

“You and your traditions,” Carmen wiped away a tear once her mom had the delicate and clearly expensive heirloom attached to her wrist.

Persha smiled and pulled her daughter in for a hug. “I am so proud of you my little butterfly. Now we must go. You have a wonderful man waiting downstairs. Now is not the time to be late, his feet might get cold.”

“Not Zeus,” Paige handed Carmen her bouquet of yellow roses and white lilies, then reached for the door. “He’s waiting patiently with bells on.”

“More like a chain that Dax can pull if he gets out of line,” Sophie laughed.

“The chain is metaphoric,” Paige smiled. “But just as effective.”

Once they reached the foyer, Dax moved forward and held out an arm. The music began to play, and he slowly walked her down the aisle.

“I think I like this,” Dax leaned in and pressed a kiss to her temple. “You look beautiful,” he whispered. When he glanced up, he caught Zeus’ eye. “He looks a little sick. Tell me I didn’t look like I was about to hurl my lunch on our wedding day.”

Paige giggled, then elbowed her husband. “Stop it. He looks happy.”

“He is happy,” Dax assured her. Once they reached the front of the room, Paige stepped to one side and Dax moved in next to his friend. “Last chance,” he whispered. “I’ll create a diversion if you want to run.”

“No more than you did,” Zeus whispered back. The music changed and Nathan and Carmen stepped through the door. The entire room went silent, all eyes were on Carmen. All except Dax and Paige.

They locked eyes and shared an intimate moment of nostalgia — each of them knowing what the other was thinking. The love they shared in that moment, was priceless. It was a love that had grown over time, and it was so much stronger now than it had been back then.

Paige smiled and realized most of the people she invited to her wedding were now here for Carmen. Her family was Carmen’s family. Sure there were a few fresh faces and others were missing, but the important ones; Nathan and Sophie, Hawk, Wooly, Vato, Thor, and even Jeeves had made it. Jericho brought Harper, and they were sitting with Gage, Havilland, and Dean. Everyone was here. Everyone except Sean Wilkens. A feeling of disappointment and worry suddenly took over, she just hoped her friend was okay.

Then Dax winked which pulled her back, away from the concern and the fear, and helped her focus on her friend. Today was a day to celebrate. She’d worry about Sean tomorrow.

Dax turned and watched Carmen glide up the center of the room. Her eyes were locked on Zeus, the same way Paige had focused on him — just the way it should be. That’s when he knew he was right. Zee and Carmen were perfect for each other, the same way Paige was perfect for him.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S6

**Tags:** Season 6

---

### [Salt of the Earth](https://melaniepsmith.com/salt-of-the-earth/)

**Published:** June 30, 2021
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Salt of the Earth (S6E3) Paige attend a law enforcement conference in Salt Lake City.  Things get interesting when she goes on a ride-a-long with a new friend.  Carmen anxiously awaits the arrival of her mother who is coming to town to help with her upcoming wedding.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*SALT OF THE EARTH\*\*\*****

“That’s enough, you two,” Carmen objected, still laughing. “I have to get this finalized or I won’t have a cake for my wedding.”

“You’re right,” Sophie sobered. “I think we’ve picked on that stubborn husband of mine enough. You should at least decide on the cake today. The dress can wait until your mom arrives. I have to head home in the morning; but, I’d like to return to Virginia knowing we made some progress while I was here.”

“My vote is chocolate,” Paige sat back. “With white frosting. Maybe butterscotch, or you could go with double chocolate and do white chocolate frosting.”

“Oh, that’s perfect,” Carmen sat up straighter. “With chocolate dipped strawberries.”

“There you go,” Paige stood. “My work here is done. We had an amazing lunch, made fun of our favorite general, and settled on the cake. Now, I need to head home and pack.”

“I need to head out as well,” Sophie stood. “We should probably be on the road by seven if I’m going to make my flight.” She turned to focus on Carmen. “It’s been an absolute pleasure, as always. And if you need me, you have my number.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PaigeS6.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Salt-of-the-Earth.pdf)

Carmen dropped some cash on the table and followed Paige and Sophie into the parking lot. “Paige?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you sure you don’t mind staying two extra days in Salt Lake?” Carmen slid on her sunglasses. “I can drive up myself and get mom if you want to head straight back after the conference.”

“Naw,” Paige pulled open her door. “I’ve got this. I’ve been wanting to develop some contacts up north, anyway. We have Lo and he has friends, but I’d like to generate a few of my own. This will give me the extra time I need to check out the larger departments and make a few friends.”

“If you’re sure.” Carmen gave her friend a hug. “I owe you one.”

“Let’s see,” Paige smiled and slid behind the wheel. “Hanging out in the city, lounging by the pool, and feasting on room service. I’d say I owe you.”

“You’ve never met my mother,” Carmen said, worried. “I’ll probably owe you about twenty for the ride home alone.”

“I survived my mother-in-law,” Paige grinned. “Your mom can’t be any worse. Don’t worry, I’ve got this. Go harass the builders and pick out some flowers. I’ll work my magic, charm the infamous Mrs. Fennelly, and arrive home just in time to help you decide on a dress.”

“I don’t know about magic and charm,” Carmen said, backing away. “But I’d be lost without you.” She turned and reached her vehicle just as Paige was pulling away.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Salt-Lake-City-MPS-scaled.jpg)

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige walked down the sidewalk, headed for the Salt Palace. She’d driven by the large convention center the previous day on her way to the hotel — just to get the lay of the land, so to speak. The first thing she noticed was a lack of parking. She instantly decided she’d be walking to the law enforcement summit each day. She was staying at the Holiday inn, which couldn’t be more than a block from the front door. No big deal. She used to walk everywhere when she lived in Virginia.

She rounded the corner and immediately spotted the large windmills lining the street in front of the convention center. She absently wondered if solar panels wouldn’t be more effective. This was technically a desert, after all. Oh well, not her problem. She crossed the street and was rushing toward the front door when she spotted trouble. A female officer was wrestling with a large man who was clearly drunk — seriously, it wasn’t even ten o’clock yet. She quickened her pace, then frowned when she saw two additional officers casually heading their way — laughing and joking.

Paige rushed forward, grabbed the man by his long, greasy hair, and yanked. He stumbled backward, then tripped over her outstretched leg. Within seconds, he was on the ground, cuffed and spewing insults.

“Thanks,” the female cop held out a hand. “I’m Officer Lisa Collins. I appreciate the help, but I can take things from here.”

“Deputy Paige Carter,” she held out her hand. “Your elbow’s bleeding and you should get some ice on that eye. Might help with the bruising, but you’re going to have a pretty serious shiner.” She scowled at the two men who finally reached them. “Maybe one of these guys could deal with the prisoner. If they know where to find the jail, that is.”

One of the men stepped closer, invading Paige’s space.

“Back off, Coleman,” Collins grabbed her colleague’s arm. “She’s a cop and from what I just saw, she can probably take you.”

“Ease up, Cole,” the other cop added. “One more complaint and the Sarge is going to give you the boot. You really want to spend the next decade pushing a patrol car?”

Coleman stared at Paige for several seconds before he reached down, yanked the drunken prisoner to his feet and shoved him onto a bench. “We’ll wait for the transport. Go on inside and deal with the eye.” He continued to watch as Paige and Collins headed for the front door.

“You here for the convention?” Collins took a right and started up a large flight of stairs.

“I am,” Paige followed.

“You alone?” Collins asked over her shoulder.

“Alone in a crowd,” Paige grinned. “I thought when I moved back to Utah, those days were over.”

“Stick with me,” Collins offered. “We’re up front. The chief reserved a couple tables. There’s plenty of room.”

“Alright,” Paige decided. She had wanted to mingle with the locals and generate a few contacts up here. Might as well hang with the city cops, maybe they knew Lovato.

\*\*\*\*\*

The group was sitting at a large table at the front of the room and off to the left. Paige sat next to Lisa Collins and the two officers she’d met outside had joined them. That surprised her at first, but it only took a few minutes to realize the three of them were good friends. Paige now understood she’d misjudged the situation completely. The men were holding back because they knew Collins could hold her own, but they were close enough to rush in if they were needed. Paige shifted her attention away from the familiar banter the three friends were engaged in, so she could *people watch* the rest of the room.

It was noisy, and the volume seemed to increase with each passing second. Individual and group conversations were underway at every table. Paige glanced around, taking in the various cops, and decided making friends in this structured environment wasn’t likely. She’d have to find another way to interact with some of the attendees.

“So, Deputy Carter,” the cop who hadn’t provided his name began. “Where you from?”

“Sanpete County,” Paige said absently, as she watched what looked like an argument brewing a few rows back.

“Sanpete?” he said in surprise. “Then you must know Mike Lovato.”

Paige pivoted, cocked her head, and studied the man. “I know him. Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“That’s on me,” the man smiled. “Detective Roland Mudrock. My friends call me Mud.”

Paige smirked. “Your name is Mud?”

Collins grinned. “Not in the disgraced sort of way. Mud’s the responsible one of the group — most of the time.”

“True,” Coleman gave Mud a friendly shove. “Unless he’s causing trouble. In that way, the name fits — sometimes.”

“There were only two options with a name like Mudrock,” the man in question added.

“And the Rock was already taken,” Paige nodded. “Makes sense. Mud it is.”

“You say you know Lo,” Coleman challenged. “If I were to call him, right now, what would he tell me?”

“Probably to give me a hard time,” Paige grinned, “and question everything I say.”

The group laughed. “Sounds like Lo.”

“Can I have your attention,” an attractive woman in her forties stepped up to the microphone. The room grew quiet, and the conference began.

\*\*\*\*\*

It was nearly five o’clock when Paige stepped from a small meeting room and shuffled to the side. She leaned against the wall and considered — now what? So far, the event was better than she expected. The keynote speaker was a well-known, outspoken Sheriff from the Midwest. His presentation was entertaining and informative. The time flew by as they all laughed and learned from a highly respected expert. Afterwards, they had lunch while a second speaker, Angela Whitaker — a recently retired lieutenant — talked about working high profile fugitive cases with Denver PD. Paige thoroughly enjoyed the humorous anecdotes and mishaps Whitaker described, they reminded her of the time she spent working for the bureau.

They spent the rest of the afternoon attending one hour specialized courses that participants selected when they registered for the conference. She had one class with Coleman, but other than that, she hadn’t seen the trio all day. She had met some new colleagues and exchanged numbers. She thought of them as possible contacts, but they didn’t have time in the classroom setting to really get to know each other. There was no way to determine if they were valuable assets or just casual acquaintances.

Paige pushed off the wall and started toward the large bank of stairs when she heard someone call her name. She turned and spotted Lisa Collins.

“We’re heading over to the Blue Iguana for dinner,” Collins said once she caught up to Paige. “You want to join us?”

“What is a blue iguana?” Paige frowned.

“It’s a magic portal to old world Mexico,” Collins grinned. “Best Mexican food this side of the Rio Grande,” she added. “Trust me, you won’t regret it.”

“I didn’t bring my car,” Paige warned.

“It’s across the street,” Collins shrugged. “Follow me, the boys headed over to grab us a table.”

“Do they know you refer to them as boys?” Paige stepped in next to her.

“Sure,” Collins shrugged. “Those two are big, soft marshmallows on the inside. Don’t tell them I said that, they’ll start barking and complaining and our night will be ruined before it begins.”

“Got it,” Paige grinned. “So, does this iguana place have beer?”

“Sure,” Collins pushed open the door and stepped outside. “Don’t worry Slick, we’ll get you back to the hotel in one piece.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” Paige decided.

After dinner, the group talked her into joining them at a local hangout for cops. By the time she got back to her room, she felt like she had made some lifelong friends, but it was too late to call and check in with Dax. She’d just get up earlier than planned and make the call. That way, they could have their routine discussion over breakfast.

\*\*\*\*\*

“So,” Mud said the following day. “The conference is over. You headed back to Manti?”

“Nope,” Paige shrugged. “I’m going to lounge around the pool and work on my tan for two more days before I head back.”

“Vacation?” Collins asked.

“Not exactly,” Paige shrugged. “My best friend is getting married and I need to hang up here for a couple days and wait for her mom’s plane to arrive. Then, I’ll shuttle her back to Manti with me.”

“If you get bored,” Collins offered. “I could talk to the chief — see if he’s willing to approve a ride-a-long. You are certified here in Utah; it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Talk to your chief,” Paige said without hesitation. “Lo is constantly bragging about the good ‘ol days. I want to see if there’s any truth to the hype.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Collins pulled open the driver’s side door of her patrol car. “I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know. I work graves, so if it works out, I’ll pick you up around ten. You think you can handle the night life?”

“I’m sure I’ll survive,” Paige assured her. She watched as her new friend pulled away. She’d head back to the hotel, lounge by the pool, grab room service, and veg in front of the television. If she was going to face a graveyard shift, she needed some time to relax first.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Salt-Palace-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/SLC-Temple-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/UT-Capitol-MPS.jpg)

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped from the hotel and immediately spotted the patrol car. She slid into the passenger seat and turned to address Collins. “You ready to show me how it’s done?”

“I realize Salt Lake is a bigger city than Manti,” Collins began, pulling away from the curb. “But I hope all the stories of chaos and mayhem you heard from Lo haven’t given you unrealistic expectations. Some nights up here are just as mundane and boring as they are down south.”

“Don’t worry,” Paige assured her. “I’ve been a cop long enough to know our job isn’t eight hours of robberies, homicides, and car chases. I don’t need to be entertained. I’m here to assist if needed, make new friends, and use my downtime effectively. I’m not sure I could sit through another night of channel surfing in my empty hotel room.”

“Well,” Collins made a right on State Street. “In that case, let me give you a tour of the town while we wait for our next call.”

They had driven past the historical City and County Building, the LDS temple, the large conference center, Brigham Young’s historical home, and were just leaving the state capitol building when dispatch assigned Collins a detail.

“I know you’re a cop,” Collins turned to Paige. “I know you can step in if you need to, and domestics are unpredictable and dangerous…”

“But it would be cleaner and better for everyone if I let you handle it,” Paige finished. “As long as you have a back, I don’t mind waiting by the car.”

“Thanks,” Collins visibly relaxed.

They pulled onto a one-way street and then turned right onto Pennsylvania Place. The roads were narrow, and Pennsylvania was a short, dead-end road. There were less than a dozen houses and they were nestled in tight, with tiny yards and only a few feet between the driveway and the house next door. In an attempt to gain some privacy, large, ancient trees filled every yard. Collins pulled off the road into a dirt packed front yard. There were three vehicles parked near the small home. An old travel trailer with flat tires that looked like it hadn’t been moved for over a decade sat off to the side. A broken out window rested against the wall. To the side were three steps that led to a weathered old wooden door.

Paige and Collins climbed from the car. Paige leaned against the hood to wait. She glanced over when she spotted a second patrol vehicle pull in behind them. A male cop with blonde hair and a mustache that was more red than blonde stepped out and approached the two women.

“Let’s head up and see what we’ve got,” he turned to Paige. “Heard one of Lo’s new friends was tagging along, tonight. Hate to do it, but maybe you could hang here while we handle this.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Paige motioned to the door. “Go save the day. I’ll stand back and watch.”

Suddenly the door flew open, and a woman exited the home and darted down the cement stairs.

“Whoa.” The male officer moved with lightning speed to stop her escape. “Let’s step over here and you can explain what’s going on.”

Before she had a chance to answer, an enormous man emerged and stomped down the stairs. He marched across the yard and shoved his way between the officer and the woman.

Collins rushed in and grabbed the man’s arm. “I need you to come with me,” she gave his arm a gentle tug.

The man whipped around and caught Collins’ chin with his elbow. Paige watched as the situation turned from bad to worse. Collins took a step back and rubbed her chin. The man took advantage of her dazed state and shoved her backward with so much force she lost her footing and almost went down. Instead, she shifted and caught herself, then moved back in for an arrest.

The male cop recognized the trouble and left the woman to assist Officer Collins. The three of them struggled for control for several seconds before Collins got one of the man’s hands cuffed.

Seeing this, the woman decided to intervene. She lunged at the male officer, took two steps, then flew into the air, landing on the cop’s back and wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Let go of my husband,” she screamed at the top of her lungs. “Don’t hurt him. You have no right to hurt him!” The woman continued to hold on with one arm while releasing the other to pound on the cop’s shoulder and head.

Paige decided it was time to stop observing and start helping. She moved in, yanked the woman off the cop’s back, and used the momentum to force her onto the ground. She didn’t have her cuffs, so she forced the woman onto her stomach and held her in place with her knee pressed to the small of her back. The woman began to scream and curse as she tried to wiggle free. Paige ignored the protest. She focused on maintaining control as she gripped the woman’s wrists and pressed her knee harder into the woman’s back.

Unincumbered, Collins and her colleague were able to cuff the man almost instantly. The male cop escorted him to his patrol car while Collins joined Paige and cuffed her detainee as well. The female was escorted to Collin’s vehicle and secured in the back seat.

Paige stood, brushed the dirt from her jeans, and joined her fellow cops.

“So much for hanging back,” the man joked. “I’m Gavin Thomas, by the way. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“Paige Carter,” Paige took the offered hand. “And, I said I’d hang back. I never said I wouldn’t step in — if I was needed.”

“Needed might be an overstatement,” Thomas grinned. “But thanks for the assist. I guess I’ll see you two in booking.”

An hour later, the prisoners were booked, and Collins pulled into the parking lot of a church. She circled around and parked under a tree facing the street.

“I’m going to need you to type out a statement. I’ll attached it to my report and add it to the case. We both know the domestic is going nowhere. There’s no way that woman will press charges but the assault on a PO will stick, and we’ve got resisting on the guy.”

“You got a pad of paper?” Paige wondered. “I can jot down the basics while you hammer out your report. When you’re done, I’ll use that fancy computer of yours to type out the official statement.”

Collins reached into the back and pulled out a binder. She flipped it open and held out a yellow legal pad and a pen. “Here you go,” she turned and opened up a new program. “I’ll hammer this out, then it’s all yours.”

They sat there for nearly an hour, with Collins completing her official report before turning the laptop so Paige could type out her statement. They had just finished and were headed out of the parking lot when Collins spotted a vehicle driving erratically.

“You think he’s drunk?” Paige wondered when the car veered into the oncoming lane, then swerved back. He slammed on the brakes, slid a few feet, then regained control.

“Not sure.” Collins manually flipped on her camera and continued to follow. The driver seemed to be back in control now, but he was still suspicious. When he ran a stop sign a few blocks later, Collins activated her emergency equipment and attempted a traffic stop. Instead of pulling to the side, the vehicle sped away — and the chase was on.

“How do you feel about calling the chase while I concentrate on driving?” Collins asked.

“I can do that.” Paige retrieved the mic and advised dispatch they were in pursuit, spotted a road sign and relayed their location. She continued to transmit directions and the pertinent information as Collins did her best not to lose the fleeing vehicle. The speeds continued to increase, and Paige was having a hard time knowing exactly where they were.

Collins made another right turn. Paige gripped the handle above the door and focused on street signs, which were flying by in a blur. She had just identified the street and called it in when Collins made a left. Paige leaned forward, struggling to find something — anything — that had the name of the road they were now on, but she couldn’t see a thing. Collins realized the problem and immediately told Paige where they were. Paige updated dispatch and the other cops that were headed their way. A short time later, multiple vehicles joined them. Lights and sirens were blaring as the stream of cop cars attempted to stop the fleeing felon.

Finally, a K9 officer was able to get into position and deploy spike strips. The vehicle hit them at an angle. Two tires went flat, but the driver continued to flee. Tires now flat, his speeds had decreased significantly. Once they reached the optimal speed, Collins moved into position and performed a PIT maneuver. Her vehicle collided with the left side of the suspect vehicle in exactly the right place. He lost control, the car spun in a circle, slid across the roadway, and collided with a concrete fence. The driver jumped from the driver’s side and attempted to run.

Collins expected the move and tackled him in an empty parking lot a few feet away.

Paige watched as a dozen cops surrounded the suspect, cuffed him, and yanked him to his feet. As they escorted him to one of the patrol cars, Paige approached the abandoned vehicle. Why did the kid run? He was looking at a simple traffic ticket for the stop sign and maybe reckless driving or failure to maintain control for the rest. Why flee and face multiple felonies for nothing? She stepped up to the open driver’s side door and took a peek inside. Nothing obvious there. She pivoted when someone called her name and froze.

“Hey,” Coleman approached the vehicle. “It might be best if you didn’t touch anything. I know you 're certified and all, but the jurisdictional problems might come into play if he gets a good attorney. There had to be a reason this guy fled from a simple stop sign violation.”

“I’d say there was an excellent reason,” Paige motioned to the back seat. “And, I’m pretty sure he’s going to get an attorney.”

“Holy—” he turned when Mud called out his name.

“Fancy meeting you here,” Mud said, joining them at the car. “I’m not sure —”

“Paige noticed the mess in the back seat,” Coleman interrupted. “She’s not interfering, just made an important observation, and she wanted to make sure we noticed.”

Mudrock glanced in the back, then immediately turned to leave. “I’ll get a warrant and we’ll see if we can figure out who all that blood belongs to.”

Once he left, Paige continued to study the gruesome scene in the back of the car. There were large red smears on the surface of the seat, and a couple of them continued several inches up the back. She shifted and tried to get a better look at the floorboard. She couldn’t see it well, but it looked like a pool of blood had settled on the floor. Something sinister had happened in that car. Or, possibly, somewhere else, and the body — she was sure there was at least one body involved — may have been transported in the back of that car.

She tried to tell herself this was not her case. It wasn’t, but still… she was itching to get involved. She’d just offer her services, once they had a warrant to do a thorough search, and hope they’d take her up on the offer. If not, she’d have to do some fancy talking and convince them her forensic knowledge would come in handy. With any luck, they’d let her in. If not, she’d call Lo and see if he’d convince them to let her play.

As luck had it, she didn’t need to call Lovato. Coleman did that for her.

Mudrock approached the car and focused on Coleman. “The warrant’s been signed, and the case is assigned to us — more specifically, you with my help. The sarge said you’re next up on the list. The rest of the unit is on their way. I realize we don’t have a body, yet.”

“But we both know we will, eventually,” Coleman finished. “I should probably let you know, I called Lo. He vouched for Paige. Said we’re a bunch of braindead idiots if we don’t use her on this.”

“Why?” Mudrock studied Paige.

“Because she’s been holding back on us,” Coleman grinned. “Lo says she’s some hotshot forensics expert that used to work for the FBI. He also said we shouldn’t hold that against her. According to him, she’s a royal pain in the keister, but she’s solid. He claims if we can get past her incessant need to drag out a search for hours, it will be worth the wait. Lo seems to think that — if there is evidence to find — our girl here will find it.”

“Any of that true?” Collins asked Paige.

“Half-truths are Lo’s specialty,” Paige decided. “The forensics part is true; the solid part is true; and I am thorough and methodical. I believe slow and steady wins the race. If you rush, you could miss something important. I don’t rush. The pain in the keister part — that is a total and blatant lie.”

 They all glanced up when a shiny black Dodge Charger pulled in and parked. “I’ll take this,” Coleman decided. “Let me see what I can do to convince the L.T. Paige is a resource we should tap.”

“He meant that in a purely professional way,” Mud added.

“Good to know,” Paige grinned. “Why don’t you get started on that search now that you have a warrant. I’ll just stand back and watch you work.”

A few minutes later, Coleman returned with a tall man dressed in loose fitting jeans and a polo shirt. “Officer Carter, I’m Lieutenant Brad Jones. I hear you may be of assistance to us in this case. I’m not convinced we need your help, but Coleman reminded me he’s the case agent on this incident, and he wants to see what you have to offer. I’m going to allow it, for now. Tread lightly. If you compromise evidence or take one step out of line — you’re out. Am I clear?”

“Crystal,” Paige agreed. She wasn’t worried, she had never compromised evidence in her life, and she never stepped out of line. “I’d like to wait, see what these guys come up with before I do my own search of that car. Does that sound okay to you?”

Lt. Jones studied Paige for several seconds, unsure how to take her request. “Like I said, Coleman and Mudrock are handling this one. Take your request to them.”

“I’m good with that.” Coleman pulled open the passenger side door. “Tow trucks on the way. I want to do a cursory search hear, but I think we should wait to do the thorough and methodical assessment back at the office in a more controlled environment.”

“I agree,” Mudrock straightened and pushed the button to pop the back trunk. “Let’s see if there’s anything hiding in the obvious places, then we’ll head back to the evidence bay and continue our investigation over there.”

“In that case,” Paige glanced around. “Anyone object if I take a look underneath the car?”

“Be my guest,” Mudrock handed her his flashlight.

Paige accepted it, dropped to the ground, and fished out her pocketknife. It was the sturdy Benchmade that Dax gave her, and she never left home without it. Too bad she’d left her go-bag in her patrol car back in Manti. She slowly slid beneath the car and studied the undercarriage carefully. As she slid toward the back, she smiled. Bingo! “Anyone have an evidence bag handy?”

Coleman crouched next to the back tire and held out a bag. Once she took it, he shifted and popped his head around the tire to see what she was doing. “You’re collecting dirt? You do remember that car was involved in a chase, right?”

Paige scraped a sizeable chunk of clay like particles from the wheel well. “That would be pretty hard to forget. Hand me another bag, will you?”

Coleman straightened and asked a patrol officer for another evidence bag. Within minutes, he returned with a handful of bags. Coleman passed one to Paige, then moved to join Mudrock and Jones.

“Any value in what she’s doing?” Jones finally asked when he spotted the tow truck.

“Lo said she’s methodical,” Coleman reminded them. “I think we should let her finish and judge the value of the find later.”

“I’ll let the driver know it’s going to be a few more minutes,” Mudrock announced before he walked away.

“So,” Jones turned to Coleman. “That miscreant Lovato vouched for our guest?”

“He did,” Coleman watched as Paige shifted and moved toward the front of the car. “He said if we can be patient with her, she won’t disappoint. I trust Mike. He was adamant, if there’s something to find, she’ll find it.”

“Then we wait,” Jones agreed. “We lost a good man when Lo relocated. Let’s see what she comes up with.”

Paige listened to the conversation and realized that while she didn’t always agree with Mike Lovato and his methods, up here, his former colleagues still respected him. There had to be a reason he was still regarding so well. She’d be wise to remember that once she got back home — she would remember it. Lo came through for her tonight. He vouched for her, and people up here listened. She was going to do her best to return the favor someday.

She decided she’d found all there was to find out here in the dark, under this vehicle, and used her feet to shove her body backward. As she slowly made her way to the edge of the car, her light landed on another clump of dried dirt. She moved closer and illuminated the particles. There was something different about this soil. Carefully, she reached out and removed the small mass from the undercarriage and paused to study it. That’s when it hit her, there was saltgrass mixed in with the dirt and clay. She raised it to her nose and inhaled.

“I need another bag,” she called out and waited for Coleman to hand her one. Once she dropped it inside and sealed the bag, she scrambled out from under the car.

“Other than common dirt,” Jones stepped forward. “You find anything useful?”

“I think your suspect spent some time out at the lake,” Paige advised.

“The lake?” Jones frowned.

“The Great Salt Lake,” Paige corrected. “There’s saltgrass in that dirt, mixed in with clay. I’m betting, once the lab analyzes it, you’re going to discover other particles that can only be found in the wetlands. When I smelled it, I could detect a slight hint of mint as well. I also suspect you’ll find salt minerals and probably a few bird droppings mixed in for good measure.”

“You’ve been under there playing with minty bird poop,” Mudrock grinned. “Good to know, and for the record, better you than me.”

“Let’s get this thing hooked up and transported,” Jones ordered. “Any luck finding the registered owners of that car?”

“RO lives a few blocks away,” Coleman held up his phone. “The car belongs to Frank and Laura Stewart. I ran both of them, they’re an elderly couple in their late sixties. Frank got a speeding ticket a few years back — nothing significant on Laura. If I had to guess, our suspect was headed back to the Stewart residence. Or, he was fleeing from the scene and wasn’t smart enough to obey all traffic laws along the way. He’s still not talking. He was booked as John Doe and immediately demanded a lawyer. As soon as we finish up here, I’d like to look around the Stewart residence. It should give us a better idea of what we’re dealing with.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Jones agreed.

Once the vehicle was loaded, secured, and on the way to the evidence lot, the group responded to the Stewart residence. Collins and Paige waited in the car at the curb. Lt. Jones wanted Collins to secure the outside and watch for any approaching vehicles that looked suspicious. He also wanted her to head off any curious neighbors that might try to interfere.

Coleman, Mudrock and Jones approached the front door. Coleman knocked, but there was no response. “Now what?” Coleman wondered, glancing around.

Detective Mudrock moved to stand in front of the large window and sighed. “There’s evidence of a struggle inside. You should call a judge, see if we can get a warrant to check the welfare of this couple.”

Jones walked over and stopped next to Mudrock, Coleman joined them. “I can see what looks like blood on that couch. Let the judge know there was definitely a struggle in that room. That mess, that’s in plain sight, combined with the evidence in the back of the car you shouldn’t have a problem. No judge would want to deny access and later find out there was a victim dying a slow and painful death in the back room.”

“Warrants in,” Coleman announced to the group a short time later. They were now all standing on the front lawn, waiting to see what their next move would be. “Collins, you stay out here, guard the front door. Paige, you come on in and help us search.”

“Looks like you found your crime scene,” Paige whispered the instant she entered the room. There was blood on the carpet and the couch was covered in dark, almost black stains. A table was tipped over and magazines were strewn across the living room floor.

“We do a quick search to make sure there’s nobody inside, then we back out and get a search warrant,” Jones ordered.

“Be careful where you step,” Paige warned. “There’s a lot of evidence in this house and you don’t want to disturb any of it. We need to search, just in case, but I doubt he left anyone here. From what I saw in that vehicle, your suspect loaded up his victim — or victims — and did his best to destroy the evidence. He was probably headed back here to clean up.”

Once the house was searched and no one, living or dead, was found inside, they secured the residence and gathered on the front porch. Coleman stepped away to contact the judge again. There was no urgency now, the house was empty. Once the search warrant came through, they’d return to search the premises thoroughly and completely — this time, looking for evidence.

“Start marking everything,” Jones instructed once the warrant was transmitted. “I’ll get a forensics unit out here to document this.”

“Looks fresh,” Paige observed stepping into the kitchen. This room was worse than the living room. There was blood everywhere, the floor, the walls, the sink, the back of chairs. Something horrible happened in this room.

“We need to find the bodies,” Mudrock finally said once they marked the items they wanted documented.

“We will,” Coleman said confidently. “First, we need to head back downstairs and make sure there’s nothing hidden in one of those rooms. I know we didn’t see anything on the first round, but we were looking for humans, not evidence.”

Nobody was surprised when they couldn’t find anything. From the looks of things, the suspect never left the main floor.

Paige ascended then paused when she spotted a man in his thirties waiting by the front door with a camera.

“You ready for me to get started?” he asked the instant Coleman stepped into the large room.

“Start in here,” Coleman advised. “I think we’ve marked everything. The kitchen will take longer. Sorry, Brent. I’m afraid you’re going to be here a while.”

“I’ll just go out and call Barb,” the man decided. “She’s on duty tonight and can handle anything new that comes in until I finish up here.”

Several hours later, the group stepped from the home and secured it with police tape. Collins was long gone. A call came in and she had to respond. Paige glanced around and wondered how she’d get back to the hotel.

“I realize you’re only here one more day,” Mudrock stepped in next to Paige. “But we’re heading out to the lake first thing in the morning. You’re welcome to join us, assist with the search if you’re available.”

“What time,” Paige glanced at her watch, it was nearly two in the morning already.

“I can pick you up at seven,” Coleman offered.

“Alright,” Paige agreed. “I’m free tomorrow. I have to be at the airport the following afternoon so I only have one day, but I’m game if someone can drop me at the hotel.”

“I’m heading that way,” Mudrock offered.

\*\*\*\*\*

The following morning, Paige woke early, grabbed a large cup of coffee from the hospitality room, and headed over to City Creek Mall. There, she stopped in at Macy’s and located the shoe department. She needed a sturdy pair of rubber boots. She rounded a corner and almost collided with an employee.

“Can I help you find something?” the woman asked politely.

“I know they’re not in season, but I need a pair of rain boots. I’m looking for something sturdy, rubber, but not too big. I don’t want them to go up to my knees or anything, maybe a pair of ankle boots if you have them. An inch or two higher would be even better.”

“I think I have just what you’re looking for in the back, what size do you wear?”

“Seven,” Paige watched the woman rush away and return with a large box. The instant she pulled off the lid, Paige smiled. “These are perfect. I’ll take them.”

“I can ring you up over here,” she pointed to a cash register. “Unless you had more shopping to do.”

“Nope,” Paige lifted the box. “Just these.” Once she paid for the boots, she rushed back to her hotel room, changed shoes, and was outside, sitting on a metal bench when Coleman pulled up to the curb.

“You ready for a slimy, messy, hot day at the beach?”

“I live for slimy, messy, and hot.” Paige clicked in her seatbelt.

“Somehow, I think you might mean that,” Coleman sighed. “I’m serious. The marshlands that surround the lake are difficult. I guarantee you’ve never been anywhere like it before. And this time of year, there are billions of brine flies swarming around the lake. They don’t bite, but they can be annoying.”

“Maybe I should have purchased a mosquito net along with the boots,” Paige frowned. “Is it really that bad?”

“Could be,” Coleman shrugged. “Water’s low this year. I don’t know if that will make it better or worse. Guess we’ll see once we get there. The lab confirmed your suspicions, by the way. They found wild mint, saltgrass, and something called spikerush as well — whatever that is. As far as minerals, the soil was highly alkaline and had high levels of salt. You also hit on the bird poop. There was excrement from the Great blue heron and some kind of duck.”

“Sounds like we’re heading straight for the dump site,” Paige decided.

“There’s one more thing,” Coleman advised. “I got to thinking, if the car had evidence on the undercarriage, maybe our suspect’s shoes might have clues as well. I confiscated them and transported them over to the lab. Mud also tracked down a name. Our fleeing felon is Randall Stewart, son of Jerry Stewart, grandson to Frank and Laura Stewart.”

“Grandson,” Paige whispered in surprise. “Anything unexpected on the shoes?”

“Not unexpected, but it corroborates the stuff you found on the car,” Coleman advised. “He also had saltgrass and salty soil but there were some tiny seeds stuck in the clay and dirt in the treads of his shoes.”

“What kind of seed?” Paige glanced over then refocused on the muddy soil that surrounded the lake.

“Bluegrass,” Coleman told her. “And traces of calcium carbonate. There is only one place you can find all of those plants and animals together. Well, only one place that’s close enough for Mr. Randall Stewart to visit with his deceased grandparents.”

“The Great Salt Lake,” Paige nodded. “It’s a big place, any idea where to start?”

“Yeah,” he smiled. “I contacted an expert. There was a group of researchers that did an extensive study of the lake for some project a few years back. Utah State University Extension program coordinated the project, and they own the results. I talked to the professor currently in charge of that department. He identified three areas that would contain all the elements I outlined. Bluegrass, saltgrass, spikerush, ducks and heron. Mud and the rest of the unit are already up there restricting access to our most likely areas. We’ll search those three first, then move on to the other two he said were less likely, but viable matches.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Heron-GSL-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GSL-Duck-MPS.jpg)

“You’ve been busy,” Paige observed.

“You went shopping for shoes,” Coleman grinned. “I went shopping for information. We all do what we do.”

Paige rolled her eyes at him but smiled.

They pulled into a parking lot that contained several vehicles. The entrance was blocked, but Coleman easily maneuvered around the obstruction.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GSL-Sunset-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GSL-Marsh-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GSLake-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GSL-UT-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Black-Rock-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GSL-002-MPS.jpg)

Paige climbed from the vehicle and just stood, taking in the lake, the marina, and the marshland. “Where are we?”

“Great Salt Lake Marina,” Mudrock joined her. “Saltair is over there,” he pointed to the north. “We’re heading back that way,” he pointed southwest. “We’ll start at Sunset Beach and continue along the shoreline — see what we see. If that area’s a bust, we’ll move closer to Antelope Island, near Bridger Bay. There’s an area over there the researchers believe fits our criteria. Detective Rob Smith is securing it as we speak.”

“Coleman said three,” Paige glanced toward the southwest to study the area they’d be searching. “How far away is the third location?”

“That one is further away, and it’s harder to get to. Of the three, that’s the least likely if you ask me. The suspect would need to know the area well to find it. It’s further north, up near Promontory Point in Ogden. If we don’t hit here, I’ll call a couple guys I know up there and see if they can assist.”

“You don’t believe he went that far?” Paige realized. “Not just because it’s harder to find, but you don’t think he would travel that distance with two bodies in the back seat.”

“I don’t,” Mudrock admitted. “But there’s no predicting crazy, so it’s possible.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Paige sighed, glanced away and spotted Coleman. “Your partner’s trying to get your attention. I think he wants to get this thing started.” Together, they made their way across the parking lot and joined Coleman on the edge of the marina.

Once they reached the search area, Coleman gave each detective their assignment. He had already divided the search area into grids and assigned one cop to each grid. Paige took her map, studied it for several seconds, glanced around to get her bearings, and slowly headed in that direction. Once she was sure she was in the right place, she tucked the map into her pocket and began to walk the grid. The search was slow going and took hours. Once she finished, she paused to study the area. “Hey,” she called out to Coleman who was now walking toward her. “What’s that up there?”

“Black Rock,” Coleman pulled out his map. “It’s on the fringes, but outside the area the researchers identified as highly probable.”

“I think we should search it,” Paige disagreed.

“Why?” Coleman folded his map and placed it back in his pocket. “They said if we don’t hit on anything in the area we just searched, we should move north.”

“I think we should search the area around that rock,” Paige said again. “If I’m wrong, what’s it going to hurt?”

“Lost time,” Coleman disagreed.

“An hour maybe, that’s nothing in a search like this one,” Paige held firm. “Humor me.”

“Why?” Coleman asked again.

“Because it’s not that far from the search area,” Paige sighed. “It’s not like there’s some magic barrier between here and there. Any vegetation we find here, we could find over there. I want to start at that circle, the one that skirts that rock, then branch out into the marshy area below — toward the lake.”

“I’m sure that section is well traveled. It’s probably the reason they eliminated it. If someone dumped a body over there, chances are high some unsuspecting citizen would have found it already.”

“Humor me,” Paige repeated.

“Again, why?” Coleman pushed.

“We’re looking for a place our depraved grandson could pull his car in, possibly maneuver it off road, unload the bodies, and take off before anyone notices. We’re close to the railroad but hidden from the highway back here. He could easily get his car into that area. It was dark and he would have been in a panic to dump the evidence and get back to the house to clean up the mess. He didn’t make it, but I really don’t think he’d head as far north as Ogden. That leaves this area, and Antelope Island. I’m trying to think like a panicked guy with two bodies in my back seat. He’d want to ditch them as quickly as possible. Why head all the way to Antelope Island when there’s plenty of secluded marshland out here? Why go somewhere that’s further away but a lot more populated. Everyone that visits this lake, stops in at Antelope Island.”

“Not everyone, but I get your point,” Coleman conceded.

“Plus, I keep thinking about the calcium carbonate. That fits with that big rock over there. Calcium carbonate forms caliche layers — also known as hard rock formations. That is a rock formation and I want to check it out.”

“So,” Coleman grinned. “Besides being a cop, a former fed, and a royal pain in the keister — Lo was right about that — you’re some kind of geologist?”

“Forensic specialist,” Paige corrected. “Meaning people who examine and analyze evidence. That frequently includes biology, chemistry, trace evidence, and geological particles. I’m a jack of all trades when it comes to science. You have no idea how often a small sample of dirt cracked our case. I spent a lot of time studying plants, minerals, and fibers.”

“Alright,” Coleman agreed. “I hope I don’t regret this, but you have a valid point. Let’s go take a look.”

Once they reached Black Rock, Paige held up a hand and slowly walked the area. It didn’t take long to find the tire tracks. “Any idea if these match the vehicle you impounded?”

“None whatsoever,” Coleman frowned. He was going to have to eat some serious crow if Paige just found their dumpsite. “Let’s follow it and see what’s down there.”

They continued to follow the tracks. It was difficult and the water eroded some of them but they were able to follow them across a slightly soggy section that was covered in vegetation. On the other side, there was an island of soft, white soil then a huge marshland. Paige crouched down and broke off a large plant. “This is spikerush.”

“Good to know,” Coleman took it and studied the plant. “We’re going to find a couple bodies out here, aren’t we?”

“I think we are,” Paige continued to follow the tracks. They stopped a few feet into the large mash. “He couldn’t have carried them far.”

“Let’s head this way,” Coleman decided. “These look like footprints that are dissolving in the water.”

Paige studied the prints. “What kind of shoes was he wearing?”

“Work boots,” Coleman trudged along the edge of the marsh. A few feet out he spotted their first body. It was partially submerged and hidden by tall grass and vegetation. He stepped closer and realized it was a female. She fit the description he had of Laura Stewart, late sixties, approximately five feet six, gray hair, and petite build. “I’ll call it in. You see if you can find Mr. Stewart.”

Paige crouched and studied the ground intently. She couldn’t see any other prints. It surprised her to realize there weren’t any drag marks. It looked like Randall carried Laura in this direction, but it would be difficult to carry that kind of dead weight this far. She believed he only accomplished it because the woman was so petite. Frank would have been larger and harder to manage. “I’m going to head back to where he parked the vehicle and take a closer look. I don’t think he could have gotten Frank all the way out here. Come find me once you have the Calvary headed this way.”

“I need to secure the body until someone else arrives to take over,” Coleman told her. “Don’t go far. The other body has to be close.”

“I agree,” Paige slowly made her way back to the tire tracks. She crouched, ignored the indentations made by the vehicle and searched for footprints. She didn’t find any, but she saw what looked like smudge marks. Did Randall try to erase the evidence trail? Why? She stood and focused on the horizon. Which direction would he go? He had a body to dispose of, one that was heavy and, by the time he drove all the way out here, it would have been rigid and difficult to maneuver. Where would he take his grandfather? She turned and slowly began walking in the opposite direction, away from Laura’s body.

She couldn’t find any footprints, but she located what looked like washed out sand. This wasn’t a normal beach so the chance it was a wave that washed this away was miniscule. Randall must have dumped water over his tracks, washing away any evidence that he’d been out here — or so he thought. She continued to study the ground carefully, slowly taking small steps, then stopping to inspect the ground. That’s the only reason she found the drag marks. They were partially hidden at the edge of a stand of cattail. She followed it about six feet and found Frank. With a sigh, she pulled out her phone and dialed Coleman. Once she explained where she was and how she got there, he assured her a detective would find her as soon as possible.

About ten minutes passed before she spotted Mudrock, and another man she hadn’t met, walking toward her. “I’m over here,” she called out.

“You do realize,” Mudrock said in greeting. “If you hadn’t insisted Coleman join you to check out this area, we never would have found these bodies. I saw you walking this way and thought you were crazy.”

“Coleman agreed with you,” Paige admitted. “It just made sense to me. I’m glad I was here to help. And, for the record, I think you would have figured it out on your own, eventually.”

“I want to agree, but I can’t say for certain we would have,” Mudrock admitted. “And the chance of the bodies being discovered by a citizen is pretty slim. Sure, there are people who visit the rock, stop to rest on that short stretch that borders the formation, but I doubt anyone ventures out here. They’d have to cross that marshy area and few people would do that.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Paige decided. “We found them, and you have enough evidence against Randall Stewart you could fill a cargo plane. You just made some prosecutor’s day, and he doesn’t even know it yet. Even with the blood in the car and the horrendous scene in that house, prosecuting him without a body is a crap shoot.”

“True,” Mudrock glanced up and spotted Coleman.

“Alright,” Coleman glanced at the body then focused on Paige. “I admit it. I was sure Lo exaggerated your awesomeness, but you just made a believer out of me.”

“Lo said I was awesome?” Paige grinned.

“You are so busted,” Mudrock laughed. “I’m pretty sure you were supposed to keep that part a secret.”

“Oops,” Coleman laughed. “Must have been a spontaneous utterance. You know, a momentary lapse because of the intense excitement I’m experiencing. I’m just so overwhelmed with joy, I lost control and let it slip.”

“Busted,” Mud said again.

“I don’t suppose —” Coleman began.

“Not a chance,” Paige laughed.

They all sobered when Lt. Jones appeared in the distance.

“Deputy Carter,” he said in greeting. “I’m told you proved me wrong.”

“About what?” Paige wondered.

“I told you last night I would let you help, but I wasn’t convinced we needed the assistance,” he grinned. “Guess we did need you, after all.”

“Right,” Paige smiled back. “It’s been a pleasure working with you and your men. Collins, too.”

“I realize it wasn’t much of a vacation, but I’ll call down, let your boss know we appreciated the assistance these past couple days,” Jones held out a hand. “If there’s ever anything we can do for you, don’t hesitate to call.” He passed her his card, then turned and walked away.

“He doesn’t give those out often,” Mudrock told her. “Hold on to it. He’s serious. Call anytime and he’ll do what he can. He’s tough, but he’s solid.”

Paige pulled out a couple of her own cards. “The feelings mutual. Call anytime. Now, if someone can give me a ride back to the hotel, I’d like to have a long soak in my jetted tub, order room service, and crash. I’m beat and tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

“Toby offered to drive you back,” Coleman pulled her in for a hug. “I’ve got to finish this up. We still have a few hours work, the ME’s on the way, but I need to scour the area for evidence or I’d take you myself.”

“I can stay a little while, if you want help,” Paige offered.

“Naw,” Coleman shook his head. “There’s not much to find. I’ve got our guys documenting the tracks that led to grandma. Once I knew where you were, it was easy to follow this trail as well. We’ve got this. Go back to the hotel, relax, and decompress. You’ve done enough already. Seriously though, thanks for all the help. I know the family will appreciate having their loved one's back so they can give them a proper burial.”

“That’s the job, right?” Paige took the card Coleman held out and then grabbed one from Mudrock. She had wanted to make a few contacts while she was here. Looked like she succeeded.

“You ready?” a tall, slim guy asked from the other side of the marsh.

He looked young, which made Paige feel old. Was he really old enough to be a cop? “Ready,” Paige agreed, crossing the marsh, and making her way back to the large rock that drew her here in the first place. As they approached, she realized there was a vehicle parked on the other side of the large formation. She was grateful. As she settled into the passenger seat, she suddenly felt tired and a little sad. She’d never know why a grandson decided to kill his own grandparents. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know what pushed him to commit such a gruesome, heinous assault. She was just glad she’d been involved in his capture. The man belonged in prison for the rest of his miserable life. She closed her eyes and tried to push the image of two mangled, bloody bodies out of her head.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into the airport terminal and made her way to baggage claim. She paused to study the overhead screen, located Persha Fennelly’s flight, found the appropriate baggage claim station, and made her way to that section of the airport. The area was nearly empty. These days few people, other than passengers, were allowed inside. Her badge and a call from Collin’s sergeant, was the only reason she got through the front door.

She glanced around, spotted a chair near the carousel listed on the flight screen, and settled in to wait. It didn’t take long. An exotic looking woman in her fifties retrieved two bright orange cases, paused, spotted Paige and made a beeline her way.

“Paige Carter?” the woman asked.

Paige stood and held out a hand in greeting. “You must be Mrs. Fennelly.”

“Persha,” the woman took her hand and smiled. “Any friend of my daughter’s is a friend of mine.”

“Persha,” Paige smiled. The woman was a site to behold. She wore a bright purple headscarf with gold sequins lining her forehead. On the side, near the knot, was a large gold star broach. Two crescent, golden moons dangled from her ears. Every finger held a ring, some had large, shiny stones, others were gold with intricately carved symbols. Her left wrist held at least a dozen bracelets and around her neck she wore a large chain with a circular symbol in the center with more crescent moons shooting out in all directions.

Her shirt was a simple white that hung over her shoulders with large bulky sleeves. She wore a thick brown leather belt with a golden buckle — also in the shape of a moon. Her skirt looked like several dozen strips of material had been sewn together. It was every shade of purple, black, and gray you could imagine. It gave the illusion of flowing water when she walked, shifting, and flowing in all directions in a synchronized dance. She wore brown leather sandals that wrapped around her ankles in an elaborate twist, with a bow tied just above the ankle. Beneath the leather laces, she added a chain that matched her earrings with dime sized moons resting just below the bend.

“Let me help you with your luggage,” Paige reached out and took the largest suitcase. “I’m parked just outside. There’s a walkway that leads to the garage. It’s not far.”

Persha stepped outside the large front doors and stopped abruptly on the sidewalk. “Now I know what they mean by a dry heat. It’s stifling out here, but so much different from New Orleans.”

“Don’t worry,” Paige smiled over her shoulder. “My car has excellent air conditioning. It’s a long ride. Did you eat?”

“I did, yes,” Persha said absently as she glanced around and took in her surroundings. “The mountains are a little intimidating, aren’t they? So imposing, but beautiful and majestic.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Paige loaded Persha’s luggage into the back of her vehicle. “I’m so used to it, I rarely stop to admire them, but they are beautiful, imposing and — for me, comforting. When I see the Wasatch mountain range, I know I’m home.”

“I feel the same about the gulf — and the river. The mighty Mississippi is also imposing and majestic, in her own way.”

“She is,” Paige climbed behind the wheel. “Now, food first, or should we just hit the road?”

“I ate,” Persha buckled in. “I’d like to get started, unless you’re hungry.”

“Nope,” Paige put the car in gear and headed out. “I ate at the hotel. I’m ready to get home.”

“So,” Persha said once they entered the freeway. “Tell me about this man my daughter plans to marry.”

The two of them talked about Zeus, Dax and the rest of the guys all the way back to Manti. Paige focused on positive stories that highlighted the amazing men they were. She wanted Carman’s mother to go into this meeting with a good impression. Carmen and Zeus were a good match. They were perfect for each other. Persha needed to know that. Paige remembered meeting Dax’s mother, and the tension they couldn’t quite overcome. That was the last thing she wanted for Carmen, or Zeus for that matter.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into her driveway and had just shut off the engine when the door flew open, and Carmen rushed toward them.

“Ma,” she exclaimed as she pulled the exotic woman into an enormous bear hug. “How was your trip?” Carman glanced at Paige. ‘Thank you,’ she mouthed over her mom’s shoulder.

Paige nodded, then smiled when she spotted Dax in the doorway. She missed him. She always missed him when they were apart but this time, after dealing with such a difficult murder, then entertaining a stranger as they drove over two hours back to Manti, all she wanted was to sit on the couch and snuggle into her husband’s loving arms. She was so married!

“Welcome home,” Dax wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a kiss.

Paige snuggled in but glanced back at Carmen. Soon, her friend would be just as married and equally sappy. Knowing that, made Paige feel a little better.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She’ll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S6

**Tags:** Season 6

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### [Photography 101](https://melaniepsmith.com/photography-101/)

**Published:** July 13, 2014
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** After completing my first book I was faced with the problem of finding a book cover I could use. I considered searching the internet, but became worried I might violate some kind of copyright law.

**Content:**

After completing my first book I was faced with the problem of finding a book cover I could use. I considered searching the internet, but became worried I might violate some kind of copyright law. Then it hit me, I would just use my own pictures. A few years back I visited Yellowstone National Park. Just outside the park in West Yellowstone, there was a wolf and bear refuge organization. I was able to get some wonderful pictures of wolves, which seemed perfect for my second book in the series. I was still faced with what picture to use for my first book. So, my husband and I went camping. We were just outside of Strawberry Reservoir in Utah and I was able to get some amazing sunset and sunrise pictures. I’m not only using them as book covers, but they worked perfect for my entire website. Let me know what you think!

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Strawberry-2_June-2014-0821-300x200.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Strawberry-2_June-2014-109-300x200.jpg)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

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### [Dusk now available on Amazon](https://melaniepsmith.com/dusk-now-available-on-amazon/)

**Published:** July 26, 2014
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** I'm excited to announce my first book, Dusk is now available on Amazon. You can either follow the link on my website www . melaniepsmith.com or go to amazon and look for either Melanie P. Smith or Dusk.

**Content:**

I'm excited to announce my first book, Dusk is now available on Amazon. You can either follow the link on my website www . melaniepsmith.com or go to amazon and look for either Melanie P. Smith or Dusk. Please share with all your friends and help spread the word. Your assistance in getting the word out is greatly appreciated!

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

---

### [After Dark coming soon](https://melaniepsmith.com/279/)

**Published:** September 18, 2014
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Well, life has gotten busy lately. I am currently doing the final edit on After Dark, the second book in my Warrior series. I hope to have that complete in the next couple weeks.

**Content:**

Well, life has gotten busy lately. I am currently doing the final edit on After Dark, the second book in my Warrior series. I hope to have that complete in the next couple weeks. The moment I finish, it will be listed on Amazon and available for purchase. I'd like to thank all those who have purchased and/or reviewed by first book. I hope you will like Ariel and Victor's book as much as you enjoyed Alex and Dimitri.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Dusk.png)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

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### [*****WEEKEND SALE*****](https://melaniepsmith.com/309/)

**Published:** September 26, 2014
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** DUSK, the first book in my warrior series on sale for .99 cents on Amazon. This is a paranormal romance. 

**Content:**

I just listed DUSK, the first book in my warrior series on sale for .99 cents on Amazon. This is a paranormal romance. It has it all; vampires, fairies, romance and suspense. Grab a copy, I think you'll like it.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Dusk.png)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

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### [Halloween Giveaway Spectacular](https://melaniepsmith.com/halloween-giveaway-spectacular/)

**Published:** October 7, 2014
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** I am participating in an October/Halloween Giveaway Spectacular.  Each day two new books will be highlighted in Julie's Book Review.  In honor of Halloween only Paranormal, Mystery or Horror books will be listed.

**Content:**

I am participating in an October/Halloween Giveaway Spectacular. Each day two new books will be highlighted in Julie's Book Review. In honor of Halloween only Paranormal, Mystery or Horror books will be listed. If you love books, check out this promo and enter the raffle as many times as you can. Information will change daily, so check back often throughout the month. My books will be highlighted on October 16th and October 23rd but there are a lot of good authors participating so check it out and tell your friends.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/halloweenoctevent-copy-300x186.jpg)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

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### [Making Progress…](https://melaniepsmith.com/making-progress-2/)

**Published:** October 19, 2014
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** This past month has been a huge learning experience. What lessons have I learned you might ask. Well for one, don't tackle too many projects.

**Content:**

This past month has been a huge learning experience. What lessons have I learned you might ask. Well for one, don't tackle too many projects. I finally completed editing/proofing my newest release "Hidden Lakes" while at the same time working on a few Holiday projects, writing a new novel and last but not least, proofing the third book of my Warrior Series.

Not all of my projects are complete, but they are moving along nicely. Needless to say, I need a vacation. Good thing it's the slow time of year... NOT. I love the Holidays, but can anyone say "hectic"? As we head into November, I can't help but think of all the things I am thankful for. One big one right now is the amazing support I have received over the past few months. From family and long time friends of course, but also from all the new friends and authors I've met as I embark on this new adventure.

I have always enjoyed writing. I guess it legitimizes all those voices I hear in my head (not in a crazy, freaky way I promise). But sharing my stories with the world took a huge leap of faith. Well, to be honest it took my husband shoving me violently over the cliff whether I liked it or not. Thanks babe, I never could have done this without you (literally). All kidding aside, it is because once I took that first vulnerable step and found familiar faces as well as strangers there to catch me, that I want to say "THANK YOU."

And, I'm happy to report that my leap of faith is starting to pay off. It appears the world likes my Warrior Series as much as I enjoyed writing it. Who knew? And if you want a light easy read, check out my new novel, Hidden Lakes.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Promo-book-1_2-300x187.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Landscape-Cover.jpg)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

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### [Happy Holidays!](https://melaniepsmith.com/happy-holidays/)

**Published:** December 14, 2014
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** December is a wonderful time of year. There are so many good people doing amazing things to help their friends, family and even strangers in need.

**Content:**

**Serendipity: Warrior Series Anthology - Book 2.5**

December is a wonderful time of year. There are so many good people doing amazing things to help their friends, family and even strangers in need. In the spirit of giving, I'm going to continue to offer my new warrior series anthology for free throughout the holidays. If you've already read the first two books in the series, you’ll be happy hear this is Jake and Marta’s story and takes place between books two and three. If not, don’t worry there’s enough information that you shouldn't be lost. It is called Serendipity and is Book 2.5 in my series. [Click Here](http://melaniepsmith.com/serendipity/) to find distributors.

**More Free Stuff...**

I'm also excited to tell you about two addition publications that are also free. Cold Winter's Night and Collections Magazine. Just click on my [Monthly Spotlight ](http://melaniepsmith.com/author-links/) page. There are links to both for easy access.

Cold Winter's Night is a collaborative anthology and contains short stories from myself and a few of my fellow authors. Each story in this collection takes place around the holidays. But I have to warn you, these are not your typical warm and fuzzy Christmas stories. Available on Smashwords, Barnes & Noble and I-Tunes.

Collections Magazine is designed to connect readers with new authors. The January issue is out early and contains excerpts from a multitude of new releases, reviews from Pelican Freak Reviews and links to free books on Amazon. It's also free so what do you have to lose?

**Merry Christmas everyone and stay safe out there.**

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Serendipity-200x300.jpg)](http://melaniepsmith.com/serendipity/)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Cold-Winters-Night-187x300.jpg)](http://melaniepsmith.com/author-links/)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

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### [DAWN has arrived!](https://melaniepsmith.com/dawn-has-arrived/)

**Published:** December 30, 2014
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:**  ***NEW RELEASE*** Dawn: Warrior Series - Book 3I’m excited to announce the release of DAWN, the third book in my warrior series. The anticipated release date was January 2015, but I finished early…

**Content:**

**\*\*\*NEW RELEASE\*\*\* Dawn: Warrior Series - Book 3**

I’m excited to announce the release of[ DAWN](http://melaniepsmith.com/dawn/ "Dawn"), the third book in my warrior series. The anticipated release date was January 2015, but I finished early! One day counts, right? It’s now available on [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Book-3-Warrior-Series-ebook/dp/B00RKL2Z7S/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_2 "Amazon_Dawn") and [Barnes and Noble](http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dawn-melanie-p-smith/1120977763?ean=2940150174726 "BN_Dawn"). Go get your copy today! And for those of you that haven’t checked out my series yet, what are you waiting for? Just remember this is a progressive series. It is possible to read [AFTER DARK](http://melaniepsmith.com/books/after-dark/ "After Dark") without having read [DUSK](http://melaniepsmith.com/books/dusk/ "Dusk") first. But starting with DAWN if you haven’t read any of the previous books, you might get a little lost.

I am also working on listing all my books in the iBook store. I should have that completed sometime within the next month. Can’t wait to make my stories available to all those Apple users out there!

[Hidden Lakes](http://melaniepsmith.com/hidden-lakes/ "Hidden Lakes") is now available for purchase in Hardback through my website and I am currently working on getting my Warrior Series produced in paperback format. So much to do, so little time! But I’m excited about all the new format’s I’m working on. Hopefully 2015 will prove to be a productive and successful year.

Between projects I am still working on my new novel, Mt. Haven. I’m having a lot of fun with this story so I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I am. In addition, watch for the fourth book in my Warrior Series, Shadows. It is currently in progress but should be out within the next few months.

Hope everyone has an amazing New Years and be careful out there!

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Dawn_Link-300x291.jpg)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

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### [Warrior Series News](https://melaniepsmith.com/warrior-series-news/)

**Published:** February 19, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** ***WARRIOR SERIES*** Two exciting new updates.  I have two new and exiting developments in my Warrior Series this month.

**Content:**

**\*\*\*WARRIOR SERIES\*\*\* Two exciting new updates**

I have two new and exiting developments in my Warrior Series this month. First, for all you Apple users out there I finally have my series available on iTunes. Just follow the link on my book page through my website or search for me directly (Melanie P. Smith) through iTunes. Hope you will check it out!

Second, Dusk:Warrior Series Book 1 is now available in print. Hardbacks and Paperbacks can be purchased directly from my website ([Click here](http://melaniepsmith.com/books/dusk/) for link). Paperbacks can also be purchased through Amazon and will be available from Barnes & Noble within the next few weeks.

Series update: I am currently in the proofing/ editing phase of Shadows, Book 4. I hope to have it available through your favorite eBook distributor in the next couple months. I’ll keep you posted and let you know when I have a more concrete release date available.

In addition, I am also working on getting After Dark published in print and I’m still working on a new Romantic Suspense novel. Needless to say, 2015 is proving to be a very productive and exciting year so far.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Dusk_Link1-274x300.jpg)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

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### [The Next Chapter Begins…Shadows](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-next-chapter-begins-shadows/)

**Published:** April 24, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** ***New Release***   ***New Release***    ***New Release*** I enjoyed writing this book because I was able to incorporate a little of my law enforcement knowledge into the storyline.  I hope all my loyal fans like this installment as much as they enjoyed the previous books in the series.

**Content:**

**\*\*\***New Release\*\*\* \*\*\*New Release\*\*\* \*\*\*New Release\*\*\*****

Shadows, Book 4 in my Warrior Series is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It is currently undergoing the approval process for iTunes and should be available within the next week. I enjoyed writing this book because I was able to incorporate a little of my law enforcement knowledge into the storyline. I hope all my loyal fans like this installment as much as they enjoyed the previous books in the series.

 For anyone who hasn’t started reading my Warrior Series, check out my **[Brochure](https://view.publitas.com/mpsmith-publishing/warrior-series/)**. All pictures and buttons throughout the publication are links. It’s a quick and easy way to learn more about my intriguing world of warriors, fae and vampires. Happy reading!

 On a side note, After Dark is now available in paperback through Barnes & Noble and Amazon. OR…you can purchase hardbacks and paperback directly from my website. Dawn, Book 3 is currently being produced and will also be available in both hardback and paperback in the near future. Look for Shadows in print within the next month.

 Well, that’s it for now. I’m off to write. I will be releasing another anthology soon. Intrepid takes a closer look at the murders in New York as well as tells the story of Atticus and Tala. Look for Chaos, Book 5 of my Warrior Series in the near future as well as another stand-alone suspense novel I am currently working on. And, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask. You can contact me by visiting my Author page at [www.melaniepsmith.com](http://www.melaniepsmith.com) or just send me an email at <author@melaniepsmith.com>.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Shadows_Link.jpg)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

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### [Danger everywhere…Chaos_](https://melaniepsmith.com/danger-everywhere-chaos_-2/)

**Published:** August 9, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Chaos, Book 5 in my Warrior Series is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble and will be available on iTunes in the near future.  I hope all my fans like this installment as much as they enjoyed the previous books in the series.  

**Content:**

**\*\*\***New Release\*\*\* \*\*\*New Release\*\*\* \*\*\*New Release\*\*\*****

Chaos, Book 5 in my Warrior Series is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble and will be available on iTunes in the near future. I hope all my fans like this installment as much as they enjoyed the previous books in the series.

 For anyone out there who hasn’t started reading my Warrior Series yet, what are you waiting for? Check out my **[Brochure](https://view.publitas.com/mpsmith-publishing/warrior-series/)**  for additional details and purchase links. All pictures and buttons throughout the publication are links. It’s a quick and easy way to learn more about my intriguing world of warriors, fae and vampires. Happy reading!

 Many of my books are also available in paperback and I'm adding new books all the time. Be sure to watch for the sixth installment, Exposed coming this winter. In addition, I am getting closer to completing my next stand alone novel, Mount Haven. As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask. You can contact me by visiting my Author page at [www.melaniepsmith.com](http://www.melaniepsmith.com) or just send me an email to <author@melaniepsmith.com>.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Chaos_Link-291x300.jpg)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

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### [The Review Amazon US Doesn’t Want You to See | Indie Lifer](https://melaniepsmith.com/the-review-amazon-us-doesnt-want-you-to-see-indie-lifer/)

**Published:** October 13, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Along the self-publishing journey I have met numerous fellow authors in social media groups.  This author networking has resulted in both positive and negative experiences.  Having said that, the one piece of advice I would give to new authors is to continue to network.

**Content:**

Along th![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/experiencers_800x1129.jpg)e self-publishing journey I have met numerous fellow authors in social media groups. This author networking has resulted in both positive and negative experiences. Having said that, the one piece of advice I would give to new authors is to continue to network.

But Amazon discourages author networking, some might say. To that I say, who cares? Who better to help you along the way than a fellow author who has already gone through the learning curve?

At some point Amazon will figure this out and revamp their algorithms for determining who is, and who is not, a “friend”. Do I have friends on social media? Of course. Currently my Facebook page claims I have 207 of them. Do I, for one minute, think over two hundred people are truly my friends? People who would come to my aid, no questions asked, in a time of need? Absolutely not. My colleagues laugh at me when I declare (rather frequently) that Facebook friends aren’t REALLY your friends. It’s a simple concept, but one many people seem to have a difficult time understanding. It appears Amazon Admins are struggling with that concept as well.

I believe that eventually Amazon will realize that there is a difference in friends and acquaintances. Just ask Blake Shelton or Donald Trump. The fact that two people are members of a Facebook group of 24,000 or they are the one millionth follower of a certain professional on Twitter, does not necessarily mean they are in fact friends; and are therefore posting fraudulent reviews. I dare say the majority of authors would much rather have honest feedback (positive or negative), than superfluous fluff.

Until the time comes that Amazon recognizes their policy is flawed, network with authors anyway. Use social media to interact and meet new people. And, if Amazon rejects a review because Big Brother has tagged you as a “friend” of the author with a conflict of interest, share the review everywhere but Amazon. Post it on Goodreads, tweet it out to your followers, post it on Facebook, write a blog post. Scream it from the rooftops. Show Amazon that they cannot control the market with unfair review practices. Your voice will be heard with or without their platform.

Amazon is struggling to cope with a fairly new industry and in my opinion they are getting it wrong. Yes, reviews are mighty hard to come by and every one a new author loses hurts, but as we forge the way through this new and evolving age of self-publishing, we are all going to make mistakes. Amazon is no exception. I hate the saying “think outside the box” because it has become commonplace and irrelevant. But as Author’s that is exactly what we need to do. And in the spirit of freedom from oppression I am sharing a fellow author’s post that includes a review Amazon rejected. This review was written by an author who purchased the book and read it not once, but twice. He then attempted to share his experience and opinions in the form of a review, only to be blocked by Amazon. The only connection John Hennessey has with fellow author Val Tobin is a Facebook group with several hundred members. Amazon may not appreciate Mr. Hennessey’s opinion, but I do. Please check out his review on Ms. Tobin’s website and if you have a minute, share it with your friends. As a new author, she could use the exposure!

Source: *[The Review Amazon US Doesn’t Want You to See \| Indie Lifer](https://bobandval.wordpress.com/2015/10/13/the-review-amazon-us-doesnt-want-you-to-see/)*

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

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### [Mount Haven…New Romantic Suspense](https://melaniepsmith.com/mount-haven-new-romantic-suspense/)

**Published:** November 15, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

**\*\*\*NEW RELEASE\*\*\* Romantic Suspense...Action Packed \*\*\***

I’m excited to announce the release my new Romantic Suspense novel, [MOUNT HAVEN](https://melaniepsmith.com/mount-haven/). It’s now available on [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Mount-Haven-Melanie-P-Smith-ebook/dp/B017G8C1WS/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1446434027&sr=1-5&keywords=melanie+p+smith "Amazon_Dawn"), [Barnes & Noble](http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mount-haven-melanie-p-smith/1122881529;jsessionid=8521A9CA68C1638988203E35BF4A8A88.prodny_store02-atgap12?ean=2940151105460 "BN_Dawn") and [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mount-haven/id1055161791?mt=11#). Go get your copy today!

When Rowdy Cooper's life is turned upside down he & his family must find a way to go on. Will the move to Mount Haven prove therapeutic or lethal? Bailey's on the run. For years she's been able to keep her secrets and fly under the radar. Will that all change now that there's a new sheriff in town? Not to mention his sexy, too observant brother. She loves Mount Haven but maybe it's time to move on before her past proves lethal for everyone.

I hope you will take a minute to check it out. I'm already getting great reviews!

In other news, I am currently in the editing process for the sixth book in my Warrior Series, *Exposed. I know some of you are anxious to read the next installment and will be happy to hear it should be out soon.*

One last thing...with the holidays coming up I just want to take a minute to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for! Best Wishes.

*--Melanie P. Smith*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/3D-Book-for-Web.png)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

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### [Happy Holidays…](https://melaniepsmith.com/happy-holidays-2/)

**Published:** December 27, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Hoping you had a very Merry Christmas and that your New Year's is enjoyable, memorable and safe! As we near the end of 2015 I cant' help but reflect on the amazing year I have had.

**Content:**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/cooltext156280306273310.png)

**Wishing you a Happy Holiday Season...**

Hoping you had a very Merry Christmas and that your New Year's is enjoyable, memorable and safe!

As we near the end of 2015 I cant' help but reflect on the amazing year I have had. One of the highlights was meeting my youngest fan. HayLee is only 10, but she loves my [Warrior Series](https://view.publitas.com/mpsmith-publishing/warrior-series/) and can't get enough. I had the pleasure of meeting HayLee a short time ago and really enjoyed spending time with such an amazing young girl. As a token of my appreciation I presented her with a special Warrior Series Charm Bracelet. Each charm represents one of the books in the series. Imagine my surprise when I learned I made it into a letter to Santa. Knowing I have touched the lives of so many is truly an honor.

Speaking of my Warrior Series, Exposed: Book 6 is near completion and should be released in early January. I know my loyal fans have been anxiously waiting for this next installment. Hopefully you will enjoy Lillie's story as much as you have enjoyed all the others.

With the release of [Mount Haven](https://melaniepsmith.com/mount-haven/) complete, I am also working on the second book in my Thin Blue Line series. Stay tuned to learn what's in store for Tony and Theresa and the rest of the Mount Haven gang. Haven't read it yet, watch the [book trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBrCuTcexsI) on YouTube.

Again, I thank you for all your support on this relatively new writing journey I have begun. Your support means so much to me. 2016, here we come!

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/chill-out-read.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/12250173_934665306588365_2426495973269553484_n-225x300.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/20151214_174427-1.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/12295471_934665203255042_2606251705297394530_n-225x300.jpg)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

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### [New Year…New Goals](https://melaniepsmith.com/new-year-new-goals/)

**Published:** January 28, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Who is Melanie P. Smith? As the new year begins most of us, in some form or another, make goals or resolutions for the year to come. I’ve never been one to declare ‘My New Year’s resolution is…’ Instead my goals usually come with an end date.

**Content:**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Melanie-P-Smith_Author.jpg)

# Who is Melanie P. Smith...

As the new year begins most of us, in some form or another, make goals or resolutions for the year to come. I’ve never been one to declare ‘My New Year’s resolution is…’ Instead my goals usually come with an end date. For instance, my first goal is to publish *Expose*d, book six of my Warrior Series by the end of January. That is still my goal. Although, a tragic event has interrupted my progress. Only one month into the year and I have already learned the lesson that sometimes completion dates have to be altered. I figure as long as I don’t give up on my goal, I have succeeded. So, if I don’t get *Exposed* released by January 31st, it will be out the first week of February at the latest.

The second goal I have for 2016 is to brand myself as an author. This goal is going to be far more challenging for me. I don't share easily. But I understand the importance of letting my fans get to know me on a more personal level. So, throughout 2016 I am going to try to post to my blog at least once a month. These posts will focus more on Melanie the author than Melanie’s promos. I have to warn you, my life is not really that exciting. I hope you don’t get bored.

In this first post of 2016 I thought I’d start by giving you an idea of what my friends and family say about me. How better to do that than to survey Facebook. Might as well put social media to the test, right? So, I posted the challenge to describe me in five words or less. I have listed the most popular answers in the banner attached above. However, I wouldn’t want to leave out the title of workaholic (which came from my sister, of course).

Some of the responses were unexpected, some were not. It was fun see what people had to say, it was even more interesting to read a response and realize...they know me better than I thought they did. I guess our true character, our real personalities, who we are deep inside... cannot be hid. Not even with the most casual of friends. In my opinion, that’s a good thing.

Thank you to all my family and friends for participating in my experiment and for just being you. My life is better because you are in it. And to my fans I would also like to say Thank You. It is so amazing to talk to real people who like what I’m doing. There is nothing like being stopped by someone who has read my work because they want to compliment me or tell me how much they loved my story. If I can help one person escape the madness we call reality, it was all worth it.

And on that note...I plan to keep writing, I hope you will continue to read!

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Iraq-Pictures-2004-036-e1454043612122.jpg)

## Siena, Italy

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Exposed.png)

## Warrior Series (Book 6) Coming Soon...

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**Categories:** Melanies Posts

**Tags:** Author Update

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### [March Madness…](https://melaniepsmith.com/marsh-madness/)

**Published:** March 20, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** March is a fun time of year for me.  Here in Utah, the weather is starting to turn warm and the snow and cold weather is mostly behind us.  Not that we won’t get a few bad weather days...we most certainly will.  It is Utah after all.

**Content:**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Mount-Haven-Banner-2b.jpg)

****\*\*\*MARCH MADNESS\*\*\*****

March is a fun time of year for me. Here in Utah, the weather is starting to turn warm and the snow and cold weather is mostly behind us. Not that we won’t get a few bad weather days...we most certainly will. It is Utah after all. This is the land of coats in the morning, t-shirt afternoons and coats again. But after the long winter, a little sunshine and 60 degrees feels like heaven.

On the book front, I’m excited to announce the sixth book in my Warrior Series has been released. [Exposed](https://melaniepsmith.com/my-books/exposed/) is the story of Lillie, Ty Brody’s pilot. She enters the world of Nick and Dante and turns both of their lives upside down. They are both forced to deal with a shaky past, uncontrollable feelings and fears. Lillie also has a few skeletons and severe trust issues when it comes to men. In addition to personal obstacles the warriors must face - Radek is planning something big. There are a lot of secrets revealed in this installment. What are you waiting for? Go get it today!

I also have another new release. [Mount Haven](https://melaniepsmith.com/mount-haven/) is the first book in my new Thin Blue Line series. Mount Haven has been out since the end of last year. It is a criminal suspense with a little romance added in for good measure. You should grab a copy from your favorite distributor. I think you’ll really enjoy meeting the Coopers and the rest of the Mount Haven crowd.

So, what’s next? Well, I just completed a short horror story I’m calling Pyrohypnosis. It will be released sometime this fall along with several other stories written by indie authors around the world. Obviously, horror is not my typical genre but it was a lot of fun and a great learning experience for me. I have also began to write the second book in my Thin Blue Line series. The next book picks up where Mount Haven left off and is coming along nicely. I think you will enjoy the return to Mount Haven and hearing what the gang is up to...with a few new additions.

On a personal note...I decided to retire from the Police Department this month. It has been an amazing experience but it was time to go. I’m really looking forward to having more time to focus on my writing and all the extras that go with it. I have so many new ideas for stories and projects the challenge will be picking just one to start with. I hope you will stay tuned for some exciting new things to come.

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**Categories:** Melanies Posts

**Tags:** My promos, New Release

---

### [Summer Update...](https://melaniepsmith.com/summer-update/)

**Published:** July 31, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** SUMMER UPDATE...Independence Day, Fireworks, Picnics, Summer fun and Adventure *** The year was circa 1990 something. It was a warm evening in the middle of summer. And two sisters were bored.

**Content:**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Andventure-.png)

**\*\*\*Summer Update\*\*\***

Saying I struggle with keeping up with my blog and selecting interesting and informative topics to share would be an understatement. My goal this year was to post something...anything...at least once a month. So far I have accomplished this goal...sort of. Most of my time has been spent on my new Crime Blog. If you haven’t checked it out yet, I hope you will take a minute and give it a try. [Here is the link](https://melaniepsmith.com/crime-blog/) (also found under “My Blog” on the drop-down menu).

July has become somewhat of a complex month for me. My family typically gathers to celebrate the birth of our nation on Independence Day with fireworks and BBQ’s just like any average American family. We eat, we laugh, we enjoy the fireworks and the reaction of the young children after each colorful explosion. But in our family, someone is missing. We lost my younger sister, Lori in July 2004. She passed away suddenly following heart surgery. She was young, big-hearted, and wildly irrational at times, but she was ours. And her life was cut way too short.

It would take an entire book and hours upon hours to relay the lifetime of adventures my sister and I shared. Suffice it to say, my early childhood was spent arguing with my mom because I wanted to go hang out with my friends alone; not babysit my younger sister (I always lost that battle). There was a five year age gap between us, which seemed like a lifetime to me at the time but later seemed like nothing. I soon progressed to accepting my sister’s constant companionship, whether I wanted it or not... To ultimately cherishing our time together. This didn’t happen overnight of course. The progression was gradual but deep rooted. By the time she passed away, we were not only close sisters but we were lifelong friends.

Which brings me to the reason I mention this. I thought it might be fun to relay some of our wild adventures together. For those of you who know us...a few of them might just sound familiar. To those of you who don’t...I hope you get a laugh or two as you read our story.

 So... here’s my introduction. I am going to call these crazy, uninhibited and sometimes dangerous events “Wild Adventures with Mel and Lou”. Why, you might ask? Well, let me explain.

**\*\*\* Did your parents hate you or did they just want boys? \*\*\***

The year was circa 1990 something. It was a warm evening in the middle of summer. And two sisters were bored. A condition some might cringe at...others might ask to join along. On this particular evening they decided to venture out alone. The duo was, of course...me and my accomplice, fellow action seeker and sister...Lori.

We climbed into my almost new, black Thunderbird and headed for downtown Salt Lake City. Neither one of us had a destination in mind. We didn’t have a plan. We just had HoJo on the radio (for those of you who don’t speak 80’s, that’s Howard Jones) and too much energy to stay home. So we did what teenage and twenty-something bored, energetic, young people did back then in Salt Lake on a weekend. We dragged State Street with the radio a little too loud, the wind flowing through the open windows and maybe just a little too much attitude. We were there to have fun and for us, that meant people watching. Now, I know some folks head downtown to hookup or find a date. Not us. We were just there to mess with people and blow off steam.

To some that might sound cruel but it really was harmless. As we drove up State Street, flipped around and headed in the opposite direction, we soon became bored... again. I’m going to take a minute to insert a personal quandary here. For the life of me, I have no idea what fool decided dragging a main thoroughfare was fun. I mean... you go up, you turn around, you go back, you turn around, and you drive back up again. And yet, a few decades ago, this activity was considered a time honored tradition in many cities, states and small communities across the nation. It was practically a rite of passage here in Salt Lake. Go figure.

[printfriendly]

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/usa-1127885_1280.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/fireworks-574739_1920.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Lori_Small.jpg)

## Lori AKA Lou...the Instigator

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/sparkler-677774_1280.jpg)

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![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/salt-lake-city-utah_august-201110.jpg)

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![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Singles-Party.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Melanie.graduation-2.jpg)

**Okay - Intermission over, back to the story**

So...we were deep in discussion, debating our next move, trying to decide if we should leave or hang out a little longer, go find something else to do, or give things a few more minutes to see if it got interesting. Our dilemma was simple, if we left...where could we go? Not quite ready to call it a night and head home, we made one more turn and started north up the preverbal dragstrip. That’s when things got a little more interesting. A truck pulled up beside us that contained two guys who apparently were also bored with the mundane. They seemed cool, personable and relatively harmless as we did the parallel dance common while leap-frogging through traffic at midnight on a busy roadway full of bored, energetic youth. Then came the challenge... “Let’s play chase.” Always up for a little competition, we accepted.

If you have never played chase the rules are simple. One vehicle (the hider), takes off. The second vehicle (the seeker) follows. At some point the hider takes a turn off the main roadway onto a side road. This signals the beginning of the game. The seeker has to continue at least one block down the road before they can turn and begin searching for the hider. It’s kind of like hide-and-seek with cars. If the seeker finds the hider, they simply pull up behind the vehicle, honk once, then speed past their competitor. The roles are now reversed.

If you are both good, you can chase each other around the city for hours. If one driver is better than the other, you simply disappear never to be seen again. Eventually the seeker will give up and the game is over...you lose.

We decided I would be the hider first and the truck would be the seeker. I took my time, waiting for just the right moment to make a sudden right and speed away down darkened backroads. It didn’t take long before the truck found us. Roles were reversed and again, within a matter of minutes, I located my prey. This went on for quite some time. Both of us had played the game before and we were both talented adversaries.

On my next turn at being the hider, I decided things needed to be taken up a notch. Otherwise, we would be playing this game until the sun came up. I glanced in my rearview, saw an opening and made a sharp right. Then it was peddle to the metal. I accelerated, swerved around another corner, and encouraged Lori to be my spotter. We may have coasted through a stop sign or two without making a hard stop, taken a turn just a little too sharp and left a mark or two on the asphalt as we burned rubber hoping to disappear around the next turn. I can’t say for sure but at one point we may have also “gone dark” in an attempt to escape a dark blue predator in the form of a decked out truck. The statute of limitation has expired on this hypothetical semi-recklessness but I’m still not confessing to anything.

When I was sure we had lost our tail, we headed for home. I’m sure you can imagine our surprise, when a dark blue truck pulled up behind us as we coasted into Murray (a city that is well outside the normal drag range). *Now, what?* We had to lose these guys. We simply could not go home until we did. Not an easy task. We’d been trying to lose them for well over an hour. The truck slid in beside us and motioned for us to rendezvous in a nearby parking lot.

As I pulled in beside the guys, Lori exited the vehicle. She never did understand the importance of communication. In my mind, we would pull in, wait for them to get completely out of the truck, then floor it, and hightail it to the next through street – disappearing blindly into the night, never to be seen again. Not so easy to execute when the passenger hops out and starts a conversation with the enemy. As I exited my vehicle and approached the two men I heard part of their conversation. “What’s your name,” was clearly the first question they had asked her.

Lori, again communication! Claimed her name was Lou. *Where had that come from?* They didn’t believe her. As she continued to debate the issue, I stepped up beside her and was instantly confronted with “her name”. Luckily I overheard the brief exchange and was able to confirm this little white lie without hesitation. That’s when I was asked the same question. I immediately answered, “Mel”. And in the space of a few seconds, without any coordination whatsoever Mel and Lou were born.

“Did your parents hate you or did they just want boys?” one of the guys asked immediately.

“They were expecting boys,” we both said immediately and our identities were solidified.

What happened to the guys, you might ask. Well... we ditched them, of course. We followed them to a friend’s party and when they exited their vehicle, we drove away. Lori, never one to miss an opportunity to pour salt in a wound, called out a message to our surprised but worthy opponents as we drove away...

“We win!”

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**Categories:** Melanies Posts

---

### [Progeny... The Final Chapter](https://melaniepsmith.com/progeny-the-final-chapter/)

**Published:** September 19, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** PROGENY - The 7th and final book in Melanie P. Smith's Warrior Series.  See what her fans are talking about and for a limited time get DUSK, Book 1 for only .99c

**Content:**

**\*\*\*Progeny - The Final Chapter\*\*\***

So, a long time ago, in a land far away... Just kidding. No fairytales here. Oh, wait. This actually is about Fairies...or the Fae to be more exact. And their counterparts... the Warriors. Oh, and shifters and vampires and shadows. What are those you might ask? Well, there’s no better time than the present to find out.

I am thrilled to announce the seventh and final book in my Warrior Series is now available. So, in honor of its release I have listed Dusk (Book 1) for sale throughout September for only .99c. That’s right... ONLY .99c folks, what do you have to lose? Get a great story for a great price. And if you subscribe to my blog, you will also get Serendipity (Book 2.5 – A Warrior Novella) FREE!

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Animal-Line.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Progeny_web.png)

[Kindle](http://geni.us/melaniepsmith)

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![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/PhotoFunia-1471718768.jpg)

But this isn’t just a buy my book post (wink, wink). Well actually yes, you should buy my book. But, all joking aside, I do want to talk a little about my writing journey. I have always enjoyed writing, thinking about writing, and formulating story ideas in my mind. It just took me a while to actually sit down and begin the process. A few years back I finally put pen to paper, so to speak, and a series was born.

How did the Warriors come to life? Well, there was this story idea that I just couldn’t stop thinking about. As the story developed, I realized it would make a great series. If I decided to write it, that is. Early on, I realized it wasn’t going to be one story, but it would take many stories to tell this tale. So, one night I began. The first step was to map out my characters. I knew who they were, what they looked like, how they acted and how many there were...seven. I knew this because for several months they had been living in my head, screaming to get out, playing in Technicolor like a Hollywood movie. Scene after scene unfolded as I drove to and from work, as I settled into bed each night, or as I did any number of menial tasks throughout the day. These seven strong, faithful, honorable men...were my warriors. They ultimately came to life in a seven book series, beginning with DUSK. Oh yeah, did I mention Dusk is on sale throughout September for only .99c?

Fast forward several years to September 2016. I just published Progeny, the seventh and final book in this series. My journey has been long and very educational. Along the way, I have learned a lot about writing, editing, proofing, web development and marketing. I have also met some of the most amazing people around the world. These are not just fellow authors, although some of them do write. I’ve also met editors, proofers, beta readers, cover artists and reviewers as well. All of these people make up the indie publishing world. As a whole, they are some of the most selfless, knowledgeable and friendly people you could ever meet. Yes, around the world. I now have friends in the UK, Canada, Spain, and Australia. We are all working towards the same goals. And no, that is not fame and fortune (although that would be nice). It is doing what we love and helping others succeed in their journey to do the same. Ultimately, it’s bringing our stories to life for the enjoyment of our readers.

Publishing Progeny was bittersweet for me. I have come to love the characters as if they are old friends and will miss them. But, it is also time to move on. I have so many new ideas and plots to work out and not nearly enough time write them all. I will, however, do my best.

So what’s in store for the future? I am currently working on the second book in my Thin Blue Line Series and will soon begin the first book in another paranormal series. I also have a few ideas for stand-alone novels. Finally, there is Paige Carter. My Crime Blog has taken off and the deeper I get into the series, the more interesting Manti's newest deputy becomes. The current season is always free so if you haven’t checked it out, you should get started on Season One while you still can. Just [CLICK HERE](https://melaniepsmith.com/crime-blog/) and start with Episode 1.

Happy Reading Everyone!

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**Categories:** Melanies Posts

---

### [How it All Began...](https://melaniepsmith.com/how-it-all-began/)

**Published:** April 9, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Melanie P. Smith - The early years.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.

**Content:**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/autumn-mood-972441_1920.jpg)

**\*\*\*Once a Writer - Always a Writer\*\*\***

Since I became a published author, I’ve been surprised at the interest I’ve received regarding my process and how I come up with the stories I write. Process is easy to explain, where my stories come from is a little more difficult. I jokingly tell people I write because it justifies all those voices in my head. The serious answer is a slightly different version of the joke. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a story idea running through my mind or characters screaming to have their stories told. When I published Dusk, in a way, it legitimized years of storytelling just for fun. That’s when I realized I’ve always been an author... I just never told anyone.

Which brings me to another question that seems to surface in conversation. *When did I start to write*? Until recently, I wasn’t sure how to answer that question. Now, I have an answer.

Recently, my mother gave me a scrapbook of items she saved over the years. It was fun to look through a lifetime of memories in one large collection. The book contained a wide range of things; report cards, certificates, teacher notes and a variety of stories and essays I completed... or should I say started... over the years. To my surprise, there was a short, and I mean very short, story I wrote when I was about six. Mystery solved, I guess I started writing when I was six. I was happy to see the words *The End*. Most of my stories never made it that far.

To this day, I get a story in my mind, sit down to write that next great novel and about half way through I start to doubt the direction it’s going. What do I do now? I power through, sometimes re-evaluate, delete entire sections and shift course, but ultimately end up exactly where my characters are determined to lead me.

It’s funny how the more things change, the more they stay the same. When I was young, I loved spending time with my Shetland pony (Coalie), riding my tote goat for hours and writing silly stories.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Bird.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Melanie2.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Tote.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Leprechaun2.jpg)

These days, I still enjoy a relaxing horseback ride through a beautiful canyon, a trip on my Harley and yes... writing.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/11222151_10208066814014034_2554944995123221664_o.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Motorcycle.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/desk-2158142_1920.jpg)

So, here’s to the early years! And in the spirit of nostalgia... I thought I’d share how it all began. Ironically, I still enjoy writing fantasy stories and a relaxing camping trip.

MY LEPRECHAUN

(Remember, I was only six. I have improved a bit since then.)

*I went to Ireland and I saw a leprechaun sitting on a log. He was eating something. I think he saw me because he ran away. But, I found him and it was in the night time. I went to his bed and picked him up and took him to my camper. The next day, I got three wishes. The first wish was a bike. My second wish was a pot of diamonds. My third wish was $500.00. I took him home with me.*

*THE END*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Fire.jpg)

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**Categories:** Melanies Posts

**Tags:** Author Update

---

### [Sizzling Summer Heat...](https://melaniepsmith.com/sizzling-summer-heat/)

**Published:** July 6, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** It's Summer Time... my favorite time of the year.  Campfires, mountain excursions and a good book.  What more could you ask for?

**Content:**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Cool-Text-Sizzling-Summer-Heat-250293055419680.png)

I don’t know about you, but here in Utah... it’s hot! I’m talking heatwave, forest fires and dry-100+ degree temps in the shade...HOT. I think this little guy has the right idea, maybe I should join him.

On the bright side, the scorching temperatures have given me time to read some great new novels and finish up a few of my own projects. So, on the update front I have two announcements.

First, I have compiled the first season of Paige Carter into a box set that is now available at all your favorite eBook stores. Here are a few links for your convenience...

| [![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Kobo.png)](https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/paige-carter-deputy-sheriff)[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Amazon.png)](http://geni.us/PaigeCarterS1) | [![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Itunes.png)](http://geni.us/iPaigeCarterS1)[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Nook.png)](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paige-carter-melanie-p-smith/1126497842;jsessionid=B446246FAA8FAB0B00CD4640F951FC1E.prodny_store02-atgap05?ean=2940157285715) |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/XdzU8fc.gif)

I’m just waiting for the proof, but the paperback will be available soon. If you’re not familiar with Paige Carter, it is a monthly short story that follows the life and career of Paige Carter. She is a former FBI agent and forensic expert who moved back to her hometown of Manti, Utah to become a deputy sheriff. Each month, I publish a new short story where the reader can follow along as she builds new relationships, relies on old friends and solves local crime. Think of a television series like Bones, Criminal Minds or Castle where the main characters solve a crime each episode. Paige Carter does the same, but I only publish one episode a month. Unless you are a new subscriber, you have probably noticed regular updates when a new episode is posted.

The current season is always be free and available exclusively on my website. I am now several episodes into Season 2. You can read new and previous episodes by clicking the link below.

[Paige Carter \| Season 2](http://geni.us/CrimeBlog)

New to the series? You’re in luck. I have FREE STUFF!  Between now and August 31, 2017 you can get the entire 1st season box set absolutely free. It’s my way of saying thanks for your loyalty and subscription. Just follow the link below and use coupon code VK73T at checkout.

[Paige Carter \| Season 1](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/728088)

If you know someone that might be interested, have them subscribe to my blog. They will receive a complimentary copy of Season 1 just for signing up.

[Subscribe Now...](http://geni.us/Blogsignup)

If you haven’t used Smashwords before... [Click Here](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Instructions.pdf) for loading instructions.

For my second update... I’m excited to say I have just completed the second book in my Thin Blue Line Series. Moondance Ridge is currently with my editor but will be available for purchase in the very near future. Want a sneak peek? I have posted a small sample in my book section under Moondance Ridge. Or, click the link to go straight to my preview page.

[Moondance Ridge](https://melaniepsmith.com/moondance-ridge/)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Box-Set_Season-1-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Paperback.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/independence-day-459173_640.jpg)

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I had a great 4th of July and hope all of you living in the US had a wonderful Independence Day holiday as well. We live in a wonderful country and I am thankful every day for all that I have. Even though I made fun of the heat, I do love me some summertime. For me, summer is a time for fun. One of my favorite activities has to be camping. There’s nothing that says summer like a quiet evening around a campfire or a hot day exploring the majestic Utah mountains on my ATV. Whatever you do to relax, mountains, beach or just a quick swim in a backyard pool... I hope you are able to take the time to enjoy it. And don’t forget... it’s always better with a good book (hint –hint).

Thank you so much for your continued support. Until next time... Happy Reading!

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**Categories:** Melanies Posts

**Tags:** Author Update

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### [It's Here... Murder, Corruption, Danger, Love](https://melaniepsmith.com/its-here-murder-corruption-danger-love/)

**Published:** September 29, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** ***New Release *** Moondance Ridge: Thin Blue Line Book 2.  Murder | Corruption | Danger | Love.  An action-packed, romantic suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the very end.

**Content:**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Coming-Soon.jpg)

**\*\*\*Moondance Ridge - Thin Blue Line \| Book 2\*\*\***

It's Here...It's Here...It's Here...It's Here...It's Here...

MOONDANCE RIDGE - The highly anticipated sequel to Mount Haven is now available.

*Tony is a successful businessman & new to Mount Haven. He didn't expect to fall for a desperate, independent woman that would change his life forever. But, somehow, his heart refused to listen to logic. Theresa Regan is in trouble - big trouble. Can she find a solution to her dilemma or will she lose everything and disappear forever? Time is running out & the future could prove fatal for everyone involved.*

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Amazon.png)](http://geni.us/MoondanceRidge)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Nook.png)](http://geni.us/BNMoondanceRidge)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Ibook.png)](http://geni.us/iMoondanceRidge)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Kobo.png)](https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/moondance-ridge)

I hope my readers enjoy Theresa and Tony's story as much as they seemed to like Mount Haven. And, speaking of Rowdy Cooper... for those fans who have missed his sexy cowboy ways, Moondance Ridge won't disappoint. What's a Mount Haven story without the famous Cooper brothers after all? What are you waiting for? Get your copy today.

Fellow author, Jennifer Reynolds was kind enough to feature me in her September Newsletter. You can learn more about Moondance Ridge (including a sneak peek) by following the link below.

[Read Newsletter](http://us14.campaign-archive2.com/?u=576eff79e7d53d20d8e267f8d&id=79260247a0)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Animal-Line.png)

In other news...

Have you had a chance to check out my Paige Carter Crime Blog? Season 2 is now in progress. Things are happening in Manti and Deputy Paige Carter is right in the middle, professionally and personally. Catch a new episode each month and remember the current season is always FREE.

[Crime Blog \| Season 2](https://melaniepsmith.com/crime-blog/)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

**Tags:** New Release

---

### [Connections eMagazine Winter 2017](https://melaniepsmith.com/connections-emagazine-winter-2017/)

**Published:** November 5, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Winter 2017 - Connections eMagazine.  Get to know feature author Suzanne Downes, find new releases, promos and tons of sales.

**Content:**

# Winter 2017

Connections eMagazine is published by independent authors who wish to connect with readers, reviewers and bloggers. The winter edition is now available. This issue features author Suzanne Downes, be sure to take a minute to check out her work. In addition, there are tons of sales, promos, new releases and freebies. You never know, you just might find your new favorite author.

### Happy Reading!

Want regular updates? Be sure to follow us on Facebook...

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/098213-blue-chrome-rain-icon-social-media-logos-facebook-logo-square.png)](https://www.facebook.com/ConnectionsEMagazine/)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Front-Cover-2-386x500.jpg)

[Read Now...](https://view.publitas.com/mpsmith-publishing/connections-emagazine-november-2017/)

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

---

### [Flash Fiction | Indie author support & Discussion](https://melaniepsmith.com/flash-fiction-indie-author-support-discussion/)

**Published:** May 12, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

### [![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FF-Challenge-500x167.png)](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FF-Challenge.png)

### *Good to the last page…*

Great Authors, Great Stories… Vote for your favorite. Indie Authors \| May 2018

Throughout the month of May, talented authors will submit short stories, limited to 100 Words or less. They will be posted on this page and the readers will decide the winner of the Challenge. Be sure to stop by often to view new stories by new authors.

---

> Flash Fiction is a form of creative writing that can be read in minutes… or seconds. It often draws on familiar references, is intense, and contains lots of meaning packed into a hand…

Source: *[Flash Fiction \| Indie author support & Discussion](https://indieauthorsupportanddiscussion.com/flash-fiction/)*

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

---

### [2018 Christmas Giveaway](https://melaniepsmith.com/2018-christmas-giveaway/)

**Published:** December 15, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** 2018 Christmas Giveaway - Enter for a chance to win 20 eBooks in various genres from some amazing international authors.  Details inside...

**Content:**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/5-500x282.png)

This giveaway promotes support for indie authors and their amazing books. Participation begins December 15th and runs through December 31st. Please visit each books Goodreads page for details...

[Walk A Mile](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38904511-walk-a-mile)
[Salt for Air](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40119041-salt-for-air)
[First Came Forever ](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36001305-first-came-forever)
[Naive In Love ](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36653790-naive-in-love)
[The Experiencers ](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22410510-the-experiencers)
[Mount Heaven ](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27420373-mount-haven)
[Red Wolf ](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38121434-red-wolf)
[Destiny Awaits ](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27484965-destiny-awaits)
[Surprises](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34456920-surprises)
[Starstruck](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34679129-starstruck)
[If We Had No Winter ](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39934765-if-we-had-no-winter)
[A Spirit's Last Gift ](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36696356-a-spirit-s-last-gift)
[Cursed](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42741618-cursed)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/20ebooks-giveaway.png)

### ENTER TO WIN...

Grand prize is 20 eBooks from amazing international authors.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/4.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Raffle-500x429.jpg)

The contest winner has been identified by the organizer. I was notified today that Cora C is the grand prize winner. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated in this event.

**Author Twitter Handles...**

@authorjoeypaul 
@mcfrank\_author
@anniewoodsauthor 
@taralamesauthor
@mstorialvarez 
@Valtobin2 
@mpsmithauthor
@lilyluchesi
@jaidisshaw
@brandi\_nicole\_s
@bellaemywrites
@readcommendations 
@dlpitchford
@kathylynncrossbooks 
@alyssasdrakenovels 
@lichelleslater\_author

**Categories:** Melanies Posts

**Tags:** #thebookrobinhoods

---

### [March Mad Sale](https://melaniepsmith.com/march-mad-sale/)

**Published:** March 3, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Mom's Favorite Reads and The Fussy Librarian present a March Mad Sale.  17 books on sale, 17 amazing authors.  It's an event you don't want to miss... March 9th & 10th

**Content:**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/All-books-6.jpg)

## March 9th & 10th

### 
Two Days Only...

Mom's Favorite Reads in association with The Fussy Librarian present our March Mad Sale. Seventeen amazing authors, 17 books. All of them are either Free or $.99 for these two days. Multiple genres are represented. Be sure to check it out. You just mind find a new favorite author!

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-1200x200.png)

# [THE BOOKS...](https://www.thefussylibrarian.com/newswire/for-readers/2019/03/09/dont-miss-these-bargain-books-from-goylake-publishing)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/1_Earthbound-Small.png)

[BUY NOW](https://books2read.com/earthbound)

**Earthbound by Val Tobin** *Paranormal Suspense*

***Nothing says bad day like waking up dead.*** Software developer Jayden McQueen is dead, but it’s not in her stubborn and controlling nature to say die. When she’s offered a chance to return to the physical plane to bid a final farewell to her loved ones, she seizes it.

Warned that her time on this side of the veil is limited, she promises to return before the deadline. Then she discovers her death was murder and not the heart attack her family believes. Refusing to leave until she uncovers the truth behind her death, Jayden enlists the help of a mysterious spirit who seems to know a lot about her and her family. Together they peel away the layers of this mystery, but when they get to the bottom, a dark horror awaits them. Now, not only is Jayden earthbound, she’s caught in a trap from which there may be no escape.

Alone and in despair, Jayden must learn to let go or endure a lifetime of hell at the hands of a sociopath who would use her for his personal gain.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2_Tangwstyl-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00OGR5JIQ)

**Tangwstyl by Mansel Jones**
*Historical Fiction*

Tangwstyl is a story of love and murder, of loyalty and betrayal. Set in the medieval town of Kenfig in the year 1399, the story centres on a prophecy made by Merlin and the birth of a girl, named Tangwstyl. Based on historical fact, Tangwstyl tells the story of King Richard and a plot to assassinate him, of Owain Glyn Dwr and his struggle for personal and national justice, and of the medieval Church and its desire to suppress all forms of heresy. Tangwstyl also tells the story of the common men and women of Kenfig, ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events, events that would alter long held beliefs and reshape lives.

The Prophecy: From an English Chronicle - The Welsh habit of revolt against the English is an old-standing madness...and this is the reason: the Welsh, formally called Britons, were once noble crowned over the whole realm of England; but they were expelled by the Saxons and lost both the name and the kingdom. The fertile plains went to the Saxons, but the sterile and mountainous districts to the Welsh. But from the sayings of the prophet Merlin they still hope to recover their land. Hence, it is that the Welsh frequently rebel, hoping to give effect to the prophecy.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/3_Survival-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07JLPTCR9)

**Survival Beginnings: Jenny's Story by Rhonda Hopkins** *Apocalyptic Sci-Fi*

***Some days, the only plan is survival...*** Fifteen-year-old Jenny and her twin brother, Jason, find their neighborhood in disarray. The neighbors are acting strangely, and the elderly gentleman who lives next door has left senility behind and gone straight to full-on crazy.

Will they survive their first zombie encounter?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/4_Mermaid-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://books2read.com/Mermaids-Gift)

***Mermaid's Gift by Ronesa Aveela*** *Children's Book*

Nine-year-old Nick celebrates his Name Day in December, on St. Nicholas Day. But the day is filled with worry because his father is caught out fishing on the ocean during a storm. He receives a special gift from his mother that day, a gift that has an unusual message.

Mermaid's Gift is a short story and coloring book. In the tradition of family togetherness, Baba Treasure Chest stories are geared toward the entire family: Adults reading stories to children, children and adults working together on coloring pages. Print edition contains coloring pages.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/5_Paige-Carter-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://books2read.com/Paige-Carter-S1)

**Paige Carter: Season 1 by Melanie P. Smith** *Police Procedural*

***Solving Crime One Episode at a Time*** Season 1 - Paige Carter is a police procedural series. Former FBI Agent and Forensic Science expert, Paige Carter, has made a life altering decision. She’s left the Bureau to become Manti’s newest deputy sheriff. Follow her as she builds new relationships, relies on old friends and solves local crime in a small town.

This compilation is one full season, comprised of nine episodes. Each episode is one short story where Paige Carter and her fellow officers investigate local crimes, arrest the criminals and deal with personal struggles.

Box set includes 9 full episodes
Lakeside \| Lasting Consequences \| Perverted Theology \| Camp Reefer \| Youthful Plunder \| Newborn Harvest \| Unfortunate Trio \| Impetuous Flight \| Innocent Strategy

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/6_Fools-Desire-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07G8NDN2B)

**Fool's Desire by Poppy Flynn** *Romance*

As a bubbly art student, Daisy Kidde embarked on a passionate relationship that ended in tears.

Eleven years later, she has reinvented herself as the aloof finance director, Desirae Harper, but the past threatens to catch up with her and turn her quiet, reserved world upside down when her company is threatened with a takeover bid and the dominant Joel Blackwood walks back into her life.

Can she resist him or will the old Daisy return, threatening her new, quiet life?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/7_Heartwarming-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00JREFTSS)

**Heart-Warming Tales by Brenda Mohammed** *Romance*

***Mystery, Crime, Love, and Infidelity*** Heart - Warming Tales consists of six unusual and enjoyable short stories of Romance.

**The Caregiver -** Lena is torn between two men who love her. Lena has to make a choice. Whom will she marry and what will be the outcome? 
**Is Love Enough -** Her Online Predator teaches a valuable lesson. Be careful with whom you make friends on the internet. That person may not be the one he or she claims to be. Jean Brown learned that lesson when she almost became a victim of human trafficking.
**A Marriage on the Rocks** - A young couple who had serious problems in their marriage. The wife left the marital home to find a more exciting way of life.
**Dead Business -** A newly married wife who doubted her husband. She was determined to find out the truth about him.
**The Psychiatrist and the Thie**f **-** The ex-lover of the psychiatrist’s secretary pretends to be a patient of his, and a series of blunders occur. 
**No Wedding Bells for Amy -** Amy is rejected by a married man and she goes after his son. Death and destruction follow Amy.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/8_Sombrero-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00IHH209W)

**The English Sombrero by Anthony Randall**
*Humor*

It’s 1999, twenty-six stone alcoholic, chain smoking, fast food junkie, millionaire businessman Don Simmons has a drunken £250'000 bet that he can complete a half marathon in under an hour and a half.

Once sober and realizing the seriousness of his wager, he decides to take a year out, move to Spain, shed half his body weight and commence a gruelling training regime in order to preserve his esteem, win the money and save his life.

This humorous novel set for the most part against the back drop of beautiful Catalonia, is book one in a series of four following the outrageous exploits of a modern day Avenger, a righter of wrongs, champion of Adversity and lover of malt whiskey.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/9_Creating-Grace-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07L156TF7)

**Creating Grace by Cassandra DenHartog** 
*Paranormal Romance*

**Can love really heal a rift between heaven and hell?** Phenex was once an angel, a secret she keeps hidden behind her cold assassin exterior, her ‘let no one get close’ rule, and the curse of her acquired demon powers. Gabriel is the Archangel of Death, whose task of killing demons and bringing lost souls to the light has stolen his ability to feel emotion. When the pair collide on the battlefield, their connection is instant and their desire daunting. As rogue demons begin an all-out assault, the two must unite for the greater good. But is their bond strong enough to save them? Or will the power of Lucifer tear this fragile love apart?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10_Love-Beyond-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07GJCRTHZ)

**Love Beyond by Grant Leishman**
*Historical Fiction*

It was a love that should never have been; he, an aristocratic Captain in the Spanish Army of occupation of The Philippines and she, a simple village girl who had joined the revolutionary army of The Philippines (Katastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipuanan – KKK) and wanted nothing more than freedom for her people and her country. 

The year is 1896 and after almost 350 years of harsh and corrupt Spanish rule, the Filipino people were preparing to fight back, to reclaim their land stolen from them all those centuries ago. Against this volatile background, two young people sought to find each other in the scourge of battle. What chance for them, against all the odds? 

Captain Hernando de Abreu and Luzviminda Torres’ lives will intersect in bloody conflict as both become caught up in the eternal struggle for freedom. Will love triumph against every obstacle in this fast-paced, historical romance adventure. Is there LOVE BEYOND?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/11_Bea-and-Bee-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07K7XWXXF)

**Bea & Bee by Sylva Fae**
*Children's Picture Book*

Bea loves tending the flowers in her little back yard but what she’d really like is a pet to care for. The yard is too small for a pet, or is it? When Bea finds Little Bee, she finds the perfect pet for her tiny garden.Can Bea convince Mummy to let her keep a pet bee?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/12_Lights-Time-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07KCZ3GGG)

**The Lights of Time by Paul Ian Cross**
*Sci-Fi*

**Would you sacrifice your future to save your past?** Engella Rhys is alone, adrift and on the run. Pursued by a secret agency, known only as the Hunters, she must stay ahead to stay alive. As she travels through space-time using dangerously experimental technology, she only has one wish: to be reunited with her lost parents. After a close shave with a Hunter on the streets of New Shanghai, Engella escapes to find herself on a deserted beach. When she meets a kind stranger, who offers her food and shelter, Engella feels safe and protected for the first time in years. 

But who is this woman? And why did their paths cross at the most convenient of times?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/13_Fitzroy-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07B26BL9R)

**Mrs. Fitzroy by Rachael Wright**
*Mystery*

Brash, streetwise, Captain Alexander Savva of the Hellenic Police is called to investigate the crumpled mess of a car, and the body inside it, being battered by the sea. With the brakes compromised, John Fitzroy had no chance of surviving the steep roads along the coast. Where many investigations struggle for suspects, Savva has no lack of them.

Davonna tugs the thorny weeds, the purple hand-shaped bruise on her neck screaming. Had it really been ten years since she sat in a cushioned chair in the Palais des Nations translating Hebrew to German? Now she meticulously plans her days to avoid disaster. It’s so common, so very common for a woman to find herself captive, where escape only comes in dreams after her husband leaves her bruised on the bed. 

As secrets are revealed, Savva is drawn to John’s widow, Davonna, questioning her every word. He hovers around the periphery of her life, discovering that behind the doors of her pink mansion and its manicured walled garden, a sinister secret rots. It all begs the question: who killed John Fitzroy?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/14_Cinderella-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07H1NSH7X)

**Cinderella's Boss by Susan Horsnell**
*Romance*

Bohemian. 
Trapped in the last century. 
No trust in men.
Some of the things people said about Kathrin.
Arrogant.
Intolerant.
No trust in women.
Some of the things people said about Brett.
Can they break through each other’s barriers to become friends?
Anything more was unthinkable.
After all, they are Boss and Employee.
Will Brett realize his true feelings and take his very own Cinderella to the ball or will his best friend steal her from under his nose??

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/15_Winters-Day-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B078HPGKZT)

**Winter's Day**
*Contemporary Romance*

**No one looks for pain, but some women seem to attract it.** Jolie Winter’s and her cousin, Debbie are more than family, and when you have someone that close they can sometimes lead you astray. Debbie sets Jolie up on dates with some disastrous results.

Then, Debbie, gets sick, and Jolie finds herself adrift, turning back to her first love, Dave to anchor her from the storms in her life. But what good is an anchor if it’s dragging you under? And is Jolie strong enough to leave the man she thought so perfect to find a love that offers life, not death?

Set in modern-day suburban Britain, Winter’s Day investigates the tough issues of love and abuse, strength and dependence. Multi-layered and emotional, it takes the reader for a roller-coaster ride of the human psyche in all its glory, drenched in gritty realism and laugh-aloud humour.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/16_Exodus-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01KUGX0ZK)

**Exodus by Kate McGinn**
*Romantic Suspense*

**A Clare Thibodeaux Novel - **A woman who has lost everything she loved. A dangerous secret that someone will do whatever is necessary to keep buried.**** The ER staff called Clare Thibodeaux the “Ice Lady”. No one knew the reason why she wouldn't let anyone get close to her. On one hectic night, the victim of a vicious attack is brought in by ambulance. When she discovers the patient is a friend from her past life, she is devastated. It was the first of a violent series of events, and the only connection between all of them is Clare.

Fearing for her life, she leaves as a hurricane spirals off the coast, but Clare’s storm is only beginning. Fleeing to the Apostle Islands in northern Wisconsin, she goes into hiding with the help of family friends. Two men vie for her affection -- a passionate FBI agent and a Navy SEAL with a questionable past -- and Clare must decide who she can trust with her heart and with her life.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/17_Sams-Song-Small-500x333.png)

[BUY NOW](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00OHZ151W)

**Sam's Song by Hannah Howe**
*Mystery*

**A Sam Smith Mystery Novel - Sam’s Song. This is the story of a week that changed my life forever.** Love Hurts. For Derwena de Caro, songstress, female icon, teenage dream, success brought drugs, alcohol and a philandering boyfriend. It also brought wealth, fame and a stalker, or so she claimed. And that’s where I came in, to investigate the identity of the stalker, little realising that the trail would lead to murder and a scandal that would make the newspaper headlines for months on end.

Love Hurts. For me, Samantha Smith, Enquiry Agent, love arrived at the end of a fist. First, I had to contend with an alcoholic mother, who took her frustrations out on me throughout my childhood, then my husband, Dan, who regarded domestic violence as an integral part of marriage. But I survived. I obtained a divorce, kept my sense of humour and retained an air of optimism. I established my business and gained the respect of my peers. However, I was not prepared for Dan when he re-entered my life, or for the affection showered on me by Dr Alan Storey, a compassionate and rather handsome psychologist.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-1200x200.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/YouTube-Thumbnail.jpg)

### [Mom's Favorite Reads](https://moms-favorite-reads.com/)

Mom’s Favorite Reads is an international community of readers, writers, teachers, librarians and book lovers established to encourage reading amongst adults and children. We believe that reading offers great joy to people. Furthermore, it is a cornerstone of education and education is a cornerstone of a civilized society.

- Promoting Literacy
- Parenting Tips
- Short Stories
- Recipes
- Activities for Kids
- Exploring New Worlds
- Wellness and Well-Being
- Discovering New Authors and so much more

### [The Fussy Librarian](https://www.thefussylibrarian.com/free-and-bargain-ebooks)

Once upon a time, books did something called “going out of print.” The publisher decided to stop printing new copies and readers had to scour garage sales for a used copy. It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Then the ebook came along. Not only would new books live forever, but old titles could be purchased as well. In no time at all there were millions of books available to readers … who soon developed headaches sifting through it all.

The Fussy Librarian is the first website to match readers not only with the genre of books they like but also their preferences about content. Do you only read mysteries without profanity, violence and sex? Then we’ll tell you only about cozy mysteries. Read just memoirs and gory horror novels? No problem.

We also only bother with the good stuff so you know you’ll see great reads every time you open our daily email. There’s a reason we’re called The Fussy Librarian, after all.

[Join for FREE](https://www.thefussylibrarian.com/)

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**Categories:** Melanies Posts

---

### [Up in Smoke](https://melaniepsmith.com/up-in-smoke/)

**Published:** May 31, 2021
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Up in Smoke (S6E2) A barn fire, a missing woman and a murdered horse.  Paige works with arson investigators to determine if they are looking for a criminal, a woman on the run, or an innocent woman abducted by a killer.  And, personal conflicts are distracting Paige and dividing her focus.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*UP IN SMOKE\*\*\*****

“I agree.” Dax tossed the application on the desk. “Send the letter.”

Zeus studied his friend. “What’s wrong? The decision was unanimous. That man’s not qualified to attend our course.”

“I said I agree.” Dax sighed and leaned back in his chair.

“But?” Hawk frowned.

“But nothing.” Dax stood. “He doesn’t meet the minimum qualifications. Let him know if he wants to apply for a beginner course, he’ll need to submit a new request.” Then he turned and walked out the door.

“Anyone know what that was about?” Vato glanced around the room.

“Zeus?” Hawk focused on the one man that was sure to have answers.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PaigeS6.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Up-in-Smoke.pdf)

“Maybe.” Zeus stared at the empty doorway. “A few years back, there was an incident. The Sheriff of Juab County thought he was some kind of cowboy Casanova — and he made a play for Paige.”

“And yet, he lives,” Vato said, amazed.

“What happened?” Hawk practically whispered.

“Dax broke his nose,” Zeus shrugged. “Paige stepped between them, and the rest is history.”

“That’s the second time we denied a guy from Juab County,” Wooly realized.

“It’s not personal,” Vato insisted. “Neither one was qualified for the course they wanted to attend. If we make an exception now, we’ll have to make another one later. If we do that, why have qualifications at all. We might as well change everything to first come first served.”

“We saw firsthand what a disaster it was when we made an exception to accommodate Porter,” Wooly added.

“We made an exception to accommodate the grandson of a fellow Ranger,” Hawk corrected. “And he was qualified for the course he attended, but I get your point.”

“Maybe I’m missing something.” Vato glanced toward the door again. “I’m just wondering why this is a problem. We deny applications all the time.”

“Image,” Hawk shrugged.

“Integrity,” Zeus added. “And perception.”

“You think the sheriff will make a stink and our decision will be hard to justify?” Vato wondered.

“I don’t,” Wooly answered. “Like you said, we’ve denied guys who had more experience and better qualifications than that guy.” He pointed to the desk and the paperwork. “Applicants like that one is the reason we developed the questionnaire in the first place. He’s the kind of guy we wanted to weed out. Any of us could explain the reason for that rejection. Who cares if he makes a stink? We can weather it.”

“But can Dax?” Hawk sighed.

“If Paige doesn’t understand, that’s her problem,” Vato began.

“Which makes it a problem for Dax.” Hawk stood. “Let’s not borrow trouble. We’ll deal with it if and when we need to. Right now, we have work.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/horses-grazing-green-meadow-MPSmith.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/texas-barn-at-sunset-MPSmith.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/dark-horse-eye-closeup-MPSmith.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Farmhouse-MPSmith.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Running-Horse-MPSmith.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/old-wood-rail-fence-MPSmith.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Julia_Stallion-MPSmith.jpg)

\*\*\*\*\*

“It’s okay, baby.” Julia ran a soothing hand down the beautiful black stallion’s neck.

The majestic horse huffed out an annoyed breath and pawed the ground with his left front hoof before he stomped and shifted his weight. Dust billowed up in a thick cloud, filling the tiny stall.

“What’s wrong gorgeous?” Julia tried to sooth. Instead of calming the horse down, Condor suddenly kicked the back wall with his hind leg and violently shook his head.

Julia rushed out of the stall and secured the gate. When Condor continued to shake his head and stomp his foot, she moved to the large window that faced the house and the driveway. Something was wrong. Condor was agitated and getting worse by the second. The instant she spotted the large man, her breath caught and she froze in fear. The panic came next. She frantically looked around the barn, desperate to find an escape. How did he find her after all these years? Terrified, she darted for the tack room. Her hand was shaking so hard she could barely turn the knob.

Julia slid inside the small, dimly lit room and quietly closed the door behind her. She twisted the lock, hoping it would hold at least long enough for her to sneak out the tiny window. She glanced up, wondering how she was going to reach it. Worse, how was she going to climb through without being discovered. She couldn’t let it stop her. If she hesitated, even a minute, she’d be dead. Right now, that was the only thing she knew for sure. She reached out and gripped the back of the small chair she always stored here. Her hand was still shaking uncontrollably from fear — and a desperate sense of urgency. She did her best to ignore it, slid the chair beneath the window, and climbed onto the seat.

Julia gripped the wall to help her balance as she teetered on her tiptoes and reached for the latch to unlock the window. It didn’t budge. She tried again, using even more force this time. Her hand slipped and the edge of her palm slid across an old, jagged nail — slicing a chunk out of the side. Blood was dripping from the side of her palm, but she had to try again. Finally, the latch released. Frantic now, she shoved the window open and gripped the wooden frame, pulling her body upwards with her hands as she scrambled up the wall with her feet.

She jumped and nearly lost her grip on the window when she heard the distinct sound of a gunshot. *What in the world was he shooting at?* She couldn’t stop to find out. She was running out of time. She shoved her body upward, braced her feet against the wall, and forcefully pushed her weight through the opening. Her body lunged forward, through the window, and she dropped to the ground with a loud thud. At the last second, she reached out just in time to catch herself with her hands. Unfortunately, her palms took all her weight, and now tiny rocks were embedded in her palms. Dry dirt mixed with the blood that was still sliding down her right arm. She was a mess, but she had to get away.

She scrambled forward and ducked behind the small tractor, desperately searching for a way to travel across the extensive field without being seen. If she could just reach the cornfield, she could disappear into the huge stalks. That’s when she smelled it — fire. She glanced back and realized Panelli must have doused the building with something before he lit the barn on fire. Smoke and flames filled the air. Julia slid out of the light jacket she was wearing and covered her face before she stood, then froze. She glanced over her shoulder and studied the barn, horrified at the thought of what would happen to the horses. She wanted to go back, needed to save the helpless animals, but if she did — he’d kill her. It was her life, or the life of the horses. Well, that wasn’t actually true. Once Panelli killed her, he’d let the horses die out of spite. Going back was futile and wouldn’t save anyone. The only thing that kept her moving was her powerful will to survive.

Julia was crying as she slipped between the tall stalks of corn and zigzagged her way through the symmetrical field. Once she reached the back fence, she scrambled over, rushed to the enormous irrigation ditch, and dropped inside. It was large enough she only had to crouch slightly to remain hidden. Once she was sure it was safe, she ran. Tears were streaming down her face. Sorrow, fear, desperation, and an overwhelming sense of grief consumed her. Her heart hurt, for the horses, for the life she had to leave behind; and mostly, for the family she would never see again.

They wouldn’t understand because they would never know the truth.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Fireman-MPSmith.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Firefighters-MPSmith.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Fire-MPSmith.jpg)

\*\*\*\*\*

“I hate arson cases,” Paige told Bannon in greeting. “You know how much I hate it when someone disrupts my crime scene. And those guys,” she pointed to the firefighters milling around, “they obliterated it.”

“True,” Bannon grinned. “But they saved the barn.”

“You call that saved?” Paige focused on the charred building. The front of the structure had extensive damage. She was pretty sure the only thing that saved it was the tin roof and the metal support beams that were now exposed.

“Sure.” He flung a pack over his shoulder. “It’s still standing, isn’t it?”

“Barely,” Paige followed.

They moved around to a side entrance. Once inside, Bannon pointed to a stall toward the back of the barn. “It looks like he’s the only fatality. Mr. Wilson, the property owner, was able to get the others out. They’re injured, but still alive.”

“Smoke inhalation?”

“You’d think so, but no. Gunshot to the head,” Bannon sighed.

“They shot one horse in the head and then caught the barn on fire? Why?” Paige glanced around the scorched barn. “Do you think the other horses, the ones that were injured but survived, were just collateral damage?”

“Maybe,” Bannon shrugged. “At this point, any theory we come up with is pure speculation.”

“There’s nothing here,” Paige sighed. “If there were any clues, putting out the fire erased them all. I’m done in here. I need to focus my attention outside.”

“I figured as much,” Bannon turned to leave. “I’ve ordered an autopsy on the horse. I want to know if he was shot before she started the fire or after.”

“She?” Paige stopped abruptly and turned to focus on Bannon. “You already have a suspect?”

“Sorry,” Bannon sighed. “I didn’t get to that, yet. The family is over there.” He pointed to a man and three children sitting off to the side of the house. The kids were crying, and the man was trying to comfort them.

“Looks like someone’s missing,” Paige observed.

“Julia Wilson,” Bannon agreed. “She’s the wife and mother.”

“Is she actually missing?” Paige wondered.

“Yep,” Bannon agreed. “Her husband, Tyler Wilson, said his wife was in the barn working with Condor. He thinks she was kidnapped.”

“Condor or the wife?” Paige headed toward the back of the barn.

“Condor is the dead horse,” Bannon explained. “And he’s a stallion worth about half a million.”

“Why does Mr. Wilson think Julia was kidnapped?” Paige rounded the corner. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s been back here.”

“No reason to,” Bannon followed. “The fire started up front. An accelerant was used but I haven’t identified it, yet. I have a theory, but I want to wait for the results — should be in by tomorrow. Response was quick, and the boys were able to contain it and neutralize it before it reached the back and took the entire structure down.”

Paige held up a hand to stop him. “Do you know if anyone came back here at all?”

“I can check, but I don’t believe so,” Bannon pulled out his phone and made a call.

“Ask about the father — Tyler, is it?” Paige crouched. “Ask him if he came back here today.”

Bannon disconnected. “That’s a negative — on both. What did you find?”

Paige straightened and glanced up at the open window. “Someone, probably Julia, escaped out that window. There’s blood, so I’m guessing she cut herself somehow — or she was shot.” Paige reached into her bag and pulled out an evidence marker. She placed it next to a footprint left in the soft dirt. Then, she moved forward and placed a second marker. “I have two different footprints. One is smaller, likely a woman. The second is larger, I’d guess around a size twelve. I’ll need to talk to the husband, check to see what size he is, but chances are high the man who left those prints also shot the horse and started the fire.”

“Or,” Bannon studied the ground as he moved closer, careful not to destroy any evidence. “There’s blood on the tractor,” he announced before he focused on Paige. “Julia could have had an accomplice. One of them shoots the horse, the other sets the fire, and she sneaks out the back, meets up with the guy, and they disappear through the cornfield.”

“Maybe.” Paige put a marker next to the tractor. “There’s also blood on that window. I’ll have the tech retrieve it. Heidi’s usually my first choice, but I think Noah might be better on this one.” She pulled out her phone and dialed Margie. Once she disconnected, she turned back to Bannon. “Before he arrives, I want to see where that window leads. Let’s go back inside and see if we can find it.”

“There was a locked room,” Bannon advised. “Initial team had to break it in. There’s nothing in there. It’s just a tack room. Some storage, but mostly saddles, lead ropes, bridals, that sort of thing.”

“It was locked from the inside?” Paige stepped back inside.

“Right,” Bannon considered. “You think Julia locked herself inside and tried to escape out the window?”

Paige stepped into the tiny room and glanced around. There was a chair positioned just below the window. She spotted a sliding lock on the bottom of the window and a nail just below it that was covered in blood. “Looks that way. I don’t know why she went out that window, but there’s no doubt that she did. Could be she set the fire and used that as an escape. Could be she was fleeing from someone else that started the fire. It’s too soon to tell.” Paige placed a marker on the seat of the chair.

“Was she abducted? Fleeing from someone? Or just staging the scene so she could escape her husband and run off with the stable boy?” Bannon wondered.

Paige stepped back outside and glanced around. “I need to take a walk. You want to join me? It’s not every day you get to meander through a corn maze.”

“I’ll join you,” Bannon decided. “I’m guessing that means you don’t know either?”

“Too soon to tell,” Paige shrugged. She began at the tractor and followed the signs into the maze. It was difficult, but she was able to track the footprints as they zigzagged through the field and emerged at the back of the property next to a ditch.

“Now what?” Bannon stopped next to her. “Do we follow the ditch or head back to the house?”

“Follow the ditch,” Paige decided. She stood on the bank and immediately spotted the footprints. They followed them south for several yards before the prints disappeared. There was clear evidence the woman had climbed the embankment and disappeared. She could have taken the gravel road that led east, followed the river south, or caught a ride out of town with Mr. size twelve. The trail had gone completely cold.

“There was only one set of prints,” Bannon observed. “Where’s the guy?”

“I don’t know,” Paige admitted. “Let’s head back, talk to Tyler Wilson, and see what he can tell us.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Stallion-MPSmith.jpg)

He couldn’t tell them much. He insisted his wife was kidnapped. According to him, there was no other explanation for her disappearance. They questioned him for nearly an hour but got next to nothing from him. He did have information on the horses and a plausible explanation for why Condor had been shot. He was their most valuable asset, a racehorse that injured his leg and had to be retired. They planned to breed him with one of the mares, Kisha, once she was ready. She was the daughter of a champion but didn’t inherit her father’s talent. They were hoping speed and agility skipped a generation; and, when mated to Condor, they’d produce another champion. Kisha was valuable, but only a fraction of what Condor was worth. The other horses were thoroughbreds, but unremarkable.

Paige wondered if Julia ran off with a new lover and shot Condor to ease her guilt. Could be she abandoned her family, but wanted to leave knowing they’d be provided for. Maybe she shot the horse, or she convinced her boyfriend to do it for her, before they fled. It was a theory, not a particularly good one, but a theory — which was all she currently had. She left Tyler Wilson and his family — frustrated, tired, and more than ready to call it a night and head home.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Sounds interesting.” Dax leaned back and took another sip of coffee. “What’s your next move?”

“I need to look into Julia Wilson,” Paige finished her eggs. “I want to know everything there is to know about her, starting with the day she was born.”

“Will you look into the recent past, or start at the beginning?” Dax wondered.

“Recent.” Paige picked up their plates and headed for the sink. “The first thing I want to know is if she had a boyfriend. Her husband said no, but I have to look — see if I can rule it out.”

“Would he know?” Dax stood and began clearing the rest of the table.

“I think he would,” Paige shrugged. “She’d be distant, increase her time away from home, spend more money, that sort of thing. Tyler Wilson insists none of that happened, but there’s evidence that proves there were two people at the crime scene.”

“Which leaves two options,” Dax nodded. “She left willingly, or she was forced.”

“That’s the first question I need to answer,” Paige decided. She turned, grabbed a dish towel, and dried her hands. “I need to head out, get an early start on this. I might be late getting home.”

“Yeah, I was going to talk to you about that,” Dax sighed. “It’s gonna be a late night for me as well. Don’t wait up. We hit a snag on that location we arranged for the upcoming course. I need to find another venue and get the details ironed out today, or we’ll have to reschedule the entire course. Once I resolve that problem, I still need to finish analyzing that mission plan and finalize my changes for Porter. It can’t wait. He’s meeting with the team first thing. I could probably swing an hour if you want to hook up for lunch.”

“Can’t,” Paige turned to face him. “If Julia was kidnapped, every minute counts. I’ll just grab something and eat at my desk. See you when I see you, I guess.”

Dax moved forward and gripped her waist. “Watch your six,” he leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss. “Love you.”

“Me too,” Paige was smiling as she walked out the door.

\*\*\*\*\*

Later that morning, Paige sat at her desk and stared out the window. Something didn’t add up, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. She needed answers, and the only person who might have them was Julia’s husband.

Fifteen minutes later, she was standing on Tyler Wilson’s front porch.

“Deputy Carter,” Tyler greeted. “Do you have news?”

“Not yet,” Paige put a supportive hand on his arm. “I was wondering if you have time to talk. I have a few additional questions.”

“Come in,” he stepped back and held the door for her.

Once they settled onto the couch, Paige began. “I guess I’d like to start this with a request. Would you be willing to show me some of Julia’s personal items?”

“Like what?” Tyler wondered.

“Nothing specific,” Paige admitted. “I’d like to see her personal space, see if she has photos of childhood friends, old boyfriends, high school activities, hobbies other than the horses, that sort of thing.”

“You still believe she left willingly,” Tyler accused. “You’re wasting time.”

“I’m investigating,” Paige corrected. “To do that, I need to get to know your wife, see her space, get into her head. Then, I might be able to determine if she left willingly or if she was abducted as you insist. If she was taken, I need to look for clues — to determine who might have taken her and why. I’m just asking for a few minutes in her space, that’s all.”

“Okay,” Tyler stood. “I’ll show you to her office.”

Tyler remained in the room for a few minutes but eventually left, leaving Paige alone to look through his wife’s keepsakes. Paige was grateful when he finally slipped out the door. She skimmed through an old photo album but quickly realized she wouldn’t find anything within its pages. Julia kept old photos, but only images that gave nothing away. There were several with a childhood friend, but nothing that would identify the location. There weren’t any photos in front of a school, a shopping center, or a park. None with road signs, businesses or landmarks. They were all generic pictures in a backyard or in front of a bush or a tree. At this point, tracking down the friend would be impossible. The same was true of her siblings. There were two — both were brothers.

She abandoned the album and moved to skim through Julia’s bookcase. The high school yearbook caught her attention immediately. After a quick glance at the door, she pulled it off the top shelf and skimmed through the individual photos. It didn’t take long to find the image of Julia. Her name was listed as Julia Morse. Paige studied the image, then set the book aside. She’d ask Tyler for permission to take it and study it closer back at the office. She pulled out an equestrian book and frowned when a postcard dropped to the floor. Paige placed the book back on the shelf and retrieved the card. It had an image of Old Faithful on the front. Paige flipped it over and read the text ‘Mom, I’m OK. D.’ What did that mean? She slid the card into the yearbook and headed for the door. There was nothing inside this room that would solve her mystery.

Once Paige got approval from Tyler to take the book, she slowly made her way back to the office. She was still thinking about Julia and that card when she pulled into her usual spot and shut down her car. She slammed the door shut, still wondering why Julia would write a cryptic note telling her mother she was okay — then never send it. When she glanced up, she spotted him. Sheriff Dusty Hawkins was in town. “What brings you to my humble home, sheriff?”

“I need to talk to you,” Dusty approached her. “You look good, by the way. Can I buy you lunch?”

“I’m busy,” Paige tried to move around him.

“It’s important,” Dusty moved forward to block her escape. “Just lunch. You listen to my dilemma and see if you can help me. If you say yes, I’ll owe you one. No? I climb back in my truck and head home.”

Paige studied him and sighed. “I can only give you an hour. I want pizza so meet me over at Main Street.”

“I’m not a local Paige. Where on Main Street?” Dusty asked, annoyed.

“Main Street Pizza,” Paige corrected. “Just follow me.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax stepped through the door and froze. He just stood there, staring at Paige — and the cowboy sheriff — not entirely sure what to think of the scene before him. It was a horrible kind of déjà vu — one he thought he left in his past.

“I’m not eating pineapple on my pizza this time,” Vato insisted. “We get at least one all meat pie or I’m ordering my own — and I’m not sharing.”

“What—” Zeus frowned when he spotted Paige. “I’m sure there’s a simple explanation.”

“I’ll meet you guys back at the office,” Dax held the keys out to Hawk.

“Maybe he’s a suspect,” Hawk offered.

“He’s the Juab County Sheriff.” Dax dropped the keys in Hawk’s palm and turned to leave.

“Nephi?” Wooly studied the man. “So, that’s Sheriff Dusty Hawkins. I have to say, the man doesn’t measure up to the hype.”

Hawk watched Dax exit the building and disappear on foot down the sidewalk. “What does that mean?”

“It means we’re going to make sure Paige knows we’re here.” Zeus walked purposefully across the room and settled in at the table across from Paige.

“The Cowboy Casanova,” Vato realized.

Hawk silently followed Zeus, but remained focused on the tall, lanky cowboy.

Paige glanced up and spotted the men. “Where’s Dax?” She glanced around but didn’t see him.

“He just left,” Hawk glared at Paige, making a silent accusation.

“Yeah,” Zeus settled further into his chair. “Guess he lost his appetite.”

Paige frowned. “Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Wooly pulled out a chair.

“I need to talk to him.” Paige stood, dropped some cash on the table then paused. “I’ll call you and let you know.” Then she headed for the door.

Once Paige was gone, Zeus stood. Hawk followed. They moved forward, blocking Dusty’s exit. “You’ll want to be careful, cowboy,” Zeus warned.

“I’d advise the same,” Dusty slid on his cowboy hat. “And you’re gonna want to move out of my way.”

Hawk crossed his arms over his chest, but didn’t say a word.

“It sounds like Paige is a friend — or at least an acquaintance,” Dusty stood his ground. “It would be a shame if I had to arrest you.”

“You could try,” Vato said casually from his seat. “You’d fail but go ahead — give it your best shot.”

“Everything okay here, boys?” Sadie placed a hand on Hawk’s arm. “You need me to call Jericho?”

“Naw,” Hawk never took his eyes off the sheriff. “He was just leaving.”

Sadie watched Dusty shove past the two large men and practically stomp to the door. Once he was gone, she turned to address Vato and Wooly. “You ready to order, or do you need another minute?”

“We’re ready,” Vato jumped in, eager to order and avoid pineapple and olives.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige studied the parking lot, but didn’t see Dax. She moved forward to glance up and down the sidewalk. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought she saw her husband walking briskly toward his office. She jumped into her car, determined to chase him down. Once she reached him, she rolled down the window and called his name, hoping to get his attention.

Dax heard Paige calling for him and glanced over, then immediately looked away. He was in no mood to deal with her right now.

Paige was fuming. First, her husband punished a poor kid because Dax had some irrational grudge against a man he’d only known for five minutes. Now he was ignoring her. She revved the engine, sped forward, then swerved to block the sidewalk.

Dax simply walked around her vehicle.

“We need to talk,” Paige insisted. “Get in, I’ll drive you back to the training center.”

“I’d rather walk,” Dax said over his shoulder and continued up the sidewalk.

Paige considered. She could just drive over to the office, wait for him, and force him to listen. Wouldn’t do any good, she decided. Not when he was this angry. And why was he angry? He was the one that punished an innocent guy. He denied a fellow cop an opportunity for advancement, just because he was holding onto some macho resentment over a stupid kiss. It was irrational and stupid. And, she realized, she was also too angry to have this conversation. They both needed to cool off before she confronted him. She shoved the car into reverse and sped away. She needed to get back to the office and work, anyway.

“Stupid, pigheaded, annoying, man,” Paige grumbled and pounded her hand on the steering wheel. She didn’t have time for this. She needed to find Julia. Which meant she had to put marital discourse aside and focus on the case. She’d deal with Dax when she got home. That’s when it hit her. Dax was working late. Dax was dealing with a crisis. Dax asked her to have lunch with him, and she told him she didn’t have time. Then, he headed off to lunch with his men and spotted her — having lunch with Dusty Hawkins. Apparently, she had some explaining to do, too. But that would have to wait. She had a woman to find.

\*\*\*\*\*

It was after nine when Paige pulled into her driveway. She was no closer to finding Julia, but she had a better picture of who the woman was. Sort of. She climbed from the vehicle and just stared at the empty house. So, Dax was still working. Maybe that was better. They could discuss the situation over breakfast, like rational adults. Maybe sleep and a little distance would give her clarity — and time to calm down. Because the longer she thought about what Dax did, the angrier she became. She understood the grudge against Dusty, but to punish one of his men just to get back at him — that was inexcusable.

She flipped on the light, re-locked the door, and headed upstairs. She needed to change, have an enormous glass of wine, and relax. Then, she’d do a little research into that yearbook. There was something she needed to check.

An hour later, she was sprawled out on the bed, documents scattered everywhere, an empty wine flute discarded on the nightstand. She zoomed into the image that currently filled her laptop screen and considered. She was right, she knew she was, but how could she prove it? Maybe she’d talk to Carmen in the morning. She glanced at the clock, nearly eleven and still no Dax. Frustrated and a little worried, she shut down the computer and shoved everything she’d found into her bag. Once the room was cleaned up, she stepped into the bathroom, washed her face and prepared for bed. Dax said he’d be late. He was working, that’s all. Nathan had a dangerous op in the works and Dax needed to get his assessment of the mission completed and sent back to the general before he came home. She climbed into bed, shut off the light and just stared at the ceiling. She was angry with Dax, but in her gut, she knew she was the one that made the bigger mistake.

\*\*\*\*\*

“You heading home soon?” Zeus leaned against the office door.

“Nope,” Dax stood and moved to study the digital screen on the wall more closely.

Zeus stepped forward and joined him. “There’s a hole here,” he pointed to a spot on the map. “And they could use another man here.”

“Yeah,” Dax considered. “I already mentioned that.”

“What has you worried?” Zeus continued to focus on the screen, wondering what he missed.

Dax sighed. “This,” he pointed to a shadow about fifty yards away from the target. “Satellite is grainy, and they were focused on this range. Whatever it is, it’s out of place, analyst thinks it’s just an abandoned shack.”

“That’s not a shack,” Zeus disagreed. “Look, here,” he pointed to a small object. “That’s a portable launcher. You’ve got hostiles at your back door. They need to position a team here to the rear while they advance. Otherwise, they’ll be sitting ducks and won’t know what hit them.”

“I agree,” Dax turned to his closest friend. “Go home. I got this.”

“And the rest?” Zeus wondered. “You can’t avoid her forever.”

“I’m not discussing that,” Dax decided.

“We both know there’s an explanation,” Zeus pressed. “Paige isn’t cheating. You have to know that?”

“Do I?” Dax settled back in his chair.

“You should,” Zeus moved forward and leaned against the corner of the desk facing Dax. “I know it feels the same, but Paige isn’t Piper. Catching her having lunch with another man doesn’t automatically mean illicit affair.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Dax shrugged. “It’s still a betrayal.”

“Explain exactly what you mean by that,” Zeus was starting to worry now.

“It doesn’t matter what her intentions were,” Dax stared at the map on the wall. “She knew what his were — and she lied.”

“What was the lie?”

“I told her I had to work late tonight,” Dax debated, how much to reveal? “I suggested we meet for lunch. She turned me down, said she couldn’t take the time because she’s working an urgent case and every minute counts.”

“So,” Zeus considered. “Either she lied to you this morning because she already had plans with the cowboy, or she made time for Dusty after she brushed you off. I get it, and I agree it was a betrayal. I don’t think it’s the crisis you’re making it, though.”

“One time, a hundred times,” Dax turned to his friend. “How many is too many?”

“And again,” Zeus pushed off the desk. “I’m going to remind you that Paige is not Piper Weber. Sure, she messed up. I get that, but I’m sure she had her reasons.”

“His motives play into this,” Dax added. “He came here to attempt an end-run, to use Paige to get to me, because we rejected his man.”

“I didn’t get that far,” Zeus admitted. “But yeah, he’s here to cause trouble. I’m wondering if you plan to let him.”

“We’re not changing our decision if that’s what you’re asking,” Dax shifted and slid the hard copy of the map in front of him. “Go home, it’s late and I have work.”

“When you finish,” Zeus moved to the door. “You need to go home. Don’t stay here and stew all night. Go home, get some sleep, and deal with the rest tomorrow.”

When Dax didn’t answer, Zeus remained in the doorway staring at his friend.

“Fine, I promise I’ll go home.”

“Better,” Zeus flashed him a smile and headed out.

Paige heard the crunching of gravel and glanced at the clock. Two o’clock in the morning. Was Dax working all this time or did he stay out later than necessary to make sure she was sleeping when he returned? She heard the front door close, and the noisy deadbolt click into place. Her body tense and she braced herself for another confrontation. But, instead of heading up the stairs, she heard his footsteps move across the hardwood floor. Then, she heard the soft thud of the guest room door. There wouldn’t be an argument because Dax wasn’t coming to bed.

Paige pulled the pillow closer to her body, it smelled like Dax. That normally comforted her when he was away, but not tonight. Tonight, it just made her sad. She was even more worried now than she’d been before. This was not like Dax. She was the one that got angry and combative. She confronted, accused and ranted until she vented her grievance and moved on. Dax was the stoic, solid, dependable Ranger. Dax was controlled and rational. Dax always forgave her, always accepted her apology, and moved forward — no matter what they were fighting about. Dax didn’t stay out late and sleep in the guest room.

She tossed and turned all night, amazed she’d gotten any sleep at all. The following morning, when she heard the door shut, she jumped out of bed and ran to the window just in time to see Dax’s truck backing out of the driveway.

\*\*\*\*\*

“So,” Bannon dropped into Paige’s visitor’s chair. “Are you any closer to solving the mystery?”

“Maybe,” Paige turned away from her computer to focus on the arson investigator. “Julia Wilson is hiding from something, or someone.” She retrieved the postcard and tossed it on the desk in front of Bannon. “I think she ran before. She disappeared and was deciding if it was safe to reach out to her family — probably to let them know she was still alive.”

“Or, it was a code to let her mother know she was leaving,” Bannon dropped the card back onto the desk. “Maybe she was escaping an abusive relationship and wanted her mom to know she was okay now, she left, and she’d see her soon.”

“There’s no sign there was ever abuse,” Paige disagreed. “Plus, there’s the yearbook. It’s a fake. A good one, but a fake.”

“The school’s a fake or the book is?”

“The book,” Paige pulled up the official yearbook the school had posted on their website and turned her monitor so Bannon could see the display. “Someone duplicated the entire book, added fake ‘good luck on your future’ messages, and deleted this photo,” she tapped the screen, “to add a phony one of Julia.”

Bannon grabbed the yearbook and began skimming through pages. “What makes you think these messages are fake?”

“The first thing that caught my attention was the lack of cards,” Paige explained. “You know, those pre-printed name cards that seniors order with their graduation announcements and then attach to the yearbook with some stupid message about how *it’s been fun* and *hope you make a million chasing your dreams.*”

“I can see you have fond memories of your high school days,” Bannon turned another page. “Okay, I get what you’re saying. This was her last year, so there should be at least a few of those cards. There’s not even one.”

“And the messages are strategically random,” Paige continued. “Plus, they’re all blue and black ink. Where’s the colorful notes? Where’s the girl that wrote in green to stand out — or pink, or purple? Where are the little hearts in the place of dotting an I, or the swirly design under the name to be creative and unique? There’s nothing unique about any of that. It’s certainly random but calculated.”

Bannon frowned. Now that she pointed it out, the messages were strategical and deliberate. “This must have cost a fortune to replicate.”

“If I’m right, it didn’t cost a dime.”

“Right about what?” Bannon looked up.

“I think Julia, or whatever her name is, went into hiding for some reason. But, you can’t hide unless you have a fake ID. Once she got one, she could move around freely but at some point, she realized she needed to shore things up. I think this is the work of a man the FBI calls The Ghost.”

“Because he floats in and out without being caught,” Bannon wondered.

“Because he haunts the Bureau but there’s no proof he really exists,” Paige corrected. “And, once I confirm this is his work, I don’t think we should waste time trying to track him. Better agents than me have already tried and failed. We focus on why our missing woman needed to disappear and try to figure out who she really was. Because if The Ghost is involved, she’s not Julia Wilson, or Julia Morse.”

“How did she find this Ghost?” Bannon wasn’t willing to let it drop.

“He probably found her,” Paige sat back. “That’s my theory, anyway. I think The Ghost has feelers out, and he glides in when he’s needed then glides back into the shadows. It’s the reason he’s never been caught or identified. There’s no connection to his clients. No previous knowledge or contact.”

“So,” Bannon grinned. “He’s a modern day, digital Robinhood?”

“Something like that,” Paige shrugged. “He doesn’t steal from the rich, but all the clients I know of, were desperate and struggling. I suspect he’s rich and — in his way — he’s helping those in need.”

“Then more like Batman,” Bannon sat back. “So, if we’re going to ignore Bruce Wayne, what’s our next move?”

“I need to talk to my computer expert,” Paige decided. “If she confirms I’m right, we focus on the incident and look for similar crimes. Maybe we can figure out who she’s running from.”

“The horse was dead before the fire started,” Bannon provided. “Autopsy was conclusive. There was no smoke in Condor’s lungs. We’ve analyzed various burn materials I collected at the scene and determined the accelerant used was jet fuel.”

“Jet fuel?” Paige frowned. “That’s expensive — and it’s our first good lead. Few people would have easy access to something like that. Can we check for similar crimes in the past?”

“I already have my people looking,” Bannon admitted. “I wanted to touch base with you this morning, but I need to get back. I have a couple contacts I want to tap and see if they’ve come across anything similar.”

“How about you go work your angles, I’ll start working mine,” Paige suggested. “Give me a call if you hit on anything, I’ll do the same.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Bannon stood and headed for the door.

Once he was gone, Paige dialed Carmen. When her favorite tech geek didn’t answer, she decided to just drive over and get a confirmation in person.

Paige sighed when she found herself driving into the parking lot of the training center. She pulled into a slot at the front of the building and just sat there, watching Dax work through the window. He looked tired. She continued to watch, debating with herself. Suddenly, he looked up and locked eyes with her. They both sat there for several tense seconds, watching each other. Paige realized he didn’t just look tired, he looked sad. *What was that about?* She was about to get out of the car when he abruptly stood and left the room.

She waited, thinking he’d come and talk to her. He didn’t. She continued to sit there for another ten minutes before she backed out of the lot and pulled onto the highway. She needed to talk to Carmen. Marital issues would have to wait.

“I’m busy,” Carmen said when she opened the door.

“Are you mad at me?” Paige asked, stepping into the house.

“Yes,” Carmen leaned against the wall. “Why are you here, Paige?”

“Why are you mad, Carmen?” Paige countered.

“I’m not willing to sit by quietly while you hurt that man again,” Carmen told her.

“You’ll need to explain that,” Paige glared at her friend.

“I don’t care why you had lunch with the man-whore,” Carmen pushed off the wall and dropped into her chair. “It wasn’t right, and you should have said no.”

“Man-whore?” Paige frowned. “I had lunch with a colleague.”

“I think you might actually believe that,” Carmen sighed. “I really am busy, Paige. There was a reason you came by. What do you need?”

Paige studied Carmen for several seconds then reached into her bag. She pulled out the yearbook and the other details she’d discovered. “I think my missing person is hiding and The Ghost fortified her new identity. I just need you to verify that I’m right.”

Carmen held out a hand for the documents. She studied them silently, then pivoted and started typing on her computer. Finally, she looked up. “It was The Ghost.” She held the documents back out to Paige.

“I resent your accusation,” Paige took the documents. “It was a professional lunch, nothing more. He wanted my help — to convince that stubborn husband of mine to back off. Did you know Dax has denied the applications of two Juab County deputies? They applied to attend a course from DMA, and because Dax is holding a grudge against Dusty Hawkins, he rejected them.”

“Is that the world according to the man-whore?” Carmen asked flatly. “Because I suspect, the other side of the story is a little different.”

“So, what’s the other side of the story?” Paige wondered.

“Ask Dax,” Carmen turned back to her computer and began to work.

Paige got the message. Carmen had shut down and no amount of coercion would get her to change her mind. She picked up the yearbook and let herself out.

\*\*\*\*\*

Ten minutes later, she was still sitting in Carmen’s driveway. How had her life become so messed up in such a short amount of time? She was still debating how to fix it when her phone rang. “Carter.”

“Bannon,” came the reply.

“You found something?” Paige grabbed a pad of paper and a pen.

“Maybe,” Bannon told her. “We found two arsons that have a similar MO. In both cases there was a shooting, followed by a fire.”

“And the jet fuel?” Paige pressed.

“Yep,” Bannon affirmed. “That’s how we stumbled onto them. Both cases are still open. Both are cold. The investigators tracked every lead they could, but they hit a wall and couldn’t get around it.”

“Can you send me the files?” Paige tossed the pad back onto the passenger seat. “I have a stop I need to make, then I’ll be back in the office. I want to study the cases myself.”

“I’ll have them sent over,” Bannon promised. “There are a couple things I want to look into myself. You want me to meet at your office first thing?”

“Sounds good,” Paige disconnected and backed out of the driveway. Moments later, she was stepping through the front door of the training center. She marched past Vato without acknowledging him and made her way to Dax’s office. He was back at his desk. She stepped inside and slammed the door behind her. “This has gone on long enough.”

Dax looked up, then refocused on the paperwork on his desk — clearly, his attempt at a dismissal.

“You’re acting like a petulant child,” she accused. “Shutting me out, staying at work all night to avoid me, sleeping in the guest room, then sneaking out first thing. I get it, you’re angry. But that’s your fault. If you’d given me ten minutes, I could have explained the lunch thing. It was nothing. Dusty cornered me at the office and needed my help. In fact, that lunch was your fault. I can’t believe you would be that petty and vindictive. Seriously, you’re denying two innocent cops a chance to attend your course out of spite? That incident happened years ago. Get over it already and do the right thing. Call Sergeant Hogan and tell him a spot just opened up. Let him attend the course, Dax. You know you’re being unfair.”

“No,” Dax glanced up. “Anything else?”

“No?” Paige moved closer and leaned over his desk. “You are actually going to punish that man for his bosses mistake?” When Dax didn’t answer, she kicked his desk. “That’s it? No explanation? No discussion — just, no?”

“I’m glad you understand,” he stood. “Now, I have work. Is there anything else?”

Paige just stared at him.

“I’ll take that as a no,” he turned and left the room.

Paige dropped into his chair and lowered her head to his desk. She sat there for several minutes before she sighed, stood, and ambled back to her car. When she arrived at the office, the files were already on her desk.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige,” Jericho called from his office. “Take a break. We’re going for a ride.”

“Where are we going?” Paige pulled the passenger door shut and waited for an answer.

Jericho silently pulled out of the lot. They continued to drive in silence for over a mile. Finally, he pulled over to the side of the road and shut down the vehicle. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“On the case?” Paige shifted in her seat. “Well, we have two similar, previous cases. Both have very few leads. Both are cold but match perfectly. I’m—”

“Not the case, Paige,” Jericho said, annoyed. “What’s going on with you?”

She proceeded to tell him how she was ambushed by Dusty, admitted Dax caught them finishing lunch, and all the rest. “He’s being so stubborn and rejecting those guys just because they work for Dusty isn’t right.”

“I agree,” Jericho studied Paige. “Which is why I suspect it wasn’t the reason for the rejection.”

“But Dusty said—”

“Paige,” Jericho cut her off. “Never start a sentence with ‘Dusty said,’ not with me. We’re going to have a different conversation, later, about the incident that occurred years ago. I’m going to expect an explanation for why you didn’t tell me about it back then. But that’s a problem for another day. Did Hawkins tell you the name of the guy that applied for one of DMA’s courses?”

“Um, ya…” Paige frowned. “Sergeant Reid Hogan.”

“Did it ever occur to you that the boys denied Hogan’s application because he didn’t qualify to attend the course?” Jericho studied her and knew immediately that possibility hadn’t occurred to her.

“You know Sgt. Hogan?”

“I know enough,” Jericho shook his head. “That man has his nose so far up Hawkins’ behind he can’t take a breath unless the good sheriff farts.”

“That’s descriptive,” Paige scowled. “And disgusting.”

“But true,” Jericho grinned. “What class did he apply for?”

“I don’t know,” Paige admitted.

“Tell me if I have this right,” Jericho raised an eyebrow. “You ditched your husband to have lunch with Sheriff Gigolo. A man that has a history of trying to come between you and Dax. Then, you took said gigolo’s word over your husbands, confronted Dax, accused him of being unethical without bothering to get the details or his side of the story, and then you demanded he change his mind and let someone — who may or may not qualify for a course — attend, anyway. And you did all of this because Sheriff Hawkins asked you to. Does that pretty much cover it?”

“Now you’re mad at me, too,” Paige sighed. “Everyone seems to be mad at me today.”

“In my world,” Jericho started the engine. “That’s what I call a clue.”

“Really?” Paige whispered. “I call it a coordinated attack.”

“Before we get back to the office,” Jericho pulled back onto the roadway. “Tell me about your case.”

Paige filled in all the details, explained her theory, then added Bannon’s theory.

“What’s your next move?” Jericho asked.

“I need to spend more time analyzing the old files,” Paige decided. “I think the clue to who is after Julia might be in one of them. If I can pin down who, I might be able to figure out why. If we can stop the killer and build a solid case, Julia will be safe. She can return to her family.”

“If she’s not involved,” Jericho warned.

“The more I look into this,” Paige stared out the window. “The more positive I am that Julia was running. I just need to figure out why.”

“She’ll need a new identity,” Jericho suggested. “We could look for known forgers in the area.”

“If she got The Ghost to clean things up, and I’m fairly confident he did, she has another identity. He always provides a backup. It’s an added layer, a failsafe, I guess. She has everything she needs to disappear and start a new life, documents that are ready to use if things got hot. We won’t find her that way.”

“You’re sure it’s not a witness protection situation,” Jericho asked hesitantly. The last time they looked into federal protection, he got a personal visit from Agent Gray.

“I checked,” Paige finally smiled. “Through official channels. There’s no record of Julia Wilson or Morse in their system. She’s hiding, but it’s not official.”

“Keep looking into the old cases,” Jericho decided. “In the meantime, I have an idea. I’ll let you know if anything comes of it.”

“Meaning?”

“I’ll let you know,” Jericho repeated. “Maybe you should take off early, go talk to that husband of yours, and see if you can clear the air.”

“I tried that,” Paige shook her head. “He’s not ready to talk. I’ll deal with it later tonight.”

Jericho parked the truck and, together, they stepped into the office.

\*\*\*\*\*

Three hours later, Paige was working through names on their second arson victim when everything clicked into place. The first victim was a bank manager at a branch in San Diego. Henry Pickett was divorced with two adult children at the time of his death. He told friends he was going sailing for the day and was discovered shot in the head on his yacht, or what was left of it after the fire was extinguished. His family insisted he didn’t have any enemies and couldn’t explain why someone would kill him.

The investigator thoroughly vetted every member of the family, every friend and everyone he worked with. Once they were all eliminated, he requested a list of Pickett’s clients. Nothing stood out at the time. Now, for Paige. there was one name — or more specifically a company — that connected the bank manager to the second victim.

Wyatt Healey was working for Manu-Gen as a security guard. He preferred the graveyard shift and had been employed with the company for years. One night, he left work, arrived home in the early morning hours and was shot in the head a few feet from his front door. The home was then set on fire and jet fuel was used as an accelerant. The only thing Paige could find that connected the two victims was Manu-Gen. Wyatt Healey was a guard, Henry Pickett the bank manager that oversaw their financial accounts. So how did Julia play into this?

She looked at her phone and considered her options. Nope, she’d just have to muddle through this one on her own. If she called Carmen, the spunky hacker would probably ignore her again. With a frustrated growl at the entire situation, Paige started digging through her own computer systems. When she didn’t find anything helpful, she tried the internet. She stared out the window and tried to decide what search would give her the results she needed. “Maybe I should start with the company,” Paige mumbled. She typed Manu-Gen and skimmed through the listings. One caught her attention.

It was a newspaper article. She clicked on it and began to read.

> *Dawn Morrison was last seen leaving Manu-Gens corporate office at five-twenty-six. It is generally believed; Dawn left the office and was on her way home. Witnesses who live at her apartment complex insist they saw Morrison pull into the parking garage around six-fifteen that evening. That’s where the story gets confusing. One tenant insists she sped away, out the back entrance, and was never seen again. He claims Morrison never got out of her vehicle. Another tenant insists she rode on the elevator with Ms. Morrison that night and Morrison exited on the third floor, just like she always did.*
> 
> *While police can’t confirm either account, one thing remains certain — Dawn Morrison is missing. Anyone with information should contact Detective Tim Elliott with the San Diego Police Department.*

Paige studied the attached image. There was no doubt, Julia Wilson’s real name was Dawn Morrison. And, she’d gone missing, after leaving her job at Manu-Gens nearly seven years ago. She looked up the phone number for San Diego PD and waited to be connected with a detective.

“Why is a deputy out of Utah asking about a missing person incident that happened years ago in California?” Tim Elliott asked in greeting.

“Glad your dispatcher filled you in,” Paige decided. “Saves me the time.” She proceeded to explain the situation and requested everything he had on Dawn Morrison and Manu-Gen.

“I looked at them,” Elliott considered. “Manu-Gen, that is. Didn’t connect the dead security guard to Morrison. No reason to. Wyatt died two, maybe three years before that girl vanished. We always assumed Healey caught a burglar or was into something he kept hidden. We had the arson and I’m sure it’s still open, but from what I heard the fire destroyed everything. What makes you think they’re connected?”

Paige told him the woman now known as Julia was missing and there was a fire that fit the same pattern as the fire that destroyed Wyatt Healey’s home.

“Jet fuel,” Elliott considered. “I never had heard that detail, but you know how it is. The investigator always holds something back. I don’t remember the bank manager, you said Pickett?”

“Yes,” Paige grabbed the report. “I have the details. Oceanside Police Department handled it. It looks like Mr. Pickett lived in Point Loma Heights, wherever that is.”

“Makes sense,” Elliott told her. “Point Loma’s an upscale neighborhood in San Diego. It’s basically your midpoint between the bank and Oceanside where he likely rented a slip for his yacht.”

“Okay,” Paige made a note. “That helps.”

“So,” Elliott considered. “You think all three cases connect and the common thread is Manu-Gen? Why? Adrian Rolando is loaded. Manu-Gen is a multi-million-dollar corporation. They’re on the cutting edge, experimenting with all that genetic stuff and DNA advancements. Why would he off an accountant, a security guard, and a bank manager?”

“I can’t answer that,” Paige admitted. “Not yet. Would you be willing to send me the report? On Dawn Morrison. Anything you have would be appreciated.”

“I can do that,” Elliott jotted down Paige’s email address. “I’ll want something in return.”

“Something more than closure?” Paige wondered.

“Naw,” Elliott grinned. “If you solve the case, let me know so I can close it out. This one has bothered me for years. That girl just vanished. I hope you’re right and you find your missing woman so we can let her family know she’s still alive.”

“You have my word,” Paige promised.

“It looks like you found something,” Jericho shut his office door and approached Paige’s desk. “Before you fill me in on the developments, I have reason to believe your missing woman is on her way to Durango, Colorado.”

“What?” Paige jumped to her feet. “How did you discover that?”

“I have contacts,” Jericho dropped the information on Paige’s desk. “I used one.”

“And this contact is reliable?” Paige pushed.

“My contact,” Jericho paused. “Let’s just call her Gina. She’s involved in a network of… volunteers, I guess you could say. They basically run an underground web of people that want to help women in need.”

“Domestic abuse victims that finally decide to run,” Paige had encountered similar groups a couple times when she worked for the FBI. “They provide a new identity, new location, new life. Sort of the civilian version of witness protection.”

“Exactly,” Jericho agreed. “It took a lot of convincing, but she finally told me Julia is on the run. She didn’t know much, but she did say a man by the name of Panelli fired a shot and set the barn on fire.”

“I haven’t come across that name,” Paige skimmed her notes. “Not on either of these cases.”

“You connected something,” Jericho realized. He listened while Paige explained the connections.

“Sounds like a solid lead,” Jericho agreed. “Brief Bannon. Call him on your way home and let him dig into Manu-Gen. All three cases are homicides, but they’ve been classified as arsons. Our fire belongs to Bannon. The missing person is our primary concern. I want you to head to Durango in the morning. Track down Julia and convince her to come home. We can protect her and if this Panelli guy is still in town, we’ll find him. Once he’s behind bars, the threat to Julia — or whatever she wants to be called — will be neutralized. If Bannon wants your help, I’ll give you the time to finish it out.”

“What if this Gina woman warns her and Julia has moved on by the time I get to Colorado?” Paige wondered.

“I have a promise from Gina she won’t interfere,” Jericho dismissed that. “She said Julia arrived tonight. She plans to stay in Durango for a week to ten days before she moves on. She needs the time to lie low and make sure nobody followed her. Take that husband of yours with you, spend the night in a hotel, and approach Julia the following morning. She’s not going anywhere and that will give me and the boys time to look for Panelli.”

Paige wanted to argue, but Jericho was right, so she just nodded in agreement. Her priority had to be tracking down Julia and convincing her to come home. Once she was back in Manti, she’d help Bannon bring down Manu-Gen. She gathered up her files and headed home. There were still a couple things she wanted to work on tonight. She disconnected with Bannon just before she pulled into her driveway. The house was dark again. Where was Dax? Frustrated, she shifted into reverse and headed for the training center.

The instant she pulled into the lot, she knew Dax wasn’t there. The center was completely dark. She continued across the empty lot and stopped in front of the large building. She left the engine running as she jumped out and tried the front door. Locked. She walked down the sidewalk and stopped in front of Dax’s window. His office was dark and empty.

Paige hopped back into her vehicle and instantly knew where she had to go next. If Carmen was angry, Zeus had to be furious with her, but she didn’t have a choice. “Where is he?” she demanded when Carmen answered the door.

“He’s not here,” Carmen answered.

“That’s not what I asked,” Paige pushed her way into the house. “Where is he?” she glared at Zeus.

“He needs some time to himself,” Zeus shrugged. “When he’s ready, I’m sure you’ll be the first to know.”

“Again,” Paige stood her ground. “Not what I asked.”

“I’ll be sure to tell him you stopped by,” Zeus offered.

“Look,” Paige took a step forward. “I know you think you’re helping. I get it. You’re protective of him. But, you don’t need to protect him from me.”

“I need to show you something,” Carmen cut in. “Follow me.”

Paige watched her friend walk out of the room. She focused on Zeus, sighed, then followed. She found Carmen sitting at the kitchen table with a folder in front of her.

“Take a seat,” Carmen motioned to a chair.

“If this is some kind of stall tactic,” Paige began.

“Just sit down and read,” Carmen insisted.

“Fine,” Paige dropped onto the chair and grabbed the folder. She flung it open and stared at the top page. It was an application to attend a DMA course. She took a closer look and read the name, Reid Hogan. She focused on Carmen. “Why are you showing this to me?”

“You told me Dax rejected that man because he’s holding a grudge,” Carmen shrugged. “I wanted you to review the application yourself and see if you can tell me why he was rejected. Pay special attention to the course he wanted to attend.”

Paige scowled and focused on the application. “He tried to get into an advanced course,” Paige mumbled, surprised. She continued to read. When she got to the questionnaire, her frown deepened. Finally, she looked up. “Where is Dax? I need to talk to him.”

“He’s at our house,” Zeus answered from the doorway. “Before you leave, I need a minute.”

Paige was about to object but she realized Zeus was serious. “Okay.”

“I have something I need to take care of,” Carmen stood and left the room.

Zeus settled into the chair Carmen just vacated. “I’m not sure how to start.”

“Just say it. Tell me what you need me to know,” Paige reached out and covered his hand with hers.

“I know you have an explanation for that lunch,” Zeus began. “I don’t need to know what it was. You love him.”

“I do,” Paige never took her eyes off his.

“He knows you love him,” Zeus assured her. “He’s confused, and he’s letting past betrayals cloud his judgement.”

“I hurt him,” Paige admitted. “I didn’t think — Hawkins ambushed me, and I mostly gave in to get rid of him.”

“Dax didn’t love Piper,” Zeus began. “I’m not sure he even liked her, but he was loyal to her. He always remained faithful. She didn’t. He suspected she was cheating but I don’t think he cared enough to look into it. Not really. Then, one day, we headed to our favorite café. We walked through the door and there she was, having dinner with her other boyfriend.”

Paige closed her eyes and finally understood what she’d done.

Zeus reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys and set them on the table. “He needs you. He thinks he needs to be alone, but that’s the last thing he needs.” Zeus stood and walked out of the room.

Paige snatched up the keys and rushed to her vehicle. She broke about a dozen traffic laws on her way, but she was finally standing on the front porch of Zeus and Carmen’s unfinished new home. After taking a long, deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. It was dark and smelled of saw dust and some kind of oil — must be from the power tools. She could also tell the framing was nearly complete. She started for the bedroom but pivoted when she saw movement.

Within seconds, she was slipping through the beautiful French doors that led to the rear deck. Dax was sitting on the unfinished platform, his body leaning against the wall, his head tipped back, and his eyes closed. He had a half empty bottle of beer in his hand. She glanced around and realized the other five full bottles were still in the cardboard carrier. At least he wasn’t drunk.

“I knew they wouldn’t be able to keep their promise,” Dax didn’t open his eyes.

“Then you shouldn’t have asked them to,” Paige settled in next to him. “I know you’re mad and you think this is the answer, but it’s not. I hurt you and I’m sorry.” She stared into the darkness. “Then, I think I hurt you again when I came to your office. Is this your way of punishing me?”

Now he did look at her. “It’s not a punishment.”

“I was wrong,” Paige reached out and took his hand, a little surprised that he didn’t pull away. “Dusty ambushed me. I was lost in my head, in the case, and he was just there, outside the office. He insisted he needed my help. I should have known he was up to something, but I honestly had no idea. I assumed it was a legitimate request from a colleague. It was knee-jerk. He was a fellow officer, and he was asking for my assistance. I joined him for lunch to get rid of him. I didn’t have time to do him a favor, to do anyone a favor. I wanted to find out what he wanted and send him on his way so I could get back to my case and find Julia. I’m sorry, I know how that must have felt. You asked me to spend some time with you over lunch and I said I didn’t have time. Then you walked in and there I was spending time with Sheriff Hawkins. That made it worse, I understand that, too.”

“He was using you and you let him.”

“I know,” Paige leaned her head against the back wall. “He lied to me. And because of what happened, I believed him. I think he knew I would. He knew he could use that against me — well, more to the point, against you. I know you would never punish one of his men because you held a grudge against him. Why would you even have a grudge? We ditched him in Nephi and never looked back. Still, I fell for it. I can’t tell you how sorry I am. I can’t even explain why I believed him without even talking to you.”

“I have to be able to trust you,” Dax began peeling the label from his bottle. “I thought I did.”

“I’m thinking your reaction was knee-jerk, just like mine. Déjà vu can do that to a person,” Paige bumped his shoulder. “Any chance I could have one of those?”

Dax passed her a bottle of beer. “Zee has a big mouth.”

“Zee was worried about you,” Paige corrected. “You know how I feel about Piper Weber. I haven’t even tried to hide the fact I don’t like her. I think a lot of that stems from your past relationship. Not all of it, but I can admit it plays. That’s why I understand your reaction, or at least I’m trying to. I don’t understand why you doubted me. I love you. I thought you knew that. I did marry you, after all. If that doesn’t prove your it for me, I don’t know what will. I know I get caught up sometimes, I focus on the work and take you for granted. But I thought you knew I loved you.”

Dax turned to her. “I do know. I guess I forgot for a minute, but I know. I’m sorry, too. Did I take you away from your case?”

“No,” Paige leaned against him and finally felt content when he wrapped an arm around her. “Jericho tracked down my missing woman. She’s in Durango. I need to head down and see if I can talk some sense into her. Any chance you can take a couple days off and join me?”

“To arrest her?” Dax was confused.

“No,” Paige settled in closer. “I missed this. I missed you.”

Dax kissed the top of her head. “I missed you, too. Can you tell me about your case? Catch me up on what I’ve missed.”

“Will you call Zee and thank him for the use of his amazing house but explain that you’re coming home,” Paige requested. “Then, tell him you’re heading out of town for a couple days and that annoying group of vagabonds you call friends will have to handle the business until you get back.”

“I could probably agree to a slightly altered version of that,” Dax smiled. “I seem to be all caught up at the office. I can probably swing a couple days off.” He stood and reached out his hand to help Paige up.

Paige let Dax pull her to her feet, but the instant she was standing, she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest.

Dax held her against him. They both just stood there and enjoyed the closeness for a little longer.

\*\*\*\*\*

“You sure about this?” Dax studied the modest home. The yard was enormous, but the house was unexceptional. “If your missing woman isn’t here, you might tip them off and she’ll disappear again.”

“I’m going to trust Jericho’s source,” Paige opened the door and stepped onto the concrete drive then made her way to the driver’s side of the car. “He seems to trust her, and she said Julia was hiding out here for a week or so until she was certain it was safe. She wouldn’t leave the house and risk exposure.”

“You want me to wait here?”

“No,” Paige opened his door. “I want you to join me inside.”

“That’s not how you normally do things,” Dax locked the car. “Why the change?”

“I want her to see us as a non-threatening, normal couple. If she just sees a cop, she might deflect, then bolt,” Paige explained.

Dax wrapped an arm around Paige and leaned in closer. “There’s nothing normal about you, baby. You’re extraordinary.”

“That makes two of us,” she reached out and rang the doorbell.

“Can I help you?” a middle-aged woman stood in the opening.

“My name is Paige, and this is my husband, Dax,” Paige introduced. “We need to speak with Julia Wilson.”

“I’m afraid you have the wrong home,” the woman began to close the door. “You may know her as Renee Davis.” Paige held out an envelope.

“What is that?” the woman hesitated.

Paige shrugged. “No idea. I didn’t open it. I believe it contains instructions from your handler.”

The woman narrowed her eyes and studied Paige for several seconds before she took the envelope and slid it open. She pulled out a small note and silently read the message. Once she finished, she glanced from Paige to Dax, then took a step back and invited them inside. “You’ll need to meet with her downstairs. She’s being cautious and we have a lot of windows.”

“I appreciate it,” Paige led the way, Dax followed still on alert.

They found Julia on the couch. She jumped in surprise when she saw them.

“It’s safe,” Paige moved forward. “You’re safe. My name is Deputy Carter. This is my husband, Dax. We’re from Utah, Julia. Your family is worried about you.”

Julie just silently stared. How did they find her? She’d been so careful.

“I know you’re scared, Julia,” Paige tried to sooth. “Do you want me to call you Julia, I know you’re changing it to Renee. Or, maybe we should go with your given name, Dawn.”

“How did you—” Julia swallowed hard.

“How did I figure it out?” Paige asked. “It wasn’t easy. I can help you, Julia. I can make sure you’re safe. I just need you to tell me why you’re running.”

“What do you know?” Julia asked.

“I believe many things, I know a few, and I need you to tell me your story so I can verify the facts,” Paige evaded.

“Where do you want me to start the story?” Julia asked, deflated and terrified.

“Is Manu-Gen involved?” Paige prompted.

“Yeah,” Julia sighed. “I guess that’s a good place to start. They hired me as an accountant at Manu-Gen’s corporate headquarters in San Diego. I worked there for nine months. They seemed happy with my work until I stumbled onto something I wasn’t supposed to see.”

“Can you tell me what?” Paige asked.

“It’s complicated,” Julia shrugged. “Basically, Manu-Gen was laundering money through an empty shell corporation called Pircee.”

“What is Pircee?”

“It doesn’t exist,” Julia explained. “They filed tax returns using bank accounts to off-shore financial institutions. The institutions are havens for secrecy and laundering. The company is a ruse, it’s not real except on paper to cover their illegal activities and make them look legitimate.”

“And you can prove that?” Paige wondered. “Can you remember specifics?”

“I don’t have to,” Julia admitted. “That’s why they’re trying to kill me. It’s the reason they caught me. I downloaded a copy — for protection. You know, in the movies, they always blame the accountant. I thought it would protect me, from them. I thought I was making sure they couldn’t use me as their fall guy.”

“Do you still have the copy?” Dax asked.

“It’s somewhere safe,” Julie said cryptically.

“Okay,” Paige decided they could get back to that. “So, you downloaded a copy of their books and they found out. Do you know how?”

“No,” Julie looked away. “I’m an accountant, not a computer whiz. I assumed they had some kind of trigger that would alert them if the wrong person accessed the file. I stumbled onto it by accident, but they know I took it.”

“Okay, then what happened?” Paige tried to keep her on track.

“I was on my way home when I realized I was being followed,” Julia continued. “I tried to evade, but I couldn’t lose him. I knew I couldn’t keep driving erratically, so I pulled into the parking garage of the mall and ran inside. Then, I hid in the bathroom for hours. I could see him, outside waiting. Eventually he left. Once I was sure it was safe, I called a cab, stopped at an ATM, and withdrew the max. I didn’t even go home. I made my way through California and was working at an obscure bowling alley in a small town. That’s when someone contacted me and said they wanted to help.”

“A hacker that cleaned up your background and gave you a new life?” Paige wondered.

“You know that, too?” Julia sighed. “I thought I was so careful.”

“We know him,” Paige corrected. “So, he cleaned up the fake identity you had and made it more solid?”

“No,” Julia shook her head. “I had no idea what I was doing. I just made up a name and started using it. This guy found me and said he could make it permanent. He gave me all the documents I would need and then gave me a backup just in case.”

“Renee Davis?” Paige asked.

“Yeah,” Julia pushed a tear from her face. “Now I can’t even use that one.”

“You don’t need it,” Paige assured her. “Your family needs you. You should go home, Julia.”

“He’ll just come back and kill me and my entire family,” Julia objected.

“We can protect you,” Paige insisted. “And, if you cooperate and give us those documents, I’m confident we can end this quickly.”

“And what about Marzio Panelli?” Julie pressed. “He’s Adrian’s fixer. He won’t stop just because you arrest his boss.”

“Is that who set the fire?” Dax asked.

“Uh-huh,” Julia confirmed. “He’s the only man Adrian Rolando trusts. He’s the guy that chased me when I left and he’s the guy that must have shot my horse and burned down my barn.”

“Did you actually see him?” Paige wondered. “Or did you just assume it was him?”

“I saw him,” Julia swallowed. “But Adrian has money. That kind of wealth buys powerful friends. He can’t be stopped.”

“You don’t know my cop,” Dax grinned. “She also has powerful friends.”

“You really think you can resolve this?” Julia asked — not convinced, but it was obvious she wanted to be.

“I can if you trust me,” Paige assured her. “Hold that thought,” Paige said when her phone rang. “I need to take this. Deputy Carter,” she said in greeting.

“How’s it going with our missing woman?” Jericho asked.

“I’m working on it,” Paige advised.

“Lovato and Bannon arrested Marzio Panelli,” Jericho advised. “He was still in possession of a firearm. Preliminary ballistic reports match the one that killed our horse.”

“He kept the same weapon?” Paige asked in amazement. “Do you think it was the same one he used in California?”

“I think that’s a very good possibility,” Jericho agreed. “He’s cocky and thinks he’s untouchable. He’s starting to discover he’s wrong.”

“Then we’ve got him,” Paige said in triumph. “He’s going away for good.”

“Tolman said it’s basically a slam dunk on the arson and the animal cruelty,” Jericho told her. “Oceanside and San Diego are eager for their turn. We’ll lock him up now and give them time to prepare their cases. Let the woman know she’s safe, it might help.”

“She has evidence that can be used against Adrian Rolando, Manu-Gen, and Pericee — a shell corporation the exists in name only.”

“Sounds like a job for the FBI,” Jericho decided. “Any suggestions? Normally we’d tap Sean Wilkens, but he’s still working undercover for that general of yours.”

“I’ll call Agent Sparrow,” Paige decided. “There’s nobody more qualified.”

“Sounds good,” Jericho agreed. “Get it started, finish up with Julia Wilson and get home. It’s time to put this one to rest.”

Paige disconnected, contacted Agent Sparrow and then returned to Julia.

“You have news?” Julia asked.

“Panelli has been arrested,” Paige informed her. “You need to go home to your family, Julia. You’re safe and they need you.”

“Adrian will just send someone else,” Julia insisted.

“I have a feeling he’s going to be a little too busy to bother with you,” Paige said cryptically.

“I don’t know what that means,” Julia complained.

“Look,” Paige said impatiently. “I can’t force you to return home. I will tell you; I know what it’s like to lose your mother too soon. I know how it feels not to have her in my life for the important occasions. You’re leaving your kids voluntarily. My mom didn’t have a choice. I can’t imagine how much worse that would feel, knowing your mom could be there, but she chose not to. You won’t be there for prom dates, high school graduations, or their weddings,” she locked eyes with Dax. “Your children will suffer if you’re not there. I’m telling you it’s safe to return home. We can keep you and your family safe. It’s your choice, but you need to make it now. Come back with us or live the rest of your life on the run.”

“What about Adrian Rolando?” Julia pushed.

“He’s now being investigated by the FBI,” Paige informed her. “They’re good. If what you’ve told me is true, they can bring him down without your help. Although, it would be easier with it. You should go home, work with Agent Sparrow and turn over the evidence you saved. It will help them build an air tight case against Rolando and his entire enterprise. While they investigate, arrest, and prosecute everyone involved, they will also protect you and your family.”

“You will be safe,” Dax added. “Trust her. I do. There’s nobody I trust more.” Now it was his turn to lock eyes with his wife.

“I haven’t trusted anyone for a long time,” Julia looked away and considered. “But I love my husband and my children are more important to me than anything in the world. I’ll take the risk because I’m tired of hiding. And the thought of never seeing them again is almost worse than death. I sincerely hope you can make good on those promises. When are you leaving?”

“How about now?” Dax asked.

“I need until tomorrow,” Julia insisted. “I — there’s another woman arriving tonight. I’m supposed to drop something off early tomorrow morning. This girl, she’s in danger. I understand what that’s like. I have something I need to give her. Something I can’t trust with anyone else. Gina asked me for this one favor, after everything she’s done for me, I have to follow through.”

“Is she staying here?” Paige demanded. “This girl that’s in danger?” Paige didn’t like it.

“No,” Julia shook her head. “She’s staying with another family. Gina said she’d get here late, sometime after midnight. I’m supposed to use a disguise, sneak away and drop an envelope into a mailbox.”

“If you’re mailing it, why can’t we just drop if off on our way out of town?” Dax wondered.

“It won’t be mailed,” Julia said, clearly frustrated. “There’s an abandoned house not far from here. I’m supposed to sneak away, put the envelope in the mailbox sometime around seven and the girl will sneak away from her temporary shelter and retrieve it. She’s not supposed to get it until at least seven-thirty. That protects us both.”

Paige realized that was the reason this organization was successful. “Do you feel safe here?”

“I’m willing to bet my life on it,” Julia said confidently. “I won’t leave until I make the delivery. She’s depending on me, and she can’t disappear without the package.”

“Okay, I’m going to trust you,” Paige decided. “We’ll come back, first thing. Be packed and ready to go by six-thirty. I’ll deliver the package for you. Do not sneak out and try to do that yourself. We’ll pick you up, you provide the address, and I’ll make the drop. Then we head back to Manti. Do not trust anyone. Not even the family upstairs. The less they know the safer it is for everyone. Tomorrow morning, thank them for opening their home to you and tell them you’ve changed your plans. Wait as long as you can. They know who we are so you can tell them you’re coming back with us, but leave it at that. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Julia nodded. “Adrian has money. Money that would tempt anyone. I’ll keep it to myself. Nobody will know anything has changed until you arrive in the morning to pick me up. It’s better that way. This organization, they’re used to secrecy. They won’t ask and I truly believe I’m safe here.”

“I think I agree,” Paige stood, she didn’t like it, but Julia was easy to read. She wouldn’t leave until she did her part to help this girl. Paige just hoped it wasn’t a trap. “Be ready to leave the instant we arrive. I don’t want to linger any longer than necessary.”

Once they were in the car Dax turned to address her. “You sure about this? It would be safer to leave immediately.”

“She won’t go,” Paige buckled her seatbelt. “If I insisted, she’d back out. This group helped her when she was desperate. She needs to contribute, to give something back before she gets her life back because she knows most of these women will never have the same chance I just offered her. I think she’ll be okay. If not, it was her choice. I can’t force her to do the right thing. She’s an adult and all I had was a missing person who is no longer missing. At this point, my case is technically over.”

“I guess,” Dax started the engine and pulled onto the rural road. “Guess that means we have an entire night to ourselves.”

“Guess so,” Paige grinned. “Any ideas on how we can pass the time?”

“Oh, I think I can keep you entertained.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Julia was waiting when they arrived. The drop was simple, which is why it was so effective. Dax parked up the road, Paige snuck around the back, ensured the coast was clear, and slid the envelope into the mailbox. The entire drop took less than ten minutes. They waited another ten to make sure nobody was watching then hit the road.

They arrived back at the office just after three that afternoon. Agent Sparrow was waiting.

“Oh, look,” Dax grinned. “The pirates in the building.”

“If I had a dollar —” Sparrow stood. “You must be Dawn Morrison.”

“I prefer Julia,” she shook his hand in greeting.

“I was told we could use the conference room,” Sparrow motioned to the door.

“Right,” Paige nodded.

“Do you need me to wait?” Dax wondered.

“Actually,” Sparrow put his hand out to stop Paige. “Julia, can you head in? I’ll join you in a minute.”

“Sure,” Julia walked away.

“You don’t need to stay,” Sparrow told Paige. “You had a long drive. I’m basically going to go rehash what she already told you — for the official record. Go home, enjoy a relaxing evening with your husband. I’m sure that’s pretty rare and there’s really no reason for you to be here. Once she gets her story documented, I want to see if she’ll give me those records she copied. When I’m finished, I’ve arranged for a safe house. Her family is already there, and they’re anxiously waiting to see her. I’ve got this, Paige. You brought me in for a reason, I’ll keep you posted as much as I can but turn it over and let me do my job. I also wanted to let you know, we’ve frozen all of Adrian Rolando’s accounts. He’s not happy. His attorney is fighting it. He won’t succeed, but I think we got his attention. My boss has already fielded calls from three congressional representatives, a Senator, and some guy that works for the State Department.”

“If you need anything,” Paige offered. “You know how to reach me. I have a few contacts of my own and I’m willing to contact them if this gets too hot.”

“I appreciate it,” Sparrow glanced at the conference room. “I need to get to this. Let the games begin.”

Paige laughed, headed into Jericho’s office, and filled him in on the status of the case.

“Sounds like it’s all tied up on our end,” he glanced at Dax standing in the doorway. “Take your bride home and pamper her. She’s earned it. Paige, I’ll see you in the morning.”

Once they were on the highway, heading home, Dax glanced at Paige. “Does it ever bother you?”

“What?”

“Turning over a case before it’s concluded,” Dax clarified.

“It used to,” she admitted. “Now, I get it. I did my part and now I’m tossing the baton. Sparrow will take down Rolando and his entire organization. He’s good, it’s the reason I brought him in. Julia is home with her family and Panelli will spend the rest of his miserable life behind bars. I call that a good day.”

“I meant what I said,” Dax turned serious. “I trust you more than anyone else in the world. I need you to know that. I had a momentary lapse, but I won’t make that mistake again.”

“I know,” she reached out and took his hand. They rode in silence the rest of the way back to their house. Once they parked, Dax exited, rounded the front of the vehicle and opened the door for Paige. He was about to retrieve the luggage from the back when Paige stopped him.

“It’s a nice night,” she took his hand. “Will you go for a walk with me?”

“I’d love to,” Dax pushed her against the car. “But first —” he leaned in and kissed her.

It wasn’t one of his off the charts, mind blowing kisses. This one was gentle and loving. This one spoke volumes. This kiss simply said — I love you. When he was done, he pressed another gentle kiss to her forehead, took her hand, and the two of them went for a quiet evening walk.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She’ll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PCS6-Feature-001.jpg)

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**Categories:** Blog Series S6

**Tags:** Season 6

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### [Malevolent Intent](https://melaniepsmith.com/malevolent-intent/)

**Published:** April 30, 2021
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Malevolent Intent (S6E1) Gage needs help at a sheep ranch when he discovers someone shot and killed several animals during the night. The team rushes against time to solve a mystery before it turns lethal.  The problem with Stan has to be put on hold until the case is resolved.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*MALEVOLENT INTENT\*\*\*****

Paige stepped through the door and settled into Jericho’s visitor’s chair.

 “Thanks Clark,” Jericho said flatly. “I understand. I have a meeting but give me a call if you uncover the answers.” He disconnected and focused on Paige.

“Don’t tell me he’s still looking into Harper,” Paige frowned.

“No,” Jericho sighed. “He finished that weeks ago. He’s digging into Stan Donaldson.”

“Did he find something?” Paige wondered. “I’ve turned over every rock there is, and I can’t find a single connection between Donaldson and Daniel Owens. Not even the tiniest link.”

“Not exactly,” Jericho frowned. “Stan has a juvenile record that’s been sealed. Clark’s having a hard time getting answers.”

“Do you want me to…” Paige began.

“No,” Jericho cut her off. “We do this right. Eventually, we’ll need to bring James in on this and everything we present to him has to be legit. Nothing can be in the gray — no hacking. Stan works for Tolman and he won’t be happy when he learns we didn’t come to him immediately. I don’t want anything to muddy the waters on this.”

“Right,” Paige considered. “How will Clark get answers?”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PaigeS6.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Malevolent-Intent.pdf)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/grazing-sheepMPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/sheep-in-a-meadow-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/sheep-MPS.jpg)

Jericho didn’t answer because there was a knock on the door. Margie poked her head in. “Sorry to interrupt but Gage called. He’s out at Warren Doyle’s place and he’s requesting help from Paige if she’s available.”

“What’s going on with Warren?” Jericho demanded.

“Someone shot a bunch of his sheep,” Margie advised.

“We’ll have to put that other issue on the back burner for now,” Jericho ordered. “I need to make a phone call, then I’ll meet you out at Warren’s farm. Get out there and see what you can do to help Gage find the person that did this.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige,” Gage greeted the instant she stepped from her vehicle.

“Tell me what you know,” Paige demanded. “Oh, and Jericho is on the way.”

“Why?” Gage wondered. “Never mind. Warren was awakened last night at around midnight to what he thought was gunfire. But, when he investigated, he didn’t find anything. He said, once he got up, the noise stopped. He went back to bed and woke to find a field full of dead sheep.”

“Can you take me to the scene?” Paige wondered.

“I was just about to take Gage up there when you arrived,” Warren advised.

They heard gravel crunching and looked up to see Jericho pulling into the driveway.

“Just in time,” Paige announced. “Mr. Doyle was about to escort us up to the field so we can evaluate the situation.”

“Warren,” Jericho approached and held out a hand. “Sorry about the trouble. I know the timing couldn’t be worse.”

Paige looked at Gage, but he just shrugged.

“What doesn’t kill you, right?” Warren sighed. “Guess my sheep can’t say the same. Let’s head up and deal with this so I can figure out the next step.”

Jericho held out a folded note. “I called a friend, he put me in touch with someone interested in getting out of the business. I talked to him, that’s his information,” he pointed to the paper. “He’s willing to work out a deal if you take his entire flock. He wants out. His wife just retired, and they’re ready to hang it up and do some traveling. He’s expecting your call.”

“Thanks,” Warren slipped the note into his pocket then motioned to his upper field.

The group made their way up a fairly substantial hill that led to a grazing area where Paige counted seven sheep that were obviously deceased. She surveyed the field and realized the rest of the flock, the live sheep, had seriously messed up her crime scene. “Is there any way to move the rest of those animals to another location?”

“Sure,” Warren glanced around. “I’ll get Molly. It should only take a minute.” He turned and headed back down the hill.

“Molly?” Paige asked Jericho.

“His herding dog,” Jericho answered absently as he moved forward to crouch next to the nearest carcass. Patches of white peeked out from the mud-stained wool. The entire left side was covered in reddish brown dirt. A stream of blood, that was now dried had caked into clumps, clung to the sheep’s coat. On the ground, next to the body was a large puddle of congealed blood.

“Entry wound is smaller than I expected,” Paige crouched next to her boss. “Will the dog clear my scene or destroy it?”

Jericho straightened and glanced around. “I think it’s already been destroyed. We’ll clear out the herd and see what we see. It’s all we can do at this point. Look for casings but if I had to guess, he used a .223.”

“I agree,” Paige also stood. When she looked up, she spotted Gage talking with Warren. The ranger now had a beautiful Border collie standing next to him. “Molly, I presume.”

Jericho nodded and left the field.

Paige followed.

Once the rest of the sheep were cleared from the area, Paige began her investigation. She moved from one sheep to the next taking pictures, measuring the wounds, and searching for clues. She was starting to get discouraged when she approached a sheep on the far edge of the property. She started to crouch, then frowned when she noticed something odd. She stood and began to walk the area.

“Did you find something?” Gage moved in next to her.

“I’m not sure,” Paige crouched and studied a small red spot on the ground approximately three feet from the carcass.

Gage studied the dead animal, then estimated the distance from the body to the small pool of blood and frowned. “There’s no trail, how did the blood get all the way over there?”

“I need my UV light,” Paige decided. “I’ll be right back,”

Jericho moved in next to Gage. “Where’s she going?”

Gage explained the anomaly to Jericho and waited to see if his boss had a theory.

Jericho carefully studied the body of the sheep, moved to the area where Paige found blood, then straightened and slowly surveyed the area. They were on the edge of the field where the grazing area connected with a forested section that ultimately led up the canyon. Several yards away, he spotted what looked like wallowed down grass below the trees. He took several steps in that direction, then paused when he noticed another small patch of blood. “Gage, see if Warren has something we can use to mark this area.”

“Will bailing wire work?” Warren called out. “I’ve got cutters handy, too.” He moved to an old tractor and began rummaging around underneath the seat. “And a roll of electrical tape.”

“That’ll do,” Jericho nodded.

Gage rushed over, retrieved the items, and made his way back to Jericho.

“Cut a piece of that wire, bend it over and then wrap the end with that tape,” Jericho instructed.

Once Gage had a section of wire prepared, Jericho took it and carefully slid the marker into the ground next to the first blood spot. He moved to the next one, the one he just located, and repeated the process. He had inserted four markers by the time Paige returned.

Paige jogged back to the field, spotted Jericho and Gage and slowly moved forward to see what they were marking. “This should make the process move quicker.” She flipped on the light and slowly ran it over the ground, following Jericho’s original trail toward the tree line. Within a matter of minutes, they were standing on the edge of the field where it turned to dry grass and trees.

“That wasn’t a sheep,” Gage observed. “What do you think it was?”

“A human,” Jericho turned and studied the field again.

“I agree,” Paige continued to focus on the ground where the grass and weeds were compacted. She spotted what looked like a footprint in the soft sand and reached for her camera.

“It’s small,” Gage observed. “Do you think it could be from a woman?”

“Or a girl — it’s too small for a man,” Paige snapped several photos. “Can you mark this, too? The way you did the blood. I want Heidi to get a cast of that shoe print.”

Gage slid the wire into the soil. “The boss looks a little baffled.”

Paige glanced at Jericho, then returned her attention to the soil. She was pretty sure they were all baffled. She spotted what could be another partial print and moved further into the trees to get a better look. That’s when she spotted something pink. She made her way, slowly and methodically, toward the object and realized it was a cellphone. She slid on a pair of gloves and carefully retrieved the phone, dropping it into an evidence bag.

“Amy?” Gage wondered. “Hey, Jericho. Can you ask Warren if he knows anyone named Amy?”

Jericho turned, spotted the phone and the large name printed across the back of the pink phone case and nodded. He moved back to the field where Warren was standing just a few feet away and off to the side. “My deputies found a phone with a bright pink case that says Amy on it. Does that mean anything to you?”

Warren frowned and furrowed his brow. “No. No, I don’t think I know anyone named Amy. What’s going on here, Jericho?”

“I’m not sure,” Jericho considered. He glanced to the side when Paige and Gage joined them. “Either someone was out here shooting at your sheep and one of the bullets hit a bystander, maybe an accomplice —”

“Or someone was out here shooting at a girl named Amy and your sheep got in the way,” Paige offered.

“You think somebody got shot — up here, in my field — last night?” Warren asked, horrified. “And I just went back to bed?”

“There was no way you could have known,” Jericho put hand on Warren’s shoulder. “Why don’t you head back up to the house? We’ll take things from here. You head back up and check on Sally. I’ll drop by the house when we’ve finished. Oh, and just so you know, I will be impounding some of the sheep.”

“Why?” Warren wondered. “I mean, that’s fine, but why?”

“I want to take any of the carcasses that don’t have an exit wound,” Jericho advised.

“You want to see if you can extract a bullet,” Warren nodded. “Alright,” he inhaled a deep breath, glanced around his field, and nodded. “I think I will head back to the house. Let me know when you’re done.”

Paige watched the distraught sheep owner walk away. “The phone has a passcode,” she told Jericho. “I’d like to call 911 and see what information comes across to Margie.”

“I’ll let her know,” Jericho sighed. “I’ll also have her contact Pete. Once we determine which sheep to take, he can transport them to the lab. Gage, while Paige deals with the phone, I’ll need you to figure out which animals have exit wounds and which don’t. I’ll be over there on the other side of the field. I believe the shots came from that direction.”

“On it,” Gage headed for the first body. “Maybe you’ll get lucky and find the casings.”

Jericho did get lucky. He found three casings that confirmed the shooter was using a semi-automatic rifle with .223 rounds. He searched the area thoroughly but didn’t find any other clues.

Gage located four sheep that didn’t have exit wounds. They impounded the bodies and he remained with them while they were transported to the lab for evaluation.

Jericho moved in next to Paige. “Any idea what happened to the girl?”

“Nope,” Paige sighed. “I’ve walked this area three times. Once she landed here, it’s like she disappeared. I followed that tiny game trail but there’s no sign of blood. I’ve searched for broken limbs, disturbed dirt, crushed grass — there’s no sign of anything out here. I’m starting to think the shooter caught up to his wounded victim and carried her out. I did find another shoe print. Over there,” Paige pointed to the side of the clearing. It’s obviously larger than these. I’m pretty sure it’s from a male and my rough guess is a size twelve.”

Jericho moved to study the shoe print. “I agree. We’ll cast that as well. I need to stop by the house before I leave. You hang out and wait for Heidi. Once she’s collected what we have, I think we’ve done all we can do out here. I’ll meet you back at the office.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was hunched over her desk, reading the data they’d dumped from the phone. There was a lot of data and she had to keep flipping back and forth to make sense of it all. To be honest, it was giving her a headache.

“What’s the status?” Jericho stepped from his office.

“The warrant came through, and I was able to get a full data dump on the phone,” Paige motioned to the large stack of papers on her desk. “Now, I just need to figure it out. We need a tech guy to decipher this nonsense. I know, it’s not in the budget. I’m just saying it would be helpful on a case like this. I’m muddling through, it’s just going to take time.”

Jericho settled into her visitor’s chair. “Anything unusual so far?”

Paige handed him the top page of the report and frowned. “The phone belongs to Amy Rhodes and I think she was being stalked.”

“Because?” Jericho wondered.

Paige dropped page after page onto her desk. “Look how many times that one number called.”

Jericho picked up the top page and skimmed through the listing. “Maybe it’s a boyfriend.”

“I don’t think so,” Paige continued to skim the records. “The calls are five seconds, ten seconds, eight seconds. Two seconds. There’s never a real conversation. Most of these show as missed calls and there are several dozen in a matter of minutes.”

“What about text messages?” Jericho wondered.

“Yeah,” Paige flipped through several more pages and stopped on the one that contained text messages. “This guy is definitely stalking her. Listen to this.  *Amy, answer the phone. You can’t hide from me.* And this one, *You’re mine, stop fighting this, we’re soulmates*. *We will be together*. *This is destiny, I will have you or nobody will.* He just keeps getting more and more creepy. Like this, *You are mine for eternity. Our fates are one, you are my destiny*. *Return my love, answer the phone. Answer me, Amy, or your ending will be a tragedy like Juliet.* I think that’s a threat. A reference to Romeo and Juliet.”

“Why didn’t she come to us?” Jericho dropped the documents onto the desk.

Paige continued to skim through the messages. “I want to talk to this friend. There are messages to another number. She sent things like *He’s out of control* or *He just won’t stop*. If we figure out who this number belongs to, they might be able to shed some light on what was happening in Amy’s life.”

“What do we know about this Amy Rhodes?” Jericho asked.

“I ran her name through the system,” Paige told him. “She’s nineteen. Her driver’s license shows an address in Redmond. Where is that?”

“South of here,” Jericho said absently. “On the way to Richfield. Sevier County, I believe. So, how did she get to Manti and end up in Warren’s field?”

“She’s nineteen,” Paige reminded him. “Maybe she was attending college.”

“Find out who that girlfriend is,” Jericho decided. “I want to talk to her.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“I called the office,” Paige advised Jericho. “They said Tammy Byrd should be in a creative writing class during this hour.”

“If she’s in class,” Jericho glanced around at the students and immediately felt old. They looked like they belonged in junior high, not on a college campus.

They entered a brick building and easily found the classroom. “You wait here, and I’ll go talk to the instructor,” Paige offered.

Jericho watched Paige make her way to the head of the classroom. She had a brief discussion with the instructor, then approached a young girl in the middle row on the left. He continued to watch as the two women made their way to the hallway.

“The instructor said we can use his office,” Paige informed Jericho. “It’s this one here on the right.”

“Is this about Amy?” Tammy demanded. “Is she okay?”

Paige shut the door and turned to address Tammy. “Can you tell us why you asked that?”

“She didn’t come home last night,” Tammy’s eyes began to water. She immediately reached up and brushed the tears away. “I notified campus security this morning. They took the information, but I know they thought it was nothing. The guy even told me I was overreacting and things like this happen all the time. He said she probably just had some fun and she’d be back in a day or two.”

“But you didn’t think so,” Jericho pushed.

“No,” Tammy answered vehemently. “Amy went to work; she wasn’t out having fun.”

“What do you think happened?” Paige asked.

“I think he took her, or he killed her,” Tammy whispered.

“Who?” Jericho asked.

“Dave,” Tammy sighed.

“Who is Dave?” Paige wondered. “Do you know his last name?”

“No, just Dave. That’s all I know. He’s this creepy guy that won’t leave her alone,” Tammy admitted. “We met him at a football game one night. He came and sat next to us and just started talking like we were old friends. Amy was nice, but we both thought it was weird. Then it started to get creepy.”

“Creepy how?” Paige asked.

“He was always there,” Tammy told them. “We’d go to the grocery store and he’d be there hanging out in one of the aisles. We’d go to a football game and he’d be there. Amy would leave work, and he’d be there. Then the calls started. In the beginning it was just once or twice a day. Then, they increased to twenty, then fifty. It got so ridiculous. If she didn’t answer, he’d send text after text. At first, they were just annoying and persistent. Mostly he asked her out to football games, concerts, and romantic dinners. Then, he started acting like they were dating, even though they’d never been on a single date. It was like he was living in this fantasy world where they were romantically involved.”

“Why didn’t she report it?” Paige was truly curious about that.

“She didn’t take it seriously,” Tammy sighed. “I told her to be careful and she’d just laugh it off. It did bother her once the texts became threatening and his calls became… inappropriate.”

“Inappropriate how?” Jericho asked.

“Um… Tammy glanced away, clearly embarrassed.

“Intimate?” Paige offered.

“Yeah, he started to get vulgar and — just gross. I urged her to at least report it, even if she didn’t pursue it. She said he was just a lovesick puppy and eventually he’d move on. She brushed all of it off as a desperate attempt to get her attention. I nicknamed him Gumby after that first night at the football game because he was tall and skinny and a little goofy. I came to regret that because it made him seem safe, like a sad and pitiful cartoon. I think that gave Amy the illusion he was harmless — and a little pathetic. I guess I thought so too — at first.”

“But?” Jericho asked.

“But after a while it got creepy and a little scary,” Tammy admitted. “I mean, he was always there. And the messages and texts became threatening — and just tacky and gross. There were so many of them. He’d say things like you’re mine and I’ll never let you leave me. The obsession was getting out of control.”

“So,” Paige considered. “When she didn’t come home last night, you got worried.”

“Yes,” Tammy agreed. “Um, can you tell me why you’re here? I mean, if you don’t know where she is, why did you come looking for me?”

“We located her phone,” Jericho wanted to see how Tammy would react to that.

“Where?” Tammy asked. “Amy never went anywhere without her phone. Where did you find it?”

“In a field,” Paige glanced at Jericho. “On the outskirts of Manti.”

“Dave didn’t live here,” Tammy sat up straighter. “I mean not here on campus. He didn’t live around here, in the student housing apartments like most of us that attend the college. I started to wonder if he even went to school here. I know he didn’t live close, though. He said something one time and I found it odd. What was it exactly?” Tammy closed her eyes for several seconds. “Something about a romantic evening at his place where they could watch the stars. Then he made a comment about how the stars were so much brighter from his back porch because he was surrounded by acres and acres of field. You know, so there weren’t any lights to interfere with the sky.”

“Did he give you any idea where this house was?” Jericho glanced at Paige and waited for the reply.

“No,” Tammy said slowly. “Not really. I got the impression it was close, though. Like somewhere in Manti or Ephraim even. Somewhere that made it easy for him to be here all the time, but out away from the lights and the noise.”

“Is there anything else you can think of that might help us?” Paige was pretty sure they’d gotten all they were going to from Tammy.

“I don’t —” Tammy frowned. “Wait. I think he drove a truck. He was pretty careful about that. We usually just saw him walking or standing and watching in that creepy way he had. But there was this one time, maybe two weeks ago, I drove Amy to work. She was starting to feel uncomfortable and didn’t want to go anywhere alone. I offered to drive her to work but I had an appointment, so I had to take her early. I pulled into the back lot and I swear I saw him. He was in a newer model Dodge truck. It was green… like, a dark forest green and it had one of those big bar things in the back.”

“Like a roll bar?” Jericho asked.

“Yes,” Tammy pointed at Jericho. “But instead of being silver like metal, it was painted all black. Plus, the bed was short, not the normal length like a regular truck.”

“You’re sure it was him driving?” Jericho pushed.

“Yes,” Tammy nodded. “Amy didn’t see him, and she insisted I was just imagining it, but it was him. The instant he saw me he sped away and squealed around the corner and out of sight. The next time I saw him, he kind of glared at me. Like he was warning me or something. I got the impression he was mad that I saw him. I don’t know why, he knew I saw him all the time — his obsession wasn’t a secret, not from me.”

“Anything else?” Paige asked. “Anything you think might help us find him?”

Tammy frowned but shook her head. “Do you think Amy is okay?”

“We hope so,” Jericho stood. “Thank you for your help, Tammy. We’ll let you get back to class.”

Tammy stood. “Will you tell me if you find something? And can I call you with questions?”

“Here’s my card,” Paige held out a business card. “One more thing, do you know where Amy worked?”

“Oh,” Tammy nodded. “She worked the night shift at Yakidel”

“Yakidel?” Paige frowned.

“It’s a café,” Jericho advised. “Sort of. It’s more like a college social club that serves bad food.”

“It’s not so bad,” Tammy disagreed. “It’s cheap and better than Top Romen seven nights a week.”

Jericho laughed. “The joys of college living.”

“We’ll be in touch,” Paige headed for the door.

\*\*\*\*\*

Jericho pulled into the parking lot of Yakidel. “I’ll find a manager, you mingle with the kids, see if anyone saw anything suspicious last night.”

“I never realized teenagers made you nervous,” Paige pushed open the door.

“Not nervous,” Jericho climbed from behind the wheel and joined Paige in front of his vehicle. “Old. Those kids make me feel old.”

Paige was still laughing as she pulled open the door and stepped inside. Jericho wasn’t kidding. The place was packed, and the noise level was off the charts. Yakidel was a social club on steroids.

Paige pulled up a photo of Amy on her phone and approached the nearest table. “Hey, I’m wondering if any of you know this girl.”

“Sure,” an attractive guy with dark hair and a killer smile nodded. “That’s Amy. She’s a waitress here but I’ve never seen her work the day shift. I mostly see her at night, why?”

Paige ignored the question. “Have you ever seen her with anyone?”

“Just her friend,” a blonde girl tentatively spoke up. “I think her name is Terri.”

“It’s Tammy,” a blonde guy corrected. “Why are you asking about Amy?”

“What about people that weren’t friends,” Paige pushed. “Did you ever see anyone bothering her?”

“Just that guy,” the dark haired guy frowned. “Did he do something?”

“Why would you ask that?” Paige wondered.

“Well,” he studied her for several seconds. “You’re a cop and you won’t answer our questions, but you want to know if someone was hassling Amy. It follows that something happened, and that guy was strange.”

“Can you explain what you mean by strange?”

“He was just always — there,” the blonde guy provided. “We come here a lot. It fits our budget, and we like to hang. We come here a lot, mostly at night. Amy’s cool and she’s sweet. We noticed when — uh, what was his name? Don, maybe.”

“Dave,” the brunette provided. “He made her uncomfortable.”

“And he was always here,” the blonde girl added. “He would just stare at Amy all night long. I told these guys it would freak me out if he did that to me. He’d just pick a booth and spend hours watching everything Amy did.”

“The manager finally busted him last week,” the brunette put in. “That Dave guy was sitting there for nearly three hours before the manager gave him the boot. I heard him say he needed the table.”

“How did he react?” Paige wondered.

The blonde guy shrugged. “He left, grumbled some but he left.”

“I saw him in the parking lot,” the girl added. “He was sitting up by the road in a dark truck, a Dodge, I think. They have those lights that look like a ram. I saw him, like he was waiting or something.”

“Do you remember when that was?” Paige glanced around the table. They were all shaking their heads.

“Last week,” the brunette finally shrugged. “Actually, I think it was more like two weeks ago.”

“Alright,” Paige slid her phone back in her pocket. “Thanks for your help.”

“Is she okay?” the girl asked.

“I hope so,” Paige moved to the next table to start another round of questioning.

\*\*\*\*\*

Jericho knocked on the side of the door and stepped inside. “I’m looking for the manager.”

“You found him,” a man in his early forties looked up. “Manager, owner, glutton for punishment at your service.”

Jericho moved forward. “Sheriff Jericho Walters,” he held out a hand.

“I know who you are,” the man stood and took Jericho’s offered hand. “Carson Yates. What can I do for you, sheriff?”

“I understand Amy Rhodes is an employee here,” Jericho pulled out a photo and set it on the desk.

“I don’t need the picture,” Carson settled back in his chair. “Amy’s one of my best waitresses. What happened?”

“We believe she’s missing,” Jericho settled into a chair. “We’re trying to locate her.”

“Have you talked to that Dave character?” Carson wondered. “They guy that’s been stalking her?”

“I find it interesting,” Jericho settled further into the chair. “People keep telling me a guy was stalking this young girl and harassing her. Yet, nobody bothered to call our office and report it.”

Carson frowned. “I told Amy to call you. She brushed it off. Said she could handle it. I’m her boss, not her father. I honored her wishes.”

“I noticed you have security cameras,” Jericho let that go. “Any chance I’ll see Dave if I watch the footage?”

“It’s doubtful,” Carson sighed. “I haven’t seen him since I gave him the boot. Told him he was welcome to stop in and grab lunch or dinner. He was even welcome to stay if he socialized like the rest of the crowd, but I didn’t want him harassing my employees. He hasn’t been back since.”

“Any chance he paid with a card?” Jericho wondered.

“I have no idea, why?” Carson studied the sheriff. “You don’t know who he is.”

“We’re working on it, but so far everyone just knows him as Dave,” Jericho admitted.

“I can help with that,” Carson opened a drawer and pulled out a file. He tossed it across the desk in front of Jericho. “I don’t know his name, but what I have in there should get you the answers you need.”

Jericho flipped open the file and stared at a forest green Dodge truck with a black roll bar. “Did this come from your security feed?” It was clear, not blurry like most still shots from a camera.

“No,” Carson ran his hand over his face. “I was concerned. He was always there, lurking in the shadows, watching Amy. It’s the reason I ordered him out. Amy was getting twitchy, and I didn’t like it. He came back, the next day. He parked across the street and just watched from there. There was nothing I could do about it. I don’t own the road.”

“And still, you didn’t call,” Jericho pointed out.

“And say what?” Carson demanded. “There’s a guy that I don’t like sitting on a public road across from my café, please make him go away. You know as well as I do, the dispatcher would have explained it’s a public road and he has a right to park there.”

“Probably,” Jericho admitted. “So, these photos?” He flipped over the first one to study the second. It was a clear shot of the back of the truck… and the license plate.

“I figured what’s good for the goose,” Carson shrugged. “It’s a private road. Dave hung out for a while. It was busy that day so I couldn’t say how long, but several hours. When I saw him climb from the truck and head up to the corner — to the gas station — I walked over. I took a few shots and filed them away — just in case.”

“In case what?” Jericho frowned. Everyone knew this young girl was in trouble, but nobody bothered to notify the police.

“In case you ever came calling — asking about Dave,” Carson shrugged.

Jericho stood. They could do this all day, but it would be futile. He couldn’t change the past. “Can I keep these?” He held out the file.

“Sure,” Dave stood. “There’s a pretty good one toward the back of the kids face. Dave’s face. Most of these kids are teens or early twenties. I pegged him at around thirty or so. He stuck out and that’s before you added in the obsession nonsense.”

“I appreciate your assistance,” Jericho reached for the door.

“I like Amy,” Carson stopped him. “She’s a good kid. I hope you find her and if… well, if she needs anything, will you let me know? I’d like to help if I can.”

Jericho held up the file. “You just did.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Gage returned to the office and found Jericho and Paige in the conference room going over paperwork. “Not that I mind boss,” he settled into one of the chairs. “But why are you working this case?”

“Any luck?” Jericho glanced up.

“Three were fragmented,” Gage pulled out an evidence bag. “One was usable.”

“That’s a miracle,” Paige focused on the bullet. “I figured we might get a partial at best. That’s completely intact.”

“Smaller caliber,” Jericho nodded. “Faster, but smaller. Chances were pretty good we’d get at least one.”

“What’s all this?” Gage snatched up the paper on the top of the stack.

“Information on David Patrick Watts,” Paige sat back. “He was stalking Amy.”

“Do we have enough to arrest him?” Gage set down the document and picked up another.

“Tolman just sent through the warrant,” Jericho advised. “I handled it because I knew you were busy.”

“Which brings me back to my original question,” Gage focused on his boss. “Why are you working this case?”

“Warren’s a friend,” Jericho admitted. “Not a close one, but we’ve known each other a long time. His wife has cancer. She’s in the middle of chemo and it seems to be working, but it’s hard on Warren and his son.”

“How old?” Paige set the document she’d been reading aside and focused on Jericho.

“Lance is twelve,” Jericho frowned. “Maybe thirteen. Young enough that he should be out enjoying his childhood. Instead, he’s helping to care for his mom and run the ranch. With all the medical bills, money is tight, and the last thing Warren needed was some obsessed maniac killing off his stock. I’m afraid he won’t be able to replace them. If he can’t, it could mean the difference in keeping the farm and foreclosure.”

Paige considered. She needed to get that name; the one Jericho passed to Warren. If she could find a way to do it without her boss knowing, Dax could make the man an offer he couldn’t resist. And she would need to do it anonymously.”

“Alright,” Gage nodded. “So, what do you need me to do now? If you have an arrest warrant, should we go knock on his front door and see if he answers?”

“We already did,” Paige admitted. “Margie gave us the information and we stopped on the way back to the office. The place looks vacant.”

“We did learn one thing,” Jericho added. “He lives two farms down from Warren Boyd.”

“Do you think he kidnapped her, took her to his home, and she escaped?” Gage considered. “If he recaptured her, they could be inside the house, maybe in the basement or something and just not answering the door.”

“His truck wasn’t there,” Paige shook her head. “I couldn’t begin to guess if Amy was in the house, but I don’t think Dave was.”

“We have an arrest warrant,” Gage focused on Jericho. “We have evidence he was stalking our missing person. Do we have enough probable cause to get a search warrant for his home?”

“I think so,” Jericho pulled out his phone. “With the stalking and the threats, then add in the shooting, it should be enough. Let’s see if Tolman agrees.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into Warren’s drive and approached the door. “I’m sorry to bother you,” she said when he finally opened. Sitting around waiting for the warrant was driving her crazy. She decided to do another run though the scene while they waited.

“It’s no bother,” Warren stepped onto the porch. “What can I do for your Deputy Carter?”

“It’s just Paige,” she sighed. “I was wondering if I could go back up to your field. I just want to walk the entire area again and make sure I didn’t miss anything.”

“I’ll drive you up,” Warren pulled the door shut. “I was going out anyway. We can use the tractor.” He led her to the side of the house where an old tractor was parked. He climbed in and waited for Paige to join him. “Hold on, it’s going to be a rough ride.”

Paige gripped a metal bar and thought about the lost sheep. If she could figure out a way to get the information Jericho gave him, Dax could contact the man that wanted to retire and make him an offer he couldn’t refuse. But, how to get the number? “Were you able to reach that man with the sheep?” Paige finally asked. “The one Jericho gave you?”

“No,” Warren parked the tractor, reached in his pocket, and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. “I’m glad you reminded me. I don’t want to lose this.” He reached under the seat and pulled out a clipboard. After clipping the small paper on top, he slid the clipboard back under the seat. “Go ahead and do whatever you need to do. If there’s a possibility I might get more sheep, I need to get those pens back there cleaned out.”

Paige started for the field. She pretended to study the ground as she waited for Warren to disappear into the long, thin building. The instant he was inside, she rushed back to the tractor, pulled out the clipboard and snapped a picture of the name and number scribbled inside. She glanced at the long, narrow building, satisfied herself Warren hadn’t seen her and headed back to the field. Once she reached the second sheep, she pulled out her phone. “Hey, I need a favor.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/old-tractor-in-the-alpine-meadows-AUT4395-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/old-tractor-in-the-alpine-meadows-G9KNLCS-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/sheep-MPS-2.jpg)

“Okay,” Dax drawled. “Hey, you guys keep it down. I can’t hear. What’s the favor?”

“I need you to buy some sheep,” Paige told him.

“Come again,” Dax frowned. “It sounded like you said you want sheep.”

“I don’t want sheep,” Paige grinned. “I want you to buy someone else some sheep.”

“You want me to buy sheep for who?” Dax sighed.

“I always knew that girl was too good for you, but seriously man — she’s leaving you for a sheep?” Zeus joked.

“Funny,” Dax flipped him off. “Explain what you’re asking.”

“Maybe you should put this on speaker,” Paige decided. “Uh, is this a private conversation between me and your men?”

“You want me to leave?” Dax flipped it to speaker.

“Of course not,” Paige rolled her eyes. “Is it just you guys?” she pressed.

“Yes,” Dax said impatiently. Paige wasn’t making any sense. “Explain what you’re asking.”

Paige proceeded to tell them about the shooting, the dead sheep, Warren’s wife and his financial problems. “Jericho talked to a guy who has a flock of sheep, but he’ll only sell them if Warren buys the entire flock. His wife retired and they want to travel. But if money is tight, he may not be able to afford the whole herd. Jericho says if he doesn’t replace the seven that were killed, the lost revenue could result in foreclosure on his farm.”

“So, you want us to take care of it,” Hawk said in understanding. “I’m game. We’d have to negotiate delivery into the price. I wouldn’t know how to herd sheep. Cats? I feel like I do that every day with these clowns, but sheep — not a clue.”

“That’s a good idea,” Paige agreed. “Have the guy deliver everything and tell him you want to remain anonymous. Convince him it’s a neighborly gift for a man that fell on more than his share of hard times. Then we won’t have to explain anything.”

“Text me the information,” Dax decided. “Hawk will take care of it.”

“Thanks,” Paige said, relieved. “By the way, I’m working late. I have no idea what time I’ll be home tonight. Don’t wait up.”

“I’ll talk to you later,” Dax considered. If they finished up here, he might have time to stop by the office and have a quick dinner with his wife.

“Later,” Paige disconnected and got to work. She moved toward the area where the wild grass was trampled but was stopped by her ringing phone. It was Gage, notifying her the warrant came through. She agreed to meet them at Dave’s house.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige reached the target before her colleagues. They were coming from the office; she was only a couple farms away. Once they pulled in, the group headed for Dave Watts front porch — warrant in hand. She was a little surprised Jericho brought Logan with them until he explained the deputy was there to transport the prisoner, while the rest of them conducted the search. Gage reached out and pounded on the door. When they didn’t get a response, he knocked again, waited a few seconds, and turned to Jericho. “You ready to kick it in?”

Before he could answer, the door swung open, and Dave emerged.

“David Watts?” Gage asked.

“Yeah, what’s this about?” Dave took a step back.

“You’re under arrest,” Gage reached out, grabbed Dave’s arm, and secured it behind his back. Once he was cuffed, he turned him over to Logan. “Read him his rights and transport him to the station.”

“On it,” Logan took control of the prisoner.

“What are they doing?” Dave demanded.

“They have a warrant to search your house,” Logan pulled open his back seat. “Where is your vehicle?”

“I don’t think I have to tell you that,” Dave decided.

“You don’t,” Logan climbed behind the wheel. “Doesn’t matter. We’ll find it.”

“What are you arresting me for?” Dave kicked the back seat.

“Stalking,” Logan pulled onto the highway. “And harassment, I think the DA also included deadly threats. There could be other charges as well. Depends on what they find once they execute that warrant.” Logan turned on his recorder and read David his Miranda warning.

“We’ve searched the entire house,” Paige descended the stairs that led to an unfinished basement. “There’s no sign of Amy Rhodes.”

Jericho held up a hand. “Thanks, James. Just send it over to Gage once you have it.” Once he hung up the phone, he turned to focus on Paige. “Tolman’s getting a warrant so we can take that rifle and test it. If ballistics match, we’ll charge him with animal cruelty for killing Warren’s sheep.”

“Logan called. The minute he read David his rights, he requested an attorney. That’s a dead end, we can’t get anything from him unless he changes his mind,” Paige advised. “We need to find Amy and there’s nothing here.”

“We need to find the truck,” Jericho glanced around. “Let’s head up.”

The trio stepped onto the front porch and stared in amazement when Lovato escorted a dark green Dodge truck into the driveway.

“Okay,” Paige called. “I’ll bite. Where did you find it?”

“This is Scott Taylor,” Lo introduced the man driving the truck. “He’s in the process of moving and borrowed Dave’s truck for the day. He doesn’t really know Dave, it’s just the friend of a friend. When I told him about the warrant, and the missing girl, he agreed to return the truck so we can go through it.”

“We appreciate it,” Jericho moved forward. “Sorry, I know losing the truck probably put you in a bind.”

“It’s fine,” Scott shrugged and glanced over his shoulder. “If that thing was involved in a crime, I don’t want anything to do with it. I had a friend rearrange things and he’s got a truck. In fact, that’s him. Can I just leave the keys with you?”

Paige held out a hand. “Good luck on the move,” She watched the man walk away, climb into a waiting truck, and disappear down the highway. “Lucky break. I want to get started on the truck. What’s the plan with your prisoner?”

“I had Logan transport him to the jail,” Jericho told her. “He’s not talking so he might as well get used to his new accommodations.”

Paige spent nearly two hours on the truck. She retrieved prints, found three strands of blonde hair, and gathered up some dirt particles from the floorboard. She finally shut and locked the door, then headed back to the office. She had just finished booking the keys into evidence when the front door opened, and Dax walked through. “What are you doing here?”

“You said you’re working late,” he dropped a bag onto her desk. “I brought dinner. You can explain your case while we eat.”

“Okay,” Dax considered. “You have the stalker in custody but he’s not talking. So, how will you find the missing girl? If she’s injured — and I agree she is — locating her is a priority, right?”

“Right,” Paige sighed. “I want to go back to Dave’s house. He’s only a few farms away from Warren’s place. I need to see if I can find any clues before it gets dark.”

“Then let’s go for a walk,” Dax dropped the remnants of dinner into the garbage and stood.

“You don’t need to stay,” Paige frowned. “Don’t you have super-secret course plans to develop?”

“Nope,” Dax stared at her. “Time’s wasting and a girl’s life might depend on you. We can stand around discussing my schedule, or we could head out and find your missing victim?”

\*\*\*\*\*

The instant Dax shut down the engine, Paige was out of the truck and walking around the back of the house. He found her slowly wandering every inch of the yard, looking for clues. Dax stood back and watched her work, partially because he didn’t want to get in her way. Also, because she fascinated him, and he was always intrigued how her mind worked. When she suddenly stopped, crouched to get a closer look at something, then headed toward the field — he decided to follow.

“This might be a long walk,” Paige glanced at him when he moved in next to her. “You sure you want to do this?”

“Sure,” Dax grinned. “I always wanted to be out standing in my field.”

Paige rolled her eyes. “This isn’t your field.”

“A field, my field — it’s all the same.” He reached out and took her hand.

When they finally reached Warren’s field, Paige stood on the edge of the property where Jericho found the casings. “He stopped here and started shooting.”

Dax glanced around. “Why? It would have been a lot easier to follow her across the field.”

Paige frowned. “Good question.”

“Walk me through it,” Dax requested. “Show me where each of the sheep dropped.”

“Alright,” Paige agreed. Once they reached the edge of the property where the forested area began, they stopped. “This is where I found Amy’s phone.”

Gage turned and focused on the field. “He was worried the owner might come out and catch him. I bet Warren knows this Dave guy. He was taking precautions, so he wasn’t seen. It’s the only reason he’d stop where he did. See that night light over there?”

“It’s not that bright,” Paige considered. “But it would have been at midnight. That’s when Warren said he heard the shots. He stepped out onto his patio, looked around, but he couldn’t see anything. Plus, the shooting stopped so he just went back to bed.”

“Exactly,” Dax nodded. “I know you already caught your shooter, but this is just more proof he’s familiar with the area. He was using that old barn as cover so the property owner didn’t see him.”

“Where did she go?” Paige sighed. “I thought he took her, but we searched his house. Gage even opened up the tiny access point and searched the rafters.”

Dax moved to the area where the ground was disturbed. He crouched and studied the soil and plants more closely, then he moved further into the trees. “This continues into the forest.”

“Right, but there’s no indication she went that way,” Paige insisted.

“Actually,” Dax continued further into the wilderness. “She did.”

“What are you seeing that I missed?” Paige demanded.

Dax crouched and motioned for Paige to join him. “You can see the ground right here has been disturbed.”

“Are you talking about that line right there?” Paige pointed to an indentation in the ground that was about an inch wide.

“Yeah,” Dax stood. “That was made from a shoe. She’s limping.”

“I have no idea how you know that,” Paige stood but continued to study the marking.

“What’s wrong?” Dax asked when he saw her face.

“Where’s the blood?” Paige glanced back and focused on the ground.

“I can’t be sure,” Dax moved further up a slight slope, paused, then veered to the left. “I think she must have wrapped it and applied a tourniquet.”

“With what?” Paige rushed to catch up. “She was walking home from work.”

“I couldn’t begin to guess,” Dax paused, carefully studied the ground, and moved forward a few more feet.

Paige stood back and watched her husband. She had no idea he was a human tracker. She should have — he was an army ranger. Of course, he could track the slightest clue better than a wolf on the hunt. She stopped to watch him work. Sometimes she forgot how amazing he was. She was meticulous and could normally find the tiniest clue. Even she had missed what Dax spotted almost immediately. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She didn’t like the fact she missed something Dax found.

“Stop pouting,” Dax laughed. “We need to head up this way. I don’t suppose you know if there’s any kind of shelter around here, do you?”

“No idea,” Paige caught up. “But I don’t think Amy would know, either. She’s not from around here. She grew up in Redmond, which is south and a little west towards Richfield. She moved to the area to attend Snow College.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cabin-on-field-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cabin-in-the-forest-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/meadow-with-side-view-of-cabin-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/wooden-cabin-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cabin-on-the-field-MPS.jpg)

They continued further up the mountain, occasionally stopping so Dax could read the invisible signs that only he could see. Finally, they crested a hill and emerged to find a large meadow — and a cabin.

“It looks like it’s been here for about a hundred years,” Paige brushed dirt from her pants. “How did she make it all the way out here. How did she even stumble onto this place?”

“Divine intervention?” Dax took her hand and started across the meadow.

The instant they reached the front porch, Paige saw clear evidence someone had recently been here. If she had to guess, Amy collapsed onto the porch the instant she arrived. The patio was covered in dirt and leaves, leaving a large smudge mark just above the steps. There was also a pot to the left of the door that was knocked onto its side, dark potting soil littered the area indicating the spill was recent.

Dax reached out and tried the door. “Locked.”

“We’re going in anyway,” Paige decided. “Let me walk around the back and see if there’s another way in.”

“I’m shocked,” Dax grinned. “I thought you needed a warrant for that. Has my rule abiding wife finally gone rogue?”

“Ever heard of exigent circumstances?” Paige tried a window on the side of the cabin, then continued around back.

“Sure,” Dax moved to a window, pulled off the screen, and smiled. “I can get you into this window if you want. Oh, and exigent circumstances — story of my life. Me and the boys basically wrote the book on that concept. It was standard operating procedure in my world. Well, technically, it still is. But these days, the General handles the explanations. That man can justify anything.”

“Uh-huh,” Paige studied the window. “Can you get it opened without breaking it? I need to secure the cabin once we leave.”

“Of course,” Dax moved forward and within seconds had the window popped out.

“It’s terrifying that you can do that,” Paige glanced around to find something to stand on. “It’s even more terrifying that it took less than a minute to do it.”

“Plenty of practice,” Dax linked his fingers and held out his hands. “Step in.”

“I’ll open that side door and let you in,” Paige slid her right foot into his palm. Once she climbed through, she dropped inside, then silently made her way to the door to let Dax inside. They slowly made their way through the small cabin. They found Amy passed out — or deceased — on an old couch in the front living area.

Dax moved forward, checked for a pulse and was relieved to find one. “We need an ambulance.”

Paige pulled out her phone and called for medical. As soon as she hung up, she dialed Jericho. When she turned back around, she saw Dax was checking Amy’s wound. It was obvious she’d been shot in the leg. Paige also realized Dax was right, Amy had wrapped a fabric belt around her thigh as a tourniquet. She also had what looked like a silk scarf wrapped around her wound. It was hard to tell because the cloth was completely soaked in blood. She must have stopped to care for the wound on the edge of Warren’s property before she escaped into the wilderness. *Smart girl*.

“I’d say she knew she had to escape and was running toward the wilderness,” Dax stood. “Once she was shot, she cared for the wound the best way she could. Then, she carefully made her way through the forest. I think she was being careful not to leave a trace the shooter could follow. That’s why you didn’t see any sign of her leaving.”

“Hopefully, she can tell us herself.” Paige stopped because she heard a vehicle pull up the barely discernible dirt road. She stepped onto the front porch and spotted Jericho’s truck followed by Gage. “How in the world did you guys find us?”

“I have a stretcher in the back,” Jericho stepped from the vehicle and ignored the question. “The ambulance couldn’t get down that road.”

Paige watched two men exit Gage’s vehicle, move to Jericho’s truck, and retrieve the stretcher.

“Can you take the medics inside and show them where Amy is?” Jericho glanced around. “How did she find this cabin in the middle of the night, with a gunshot wound?”

“I asked the same thing,” Paige waited for the medics to step onto the porch. “Dax says it was a miracle,” she called over her shoulder before she led the medics inside.

“I have to agree with that husband of yours,” Jericho murmered. He watched Dax appear in the doorway and settle onto the top step. Jericho moved forward and joined him. “Rough night. Thanks for your help. Paige said you’re the one that found the trail. I guess you’re pretty adept at tracking.”

“I guess,” Dax shrugged. “She’s barely alive,” he admitted. “She has a pulse but it’s weak. She might not make it.”

“And you’re worried about Paige?” Jericho realized.

“She’s blaming herself,” Dax admitted. “She’s upset that she didn’t see the signs and follow the trail hours ago.”

“She’ll get over it,” Jericho stood to clear the path for the medics.

“I’ll transport them down to the truck,” Gage advised Jericho. “Paige said she’s going to stay and gather evidence, then she’ll head out for the night. I don’t know what she thinks she’ll find. It looks like the girl stumbled through the door, locked it behind her and dropped onto the couch.”

Jericho glanced at his watch. It was nearly ten o’clock. By his calculations, Paige had been on duty for nearly fifteen hours now. It was time for her to go home. “Dax, go get your wife and take her home. She saved the girl, we arrested the bad guy, and once Amy wakes up, her statement will tie things up nice and tight. She’s done enough.”

Dax agreed. He moved inside, had a heated discussion with Paige, threatened to remove her by force if she didn’t come willing, and grinned but followed when she stomped outside.

Jericho laughed. “Didn’t mean to land you in the doghouse.”

“Like you said,” Dax glanced at Paige. “She’ll get over it.” He reached out and took Paige’s hand. She tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go. “Goodnight, Jericho. My wife and I need a peaceful, relaxing walk through the woods.”

Jericho watched the couple make their way across the meadow and disappear into the darkness. He smiled. Paige couldn’t have found a better partner. They were perfect for each other. He moved to the front door, pulled it shut and locked it. Once he was sure the place was secure, he slid the key they found still gripped in Amy’s right hand into his pocket and headed for his vehicle. He’d have Margie research the cabin in the morning. Once they located the current owners, he’d explain what happened and let them know he had their key.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige groaned and rolled over when Dax settled onto the edge of the bed.

He set a cup of coffee on the nightstand and pressed a gentle kiss to her temple. “I have to get to the center. An issue came up last night, and I need to iron it out before the clients arrive. Have your coffee. I’ll leave the pot on when I leave.”

Paige sat up, knowing he was behind, and it was her fault. He helped her instead of working on a pressing problem of his own. “Sorry. I know you set your stuff aside to help me last night. I appreciate it,” she raised her arms in the air and stretched, yawned, and glanced at the clock. It wasn’t even six o’clock. The problem must be serious. “I’m not sure we would have found Amy in time if you hadn’t helped. And I’m sorry for the rest. I was tired and grumpy, and I guess you were handy.”

“You made it up to me once we got home,” Dax leaned in and gave her a kiss. “I love you, babe. See you tonight.”

“Love you, too. Is there anything I can do to help resolve that unexpected issue? The one that has you running off before the sun has even come up?”

“No,” Dax stood. “We’ve got it under control. Anyway, you need to head over to the hospital and talk to Amy this morning.”

“Is that your way of telling me to get my butt out of bed?” Paige threw off the covers, swung her legs over the side of the bed, and reached for the steaming cup of coffee Dax left her.

“If the shoe fits,” Dax called over his shoulder as he left the room.

\*\*\*\*\*

Two hours later, Paige pulled into the parking lot of the hospital. She was supposed to meet Gage inside, but she didn’t see his vehicle. She approached the front desk, got Amy’s room number; and, when she turned, nearly collided with Gage. “Hey, we need to head up to the third floor and check in with the nurses station.”

They rode to the third floor in silence. Once they stepped out into the empty hall, Gage sighed. “I waited until I could talk to a doctor last night. They said they were taking her into surgery, but she was lucky. The bullet hit a tendon but missed her main artery and they didn’t think it hit a nerve.”

“Let’s go see if she’s awake,” Paige pushed open the door and stepped into the private room.

“Amy,” Gage followed Paige inside. “I’m Deputy Clayton and this is Deputy Carter. Do you think you could answer some questions?”

“Okay,” Amy fumbled with the controls on the side of the bed until upper portion raised slightly, helping her sit. “I assume you want to know who did this.”

“We already know,” Paige pulled a chair up next to the bed. Gage settled into the chair on the other side. “We arrested David Watts yesterday.”

Amy closed her eyes in relief. She inhaled three deep breathes then opened her eyes, blinked away the tears, then focused on Paige. “Thank you.”

“Can you walk us through what happened?” Gage asked. “I mean, we know he’s been stalking you. We talked to your roommate and your manager at the café. We’d like to hear about the situation from you, though.”

“Just start at the beginning and run us through the best that you can,” Paige added. “Take your time. I know this is difficult, but we need as much information as we can get.”

“I met Dave at a football game,” Amy began. She walked them through the initial meeting. It was basically the same story Tammy told them. “I honestly didn’t think I’d see him again. We didn’t exchange numbers or anything. I wasn’t interested, not at all. So, when he showed up at my work the following week, I was surprised. I told myself it was a coincidence. I mean, a lot of the students hang out there, and it’s a popular place to socialize. Then he showed up again, then again. It started to make me uncomfortable, but it wasn’t unusual. I mean, a lot of the students habitually hang out at Yakidel. There are some groups I see every night.”

“So, what made you uncomfortable?” Gage wondered.

“He would show up, order something, then just sit there watching me for hours,” Amy shuddered. “It was creepy. Then, he started calling. I have no idea how he got my number. At first, he would just ask me out. He’d call one day, then wait a day or two and call again. Before long, it was every day. I finally told him not to call me again. That’s when the calls turned creepy. Sometimes, he’d just call and breath into the phone. You know, like the strange heavy breathing they always do in the movies. I knew it was him, I mean seriously, my cell has caller ID. He kept doing that, but then he started saying all these intimate, erotic things. He would tell me what he wanted to do to me on our date. I told him I wasn’t going to date him. I tried to explain I wasn’t interested, it didn’t matter. He wouldn’t stop. If I didn’t answer, he’d call like fifty times.”

“Why didn’t you report him?” Paige wondered.

“I don’t know,” Amy looked away. “Now I know I should have. I just thought he was this tall, skinny, geeky guy that didn’t know how to interact with girls. He seemed awkward and uncomfortable in social settings. I guess I felt sorry for him. Plus, I really didn’t think he was a threat.”

“And when he started sending threatening texts?” Gage wondered.

“I didn’t believe him,” Amy swallowed hard. “I should have. I know that now, but I thought he was just trying to get my attention.”

“Can you walk us through the night of the shooting?” Paige asked.

“I went to work,” Amy focused on the window. “Um, my boss basically kicked him out of the café about two weeks ago. He told him to leave, and he could only come back to eat, but if he lingered, Carson told Dave he’d ban him permanently. Dave never came back after that. I was actually starting to think the problem was solved.”

“He did come back,” Paige notified her. “He watched you from his truck across the street.”

“Tammy thought she saw him, but I didn’t want to believe her,” Amy focused on Paige. “I know I was stupid. I know I was just in denial and it’s embarrassing now that I look back on everything, but I just —”

“You were living on your own for the first time, and you didn’t want to believe the situation was as serious as it was,” Paige offered.

“Yeah,” Amy shifted and nodded. “Anyway, I thought he stopped coming to the café. I felt safe, so I wasn’t paying attention like I should have. I closed up and started to walk home. Before I even knew he was there, he pulled in behind me, grabbed me from behind and zip tied my hands behind my back. I took a couple steps, thinking I could run, but he just grabbed the ties and pulled them upwards and used his other hand to cover my mouth. I couldn’t get away, it hurt too much. I couldn’t scream, I had to do what he wanted. He lifted me into the truck and seat belted me in. I fought, but there was nobody around to help. He took me to his house and forced me into the basement. I was terrified. I knew he was going to do all those things he told me he would do on the phone. Instead, he just left me there and went upstairs. I knew he’s come back and I had to escape.”

“We searched his house and didn’t see any evidence you were there,” Paige frowned.

“The basement is unfinished,” Amy told her. “He used a huge zip tie and secured me to the wall. I was in that large open area and attached to a board, part of the unfinished framing.”

“How did you escape?” Gage wondered. Clearly, she had, that’s why he shot her and Warren’s sheep.

“I watched a show once where someone cut through duct tape with a nail,” Amy continued. “I kept scraping my wrist on a nail that was sticking out of the two by four. I thought it was worth trying and eventually it worked, I was able to break the plastic tie. It took forever but I was finally free. Then, I had to wait until I was sure it was safe to escape. Everything was so quiet, I thought he went to bed. That’s when I ran up the stairs, threw open the back door, and ran. He must have heard me, because he came out onto the back porch and started yelling at me. He was threatening to kill me if I didn’t come back. I hid behind an old rusted out truck, terrified he was going to find me. Instead, he went back into the house; so, I ran. I knew he wasn’t giving up, but I was shocked when he came back with a rifle and ran after me. I had a head start and I aimed for the wilderness. We were out in the middle of nowhere and it was the middle of the night. There was nowhere to hide so I just kept running, and he followed me. When I reached the field with the sheep, I tried to use them for cover.” Tears began running down her face.

“It’s not your fault,” Paige assured her.

“Those poor sheep died because of me,” Amy sniffled. “I am so sorry. I didn’t believe he would actually shoot at me. He shot the first sheep and I panicked. I moved toward another one, slowly making my way to the trees. I was darting between sheep, trying to get away, trying to find a place to hide. I don’t even know how many he killed.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Gage assured her. “It wasn’t your fault. You did what anyone would have done in that situation. Tell me what happened next.”

“I was almost out of that field when he hit me,” Amy sighed. “I could barely walk, it hurt so much. My leg stung and it felt like it was on fire; but I knew if I didn’t make it into the wilderness, he’d kill me. I crawled to the tall grass and fell onto the ground. I was so sure he’d follow, but he didn’t. I was confused, maybe he thought I was dead or something. Since I didn’t know what he was doing, I knew I couldn’t stay there. My leg was bleeding, so I used my belt as a tourniquet and then I wrapped a scarf around the wound. I tried to stop the bleeding. I don’t think I left a trail, but the blood soaked through and saturated the scarf. I always brought a scarf with me to work and I was so grateful for it that night. I hated walking home in that shirt and the scarf made me feel more fashionable, I guess. It was stupid but anyway, I didn’t want to leave a trail and I knew I was losing too much blood.”

“Then you escaped into the wilderness,” Paige offered.

“I did, but I was careful. I didn’t want Dave to follow so I worked hard to make sure I didn’t leave a trail,” Amy admitted. “There was a small, hard packed area animals use… I think it’s called a game trail,” she paused. “I didn’t use it because I didn’t want to leave prints. I walked where I wouldn’t leave a trace and slowly made my way further into the trees. When I reached that hill, I thought it might kill me, but I struggled to the top and found myself in a huge meadow. There were a lot of stars and the moon was bright, so I spotted the cabin immediately. I fell halfway across the meadow and couldn’t get up. I crawled part of the way, dragged myself several feet and finally made it to the patio. By that time, I was so weak and I think I might have passed out in that field, I’m not sure.”

“You struggled onto the porch and collapsed,” Paige offered.

“How did you know that?” Amy demanded.

“The dirt on the front porch was disturbed,” Paige explained.

“I was afraid the door would be locked, and I’d get stuck on the front porch,” Amy told them. “I was terrified, if I couldn’t get in, I was sure Dave would find me and kill me. There was a large pot by the door, I tried to use it to stand up, but just knocked it over. That’s where I found the key. I think it took twenty, maybe thirty, minutes but I finally pulled myself up, unlocked the door, and slammed it shut. I braced my body against the closed door and flipped the lock. Then, I stumbled to the couch and collapsed. That’s the last thing I remember. The next thing I knew, I woke up here.”

The two deputies took the time to fill Amy in on what she missed. Paige explained how they found her. Then they explained what would happen next and made sure she knew she might have to testify at his trial.

“Will he stay in jail?” Amy wondered.

“He’s going to have a bail hearing,” Paige explained. “The DA will ask the judge to keep him in jail, but there’s a chance he could get out. If he can come up with the money, he could get a bond. Once you’re released, we can help you get a protective order. That way, even if he gets out, he won’t be able to come near you. He won’t be able to contact you. If he does, you call one of us and we’ll arrest him immediately. We’re going to keep you safe, Amy. I know it’s scary, but Dave will be charged with attempted murder. He also has the stalking charges, and ballistics came back, he’s going to be charged with a felony for shooting Warren’s sheep. Dave Watts is headed to prison.”

“By the time he gets out,” Gage added. “You’ll be long gone. You’ll have graduated from college and moved on to bigger and better things. Concentrate on that. Once you get through this, put Dave Watts in the past where he belongs and focus on moving forward.”

“Alright,” Amy sighed. “I can testify if I need to. I want him to pay for what he did.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige arrived home to an empty house. She stepped onto the back porch and found Dax next door relaxing with his men. She headed over to join them, dropped into a chair and prayed Hawk was making dinner. She was starved.

“Were you able to tie everything up?” Carmen asked.

“Yeah,” Paige accepted the beer Dax passed her. “She has a long road ahead of her. Amy has the physical recovery to deal with in the short term, but this will leave permanent scars emotionally.”

“She learned a very hard life lesson,” Hawk agreed. “By the way, I took care of that sheep problem.”

“The man agreed to your terms?” Paige asked. “Did it cost a fortune?”

“Naw,” Dax settled into the chair next to her. “His price was reasonable, and Hawk talked him into including delivery in the original price. Everyone will walk away from this happy.”

“Great,” Paige relaxed.

“To our very own superhero,” Carmen raised her glass of wine into the air. “Fighting crime and saving the world.”

“Not even close,” Paige laughed but raised her bottle. “Enough about me, what’s for dinner, I’m starving.”

“There’s this thing most people call lunch,” Dax said flatly. “If you stopped to have more than a cup of coffee — or ten — you wouldn’t come home famished every night.”

“I like my coffee,” Paige kicked back in her chair. “And anyway, I know my amazing husband will take care of me. So, when does the pampering begin?”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She’ll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S6

**Tags:** Season 6

---

### [Rachel Wright](https://melaniepsmith.com/rachel-wright/)

**Published:** January 22, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** I am a Colorado resident. I am a mother to a fantastic little girl who loves owls and ballet. I also have one of the most supportive husbands in the world.

**Content:**

# Rachel Wright

***Interesting facts...***

 ***Tell us a little about yourself.***

 I am a Colorado resident. I am a mother to a fantastic little girl who loves owls and ballet. I also have one of the most supportive husbands in the world. As I’m doing publicity for The Clouds Aren’t White, he’s more than once expressed his concern that I’m not finishing the draft for my second novel, due out in December.

 ***Tell us your latest news.***

My latest news has to be the upcoming release of my debut novel, February 1st. I’m immensely proud of this project. It’s incredible to see it online. I’m waiting for the proof copy of the paperback edition which is incredibly exciting

 ***When and why did you begin writing?***

 I began writing when I was taught how to hold a pencil. I have little stories from first grade (for all non US citizens-age 6). I was a voracious reader. I have clear memories (because it still happens) of picking up the condiment bottles when my parents would take us out to dinner to read the labels. I also read the menus, where the place little bios, everything. I began writing because so many wonderful books transported me to such fantastic places that I could not keep in my love for them. Writing stories was an escape for me.

[My Blog](http://www.authorrachaelwright.com/blog/)

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[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Authorrachaelwright/?ref=hl)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/rachaelm_wright)

[Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/rachael3wright/)

[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/rachaelwrites/)

## New Release...

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Clouds.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Clouds-Arent-White-Rachael-Wright-ebook/dp/B01ABDLIFQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452571661&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Clouds+Aren%27t+White)

[Buy Now...](http://www.amazon.com/Clouds-Arent-White-Rachael-Wright-ebook/dp/B01ABDLIFQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452571661&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Clouds+Aren%27t+White)

Emmeline MacArthur is in the eye of the storm, a period of calm in the unstable life of political intrigue. As soon as the future looks clear, three shots from an old revolver shatter her precarious peace. In minutes Emmeline is plucked from picking dandelions with her daughter, Sophie, to standing next to the steel grave of her husband and his bullet ridden body. 
 
 In the months that pass, the assassin’s trail goes cold. Emmeline founders in a quiet depression, paralyzed by guilt and tormented by hazy nightmares. Grief leaves Emmeline adrift, barely able to be a mother. Tensions rise within the family and from without, culminating in Emmeline fleeing to Scotland, clinging to what she believes to be her husband’s last wish. 
 
 In the wilds of Scotland, Emmeline is confronted by more than she bargained for. The distance does nothing to alleviate her pain and Sophie becomes ever more distant and petulant. Emmeline stumbles through the process of grief, juggling work, motherhood, in-laws, and the notion of loving another man.

Emmeline MacArthur’s story is about love, the love which bonds a family, that compels a mother’s sacrifice, and the love which creates the framework of grief. The Clouds Aren’t White forces the question, *What if the worst were to happen*?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

**Get to know Rachel Wright. The interview continues...**

***When did you first consider yourself a writer?***

 When I was halfway through the first draft of *The Clouds Aren’t White*. I have probably twenty stories sitting in the dark corners of my laptop, comprised of about 20 pages each, that I threw away because they just weren’t “the one.” With The Clouds Aren’t White I finally found a story that I wanted to tell, that I thought needed to be told.

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 My husband. I’m actually serious. Every story I started and then proceeded to scrap he would get disappointed because I wasn’t happy with it. Through every little step he encouraged me to keep writing, to keep working. So I wrote it because of him.

***How did you come up with the title?***

 The title came about in a weird way. I was actually painting, I’m not very talented but its fun, and I was trying to get the sky just right and I kept looking at the photo that I was painting from at the sky is this mass of colors. Because white isn’t really white. There are yellow-whites, blue-whites, green-whites…just ask anyone who has painted the interior of a house, they’ll tell you. And the novel is so wound around terrible events in Emmeline’s life that I wanted to capture the depth of her experience and also that light can be found even in the darkest of times (oh gosh, I’m quoting Rowling).

***Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

 I really want my readers to grasp the amount of dedication that Emmeline has to her family, particularly her husband and daughter. As mothers and wives, our worth is so often (how do I say this delicately?) overlooked. I want readers to see the worth of such a strong woman, the necessity of a support network, the love we bear our children. Emmeline is the definition of a feminist, she chooses her own path, not letting even her parents dictate to her, and follows through.

***How much of the book is realistic?***

 When I started the novel, I wanted it to be incredibly realistic. I love “P.S. I Love You” but I felt that it isn’t at all realistic. They are so poor so how on earth does he afford to send her and two friends to Ireland? Anyways…I drew upon the idea of the person you love giving a gift after their death, of giving a chance at life, but in a very organic way.

***What books have most influenced your life most? A mentor?***

 Probably all the fantasy books I’ve read. One of my favorite memories is when I went to my dad, age 11-I think, and told him I had exhausted my reading material and I needed more. We weren’t well off so there was no going to B&N for me. He sent me out to our “freezer room” (Just an outbuilding with two freezers for meat and piles and piles of everything else) I was told to look for a box set of books, white, called *Lord of the Rings* and another called *The Hobbit*. I stayed in that room for three hours until my mother came out, livid, that she was calling me for dinner and hadn’t gotten a reply. Lord of the Rings exposed me to true stories. I don’t write fantasy, but Tolkien so clearly enunciates the friendship between his characters and how those friendships change the course of Middle Earth. It has stuck with me and definitely altered who I am as a writer.

***What book are you reading now?***

 A *Picture of Dorian Grey*, which is done really well. For some reason I haven’t read it before. I also just finished *A Monk of Fife*, which is about a Scot who is with Joan of Arc in her last moments. Its a fantastic read, I encourage everyone to read it who is remotely interested in France or history or Joan of Arc. Also *The Hobbit*. Because those books are like old friends.

***What are your current projects?***

 I am incredibly excited about my current project. It has no name yet. I’ve written down almost thirty titles and none of them convey what I want to convey. Quite the opposite of my first book. This novel is set in Paris and spans the years from 1960-1988. At the beginning of the book you meet, in Dallas, Texas, a man on his death bed who gives a sort of death-bed confession to his doctor. He’s dying of cancer at age 55. Before he has a chance to tell his deepest and longest kept secret, he passes, leaving his family completely unaware of his life in Paris. The book then flashes back to 1960 when David leave his home in Illinois for Paris. The book is based on a true story, and one I think that an author would have a hard time coming up with themselves.

This book will be better than my first. The story is just fantastic.

***Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.***

 That has to be my two best friends from college. Rachel and Melissa. I based one of the characters in my book off of them. Their love and care and unending support. Over the years we’ve been friends they have seen me through so many trials and vice-versa. Their support has been vital.

***Do you see writing as a career?***

 I have so many things I’d like to do with my life, but yes, I do see it as a career. I’m not sure I’ll ever make a living off of it, but I will continue to write. It’s in my DNA.

***If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?***

 I didn’t get scrivener until after I had finished the first draft. I would change that. Writing a book in Microsoft Word is a terrible experience. I’m a scrivener fanatic now.

***Can you share a little of your current work with us?***

 Sure, here’s an excerpt:

 Paris isn’t Paris. Paris is a hundred different cities thrown into a pot and then cast out into the wind. It was this Paris that David found when he was looking for ancient Roman ruins and the Viking invasion of the Ile de la Cite and the labyrinth of revolutionary era streets. Paris is grey in January. Dirty grey marble, grey trees, grey mist burrowing into the alleys and settling down to rain for several days. Anyone who is anyone leaves Paris during January, just as they do when the summer sun beats down on the pavement.

It was this grey Paris that David found on January 11th, 1960. A Paris darkened by soot and the grime of centuries. It was into this less than sparkling city that David traveled by bus from Orly airport, but he saw nothing of the soot or grime. He hardly saw people. David who knew so much of the city’s history, saw Napoleon, the celts, the early Franks on the Ile de la Cité, even Hitler posing in front of the Eiffel Tower. David’s eyes shone with childlike joy.

Everywhere he looked, Parisians bustled about, oblivious to the fact that above them, a man drunk in their every movement as though he were dying of thirst and they the only water.

The grimy bus disgorged David in the fifth arrondissement, the corner of Rue Jussieu and Rue Saint-Jacques, in the middle of the Sorbonne’s campus. David remained where he dropped his bags, his gaze bent down Rue Saint-Jacques. Paris wasn’t meant to be stopped, not for an enraptured American. David was jostled this way and that until he picked up his two suitcases and set off down the street. David passed more classical architecture, barren walnut trees, and ornate metal scrollwork on balconies until he stopped in front of an unassuming front with only the world ‘hotel’, on a small sign, designating it as such.

After checking in, using his most polite French, he unpacked his few possessions in room 49, and rereading his letter regarding the grant, David felt almost deflated. He had left backwater Illinois, left all the places that held so many frightful memories, and yet peace failed to come. He felt as uncomfortable as he had in the train station in Chicago sitting across from Bertie Phillips.

Within ten minutes the door to room 49 shut with a rattle of the windowpane. David retraced his steps and soon found a quiet, unassuming café where he could sit in peace; in comfortable silence. The café that was delivered came at the end of an impeccably tailored waiter, all back and white perfection. It was delicious, it was metropolitan, it was Paris. Geography had done nothing to change David. He began to regret his hasty departure, the pain, the secrets that lay buried underneath his calm exterior. Life had become a farce. And so, before the coffee had even cooled, David left two francs on the table and walked in the opposite direction of his hotel. The rain began slowly, one drop at a time creating small dots of darker grey on the concrete until those dots began to merge into larger puddles. David couldn’t place when the downpour started, only that it had. Parisians fled in every direction, towards covered doorways or fabric awnings or onto buses. Meanwhile David walked, on and on through the drizzle, through the halos of gold cast by the streetlights and the reflection of the classical architecture on the streets. David saw the whole of Paris that day, while others fled the deluge, he alone saw the magic poured out on the pavement.

***Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?***

 Is it weird if I say JK Rowling? No. She made reading fun for a whole generation of kids. She gave us one of the best stories and created a whole new world. She is the Tolkien of our time. But again its the relationships and the love and how friendship is so incredibly powerful and that it lasts beyond a person’s lifetime.

***Who designed the covers?***

 Dave Hansow. He has an amazing non-profit called Light Gives Heat that works with women in Uganda to give them a livelihood making and selling jewelry. He also has created a tv show called The Find which tells the stories of people who are making a difference in the world, creating jobs and changing people’s lives. He’s a great designer and really captured the book and my ideas about the cover.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 You’re going to want to give up. After your first draft. After the first edit. After the 20th edit. After getting rejected by agents and websites and bookstores. Don’t give up. If writing makes you happy, keep writing. I’ve wanted to give up, many times. But not today.

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 What else would I have to say, but thank you. This book is a piece of me, thank you for letting it see the light of day.

***What makes you laugh/cry?***

 My daughter. Everyday. My grandmother passed away late last year and she was closer to me than my mother. I mourn her light in my life and our conversations.

***Is there one person past or present you would meet and why?***

 The Queen. Of England. She’s phenomenal and she’s seen so much of history. It would be amazing to talk with her about what she’s witnessed.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

Reading. I do a little embroidery and dabble in painting.

***What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?***

I just started Madam Secretary which is wonderful. Oh the English and Swedish, Wallander, then Doc Martin. My husband and I watch a lot of BBC shows.

***If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?***

 A historian. At one point I really wanted to go work at the Vatican.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

 I have both! [AuthorRachaelWright.com](http://www.authorrachaelwright.com/blog/) at which you will find my blog.

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [Ben Starling](https://melaniepsmith.com/ben-starling/)

**Published:** January 31, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Ben Starling is passionate about marine conservation and boxing, both central themes in his work. His interest in marine life has taken him across three continents over the past three decades. He is Oxford's only ever Quintuple Blue, was Captain of the university boxing team, and coached and boxed competitively until about five years ago. 

**Content:**

# Ben Starling

***Interesting facts...***

**Ben Starling** is passionate about marine conservation and boxing, both central themes in his work. His interest in marine life has taken him across three continents over the past three decades. He is Oxford's only ever Quintuple Blue (varsity champion five years running), was Captain of the university boxing team, and coached and boxed competitively until about five years ago. He is 6'3"and 185 lbs. Ben graduated from Oxford University with a Master of Arts and an M Phil. He was born in the USA but has lived in the UK since childhood

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

 Ben Starling was born in the USA – American father, English mother. I came back to the UK as a small child but visit the US whenever I can. I was educated at Oxford University, where I gained a Master of Arts and a Master of Philosophy, and I represented the university in boxing several times. I began editing in 2000, and finally felt the time was right to produce an original work of my own. Something in the Water is my first full-length novel.

 ***Tell us your latest news***

 Something in the Water was published on Kindle on 21 January. The paperback will be available any day now. Exciting times!

[Amazon Author](www.amazon.com/author/benstarling)

[Goodreads](www.goodreads.com/ben-starling%20)

[My Website](www.ben-starling.com)

[My Blog](http://ben-starling.com/blog/)

[Author Events](http://ben-starling.com/author-events/)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/BEN-white_headshot-e1454222831906.jpg)

[Twitter](www.twitter.com/benstarlingauth)

[Facebook](www.facebook.com/authorbenstarling)

## New Release...

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/BLOG-Tour-BIRD_JAN-FEB16.png)

[Buy now](http://www.amazon.com/Something-Water-Ocean-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B016ZXTRM2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

**The sealed box Teal finds in the street contains more than just a mystery...** 

*What if to be with the man of your dreams…you had to give up your life?* On the verge of losing her job, side-lined journalist Teal Douglas is forced to travel to the South Pacific to profile a powerful businessman. But with her almost-but-not-quite fiancé Bear discouraging her every step of the way, she may not be able to save her career or her relationship. 

When corporate criminals invade paradise, Teal teams up with former boxer turned marine biologist Perry Stanley to investigate. As she discovers the true intentions behind the new fishing operations, she must either accept the plum promotion that will save her career or—with Perry—defend the island with more than her life. 

***Something in the Water, An Ocean Romance* is a full length novel in the soul-stirring series from Ben Starling that continues the journey begun in the short story, *Something in the Air*. Paperback version coming soon.**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

*****Want to know more about Ben Starling? Continue reading for an in depth interview...*****

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 I was bereaved three years ago and a lot of strange events took place around that time. Powerful dreams, synchronicities…. one of the most extraordinary was that Melisa saw angels in her hospital room. I had had other experiences in my life that couldn’t be explained by science. When, a few months later, I ran into an old school friend, he challenged me to turn the experience into something positive. And so I began writing.

***Do you have a specific writing style?***

 I focus on all aspects of the craft, so my output is low. I spend a lot of time on characterization, plausible dialog, plot (and subplots), location (I am very visual) and hooks. I try and keep it pacey so don’t flood the book with commas. One of my goals is for my reader to experience a wide range of emotions when reading my work. I hope that Something in the Water goes some way to achieving that.

***How did you come up with the title?***

 It came very late in the day, after a lot of others had been rejected. There were many brain-storming sessions with friends and then with my editor. I asked facebook followers to give feedback on the shortlist. And in the end, the final answer was something totally new and came out of the blue. I am, however, delighted with it as it captures more than one theme in the novel, while remaining a little mysterious.

***Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

 Absolutely! But I have gone to great effort not to preach. The story always comes first!

***How much of the book is realistic?***

 Most of the book is realistic but later, a major other-worldly theme is introduced. For the Polynesian islander who told me about it, I imagine what I have written would be entirely plausible. To someone guided by the Western scientific paradigm, they would call it magic or invention. I’ll let the reader decide.

***Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?***

 Yes. There’s little in the novel that I haven’t experienced, heard of others experiencing, or that I’ve dug up in my research.

***What are your current projects?***

 *Something in the Water* is the full-length novel in my “Something…” series. I am writing a number of short stories that feature main characters from the novel and explore a critical point in their lives. I hope this will help the reader understand better their character and motivations in the novel. *Something in the Air* is already available at my website (free!), on Kobo (free!) and also at Amazon. And the next short story, *Something on the Fly*, is half done.
 *Something in the Water* - available on Amazon [(Click Here)](http://bit.ly/SITWbtour2am)
 *Something in the Air* –
 • available for FREE on my [Website](http://ben-starling.com/) and
 • available FREE at [Kobo](http://bit.ly/SITAbtour2kobo)
 • Also at [Amazon](http://bit.ly/SITAbtour2am)
 *Something on the Fly – coming soon!*

***Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.***

 That’s an easy one: the muse of my Great Dane. Really! We had a strong connection in life and I believe she is watching over me now, guiding me, encouraging me still.

***Do you see writing as a career?***

 I do, which is why I take it so seriously. I read every genre and every chance I get, and also study books on writing craft. The manuscript went through many rewrites and polishings. Quite exhausting and yet, always enjoyable.

***If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?***

 That’s the power of Microsoft Word – I’ve gone back and made those changes already!

***Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?***

 I don’t know about writing, but I do recall when my interest in story-telling was born. I was three years old and my mother sat me on her knee, and read me Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. I was fascinated.

***Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?***

 Like everyone, I write myself in to plot holes and struggle to get myself out of the fix I’ve written myself into. What works for me is to switch off and go for a long walk. It may be in the local park, or along the canal. I may head for the busiest part of town. The point is, I am taking my mind off the book, doing a soothing, repetitive action, and allowing my unconscious to go to work. When I get back home, the problem is usually resolved. That said, I don’t know how good I’d be working to a tough deadline. I do like to revise and tweak phrasing endlessly!

***Who designed the covers?***

I did.

***What was the hardest part of writing your book?***

 It contains three interwoven plots that I visualize as a treble helix. Each had a number of roles to perform and they had to come together in just the right way at the end. That took a lot of spreadsheet work and different colored Post-it notes that I stuck on my wall. Though an ambitious challenge, I think it was well worth it.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 The classic exhortation: Read—read—read…and re-write—re-write—re-write.

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 I’d love them to drop me a line with their thoughts about *Something in the Water*. I always find feedback fascinating.

***What makes you laugh/cry?***

 *Something in the Water*. (Does that count?)

***Is there one person past or present you would meet and why?***

 Carl Jung – the father of analytical psychology. He was a genius who came closer to explaining what’s going on than most.

***What do you want written on your head stone and why?***

Writer-artist-dreamer-fool. The first two are self-evident. But you need an imagination to write and I spend a lot of time dreaming. As for the fool, that’s what the nay-sayers whisper. But I hope to prove them wrong…

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

I keep fit—it used to be boxing and running until quite recently. Now I swim and hike. I play chess most weekends and do marine-themed art. I have a picture in my head I really want to start on, but I don’t know when I’ll have the time!

***If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?***

 I would have enjoyed being an artist – but I’d probably have starved to death!

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

Yes, [Click Here ](http://ben-starling.com/)for my Website and...

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/benstarlingauth)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ben.starling.author)

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Starling/e/B016AVBIOE)

[Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/benstarlingauth/)

[Facebook Author](https://www.facebook.com/authorbenstarling)

[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/benstarlingauthor/)

[Google+](https://plus.google.com/+benstarlingauthor)

[Tumblr](http://benstarlingauthor.tumblr.com/)

[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/benstarlingauthor)

[BlogLovin](https://www.bloglovin.com/people/benstarling-8376175)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14246420.Ben_Starling)

## Read Excerpt...

***Something in the Water –* Chapter 1 begins…**

***New York, September***

He didn’t look like the hotel guests, the business people, or the tourists. He didn’t move like them either.

He brushed past me as I climbed off my Vespa, stilettos in hand, outside the entrance of the Waldorf Astoria. Had he smiled at the radiance of my scarlet ball gown? Or was he amused by my battered Converse sneakers?

As a valet approached to take my scooter and helmet, I spotted my boss, Malcolm, waving hello from the lobby. He was approaching the glass doors that separated us when I noticed a small wooden box on the ground. Two steps later, I had picked it up. Who could have dropped it?

No one was close by, so I turned. The only man who’d passed me was already a half block away, gliding beside the cars that waited for the lights to change at the end of the block. Was it his?

What I knew for sure was that now wasn’t the time to be tracking down the little box’s owner. I should hand it in to reception and concentrate on the evening ahead. For a few seconds, I relaxed as I studied the hotel’s confident, soaring opulence—a world unknown to me before my arrival from Nantucket four years ago. The smooth texture of the box, however, drew my thoughts back to it. Was there something valuable inside? What if it *did* belong to that man, and he never returned to collect it? I turned the box over—and caught my breath.

“How on earth…?”

Malcolm emerged in front of me. “Hello, darling, you look absolutely—are you okay?”
 I thrust my sparkly evening shoes into his hands, and hitched up my shawl. I was about to give chase when a convertible Ferrari lurched to a stop beside me.

“Going my way, babe?” its driver shouted, over the thrum of the engine.

But my dress was redder, and I got the better start.

***You can find the rest of Something in the Water – [Chapter 1 Here](http://ben-starling.com/chapter-one/)***

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/SITW-Ben_white-shadow-reflect-458x630.jpg)](https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B016ZXTRM2&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_FATRwb0G1XSP9)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [Godfrey Nicholson](https://melaniepsmith.com/godfrey-nicholson/)

**Published:** December 20, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Meet Godfrey Nicholson - Author of Moments of Pleasure 1 & 2, storm chaser and astronomer.  He was born and raised in California and hopes to set a positive legacy for the next generation.

**Content:**

# Godfrey Nicholson

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

 Hi my name is Godfrey Nicholson. I am Author of “Moments of Pleasure and Violence I” and “2”. I was born in Culver City, California on January 2nd 1981. I've too have had troubles in school and had come from a broken home. I am what you call your typical 80s baby, wrapped with poverty, but was still blessed in many ways and by my mother's love.

 ***Tell us your latest news***

 I plan to branch off and write other genres, such as comedy horror, and even Sci-Fi, to be the public eye then later, hopefully I'll join politics.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Author.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/godfreynichols32)

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/author-godfrey-nicholson-b645a2145/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/GodfreyNichols4)

[Amazon Author](https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=Godfrey+Nicholson&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Godfrey+Nicholson&sort=relevancerank)

**When and why did you begin writing?**

I began writing when I was 16 when I wrote my first short story, by the name of the invasion, our own essay we had to write for my English teacher at Inglewood high school in Inglewood California.

**When did you first consider yourself a writer?**

It was an Intel. I did my first full novel and prison. And I had a book reviewer in there read my manuscript for the first time and he said that I was going to go somewhere, and that was the moment when I considered myself an author and needed to be published.

**What inspired you to write your first book?**

What inspired me to write my first book was doing time and reading Terri Woods and James Patterson novels and then I got to thinking about all the bullshit I've been through and decided, hey, I can write my own novel also. Then came the thrill of it!

**Do you have a specific writing style?**

Yes, well first, I write out my chapters in notes. The rest of it is basic.

**How did you come up with the title?**

Moments of Pleasure and Violence was my creative title from the mixed match life I endured. It was Pleasure and Pain, but Violence made a little more sense as to what I experienced. The title kept ringing in my head before finishing the book. “Moments of Pleasure and Violence” is the ONE.

**Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?**

Yes. I want the readers to grasp basic reality of the streets, our relationships and I call it: Urban Scandals.

**How much of the book is realistic?**

Just about most of the novel. All except the characters and the disruptive groups played in the book.

**Are these experiences based on someone you know or events in your own life?**

Yes, most definitely. It reflects on my negative and positive events. That I've had either experienced for myself or was part of my environment. I take Moments of Pleasure of Violence very seriously.

**What books have most influenced your life most? A mentor?**

I’ll have to say Alex Haley Roots was the most influential books of my life.

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Moments-1.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Moments-Pleasure-Violence-Godfrey-Nicholson-ebook/dp/B01CQ07ACW)

[Buy Now...](https://www.amazon.com/Moments-Pleasure-Violence-Godfrey-Nicholson-ebook/dp/B01CQ07ACW)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Moments-2.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Moments-Pleasure-Violence-Godfrey-Nicholson-ebook/dp/B072F2Y923)

[Buy Now...](https://www.amazon.com/Moments-Pleasure-Violence-Godfrey-Nicholson-ebook/dp/B072F2Y923)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

**Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?**

Yes, and a few have even supported me.

**Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.**

Yes. Marilyn Brown, Vincent Morris Woody and a few others.

**Do you see writing as a career?**

Yes, most definitely. This is now my NEW LIFE.

**If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?**

No.

**Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?**

I love to write when I can't talk about in general, I feel it is my release and outlet on my life and I love it to death.

**Can you share a little of your current work with us?**

Yes. Moments of pleasure and violence as a novel of pleasure in pain, basically, where one beautiful intelligent woman is wrapped up in the mix between 2 hearts and others around in her groups are involved also, we're talking second and third party and the enveloped drama of winning their prize while others around are dying behind the political hand of the streets all wrapped in one. So, there you have a mix of jealousy, romance scandals and murder.

**Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?**

Nope, no not at all.

**Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?**

Can really pick one because there are many Shondra Rhimes and Terri Woods, for example, etc.

**Who designed the covers?**

My brother Christopher Nicholson desired the first cover and my publishing company Sinseer designed my second one.

**What was the hardest part of writing your book?**

OOh believe me, it was EASY. Nothing hard about it. As a matter of fact, it gives me a rush!

**Do you have any advice for other writers?**

Yes, stay on your grind and be vigilant about your work. This career can be discouraging, but don't give up.

**Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?**

Yes, follow me and my work, you will never get bored of my literature. It's easy to read and you will enjoy every word in every chapter. Thank you, readers.

**Do you remember the first book you read?**

Laughing out loud. The first book I read was a big bird book by sesame street.

**What makes you laugh/cry?**

Comedy makes me laugh and what makes me cry is the world we live in today.

**Is there one person past or present you would meet and why?**

Of course Oprah Winfrey.

**What do you want to be written on your headstone and why?**

Here lies a great writer. A legend.

**Other than writing do you have any hobbies?**

Yes, I chase tornadoes and study the stars.

**What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?**

I enjoy watching gangster movies; old and new, and also old western movies too.

**Favorite foods / Colors/ Music?**

Of course, my favorite food is pizza. All colors and all genres of music. (Varies)

**If you were not a writer, what else would you like to have done?**

I probably would have just been a stay at home father, lol. Maybe even went into acting.

**One final question… do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it?**

Yes, you can find me on Facebook under author Godfrey Nicholson.

My IG is @godfreynichols4

Twitter: @godfreynichols4

My own blog page will be created shortly.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Author-2.jpg)

If you enjoyed getting to know Author Godfrey Nicholson, be sure to share with all your friends.

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** Author Spotlight

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### [Yvonne Glasgow](https://melaniepsmith.com/yvonne-glasgow/)

**Published:** November 25, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Meet Author, Poet, Writer, Artist and Healer... Yvonne Glasgow.  Yvonne wants to help others find their creativity, whether it’s through the passion of poetry, art therapy, or finding a freelance niche that will have you doing what you love for a living.

**Content:**

# Yvonne Glasgow

Yvonne Glasgow is a blogger/writer (IAPWE-certified), self-published author, and poet. She has been working as a freelance writer since 2000, and has had her works in print and all over the internet. In 2008 she decided to write and do the art for a children's book, which is now out-of-print. Since then she has self-published numerous books, with three currently in print. Yvonne has a Ph.D. in Holistic Life Coaching, is a certified Metaphysics practitioner/ordained, and is currently working toward a D.D. in Spiritual Counseling. When she's not writing she's creating arts and crafts and helping aspiring writers find their voices.

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

I am a creativity addict. Writing is my number one passion, but I also love to create using more than just words. I am even working on creating my own tarot deck using mixed-media collage art. When I am not writing or crafting I am usually at one of my boyfriend's gigs. He is a career musician that plays all over the state of Michigan. If you like rock, folk, country, and anything in between, look up Dale Wicks online.

I love writing, I love music, and I love art. I also love occult and new age topics. I use crystals for healing and I consult Runes and tarot cards when I need answers to the questions life throws at me.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Yvonne-Glasgow-Head-Shot-Press-Photo.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/yvonneglasgow74/)

[Website](http://yvonneglasgow.com)

[My Blog](https://yvonneglasgow.com/blog/)

[Vocal](https://vocal.media/profile)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Yvonne-Glasgow/e/B00F0NPU6G/)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16085190.Yvonne_Glasgow)

*****Get to know Yvonne Glasgow - Continue reading her in depth interview...*****

***Tell us your latest news.***

In September I released a new self-published book, wanting it out in time for Halloween. It's something that would be fun to read the whole year round though. *Shallow Graves And Ghosts* is a collection of spooky short stories and poems. It has ghosts, goblins, vampires, and more within the pages.

This was my third book this year. After leaving a bad marriage in March of 2016 I struggled to get back on my feet. *Fighting With Myself- The Healing Power Of Poetry* was my way to get through the bad stuff. It's a poetry book, but I opted to put my explanation for each poem after them so that people could understand where it was coming from. I did it as a way to help other people feel less alone when they're going through abusive and negative relationships and suffering anxiety and depression. I published a follow up to this, *Observations Of The Living*. This one is all poetry, no filler.

**When and why did you begin writing?**

In first grade our teacher had us write a book, which we then bound and made a cover for (gluing material to cardboard). Mine was a poetry book. After that, I continued writing poetry. Then I “graduated” to writing short stories. My career as a writer didn't get its start until early (very early) 2000 when I started writing concert reviews for a local magazine. This led to a steady stream of CD reviews for them up until I was hired as their editor in 2003. Unfortunately, the magazine sold in 2005 and we were all replaced. After that, I started writing online, out of necessity. And the rest is history.

**When did you first consider yourself a writer?**

I started calling myself a writer after I got my first review published in 2000. Prior to that, I called myself a poet. Once I published my children's book in 2008 I was thrilled to finally be an author.

**What inspired you to write your first book?**

I was camping with a former boyfriend when I got my inspiration for *Frankie The Firefly Belongs*. I was inspired by the fire and by the stars, and by nature in general. It would be a few years before I finally got the guts to reach out to a publisher and get it into print.

**Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?**

*Fighting With Myself* has an obvious message. I wrote it in the hopes that it would help other people going through the things I've gone through, and let them know that they can make it past the hard parts. No one ever said life was easy, but sometimes it feels like it is harder than it needs to be. Even if you grew up with abusive parents, like I did, you can still make something good out of your life. You don't ever have to just be what someone else says or thinks you are.

**How much of the book is realistic?**

My two poetry books are all about my life and my viewpoints on things. In *Shallow Graves And Ghosts* you'll find mostly fictional tales about ghosts and vampires. However, in both “Story Of A Haunted Girl” and “Was It Just A Dream?” you'll find a couple stories that are based on truth, written as fictional stories. The first is a story about the haunted house I grew up in, the other is about a night terror I suffered one night.

**What book are you reading now?**

I'm never only reading one book at a time. Normally I have a reference book, a self-help book, and something fictional on my docket. Right now I am obsessed with health & wellness and self-help books. My current reading list consists of:

- *Unlocking The Secrets Of Your Childhood Memories* by Dr. Kevin Leman and Randy Carlson
- *Intro To Philosophy* by Dave Robinson
- *The Ayurvedic Year* by Christina Brown
- *The Fifth Agreement* by Don Miguel Ruiz and Don Jose Ruiz

## - Books by Yvonne -

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AAEAAQAAAAAAAA0QAAAAJDhmYjM1Y2FlLWYyYmUtNGZlZi1iMjk0LTExYzc5MWUxOGNjNA.png)

The poems are about love and loss, and all things that come with those experiences. Each poem is complimented by a synopsis explaining the story behind its words.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/FWM-cover.jpg)

[Buy Now...](https://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Myself-Healing-Power-Poetry-ebook/dp/B072356K4D)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/51JXsoK2pgL._SX331_BO1204203200_.jpg)

[Buy Now...](https://www.amazon.com/Observations-Living-Poetry-Inspired-Life-ebook/dp/B074Z4BJBH)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cover_of_shallow_graves.png)

[Buy Now...](https://www.amazon.com/Shallow-Graves-Ghosts-Collection-Stories-ebook/dp/B075JTKZNZ)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AAEAAQAAAAAAAA0QAAAAJDhmYjM1Y2FlLWYyYmUtNGZlZi1iMjk0LTExYzc5MWUxOGNjNA.png)

**What are your current projects?**

Much like my need to read more than one book at a time, I also have numerous writing projects going on all the time. I have a Michigan-inspired poetry book I'm working on slowly, and some children's books I really would like to get around to creating (I always do my own artwork). However, my most important projects, which I plan to get done first, are a couple self-help books. They are *Reconnecting With Yourself*  and *The Jealousy Remedy*. The first is a guide to finding the true you again when you've been lost, no matter what got you lost in the first place. The other is a guide to dealing with jealous people and getting over those pangs of jealousy we all feel from time to time.

**Do you see writing as a career?**

Writing is most definitely my career. I work from home now, full-time, as a freelance writer. Right now I have a gig that pays me to write music reviews, and I have one that pays me to write about chakras. I love what I do and wouldn't change a thing about it. I would, however, love to be an author for a living. I'd still do my freelancing, but I would love to make a name for myself as an author. That's something I am really hoping to do with my self-help and health & wellness books, once they are in print.

**Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?**

My mom was a reader. She pushed me to read and reading inspired me to write. I've always had a creative imagination, so it makes sense that I took up writing as a career.

**Who designed the covers?**

I design all of my own book covers. I also take great pride in the fact that I use my own art and photography to create them. I want my books to be complete extensions of myself, so using photos from a source like Pixabay is something I'll never do. I know lots of writers use such sources, but I prefer that my work remains all mine and that I can be seen in what I've created, right from the front cover.

**What was the hardest part of writing your book?**

Scheduling the time in a normal life to complete an entire book is always the hardest part for me. I write for a living, so there are some days where I just don't want to write anything at all. Once I get a little time away from my computer I get refreshed and motivated again and can get back to business.

I've yet to delve into the amazing world of fiction novel writing because I find it hard to keep a story going long enough to make a complete book. Short stories come easy to me, but I hope to create a full novel someday.

**Do you have any advice for other writers?**

Write every single day. Write about life, write about your dreams, and write what is in your imagination. Start a blog or write in a notebook. Don't be discouraged from submitting articles to magazines or from self-publishing if you can't find a publisher. If you're not really good, keep writing to hone your craft. Take some writing classes, join some social media groups with other writers and authors and don't be afraid to ask for tips. And, ALWAYS read through what you've written before you share it in any way. It's the only way to really catch all the errors. Spell check isn't the answer to all mistakes.

**Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?**

I hope that my work inspires you and helps you get through this thing we call life.

**Other than writing do you have any hobbies?**

I love to make art and I love crafting. Aside from that, music is a passion of mine and I have been learning to play the piano, ukulele, and harmonica. I don't know if I'll ever play any of them outside the house, but it's fun to learn.

I also love to hike. Going for walks is a great way to fight depression and boredom. I also get a lot of my best ideas while I'm walking.

And, on top of all of that, I've been working on my fortunetelling skills.

**If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?**

When I was in high school I really wanted to become a high school counselor. One semester I worked in the counselor's office and I really loved it. I think that is one of the things that pushed me to be a self-help writer and get my degree in life coaching. At this point, I wouldn't trade in what I do for any other career. Instead, I find ways to pursue those other passions with my writing as the catalyst.

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** Author Spotlight

---

### [J.S. Frankel](https://melaniepsmith.com/j-s-frankel/)

**Published:** November 5, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** J.S. Frankel was born in Toronto, Canada and grew up there, receiving his tertiary education from the University of Toronto and graduating with a double major in English Literature and Political Science.  He writes YA Fantasy, with a lot of action, some romance and a lot of different worlds.

**Content:**

# J.S. Frankel

J.S. Frankel was born in Toronto, Canada and grew up there, receiving his tertiary education from the University of Toronto and graduating with a double major in English Literature and Political Science.

His novels, all for the YA set, include Twisted, Lindsay Versus the Marauders and it's sequels, Lindsay, Jo, and the Tree of Forever, and Lindsay, Jo and the Well of Nevermore, all courtesy of Regal Crest Enterprises. He has also written the Catnip series (five novels), Mr. Taxi, The Titans of Ardana and its sequel, The Titans of Ardana 2: Battlefield, along with Picture (I'm)perfect and more novels, courtesy of DevineDestinies.com.

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a little about yourself.***

 I was born in Toronto, Canada, a long time ago, moved to Japan in 1988 to teach ESL, and never really went back. Skip forward a few years, and I got married to a lovely lady from Osaka. We make our home there with our two sons. I still teach, and write at night.

***Tell us your latest news.***

 That would be The Titans of Ardana 3: Interstellar, due out November 3rd. It’s the final novel in the trilogy, and the first two have received good to very fine reviews, so I hope people will take a chance on it and my other works as well.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Picture-of-ME-1-1.jpg)

[Amazon Author](https://www.amazon.com/J.-S.-Frankel/e/B004XUUTB8/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/JS-Frankel-AUTHOR-1458667077729037/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/JessSFrankel)

[Website](https://writerwannabe.weebly.com/)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/edd/2016/09/horizontal-line-e1473025229276.png)

### *Interstellar: The Titans of Ardana 3*

It’s easy to say, “Hold nothing back” or “Give everything.” It’s not so easy when the fate of the galaxy rests on your shoulders. Sometimes, you have to give more than everything. You have to give your life.

Martin Calder and his girlfriend Dana—no last name given—are back. Their powers are now known to the general public, and their wish is to help out those who need it.

However, those in the law enforcement world aren’t so accepting. Reduced to starring in their own reality show—and messing it up—other, more urgent matters take precedence. The weather has changed, and the sun has started to turn blue. Although it’s a physical impossibility, it has happened. The Earth will freeze in a matter of weeks if nothing is done, and only Martin and Dana can help.

Their journey takes them back to Ardana, Dana’s home world, in search for answers, and subsequent searches send them on a quest across the galaxy where they meet vampires, energy-sapping rays, cat-mole people, and a boy-not-a-boy who may be the answer to everyone’s prayers.

Sometimes, giving everything isn’t enough. Sometimes, you have to give more than that—even your life.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/edd/2016/09/horizontal-line-e1473025229276.png)

## New Release...

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Interstellar-the-final-cover-333x500.jpg)

[Buy Now](http://www.devinedestinies.com/js-frankel/interstellar/)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Martin Calder, from The Titans of Sardana...**

***Martin, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn't revealed in your story?***

 Hi, my name is Martin Calder, and I’m eighteen. You may have seen my name in The Titans of Ardana and its sequel, The Titans of Ardana 2: Battlefield. I’m back again in The Titans of Ardana 3: Interstellar.

What am I like? Well, growing up I was always a bit of a geek, more into television and superheroes and whatnot than into people. I never had many friends. Not that I was anti-social or anything; it just never happened. My best friend, Greg, he’s been around most of the time, but that all changed when I met Dana.
Dana—that’s her Earth name—is from Ardana, a distant world where some of the people were born enhanced. In her case, she looks human enough, but she can fly, is incredibly strong, exists on sugar—waaaaaaaaaay too much sugar—and is the finest girlfriend and friend around. You’ll meet her in all three novels, and you’ll grow to love her, as I have.

***Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?***

 I grew up in the USA, Tacoma, to be exact. Nothing special as a kid, but my father died when I was young, so it was just me and my mother. We never had much money, and she worked hard, but she was kind of distant, you know? So, I had to learn to do things for myself.

Truthfully, we never really got along. She died about six months ago during an alien invasion, just as we were beginning to get to know each other better. Even though we were never close, I still miss her.

***What makes you Martin so special?***

 I really don’t think of myself as being a hero. In the beginning, I was just your average teen, average height, looks—average everything. After I got my powers in a kind of transfer deal from Dana’s twin brother—and don’t ask me how, because I really can’t tell you—I learned how to fly, got super strong, learned to split into two or three people and send my ‘selves’ elsewhere, and I helped out around town, and, of course, around the universe. Thing is, being a superhero isn’t something I’m really comfortable being called. It just so happens that I got lucky in the superhero prize-winning draw, but I don’t wear a cape or a special outfit. I usually wear a black bodysuit, but really, I’d rather wear jeans and a t-shirt. That’s my superhero look.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

 I wish I’d gotten to know my mother better. That’s about it. Everything else, no—no regrets. Things worked out perfectly for me. I was lucky..

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

 We’re in a difficult time. There’s no telling what’ll happen five years from now. What if the aliens return? What if the Agency comes looking for us? What if we can’t survive, can’t repair the damage done from the triggering of the Aurora machines?

Michael has his regrets, too, you see. He has to live with the consequences of his actions, and he’s changed since his near death experience. Sometimes it threatens to break us, but we have our Christina, our daughter, to think of, and, thank God, our love for one another remains strong.

***If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go?***

 Oh, wow, there are so many worlds to visit! Dana and I would go off and explore pretty much every single one of them. There are worlds only of water, of fire, of air-beings, and more. The universe is so vast, so incredibly huge—never-ending, really—that it would take ten lifetimes to see only half of them, if we were lucky.

For now, Dana and I live in Baltimore, but if the universe needs us, then we’ll go and help. That’s what we’ve sworn to do.

## Additional Books...

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/T2-333x500.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Battlefield-Titans-Ardana-Book-2-ebook/dp/B06XS4ZNNW)

[Buy Now](https://www.amazon.com/Battlefield-Titans-Ardana-Book-2-ebook/dp/B06XS4ZNNW)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/THETITANSOFARDANA510-253x379-334x500.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Titans-Ardana-J-S-Frankel-ebook/dp/B01N4W3903)

[Buy Now](https://www.amazon.com/Titans-Ardana-J-S-Frankel-ebook/dp/B01N4W3903)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Star-Maps-on-Amazon-333x500.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Star-Maps-J-S-Frankel-ebook/dp/B07113LQVZ)

[Buy Now](https://www.amazon.com/Star-Maps-J-S-Frankel-ebook/dp/B07113LQVZ)

***If you could have anyone locked in a room so that you could torment them for a day, whom would you choose and how would you torment them?***

 I wouldn’t. I don’t believe in that. I’m not a justice lord; I’m a person. Even if that individual in the room is irretrievably evil, I’d rather send them to a penitentiary for maximum lockup then torture them.

***Will we be seeing more of you in the future of has your story already been told?***

 Hmm…I never say never, but for now, Dana and I plan to spend our time in Baltimore. Of course, if the universe needs our help, then off we’ll go, but I think that we’d like to get married and start a family. Call me old-fashioned, that’s what I want most in life.

***If you could change one thing about the world… what would it be?***

 It sounds sort of sappy, but make the world a kinder, gentler place. People should have a little more respect for one another. Be more tolerant. You only get one chance in life, so make it a good one. You don’t have to give up your lifestyle or life for someone else, but trying to understand their POV should be there. I haven’t seen a whole lot of that lately, so that’s what I’d like to see change.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/edd/2016/09/horizontal-line-e1473025229276.png)

***Want to know more about J.S. Frankel? Continue reading his in depth interview...***

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 About seven years ago, my older son who was around ten at the time, saw a cartoon, something about trees. He said to me, “Papa, wouldn’t it be cool if the trees talked?” That night I had a dream, and call it a trope, I began to write a novel the next day. The novel was The Tower, and even though it didn’t set the literary world on fire, it began my journey as a writer.

***Do you have a specific writing style?***

 I’m what you call a minimalist writer. I give just enough description to the scene and then let the action and dialogue take over. The late Elmore Leonard said to trim away the fat and leave the meat, so I took that advice to heart. It seems to work well for me and my genre, YA Fantasy.

***How did you come up with the title?***

 Titles are rather easy to come up with. I simply wanted to tell an epic kind of story. Epic means giants and heroes of yore, and ‘titans’ was a perfect fit. As for the world they’re from—Ardana—it popped into my head. It sounded good, and if it sounds good, then I run with it.

***Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?***

 There are a number of indie authors whose works are interesting. Mirren Hogan, Rose Montague, Lyra Shanti, Eva Pasco, and S.E. Gibson are but a few. They all have different styles, but their work, to me, is most interesting and readable.

***Do you see writing as a career?***

 Don’t. I. Wish. Realistically speaking, it’s very difficult to make a living from writing, not unless you get lucky. For me, it remains a time-consuming hobby, but on the other hand, if a million people buy my books…

***Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?***

 I’d have to say Robert McCammon. He’s very wordy, but nothing is wasted. Every word, sentence, and paragraph is there for a reason. His characters are always interesting. To me, Gone South is his masterpiece.

***Who designed the covers?***

 In the past, I’ve had the services of Carmen Waters, who did all my Catnip covers, as well as those for Picture (Im)perfect, Mr. Taxi, and a few others. With Star Maps, the Titans trilogy, and a few other works, Martine Jardin has helped me. Both of them were and are excellent to work with.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 I know it sounds old hat, but you have to keep writing, keep thinking, and assess your weaknesses. No book is perfect, and no writer is perfect, either, although some have come close. Fix your weaknesses, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback, and don’t take criticism personally. You have to develop a thick skin. Period. If you can’t, then you shouldn’t be writing.

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 I would like to say thank you, not only to you for having me along today, but also to those readers who’ve stuck with me when I first started, who helped me out, and who insisted that I continue writing, even though it was hard. They were the ones who helped me out of some very dark times, and I have nothing but heartfelt thanks that they were there for me.

***What do you want written on your head stone and why?***

 If someone wrote that I was a good husband and father, then that would be enough. Fame is fine, but it’s also fleeting. Family, though, takes priority. That’s what it’s all about for me.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

 I watch a lot of movies and music videos in my spare time, and train as well with weights. Other than that, I try to sleep!

***Favorite foods / Colors/ Music***

 Pizza, anything Italian/Black and gray/Pop, rock, KPop, and some classical music.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

Most readers can find my blogsite at <https://writerwannabe.weebly.com/> However, haven’t updated it in a while, so most people can check me out on my social media networks.

 [![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/new-twitter-bird-500x500.png)](https://twitter.com/JessSFrankel)[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/facebook-logo-webtreatsetc-150x150.png)](https://www.facebook.com/JS-Frankel-AUTHOR-1458667077729037/)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** Author Spotlight

---

### [Pamela Sommers](https://melaniepsmith.com/pamela-sommers/)

**Published:** October 22, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Meet Author Pamela Sommers.  She is a down to earth, approachable and passionate person with a great sense of humour. Pamela lives with her fiancé and son in a quiet suburb of London.

**Content:**

# Pamela Sommers

*****Interesting facts...*****

 Pamela Sommers is the author of ‘Life Lessons from a 40 something…’ a self-help and personal growth book to empower & motivate people to go for their dreams. She is also the founder of an award-winning boutique called SommerSparkle offering a selection of beautiful jewellery & accessories for special occasions. Pamela has a passion for helping dreams come true.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Pamela-Sommers-Author.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/PamelaSommersOfficial)

[Website](https://pamelasommers.com)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B073SW7CFP)

## Life Lessons from a 40 something...

It’s a big, wide world out there… So, whether you are fresh out of college and looking for guidance on how to figure out this whole “adulting” thing. Or, if you are young at heart, with a secret ambition or dream goal on the back-burner and feel too afraid to take the leap. In ‘Life Lessons from a 40 something…’ Pamela Sommers, an award-winning entrepreneur reveals her tips and advice, with real life stories to help you overcome your fears, motivate you to be the best you can be and to go for your dreams. She has learned the hard way, so you don’t have to. This self-help and personal growth book is filled with golden nuggets of wisdom, just for you. It is packed with tips and advice covering everyday matters in life; from personal topics; such as ways to boost confidence, manage loneliness, love yourself, self-care, build your self-esteem, self-worth and how to remain positive and happy within, to more practical issues such as how to manage your money and handle social situations. It is based on lessons that have been learned throughout her personal journey. In a nutshell, it is a self-help and personal growth book created to empower and inspire. By the time you finish reading this book, you will have everything you need to conquer the world. ‘The world is your oyster’ It all starts by taking the first step Are you ready?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

*****Want to know more about Pamela Sommers? Continue reading her in-depth interview...*****

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Life-Lessons-From-a-40-Something-3D.png)

[Buy Now](http://amzn.to/2wi47PS)

***Tell us a little about yourself?***

 I am a down to earth, approachable and passionate person with a great sense of humour. I live with my fiancé and son in a quiet suburb of London.

***Tell us your latest news.***

 I have recently written and published my debut self-help/personal growth book called ‘Life Lessons from a 40 something…’ and am currently writing my second book.

***When and why did you begin writing?***

 When I was 17, my cousin suggested that I should write a book about my life because it was very eventful and I had a great sense of humour. I didn’t think anything more of it until my early 40’s when I decided I would love to leave a legacy, especially for my son – something to remember me by. I wasn’t quite sure what to write about, but then I remembered what my cousin had said and then thought of ways I could help people along the way, based on my life.

***When did you first consider yourself a writer?***

 I have written songs from the age of 8 and was a singer/songwriter in my earlier days. I started my first business when I was in my early 40’s and found myself spending most of the time writing in one form or another. Whether it was for magazines, copywriting or blogs, so I guess you could say that was when I started writing professionally.

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 I was astonished at the number of young people there are with low self-esteem and self-worth and I wanted to do something about it. Having been through this when I was younger, I thought drawing from my own experience was a good place to start and so I decided to base my first book about it.

***Do you have a specific writing style?***

 I like to write in a friendly, conversational style and like to feel as if I am talking to a best friend when I write. I find it more approachable that way.

***How did you come up with the title?***

 I knew my book was about life lessons and as it was based on my personal life experience and given my age, ‘Life Lessons from a 40 something…’ seemed appropriate.

***Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

 I would like my readers to realise that they can be all that they set out to be and more. The world is full of possibilities.

***Do you see writing as a career?***

 Yes definitely, especially after discovering that I have helped readers and have lots of ideas for more book.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 Keep going and trust in your own ability. You can do it.

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams, ‘the world is your oyster.’

***What makes you laugh/cry?***

 A good romantic comedy.

***Is there one person past or present you would meet and why?***

 Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge because I love her sense of style and integrity.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

 I love to read, dance and sing.

***What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?***

 I love watching romantic comedies and enjoy watching the Australian soap opera, ‘Home and Away.’

***Favorite foods / Colors/ Music***

 My favourite food is steak (medium-well). My favourite colour is red and I love listening to eighties pop music and soft rock.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

My official website is <https://pamelasommers.com> You can find my blog there, along with information on my books, interviews, book reviews and more!

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** Author Spotlight

---

### [John Holt](https://melaniepsmith.com/john-holt/)

**Published:** September 23, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Meet author John Holt.  He was born in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, but has lived in Essex for the past thirty-six years.  Get to know the author and Tom Kendall, a private detective and main character in the Kendall Series.

**Content:**

# John Holt

***Interesting facts...***

*I was born in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, but have lived in Essex for the past thirty-six years.*

*As I said I live in Essex, with my wife Margaret, and my daughter Elizabeth. I had a Grammar School education. When I left school my first job was with the National Coal Board, in Staffordshire, as a Surveying Assistant. For many years I was a Chartered Surveyor, working for Local Government, including several years with the Greater London Council. In 1986, after the GLC was closed down, I started my own surveying practice, preparing reports and architectural drawings, for property conversions, extensions, and new build. I had a heart attack in 2004, and eventually, I retired in 2008.*

 ***Tell us your latest news***

*I self-published my latest novel, “Diagnosis Murder” in December 2016. Since that time I have been tentatively working on a tenth novel, although I’m having difficulty in thinking up a plot. But I have also been spending time releasing translations of my novels. So far I have ten translations (in several languages), and eight in progress. The latest, “Una Certidumbre Muerta”, (the Spanish translation of my private detective novella “A Dead Certainty”), should be available in a week or two.*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/DSC_0057A-418x500.jpg)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/John-Holt/e/B003ERI7SI/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/John-Holt-Author-553064201380567/)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Meet Tom Kendall, from the Kendall Series...**

***Tom Kendall, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn't revealed in your story?***

 The names Kendall, Tom Kendall. I’m a private detective. You can read about me in a coupla novels written by my good friend John. The first one was “The Mackenzie Dossier”; then there was “The Marinski Affair”; then “Epidemic” – that was a scary one I can tell you. No, not supernatural scary, but people dying scary, know what I mean. Then there was, “A Killing In The City”, so much for a vacation in London. But if you want to know how it all started then John has written it all up in “Kendall”. This is the one. It’s all there. How I started as a cop, then became a private eye.

***Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?***

 Well, I was brought up in New York, on the east side. I went to Brook Street School. Miss Lacey, she was my teacher. She was small, but she was tough. You didn’t cross her. Discipline you see, that’s the answer, discipline. You don’t get that now. After school I had a few dead end jobs, working in a store, and then I joined the New York Police Department. I was 17. My father had been a Police Sergeant with the 22nd Precinct, and so had his father before him. Even my uncle had been a police officer in Chicago. Then about ten years ago I left the department and started up as a Private detective, and haven’t looked back since, well maybe just once or twice.

***What makes you Tom so special?***

 That’s a question for others to answer, but if pushed I guess there’s two things. I’m loyal, and determined. I never give up. Once I get an idea in my head you can’t shake it.

***Tell me about your reputation and how it has impact your life and your relationship?***

 With me I guess you get what you see, there’s nothing fancy about me. But I’m honest, and fair. People know that, and they trust me. What is right is right, and what is wrong is wrong. I don’t do no harm to anybody, and I give to charity ... well occasionally I give to charity, especially children and animals.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

 Sure I have regrets. Doesn’t everyone. I’ve made mistakes, many mistakes. Things we didn’t do but should have; and things we did do but we shouldn’t have. I should have spent more time with my dad. That’s a big regret. Too late now, he’s been gone twenty plus years. We all do it, take people for granted I mean. But they need to be told you love them, things like that. An occasional hug, and a smile. But we can’t change the past, what’s done is done. We shouldn’t look back. Hey, I’m getting a bit sentimental, I’ll be crying soon, let’s press on.

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

 Lazing on a beach somewhere in the Bahamas, maybe. The sun blazing down, a drink in my hand. The best of everything, you know, and money to burn. That’s where I see myself, but I guess in reality I’ll still be here, checking up on the cheating husbands, or the wayward wife; or tracking down blackmailers, and other low life. Someone has to do it, right. Guess it might as well be me.

***If there was one thing you could change about your past what would it be?***

 Sure. I’d have been born into a wealthy family, and have no worries. Instead it was a brownstone over on the east side. Ma struggling to bring up three of us, and Dad out on the streets with the police department. It wasn’t so bad but it just could have been better, you know.

***If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go?***

 I’d take Dad. We’d visit all the old places – Luigi’s, the Italian place he took mum on the thirtieth anniversary. A ball game, he loved baseball; the old cinema at the end of the street, it’s gone now, but he loved the old films, “The Maltese Falcon” that was his favorite; then we could stop for a drink or three at Mack’s. We’d have a time I can tell you.

***Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation?***

 You mean something spiritual, something like that. Well I suppose to be honest I’m not that spiritual. I mean I don’t go to Church or anything. Oh weddings, and funerals certainly, but I don’t do the Sunday morning thing. Mind you I do have a belief that there is a God. He’s saved my hide a few times I can tell you. I guess I should be more appreciative, maybe the occasional visit would be something I should consider.

***What was the best compliment you have ever received?***

 I guess that’s got to be when Detective Terrence Devaney, of the Miami Police Department, admitted that I had been right all along, and he should have listened to me. That’s got to be the best compliment I’d get from him, except for when he noticed my green and yellow stripe tie, and said it looked nice. You just can’t beat that, not where Devaney is concerned.

***If you could have anyone locked in a room so that you could torment them for a day, whom would you choose and how would you torment them?***

 Got to be Devaney. He’s a great friend, but he does like to kid me. I’d get him back though,, and I’d play all of my blues records. He hates them.

***Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year?***

 What a question. Me already being so good looking, I mean. Well my mother loves me at least.

***If you could go to anyone (living or dead) for advice who would it be and what would you ask?***

 Got to be Dad. He was a good cop. I never was, too laid back, didn’t like all the rules. What would I ask him? Just anything about the way he approached solving crimes. Me, I’m a plodder. I check things out, over and over. I question even my own decisions. Then eventually I get the answer.

***Mountains or Beach?***

 Yes. Either way, it beats the City.

***Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?***

 Marilyn Monroe. I guess she had a hard life, and she deserved something better, so, hey here I am. Just don’t tell Mollie. Mollie? She my business partner.

***Will we be seeing more of you in the future or has your story already been told?***

 Crime never stops, so as long as I’m able I’ll be there. It’s my job to catch the bad guys and put them away. Simple as that.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

***Want to know more about John Holt? Continue reading his in-depth interview...***

***When and why did you begin writing?***

 Good question. I guess, like many other people, I had wanted to write a novel for a long time, but I could never think of a decent plot – a decent original plot. The first novel I wrote, “The Kammersee Affair” was inspired by a trip to the Austrian lake district. We stayed at a place called Grundlsee. The next lake was Toplitz which was used by the German Navy during the war to test torpedoes and rockets. As the war ended many items were disposed of in the lake, including jewellery, weapons and counterfeit dollars and pounds. There were rumours of gold bullion also being placed in the dark waters of the lake. Extensive searches have never found any gold. The book is about the search for hidden nazi gold. But it is much more than that. It is the story of two men, an SS Major, and an American GI. It is a story of blackmail, murder, and revenge. After that there were eight other novels, and three novellas.

***When did you first consider yourself a writer?***

 That’s a trick question. How do you judge? What criteria do you use to answer that question? I have always been a writer, even from primary school. I enjoyed writing things like “What did you do on your Summer holidays”. Okay, so I had to wait a long time before my first novel was completed. But did that make me a writer? Or was it the eight novels and three novellas that came afterwards? Was that enough to make me a writer? I guess I would have been pleased to be a professional novelist, and make my living from my books. Sadly that wasn’t to be. And no I’ve gone full circle – trying to think up a decent plot once again.

***Do you have a specific writing style?***

 After “The Kammersee Affair” I had an idea about a private detective story, but I wanted to do it in the film noir style, so it had to be based in America. I soon realised that I just could not match the Raymond Chandlers of this world, and started to develop my own style. But basing the story in the US caused no end of problems, mainly with American phrasing instead of British. I got a bit of criticism on that one. I try hard to get it right, and take note of the criticism. I’m still making errors, but I think they are getting less and less.

***Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

 No, no messages; no hidden poignant meanings; no answers to the secret of life. Just plain old fashion entertainment, which I hope people will enjoy.

***How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?***

 I have written one novel set during and just after World War 2; and one novel set in, and just after, the American Civil War. I have no first-hand knowledge of either event. The bulk of my writing concerns murderers, and blackmailers – not the kind of people I run into in the normal course of a day.

***What book are you reading now?***

 I have just finished reading “To Kill The President” by Sam Bourne. Without giving too much a way, it is about a US President threatening military action against North Korea, and steps considered necessary, by some, to stop him. Oh, and by the way, it’s fiction.

***If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?***

 Can’t think of anything. A novel, or at least my novels, are generally about 300 pages long. Things happen that lead to other things, good or bad. I guess what I’m trying to say is that changing something might not be that simple, and might lead to all sorts of complications. No the book is written, warts and all. Move on to the next.

***Who designed the covers?***

 All my own work. I keep them simple. I look for a suitable photograph on the Internet. Get permission to use it, if appropriate. Add the title, and the blurb on the back, using Photoshop, and that’s it, done.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 People vary. Some will love your work, others will hate it. Don’t try to please anyone, except yourself. Write for yourself. If you have something to say, then say it. Enjoy your writing, because if you don’t enjoy it, what’s the point. If you enjoy it that’s great; if others also enjoy it that’s a bonus.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

## Kendall Series...

### The Mackenzie Dossier

Kendall could just see the television screen. There was a photograph of Governor Frank Reynolds. Across the bottom of the screen the ticker tape announced in large black letters 'Governor Reynolds Murdered'. The voice over was filling in whatever detail was available. Apparently, his body had been discovered earlier that morning. He had been found lying in his garage. He had been shot twice. One shot to the upper chest, the other hitting his shoulder.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Kendall-1.jpg)

[Buy Book 1](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008U6STIQ)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

### The Marinski Affair

The Marinski Affair began as a dull mundane case involving a missing husband. Okay, so he was a rich missing husband, but he was nonetheless, still only a missing husband. The case soon developed into one involving robbery, kidnapping, blackmail and murder. But was there really a kidnapping? And exactly who is blackmailing who? Who actually carried out the robbery? Who committed the murders? Who can you trust? Who can you believe?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Kendall-2-e1506227848689.jpg)

[Buy Book 2](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AFW98D8)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

### Epidemic

Tom Kendall, a down to earth private detective, is asked to investigate the death of a young newspaper reporter. The evidence shows quite clearly that it was an accident: a simple, dreadful accident. That is the finding of the coroner and the local police. Furthermore, there were two witnesses. They saw the whole thing. But was it an accident, or was it something more sinister?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Kendall-3.jpg)

[Buy Book 3](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BS9AIH2)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

### A Killing In The City

‘To make a killing in the City’ is a phrase often used within the financial world, to indicate making a large profit on investments, or through dealings on the stock market - the bigger the profit, the bigger the killing. However, Tom Kendall, a private detective, on vacation in London, has a different kind of killing in mind when he hears about the death of one of his fellow passengers who traveled with him on the plane from Miami. It was suicide apparently, a simple overdose of prescribed tablets.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Kendall-4-e1506227931100.jpg)

[Buy Book 4](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0093N363S)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

### Kendall

Tom Kendall had been with the 32nd Precinct, New York Police Department for just under ten years. But now he wanted a change. Now he wanted to start his own Private Detective Agency. He had grand ideas. He wasn’t interested in just any old case. Oh no, he would handle only the big time cases, the expensive ones. He would be able to take his pick, the ones that he wanted, where the stakes were high and so were the rewards.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Kendall-5.jpg)

[Buy Book 5](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00LGZYZHW)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

### A Case Of Murder

Whittaker passed the drinks over. “Anyway, it seems that he’s got himself into a bit of bother,” he continued. “A very serious bit of bother.”
“Bother?” repeated Kendall.
Whittaker heaved a sigh. “Yes you know,” he replied. “Trouble.”
Kendall nodded. “Oh trouble, I get you,” he said. “So what sort of bother are we talking about?”
Whittaker took another drink. “Well, it’s a case of murder I’m afraid.”
“Murder,” repeated Mollie. Whittaker said nothing but simply nodded agreement.
Another murder, thought Kendall. Just what I need.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Kendall-6.jpg)

[Buy Book 6](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01F18MOGS)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

### Diagnosis Murder

“Mr. Kendall, in the past few months there have been a number of doctors who have mysteriously disappeared, or whose deaths were either alleged to be accidents, or were suicides, or they were actually murdered.”

Kendall made a mental note to find out about these ‘other doctors.’ “A number of doctors you said. How many are we talking about?”
Mrs. Eaton thought for a few moments. “To my knowledge, there have been at least eight cases in the past six months.

[Buy Book 7](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N7G2W11)

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 For a start, a great big thank you, I really hope that you enjoyed my work. If you did, I would greatly appreciate a review. On the other hand if you absolutely hated the books, let that be our little secret, know what I mean, nudge, nudge ….

***What makes you laugh/cry?***

 Comedies, old comedies – The Two Ronnies; Morecombe and Wise; Only Fools and Horse; Tony Hancock; Abbott and Costello; Laurel and Hardy. What makes me cry? Cruelty to children; cruelty to animals; events like those currently happening in Myanmar.

***Is there one person past or present you would meet and why?***

 My father, who died twenty-one years ago. Why? To spend more time with him, as I should have done while he was alive.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

 Photography. That is taking photographs, but also restoring them if I can using Photoshop.

***What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?***

 I have to say that much of modern television, like the movies, leaves me cold. Even the advertisements are loud, in your face, and quite dark. Most of the time I turn to channels showing old programmes – Only fools And Horses; Fawlty Towers. Or I tend to use the television merely to play DVDs of movies. Although, I have to admit that at present I am watching “Bake Off”, and I’ll probably watch Strictly.

***Favorite foods / Colors/ Music***

 As far as foods are concerned, nothing exotic. I’m not one for hot spices, or curries. I like a good steak, and good old fish and chips. As to colours, I’m more into pastel shades, nothing too dark like purples. My musical tastes are varied. Many years ago I used to write articles for a Blues magazine – Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Son House, Charley Patton. But I also like Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Classical music. I very food of ballet, classical ballet that is, (watching, not doing).

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

*I’m afraid I don’t have a blog. All I can offer is my Amazon Author Page and a Facebook Page*

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/John-Holt/e/B003ERI7SI/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/John-Holt-Author-553064201380567/)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/DSC_0061A.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/DSC_0062.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/DCP_5221.jpg)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2017, Author Spotlight

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### [Rebecca Bryn](https://melaniepsmith.com/rebecca-bryn-2/)

**Published:** June 15, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Rebecca Bryn lives near St Davids in West Wales with her husband and rescue dog. She is a multi-genre author but her first love is historical thrillers with a twist: tales of courage, hope, and unbreakable love. A self-taught artist, she also paints the stunning Pembrokeshire coast in watercolor and has work in private collections worldwide. 

**Content:**

# Rebecca Bryn

***Interesting facts...***

Rebecca Bryn lives near St Davids in West Wales with her husband and rescue dog. She is a multi-genre author but her first love is historical thrillers with a twist: tales of courage, hope, and unbreakable love. A self-taught artist, she also paints the stunning Pembrokeshire coast in watercolor and has work in private collections worldwide.

She has contributed to three charity anthologies and is presently writing the third book in her historical series, ‘For Their Country’s Good’ a story inspired by family members transported to Van Diemen’s Land in 1841. She hopes to publish all three in 2017.

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

 I live with my husband and rescue dog in West Wales, where I paint the fabulous coastal scenery and write thrillers with a twist and a dash of romance.

 ***Tell us your latest news***

 I have just published ‘Beneath Strange Stars’, Book Two of ‘For Their Country’s Good’ a series inspired by my great-great-great-uncle who, along with two of his cousins, was transported to Van Diemen’s Land for killing one of Lord Northampton’s gamekeepers.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Me-and-Kes-600px-368x500.jpg)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Facebook-icon-96.png)](http://www.facebook.com/rebecca.bryn.novels)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Twitter-icon-96.png)](https://twitter.com/rebeccabryn1)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Pinterest-icon-96.png)](https://uk.pinterest.com/jandrcoulson)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Imgur-icon-96.png)](http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/rebecca-bryn)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Livejournal-icon-96.png)](http://www.rebeccabrynandsarahstuart-novels.co.uk)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Goodread-icon-96.png)](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8434030.Rebecca_Bryn)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Amazon-icon-96.png)](http://author.to/RebeccaBryn)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Ella, from 'For Their Country's Good' Series ( On Different Shores, Beneath Strange Stars, On Common Ground)...**

***Ella, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from?***

 I was born in Bath, England, in 1823, the illegitimate daughter of a housekeeper. According to my mother, I’ve always had ‘ideas above your station life, young lady.’. I helped my mother keep house for Josiah Barton, solicitor, as soon as I could stand on a stool at the scullery sink, but I’d seen the hours she scrubbed and cooked, and the very different way young Ralph Barton lived, and wanted better for myself and my children. Ambition, not a virtue in a woman, has caused me a whole heap of trouble.

***What makes you Jem so special?***

 It’s hard to say. I was promised to Harry, a good match for one of my station, but Jem, one of the bad boys in the village, excited me. It was the twinkle in his eye, his teasing… his love of nature, and the fact that he treated me like a person, an equal, and not a chattel.

***Tell me about your reputation and how it has impact your life and your relationships?***

 I’d hoped, leaving Bath for Yardley Hastings, I could begin again with a clean slate. It was not to be. Ralph kissed me, and Josiah wanted me out of the way of his son’s temptation. I didn’t see the letter he wrote to Reverend Buchanan, but it must have been damning for the rector to brand me a whore. ‘The devil looks out of your eyes, Ella Maundrell.’ Hence his hurry to get me married off and safely someone else’s responsibility. That damned kiss caused everything that happened to me afterwards. It isn’t fair that it was me who was sent away. It was Ralph who kissed me!

## New Release...

**For Their Country’s Good Series (On Different Shores, Beneath Strange Stars, On Common Ground):**

A tale of a young poacher transported to Van Diemen’s Land in 1841, and the girl determined not to be left behind whatever the cost.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider.png)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/OCG-front-cover-400px-334x500.jpg)](http://mybook.to/OnCommonGround)

[Buy Book 3](http://mybook.to/OnCommonGround)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider.png)

***Do you have any regrets, Ella? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

 Oh, Dear God, what a question to ask me. Have you read my story? Every choice I’ve ever made has gone wrong. I pleaded guilty to something I didn’t do and began a chain of events that led from disaster to disaster for everyone I love.

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

 In my home in Brown’s River Road, near Hobart. Hopefully with grandchildren and the man I love. Either that or the cemetery. I’ve had a hard life, borne a lot of children. Men and women don’t usually live much beyond their forties, and children often don’t survive their first year.

***If there was one thing you could change about your past what would it be?***

 At one time, I’d have said marrying Harry, and, looking back, it would have avoided a lot of my later disasters, deprivations and difficult choices. But then I’d never had had Matthew, my second son, or met Tom, and Jack, and Will. I have ten wonderful children from three different fathers, and I wouldn’t change having them for the world.

***If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go?***

 I’d take Jem to England to see his mother, brothers, and sisters. He’s exiled to Van Diemen’s Land for life, so he can never go home to England.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

***Want to know more about Rebecca Bryn? Continue reading her in depth interview...***

***When and why did you begin writing?***

 I began about thirteen years ago. I was proof-reading for a friend, and my husband said, ‘Why don’t you have a go?’ I said ‘I don’t have any imagination, and I wouldn’t know where to start.’ I think he regrets saying that now. I typed Chapter One, then ‘Jem frowned and scanned the horizon. Nothing.’ And I was off. Jem no longer exists in that novel, and no-one scans any horizons, but a story was born. It was published in 2015, after many drafts, rewrites, and even more years, under the title of Where Hope Dares.

***Do you have a specific writing style?***

 I like to get inside my characters’ heads and stay there. I also like a bit of descriptive prose, and emotional angst. I make my characters suffer!

***How did you come up with the title for your historical series, ‘For Their County’s Good’?***

 It’s from the Barrington Prologue, written for a play about the transportation of convicts to Van Diemens’ Land .

*From different climes,* o’er wide spread *seas we come,*
*(Though not with much éclat, or beat of drum)*
*True patriots all; for, be it understood,*
*We left our country for our country’s good.*
*~*
*Henry Carter c1800*

***Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

 I didn’t intend there to be a message in it, but the more research I did, the more the subject of women’s rights, or rather the lack of them in Victorian England, became an integral and inescapable part of Ella’s story. I think we must be grateful we live in more enlightened times, but stay alert to erosions to the equality of women, especially as other cultures and many religions have different attitudes. Women died so we could vote, remember.

***How much of the book is realistic?***

 An awful lot. I was fortunate to be able to access transcripts of committal proceedings and newspaper reports of Jem’s trial, the convict records of Jem and his cousins while aboard Stirling Castle, a prison hulk, on board the convict ship, HMS Tortoise, and at Impression Bay convict station. I also have the surgeon’s log and first mate’s reports of the voyage of Garland Grove, the ship Ella sailed on. All the ships mentioned sailed on the dates stated, to the destinations mentioned, and with the factual crews and cargo. Also Jem’s marriage permissions, marriage certificates, birth records of his children and his burial records. There is also a lot of information about the various convict station in Van Diemen’s Land, and life in them. The research was fascinating.

***Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?***

 My black sheep forebear was James Underwood, known locally as Jem. Jem was a real person, though obviously he died long before I was born: Grandma was very tight-lipped about him… Ella is fictional, but I have used a lot of my own life experience to underpin her emotions and character. I have faced some of her choices. I strongly refute any suggestion that I was ever a prostitute, however!

***Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?***

 There is a wealth of talent amongst Indie authors, but Lesley Hayes and Nico Laeser are two that spring immediately to mind.

***What are your current projects?***

 On Common Ground – Book Three of ‘For Their Country’s Good’ was recently released.

***Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.***

 Can I cheat and list three? The Word Cloud, an on-line forum for writers, Indie Author Support and Discussion, an invaluable Facebook resource and support group for authors, and Sarah Stuart, author of the Royal Command series, for her critiques, friendship, and support.

***Can you share a little of your current work with us?***

 I’d love to. This is the beginning of Book Three, On Common Ground. Ella has pleaded guilty to theft and has been transported to Van Diemen’s Land. She had hopes of finding Jem but has been forced to put herself forward for marriage to save their son from starvation. Her new husband, Tom, has succumbed to gold fever, and is taking her and her son to Australia, while Jem is still imprisoned in a penal colony in Van Diemen’s Land.

The Blue Mountains, New South Wales: May 1843.

From Katoomba, the trail had turned north into wilder terrain. Ella dragged the reluctant Blue along by her halter rope, the mare as loathe as she to climb higher into the mountains. They trudged on together, ever farther from Jem, the man she’d hoped to find in Van Diemen’s Land: the man she loved and who was William’s father. William was not yet two year’s old, but his little legs pounded along gamely beside her, his hands clutching a stone he’d stopped to gather on the way. She glanced behind her, too aware of the growing distance between her and Jem. Tom and Jack walked alongside the wagon, Tom checking the ropes that held the load in place. Everything they owned or, rather, everything Tom and Jack owned, for she had nothing but her secret cache of five sovereigns and a filthy patchwork quilt to call her own, was on that wagon.

‘Hold up, Ella! Whoa.’

## Additional Books in Series

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ODS-front-cover-400px-FINAL-14.4.17-RFbadge-334x500.jpg)](http://mybook.to/OnDifferentShores)

[Buy Book 1](http://mybook.to/OnDifferentShores)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider.png)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BSS-front-cover-400px-334x500.jpg)](http://mybook.to/BeneathStrangeStars)

[Buy Book 2](http://mybook.to/BeneathStrangeStars)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider.png)

## Rebecca's other Titles...

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/New-cover-STONES-RF-400px.jpg)](http://mybook.to/SilenceoftheStones)

**The Silence of the Stones:** A mystery thriller set in West Wales – missing children, wrongful imprisonment, and revenge.

[Buy Book](http://mybook.to/SilenceoftheStones)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider.png)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/1Cover-Touching-The-Wire-Award-400pxl-copy-333x500.jpg)](http://mybook.to/TouchingtheWire)

**Touching the Wire:** The women and children of Auschwitz and a man who tried to save them from a fate worse than death.

[Buy Book](http://mybook.to/TouchingtheWire)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider.png)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/WHD-new-book-cover-4-with-Kiya-400px-copy-327x500.jpg)](http://getbook.at/WhereHopeDares)

**Where Hope Dares:** a dystopian tale set in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. A 1000-mile journey to rescue the woman he loves. Kidnap, religious upheaval, and slaughter. A new order rises, and the old order fights back.

[Buy Book](http://getbook.at/WhereHopeDares)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider.png)

She let the mare stop, feeling more like a carthorse herself the way Tom had yelled at her. Her arms and legs ached. Her back ached. She bit back a scathing reply. She owed Tom. If it hadn’t been for his offer of marriage, freeing her from penal servitude, William would probably be dead in a cot in the Launceston female-factory nursery, along with too many other innocent victims of their mothers’ crimes. She drew a ragged breath. ‘What’s the matter?’

Tom heaved at a rope. ‘Rope’s come loose. Nothing to worry about. Jack, is the far side secure?’

Jakson Moore, first mate of the brig that had brought them from Launceston to Sydney for their journey across the Blue Mountains, ducked down behind the load and then came up smiling. ‘Aye, aye, sir.’

Tom laughed. ‘Let’s set sail then. Get on, Ella.’

She muttered a curse. If it hadn’t been for all their belongings, they could have ridden from Sydney in comfort in the stagecoach that had passed them that morning. ‘Come on, Blue. Not much farther tonight.’ The mare blew in her ear, then moved a slow foot forward and stopped. ‘Tom, Blue needs a rest. That stagecoach had a four-in-hand. Poor Blue is only one old nag. William needs a rest, too. Damn it, Tom. I need a rest.’

He hoisted her son onto his broad shoulders, making William giggle with delight. ‘When we get over the next hill.’

There was always a next hill, and then another, and another. The distance they’d trudged today was barely more than the carrier ride from Yardley Hastings to Northampton, back home in England, but they could only travel at the pace of the old mare, and the trail, though broad enough for two carts to pass, was rougher than the newly metalled roads of Northamptonshire and uphill all the way. They’d been on the road for days and seemed no nearer to leaving the mountains behind or even reaching their crest.

Jack put his weight to the back of the cart. ‘Come on, Ella. Not much farther, then we’ll call it a day. You pull. I’ll push.’

Jack’s decision to leave his ship in Port Jackson and come with them on Tom’s misguided search for gold the far side of the Blue Mountains had been fortuitous. Most of the people they’d met on the trail had been pleasant enough, but on occasion she’d been glad she and William had the protection of two strong men, armed with pistols and rifles. As Jack had pointed out on more than one occasion, Australia was rife with criminals.

She smiled despite her exhaustion. Tom had been transported for sheep stealing, and she for theft. Her smile faded. “Two men are better proof against bushrangers and other murdering thieves.” That had been Jack’s warning when he’d bought the firearms in Sydney. Their new friend had lost no time in latching on to a couple who seemed to have money to burn and were setting out to prospect for gold the far side of the mountains on nothing more than the rumour of wealth to be had. She knew even less about Jack than she did about Tom, and that was little enough. Was Jakson Moore here as a free man or a convict who’d gained a pardon? If a convict, what had been his crime?

Blue’s breath wreathed in front of her for a brief moment before the wind claimed it and whisked it away.

‘Come on, Blue. Walk on.’ The mare stepped forward, leaning into her collar, and she patted the animal’s neck. ‘Good girl.’ Without Blue, they had no chance of making it over the mountains with their possessions. The horse responded to her words of encouragement, and the cart rumbled on with Tom walking at her side and talking to William.

They’d followed the ridge from Jamison’s Valley and the magnificent Wentworth Falls, the trail leading north now between wooded, rock-faced ravines that fell away to the east and west. They’d climbed ever higher across a scrubby plateau and, the higher they’d climbed the colder it had become. Winter’s fingers crept with merciless haste across the mountaintops, and the wind that blew across the ridge was icy cold.

The land that had broadened into a plateau narrowed again, leaving them exposed on a narrow spine of land covered in black, scrubby brush above valleys that dropped away to meet other valleys and watercourses; the land spread out below them like wrinkled cloth or a Savoy cabbage leaf that held tiny lakes of water within its crinkled folds.

The thought of cabbages took her back to the kitchen garden at Newhay Farm, and Harry, and the baby son she’d been forced to leave behind. Matthew would be a year old by midsummer. She pulled her hat down around her ears. A balmy midsummer in middle England, not the bitter cold of an Australian mountain midwinter. She forced a smile at William. He’d probably never know his half-brother back in England, but he would know the child that grew in her belly: Tom’s child and another tie to a man she might not be able to stay with.

***Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?***

 Tolkien – I love the way he invents a whole world to the finest detail and makes you believe it’s real.

***Who designed the covers?***

 I designed them myself. Writing on a shoestring…

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 Read my books? Seriously, if any of you do read my books, please leave me a review. It’s what connects me to you, what helps improve my writing. It’s desperately important to an author to know what readers like or don’t like about their work.

***What do you want written on your head stone and why?***

 ‘The only thing written in stone is your epitaph.’ Because nothing stays the same, and we have the option to change things if we can find the courage.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

[Click Here](http://www.rebeccabrynandsarahstuart-novels.co.uk) for my official website.

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2017, Author Spotlight

---

### [Allison Cosgrove](https://melaniepsmith.com/allison-cosgrove/)

**Published:** May 22, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** I am a married mother of three. I work full time. I write, sew, crochet and knit in my spare time. I also spend as much time outdoors as I can swing. Usually in the spring/summer/fall I am no where to be found on the weekends (unless you go visit the boonies and find the right trail that I decided to use that day.)

**Content:**

# Allison Cosgrove

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

 I am a married mother of three. I work full time. I write, sew, crochet and knit in my spare time. I also spend as much time outdoors as I can swing. Usually in the spring/summer/fall I am no where to be found on the weekends (unless you go visit the boonies and find the right trail that I decided to use that day.)

 ***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 My best friend and I were out for coffee one night (about ten years ago) and she asked me what was one thing that I had wanted to accomplish when I was younger. I answered I wanted to write a novel. From that point on she refused to let the thought go and well Sacrifice of Innocence was born out of it. The rest just sort of flowed from there.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/10625072_703949006390810_5038184230332021262_n-500x500.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AllisonMCosgrove/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/alleycat34)

[Website](https://stanbrookshire.com/)

[My Blog](https://stanbrookshire.com/blog/)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4917376.Allison_M_Cosgrove?%20%20from_search=true&search_version=service)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=Allison+Cosgrove&search-%20%20alias=digital-text&field-author=Allison+Cosgrove&sort=relevancerank)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Stan Brookshire, the main character in Allison Cosgrove’s Stan Brookshire Series...**

 ***Stan Brookshire tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn’t revealed in your story?***

 I grew up in a tough area of Lake City and my mom wasn't around much growing up. The amount of drugs and crime I saw every day was something that I didn't want the next generation to grow up having to see. So I became a cop. A good one. I worked in Vice for years and was quite good at it.

***Tell me about your reputation and how it has impact your life and your relationship?***

I was an alcoholic at one point in time. If it hadn't been for my partner Jane I would have drank myself into oblivion. As It was I already had a long way to get back to normal when she started in on me to fix my issues. To this day, the damage I did to others around me because of drinking still crops up to haunt me. As much as I haven't touched a drop in years I still feel the stares and the judgments from others.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

It has taken me a long time to come to terms with the loss of my partner from vice. We spent almost every waking moment with each other. He was my best friend in every aspect of my life. I trusted him with my life and he with his. The day he died in a drug bust gone wrong was I looked back on frequently and often wondered if there was something I could have done differently. I blamed myself for years. Even after I recovered from the physical injuries I punished myself for letting him die. It cost me my marriage and almost cost me my job.

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

Doing the same dammed thing I have been for the last twenty. I have always wanted to be a cop since the day I was old enough to think about what I wanted to be. I can't honestly see myself doing anything else.

***If you could have anyone locked in a room so that you could torment them for a day, whom would you choose and how would you torment them?***

Do you want the short list? Or a comprehensive one? Honestly, any asshole that touches a child deserves to go a few rounds with me in a locked room. I am not so sure that the justice system would appreciate that however.

***Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year?***

I am already not the best looking guy on the planet so I guess that means I am living forever.

***Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?***

I am already stuck in elevators every day with Jane... that is bad enough. Have you met the woman? She almost never stops nattering. And she is going to kick my ass when she reads this... any chance that we can just not show her this?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

***Want to know more about Allison Cosgrove? Continue reading her in-depth interview...***

***How much of the book is realistic?***

As close to reality as I can muster. I do a LOT of research on both criminals, the justice system and forensics. My aim is to leave thoughts lingering in the back of my readers minds, make them wonder about the things that go bump in the night?

***What books have most influenced your life most? Do you have a mentor?***

Stephen King and his journey as a writer has been the biggest influence on me and my writing. He (unknowingly) was the one who kept me going even when I felt like I wasnt enough. His story about how long he took to finally be published made me realize that I had nothing to fear about my writing but rather all I need do is keep on writing and the rest would eventually fall into place. And it did.

***What are your current projects?***

I have a few books that I am working on:

*Once Burned* - should be out in August and will be the start of a new romantic suspense series based around hot men and hot cars and the ladies who love them.

*Dark Horse I: Ruin* - should be out in October and will be the start of a spin-off trilogy from the original Stan Brookshire series. It will be a little darker than what I usually write but I am looking forward to some fun there.

*Virus* - should be out in December and it is the third book in the romantic suspense Den of Thieves series. This time, our beloved computer guru Rudy gets his shot at love.

***Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members?***

My fellow Indie Authors. I never would have found the courage to break out on my own unless I had their love support and advice to guide and hold me up.

***Who designed the covers?***

I am lucky as I have two wonderful designers! Miranda Stork does all of the Stan Brookshire covers and the lovely Mina Carter does all the Den of Thieves novels.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

Never give up. Keep writing even in the darkest hours. Find your brothers and sisters in the author community. Look to them for guidance. And take to heart the knowledge that your work will not be for everyone, that low star reviews are part of the deal but in turn read them and try to learn from them in some way.

***What do you want written on your headstone and why?***

*"Someone didn't give her coffee."*

Just kidding... although most of my readers will totally be able to see that. All joking aside;

*"She gave it her all."*

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/12122586_878164085592634_6084389494959713621_n.jpg)](https://stanbrookshire.com/)

## Coming Soon...

## 'Only the Willing' (Stan Brookshire Novel 6) Available July 3rd

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/OTW-Front-313x500.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Only-Willing-Stan-Brookshire-Novel-ebook/dp/B01FTHKWIS)

[Pre-Order Now](https://www.amazon.com/Only-Willing-Stan-Brookshire-Novel-ebook/dp/B01FTHKWIS)

## Stan Brookshire Series

## New to the Series? Start at the beginning with Sacrifice of Innocence (Novel 1)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/sacrificeofinnocence_allisoncosgrove-306x500.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Innocence-Stan-Brookshire-Novel-ebook/dp/B00B8JLA1K)

[Buy Book 1](https://www.amazon.com/Sacrifice-Innocence-Stan-Brookshire-Novel-ebook/dp/B00B8JLA1K)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Dragon-Twins-FRONT-299x500.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Twins-Stan-Brookshire-Novel-ebook/dp/B00DPEWFO2)

[Buy Book 2](https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Twins-Stan-Brookshire-Novel-ebook/dp/B00DPEWFO2)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/An-Insomniacs-Dream-FRONT-299x500.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Insomniacs-Dream-Stan-Brookshire-Novel-ebook/dp/B00T0VFIXY)

[Buy Book 3](https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Twins-Stan-Brookshire-Novel-ebook/dp/B00DPEWFO2)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Pieces-of-You-FRONT-299x500.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Insomniacs-Dream-Stan-Brookshire-Novel-ebook/dp/B00T0VFIXY)

[Buy Book 4](https://www.amazon.com/Insomniacs-Dream-Stan-Brookshire-Novel-ebook/dp/B00T0VFIXY)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/FRONT-2-313x500.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Widowmaker-Stan-Brookshire-Novel-Book-ebook/dp/B01A1GE4WM)

[Buy Book 5](https://www.amazon.com/Widowmaker-Stan-Brookshire-Novel-Book-ebook/dp/B01A1GE4WM)

## Be sure to check out Allison's other series...Den of Thieves

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Diamonds_front-333x500.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Diamonds-Den-Thieves-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00YQA2FKI)

[Buy Book 1](https://www.amazon.com/Diamonds-Den-Thieves-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00YQA2FKI)

[![Book 2](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Bodyguard_front-333x500.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Bodyguard-Den-Thieves-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01B8Y8EPO)

[Buy Book 2](https://www.amazon.com/Bodyguard-Den-Thieves-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01B8Y8EPO)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [Sarah Stuart](https://melaniepsmith.com/sarah-stuart/)

**Published:** April 19, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Sarah Stuart - Sarah has a wide mix of interests which are reflected in her sizzling romantic suspense novels, royalties from which, she donates to animal conservation and rescue charities worldwide.

**Content:**

# Sarah Stuart

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us your latest news.***

Seriously? I’m still alive: it was in doubt right over the period when Dynasty of Deceit, which I’d put on pre-order, was launched on December 3rd 2016 and well into January this year. My best friend welcomed me back to the internet with the remark that research could be carried too far! Readers of Illicit Passion will know what she meant.

 ***When and why did you begin writing?***

 “Mother said I was a dancer before I could walk” (Abba – Thank You for The Music). In other words, I made up stories in my head before I could write. I was an only child and we lived well outside a very small village; cuddly toys led an exciting fantasy life. I completed my first book when I was eight: They Gave Me Macushla, a pony story set in Ireland, where I’d never been, and the only good thing about it is I finished it, all 3000 words! Oh, and the grammar and punctuation are correct.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SARAH.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Sarah-Stuart-1640446799559640/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/sasspip)

[Google+](https://plus.google.com/112327945505120610871)

[Amazon Author](https://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Stuart/e/B00MA9XLHI)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3159319.Sarah_Stuart)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Michael Marsh, The Diamond Superstar...**

***Michael, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn't revealed in your story?***

I was born in a very poor part of Leeds, a city in the north of England, the youngest of three children. My father died saving a child’s life, pushing her out of the way of a speeding car, and I saw it happen. Readers will know that, but not that I suffered from nightmares about it for years..

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider.png)

## Sarah's Books...

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NEW-DL-COVER-LARGE-WITH-TITLES-and-bronze-award-333x500.jpg)](http://viewbook.at/DangerousLiaisons)

[Buy Book 1](http://viewbook.at/DangerousLiaisons)

***Tell me about your reputation and how it has impact your life and your relationship?***

 My reputation is mixed. I worked very hard, with Lizzie’s help, to become a superstar, and my fans see me as sexy: a man they dream is in love with them. I made a terrible mistake with Lisette, which Lizzie helped me cover up, but an enemy revealed it to the media and journalists ignore “unproven” if it gets in the way of a good story: one foot wrong and they resurrect the scandal.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

 I regret not taking Lizzie on foreign tours with me, and the children in school holidays. I left her alone in England, and Lisette and James didn’t recognise me when I walked in the door. Rarely seeing me was the root cause of Lisette’s “crush” on me, The Diamond Superstar. It would have avoided so much if she’d known her father well.

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

 I know where I’d like to be, and with whom. It depends on what happens in Sweet Temptation. My scribe, Sarah, hasn’t finished it yet.

***Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation?***

 Emerald eyes “watching me” and sensing a friendly presence in the hall at Kinloch House. I believe my mother-in-law, Margaret Cameron, could have explained it, but she never did.

***What was the best compliment you have ever received?***

 Lizzie chose independence and gave it up, for me, and said so, in her own way.
“We only have one life. No second chances. No, I got that wrong. Go back and try again. This is our life, our chance to make it together, and we will, if you stay with me.”

***Mountains or Beach?***

 Mountains: Lizzie came from the Western Highlands of Scotland.

***Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?***

 Nobody, Melanie. I have enough trouble with the women in my life without another!

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

***Now, let’s get to know Sarah a little better with the rest of her in-depth interview...***

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 It was who, not what. I bumped into, literally, a real showbiz superstar or, more accurately, he bumped into me. Like Lisette, Michael’s eldest daughter in Dangerous Liaisons, I owned every CD he’d issued. Driving home from shopping I stopped at a pub in the village nearest to home to book a table for dinner. It was very quiet, only one man with his back to me leaning on the bar. The landlord came and noted the date, time and table size I wanted and I turned to leave. “Your lunch is ready. Where would you like it bringing?” The landlord wasn’t talking to me and I assumed his customer had answered with a nod and gone to sit down. No! He’d decided on the garden. HE stopped me falling and invited me to join him. Would you have said no, even with a bag of frozen food in the back of your car? I sure didn’t! It was he who told me about the loneliness of long absences on concert tours once a wife is tied down with children. In his case, it ended in divorce, but I started to think “What if it didn’t? What if… What if…” and the root of the plot for the Royal Command series was born.

***How did you come up with the title?***

 A thesaurus is very useful when you know what you want to say, but not quite how.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider-decor-copy-1.png)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NEW-ILLICIT-PASSION-cover-with-title-and-RF-badge-333x500.jpg)](http://viewbook.at/ILLICITPASSION)

[Buy Book 2](http://viewbook.at/ILLICITPASSION)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider-decor-copy-1.png)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/DYNASTY-OF-DECEIT-cover-with-titles-and-RF-badge.jpg)](http://viewbook.at/DynastyofDeceit)

[Buy Book 3](http://viewbook.at/DynastyofDeceit)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider-decor-copy-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/SWEET-TEMPTATION.jpg)

#### Work in Progress \| Coming Soon...

***How much of the book is realistic? And is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

 All the background settings are realistic, partly from research but more of it from experience. Dangerous Liaisons opens on a Scottish shooting estate: the ex-gamekeeper who helped with my research was “ex” because he’d become sickened with the people he served. He cared for deer so they could shoot the best for trophy heads, raised pheasants, and organised beaters to frighten them into flying towards the guns, to give then “a good bag” to boast about. I’d been a member of the League Against Cruel Sports from a teenager and his stories made me look further, to endangered species worldwide. The message behind the Royal Command series is if we ignore the plight, and the suffering, of threatened groups of animals they will become extinct and Earth will be the poorer for their loss.

The setting moves to London, a city I know well and love, and various theatre managements have been very helpful, but most of my insider knowledge comes from a period when I lived in Wales and provided trained dogs for the musicals and plays staged at Aberystwyth University’s Arts Theatre during the vacations. These were professional productions, many on their pre-West End run, and it was a marvellous opportunity to see how things were done, and to talk to directors, choreographers, stagehands, and the actors. I met producers, like Clement Fynn, only less eccentric, through my association with the Northern Ballet. It does mean the showbiz characters are realistic. The message behind Michael and Lisette’s story is that fame and fortune come at a high personal cost.

***What books have influenced your life most? A mentor?***

 I met the late, great, Mary Stewart, (Nine Coaches Waiting, This Rough Magic etc.) who was born, and worked as a teacher, near where I’ve lived for the last few years. Lady Mary was the first to combine love stories with mystery and danger; she created the genre Romantic Suspense. She read the first draft of Dangerous Liaisons. “The couple should meet in the first chapter, even if they hate each other.” Draft two was underway; arguing with the first lady of your chosen genre would be crazy, and the book would never have won a Readers’ Favorite Bronze Medal, albeit several drafts later.

***What book are you reading now?***

 On Distant Shores by Rebecca Bryn.

***Are there any new authors that have grabbed your interest?***

 Linda Lee Lane. I reviewed her book, Katterina Ballerina, for Readers’ Favorite. It was her first book and it needed work, but it was a superb first effort at a children’s book.

***What are your current projects?***

 I’m writing Sweet Temptation, book four in the Royal Command series, and continuing to review books for Readers’ Favorite.

***Can you share a little of your current work with us?***

 Sweet Temptation introduces Evie, one of the detectives Michael employed to find out who killed Lizzie in Dynasty of Deceit, as a major character. Also, Greta, Michael’s youngest daughter, who is developing an interest in boys, and keeping quiet about it.

***What was the hardest part of writing your book?***

 Keeping track of the characters’ ages. The Royal Command saga spans over forty years and that means a huge, and changing, cast.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 If you can afford a proof-reader, employ one. If you can’t, find beta readers and ask them to mark everything they spot from missed quote marks to a misspelled name. Before you send them a draft, use a spell and grammar check, isolate all your common mistakes – mine is he’s when it should be he’d – and use “find” on them. (He’s brings up she’s too.)

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 Please take the time to write a review and post it on Amazon Com, the Amazon site from which you bought it, if different, and Goodreads. Very few do, compared to sales and Kindle Unlimited pages read: their feedback can be incredibly helpful, to potential readers and, even more, to the author.

***Do you remember the first book you read?***

 I must go back to my mother to answer this; I didn’t read Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby, or not as a child. Like my father singing opera, which encouraged me to like classical music, she looked on a chapter from a Charles Dickens novel as a suitable bedtime story. I’m not sure, but I think the first she read to me was A Christmas Carol. I can’t ask her, she died when I was only nineteen.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

 History, as readers will have guessed from the Book of Hours that “belonged” to Margaret Tudor. It was fascinating to find a gap when she could have had an illegitimate child, and the freedom from James IV of Scotland seeing her pregnant. Travel: there are countries in the world I’ve never visited, and one I’d rather I hadn’t, but I’ve been to everywhere I use in my books, except Kraków in Poland. I couldn’t resist using the Tauron Arena, which seats eighteen thousand people, for the final concert of Lisette and Michael’s European tour in Illicit Passion. I’ve had a dog, or dogs, most of my life: the dog who played Sandy in the musical, Annie, was my first step into show business. Wildlife, especially endangered species and discarded pets: the reason I donate 100% of my royalties to animal conservation and rescue charities. The dog curled up beside me now came from The Blue Cross, a UK animal shelter.

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2017, Author Spotlight

---

### [Angela Lockwood](https://melaniepsmith.com/angela-lockwood/)

**Published:** March 8, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:**  Meet author Angela Lockwood and Tom the cat.  Angela is a Dutch-born writer, she's lived most of her adult life first in Scotland and now in France

**Content:**

# Angela Lockwood

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

 I’m a Dutch-born writer, but have lived most of my adult life first in Scotland and now in France.

 ***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 I’m very lucky to live in the south of France, but unlike a lot of ex-pats I’m not of retirement age. Work is seasonal and in the winter of 2013 I found myself unemployed and very frustrated by an unusually wet January. To stop me from climbing the walls, my husband suggested I write him a horror story. The tale got rather out of hand and grew into a two-book series - Language in the Blood. It’s a comedy about a young Scotsman, Cameron Blair, who goes off to fight in the First World War. Lying wounded on the battlefield, he is discovered by a vampire with inevitable consequences. The story follows Cameron as he comes to terms with his new ‘life’, from his first days as a hapless vampire in war-torn France to the glamorous modern day setting of the Côte d’Azur. Along the way, he develops a distinctive taste for the finer things in life: jewels, yachts, small dogs and champagne-infused human.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/P_20170205_203640.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/CruftsloverAkaCameronBlair)

[Tom's FB](https://www.facebook.com/TomstertheCat)

[Amazon](http://Author.to/authorpage)

[Website](http://www.cruftslover.adzl.com)

[My Blog](http://languageintheblood.blogspot.fr)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Tom, from Conversations with Tom...**

 ***Tom, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn’t revealed in your story?***

 I’m not entirely sure where I’m from but my earliest memories are from being at a refuge in Hastings with my brothers and sisters. My mother was thrown out of her home when she was pregnant with me. Mum was only eighteen months old when she found herself homeless and alone with five children. Maybe I should mention that I’m a cat and that I have since been adopted by my great friend and human, Jeff.

One thing that is not revealed in the book is that I like listening to talk radio. I’m not keen on music, or noise in general, but I find humans talking in soft voices very soothing.

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/kindle-book-cover.jpg)](https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B01N6NH9Y1&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_8PfWyb0QEW4E8)

[Buy Now...](http://myBook.to/ConversationswithTom)

***Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?***

 To be honest, I don’t remember much about my kittenhood. Kittens are rather silly with their oversized heads and undersized tails, but Jeff keeps reminding me that I once was one. His eyes mostly glaze over when he remembers fondly how cute I was. I think I’m still adorable but humans go rather mushy when it comes to baby animals. Jeff tells me I grew up in a house with a garden and that I had a great time.

 ***What makes you Tom so special?***

 I’m a ginger cat that just gave you an interview. What more do you want?

***Tell me about your reputation and how it has impact your life and your relationship?***

 Jeff always comes to me for advice. It’s sometimes a heavy burden as I’m a cat and Jeff really needs some sound human guidance. I never let on though, and try to give him my best insights.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

 What are regrets? Can you eat them?

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

 Wow, that seems a large number. I don’t like change, so I hope I will still be living in the same house with my human, Jeff.

***If there was one thing you could change about your past what would it be?***

 Wouldn’t change a thing. Especially as I don’t remember much before six months ago.

***If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go?***

 I hate going to places. It involves being put in my cat basket and the destination is mostly rubbish. Something ghastly like a visit to the vet for vaccinations!

***Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation?***

 Jeff asked me this morning how this dead mouse got into his slippers. I told him that I had no explanation for that happening. I’m not sure he believed me.

***What was the best compliment you have ever received?***

 Jeff complimented me last night on leaving the cleanest empty tin of tuna behind. My pleasure, Jeff, my pleasure indeed!

***If you could have anyone locked in a room so that you could torment them for a day, whom would you choose and how would you torment them?***

 Jeff would say that I’d like to torment mice, baby rabbits and birds. I would say it is not tormenting but rather enhancing the dining experience.

***Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year?***

 I’ve been told that we cats have nine lives, so I’ll take the risk and be attractive.

***If you could go to anyone (living or dead) for advice who would it be and what would you ask?***

 I mostly go to my black and white friend, Felix, for advice. He is twelve years old and the wisest cat I know. I would ask him what number comes after four. He is teaching me how to count and I forgot again.

***What is the weirdest thing about you? Are you proud of it or embarrassed?***

 I wouldn’t say it is weird, but I think very few cats have their own Facebook page. My human helped me set it up and unfortunately he has admin access, but I do try and post daily on Tomfoolery. It’s something I’m rather proud of.

***Mountains or Beach?***

 I would say neither, but as I hate water I’d have to go with the mountains.

***Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?***

 A large Tuna, in case it takes a while...

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

*****Want to know more about Angela Lockwood? Continue reading her in depth interview...*****

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider-decor-copy-1.png)

## Additional Works...

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Language.jpg)](https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B00EMEN1P6&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_DPfWyb0B9TB0Y)

Language in the Blood - Until the outbreak of the First World War, young Cameron Blair would have liked nothing better than to stay in Edinburgh and marry his childhood sweetheart. As the call to arms goes out, Cameron and his pals sign up to fight for their country. They are soon delivered into the nightmare of war, and there Cameron more than meets his maker.

[Buy Now...](http://myBook.to/LanguageintheBlood)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider-decor-copy-1.png)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Blood-ties.jpg)](https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B00SD3GY6A&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_RMfWybQTBXXV9)

Blood Ties-Locked up, his needs denied, misunderstood and plagued by an unhealthy obsession with his friend’s daughter, the bored vampire edges close to insanity. Before long, Cameron starts plotting his escape. .

[Buy Now...](http://myBook.to/BloodTiesLitb)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider-decor-copy-1.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DSCF4292.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider-decor-copy-1.png)

***Tell us your latest news.***

 What started as a diversion is now a passion that takes up most of my spare time. My cat, Clicquot, is my main inspiration at the moment, but to be honest he is as much a hindrance as a muse. Despite his best efforts, I managed to publish my third book, a romantic novel for cat lovers called **Conversations with Tom** in February.

***Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

 Absolutely not! I only hope that my novel will make you smile and give you a few hours entertainment.

***How much of the book is realistic?***

 **Conversations with Tom** was inspired by my own cat, Clicquot and started as a series of short stories based on his antics. Many characters in the book are based on actual people. Jeff the main character has a lot of my character faults, like being a bit of a dreamer and not overly ambitious in life.

***Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?***

 I lived for 20 years in Scotland and the wonderful (and colorful) people that I met during this time still inspire my writing. All my books have a bit of Scotland in them. The vampire in my first book is from Edinburgh and Jeff the main character in **Conversations with Tom** falls in love with a girl from the Scottish Borders and has to deal with her rather colorful family.

***Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.***

 I had so much support from a Facebook group of fellow independent writers, the IASD. I can’t begin to tell you how much I learned from fellow writers sharing their experiences, helping each other beta-read and even publishing two bundles of short stories together: [Holes](https://www.amazon.com/Holes-Author-Anthology-Angela-Lockwood-ebook/dp/B01633DFPY) and [You’re not Alone](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y5RCOOE).

Since my first book started as a hobby and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on it, I decided to take the self-publishing route. I was lucky enough to have an editor as a friend and her help has been invaluable. Self-publishing however has now become a philosophy. To have control over all aspects of the publishing process is rewarding but difficult. I’ve met many interesting people (virtually all online!) while learning about cover design, formatting your book for e-readers and print, and doing your own marketing. The list of jobs skills I’ve added to my CV is impressive!

***Do you see writing as a career?***

 I would love to, but for the moment the reality is that I have to get up as early as 3.45am to start work at Nice Airport.

***Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?***

 As a child I loved writing and making up stories. I am mildly dyslexic and teachers marking my writings in red very quickly quashed all my early enthusiasm. It was not until many years later with the help of a spell-checking computer, a supportive husband and a great editor friend that I picked up the courage to start writing again. Strangely enough, I’m much more comfortable in the English language than I ever was in my native Dutch.

***Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?***

 I love P.G. Wodehouse, he has such a wonderful sense of the ridiculous and is one of the few writers that had me crying with laughter. One of my favourite quotes is, ‘I was left in no doubt about the severity of my hangover, when a cat stomped into the room.’

***What was the hardest part of writing your book?***

 I’m quite a lazy researcher; I like to get on with writing the story and hate when historical fact gets in the way of a good plot. My editor had to pull me up on a few things where I had to completely rewrite a scene. I don’t think I’ll be writing historical fiction, even though it is one of my preferred genres to read.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 Make the book the best it can be. I do read a lot self-published books and it is disappointing to see a badly formatted book or even worse one full of mistakes. I learned the hard way that people do judge a book by its cover. The best decision I made was to have my covers professionally designed. I use Paradox book covers, but there are many designers out there who can do you a great cover for under a hundred dollars.

Once you’ve done all that, prepare to work very hard and don’t be shy about promoting yourself. (I still struggle with blowing my own trumpet!)

***What do you want written on your head stone and why?***

 Lived life to the fullest. It was one of the reasons I moved to France, to enjoy life and not wait until retirement to do it.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

 I’ve recently taken up painting again. When I was training to be a jeweler we had to do presentation paintings of our jewelry. I’m still the most comfortable doing miniatures with the smallest brush I can find. As with the book, I’m inspired by my ginger cat, Clicquot, and he pops up in many paintings.

***What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?***

 Even though I live in France, I mostly watch American or British series to relax. I do enjoy comedies and political thrillers/satires such as the **House of Cards**.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

Yes, I have both. Tom, the cat from my latest novel, also has his own Facebook page: **Tomfoolery**

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/CruftsloverAkaCameronBlair)

[Tomfoolery](https://www.facebook.com/TomstertheCat)

[Amazon](http://Author.to/authorpage)

[Website](http://www.cruftslover.adzl.com)

[My Blog](http://languageintheblood.blogspot.fr)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2017, Author Spotlight

---

### [XterraWeb](https://melaniepsmith.com/xterraweb/)

**Published:** December 18, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** XterraWeb - We know writers invest a large amount of time, effort, and emotion into their books. XterraWeb can help ensure your book reflects your hard work with our combination proofreading and editing process. We can also help promote your book with promotions and reviews on our blog.

**Content:**

# XterraWeb

Each month I typically take a minute to highlight fellow Indie Authors and their amazing work. This month, however, I thought I would take a minute and highlight a professional, yet personable editor. In other words, an author's "Best Supporting Actress" - XterraWeb.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Logo.jpg)

Meet the Editor: Kelly Hartigan

I have always been an avid reader, reading multiple genres. From my love of reading, I discovered the joy of writing, and in turn, a penchant for grammar. In almost every job held, I was the person requested to write and edit documents from letters to articles to website content. I have always had a desire to be a more integral part of the literary world. Through the Internet, I met some wonderful authors, helped some out, and was set on a new career path of freelance editing.

I have an ever-growing educational background. I received an Associates of Applied Sciences degree in Web Technology (with an emphasis on technical writing) in 2005 from Flathead Valley Community College (Magna Cum Laude, Phi Theta Kappa). In 2008, I received a Bachelor’s of Science in Information Technology with a major in business communications and minor in project management from Kaplan University (Summa Cum Laude, Alpha Beta Kappa). During 2008 – 2010, I received several certificates in counseling and psychology from Liberty University.

In addition to my degrees and certificates, I have accumulated several college credits in courses such as Critical Thinking, Business Writing, Marketing, Interpersonal Relations, and Research, which will be applied to a Master’s degree. I continue to seek opportunities to enhance my knowledge and skills through a variety of educational opportunities, including attending relevant seminars, workshops, and conferences.

I have more than fifteen years of cross-functional communications experience working with, and for, businesses of all sizes. My professional background is comprised of a varied field of occupations including legal assistant, content creation and management, website design, several administrative/management positions, and website editor for a non-profit organization.

My freelance editing career draws from the unique set of skills and experiences I have acquired from my diverse work and educational history. I am a team player, self-proclaimed workaholic, easy to work with, able to meet deadlines, and meticulous about details.

My primary goal as a freelance editor is to assist all authors in enhancing and polishing their writing to ensure they have a manuscript that is well-written, engaging, and enjoyable for their readers. I have a soft spot for Indie authors, and keep my rates affordable as I feel it is unfair for someone who has written an amazing story to be judged solely on editing errors.

My secondary goal as a freelance editor is to ensure my clients feel good about the experience and understand the suggested changes. To this end, I provide detailed explanations about changes as I feel this helps my clients to not only understand why, but also acts as tool to help them grow as a writer.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Xterra_Kelly.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/XterraWeb)

[Linked In](https://www.linkedin.com/company/xterraweb-books-&-more-)

[Google+](https://plus.google.com/106081864552509252202)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/XterraWebEditor)

[Website](http://editing.xterraweb.com/)

[My Blog](http://editing.xterraweb.com/xterraweb-book-blog)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/8804782.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Services.jpg)[](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Services.jpg)

XterraWeb’s editing process is different from the majority of editing services available for authors in that we offer a ***combination proofreading and copy-editing service***. Most editing services offer different levels of editing, with the most common being proofreading and copy-editing.

When preparing to publish their manuscript or book, most authors are looking to enhance and polish their manuscript to ensure that there aren’t any errors (typos, misspellings, grammar, etc.) that might distract their readers from the story line and an enjoyable read. Authors will generally be looking for both proofreading and copy-editing to finalize their manuscript for publication. Unfortunately, the majority of editing services provide proofreading and copy-editing as separate services.

Obtaining both proofreading and copy-editing can become expensive, with many editing services costing as much as $1,000 or more. Many authors, who are self-publishing and/or looking to keep costs down, may end up sacrificing quality and valuable editing services designed only to enhance their book. At XterraWeb, we provide a *quality editing service with **both** proofreading and copy-editing services without breaking your budget or your bank.*

XterraWeb’s editing service is a ***combination proofreading and copy-editing*** service provided at an affordable, reasonable rate. We know authors want a high quality service at a reasonable rate and we don’t believe that authors should be charged separate and sometimes very expensive rates for both proofreading and copy-editing services.

Our rates are based upon the book publishing industry standard of a book page. These standards state that one page is the equivalent of approximately 250 words based upon a page that is double-spaced, in a 12-point font, with one-inch margins on all sides.

We recognize that each manuscript is unique, and provide our *combination proofreading and copy-editing* service at an affordable rate based upon the complexity of the manuscript and the extent of editing required.

Rates range from $1.35 to $2.15 per page (or 250 words). The rate is determined through a required, free sample edit of 2,000 words. We have provided a table below reflecting the $1.35 – $2.15 per page (or 250 words) rate for different page counts/word counts to help authors see just how reasonable and affordable our rates are.

*Rates effective as of January 1, 2016.*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Rates.jpg)[](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Rates.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/8804782.png)

In addition to affordable editing services, Kelly also provides other author services such as Beta Reading, Reviews and Blog Promotions. But that's not all. She also has a book blog, in which she provides valuable information to authors on topics such as...

- [How to Make Readers Hate your Book](http://editing.xterraweb.com/writing-tips/15-ways-to-make-readers-hate-your-book)
- [What do you Need to Write](http://editing.xterraweb.com/quotes/writing-quote-2)
- [Comma Splice](http://editing.xterraweb.com/xterraweb-book-blog/scene-transition-tips)
- [Scene Transition Tips](http://editing.xterraweb.com/xterraweb-book-blog/scene-transition-tips)

And many more...

[XterraWeb Blog](http://editing.xterraweb.com/xterraweb-book-blog)

While you're there... be sure to subscribe for regular updates.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/lines-flowers-and-nature-062910.gif)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/14963331_1833843296852218_6247868838669886293_n.jpg)

Free 2,000 word sample edit. New clients receive a 10% discount on editing services. Affordable, Professional and great reviews.

> I cannot say enough good things about Xterraweb! Easy to work with, very professional, cost effective, with outstanding editing that corrects your flaws and doesn't rewrite your style into something you are not! If you are an author, you owe it to your reader to go with Xterraweb! - Tim Hewett

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [Frances Laskowski](https://melaniepsmith.com/frances-laskowski/)

**Published:** November 4, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Meet Frances Laskowski - The daughter of a US military man and a German mother, the family moved to New Jersey in 1961. As a fan of Stephan King, and good old Alfred Hitchcock, Frances started out writing short fiction stories and novels. 

**Content:**

# Francis Laskowski

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

 My books are any genre that leads to an interesting book to write. I do have an affinity for Horror and Science Fiction, I grew up reading as much Alfred Hitchcock as I could Arthur C. Clark and Stephan King. I also had a little-known Author favorite: Carlton Carpenter :1971 "Cats Got Your Tongue" This was the one that hooked me into loving horror books. So that is where it really began. Before Carlton Carpenter, I read and watched, after him, I started to write short stories for myself. I have published three fiction books, and I am working on two non-fiction. One self-help, and one book that looks at some of the aging issues in our culture. I also am going to write a children's book.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/41zPnUrPTDL._UX250_.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/FrankiWritesNovels/#)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/123fralas123)

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/author/secnarfl)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15181488.Frances_Laskowski?from_search=true)

[My Blog](https://secnarfl.wordpress.com)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Alma, from Balloon Man...**

***Alma, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn't revealed in your story?***

 My childhood was one filled with my mother's dreams, my twin sister and I believed momma when she spoke of France and heritage, but we never really knew the life she spoke of. My sister and I spent our life growing up in the Atchafalaya Basin area, listening to our mother complaining about how life wronged her.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Balloon-Man.jpg)

[Buy Now...](http://tinyurl.com/FrancesL)

***Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?***

 I suppose my childhood was good compared to others around in our town considering the poverty we all lived in. My teenage years were typical, including a surprise pregnancy with my boyfriend whom I shared with my twin (he did not know or maybe he did.) My being naive did not help us with how we were viewed by the town either. Mother did not seem too concerned with us, she still lived in her dream world each day, thinking about Paris France.

.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

 I regret giving away my baby every day of my life, I was guilty and know she would still be here if I had not given her up. I also miss my sister, I wish I could have been there for her and prevented her death.

 On the positive side, I have now found my granddaughter and life is good! I live, love, and try to be inspired each day!

***Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation?***

 I would never have believed that Cooter could be so evil. I knew he was disgusting and vile, only to find out he was also a murderer just scared the living daylights out of me. His rage and craziness showed me a side of humanity I never knew existed. Those poor boys and what they lived through, how he tortured and murdered them. The two that got away, (Remy and Papite) were just lucky that day. And of course, the little ones being put into holes in the ground! I still have nightmares.

***Where do you see yourself in the future?***

 When I look forward, I see Alouette, Cye and me having a good life. We all struggle to put the grief behind us, it is a work in progress.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

*****Want to know more about Francis Laskowski? Continue reading her in depth interview...*****

## Additional Works...

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/516vWyrGCPL._UY250_.jpg)](https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B01LGIYTXI&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_R4bhyb1T2PCZR)

What We Know- Short story; After an accident leaves Scott in a wheelchair with amnesia, he has nothing but time to try to remember his past. Sometimes remembering is not the answer.

[Buy Now...](%20https://www.amazon.com/What-We-Know-Frances-Laskowski-ebook/dp/B01LGIYTXI)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider-decor-copy-1.png)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/51n00PvtktL._UY250_.jpg)](https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B013FX5L3E&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_15bhybSA1EQER)

A Farm In Transylvania-Short story; Sarah seeks to find her family roots, she winds up in Transylvania where talk of Vampires and Werewolves leads to an unlikely conclusion about her parents past.

[Buy Now...](https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Transylvania-Frances-l-Laskowski-ebook/dp/B013FX5L3E)

***When and why did you begin writing?***

I began writing many years ago for fun, I wrote in my spare time, between kids and work. I finally was able to devote more time to my writing (I had so many books in my head) I am a NaNoWrimo winner two years in a row, member since 2014, I believe this is a powerful site for anyone who wants to write a book. The support from NaNoWrimo is tremendous.

***When did you first consider yourself a writer?***

 I finished my first novel "Balloon Man" and published through CreateSpace. I find if I just keep writing what I feel, I never stop running out of stories, so hence, I just write! I have taken classes, and courses throughout my life, and I always dreamed of obtaining my MFA degree, financially I was stuck when I was studying, so I am still working at this goal, and I hope to complete it someday. Education is a priceless, valuable commodity. I still take as many writing courses as my budget will allow.

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 I believe writing comes from the heart, and if you feel it, you can write it. I try to pull my characters out of people I have met, or places I have been, I then research to paint the best picture for the reader. My style is whatever works for the story, most importantly putting the work into logical chapters so the story flows well. I have changed stories from first to third. Head jumping always needs fine-tuned, but it gives me the most excitement as a reader...so I like to write that way too sometimes.

***What book are you reading now?***

 I am now reading a book called:Analysis and Critique, How to Engage and Write about Anything. By: Professor Dorsey Armstrong, from Purdue University. It is part of The Great Courses number 2133 The Teaching Company.

***Do you have a message for your readers?***

 I am learning how to make my audiences time really count. If an audience only has the time or inclination to read one piece of my writing, I have to make that one time really count.

***Who designed the covers?***

 I usually design my own Covers because of cost, but If I had it my way, I would hire Ashley Fountaine to do all of them if I could.

***What are your current projects?***

 My current project is "*Another Atlantic Sky*" The story is about a young girl in the future.

***Can you share a little of your current work with us?***

 Caption for "Another Atlantic Sky"

*Mia is a sixteen-year-old girl living on Earth one as a prisoner. Lonely and isolated most of her life, She dreams of freedom. Humans are controlled by gigantic Scarab beetle type creatures called Benders. When Mia forms a secret friendship with a short hairy criminal from Earth two, she has no idea his bold manner would help her to learn the truth about herself. Risking their lives, they search for freedom, and they discover their own past and future.*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Atlantic-Sky.png)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [Rachel Smets](https://melaniepsmith.com/rachel-smets/)

**Published:** September 26, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Get to know Rachel, author of Awaken Your Confidence.  Her goal is to inspire and motivate people, build their confidence, and find clarity to become the person they want to be.

**Content:**

# Rachel Smets

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

My goal is to inspire and motivate people, build their confidence, and find clarity to become the person they want to be. I speak 6 languages and have been living and working in several countries since many years. When not writing or teaching, I am running, biking, and at the gym to relax my mind.

***Tell us your latest news***

 I’ve been invited to speak at a 2 day
 European Entrepreneurial Conference. Yeah!

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/blurr-Rachel.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/1.RachelSmets/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/rachelsmets)

[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0dw637AJhRkkJEuQBWz2w)

[Website](http://www.rachelsmets.com/)

[My Blog](http://www.rachelsmets.com/blog/)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Awaken-Your-Confidence-Journey-Success/dp/1535146923)

*****Want to know more about Rachel Smets? Continue reading her in depth interview...*****

***Tell us a little about your book.***

 **Title:** "Awaken Your Confidence: 15 People Share Their Journey to Success".
Not Fiction, not a story, but FULL of inspiration! The goal of Awaken Your Confidence is to give you the inspiration and tools to help you grow your confidence step by step.

In Part One, 15 successful people share their journey to personal happiness and career satisfaction.

Part Two has 11 confidence hacks that you can apply immediately to start building your selfconfidence. Some of the names I interviewed are SJ Scott, Stephen Shedletzky, Dr.Aziz, Jesse Krieger, Scott Ballard, Gina Hussar, and many more. Each of their stories in Part One reveal how they went from shy or introvert to very successful.

***When did you first consider yourself a writer and begin writing?***

 For years, people tell me I should write a book to share my story and experiences around the world. I never listened to them, until last year, when several times, in a short period, the idea was brought to my attention. Either in conversations or listening to interviews on TV and podcasts. I thought ‘’this is not a coincidence’’. My journey as a writer was born.

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 Self-confidence is useful in many areas in life, both private and professionally. With confidence, you can be the person you want to be. Many people feel stuck and frustrated, but there’s no need to, because the great thing is that you can learn and build confidence. As a shy girl, my self-esteem used to be very low. By working abroad, I moved and adjusted to many countries and cultures. This experience has built my confidence and helped me pursue my passion to inspire and motivate others to change their lives.

## "Awaken Your Confidence: 15 People Share Their Journey to Success"

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/3D-AYC-new.png)

[Buy Now](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KLZY1VM)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/book1.jpeg)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Awaken-Your-Confidence-Journey-Success/dp/1535146923)

***How did you come up with the title?***

 Brainstorming about 100 different titles throughout the process, beginning on day one. Then, by the end of my first draft, I kept about 10 titles and asked people around me to select their favorites. Also, I posted a poll on facebook, which really helped me. And then, at one point, I just had to make the final decision and chose what felt the best.

***What books have influenced your life most?***

 ACIM (A Course in Miracles), Ask and It is Given, The Secret, The Mindful Way, The Power of Now, etc…

***Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.***

 My coach and editor.

***If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?***

 Not at all. I’m very disciplined and put in all the effort I had. I planned it all out carefully and followed the plan diligently. From scheduling all the interviews, to writing, seeking an editor and designer, then the marketing and to end up with the launch. It felt stressful at times as I had no idea of all the things involved, such as title, design, print and Kindle, etc….Now, I would love to do it over again, because I know what’s coming!

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 For nonfiction writers, I would advise to research a lot in order to give as much value as possible to your readers.

***Can you share a little of your current work with us?***

 Currently, I am working on a new book project, together with others regarding entrepreneurial lifestyle. On a daily basis, I teach conversational languages to my clients, in addition to international business courses at the University. I also offer cultural awareness training to companies. I have many interviews scheduled with podcasters about my book and favorite topic, Confidence. Creating video's and speaking events activities I truly enjoy to inspire and motivate people!

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

I run several times a week in the dunes right by my house. I bike nearly every day, and I go to the gym to exercise my muscles. It is my way of relaxing my mind completely. I love being outside, and miss a sunny climate, because I’m probably out in the rain and cold and wind, more than sun. Then again, the wind definitely clears my head 🙂

***Favorite foods.***

 I love Italian food. Simple, fresh ingredients, easy to prepare, yet so tasteful. Linguine pasta with shellfish, a few fresh tomatoes, a few leaves of basil and a drizzle olive oil on the top. Nothing more, nothing less. Mi piace tanto!

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers/writers?***

 Confidence is something you create within yourself by believing in who you are. Life changes and so can you! You can **Start Now**! Take charge of your own success. Use the power of confidence and you will **transform your life**. Also, in the book, you receive all 15 interviews on video & audio files added as a Bonus.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

My official website is [www.rachelmets.com](http://www.rachelsmets.com/) You can find my blog there, along with information on my books, services, and more!

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [Brenda Mohammed](https://melaniepsmith.com/brenda-mohammed/)

**Published:** August 30, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Meet Brenda Mohammed - My name is Brenda Mohammed and I am a Trinidad and Tobago-based multi -genre writer and former Bank Manager who has written thirteen books to date. I like to read books by other authors. I love to travel and am a fan of photography and art.

**Content:**

# Brenda Mohammed

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

 My name is Brenda Mohammed and I am a Trinidad and Tobago-based multi -genre writer and former Bank Manager who has written thirteen books to date. I like to read books by other authors. I love to travel and am a fan of photography and art. After retiring from the bank at an early age, I worked at an Insurance Company and qualified for membership in the Million Dollar Round Table several times. I was offered Life Membership in MDRT. The Million Dollar Round Table is the Premier Association of Financial Professionals.

***Tell us your latest news***

Three of my books were nominated for the Metamorph's Publishing Summer Indie Book Awards 2016.

They are:
*My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living – Category: Memoirs/Bios* 
*Retirement is Fun: A New Chapter – Category: Memoirs/Bios*
*Revenge of* Zeeka*: Horror Trilogy – Category: Young Adult*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Brenda-66.jpg)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Nominee-Promo.jpg)](https://metamorphpublishing.com/summer-indie-book-awards/)

[Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/brenchristo)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/mirroe)

[My Blog](http://brenchristo.blogspot.com)

[Website](http://www.quotesrain.com/page/brenchris/)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Brenda-Mohammed/e/B00CUR2KEU)

[Goodreads](http://www.goodreads.com/brenchris)

*****Want to know more about Brenda Mohammed? Continue reading her in depth interview...*****

***When and why did you begin writing?***

 I decided to become a writer after I left the corporate world. I needed to keep busy. The positive reviews I got from the first book I wrote, led me on to write more books.

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 I wrote a biography of my father while I was still employed at the Bank. I did that book out of love for my deceased father who was an Educator. He wrote all his notes in diaries and scraps of paper and I compiled his memoirs from those. The book was very popular among my father’s friends and relatives. A past President of Trinidad and Tobago and a current President requested copies of the book for their personal libraries.

I am inspired to write mainly on topics with which I am familiar. I love to write autobiographies of people I know and to tell true stories. .I believe that people can learn from the experiences of others. For example, I have written a book about my bout with cancer in the hope that my experience can help someone or even many people. I tried my hand at writing some fiction and on spiritual subjects. So far, those books have received good reviews. I even wrote a few poems and they are included in some of my books.

***Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

 Each of my books has a message for my readers. When my readers read my books, they will grasp the message.

***What books have most influenced your life most? A mentor?***

 When I was at High School, I read the book, “The Power of Positive Thinking,” by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. It was the most interesting and educating book I had ever read at that age. The contents of that book influenced my life in a most powerful way. I learned at a very early age, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me.”

I must add that it was my father’s influence that drove me to love literature. He had a library full of every kind of books – even books for children, and I indulged a lot in these books. He was a great educator.

***What book are you reading now?***

 Would you believe that I just downloaded ‘The Complete Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm’

For some reason, I feel like re-reading all those stories that I read in my childhood.

***Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?***

 Yes, I am impressed with some of the authors in the IASD Group and other groups that I have joined.

***What are your current projects?***

 I am working on a Ghost Story but it will be ready later in the year. I do not want to disclose much about it at this stage.

***Do you see writing as a career?***

 Writing for me has been a pastime. However, I love to be successful at everything that I do, so I give it my best.

***If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?***

 I am always making changes to the books that I wrote .With self-publishing, it is easy to do so, and I have also made changes to the covers of some books.

***Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?***

 I never learned to type, so typing my manuscripts takes up a lot of my time. Editing is also very challenging. Even proof readers and beta readers overlook simple errors.

## Brenda's Books...

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Nominee-Badge-copy-500x500.png)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/My-Life-as-a-Banker-Cover.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Banker-worth-Living-ebook/dp/B00KV1ZDVO)

[Buy Book](https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Banker-worth-Living-ebook/dp/B00KV1ZDVO)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Retirement-is-Fun-Cover.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Retirement-Fun-Chapter-Brenda-Mohammed-ebook/dp/B00KYFNJ6S)

[Buy Book](https://www.amazon.com/Retirement-Fun-Chapter-Brenda-Mohammed-ebook/dp/B00KYFNJ6S)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Revenge-of-Zeeka-JPEG-2.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Zeeka-Trilogy-Brenda-Mohammed-ebook/dp/B01F4E229S)

[Buy Book](https://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Zeeka-Trilogy-Brenda-Mohammed-ebook/dp/B01F4E229S)

***Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?***

 I admire the author Lee Child. His stories about Jack Reacher have been made into movies and I love to watch those movies.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 My advice to other writers is to keep writing whatever you feel like writing. Someone once said that a writer really writes to himself. A definition of a writer on the Internet is as follows: ”A writer is a person who uses written words in various styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce various forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, poetry, plays, news articles, screenplays, or essays.”

We writers express ourselves in different ways. My way may not be your way. Just do your best.

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 Yes, I would like to tell my readers that I love all of their reviews. Their reviews give me encouragement to write. I recently joined a Facebook Group called Best Book Reviews and I have been posting their reviews and expressing my thanks to my readers openly.

***What do you want written on your head stone and why?***

 My name and the period I lived in will do just fine.

***What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?***

 I love to watch Lifetime TV shows and true-life stories.

***Favorite foods / Colors/ Music***

 I like Asian and local cuisine. I love bright colors but red is my favorite. I enjoy all types of music but love the steel band music here in Trinidad.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

I have both. [Click Here](http://www.quotesrain.com/page/brenchris/) to visit my website. You can find [My blog](http://brenchristo.blogspot.com) here.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/facebook-logo-webtreatsetc.png)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/new-twitter-bird.png)](https://twitter.com/mirroe)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Amazon.png)](https://www.amazon.com/Brenda-Mohammed/e/B00CUR2KEU)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [Renea Taylor](https://melaniepsmith.com/renea-taylor/)

**Published:** July 30, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Renea Taylor is an adult romance author.  She is an avid rock climber, writer, and mother.  She is also the author of Beyond Right or Wrong.  In this in-depth interview, we get to know Renea a little better as well as Andrea Cody from book one of Renea's Beyond Series.

**Content:**

# Renea Taylor

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

 Hi, my name is Renea, and I'm an Author of Adult Romance. I was born and raised in a small town in Oklahoma, where I found a love for words at a young age. I'm an avid rock collector, love the sun (I get temperamental and whiny when it's raining). I'm a coffeeholic (long ago replaced my blood with the stuff) and love German Chocolate cake and Banana pudding (yeah, I have a sweet-tooth). I have an awesomely wonderful husband and five adult children. Two sons who are wonderful young men, (mama couldn't be prouder) and are volunteer firefighters in a small town in rural Oklahoma, as well work their butts off at full-time jobs. Three daughters. #1, is a courageous, caring, loving person, and is finding her way in this big old world, #2 does her thing and goes her own way, and #3 is employed full-time, going to school to become a nurse, and is working at being an author in her spare time. I have 10 grandchildren (God do I feel old) that I love very much and would love to see more of. Well, I guess that's about all as that pretty much sums up all there is to know about this author! 😉

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/1000x750.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/reneatayloreditions/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/ArthrRenea)

[My Blog](http://reneataylor.weebly.com/)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6468860.Renea_Taylor)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Renea-Taylor/e/B002C21JWM)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Andrea Cody, from Beyond Right or Wrong (Beyond Series book 1)...**

 ***Andrea, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn’t revealed in your story?***

 I've recently settled in Dallas Texas, but originally I'm from Los Angeles. As for what you may not know about me? That answer is pretty simple...I know some of you looked at me in the beginning with contempt. And for what I did, I probably deserved it. But where emotions are concerned...the heart doesn't no right or wrong.

***Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?***

 I grew up in Los Angeles, California, and to be blunt, my childhood was shitty! Except when I was with my grandma.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

 Yes, I wish I had paid closer attention the day I lost my partner in Los Angeles. Maybe he'd be alive today if I had.

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

 Still married to Clint with several Amber-eyed babies at my feet.

***If there was one thing you could change about your past what would it be?***

 Losing my daddy.

***Mountains or Beach?***

 Most definitely beach...I'm scared of heights.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/divider-decor-copy-1.png)

***Want to know more about Renea Taylor? Continue reading her in depth interview...***

## Renea's Books...

## Beyond Series

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Beyond_Right_Or_Wron_Cover_for_Kindle-300x500.jpg)](http://smarturl.it/BROW)

[Buy Book 1](http://smarturl.it/BROW)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Beyond-B2-313x500.jpg)](http://smarturl.it/BeyondLimits)

[Buy Book 2](http://smarturl.it/BeyondLimits)

***Tell us a little about yourself?***

 I'm a married grandmother of 10, yes I said 10...lol. I'm a Summer person, I hate Winter, love German Chocolate cake and Banana pudding. And I'm a coffee addict.

***When and why did you begin writing?***

 I began writing at about the age of forty. And I started because I love words, and I hoped to help others fall in love with them as well.

***When did you first consider yourself a writer?***

 When I got my first review and realized that readers liked my writing.

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 Dreams.

***Do you have a specific writing style?***

 Not really.

***How much of the book is realistic?***

 I think quite a bit of it, as love comes even when it's wrong.

***What books have most influenced your life most? A mentor?***

 Nora Roberts.

***What book are you reading now?***

 I just finished reading Emerald Island, by Fiona Blake.

***Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?***

 Yes, actually. Fiona Blake, Tijan, Lacy Alexander...just to name a few.

***What are your current projects?***

 I am currently working on book 3 of the Beyond series, but have others on the fire as well.

***Do you see writing as a career?***

 I hope to make it one.

***Can you share a little of your current work with us?***

 My Current work is Beyond Desire, book 3 in my Beyond Series.

## Synopsis....

*My name is Penny White, and a little less than a year ago I'd buried my heart. And yes, it's true, time does heal, but sometimes...sometimes scars are left behind in the wake of tragedy. Sometimes those scars are visible, sometimes they're not. In my case, they were the invisible kind. The kind that others can't touch or feel. The kind that allows you to cope and move forward...but never forget. Everything I had ever known, loved or dreamed was ripped from me, and I was given a new name, a new residence and a new look. All in the name of protection. When what I really wanted, was to rewind time. To go back a year earlier and change the final outcome of the day my life had shattered.*

***Who designed the covers?***

 I did my own covers.

***What was the hardest part of writing your book?***

 The moral dilemma.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 If it is your dream...follow it.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

 Yes, I paint, draw, sew, knit and crochet.

***What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?***

 Criminal Minds, A Haunting and anything that has to do with Archaeology.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

[My blog](http://reneataylor.weebly.com/)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [JJ Francesco](https://melaniepsmith.com/jj-francesco/)

**Published:** June 3, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Meet JJ Francesco, Author of Blood Chain and Death Scene.  Get to know Wayne from his new release | Death Scene as well as the author himself in this in-depth interview.

**Content:**

# JJ Francesco 

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

 Well, I’m J.J. Francesco. I write for NewReleaseToday, and I’m an aspiring author. I feel like I’m incredibly simple on the outside but very complicated with all the junk swirling in my head that I rarely talk about. I guess that’s where the stories come from. They’re dark. They’re crazy. But hopefully readers will find them real and honest.

 ***Tell us your latest news***

 I just released my second novel, Death Scene. It’s a sequel to my debut, Blood Chain, but is essentially a standalone novel. Especially upon revision, the story’s focus is a lot more tied to the new characters so being familiar with the first book isn’t a requirement. Although those who are will find a lot of movement for their favorite characters.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Film-Strip-500x220.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/newauthorpic-500x500.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/jjfrancesco)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/jjfrancesco)

[Website](https://jjfrancescoauthor.wordpress.com/)

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/J.J.-Francesco/e/B00N6YF4J4)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Wayne Tempest, from Death Scene (The sequel to Blood Chain)...**

***Wayne, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn't revealed in your story?***

 Born in raised in South Jersey. I’ve settled nearer the coast in recent years. I used to be a cop but couldn’t take all the red tape so I left that and became a private investigator. Pissed off a lot of my coworkers but I think it’s for the best. As for what people don’t know about me, I think nobody knows that I can shred a guitar like it’s nobody’s business. I haven’t met a guitar solo I didn’t like.

***Tell me about your reputation and how it has impact your life and your relationship.***

 My old buddies at the precinct felt betrayed when I left the force that I somehow walked out on them. I hope my reputation as a private investigator mitigates that somewhat. I may not be as publicly respected but I am more hands on helping people now. And unlike when I was a homicide detective, I’m not waiting until a body drops to start looking for justice.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

 I live in regrets. Anybody who says differently is lying either to you or to themselves. I didn’t fight harder to retain custody of my daughter. I didn’t fight harder to keep Julie in my life. I didn’t fight harder to stop my foster father from being murdered right in front of me…there’s a lot I’d do differently. But if it’s done, at least I can use it as a jumping point for making better decisions now.

***Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation?***

 I’m not dead. For some reason, people have come into my life to save me when I needed them most. My foster father, Julie, Therese, Aaron. Some of the saving was more direct. Actually making me get my crap together. Others it was more subtle, more indirect. I didn’t realize they were saving me until after the fact.

***Want to know more about JJ Francesco? Continue reading his in-depth interview...***

***When and why did you begin writing?***

I think I’ve always been writing since I could remember, in some form. I did the Reading Rainbow contests as a kid. But mostly, I imagined. I made my own Pokemon up and created stories for them. Naming stuffed animals and creating imaginary fanfics in my head are definitely the seeds of bigger writing. The pieces kind of just fell into place to keep developing. I started writing short serials and eventually I found myself writing novels. I think if I had to pick, I’d probably choose a skill more lucrative. But when you have these ideas swirling in your head, you either write them down or go nuts. Well, you go nuts anyway but less so than if you kept it all bottled up.

***Do you have a specific writing style?***

I think I have a specific story style. My composition style seems to evolve as I learn more and I notice trends in my writing that come and go. Storylinewise, I think I have definitely painted myself into an M.O. There’s almost always a boy as a central character, usually having lost one parent. There are usually brothers or friends who are freakishly close to him. They usually talk at least two years more mature than their age and one of them usually dies. Sometimes the main kid, sometimes the friend, sometimes the parents. There’s always lots of Catholic imagery. There are always lots of normal scenes to contrast the darkness. It can be scenes of eating, bathing, sleeping, playing, just talking. All those awkward, intimate moments I think we may not realize can be really interesting and meaningful. I sometimes really scare myself into thinking I’m nuts and I psychoanalyze my motives endlessly. But I guess the family is just so meaningful to me that I can’t help but explore it and I just want readers to feel like they know these people so well that it’s like they live with them. So I guess if I had to pick a style, that’s it. It’s dark, awkward, and sometimes tragic but also hopefully funny and rewarding too. I’ve tried to break this trend but that usually just makes it stick more. Might have to just accept my style as my own.

## New Release ( Death Scene)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Death-Scene-333x500.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Death-Scene-J-J-Francesco-ebook/dp/B01FG7JOV2)

[Buy Now](https://www.amazon.com/Death-Scene-J-J-Francesco-ebook/dp/B01FG7JOV2)

## Previous Novel (Blood Chain)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Blood-Chain.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Death-Scene-J-J-Francesco-ebook/dp/B01FG7JOV2)

[Buy Book 1](https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Chain-J-J-Francesco-ebook/dp/B00MTZPX10)

***Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

I try not to hammer themes too much. Obviously love, faith, and family are there. Friendship, brotherhood, and the intrinsic value of human life. Overall I think hope is a theme of my work. As dark as it all gets, there’s hope at the end. It might not come soon and it’s not an easy journey and you don’t come out of it unscathed. But there’s ultimately a well-founded hope beyond all of it.

***Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?***

I try not to base too much on people I know. I do base a lot on my nostalgic view of myself. I’ve modeled a few younger characters after the younger me through the distorted adult lens. Places and settings are also modeled after real places a lot. But so much of what I write is also completely imaginary. I think the two mixing is where most stories come from and I find it incredibly fascinating.

***What book are you reading now?***

Not much right now but a few weeks ago I finally got around to reading Room by Emma Donoghue. Very well done and actually very much a good study for my next project.

***What are your current projects?***

I have the draft of 6 more novels written waiting to be rewritten, and endless ideas in my head. I am currently in the process of vetting the options for going back to the very first novel I ever wrote and rewriting it for release. I’m likely renaming it and also changing the POV. I am thinking of doing the first person present view of a child, like in Room, only with 3 different kids. I don’t do first person present so this will be interesting.

***Can you share a little of your current work with us?***

 Like an excerpt? Sure. Most of this book needs heavy rewriting and this is only a rough draft but here’s a look at the new beginning.

He’s trying to get me.
 I back against the bars on the jungle gym. The sun’s hot so they burn but I don’t have anywhere to go.
 “What’s wrong, Austin? Run out of places to run?” Robert takes another step closer. Then his shadow blocks out the sun.
 “Uncle,” I say. “Please, just leave me alone.”
 He laughs. “You’re the one who invited me to your birthday, loser.”
 “I had to invite everybody in the class.” I look down. Today’s supposed to be my day. I’m turning 7 at 2:56PM. I want to play games with Conner and run in the elephant sprinklers. The playground has them on full blast today. They must’ve known it was my Birthday.

***Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?***

Everything. Actually getting it done, keeping everything consistent, following all the “rules” and all. And especially keeping the story from veering off too far or becoming too much a crazy manifestation of pet peeves and unresolved issues. But I imagine a lot of writers struggle with this. Conflict breeds conflict, right?

***Who designed the covers for you novels?***

Jansina Grossman of Rivershore Books. She’s pretty dang amazing, isn’t she? Not only is she talented but she put up with me long enough to get this done. No easy task. I also had great help from the models, including your nephew, Melanie. Thanks to all who helped make these covers awesome.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

Find what works for you. There are so many ideas out there and so many ways that somebody thinks you have to do something. When it comes to matters of faith, I’d agree. Everything else? Not so much. Writing especially is an individualized path. Be open to guidance but not so desperate that you let it betray what you really want. Figure out what you want and work towards finding what paths get you there, and which don’t. Focus on what works and don’t be afraid to let yourself change your mind as you grow.

***Is there one person past or present you would meet and why?***

Jesus Christ and his Mother Mary. For obvious reasons. Easy answer, huh?

***What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?***

Too many to name. Lost, Person of Interest, Castle, Picket Fences, Criminal Minds, and even One Life To Live. I also like comedy like The Goldbergs. For movies, the range is wide. Mrs. Doubtfire, Knowing, Super 8, Kindergarten Cop, Con Air, Christmas flicks. I can list all day. I’m particular, but I’m versatile. Film and TV influence my writing heavily and hopefully that versatility shows.

***If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?***

Well, I do other things now to actually make some money in the immediate. In terms of a different dream job, I’d have liked to see what acting would be like but mainly out of my writing tendencies. If I had a musical bone in my body, making albums and performing concerts might’ve been fun too.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

I just recently tried to launch a wordpress site. It’s simple but so is my bibliography. Readers can also find me on Twitter. Facebook and Amazon.

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/wordpress-webtreatsetc.png)](https://jjfrancescoauthor.wordpress.com/)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/new-twitter-bird.png)](https://twitter.com/jjfrancesco)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/facebook-logo-webtreatsetc.png)](https://www.facebook.com/jjfrancesco)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Amazon.png)](http://www.amazon.com/J.J.-Francesco/e/B00N6YF4J4)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [Nadja Losbohm](https://melaniepsmith.com/nadja-losbohm/)

**Published:** May 2, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** I’m Nadja, 33 years old. I live in Berlin, Germany and I’m a fully trained dental nurse. I write stories for kids, young adults and everybody who loves to read. I like music, photography, travelling, reading and – writing, of course.

**Content:**

# Nadja Losbohm

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

 I’m Nadja, 33 years old. I live in Berlin, Germany and I’m a fully trained dental nurse. I write stories for kids, young adults and everybody who loves to read. I like music, photography, travelling, reading and – writing, of course. So far, I published 7 books in German and one book in English. Apart from that, you can find a few English short stories online as free reads on Inkitt.

 ***When and why did you begin writing?***

 I began writing when I was 19 years old. I have always been interested in all kinds of arts. I used to paint and draw, but then I thought I give writing a try .

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/author-pic-2.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/NadjaLosbohmAutorin/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/nadlo82)

[Google+](https://plus.google.com/116380030362924842045)

[Goodreads](http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6644026.Nadja_Losbohm)

[Inkitt](https://www.inkitt.com/nadlo82)

[Amazon Author](http://www.amazon.com/Nadja-Losbohm/e/B009SIDWIW)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well you’re in luck. Get to know Ada, the heroine from The Hunterss...**

**Ada, tell me a little about yourself.**

Hello, it’s nice to be here. Well, I’m a 21 year old vampire and monster huntress. I protect people from what lurks in the dark. I’m also a huge fan of pancakes. Yummy!

[Melanie's Review](http://www.amazon.com/review/R152YTPWUCCTHU)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Huntress-cover-363x500.jpg)

[Buy The Huntress](http://www.amazon.com/Huntress-Beginnings-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00QZJ4DYO)

**Tell me about your reputation and how it has impact your life and your relationship.**

My reputation? Well, the creatures of the night hate me more than anything else on this planet. They want to see me dead, so they can hunt people in peace. The sword of Damocles is hanging over my head all the time. I always have to be extra careful. All of this influences my relationship with Father Michael, my mentor, quite a lot. He is bound to the St. Mary’s church, our home, and cannot leave it to help and protect me. If he leaves the church, he dies. We both wished we could change something about it, but we are not the ones who make the rules. So, we have to make the best of it, but it’s kind of living on the edge all the time.

**Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?**

I don’t have any regrets about the things I did. I only regret the things I didn’t do. Wait a minute! Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten the sixth pancake this morning. I feel like bursting any minute. \*burps\*

**Where do you see yourself in five years?**

I suppose I’m going to do what I do now: I hunt the creatures of the night.

**Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation.**

I was chosen as the huntress. I’ve been doing this job since a couple of years now and I still don’t understand why. Why me? I mean, I’m an average girl. I’m small and overweight. I hate any kind of sports. I have a big mouth. Nobody who looks at me sees a monster and vampire hunting heroine. I have no explanation for that. I just don’t get it.

**Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year?**

Good question! It depends I would say. If I would be as ugly as the smallpox monsters I hunt, smelly and grunting, I wouldn’t want to live forever. If I would be as beautiful and sexy as Father Michael – well, I would enjoy life to the fullest for a year.

**What is the weirdest thing about you? Are you proud of it or embarrassed?**

I don’t eat green vegetables and I’m not ashamed to admit it. That’s just me.

**Mountains or Beach?**

Mountains. Bikinis don’t suit me. You know, because of my...

**Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?**

Father Michael, my mentor and love of my life, of course. He’s a real cutie! \*sigh\*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

*****Want to know more about Nadja Losbohm? Continue reading her in depth interview...*****

**Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?**

I don’t think so. At least, I didn’t write my book with the intention to pass on a message to readers. I just hope they have a good time while reading “The Huntress”. I want to make people dream and smile.

**Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?**

There are a few experiences and memories I used for “The Huntress”. Lots of Ada’s emotions are my own. I think it’s not possible to write a story without falling back on your own feelings. That’s what makes it more realistic, even though it’s a fantasy story.

**What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?**

I think “A Neverending Story” by Michael Ende influenced me the most and several other fantasy stories and fairytales. On the inside, I’m still a kid. These books helped me to dream and not to lose my imagination. Otherwise, I couldn’t write the stories I write. I don’t have a mentor, but there’re a few people I admire because of their creativity, such as actor Jared Leto and actor/ artist Viggo Mortensen.

**What book are you reading now?**

At the moment, I read two books. One is by Peter V. Brett and the other is by a German author, called Farina de Waard, who won the “Indie Author Award” of a German book fair in 2015.

**What are your current projects?**

At the moment, I work on two different projects. I want to translate the second part of “The Huntress” and publish it online as a free read. And I work on a historical fantasy story about one of the main characters of “The Huntress”.

**Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.**

There are quite a few wonderful people, who supported me. Nada Abdel Sobhi is one of them, a writer and blogger from Egypt, who has become a friend of mine. The “Fantasy SciFi Network”, a great bunch of authors from around the world, is very supportive, too. And I have to name you, Melanie, Rhoda D’Ettore, Jason Peterman, Kris Holt – they all gave me a chance and helped me. I don’t take that for granted, especially as I’m a foreign writer, for whom it’s not easy to gain a foothold on an international level.

**Do you see writing as a career?**

No, I wished it was a career, but it’s not. Maybe one day. 😉 Until then, it’s a huge passion and I enjoy it so, so much!

**Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?**

To write fighting scenes is a bit tricky for me. I’m better at writing the emotional parts. 😉

**Is there one person past or present you would meet and why?**

To meet Nostradamus would be awesome. I loved to read books about him and his predictions, when I was younger. We share the same date of birth by the way. To have a chat with Richard Armitage about the audiobook of “The Huntress” would be quite cool, too. He has such a great voice!

**What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?**

I’m a huge fan of “The Vampire Diaries”, “The Originals” and “Game of Thrones”. I haven’t missed one episode! Films I like are “Dracula Untold”, “The Chronicles of Narnia” – and so on. 😉

**If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?**

I’ve always been interested in archaeology and marine biology. Maybe that would have been a good choice.

**One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?**

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/098213-blue-chrome-rain-icon-social-media-logos-facebook-logo-square.png)](https://www.facebook.com/NadjaLosbohmAutorin/)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/098283-blue-chrome-rain-icon-social-media-logos-twitter-bird3-square.png)](https://twitter.com/nadlo82)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/googleplus-square.png)](https://plus.google.com/116380030362924842045)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/098235-blue-chrome-rain-icon-social-media-logos-linkedin-logo-square2.png)](https://www.inkitt.com/nadlo82)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/098228-blue-chrome-rain-icon-social-media-logos-google-logo-square.png)](http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6644026.Nadja_Losbohm)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [Lauren Faulkenberry](https://melaniepsmith.com/lauren-faulkenberry/)

**Published:** March 29, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Lauren Faulkenberry

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

 I’m from SC originally. I live in NC now and work seasonally for the National Park Service. I’ve worked in a wide variety of unusual jobs (vet’s office, chocolate factory, toy store, archaeological crew, wilderness retreat) that have been fodder for lots of stories down the road. I published a children’s ABC book that I wrote and illustrated eons ago (really it was 2002), and also work as a book artist and letterpress printer.

 ***Tell us your latest news***

 My debut novel BAYOU MY LOVE was released March 8, 2016. I was interviewed in USA TODAY, which was very exciting, and my publisher has accepted this novel as the first in a series. I’m thrilled to be able to keep Enza’s story going for a while, and looking forward to bringing more characters into the Bayou books.

[Website](www.laurenfaulkenberry.com)

[Goodreads](http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/236761.Lauren_Faulkenberry)

[Amazon Author](HTTP://WWW.AMAZON.COM/LAUREN-FAULKENBERRY/E/B001K8QEJM)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

## Recent Release

Thirty-year-old Enza Parker is at a crossroads. To prove to her overbearing father she can flip a house on her own, she takes on an ambitious project and it puts her in the path of the most alluring man she's ever met. 

Enza plans to flip the house she inherited from her estranged grandmother, Vergie, in Bayou Sabine, Louisiana. As a child, she spent summers there until the day her mother—Vergie's daughter—inexplicably left. Since then, Enza hasn't let anyone get close to her. 

Arriving in Bayou Sabine, Enza finds her house occupied by bedeviling firefighter Jack Mayronne. Enza has no intention of being a landlord, but Jack convinces her to let him stay in exchange for helping her with repairs. With only six weeks to fix the house and sell, she's determined to prove her father wrong, but she didn't count on all the delicious ways Jack could distract her. 

When Enza's fling with Jack intensifies, she finds herself entangled with a vengeful arsonist from Jack's past. As she reaches her breaking point, she must decide: Should she sell the house and leave her past in Bayou Sabine behind for good, or can she overcome her fears and build a new life there with Jack?

*****Want to know more about Lauren Faulkenberry? Continue reading her in-depth interview...*****

***When and why did you begin writing?***

 I remember writing as a kid, but I first sat down and seriously banged out a novel when I was 22. I’d been let go from a job, and rather than sit in my empty apartment staring at my cat, I started to write. It was a chick-lit sort of thing, a romantic comedy about a couple of girlfriends navigating through their 20s. It was terrible, and I never even finished it—but it got me writing with a goal in mind, and got me connected with a writer’s group, and gave me the nudge to go into my MFA program a few years later. I guess it’s a good thing I got canned that day.

***When did you first consider yourself a writer?***

 Probably when I started my MFA program, when I was 26. I felt like being in a writing program gave me a little more credibility there. Oddly enough, I hated writing when I was an undergraduate. I was in art school and thought the papers I had to write for other classes were loathsome. My karma came round when I taught English Comp years later, but for some reason when I was in undergrad, “creative writing” wasn’t on my radar. It seemed like everything I had to write was academic and therefore boring. (Academics: please don’t send me hate mail. I later learned how to combine “creative” with “academic” and had fun writing essays in grad school. It’s amazing how little we know at age 20.)

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 Friendship, love, heartache, and the search for humor in the tangle of it all. That “first book” was the one that will never see the light of day again, but since then, it seems my other books and stories revolve around those ideas as well. I guess navigating those relationships is what I’m most interested in at the moment.

***Do you have a specific writing style?***

 I like to think I have a distinct voice, but I don’t worry about it too much. I write the way I write, pay attention to the things that matter to me (rhythm, sound, language), and write the story I want to read. I like to write smart, sassy characters and I appreciate dry wit and the proper blend of humor and pathos, so I hope that comes through in the final drafts.

***Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

 I don’t typically write with a specific message in mind. For me, reading allows you to empathize with characters who are either in predicaments similar to yours, or completely alien to you. Either way, it allows you to project your own experiences onto the characters. I think the best books allow you to look at your own life through a different lens for a minute, and consider certain things about your own life. As a writer, I have no ideas, expectations, or predictions as to what my readers might feel or take away—but if they have an emotional reaction to the story, then I’ve done what I set out to do.

***How much of the book is realistic? Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?***

 A fair amount of what I write is taken from my own life—I can’t help but draw from my own experiences. Sometimes it’s fleeting moments, a brief interaction with a person, a striking feature I notice in a stranger, a particular habit I like in a friend. Characters become composites of people I observe around me, but there are details about people that stick with me, things that make them unique and loveable, and those tend to end up on the page—though I never write about one person specifically. I had some specific memories of Louisiana (mainly of the landscape and atmosphere) that I used in BAYOU MY LOVE, but 90% of that book is fiction. My parents do a lot of carpentry and home repair, so I have some knowledge of that. But the rest of that novel was a little bit of research and a whole lot of imagining “What’s the worst/funniest/wildest/saddest thing that could happen to Enza NOW?”

***Do you see writing as a career?***

 I certainly hope it becomes a career for me. Right now I see it as a vocation—it’s the thing I most love to do with my time, and it’s a skill and a craft that I get lost in and strive to master. It’s a source of great joy and a fierce challenge, and certainly a large part of me.

***Can you share a little of your current work with us?***

 Right now, I’m working on the sequel to BAYOU MY LOVE. Without giving away any spoilers, I can say that new characters are introduced, new family conflicts arise, more dark secrets are revealed about Enza’s family’s past, and all of it comes to a head during Christmas dinner. Holidays are great for that sort of thing, right?

***Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?***

 Oh, so much of it. I think if writing’s too easy, then you’re doing it wrong. I write in bursts, and sometimes I write quickly, but it’s always a challenge to capture the right mood, the right tension, and say things with the most evocative words. Sometimes the hardest part is shushing the inner editor long enough to get the meat of the story out. Then I can go back and polish everything and get the story exactly how I want it. I’ve trained myself to be okay with the messy drafts that happen in the beginning and have faith that I’ll use all of that rough material to get where I need to be.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/lauren-BW-486x630.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/FaulkenberryAuthor/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/firebrandpress)

[Instagram](http://www.laurenfaulkenberry.com)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/bayou-my-love-web-front-cover-v3-414x630.jpg)](http://WWW.AMAZON.COM/BAYOU-MY-LOVE-LAUREN-FAULKENBERRY-EBOOK/DP/B01BPDAZJG)

[Buy Now...](HTTP://WWW.AMAZON.COM/BAYOU-MY-LOVE-LAUREN-FAULKENBERRY-EBOOK/DP/B01BPDAZJG)

## Additional Works

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/5125o0-zpsL._SX329_BO1204203200_.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Back-Bayou-Sabine-Lauren-Faulkenberry-ebook/dp/B018GCLSJU)

[Buy Now...](http://www.amazon.com/Back-Bayou-Sabine-Lauren-Faulkenberry-ebook/dp/B018GCLSJU)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/51R7qa2BB0L._SX326_BO1204203200_.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Our-Skin-Lauren-Faulkenberry/dp/0692557938)

[Buy Now...](http://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Our-Skin-Lauren-Faulkenberry/dp/0692557938)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/51V6Y48W40L._SX359_BO1204203200_.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/What-Do-Animals-Weekend-Adventures/dp/0970897243)

[Buy Now...](http://www.amazon.com/What-Do-Animals-Weekend-Adventures/dp/0970897243)

***Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?***

 Gosh, I have too many I like. I own a lot of Ron Rash’s books. I love them for the language and connections between people and landscape. I just read Caroline Kepnes’s YOU and thought it was spectacular. Talk about a unique voice and unforgettable narrator. I just finished Annabel Pitcher’s MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE and found it to be the perfect blend of funny and melancholy.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 Read as much as you can. Don’t stop writing. Don’t give up. Write the story you want to read. Find a supportive group of writers you can share with.

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 Thanks for reading! I hope my readers enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them.

***Do you remember the first book you read?***

 I remember my favorite childhood books were Harry the Dirty Dog and the Pokey Little Puppy. Oddly enough, I turned out not to be a more of a cat person.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

***What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?***

***If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?***

 I went to school with the intention of being an archaeologist. I went to field school, went on digs, even worked on contract jobs for a while—until the pull of writing and printmaking became too strong to resist. So I suppose if I wasn’t a writer, I’d go back to digging up real artifacts and not metaphorical ones.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

My official website is [www.laurenfaulkenberry.com](www.laurenfaulkenberry.com) You can find my blog there, along with information on my books, interviews, book reviews and more!

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [Lacey Lane](https://melaniepsmith.com/lacey-lane/)

**Published:** January 27, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cooltext162082415807350.png)

# Lacey Lane

***Interesting facts...***

I write horror and non fiction. I currently have two books published. The Revenge of the Pumpkins and The Ultimate Guide to Frugal Living.

The Little Book of Horrors is now available in paperback. As well as the horrors that can be found in the Kindle version, you will also find a bonus story: The Revenge of the Pumpkins.

[Amazon Author](http://www.amazon.com/Lacey-Lane/e/B00VYMFOYK/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/3267101_orig.png)

[Read Preview](https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B016N02GCA&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_pgzQwb0S9950B)

[Buy Now...](http://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Horrors-Lacey-Lane-ebook/dp/B016N02GCA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/8689564_orig-630x630.jpg)

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[Read a Preview](https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B00TOMW90Y&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_1yzQwb0HV1577)

*Who says short stories cannot pack a punch?* 

*Lacey Lane is a talented author with a Tarantino type style of wickedness in her storytelling.*

"If you’re not a fan of horrible things happening to horrible and innocent people alike, put this book back on its virtual book shelf and go and watch some fluffy kitten videos. If you are however a fan of **grizzly horror** and not averse to some ***raunchy sex scenes****,* then put this in your shopping basket and enjoy with the lights switched on.*"*

.

She wanted it all, and soon. Rhoda would kill to get it.

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [Jennifer Reynolds](https://melaniepsmith.com/jennifer-reynolds-goodbye/)

**Published:** January 8, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Jennifer Reynolds

***Interesting facts...***

Jennifer’s full name is Jennifer Lynn Powell Reynolds, and she is a thirty-four year old native of North Alabama. She is newly married. She and her husband, Russell Reynolds, tied the knot on Friday, September 13, 2013.

Jennifer has a Master of Fine Arts degree from National University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Alabama.

Writing has always been a large part of her life. In high school, her local newspaper published a large number of her poems, and she won numerous poetry and short stories awards. Since high school, she has worked on a number of different projects, but her focus has mainly been on acquiring her degrees.

She finished the first draft of her first novel, a post-apocalyptic piece titled Alone, around the time she graduated with her B.A. Since then, she has written numerous other novels, short stories, and poems.

Aside from spending her days immersed in the fictional worlds she creates, she works part time at Stained Glass Artistry and as a freelance developmental editor, copy editor, production coordinator, and eBook coordinator for a number of publishing companies
 .

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferReynolds)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/JenniferLRAutho)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7880000.Jennifer_Lynn_Reynolds)

[My Blog](http://www.jenniferlynnreynolds.com/new-blog/)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Jennifer-260x300.jpg)

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Reynolds/e/B00IQM9NAM/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1452194314&sr=8-1-spell)

[Nook](http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/saying-goodbye-jennifer-reynolds/1123146747;jsessionid=215D5A08CB1393170DB9A2CBBB6DFCD4.prodny_store01-atgap06?ean=2940152727067)

[iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1069262945)

[Kobo](https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/saying-goodbye-11)

[Scribd](https://www.scribd.com/book/293555658)

[All Romance](https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sayinggoodbye-1942057-368.html)

![12389034_10204473365108818_411166551_o](https://4bookwormsunited2014.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/12389034_10204473365108818_411166551_o.jpg)

Childhood sweethearts, Michael and Erica, thought they would have the prefect life together—the career, the house, the kids, the grandkids, the dying old holding each other’s hands. What they hadn’t planned for was for a car accident to take Michael’s life and leave Erica to face her future alone.
 However, after discovering that Michael’s spirit has the ability to occasionally interact with the human world, they begin to wonder if they can’t make his presence on Earth permanent.
 Although, with so many years gone by, can they reignite the flame that had fueled their teenage romance and more importantly can they live with the sacrifices they must make in order get back the future they lost?

![6913_937021186381131_8669806258186438116_n](https://4bookwormsunited2014.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/6913_937021186381131_8669806258186438116_n.jpg?w=300)

[Facebook Party](https://www.facebook.com/events/994612467265503/)

**First Chapter**

“Do we really have to go to this stupid party?” Erica asked loud enough for her boyfriend, Michael, to hear on the other side of the door. She was unable to keep the whine out of her voice.

Standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom of Michael’s tiny apartment, Erica looked questioningly down at her Pirates of the Caribbean costume. She tugged on different sections of the outfit, trying to cover certain parts of her body without revealing others. Of course, Michael would have picked out the sexiest version of the costume he could find. Realizing that all of his frat brothers would be ogling her because of how much skin she was showing, she groaned.
 Erica was supposed to be dressed as Elizabeth Swan, and surprisingly, she thought she pulled off the look. She didn’t think she would have worn anything like the outfit if Michael, her loving, doting, and sometimes piggish boyfriend, hadn’t picked it out for her. Michael was supposed to be in the other room putting on his Captain Jack costume.
 “He had better be wearing the costume,” she muttered to herself. “If I leave this bathroom and he hasn’t changed, I’m going to strangle him.” The dressing up for the party had been Michael’s idea not hers. She had suggested they stay home and veg that Halloween, but her words had fallen on deaf ears. Despite her annoyance with the costume, she had to admit, she looked good even if she felt like a fool.
 The costumes had cost a pretty penny to rent, and she had protested getting them; even more so when he told her he wanted the two of them to wear them to the frat party where they would definitely get stained or ripped or something worse. They would end up having to pay even more money for them, which was a whole other reason she didn’t want to wear the thing.
 “My house is throwing the party, I have to go,” Michael said from the other room. His tone showed his annoyance at having to have the conversation again. He loved her, she knew he did, and she could tell she was hurting him by not wanting to go, but she didn’t think she could wear the outfit in public.
 “But you don’t live with them,” she said, not at all helping her case. “I bet they won’t even notice we aren’t there.”
 On that Halloween, Michael was a senior at the local university and majoring in business. His parents owned a small chain of pizza and sub shops spanning the northwest corner of the state. He had split his senior year, taking only half the classes he would have normally taken that semester, and taking the other classes the next semester, so that he could help with his parents’ newest restaurant. Because he spent so much time there, he had gotten his own apartment close to it, so that he could walk home from the restaurant after they closed to clean up and crash or study.
 “All of them may not, but I promised Kevin and Travis I would be there, so I have to show. Come on, Erica, it won’t be that bad.” They both knew it would be…for her at least. She loathed such situations and gatherings, and he knew it and only asked her to attend a few a year. She loved him more than she hated them, so she went to make him happy.
 Kevin and Travis were his childhood best friends. Erica had grown up with the boys as well, but they were his friends not hers. They were second in line under Erica on Michael’s “most important people in his life beside his parents and younger sister” list. Erica was first, of course. She had known him as long as Kevin and Travis, but when she and Michael had started dating in the tenth grade, she surpassed them in importance.
 “Yes, it will, but fine, we’ll go, but can we please leave before midnight? I have to open the drive-thru window in the morning,” she begged while arranging and rearranging her outfit, and procrastinating about leaving the bathroom.
 The bank she worked at was a decent place to work, and she wanted to stay in their good graces. She wasn’t one of those people who knew what they wanted to do when they grew up. She’d thought about a number of different occupations, even tried a few of them, but nothing seemed right for her. When her mom saw that she was excelling in all of her math classes at the university and had a healthy understanding of computers, she called her best friend, Stacy, the bank manager at First Union, and asked if she had a position open.

Stacy said she did, but it was only part time and the shifts were the ones that no one wanted. The bank was trying out some new things. One of which was staying open later on weekdays. This meant that Erica worked the four to eight shift four days a week and the eight to noon shift on Saturdays, giving her nineteen hours a week at minimum wage with a possible raise in six months and full time employment the next time a position became available. She’d been there for three months at that time, and Stacy seemed happy with her work, though no one appeared to be leaving anytime soon, to Erica’s dismay.
Erica was still taking classes, but only until Stacy hired her on full time and a bigger raise went into effect. College wasn’t for her, and her parents knew it. The only reason they were continuing to pay her tuition was because they wanted her to have as much of an education as possible, and they knew she would put forth as much effort as she could into the math, English, and art classes she was taking. If she actually graduated before a full-time position became available, then so be it.

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/JENNFINAL1-194x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Saying-Goodbye-Jennifer-Reynolds-ebook/dp/B0197C17D0/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Release Party](https://www.facebook.com/events/994612467265503/)

## Additional Books

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Shifter-197x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Shifter-Jennifer-Reynolds-ebook/dp/B00M8HLU2U/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

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[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Him-197x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/HIM-Jennifer-Reynolds-ebook/dp/B00TM5IOKW/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

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[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Resisant-195x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Resistant-Jennifer-Reynolds-ebook/dp/B014TAMTA0/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

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[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Alone-197x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Alone-Jennifer-Reynolds-ebook/dp/B00ILYCZD2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Buy Now...](http://www.amazon.com/Alone-Jennifer-Reynolds-ebook/dp/B00ILYCZD2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)](http://www.amazon.com/Alone-Jennifer-Reynolds-ebook/dp/B00ILYCZD2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

 **Coming 2016**

![11902246_1622648694619224_8049900282295920017_n](https://4bookwormsunited2014.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/11902246_1622648694619224_8049900282295920017_n.jpg?w=300)![12342574_1641148619435898_8119105245199159717_n](https://4bookwormsunited2014.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/12342574_1641148619435898_8119105245199159717_n.jpg?w=300)

Michael growled at her request to leave early, but didn’t argue—he didn’t agree either. Erica knew exactly what would happen. He would bring her home at midnight, stay with her for about a half an hour until she grew sleepy, then he would use his charms to convince her to let him go back to the party, which she would do because she thought he was that cute. Also, if she didn’t relent, he would sulk all night, and she wouldn’t get much sleep anyway.
 “Fine,” he eventually said when she didn’t say another word or come out of the bathroom. “Now, will you please come on?” She could hear him pacing anxiously back and forth across the short room.
 “I look ridiculous,” she said, looking at herself in the mirror one last time, wishing she had gone with him to the costume shop to pick out something else and wishing she had more confidence in herself to wear the costume. She looked good, or at least she thought she did, but she feared that others would make fun of her. She was too old to be that self-conscious, but years spent as a chubby child with braces and glasses had made her unsure of herself, despite all the love and attention Michael showered over her.
 “I’m sure you don’t. That’s the hottest costume I saw at the rental place, and you’re the hottest woman I know, both of those things mean you’ll be the hottest woman at the party.” His voice was so clear that she knew he was outside the door.
 “Kiss ass,” she said, exiting the bathroom with a happy grin on her face. He knew just what to say to make her smile.
 He whistled loudly and came off the edge of the bed where he had plopped when he heard the doorknob turn. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about.” He took a step toward her, then looked down at his watch and swore.
 “We aren’t going to be that late,” she said, annoyed at his impatience. It was only six-thirty and the party didn’t officially start until seven, but most people wouldn’t be there until at least eight or nine. Only Michael and his friends would be there on time, and that was just to get to the food before everyone else got there.
 Michael’s parents always sent over a bunch of food for the boys before these big parties. They knew the guys would drink, so they hoped filling them with food would keep them from getting too drunk. There were always snacks at the party, as well, but they tried to be there for the real stuff.
 “It isn’t that,” he said, stepping up to her and wrapping her in his arms. “Seeing you that way has made me all tingly in my nether region. I really want to have my way with you before we go.”
 “Oh no, you are so not getting me out of this getup until the end of the night. Besides, you’re the one who insisted that we go to this party, so we’re going to this thing. Get off me,” she said, half-heartedly pushing him off her with a laugh to stop him from going any further was his kisses, which were already trailing down her neck and making her head fuzzy.
 “Okay, okay, let’s go. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can leave,” he said, throwing his hands up and backing away a bit, though the leering expression on his face told her what he wanted to do.
 “Are you really that eager to get back home?” she said teasingly, turning at the door to look at him. “You’ve been waiting for this party all week. It’s all you’ve been talking about.”
 “Shut up. I know I have, but I want you more than I want to be with my friends,” he said, reaching out to grab her behind. She jerked out of his way and flung open the front door.
 Erica made a mental note to herself to purchase the costume and wear it whenever he wanted to go somewhere she didn’t want to go. She wondered if it would be a good enough distraction to get her out of having to sit through hours and hours of watching football on television.
 “You need help,” she said, laughing and walking out into the hall.
 He flung the lock on the door and chased her down the hall, out of the building, and down the street. She laughed as they passed a young woman pushing a stroller. The woman turned to watch them as Michael caught up with Erica, grabbed her from behind, lifted her into the air, and started tickling her. The woman’s two-year-old daughter giggled and pointed at them. The momentum of Erica trying to get away from him while laughing spun them on the spot, and Erica saw the wistful look on the mother’s face.

**Links**

[Scribd](https://www.scribd.com/book/293555658) ~ [Kobo ](https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/saying-goodbye-11)~ [Barnes & Noble](http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/saying-goodbye-jennifer-reynolds/1123146747;jsessionid=215D5A08CB1393170DB9A2CBBB6DFCD4.prodny_store01-atgap06?ean=2940152727067) ~ [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1069262945) ~ [All Romance](https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sayinggoodbye-1942057-368.html) ~ [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0197C17D0) [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27855177-saying-goodbye)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [JM Brown](https://melaniepsmith.com/jm-brown/)

**Published:** January 14, 2016
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# JM Brown

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a little about yourself.***

 I am a retired psychiatric nurse living in NL. Canada. I now have the time to do what I always had a desire to do, write books. I am busier now than I ever was while working professionally. I am an active gardener and a new grandmother. Part of the reason why I'm very busy.

 ***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 My first book is loosely based on a real case that I worked on. The young girl in the novel, who I named Beth, suffers at the hands of a secret admirer who devotes his life to making her accept his wild delusions. I actually counselled someone who was the victim of something very similar.

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/J.M.-Brown/e/B00T4SGNE6/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/jmbrownauthorpage/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/janettemary27)

[Google+](http://bit.ly/1Yj4Khu)

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/profile/preview?vpa=pub&locale=en_US)

[Website](http://jmbrownpsychologicalthrillers.com/wordpress/)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

***Do you have a specific writing style?***

 I like to use flashbacks and scene changes to break up the storyline a bit. I think it keeps the reader wondering what will happen next. Nothing worse than rambling on and on with no excitement. I do write a little graphically as well and sometimes that's needed for shock value.

***How did you come up with the title?***

 Actually, I wrote a blog post about that. ([Click Here to see Blog](http://bit.ly/1MPLR2C)) The Mother Goose rhyme, “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary” was the inspiration behind the title, “Pretty Maidens All In A Row” but it has nothing to do with the rhyme except for the fact that the heroine’s father used to read the poem to her as a child and it’s an ongoing theme in the whole novel. It is also is a key clue in the search for the killer throughout but there is a more sinister meaning in the title.

First, I’ll give you some interpretation of the meaning of the rhyme and then I’ll tell you why I picked a title pertaining to it. You may have visualized, when hearing the poem, a beautiful lady walking around showing her garden to everyone with her “silver bells” and “cockle shells” and “pretty maids” all in a row, which are referring to beautiful face-like flowers. This, however, is nowhere near the truth behind the rhyme. The Mary that is portrayed in this nursery rhyme is none other than Mary Tudor, also known in historical infamy as “Bloody Mary”. Mary was the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon (the first wife of Henry VIII). In an attempt to break away from the Church of England, she tried to revert back to the Catholic Church when she became Queen. History tells us that she persecuted and murdered many Protestants. Her reign of terror became widely known, giving her the title of “Bloody Mary”.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/upa3kcMz_400x400.jpg)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cover2.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Pretty-Maidens-Row-J-M-Brown-ebook/dp/B00T3T3P1A/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=)

[Buy Now](http://www.amazon.com/Pretty-Maidens-Row-J-M-Brown-ebook/dp/B00T3T3P1A/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=)

Some interpretations of the poem are that the “silver bells” were Catholic Cathedral bells, the cockle shells represented the pilgrimage to Spain and the pretty maids in a row stood for a row of nuns. Others claim the meaning was about torturing her victims. Silver bells were thumb screws that were torture devices, cockle shells were genital torture devices and the pretty maids in a row stood for the people lined up to be executed by the guillotine. The meaning of “How does your garden grow?” is said to refer to the cemetery, because with more deaths, the more the cemetery “garden” would grow. In that time period, there was a lot of fear and people would make up rhymes to record history.

You may have noticed that my title uses the word “Maidens” as opposed to the wording in the poem which uses the word “Maids (and pretty maids all in a row.)” Another facet of that dark period in history tells us that the guillotine was labelled “The Maiden” which was used to behead the victims. I switched the words, firstly to avoid any copyright issues but the meaning of the word from that period, referring to all the murdered people, was befitting of the storyline in my novel. The perpetrator became the “Maiden” and the heroine and her friends became the “Maids all in a row.” If you read the novel now, you’ll have a better understanding of the events which make up the story.

***What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?***

 Without a doubt, the most influential writer for me is Stephen King. His style of writing captivates the reader. There's always an excitement that keeps one wanting to get to the end. In my opinion, his best work is "The Stand."

***What are your current projects?***

 I am presently writing a second psychological thriller called "They All Fall Down." It's another title that has a nursery rhyme theme, which will be my calling card, if you will, in all my books. I'm having a bit of paranormal in this book though, because it's about a girl who has a near-death experience and recovers to find that she has developed a new sense as a result. She can now communicate with people who have passed. This ability will help an unbelieving detective to have no choice but to listen to her conversations with the dead. I don't want to have this as the main storyline but it will play an important role throughout the book. There is a killer, of course, who is very clever and also a mysterious person who may be a cop that also might be the killer. It should be a good read.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 Anyone starting out today as a write, trying to get noticed, will have a tough job ahead of them. It's very difficult to get a literary agent to represent you unless your work is outstanding. Even then they are very selective. Make sure your novel is flawless. By that I mean free of typos, bad punctuation and grammar. Get the novel edited by a professional. If you have anything out of the ordinary reviewers will quickly pick up on it. Your reviews will suffer.

If you self-publish, the road to success will be even tougher. You will have to be promoter and marketer. Things won't happen just because you have a novel online with Amazon or anywhere else. Nobody knows that you're there. Above all, write for yourself. If you have talent you may be noticed. Some writers have become famous overnight.

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 If you're interested in my novels, prepare yourself for a dark thriller. I have vast knowledge of the workings of the human mind and the storyline can get a little graphic. If you're disturbed by that, the novel is not for you. I've had readers put the book down but their curiosity made them pick it up again, after taking a deep breath.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

 I do have a blog where I post articles about thriller-related subject matter. I also explain who I am and what I'm doing. If anyone wants to contact me there or keep tabs on when a new book is available, there are many places to do that. I'm always interested in what people have to say and I even have a contest there for anyone who would like to try and write a part of a new novel. Visit [My blog](http://bit.ly/1Kmg0Gv).

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2016, Author Spotlight

---

### [Caitlin O’Connor](https://melaniepsmith.com/caitlin-oconnor/)

**Published:** December 1, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Author Caitlin O'Conner

***Interesting facts...***

Caitlin O’Connor searches for truth in fiction, and drags her characters through hell to find it. A proud eccentric who aspires to be omniscient, she enjoys listening to music, trying to understand physics, and admiring unusual works of art.
 She lives in South Africa with her son and a malevolent lovebird that requires daily libations of blood.

***Tell us a little about yourself?***

 I’m a person of short-lived obsessions. I get my kicks out of catching and releasing large spiders that wander into the house, but roaches make me shriek in soprano. I’m also a single parent.

***Tell us your latest news***

 My debut novel, Finding the Phoenix, was released in October.

[My Blog](http://inspiredchaos.weebly.com/)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/caitlinoconnorauthor)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/caity_connor)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14156470.Caitlin_O_Connor)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

*****About the book...*****

 Descended from humans and a vanished race of elemental beings, only the Awakened know the truth about our world. Only they can hold back the fanatic Handmaidens of the Skaath Diurga--shadow creatures born from an ancient betrayal..

However, the Circle of Awakened is incomplete without the Child of Heaven: a human destined to Wield the Spirit element. Before she can Awaken, she must die. 

Heaven has no memory of dying, except the experience of death itself. It’s that memory, of a place called ‘The Between’, that convinces her the man claiming to be her Guardian might not be completely crazy. Besides, even crazy is better than the life she’s leaving behind to be the Circle’s Wielder of Spirit. All she has to worry about now is her training, and figuring out how to fit in with the Awakened. 

Tragedy strikes when one of the Guardians is killed, and ulterior motives thrust Heaven into the middle of the Circle’s quest for justice. She’ll have to decide just how far she’ll go for the people she’s come to care about..

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

***When did you first consider yourself a writer?***

 When I first finished a book. I wrote for fun for years, mostly by hand in Irish rule jotters, but I always got bored or lost the plot at some point.

***Do you have a specific writing style?***

 My style tends to be direct, but that just makes it so much easier to be sneaky about the subtleties. I like to keep a tight focus on my characters. Although I favour third person POV, I often keep it as close as first person. I’m a big fan of the fast paced book that keeps you reading way past bedtime so that’s the type of book I write.

***How much of the book is realistic?***

 In terms of events, not much. Each of my main characters has their own psychological and emotional issues which I’ve kept true to real life, and some elements of the magic system are based on existing Occult concepts. For example, the idea of Spirit having a dual nature, and the Handmaidens using blood to summon the Skaath.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Caitlin_OConnor_Author_Photo-722x1024.jpg)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Finding_the_Phoenix_Cover.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Phoenix-Celestial-Talisman-Book-ebook/dp/B0112H9L5Y/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

## Review Sample

*Imagine what it would be like to wake up one day and find yourself in the morgue .*

*.*...a thrilling fantasy tale set in modern-day South Africa.**

**I loved the mystery surrounding the history of the Circle and the Skaath Diurga. I'm certainly looking forward to learning more about the lore of these two secret societies that have been waging a silent war in our world for what seems to be eons now.**

*...a series that promises great potential, which I am certainly looking forward to reading to its conclusion.*

[Buy Now](http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Phoenix-Celestial-Talisman-Book-ebook/dp/B0112H9L5Y/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

***What books have most influenced your life most? A mentor?***

 Dune by Frank Herbert because my wildly emotional teenager self deeply admired the teachings of the Bene Gesserit and pure logic of the Mentat. Heaven and Earth by James Van Praagh, and various other books on spirituality, psychic ability, religion, and the Occult because these topics have always fascinated me.

 ***What book are you reading now?***

 I’ve just started reading The Division of the Marked by March McCarron.

***What are your current projects?***

 I’m currently revising my second book and plan to get it off to beta readers soon.

***Do you recall how your interest in writing originated.***

 I’ve always had a very active imagination and I’ve been an analytical reader from a young age. I considered every book I read as a personal challenge to see how fast I could figure out what was really going on. As much as this amused me, it was inevitable that my thoughts would turn to criticism. Books didn’t satisfy me as easily as they used to so I decided to start writing my own stories.

***What was the hardest part of writing your book?***

 Technically speaking, it took a lot of rewrites before I was happy with the action scenes. On a personal level, there were occasions where my characters got to me. I’ve cried while writing some of the more emotional scenes.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 Keep writing, and learning about writing. Don’t be disheartened if you go back to your work and find errors on every page, that just means you’re getting better.

***What makes you laugh/ cry?***

 I have a terrible weakness for lame jokes and anything that’s so bad it’s good. Children’s movies make me cry almost every time. I cried during Spirit, Frozen, all of the Ice Age movies, Sherman and Mr Peabody…the list goes on and on.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

I love doing research, not only on topics for my writing, but anything that captures my interest. I used to do a lot of Dungeons and Dragons type role play online, but I don’t have much time for it anymore. I play the occasional RPG game on my PC, usually with my son looking on.

***Favorite foods / Colors / Music?***

 I love pasta and most veggies, and I like to snack on cheese and onion flavoured chips. I listen to a wide variety of music, but my favourite genres are symphonic and power metal.

***If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?***

 I would’ve loved to work with animals, possibly as a dog or horse breeder.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

 Yes, the name of My Blog is[ Inspired Chaos](http://inspiredchaos.weebly.com/). As mentioned earlier you can also find me on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/caitlinoconnorauthor) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/caity_connor).

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2015, Author Spotlight

---

### [Nico Laeser](https://melaniepsmith.com/nico-laeser/)

**Published:** November 14, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Nico Laeser 

***Interesting facts...***

***Where are you from?***

 Originally from the UK, but I now live in the Pacific Northwest with my beautiful wife and children.

***Tell us a little about yourself?***

 I love to discuss life, the universe, and everything philosophical. I am constantly researching quantum physics theories and scientific breakthroughs, as well as theories of past philosophers. I am a huge video-game nerd, love superheroes, super-villains, robots and technology in fact and fiction. I love making contraptions out of junk. I am a fan of archery and ancient hunting techniques, although I don’t hunt (I am a vegetarian pacifist) I spend my time writing, painting, playing music, building things, reading, researching, and learning. I thrive and survive on new knowledge. I am a wide-eyed student of life.

***Tell us your latest news***

 The final draft of my latest book, Harmonic, is in the hands of my beta readers. It is the first part in a series and a little different from my previous work.

[My Blog](http://nico-laeser.tumblr.com/)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Nico-Laeser-1439659402974977/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/nicolaeser)

[Amazon Author](http://www.amazon.com/Nico-Laeser/e/B00SF3C732/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1447529373&sr=8-1)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12177927.Nico_Laeser)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

***When and why did you begin writing??***

 I’ve always written, but only started taking it seriously when I hit thirty. I dream complete stories, often episodically over several nights. I’m mostly lucid in my dreams and can direct the dream as I wish. It’s always been that way, and I use that time to work through life’s conundrums. My subconscious mind works much more efficiently than my conscious mind. I love to dream.

***When did you first consider yourself a writer?***

 I’ve always had a problem with labels, artist, writer, musician, and for me I think that when other people start using those terms to describe you, then it’s safe for you to do the same. I was officially an author (published) before I considered myself a writer.

***What inspired you to write your first book??***

 My first published work was Skin Cage (2015), which was inspired by a dream. The idea of being trapped in one’s own body and relying entirely on others intrigued and terrified me. I chose to write it in first person and in present tense, with all of the limitations that would come with that perspective, and really enjoyed the challenge. This was not the first novel I wrote, and some of the stories I penned as early as thirteen still play occasionally in my dreams (some of which may end up as future publications, although rewritten from the core idea).

***Do you have a specific writing style??***

 I’ve been told that my style is distinctive and unique, but honestly I just write. I love language, I love words and how they go together to paint an image. My aim is to write sentences that not only tell the story, but evoke an emotional response. I am a fan of beautiful, rhythmic prose, but not at the expense of the story. I try to write beyond my capabilities, just outside of my comfort zone in an effort to improve with each piece I write, but only my readers can judge the success or failure of my efforts.

The Peter Principle: Within an organized hierarchy, each member of the group will rise or be promoted based on performance, ending in a position beyond his or her capabilities. I am striving to attain that level of incompetence.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Nico.jpg)

## Nico's books...

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Infinity-195x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Biography-Nico-Laeser-ebook/dp/B00V7QERDW/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Buy Now](http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Biography-Nico-Laeser-ebook/dp/B00V7QERDW/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Melanie's Review](http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1EF3KU7HJPSW/ref=cm_cr_pr_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00V7QERDW)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Skin-Cage-188x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Skin-Cage-Nico-Laeser-ebook/dp/B00RYDGWIA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Buy Now](http://www.amazon.com/Skin-Cage-Nico-Laeser-ebook/dp/B00RYDGWIA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

***How did you come up with the title?***

 The premise of the book was a man trapped by his own body, a prisoner in his own skin. Skin Cage seemed to sum it up quite well.

***Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

 Skin Cage is essentially about love and hope. Being immersed in the story for the time spent writing it taught me to appreciate the small things, the ‘normal’ things, and the things I often take for granted within my own life. Hope is one of the most powerful tools for survival.

***How much of the book is realistic?***

 The realistic, medical portions of the book were heavily researched, but there are elements within the story that are purely fictional, which I can’t explain without giving spoilers.

***Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life??***

 Thankfully no. I researched many cases of similar aware-unresponsive patients and some of their stories are truly heartbreaking and inspiring.

***What books have most influenced your life most? A mentor?***

 Everything published between Flatland, and A song of Ice and Fire (and everything before and after) I read a lot, and I love a lot of what I read. I could answer the question a thousand different ways on any given day: Portis, Keyes, Palahniuk, Heinlein, McCarthy, Vonnegut, Burgess, Wells, Bradbury, A. Hempel, Attwood, H. Lee, Kafka, Picoult, King … if it’s made with words, I will probably enjoy it.

***What book are you reading now?***

I just finished ‘The Martian’ by Andy Weir which was a great read. I’m currently reading ‘The Experiencers’ by Val Tobin, and ‘The Goldfinch’ by Donna Tartt, and also a novel that is in beta stage. I’m enjoying all of them so far.

Too many books, too little time. (I also dip in and out of none fiction, like The Singularity by Ray Kurzweil, between all kinds of literary and genre fiction. One benefit of man and machine amalgamation is that I will hopefully be able to download books straight into my brain/hard-drive and process them much faster).

*“I know Kung-fu”—Neo..*

*“I know every published fiction novel beginning with the letter A”—Future Nico\_2.0 - day one of Skynet Library subscription service.*

***Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?***

 Lesley Hayes has taken the top spot on my indie author shelf. I recently purchased her new novel ‘Dangerous people’ and can’t wait to start reading.

***What are your current projects?***

 Harmonic is with my beta team, and I’m writing a few short stories for various charity anthologies set for 2016 publication. I have a few more books in the works, that will hopefully see a release date in early 2016, one of which is reading like a dark comedy at the moment, but that may change with the mood of my menstrual muse. (Don’t tell her I said that, or some characters may not make past act 1).

***Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.***

 My friend, Thomas, who is also my primary beta reader, has been there since the beginning offering help and encouragement at every step of the way. My novel ‘Infinity: An Anonymous Biography’ is dedicated to him. I could not ask for anyone more supportive, and if no one else was to ever read my work, I would continue to write in the hopes of entertaining him alone.

***Do you see writing as a career?***

 I love writing, creating stories, and everything that goes into producing a book, but the marketing side of it bores me to tears. I would rather concentrate on the writing part, and when I have enough of a back-catalog I will take the business side a little more seriously. So, at the moment, I don’t see it as a career. I write every day, and I strive to create a professional product (Even the word product makes me cringe) and hopefully, one day, my children will see the rewards of my efforts. Until then, I will continue in my efforts to make art.

***If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?***

 Funny question. I did it all over again, and again, and again … My first drafts are terrible, my second drafts are slightly less terrible … eventually my drafts become tolerable, and then comes the real work of reworking them into a close approximation of what I had first envisioned. It takes a lot of sandpaper to make my prose somewhat smooth.

***Can you share a little of your current work with us?***

 **HARMONIC**:RESONANCE

01 RED LIGHT

 The whole world is waiting for the gates of Hell to open; at least half of them wait on their knees, praying for it to be quick, praying to a god that not even the dead can say exists.

 I have done all I can to prepare. All I can do now is wait with the rest. I don’t know if anyone will make it through, or if anyone will ever listen to this recording. I’m sure that everyone’s version of events will be different, but the end will most likely be the same for us all. They are everywhere now, strange variations of the basic demonic form—horns, talons, and teeth. They too are waiting for the transition, the next convergence.

My name is Emily. I am twenty-three years old, and I will probably not make it to twenty-four. I don’t know what I’m hoping to achieve with this recording, if anything, but I have no one left to talk to, so you’ll have to do.

***Who designed the covers?***

 I paint all of my covers. I was a commercial artist for many years and still take on commissions if they are worth my time, or time that could be spent with my family. Art, music, and literature are my most efficient forms of communication, if only the for the communication of ideas from a cluttered mind to paper. Human language originates from sound and pictures; language is art and music.

***What was the hardest part of writing your book?***

 My final drafts are a challenge. I become increasingly hard to please as my work nears completion, or the peak of my capability. On my last pass before edits, I hit enter twice after every period, and work through each and every sentence in the novel, trying to refine or rework it to make it better. Quality is subjective to a degree though; the only thing I can do is make the sentence work for me, and hope I’m not alone in my taste.

***Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?***

 I learn something new from everything I write, whether from external research, or introspection. Exploring the darker aspects of your personality for certain characters can be cathartic, and I’m sure that many authors work through experiences from their past in their work. It’s free therapy, and it works.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 If you are having a bad day and it seems like everything you’re writing is garbage, just power through it. Keep writing. I think that every writer has those days. Sometimes you just have to clean out the old pipes—open the tap and let the water run, eventually the water will run clear, and will be palatable.

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 HI Mom.

(Joking aside) Thank you for taking the time to read my work. A novel requires the imagination of the reader as much as the imagination of the author. I hope you enjoyed our team effort. A book is only as good as the collaboration of the writer and reader. I write the screenplay, you direct the movie. If you enjoyed it, it is in-part down to the effort that you put in as a reader. Your efforts earn you a plaque: ‘Employee of the month.’ Well done).

***Do you remember the first book you read?***

 I’m not sure what the first book was, but the books that stand out from my childhood are ‘Where The Wild Things Are,’ ‘The Chronicles Of Narnia,’ and ‘Of Mice and Men.’

***What makes you laugh/ cry?***

 I love dry wit, dark comedy, and intelligent comedy. I try to avoid things that would make me cry, although there have been a few novels that have made me glad I wear sunglasses in public. ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ had a few throat-lump moments, and Disney/Pixar have the emotional roller-coaster formula down to a science (Daddy often has to feign ‘something-in-eye’ measures).

***Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?***

 Just one? Nikola Tesla. The man was incredible and should have been given the keys to this planet. I believe that he would have made the world a better place for all if given the resources and opportunity. When science is no longer driven by commercial viability, our species will thrive and evolve.

***What do you want written on your headstone and why?***

 [![12182198_1627623134164981_1874827187_n](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/12182198_1627623134164981_1874827187_n-269x300.jpg)](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/12182198_1627623134164981_1874827187_n.jpg)

Because I’m a video-game nerd, who loves ambiguity and subtext.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

 I love to paint, play piano, guitar, and any other instrument I can get my hands on. I am also an avid archer (target shooting only).

***What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching***

 My favorite recent TV shows were/are Breaking Bad, and Game of Thrones. We have two young children so we don’t get to the theater very often, other than for the release of new Disney/Pixar movies, which I love—When the kids are sleeping, my wife and I watch a lot of Independent movies, and foreign horror movies. Two of my favorites: Martyr, and Moon.

***Favorite foods / Colors / Music?***

 Pineapple/Red/Everything from Classical to Metal that is written from the heart or soul.

***If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?***

 Sleep more. I am happy with my choices, I just wish that there was more time in each day.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

 You can find me on Facebook and Twitter. My books are available through Amazon using the links above.

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2015, Author Spotlight

---

### [Val Tobin](https://melaniepsmith.com/val-tobin/)

**Published:** November 1, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Val Tobin 

***Interesting facts...***

***Where are you from?***

I grew up in North York, Ontario, moved to Bradford after our second child was born, and then moved to Newmarket when he graduated high school.

***Tell us a little about yourself?***

 I was a software/web developer for ten years, but have always been studying and learning. Before I got my diploma in Computer Information Systems, I studied literature and philosophy at the University of Waterloo.

While I was working in the computer industry, I got my Reiki Master/Teacher certifications, my Angel Therapy Practitioner® with Advanced Standing certifications from Doreen Virtue in Hawaii, a Bachelor of Science in Parapsychic Science, and am currently working on my master’s thesis. The masters is in Parapsychology.

My husband and I have been married over thirty years and have two adult children and three grandchildren—and a cat named Scully.

***Tell us your latest news***

 I’m almost finished the first draft of my fourth novel, a romantic suspense called Gillian’s Island.

[My Blog](https://bobandval.wordpress.com/)

[My Website](http://www.serenitynowgifts.com/)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/valtobinauthor)

[Amazon Author](http://www.amazon.com/Val-Tobin/e/B00KC5S69K/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8291936.Val_Tobin?from_search=true&search_version=service)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well you’re in luck. Meet Carolyn, the heroine from The Valiant Chronicles Series...**

***Carolyn, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn't revealed in your story?***

 I grew up in the city of Toronto, Ontario and moved to Bradford, Ontario when my high-school sweetheart John and I married. When Samantha, our daughter, graduated from high school, we moved to Newmarket, Ontario.

I’d been struggling with my psychic abilities since I was a child, and only accepted them and used them to help other people after Sam was born. Before that, I tried to block it.

John and I went to Mexico once, and I foresaw a tour-bus accident. I couldn’t prevent the bus from leaving the resort. Some people heeded my warning, but others didn’t, and they died. The tragedy demolished me. What’s the point of glimpsing the future if you can’t change what happens?

But I learned to accept that some things I can affect and other things I can’t. It doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do what’s right with the information I have. I think if it wasn’t for that accident, I never would have been able to do what I did to survive after Michael abducted me.

***What makes you Carolyn so special?***

 Most people say that my psychic abilities make me special, and I suppose that’s true. But I believe everyone has a measure of ability in that area. Mine is simply more pronounced and practiced.

I like to say that no one is special, but everyone is unique.

***Tell me about your reputation and how it has impact your life and your relationship?***

 Oh, my reputation as a psychic medium almost ruined my marriage once. The media uproar after that trip to Mexico hammered away at my family. It seemed like everyone wanted a piece of me, of John. I resented that the most—their hounding us.

This was well before what happened in The Experiencers. By the time Michael and the Agency came into my life, the media furor had died down, I had accepted my psychic abilities and was using them professionally, and my relationship with John had deepened, had grown sweeter and more companionate, yet he still turned me on physically. We had it all.

It’s hard to look back on that time and not feel wistful, regretful. I don’t blame Michael. Much. To be honest, we have some problems in that area. Yes, we broke our pattern, the pattern set over various lifetimes, but we still have our problems in this lifetime.

Life goes on, but it’s difficult to let go of the past even when you know it’s for the best. We work together on it because we love each other.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

 Oh, God. That’s a difficult question to answer.

How would my thread have run if I’d made different choices? I wish I could have saved John—that’s my biggest regret. Why didn’t I see it coming? I wish it would have been shown to me so I could have prevented it, but, well, even when you see it, you can’t stop the inevitable. I learned that in Mexico.

But, God, how I wish I could have saved John. I miss him, crave him, every day. Sometimes it’s a dull ache. Other times it’s a gnawing hunger.

I have a new life now that I don’t regret. I have my twin flame with me.

You may not understand the term “twin flame.” Most people would use the term “soul mate,” but there’s a difference between the two.

Anyone can be your soul mate if they help you learn in this lifetime, help you advance in your soul’s purpose. Soul mates can even cause you grief. They aren’t necessarily lovers. They could cause conflict and problems for you, but you’ll learn from the experience.

A twin flame is the love of your life—of each of your lives. I recognize that in Michael.

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

 We’re in a difficult time. There’s no telling what’ll happen five years from now. What if the aliens return? What if the Agency comes looking for us? What if we can’t survive, can’t repair the damage done from the triggering of the Aurora machines?

Michael has his regrets, too, you see. He has to live with the consequences of his actions, and he’s changed since his near death experience. Sometimes it threatens to break us, but we have our Christina, our daughter, to think of, and, thank God, our love for one another remains strong.

***If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go?***

 You know where I’d like to go? Home. I would resurrect my house and take Michael there. We’d sit in the hot tub and drink champagne and have chocolate-covered strawberries. We’d make love under the stars. I’d give almost anything to have that one simple thing.

I asked him if we could restore it. He said it might happen, but I know him. He doesn’t think so.

***If you could have anyone locked in a room so that you could torment them for a day, whom would you choose and how would you torment them?***

 You think I’ll say Jim Cornell, don’t you? I won’t. He tormented me, but I don’t have it in me to do that to anyone else. He’s experiencing torment at his own hands. Even now, he’s in pain. I don’t envy him his journey. His soul suffers for what he’s done. I pray he comes through it to peace and love quickly. You can’t rush soul growth, though. It’ll take however long it takes.

***Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year?***

 Nothing is ugly at the soul level and no one really dies.

***If you could go to anyone (living or dead) for advice who would it be and what would you ask?***

 I’m a medium. I can do that. We all can, you know. Most often, I call on the angels for help and advice, particularly Archangel Michael.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/val-tobin-author-profile-600x400.jpg)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/experiencers_800x1129-213x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Experiencers-Valiant-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00KBYG53Q/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Buy Experiencers](http://www.amazon.com/Experiencers-Valiant-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00KBYG53Q/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Melanie's Review](http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3346S8PN2TZ47/ref=cm_cr_pr_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00KBYG53Q)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Ring-of-Truth-213x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Ring-Truth-Valiant-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00TNSWYKY/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Buy Ring of Truth](http://www.amazon.com/Ring-Truth-Valiant-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00TNSWYKY/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Melanie's Review](http://www.amazon.com/review/R79BF6GUOLMKK/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00TNSWYKY&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text)

## Additional Works...

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Injury-213x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Injury-Val-Tobin-ebook/dp/B00XFIIBUA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Buy Injury](http://www.amazon.com/Injury-Val-Tobin-ebook/dp/B00XFIIBUA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Melanie's Review](http://www.amazon.com/review/R1432OJZYAX40J/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00XFIIBUA&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Storm-Lake-188x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Lake-Val-Tobin-ebook/dp/B00R4MKS3G/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Storm Lake- FREE](http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Lake-Val-Tobin-ebook/dp/B00R4MKS3G/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

*****Want to know more about Val Tobin? Continue reading her in depth interview...*****

***When and why did you begin writing?***

 I’ve been writing since I learned to read. I can’t not write. It’s a compulsion.

***When did you first consider yourself a writer?***

 Anytime I wrote, I considered myself a writer, whether it was the technical articles I wrote for Community MX or general interest articles for Suite101, or whether I wrote in my journal. Writing makes you a writer. Publishing makes you an author.

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 The Experiencers was inspired by the sky watches we did with some people from the UFO group we belong to. I’ve always had an interest in that subject and have had some interesting experiences. I wanted to explore UFOs and the conspiracies that go along with them.

***How did you come up with the title?***

 The term “experiencer” was originally coined by Dr. John Mack, who worked with people who claim to have been abducted by aliens. The term is controversial. Some consider it a euphemism that downplays the reality. Others say abductee is too harsh and that there are positives to the experience. The different characters in both The Experiencers and A Ring of Truth fall on one side of the debate or the other, depending on what has happened to them.

***Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?***

 Some of the incidents in The Valiant Chronicles are based on true events. Carolyn’s experience with the UFO in the school yard is based on a true event, as is her encounter with John in the spirit world, and Michael’s “dream” about Jessica. Injury is a complete fabrication.

***What books have most influenced your life most? A mentor?***

 The books that have most impacted me are The Lord of the Rings, Watership Down, Atlas Shrugged, A Wrinkle in Time, Gone with the Wind, anything by Margaret Atwood, and so many other books that I can’t begin to list them all. I consider author Alan Annand a mentor. Without him, this indie-publishing journey would have been much rougher. He’s an excellent writer, editor, astrologer, and all-round human being.

***What book are you reading now?***

 High Noon by Nora Roberts, Betrayal by Sharon Brownlie, The Terminal Man by Michael Crichton, and Heaven Time by Lorri Brewer. I am not monogamous when it comes to reading.

***Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?***

 Rhoda D’Ettore, Tom Benson, Kayla Howarth, Nico Laeser, you (Melanie P. Smith), and many others I haven’t mentioned who I came across in the Indie Author Support and Discussion group. These authors’ books are on my TBR list. Samples I’ve read of their works show promise, and I can’t wait to dig in.

***What are your current projects?***

 I’m working on my master’s thesis. It’s on the after-effects of near death experiences (NDEs). I’m also working on a fourth novel, Gillian’s Island. The one-sentence summary for it is this: A socially anxious divorcee confronts her greatest fears after she is forced to sell her island home and falls for the handsome and arrogant new owner.

***Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?***

 My favourite author is J. R. R. Tolkien. I love The Lord of the Rings. His prose is lyrical and poignant, his characters are fascinating, and the story has depth and meaning for me.

***Who designed the covers?***

 The covers for all my novels were designed by Patti Roberts of [Paradox Book Covers](http://paradoxbooktrailerproductions.blogspot.com.au/)

***What was the hardest part of writing your book?***

 Marketing it.

***Do you remember the first book you read?***

 No, but one of my favourites as a preschooler was Harold and the Purple Crayon.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

 Reading.

***What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching***

X-Files. The Bourne movies. The Lord of the Rings movies. Gone with the Wind. Friends. Frasier. Seinfeld.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

Yes, Both. Here is my official [Website](http://www.serenitynowgifts.com) - SerenityNowGifts.com

OR, Follow my [Blog](https://bobandval.wordpress.com) at bobandval.wordpress.com

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2015, Author Spotlight

---

### [Rebecca Bryn](https://melaniepsmith.com/rebecca-bryn/)

**Published:** September 28, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# Rebecca Bryn

***Interesting Facts...***

Rebecca was originally from Kettering, Northamptonshire. UK. She now lives on a small-holding in Pembrokeshire with her husband and dogs, where she paints the coastal scenery she loves and takes inspiration from the magical landscape around her. Her passion for painting and the natural world is evident in her writing.

***Tell us a little about yourself?***

I went to a great secondary-technical school that taught bricklaying, plumbing, shorthand and typing as well as the usual subjects. No-one left school without a skill or ability. Unfortunately, they closed it and those without academic ability now lose out. I moved to near St Davids, in West Wales with my second husbands and dog. I have two children and six grandchildren.

***Tell us your latest news...***

I’m just beginning my second edit of my third novel, Where Hope Dares, which I hope to publish later this year.

[My Website](http://rebeccabrynandsarahstuart-novels.co.uk/)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.bryn.novels/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/rebeccabryn1)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well here's a sneak peek into the heart and mind of Kiya from In Where Hope Dares (Which will be available later this year)...**

***Kiya, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn't revealed in your story?***

 In Where Hope Dares, I’m a healer of 22 summers, and not of your time. I’m married to Raphel, who’s a storyteller, and we have a 2 year-old daughter, Jalene. My people came from the Horn of Africa but now live in a remote village in the High Atlas Mountains. I have a strong faith and believe in the Oromo god, Waqqa and the goddess, Atete. I love having my family around me.

***Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?***

 I grew up in Guddaa Mana, a small village of mudbrick houses north-west of M’Gouna. It’s a close village, and many of us are related. They say it take two to conceive a child, but it takes a village to raise it. I was raised by this village.

***What makes you, the Kiya so special?***

 I’m the village healer. My people and family are my life.

***Tell me about your reputation and how it has impact your life and your relationship?***

 People trust me with their lives. It’s a great responsibility. I lean on the goddess and my family for strength.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

 I regret the stillbirth of my first child. Part of me wishes I’d never met Alaric, The Chosen. Yet part of me wouldn’t change that, however traumatic it turned out to be.

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

 Hopefully, still in Guddaa Mana with the people I love. Mountains, seas, deserts - I’ve had quite enough travelling for one lifetime.

***If there was one thing you could change about your past what would it be?***

 My past made me who I am. Why would I change it?

***If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go?***

 My husband… somewhere peaceful.

***Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation?***

 My son was stillborn.

***What was the best compliment you have ever received?***

 Raphel says I’m beautiful.

***If you could have anyone locked in a room so that you could torment them for a day, whom would you choose and how would you torment them?***

 Velik, High Priest of Wrohe. I think the torment Alaric gave him is appropriate justice for his crimes against us.

***Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year?***

 Neither. Immortality is over-rated, and so is external beauty.

***If you could go to anyone (living or dead) for advice who would it be and what would you ask?***

 Real or in my fictional world? Fictional: Moti is the wisest man I know. I’d ask him how to become as wise as he is.

***What is the weirdest thing about you? Are you proud of it or embarrassed?***

 My total faith in the goddess? I’m not a proud person. Faith makes you humble.

***Mountains or Beach?***

 I love the mountains… but then I love the beach. Can’t decide.

***Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?***

 I’m not of your time. What’s an elevator?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Ruth-221x300.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Hope-Dares-197x300.png)

Coming winter 2015

## Additional Works...

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Stones-197x300.png)](http://www.amazon.com/SILENCE-STONES-secrets-written-destroy-ebook/dp/B00M9CUD1I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443415511&sr=8-1&keywords=THE+SILENCE+OF+THE+STONES%3A+Will+the+secrets+written+in+the+stones+destroy+a+young+woman%27s+world%3F+The+runes+are+cast.+Who+will+die%3F)

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/SILENCE-STONES-secrets-written-destroy-ebook/dp/B00M9CUD1I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443416694&sr=8-1&keywords=THE+SILENCE+OF+THE+STONES%3A+Will+the+secrets+written+in+the+stones+destroy+a+young+woman%27s+world%3F+The+runes+are+cast.+Who+will+die%3F)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Wire-197x300.png)](http://www.amazon.com/TOUCHING-WIRE-Auschwitz-granddaughter-promise-ebook/dp/B00MX5TRPY/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/TOUCHING-WIRE-Auschwitz-granddaughter-promise-ebook/dp/B00MX5TRPY/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

*****Want to know more about Rebecca Bryn? Continue reading her in depth interview...*****

***When and why did you begin writing?***

 I began around 2004 on a whim. I friend was convalescing and writing while she did so. I offered to proof-read for her and sort of fell into it by accident. I haven’t yet managed to climb back out.

***When did you first consider yourself a writer?***

 I consider myself a storyteller rather than a writer, but I suppose that would be when I had my first few good reviews. Readers actually liked what I’d written!

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 If I told you, I may have to kill you. Let’s say current scientific thinking about our future and the strange relationship man has with his gods.

***Do you have a specific writing style?***

 I’m a contradiction: I love long flowery descriptions from the heart, yet I’m a woman of few words.

***How did you come up with the title?***

 My books rarely end up with the title they begin with. I suppose this is because I don’t really know what the book is about, what its message is, until I’ve written it. Touching the Wire began as The Boxes of Nemesis, then The Daughters of Night, before becoming In the Shadow of the Wolf (now the name of part one of the novel) and finally Touching the Wire. I find the emphasis changes with rewrites and new ideas. Where Hope Dares began its life as Destiny. The Silence of the Stones is the only one so far that has kept its original title, but then that story wrote itself.

***Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

 Um. Mainly, I think it’s appreciate what you have, and who you have and don’t sacrifice the present for the future. Life can turn on a sixpence and suddenly everything changes. People you love are lost forever. So if there’s something you want to do in life… do it.

***How much of the book is realistic?***

Great question!

Touching the Wire is based on real events, on the first-hand experiences of the men and women of Auschwitz. The Silence of the Stones was also inspired by real events, the imprisonment of women for the murder of cot-death babies, women later released due to unsafe convictions. Where Hope Dares is based on the scientific thinking of the time but is otherwise a figment of my imagination.

***Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?***

 I do use emotional traumas I’ve experienced to inform my characters’ emotional responses. Some of the things that happen have happened to me, but thankfully I’ve never been imprisoned, either by Nazis or British courts.

***What books have most influenced your life most? A mentor?***

 Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy kept me sane during a very tough time in my life. It was actually saner than my reality!

***What book are you reading now?***

 A Bucketful of Lies by Robert K Swisher. I’m enjoying his easy writing style and quirky humour.

***Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?***

 I was particularly impressed by Lesley Hayes’ writing style. Beautiful.

***What are your current projects?***

 Where Hope Dares, a thriller set loosely in the High Atlas Mountains. A real good versus evil tale. I hope to publish later this year.

***Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.***

 The Word Cloud – part of The Writers’ Workshop – an on-line writing support group, was a great place to begin: really friendly, knowledgeable people. Latterly, the Indie Author Support and Discussion fb group has a great bunch of people. We’ve recently released a charity anthology called You’re Not Alone in aid of Macmillan cancer nurses. <http://smarturl.it/YoureNotAloneAnth>

***Do you see writing as a career?***

 If I can live on fresh air, yes.

***If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?***

 I’m changing it all the while. Reader input, ideas, rereads constantly alter things. It won’t be finished until I publish. Once they’re published I’m happy with them as they are. I know I’ve done the best I can.

***Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?***

 Proof-reading for a friend. I got hooked with the creative bug.

***Can you share a little of your current work with us?***

 Where Hope Dares: two isolated communities, one peaceful, one violent, come into conflict and Kiya, a young girl, is kidnapped and raped to fulfil an ancient prophecy. Her husband, Raphel, sets out on a thousand-kilometre round-journey to find her and bring her home her with nothing more than a head full of stories. Their friend, Abe, who they think is an innocent peddler, has a dangerous agenda of his own. Who can they trust: friend or foe?

***A brief excerpt from Chapter one:***

The track wound along the bottom of the narrow gorge, among sparse trees at the river’s edge. Where were the people, the children? Moses snorted again, hanging back. ‘I know, boy. I know.’

He rounded a bend in the trail. Here, the gorge widened enough to allow the land alongside the river to be cultivated and a small village had sprung up amid the trees: he stopped, heart in mouth. The house before him lay in ruins, its walls blackened and crumbling, smoke still wisping from the windows. The body of a young woman lay at the foot of a tree. He drew closer, the breeze lifting the sickly-sweet smell of death into the air. She lay curled on her side, the handle of a knife protruding from her belly. She’d been dead a day, maybe more.

He was too late to administer the last rites.

He tied Moses to a branch and bent to make the sign of the cross on her forehead. ‘May God in his mercy forgive your sins.’

The mule let out a strangled squeal, wild eyed and terrified. Cold fingers crept up his spine as his eyes were drawn inexorably where Moses looked, up into the tree to which he’d tethered the mule. Above them was a child, a small girl: her dress, once a pale blue, was dark with blood, her black curls framed her face in matted locks, her head hung forward on her chest and her thin arms were outstretched. Through her hands, wooden spikes pinned her to the tree’s branches and through her heart was a wooden stake; a cruel parody of Christ’s crucifixion.

‘*Holy Mary*…’ His staff clattered to the stony ground and his fingers reached for the crucifix worn beneath his shirt. He swallowed bile and forced himself to look at her, to see the dark stain caking the insides of her legs, and the blood that had run from her wounds: she’d been raped, and had been alive when they’d hung her from this tree. His breath came in harsh sobs and he raised his eyes to the heavens, fists clenched. ‘My God, why? Strike me! The fault is mine not theirs.’

***Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?***

 Writing descriptions of people, and I hate writing sex scenes.

***Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?***

 I think that has to be Tolkein. He creates a complete world with a history, and immerses you in it.

***Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?***

 The Silence of the Stones is set where I live. I haven’t been to Auschwitz but I would like to, one day. The travelling I’ve done is in years rather than miles.

***Who designed the covers?***

I did.

***What was the hardest part of writing your book?***

 Setting aside the time.

***Do you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?***

 That I don’t give up easily. I always try to find a way round problems. I also discovered a lot about injustice and the horrors man will inflict upon man. I’m not a fan of mankind as a species.

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 Write. If at all possible don’t write in isolation. By this I mean join something like The Word Cloud (on-line forum) or a writing group. Getting input and criticism, and taking that criticism, is vital to good writing.

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 That I loved writing the books, and I hope they enjoy reading them. Also, authors don’t create in a vacuum. We really need your reviews and thoughts. Where Hope Dares will have taken ten years and thousands of hours to write, from its original idea to publication. Please give me five minutes to post your review.

***Do you remember the first book you read?***

 Probably Noddy.

***What makes you laugh/cry?***

 Almost anything can do either.

***Is there one person past or present you would meet and why?***

 John Denver. His music and wonderful lyrics complemented Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy in keeping me sane during a terrible time in my life. He died in a light-aircraft accident thinking no-one liked his music anymore. It makes me cry that I never took the time to tell him how much it meant to me. I still have to dance whenever I hear Calypso. I told you anything can make me cry…

 ***What do you want written on your head stone and why?***

 ‘She never gave up.’ Because I don’t intend to.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

I paint seascapes in watercolour.

 ***What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?***

 I enjoyed Tenko. I like Doc Martin, The last Leg, Star Wars, war films, westerns, Heartbeat.

***Favorite foods / Colors/ Music***

 Sausage and chips, yellow, folk and country .

***If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?***

 Full-time artist, potter, anything creative really.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

My official website is [www.rebeccabrynandsarahstuart-novels.co.uk](http://rebeccabrynandsarahstuart-novels.co.uk/)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2015, Author Spotlight

---

### [Tito Martinez Barberi](https://melaniepsmith.com/tito-martinez-barberi/)

**Published:** September 8, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# September Spotlight

***Tito Martinez Barberi facts...***

Tito Martinez is a Sci-Fi / Fantasy author who was born in Mexico City

***Tell us a little about yourself?***

I am a photographer, designer and translator. I’m single, currently living in the city of Puebla, Mexico, with my cat, Dani. I do translation and copyright work for a living, and I’ve been working on my current fantasy/sci-fi series *The Keeper of the Balance* for the past 8 years.

***Tell us your latest news***

I’m currently translating The Warriors of Balance, book 2 of The Keeper of the Balance series, to Spanish. I’m also working on the few final chapters of The Order of the Ancestors, book 3 in the series, which I hope to have published in November!

[My Website](http://www.marberi.com/)

[Amazon Author](http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00UXIV93G?ref_=pe_1724030_132998070)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13674169.Tito_Martinez_Barberi)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/thekeeperofthebalance?ref=hl)

[Google+](https://plus.google.com/u/0/106371364497562249200/posts)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well here's a sneak peek into the heart and mind of Earlyan Marnes from The Keeper of the Balance Series...**

***Earlyan, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn't revealed in your story?***

 I was born in Lúnembril, the biggest city in my planet, Akaladia. I never really liked it there, to be perfectly honest. I prefer small towns and open spaces. Something that many people don’t know about me is that I love animals. I had a cat that grew up with me till I was 12. I wept like a widow when it died!

***Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?***

I grew up with my family in a nice, quiet neighborhood in the suburbs of Outer Lúnembril. My childhood was a little weird, because I was diagnosed with serious brain energy problems as a toddler and I was put to all kinds of tests. In the end, it all turned out to be part of a major scam designed to kill me when I was older! Fortunately that didn’t work out too well for my enemies (laughs).

***What makes you, the Earlyan Marnes, so special?***

That’s a good question. Some would say it’s the fact that I’m smarter than the average person. But I think what sets me apart from most people is my resilience and my desire to do what’s right above all other things.

***Tell me about your reputation and how it has impact your life and your relationship?***

Well, my enemies have made me out to be this dangerous madman escaped from an asylum! Just between us, I do believe I’m a dangerous man…and you have to be a little crazy to do all the stuff I’m learning to do (laughs). But it’s all for the common good. As for relationships…I was never any good with the girls. And the first time a girl reacted positively to my advances it was because she was ordered to capture me! That’s made me wary of the opposite sex, but I’m working out my issues with my mentor’s help…hopefully!

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

I wish I was better at expressing myself. I have trouble getting along with most people and letting my feelings show. I also hate to lie! I wish I could’ve been more honest to my friends, but I had to keep a lot of things from them for their own good, you see?

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

Given my current circumstances, I don’t even know if I’ll make it that far (laughs). But you’ve got to stay positive, as my mentor says. So I guess I see myself as a warrior, fighting to liberate my world from its current oppressors, the evil secret society of the Selected. I want to find a way to let the people of my world know about all of the injustice and the atrocities that the Selected have done to us all.

***If there was one thing you could change about your past what would it be?***

I never wanted to be deemed special, but I was destined to live the mess that’s been my life so far. I always wanted to be a normal person and to blend in with the rest of the crowd, but then again I always wanted to live an adventure! So I guess I wouldn’t really change a thing…except for my family’s fate, which is something I’m not ready to talk about yet…

***If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go?***

Oh, that’s easy. I would take Naheli Menares, my real first girlfriend, to a nice, little, secluded beach (we have beautiful beaches in Akaladia!) on a romantic getaway.

***Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation?***

When I was thirteen, I used to see this bald-headed, middle-aged man who came to me in my dreams, telling me “get to know, to believe and to trust yourself”. Turns out he was Doctor Kusloff Maenard, my mentor (laughs), whom I met seven years after he came to me in my dreams. Doc says he did this by entering something he calls Darzanna, the Dreamworld…but to this day, I really don’t know how this thing works!

***What was the best compliment you have ever received?***

That was when Naheli told me that I was a good singer and rudivinna player. A rudivinna is an electric string instrument similar to what you call an electric guitar, here on Earth.

***If you could have anyone locked in a room so that you could torment them for a day, whom would you choose and how would you torment them?***

Oh, I can think of many people whom I’d love to lock in a room and torment (laughs). I think I would start with a spy called Lukan Mithravid. I would use a mind trick on him known as Hypnotrance to mess with his mind, because that’s exactly what he did to me before I was locked away in an asylum!

***Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year?***

I would rather be free and live forever, pretty or ugly all the same (laughs).

***If you could go to anyone (living or dead) for advice who would it be and what would you ask?***

That would be the Crone of the Dhurabasin. She’s this mysterious, enigmatic woman who tutored my mentor, he says. Based on all the wondrous stuff that she taught Doc Maenard, this woman seems to be truly wise and she knows a lot about secrets of the occult sciences of old that I would love to know. Since she’s supposed to be able to see the future in her dreams, I would ask her what she sees in my future.

***What is the weirdest thing about you? Are you proud of it or embarrassed?***

I guess the weirdest thing about me is my creativity. I always loved the arts (music and literature, especially) in a world where such things aren’t encouraged, and so I was deemed as a weirdo by most folk around me when I was younger. That made me feel a little embarrassed at first, but now that I’ve moved to a much more artistic type of place, I’d say I feel proud of it!

***Mountains or Beach?***

Well, since I spent almost 5 years in the desert, training to become a warrior, I don’t like sand too much, but I do love the sight of the sea. So beach it is!

***Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?***

Oh, definitely Naheli…and for a long time too (laughs).

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Marberi-198x300.jpg)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Cover_book_1-200x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Pinnacle-Power-Keeper-Balance-Book-ebook/dp/B00UXMVFY0/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Cover_book_2-200x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Warriors-Balance-Keeper-Book-ebook/dp/B0106MHYAK/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

***Want to know more about Tito Martinez? Continue reading his in depth interview...***

***When and why did you begin writing?***

 I’ve always loved writing. I just didn’t feel confident enough to do it seriously till about 8 years ago. My girlfriend at the time read a little crossover I had written (for my own enjoyment only). She loved it, and so she encouraged me to try my hand at writing “my own thing”, which I did. That’s how I got started on my current series, The Keeper of the Balance.

***When did you first consider yourself a writer?***

I guess it was when I sold the first copy of The Pinnacle of Power, book one of The Keeper of the Balance series. Before that I think I didn’t really believe that I can be a true writer.

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

I wanted to write my own take of the Hero’s Journey, but I wanted to do it in a way that would feel fresh and novel to the reader, mixing classic elements of fantasy and sci-fi with real life topics that I feel are important. Whether I succeeded in this or not, is up to the reader, of course. But I feel like I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.

***Do you have a specific writing style?***

I guess I’m a little too methodical. I have to write each chapter, each book, in sequential order. I’m a little absent-minded, so I tend to lose track of important details if I don’t do it like this.

***How did you come up with the title?***

The title of my current series was inspired by the concept of universal balance between light and darkness. As for each book in the series, I tried to go for simple titles that would capture the essence of each volume’s contents.

***Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

I believe that balance is the key to success in all things in life. I also think spirituality is important in life. I try to convey these messages in my books, though the main thing for me is to write entertaining books. If readers get a positive message out of my work that’s even better!

***How much of the book is realistic?***

Great question!

I believe that everything in my books is grounded on reality, regardless of how fantastical/magical my world, characters and/or situations might be. I try to find an explanation that makes sense to everything that happens in the books, because there are consequences to everything that happens in life. To every action there is a reaction, after all. I also want to appeal to human nature by asking myself, how would a person react to this or that situation? I try to make my characters as deep, complex, contradictory and realistic as possible, so that the reader can actually relate to them based on what they’re going through

***Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?***

Some of the stuff in my books is inspired by people I know or events in my own life, certainly. Although real life events of historical importance and stories I love are also major sources of inspiration for me.

***What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?***

The Lord of the Rings, 1984, Brave New World, A Song of Ice and Fire, The Never-ending Story, The Matarese Circle, the Bourne Trilogy…these are some of the books that have had a profound influence on me. I also owe a lot to a psychologist who was the basis for Doctor Kusloff Maenard, the mentor figure in the books.

***What book are you reading now?***

I’m currently doing a reread of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin.

***Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?***

Caitlin O’Connor, Michelle Lynn and Alexis Grove. The work of these 3 talented young authors has really struck a chord and grabbed my attention. I definitely recommend readers to check out their work.

***What are your current projects?***

I’m focused completely on finishing my current four book series The Keeper of the Balance. I’m almost done with book 3 now, and I’m already writing down notes for The Last Bastion, which will be the last book in the series.

***Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.***

I’ve been fortunate in this sense. I’ve had the support of many people outside my family. If I had to name just one it would be my good friend Lother from Romania. He was the first person outside family who read the very first draft of book one The Pinnacle of Power, and he gave me great pointers and advice!

***Do you see writing as a career?***

Hopefully (laughs). I would love to make a career out of my work as a writer, yes.

***If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?***

No, not really. I would probably change a few things in the opening act of the series (to make it tighter, crisper, perhaps), but I love the pace and the story of book 2, The Warriors of Balance.

***Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?***

It happened organically, I guess. I’ve been writing for a long time, as a hobby first and then as part of my job, doing copyright and translation work. This has helped me greatly as a writer, because it’s taught me a lot about spelling, grammar and editing.

***Can you share a little of your current work with us?***

With pleasure! I’m currently working on 4 chapters for book three in The Keeper of the Balance series, The Order of the Ancestors. I’m basically polishing, adding and subtracting a few things in these chapters, getting ready to release the book soon!

***Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?***

Not being too repetitive or redundant. Sometimes I tend to write the same exact things in different words, and I’ve had to go back to change entire chapters or sequences in my books because of this.

***Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?***

George R.R. Martin. His A Song of Ice and Fire is epic. The way he’s able to create so many characters and different situations with so many twists and turns, in a world that feels so real and organic, without abusing of magic, is truly astounding in my opinion.

***Who designed the covers?***

I did. I’m not sure how good they are, to be perfectly honest, but I’m happy with the end result.

***What was the hardest part of writing your book?***

Finding time and some peace and quiet to work (laughs). It’s hard for me to concentrate if there’s too much going around me while trying to write. Maybe that’s why it’s taken me almost 8 years to finish these books!

***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

Well, I’m certainly not experienced enough to be giving out advice, I don’t think. But one thing I’ve learned from other types of creative work I’ve done for a long time is that you must do what feels right to you. Don’t try to please anyone but yourself. You have to be confident in what you’re doing and trust that, if you like it, then other people will enjoy your work too.

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

Buy the books (laughs). In all seriousness, I’d like to thank the people that have done just that. I hope they’ve enjoyed reading my books as much as I love writing them.

***Do you remember the first book you read?***

I think it was the novelization for the first Star Wars film, back when I was 7 or 8 years old. I’m sure I read something else before that, but this is the first book I remember reading clearly.

***What makes you laugh/cry?***

Many things make me laugh, like a good, smart joke, my cat’s antics, children and the stuff they come up with at times…I think I have a good sense of humor. Mindlessness is what makes me cry, because it leads to most of the many problems facing the world today, such as war, racism, intolerance, abuse of natural resources, greed, lack of empathy for all living things…it makes me wonder what will happen if we don’t change our ways.

***Is there one person past or present you would meet and why?***

Siddhartha Gautama, aka the Buddha. I’m not a Buddhist, but I’ve studied the life and work of Siddhartha, and I find it amazing that so many of his teachings still apply today.

***What do you want written on your head stone and why?***

“He was a fighter. He never gave up.”

I think life is made up of challenges. How you handle adversity and how you choose to deal with problems is what I believe to build character. So I don’t like to give up, at least not until I’ve proven to myself that there really is no easy solution to overcome a challenge.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

“Reading, obviously. I also love baseball and football (the American style).

***What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?***

“I’m not too much of a TV person, to tell the truth. Game of Thrones, History’s Vikings and Ancient Aliens are my favorite current TV shows. As for films, I love fantasy/sci-fi. Star Wars, Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, The Matrix, V for Vendetta and obviously, the film version of The Lord of the Rings are amongst my favorite films.

***Favorite foods / Colors/ Music***

Mexican food is my favorite hands down (and I mean real Mexican food, not the Taco Bell kind, laughs). My favorite colors are black and teal. And my favorite music is rock, alternative and grunge from the 90’s especially.

***If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?***

I would’ve liked to be a Rock Star! Seriously, I play a little guitar and I was part of a few bands when I was younger. Somehow that didn’t work out. In any case, I have to do something creative to be at my best. A regular 9 to 5 job is just not for me.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

My official website is [www.marberi.com](http://www.marberi.com) You can find my blog there, along with information on my books, interviews, book reviews and more!

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2015, Author Spotlight

---

### [Rhoda D’Ettore-Zodiac](https://melaniepsmith.com/rhoda-dettore-zodiac/)

**Published:** July 25, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# August Spotlight -

***Rhoda D'Ettore***

Rhoda D'Ettore was born in Woodbury, New Jersey, into a family of 5 siblings--which has provided her with plenty of comical material. She began working at the United States Postal Service at 25 years old, and over the past 15 years has accumulated many humorous stories about situations that the public never gets to know about. Her first ebook, "Goin' Postal: True Stories of a U.S. Postal Worker" was so popular that readers requested it in paperback. Recently, she published the humorous "Goin' Postal" in paperback along with another story entitled, "The Creek: Where Stories of the Past Come Alive". Combining these two into one book may seem strange, as one is humorous and the other is a heart wrenching historical fiction, however, doing so proves to the reader Rhoda D'Ettore's versatility. Rhoda D'Ettore received her degree in Human & Social Services while working at USPS, has travelled extensively, and loves history. Over the years she has volunteered for several community service organizations, including fostering abused and neglected dogs for a Dalmatian rescue.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

## Coming this Summer...

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Zodiac-190x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Zodiac-Lives-Rhoda-DEttore-ebook/dp/B013ONCRW8/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

No One is Safe While...Zodiac Lives. After surviving a car accident that killed her father, three-year-old Jennifer begins having nightmares. It's soon obvious she suffers from something more dreadful than the accident when she provides clues to a murder committed 3,000 miles away - two decades before she was born. Jennifer's nightmares set off a chain reaction that prompts the infamous Zodiac Killer to emerge from dormancy and terrorize San Francisco for a second time.

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23368444-zodiac-lives)

[Melanie's Review](http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1NDC81AZD1RKM/ref=cm_cr_pr_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1511601523)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well here's a sneak peak into the heart and mind of the Zodiac Killer...**

***Zodiac, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn't revealed in your story?***

I'm much more complicated than people would assume, and I'm often conflicted. I like killing, killing is fun, but wasn't always. I grew up in Texas where it was easy to get weapons for my favorite pass time.

***Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?***

I grew up in Texas to one of the most dysfunctional families ever. My father taught me everything I know, and he did so with the best of intentions. Somehow he believed that instilling the skills of a serial killer would be helpful to a child. However, it probably wasn't his fault, as with abuse, it was a vicious cycle. Therefore, I come from a long line of killers.

***What makes you, the Zodiac, so special?***

First and foremost, I'm intelligent and witty. I created hundreds of codes and cyphers that even forty years later, the authorities failed to crack. How often in today's society does a serial killer go free? Most get caught. I never did, which makes me better than all the rest.

***Tell me about your reputation and how it has impact your life and your relationship.***

Police, media, and whole cities fear me. It's awesome to know I have that power over millions of people. At anytime, I can write a letter to the police threatening to blow up a school bus or start a killing spree and people would lock themselves away in their homes. That is futile as I can find and kill anyone. No one is safe because Zodiac Lives. As you can imagine, choosing a career as a killer can wreak havoc on a relationship. There is always the sneaking around, hiding things, censoring my words around people. I'm never myself in public, and those who have seen the real me—well, they/re dead.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

We all have regrets. I do talk about mine in the book, so I won't delve here. I also wish I would have killed my father when the initial thought arose. Allowing him to live was a worst injustice to society (and me) than any of my crimes.

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

I'm finally getting used to this internet thing. In five years, I imagine I will be using it to stalk my prey. People are so stupid. They tell you everything online. My father used to tell me that if I was on the run with the police chasing me, I should run for a house with toys and bikes in the yard. Kids always run in and out of the house so parents rarely lock the doors. Over the years, it seems more people will lock the front door of the home, but accept friends requests from anyone on line, then tell them a life story. I can use this to my advantage, so be careful.

***If there was one thing you could change about your past what would it be?***

I never had kids. When I was younger I thought having children would be cruel. I'd either screw up the kid, or I'd get arrested and screw him up that way. Now that I'm older, I wonder if having children would have given me a reason to be a productive member of society. I might have put my skills to other uses, but we'll never know now.

***If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go?***

For the most part, I can take anyone I want anywhere now—I'm a serial killer, so kidnapping is no problem for me. But seriously, I would have Neil Armstrong take me to the moon. I'd make them figure out how to write the words “This is The Zodiac Speaking, I'm Alive” on the moon. I always liked batman, so using the moon as my “Zodiac Signal” would be really cool.

***Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation.***

I met a wonderful woman and fell in love. I wasn't expecting that.

***What was the best compliment you have ever received?***

The FBI put me on their Most Wanted list. It melted my heart, truly. What was even better was that they didn't know my name. It really placed me well above the rest of the fugitives.

***If you could have anyone locked in a room so that you could torment them for a day, whom would you choose and how would you torment them?***

I've already done this. Most people think Lee Harvey Oswald killed Kennedy, but that's a load of crap. There were three men who hunted JFK down like wild game. I found them, and made sure they paid the price. Yes, the torture went on for weeks in a basement. Let's just say that knives and medieval devices were used. If interested, Rhoda D'Ettore depicts my skills of chopping, slicing, and dicing in the new book about me.

***Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year?***

Ugly and live forever. People don't take notice to ugly people, therefore I could go on killing and tormenting the police for all eternity. The one thing I have learned over the decades, technology might become more advanced, but the people running it are still stupid. They'd never catch me.

***If you could go to anyone (living or dead) for advice who would it be and what would you ask?***

Jack the Ripper. I'd want to ask him if we were truly related as my father always seemed to think. I'd probably ask him how he was able to balance our “occupation” with family life. If I am a descendant, then he must have had a family.

***What is the weirdest thing about you? Are you proud of it or embarrassed?***

Like I said earlier, I'm conflicted. Sometimes I want to retire to a tropical island, and other times I want to kill whole groups of people. I know in my head that killing is wrong, but sometimes I just don't care. How could I be embarrassed about myself? I'm the crème de la crème. Dahmer, Gacey, Bundy … they were great men, but they were all caught. Only I have been able to evade apprehension for decades. Even the BTK and the Green River Killer were caught after a couple decades, but I remain free. I think having a conscience, as little as it may be, is something of which I can be proud. It is one more way it sets me apart from the rest.

***Mountains or Beach?***

Beach, definitely. I'm a psychopath, but I'm still a man who loves women in bikinis.

***Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?***

Hillary Clinton. When she announced she was running for President of the United States, I thought about going after her. Even I'm not that sadistic to want her unleashed on America. Then I thought about it. With all the security, cameras, political aides, and media around her, it would be a huge expense of my time and effort. It could be done, but why bother? If she keeps running her mouth, she's create her own demise.

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***In closing, I would like to thank Author Melanie P Smith for giving me this opportunity to speak to you. Normally, I am the one contacting the media so this time was different. To the readers, I would like to say: I'll be lurking in the shadows waiting. I'll be on your social media outlets gathering information about your comings and goings, your strengths and weaknesses. For this reason, you might want to buy Rhoda D'Ettore's book about me that comes out next month. You might as well learn as much about me as you can because no one is safe while....***

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Zodiac-Lives.png)

# Additional Works...

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Newborn-Nazi-198x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Newborn-Nazi-Rhoda-DEttore-ebook/dp/B00NGC8GXM/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Tower-of-Tears-207x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Tower-Tears-McClusky-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00KB4DUJS/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Going-Postal-200x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Goin-Postal-Stories-Worker-Creek-ebook/dp/B00J6HIAX2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Blush-229x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/10-Shades-Blush-Softer-Side-ebook/dp/B00IORPUQA/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436937031&sr=1-9)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Box-Set-300x268.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Family-BOX-Rhoda-DEttore-ebook/dp/B00UAR1IW2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436937031&sr=1-1)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/RhodaDEttore)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/rhodadettore)

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Rhoda-DEttore/e/B00JNJVZ3K/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1436652708&sr=8-1)

**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2015, Author Spotlight

---

### [Ian D Moore](https://melaniepsmith.com/ian-d-moore/)

**Published:** July 13, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

[![ZOMBIE](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3737/19546465762_a4fdcc39fc_b.jpg)](https://www.flickr.com/photos/134423360@N02/19546465762/in/dateposted-public/ "ZOMBIE")# [BUY ON AMAZON](http://www.amazon.com/Salby-Damned-Ian-D-Moore/dp/1910256617/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1436471686&sr=8-2&keywords=ian+d+moore)

# Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller

**My first novel created originally as a short story, this book crosses the realm of scientific warfare with the greed of shale gas fracking producing horrific results. A multi billion pound energy company chooses a sleepy secluded purpose- built town to drill beneath in the quest to find shale gas. A freelance reporter and the mysterious leader of the town residents committee team up to fight the corporate giants who unwittingly unleash one of science’s fiercest creations into the atmosphere, turning tens of thousands into mindless zombies intent on one thing and one thing only……..KILLING. The race is on to find a cure and save the population inbetween a quest for power, bribery and corruption. The story features very graphic scenes of violence, explicit love scenes and an edge of the seat storyline culminating in an end with a twist you won’t see coming. If you’re into your zombie stories and revel in a bit of blood, guts and gore then grab yourself a cuppa, kick back and enjoy the ride, you’ll LOVE this!!**

# [Visit Author’s Website](https://iandmooreauthor.wordpress.com/)

[![Salby best cover SMASH](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/312/19335224709_417e196951_z.jpg)](https://www.flickr.com/photos/134423360@N02/19335224709/in/dateposted-public/ "Salby best cover SMASH")---

# About Author Ian D Moore

**A trucker based at Goole Tesco DC, fledgling author of Salby Damned. I live with my partner of two years in Selby, North Yorkshire but am originally from Sutton Coldfield, just outside Birmingham. Now aged 43, I have two sons of my own and another step son and step daughter, all of whom I love dearly. Having written short stories and poetry for many years, I was challenged to write a story for my sister Helen which lead to the first novel being published. It has been a learning curve but I have thoroughly enjoyed it and am now working on another novel, but all in good time ;’)**

## [Follow on Twitter](https://twitter.com/ianstories)

## [Follow on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/salbydamned)

[![anthology fb cover](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/375/18933543434_598a0ec03e_z.jpg)](https://www.flickr.com/photos/134423360@N02/18933543434/in/datetaken/ "anthology fb cover")# YOU’RE NOT ALONE Anthology

# [BUY ON AMAZON](http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Not-Alone-Author-Anthology/dp/1514235978/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436471921&sr=8-1&keywords=ian+d+moore)

## Author Ian D Moore Spearheads Anthology for Cancer Support Charity

An international group of indie authors, inspired by the personal grief of one, decided to collaborate in the spring of 2015 in a project to create this multi-genre smorgasbord of original short stories, all with the same potent theme – relationships. Some are heartfelt, some funny, some poignant, and some are just a little bit scary – much like relationships themselves. All are by authors fired by the shared enthusiasm to give something back in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Cancer touches us all. It has in some way affected those who have contributed their time and talent here. This is our way of showing that we care. Indie authors carry forward a revolutionary shift in publishing, which allows the author to be creative director in their own work. There are many exceptional, experienced and acclaimed writers who have decided to take this bold step in publishing. In producing this anthology we have also had the inestimable assistance on board of artists, graphic designers and bloggers – all of whom have a place in our acknowledgements. You, the discerning reader, are the other vital part of this equation. By buying this book you are supporting the work of indie authors, as well as discovering their worth. You are also supporting the charity to which we have chosen to dedicate our work. 100% of the royalties earned or accrued in the purchase of this book, in all formats, will go to the Pamela Winton tribute fund, which is in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

# MEET THE AUTHORS

[![The Anthology Team](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/456/19549292072_8863b96281_b.jpg)](https://www.flickr.com/photos/134423360@N02/19549292072/in/datetaken/ "The Anthology Team")

**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2015, Author Spotlight

---

### [Susanne Leist](https://melaniepsmith.com/susanne-leist/)

**Published:** July 12, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

[![Book](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3785/19515066052_c2a8ed3218.jpg)](https://www.flickr.com/photos/134423360@N02/19515066052/in/dateposted-public/ "Book")# [Buy The Dead Game on Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Game-Susanne-Leist-ebook/dp/B00F3IWF70/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436356668&sr=8-1)

# [Buy The Dead Game on Barnes & Noble](http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dead-game-susanne-leist/1116825442?ean=9781478704485)

# Paranormal, Mystery, Thriller, Romance

**The small town of Oasis offers tourists a promising glimpse of paradise with its sparkling white-sand beaches, majestic coastline, and legendary sunsets. But suddenly, life changes in the remote town…people begin to disappear, and some even turn up dead on the beach. Overnight, the town turns from a dream vacation spot to an unsafe haven harboring dark secrets and murder. It all begins with the mysterious invitation to a party at End House. It is a night that neither Linda Bennett nor her friends would ever forget. From this night forward, they find themselves unwillingly trapped as pawns in a deadly game…caught in a deepening quagmire of deceit and horror…in a power play between good and evil. To save themselves and the town, they must reveal the true face of evil-the one controlling the game and its elusive players. Will the young residents be drawn into the dark currents surrounding Oasis, or will they break free, and bring a new light into their spellbound town? Splendidly crafted, expertly paced, with richly drawn characters, The Dead Game is a perfect supernatural thriller…with a touch of romance.**

# [Visit Susanne Leist’s Website](https://susanneleist.wordpress.com/)

---

[![aS](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/325/19495764616_8147514d59_q.jpg)](https://www.flickr.com/photos/134423360@N02/19495764616/in/dateposted-public/ "aS")# About Susanne Leist

**Susanne Leist graduated with an M.B.A. in Finance. Wherever life has led her, through the hectic commodities’ markets or the number-crunching field of budgeting, she’s continued to read and daydream. Unbeknownst to her, she had been pursuing her dream all along, her dream of putting her words down on paper for everyone to enjoy. She lives on Long Island with her husband, two daughters, and Maltese.
Her first book, The Dead Game, is a paranormal thriller with humans, vampires, and vampire derivatives. Her goal has been to write a book different than the usual vampire story or murder mystery. She wanted a murder mystery with victims, clues, and suspects. She created that and much more. The book has revolving rooms, traps, falling cages, and anything her active imagination could create. The Dead Game is a fun ride into the realms of the supernatural.**

## [Follow Susanne Leist on Twitter](https://twitter.com/susanneleist)

## [Follow Susanne Leist on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dead-Game/245820408898288)

**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2015, Author Spotlight

---

### [Rhoda D’Ettore](https://melaniepsmith.com/rhoda-dettore/)

**Published:** July 5, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# [Buy Rhoda D’Ettore books on Amazon](http://www.rhodadettore.com/)

# Coming this Summer…..

---

[![ZODIACJUNE](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/277/19467270071_9c11e70df7.jpg)](https://www.flickr.com/photos/134423360@N02/19467270071 "ZODIACJUNE by Christina Wilson, on Flickr")# No One Is Safe While…

#  ZODIAC LIVES

# A Novel by Rhoda D’Ettore

**After surviving a car accident that killed her father, three-year-old Jennifer begins having nightmares. It’s soon obvious she suffers from something more dreadful than the accident when she provides clues to a murder committed 3,000 miles away—and two decades before she was born.**

**Jennifer’s nightmares set off a chain reaction that prompts the infamous Zodiac Killer to emerge from dormancy and terrorize San Francisco for a second time.**

# [Visit Rhoda D’Ettore’s website](http://www.rhodadettore.com/)

---

[![BOOKSQUAD](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/376/18766140708_8c57ea535d_z.jpg)](https://www.flickr.com/photos/133380093@N03/18766140708 "BOOKSQUAD by Rhoda D'Ettore, on Flickr")# Goin’ Postal & The Creek

**Rhoda D’Ettore began her writing career by publishing humorous tales about working at the United States Postal Service. Fifteen years of dealing with bombs, anthrax, and human body parts in the mail made for an interesting read. Her co-workers laughed so hard at the nostalgia, they encouraged her to publish the writings. Since then, D’Ettore has fascinated readers with plot twists mixed with sarcastic humor.**

D’Ettore knew postal workers would buy her story, yet she also wanted to show them she could write interesting, serious work with shocking twists. In Goin’ Postal & The Creek, the reader gets two very different stories in one book. The first containing the hysterical tales of postal worker life. The second story is a historical fiction that spans 200 years with a slightly supernatural twist. Topics include war, love, romance, death, Prohibition, the Great Depression, and how families survive such events.

---

# Newborn Nazi

**Newborn Nazi tackles the issues of right and wrong as well as self sacrifice when fourteen-year-old Edmund is forced into the Hitler Youth in 1935. His older siblings vow to destroy Nazi Germany, and the family gets swept up in espionage and the Underground Movement. When Edmund becomes an adult and joins the feared SS, his sister’s secret endeavors to save Jews in her home endangers lives—including her own. This suspense thriller is sure to keep you guessing.**

Newborn Nazi is based on Rhoda D’Ettore true family history. There was an Edmund who was forced into the Hitler Youth, and his sister did help Jews escape. D’Ettore found the story so riveting, she took the plot of the story and added murder and espionage to create this intense thriller.

---

# Tower of Tears: The McClusky Series 1

**In Tower of Tears: The McClusky Series, we find Jane traveling to America from Ireland with her three-year-old son. Expecting to find a better way of life, Jane finds nothing but intimidation, betrayal, violence, and heartache. This family saga includes blackmail, murder, mystery, and a touch of romance.**

While writing Tower of Tears, D’Ettore gave her mother one chapter at a time for feedback. D’Ettore was undecided who the murderer in the book would eventually be, so she wrote the story with five characters hating and threatening the murder victim. Halfway through the book, D’Ettore’s mother shouted, “I know who killed him…. it was ####”. D’Ettore then finished the book with a different character as the murderer. When her mother read the final draft of the book, she replied, “That’s not who the murder is. I told you who is was.” D’Ettore then said, “I wrote the book, so I know who the murderer should be. Thanks.”

---

# 10 Shades of Blush: The Softer Side of Kink

**10 Shades of Blush: The Softer Side of Kink is a collection of naughty fantasies of ordinary women. Teachers, mothers, and professionals submitted their wants and desires for kinky fun. All the tales are told as if the women are speaking directly to their partners. The audiobook of this has been called “Two hours of phone sex for $7”.**

# *Rhoda D’Ettore works are available as ebook, paperback, and audiobooks*

#### [Follow Rhoda D’Ettore on Facebook](www.facebook.com/rhodadettore)

#### [Follow Rhoda D’Ettore on Twitter](https://twitter.com/RhodaDEttore)

**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2015, Author Spotlight

---

### [Jeffrey Cook & Katherine Perkins](https://melaniepsmith.com/jeffrey-cook-katherine-perkins/)

**Published:** June 29, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# July Spotlight -

***Jeffrey Cook***

Jeffrey Cook lives in Maple Valley, Washington, with his wife and three large dogs. He was born in Boulder, Colorado, but has lived all over the United States. He's the author of the YA Fantasy *Foul is Fair* (first of the *Fair Folk Chronicles*), the *Dawn of Steam* trilogy of alternate-history/emergent Steampunk epistolary novels, and the YA Sci-fi thriller *Mina Cortez: From Bouquets to Bullets.* He’s a founding contributing author of Writerpunk Press and a contributor of RPG writing to Seattle’s Deep7 Press. When not reading, researching, or writing, Jeffrey enjoys role-playing games and watching football. ***[ Click Here](http://authorjeffreycook.com)*** to visit Jeff's Website.

***Kathrine Perkins***

Katherine Perkins lives in Coralville, Iowa, with her husband and one extremely skittish cat. She was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, and will defend its cuisine on any field of honor. She is co-author, with Jeffrey Cook of the YA Fantasy *Foul is Fair.* She is also the editor of the *Dawn of Steam* series and serves as Jeff’s co-author of various short stories, including those for the charity anthologies of Writerpunk Press. When not reading, researching, writing, or editing, she tries to remember what she was supposed to be doing.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

## Newest Release...

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/FoulisFair-200x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XDPIA7O/)

Lots of girls play Fairy Princess when they're little. Megan O'Reilly had no idea the real thing was like playing chess, guitar, and hockey all at once. Megan had known for a long time that she wasn't an entirely typical girl. But living with ADHD—and her mother's obsessions—was a very different thing from finding out she wasn't entirely human. Somewhere out there, in a completely different world, her father needs help. There's a conflict, revolving around Faerie seasonal rituals, that could have consequences for humanity—and if Megan's getting the terminology straight, it sounds like her family aren't even supposed to be the good guys. As she's further and further swept up in trying to save her father, Megan may be getting too good at not being human.

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XDPIA7O/)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

**Have you ever finished reading a book and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well keep reading to learn more about Megan O'Reilly in Foul is Fair...**

***Megan O'Reilly, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn’t revealed in your story?***

I'm a 16-year-old high school student from Seattle, WA. Apparently, my dad is some kind of Faerie king, not that I'd ever heard anything from him until recently. Much as I don't really like Faerie politics and weird things trying to kill me, a lot of it kind of makes more sense than living under all of my mother's rules, school, and all of the supposedly normal stuff. It's definitely more exciting.

***Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?***

I grew up in West Seattle. My dad left when I was two -- all I really remembered was his voice, sort of. My mother used to be some kind of local rock star, but you certainly wouldn't know it now. She's really big on rules, schedules, routines, and lots of doctors appointments to try and deal with my ADHD every time my grades slip a little.

Otherwise, I guess it was pretty normal. We have a house, I have some good friends, especially Lani Kahale. Lani's apparently like me, in the half-faerie thing, except instead of half-sidhe like me, she's half-menehune, which is kind of a Hawaiian lawn gnome or something. The other difference is that her father stuck around.

My favorite classes were all about art and music, and I'm hoping to somehow convince my mom to let me go to art school when I graduate..

***What makes you, Megan, so special?***

I'm not exactly sure. I guess being the Faerie King's daughter is kind of cool, but I don't really know how to do much magic stuff yet, though they think I have a knack for it. Lani is the one who knows all sorts of stuff about the faerie stuff. She still appreciates my ideas and plans, though. I guess we make a pretty good team.

***Tell me about your reputation and how it has impact your life and your relationship.***

I don't know how much of a reputation I have. I guess I'm kind of an outlier in high school. I mean, it's not like anyone gives me a lot of trouble or anything. I'm just no one special. Most of the faeries, I guess, didn't even know I existed, since my dad kept my existence secret until he couldn't anymore.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

I don't feel like I've had a lot of control of a lot of things. Being on less medication might have helped a little in getting going sooner to figure things out, but I have no idea how that would have affected the struggle in school, or the timing of anything.

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

Right now, I have no idea. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to go help my dad in the Faerie realm, or if I can go to art school, or if Mom will insist on going to U. Washington, or what. Right now, I'm not even sure what I'd choose, if I get a say in the matter.

***If there was one thing you could change about your past what would it be?***

I had no control over it, but I really wish I'd either known my father, or gotten to meet the person my mother used to be. It would have been kind of nice to grow up knowing a little more about who I am, or maybe who I was supposed to be.

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# July Giveaways...

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Shakespeare-Punk-197x300.jpg)

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UIL0YP2/)

**Giveaway Days...**

July 3-5th and July 24th - 25th are giveaway days for the kindle edition of Sound & Fury: Shakespeare Goes Punk. This is a charity anthology and all profits go to support [Paws.org](http://www.paws.org) an animal shelter and wildlife rescue in Lynnwood, WA. Jeff and Kate contributed a steampunk version of 'The Winter's Tale' with 500% more being pursued by a bear

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/decorative-lines-17_large2.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/DOS_Rising_cover-200x300.jpg)

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UIL0TOI/)

**More giveaways...**

*Dawn of Steam: Rising Suns*, the culmination of the alternate-history/emergent Steampunk epistolary trilogy written by Jeff and edited by Kate. Giveaway dates are also July 3-5th and July 24-25th.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/decorative-lines-17_large2.png)

## Previous books in the Trilogy

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/DoSFL-199x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOC6HNU/)

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IOC6HNU/ref=series_rw_dp_sw)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/DoSGotS-199x300.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N5D9BK4/)

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N5D9BK4/ref=series_rw_dp_sw)

**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2015, Author Spotlight

---

### [Peg Glover](https://melaniepsmith.com/peg-glover/)

**Published:** June 1, 2015
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Content:**

# June Spotlight (Peg Glover) -

 Peg Glover is a published writer and RN. She has worked in the medical and psychiatric field for over thirty years. Peg’s writing has been published in several e-zines as well as in the Anthology Lessons From My Parents, by Michele Robbins. Peg is a voracious reader and loves just about every genre. When time permits, she enjoys writing book reviews and sharing them. Peg has three beautiful children, a daughter and two sons. Her favorite pastimes include reading, writing and traveling the country with her husband.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/DhM3fEa.png)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Book.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Discover-Authors-Great-Reads-Recommendations-ebook/dp/B00XZZLXQ2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Peg.jpg)

[Visit Web](http://write-escape.com)

[Goodreads Author](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14007183.Peg_Glover)

[Amazon Author](http://www.amazon.com/Peg-Glover/e/B00Y13BLQE/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/authorpegglover)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pegglover.write.escape)

# Great Reads...

Discover New Authors & Great Reads is a collection of thirty-five thoughtful and honest reviews intended for discerning bibliophiles, avid readers, and book club members who are seeking top-notch reading suggestions. Also contained within this reference is a list of over a hundred book recommendations for the voracious reader. As a bonus, this edition includes topics such as why it’s important for booklovers to leave a review for a novel they’ve enjoyed, along with a section on finding amazing indie authors to read. If you’re a bibliophile searching for your next great read, then this is the book for you!

[Amazon eBook](http://www.amazon.com/Discover-Authors-Great-Reads-Recommendations-ebook/dp/B00XZZLXQ2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/DhM3fEa.png)

**Get to know Peg Glover...**

***Where are you from?***

I currently live in the Northeast, USA with my husband

***A little about yourself (ie your education Family life etc )***

I’ve been a nurse for over thirty years, working in both medical and psychi-atric hospitals. However, I’ve always wanted to write and publish a book. I absolutely love reading and wanted to give others some of the same pleas-ures that I have enjoyed. Several of my flash fiction pieces have been pub-lished in various e-zines, as well as an essay for the anthology Lessons From My Parents, by Michele Robbins.

 ***Tell us your latest news?***

I’m excited to announce that my first book, Discover New Authors & Great Reads, was just published in May, 2015.

 ***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 I wanted to promote authors whose writing I considered to be outstanding, especially indie authors. So I gathered up 35 of my reviews from mostly in-die authors’ books and started putting together my own.

 ***How did you come up with the title?***

 That was easy. The title explains exactly what my book is about. Discover New Authors & Great Reads.

 ***Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?***

Yes, read indie authors. They are new voices, with fresh ideas. And don’t forget to leave a review, especially if you have enjoyed the book.

 ***Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.***

 Neil McFarlane. He is a children’s indie author who offered to proofread my book at no cost. I really appreciated his help and was touched by his offer.

 ***Can you share a little of your current work with us?***

 Yes, I’m currently researching and gathering information for my next book. I think the focus of it will be on happiness and living a positive life. I’ve worked in the psychiatric field for the past twelve years, and I’ve seen just how sadness, guilt and self-loathing can ruin people’s lives. I want to do my piece in helping others find happiness.

 ***Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?***

 Not yet, but I’ll be retiring soon, and traveling will be a big part of my life. I plan on adding some of my travel experiences to my writing.

 ***Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?***

 Yes, writing and publishing a book is a lot of work! Much more than I ever expected.

 ***Do you have any advice for other writers?***

 Don’t give up.

 ***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 Read indie authors’ books and don’t forget to leave a review. Every author puts a tremendous amount of effort into their work, and they truly appreciate it when a reader takes the time to review their book.

**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2015, Author Spotlight

---

### [Delta James](https://melaniepsmith.com/delta-james/)

**Published:** October 3, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Get to know Delta James - Delta has been a successful author using the pen name Willa Bradley where she wrote contemporary and contemporary western erotic romances. The switch to the Delta James name coincides with signing with a new publisher, Stormy Night Publications where she is writing contemporary westerns and paranormal erotic romance.

**Content:**

# Delta James

***Interesting facts...***

Sinfully sultry romance - that's the world that best selling author Delta James inhabits and shares with her readers. A world where alpha heroes find true love with feisty heroines. Delta's stories are filled with erotic encounters of romance and discipline. One fan suggested it was best to have a "fan and a glass of water" when reading Delta's stories.

**Tell us a little about yourself?**

*I’m new to being an author. I wrote my first book, under the penname Willa Bradley, in November of 2017. It had always been a dream, but I put it off. I’m not sure why, but I just decided I was going to give it a shot. I have been very humbled and thrilled by how well I’ve done and by how much fans love my work.*

**Tell us your latest news**

*Mastering his Mate came out September 14th. It is the third in the Wayward Mates series and Book 4 should be to the publisher this week.*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-500x83.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Delta-James-Bus-Cards.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/42209406_724363914575060_7648264146223366144_o.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/DeltaJamesAuthor)

[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/deltajamesauthor/)

[Amazon Author](https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07FKPBQBT)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Roz Kincanon, from Mastering His Mate (The Wayward Mates Series)...**

**Roz Kincanon tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn't revealed in your story?**

No, I’m pretty much an open book .. ha! ha! Well, maybe that the couple of years I was on my own as lone wolf were pretty awful. I was lonely, no one to trust, and didn’t know nearly enough about being a wolf shifter to be on my own.

**Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?**

Liza, my younger sister who’s mated to our beta, Bash, and I had a great childhood up to my late teens and her very early ones. Our parents were killed in a car accident. Not only did I lose my parents, but I suddenly had to become the responsible adult in my little sister’s life.

**What makes Roz Kincanon so special?**

What makes me special? I can shift from being human to being a wolf. Besides which I keep my mate almost as happy as he keeps me.

**Tell me about your reputation and how it has impact your life and your relationship.**

Oh, that’s rich. I was one of those pesky rogue females of the Bae Diogel pack. To say the old boys of the Ruling Council and most of the other wolf packs we were some kind of horrible aberration. I think some were just pissed because we had proved we didn’t need men. But I think some, like my Oliver, truly believed that we were a target to the wrong kind of male wolves and that we weren’t safe. Of course, I always ask him if that was their only concern why was it mandatory that we be mated? He usually finds a way to change the subject.

**Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?**

That’s a hard one. My gut reaction is I should have stayed in the Hamptons and met Oliver when I was turned. But here’s the thing … I believe that all of our experiences – good and bad, dark and light, sweet and sour – combine to make us who we are and bring us to where we are at this point in time. So, part of me says I would like to have had Oliver from the beginning, but yet that time before we met is an integral part of who I am. Maybe I could have told him I loved him sooner. He deserved that.

 **Where do you see yourself in five years?**

If I’m right where I am today, I’ll be fine with that. I know each day I grow to love Oliver, our pack and our life even more. I’d love to have a baby – preferably a little girl not only because born female shifters are becoming more and more rare, but also, I’d like her to hear how her mother lived and become a strong leader herself.

**If there was one thing you could change about your past what would it be?**

Again, I don’t think you can change the past and not change the future and who you are. But maybe, telling Oliver I loved him sooner than I did.

**If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go?**

That’s easy. I’d go with Oliver. And I have a real hankering to do a grand tour of Europe – London, Paris, and Rome.

**Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation.**

I became a wolf shifter. The first I knew of our existence was when I woke up as one.

**What was the best compliment you have ever received?**

This may sound really shallow, but after the first big soiree I put together at our home in the Hamptons, people kept saying it was the best party they’d ever been too. I’d run into guests in town months later and they’d stop to tell me again. Now I know a party isn’t like curing cancer or solving the problems in the Middle East, but for me? A kid from Jersey? I never thought I could pull it off. Not only did I do so in spectacular fashion, but I had a blast. Wait until they see what we’re doing for New Years!

**If you could have anyone locked in a room so that you could torment them for a day, whom would you choose and how would you torment them?**

That’s just not who I am. If you’re my enemy or I feel you need to no longer be breathing, I’m going to take you out. Kill you, dispose of the body and move on with my life. I’m not much of a torturing kind of girl … but I've been known to play one.

## New Release...

**He has been patient with his mate for long enough. Now she needs to be mastered.**

*After she was injured in an attack by a rogue band of wolves, Rosalyn Kincanon awoke to discover that her life had changed forever. Angry and distraught, she fled from those that nursed her back to health and found her own place in the world. But now the all-female pack she helped lead has been disbanded and the women are to be claimed as mates whether they like it or not.*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Mastering-His-Mate-Cover.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07HCV4TXX)

## Other Books in the Series...

***Brought to Heel***

Before he claims his mate, she must be brought to heel

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Heel.jpg)

[Book 1](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07FKPN7TX)

***Marked and Mated***

She ran from her mate. Now she must be punished.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Mated.jpg)

[Book 2](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07GC7HMDQ)

**Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year?**

Too many variables – but I do believe even if I became disfigured and “ugly” that Oliver would love me. And if could live forever too, then I would choose that in a heartbeat.

**If you could go to anyone (living or dead) for advice who would it be and what would you ask?**

That’s easy – the women who were former Bae Diogel – those gals can do anything and we have lived as no others have lived before us.

**What is the weirdest thing about you? Are you proud of it or embarrassed?**

Aside from the I can become a wolf? LOL! Of which I am very proud. Probably that the great Mistress of the Hamptons pack used to make a living doing welding on skyscrapers and I’m damn proud of that.

**Mountains or Beach?**

Beach – I live on an island for Christ’s sake.

**Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?**

Oliver -- think of all the kinky things we could do. Trust me for a man who people perceive as straight laced, that man has got a bag of sexual tricks second to none!

**Will be seeing more of you in the future or has your story already been told?**

Never count a good wolf down. This is Oliver and I’s story, but I don’t think I’m done. And you never know when and where I might show up.

**If you could change one thing about the world… what would it be?**

I would let female shifters live outside of what the males in our society deem to be their proper places. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life and I wouldn’t change anything about being with Oliver – not even the spanking – but not every female gets an Oliver or a Dylan or a Jean-Michel. There are plenty of female wolves living lives of quiet desperation. I would see them free to choose their own destiny.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/37610826_675402592804526_8867428683783077888_o.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/42120734_724348594576592_4027204736821231616_o.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/41124555_718147811863337_2454311258313195520_n.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-500x83.png)

***Want to know more about Delta James? Continue reading her in depth interview...***

**When and why did you begin writing?**

Several years ago I had my whole life turned upside down. I got wiped out financially, lost what I thought was a stable relationship, etc. It really took it’s toll. I pulled back from most things in life and licked my wounds. But I’m nothing if not just a survivor but someone who, like the Phoenix, will rise again. I re-examined my life and decided what I wanted for me. Toward that end, I shocked my friends and family and chose to move from the Pacific Northwest to North Carolina – where I knew no one. I decided that every bad decision I ever made was one made in fear and I was going to find a way to stop living a fear-based life. Two years later, I decided that choosing not to pursue being a published author was a fear-based decision and sat down to write my first book

**Do you have a specific writing style?**

I think my style is character-driven erotic romance. I write mainly in two genres – paranormal and contemporary western. I do have two contemporary romances that are suspense but they haven’t done as well as the other two genres.

**When did you first consider yourself a writer?**

Three different watermarks – the first time a book I’d written was available to purchase on Amazon; the second was when a fan recognized me and told me how much she loved my characters and my books and could discuss them with me. Just recently, when I held in my hands, my first paperback. Those are the three times that for me made it real.

**What inspired you to write your first book?**

I love erotic romance and had been reading quite a bit. Some of it was great and wonderfully written. But some, frankly, was poorly written and edited. I thought to myself reading the latter, I can do a better job. As I’d always dreamed of being a writer, I sat down and wrote my first novel.

**How did you come up with the title?**

My biggest weakness is titles. I’m pathetically bad at them. Thank God my current publisher is great and has suggested titles each time. The first time, they were very sweet and didn’t want to hurt my feelings. Once I told them I had no ego around those kind of things they were all in! LOL!

**Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?**

I don’t think I put a message in because for me reading is a recreation. I don’t like message books or movies, I want to be entertained. So, at the end of the day as long as I’m entertaining people, I’m content. There are those, however, that will tell you that I write very strong, non-submissive females who choose to submit to their partner. I’ve had numerous fans who have told me that’s what they like about my characters … that they can relate to them more than a lot of other heroines. One fan told me a lot of heroines are either the woman they’d like to be or that they used to be. Mine are ones they could see as friends or at least going to brunch with.

**Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?**

Any author who tells you that characters and events in a novel don’t relate in some way to their own life is either lying to you or to themselves.

**What are your current projects?**

I’m just finishing up the fourth in the Wayward Mates series. I have a contemporary western that will come out later this year. I’m planning some kind of holiday novel, and have another contemporary western that will take place on the Chief Joseph ride.

**Do you see writing as a career?**

Not really. It’s a great second job but more than that it’s my grand passion and I have so much fun with it.

**If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?**

Of course. Authors are always revising. There’s always a way to make it better.

**Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?**

Because I write character-driven and am “pantser” (one who writers by the seat-of-her-pants instead of with a well-conceived plot), I sometimes find myself getting lost. It usually doesn’t take much for me to get back on track, but it can be a bit stressful when it happens.

**Who designed the covers?**

The amazingly talented Korey Mae Johnson.

**Do you have any advice for other writers?**

Write! I know that sounds like a no brainer but I can’t tell you how many authors I know that just get so hung up in their own head they can’t get out of their own way. I’m a member of the Carolina Romance Writers Association. And we have a member that asked how I could produce the way I do – eleven books in ten months – and I said to her write. She said “I can’t” I said “Of course you can. Don’t pick a word count to hit each day, pick a time limit. Sit your ass down in the chair and write. I don’t care if you write I hate Delta James over and over for however long you’re there … just write.” The next month she confessed that she’d done just that and that the first two days she wrote I hate Delta James … but it made it push through and she was back on track.

**Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?**

Thank you! Thank you for making my dreams come true. Thank you for all your feedback and reaching out to me to share. And thank you for loving my characters as much as I do!

**What makes you laugh/cry?**

My basset hounds. I laugh out loud at them every single day. And when I lose one, I am destroyed. But the pain of their passing never, ever negates all the joy they brought to my life.

**What do you want written on your headstone and why?**

She Lived Without Fear if I have to have a grave or a marker. In all honesty, I’d just as soon they take whatever parts anybody else can use and toss what’s left out onto the mountains for the wolves.

**Other than writing do you have any hobbies?**

Yes, I’m passionate ab out riding horses white water rafting, interior decorating and showing champion dogs.

**If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?**

Been an interior designer.

**If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?**

Been an interior designer.

**One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?**

I can be contacted through my Facebook page:

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/DeltaJamesAuthor)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2018, Author Spotlight

---

### [Amanda Steel](https://melaniepsmith.com/amanda-steel/)

**Published:** September 12, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Amanda Steel is a multi-genre author. She sometimes writes under the pen name Aleesha Black. She is also a creative writing student and the co-host of "Reading in Bed", a monthly book review podcast. 

**Content:**

# Amanda Steel

***Interesting facts...***

Amanda Steel is a multi-genre author. She sometimes writes under the pen name Aleesha Black. She is also a creative writing student and the co-host of "Reading in Bed", a monthly book review podcast.

**Tell us a little about yourself?**

I grew up in Bradford in the UK, and now live in Manchester. After studying two creative writing modules as part of my degree, which led me to act upon lifelong passion of writing, by publishing some of my work.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Amanda-Portrait.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AmandaSteelWriter)

[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/amandasteel37/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/Amanda_S_Writer)

[Website](https://www.amandasteelwriter.com/440655072)

[My Blog](%20https://amandasteelwriter.wordpress.com)

[Amazon Author](https://www.amazon.com/Aleesha-Black/e/B07DYLL7DS)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

**Tell us your latest news**

I have a book out under my pen name Aleesha Black. The book is called Lost and Found. It’s about a young woman who was kidnapped as a child, then sold to a childless couple. Before being reunited with her parents, she believed the people who bought her were her parents. This leads her struggle with her identity and the search for where she really belongs.

My other book “First Charge” is out soon. This is a completely different book. The genre is YA. The story follows Meredith, a mermaid descendant (and a strong female LGBT lead character) as she tries to do what she believes is right by protecting people with an important destiny.

**When and why did you begin writing?**

I’ve written for as long as I can remember. As a young child I rewrote some fairy tales, although I can’t remember if they were any good or not. Then as a teenager, I used to sit at the back of science class writing song lyrics for my band. Nothing happened with the bands though, as none of us could sing.

**What inspired you to write your first book?**

My mum inspired my first book. I had started novels before, but was never able to get past a few chapters. Then my mum’s idea about kidnapped children got me thinking. She believes that there is a black market where kidnapped children are sold to childless couples. This got me imagining what it would be like if one of them was reunited with their real family as an adult. The ideas stuck with me and I completed my first novel.

**How did you come up with the title?**

The original title was “While I was Gone” because one of the underlining themes of the story is everything Kayla has missed out with her real family while she was gone. However, the it’s a two-part series, and the series titles Lost and Found. So, when my unscrupulous publisher ran off with my royalties and a certain website refused to take the book down, despite the fact I had the rights returned to me, I had to call it “Lost and Found” and use the pen name “Aleesha Black” to separate it from the original book.

**How much of the book is realistic?**

Sadly, the events of “Lost and Found” can happen. The storyline for “First Charge” is less realistic though. So far, I have met any mermaid descendants.

**What book are you reading now?**

I’m reading five different books at the moments; most of them are non-fiction. I’m finding “Screenwriting for Dummies” very helpful.

**What are your current projects?**

I've started the first draft of the third book in my YA series. I’m also onto the first round of editing on my Paranormal Crime, and I’m writing a screenplay. In-between all that I like to write poetry whenever I’m inspired.

**Can you share a little of your current work with us?** (from Lost and Found by Aleesha Black)

> Kayla studied his face and realised he was genuinely sorry, but she was still angry. She turned to Patricia who hadn’t said anything. “And do you regret it too?”
> 
> “Of course I do,” Patricia replied defensively.
> 
> “So given the chance to go back and change things, you'd do something different?”
> 
> “There's no sense in talking like that,” Patricia told her, “nobody gets to go back and change things.”

**Do you have any advice for other writers?**

Don’t give up. You’ll have rejections (unless you’re very lucky) but keep going and read as much as you can; both fiction to learn what works and what doesn’t, and non-fiction to learn how to improve.

**What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?**

Supernatural, Glitch Travellers, Stranger Things and most of the superhero shows.

**Favorite foods**

I love KFC burgers, Chicken Bhuna, Cake and Ice cream.

**If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?**

When I was a child I wanted to be a singer. I don’t think it would have happened though; mainly because I can’t sing.

**One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/button_web.png)](http://www.amandasteelwriter.com)**

## New Release

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Lost.jpg)

*Imagine finding out your parents weren't your parents; that they bought you on the black market and lied to you for fifteen years. This is what Kayla Marshall has to deal with after she is reunited with her real family. She struggles to find where she belongs. Is it with the couple she grew up with and called Mum and Dad? Or is it her genetic family who she grew up thinking were a figment of her over-active imagination?*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07DY26Q72)

## Other Work...

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/love.jpg)

*A collection of poetry involving bad dates and failed relationships, hopefully seeing the funny of it all, unless of course you made it into one of the poems.*

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/1548737933)

## Reading in Bed Podcast

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/0754-1c69-4280-8f01-40b0da26b19a.jpg)

- [![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/button_twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/Reading_In_Bed_)

- [![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/button_mixcloud.png)](https://www.mixcloud.com/amanda-steel/)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2018, Author Spotlight

---

### [Author Val Tobin](https://melaniepsmith.com/author-val-tobin/)

**Published:** June 15, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Meet Author Val Tobin - She is a multi-genre author, wife, mother, grandmother and cat lover.

**Content:**

# Val Tobin

***Interesting facts...***

***Author Val Tobin – Short Bio***

 Val studied general arts at the University of Waterloo, then went to DeVry Toronto to get a diploma in Computer Information Systems. She worked in the computer industry as a software and Web developer for over ten years, during which time she started her formal education in energy work and metaphysical studies.

In October 2004, Val became a certified Reiki Master/Teacher. She acquired ATP® certification in March 2008, in Kona, Hawaii from [Doreen Virtue, PhD](http://www.angeltherapy.com/).

Val started work on a bachelor of science in parapsychic science from the American Institute of Holistic Theology in March 2007 and received her degree in September 2010. After obtaining her master’s degree in parapsychology at AIHT, Val has set her sights on the PhD, which she’ll pursue as time and finances permit.

At the end of October 2008, Val returned to Kona, Hawaii to complete the Advanced ATP® training and in April 2010 to take the Spiritual Writing workshop and the Mediumship Certification class. Val wrote freelance for online magazine Suite101 and was Topic Editor for Paganism/Wicca and Webmaster Resources at Suite.

A published author, she contributed a story to Doreen Virtue’s Hay House book Angel Words. Her novels are available on Smashwords, Amazon, and from other retailers in both e-book and paperback.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/val-tobin-author-profile-1000x667.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/AUTHOR-LOGO-FEATHER-BLACK-BOX-JPG.jpg)

[Amazon Author](https://www.amazon.com/Val-Tobin/e/B00KC5S69K)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/valtobinauthor/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/valandbob)

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/valtobin)

[BookBub](https://www.bookbub.com/authors/val-tobin)

[ALLi](https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/members/val-tobin/profile/)

[Smashwords](https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/valtobin)

[Website](http://valtobin.com)

[My Blog](https://bobandval.wordpress.com/)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Today we're talking to Detective Jacob Turner from About Three Authors: Poison Pen ...**

***Detective Turner, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn't revealed in your story?***

 I grew up in Toronto, Ontario, and moved to St. Catharines, Ontario, when I got the job with the Niagara police.

My hair started to turn grey when I was eighteen. Makes me feel like an old man, though my partner, Detective Skylar Lambersky, insists it makes me appear distinguished.

***What was your childhood like?***

 Normal. My family’s pretty tight, though my brother moved to Calgary when he graduated university. Since he’s way out there and focused on his work as a geologist, my mother pesters me to get married and have a family.

I had fun growing up in TO. Lots to do and the freedom to do it, but frequently you read about murders around the city. I hated the thought of someone getting away with killing an innocent person. The urge to do something, to make a difference, made me want to become a detective. My family wasn’t a cop family, so I had no one to tell me what I was getting into. I love my work, though.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

 I wish I could’ve figured out who killed Leon Patterson sooner. It would’ve avoided the whole fiasco at the Niagara River.

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

 I’d like to be married. Have kids. Maybe Robin’s the woman for me. We’ll see. Since she already has two great kids, we’d have an instant family. Hope she doesn’t have a problem with me saying that publicly.

***If there was one thing you could change about your past what would it be?***

 The past is the past. You can’t mess with that.

***If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go?***

 Well, my hero has always been FBI profiler John Douglas. I’d like to buy him a drink and ask him about his cases.

***Will we be seeing more of you in the future or has your story already been told?***

 No one’s story is over until they’re dead. I’m not dead.

***If you could change one thing about the world… what would it be?***

 I’d like to suck the fear right out of it. Fear leads to hate and hate drives people to kill.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

***Want to know more about Val Tobin? Continue reading her in depth interview...***

***Tell us a little about yourself?***

 I was a software/web developer for ten years, but have always been studying and learning. Before I got my diploma in Computer Information Systems, I studied literature and philosophy at the University of Waterloo.

While I was working in the computer industry, I got my Reiki Master/Teacher certifications, my Angel Therapy Practitioner® with Advanced Standing certifications from Doreen Virtue in Hawaii, a Bachelor of Science in Parapsychic Science, and a Masters in Parapsychology.

My husband and I have been married since 1983 and have two adult children and three grandchildren—and a cat named Scully.

***Tell us your latest news.***

 I’ll be attending book fairs and events in Ontario throughout the summer. Anyone who’d like to track me down and get a signed copy of my books should check my website to see where I’ll be. I love to meet my readers.

***When and why did you begin writing?***

 I’ve been writing since I learned to read. I can’t not write. It’s a compulsion.

***When did you first consider yourself a writer?***

 Anytime I wrote, I considered myself a writer, whether it was the technical articles I wrote for Community MX or general interest articles for Suite101, or whether I wrote in my journal.

***What inspired you to write your first book?***

 The Experiencers was inspired by the sky watches we did with some people from the UFO group we belong to. I’ve always had an interest in that subject and have had some interesting experiences. I wanted to explore UFOs and the conspiracies that go along with them.

***How did you come up with the title?***

 The term “experiencer” was originally coined by Dr. John Mack, who worked with people who claim to have been abducted by aliens. The term is controversial. Some consider it a euphemism that downplays the reality. Others say abductee is too harsh and that there are positives to the experience. The different characters in both The Experiencers and A Ring of Truth fall on one side of the debate or the other, depending on what has happened to them.

***Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?***

 Some of the incidents in The Valiant Chronicles are based on true events. Carolyn’s experience with the UFO in the school yard is based on a true event, as is her encounter with John in the spirit world, and Michael’s “dream” about Jessica.

***What book(s) are you reading now?***

 Summer Day by Frank Parker; The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt; The Gates by Iain Rob Wright; I just finished The Paris Effect by K.S.R. Burns.

***Are there any new authors that have grabbed your interest?***

 Frank Parker has caught my interest since I started reading Summer Day. He has a captivating style that draws you into the story. I enjoyed reading both of K.S.R. Burns’s books as well. I’m eagerly anticipating reading Lesley Hayes’s The Girl He Left Behind when I finish the ones I’m currently reading.

***What are your current projects?***

 My current project is a non-fiction book based on my master’s thesis called ***Changed for Life: The After-Effects of Near-Death Experience***. Whether or not you believe that a near-death experience is a glimpse of the afterlife, you can’t dispute that people return from the experience changed in fundamental ways. Most no longer fear death and completely revise their belief systems. Not only that, but studies have shown that simply learning about others’ experiences can impact those who have never had a near-death experience.

I’m also planning a sequel to Storm Lake. Readers seem to want to know what happens next to Rachel, Jeff, and Peter.

***Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.***

 Writing groups such as [IASD](https://indieauthorsupportanddiscussion.com/) and WCYR. Also author Alan Annand. He’s a gifted writer and his advice has been invaluable to me.

***Do you see writing as a career?***

 Absolutely.

***If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?***

 No, the way things unfolded is how they happened. Nothing else needs to be added, in my opinion. Anything else would be extraneous. Any alterations to existing events wouldn’t feel right.

***Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?***

 Whenever I read a story I loved, I wanted to write one of my own. I had this compulsion to communicate through story and through non-fiction as well.

***Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?***

 J.R.R. Tolkien is my favourite author. I love his writing and his storytelling. From the moment I started reading The Lord of the Rings I was hooked. I loved the way it made me feel. The story captivated me, I fell in love with the characters, and I was fascinated by Middle Earth and its inhabitants.

***Who designed the covers?***

 The covers for all my novels were designed by Patti Roberts of [Paradox Book Cover Designs](http://paradoxbooktrailerproductions.blogspot.com/).

***Can you share a little of your current work with us?***

 I’ll share an excerpt from my newest release, Poison Pen:
*This is from “Chapter 1,” where we witness the murder Detective Jacob Turner must solve...*

## New Release...

*Three wannabe authors suffering from various mental disorders find themselves on a killer's radar when they interfere in the investigation of a colleague’s murder.*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/poison-pen-ebook-cover-30june2017-340x500.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://books2read.com/poisonpen)

## Additional Books...

*The Valiant Chronicles*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/box-set-1x3-28nov2017-340x500.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://books2read.com/valiant)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/earthbound-EBOOK-cover-award-22nov2017_Final-340x500.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://books2read.com/earthbound)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/the-experience-bk-1-ebook-cover-4aug2017-320x500.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://www.books2read.com/TheExperiencers)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/A-Ring-of-truth-ebook-cover-320x500.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://www.books2read.com/ARingOfTruth)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/WALK-IN-ebook-COVER-15june2016.2500-354x500.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://www.books2read.com/walk-in)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Gillians-Island-EBOOK-COVER-3march2016.2500-354x500.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://www.books2read.com/gilliansisland)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/INJURY-ebook-10april20152500.jpg-award-340x500.jpg)

[Free Download](https://books2read.com/injury)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/STORM-LAKE-EBOOK-COVER-3SEPT2016-340x500.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/502405?ref=valtobin)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/sampleCover_ChangedForLife-340x500.jpg)

[Coming Soon!](http://valtobin.com/wp/val-tobins-current-projects/)

*The place was a stone and steel palace. Whenever Conrad Barnes visited, which was often, the bile rose in his throat and his stomach churned with resentment.*

*But not today.*

*He parked his bike next to the fifteen-hundred-square-foot garage and hooked his helmet over the handlebars. On any other day, he would’ve stewed over the fact that the garage alone dwarfed his house.*

*But not today.*

*He almost whistled as he approached the glass-enclosed front entrance. With his head down, he exposed to the security cameras only the top of the long, blond wig he wore. He threw a quick glance towards the Niagara River, which fronted one thousand feet of the property on the outskirts of Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario. Coast clear, Conrad eased the glass door open and slipped onto the porch.*

*Before ringing the bell, he removed the wig and the women’s bulky sweater he wore despite the warm, humid air and stuffed them into the backpack he carried. Next, he wiped his lipstick-coated mouth with a moist towelette. He shoved the soiled tissue and the rest of the packet into a Ziploc bag and then into the backpack.*

*Later, he’d burn the soiled tissue but planned to keep what remained of the packet—no need to be wasteful. The backpack he set in the right corner of the porch beside the front door. He ran a hand through his jet-black hair to remove the flatness from the helmet and wig. The pair of running shoes he’d stolen from their owner remained on his feet.*

*After weeks of snooping, he’d scoped out every camera at every angle in the place. Thankfully, Leon Patterson valued his privacy and the electronic eyes focused outward only. Inside, Conrad would be safe from such surveillance, but he kept himself pressed to the front doors once he’d removed the wig and sweater.*

*He drew the cuff of his white collared shirt over his right fist and rang the doorbell with a cloth-covered knuckle. While he waited, he stuffed his hands in his pockets. With his right hand, he clutched the packet of ground water hemlock root, his ticket to riches and fame.*

*After a few minutes, he repeated the bell-ringing process. As he considered ringing a third time, the door opened, exposing a bleary-eyed, bed-headed Leon Patterson.*

*“What the hell are you doing here at six in the morning? Did we have an appointment?” Leon yawned, his jaw cracking.*

*Conrad frowned. “Oh, no. Tell me we have an appointment.”*

*They didn’t, of course. Everyone thought Conrad was attending a massage conference in nearby Niagara Falls. He’d spouted off about it often to prepare for this morning. The conference existed—he’d timed his visit here to coincide with it. He’d even registered for the conference, booked a hotel room, and checked in. It made the perfect alibi for a professional masseur, and he’d return to the room after he finished here.*

*Leon scrubbed his face with his hands and then ran them through his wavy brown hair, spiking it up even more. “Didn’t you have a conference?”*

*“Starts tomorrow.” Conrad frowned as though puzzled.*

*“My phone didn’t fire off a reminder.”*

*“What the hell? Weird, man. It’s in my appointment book. Sorry I woke you for nothing.” He brightened as though struck with a brilliant idea. “Why don’t I give you a free half-hour massage for the inconvenience?”*

*“I haven’t even had coffee.” Leon hesitated, squinting in contemplation. “But it’d be great.” After another pause, he said, “I’ll pay you. It’s your job, and you should be paid for your time.”*

*Yeah, Mister Money Bags has it to throw around. Conrad smiled. “Sure, I’ll take your money.”*

*Leon opened the door wide and ushered Conrad into the main foyer. An opulent living room with grey broadloom and French provincial couches, chairs, and loveseats in tan sprawled to his right. A glass coffee table, a glass hutch, and a large glass china cabinet added sparkle to the room.*

*Whenever he entered this house, he fought the urge to smash everything. He visualized taking a sledgehammer to all that fragile junk. If it weren’t for this pompous jerk, Conrad would be rich, famous—happy. As it was, he struggled to pay his bills while Leon rattled around in an enormous mansion with only his sister Daphne to share it.*

*Pretentious. Who needs seven thousand square feet of home?*

*His desire for what Leon owned didn’t strike Conrad as hypocritical. The little peckerhead had everything handed to him. Leon hadn’t earned it, hadn’t struggled the way Conrad struggled. How was that fair?*

*Forcing his teeth to unclench, he made his way to the kitchen, Leon padding after him.*

*“Shall we have coffee to wake you up?” Conrad stopped next to the cappuccino machine and inclined his head. “I’d make it for you, buddy, but I don’t know how to work this contraption.”*

*Leon, fully awake now, grinned. “No problem. Sit.”*

*Conrad eyed the four rattan-backed barstools pushed up against the gleaming white island in the centre of the kitchen. He strolled over to a stool snugged up against the island near the embedded gas range. When Leon turned away to set up the coffee maker, Conrad covered his hand with his shirt cuff and yanked the stool out. By the time Leon spun around again, Conrad sat on the barstool, elbows on the island’s granite top, chin resting on hands.*

*“I gotta say, I rarely wake up this early.” Leon set spoons, sugar, and milk in front of Conrad.*

*“Where’s Daphne?” She was at work, but he needed Leon to verify. Better to be safe. The last thing he needed was his future wife walking in on him murdering her brother—not that she knew she was his future wife. The housekeeper always arrived in the afternoon, so he was safe there, too.*

*“Work. She has the morning shift at the diner all week.”*

*“Bummer. Wasn’t she on the night shift last week?”*

*“Yeah.”*

*The coffee maker rumbled and Leon retrieved mugs from the cupboard. “She doesn’t mind. We’re sure the job’s only temporary.”*

*“You helping sell her book?” A big-name author such as Leon surely worked his magic for his sister even though he’d done diddly squat for his good pal Conrad. Selfish. The man was self-absorbed and selfish.*

*“I’m doing what I can, sure.” Leon poured coffee and walked the mugs to the island. He snagged a seat next to Conrad and doctored his coffee with milk and sugar.*

*When Conrad didn’t make a move to add anything to his coffee, Leon raised his brows. “Aren’t you having milk?”*

*“Nah. I’m cutting out dairy.” He wasn’t. The less he touched in the house, the better. In a few minutes, Leon would thrash on the floor in death throes. Whether Conrad used dairy wouldn’t matter to Leon ever again.*

*“You got a lactose problem? I didn’t know that.”*

*Conrad shrugged. “Neither did I.”*

*He stifled the smirk before it displayed on his face and grinned instead. A glance at the time showed twenty minutes had passed—time to get this project underway.*

*“Hey, can I buy a copy of your last paperback from you?” That ought to shove Leon’s ass from the room.*

*Delight crossed Leon’s face. “Yeah, sure. Awesome.”*

*“Can you sign it? Make it out to Beth Holmes and add today’s date? I’m giving it as a gift.”*

*“Sure. Be right back.”*

*The moment Leon disappeared from sight, Conrad slipped the packet of powder from his pocket and tipped it into Leon’s coffee.*

*Poison was a woman’s weapon. As an aspiring author, Conrad often researched murder. After deciding to use poison, he’d visited the library in St. Catharines to figure out which one suited his needs. Water hemlock fit perfectly into his plans. It worked fast and would make Leon suffer before he died.*

*Served him right. He should have helped Conrad sell his novel. Leon had influence, but his petty selfishness made him keep all the fame and glory for himself. He wasn’t even a talented writer. His editor did the heavy lifting. Conrad had read Leon’s books and found the stories lacked depth. They weren’t intellectually stimulating masterpieces like Conrad’s novels.*

*“Here ya go.” Leon reappeared and held up the book, front facing out.*

*The cover showed a half-naked couple canoodling, glittering masks covering their eyes, the woman’s wrists in handcuffs. He opened the book and displayed the title page. On it, he’d written To Beth Holmes. Hope it spices up your nights. Leon Patterson. Under the signature, he’d written the current date. The signature displayed exaggerated loops and swirls.*

*Conrad winced. Erotica. The man wrote erotica and made millions from it. Life just wasn’t fair. He picked up his mug and raised it in a toast. “Thanks, buddy. Cheers.”*

*Leon raised his mug and tapped it against Conrad’s. “Cheers.”*

*Conrad sipped, his gaze riveted on Leon’s eyes as he drank the tainted coffee. No matter what, Conrad wanted to witness the light in the other man’s eyes dim and flicker out. He’d read about killers who’d watched their victims die. What a rare and precious opportunity to observe the moment of death. This would be research as well as revenge.*

*Fifteen minutes later, the tremors started and Leon’s mug crashed to the floor. His mouth opened and closed, opened and closed, and he made a pleading gesture with his hands. His eyes went wide and the aroma of shit rent the air. He tumbled from his chair onto the cold, hard floor, his groans filling the room as he curled into a ball.*

*“Gee, buddy,” Conrad said, “don’t you feel well?”*

***Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?***

 Thank you so much for reading my books. I appreciate each and every one of you.

***Other than writing do you have any hobbies?***

 Reading.

***One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?***

I have both!

[Website](http://valtobin.com)

[My Blog](https://bobandval.wordpress.com/)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2018, Author Spotlight

---

### [Claressa Swensen](https://melaniepsmith.com/claressa-swensen/)

**Published:** July 17, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Meet Claressa Swensen - Children's author, mother and pet owner.  Her work has been featured in Reader's Favorite and on over 15 reading blogs.  Learn more...

**Content:**

# Claressa Swensen

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

 Claressa Swensen resides in Northern Utah with her husband, baby girl, and her two dogs. She has written multiple children’s books, including Teensy the Littlest Fairy and Dino Dino Doing Homework. Her books are currently available in over 20 Barnes & Noble locations across the US. Her work has been featured in Readers Favorite and over 15 different reading blogs.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/image1.jpeg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ClaressaSwensenOfficial)

[Lilttle Bear Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/LittleBearandHisChair)

[Trailer](https://www.facebook.com/ClaressaSwensenOfficial/videos/1305041792971478/)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15000998.Claressa_Swensen)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Little Bear from Claressa's newest release - Little Bear and the Chair**

**Q:** Little Bear, tell me a little about yourself. What was it like growing up in a forest?

**A:** The forest is the perfect place for a bear cub like me. I like the weather and I have plenty of space to play with my friends. Ryan the lion is my best friend.

**Q:** What are some of your hobbies (when you’re not sitting in your favorite chair)?

**A:** My friends and I like picking apples, going swimming in the pond, hanging out by a campfire and having picnics!

**Q:** How long have you and Ryan the Lion been best friends? How did you meet?

**A:** I don’t really remember. Our mamas were best friends so we were raised together as cubs.

**Q:** How does it feel to star as the main character in your first book?

**A:** It’s really cool! I hope my story can help other kids learn to share. Because my mama says friendship only grows by sharing.

**Q:** What is the weirdest thing about you?

**A:** I always wear a red polka dot bow tie. When I showed up to my first day of school wearing a bow tie, some of the other kids thought that was silly. But it’s just who I am!

**Q:** If you could change one thing about the world… what would it be?

**A:** No more cutting down trees. My friends and I need a place to live and if you take our trees away, we won’t have a place to sleep!

## New Release

*Little Bear has a favorite chair, and he doesn’t want anyone else to sit on it. When his stubbornness gets in the way of his friendships, Little Bear has to decide what’s more important to him. A short story that teaches the value of friendship, and the importance of sharing.*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/61oQEMHueL._SX473_BO1204203200_.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/0997222662)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/CeZNoHM.png)

*****Want to know more about Claressa Swensen? Continue reading her in-depth interview...*****

**Q:** Tell us a little about yourself:

**A:** My name is Claressa, friends call me Clare. I reside in northern Utah. I’ve published four children’s picture books and I plan on publishing more in the future.

**Q:** When and why did you begin writing?

**A:** As a professional in the childcare field, I was spending a lot of time around kids. I loved to tell them stories, and I would use those stories to help teach specific lessons. For example, Nap Time with Harry was a story I would tell kids right before nap time. I think it made nap time a LITTLE more fun. Haha. Every one of my books teaches some sort of valuable lesson.

**Q:** What book are you reading now?

**A:** I haven’t been able to set as much time aside for my own reading as I’d like, however, I have made it a point to read to my little girl every day. Due to the consistent daily reading, she has grown a huge love of books herself. Authors we read include Eric Carle, Mo Willems and Dr. Suess.

**Q:** Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

**A:** Sure, there are many other things I like to do. I enjoy gardening, playing board games with my family, and spending time out in nature.

**Q:** Do you see writing as a career?

**A:** Yes. But it certainly isn’t a career achieved overnight. Publishing a book is a lot of work, whether that book is traditionally published or published independently. Every author I know worked very hard to get to where they are, and that goes the same for me. I didn’t realize how much work would go into marketing, alone.

**Q:** Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

**A:** Oh yes. The ever so dreadful writers block, and it happens to the best of us. I can get ALMOST done with a story, and still not know how it’s going to end. Sometimes I go months without getting any writing done, because I just don’t have the inspiration needed to finish the story.

**Q:** What was the hardest part of writing your book?

**A:** Marketing. If you would have told me a few years ago - how many hours I was going to spend marketing my work and myself to the world, I might have thought twice about getting into the author industry in the first place. But alas, I wouldn’t change it for the world. And with every book I publish, I grow even more as a writer and a public figure.

**Q:** Do you have any advice for other writers?

**A:** Yes. Start marketing your book months before release. You’re going to get a lot of people who reject your book, but don’t let it get you down. Persistence is key.

**Q:** Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

**A:** I would like to thank my readers for all of their continued support. There is nothing more rewarding than to know my book has helped a family or a child in some way. ‘You are the reason I continue to write and publish books.’

**Q:** One final question...Do you have a website? If so, what is it?

**A:** Readers can find me at [Facebook.com/ClaressaSwensenOfficial](https://www.facebook.com/ClaressaSwensenOfficial). My books are available at [Amazon](https://bookgoodies.com/a/0997222662), [Barnes & Noble](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/claressa+swensen?_requestid=1508183) and [Walmart](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Little-Bear-and-His-Chair-Other/197332052) online.

## Other books by Claressa Swensen

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Teensy.jpg)

[Buy](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01BEU9LDG)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Dino.jpg)

[Buy](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01H347K5S)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Nap.jpg)

[Buy](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01A58DSCI)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2018, Author Spotlight

---

### [Depths of Darkness](https://melaniepsmith.com/depths-of-darkness/)

**Published:** October 31, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Indie Author Support and Discussion Group (An international group of Indie Authors)  presents Depths of Darkness - A psychological horror anthology.  Let the Nightmares begin!

**Content:**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

An amazing international group of authors came together to create DEPTHS OF DARKNESS - A psychological horror anthology just in time for Halloween. As my readers know, horror is not my typical genre, but it sounded like a fun challenge. Initially, I had no idea what to write about so I quizzed my friends (who are mostly cops) and decided to loosely base the story on a bizarre incident that happened decades ago. Enter a routine call that ends up being too strange to dismiss, a manhunt, a SWAT callout, a creepy middle-aged man that lives with his mother, and an evil sociopath. The result? Pyrohypnosis (my contribution to the anthology). What is truth and what was born from the wild imagination of a writer? I'll never tell. Get your copy today. In addition to my story, there are nine other authors participating in this anthology. Keep reading to learn more.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/3d-Mockup.png)

[Buy Now](https://geni.us/DepthsofDarkness)

# THE AUTHORS...

**AUTHOR TOM BENSON**
In 1969, aged 17, Tom left his native Glasgow to join the British Army. He enjoyed a colourful military life serving mainly in West Germany but with short postings elsewhere. Highlights of his service were: patrolling the streets of Belfast, serving in the walled city of West Berlin, working as a military training instructor, and latterly, serving in the first Gulf War. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, and was grateful to complete his career in 1992, sound of mind and limb.
A second career followed which saw Tom work in retail for 25 years. Once again, not content with 9 to 5, he dealt with recruitment, training, discipline and support. He travelled UK-wide in management and support roles and spent many years establishing new stores and teams.
Tom considers writing as his third career. He started in 2007 and has written novels, short stories, and poetry in a wide range of genres. Justice is a key component in much of his work.

See below for additional works by this author.

[More...](http://www.tombensonauthor.com)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/4626936505_157x238.jpg)](http://mybook.to/Beyond_The_Law_Formation)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/4635272574_157x240.jpg)](http://mybook.to/ALOCTrilogyPartOne)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/4634417336_167x248.jpg)](http://mybook.to/Ten_Days_in_Panama)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/4636513591_172x250.jpg)](http://mybook.to/Codename_Nightshade)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/4616660909_167x246.png)](http://mybook.to/A_Taste_of_Honey)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/4612802442_162x244.jpg)](http://mybook.to/Amsterdam_Calling)

**AUTHOR SYLVA FAE**
Sylva gave up a job in academia and now works as an author /illustrator. Sylva and her family own a woodland, and she can often be found sitting on a log by the campfire, pondering story plots. Adventures in their own enchanted woodland, hunting for fairies and stomping in muddy puddles, inspires Sylva to write stories to entertain her three girls.

See below for additional works by this author.

[More...](http://Author.to/SylvaFae)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51AHDsownFL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0742M12MV)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51pRA9QMmiL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07Y8L75Z1)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51ObljyJV7L.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07K7XWXXF)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/519TVnHKOWL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07RC7S87R)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51y5ZVbWJ0L.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07DB931LV)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51yCyi57cXL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07TLMYS89)

**AUTHOR PENNY LUKER**
Penny Luker was a Head Teacher in Cheshire and then a tutor with the Open University. Now she enjoys singing in a choir, playing the piano and many forms of art. Since 2008 she has been writing and publishing books, including stories for children and adults, poetry and Young Adult fiction.

See below for additional works by this author.

[More...](http://www.pennyluker.wordpress.com)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/41JVAaOIEoL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00HSOQUS2)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51Ia9j6YEL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07QFRRDKJ)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51KHf2wg1LL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B008TQT6WA)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51UERrmPBqL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0785XFKS5)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51VrzUxnTGL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07H3HX2F8)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/616Qk53l1L.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B019PDBEHU)

**AUTHOR P.A. RUDDERS**
To paraphrase John Le Carre, Soldier, Shunter, Walker, Writer, would be a good summary. Now retired after careers in the military and then the railway, UK based P.A. Rudders now divides his time between family, his love of the outdoors, and pursuing his writing ambitions. Having written numerous short stories, including a three-book Creature Tales horror series, he is now working on his first novel.

See below for additional works by this author.

[More...](https://rudderswriting.com/)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/41QQYnaFh3L.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07SLLLBCP)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51nqMp0wKbL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07J3Y6WV5)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/514URlN7TJL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07QPKX1C4)

**AUTHOR SARAH STUART**
Sarah Stuart trained dogs for the professional stage and has met producers, directors, choreographers, backstage staff, and hundreds of actors from beginners to international stars of stage and screen. Her first four sizzling-hot, romantic suspense novels drew on this experience and won prestigious awards. Her YA Richard and Maria books were written at the request of her young teenage niece. Sarah donates 100% of her royalties to charities dedicated to protecting endangered species and ill-treated animals worldwide.

See below for additional works by this author.

[More...](http://Authorsarahstuart.com)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/dl-1.jpeg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00M9CU1Z6)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/dl-2.jpeg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0157DGA2G)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/dl-3.jpeg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01N55FFFG)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/sweet-temptation-0109.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B075W91MZJ)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/41HRQM4vJeL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07KV1J62S)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/41N6VbAszYL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07CNRF1BN)

**AUTHOR LACEY LANE**
Lacey Lane is an author who loves pole dancing, crafting, nail art, reading and karaoke. She writes horror and non-fiction. Lacey's other passions include reading and gardening.

See below for additional works by this author.

[More...](http://smarturl.it/laceylaneauthor)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51eJ1oONBNL._SY346_.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00TOMW90Y)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/510XBtfL-uL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01M7WF1YI)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/41eQeG3TcL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B016N02GCA)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51kpIDTwlSL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01M67FMRP)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51biAid7VL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07KTZJWY8)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51OBNTQLU-L.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07JH8BKBY)

**AUTHOR JOHN M.W. SMITH**
After taking a BA (Hons) degree in history, John worked for a huge American publishing conglomerate at their subsidiary company in the UK for 10 years, climbing the greasy pole of corporate stardom with the inevitable disillusionment to be found at the very top. Nowadays he works at any old full-time job, 42 hours a week, but isn’t particular about what line of work it is in, as long as it doesn’t stress him out to the point where he is unable to concentrate on his writing to his heart’s content. His only regret is that he did not start writing earlier than he did, for he is convinced that if he had, he would have got much further in his writing career by now.

See below for additional works by this author.

[More...](https://johnmwsmith.my-free.website/)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/41Wb93kszwL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B006V3YQUA)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51PlbqsARnL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07FN55RC4)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/41KwIHHfUtL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B005GOSS2C)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51A6ZRorMTL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B006ZBXNEI)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/512uats2gCL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01MXCXVMM)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51ZPQARnH-L.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00GN90VYW)

**AUTHOR THERESA JACOBS**
Theresa Jacobs believes in magic, fairies, dragons, and ghosts. Yet she trusts science and thinks that aliens know way too much. Though she still works 9-5 for the man, she has published a horror novel, two Sci-Fi novels, three horror novellas, many anthologies, children's books, and poetry. She is also an ex-contributor to 1428elm..com an online horror magazine. When she is not at work she spends her time, reading, writing, exercising her dog, and binge-watching TV shows, with her longtime partner and fiance. She is also a big movie buff and a sci-fi nerd at heart.

See below for additional works by this author.

[More...](https://theresajcbs.wixsite.com/authorpage)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51IvFzNnL9L.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01B786Z7K)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/41S7ocvJEGL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07KSQBZ9R)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/410SmSs-kTL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01MQOPDE7)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/61uEYNSp3cL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07981DC5P)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/41E-9OK5oJL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07H1YKP13)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/41qydVPgTEL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07VR5RN4H)

**AUTHOR PAM KESTERSON**
As a recluse, Pam Kesterson tends to live in her head. But family, friends, and business won’t let her do that 100% of the time—being a recluse, that is. Pam incorporates all her interests into her writings, many of which are under pseudonyms. Her passions include researching, scuba diving, sky diving, hiking and running, horseback riding, parasailing, traveling to exotic places, in her imagination and for real. Pam has a deep love for animals, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. That’s why the animal kingdom becomes the subject of many of her books and stories. She’s comfortable writing about the strangest topics, which makes her a natural at science fiction, the supernatural, and horror genres. In all her adventures, she cannot help conjuring up new ideas, always creating things—many things, dreaming, and interpreting her dreams.

See below for additional works by this author.

[More...](http://pamkesterson.wordpress.com)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51pO9fKw0XL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00DU5A6X8)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51aAPSlUIXL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B018T9LNVS)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51Ma9O9FHGL.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01CHUOJSO)

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/51moyTjly4L.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B019OR8DQ2)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

As you can see, we have a variety of authors who write in vastly diverse genres. *Depths of Darkness* is only $0.99 or FREE on Kindle Unlimited and a great way to sample a few amazing stories. You can find additional works from a wide range of international authors on the [Indie Author Support and Discussion website](https://indieauthorsupportanddiscussion.com/authors/).

[BUY NOW](https://geni.us/DepthsofDarkness)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2019, Author Spotlight

---

### [Nina Norstrom](https://melaniepsmith.com/nina-norstrom/)

**Published:** February 14, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Nina Norstorm grew up as a daddy’s girl and embracing family went a long way.  Early-on in her adulthood, she became incarcerated in the world of toxicity.  She started therapy journaling as a means of solace.

**Content:**

# Nina Norstrom

***Interesting facts...***

Nina Norstorm grew up as a daddy’s girl and embracing family went a long way. Early-on in her adulthood, she became incarcerated in the world of toxicity. She started therapy journaling as a means of solace. Her writing was an art for healing and a medium to escape unhealthy relationships. She reaches out to others who may experience toxic relationships and those who are unfamiliar with its destruction. Norstrom has explored and unmasked the many faces of relationships: birth; grief; pain; emotions; life and death situations; diseases; work environments; trauma; and the means of forgiveness. Her literary creations, *Not a Blueprint: It’s the Shoe Prints that matter, A Journey Through Toxic Relationships,* and *Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall . . . Where Does My Self-Love Fall? A Success Guide to Replace Toxicity with Love,* are representations of her growth and signifies a milestone . . . from toxic relationships to the transition of non-toxicity. She says, “During my deep dark journey, the whole program of writing therapy was a healing process (medically). It helped shape and transform a toxic journey into a prescription for emotional wellness. Although I’m continuously working on “self,” I’ve been blessed to have seen light at the end of a tunnel ─ reaching a level of personal growth from its processing periods to living a lifestyle of wellness. Through that dark journey, I’ve learned powerful lessons. One importantly, that we tend to give up on ourselves although the Maker never gives up on us.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-1200x200.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Copy-of-Snippet-Poster-Showcasing-Scenes-of-Book-2-Small.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/flowers-19830_640.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/bouquet-1463562_640.jpg)

[Website](http://www.ninanorstrom.com)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/nina.norstrom.547)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/NorstromNina)

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-norstrom-author-29589b65/)

[Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/ninanorstrom/)

[Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Norstrom/e/B00AOU80GW)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4803853.NinaNorstrom)

**Tell us a little about yourself?**

I grew up as a daddy’s girl and embracing family went a long way. Early-on in my adulthood, I became incarcerated in the world of toxicity. I started therapy journaling as a means of solace. My writing was an art for healing and a medium to escape unhealthy relationships. This has helped me to reach out to others who may experience toxic relationships and those who are unfamiliar with its destruction.

**When and why did you begin writing?**

Over a decade ago, I began journaling for therapeutic reasons. I was going through so much stuff in life (emotionally, mentally, and spiritually). Through it all, I've learned that life is full of stuff . . . the good, the bad, and the ugly. As a result, this writing became the inside pages of my dairy.

**When did you first consider yourself a writer?**

Initially, I had no desire of becoming a writer or to write a book. My profession was Customer Service guru.  For me the writing was a result of life-changing events. It was the factuality of it all that made my storylines embraceable and relatable. Through it all, I've learned many life-lessons.

**What inspired you to write your first book?**

When I started writing, it wasn’t my intentions to become either a writer or author. For me, it was all about journaling. I was trying to figure out those dysfunctional relationships and to define where I was in life.

**Do you have a specific writing style?**

Yes, I like to write as if I’m speaking directly to the reader. As the reader take the journey, it will appear we are sharing the same space while having a one-on-one conversation.

**Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?**

“Not a Blueprint . . .” is a power and important messages about discovering the beauty in relationships, and how unhealthy relationships can destroy and cripple our lives. At best, it speaks to finding “self-love” and touches on deception at the deepest levels, while introducing the “Insights” learned through the journey called life.

## Nina's Books...

*Allowing us to learn lessons, let go of toxicity, and gain insight, relationship can play a powerful role in our lives.*

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/image004-Small-324x500.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B016X198SO)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B016X198SO)

*"When you don't love yourself, how can you expect another to love you?"*

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/9781608081950-Newer-Image-Small.jpg)](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07BFGGM2N)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07BFGGM2N)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-500x83.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Flowers-3.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Flowers-2.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Flowers-1.jpg)

**How much of the book is realistic?**

Since it is a non-fiction, I had to stay true to the events. On the copyright page, it does indicate the names have been altered to protect identities.

**Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?**

They are based on actual life events and experiences.

**What book are you reading now? Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?**

Prisons without Bars; Lakota Moon Rising; Soulstroller (experiering the weight, whispers, & wings of the world); All the Above (My son’s battle with brain cancer); Letting Go into the Perfect Love; Outshine (An Ovarian Cancer Memoir); Living Aware & Inspired (Intuition, The Bioenergy Field, Mind, and Emotions); HillBilly Drug Baby (the story); Becoming, and etc.

I can’t say there is any particular author that grasped my interest. There are many great books and authors in the circle. One can’t help but like them all. As my bio reveals, “When not reading or writing, you’ll find me supporting an artist at their event.

**What are your current projects?**

Working on having the release of a VDO trailer. It’s an upcoming platform that showcases talents, using scenes from novels, short stories, screenplays, and/or stage plays performed by live actors. This unique concept allows viewers to see the words come to life and gives an audience a more vivid impression of its (artist’s) storybook and its characters. Something great, new, and exciting that brings flair to the artist’s creation!

Note: I’ve attached flyer that represents snippet of the upcoming VDO trailer.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Copy-of-Snippet-Poster-Showcasing-Scenes-of-Book-2-Small-500x333.jpg)

**Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?**

For me the toxicity of those unhealthy relationships crippled my ability to function. But it was the writing that became a physical wound healing process . . . one that eased my emotional pain and a shelter for that dark space I was in.

**Can you share a little of your current work with us?**

Through those varied life-experiences and my writing, this has afforded me opportunities to do a workshop (titled “Managing Toxicity) inside the prisons (for transitional inmates); and at various libraries. This too has awarded me opportunities to participate in particular wellness programs.

**Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?**

Don’t feel I have a favorite author. But I do embrace and enjoy reading books that are true to life. Those are books that speak to one’s personal journey. And journeys can be very interesting in its discovery, as well as educational.

**Do you have any advice for other writers?**

1\) Be true to self; 2) be willing to pump out lots of writing energy; 3) keep your paper or journal full of thoughts and ideas; 4) be a reader yourself, and write, write, write, and read, read, read.

**Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?**

When you think there’s no way out of a journey, don’t give up. There’s always a light that awaits you. You don’t have to find it . . . its illumination will guide you through.

One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it? Yes. It is [www.ninanorstrom.com](http://www.ninanorstrom.com/)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2019, Author Spotlight

---

### [Author Yvonne Glasgow](https://melaniepsmith.com/author-yvonne-glasgow/)

**Published:** May 17, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Catch up with Yvonne Glasgow - Yvonne has been busy since we last interacted.  Catch up on the newest projects from this author, poet, writer, artist, crafter, and healer (among other things).

**Content:**

***Interesting facts...***

**Tell us a little about yourself?**

My name is Yvonne Glasgow. I've been a published author since 2008, a published poet since sometime on the 90s (if you don't count the poetry book I “self-published” in first grade), and a freelance/professional writer since January of 2000. I started self-publishing around 2011, shortly after I started working full-time as a writer (October 2010).

While I've had numerous books published over the years, I currently only have four in print. They are No Longer Fighting With Myself (a poetry collection about life, love, loss, and moving on to positivity), Possessive Repose (a collection of short horror and science fiction stories, and spooky poetry), The Art Of Throwing Bones (a guidebook to get started on using the divination tools throwing bones), and Following Frankie The Firefly (a children's picture book with a moral about friendship and life).

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-1200x200.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/44904978_2249582645256404_5444439946163126272_n.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/yvonneglasgowphd/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/WriterYvonne)

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-glasgow-4208a432/)

[Books](https://glassgoatpublishing.com/)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Yvonne-Glasgow/e/B00F0NPU6G)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16085190.Yvonne_Glasgow)

[Website](https://yvonneglasgow.com/)

**Tell us your latest news**

Which awesome part do you want? I just published Following Frankie The Firefly. It's a fun children's book about taking adventures and learning about friendship. It's definitely for kids that are still being read to, and for those that are just learning to read themselves. Right now, buyers that email me a copy of their receipt (at <glassgoatpublishing@gmail.com>) will receive some Frankie freebies in the mail (while supplies last), including magnets, stickers, and even buttons. The book is available through Lulu.com.

**Do you have a specific writing style?**

What is a writing style anyway? I know some writers will outline an entire novel before they write it. I rarely do that, though I can't say I've never done it. Even when I'm working on fiction, I feel like I need to allow the story a chance to write itself, and I feel like an outline would stunt its growth if you know what I mean.

I write. I write every day. That's my writing style. Sometimes the only writing I do is for a gig, but I always try to throw in a little flare of my own creativity (when I can; that's difficult to do when working with SEO content firms).

When I am working on a book or short story, even my poetry, I write a rough draft (often actually writing it, with pen or pencil to paper), and then I rewrite it while I type it into the computer or into the book document. That rewrite will sometimes elicit only a few changes, and at times brings about big edits.

**What books and authors have influenced your life most?**

As a writer, I truly believe that you need to be a reader. Many books and writers have inspired my works, made me want to be a better writer, influenced me to follow my dreams and more. As a prolific writer who writes in various genres, different writers and books have influenced me over time.

When it comes to my poetry, my biggest inspiration has always been Robert Frost. The poem “The Duel” by Eugene Field has always been an inspiration (since early childhood) for my poetry.

When it comes to horror and science fiction writer, I have a plethora of influencer's. These are the writers I look up to, am inspired by, and try hardest to emulate in some way. They are Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, and Bentley Little. I can't pinpoint one specific book or stories from any of these men that influenced me; it's the collection of their work combined.

My influences go all over from there, from Wayne Dyer's spiritual writing influences to be pushed to be myself and chase my writing and adventurous dreams by J.D. Salinger's Catcher In The Rye and Jack Kerouac's On The Road.

**What are your current projects?**

I have so much that I am working on or that I need to be working on. The top projects on my list are:

- My next large poetry collection – The title keeps changing, but it's a positive and eclectic follow-up to No Longer Fighting With Myself. Some of the poems are tied up waiting in contests or for journals to decide if they'll print them, and I am still writing some too.
- More divination guidebooks – Another passion of mine, aside from writing, is divination. I am writing guidebooks on spirit boards, runes, pendulums, and more.
- My first guided meditations – I am working on some meditations for modern enlightenment. I will be writing a book with the meditations in it, as well as recording a CD to accompany it. My husband, Dale Wicks, is a professional musician and will be making the music to go along with my meditations.
- A witchy poetry chapbook – This is a project I intend to submit to editors. It's a small collection of poems about loving the moon and nature, finding daily enlightenment and positivity, and embracing our feminine side.

There are plenty of other irons in the fire, but these are the ones I am most focused on right now.

**Do you see writing as a career?**

I am a full-time writer. It pays the bills. If you'd like to see some of my work, check out my newest gig by visiting <https://www.lifesavvy.com/>.

I'd love to be a full-time author, but I also enjoy doing book writing on my own time and not needing to follow anyone else's rules when it comes to what I write. Being a freelance article writer, editor, SEO expert, blogger, and reviewer allows me to experiment more, learn more, and expand my knowledge (and get paid for doing it all).

**Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?**

It was most definitely in the first grade. Our teacher had us write a small book, then they were bound, and covers were made with cardboard and cloth. My sister has my original copy, a poetry book, and I have a photocopy of it. It's filled with poems about dogs and unicorns, and other things little kids like.

From that moment on (and possibly before), I was a poet. My interest in writing beyond poetry stemmed from poetry. I started writing short stories. Then, many years later, I started doing music reviews for a magazine, and after that, I was hooked forever, and that lead to my life as a full-time freelance writer.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-1200x200.png)

## Publications

**No Longer Fighting With Myself'** is a collection of 145 poems by Yvonne Glasgow. These are a conglomeration of previously published and never-before-seen poems.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/41BdBbLJWIL._SX331_BO1204203200_.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/0359061753)

**Possessive Repose** is an eerie collection of short stories and poetry. Within these pages, beware. You will find ghosts, vampires, serial killers, werewolves, and all of the other things that go bump in the night.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/possessive-repose.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/0359140157)

**"The Art Of Throwing Bones"** is an introduction to a unique form of divination. This booklet will get you started on reading bones and putting together your own unique set.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/throwing-bones.jpg)

[Buy Now](http://www.lulu.com/shop/yvonne-glasgow/the-art-of-throwing-bones/paperback/product-23924408.html)

**Following Frankie The Firefly** is a children's picture book that explores what it's like to have different interests than your friends.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Firefly.png)

[Buy Now](http://www.lulu.com/shop/yvonne-glasgow/following-frankie-the-firefly/paperback/product-24005335.html)

**Can you share a little of your current work with us?**

With so many things I should be working on, I want to pick something good for you. Maybe a poem will inspire you to buy one of the two books I currently have in print with poetry in them. This book is on its third title, now being referred to as This Life. I will share one of the shorter poems.

***Just A Blur***

*As her dreams unfurled*
*She tried not to hurl*
*For she was getting very nervous*
*As if she were under the bus*
*A place she knew too well*
*But she was out of that hell*
*She only needed to remember* 
*That there would always be a chill in December* 
*But it would fade in the spring* 
*And that was the thing*
*That pushed her to keep moving forward* 
*There was something she was traveling toward*
*That bright future she'd dreamed* 
*That at one point she'd deemed* 
*An impossible place to reach*
*But now she had a breach*
*And she was breaking through to the other side*
*Her joy was hard to hide* 
*Because the past was now behind her*
*And all of those bad memories were just a blur.*

**Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?**

I think writing in itself is challenging. Some people have it, some people have to work hard for it, and some people simply can't write themselves out of a paper bag. I have been told by many I have a natural talent for the written word (mostly by people that barely know me or who have paid me to write for them – I'm definitely not talking about my mom trying to reassure me).

The biggest challenge I find, which isn't a problem this year, is writing SEO for a living and then trying to switch gears to creative writing again. SEO and technical writing have a knack for killing creativity when you do them too much. You forget how to be descriptive, for one thing. I currently have no SEO-focused writing gigs, so my creativity isn't stifled.

**Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?**

Of all of the authors I love and am inspired by, if I had to pick one favorite, it would have to be Poe. Edgar Allen Poe collection of works embodies the writing that I am most inspired to do – short stories and poetry, with a lacing of horror.

**What was the hardest part of writing your book?**

Following Frankie The Firefly is my most recent release, so I'll focus some on that one.

The hardest part of this book was that I wanted to try something different this time around when it came to doing my children's picture books. My past Frankie books had many fans, but it has been years since I worked on kid's books. So, I decided to send a rough draft of the story (with pictures) to a couple of friends with children. While they liked it, it didn't get the love I'd hoped for, and I decided to do a nearly complete rewrite.

Writing a story in poetry form, and then rewriting it as non-poetic is a little challenging. Challenge accepted! It took over a year from my first inkling of ideas to getting the book officially in print, but I had fun with it, learned new things, and probably won't do any more children's books in the future – making Following Frankie The Firefly a must for my friends and fans.

**What makes you laugh/cry?**

From books to movies, the things that make me cry are the most heartfelt moments (usually when someone on screen or on the page starts crying). I watched 'The Dirt' the other day, the Netflix movie based on the Motley Crue biography of the same name. It's a story I knew, as I read the book when it came out. The story of Vince Neil's daughter, Skyler, is a sad one, but when she passed in the movie, I didn't cry. It was until the band finally met up after Neil had left and been replaced, and they told him they understood, and he started to cry... that was when I wept.

Laughing? I guess the thing that makes me laugh the most is my silly husband and his dad jokes and puns.

**What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?**

I prefer not to watch things that make me cry, but that's never an easy thing to overcome. My favorite things to watch usually revolve around serial killers or fall into the genres of horror and suspense. However, I'm easily drawn into shows like Game Of Thrones, Fringe, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. If it has an element of disbelief, I love it. I already live this life; I want to watch things about lives I couldn't possibly live!

**Is there one person past or present you would meet and why?**

I'd love to meet Wayne Dyer. Not possible since he passed away a few years ago. His works are extremely inspirational to me as an intuitive, sensitive, and as a life coach and spiritual advisor. It would be amazing to talk with him about how he got started, and what drove him to be a guide to others when it comes to living our most fulfilled lives.

**Other than writing do you have any hobbies?**

I am an artist and a crafter. Last year I started a craft business, making dream catchers and dream pillows. I expanded into handmade dream journals. Now I am making (and curating) divination tools, like bone throwing kits and pendulums. The Art Of Dreams And Divination went from being a dream to a reality when I started selling items online and off late last year. Items are for sale on Etsy, in my GlassGoatPublishing shop.

**One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?**

I have three websites, which I try to upkeep regularly.

<https://glassgoatpublishing.com/> is where you can learn the most about my books that are currently in print. I also do book reviews in the blog.

<https://yvonneglasgow.com/> is my writer website. This is where my portfolio is.

<https://theartofdreamsanddivination.com/> is the craft business I launched last year. This is the culmination of my two degrees (a Ph.D. in Holistic Life Coaching and a D.Div. in Spiritual Counseling), my love for divination, and my passion for arts and crafts.

[Website](https://glassgoatpublishing.com/)

[Website](https://yvonneglasgow.com/)

[Divination](https://theartofdreamsanddivination.com/%20)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2019, Author Spotlight, Poetry

---

### [Paulette Mahurin](https://melaniepsmith.com/paulette-mahurin/)

**Published:** June 2, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Paulette Mahurin is a best-selling literary fiction and historical fiction novelist. She lives with her husband Terry and two dogs, Max and Bella, in Ventura County, California. Profits from her books go to help rescue dogs from kill shelters.

**Content:**

# Paulette Mahurin

***Interesting facts...***

Paulette Mahurin is a best-selling literary fiction and historical fiction novelist. She lives with her husband Terry and two dogs, Max and Bella, in Ventura County, California. She grew up in West Los Angeles and attended UCLA, where she received a Master’s Degree in Science.

Her first novel, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, made it to Amazon bestseller lists and won awards, including best historical fiction 2012 in Turning the Pages Magazine. Her second novel, His Name Was Ben, originally written as an award winning short story while she was in college and later expanded into a novel, rose to bestseller lists its second week out. Her third novel, To Live Out Loud, won international critical acclaim and made it to multiple sites as favorite read book of 2015. Her fourth book, The Seven Year Dress, made it to the top ten bestseller lists on Amazon U.S., Amazon U.K. and Amazon Australia. Her fifth book, The Day I Saw The Hummingbird, was released in 2017 to rave reviews. Her sixth book, A Different Kind of Angel, was released in August, 2018.

Semi-retired, she continues to work part-time as a Nurse Practitioner in Ventura County. When she’s not writing, she does pro-bono consultation work with women with cancer, works in the Westminster Free Clinic as a volunteer provider, volunteers as a mediator in the Ventura County Courthouse for small claims cases, and involves herself, along with her husband, in dog rescue. Profits from her books go to help rescue dogs from kill shelters.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-1200x200.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Dogs.jpg)

We all love our furry friends. They're not just pets, they become part of the family almost instantly. Paulette Mahurin doesn't only love her own four-legged kids. She donates the proceeds from her books to save the lives of dogs less fortunate from kill shelters. You can find more information on her blog (link below). Why not stop by, buy a book, and help save a life.

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Paulette-Mahurins-Books-695108163960200)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/MahurinPaulette)

[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/paulettemahurin/)

[Blog](https://thepersecutionofmildreddunlap.wordpress.com/)

[Goodreads](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/paulettemahurin/)

[Bookbub](https://www.bookbub.com/authors/paulette-mahurin)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Paulette-Mahurin/e/B008MMDUGO/)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Klara Gelfman, from A Different Kind of Angel...**

**Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Is there anything you would like your fans to know about you that maybe wasn't revealed in your story? Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?**

My name is Klara Gelfman. I was born and raised in Kiev. Up until 1881 my life was happy and serene, living with my parents and four siblings. Then a vicious pamphlet was circulated throughout Russia stating that Jews were to be persecuted because of their involvement in inciting the assassination of Tsar Alexander II. The Russian army set out to wipe out villages where Jewish people lived. My happy childhood was uprooted and thrown into chaos. I have never revealed that my heart never fully recovered from the tragic loss and life altering occurrences.

**What makes Klara so special?**

 I survived the Kiev pogrom of 1881 only to make it to safety in the United States of America. What was supposed to be the land of the free and home of the brave was anything but. Having not fully learned English, I was mistaken for a prostitute after being mugged and my worldly possessions stolen. Instead of being helped over yet another traumatic life event, I was taken to a doctor who ended up committing me to a women’s mental asylum. I refused to give up. I refused to let them take what was left of my heart and soul. And I refused to become like those who violated my rights, my body, and my existence.

**If there was one thing you could change about your past what would it be?**

I would put common sense into the heads and compassion into the hearts of the abusers who violated my family and the evildoers who subjugated me to unthinkable acts in the asylum. I would do better to learn English so I might have a chance at being heard. So I might have a voice. I would certainly do all I could to speak out and stand up for myself.

**Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation.**

Being a victim of Jewish persecution, being subjected to torture because of what I believe, and not being deemed worthy of living a life that harmed no one is something I have no logical explanation for. And this is something I will never try to make sense out of. Hard as I've tried, I've come to realize that evil (doing harm to others) is inexplicable.

**What was the best compliment you have ever received?**

 I’ve been told I’m very kind. Compassionate. But the best compliment I've ever received is that I am strong. I am a strong woman. I lived through hell and came out capable of loving and doing acts of kindness, of being a worthy citizen in the world, and to this I attribute my strength of mind, my strength to never succumb and emulate the vileness perpetrated against me. I learned this strength from my parents, my beloved parents—may they rest in peace. It is my strength that keeps them alive. It is their love that gave me this strength.

**If you could change one thing about the world… what would it be?**

To put tolerance into the minds and hearts of those who are intolerant of others with differing religions, skin color, love preferences, gender, and to embrace differences for what they are—simply differences—and not something to be annihilated.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-1200x200.png)

## Paulette's Books...

Inspired by real events chronicled by a journalist for The World News, Elizabeth Cochrane (pen name, Nellie Bly), in 1887.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/61597859_330933167573417_733766674003525632_n-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07GZYXNR4)

When newspaper headlines screamed in large bold print that one of the world’s leading heart-transplant surgeons, Peter Dayton, was arrested for the death of one of his transplant patients, shock waves were felt around the world.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/41upcY7UacL._SY346_-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07QZM22W3)

[Review](https://www.grantleishman.com/book-reviews/irmas-endgame-by-paulette-mahurin)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/51Q9whoIyeL._SY346_-Small.jpg)

On the eve of his tenth birthday, a young slave’s life is turned upside down. The unthinkable events that led up to the day Oscar Mercer saw a hummingbird test the limits of this young boy’s body, mind and soul.

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B075QMKXQS)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/51qrlfjH9L._SX331_BO1204203200_-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01FEAX7AU)

One of the darkest times in human history was the insane design and execution to rid the world of Jews and “undesirables.” At the hands of the powerful evil madman Adolf Hitler, families were ripped apart and millions were slaughtered. This is the story of one woman who lived to tell her story.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/51FTdGSie7L._SY346_-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B008K9DV4U)

*“Mahurin captures the struggle of human rights brilliantly in this fast paced story.*

*It involved me emotionally with vivid imagery of scenes and character descriptions.”*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/51i68Gzmu9L-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00NTACZ5Q)

Hearing the words “it’s cancer,” threw Sara Phillips’ life into chaos, until an unexpected turn of events and a chance encounter with a stranger changed everything—his name was Ben. Based on real events, Ben and Sara discover that when all else fails, healing can come in the most unexpected ways.

[Review](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1073612012)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/51KctENOdfL-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B012XXTRS2)

An innocent Jewish military officer, Alfred Dreyfus, was unjustly sentenced to life imprisonment on a desolate island. The news that could exonerate him was leaked to the press, but was suppressed by the military. Anyone who sought to reopen the Dreyfus court-martial became victimized and persecuted and was considered an enemy of the state.

Today's spotlight was part of a Blog Tour hosted by Mom's Favorite Reads. If you want to get to know a little more about Paulette, her books and her causes she will be featured on a new blog each day this week. Be sure to post a comment for a chance to win a small prize at the end of the tour.

[Paulette Mahurin Spotlight Blog Tour Schedule](https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/paulette-mahurin/about-paulette-mahurin)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2019, Author Spotlight

---

### [Sylva Fae](https://melaniepsmith.com/sylva-fae/)

**Published:** June 16, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Meet Sylva Fae a mum, who writes children’s stories and works hard to keep up with the crazy antics of three naughty rabbits in her own woodland forest.  She grew up loving bedtime stories and now wants to share that love of stories and inspire children to create their own magical adventures.

**Content:**

# Sylva Fae

***Interesting facts...***

Sylva Fae is a married mum of three from Lancashire, England. She grew up in a rambling old farmhouse with a slightly dysfunctional family and an adopted bunch of equally dysfunctional animals. She spent twenty plus years teaching literacy to adults with learning difficulties and disabilities but now lives in Cheshire, juggling being a mum, writing children’s stories and keeping up with the crazy antics of three naughty rabbits.

Her earliest memories are of bedtime stories snuggled up close to mum to see the pictures. It was a magical time, those last special moments before dozing off to sleep would feed dreams of faraway lands and mystical beings. She now wants to share that love of stories and inspire children to create their own magical adventures.

Sylva and her family own a wood and escape there at every opportunity. Adventures in their own enchanted woodland, hunting for fairies and stomping in puddles, have inspired Sylva to write stories for her girls.

Sylva published her first children's book Rainbow Monsters, in 2017. She has since published four other children’s picture books, an anthology of Christmas stories, and has a short story published in the IASD charity anthology, You’re Not Alone. Two of her books have won Best in Category for children’s books at the Chanticleer International Book Awards. She also writes a blog, Sylvanian Ramblings, and enjoys doing developmental editing as part of One Stop Author Services. Recently, Sylva joined the editors’ team at Mom’s Favorite Reads and regularly contributes articles to the magazine.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/img00101x240-Small.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Logo_1501256416615-Small.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/SylvaFae)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/sylvafae)

[Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/sylvafae/)

[My Blog](https://sylvafae.co.uk/blog/)

[Amazon](http://author.to/SylvaFae)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-1200x200.png)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR - been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you're in luck. Get to know some of Sylva's characters...**

### Eric from Elfabet

***Eric the Ladybird tell me a little about yourself?***

- Hi, I’m Eric and I’m the star of Sylva’s new book Elfabet. I was originally painted by the amazing Katie Weaver, but I have been roaming through the elfabet ever since. I like to visit all my woodland friends and I love hiding. If children look carefully enough, they can find me hiding in every letter.

***What makes Eric so special?***

- There are many colourful characters in the elfabet woodlands, fairies, elves, sprites and kelpies to name a few, but I’m quite special because I know all the letters. I help children to learn their alphabet.

***What are your dreams for the future?***

- My dream is that all children learn to read early on so they can enjoy stories their whole life. I’d also like to star in other books.

***What is the weirdest thing about you? Are you proud of it or embarrassed?***

- Hmmm, I think the weirdest thing about me is my favourite food is aphids. It’s quite normal for ladybirds but I wouldn’t recommend children eat them. My friend Sylva Fae is quite weird too but I’m proud of her.

### Little Bee from Bea & Bee

***Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?***

- Hi, I’m Little Bee. I’m a worker bee from a wild hive in Cheshire, England. I don’t remember much of my early stages, I just snuggled in the hive while the nurse bees fed me royal jelly and bee bread. Once I hatched from my pupa, I worked collecting pollen and nectar. I used to fly far and wide to find the best flowers, sometimes travelling 6km from the hive. It was tiring work but rewarding to be part of the team.

***Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?***

- One particular day, I was on a scouting mission to find a new source of pollen and I had an accident. I’d had to fly further than usual because all the hedgerows had been cut back, and all the gardens had been mowed. I was tired and tore my wing on a tree branch as I was landing. I didn’t think I would ever make it back to the hive but a little girl called Bea found me. She was the one who named me Little Bee. If she hadn’t have found me, I would have had many regrets but Bea saved me.

***Tell us about your best friend and what makes them so special?***

- Bea is my new best friend. I know it’s strange for a bee to be friends with a little girl but I owe her my life. Now that Bea’s mum has planted flowers in her back yard, I want to stay here forever. In fact, I buzzed back to the hive once my wing healed, and told the other workers about Bea’s garden. Now we all visit it every day and I get to spend time with my friend.

***If you could change one thing about the world… what would it be?***

- I wish that humans would respect us more. What they call ‘weeds’ are our favourite flowers to get food from. If I could give them a message, I would ask them to let the weeds grow and not to replace the grass and flowers with nasty concrete.

### Yoga Fox

***Tell me about your reputation and how it has impacted your life and your relationship with the other woodland animals?***

- When I was little, I was scared of the dark and the other animals called me Scaredy Fox. I grew up hating that name. All the other animals had great names but mine was insulting. It made me not want to socialise and I often wandered to the edge of the woodland to sit on my own.

***Where do you see yourself in five years?***

- Well, since I took up fox yoga, I’ve become a much more relaxed and tolerant fox. I’ve started to teach some of the little cubs fox yoga but I’d like to introduce it as a way of life for all woodland animals. In five years, would like to see myself as the leading practitioner of Fox Yoga.

***What was the best compliment you have ever received?***

- The best compliment I ever received was when the animals chose a new name for me. I won’t spoil it for you, you’ll have to read my story to find out what it is. Needless to say, I’m relieved to no longer be known as Scaredy Fox.

***Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?***

- I would hate to be stuck in an elevator. I’m an outdoorsy kind of fox, the woodland is the place for me. I would love to meet Eric the ladybird though, I hear he can read and I’d love to be able to read stories. Maybe that can be my next challenge.

That Pesky Pixie
Deep in the heart of Sorrel Wood hides a school for faerie folk. The fearsome Miss Nightshade is the best teacher around, but has she met her match with the pesky pixie antics of Violet Puddledust

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/e770e434-2468-4680-9ddb-fb7557d0ea75-Small.jpg)

That Pesky Pixie – a series of stories for a story app

- An Itchy Situation
- A Stinky Start!
- A Dastardly Plan
- A Feast for a Fairy Queen
- Three Pesky Pixies and a Monstrous Mouse

[Get App](https://getbedtimestories.com/library/that-pesky-pixie/)

## Sylva's Books

**Elfabet** – Illustrated by Katie Weaver

An A to Z of woodland folk to help your child learn their initial letter sounds. Rhyme your way through the Elfabet with forest fairies, busy elves, cheeky pixies and watery sprites.Can you find Little Eric the ladybird hiding in each letter?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Cover-designv4-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](http://MyBook.to/Elfabet)

**Bea & Bee** -Bea loves tending the flowers in her little back yard but what she’d really like is a pet to care for. The yard is too small for a pet, or is it? When Bea finds Little Bee, she finds the perfect pet for her tiny garden.Can Bea convince Mummy to let her keep a pet bee?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Bea-and-Bee-eCover-page-001-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](http://MyBook.to/BeaAndBee)

**Yoga Fox** -Winner of 2018 Chanticleer Little Peeps Award

Scaredy Fox hates his name. Watching girls doing yoga in the park gives him an idea on how to get a new name. Will the forest animals be impressed by a fox doing yoga? Will Scaredy Fox get a new name he can be proud of?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/YogaFox-ebook-cover1-page-001-1-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](http://MyBook.to/YogaFox)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/1503253780494-Small.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/20180525_122801.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-1200x200.png)

## Additional Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cover-image-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](http://MyBook.to/RainbowMonsters)

**Rainbow Monsters** – Winner of 2017 Chanticleer Little Peeps Award.

*On a mixed up rainy, sunny day,*
*The rainbow monsters love to play*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cover-MM-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](http://MyBook.to/MindfulMonsters)

**Mindful Monsters -** Shortlisted for 2018 Chanticleer Little Peeps Award

*All the Rainbow Monsters are Mindful Monsters too,*
*Respecting one another, like all good monsters do.*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/511WQMm-yBL-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07JJW5G42)

**No Place Like Home**

*Two curious silk worms hatch outside a little gift shop. Peeping through the shop window, they are intrigued by the places they see, and each creature they meet fills them with wonder about the town of Macclesfield.Each night,*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ebook-cover-volume-1-page-001-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0781692NF)

**Children’s Christmas Collection** – With authors Kate Robinson, Paul Ian Cross and Suzanne Downes

As the winter nights draw in there’s nothing quite like curling up in front of the blazing fire, under the twinkling Christmas tree, to share stories with your loved ones.

Today's spotlight was part of a Blog Tour hosted by Mom's Favorite Reads. If you want to get to know a little more about Sylva and her books, she will be featured on a new blog each day this week.

[Sylva Fae's Spotlight Blog Tour Schedule](https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/sylva-fae/about-sylva-fae/)

In addition to writing amazing stories for children, Sylva is a woodland fairy who willingly and enthusiastically supports her fellow authors. Her books are positive, professional, and always entertaining. Don't forget to check out her blog for additional stories, poems ramblings from her enchanted wood.

[Sylva's Blog](https://sylvafae.co.uk/blog/)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Badge-2017-Peeps-Category-Small.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/20181207_171350.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/20181207_171409.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Badge-2017-Peeps-Category-Small.png)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2019, Author Spotlight

---

### [Roxanne San Jose](https://melaniepsmith.com/roxanne-san-jose/)

**Published:** June 24, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Roxanne San Jose was born in the Philippines but now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.  She just published her second book and plans to publish more in the future.

**Content:**

# Roxanne San Jose

***Interesting facts...***

Roxanne was born in the Philippines but now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. She graduated with a degree in Political Science in University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Roxanne self-published her first book, Annagram, in 2015.

**Tell us your latest news.**

Roxanne San Jose is now promoting her second book, Time Travel.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Me.jpg)

[Twiiter](https://twitter.com/sjroxanne)

[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/roxanne_sanjose/)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/roxanneasanjose)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-500x83.png)

***When and why did you begin writing?***

- I began to aspire to write a book by reading. When? In between my readings.

***Do you have a specific writing style****?***

- Creativity at first, brainstorming and just write

***Do you see writing as a career****?***

- Yes, I want to write more books

***If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book****?***

- No, because the story fits well

***Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing****?***

- Being creative and editing

***Who designed the covers****?***

- JP Graphics Design

***Do you have any advice for other writers****?***

- Be creative and work hard

***What makes you laugh/cry****?***

- Movies

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR - been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you're in luck. Get to know Angelie from Roxanne San Jose's newest release - Time Travel...**

***Angelie Thompson is from United States. She invented a time machine during her time. Unfortunately, her boyfriend, John Salvador, accidentally traveled back to 1970. It is up to her to save him.***

***Where do you see yourself in five years****?***

Family with John Salvador and change the world

***If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go****?***

John Salvador. Anywhere in time.

***Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year****?***

Ugly and live forever because I want to know what I can do more in the world.

***Mountains or Beach****?***

Beach

## Roxanne's Books

*Angelie Thompson invented a time machine in 2015 and her boyfriend, John Salvador, was accidentally transported back to 1970.*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Time-Travel-E-Book.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07R8C8W5B)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Time-Travel-Paperback-2.jpg)

*Annagram is a Fantasy Fiction story about three countries: Yatil, Alami and Cordie fighting for islands due to natural resources but First World War happens.*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/41J1Bi8JgML.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00UPN8GIA)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2019, Author Spotlight

---

### [Val Tobin](https://melaniepsmith.com/val-tobin-2/)

**Published:** July 7, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Val Tobin is with novelist and parapsychology graduate who hails from Ontario.  She uses her background and knowledge in her novels to add a great air of authenticity to her stories.

**Content:**

# Val Tobin

***Interesting facts...***

Val Tobin is a multi-genre author of mystery, sci-fi and romance. I have personally read several of her books and always enjoy her imagination and her style. Last year, I was honored to spotlight Val after the release of her police procedural; Poison Pen. [Click Here](https://melaniepsmith.com/author-val-tobin) to read previous spotlight. She is also a member and volunteer of The Writers' Community of York Region.

What you might not know is, in addition to writing, Val has had tiny parts in two feature films: [Route of Acceptance](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2537064/?fbclid=IwAR20F-hOm6P8LMU6Cha5dLCNUSxR4rHoOy-7HswYrMeJFeM0aqcYyhvpasQ), where she played the main character's mother and is on screen for about ten seconds and [I Met You First](http://toeachherownfilms.com/?page_id=1208&fbclid=IwAR0yEaObyivyo6V1rZblHcGUYCBH2n_A-E844n3QO5ybswdWa8vH70Fnapw), where she played a cashier (And hopefully don't end up on the cutting-room floor-movie to be released).

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

I've lived in Ontario all my life. What I love most about it is the beauty of the countryside and the tight-knit community we live in.

The downside is the bugs, particularly the mosquitoes in the summer. I’m not a big fan of winter either. I've learned to bundle up for it, but that doesn't mean I’m enjoying it. Some folks here participate in winter sports, but the closest I get to a winter sport is reading in front of a fireplace.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-1200x200.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/AUTHOR-LOGO-FEATHER-PNG.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/val-tobin-author-profile-600x400.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/valtobinauthor/)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/valandbob)

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/valtobin)

[BookBub](https://www.bookbub.com/authors/val-tobin)

[Website](http://valtobin.com)

[Smashwords](https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/valtobin)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Val-Tobin/e/B00KC5S69K)

## Val's Other Books

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Rachel Needham, from The Hunted (The sequel to Storm Lake)...**

**Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?**

I grew up in Peterborough, Ontario. My childhood was normal and happy, up until I was thirteen and the grendels appeared. I guess I was luckier than most growing up. My family was well off so we never worried about money, and my mother was always nearby even though she had nannies and housekeepers to help her raise us. We even had a beautiful, quaint cabin up north—on Storm Lake. We’d go up there every summer. Mom, Jeff, and I spent entire summers there from the time school let out until we had to go back to school in September. All that changed, of course, that fateful May Victoria Day long weekend when I was thirteen.

**What makes Rachel so special?**

I was always a bit of a Tomboy. I loved to run and competed in races—winning often. After the grendels appeared, I channeled all that physical energy into learning martial arts and training to be a detective. The martial arts was to help me get in shape in case I was ever trapped by the grendels again. I became a cop, but instead of going on to detective, I switched career paths and became a protector.

Protectors formed to specifically train to hunt grendels, and I wanted to hunt grendels. I wanted to wipe them out the way they wiped out so many people.

**Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wished you had done differently?**

I wish I’d spent more time with Jeff—and with my mother before she died. But you never know how long you have left with anyone, do you? I didn't realize I should savour the time I had with Mom because I was only thirteen. My attitude changed a bit after that, but even so, I regret the time I didn't spend with my loved ones.

**Will we be seeing more of you in the future or has your story already been told?**

My story has been told, but I never say never. My story was originally supposed to end with “Storm Lake.”

**What is your greatest fear?**

That, in the end, hate will win out over love and destroy us all.

**What advice would you give your younger self?**

Count on yourself but ask for help when you need it.

**Has anyone ever saved your life and how did you repay or thank them?**

Peter saved my life and Jeff’s life when we were trapped at the marina. Hound Dog and the rest of my protector team always had my back—especially Hound Dog, my partner.

I developed quite a schoolgirl crush on Peter but he had to move on with his life. When he returned, I realized it had been an infatuation and we became close friends. With Hound Dog, it’s more complicated. I dumped fire ants on his crotch once, you know, but not to thank him for saving my life. LOL.

We had a competitive relationship that evolved the more time we spent together. I’d still fire-ant his ass if he pulls another stunt like he did with the spiders. He knew I hate spiders and he put them in my bed. What else could I do but respond in kind?

**How do you respond to a threat?**

Head on. When someone threatens you, strike first, strike fast, and strike hard.

A**re you more likely to fight with your tongue or your fist?**

Those are my choices? What about my gun? Okay, fist. But I’m used to dealing with grendels and human attackers. If I’m about to be physically attacked, they’d better mean it. I’ll protect myself. But I believe in letting the punishment fit the crime, hence the fire ants in Hound Dog’s bed. He started it.

**What would you ask a fortune teller?**

Tell me the best way to rid the world of the grendels. I want to wipe out all of them.

**Do you have a nickname and how did you get it?**

Yes. Hound Dog stuck me with the name Frostbite because he thought I was cold. I warmed him up with fire ants.

**Do you have a strong memory that has stuck with you from childhood? Why is it so powerful?**

Watching my mother torn apart by grendels. One of them picked up her head and swung it around. That image will never leave me. I used it to motivate me on grendel hunts.

**Do you have a motto?**

Action is better than reaction.

## Val's Books

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/65744291_10156583873442060_6178716119252074496_o.jpg)[](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/65744291_10156583873442060_6178716119252074496_o.jpg)

#### Storm Lake Series

*They're still in the woods*
*They're still hungry*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/65318138_10156583879997060_8236211316113539072_o-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://books2read.com/stormlakehunted/)

*Something terrifying has*
*birthed from the trees*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/65994805_10156583883437060_5997588019710787584_o-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://books2read.com/stormlake%20)

[My Review](https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2GYJIJDYB3NXK)

## More Books by Val

*Nothing hurts like the truth*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/65682482_10156583939227060_939333936322969600_o-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://books2read.com/injury)

[My Review](https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1432OJZYAX40J)

*Fear isolates her*
*Desire sets her free*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/51yqcxlKUlL-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://www.books2read.com/gilliansisland)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-1200x200.png)

## The Valiant Chronicles Series

*Nothing says bad day
like waking up dead*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/51qiTc7gahL-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://books2read.com/earthbound)

*Not killing her
Might be the death of him*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/65314644_10156583881847060_5943608084755644416_o-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://www.books2read.com/TheExperiencers)

[My Review](https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3346S8PN2TZ47)

*Some heroes come*
*disguised as monsters*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/519Ftrm-FaL-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://www.books2read.com/ARingOfTruth)

[My Review](https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R79BF6GUOLMKK)

*The Valiant Chronicles*
*"Jason Bourne meets the X-Files"*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/65478891_10156583878362060_274460917159165952_o.png)

[Buy Now](https://books2read.com/valiant)

*Writing can be murder*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/41MkE4EThL._SX322_BO1204203200_-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://books2read.com/poisonpen)

[My Review](https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2B1BLHR8K6CAL)

*Her body is his temple*
*He's come to prey*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/518tSwuRnPL-Small.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://www.books2read.com/walk-in)

[Podcast](https://anchor.fm/val61)

Today's spotlight was part of a Blog Tour hosted by Mom's Favorite Reads. If you want to get to know a little more about Val and her books she will be featured on a new blog each day this week.

[Val Tobin's Spotlight Blog Tour Schedule](https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/val-tobin/about-val-tobin/)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2019, Author Spotlight, Novels

---

### [Robert Lalonde](https://melaniepsmith.com/robert-lalonde/)

**Published:** August 22, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Robert Lalonde resides in Ontario, Canada and is the author of the Nick Borman suspense novels. He has worked a number of jobs and has always enjoyed reading.  Continue Reading...

**Content:**

# Robert Lalonde

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

I’ve worked at a number of jobs over the years, but eventually, I was a commercial real estate appraiser and specialized in property tax appeals.

I’ve lived in various areas in Ontario, Canada, all my life. I’ve moved several times because of work and I’m glad of it because I’ve lived in some of the most interesting places in the Province. The larger cities like Ottawa and Toronto offer tremendous work opportunities and rural areas like Georgian Bay are breathtakingly beautiful and have inspired some of the most famous paintings by Canadians.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-500x83.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/40_3-Medium.jpg)

[Amazon](https://amzn.to/2KgVASA)

[Website](https://robtlalonde.com)

***Tell us your latest news***

The fourth installment in the Borman series, The Patriot, is ready for release on September 1 and the fifth, titled Shadow Brokers, will be released on December 1.

**When did you first consider yourself a writer?**

For me, I think it was when I published my second novel, Jinxed, and immediately started writing the next one.

Until that second book is published, you’re not sure whether you can write another book that is as good as, or better than, the first. There have been many cases of writers not being able to pull the trigger a second time. When you publish that second book and get feedback that it’s better than the first, you know you’re going to be able to do it.

**What inspired you to write your first book?**

Writing is something I’ve always wanted to do. The first book I wrote was a non-fiction on Health and Wellness titled The ELH Diet. I had struggled with a weight problem for a number of years and when I finally figured out a way to lose the weight and keep it off, I decided to write a book about it so I could share with others how I did it. After publishing that one, I decided to write what I like to read, which is mostly the suspense/thriller genre.

**Do you have a specific writing style?**

I write in a compact, efficient writing style, because that’s what I like to read. I don’t enjoy long rambling sentences and I don’t like too many pages of description that slow up the story just to add to page count. My books are a bit shorter because of it, but I focus on momentum and keeping the story moving.

**How did you come up with the title?**

Strangely enough, this is one of the hardest parts for me and I struggle to come up with something I’m happy with. I often change the title several times as I write a book. The Patriot, which is just coming out, was originally called Cold Agenda.

**How much of the book is realistic?**

I try to make the entire book realistic in the sense that it could happen. Leaping tall buildings in a single bound doesn’t work in thrillers. As a reader, the story and the action have to seem possible for the most part, or I lose interest.

**Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?**

Yes and no. Some of the characters and situations are similar to what I’ve experienced in real life, but only in a general sense. Political corruption for example, I’ve seen first-hand in business, but I don’t write about any event that actually occurred and just change the names. It’s all completely made up … really, it is.

**What are your current projects?**

I have the first draft of Shadow Brokers completed and I will put that through the second draft process sometime in August. It’s not due till December 1, but I know from experience that the first draft is just a bunch of words on paper that need to be edited.

I’ve also started on the next book in the series which will come out early February 2020. The working title for that one is Easy Money, but I’m not sure I’m going to stick with that title.

**Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?**

I’ve enjoyed reading books since I was six and I think I’ve always felt an urge in the back of my mind to write someday. Now that I’ve started, I can’t think of doing anything else.

**Can you share a little of your current work with us?**

The Patriot, which is about to be released, is a story about the sabotage of the oil industry in Texas. The U.S. is the number 1 oil producer in the world, and forty percent of it comes out of Texas. In this story, a group of individuals is going around blowing up oil wells. The oil producers think it’s the work of a group of extremist tree huggers who want people to switch to sun and solar energy. The Oil Producers Consortium of Texas, OPCOT, hires Borman to find out who’s behind the sabotage and put an end to it.

**Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?**

I have a lot of favorite authors, too many to name. If I were to narrow it to a short list, it would be Lee Child, Elmore Leonard, Michael Connelly and Jo Nesbo. What strikes me about their work is they’re great story tellers. Each has their own style, but they all know how to grab your attention from the first page and keep you turning the pages. Elmore Leonard for example, wrote some of the best dialogue you will find.

**Who designed the covers?**

Except for The Borman Factor, I have designed my book covers myself. I am working with a graphic artist right now to see if we can come up with a concept that could run through the series and tie them together with certain elements.

**What was the hardest part of writing your book?**

The hardest part was finding a routine that worked for me. I eventually figured out that I am more productive in the morning. What I do now is to start writing when I get up and keep going till I get what I want for the day. The key is to forget about emails and social media and anything else for that matter until you get your words down for the day.

**One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?**

Yes, my website is[ https://robtlalonde.com](https://robtlalonde.com)

## New Release

**Available September 1, 2019...** *(A Nick Borman Novel)*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/The-Patriot-Medium.jpg)

[Buy Now...](https://amzn.to/329Lkmp)

## Other Books...

*He learned the trade in military intelligence. Now he works for himself.*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/51JuIVQRmGL._SY346_-Medium.jpg)

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01DI58TW4)

Borman isn't sure he wants to get involved. But when someone tries to kill him and Alex, the decision is made for him.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/41zWnc8PFL-Medium.jpg)

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07MDLBXJ6)

*The crime made no sense.*
*Nothing was stolen, only burned.*
*The truth was worse than they imagined.*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/41cDwOJNcLL-Medium.jpg)

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07SJ83BP2)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2019, Author Spotlight

---

### [Lucinda E. Clarke](https://melaniepsmith.com/lucinda-e-clarke/)

**Published:** September 23, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Lucinda E. Clarke - Abandoned in the African bush with a 9 week-old baby and no resources Lucinda could look back on a childhood of mental abuse, without knowing that before her lay an even more bizarre future. She would run the worst riding school in the world, broadcast live with a bayonet at her throat, be fired from her teaching position and thrown into the media world. 

**Content:**

# Lucinda E. Clarke

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

When it comes to me talking about me and my books I’m a disaster! Do I mention being abandoned in the African bush with a 9 week old baby? That I’ve lived in 8 countries, in a mansion, a one bed flat and on a boat? Meeting kings, presidents, international artists and peasants? Earning my living by writing after I got fired from my teaching post? Or what about that live radio broadcast with a bayonet digging into my neck? I could tell you about running my own video production company, and tales about some of the famous people I’ve worked with. The problem is there is so much it took 3 books to put it all down on paper and that’s only the bits I remember.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-500x83.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/LUCINDA-FROM-WEBSITE.jpg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/lucindaeclarke.author)

[Twiiter](https://twitter.com/LucindaEClarke)

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucinda-clarke-001502111/)

[Pinterest](https://es.pinterest.com/lucindaeclarkea/)

[Website](https://lucindaeclarkeauthor.com)

[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7996778.Lucinda_E_Clarke)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Lucinda-E-Clarke/e/B00FDWB914%20%20)

 ***Tell us your latest news***

I’m retired now. No, I’m pretending, and working 24/7 writing books and trying to sell the wretched things. Once I make the first million or five, I’ll be off sailing round the world scribbling on my mega yacht.

I guess I should really mention my books? I’m a multi genre writer. In my time writing for radio and television, I’ve tackled subjects as bizarre as splitting the atom, how to climb a ladder, how a bakery operates, maths, English and science series, good business practices, how they make potato crisps, programmes for tourism and local and national government and so on and so on and so on. Add in mayoral speeches, adverts, brochures, my newspaper column and magazine articles, and I’m sure you get the message.

So, it was quite a challenge, once I’d scribbled my memoirs, to write a full-length novel. I was now my own client. I could write as long or as short as I wanted, set my own deadlines. The freedom was exhilarating. I’d had plenty of those ‘*clients from hell*’ but not one was as bad as me.

Walking over Eggshells was my first full length novel – a memoir and then I created Amie, who is now so real I’m tempted to lay a place for her at the table. I dragged her unwillingly out of her nice, safe, suburban home outside London and sent her to Africa. Civil war breaks out and she’s in real trouble. It’s action adventure page-turning stuff. Book 5 was released in February 2019.

I’ve changed genre again with my first psychological novel A Year in the Life of Leah Brand. In its first week it’s already done much better than I expected.

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. I was contacted by Amie who wanted to tell you a little bit about herself...**

Dear Melanie,

I hacked into Lucinda E Clarke’s laptop yesterday, as you do, well I do anyway, and saw you had invited her to answer some questions. To be quite honest, I don’t think she is all that interesting, and certainly not worth appearing on your important author spotlight.

So, I have decided to tell you more about me, as I’ve had lots of thrilling adventures.

My name is Amie Fish and I was quite happy living in England near my parents and sister. But Ms Clarke had other ideas and she sent me to Africa and put me in jail, involved me in a civil war, placed me in front of a firing squad and then had me trek alone, yes, alone across the bush to survive as best I could. I encountered wild animals, dangerous ones, and in subsequent books I lost a child I loved, pitted wits against a fundamentalist group and was then hijacked by the British government and forced into being a spy. You wouldn’t believe the angst and hardship that woman has put me through.

To date she has written 5 books about me, the first is *Amie African Adventure*, then *Amie and the Child of Africa*; *Amie Stolen Future*, *Amie Cut for Life*, and *Amie Savage Safari*.

A lot of readers have been kind enough to tell me how brave I am and how I have changed from a timid housewife to a capable, albeit reluctant, spy. I love Africa and its people and the way of life and I like to share that with people who adore the books about me.

Lucinda is talking about a sixth book, and while we have this love hate relationship – partly because she has this nasty habit of killing off people I get to know and love – I am worried. Very worried.

Now I’m telling you this in confidence, but Ms Clarke is a little schizophrenic. She began by writing biographies about her life, which I guess are sort of interesting. Then she wrote those wonderful books about me, including a couple of back stories about my sister and my friend Ben.

Then, wait for it, she changed genre and wrote a fairy tale for grownups, a satirical tale about Cinderella and all her friends and then she changed tack again and has just published her first psychological thriller – *A Year in the Life of Leah Brand*. Now this has made me really mad. A new woman, another paper star, and I think she is going to write a second book about her. When you are the acknowledged heroine created by your author you do not need this kind of competition.

There is no comparison: I am mid-thirties, a widow but with a lovely boyfriend called Simon and we’re getting married – but I guess that is on hold. At the end of book 5 we’re planning the wedding but until she starts book 6, I have no idea if that happens. I have led an exciting life, facing lions, hyenas, elephants, crocodiles and such, and can take care of myself in the bush. I can shoot, I’ve been trained to kill and I’m very brave and resourceful, but I’m also kind and compassionate. I’m almost perfect apart from my dithering.

Now compare me to Leah, who has led a staid life in England, lost her husband in a car crash and married again and is now being terrorised in her own home and driven into madness. I could shake her honestly, I could. She trusts all the wrong people.

So, to answer your question about being locked in a room for a day to torment someone then please give me Leah. I’d either strangle her or try to knock some sense into her. If you can’t get her for me then my sister Samantha will have to do. She is enough to drive a saint insane. Have you written about her first trip abroad with fiancé Gerry? Well, if it could go wrong it went wrong and it was all her fault. Then she has the temerity to say I’m not capable.

Who would I like to be stuck in an elevator with? It has to be Steven Spielberg of course. Once he’s met me, he’ll be desperate to make wonderful movies of my adventures in Africa. I would insist in starring in them of course, to keep it really authentic.

My best friend? Apart form my love interests that would have to be Mrs Motswezi. I first met her at the orphanage she runs for little African children, many had lost their parents from AIDS. She’s not had an easy life. The orphanage was destroyed by rebels, and when she fled to her village, that was attacked as well. We spent many days together as we tried to escape from the fundamentalists and rescue the women they had enslaved. Mrs Motswezi is a brave, sensible woman who taught me much about African culture and their way of thinking.

Sincerely,
Amie Fish

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/31956016_2073860759497078_6609426112688685056_n-500x419.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

## Lucinda's Books...

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Eggshells-Tablet.png)

Walking Over Eggshells is an autobiography that tells the story of a mentally abused child, who married a "Walter Mitty" clone.

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00E8HSNDW)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Aime-1-327x500.jpg)

Would you leave your family and friends and follow your husband to start a new life in Africa?

[Buy Now](http://mybook.to/Amie1)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Aime-2-313x500.jpg)

Amie sets out to rescue the foster child she lost during the civil war, but she has no idea of the dangers she will face.

[Buy Now](http://mybook.to/Amie2)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Aime-3.jpg)

Amie returns to her beloved Africa and a settled life, but her enemies have neither forgiven nor forgotten her. They are determined to take their revenge and reclaim their honour.

[Buy Now](http://mybook.to/Amie3)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Aime-4.jpg)

They told Amie it was a simple look, listen and report back mission, but from the beginning everything went wrong. She is stalked across borders, the aid workers act suspiciously, she’s assaulted, and abandoned in a rural African hut miles from anywhere.

[Buy Now](http://mybook.to/Ac4L)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Aime-5.jpg)

How could a safari camp in the African bush along with the President and international representatives from several countries possibly be dangerous?

[Buy Now](http://mybook.to/Amie5)

## Leah Brand: A Psychological Thriller

Leah’s nightmare began the day the dog died. 

A few years earlier a fatal car crash took the lives of Leah’s beloved husband and their two babies, leaving her disabled. Life looked bleak. She was approaching forty, unemployed, broke and desperate. 

Then she met Mason. He was charming, charismatic, persuasive, and a successful businessman, well respected in the community. His teenage daughter did nothing to welcome Leah into the family, but life is never perfect.

Then, two years into her second marriage, Leah Brand’s world is turned upside down; inanimate objects in the house move, her clothes are left out for the rubbish collection, pieces of furniture change places, there are unexplained noises and hauntings.

As the disturbances increase, everyone accuses Leah of losing her mind. Soon she begins to doubt herself and she starts to spiral down into a world of insanity. Is she going mad, or is someone out to destroy her? And if so, why? 

A gripping, psychological thriller for fans of Mary Higgins Clarke and Louise Jensen.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Leah-Brand-5x8-eBook-small.png)

[Buy Now](http://mybook.to/LeahBrand)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2019, Author Spotlight

---

### [Nik Grybaski](https://melaniepsmith.com/nik-grybaski/)

**Published:** October 20, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Nik Grybaski lives in the shadows of the worlds Nik creates. A writer, photographer, baker and gin enthusiast, Nik enjoys nature and watching obscure black and white films. 

**Content:**

# Nik Grybaski

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

Nik Grybaski lives in the shadows of the worlds Nik creates. A writer, photographer, baker and gin enthusiast, Nik enjoys nature and watching obscure black and white films. Nik has been writing for many years. Sharing stories but never publishing them, until now. Black Danube came to Nik when he was washing away cat wee from the kitchen floor. To this day Nik does not know how cleaning inspired this book.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-500x83.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Nik-Grybaski-331x500.jpeg)

[Website](http://www.oddlybooks.com/nik-grybaski/4594940386)

[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thenikgrybaski/)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Nik-Grybaski-113307900385860)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/nikgrybaski)

[Amazon Author](https://www.amazon.com/Nik-Grybaski/e/B08GJPGTC4)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know Leo Katz, from Black Danube**

**Leo Katz, where did you grow up, and what was your childhood like?**

 I am from a small town in Austria, Retz, known for its vineyard and quality wine. I was raised by my aunt Miriam when my mother died. My father ignored me. I was sickly and spent much of my childhood indoors imagining far off lands whilst looking at slides from my magic lantern of London and Paris.

[![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/download.jpg)](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/download.jpg)

**Tell me about your reputation and how it has impacted your life and your relationship.**

My reputation is that of an honest and reclusive man who works hard to be the best photographer he can be. It means I am more than hesitant to engage in a relationship, although I do have feelings for Lucy that I should not.

**Is there anything you wished you had done differently?**

 I have many regrets. It is difficult not to when you are in hiding. I wish I had not succumbed to my passion for Lucy. I should not have gone to Herr Klimt’s party and taken drugs.

**Where do you see yourself in five years?**

 Still in Vienna, working full time as a crime photographer for the Police, under the watchful eye of Detective Kerner.

**What are your dreams for the future?**

 To stop living in fear of being found out. To be able to love without lying about who I really am.

**If there was one thing you could change about your past what would it be?**

 To not get married.

**If you could go anywhere with one person, who would you take and where would you go?**

I would take Lucy to Paris. We would dine in the most expensive restaurant and visit the museums and art galleries.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gallery-500x320.jpg)

## New Release

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/4-Leo-Katz-blue-grey-yellow-320x500.jpeg)

**1899 Vienna. A young Jewish dissident is murdered, his face mutilated - his fiancée, the prime suspect.**

Crime photographer Leo Katz has proof she is not guilty. But to save the innocent woman from the gallows, he risks revealing that he is a fraud and on the run.

As Leo unmasks the sordid network of vice behind the city’s elegant facades, he realises the gruesome death is a smokescreen for more depraved crimes and must bring the killers to justice before he becomes the next target.

Grab your copy of this thrilling, murder, mystery now!

## Buy now...

[Amazon](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08GQ5CNMS)

[Kobo](https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/black-danube)

[Barnes & Noble](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-danube-nik-grybaski/1137570397;jsessionid=F521CE40967BBD33BBF20D0247C25FC3.prodny_store01-atgap17?ean=2940164411633)

[iTunes](https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1529867957)

[Smashwords](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1045886)

**What was the best compliment you have ever received?**

From Lucy, ‘You are not disfigured. You are, peculiarly attractive.’

**If you could have anyone locked in a room so that you could torment them for a day, whom would you choose and how would you torment them?**

 David Jäger. The man responsible for my chipped tooth and other scars. He is the reason I had to disguise myself and leave my home. I would tie him to a chair, gagged and blindfolded, and let rats nibble on his flesh.

**If you could reward someone with a special day, describe that day and tell us why.**

 I would reward my aunt Miriam. I owe her everything. I would take her to our home town. We would have a picnic in the vineyard behind our house like we used to do when I was a child. We were happy then, and life was less fraught.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/5c51aefc599c5-500x320.png)

**Would you rather be ugly and live forever or attractive and die in a year?**

Ah, with my pock-marked face, I am already ugly and can stand it because Lucy thinks me attractive. So long as she continues to do so, I shall live, but forever? That I am not sure about.

**If you could go to anyone (living or dead) for advice who would it be and what would you ask?**

 I would go to my mother and ask her what I should do about my feelings for Lucy. And whether or not I should reveal my true persona.

**Mountains or Beach?**

Mountains. I miss seeing them now that I live in Vienna.

**Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?**

 Is an elevator that metal contraption that goes up and down on pulleys? I think it was Werner von Siemens who invented the electric elevator in Germany around 1880. Somewhere in America, New York, I believe, have such a thing in one of their huge buildings. They sound dangerous to me. I would not like to be in one at all, never mind with someone else.

**If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want to take with you?**

 My camera, I know it would be of no use, but I am a photographer, and I may be rescued. Think of the wonderful photographs I would have to show people. A sharp knife, for obvious reasons, and Pawel Kasparek. I know he is not a ‘thing’, but he is tough and resourceful. I know we would survive if he was there with me.

**Will we be seeing more of you in the future or has your story already been told?**

 My story is only just beginning, so yes, you will see more of Leo Katz.

**If you could change one thing about the world… what would it be?**

 For women to be in charge instead of men.

**Tell us about your best friend and what makes them so special.**

 That would be Klaus. He is a pathologist and one of the kindest men I have ever known. He can be tedious at times with his pathetic and inappropriate jokes, but when he walks into a room and smooths down his perfectly trimmed moustache and beard, everyone cannot help but smile. He also has the most wonderful singing voice. Klaus is charming, fun, and knows all the places to get a drink even when everywhere is closed. He looks after me, and when he puts his arm around my shoulder and tells me, ‘Be brave, little friend.’ I find the courage to do things I would not normally do, even if it puts me in mortal danger.

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2020, Author Spotlight

---

### [Graham Watkins](https://melaniepsmith.com/graham-watkins/)

**Published:** November 15, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Graham Watkins is a multi genre author, including historical fiction and thrillers, who started writing when he retired. 

**Content:**

# Graham Watkins

***Interesting facts...***

Graham Watkins is a multi genre author, including historical fiction and thrillers, who started writing when he retired. He cut his teeth researching and reinventing Welsh legends and myths, a four year project exploring Wales and its rich legacy of stories. Graham lives in a rambling farmhouse in the Brecon Beacons with his wife, a lunatic rescue dog called Sally and a motley collection of animals which at different times have included, chickens, ducks, geese, sheep and Welsh Black cattle. His neighbours describe him, not unkindly, as a hobby farmer who tries to write and gives talks about his writing to anyone who will listen.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/author-by-llyn-y-fan.jpg)

[Website](https://www.grahamwatkins.info/)

[Amazon](http://author.to/GrahamWatkins)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

**Have you ever finished reading a book (OR...been intrigued by a synopsis) and wished you could get to know one of the characters a little better? Well, you’re in luck. Get to know David Morgan, from Ty Uchaf Rose (One of the short stories included A Walk in the Woods)...**

Hi Melanie. My name is David Morgan, Dave to my friends. When I learnt that the author Graham Watkins wanted to include the story of the *Ty Uchaf Rose* in his new collection of short stories called [*A Walk in the Woods*](http://viewbook.at/AWITW) I was surprised and thrilled.

"What's Ty Uchaf?" I hear you ask. It literally translates from Welsh as upper house. As you've probably guessed, the story is about a remote cottage high on a Welsh mountain and a rose.

I suppose I should step back and begin by telling you a little about myself. I'm thirty-seven and until three months ago happily married, or so I thought. At least that's how it was when I bought Ty Uchaf. I'm no hero and according to my ex, Valerie who threw me out, I'm an alcoholic. The divorce court believed her and that's why she has custody of our son, Eddie.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Talescoverdraftsmall.jpg)

[Buy Now](http://viewbook.at/AWITW)

You see, the derelict cottage is my escape from her lies, a chance to begin again with a new life. Like me, Ty Uchaf is broken and unloved. My plan is to rebuild it, to breathe life back into the cold stone. Then, in my dream, the cottage will become my refuge, a cosy home full of warmth where Eddie can visit. We will walk the mountain together, fish for trout in the river, sit under the stars with a roaring fire-pit and talk like a normal father and son.

Don't get me wrong. I know I've been a fool. Maybe I do drink too much and if I could change the past I would but the world isn't like that.

As Graham writes the story of Ty Uchaf, I try to explain to myself why I've bought a desolate ruined cottage on a mountain and moved into a shabby caravan. I've already told you the rational reasons, the ones I used to convince myself but there is something else. It's as if I've been told to come and live on the mountain and rebuild Ty Uchaf. Something or someone is summoning me and I have no choice. It probably sounds stupid and I can't explain it.

But, whatever the reason, I'm sure it's for the best because of my temper and what I might have done to Carl if I'd stayed. If there's one person I really hate it's Valerie's boyfriend. He took Val from me. He's stolen everything I hold dear and even now he's poisoning my son, turning Eddie against me. I don't know how to fight Carl. He's a big man, arrogant, a thug. He sneers at me. If I saw him crossing the road I would run him down.

Yes, I'm safer here on this deserted mountain where all is tranquil, but wait. Graham is writing again. There's a rose growing outside the cottage. A storm is coming. My caravan is being buffeted by the wind. I thought Graham was my friend but now I'm not so sure. All is dark. I can hear corrugated sheets clanking against the barn walls and strange sounds coming from the house.

It's been lovely talking to you Melanie but I have to go. Something is happening.

***Want to know more about Graham Watkins? Continue reading his in-depth interview...***

**Graham, tell us a little about yourself.**

Unlike David Morgan, I'm happily married and have been for forty-seven years. Both our families said we were too young but God has smiled on us and it's been a wonderful adventure. I started working life by training as a marine engineer and sailing the oceans but came ashore lured by love. Since then, I've been a salesman selling weighing machines, a barman in a working men's club, worked for a Japanese multinational and driven lorries at an airport. In 1989 my wife and I started our own business which we sold to a UK PLC in 2003 when we retired and, like Dave, ran away to a remote house on a mountain.

**How much of *A Walk in the Woods* is realistic?**

That's a great question. Some of the stories *Tom Wellies Takes a Bath* and *The Decoration* for example are based on real events with a little writer's embroidery added. Other's including *Ty Uchaf Rose* are pure fiction. There are several houses called Ty Uchaf on the Black Mountain where we live but none of them have any connection to the story. Other books of mine are also a mixture of fact and fiction. Take my dystopian thriller [*The Enemy Within*](http://getbook.at/TEW) where I've extrapolated the present political climate, terrorism, technology and the Covid pandemic and looked forward ten years to what might be. Human nature will not change and although it's a work of fiction it's predicated on likely outcomes. One reviewer described it as, *"A well written fast-moving page turner, an interesting concept of a possible future of our society."*

**What books are you reading now?**

I've just finished *An Evil Cradling*, Brian Keenan's excellent account of his four years spent chained to a radiator as a hostage in Beirut. It's brutal but Keenan's writing is forceful and insightful. Before that I read *The Tenderness of Wolves* by Stef Penney and sat on my bedside table is Amitav Ghosh's *The Humgry Tide.* Ghosh's writing is wonderfully descriptive and I loved *The Glass Palace*.

**Who is your favourite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?**

 That's a hard one. David Howarth who writes about historical events is a possible candidate. He is able to bring the reader into the story. Reading his *Waterloo - A near run thing* I felt like I understood what was going on. They call it the fog of war but David cuts through the mist and tells you what the common soldier was seeing and doing; fascinating stuff. Another possible contender is Christy Lefteri author of *The Beekeeper of Aleppo* whose writing is hauntingly good.

**What are your current project?**

I've just finished recording [*A Walk in the Woods*](http://viewbook.at/AWITW) as an audio book and am planning to write another collection of short stories. As I write, Covid is rampant and much of Wales is under lockdown restrictions which, we're told, will last for some time. Fortunately we have six acres of our own and a mountain to hide in so it isn't a problem. Winter is coming. The log fire is burning and my notebook is full of interesting ideas.

**Does your work require a lot of research or do you just write what you already know?**

For me researching is one of the joys of writing and I do a lot. It's surprising what doing some digging reveals. I'll give you an example. While researching for [*The Enemy Within*](http://getbook.at/TEW) I came across an article written by a Harvard Professor claiming it was possible to change a person's DNA using a thing called a CRISP kit. Imagine that; criminals would have a field day and it perfectly suited a plot point in my story. Further research revealed, and I kid you not, that it's possible to buy CRISPR–Cas9 kits for a couple of hundred dollars from Amazon. I don't know how true the professor's claims are but what a great plot twist it gave me.

**What are you plans for next year?**

Twelve months ago my wife and I purchased a motorhome and planned to spend a month touring Scotland last April. Because of Covid and the UK being locked down the holiday had to be cancelled. Since then the motorhome has gone nowhere and sprouted roots in our yard. On top of that we normally spend time each year with our daughter and her family in North Carolina. That was also cancelled and to make things more unbearable, particularly for my wife, our daughter is expecting another grandchild around Thanksgiving. So, to answer your question, Covid permitting, we plan to fly to the USA at the earliest opportunity to cuddle the new baby and, after that trip we will be heading for the Scottish Highlands for a well earned break.

**What do you want written on your headstone?**

I would like to think of something funny like Spike Milligan's epitaph, "I told you I was Ill." However I probably won't have a headstone. My last wishes are to be cremated and have my ashes scattered on the Black Mountain where we live. Your question reminds me of research I did for my book [*Welsh Follies*](https://www.grahamwatkins.info/the-welsh-folly-book) about a man called John Renie whose headstone is in Monmouth churchyard. He carved it himself. What he created was an intricate ‘acrostic puzzle’ containing 285 letters arranged to read, ‘Here lies John Renie.’

To understand the inscription, readers have to start from an ‘H’ in the centre of the puzzle and follow the letters in any direction. According to Mathematicians who have studied the puzzle, there are 32,032 different ways to read ‘Here lies John Renie’ on the headstone. It must have been a laborious job carving such an intricate pattern. No records exist to say how many times Renie accidentally chipped off a letter and had to start again with a new blank headstone.

**One final Question.. Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it?**

I sure do and I invite everyone to join me at [https://www.grahamwatkins.info/](https://www.grahamwatkins.info/%20) where you can sign up to get occasional stories and snippets about my writing.

Thanks for having me Melanie. It's been fun.

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2020, Author Spotlight

---

### [Penny Luker](https://melaniepsmith.com/penny-luker/)

**Published:** September 22, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Penny Luker - A teacher and Head Teacher, then an Associate Lecturer with the Open University. she now spends her time writing stories and poems.  When she's not writing, she enjoys playing the piano and ukulele and painting in watercolor.

**Content:**

# Penny Luker

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

Since I’ve stopped going out to work I’ve found that I love doing creative things, such as playing a musical instrument, painting and of course writing. At the moment I’m doing a printmaking course with the Open College of Arts. It’s brilliant. Who knew that, cutting lino and messing about with printing inks, on all sorts of paper, could be such fun?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Penny.jpg)

[Amazon Author](https://www.amazon.com/Penny-Luker/e/B008TR5ZLU)

[Website](https://pennyluker.wordpress.com/)

**When and why did you begin writing?**

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t write. I used to write poems on the back of envelopes or in odd pages in diaries. When I was teaching, I wrote stories for my classes and included all the children. You had to make sure that any bad characters were not named after children in the class, otherwise you might upset them. Even as a child I’d tell stories to my family on long car rides.

I completed my first book of short stories in 2008. The ideas for the stories were good, as I have a vivid imagination, but the writing was not so good. In fact I’ve just finished revising it. It’s called Missing and is available on Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited. One of the problems with writing all the time, is that you continue to improve, and then your early work niggles at you. I’ve been told many times to forget the early work and move on to new books, but I find that hard to do.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/41JVAaOIEoL._SY346_.jpg)

[Buy Now](http://mybook.to/TruthFinder)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/51Ia9j6YEL.jpg)

[Buy Now](http://mybook.to/TheVisualizer)

**Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?**

In my trilogy, The Truth Finder, The Visualizer and The Healer (still being written) there are messages at different levels. I think one message is to embrace your talents. There are also messages about being true to your beliefs.

The Truth Finder
[mybook.to/TruthFinder](http://mybook.to/TruthFinder)

The Visualizer
[mybook.to/TheVisualizer](http://mybook.to/TheVisualizer)

**What are your current projects?**

Currently I’m working on The Healer, the third book in my trilogy. I have the whole book in my head, but only a few chapters on paper. I’m collecting poems for my next poetry book and I’ve nearly completed another book of short stories. I always work on several projects at once, because sometimes I like to leave a book to fester for a while, before I’m ready to finish it. I think my subconscious does a lot of my writing.

**Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.**

I’m a member of The Winsford Writers and usually we meet up once a week. Even during lockdown we have done a writing task every Friday. We started off as a college course but when the college stopped the classes we decided to carry on. Nowadays we take it in turns to set writing topics for each other and then share our work. I like the fact that although we are always supportive, we do honestly critique the work. Each of us has different interests, which enhance the group’s achievements.

I**s there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?**

Proof Reading and Editing. I don’t mind the first read through, but when you’re on your tenth read and you’ve sent it out to four beta readers and they’ve all got different opinions, I find it hard, but it’s got to be done.

**Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?**

I really don’t have a favourite author as I like so many. Trudy Canavan is one. She writes fantasy. Her books contain hardship and magic, but there’s always a strong element of justice. I’m also a fan of J.K. Rowling, not only her Harry Potter books, but her Robert Galbraith books. I used to strongly prefer murder mysteries, such as those written by P.D. James, but as I get older I’m reading a wider field. I think I like books where the protagonist has real struggles, but works out ways to overcome them.

**Who designed the covers for your books?**

Sharon Brownlie, from Aspire Book Covers, has designed my covers for the trilogy and for The Mermaid, a book of short stories. [mybook.to/TheMermaidShort](http://mybook.to/TheMermaidShort) She works with you to create covers that really fit the content. Take a look at her website.

<https://aspirebookcovers.com/>

**Do you have any advice for other writers?**

Get on and do it. The first draft may be poor, but if it’s on paper you can improve it. If it’s still in your head, it’s harder and may never get done. Set yourself targets like 500-1000 words a day for a month. You’ll produce a quantity of work that you can then revise.

**What do you want written on your headstone and why?**

I don’t want a headstone. If you want to remember me then please read my books. I have little messages of love dotted in them, especially in my poetry books, so if you miss me, dip in there. For example, The Shadows of Love.

[mybook.to/shadowsoflove](http://mybook.to/shadowsoflove)

**If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?**

I was a teacher or Head Teacher for many years of my working life and I loved it. I was never bored and hope I inspired many children to take their chances and grab their opportunities. I know the children in my classes wrote amazing stories and poems, painted the most imaginative pictures and were a pleasure to be with. Being a teacher these days is incredibly hard work but it’s so rewarding. It’s also much more sociable than being a writer. I’m so glad that I now have time to write, but wouldn’t have missed teaching for the world.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/51HsUKHppJL._SX351_BO1204203200_.jpg)

[Buy Now](http://mybook.to/TheMermaidShort)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/51vzV42B25L.jpg)

[Buy Now](http://mybook.to/shadowsoflove)

**One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it?**

My website usually has information about my books and when they are on offer. Please visit and read about my children’s books, poetry, short stories and fantasy trilogy. The website also covers book reviews from other authors and when I get the time I’d like to promote other authors, by inviting them to come and visit.

[ www.pennyluker.wordpress.com](https://pennyluker.wordpress.com)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2020, Author Spotlight

---

### [Author Lucinda E. Clarke](https://melaniepsmith.com/author-lucinda-e-clarke/)

**Published:** August 16, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Lucinda E. Clarke - I’m retired now. No, I’m pretending, and working 24/7 writing books and trying to sell the wretched things. Once I make the first million or five, I’ll be off sailing round the world scribbling on my mega yacht.

**Content:**

# Lucinda E. Clarke

***Interesting facts...***

***You may recognize Lucinda E. Clarke from a previous post I did last year. Today, let's catch up and see what's been happening since we last connected. Lucinda, tell us a little about yourself.***

I’m now old and wrinkly and frustrated that my energy levels are declining. While my brain is still racing a million miles an hour, and has yet to mature, my body refuses to cooperate. I’ve lived in 8 countries and had a rollercoaster of a life. I fret there isn’t time to fit in everything I want to do before settling behind that big writing desk in the sky. I do hope they have one for me – well it might be down below – but as long as they leave me to write in peace and quiet, I’ll be happy.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-500x83.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/LUCINDA-IN-VIENNA-2.jpg)

[Website](https://lucindaeclarkeauthor.com)

[Blog](https://lucindaeclarke.wordpress.com)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/LucindaEClarke)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/226303738779560/)

[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBIaMN5uEKjs9PwXzGwWgdQ)

[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lucindaeclarke/)

[Amazon](https://author.to/Lucinda)

[BookBub](https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucinda-e-clarke)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Lucindas-library.png)

**Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?**

Yes. He was an amazing and talented guy called Jack Mullen. I auditioned at the South African Broadcasting Service as a continuity presenter. It was a disaster. I’d only been in the country less than a year. Colin Fish (ex BBC Home service) passed me on to the Drama department and after my presentation, Jack Mullen, who was head of SABC Drama asked where I got my material from. I mumbled I’d written it myself. “You are no great shakes as an actress…” (so, he’d noticed, I could have told him that!) “… I will use you but not often. However, you have talent, you can write. Go home and write.” I floated out of the studios that day. I did go home; I did write; and the following month won the SABC Scriptwriter of the Year Award.

I’m in tears. When I went to google the spelling of Jack’s name, I discovered a radio tribute, and they mentioned he had died. I think he was murdered. He was 80. I have him to thank for changing my life, my career and allowing me to live to work the dream I’d had from kindergarten.

**When did you first consider yourself a writer?**

It wasn’t the cash prize for winning the award, but when I received the first cheque for my radio scripts. I was scribbling madly by now and more dropped into the bank from the magazines and my weekly newspaper column. The final step was when I resigned from my teaching job and went writing full time.

I was supporting one husband, two offspring, one domestic and her family, one gardener and his family, a St Bernard, three cats and a variety of small, fluffy, squirmy things.

**What inspired you to write your first book?**

(Ignoring the two I wrote for major publishers a couple of decades earlier). Boredom. We’d retired to Spain – sangria by the sea, late mornings, social whirl? After a few months I was climbing the walls. I missed my filming, I missed my team, I missed working – I wasn’t ready to retire. I’d put together a memoir for the family to read (they didn’t) so when I saw the self-publishing option, I went for it. I was amazed at the response I got from readers and it snowballed from there.

**Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?**

Finding peace and quiet and the space to write. I’ve shared on social media we live in a small rabbit hutch overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Yes, it’s small, the size of a holiday cottage. It’s big enough for Dear Husband and myself, unless you need to run a business, and that’s the marketing side of authorship. My one filing cabinet is a mess, and I gravitate from the back bedroom, to the couch to the dining table.

**What was the best compliment you have ever received?**

Apart from the affirmation above that I could right – heaven knows I can’t do much else – the reviewer who listed me as one of the people she would most like to have to dinner. Me? Come on! Not the Dalai Lama, Marylyn Monroe or Winston Churchill? Wow that was a compliment to cherish.

**Where do you see yourself in five years?**

More wrinkles but hopefully with my brain intact and hopefully with another half dozen books out there. I’d like to make “A Year in the Life…” a four-book series, write another ‘Amie in Africa book’ and some more comedy. I never push my Fairyland satire, but it is very close to my heart. It still makes me giggle and I wrote it! I’d like to explore how Cinderella copes after her divorce.

**Describe something that happened to you for which you have no explanation.**

We had landed in Gaborone Botswana the previous day. I knew no one, had spoken to no one. On a walk around the neighbourhood I heard a voice calling me from a house. I stopped, accepted the invite to go inside and the lady served tea and biscuits and insisted on telling my fortune. She mentioned something only six people in the world knew and four of them were overseas, then she told me I would earn my living through the arts. The first shocked me and the second was a giggle as I can’t paint to safe my life. But she was right on both accounts. I have no explanation for how she knew.

**What books have most influenced your life most?**

Jean Plaidy, and Enid Blyton. As a precocious brat I remember reading “The Far Away Tree” and thinking ‘I could do this.’ Jean Plaidy has never aged with her historical novels they are still an easy read and not dated like some of the books I used to devour and now find stilted or long winded. I had a magic history teacher at school and between them they gave me a love for stories from the past.

**Tell us your latest news.**

That has to be my new release out in May, the second of the “A Year in the Life of…” series. Titled “A Year in the Life of Andrea Coe”. It continues straight on from Leah Brand’s story, as the friends meet up again in the café. A slightly different twist this time. It’s ‘when will she?’ rather than a ‘who is it?’ story.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Leah-Brand.jpg)

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07WHJKGXF)

**A Year in the Life of Leah Brand**
2020 Reader's Choice Winner

\----------------------------------------

**Gold Medal** in Mystery \| Thriller \| Horror
**Bronze Medal** Overall

**Leah's nightmare began the day the dog died.** A few years earlier a fatal car crash took the lives of Leah's beloved husband and their two babies, leaving her disabled. Life looked bleak. She was approaching forty, unemployed, broke and desperate. Then she met Mason. He was charming, charismatic, persuasive, and a successful businessman, well respected in the community. His teenage daughter did nothing to welcome Leah into the family, but life is never perfect.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ANDREA-COE-SMALLEST-KINDLE.jpg)

[Buy Now...](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B088KRQB67)

**A Year in the Life of Andrea Coe** New Release

\----------------------------------------

**Andrea was Leah'sbest friend. Or was she?** Leah had survived hervicious husband's terrifying games and the mental asylum he committed her to.Her only desire now, is for a life of peace with her new partner, and her bestfriend, Andrea. What could possibly go wrong?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Deidre-Flynn.jpg)

[In Progress...](https://lucindaeclarke.wordpress.com/books-by-the-author/)

**A Year in the Life of Deidre Flynn** Coming Soon

\----------------------------------------

A gripping, psychological thriller Series for fans of Mary Higgins Clarke and Louise Jensen.

**Can you share a sample of your current work with us?**

> The young man hesitated outside the interview room. His palms so damp with sweat his hand slipped from the door handle. They never prepared you for encounters like this in law school where lectures were based on facts, precedents, arguments and dissertations.
> 
> The prisoner on the other side of the door had evoked feelings of sympathy on his first visit. The paperwork he clutched in his other hand, told him life had dealt her a raw deal. Now it was up to him to win her case or at least a reduced sentence.
> 
> He flung the door open with more force than he intended and marched into the bare interview room that housed three chairs and one metal table bolted to the floor.
> 
> He did not glance up as he pulled out a chair and sat down opposite her. The woman was raking her fingernails along the edge of the table. She was close to forty and in her youth, she would have been very attractive. She did not look her best today. Her greasy, tangled hair hung down to her shoulders, her cuticles were torn and bleeding, her eyes red and puffy, her face sullen.
> 
> He repressed his personal feelings. He was not here to admire her good looks but to discover the truth. He would need to earn her confidence. Could she tell how nervous he was? He hoped no one had told her this was his first case. He had been handed a ‘no-win’ scenario as his baptism by fire.
> 
> He glanced at his notes. She’d been here overnight and she had not uttered a single word, not to anyone. She was due to appear in court tomorrow and while he would automatically ask for bail, she would not be asked to plea until it reached the Crown Court. He needed her to talk if he was going to defend her. Premeditated murder carried a life sentence without parole, but she didn’t look capable of killing a fly. He was young and naïve, but his instincts told him they had the wrong suspect.
> 
> The way she sat, perched on the hard, metal chair, displayed her anger and frustration. From his study of the case she had every right to do what she did, but the law didn’t see it that way.
> 
> He pulled the file from his briefcase and opened it.
> 
> “I want to help you, but I need you to tell me everything. Do you understand?”
> 
> She nodded and moved her hands down to pick a piece of invisible lint off her dungarees.
> 
> “I need to hear the whole story, so why don’t you start at the beginning?”
> 
> She walked her fingers up and down the crack along the edge of the table, looking down, not responding.
> 
> “Can I get you a coffee?” he asked. Someone had mentioned she was fond of coffee.
> 
> She nodded.
> 
> He left the room returning a few minutes later with a Styrofoam cup of pale brown, tepid liquid and placed it in front of her.
> 
> “Sorry, that’s the best they have on offer.” For a second, he thought she was about to pick it up and throw it at him, but she wrapped her fingers round it and gulped it down.
> 
> “Please, I can’t emphasise strongly enough you need to talk to me.” He paused. “Do you understand the charges against you?”
> 
> She nodded, playing with the empty cup, rolling it backwards and forwards on the table.
> 
> “And do you know what the penalties are if you are found guilty?” He persisted.
> 
> Again, she nodded.
> 
> “Then you need to help me. Start at the beginning and tell me your story, please.”

**Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?**

In one sense. I was betrayed by my best friend when I was pregnant with my first child. Was this at the back of my mind when writing? I have no idea, but it’s possible.

**Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?**

It has to be Steven Spielberg doesn’t it? I would slam him up against the side of the lift while pressing the stop button and insist he make a movie starring Amie as she slogs through the African bush with no food and water. I’d paint him such a vivid picture he’d have his cheque book out in no time. (OK he’d ask for my PayPal details).

**What are your current projects?**

I’ve begun to write the third book about Leah and her scheming family. I am already six words in, not including the title.

**Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.**

My DH has been supportive in that he does my paperback formatting and deals with Ingram Sparks and fixes the covers for the foreign language versions. In the earlier days he read the Amie books and we had long discussions as to why I hadn’t sent her to the loo for three days – he’s a little on the practical side. But apart from that, my family takes little notice of my scribbling and I understand from many of my indie virtual friends this is very common. My books are very seldom mentioned in company. I keep very quiet about them in the ‘real’ world.

**Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?**

This is quite sad as I was an only child of the widowed mother with a personality disorder. I lived in an imaginary world for most of my childhood until I went away to college. Books and scribbling were my escape.

**Do you remember the first book you read?**

The very first book was a Noddy book by Enid Blyton, but I don’t remember which one. I collected them avidly and read them over and over.

**Who designed the covers for your books?**

Various people. The Amie books by Daz Smith in the UK, the Leah covers by Sharon Brownlie in Scotland. I used my own photos for the Truth, Lies and Propaganda books and I had a graphic designer draw my Cinderella book. And I have a couple of videos made by you Melanie which I love.

**One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it?**

[Website](https://lucindaeclarkeauthor.com)

[Blog](https://lucindaeclarke.wordpress.com)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/LucindaEClarke)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/226303738779560/)

[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBIaMN5uEKjs9PwXzGwWgdQ)

[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lucindaeclarke/)

[Amazon](https://author.to/Lucinda)

[BookBub](https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucinda-e-clarke)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2020, Author Spotlight

---

### [Rita Chapman](https://melaniepsmith.com/rita-chapman/)

**Published:** May 17, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Rita Lee Chapman - Rita Chapman was born in London and moved to Australia in her early twenties.  She is the author of the Anna Davies Mystery Series.  Other novels include crime mysteries and a tale for horse lovers.

**Content:**

# Rita Chapman

***Interesting facts...***

Rita Lee Chapman was born in London and moved to Australia in her early twenties. It was only when she retired that she wrote her first novel, Missing in Egypt, the first in the Anna Davies Mystery series. Missing at Sea is Book#2 in the series and Missing in London is Book #3. All can be enjoyed as stand-alone books.

Winston – A Horse’s Tale was written for horse lovers like herself. “It was the book I had to write.”

Dangerous Associations and The Poinciana Tree are crime mysteries.

When she’s not writing or reading, Rita enjoys playing tennis, walking and entertaining.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Author-Rita-Lee-Chapman-MPSmith.jpg)

[Website](http://www.ritaleechapman.com/)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/rita.chapman)

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Rita-Lee-Chapman/e/B00B5OS2Q4/)

[Smashwords](https://www.smashwords.com/interview/RChapman1)

[Goodreads](http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5834608.Rita_Lee_Chapman)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-500x83.png)

**Tell us a little about yourself?**

Hi, I’m Rita Lee Chapman and I live in Queensland, Australia. I didn’t finish writing my first book until I retired and have now self-published A holiday in Egypt inspired my first book. A country of lost tombs, barren landscapes and endless possibilities. What better place to set a mystery**?**

**Do you have a specific writing style?**

I think so, but probably so does every other author. I would call mine a cross between Agatha Christie and Mary Higgins-Clark but that’s probably not fair on either of those authors!

**How did you come up with the title for your last book?**

Poinciana Trees are in abundance where I live and are so beautiful. I looked at them one year and thought – a Poinciana tree would make a great cover. The book grew from there!

**Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?**

Whatever happens to you in life you have to move on and keep living.

**Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?**

Rebecca Bryn and Sarah Stuart are indie authors I have met through writing and I admire both of them.

**What are your current projects?**

I’ve just started the fourth book in the Anna Davies Mystery Series, Missing in France.

**If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?**

No, not in my latest book, but my first book could be improved. I think I have grown as a writer over time.

**Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?**

I always wanted to write and loved writing essays from primary school. My first book was a little one for my younger brother when I was still at school.

**Can you share a sample of your current work with us?**

I’d love to. Here is the prologue from The Poinciana Tree.

> *She looked out of the kitchen window at the spreading branches of the Poinciana Tree. She gazed at the familiar limbs, dotted here and there with lichen, which formed a canopy over the grass. She thought of the picnics she had enjoyed under its shade as a child and then, later, as a mother. It was summer now and the tree was covered with the huge red flowers for which it was famous. So beautiful. It was a tree she had loved ever since she was a little girl – right up until that dreadful day. Now it only reminded her of the things she most wanted to forget. She let out a long, deep sigh and turned away.*

**Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?**

Editing, always the editing. By the time you have read your own work many times you are truly ready to move on.

**Who designed the covers for your books?**

I designed my covers through KDP.

**Do you have any advice for other writers?**

For people thinking about writing a book my advice would be just start. With computers you can move chapters and paragraphs around, delete them and start again. As someone else said, you can’t edit a blank page.

**Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?**

I hope you enjoy my writing and will read all of my books!

**Do you remember the first book you read?**

The first book I remember was Chicken Little.

**Other than writing do you have any hobbies?**

I enjoy playing tennis, swimming, walking and having friends around for dinner.

**Favorite foods / Colors/ Music**

Chocolate, champagne, ice-cream, fruit. Favourite colours are blue and white. Music – haunting ballads (Celine Dion, Whitney Houston), some opera (Pavarotti, Placido Domingo) and rock and roll.

**If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?**

I would love to have been a singer.

**One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it?**

Yes, I do. <http://www.ritaleechapman.com>

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

## Crime Mysteries

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/The-Poinciana-Tree-KINDLE-MPSmith.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07XGGY2PZ)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Dangerous_Associatio_Cover-sml_-MPSmith.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00PPRY9FU)

## Anna Davies Mystery's

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Egypt_MPSmith.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B007JOUIIE)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Sea_MPSmith.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B06XFKJTV4)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/London_MPSmith.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07CYZTSZK)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Winston_-_A_Horses__Cover-MPSmith.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00G9QOZGE)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2020, Author Spotlight

---

### [Tom Benson](https://melaniepsmith.com/tom-benson/)

**Published:** June 1, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Tom Benson Is a multi-genre author.  He has been writing since 2007. He has published novels, anthologies of short stories, a five-part novel, a variety of erotica books, and a series of genre-based poetry.

**Content:**

# Tom Benson

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

In my working life I enjoyed a twenty-three-year military career with the British Army and then twenty-five years in retail before I retired two years ago. Although I’d dabbled in creative writing I didn’t study or work hard at it until about 2007. Since then I’ve published poetry anthologies, short story anthologies and novels. I’ve been married for forty-three years and have a grown son who moved abroad to live and work in Amsterdam.

 ***Tell us your latest news***

I’m a multi-genre author who is equally at home with thrillers, military-themed stories, sci-fi or erotica. My most recent literary experiment was to write ‘**Light at The End**’, my first post-apocalyptic tale which has rapidly become my top-selling title.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/fullsizeoutput_759-353x500.jpeg)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TomBenson.Writer)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/TomBensonWriter)

[Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/t0mbens0n/)

[Website](www.tombensonauthor.com)

[Blog](www.tombensoncreative.com)

[Amazon UK](https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00C9HTUTY)

[Amazon US](https://www.amazon.com/Tom-Benson/e/B00C9HTUTY)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

Bill Kane’s long military career had recently ended so he relaxed by joining a three-day sightseeing tour into the Scottish Highlands. At last, the ex-Serviceman would be able to leave stress and decision-making to somebody else, or would he?

While the squabbling of world leaders intensified on international media, Bill, like others, shrugged it off as sabre-rattling, but the sabres in question were nuclear missiles. An unthinkable situation developed rapidly. A missile was launched, and retaliation became an international chain reaction.

On a mountain road in Scotland, Paul Harrington a young coach driver listened to the news in disbelief. When his passengers returned down the hill from the latest viewpoint it would be Paul’s responsibility to get them to safety, but to where? No town was within easy reach, but he remembered a disused railway tunnel not far away. Could he get them there in time, and how would they survive?

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/fullsizeoutput_818.jpeg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B083P13CRN)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

**When and why did you begin writing?**

When I left the military in 1992, I felt that I’d lost something in my life. In the mid-1990s partly as a catharsis I penned the first draft of my military autobiography ‘**A Life of Choice**’. It was in reality my first book but I would write many more before that one was published. I’d always been an avid reader so I was aware that my story wasn’t ready for other people to see. I revisited my fact-based-fiction military tale several times to rewrite until I published is as a five-part novel in 2017.

**When did you first consider yourself a writer?**

By 2010, I had written a variety of short stories as I tried to learn my new craft. I won second place in an international short story competition. I next entered a story in a national competition and it was one of forty winning tales to be included in an anthology sponsored by English Heritage.

**How did you come up with the title for your last book?**

‘**Light at The End**’ is a post-apocalyptic novel in which a long and disused railway tunnel features prominently. The title is partly a play on the adage *‘light at the end of the tunnel’* but keeping in mind that the characters I’ve entombed must think positively to survive.

**Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?**

I never preach in my writing, but I believe that those of us who live in a modern or civilised country which is not continually in conflict for various reasons must be grateful and not take things for granted. We ought to remember that vast regions of the world are filled with people who have rarely if ever seen the freedom and type of lifestyle which we are privileged to enjoy. This latest story reduces the characters primary focus to survival.

**What book are you reading now?**

**On the Origin of Species** by Charles Darwin

**What are your current projects?**

I’m working on two anthologies of short stories and three novels because multiple projects keep my mind active. My primary work in progress is ‘**Light to Dark**’ which is Book 2 in the ‘**Light at The End**’ post-apocalyptic trilogy. Book 3 will be ‘**Dark to Light**’. The opening tale was experimental but I’ve become absorbed in telling the ongoing story.

**Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.**

Neither my wife nor my son have read any of my books. Of major importance to me is the advice and mutual support provided by the Indie Author Support and Discussion (IASD) group on Facebook.

[IASD Group Website](https://indieauthorsupportanddiscussion.com/)

**Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?**

Estimating the appropriate amount of detail and how to feed it in generically to avoid info-dumps.

**Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?**

Wilbur Smith and in particular the authenticity and detail of his creations related to Africa and Ancient Egypt.

**Who designed the covers for your books?**

Of the forty-one titles in my name I designed the covers for thirty-two of them. I also designed all of the covers for the nine erotica books published under the pseudonym Katya Cumming.

**Can you share a sample of your current work with us?**

An excerpt from ‘**Light to Dark**’ Chapter 1 - Born to be Wild:

> I really want to keep up,” Flint said, “but you guys are gonna have to break this down for me.”
> 
> “Thanks for asking, mate.” Bill winked at him.
> 
> Victoria smiled. “When the nuclear explosions polluted the atmosphere all around the globe there were two possibilities. The most disastrous scenario would be that the multiple explosions would create an all-encompassing black nuclear cloud.”
> 
> Flint nodded excitedly, finally on territory he understood. “Like, completely wrapping the planet in radio-active particles?”
> 
> Victoria nodded. “In such a circumstance we might not have survived much longer even inside the mountain because it would have brought about a nuclear winter. Without sunshine—natural light, everything would start dying due to the decreasing temperatures. The cold would eventually have pervaded the mountains too—including ours.”
> 
> “Okay,” Bill said, “I think I’m on the same page now, so what was the other scenario?”
> 
> “I’m pleased to report that the other scenario is what we seem to have now. We’ve seen that there is a huge pocket of natural light above and beyond our mountain range and this forest. Without exploration on foot it would be difficult to assess but I would suggest that the Scottish Highlands are safe.

**Do you have any advice for other writers?**

When you’re writing it’s good to recognise topics that you know about, but it’s important to recognise topics that you *don’t* know about. The learning never ends. With these points in mind I would suggest, do not over-promise and under-deliver.

**Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?**

During my school years I experienced bullying first hand and it wasn’t until my military service that I learned to deal with it effectively. Bullying may not appear in my work but summary justice is a common theme. I believe this stems from my change in attitude and extreme response to bullying when it occurred to me early in military training.

**What do you want written on your headstone and why?**

*‘Here lies Tom Benson: soldier, retailer, author and artist. He was adored by women, admired by men and envied by all who saw his beautiful house and gardens in the Scottish Highlands so realising the extent of his astounding fortune.’ ☺☺*

**Other than writing do you have any hobbies?**

I’m a self-taught artist, so I draw and paint when not reading or writing. Physical fitness has been important to me since my early days with the military. Due to a knee injury in my forties I had to abandon long-distance running. In recent years I rediscovered my love of cycling and I enjoy going out on my all-terrain bike or my racing bike.

**One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it?**

\- Author website: [www.tombensonauthor.com](http://www.tombensonauthor.com)

\- Writing blog: [www.tombensoncreative.com](http://www.tombensoncreative.com)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

## A Life of Choice

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/fullsizeoutput_6f7.jpeg)

*Jim Faulkner feels there must be more to life than a dead-end job and no social life. How far might the teenager go if he joins the British Army? Jim completes training and joins his first working unit in the UK. The entire outfit moves to West Germany. Jim's adventures see him discovering a social lifestyle he'd never envisaged. The teenager learns about his job, alcohol abuse, sex, relationships, and much more. How will Jim cope when under pressure?*

[Book 1](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01ADZ4WT6)

*A four-month tour in troubled Northern Ireland can teach people a lot about themselves. Jim Faulkner returns to Dortmund but falls back into his old ways. He leaves the unit under a cloud, volunteering to return to Northern Ireland. A variety of opportunities open up socially and at work. Will Jim settle in his new role, or will alcohol become a major part of his life again? Is Jim shaping up as a soldier and tradesman—and a man?*

[Book 2](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01FIK4D90)

*Londonderry continues to be an education in many ways and an opportunity arises for a three-month course in Catterick. However things work out, it’s time to move on after two years. Would Jim survive two years in West Berlin in the 1970’s, famed for all the aspects of life which the young soldier is drawn towards—alcohol, tobacco, violence, and sex?*
*What’s life for, if not for living?*

[Book 3](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01N9DOD9B)

*During his first year in West Berlin Jim Faulkner faced a variety of conflicts. He had a further year to serve in the divided-city, as he returned to the UK on leave—harbouring a secret. On completion of a rollercoaster two years in Berlin, should Jim reconsider his military career? If he accepts the next posting he’ll be back in West Germany with plenty of opportunities, but will he make the right decisions?*

[Book 4](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B072MGYSR7)

*Jim Faulkner started his military journey with profound doubts. Would the army life be a failure or become a fulfilling career? A hedonistic lifestyle almost ended things at an early stage. Jim continues to strive to become a part of the military machine. However he continues it began as … A Life of Choice. How would it end?*

[Book 5](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0776CD1HH)

*Five years have passed since a small band of survivors found themselves entombed in a disused railway tunnel. From high up on the mountain, there were sightings of somebody or something down below. Could it be a person or more than one who had survived residual radiation did this signal new threats to the thriving community inside the mountain?*

Coming 2020 / 2021

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Light_Dark-001.jpg)

## Other Works

Be sure to check out Tom's other works. Genres he covers:

- Thrillers
- Romance
- Short Stories
- Poetry
- Erotica

Visit his [website](http://www.tombensonauthor.com/novels/4584860296) for details

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2020, Author Spotlight

---

### [Theresa Jacobs](https://melaniepsmith.com/theresa-jacobs/)

**Published:** July 13, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Theresa Jacobs believes in magic, fairies, dragons, and ghosts. Yet she trusts science and thinks that aliens know way too much.

**Content:**

# Theresa Jacobs

***Interesting facts...***

***Tell us a Little about yourself.***

Theresa Jacobs believes in magic, fairies, dragons, and ghosts. Yet she trusts science and thinks that aliens know way too much.
Though she still works full-time, she has published eight books in five years and has a short film on the indie circuit, with a feature film in the works. 
When she is not at work, she spends her time, reading, writing, exercising her dog, and binge-watching TV shows, with her long-time partner and fiancé.
She is also a big movie buff and a sci-fi nerd at heart.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MPSmith_Jacobs-361x500.jpg)

[Website](https://theresajcbs.wixsite.com/authorpage)

[Blog](https://authortheresajacobs.wordpress.com/)

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/writerTheresaJ/)

[Amazon Author](https://www.amazon.com/Theresa-Jacobs/e/B01BAS13T2)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line-1200x200.png)

**Tell us your latest news**

*I published my new book in June: Titled Handsome. It’s a new genre for me about a serial killer.*

**When and why did you begin writing?**

*I began writing as a child, I was born with the desire to tell stories. I started writing my first novel in my early twenties, but didn’t publish it until I was in my forties. Once I felt sense of accomplishment, I never looked back and have 9 books in 5 years.*

**When did you first consider yourself a writer?**

*When I had my debut at the local bookstore, Chapters, and they said I had the biggest turnout of any indie-author to-date.*

**Do you have a specific writing style?**

*I’m a panster. I write from a concept only and begin at page one, writing straight through until the end.*

**How did you come up with the title for you last book?**

*My last book was The Zombie Effect and the title says it all – how the zombie craze today affects our children’s minds.*

**Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?**

*I have a few mentors. My first is Lisa Crawford, who after telling her own personal tale of transforming from male to female, alleviated my fears of sharing simple fiction. My second is Zane Dowling, he read my first book, told me how terrible it was, and worked with me for a year to improve it. Without those two people I wouldn’t be where I am today.*

**What are your current projects?**

*I am more than half way finished another new genre, a YA lit/mystery/romance. I’m terrible at picking one category. I have a feature film that is apropos to what’s transpiring in the world today, in the works for a grant to begin filming. I also am writing a Christmas- comedy screenplay with my dearest friend Jackie Leahey. And other books are growing in my mind too, perhaps a YA-horror series will be next.*

**Can you share a sample of your current work with us?**

*Here’s a snippet from HANDSOME:*

> Leaning closer to the bodies, Marcy closed her eyes inhaling through her nose. She paused as though listening and inhaled again.
> 
> “You know it freaks me out when you do that,” Davis said.
> 
> “There’s a scent I’ve smelled before.” Sniffing the air like a dog, she said, “I’m almost positive I picked it up at the last scene too. It must be a cologne, there’s a woody undertone and vanilla?”
> 
> “Well, that’s not going to catch a killer and the coroner’s here, I’ll get out of the way.”
> 
> Marcy moved around the grotesque presentation, capturing it all on tape. “Have you notified the Chief yet?”
> 
> Inspector Davis crossed his arms and snorted. “What? That we may have a serial killer on our hands? That’s your call, Detective Gagon.

**Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?**

*Thank you for believing in me and returning again and again, it’s you that makes me want to be a better writer.*

**Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?**

*My answer is always the same, D.B. Cooper. There is so much that is intriguing about his story, from who he really is, to why, and most importantly HOW?*

**What do you want written on your headstone and why?**

*I don’t want a headstone. I don’t believe anyone should have to pay for death, nor that we should be marring the earth more than it is. We belong to the universe and should be left out for nature to reclaim.*

**Other than writing do you have any hobbies?**

*I enjoy arts and crafts, knitting and many failed attempts at drawing. Of course, I’m a voracious reader.*

**What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?**

*I love comedy. I love to laugh and enjoy downtime, so my main go to is sitcoms. My current constant repeat binges are: It’s always Sunny in Philadelphia, Modern Family, Cougar Town, Raising Hope, Seinfeld, Friends, Brooklynn 99, Third Rock from the Sun…and this list goes on and on.*

**If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?**

*Well I wish I could draw. I’d be an artist first because it doesn’t take a year to work a canvas and I have too many ideas to work on them all at once.*

**One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it?**

Web: <https://theresajcbs.wixsite.com/authorpage>

Blog : <https://authortheresajacobs.wordpress.com/>

Facebook: <https://www.facebook.com/writerTheresaJ/>

## New Release...

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MPSmith-Handsome-313x500.jpeg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B088SM5K15)

## Other Work

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MPSmith_Aliens.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B085391CG7)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/51ATnV2PQWL.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07YJYY3DF)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Zombie_MPSmith.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07WHT938H)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Earth_MPSmith.jpg)

[Buy Now](https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07VR5RN4H)

## Find More

Be sure to check out Theresa's other work. Visit her [website](https://theresajcbs.wixsite.com/authorpage) for details.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

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**Categories:** Author Spotlight

**Tags:** 2020, Author Spotlight

---

### [Rapacious Blaze](https://melaniepsmith.com/rapacious-blaze/)

**Published:** August 31, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Rapacious Blaze (S5E5) An arsonist is on the loose putting the people Paige loves in danger.  Can she work with the Arson Investigator to solve the mystery before someone else is injured?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*RAPACIOUS BLAZE\*\*\*****

“Hawk,” Dax barked. “Hold back. That’s it, okay Vato do your thing. Hawk you’re good to go.”

Dax stepped away; confident his men would secure the structure they had just lowered onto the ledge in a matter of minutes. The actual structure was simple enough, the red tape it took to get permission to use it on federal land was a nightmare. They were adding a new wilderness course to the curriculum next month and they needed some kind of rough shelter for the plan to work. They searched the area for an open cave or dugout for months, but everything they found was boarded up and off limits. Wooly came up with this plan; and after about a hundred phone calls, several months, and a ton of paperwork, they finally had permission to install the temporary structure on the side of the mountain — as long as it was out of the way. He glanced around and spotted Zee on the other side of the clearing staring into the distance. He frowned and slowly made his way to his friend. “Spill it.”

“Huh,” Zee asked absently. “Oh. Hey, Dax.”

“Talk to me,” Dax pushed.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MPS-PC_Cover-S5.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Rapacious-Blaze.pdf)

“It’s nothing.”

“Then it shouldn’t take long for you to explain it,” Dax persisted.

Zee glanced up and sighed. “When did you know?” he finally asked. “I mean, really know that Paige was it for you?”

Dax grinned. “That’s easy, when she pointed her gun at my ugly mug.”

“I’m serious,” Zee pushed.

“I can see that,” Dax sobered. “In a way, so am I. I told you the story. It was her first night back in Manti. I had no idea she belonged there. I saw the truck, spotted movement and… well, being me, I had to investigate. I was sculking around her place when she flung open the backdoor pistol in hand and pointed it at my head calm as can be. I knew, in that instant, I wasn’t dealing with a typical woman.”

“I get that,” Zee sighed again. “But that’s not what I mean. When did you know?”

Dax shifted and now he was the one staring into the distance. “I’m not sure I could pinpoint the exact moment I knew. I was drawn to her the instant I met her. But love? I’m not exactly sure. Maybe it was the moment I realized she was in danger. I felt this overwhelming desire to protect her — even before the good general mandated my involvement. Maybe it was when that idiot Sheriff in Nephi did his best to come between us… my emotions were all over the place that weekend and I couldn’t deny my feelings any longer — I was in love with the fascinating woman. Maybe it was the long hours I spent secured to the wall waiting for the next torture session. By that time, I knew I’d fallen hard and fast, but I never told her. That didn’t sit well.”

“I get it,” Zee nodded. “The two of you have been through way too much to pin it down to one moment.”

“And I get you, Zee. You’re finally serious about someone — really serious and it terrifies you. It’s about freakin’ time. Now, you’re asking yourself if this is it,” Dax said softly. “Is Carmen the woman for you.”

“But that’s just it,” Zee turned to Dax. “I don’t think I have to ask that question. She is. I know she is. It’s just…”

“You don’t know if she feels the same?” Dax nodded. “I think she does. I think she’s starting to ponder the future and, just like you, she’s wondering if this thing is the forever kind of romance. It’s just—” Dax frowned when he spotted smoke in the distance.

“What?” Zeus asked, alert now.

“Hold that thought,” Dax turned and headed back to the ridgeline where his men were still working. “You ladies almost done down there? Stop chattering like a bunch of old women and get that thing secured. We don’t have time for shenanigans. We’ve gotta move out — now.”

Vato broke into a litany of curses — his typical colorful protest. Hawk snapped the last anchor in place and looked up, extending his middle finger out of principle but realizing immediately something was wrong. “We’re done here. You spot trouble?”

“Fire,” Dax glanced back at the smoke. “It’s headed this way. We need to move.”

“Maybe if you spent more time raising the gear and less time gossiping with Zeus we could be on our way,” Hawk grinned and pointed to the large bag secured to the pully.

Dax raised the gear, unsnapped the carabiner, and lowered the rope, nearly hitting Hawk in the face — out of principle.

Vato checked the structure one last time, then began his slow ascent to the top of the ridge. He didn’t need to wait for a lift from Dax.

Hawk rolled over the edge and quickly unsnapped the rigging before dropping it back down for Wooly. He stood and moved to stand next to Dax. “You sounded spooked.”

Dax motioned to the east. He was concentrating on Wooly, impatiently waiting for the signal he was ready. “It looks like it’s moving fast, and it’s headed our way.”

Hawk frowned and sprang into action. “Zeus, help me pack this up.” He tossed the bulging bag of gear at his teammate. Zeus caught it and disappeared into the thick forest. Hawk moved to the large canopy they’d set up that morning and began frantically tearing it down. So much for good planning. They set the canopy up to secure the spot for the next week or so while they finalized the course. They also wanted to check on the structure to make sure nobody messed with it. He glanced at the approaching forest fire and frowned. *Best laid schemes of mice and men,* he thought before moving in next to Dax. “You think that thing will hold?”

Dax shrugged then grinned. Wooly had just reached the top of the ridge and he was goofing off — again.

“Hey,” Wooly raised his arms in the air and leaned backward. “Look, no hands.”

Dax glanced at Hawk and his smile widened when he got the nod. He gave the system a hard yank. Wooly lunged forward, arms flailing, panic written all over his face. His foot slipped and he tumbled forward, barely catching his weight with the palm of his hands before his face hit the hard-packed dirt and weeds.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Climbing001.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Climbing003.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Climbing002.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Climbing004.jpg)

Everyone laughed… well, everyone except Wooly. He rolled over just in time to see Vato casually fling his leg over the ridge and stand.

“I thought you sissies said we had to hurry,” Vato straightened and began to brush dirt from his torso.

Dax glanced toward the smoke and sobered. “We do. You grab that end; I’ll start back here. We need to take down the rigging and No Hands over there won’t be a lot of help.”

Now it was Wooly’s turn to flip them all the bird. He rolled over and forced his body into a kneeling position. “I got the lower rope; you handle that one up there.” He directed Vato to the rope secured in a nearby tree.”

Zeus returned from his trip to the truck, gathered up the canopy and headed back into the trees.

The rest of the men worked quickly; and, with Vato’s expertise, they had the entire system torn down and packed away in less than five minutes.

Dax slammed the back door and turned to make his way to the passenger seat when a small boy emerged from the forest. His face was red, sweat mixed with dirt and ran down his face leaving streaks of mud on his temple, his cheek, and his trembling chin. If Dax had to guess, he’d say the kid was around ten. “Hold up,” he called to Hawk who was now revving the gas, sending an impatient message to the rest of the team.

“Come on over here,” Dax approached the kid cautiously. “Zee, I need a bottle of water.”

The boy frantically shook his head. “I… you have to save them. Please, you need to get back and save them.”

“Save who, kid?” Dax maneuvered him toward the vehicle. Instead of trying to coach him inside, he just reached down, gripped the kids hips and hoisted him onto the seat. He snatched up the bottle Zee was holding out to him and shoved it into the kid’s hand.”

“My grandparents,” the boy swallowed and looked at the bottle with intense longing.

“Drink up,” Dax motioned to the water. “Where are they?”

The boy flung out his arm at the same time he took a big gulp from the bottle, swallowed then wiped his chin with the sleeve of his shirt. “Down that trail. We were camped but grandpa got trapped. The machine fell on top of him. We were trying to load up — he was rushing, trying to get out before the fire reached us — and it fell.”

“Drink that water,” Dax ordered. “And stay here with Wooly. Ken, call this in. We need fire fighters up here… like yesterday. Once they get here, turn the kid over to them. They’ll get him to safety.”

“But…”

“Don’t argue kid,” Dax warned. “If you want me to help your grandparents, do what I say.”

The boy nodded then looked down at his hands, clearly unhappy.

“The rest of you come with me,” Dax ordered. “We don’t have a lot of time.” He glanced in the direction of the approaching fire and sighed.

Hawk moved up next to him once they were out of range of the kid. “You know they might already be gone.”

“We have to check,” Dax grumbled.

“Yeah,” Hawk agreed. “We do. I just hope the checking doesn’t kill us all.”

Dax glanced briefly at his friend then picked up the pace.

\*\*\*\*\*

The instant the team emerged from the thick trees; it was obvious they were in trouble. The fire was so close, the air around them sizzled. Smoke filled the air, making it difficult to breathe. The couple looked to be in their mid-sixties. The man was on the ground, pinned beneath one of those large side-by side ATVs that was tipped onto its side. The woman was trying to use a crowbar to pry the machine off her husband. Tears were running down her face, which was covered in sweat, dirt and probably soot from the fire. Every few seconds, she’d break into a severe coughing fit.

“Vato,” Dax turned to his men. “You and Zee get her out of here. She’s going to fight, so do it by force if you have to.” He turned to focus on Hawk. “You up for this? It’s your choice.”

Hawk nodded. “Let’s get this done, we don’t have much time.” Without another word, he pivoted and headed for the man… and the heat.

“We need to get you to safety,” Vato barked.

“I’m not leaving him,” the woman insisted.

Zee moved in behind her, lifted her off her feet and headed for the trail.

“Put me down,” the woman screamed and began frantically kicking her feet.

Vato moved in beside his friend. “You’re making this difficult. Dax and Hawk will take care of your husband. You’re just making things worse for everyone. Settle down. Your grandson is scared, and he needs you. Focus on him and let those two do their job.”

“Are you firemen?” the woman frowned and surveyed their attire.

“No,” Zeus set her on the ground but didn’t release his hold. “What’s it going to be? Can I let you go, or will you bolt and get yourself killed in the process?”

“I can’t leave my husband,” she insisted.

“Nobody asked you to,” Zeus said flatly. “We asked you to join your grandson. Once your husband is rescued from under that machine, our friends will carry him to safety. We’ll all meet back up at our vehicle, and we’ll get the lot of you to safety.”

“You promise they won’t leave him?” she asked skeptically. “No matter what?”

“If we planned to leave him, do you think they would still be risking their lives in that heat?” Zeus demanded; all patience gone now.

“We promise,” Vato glared at Zeus. “Let’s get you back to our car. We have water and the kid is terrified.”

The woman glanced over her shoulder, sighed, then nodded. “Okay.” The three of them made their way quickly down the trail.

“We’re losing him,” Dax warned. He hoped the man was just unconscious and hadn’t succumbed to the heat or the smoke.

“Here,” Hawk shoved a large log under the ATV. “Toss the crowbar, it’s not helping. On three just lift the thing off him. I’ll hold it in place while you pull him out.”

Dax studied the machine and decided Hawk was right. It was heavy and they’d only get one shot at this. The crowbar was a bust, it wasn’t long enough to do any good and they were running out of time. The fire hadn’t reached them yet, but it had to be close. The heat was unbearable, and the smoke was getting thicker making it impossible to breathe. “No counting, just lift,” Dax choked out, covering his face with his arm.

Hawk nodded and gripped the side of the machine. They both lifted, grunted in frustration, then let out an audible sigh in relief when it slowly began to rise. “See if you can grab him,” Hawk yelled.

Dax hesitated then slowly released his grip. Once he was sure Hawk could handle the weight, he dropped to the ground and shifted the log to help brace the machine off the ground. Not ideal, but hopefully it would work. With a nod to Hawk, he slid underneath, grabbed the man’s legs, and yanked. Nothing happened, the man’s shirt was tangled up in the machine. Dax slid forward and realized the guy was caught in the door. He tried to tear the shirt away, but it was wedged inside the jamb and twisted so tightly it wouldn’t budge. Dax studied the mechanism and realized the only way to get the guy free was to try to open the door — which was severely damaged and wouldn’t open. He gripped the metal roll bar and winced as the heat seared his palm, but he didn’t give up. He wrapped his hand further around the bar and yanked. The bar shifted, the door fell open and the man was finally free. Dax once again wrapped his hands around the man’s legs and tugged. This time he slid forward. Dax scooted backward and gave him another forceful yank. Finally, both of them were clear of the danger.

Hawk dropped the all-terrain vehicle and moved in next to Dax. “The fire is closing in fast, we’ve gotta move.”

They were rushing toward the trail, half carrying the man, half dragging him when disaster struck. The wind picked up, blowing intense heat in their direction. The dried needles of a beetle infested pine tree directly above them burst into flames. One of the branches caught on fire and plummeted toward them. They ducked. Dax shielded the unconscious man with his own body and tried to cover his head with his arms. He heard the thud and rolled to check on Hawk. His friend hadn’t been as lucky. The branch landed on Hawk’s shoulder, catching his shirt on fire. “Roll!” Dax jumped to his feet and rushed to help. Hawk was rolling around on the ground while Dax scooped up dirt and threw handful after handful on his friend. After what felt like a lifetime but was probably only seconds, the fire was out. Dax dropped to the ground in relief. “How bad?” he finally asked. “We need to move. You think you can walk?”

Hawk pushed his body into a sitting position, focused on Dax and frowned. “That’s gotta hurt,” he motioned to Dax’s palm.

“Not as much as that will,” Dax stood, motioning to Hawk’s shoulder. “I’ll get him, you can’t use that arm.”

“I can use the other one,” Hawk disagreed. “Let’s go.”

They stumbled back to the man. Dax crouched to try to get a good grip on his arm but hesitated when the guy began to moan. “Do you think you can walk?”

The man opened his eyes in surprise. “Help me,” he croaked.

Dax and Hawk each wrapped an arm around the man’s waist and once again tried to drag him forward. The three of them slowly stumbled down the trail, hoping they’d make it to safety before the fire reached them.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Fire002.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Fire003.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Fire001.jpg)

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige studied the report for several seconds before she responded. “I’m not sure why you think there’s more here.” She focused on Deputy Logan Reed and waited.

“The mom insists her daughter didn’t run,” Logan said, clearly frustrated. “She’s convinced the boyfriend did something to make her disappear.”

“The mom is in denial,” Paige said calmly. She pointed to her computer screen. “The girl has run away from home five times, and that’s just in the past year. She’s a problem child. Add her to the system and put it away, Logan. She ran — again. Once the information is uploaded, we’ll all keep an eye out.”

Logan sighed and studied his report, not ready to drop it.

Jericho stepped into his doorway and glanced around. “Reed, I need you and Havi to head up Ephraim Canyon. Fire needs your assistance. They have a blaze up South Willow Creek near Jimmys Fork. They need the road shut down completely and they want that Baptist camp — Utibaca — evacuated immediately.”

Paige grabbed her phone and dialed Dax. When it went directly to voicemail, she jumped up, panicked. “I’m going with you.”

“Paige,” Jericho frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Dax and the team are in that same area setting up a temporary shelter for training next month,” She grabbed her keys and started across the room. “I can’t reach him. I’m going, don’t try to stop me.”

“We’ll take my car,” Jericho turned to Margie. “Call me on the radio if you need me. That area doesn’t have cell service.” He turned back to Paige. “There’s no service, Paige. Don’t jump to conclusions. We’ll find them.”

They rode in silence, Paige fidgeting all the way out of town. She couldn’t sit still; her foot was tapping impatiently as she stared aimlessly out the window.

“Hey, kid,” Jericho reached over and patted her knee. “Dax is strong and he’s smart. His men are too. They would have noticed a large fire headed their way. I’m sure they got out of the way and they’re just helping the firemen evacuate or something.”

Paige swallowed hard but nodded. She hoped her boss was right. She had to believe Jericho was right. Dax was smart and he was protective. That’s what worried her. He’d never leave a man behind — no matter what. He’d risk his own life to save his men. But Hawk and the others, they’d risk themselves for Dax, too. She had to remember that. There was a code. They’d stick together. Together they were strong. Together they might survive.

The instant Jericho pulled into the clearing and slowed; Paige jumped from the car. She didn’t even wait for him to come to a complete stop. When her feet hit the ground, she ran. “Tony!” she called.

Tony looked up and frowned. “What brings you out, Paige. I only needed a couple guys and Reed and Havilland are down clearing out the camp.”

“Dax,” she swallowed. “Dax and his team are up here today. Have you seen them?”

Tony frowned and shook his head. “Do you know where?”

Paige studied the map, but she couldn’t concentrate. She barely noticed when Jericho moved in behind her.

“We’re about here,” Jericho pointed to a spot on the map. “What area are they setting up in, Paige?”

Paige focused on the spot Jericho indicated, trying to orient herself. “Here,” she finally pointed to a narrow road. “They could get the Expedition up this road.” She pointed to the spot where the main road took off down a side road.

“Barely,” Tony grumbled.

“They could only get the vehicle to about here,” Paige pointed to an area on the map. “Dax said there’s a clearing. Not a campsite, but a flat area where they can park the truck and walk in. If they cross through the trees here…” she ran her hand over the map. “He said it’s a straight shot to the ridgeline where they wanted to erect that shelter thing.”

“There’s not a flat surface up there,” Tony objected. “Not anywhere large enough to erect some kind of shelter.”

Paige rolled her eyes. “They’re setting it up here,” she pointed again. “They have to be lowered about fifty feet over the ledge. Apparently, there’s a flat outcropping just big enough for the shelter.”

Tony just stared. “You’re serious?” he finally asked.

“As a heart attack,” Paige nodded then shrugged. “What can I say? They’re in demand. So, their antics must appeal to someone. How close is that to the fire?”

“Close,” Tony admitted. He turned and scanned the area. “James,” he called to a man a few feet away. “You up for an extraction?”

“We’re ready,” James started walking toward them. “Pete’s out. He got caught when the wind shifted, and he needs liquid and maybe twenty before he’s back online.”

“Take your team and PJ,” Tony decided. “She’s rested and if you need medical, she’s solid.”

“Where to?” James motioned to the map. Tony explained the situation and watched as James gathered his team and headed for the clearing.

Havilland pulled into the staging area and approached the group. “Camp’s clear. They’re mostly closed anyway. They decided to cancel all reservations due to the pandemic and use this season to make some repairs. There were only a couple staffers and the construction crew. They’re headed down the canyon and won’t come back until I call.”

“Good,” Tony glanced at Paige then focused on Jericho. “Maybe Havi and Paige could walk that trail and make sure we got all the campers evacuated.

“Don’t treat me like a frantic, helpless wife,” Paige barked. “I’m staying and I won’t fall apart so stop worrying about me and just do your job.” She stalked away, terrified she’d never see Dax or his men again.

“She’ll be fine,” Jericho assured Tony. “Now, tell me what you didn’t tell her.”

“The fire started here,” Tony pointed to the map. “I’ve got a team on the backend and they tell me it’s arson. Damon will investigate but right now, they’re saying gasoline. Lots of gasoline. The blaze moved this way…” he ran his finger across the map. “That means…”

“In the direct path of Dax and his men,” Jericho finished. “Chances?”

“No idea,” Tony answered honestly. “They’re good. Even if they were working, I don’t think they’d be taken by surprise. I’m going to be optimistic until there’s a reason not to be.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax stopped, straining to listen.

“We need to keep moving,” Hawk warned.

“Did you hear that?” Dax shifted and tried to make out the sound.

“I don’t,” Hawk began. “Wait, I think those are footsteps.”

“Man, I hope so,” Dax tightened his grip on the man and started forward. “We could use the help.”

Seconds later James and his team rounded the corner and spotted the three men. “We’ve got a stretcher. The others are fine. We told them to head back down, but they refused. The woman and the kid… they won’t budge either. We need to get the three of you back to that vehicle of yours and then all of us need to get the hell out of Dodge.”

“I can get behind that,” Dax took a step back and let the firemen take the man’s weight. “Hawk is injured. He’ll need someone to look at that shoulder immediately.”

“PJ, our medic, stayed at the vehicle. The woman is suffering from smoke inhalation, so she didn’t want to leave her,” James advised. “She can do a quick check on your shoulder while we head back to camp.”

“And Dax needs someone to look at his hand,” Hawk added.

James studied the two men. “Looks like you came face to face with this beast. Glad you won that round. Once we get back to base, we’ll deal with both of you. Oh, and Dax… your wife is a stressed-out mess. I’ll leave that for you to deal with. The sooner the better, I think.”

“Great,” Dax moaned. He didn’t like making Paige worry, but this time it couldn’t be helped. “Does that radio work up here?”

“Sure,” James double checked the straps on the stokes then motioned for his team to head out. “I was just about to check in.”

They headed down the trail. Their progress was much quicker now that they were carrying the man instead of dragging him.

“Do you know the extent of his injuries?” James asked. “Normally we’d assess first, transport later but…” he glanced over his shoulder and frowned.

“He was trapped under a large side-by-side,” Dax began. “He’s been going in and out of consciousness. We basically had the same idea,” Dax glanced at Hawk. “We got him free from the machine and just did our best to drag him out. I thought it would be best to get to the vehicle and assess his injuries on the way out.”

“Good plan,” James nodded. “Now, give me a minute to call this in.”

Jericho was standing next to Tony when the radio crackled, and he recognized James.

“I located the package,” James advised. “We’re headed back to the clearing and then we’ll use the vehicle to evacuate from there. We have several injured, so we’ll need medical ready. The most serious patient is a male adult, mid-sixties with multiple unknown injuries. He’s going to need a transport. We didn’t stop to assess and he’s unconscious but breathing at the moment.”

“Copy,” Tony turned. “Becky, you’re up. Call down and have Brent bring in the rig.”

Paige froze and focused on Jericho. He said something to Tony then headed her way. “Dax?”

“As far as I know he’s fine,” Jericho assured her. “They are bringing down an injured male.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know,” Jericho put a hand on her shoulder. “They said mid-sixties and he’s unconscious. I suspect the boys located a family in need and that’s the reason they’re still up on that ridge. Take a minute to settle. They should be back soon.” He gave her shoulder a fatherly squeeze before he nodded to a cooler. “Grab some water and take a minute. I’m going to see if there’s anything we can do to help Tony now that we located the men”

“He said arson,” Paige remembered. “I can help with that.”

“Let’s deal with the threat first and you take the time you need with Dax,” Jericho dropped his hand. “Get some water, we’ll talk about the investigation later.”

A few minutes later, the black Navigator came barreling down the trail. The instant it came to a stop, firemen jumped out and rushed a man on a stokes to the waiting ambulance. A woman and a small boy slowly climbed from the back seat and were escorted to a medical tent where the paramedics could evaluate them in private.

Paige held her breath until the passenger door flew open and Dax emerged. She closed her eyes in relief then ran. She didn’t care who saw her or what they thought. She didn’t care about anything but Dax. The instant she reached him, she lunged. He caught her but winced as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Paige jumped back. “You’re hurt.”

“Just a little,” he reached out and wiped the single tear from her face with his good hand. She’d hate it if any of her co-workers noticed.

Paige grabbed his other hand and held it out, palm up so she could study it closely. “What happened? It’s so raw and blistered. You need someone to look at you.”

“I’m okay, Paige,” he carefully wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. He used his wrist to hold her in place and rested his forehead against hers. “We’re all fine. Hawk and I will be benched for a week or two, but we were lucky.”

“Hawk?” Paige asked, not wanting to move.

“He had a little battle with a burning branch,” Dax pressed a kiss to her temple. He turned his head to get closer to her ear so only she could hear. “I love you, baby. I’m sorry I worried you. I can still feel your heart racing, try to relax. I’m okay.”

Paige nodded, but didn’t want to let him go.

Dax inhaled, knowing exactly what he’d almost lost and how it would impact Paige if he hadn’t survived. He waited a few more seconds then straightened reluctantly. “I need to make sure that pigheaded friend of mine sees a medic.”

“And I need to make sure that pigheaded husband of mine does the same,” Paige grabbed his hand again. “Tell me what happened.”

“Rescue injury,” Dax told her. “The man was trapped, and I had to grip a hot metal bar to set him free. It’s nothing. The blazing branch that caught Hawk was much worse.”

“What happened to Hawk?”

“We were standing directly underneath, and it broke free. Hawk couldn’t get out of the way fast enough because of the injured man. It hit him in the shoulder and his shirt caught fire.”

“Holy crap,” Paige glanced around searching for Hawk.

“He’s fine,” Dax assured her. “But he dropped to the ground and tried to get the fire out on his own. He was rolling around, but it wasn’t working so I moved in and doused the remaining flames by throwing dirt on him. All’s well that ends well, but he needs someone to look at that shoulder. I’m sure it’s still burning and sore.”

“So, now your already injured hand has dirt and grime caked into the wound,” Paige realized.

“Yes,” Dax admitted. “Some, but it got the fire out, so I have to assume it was the right decision.”

Paige spotted Hawk. He was trying to blend in with the other men, probably to avoid being seen by a medic. She grabbed Dax around the wrist and marched forward, grabbing Hawk with her other hand. She pulled both men toward the red paramedic truck and didn’t stop until she found someone to help her. “They both have injuries and don’t let them tell you otherwise. He needs his hand looked at,” she gave Dax a gentle shove. “And his shoulder caught on fire so there’s bound to be a lot of damage. Don’t worry about their hard heads. Nothing could penetrate those stubborn skulls.”

Dax and Hawk scowled; the medic laughed. “I’ll take you first,” she pointed to Hawk. “You, don’t move,” she warned Dax.

“Thanks a lot,” Dax mumbled under his breath.

“You’re welcome,” Paige grinned. “Don’t worry, I won’t go too far. Not until I know how severe that is and what we need to do to prevent infection.”

“Pampering,” Dax grinned. “Lots and lots of pampering.”

“Right,” Paige rolled her eyes then gasped when Dax wrapped his arm around her and gave her a hard pull. Her body slammed into his. Before she realized what he was doing, his lips found hers. It was full of emotion and for a few seconds, Paige forgot where she was.

Dax pulled back and smiled down at her.

“I’m working,” Paige growled.

“Me too,” Dax’s smile widened.

Paige stepped back and glared at him. Her scowl deepened when the medic stepped into the doorway of the tent grinning.

“You’re up,” the woman motioned to Dax.

He focused on Paige. “This should only take a minute then I’ll be back, and you can start on that pampering.”

“Pampering my butt,” Paige grumbled.

“Baby,” Dax grinned, leaned forward and gave her another quick kiss. “I live to pamper your butt.” Then he pivoted and disappeared into the tent.

Paige couldn’t help it; she was laughing as she walked away.

\*\*\*\*\*

The following morning Paige accompanied Damon Bannon, the local arson investigator back up to the ignition point of the fire.

“The accelerant was your basic, garden variety gasoline,” Damon told her. “They used a lot of it, though. No chance it was just an accidental spill that caught fire in the wilderness. You’d have to come out here intentionally, off load several cans of the fuel, and then toss a match and run. It spread quickly with all the dead wood that’s accumulated the past couple seasons. The beetles have really done a number on our forests.”

“Right,” Paige began to slowly walk the area.

“I know you’re the evidence whisperer or some nonsense,” Damon grinned. “But if they left anything out here, it would have been destroyed in the blaze.”

“You do you,” Paige glanced up. “I’ll do me. Any idea what route they took in and out?”

“We can track the route the fire took,” Damon shrugged. “I think it’s safe to assume they took a different path.”

“Humor me,” Paige focused on him.

Damon shrugged and began glancing around. “The fire was intentionally pushed that way,” he motioned toward the ridge where Dax and his men were working. “I have to ask,” Damon hesitated. “Don’t get mad.”

“I’ve already asked myself the same question,” Paige stared at the structure the men erected the previous day and sighed. “But nobody knew they were coming out here yesterday. It doesn’t make sense for them to be the target.”

“You did,” Damon disagreed.

“Are you implying I’m the arsonist?” Paige asked flatly.

“No,” Damon said slowly. “But are any of the other men married?”

“Jaimie didn’t do this,” Paige said immediately.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Damon moved in close to her. “If it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll tug that thread.”

“It doesn’t make me uncomfortable,” Paige disagreed. “I considered the possibility they were the target, but it doesn’t track. Ken is the only other member that’s married, and he and Jaimie have a great marriage with a couple of great kids. They’re happy. She didn’t do this.”

“We don’t always know what’s happening inside another house,” Damon insisted. “We have to check. This business venture, it has to be expensive. There could be money trouble. Problems that could easily be solved with a big insurance policy. It’s a lead, Paige. I’ll look into it and I’ll let you know what I find.”

Paige shrugged. “Do what you have to do but you won’t find anything.” Paige’s mind was reeling. She just hoped the men covered their tracks well when they used the secret funds. She didn’t know Damon Bannon well, but he had a reputation for being thorough. Thorough could be a problem for all of them. She moved forward to get a better look at an overgrown trail to the left. “Did you guys bring any vehicles down here?”

“No,” Damon answered immediately. “Too dangerous. A fire like this can turn on a dime. Vehicles just get in the way. Why?”

Paige pointed to what looked like fresh tracks in the sandy dirt. “Someone did.”

“You up for a walk?” Damon asked. “It could have been a couple of kids, or that elderly couple with their grandson. I think we should follow it, see where it leads.”

“I agree,” Paige darted to her police unit, pulled two bottles of water from a small cooler and handed one to Damon. “Lead the way.”

“I think you should go first,” he objected. “You have a rep when it comes to evidence and I wouldn’t want to accidentally destroy anything.”

“Alright,” Paige smiled. She had wanted to go first, but she was assisting Fire on this one. It wasn’t actually her case. She thought of her husband. Officially it wasn’t her case. Dax and all of his men could have been killed yesterday. Unofficially, that made this her case and she wasn’t going to stop until someone paid for putting them in danger.

They walked slowly up the trail but didn’t find anything of interests, other than the tracks. When they reached an intersecting trail, Paige hesitated and studied the ground carefully. “This way,” Paige finally said — motioning up the intersecting trail.

“Why?” Damon focused on the track but didn’t see her reasoning.

“Trust me?” Paige requested. “I am the evidence whisperer.”

Damon shrugged and motioned her forward.

They continued a few hundred feet before the tracks veered to the right, bumped over a slight grade, and wadded down the foliage, disappearing behind a large tree. Paige slowly walked the entire area.

“I guess it wasn’t grandpa and the kid,” Damon decided.

“No,” Paige crouched and studied a dark liquid spot on the ground. “Their truck leaks fluid. Looks like tranny oil.” She reached down and rubbed the dark liquid with a slightly red tint between her thumb and forefinger.

Damon shook his head. “Okay, I’m sold. I always thought the stories were exaggerated but you just followed an obscure trail nearly a mile into the wilderness and found a small, insignificant puddle of transmission oil in a large meadow of weeds. What are the odds?”

Paige frowned. “It wasn’t that hard, and the puddle is significant. If we find a suspect, we can get a warrant to inspect their truck. If it has a transmission leak, we know we’re headed in the right direction.”

“That’s not…” Damon sighed. “Never mind. Now what?”

“Now,” Paige smiled at him. “You dig deep inside yourself and gather up all the patience you can muster because I need to walk this area and see if there’s anything else we can use to nail this guy.”

Damon’s phone rang.

“I thought there wasn’t any service up here.”

“It’s patchy at best,” he punched the button. “Bannon.”

Paige only half listened to Bannon’s end of the conversation. From what she could gather, someone wanted to start cleanup right away. He shut them down, said he needed at least forty-eight hours, but he’d advise. When he hung up, he was silent for so long, Paige straightened and focused on him. “What?”

“I don’t know,” Damon just stood there, looking around the meadow, then up the trail and back to Paige. “There’s something…”

“Talk me through what you’re thinking,” Paige suggested.

“Whoever did this,” he finally said. “They have technical knowledge of a fire.”

“As in they were trained?” Paige asked. “Like a fireman?”

“No,” he scowled. “Not a fireman.”

“Why?” Paige pushed.

“Give me a minute,” Damon walked further off-road, climbing over rocks, and disappearing into the trees. “Paige,” he finally called. “Come back here, you need to see this.”

Paige frowned but complied. When she reached Damon, she frowned. “What is that?”

“Fire break,” Damon looked up at her. “Not a fireman, but someone who has knowledge of fires.”

“Why?”

“They were protecting their truck, but it’s sloppy,” Damon decided. “Here’s my theory. They drove up here and off loaded some kind of smaller machine. One they could use to transport the gasoline to the ignition site. They created a fire break just in case the blaze didn’t go where they wanted it to go, set things up, tossed a match, and drove back here where they loaded up and headed home.”

“That sounds an awful lot like the actions of a fireman,” Paige decided.

“No,” Damon shook his head. “A fireman would have done pretty much everything differently. This was dangerous and this break… it wouldn’t have stopped the fire if it turned on him.”

Paige studied the ground in front of her. She didn’t know anything about fighting fires, so she’d trust him. He was the expert and he seemed confident he was right. “Washed out fireman? Someone who didn’t get through the academy? Someone who got fired before he completed probation?”

“Maybe.” Damon grinned. “Or a fireman’s wife.”

“Man,” Paige laughed. “You seriously have an issue with marriage.”

“Not marriage,” he disagreed. “Just unpredictable, vindictive women.”

“Recent split?” Paige asked in understanding.

“Not that recent, but memorable.”

“Okay,” Paige took a deep breath. “Let’s talk this through. You think disgruntled wife. But I’m not buying that, yet. How would a spouse know their fire fighter would be on this fire? Or even on the front line and not back at base like Tony was. They rotate through assignments just like we do. It’s a huge risk with astronomical odds they’d be successful. They go on the list, but they’re at the bottom… just above Jaimie.”

Damon smiled. “They’re on the list.”

“Who else?” Paige pushed. “What about a civilian that was fired from the department? They would know the basics but not how to implement them.”

“Maybe,” Damon considered. “I don’t think we’ve fired anyone recently, though. Washed out trainees top my list then maybe third-party contractors.”

“Like your phone call?” Paige wondered. “What was that about?”

“Yes,” Damon agreed. “A fire like this one leaves a lot of damage, but it’s dangerous in high traffic areas. We get a lot of visitors out here. So, we contract with a company that has heavy equipment. They bring a crew in quickly, basically bulldoze the debris, and haul it off in a matter of days. The area is cleared and it’s safe.”

“No falling branches,” Paige said softly, thinking of Hawk.

“I’ll compile a list of contractors that would have been contacted after a fire like this one,” Damon offered.

“Are you backing away from the disgruntled wife theory?” Paige asked absently as she continued to walk around the area.

“No,” he shrugged. “But it would be risky and it’s more likely they’d fail than succeed.”

“They?” Paige wondered.

“I don’t think an angry wife cold have set this up on their own,” he admitted.

“Why?”

“Well,” Damon took a few seconds to organize his thoughts. “First, she’d have to dig the fire break, which would have taken at least two days.”

“I could dig that out in a few hours,” Paige disagreed.

“She’d need to load the machine into the truck. It would have been easier on a trailer,” he considered.

“They used a truck,” Paige said with confidence.

“How do you know that?”

“Tracks,” Paige pointed to the road. “There’s only one set. A trailer would have left smaller marks that crossed over the trucks larger ones.”

“Right. How many women do you know that could load a large ATV into the back of a truck by themselves?” Damon asked.

“Most of the ones I know could do that,” Paige shrugged. “It’s not that hard.”

“It wasn’t a woman,” he insisted. “Not one that was acting alone. It could have been a disgruntled wife that was having an affair and she got her sidepiece to help eliminate the dead weight. I’d buy that.”

Paige grinned. “Damon Bannon, you are such a romantic.”

“I can’t count the number of women that have told me that very thing,” Damon grinned. “You’re not buying the disgruntled spouse theory either.”

“Nope,” Paige straightened, brushed her hands on her jeans and made her way back to Damon. “Since you’re running my husband and his team anyway, you might as well add the entire crew that worked this fire to the list. Let’s get them checked off and move on to the real suspects.”

“Who are the real suspects?”

“I have two theories, but the evidence doesn’t point either way,” Paige admitted. “I lean toward a washed out or wannabe fireman, civilian that was fired recently or one of your contractors. The other theory is more disturbing. It could be a random, psychopathic arsonist that gets off on starting fire and decided to up his game.”

“Yeah,” Damon frowned. “I thought of that and I don’t like it any more than you do. Are we finished here?”

“Yeah,” Paige nodded. “I got photos of the tracks and the oil spill with my phone, so we’ll have them if we need them.”

“I also saw you take a sample of that oil,” Damon grinned. “You are the evidence whisperer. Glad I got to see you in action. Now I know.”

“Know what?” Paige stepped back onto the trail headed back to ground zero.

“That you really can find the proverbial needle in a haystack.”

“Just wrestle around long enough and you’ll get stuck,” Paige smiled. They made small talk all the way back to their starting point.

“I’m going to stop at the fire station before I call it a day,” he told her. “I want to inspect the gear from yesterday and I need to advise the Chief that I’ll be doing a basic run on his men. He won’t bark if he knows what’s coming ahead of time.”

“Alright,” Paige glanced at her watch. “I think I’m going to call it a day. I’ll pick this back up in the morning.”

“Call me after lunch,” Damon decided. “That will give me time to run the backgrounds in the morning and we can decide how to proceed once we get some of these guys off the list.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she slid into her vehicle and headed for home.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax was relaxing on the couch when Paige got home. His hands were still bandaged but she could tell he was grumpy and agitated. “How are the hands?” she asked, unsnapping her duty belt, and dropping it into a chair before she plopped down on the couch next to him.

“Fine,” he grumbled.

She leaned in and placed a palm on either side of his face. “This too shall pass.” She brushed her lips against his intending the kiss to be quick and light. She had to discuss the financial check with him, and they’d need to deal with any holes in the system. Dax had other ideas. By the time the kiss ended, she was breathless, and her brain felt fuzzy. “Why can you still do that to me?”

“I’m hoping I can always do that to you,” Dax said honestly. “Let’s head upstairs and I’ll show you what else I can do.”

“Not with the hands,” she shook her head. “Plus, we need to talk.”

“About what?” Dax sobered.

“I spent the day with Damon Bannon, he’s the arson investigator handling the fire,” Paige began.

“And you fell head over heels in love, ditched work, and spent the entire afternoon in a sleezy hotel room having an illicit affair?” Dax teased. “Now you’re too tired to pamper your husband and thought you’d use his injuries as an excuse because ‘I have a headache’ was too predictable?”

“Close,” Paige grinned. “You are so close, but we didn’t spring for a hotel. The wildness was so vast and empty we didn’t see the point.”

“Good point,” Dax studied her closely. She was worried about something. “Seriously, what’s up?”

“Inspector Bannon has a theory,” she began. “The fire was started out in the middle of nowhere. The only groups even close to that area was you and the elderly couple vacationing with their grandson.”

“He thinks it was aimed at us,” Dax considered. “I don’t see it. Nobody knew we would be there.”

“I did,” Paige told him.

“If you were going to take me out, babe,” he kissed her temple. “You’d go for a more direct hit.”

“He wasn’t looking at me,” Paige admitted. “He’s looking at Jaimie.”

“What? Why?” Dax asked, completely taken by surprised.

“Disgruntled spouse,” Paige shrugged. “Husband is busy with a new expensive venture, wife is struggling, two boys that are getting older and more expensive…”

“He’s looking for an insurance policy,” Dax realized. “I’m sure Wooly has one and it’s probably fairly substantial. We all do.”

Paige was a little surprised by that, but she let it go. “I know money was tight, for all of you, before you got that secret donor.”

“Is that what you’re worried about?” Dax finally realized the source of her stress. “Don’t. We’re careful. We were always careful, but Nathan’s helped… funnel the proceeds through legitimate corporations. As money laundering goes, he’s helped us develop a pretty good plan.”

Paige frowned.

“Kidding,” Dax pulled her closer and kissed her. “Sort of.”

“You guys are technically laundering money,” she sighed. “You’re sure it’s safe? I don’t know Bannon well, but I’ve heard he’s thorough. If he finds something…”

“He won’t,” Dax assured her. “Bannon can dig as deep as he wants, nothing will pop. He’ll find the insurance policy for Jaimie and the boys, but it won’t send up any red flags. Plus, Wooly’s had it for years. Our lives used to be a lot more dangerous than it is now. The Army encouraged us to invest wisely.”

“I’m not going to worry about that,” Paige decided. “He’ll tell me what he finds and I’ll think of a way to explain it if I need to.”

“Any other leads?”

“Nope,” Paige rested her head on his chest and walked him through her day.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige fumbled around on the nightstand until her fingers collided with her phone. She snatched it up and tried to focus on the display. Jericho? She glanced at the clock. What could he want at this hour?

“Hello?” She said quietly shifting to climb from the bed.

Dax reached out an arm and stopped her. “Don’t leave, I’m awake.”

Paige listened intently to the brief instructions from her boss. “Tell Lo I’m on my way. Did anyone call Bannon?”

“Fire Chief notified him,” Jericho affirmed. “He’s enroute. Should be here any minute.”

“Assign the homicide to me,” she decided. “I’m sure it’s the same arsonist. I’ll work them as two incidents but one case.”

“Glad you agree,” Jericho smiled. “We need to catch this guy, Paige. Before anyone else ends up dead.”

“I agree,” she clicked off and climbed from the bed.

“Another fire?” Dax sat up. “I’ll get coffee, you grab a quick shower.”

“You don’t have to…”

“I know,” Dax moved to her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Someone died?”

“He started an old, vacant cabin on fire this time,” Paige pulled a suitable outfit from her closet. “Only, it wasn’t vacant. A kid was squatting inside. He was only seventeen, Dax. His entire life was ahead of him and now he’s dead. His life is over because he had the bad luck to find shelter in a structure some idiot firebug wanted gone.”

“You’ll figure it out,” Dax said confidently. “You’ll find him, and he’ll rot in prison for what he’s done.”

Paige studied his hands. “I was going to change those today.”

“I’ll get Zee to help me,” Dax headed for the door. “Go, shower. I’ll have coffee and some kind of breakfast ready when you come down.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige approached the scene. “I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume you obliterated my crime scene.”

Bannon glanced up and smiled. “Nope,” he motioned to the firemen standing near the truck. “But they did.”

“Have you found anything we can use?” Paige asked absently as she glanced around the clearing then focused on the charred remains of the cabin. Her frown deepened when she thought of the body still trapped inside and wondered who the teenager was and what his life was like.

Bannon stood. “They found a metal suitcase inside. I have one of my guys going through it to see if we can identify the victim.”

“Jericho said teenage boy.” Paige said, confused.

“Yeah,” Bannon nodded. “That’s what we think, anyway. There was a wallet inside the suitcase. It’s either his, or he stole it. We ran the name through the system, nothing popped. We think it belonged to him — Dillon Turner, seventeen-year-old kid that hails from San Francisco.”

“So,” Paige sighed. “What is Dillon Turner doing holed up in an abandoned cabin in Manti, Utah?”

“Derek’s working on that,” Bannon shrugged. “Runaway maybe, or just a young kid following big dreams. We’ll figure it out. Right now, I want to walk you through what we know.”

“Alright,” Paige followed him until they reached the backside of the cabin.

“The blaze started here,” he pointed to the corner of the building.

Paige frowned. “How can you tell?” It all looked the same to her.

“Do you want me to get into burn patterns, residual shape and traces?”

“Nope,” Paige shrugged. “I’ll just trust you.”

“Good,” Bannon began walking the perimeter of the building. “He was thorough. Used the gasoline to circle the entire building this time, then tossed a match back there and ran.”

Paige silently studied the building, thinking. “Body still inside?”

“Yeah,” Bannon sobered. “I told Benny to wait over by the trucks with the rest of the men until you gave the okay.”

“I want to see it,” Paige decided. “Can you ask Benny to head over. I need to talk to him first. I should just take a minute, then he can transport.”

Moments later Benny and Bannon joined Paige inside. They spotted Paige circling the small interior, frowning. “What?” Bannon finally asked.

“Why didn’t he see or hear the suspect? Why didn’t he dash out of the cabin before he was trapped inside?”

Bannon shrugged. “Maybe he was sleeping.”

“Maybe he was already dead,” Paige said flatly.

“I’ll check,” Benny moved forward. “It’s easy enough to determine. Once I start the autopsy, I’ll know if the death occurred as a result of the fire or if he was dead and the arson was meant to cover it up. The lungs don’t lie.”

Paige nodded.

Bannon frowned. “What are you thinking, Paige?”

“I don’t know,” she considered. “How certain are you that both fires were set by the same person?”

“Ninety-eight percent,” Bannon answered without hesitation. “I’d go with a hundred but there’s always that unforeseen anomaly that has to be factored in.”

Paige smiled. “Then why not ninety-nine?”

“I’m a rebel,” Bannon smiled. “Everyone goes with ninety-nine.”

Paige shook her head but smiled. She stepped outside and inhaled a deep, soothing breath.

“You ready to take a walk?” Bannon moved in next to her.

“Sure,” Paige glanced at him. “Where we going?”

“This way,” he motioned to the edge of the clearing just off the corner where he determined the fire started. They walked in silence for several minutes. Finally, Bannon spoke. “Do you really think that could have been a homicide? One the suspect tried to cover up using arson?”

“I don’t know,” Paige shrugged. “I’m just exploring all possibilities. He was a young kid, on his own, out in the middle of the wilderness. It’s quiet out here, especially late at night. Why didn’t he hear anything? Seventeen-year-old kid, at that age they think their Superman. He should have reacted and if he had, there would have been plenty of time to escape.”

“I can follow that far,” Bannon admitted. “But I’m having a hard time figuring out the rest. Do you think the first fire was a ruse? Or was that kid in on the first fire and his partner killed him for some reason and tried to make it look like another random arson?”

“Could be either,” Paige admitted. “I’m just thinking out loud here. There’s nothing to support either theory at this point. There’s no evidence to support anything.”

“Not true,” Bannon pointed to a spot he marked earlier.

Paige moved forward, crouched, and slid her fingers into the warm liquid. “Transmission oil.” She glanced back at her new partner. “You said ninety-eight percent. If this doesn’t bump it up to a hundred, what would?”

“Well,” Bannon grinned. “You still have to match it to the previous sample. Maybe there’s another truck driven by another arsonists that just happens to leak transmission oil. I wouldn’t want to be presumptuous.”

“Ha,” Paige stood. “So, the same suspects but different arson. Did you find a fire break like last time?”

“Nope,” Bannon stepped up and stopped her when she tried to gather some oil with a napkin. “I already had my guys gather up a sample. It’s in a lockbox in my truck. Chain of evidence has been preserved and you can take the vile to the lap and have it tested against the first sample.”

“Thanks,” Paige tried to act grateful, but she was actually angry with herself. She never wandered away from a crime scene without her go-bag. She straightened and stared into the distance. “Was there any indication two people were living out of the cabin? You said you took a suitcase. Was there only one? Are the clothes the same size? What about dishes?”

“We just found the suitcase,” Bannon stopped her. “Everything else was destroyed. There was plastic, so I’m assuming some kind of cheap dishes but there’s no way to tell if two people were squatting in there or just one.”

“I didn’t get a chance to call before I went off yesterday,” Paige started back toward the cabin. “Any progress on the backgrounds?”

“As I’m sure you know,” Bannon frowned. “Nothing on Dax and his men. And by that, I mean nothing. I’m not sure how to take that. Either they have something big and horrible that the government is covering up or they’re clean.”

“They’re clean,” Paige grinned. “and the government wants to keep it that way. “Let’s just move on.”

“Do I have any other choice?” Bannon grumbled. “I’ve checked into the firemen that were on scene. Nothing popped there, either. Berkley’s in the middle of a divorce, but it’s more amicable than most from what I can gather.”

“You look disappointed,” Paige grinned. “Kind of destroys your angry ex-wife theory.”

“So far,” Bannon shrugged. “The civilians and part-timers at the station also check out. We started on the contractors late in the day and decided to put it aside and pick it back up this morning.”

“I need to check in with Jer,” Paige said when they reached Bannon’s truck. “If you get that oil, I’ll drop it by the lab then head over to your office and help sort through the contractors. There’s not much we can do here until Benny determines cause of death.”

“Even then,” Bannon pointed out. “All we know is method, not motive or anything else for that matter.”

“Not true,” Paige disagreed. “If it was homicide with arson used as a cover, we can trace Dillon Turner, track his movement and hopefully discover a friend, partner or enemy.”

“And if he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time?”

“Then we’re back to square one,” Paige shrugged. “And we know it wasn’t personal, which brings us back to crazy, mad arsonists or a crime of opportunity.”

“Alright,” Bannon sighed. “I need about twenty before I can clear out up here. That should give you time to check in with the boss and drop by the lab.” He pulled open his back door, unlocked a small safe and handed over a glass vile. “See you when I see you.”

“Later,” Paige called over her shoulder as she headed for her car.

\*\*\*\*\*

“You probably don’t know this about me,” Paige dropped back in her chair and ran her hands over her face. “But I absolutely abhor paperwork.”

“No,” Bannon grinned. “I didn’t know that. You hide it so well.”

Paige glared at him but before she could come up with a snide remark, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the display. “Benny.” She advised before answering. “You’re sure,” Paige questioned into the phone. “I know. Yes, I trust you. Of course, you’re the expert. I was just double checking; I didn’t mean to offend you. Thanks for the quick work, and the update.” She clicked off and looked at Bannon. “Homicide.”

“By fire or other means?” he asked for clarification.

“Other means,” Paige stood and began to pace. “He was dead before the fire destroyed the body. No smoke in his lungs or his throat, air passage, whatever. Benny hasn’t determined cause of death, yet. He said it will take another day at least and the tox report won’t be back for at least forty-eight.”

“But we know,” Bannon decided. “We can stop scouring through this mountain of paperwork and focus on tracking Dillon back to Cali.”

“Can your men continue with this?” she brushed a hand through the air, indicating the stacks of files covering the conference room table.

“Sure,” Bannon shrugged. “Why?”

“Because I’m not ready to rule it out completely but I want to focus on tracking Dillon Turner. We need to focus on Dillan that is. I can call Jericho, ask if Logan can help with all of this,” Paige offered.

“Alright,” Bannon nodded. “I’ll have Derek continue with the backgrounds and you send Reed over to help. You and I will see what we can do to track our victim.”

Just then, Paige’s phone rang again. “Margie, what do you have for me?” Paige listened, snatched up a pad and began to scribble. When she hung up, she turned to Bannon again. “Margie is emailing you a photo.”

“Of what?” Bannon wondered, exiting the room, and heading for his office.

“Who is more accurate,” Paige dropped into his visitor’s chair. “Dillon Turner.”

“How does that help?” Bannon settled into his chair. “We already had his driver’s license. In case you’ve forgotten, that means we have a photo and an address.”

“Yes,” Paige agreed. “But this photo is better. Nobody looks like their license photo, not really. Anyway, that’s not the important part.”

“I’m listening,” Bannon settled back to give her his full attention.

“Turner left California three weeks ago,” Paige glanced at her notes. “His grandfather, Alan Turner, had a stroke three months back. That’s when he was forced into a rest home, but he didn’t recover. Once he passed, Dillon left California and headed east.”

“How do you know that?”

“Margie is golden,” Paige grinned. “She’s a miracle worker. She was able to track Dillon to San Francisco through an ambulance back report. When she contacted the hospital, they referred her to the rehab center where she spoke with Alan’s nurse. The woman was concerned about Dillon. She said he was devastated after his grandfather passed away. He visited every day for over two months, and she got to know him. He finally opened up, told her his parents were killed in a plane crash and his grandfather took him in and raised him. It doesn’t sound like he has anyone, no next of kin to notify at this point.”

“Rough,” Bannon tapped a pen on his desk. “All before he reached eighteen.”

“Yeah,” Paige stretched out her legs. “He didn’t mention a friend to the nurse. He told her he was heading to Nashville. Apparently, he had an amazing set of pipes and wanted to try to make it singing for his supper — literally.”

“He could have hitched a ride with the wrong person,” Bannon considered. “Give me a minute.” He stood and left the room. He didn’t return.

Seven minutes later, Paige was just about to head out and track the annoying man down when he stepped into the doorway and asked her to join him. “I thought we were partners,” Paige grumbled.

“We are,” Bannon stepped into an office slightly smaller than his own. “This is Shirley. She’s our resident tech expert and she’s found activity on Alan Turner’s credit card.”

“How recent?” she moved forward, her gut telling her they just found a lead.

“Someone used the card last week,” Shirley pointed to a line on her computer screen. “Gas station in Hinkley. The day before that, he made several purchases in Reno.”

Paige looked at the charges and the amounts. “He hitched a ride. They travelled down US-6, stopped off in Reno, probably gambled and rested for the night then continued on to Manti.”

“But why?” Bannon wondered. “Why Manti?”

“Maybe his ride has connections here,” Paige considered. “You available to take a road trip?”

“Sure,” he glanced at his watch. “How long of a trip?”

“I want to visit that station in Hinkley,” Paige told him. “Shouldn’t take more than three hours round trip.”

“More like four,” Shirley corrected. “Plus, the stop, and then if you add in a quick dinner, you should plan on around five.”

Bannon sighed. “I need to run this by the boss, and you should call home. The last thing I need is your husband irate. He just might hunt me down and kill me and then the government will wipe that slate clean. Poof, no more Damon Bannon and the only one that would notice is my faithful dog, Chip.”

“You named your dog Chip?” Paige grinned. “Let me guess, you always dreamed of being a motorcycle cop?”

“Absolutely not,” Bannon scowled. “He loves potato chips, always has. He ate an entire bag the first day I got him. It made him so sick, he rolled around on the kitchen floor all night moaning and growling. Seemed appropriate and I couldn’t come up with anything better, so it stuck.”

“He still eats chips?” Paige asked, surprised the experience didn’t traumatize the poor animal for life.

“Loves them,” Bannon moved to his desk and dialed his boss. After a brief conversation, he disconnected. “He says this better pan out because if not, he’s not paying overtime for a worthless road trip.”

“It will,” Paige assured him. “I need to call Walters, let him know the plan.”

“And then call home,” Bannon pushed.

Paige laughed. “Then I’ll call home.”

\*\*\*\*\*

They had finished at the gas station, video of the two men in hand, detailed receipt, and a clear picture of the truck but no identifying license. It was missing the front plate and never turned at an angle where the camera could catch it. *Was that by design?* Paige wondered. *Maybe.* It didn’t really matter; dumb luck or planning came with the same result. They had no idea who Dillan Turner had caught a ride with.

“Dinner now, or wait until we reach Nephi?” Bannon asked.

“Nephi,” Paige said absently then looked at her phone display when it began to ring. “Deputy Carter.”

“Paige,” Logan answered, sounding relieved. “I think I found something, but Derek says I’m way off base. I don’t think I am.”

“Tell me what you found,” Paige straightened and stared out the window as Bannon pulled onto the highway and headed out of town.

“There’s a contractor,” Logan began. “Heavy equipment driver. He has the contract to come in and clean up the area once Fire is finished. Basically, he makes the area safe again.”

Paige frowned. “What’s his name?”

“Brian Rigby,” Logan answered. “And he’s had some financial problems. Problems that were instantly resolved once that fire was set, and he was hired to come in and clear things out.”

“Was Brian Rigby the guy that wanted to start on clean up immediately following the first fire?” Paige asked Bannon.

“He was, why?” Bannon demanded. “He’s not involved in this. If your guy suspects him, he’s way off base.”

“That’s what Derek says,” Paige considered. “But it seems he had some serious money problems until he was conveniently called in to clean up the area.”

“It’s not Brian,” Bannon insisted. “Put him on speaker.”

“Logan,” Paige sighed. “Bannon wants to talk to you. I’m switching you over to Bluetooth, so you’ll come through on the speaker.”

“Derek insists I do the same here,” Reed admitted. “He says he needs to explain why I’m wrong and Brian is innocent.”

“Paige,” Derek began.

“Wait up,” Paige insisted. “Bannon’s already barking at me and insisting we’re wrong. I want Logan to explain why he got a buzz on this particular guy.”

“It’s a couple things,” Logan began. “I’m not saying he’s guilty. I’m just saying we should check. You know, go out and talk to him, feel things out a bit. The financials popped first. That’s what made me look into this more. I contacted the bank and they admitted the Rigby’s were put on notice a week ago that if they didn’t pay at least three thousand by the end of the month, they’d have to begin foreclosure proceedings.”

“And I told you that’s irrelevant,” Derek growled.

“Sounds pretty relevant to me,” Paige disagreed.

“Derek’s right,” Bannon said softly. “I didn’t know the bank sent the notice. Brian didn’t tell me that. But it doesn’t matter. The mortgage will be paid in full by the end of the month so three thousand was nothing.”

“He’s a friend of yours?” Paige wondered.

“He’s a friend of the entire department,” Derek answered. “Sure, he fell on some hard times, but that man is not capable of setting a deadly fire and he certainly isn’t a killer.”

“I agree with Derek,” Bannon told Paige.

“Logan,” Paige glanced at Bannon and hesitated. “Send me the information. I need whatever you’ve got. It might be nothing, but I need to check. Can you let Jericho know I’ll be late getting to the office in the morning? I want to interview this Brian Rigby and decide if he is or isn’t capable of murder myself.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Logan assured her. “Do you want to know the rest? The other reason I think we need to talk to the family?”

“There’s more?” she looked at Bannon. He was frowning and he now had deep scowl lines etched in his forehead.

“Brian Rigby is married to a Megan Rigby,” Logan continued.

“Now Megan’s a killer?” Derek asked, clearly exasperated.

“Megan was a ward of the state until she turned eighteen,” Logan ignored his colleague. “She lived in a group home and was never adopted out to a permanent family. I’m digging, but the state is being difficult. I’ve discovered at least three males and two females that spent seven to ten years in the same home. I was thinking about that seventeen-year-old kid that didn’t have anyone.”

“And you realized it would be easy for another foster kid to make a connection with a desperate seventeen-year-old kid trying to act like an adult.”

“Exactly,” Logan agreed. “I’m not saying they had anything to do with this. I’m just saying we need to check it out.”

“I agree,” Paige glanced at Bannon again. “Thanks Logan. Go home, it’s late.”

“On my way,” Logan clicked off.

“I have to check,” Paige insisted. “It’s a good lead and I have to check.”

“You’re making a lot of assumptions,” Bannon insisted. “Most of them are wrong.”

“Then enlighten me,” Paige shrugged.

“Brian and Megan had a son,” Bannon didn’t take his eyes off the road. “He was a good kid. Everyone loved Mark, you couldn’t help but love that boy.”

“You’re talking in past tense.” Paige observed.

“He was born with a ton of medical issues,” Bannon sighed. “Expensive ones. And he dreamed of being a fireman. The kid was about eight the first time Brian brought him down to the station. He was in heaven and we all decided to make Mark an honorary fireman. He’d go out with his dad when he could… when he felt well enough to last an entire day that is. As the years went on, he got worse. I lost track of how many surgeries that kid endured. Finally, when he was fourteen, he lost his battle. That was last year. Brian and Megan have been struggling to survive ever since.”

“Which makes him a legitimate suspect,” Paige insisted.

Bannon ignored the comment. “We’ve been conducting fundraisers, the kids have been washing cars, wives have held bake sales, anything and everything just to help those two pay off their medical bills. We did it, too. The hospital, the doctors, the anesthesiologists, all of them have been paid in full.”

“Then why the foreclosure?” Paige wondered. “If you guys were paying the medical bills, why couldn’t they pay their house payment?”

“Our contributions were sporadic at best,” Bannon said without emotion. “We did what we could, but they were desperate. They paid this bill one month, a different bill the next. They were juggling and we knew time was running out. I didn’t know the bank called in the loan. But, like I said, it doesn’t matter. The chief found a wealthy donor last week. We have a concert at the park scheduled for this Saturday and we planned to present the Rigby’s with enough money to pay their mortgage off completely.”

“But they didn’t know that,” Paige wasn’t convinced.

“They did,” Bannon disagreed. “Mayor Fowler stopped by and notified them himself two days before that first fire. Brian didn’t do this.”

“Then you shouldn’t have a problem with me speaking to him,” Paige argued. “If he didn’t do it, I’ll be able to determine that within minutes.”

“That’s not the point,” Bannon fell silent for several minutes. Then, he turned to focus on Paige. “If you insist on doing this, I’m going with you. What time and where do you want to meet?”

“I…”

“Don’t argue,” Bannon told her. “If you won’t share the details, I’ll just stop in at Brian’s house and hang out until you arrive.”

“Fine,” Paige sighed. “But if you interfere, I swear, I’ll arrest you for obstruction. Then I’ll go back and finish the interview my way, anyway. If I agree to let you join me, you have to let me do my job.”

Bannon shrugged but didn’t say another word.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the driveway, spotted the ancient pickup, and frowned. She focused on Bannon and waited.

“That doesn’t belong to Brian or Megan,” he knew what she was thinking, but she was wrong. “Let’s go see if the clunker has a transmission leak.”

It did. “I need to run the plates and I need to start working on a warrant,” Paige studied him. “Can I trust you?”

“What exactly do you think I’m going to do, Paige?” Bannon asked in frustration. “I’m not worried about that truck. It’s not Brian’s and it’s not Megan’s. I have to assume they have company. Someone that’s using them”

“Using them?” Paige asked skeptically. “Using them how?”

“For a place to stay,” Bannon supplied. “Or, as cover for their bad deeds. If you don’t trust me, I’ll wait until you’ve finished before I head to the door.”

“I…” she stopped when the front door suddenly swung open and a slim woman that looked to be in her late thirties or early forties stepped onto the porch.

“Damon, is that you?” Megan called out.

“It is,” Bannon smiled at the woman, glanced at Paige then proceeded up the sidewalk.

“What in the world are you doing outside,” Megan wondered. “Come on up here out of that sun. It’s not even noon and it’s blistering already.”

“Megan,” Bannon leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “I’d like you to meet Deputy Paige Carter. Paige, this is Megan Rigby.”

“Deputy?” Megan glanced at Damon then back to Paige. “It’s nice to meet you, but I have to say I’m a little confused. Why did you bring a deputy to my home, Damon?”

“We need to speak with Brian,” Bannon maneuvered her to a patio chair.

“Oh, well Brian isn’t home at the moment,” Megan settled into the chair then focused on Paige. “Is Brian in some kind of trouble?”

“I hope not,” Paige said honestly. “Can you tell me who that truck belongs to?”

“Oh,” Megan relaxed. “That old thing belongs to Clint. He’s my brother. Well, not really, I suppose. He’s my foster brother, I guess I should say.”

“You lived in the same group home as children?” Paige offered.

“Then you do know,” Megan’s shoulders visible relaxed a little more. “Most everyone around here knows I don’t have any real family. It’s not a secret and everyone at the fire station is aware. I just wasn’t sure…” she let the sentence hang, not sure how to finish.

“And Clint is staying here, with you?” Paige pushed.

“Oh,” Megan glanced at the truck. “Temporarily. Clint was always troubled, I guess you could say. Growing up, he’d act out and get restless. He never stays anywhere for too long.”

“How long will he be staying here?” Bannon asked gently.

“I’m not sure,” Megan admitted. “He came by ten days ago and said he was passing through and he really wanted to see me. He wanted to spend some time with me.”

“Have you had time to visit and catch up?” Bannon asked. He knew he was taking over the interview, but he was sure he could help Paige get what she needed.

“A little,” Megan glanced away. “Clint… well, he likes to drink and party a lot. I’m not one to spend time in bars. You know that. Anyway, he ate dinner with us last night and one or two other nights but mostly he just drinks late, comes back here and crashes, then wakes up around noon and putters around — mostly on that truck.”

“Is Clint here now?” Paige asked. “Maybe he’s still inside sleeping?”

“He’s not, no.” Megan glanced at the door. “Brian was getting frustrated. He told Clint to go into town and try to get a job to help pay for gas and insurance. Clint refused. He’s been pressuring me to help him. He won’t drop it no matter how many times I tell him no. I just don’t have the money to spare, not now,” she glanced to Bannon hoping to find understanding.

“I know,” Bannon reached out and patted her hand. “Did he threaten you or make you uncomfortable in any way, Megan?”

“Not really,” Megan sighed. “Clint, like I said before, he was always troubled. My parents were drug addicts. I was removed from the home but Clint, well… his parents didn’t want him. They said he was ungovernable and refused to let him live with them and his younger sister. I overheard Trish one time—”

“Trish?” Paige asked.

“Oh,” Megan smiled. “Trish was my foster mom. She was a wonderful, loving person. I know people say the system is difficult, but that wasn’t my experience. Trish and Robert did their best to love us and they always taught us morals and the value of hard work.”

“What happened?”

“They died,” Megan lowered her eyes to stare at now shaking hands. “The month before I turned eighteen.”

Paige wanted to press her on that, it seemed too coincidental, but she’d look into it herself and follow up later if she needed to. “I’m sorry for your loss,” she finally said.

“It was a long time ago,” Megan tried to put the sorrow aside. “I don’t understand. What is this about? Why are you here Damon?”

“We need to speak to Brian,” Damon advised. “And we’d like to speak with Clint. Do you know when he’ll be home?”

“He’s working with Brian today,” Megan told them. “Brian took him up on the mountain. He insisted, really. Clint doesn’t understand that I don’t keep secrets from my husband. He was pressuring me for money. He asked me to pay his truck insurance that first night, right after he arrived. I talked to Brian about the situation and he decided if Clint would work for him, we’d find a way to compensate him. He’d have to work for his pay. I insisted on that and Brian agreed. We would have insisted even if we were rich. Clint needs to know he can’t use us. I’d like to think he really did come to see me just because he cares but I’m realistic enough to know he thought he could con us out of a few bucks. I consider him family. So, I wanted to help him out, but he had to earn it. Anyway, after Brian was contacted to do that job for the fire department, we both agreed that if Clint would work for it, we’d add a little extra. He’s being paid more than we can really afford. More than Brian would have paid another employee, but the fire department pays well and cleaning up is such hard work… and, well — he’s family.”

Paige turned to Bannon. “Which one?”

“He has to be at the first fire,” Bannon pulled out his phone. “I haven’t released the cabin yet.”

“There was another fire?” Megan asked. “I hadn’t heard. Brian and I had a late dinner last night and when we got home, we went straight to bed.”

Paige glanced at Bannon, pointed to her phone then made her way back to her vehicle. She needed a warrant and she needed someone to keep an eye on her suspect. Once the warrant was sighed, she contacted Frank Hopkins to tow the vehicle, arranged for Gage to head up the canyon to monitor Brian and Clint, then she returned to the porch.

“Damon tells me you think Clint was involved in some criminal activity,” Megan focused on Paige. “He said you need to evaluate Clint’s truck. Can I give you permission for that? If he did something, if he broke the law, he needs to have consequences. He needs to pay the price for whatever he’s done.”

Paige glanced at Bannon then focused on Megan, surprised. “We think he started the fire up the canyon. The one he’s working with Brian to clean up. Has Clint ever had a problem with arson?”

Megan’s eyes went wide in disbelief. Then something, acknowledgement, horror, and finally sorrow settled in Megan’s eyes. “No.”

“Megan?” Paige tried to sooth. “I need you to tell me. You suspect something. Can you trust me to do the right thing? Can you tell me what has you so upset?”

“My foster parents were killed in a fire,” Megan admitted. “Clint wasn’t there but —”

“But he was close enough he could have done it?” Paige wondered.

“I don’t want to believe that but yes,” Megan admitted. “There was a boy, is the boy okay?”

Paige hesitated, looked to Bannon for approval and when she got his nod, she pulled out the image of Dillon Turner. “This boy?”

Megan covered her face and began to sob. “What happened to him?”

“He was killed in a fire,” Paige told her.

Bannon moved to sit next to Megan and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

“Brian!” Megan suddenly straightened, clearly panicked and worried. “He won’t hurt Brian, will he?”

“No,” Paige told her.

“How do you know?” Megan asked, not convinced. “Clint didn’t want to go this morning. He was angry, I could see he was angry, but I thought he needed to learn to work for what he wants. He was always so good at conning people into giving him everything so easily. I thought he needed to know he couldn’t do that with us. So, we made him get up early and go to work with Brian. Clint is unpredictable when he’s angry.”

“Brian is fine,” Paige said again. “Deputy Gage Clayton is on the mountain. He’s watching over Brian to make sure nothing happens to him. Do you know Gage?”

Megan nodded. “Alright, if Gage is there, Brian will be okay.”

Paige spotted the tow truck and stood. “I have a warrant to take that truck. Once I’m finished, Gage is going to bring Clint down to the station so we can interview him. Is there anything else I need to know before I get started?”

“He doesn’t know Brian and I saw him with that boy,” Megan pointed to the picture. “They were in the park and it looked like they were arguing. He doesn’t know we saw him. We thought, well he was pushing me about the money and Brian is so protective. We both wondered why Clint was keeping the kid a secret and if they were involved or something. We also wondered why the boy didn’t get a job to help with expenses. They were both healthy and able. We knew if we brought it up, there would be an argument and we just didn’t want to deal with it.”

“Do you know what they were arguing about?” Paige asked.

Megan shook her head. “No, it was kind of hushed, but urgent. That’s the only way I can think to explain it.”

“Do you remember when this was?” Paige wondered.

“Um,” Megan considered. “Three... no, four days ago. Yes, it was four days ago. We saw them arguing and then the next day Brian heard about the fire up the canyon. We thought they might have been arguing over money or something and that’s when Brian decided to let Clint help with cleanup. We thought it would be good for him to earn his way. Plus, we wanted to get him out of the house. We thought if he worked all day, he might be too tired to party all night.”

“Okay,” Paige stood. “Thank you, Megan, you have been very helpful. I’m sorry we had to bring you into this.”

“Clint did that, not you,” Megan also stood. “I’d like to call Brian and ask him to come home for an hour or so… I need to talk to him over lunch. When can I call him?”

“I’ll call you and let you know once we have Clint in custody,” Bannon assured her. “Brian might call you first but I’m only a phone call away if you need anything.”

“Thank you,” Megan gave Bannon a weak smiled before she disappeared into the house.

\*\*\*\*\*

Two hours later, Paige and Damon Bannon sat across from Clint Fairfield. He was older than Paige pictured. She should have realized. Megan was thirty-eight so Clint had to be in the same ballpark. He was actually forty-one and he was hard, experienced, and cocky.

“Don’t you need to read me my rights?” Clint smirked.

“No,” Paige told him. “Because we both know Deputy Clayton already took care of that.”

“Then,” Clint’s smile widened. “I want an attorney.”

“That’s fine,” Paige stood. “Clint Fairfield stand up but keep your hands where I can see them. You’re under arrest.”

“What are the charges?” Clint demanded. “I didn’t do nothing.”

“That I believe,” Bannon stood and moved behind Clint.

“I have a right to know what I’m being charged with,” Clint insisted.

“Arson,” Bannon said casually, watching Paige slip on the cuffs. “It’s a federal offense to start a fire in a national park.”

“What fire?” Clint’s eyes were dancing around the room as he tried to come up with a response.

“First degree murder,” Paige snapped the cuffs into place. “And a few lessor, insignificant charges that might add on another year or two.”

“I didn’t kill anyone,” Clint’s eyes went hard and blank.

“Uh-huh,’ Paige pulled out the photo. Not because she thought the man would confess but she wanted to see his reaction.

“I don’t know that kid,” Clint looked away.

“You’ve invoked your right to an attorney,” Paige reminded him. “So, unless you’ve changed your mind, I’m not at liberty to discuss that kid’s death.”

“I don’t know that kid,” Clint insisted. “Why would I kill someone I don’t know.”

Paige didn’t answer.

“Fine,” Clint shrugged. “I maybe don’t need an attorney. I’ll let you know if I change my mind. But I didn’t do nothing, so I don’t need a nosey attorney sniffing around.”

“Mr. Fairfield,” Paige glanced at the recorder to make sure it was still working. “You originally said you wanted an attorney. Now, you’ve changed your mind. Is that correct?”

“Yeah,” Clint said more confident now. “I don’t need no attorney. I didn’t know that kid and you can’t arrest me for killing someone I didn’t know.”

“But you did know him,” Paige said softly. “We have witnesses who saw you at the park.” She pulled out a still shot of Clint and Dillon at the gas station in Hinckley. “The two of you were traveling together. Tell us why you killed him. Tell us what happened. Did Dillon attack you? Did he threaten you in some way? Maybe it was self-defense and you didn’t have a choice.”

Clint studied the wall for several seconds. Then he glanced down and tried to hide a sadistic smile that spread across his face. “The kid attacked me. He was gay or something and he wanted me to —” he smiled again. “Well, you know. He wanted a cheap lay. I told him I didn’t roll that way and he went nuts. He attacked me and I defended myself. I don’t know what happened, not really. One minute I was fighting off his violent attack, the next he was on the ground. He wasn’t moving, he wasn’t breathing. I panicked.”

“And you caught the cabin on fire,” Bannon provided.

“I —” Clint hesitated, considered, and then obviously had a new plan. “Yeah, I panicked and set the place on fire. I heard there was a fire a couple days earlier and I thought you guys would think the same person set both of them.”

“The same person did set both of them,” Paige said flatly. “We can put your truck at both scenes. We’ve got you, Clint. We’ve got you cold. Is that what you were arguing about? At the park when the witnesses spotted you? Did you want to set the forest on fire and Dillon said no? He was just along for the ride. He was on his way to Nashville to make something of himself and he didn’t want anything to do with you — or arson?”

“Who said that kid was headed to Nashville?” Clint wondered. “He was just drifting, like me. He stole money and cards from his family, and he bolted. They didn’t understand him, and he needed to escape.”

“Are you talking about Dillon, or yourself?” Paige wondered. “Your parents abandoned you as a child. They didn’t understand you. And your foster parents — always nagging, nagging, nagging. Teaching you morals and ethics, forcing you to work for everything they gave you, never just offering up what you wanted for free, always a price.”

“They got what was coming,” Clint grinned. “It was beautiful and so satisfying.”

“You killed them, too?” Paige asked.

“They died in a freak fire,” Clint shrugged.

“They were murdered,” Paige said flatly. “And you just said how beautiful and satisfying it was to kill them.”

“I,” Clint glanced around then focused on Paige. “What if I did? It’s not your case. They closed that case a very long time ago. Accidental fire, resulting in the tragic but accidental death of the obnoxious, selfish owners. All the pathetic kids that were living there, they all fell for Trish and Roberts nonsense. Not me, I knew what they were doing. Free labor, that’s all they wanted. They pretended to love us, but I knew better. I knew they were just selfish and pathetic. Now they’re dead.”

“And you started the fire,” Bannon pushed.

“Sure,” Clint shrugged. “I started it. So what?”

Paige grinned. He didn’t know they knew the details. The case wasn’t closed. Trish and Robert Cook had been tied to their bed and burned to death. Paige pushed the images from her mind. She couldn’t think of how painful and horrific their last moments must have been. She needed Clint to confess to killing Dillon. She wanted to know why he did it. “Just like you started the fire at the cabin. You killed Dillon and then set the place on fire to try and cover up his death.”

“Like I said,” Clint shrugged and settled deeper into his chair. “He came onto me, I fought back, he died. I admit, I panicked a little. I set the place on fire and headed back to have dinner with Megan and that worthless husband of hers. Brian,” he sneered. “He’s just like Robert and Megan is turning into a sad replica of Trish.”

“Walk us through the incident with Dillon,” Paige insisted. “You said he came onto you, but he was just a kid. You’re twice as big as Dillon, you’re stronger, and the two of you were seen arguing at the park. Tell us what you were arguing about.”

“He wanted to leave,” Clint glanced away. “I wanted to stay another day or two. Brian said if I worked with him to clean up the mess from that other fire, the one a day or so earlier, he’d pay me for the work. I needed the money, so I wanted to stay. Dillon wanted to leave. I told him fine by me, go on and leave but I was staying. He freaked out.”

“The witnesses said the argument was before the fire,” Bannon glared at Clint. “The argument wasn’t about leaving or staying to earn money. What was it about? Did you want to start the fire to get money and Dillon just wanted to move on, head to Nashville and follow his dream?”

“He was a kid,” Clint spat. “He knew nothing about real life. Nashville, that was a fantasy. We could stay here and make good money. Sure, I’d have to suffer through and tolerate that idiot, Brian. He insisted I had to work for my pay. But after four, five fires… we’d be rolling in it and we could move on. Dillon just couldn’t see how good we had it. We just had to reach out and take what we wanted.”

“So,” Paige leaned forward. “You killed him. You took Dillon up to that cabin and made him understand what happens to stupid punk kids that don’t listen. He’ll never defy you gain. He’d never argue and make demands. You got rid of the stupid kid and put your plan into action.”

“I—” Clint smiled, remembering how good it felt to kill the whiny brat. Joy rushed through him as he remembered wrapping his hands around the kid’s neck and breaking the sniveling idiot in two. Then, he sobered. “I think I want that lawyer.”

“We already know what you did,” Paige stood. “You can have that lawyer. We don’t need you to say another word. Now, it’s my turn to talk. You broke Dillon’s neck, Clint. You can’t pass that off as an accident or self-defense. He didn’t want to help you commit arson, so you lost it and you killed him. Or, maybe, it just made you angry that some sniveling kid thought he could say no to you. You, Clint Fairfield. Who did he think he was? He had nothing and you were offering him everything. All he had to do was reach out and take it. Instead, he refused. So, you killed the one and only obstacle that stood in your way and you took the rest for yourself. Can’t have a witness telling people what you did, and the stupid kid couldn’t be trusted to keep his big mouth shut. So, you killed him. Now, you’re under arrest. And, once I contact the great state of Colorado and provide them with a copy of my interview, I suspect you’ll be charged with the murders of Trish and Robert Cook.”

“I’ll get this tossed,” Clint screamed.

Gage stepped into the room and escorted their prisoner to the back.

Bannon stared at the empty doorway. “I can’t believe he confessed. I can’t believe he fell for that.”

“He’s a narcissist and an idiot,” Paige shrugged. “He thinks he’s smarter than either one of us. He believed he was playing us, and he had to take a few minutes to brag. It wasn’t a clean confession, but it’s enough. Tolman can use what we got and expand on it. He’s good. Clint’s going away for the rest of his miserable life.”

“I’m going to head out,” Bannon stood. “I need to explain everything to Megan and Brian.”

“Will you tell her about Trish and Robert?” Paige wondered.

“Yeah,” Bannon sighed. “She’ll hear it all later. I think she’ll handle it better if it comes from me.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” Paige nodded. “I know you were angry this morning. You were so sure they were innocent, and I was just picking on a couple of good, solid citizens that had already endured far too much. I’m sorry for that.”

“I’m not,” Bannon smiled at her. “If you hadn’t followed that lead, Clint may have gotten away with murder.” He sobered. “Like he did years ago with Trish and Robert.”

“He didn’t get away with that,” Paige disagreed. “It took too long to catch him, but he’s caught, and he’ll go down for those, too.”

Paige watched Bannon leave the building, then she slowly made her way into Jericho’s office to bring him up to speed. As she settled into his chair, she sighed. So much had happened over the past few days. Dax could have been killed, Hawk too for that matter. A young kid and his grandparents were nearly consumed by the raging fire and the old couple lost their pickup truck, ATV, and an old travel trailer that held so many memories. Paige smiled; confident they’d make new ones. Dax and the boys saw to that. A brand-new truck, utility vehicle, and state of the art trailer had been delivered to the couple late last night — anonymously. Those two would be making memories with their grandson for many years to come thanks to her husband’s generosity and a ton of secret money.

That brought her thoughts back to Clint and a young boy who had his entire life ahead of him. A boy that had been killed for nothing. There had been so much pain, for what? Because Clint Fairfield was a sociopath that wanted an easy life and he was willing to kill to make it happen. He killed Trish and Robert Cook because he hadn’t wanted to work, then he killed Clint because he did. He needed a few raging forest fires to make enough money to move on and he didn’t care who or what he hurt in the process.

Jericho glanced up and silently listened as Paige relayed the facts. He could see she was trying to do it without expressing her emotions — but she failed. By the time she finished, he understood why, and he shared her anger, frustration, and her determination to make the monster pay the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S5

**Tags:** Season 5

---

### [Identical Proxy](https://melaniepsmith.com/identical-proxy/)

**Published:** December 31, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Identical Proxy (S5E9) A woman reports that her husband is acting strange.  Paige must determine if she is paranoid and delusional or if the man is the victim of foul play. 

**Content:**

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/winter-mountains-MPS-scaled.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/winter-countrysideMPS-scaled.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/winter-storm-MPS.jpg)

****\*\*\*IDENTICAL PROXY\*\*\*****

Paige stepped through the back door and immediately stripped out of her coat. It was a blizzard out there. The roads were a mess and she’d spent the past forty minutes standing next to Frank as he pulled a car from the creek. She still had no idea what that couple thought they were doing up the canyon in the middle of winter — without snow tires or four-wheel drive.

Once she’d removed her coat, her gloves, and her hat, she began to stomp her feet — trying to knock the snow from her boots.

“Paige,” Margie said, amusement evident in her voice.

“Yeah?” Paige didn’t look up; she was focused on her boots and her sopping wet feet. Maybe she could just take off the boots and run around the office in her wet socks.

“This lady has been waiting to speak with you or Gage,” Margie continued to watch Paige, not entirely sure how she would handle her dilemma.

“What?” she glanced up and saw the lady sitting patiently in Margie’s visitor’s chair.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MPS-PC_Cover-S5.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Identical-Proxy.pdf)

“Oh, right,” Paige moved forward and held out her frozen, slightly damp hand.

The woman shook it, then dropped it immediately. “You should get some coffee or something. It will help warm those up.”

“Sorry about that,” Paige rubbed her hands on her thigh. “Rough morning. How can I help you?”

“I realize you probably don’t remember me,” the woman began. “I’m Ella Hovey. We spoke a few weeks ago, at my place. You were looking for David.”

“Right,” Paige nodded. “I remember. We closed that case just after we spoke. I don’t need to speak with David now, he wasn’t involved. I hope you didn’t drive all the way in here, through a blizzard, just for that.”

“No,” she glanced at Margie then back to Paige. “I need to talk to you about something else.”

“Alright,” Paige motioned her forward. “Come on over to my desk and you can tell me what brought you in on such a miserable morning.”

Ella looked at the chair, glanced back at Margie and settled onto the edge. She didn’t really want to do this with an audience.

Paige settled into her own chair and focused on the timid, but attractive woman. She was petite with straight, dark brown hair that flowed over her shoulders. She had the front pinned up in a fancy pink butterfly barrette that matched her sweater. She wore jeans and winter boots that went all the way up to her knees. Stylish but not overly so. The woman seemed relatively normal, but extremely skittish. “Would you like some coffee or hot chocolate while we talk?” Paige offered.

“Oh,” Ella considered. “Hot Chocolate would be nice if it’s not any trouble.”

“No trouble,” Paige stood and moved to the counter that ran the length of the room behind her. She prepared the chocolate, poured herself a cup of steaming hot coffee, and headed back to her desk.

“Thank you,” Ella said, taking a tiny, tentative sip.

“I can see you’re nervous about something,” Paige began. “And you drove all the way into town on terrible roads. I have to assume whatever brought you here must be important. Can you tell me why you came into the office today?”

“I don’t know how to explain it,” Ella sighed. “No matter what I say, you’re going to think I’m crazy. I’m not. I’m as grounded as they come, but it’s going to sound crazy.”

“Okay,” Paige smiled. “Now that we got that out of the way, tell me why you’re here.”

“There’s something wrong with my husband,” Ella said softly.

“As in some kind of medical issue?” Paige wondered. “Does he need an ambulance?”

“No,” Ella said abruptly. “No, not a medical problem. He’s just not Jordan anymore.”

“I don’t understand,” Paige admitted.

“I know,” Ella shook her head. “I sound like that woman in the movie *Men in Black*. Here I am telling you — I know Jordan and that isn’t Jordan. But that’s how I feel. I could easily follow that up with the same comment as the movie — It was like something was wearing an Edgar suit, or in my case a Jordan suit. And now, you look exactly like Tommy Lee Jones. I know I sound ridiculous. I know you want to make fun of me. I guess, at least, you’re too professional to laugh. Although, I suspect when I leave, you and your colleagues will crack a few jokes.”

“No ma’am,” Paige grinned. “We at Sanpete County don’t have a sense of humor we are aware of.”

“I’m not crazy,” Ella insisted. “It’s just —Jordan looks like Jordan, but he doesn’t act like my husband.”

“Can you be more specific?” Paige couldn’t decide what to think of this woman. She seemed normal, but a Jordan suit?

“Jordan went out of town,” Ella explained. “He got home nearly five weeks ago. That was normal, even in the winter. He was looking for a new mustang to breed with a mare he acquired last year. He wanted the mustang to be settled and the mare used to him and ready to mate come spring. Anyway, he came home without the mustang. When I asked him about it, he acted confused. Then, he just told me to mind my own business. Jordan would never speak to me that way. He avoided me for two full weeks, then one night he came home drunk. Jordan never drinks. He despises it. He told me once, his father was a mean drunk. He loathes alcohol, wouldn’t even have a glass of wine with dinner. I didn’t mind, I’m not really a drinker myself. But now, Jordan drinks every night and he’s mean.” Ella wiped a tear from her face. “He —” she swallowed.

“Did he assault you?” Paige asked softly.

“He tried to,” Ella took a deep breath then focused on Paige, resolve showing in her eyes. “I don’t know why I came here. There’s nothing you can do to help me. I’m sorry I wasted your time.” She stood and took a step toward the door.

“Not so fast,” Paige held up a hand. “Sit back down and finish. Please? You’ve come this far; you might as well tell me the rest.”

Ella hesitated. After a few seconds, she turned and looked at Paige. “Is this just a waste of time?”

“I don’t know,” Paige said honestly. “I can see you’re upset, and you believe what you’re telling me. I’d like to hear it all, then we’ll see if there’s anything I can do to help.”

Ella continued to stand in place and debated. *Well, I already made a fool of myself, I might as well finish this out.* Elle settled back into the chair and pulled out two photos. She handed them both to Paige. “The one on the left was taken about six months ago. The one on the right, that one I took last week. He didn’t see me take it. You can see the difference in his eyes. Jordan, the one with him laughing last summer — his eyes are bright and loving. The second photo, the one from last week, that man’s eyes are cold and hard. It’s like he’s become Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He’s the same person, just good and evil or two drastically different sides of the same coin. That’s the best way I can describe it.”

Paige studied the images. Ella was right. The men were identical, but one looked like a loving, happy guy in his thirties. The other one looked like a hardened criminal. How was that possible? “Does Jordan have any siblings?” Paige considered. “A twin maybe?”

“No,” Ella shook her head. “He doesn’t have any family. He said he was an only child and his parents died years ago.”

Paige raised an eyebrow. “Have you met anyone from Jordan’s past? Grandparents? Cousins? Aunts? A best friend, maybe?”

“No,” Ella shook her head again. “Nobody. He said there wasn’t anyone.”

“I find that extremely unlikely,” Paige considered. She’d have to run this by Jericho and see what he thought but her spidey sense was tingling and something about this situation didn’t smell right. “Can you get me anything you have on your husband? A birth certificate, a marriage license, his social security number, where he went to college, did he graduate from high school, a yearbook from that time — anything?”

“I’ll look,” Ella studied Paige for a long time. “Why are you acting like I don’t sound batshit crazy?”

“Oh,” Paige smiled. “You do.”

Gage stepped into the room and began to remove his coat. “Crazy is Paige’s specialty.” He dropped into his chair and began to log into his computer.

“I don’t understand,” Ella frowned.

“Ignore him,” Paige scowled at Gage. “I can’t decide what I think. It does sound totally bonkers and you know that. You warned me it would before you started. Which makes me wonder. If you were nuts, I don’t think you’d walk in and warn me that you’re going to sound nuts. Plus, the pictures are compelling. The guy looks the same, has the same build, the same hair, the same face, but at the same time — he seems different. I want to look into this more thoroughly and I need that personal information on Jordan to do it.”

“He didn’t have much,” Ella warned. “I thought it was weird at first, but he just said it was a difficult time in his life and he didn’t want stuff around to remind him. I have the social security number now and I can tell you he has a driver’s license here in Utah. I assume you can access that once I give you his information. I can also tell you his birth date and he said he grew up in Tennessee. I can’t remember what town. I’ve never seen a yearbook and I’ll have to go through some stuff when I’m alone to find his birth certificate. The marriage license is easy, I have that with my stuff. I’ll have to be careful and then, once I find what you need, I’ll need to sneak out to get it to you. Once I get away, is it okay to leave anything I find with the secretary?”

“I have a better idea,” Paige knew Ella wasn’t going to like this. “Call me when you’ve found everything you can, and I’ll drive out and pick it up.”

“Oh,” Ella’s hand flew to her mouth. “I don’t think Jordan would like that. Not the new Jordan. My Jordan wouldn’t have cared.”

“What will he do?” Paige wondered.

“I don’t know,” Ella bit her bottom lip. “I — he hasn’t abused me. Not really. I mean, there was that one time when he was drunk and tried to force me to — you know. But I got away and locked myself in the loft above the barn. My arms were bruised, but he didn’t hit me or anything. Since then, I’ve tried to stay out of his way, and I basically moved out to the loft. That’s where I sleep every night and I always lock the door. He hasn’t tried to bother me.”

Paige frowned. “Leave the details to me. I’ll make up some excuse to justify my being there. He won’t know you called the office or came in to see me. But I need to see him. I need to speak to him and get a feel for his behavior and mannerisms myself.”

“Like the time you came asking about David?” Ella asked.

“Exactly like that,” Paige agreed. “I’ll show up with questions about something else. You can slip me the documents and I can talk to Jordan to see how he reacts to me.”

“Alright,” Ella stood again and tentatively took the business card Paige held out to her. “I’ll call as soon as I can.”

Paige was frowning as she watched Ella leave the building.

“What’s your gut telling you?” Margie asked. “It sounds ridiculous on the surface but when you dig down—”

“Yeah,” Paige agreed. “Once you crack the surface something doesn’t sound quite right. Did you see these pictures?”

“No,” Margie shook her head. “She didn’t tell me about them. She didn’t really tell me anything except she needed to talk to you or Gage.”

“Why?” Gage moved to stand behind Paige’s desk. “That’s the same guy but… different.”

Margie moved to join them. “It’s the eyes, like she said. The eyes are dark and brooding in this one. Like that guy’s lived hard and even in the picture you can feel the attitude. The other guy, he’s light and happy.”

“How many years did it take to turn Mr. Sunshine into Mr. Dark and Broody?” Gage wondered.

“This picture was taken last summer,” Paige told him. “This one, last week.”

“No way,” Gage disagreed. “There’s just no way that guy changed like that overnight.”

“I agree,” Paige pondered the possibilities. “So how do you explain it?”

“No idea,” Gage looked at Margie. “Why did she ask for me or Paige?”

“We met her a few weeks back,” Paige reminded him. “She lives in the house across from David the handyman.

“Right,” Gage moved back to his desk. “So, what do you plan to do with that? You can’t open a case, what would you call it? The man’s not missing.”

“Are you sure about that?” When he didn’t answer, Paige sighed. “I don’t know. I need to talk to Jericho.”

“He’ll be back after lunch,” Margie advised. “Weather permitting.”

“And,” Paige settled in to finish her coffee. “There’s no guarantee we’ll still be here. Not if that storm intensifies as predicted.”

“You want me to brief him for you?” Margie asked. “I can, if you’re tied up when he gets back.”

“That would be great,” Paige decided. “Then ask him to call me. I need his take on the situation before I decide how to handle it.”

“And I want to go with you,” Gage put in. “When you head out to her house to talk to this Jordan dude, I want to be there.”

“You think I need backup?” Paige frowned.

“Maybe,” Gage shrugged. “You could also use a second opinion. I want in.”

“Then you’re in,” Paige flipped on her computer determined to get the reports from this morning out of the way. Once that was done, she could think about Ella Hovey and her husband, Jordan in the Edgar suit.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stood on the side of the road, waiting for Frank to hook up the second vehicle and tow it away. She was soaking wet and frozen all the way to the bone. She hadn’t felt her toes for at least an hour and silently wondered if she’d ever feel them again. Her hand was shaking uncontrollably making it impossible to write even basic case notes. She just hoped she’d be able to decipher her scribbles later. She glanced up when she heard a vehicle approaching and spotted Jericho. He slid from his truck, paused to take in the scene, then headed straight for her.

“Sheriff,” Paige greeted. It came out something that resembled Sher —click, click — ifff. She wondered if he understood the greeting through her clattering teeth.

“You need better winter gear,” he studied her. “Get in my truck and warm up. I’ll finish this for you, then we need to talk.”

*Well, crap*, Paige thought. Was she in trouble — again?

Paige’s legs had finally stopped bouncing involuntarily when Jericho returned and slid behind the wheel.

“At least your lips aren’t still a vibrant shade of blue,” Jericho turned up the heat and adjusted the vent so it would push the hot air toward her. “Why hasn’t that husband of yours helped you get proper gear?”

Paige scowled. “I don’t need Dax to buy me gear.”

“Touchy,” Jericho laughed. “So, he bought the gear already and you just refuse to wear it. If you continue to let that stubborn pride of yours get in the way, you might lose a few toes.”

“I’m not —” Paige stopped. “Never mind. Did Margie talk to you about Ella? Is that why you’re here?”

“She did,” Jericho nodded. “We don’t have time to babysit a woman who belongs in a psych ward.”

“That’s a bit harsh,” Paige frowned.

“The truth hurts sometimes,” Jericho growled. “Why did you tell her to gather up her husband’s documents? You’re giving her false hope and we can’t help that woman.”

“I don’t have anything pending,” Paige focused out the front window and considered. “I’m not neglecting anything pressing. When the calls started coming in, I headed out. I’d like to investigate this, in my free time. I’d like to satisfy myself her husband isn’t a wanted fugitive hiding out with an innocent woman who is a little naïve, isolated, and vulnerable.”

“What makes you think he’s a fugitive?” Jericho pressed.

“I don’t think he’s a fugitive,” Paige corrected. “I want to make sure he’s not.”

“Because?”

“Something just doesn’t feel right,” Paige admitted. “I don’t know what but I’m sure Margie showed you those photos. He looks the same but — different. How did he go from the happy loving husband to a hardened criminal in only a few months?”

Now Jericho looked through the windshield and considered. “I’ll allow it,” he decided. “You can look into this on your down time. If I hear you neglected an actual case for this, I’m shutting it down. And, while you’re looking into the husband, I want you to also look into this Ella woman. See if she has a history of problems or if anyone in her family has a history of mental issues. I also want to know if she’s ever made a similar report — to us, or any other police department. Be thorough, Paige. Don’t just run a quick background and call it good. I want to know everything there is to know about that couple.”

“I can do that,” Paige relaxed. She knew she was in for a fight; this was actually easier than she thought it would be.

“Keep me updated,” Jericho added. “I want to know if you find anything, or if you don’t. I’m giving you the time to investigate but I expect you to close this down quickly if you don’t find anything suspicious.”

“Alright,” Paige agreed but didn’t move.

“Was there something else?”

“No,” Paige sighed. “I was just trying to stall while I figured out a way to get from here over to there without making my toes fall off.”

Jericho smiled. “I’ll drive you. Get some decent boots, Paige.”

“I like these boots,” she complained.

“Do you like your toes?” Jericho pulled up next to her car.

“Fine,” Paige pushed open the door. “You win. But if I wear the boots Dax bought me, tomorrow I’ll have blisters on my blisters by three o’clock. Then, I won’t be able to walk and I’ll have to sit at my desk and look into the mysterious Jordan in an Edgar suit.”

“I’ll risk it,” he was laughing when she slammed the door on him. He’d call Dax and explain the situation. That husband of hers would make sure Paige wore proper footwear. The guy was more protective than a momma grizzly defending her cubs.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Why don’t these hurt my feet?” Paige demanded.

Dax glanced at her feet then took another sip of coffee. “I told you they were comfortable and warm. If you listened to me, your toes wouldn’t still be numb from yesterday — I’m surprised they didn’t fall off.”

“Who said—” Paige narrowed her eyes at Dax when he just raised an eyebrow at her. “Jericho called at ratted me out.”

Dax ignored her.

“First Nathan, now Jericho,” Paige grumbled and doctored her coffee. She dropped into the chair and reached for a donut. “I’m a grown woman. I don’t need a bunch of men protecting me.”

“They wouldn’t have to if you took care of yourself,” he leaned over, slid his hand behind her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. “Morning, sunshine.”

“Funny,” Paige growled.

“I realize you had a long day yesterday, but what’s with the attitude?”

“Just a case I’m working,” Paige took a huge bite of donut and glanced away.

“You didn’t say you caught a case,” Dax frowned. “Is this one difficult” Stressful? Heartbreaking?”

“No,” Paige sipped her coffee and tried to decide how to present the case without sounding idiotic.”

“Tell me about it,” Dax softened. He could tell this case had her on edge.

“A woman came into the office and reported her husband was acting strange,” Paige began.

“That describes half the population on a normal day,” Dax laughed. “It is the holiday season; people tend to act strange and keep secrets around Christmas.”

“Right,” Paige rolled her eyes. “This feels like more than holiday surprises. The longer she talked, the odder things appeared. I’m just a little off today. I don’t know how to investigate this; I don’t even know if I should investigate this.”

“What convinced you to look into it?” Dax took her hand and kissed her palm. “Walk me through it. We haven’t had a crime stopper breakfast for a while. I think I miss it.”

Paige smiled then explained the woman, the strange behavior and the photos. She told him everything she knew.

Dax considered. “So, her husband comes home from a business trip and doesn’t act like himself. Is it possible he had a stoke while he was gone?”

“I don’t think so,” Paige considered. “I think it was the photos that pulled me in. Last summer he was a happy, clean-cut husband with love and laughter in his eyes. Last week, he was dark and sinister. It’s hard to explain.”

“Did he develop a craving for sugar water?”

“Not funny,” Paige punched him. “But that’s how she explained it. She knew she sounded crazy. She flat out told me she felt stupid, like she was telling me the man that returned was wearing an Edgar suit.”

“Well,” Dax grinned. “You are the best of the best of the best… with honors. I have faith you’ll figure it out. But, if you discover Jericho is an alien, I want to be the first to know. And Nathan, will you make sure our favorite General isn’t a zybot from planet Yothea — that would explain so many things.”

“There’s no planet named Yothea.”

“Sure, there is,” Dax grinned. “It’s located in the Centauri Nebula galaxy.”

“I’m trying to take this seriously,” Paige sighed. “But it just seems so strange. I’m not sure I can. I don’t even know how to investigate something like this.”

“The same as you investigate any crime,” Dax said absently.

“I use forensics to solve cases,” Paige disagreed. “This case doesn’t have any forensics. It’s just all weird psychological stuff.”

“I think any case has forensics,” Dax disagreed. “You just have to find it. Once you do, you can analyze it. Then you’ll use what you find to solve the mystery — if there is a mystery to unravel. You’re stressing because you think you have to change the way you work and approach it from a completely different angle — one you’re not comfortable with. Investigate this situation the way you would any other case. If there’s something to find, you’ll find it.”

“You make it sound so simple,” Paige frowned.

“No,” Dax pulled her in for another kiss. “You make it look simple. We both know it’s not. But it’s an interesting job you guys have.”

“Go to work already,” Paige tried not to smile. “I’ve had enough *Men in Black* quotes the past two days to last me a lifetime.”

Dax laughed, but stood. “I might be late getting home tonight. We ran into a snag and I need to change things up for this last session.”

“Anything I can help with?” Paige stood and followed him out of the kitchen. “I don’t have much going on. If another storm hits, we’ll get hammered; but, other than that, all I have going is a stranger in a Jordan suit.”

“Thanks, but we’ve got it,” Dax slid into his coat. “Wear the leather coat I bought you. It’s not storming, but it’s freezing out there.” He pulled her against him and kissed her until her head felt like it might explode. “See you tonight and be careful.” He pulled open the door, then glanced over his shoulder. “I love you.”

“Love you, too,” once the door was closed securely behind him, Paige closed her eyes and tried to catch her breath. The man had moves and he was always blindsiding her with them. She wondered if she’d ever get used to his antics — if she’d ever get used to the man. She opened the closet, reached for her usual coat, hesitated, and pulled out the new heavy leather monstrosity Dax bought her. She smiled once she had it zipped — comfortable and toasty warm. She swung her arms to one side, then other, crouched, pivoted, and reached for her gun. Flexible too. She could get used to this. She was grinning as she locked the door and headed into work.

\*\*\*\*\*

Another storm hit just before lunch. Paige dealt with crashes from minor fender benders to more serious injuries for the rest of her shift. When things finally settled down, an hour after shift, she headed home. When she pulled into the drive she expected to see Dax’s truck, but the driveway was empty. Dax said he’d be late, but seeing an empty house still surprised her. Her husband always got home before she did. Once inside, she headed straight for the bedroom to change. She plopped down on the bed and pulled off her boots, expecting to find blisters, but her feet felt fine. How did the man do it? If she asked, he’d just give her that mysterious smile of his and leave her guessing. So, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of asking.

Once she changed into comfortable clothes, she headed to the kitchen. Maybe she’d make him dinner tonight. She rummaged around in the fridge until she spotted a package of chicken breasts. She could work with that. Now, something to go with it. She pulled out a head of lettuce, a tomato that had definitely seen better days — but it would work, and an avocado. She was about to shut the door when she spotted a bag of flour tortillas. Scratching her original plan, she decided to make fajitas. She rummaged around in the pantry and surfaced with one onion. Perfect. She sliced the chicken and tossed it into a pan with olive oil then started to work on the onion. Once she had it sliced, she added it to the chicken, sprinkled on some seasoning, and started to chop the veggies.

She was almost finished when she sensed him — Dax was home. Seconds later his scent filled the kitchen. The subtle aroma was distinctive. She’d recognize the unique mixture of his cologne, the woodsy smell of wilderness that came from working outdoors, and the tantalizing, sexy fragrance of man anywhere. Her man. She turned and collided with his chest. Surprised to find him so close, she dropped her knife. Dax wrapped his arms around her waist and laughed.

“Sorry,” Paige tried to take a step back, but he tightened his grip.

“I like coming home to find my wife busy in the kitchen,” he leaned down and nipped her bottom lip. “And she tastes good, too.”

Paige couldn’t decide if she was annoyed or charmed. She took a deep breath and decided she’d go with charmed. She snuggled in closer and inhaled just below his ear, enjoying the intoxicating scent.

“You’re in a mood,” Dax laughed. “But I think you’re burning dinner.”

Paige jumped back and rushed to the stove. Not burnt, thank goodness. She stirred the meat then turned down the heat, determined to make this dinner perfect. She rarely cooked for Dax and she wanted to pamper him for a change.

“What’s the occasion?” he asked absently, moving to select a bottle of wine that would go with the meal.

“No occasion,” she finished chopping and set the cheese and the veggies on the table. She returned to the stove and dumped the chicken and onions onto a plate. When she looked up, Dax was staring. “What?”

“I’m just wondering what I did to earn a home cooked meal,” he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “With the storm, you guys had to be busy today. You didn’t have to cook. I was planning to order in.”

“Obviously, your day was just as hectic as mine,” she added oil to the pan and began frying the first tortilla. “Did you get everything rearranged and ready to go next week?”

“We did,” Dax poured two glasses of wine and settled in at the table. “How about you? Did you get time to work on the mysterious husband case or did the storm keep you busy?”

“Mostly the storm,” Paige dropped the tortilla on his plate and returned to fry one for herself. “I did have time to think about the case.” She settled in next to him and began to build a fajita… chicken taco? Something. Whatever it was, it smelled so good her mouth watered. “Mmm, I was starving, and this is excellent if I do say so myself.”

Dax reached out and took her hand. “It is excellent. Thank you.”

“Anyway,” Paige said, a little uncomfortable. It was just dinner, but Dax was looking at her like she’d just given him some expensive gift. Who knew cooking a simple meal would give her marriage points?

“Anyway,” Dax took a huge bite.

“I was thinking,” Paige sat back. “As soon as I have time, I’m going to run a deep background on Ella and Jordan. I’ll play it by ear after that, just follow anything I find to its natural conclusion. Jericho insisted I run Ella and check for mental issues. I don’t think she’s going to have any, though. I know her story sounds crazy, but she seems pretty solid.”

“What are you looking for?” Dax wondered. Maybe Hawk could help if she hit a wall.

“I don’t know yet,” she admitted. “I need to find out where Jordan came from. You’re not close to your parents, but I’ve met them. I wasn’t close to my family either, but you met my cousin and my uncle. Everyone has family somewhere.”

“And what will that tell you?” Dax finished his fajita and moved to the stove to brown another tortilla.

“It will tell me where he came from,” Paige decided. “Why he left. Maybe it will tell me if he’s running from something or if he’s a wanted fugitive.”

“If you think he could be,” Dax turned to focus on her. “Will you take Gage or Dean with you. I know you’re going to check out the farm, and the man, at some point. Will you take backup, just in case?”

“Gage already insisted on going,” Paige shrugged. “I don’t expect any trouble, though. I’m not going out to confront him. I just want to talk to him, see if I get a vibe.”

“But you promise you won’t go alone,” Dax pushed.

“I promise,” Paige was about to snap at him; but, when she saw the concern on his face, she dialed it back. She could give him this. She knew he worried about her. He handled the stress of being a cop’s spouse so well, she often forgot how difficult it was for him. Dax understood the danger and the risks of the job and still supported her without question. There was no need to cause him undo stress — especially since Gage already insisted on going.

“Thank you,” he kissed the top of her head before he settled back into this chair. “Is there a way to get something from him? Like DNA or something?”

“Maybe,” Paige sighed. “But that’s not going to help unless we have DNA that was taken at least two months ago — before he left on his trip.”

“Right,” Dax considered. “What about fingerprints? Would that tell you if he was in the system?”

“I thought of that,” Paige sat back. She was stuffed. “And I might try for that later. I want this first meeting to be casual. I don’t want to spook him if there is a reason he’s hiding. I need time to figure this out and they’re predicting another storm tomorrow. Are you guys working at the center or do you need to head up the canyon again?”

“Mostly at the center,” he drank the last of his wine, stood and dropped the plates into the sink. After rinsing them, he decided clean up could wait. He took Paige’s hand and led her to the couch. “Think aloud. I want to hear where you’re going with this.”

“I’m not really sure,” Paige admitted. “I can’t analyze the evidence until I have evidence. And, the rational part of my brain keeps asking me what I’m thinking. Am I just creating a problem when the obvious answer points to a delusional woman?”

“What are your instincts saying?”

“That there’s something to this,” Paige admitted. “But I have no idea what.”

“Then, I say follow your instincts.”

“You always say to follow my instincts,” Paige smiled.

“And I’m always right,” Dax declared.

“About that one specific thing — maybe.”

Dax kissed her lightly then stood. “I think it’s a perfect night for a fire. Give me a minute and I’ll create a little atmosphere.” He began to strategically pile wood into the fireplace. “By the way, did you like the coat?”

“I did,” Paige watched as he expertly stacked kindling and lit a match. The fire caught immediately. “I also loved the boots. I know, you told me so. I’d ask how you did that, but I know you won’t tell me.”

“Did what?” He settled back onto the couch and pulled her against him.

“Broke them in so they didn’t cause blisters,” she snuggled in closer and pulled a blanket over her legs. It could get chilly in this room. She wondered if Dax would fix that. He was planning a complete makeover once the holidays were over.

“First,” Dax pulled her closer, knowing his body heat would keep her comfortable until the warmth from the fire filled the room. “I bought good quality footwear. You always buy those cheap fake leather boots that hurt your feet. Then, I conditioned them with mink oil and added a wooden boot stretcher. Once they sat for a week, they were perfect. I knew they wouldn’t give you blisters. How are your frozen toes, anyway?”

“Not frozen,” Paige frowned. “It was really that easy?”

“It was,” he grinned. “And the coat?”

“Perfect,” Paige admitted. “Maybe that’s why you got a home cooked meal tonight. You took care of me; it was my turn to take care of you.

“You can take care of me any time,” he smiled and pulled her onto his lap.

\*\*\*\*\*

It snowed the next two days. The third day, the storms had receded, but the temperature dropped below freezing. Paige and her fellow deputies stayed busy, spending most of their time up the canyon. The locals were anxious to enjoy the snow packed hills. Unfortunately, that meant sledding accidents and cars sliding off the road or getting stuck in a snowbank. Too many drivers were unprepared for the ice and slick terrain.

After a long, cold, hectic morning, Paige settled behind her desk and wondered if the weather would ever give them a break. She had just flipped on her computer, hoping to get caught up on reports, when Ella called. She found Jordan’s birth certificate in the closet. She also found a file she didn’t recognize hidden near the back. It had receipts and other documentation that appeared to be from New Mexico. As far as she knew, Jordan had never been to New Mexico. The file confused her, and she didn’t know what it meant but she agreed to give everything to Paige if she got it back.

Paige wanted to rush out and retrieve the documents immediately. Instead, she impatiently waited for Gage to arrive; a promise was a promise. He entered the building and made a beeline for the coffee counter. Paige watched, silently urging him to hurry up already. When he started tapping the sugar packet against the edge of the counter, she lost it and called his name.

“What?” he said, more grumpy than usual.

“Ella called,” Paige studied her friend. “You up for a ride out to the country?”

“The entire county is part of the country, Paige,” he dumped the mug into a go cup and motioned for the door. “I’ll drive.”

“What’s wrong?” Paige asked as soon as he pulled onto the highway.

“Nothing,” Gage took another sip of his coffee.

“Come on, Gage,” Paige wasn’t going to let this drop. “I know you. Something’s going on.”

“My sister,” Gage finally told her. “She’s got this bright idea that I’d be perfect for some girl she met at yoga.”

“And?”

“And what?” Gage grumbled. “Yoga, Paige. Do you think I have anything in common with someone that does yoga? What’s next a strict diet of spinach and tofu?”

“So?” Paige frowned. “This isn’t the first time Christy tried to set you up with one of her friends. There has to be more to this.”

“Normally, I can head her off,” Gage admitted. “Not this time. She invited the woman to Christmas dinner with my folks. We both know what a disaster that will be. I’ll make it clear I’m not interested; Christy and her friend will get offended, and mom will scold me for not being a gentleman. She’s going to ruin the entire holiday.”

“Hmm,” Paige considered. “You could hang with Hawk and the guys on Christmas. We’re doing dinner later that night and you’re welcome to join us. I have plans that morning that I can’t change. I promised Dax we’d take the snowmobiles out for an early morning ride. Things have been hectic lately and we haven’t had a lot of time for just the two of us. Anyway, you could hang with Hawk and the guys, then head over to our place for dinner. Just visit your parents on Christmas Eve. Your mom won’t mind.”

Gage considered, then broke into a huge smile. “I just might do that if you’re sure they won’t care. I don’t want to crash some secret military team building exercise.”

“They aren’t in the military,” Paige punched him. “They won’t mind. And you’re family. They’ll be happy to spend the day with you.” Paige was going to make sure of that. “Tell your mom something came up and spend Christmas Eve with her and your dad. Let Christy show up with her friend and wonder where you are. She can deal with the fallout this time. That girl never has consequences for her actions. Its time she learned a good lesson.”

“I’ll talk to my mom,” Gage decided. “Enough about that, we’re here. How do you want to handle this?”

“I’ll look around the property and see if Jordan’s outside. If he is, you go to the door and get the documents from Ella. I’ll keep Jordan busy and in the dark until you’re done,” Paige decided.

They stepped from the vehicle and spotted Jordan immediately. He was walking across the field, anger radiated from his entire body.

“Yeah,” Gage moved in next to Paige. “I don’t like the look of that. I’m not going anywhere. We’ll just have to find another way to get the stuff from Ella.”

Paige turned to glare at Gage but jerked back around at the sound of something hitting the ground at her feet. She jumped backwards, then focused on Jordan.

“I said,” Jordan fumed. “Get off my property.”

“Did you throw a shovel at me?” Paige asked in disbelief.

“No,” Jordan clenched his hands, but that was the only sign of anger that remained. “I dropped the shovel so you couldn’t lie and say I used it against you.”

“You know,” Paige studied him. “You don’t act like a friendly farmer that’s never been in trouble with the law. In fact, you’re acting like a thug that knows his way around the system. Care to explain that?”

“What do you want?” Jordan forced his body to remain perfectly still. He was blowing this but seeing the cops in his driveway had surprised him. He forgot who he was for a minute. Now he had to dial it back, act like Jordan, and get them the hell away from his house.

“We’re looking for a vehicle,” Gage stepped forward. “A white Explorer, newer model. It was last seen heading this way. We just stopped to see if you noticed it driving by, since you were out in the yard and all.”

“Sorry,” Jordan clenched his teeth. As if he’d tell them anything — even if he did notice the vehicle they were hunting — which he hadn’t. “Didn’t see a thing. Now, if you don’t mind, I have work.”

“Thank you for your time,” Paige held out a hand and wondered if he’d take it.

Jordan hesitated, locked eyes with Paige and took her hand. He gave it one shake, then dropped it. “Have a nice day,” he sneered before he turned and walked away.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/cold-autumn-morning-at-the-farm-MPS-scaled.jpg)

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Paige glanced at Gage, shrugged, and headed for their vehicle. The instant they reached the front of the house, Ella flagged them down. She was standing on the front porch, wringing her hands. When Paige broke off and headed toward her, Ella glanced nervously toward the backyard.

“Here’s everything I could find,” she shoved an envelope toward Paige. “Please, go quickly. He’ll notice if you stick around for long and I won’t be able to lie.”

Paige focused on the woman’s face and spotted the heavy makeup and the bruise. “He hit you?”

“Yesterday,” Ella nodded. “I’ll press charges, I promise I will. I just need to find out what happened to my husband. Jordan would never hit me. Never. That man is not Jordan. I don’t care if he looks like Jordan. I don’t care if he says he’s Jordan. I know my husband and that man is not the man I married.” She glanced toward the back and relaxed when she saw the man who was supposed to be her husband climb into the truck and head for the back field.

“I’ll write up a basic report,” Paige decided. “The next time we talk, I’ll need the specifics for a follow up.”

“This is such a mess,” Ella brushed away a tear. “That’s not Jordan, but if I divorce him, I still lose. I lose the man I love along with the man I hate.”

“I’m going to help you, Ella,” Paige promised. She didn’t care what Jericho said. Something was not right in this household and she was going to figure out what that something was. “Trust me,” Paige reached out and patted Ella’s hand. “I’m going to go now. You call me if anything else happens. I’ll find a way to help you, but you have to call me.”

“Alright,” Ella watched Paige walk back to the truck and climb inside. She wondered how bad things were going to get before she got answers. She straightened her shoulders and inhaled a long, soothing breath. Whatever happened, she’d deal with it. She’d survive and she’d find out what happened to Jordan. If she was right and that man was an imposter, then Jordan was out there somewhere, and he needed her. Or he was dead. She couldn’t think about that. She’d just believe he was out there, counting on her to find him and fix this. He couldn’t be dead, she needed him.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Hey, Sean,” Paige said the instant he answered her call. “I need a favor, you busy?”

“Actually,” Sean hesitated. “I’m swamped at the moment. What do you need? If I can’t help, I might be able to find someone to assist you.”

“That’s okay,” Paige considered. “I’ll tap someone else.”

“Carmen might be just as busy,” Sean warned. “Is it a data thing or something else?”

“Mainly a data thing,” she admitted. “I’ll bug Carmen, if she can’t juggle me in, I’ll hit Hawk up for some help. Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”

“If you hit a wall, tag me back. I’ll find someone to help,” he promised before he disconnected.

Paige debated — call, or stop by? She decided to stop by. That way, she could see how busy the guys were before she asked for a favor. If Hawk was still swamped, she’d tag Carmen. Her best friend would slip her in, no matter how busy she was. Paige just didn’t want to use a friend that way unless it was necessary.

She pulled into the parking lot and saw the men had cleared the entire area. They were preparing for another winter survival course next week but clearing the entire lot seemed futile to her. Another storm was headed this way. She wondered why they plowed the snow if they were just going to transport the students into the wilderness the instant they arrived. Not her problem, she decided. Paige yanked open the large front door and came face to face with the man she was looking for.

“Your old man’s in the back,” Hawk grinned. “You know, it’s been difficult, trying to remember we’re all on equal footing around here. I just figured out why that is. I think your bossy husband might be spending entirely too much time with that daddy general of yours.”

Paige snorted out a laugh. “Cute. So, if you’re ignoring all edicts from the man that’s not your boss, does that mean you have some free time?”

“You need help with something?” Hawk sobered and studied her closely.

“I need help running a background,” Paige admitted. “I’m not getting anywhere because I don’t think this man really exists.”

“I’m surprised you came to me,” he narrowed his eyes at her. “Unless you asked Carmen and she said no.”

“I asked Sean,” Paige told him. “Dax has been so busy, I assumed you wouldn’t have time, either. Sean was a no-go and he said Carmen is also swamped with some top-secret project Nathan’s running. I decided to take my chances with you before I interrupt Carmen. If you don’t have time…”

“I actually do have a little time,” Hawk pivoted and headed for his office. “You better tell your man hello before we get started. Otherwise, we’ll both be in the doghouse. I’ll be in my office.”

Paige smiled and made her way to the back. She paused in the doorway and just watched Dax work. He was frowning and every few seconds he’d rub his eyes or his temple. It was obvious he had a headache. “You should take something for that before it gets any worse.”

Dax glanced up and smiled. “Did you tell me you were coming by today?” He rubbed his temple again and tried to remember.

“No,” she moved across the room, around the desk and stopped next to his chair. She studied him for several seconds, pulled out the top drawer and snatched up the bottle of pain killers he stored there. “Take two,” she dumped them into his hand. “Don’t argue.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he popped the pills into his mouth and dry swallowed.

“Seriously?” Paige shook her head, moved to the hallway, and got Dax a paper cup full of water from the dispenser.

“Thanks,” he took it and swallowed the contents in one gulp. “You didn’t say why you’re here.”

“I need to use Hawk on something,” she admitted. “He says he has time. Can you spare him for an hour?”

“Sure,” Dax dropped his head back and closed his eyes. “It just suddenly hit for no reason. Sorry.”

Paige pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “Don’t move, I’m going to shut the door and turn out the lights. Don’t argue with me, mister. Take twenty minutes and let the medication work. Anything you have pressing can wait that long.”

He reached out, took her hand, and kissed her palm. “Thanks.”

“I’ll grab something for dinner on my way home,” she decided. “Maybe you could handle what’s pressing and go home early. You didn’t sleep well last night, and you could probably use some rest.”

“I’m fine,” he opened one eye. “Nathan’s project has all of us on edge. I… well, I think a guy I know might be in trouble. Hope I didn’t keep you up. I’m just a little worried about the whole situation.”

“Is it a friend?”

“No,” Dax sighed. “I met him, never worked with him, but he seemed solid enough. Sean may have to head out of town if Nathan can’t get the go ahead for a specialized team to handle it.”

“I assume that’s your way of warning me the mission will be dangerous,” Paige focused on the window. “I’m not going to worry about that because it’s out of my control. But, if you talk to Nathan, tell him I expect him to find someone I trust to watch Sean’s back.”

“I suspect the next time Nathan calls; he’ll be looking for you.”

“Then I’ll tell him myself,” Paige paused at the door. “Forget all of that. Save it for later. Set the prep work for the upcoming course aside, too. Just relax for twenty. I’m going to be here at least an hour. If something comes up I can handle, I’ll give it to Hawk, we’ve got this.”

Dax just nodded, dropped his head back against the chair and closed his eyes again. Paige knew that meant the headache was severe. She wondered what he planned to do about it before she arrived. Probably nothing. The stubborn man hated to take pills. He’d rather suffer in silence and make life miserable for everyone around him.

 “You get Dax straightened out?” Hawk asked when he spotted Paige.

“He’s got a headache that’s on a fast track to an explosion if he doesn’t do something about it,” she admitted. “I gave him a pill, shut out the lights, and closed the door. Can you make sure nobody interrupts him for at least twenty?”

Hawk pulled out his phone, typed out a short text and slid it back into his pocket. “Now, tell me how I can help the great and powerful Deputy Carter.”

Paige ran him through the basics, told him what she had and described the wall she hit while trying to determine Jordan Hovey’s real identity.

“Did you bring the documents?”

Paige pulled out a file and handed it to Hawk.

“Marriage certificate looks legit, but he used a fake identity to get it, so it won’t hold up.”

“Yeah,” Paige settled into a chair. “I came to the same conclusion. I’m going to wait on that, though. The wife is already stressed about divorcing evil Jordan and losing angel Jordan in the process.”

“You do know how crazy this all sounds, right?”

“How do you explain it?” Paige wondered.

“Could she be an embarrassed battered wife?” Hawk wondered. “Maybe things have gotten worse and she doesn’t want to admit she put up with the abuse all this time? Maybe, now that she wants out, she concocted a story because she’s ashamed she took it so long.”

“I can’t rule that out,” Paige considered. “But I don’t think so. Especially after I confirmed Jordan Hovey is not legit. He might be a sweet and loving husband, but he’s a fake. Now, I just need to find out if he’s a fake that finally let his true personality out or if he’s a fake that met with foul play so another fake could pretend to be him.”

“That’s a complicated explanation to something that could be straightforward and ordinary,” Hawk shifted and began typing on his computer. “What’s that theory, I think it was Einstein that said the most probable answer is the easiest solution.”

“Occam's razor,” Paige nodded. “It actually says the simplest solution is usually the correct one. And it wasn’t Einstein, it was a theologist named — wait for it, William Ockham of the English philosopher variety.”

“You just love to show off your brainiac side, don’t you?” Hawk laughed. “Consider me corrected and let’s move on to Jordan Hovey of the Hancock Hovey’s.”

“What?” Paige lunged forward. “You did not just find my mysterious fake husband.”

“Okay,” Hawk pushed away from the computer. “If you say so.”

“Hawk,” Paige practically whined. “Tell me.”

“I don’t have much — yet. I recognized the documents. Mainly the birth certificate. The forger, he has a tell. I’ve dealt with his work before,” Hawk admitted. “Meaning I’ve hacked into his system and extracted the data I needed before.”

“Which made it easy for you to get in again,” Paige realized. “And what did that tell you?”

“Not a lot,” Hawk admitted. “It’s only the first step. I can tell you Jordan Hovey AKA Hancock had money at one time. Had to. The forger in question doesn’t come cheap. I can also tell you his name, which I already have. He’s using the same birthdate he just changed the month.” Hawk slid the birth certificate across the desk. “That says his date of birth is February twenty-third. It is actually May twenty-third, same year.”

“Easy to remember,” Paige nodded and studied the birth certificate. “He might know someone that has a birthday in February. Makes for an easy switch. What else?”

“That’s about it for now,” Hawk held up a hand to stop her. “I’m working on it. I need a few to dig deeper. Why don’t you go somewhere and get us lunch? And by us, I mean the whole motley crew. Once the vultures smell anything worth eating, they’ll swarm like a bunch of starving rats.”

“Don’t you need me to stay here and help?”

Hawk just stared at her.

“Right,” she stood. “Pizza or burgers?”

“Pizza’s easier,” Hawk decided. “Track down Wooly. He knows what and where and he can get you the cash to pay the bill. Oh, and pull that door shut on your way out. I need a little uninterrupted time to work on this.”

“I hope the world doesn’t come to an end in the next hour,” Paige headed for the door. “Otherwise, I’ll get blamed for taking the two top honchos that run this fine establishment out of commission.”

“The world won’t end,” Hawk remained focused on his computer. “And if it did, those guys out there know how to handle it. We run a top-notch facility here at DMA, even with the two head honchos out of commission.”

“Good to know,” she pulled the door shut and began her search for Wooly.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige slid open the door and silently made her way across the room. Once she reached the desk, she twisted the chair to the side and crouched between Dax’s legs, resting her palms on his thighs. “Hey, babe.” She didn’t even see it coming. One minute she was crouched in front of her husband. The next, he had whisked her up and settled her onto his lap.

Laughing, she studied his eyes for several seconds. They were now clear and full of mischief. “Guess the head feels better.”

Dax grinned. “That’s what she said.”

Paige slugged him.

“Oh,” Dax laughed. “You meant my other—”

“Not funny, Dax Hamilton,” Paige warned. “Do not finish that sentence. I brought you lunch but now I’m rethinking that decision.”

Dax pulled her in for a kiss. “Thank you, for everything. Was Hawk able to help?”

“Sure,” Paige rolled her eyes. “If he ever stops long enough to brief me on his findings.”

“Awe,” Dax let her stand up and followed. “You might as well accept his methods. You won’t get a thing from him until he’s ready to share. I’m speaking from years of experience here. You’ll never break through the shield when Hawk’s in cyber mode. The man is a geek to the core.”

“Carmen’s a geek,” Paige argued. “I can get her to stop long enough to report.”

“Yes,” Dax followed her into the break room. “But Carmen worked for the feds. She’s used to interruptions and impossible demands. Hawk, he’s a military man and he’s perfected the art of silence.”

“Right,” Paige dropped into a chair. “I just need something. We’ve been lucky so far. I’ve been monitoring the calls and there’s nothing pressing. But, if I hang out here much longer, Jericho’s going to send a search party — with a cattle prod.”

“Are those standard issue in these parts?” Dax grinned.

“No,” Paige slid a slice of pizza onto a plate. “Those are issued directly by Jericho when he wants to make a statement.”

“Let’s enjoy lunch before the mob arrives,” Dax settled in next to her. “Then I’ll get Hawk to share what he found. The guys should have things finalized for the upcoming course by now. Hawk can dedicate the rest of the day to your project and I’ll make sure he fills me in before I head home.”

“Thanks,” Paige glanced up when the door swung open. She was hoping for Hawk. She got Vato, Wooly and Zeus.

“Dig in,” Dax snatched up another plate, filled it with several slices of pizza and left the room.

“Is Hawk working on something big?” Zeus slid onto the chair next to Paige. “He has to be tied up or he would have beat us here.”

“He’s working on something for me,” Paige took a second slice. She knew these guys. If she didn’t take what she wanted now there wouldn’t be anything left, and she was hungry.

“Anything the rest of us can help with?” Wooly offered.

“I don’t think so,” Paige considered. She didn’t know what Hawk found, so she couldn’t be sure. “I’ll let you know.”

Hawk stepped into the room carrying the plate Dax had fixed for him. “I might need something from you, Wooly. I’m still working a lead, but if I can’t break through myself, I might need you to contact Bull.”

“Now I’m intrigued,” Vato settled in at the end of the table. “If you’re calling in the big dogs, that means whatever you’re working must be well hidden — it’s the only reason you’d need the Bulldog.”

“Who is that?” Paige wondered.

“Bull is another hacker,” Dax settled back onto the chair next to Paige. “He’s relentless — thus the name. There’s nobody more blood-thirsty than Bull when he’s working a job — especially if you give him a challenge. Well, if you can get him to bite. Bull is far more selective these days than he used to be.”

“Because his reputation proceeds him?” Paige wondered. “Or because he hacked into a greedy Wall Street tycoon’s bank account and helped himself?”

“Yeah,” Dax evaded. “He’s selective, but one of the best.”

“I can probably just ask Carmen —”

“Don’t,” Zeus cut in. “She’s got her hands full right now and the last thing she needs is a distraction.”

Everyone in the room focused on Zeus. When he didn’t elaborate, they took the hint and started talking about the upcoming training course.

“Paige,” Hawk nudged her arm. “I know you have to get back to work, but before you go, I need a minute.”

“Alright,” she studied him for some sign, but the man was a steel vault when he wanted to be. “Once we’re done here, we can head back to your office.”

Twenty minutes later, Dax, Hawk and Paige gathered in Hawk’s office.

“What I have so far is extremely sketchy without a lot of details,” Hawk warned.

“That’s fine,” Paige settled into a chair. “Tell me what you did find.”

“Like I said before,” Hawk began. “The man had money. I don’t know where it came from, not yet. Maybe an inheritance of some kind. I know he didn’t get it from his parents. His father was a drunk — a mean one by the looks of it. He spent more time sleeping off booze in a drunk tank than he did at home from what I’ve found. Mostly due to fights he instigated.”

“Jordan was honest about that,” Paige told them. “He told his wife he never drank because his father was a mean drunk. Now, he drinks all the time.”

“Anyway,” Hawk continued. “He didn’t get the money from his parents. They were dirt poor. His mother, Diane Hancock, spent most of her life working minimum wage jobs and barely paid the bills. Bryce Hancock, died of cirrhosis of the liver at the ripe old age of fifty-four.”

“Was Jordan an only child?” Paige wondered.

“Still trying to determine that,” Hawk admitted. “That’s why I might need Bull. Jordan’s buried his lineage nice and deep. I haven’t even found a record of the birth. There’s nothing there, just a big black hole. I’m shoveling through other sources and I might be able to uncover what I need from here. If not, I’ll get Bull to help.”

“What if he says no?” Paige looked at Dax.

“Bull won’t say no,” Dax assured her. “Well, he will. That’s kneejerk. But he’ll cave and give Hawk whatever he needs. Wooly knows how to work it. Don’t worry, we’ll get answers.”

“What can you give me now? Paige asked Hawk, deciding to trust Dax. “I need something I can work, a lead I can follow.”

“I know our guy was born in Tennessee or Nebraska,” Hawk told her. “He’s listed both. Tennessee on some documents, Nebraska on others.”

“I think Tennessee,” Paige decided.

“Why?” Dax looked at Hawk, but he just shrugged.

“Because Jordan told Ella he was from Tennessee,” Paige admitted. “I know you think he lied and that means he’s from Nebraska. But, he told her about his drunk father. I think he was giving her as much truth as he dared.”

Hawk studied her. “Are you convinced — I mean, truly convinced — we’re talking about two different men?”

“The more I work this case,” Paige asked. “Yeah. I think Jordan was running from something. I would have guessed his drunk father, but he’s dead. No reason to keep up the fake life if the threat is no longer a threat, right? I also think his past caught up to him. Do you know what happened to his mother?”

“She’s living in New Mexico with a sister,” Hawk snatched up some papers off his printer. “I’ve been working the parents in hopes of hitting on something that will help with the son. Mother’s clean. Never been arrested. Once the deadbeat drunk passed, her life got a lot easier. She was working two jobs up until then, after Bryce died, I could only find one. She got a job at a local department store and stayed in the same place for several years. And yeah, she lived in Tennessee. Moved around a lot before Bryce passed, but they never left the state. Once hubby croaked, she landed in Nashville and never left. Not until seven years ago, when she moved to New Mexico to room with a sister.”

“Seven years?” Paige stared at Hawk.

“Yeah,” he scowled. Clearly, he was missing something.

“Did you notice the date on Ella and Jordan’s marriage certificate?”

“No,” Hawk began digging through the papers. “I was focused on the early years and didn’t get to the marriage part of the program.”

“I bet they got married seven years ago,” Dax said, reading Paige.

“You’d win that bet,” Paige nodded.

“New Mexico is closer to Utah than Tennessee,” Dax considered. “You think he kept in touch with his mother all this time?”

“I know he did,” Paige thought of the receipts from New Mexico.

“That’s dangerous,” Hawk frowned. “And reckless after he paid all that money for a new identity. Safer to cut all ties and move on.”

“Hawks right,” Dax agreed. “Why pay such a high price and go into hiding but still keep in touch?”

“You do,” she gave Dax a sympathetic look. “You’re not hiding, but your situation is complicated. Still, you never go longer than a month without checking in with your parents.” She focused on Hawk. “It’s the same for all of you. Jordan’s mother took care of him and provided for the family. She worked long hours, worked two jobs, and made sure they always had a place to live. I think any son would appreciate the sacrifice and he’d want to keep track of her. I don’t know if he did it from a distance or if the contact was up close and personal, but I bet he always knew what was going on in her life.”

“Mysterious trips to purchase mustangs?” Dax wondered.

“Maybe,” Paige shrugged. “I wonder if he moved to Utah to be closer to his mother or if she moved to New Mexico to be closer to him.”

“Why don’t you go back to work,” Hawk suggested. “I’ll keep digging and see if I can get the answers to some of those questions.”

“Alright,” Paige stood and turned to Dax. “I guess I’ll see you at home.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Dax also stood.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Jericho,” Clark Anderson said in greeting. “Don’t tell me you have federal agents after you again.”

“Not this time,” Jericho assured him. “I need a background on a woman. Do you have time?”

“Maybe,” Clark considered. “For you, probably. Who is she?”

“Someone I knew in high school,” Jericho admitted.

“Really?” Clark laughed. “And you’ve been carrying a torch all this time. Let me guess, you want to look her up and see if the flame is still burning on her end?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Jericho grumbled. “She moved to Manti and every time I turn around, that woman is lurking around the corner.”

“You think she’s stalking you?” Clark asked, unconvinced. “That would be rather stupid, wouldn’t it? Since you’re the sheriff and all.”

“Do you have time to check into her or not?”

“Sure,” Clark grabbed a pen. “What do you know?”

“Her name is Harper Wellington,” Jericho provided her age, her address, and her phone number. “That’s all I can give you for now.”

Paige sighed and moved away from Jericho’s door. When she turned, she saw the look on Margie’s face. “I —” how to finish that statement? She’d just been caught eavesdropping.

“There’s no need to say a thing,” Margie sighed. “I told him not to call in Clark, but he won’t listen. He’s going to ruin his chances with that woman before he decides if he wants a chance.”

“Will you tell him —”

“Paige,” Jericho called. “Get in here.”

“Ever feel like you’re voluntarily walking to the gallows?” Paige asked over her shoulder.

Margie laughed.

“I assume you’re here to give me an update,” Jericho greeted. He was standing in front of the window with his back to her.

Paige silently made her way across the room and stepped in next to him. When he didn’t turn, didn’t react, she leaned against the windowsill. “I have a couple things I want to say to you.”

“If it’s not about your case, I don’t want to hear it.”

“Too bad,” Paige gripped the sill with both hands and continued. “First, I want to say you’re making a mistake. You know Harper’s not some psycho stalker. She’s just a girl asking a boy to love her.”

“What are you talking about? I have no idea where you get these things,” Jericho scowled.

“There are these things called movies,” Paige teased. “They have what’s commonly referred to as one-liners — you know, phrases that stick with you sometimes. Never mind. I’m just saying I think Harper is open to the idea of reconnecting. You should give that a real shot before she finds out what you did and refuses to speak to you.”

“I got luckier than any man deserves with Chaya, things didn’t end the way I hoped,” Jericho said in dismissal. “Some people only get one chance at happiness.”

“I’ve thought a lot about mom and our life here,” Paige said cautiously. “She was happy, really happy. You need to remember that. Mom was finally settled and ready to move on.”

“Paige, drop it,” Jericho warned.

“When my dad died, mom was a mess. I’m not sure she would have survived if she didn’t have me — if she didn’t have that responsibity. She loved my father with all her heart. Dylan Carter was her world. Losing him, nearly broke her.”

“I’m aware of that,” Jericho glanced at her then looked away.

“I know you are,” Paige said casually. “I’m not sure you realize she loved you just as much. I can see that now. I was a stupid teenager, and her happiness was something I recognized in the background, but I had my friends and my own life. I never really paid attention to what was going on with mom. Not back then, anyway. If I’d been more in tune with my surroundings, I would have realized the two of you had a thing going.”

“That’s easy to say now,” Jericho disagreed. “She didn’t want you to know. Probably because she wasn’t serious about us, not the way you mean.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Paige insisted. “You know how I know that?” She waited when he didn’t respond, she answered. “Because she kept you a secret.”

“That doesn’t even make sense,” Jericho frowned.

“Sure, it does,” Paige shrugged. “Mom kept you from everyone because you were important. I lived with her, before the secret mission that took dad’s life — and after. Mom was a little silly and completely open and carefree when I was little. Then, the military showed up and changed our world. Things were never the same for us after that. Mom changed, she closed up completely and rarely laughed. It was hard for her, the grieving process. I remember it was the hardest when people tried to be supportive. We’d be doing something simple and mundane like grocery shopping or walking through the park, and a neighbor or casual acquaintance would stop us. It was always the same. They’d say they heard about dad, tell her how sorry they were, and ask how she was holding up. She’d struggle through it, but the instant we got back home, she’d lock herself in her room and break down; sobbing uncontrollably for the rest of the night.”

“Paige,” Jericho warned.

“We got through it somehow and, after we moved here, mom opened her heart to someone new,” Paige continued, undeterred. “She fell in love totally and completely — with you. She was happy again, really happy. I was oblivious, but even I could see how living here opened her up and changed her. She laughed all the time, after all those years, she was finally living again. You gave her that, Jericho. She loved you. I believe she hid that love, and insisted you had to go along with her insane demands, because she was afraid of losing you. If she let other people see it, if she shouted her feelings to the world, she feared fate would step in and take you away too — the way it did with dad.”

“This is a futile conversation,” Jericho decided. “Neither one of us will ever know if you’re right.”

“I already know,” Paige insisted. “Because she was my mom, and I knew her better than anyone. I lived through the hard times and I saw the joy and the love in her eyes after we moved here. You can reject it, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Mom loved you. Denying that, disrespects her love. Mom lost my father in a violent, sudden, and unexpected tragedy. She grieved, she suffered, then she opened her heart and let herself love again. You lost my mom in a violent, sudden, and unexpected tragedy. Now, you need to do the same. Harper may not be your future, but there’s no reason she can’t be a part of your life right now.”

“That’s not the way I do things,” Jericho moved away from the window and settled into his chair. “Now, tell me about your case.”

“I said a couple things,” Paige didn’t move. “You never had the chance to grieve, not really. You internalized all of it. You’ve let it fester for years. Nobody stopped you in the grocery store to extend condolences. Nobody offered you sympathy and support. You suffered in silence. You were denied the opportunity to break down, to show the world how much losing mom hurt you — how it nearly destroyed you. The only outlet you had was the investigation. Now that the killer is dead, you’ve been left with nothing. Just more pain and loneliness. I’m here for you, but you won’t even let me in — not completely. Instead, you’ve shifted all that heartache and sorrow, all the energy you released by tracking her killer, all the frustration and the anguish — into guilt. Mom’s death wasn’t your fault. Nothing could have prevented it — not even you.”

“You’re wrong about that. If she trusted me, I could have protected her,” Jericho insisted. “Instead, she was ashamed of what we had.”

“Maybe you could have protected her,” Paige sighed and moved to one of the visitor chairs. “But maybe not. Mom was reckless in her pursuit of the truth. That’s because she had something to prove. To you, sure. But she needed to prove to herself she was worthy of your love. She was so dependent on dad that, after he was gone, we were both vulnerable. I remember too many times when asking for help put us in more danger than the problem she was trying to solve. She brought strangers into the house to help because she was ashamed and embarrassed. She never wanted friends or family to know just how helpless she really was.”

“She never told me that,” Jericho considered.

“Like I said, she was ashamed. She told me she would never be that helpless and dependent on anyone again,” Paige explained. “She couldn’t do that again, not even for you. She hated feeling weak and vulnerable. She also told me, when I was older, that I needed to learn how to be independent.”

“You clearly took that to heart,” Jericho grumbled.

“Mom looked back on those early years and realized she was never dad’s equal. Dylan Carter was always in control of our castle. I was just a kid and I could see that. You loved her, so you wanted to protect her. But she loved you, so she had to prove to herself you didn’t have to protect us. It was the only way she could move to that next level with you. Plus, you know she loved you and she finally decided to tell the world about your relationship. You read her last letter, same as I did. Nothing that happened was your fault and you need to stop blaming yourself for all of it. Mom was killed by a spoiled, pathetic, coward. He was selfish and depraved — end of story. Together, you and I — well, mostly you — we got justice for mom. Let that be enough.”

“I’ll think about it,” Jericho evaded.

“You need to do more than think about it,” Paige smiled. “Unless you want these talks to become part of our daily routine.”

“Yeah,” Jericho scowled. “That will never happen.”

“You should also know that avoiding me and refusing to give me a commitment won’t get you out of Christmas dinner at my house. We expect you by four at the latest. If you pull a no-show, we’ll track you down and drag you to the table kicking and screaming if we have to.”

Jericho started to say something, stopped, and just nodded. “I’ll be there.”

“Good,” Paige settled back in her chair. “While we’re being all open and candid. We need to set aside some time to do the whole Christmas delivery thing. Dax and the boys have a ton of stuff piled in the back storage are at the training center. They also bought dozens of gift cards and a secret donor dropped off around fifty cards for the market, so whoever we give those to has to buy food.”

“Your group has been busy,” Jericho realized. “Gage and Havilland want to help with the deliveries. So does Margie. Dean said he’ll participate next time — if we do this again. He’s heading home to spend the holidays with his family and Lovato will be headed up north next week.”

“Yeah,” Paige smiled. “Lo said he’s skiing with friends. You know, taking advantage of the greatest snow on earth.”

“I was thinking we’d all meet up early in the day Christmas Eve, organize everything, then make the deliveries later that night.”

“Works for us,” Paige grinned. “Don’t look now, but the stoic, antisocial sheriff just might be living again. Now you just need to call off the PI, and invite that woman to Christmas dinner.”

“I can’t,” Jericho sobered. “I need to know. It all seems just a little too convenient. Clark will be discrete but thorough.”

“I think you’re going to regret this,” Paige warned. “But, it’s your mistake to make.”

“It is,” Jericho studied her but didn’t back down. “You think we could actually talk about your case now. I’m pretty sure the good citizens of Sanpete might expect us to do a little work for our paycheck.”

Paige filled him in on the developments and told him Hawk was still digging. She was sure she’d have a lot more after Dax got home tonight.

“What’s your next move?” he finally asked.

“I’m going to see what I can find in Tennessee,” Paige decided. “I’d like to locate school records for Jordan Hancock, maybe some hospital records — if his dad was a mean drunk there could have been little accidents over the years — if I bomb there, I might be able to locate a little league team, or a neighborhood gang that remembers Jordan as a kid.”

“What will that tell you?”

“I need to know more about his family,” Paige insisted. “I need to know what he’s hiding from — or who. I need to know if Jordan was a decent kid or if he was a problem child.”

“I agree,” Jericho agreed. “There’s more to this story. Keep digging and see what you find.”

“Does that mean you changed your mind? Since this started you’ve been pushing me to close this out.”

“I support you, Paige,” he paused to make sure she was listening. “I always did. I’ve learned not to question your instincts. Keep working this until your satisfied you have the answers you need.”

“Thank you,” she said, grateful he wasn’t shutting her down.

“One more thing,” he added when she started to stand.

“Yeah?”

“I have let you in,” he admitted. “Completely. I haven’t made a decision about Harper but you, Dax, and that team of vagabonds he calls friends — you’re all family. I might be reluctant, but that’s only because I’m used to being alone.”

“Well,” Paige stepped to the door. “Get unused to it.”

“I don’t think that’s a word,” he called to her back.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into the house, anxious to see what Dax had for her. She’d spent all afternoon on the computer and making phone calls but didn’t find anything helpful. She knew Jordan had to attend school in Tennessee, if she was patient and thorough enough, she’d find his records. She stepped into the kitchen and the succulent aroma hit her immediately. “Holy cow,” she moved to the stove. “That smells amazing. When did you have time to cook stew?”

“We decided if we kept messing with the course, we’d mess it up so thoroughly it wouldn’t be fixable,” Dax admitted. “Zeus headed home to see if he could help Carmen, and Wooly wanted to get an early start and miss the traffic back to Nephi. Hawk rushed home, still engrossed in solving the mystery you dropped in his lap and Vato has a date. I figured I’d head home and thank you for pampering me this morning.”

“I’ll take it,” she moved to the cupboard and started pulling out what they needed to set the table. “Please tell me that’s ready. I’m starving.”

“Did you make any progress?”

“Not on the case,” she admitted. “I guess eliminating possibilities could be considered progress. I didn’t hit on anything new, though. I’ll pick it back up tomorrow.”

“Did you have a chance to talk to Jericho about the deliveries?”

“I actually did,” Paige glanced at him. “I had the chance to talk to Jericho about a lot of things.”

“Uh-oh,” Dax dished up two heaping bowls of stew. “What does that mean?”

She told him about their conversation and finished with the plans for Christmas Eve and assured him Jericho would be attending Christmas dinner.

“You think he’ll bring Harper?” Dax was still digesting everything Paige just told him. “You do realize, she’s not going to be happy when she finds out he had her investigated.”

“I do,” Paige settled in and started on the soup. “I told him that. He won’t call it off. At this point, all we can hope for is damage control.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Dax decided. “Once the training course is over, I’ll have the guys help me sort through the stuff in that storage room. If we develop some kind of system, it will be easier to coordinate on Christmas Eve.”

“That sounds like a good plan,” she sat back and studied him. “And the other stuff? Do you have deep thoughts on any of that?”

“Not really,” Dax considered. “You’re right, but Jericho has to figure that out for himself. I think if he finally gives Harper a chance, they might be a good fit. She’s caring but tough. That came through loud and clear on Thanksgiving and at the diner the day I met her. She’s a good match for the obstinate lawman. I’m holding out hope he’ll see that himself and give her a shot.”

“Well, I said my peace. Now, I guess all I can do is wait and hope for the best.”

“I brought a few things home for you,” he admitted. “After we eat,” he demanded when she started to stand. “Hawk couldn’t find high school records either. He eventually capitulated and had Wooly contact Bull — who is also digging into your mystery tonight. It might take a couple days, but I think we’ll eventually stumble onto something that will help.”

“I hope so,” Paige sighed. “Ella needs answers and I’m worried she’s in danger.”

“Because he already hit her?”

“Yeah,” Paige sighed. “Then, there’s the real Jordan. If he’s still alive he could be vulnerable, injured or just exposed to the elements.”

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\*\*\*\*\*

Jordan leaned his head back until it collided with the hard wall. He wished he knew how long he’d been locked up inside this musty cellar. It had to be weeks, not days. He glanced in the corner. Counting the cans would give him an idea, but he didn’t have the energy. Conserving the few supplies Joey left him kept him alive, but it wasn’t enough to sustain him forever. He was so tired, and the cold temperatures felt like they penetrated every inch of his body and soaked straight through to his bones. Sorrow engulfed him and he had to admit, he was running out of time.

Ella had to be worried. He knew she’d never give up; she’d search for him until she found him. Too bad he had no idea where he was. It took effort, but he forced his body forward, away from the cold concrete wall. Once he no longer had the solid surface to support him, his body tipped to the side. He caught his weight with the palms of his hands and instantly curled into a ball on the hard dirt floor. He felt a trickle of damp liquid slide onto his wrist and knew his hands were bleeding again. He should get up, pry open a can of soup, and prepare for another freezing night in misery — but he couldn’t do it. Not yet. He’d just rest here for an hour, maybe two. Then he’d gag down another meal of cold soup and have a little water.

Satisfied he had a plan, he tried not to think about the futility of his efforts. Unless someone discovered him, he’d be dead soon. He might last another week, two tops but then he’d run out of food and water. Anger surged through him. How did his brother find him? That hacker he hired to create a new life, promised nobody would ever uncover his identity or his location. He’d paid a fortune to reinvent himself, to hide from the sadistic man he always feared. And still, here he was locked in a cold, dark cellar, on the verge of death because someone did find him. Joey found him and his brother wanted him dead. If he survived, he was going to track down that incompetent con man and demand a refund.

He laughed at that. He’d never get out of here. The walls were comprised of a thick layer of concrete that ran from floor to ceiling. The floor was hard packed dirt, and the heavy door was made of steel and locked from the outside. There was no escape. His only hope was for Ella to find him and figure out a way to pry the door open. He wondered if that was even possible without the key. The door was heavy metal and solid. He knew, he tested it — several times. He felt a pain in his ribs and wondered if that was real or imaginary. He was pretty sure he had a couple of broken ribs. Apparently, that’s what happened when you broke into a dead run and tossed your body into a solid metal door. At the time, he thought it was worth trying. Now, he knew it only made his situation worse.

Once again, his thoughts turned to Joey. He always believed the man would catch up to him, someday. That’s the reason he spent his entire inheritance on a new life, a new name, and a new start. He knew it was worth it the instant he met Ella. She was worth it. He also knew she wouldn’t understand. She believed he was alone and didn’t have anyone but her. She didn’t know he had a family. A dysfunctional, pathetic, and dangerous family — but it was still family. She didn’t know anything because he lied to her. He told himself he was protecting her; but now, in the face of death, he had to admit he was only protecting himself. Ella had a right to know the truth and now she never would. Exhausted, depressed and utterly miserable, he let the fatigue overcome him. His eyes drifted closed and he passed out.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige glanced up when she heard the brisk knock. She spotted Hawk just before he pulled open the door and stepped inside. “Tell me you found something,” she demanded.

“Tell me you have coffee,” Hawk countered.

“Plenty,” Paige motioned toward the pot. “You’re killing me here. What did you find?”

“Not me,” Hawk doctored his coffee and joined Dax and Paige at the table. “Bull found something.”

Paige just stared at him.

Hawk laughed. “Jordan Hancock, son of Bryce and Diane Hancock, twin brother to Jonathan Hancock, was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee.”

“Yes,” Paige slapped the table. “He does have a twin. Anyone want to bet Jonathan is now hiding out in Manti, Utah — a case of the evil twin impersonating the good twin?”

“How do you prove it?” Dax wondered. “I thought twins had identical DNA.”

“They do,” Paige considered. “First, I need to figure out why Jonathan needed to become Jordan.”

“I can help with that,” Hawk shoved a paper across the table.

“He’s a wanted man,” she jumped from her seat and grabbed the front of Hawk’s shirt, planting a big kiss on his lips.

“Hey!” Dax objected.

Hawk laughed. “Consider me compensated.”

“I’ll give you compensation,” Dax warned.

“This says Jonathan Hancock killed a man, tried to make it look like he was the one that died, and escaped nearly two months ago,” Paige ignored Dax and his objection.

“Where?” Dax asked. “Not Utah or you would have put it together on your own.”

“Louisville,” Hawk answered.

“How did he get from Kentucky to Utah?” Dax wondered. “How did he even know to come to Utah for that matter.”

“And where did he stash Jordan?” Paige wondered, worried he didn’t stash his brother, he stashed his brother’s dead body. If she was right, Ella was going to be devastated.

“You think he’s dead,” Hawk realized.

“I think it’s likely he’s dead,” Paige corrected. “He’s wanted for murder. What’s one more body if the result is freedom?”

“How will you break it to the wife?” Dax took her hand.

“I’m not breaking anything to her,” Paige told them. “Not until I have a body and I’m sure. You never make notification on a guess.”

“Sound wisdom,” Hawk finished his coffee. “I’m still looking into something, but I won’t have access to the personal stuff. Not with my resources here. I’d get more if I flew out to Tennessee, but that’s not possible with the course starting in a few days.”

“No,” Paige shook her head. “You’ve done more than enough. Thank you for this. I don’t expect you to fly halfway across the country to track down leads for me. I’ll work the system from the inside. With this new information, I should be able to find a school administrator that can fill in some of the blanks.”

“Most of them have probably retired,” Dax warned.

“Or died,” Hawk offered before he pulled the door open.

“Such pessimists,” Paige scolded. “Why don’t the two of you go back to training and I’ll focus on investigating.”

“You’re certainly chipper this morning,” Hawk smiled. “I’m going to take credit for your good mood, and I think I’ll take your advice. I’ll finish the run I started this morning, then I’m heading into the center to finalize the schedule and double check supplies. I’ll leave the detective work to you.”

“What’s the run?” Paige called before he shut the door.

“Medical,” he said just before it clicked shut.

“That’s illegal,” Paige told Dax. “There are laws against —”

“Hacking?” Dax laughed. “That didn’t bother you yesterday when you needed his help.”

“Never mind,” Paige stood and poured a second cup of coffee. “I don’t want to know. I can’t be responsible if I don’t know.”

“I think that’s called accessory,” Dax teased.

“Technically,” Paige considered. “It would be accessory after the fact but if I don’t know about it, that means it never happened.”

“You keep telling yourself that,” Dax stood and boxed her in between his body and counter. “If an arrest is necessary, can I be the one to cuff you?”

“No,” Paige pushed him away. “Stop it, I don’t have time for funny business this morning. I have work.”

“Spoil sport,” Dax called after her.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige hung up and sat back in her chair. The Warden promised to send her everything on Jonathan — AKA Joey Hancock — and the prison break, but she now had a pretty good idea of how it happened. It was actually a brilliant plan — cold, calculating and sadistic, but brilliant. And he nearly got away with it. Would have gotten away undetected, long enough to disappear, if he hadn’t made that one mistake. But the man was in his thirties, and he hadn’t qualified for conjugal visits. Clearly, finding a woman took priority over distance and freedom in Joey Hancock’s short sided mind.

The prostitute saw blood on the man’s pants and what she recognized as prison shoes. She notified a friend, who notified a friend, who just happened to be a detective. That got the ball rolling and, within days, the perfect crime unraveled completely. Then, there was the fact that the actual dead guy had a wife that loved him. It was only a matter of time before someone noticed that dead Joey wasn’t really Joey at all.

She still hadn’t solved the mystery of Utah, though. Why did he come here? How did he find his brother? And what did he do with Jordan? Time was running out and she needed to figure it all out soon. With the freezing weather, another storm headed this way, and the danger to Ella — Paige had to act quickly. She just needed Jericho to stop in and give her ten minutes … fifteen tops. She’d fill him in, get the okay, and arrest Joey on the warrant. She held out little hope that the hardened criminal would direct them to Jordan — especially if they were looking for a body, but she had to try.

The door swung open and Paige was out of her chair, across the room and following Jericho into his office. It only took eight minutes to lay out the details. Jericho agreed to the arrest but insisted on joining her. When Paige pulled into Ella’s driveway, Jericho parked directly behind her.

“You go to the door,” Jericho decided. “I’ll go around and watch the back. If he suspects anything, he might try to run.”

“Right,” Paige watched her boss until he disappeared around the back corner of the house before she made her way to the front door and rang the bell.

“Can I help you?” Ella asked politely but her eyes were full of panic.

“My name is Deputy Paige Carter,” Paige pretended not to know the frightened woman standing in the doorway. “I’m here because I need to speak with your husband, Jordan Hovey. Is he available?”

“I—” she glanced over her shoulder. Before she had a chance to answer, Joey Hancock shoved Ella aside and filled the open doorway.

“What do you want?” he demanded.

“There’s been a complaint. I just have a few questions and we should be able to clear things up.”

“What kind of complaint?” he demanded.

Paige motioned for him to join her on the porch, away from Ella. “If you could step outside, I think it will only take a minute to resolve this.”

Joey shot Ella a threatening glance before he marched outside and slammed the door shut behind him.

The instant the door was closed, Paige pounced. She shoved Joey against the heavy metal railing and had him cuffed before he recovered from the shock and realized what was happening. “Jonathan Hancock, you are under arrest.”

“Guess you didn’t give him a chance to run,” Jericho emerged and joined Paige. “Let’s get him in the car.” He grabbed Joey’s arm and shoved him toward the stairs.

“This is false arrest,” Joey spat. “Release me immediately you no good, filthy pigs.”

“Yeah,” Paige shoved him into her car. “I’ll get right on that.”

“I’ll follow you in,” Jericho climbed into his car and backed out of the driveway, waiting on the side of the road for Paige to proceed him onto the highway. He thought about this case and wondered how they would have handled it if Paige never came to town. Would Gage have recognized it as suspicious? How about Dean, or Logan. The kid was good, but he was still green. Jericho liked to think he would have recognized the problem but he’d kept Paige on a tight leash from the beginning. Didn’t matter, she was here. She insisted on investigating and now they had a deviant criminal in custody. That was the easy part. The hard part would be locating the real Jordan Hovey. Jonathan Hancock was a hardened criminal. He’d never confess, never reveal the location of his brother willingly. Jericho sighed and wondered if this was going to be another all-nighter.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I can sit here all night,” Paige sat back and studied Joey.

“I don’t understand,” Joey insisted. “I told you, my name is Jordan Hovey. I don’t know anyone named Jonathan Hancock.”

“Uh-huh,” Paige glanced at Jericho. The sheriff was looking awfully annoyed at the moment. “We have your fingerprints, Joey.”

“Jordan,” Joey corrected.

“We’ve matched them to your prints in Kentucky. You’re in the system,” Paige shook her head. “I don’t know why you insist on playing this stupid game. You can’t win. We know you’re a wanted fugitive.”

“You’ve made a mistake. My name is Jordan Hovey. I don’t know anything about Kentucky. I’ve never even been to Kentucky. I’ve lived here, in Utah, for years. You can ask my wife, she’ll tell you. Maybe this Joey guy is my… what is it called when someone looks just like you? That must be it… some other guy that looks like me is who you’re looking for,” Joey insisted. “It has to be a mistake, that’s the only explanations. I don’t understand what’s happening here. Am I under arrest for something? If not, I’m sure my wife is worried. I really need to get home.”

“Yes,” Jericho answered. “That’s what you’re under arrest means, followed by handcuffs and the Miranda warning. But, since you’re a frequent flyer you already know that.”

“I think I’d like to talk to a lawyer,” Joey decided. “I’m really confused. Maybe a lawyer can explain things.”

“Put him in the back,” Jericho ordered before he stood and left the room.

Paige studied Joey. “Get up.”

“I—” he frantically glanced around.

Once Joey was locked in a cell, Paige settled in at her desk. It was clear the guy was never going to talk. She would need to find answers some other way. To start, how did he find his brother? She pulled up his rap sheet and began with his most recent arrest. Joey was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to five to ten years in prison. He served three of them before he murdered a fellow prisoner and escaped. Prior to that, he had two cellmates — John Martin and Roger Clark. She ran each of the roommates, didn’t find a thread, and moved to the next arrest. She was halfway through the list when her phone rang. “Deputy Carter.”

“Umm,” a female voice answered. “It’s Ella. Can you tell me what’s happening?”

“Ella,” Paige sighed. “I don’t have any concrete answers yet. But, since you called, I do have a few questions.”

“Alright.”

“I know Jordan — the new Jordan — has been living with you for several weeks. I’m wondering if you have anything that might have the old Jordan’s fingerprints. Something that he hasn’t touched since he returned from scoping out the mustang.”

“I don’t know,” Ella considered. “Wait. He gave me a card and this little glass horse figurine for my birthday. I’ve touched both of them, but they might still have his fingerprints. I read the card and then placed it in a cedar box. The figurine is in my cabinet. You’re welcome to test them or whatever you guys do. Should I bring them to the police station?”

“No,” Paige decided. “I’m going to send Heidi out to your house. She’s our forensics technician. She’ll check for prints while she’s there. If she finds something, she’ll have to take them. If not, she can leave them with you.”

“Okay,” Ella agreed. “Will I get them back? They mean a lot to me. I’d really like to have them back.”

“Yes,” Paige assured her. “I’ll make sure of it. Heidi will be there shortly.”

Once she hung up, she retrieved the information on another arrest. This time Joey was in prison for dealing drugs. His cellmate was a guy named Frankie Sanchez. When she ran his record, she discovered Frankie was originally from Utah. “Okay, now we’re getting somewhere.” Upon further investigation, she realized Frankie was currently housed in the Gunnison prison. She glanced at the clock, there was time. After a quick phone call to arrange a meeting, she headed for her car. She was leaving the parking lot when Gage pulled up.

“You get a call,” he stopped to ask.

“I’m headed to the prison to talk with an inmate.”

“I’m free,” Gage grabbed a bag off his passenger seat and tossed it in the back. “Hop in, we’ll go together. You can explain everything on the way.”

“Alright,” Paige nodded. “Give me a second to park.”

“Jonathan Hancock,” Paige said once Frankie was secured to the table. “Tell me what you know.”

“What did Joey do this time?” Frankie wondered.

“Is he a friend of yours?” Gage wondered.

“Joey doesn’t have friends,” Frankie shrugged. “He has people he uses, guys he protects if there’s something in it for him, and guys he scares into doing his dirty work. Nobody crosses Joey.”

“And if they did?” Paige wondered.

Frankie shrugged. “They’d probably disappear.”

“Joey killed a man in prison and tried to make it look like he was the one that died,” Paige informed him.

“He escaped,” Frankie laughed. “He always said he’d do that… if he ever got caught and was facing more time than he was willing to serve. You lookin’ for him?”

“No,” Paige said casually. “We have him.”

“You want something then,” Frankie realized. “I ain’t saying nothing. Joey will kill me.”

“You answer our questions, and nobody has to know,” Gage offered.

“You can’t make me testify,” Frankie insisted. “I don’t know nothin’.”

“We don’t need you to testify,” Paige said flatly. “We just need information. Joey is going back to prison in Kentucky. He killed a man. He’ll be extradited and he’ll stand trial for murder. They have a solid case. He’s never getting out.”

“What do you want from me?”

“Answers,” Paige shrugged. “Why did Joey come to Utah?”

“I don’t—” he paused, and his eyes grew wide.

“Tell us,” Gage insisted.

“He…” Frankie looked away.

“What?” Paige asked.

“He must have believed the stories,” Frankie whispered. “Thought he could use the farm somehow.”

“What farm?” Paige demanded.

“There was a guy,” Frankie focused on the table. “He had stories.”

“You have a name?” Gage pushed.

“Silas Pembroke.”

“Tell me about Silas,” Paige requested.

“Syes stories were dope,” Frankie focused on Paige. “He said his family spent a lifetime throwing shade with the cops. Hiding stuff, getting away with stuff, and making them all look stupid. Sye loves attention and his stores were blown up for fun, you know? Don’t get me wrong, he’s solid, just hit on hard times and got desperate. The cops hammered him for nothing. He didn’t belong in prison. And one guy, Sye got on his nerves. He was mean and bored, I guess. Sye became an easy target. Me and Joey stepped in, had Sye’s back for a few months in Tennessee. Sye kept up with the stories, talked about anything — made stuff up about everything. Most of it was bull, but he could tell a story.”

“And he told a story about Utah?” Gage wondered.

“Yeah,” Frankie nodded. “That was the family stuff. His great, great grandfather or something… he had a farm out here. Sye’s granddad was one of those moonshiners, bootleggers, something. The booze police was out to get him, always on his back, harassing him day and night. The way you guys do.”

“He had a place to hide,” Paige realized. “Somewhere he stashed the alcohol so the revenuers wouldn’t find it.”

“He built an old cellar out of sight on the farm,” Frankie admitted. “Said it was hard to find and hidden beneath one of those grain thingys. The man had stories and Joey — he was obsessed. Couldn’t get enough to be honest. I never thought he’d actually come here. He’s crazy. Joey is crazy, don’t forget that. If he’s in Utah, he’s got a reason.”

“Where is the farm?” Gage asked.

“Does the Pembroke family still own it?” Paige asked at the same time.

“Out here in Podunk,” Frankie grinned. “A few miles out in a little town somewhere. And yeah, the family still owns the farm. Sye said it’s vacant, nobody goes near the place. Some redneck farmer leases the place from his uncle or cousin or something. They work the back field. But the house, the barn, it’s trash.”

They talked for nearly an hour. Paige pressed but Frankie didn’t know anything else. Once she was confident they wouldn’t get more, they left.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Found it!” Paige exclaimed as they were passing Sterling. “You have time to stop and check it out?”

“Where is it?” Gage asked.

“In that farming area south west of town,” Paige glanced up. “It’s on the way. Shouldn’t take long. I need to do this, Gage. If you’re busy, drop me off and I’ll just head out alone.”

“Right,” Gage scoffed. “Hope you brought your walking boots.”

They left the highway and pulled onto a dirt and gravel driveway. The ruts were deep, and the weeds were tall. Paige grabbed the handle over the door and closed her eyes when the backend of the vehicle slid, nearly out of control.

“Great idea,” Gage barked once he had the vehicle back under control.

“Stop!” Paige called.

“What?”

Paige pointed at some tire tracks. “Where did those come from?”

Gage frowned. “Good question.” He brought the truck to a stop and shut down the engine.

Paige jumped out and began to follow the tracks on foot. They led across a vacant field. The weeds were at least three feet high in some places. It would be easy to believe nobody had ventured out here for decades — well, it would be if it weren’t for the two straight lines made from a large truck that ran down the middle of the field.

“Pretty confident, don’t you think?” Gage moved up next to Paige and they continued across the field. The ground was covered in snow making it difficult to traverse. “He didn’t even try to hide it.”

“He never believed we’d catch him,” Paige stopped at the edge of the field and studied the surrounding area. “He must have parked the truck here and walked the rest of the way.” The tracks made a circle at the tip like Joey turned around and followed the same tracks back out.

“Now what?” Gage focused on the next field over. “That place is vacant.” He glanced to the left. “That one is active, less so in the winter.” Gage moved several feet to the left and started in surprise. “Paige?”

“What?” she moved in next to him.

“Is that what I think it is?”

Paige pulled a small set of binoculars from her bag. “If you think that’s Ella’s house and her barn,” Paige lowered her binoculars. “Then yes. That is what you think it is.”

“I’ll never buy this as coincidence,” Gage insisted. “Joey had to know Jordan was here. It’s just too… I don’t even know.”

“Yeah,” Paige agreed. “Coincidence is hooey. Joey found out Jordan was in Utah. Maybe that’s when he remembered Sye’s stories. We might never figure out how he knew. Jordan paid a lot to keep his secrets.”

“It’s possible he got something from his mom’s place in New Mexico,” Gage offered. “He paid for a new life, but he couldn’t leave the old one behind. That never works.”

“Right,” Paige agreed. “Once he knew where Jordan was, he might have remembered Sye’s stories and the hidden moonshine room. He may have thought this would be the perfect place to — whatever he did.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/green-meadow-MPS-scaled.jpg)

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“I can buy that,” Gage agreed. “He might have gotten lucky with the location, but I’ll never believe he didn’t know before he arrived. Probably scoped it out and realized it was the perfect solution to his problem.”

“Let’s head this way,” Paige decided, guess was getting them nowhere. “If we can get past this ditch, I want to see what’s on the other side of that field.”

“You sure?”

“What are you thinking?” Paige turned around to face Gage.

“Just,” he inhaled a deep breath and let it out. “You know we might be looking for a body. And if Jordan isn’t among the living —”

“He could be in the ditch,” Paige agreed. “Maybe they never got to the hideout. Alright, let’s follow the ditch for a while and see if we spot anything unusual.”

They walked for several yards before Paige found a footprint. When she looked closer, she realized the ground around them was disturbed. Someone had taken the time to try to smooth out the prints. She crouched to study the ground. Several minutes later, she stood. “We need to go this way,” she followed the ditch a few more feet before she found a place to cross easily.

“There’s nothing out here,” Gage moved in behind her and looked around. “Frankie said we’re looking for a grain silo.”

“A dilapidated old silo,” Paige corrected. “The hidden cellar is under the silo but the actual building may have collapsed. Let’s look for a building that’s no longer standing.”

“There’s a pile of old wood and tin over there,” Gage pointed toward the west. “Let’s go check that out.”

They circled the area, pulling the wood and the tin aside. It could be a grain silo, or an old stable, or an outhouse, or anything. The ground was littered with debris but there wasn’t enough standing to identify the original structure.

Finally, Paige growled. “I was so sure we were onto something.” She kicked a barrel in frustration. It toppled over and rolled several feet away. Paige watched it roll across the snow-covered earth and collide with a large rock poking up above the weeds.

“Paige?” Gage pointed to the area where the barrel had been. “What is that?”

“A secret entrance,” Paige realized. “She moved forward and studied the flat metal square with a study ring attached to one side. You in the mood for an adventure?”

Gage reached down and yanked on the metal door that used to be hidden by the barrel. Once opened, it revealed a set of uneven, rudimentary stairs. “You think Joey had a partner or is he the type that works alone?”

“I think alone,” Paige decided. “Frankie said he doesn’t have friends, only people he uses. I doubt he’d want anyone else to know about this one.”

“Alright,” Gage pulled his gun and cautiously took one concrete step at a time.

Paige pulled her own gun and followed. The stairs were large and steep, but there were only about a dozen of them. The air shifted and grew cooler with each step. At the bottom there was a large metal door with a padlock.

“Now what?” Gage wondered.

Paige focused on the door then glanced around the small, dark space.

“I have bolt cutters in the truck,” Gage turned and headed back up the stairs.

“Jordan?” Paige called. She pounded on the door but there was no response.

“Got ‘em,” Gage returned. They cut the lock off and cautiously shoved the door open.

Paige immediately spotted the body in the middle of the room. She glanced around to make sure they were alone and realized there were empty soup cans piled in the corner. She took a tentative step forward and saw an old bucket Jordan must have been using as a bathroom and several empty water bottles. He had done his best to make the small space as sanitary and bearable as he could. She rushed forward and dropped to the ground. After a quick glance at Gage, she rolled Jordan onto his back and tentatively reached out to check for a pulse. With a relieved breath she straightened. “He’s alive but he needs a doctor.”

Gage tried his radio but couldn’t get a signal. “You stay with him; I’ll head up the stairs and call for medical.”

“We need Heidi,” Paige called. “I need her to take Jordan’s fingerprints immediately.”

“You know,” Gage called over his shoulder. “This is only the beginning. If he doesn’t survive, there’s no way to prove he’s the real Jordan and Joey is the evil twin. We’ll never prove Joey kidnapped his brother and left him here to die.”

“Trust me,” Paige removed her coat and used it to cover Jordan’s torso. The man had to be freezing. She spotted the blood that covered his hands and realized it had to be from prying open the soup cans. Somehow, he’d found a way to survive against all odds — smart man and resourceful. Joey wasn’t going to be happy about that.

\*\*\*\*\*

Jericho made his way down the hidden stairway. He waited while the paramedics loaded the man onto a stretcher before he approached Paige. “So, what’s the plan?”

“He’s in bad shape,” Paige turned to face him. “He might not make it.”

“As I understand it,” Jericho glanced around. “Twins have the same DNA. I’m not a geneticist, but I believe those two are identical. That means we can’t prove Jordan is Jordan and Joey is our wanted fugitive that killed a man in Kentucky.”

“I’d say being locked up in this cellar is pretty good evidence,” Paige disagreed. “He might die, but that’s just another homicide.”

“Or,” Jericho countered. “Joey continues that nonsense about being Jordan and claims his violent brother attacked him and tried to kill him. All he has to say is that he feared for his life. A jury will believe him, Jordan spent a lot of money to go into hiding. He can just say when Joey brought him out here to murder him and take his place, Jordan panicked and locked him away in self-defense.”

“There’s just one problem with that defense,” Paige grinned. “I can prove Joey’s the bad guy. I can also prove that’s Jordan on his way to the hospital. Then add in the premeditation with the canned food and your defense scenario goes out the window.”

“How can you prove that?” Jericho followed her up the stairs.

“Fingerprints,” Paige shrugged.

“If they have the exact same DNA, wouldn’t they have the same prints?” Jericho frowned.

“Nope,” Paige smiled. “No two people have the same fingerprints. Not even twins. They are usually similar, but your prints develop based on unique factors. Genetics or DNA is only part of the equation. Other factors are blood flow, access to nutrients, and the position of the fetus in the womb to name a few. All of these factors differ. That’s true for all of us. The fingerprints on your left hand are different than the prints on your right hand. Your ring finger is different than your pinky. You get the idea.”

“Okay,” Jericho hadn’t thought of that.

“Prints patterns develop somewhere between thirteen and nineteen weeks. The twins are growing side by side, but not in the exact same spot, with the exact same nutrient absorption, blood flow, and rate of growth. All of which determine the swirl design that makes up the prints. All I need are Jordan’s fingerprints, which Heidi already obtained, and I can prove which twin is Jordan and which is Joey. We booked Joey on the warrant. We have his prints and they have prints from his arrest in Kentucky. Those two matched, Heidi already confirmed that. Now, once Heidi processes the new prints and compares them to the ones she got off that birthday card Ella had — we have indisputable evidence that will prove which twin is which.”

“Huh,” Jericho glanced back at the hole in the ground. “Guess I did make the right decision when I took a chance on the hotshot forensic genius out of Virginia. You’re a royal pain sometimes, but I guess we’ll keep you around a little longer.”

“You should,” Paige grinned. “Because I make the obstinate sheriff look good.”

“Let’s head to the hospital,” Jericho started walking toward his vehicle. “Then you get to notify Ella. I’d start with the good news.”

“That her husband is alive?” Paige wondered. “Or that Joey was arrested on the warrant and will be heading back to Kentucky for the rest of his miserable life?”

“No,” Jericho smiled. “That her husband wasn’t an only child. He had a twin brother, which proves he wasn’t possessed by an alien in an Edgar suit.”

“That reminds me,” Paige stopped next to his car door. “Dax wanted proof you’re not an alien from some obscure planet. Do you actually have proof your human?”

“Sure,” he pulled open the door. “I let you live, didn’t I?”

Paige smiled and followed her boss to the hospital. It was going to be a long night, but a good one.

\*\*\*\*\*

Several days later, the group was gathered around the living room. Christmas dinner was over, presents had been exchanged, and they were now relaxing and enjoying the company of friends. Paige looked at Dax in surprise when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” Dax offered but Paige followed him to the door.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” Sean stepped into the crowded house. “But I found something, and I need to make sure you get it.”

“Sounds serious,” Dax realized. ‘I guess it must be if you couldn’t wait until morning.”

“I’m leaving in the morning,” Sean focused on Dax and the two men exchanged a knowing look. “Early.”

“I take it Blackridge said no,” Dax asked, worried now.

“Can we take this somewhere a little more private?” Sean requested.

“Sure,” Paige turned but Sean stopped her. “Before we head back, can you ask Jericho to join us? This is something he should hear.”

“Alright,” Paige looked at Dax then back to Sean. “I’ll meet you two in the kitchen.”

Once Paige and Jericho settled in at the table, Sean pulled out a file. “Nathan asked me to tie up any lose ends before I fly out just in case.”

“In case you don’t return,” Paige frowned. “That better not happen.”

“In case this takes longer than we originally believed,” Sean corrected.

“Who is going with you?” Paige demanded.

“I’m going alone,” Sean held up a hand to stop Paige from erupting. “I can’t tell you much, but just understand I agreed to this. I’m going in as an aid worker and I’ll be joined by a British counterpart. He’s posing as my colleague. I’ll be fine, but enough about that.”

Paige frowned. Nathan was being more secretive than usual about this mission.

“As I was saying,” Sean pushed the file across the table. “I was tying up lose ends and I came across the file on Jericho’s shooting… the one that involved Daniel and your mother.”

“That case should be closed,” Paige objected.

“It is,” Sean sighed. “Well, it was. I was just checking all the boxes, so I obtained a subpoena for Daniel’s phone records. I didn’t see them before today so the secretary must have slipped them in the file when they arrived.”

“There was something in the records?” Jericho wondered.

“Had to be,” Paige agreed. “There’s no other reason for this late night, holiday visit.”

“I discovered that Daniel made several phone calls to the District Attorney’s office,” Sean advised. “They started shortly after you arrived, Paige. When I took a closer look and tracked down the other numbers, I realized the man that killed your mother,” he focused on Paige then turned to Jericho “and your girlfriend, was in regular contact with Stan Donaldson.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” Paige objected. “I mean, it sort of explains his attitude toward me, but Stan is younger than me. He was probably in junior high when mom died. And her death goes back to when mom was in high school. He wasn’t even alive then. What’s the connection?”

“Could it be a coincidence?” Jericho wondered. “Maybe Daniel was contacting Stan about banking.”

“I’ve put together a timeline,” Sean disagreed. “The calls came in after hours, on weekends, and the day your patrol car was stolen. I think it’s worth looking into, but I can’t follow up on this. I’m turning it over to the two of you and I trust you to handle it. Whatever you decide is fine with me. Just shoot a copy of your report to the office so it can be added to my file before it’s archived.”

Paige frowned.

“Now,” Sean stood. “I still have a few things to deal with before I turn in. Merry Christmas, Paige.” He pulled her into a hug. “Stop scowling. I’ll be fine and I’m sure I’ll be home before you have time to miss me.”

“Be careful,” Dax slid a card in Sean’s pocket. “Just think of that as a backup plan. If you get into trouble, call the number.”

“Thanks,” Sean nodded, knowing the person on the other end of that number was a secret contact and only to be used in the case of a real emergency. “Do I need my secret decoder ring?”

“No,” Dax walked Sean to the door. “My name will suffice. I’ve notified them. They know if you call, it’s important.”

“Thanks,” Sean gave Paige another quick hug. “See you on the flip side.”

Paige stood at the window and watched Sean leave. She thought she was prepared for him to head out on one of Nathan’s dangerous, top-secret missions but this was Sean. He was like a brother and over the past couple of years she’d come to rely on him for backup. She leaned back and closed her eyes when Dax wrapped his arms around her.

 “He’s in good hands,” Dax whispered. “Nathan’s watching, and I still have friends. Sean might not realize it, but he does have backup and not just some Brit posing as an aid worker.”

“It’s Christmas,” Paige decided, glancing around the room. The mood had changed from festive and fun to somber and worried. “Let’s try to enjoy it.” She turned to Jericho. “What’s your take on the Stan situation?”

“I think I need to sleep on it and study this file,” he decided. “We’ll sit down after the holidays and decide what it all means.”

“Alright,” Paige let Dax take her hand and lead her to the couch.

“Did I ever tell you guys about the time Dax rode a camel across the desert as a favor to the Saudi prince?” Zeus asked, trying to lighten the mood. “Our illustrious leader promised his royal highness he’d get the spoiled heiress — and her fifty goats — to a remote village in time for his cousin’s wedding to a local tribal leader.”

Dax sighed in resignation and shifted on the couch. He was curious what outrageous tale Zeus was about to spin. The only thing he knew for sure — the man was going to bend the truth so far, it would nearly snap in two.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

**Be sure to come back next season for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets. A new season begins April 2021.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S5

**Tags:** Season 5

---

### [Packaged Deal](https://melaniepsmith.com/packaged-deal/)

**Published:** November 29, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Packaged Deal (S5E8) A porch pirate is on the loose in Manti and Paige has an unlikely suspect.  Will following her instincts and accusing a pillar of the community cause turmoil at the office?  Zeus is ready for something more permanent; will Carmen agree or break his heart?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*PACKAGED DEAL\*\*\*****

“Hey, Dax,” Zeus settled into the chair across from his oldest and best friend.

“Hey, what’s up?” Dax frowned; Zee looked nervous.

“I was wondering,” he began. “Well, since we’ve slowed down and the holidays are just around the corner, would you mind if I took a few days and headed out of town?”

“No,” Dax frowned and settled back against the chair. “You don’t work for me, Zee. If you want a few days off, take them. But, will you tell me where you’re going?”

Zeus sighed. “I still think of you as the boss.”

“Well, stop.”

“Easier said,” Zeus glanced at the door, slid forward and locked eyes with Dax. “I want to take Carmen somewhere special for a few days. I want to… it’s time.”

Dax grinned. “Passed time, buddy. She’s going to say yes. Well, if you bought her the most expensive ring in the joint, she’ll jump at the chance to make this permanent.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MPS-PC_Cover-S5.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Packaged-Deal.pdf)

“I hope so,” Zeus focused out the window. “I know what I want but Carmen — she’s more, I don’t know, carefree and relaxed about these things. What if she says no?”

“Then you have a romantic weekend away and come back ready to work,” Dax sobered. “I don’t think she’ll say no — In fact, I’m confident enough about this that I’d place a bet — and you know I don’t bet on anything. But, as you know, Paige said no. Sort of. It was a blow, I won’t lie about that, but I realized if she wasn’t ready, I could wait for her. You’ll wait for Carmen. The woman is in love — she’ll never find a better man, and she knows that. If she isn’t there yet, take a step back, regroup, and ask again later when you’re sure she is ready.”

“Sound advice but—”

“But it feels impossible,” Dax shrugged. “I’ve been there, I understand. Just have faith and, no matter what happens, remember how much you love her and don’t forget she loves you, too.”

“Thanks, Dax,” Zeus stood. “I’ll get out of your hair. I need to finish making those adjustments we discussed on the lesson plan for next month before I go.”

“Go now,” Dax disagreed. “There’s time for that later. I’m nearly finished with this,” he pointed to the paperwork on his desk. “I’ll skim through what you’ve got this afternoon. Go finalize the plans, pack, and convince your woman she deserves to be pampered for the next few days. Then, you get to call Porter and convince him you’re right.”

“I…”

“Didn’t think of that, did you?” Dax laughed. “Go, I’ll deal with Nathan.”

“I owe you,” Zeus called as he disappeared down the hall.

“I’m going to hold you to that one,” Dax mumbled. He jotted down a few notes so he wouldn’t forget where he was going with the changes and dialed his favorite General. He should probably complete his own plans and see when the Porter’s would arrive for the holidays.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was just climbing back into her vehicle when Margie called over the radio.

“Can you handle a theft call?” Margie wondered. “Gage is checked out on a domestic and he’s going to be awhile.”

“Sure,” Paige snapped her seatbelt and stared the engine. “Send me the address and show me en route.”

Paige took less than two minutes to arrive. She climbed from her car and was halfway to the front porch when the door flew open and an angry woman marched toward her.

“It took six weeks for that package to arrive,” she greeted. “Six weeks. I’ll never get another one in time for Christmas!”

“I understand,” Paige tried to sound sympathetic. “Could we move to the porch, or inside to a table where I can get some information from you?”

“Fine,” the woman turned and stomped away.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/delivery-and-packagesMPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/parcel-delivery-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/shipping-and-delivery-MPS.jpg)

“Great,” Paige mumbled and followed. She found the woman sitting impatiently in a chair on the front porch. She settled into the chair next to her and pulled out a notepad. “I understand you had a package stolen, but can you walk me through it? What was stolen? Do you have security cameras? Did you see anyone that didn’t belong in the neighborhood? That sort of thing. And, before I leave, I’ll need your personal information for the report.”

The woman relayed her name, date of birth, phone number and address. “It’s not worth anything, not to anyone outside our family.”

“Okay,” Paige sat back. “What did they take?”

“A quilt,” Nancy sighed. “Boyd, that’s my husband, his mother is in a care center. Gifts are difficult because she doesn’t have room for anything really and figurines or bobbles get taken by the other guests. Things disappear. I don’t think there’s any ill-will, just childlike behavior, you know?”

“I do,” Paige nodded.

“So, I saw this ad for personalized quilts,” Nancy continued. “I sent a bunch of pre-cut squares and they put it together into a nice, warm quilt Nina could put on her bed. I got the material from her place. It was old stuff. The jersey Boyd wore in Little League. Ann’s dress — the one she wore at her first piano recital. Things like that.”

“Okay,” Paige assumed Ann was a sister or granddaughter. “So, you gathered up some personal family memorabilia and sent it off to be made into a nice quilt for mom-in-law. Was that the only thing stolen?”

“Yes,” Nancy glanced away. “I had to order it weeks ago, and I finally received an email saying they had shipped it with the approximate date of arrival. I’ve been watching every day. I had just pulled into the school to pick my son up when I got a text notifying me they had delivered the package. I was so excited and couldn’t wait to see how it turned out. When I got home, there was nothing there. I called the company and the person I spoke to said the driver made a note he put it on the front porch next to a large bush. As you can see, he had the house right. They told me they couldn’t do anything without a police report. Even with that, all they could do was make another one, but I’d have to send them the new material, and it definitely will not arrive before Christmas. Now what am I supposed to give Boyd’s mother?”

*Good question*, Paige thought. “I’ll do my best to locate the package, but I have to be honest, there is a high likelihood your quilt is gone for good. We may never recover it. I promise I will try, but you need to understand it may never be recovered. I’m sorry.”

“I already knew that,” Nancy admitted. “That’s why I’m so upset. I have more, other clothes I cut into squares and didn’t use. I could order another, but it wouldn’t get here in time.”

Paige stood and held out a card with the case number written on the back. “That should be all you need for a refund and to file a claim with the delivery company. They can call me if they have any questions. Otherwise, I’m sorry you have to deal with this. Call me if you think of anything else.”

Nancy watched the cop leave, sighed, and stepped into the house. She had snacks to make and she would need to find another present for Nina.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/downtown-las-vegas-MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/las-vegas-skyline-MPS.jpg)

\*\*\*\*\*

“That was amazing,” Carmen reached out and took Zeus’ hand. “I’ve never been to a show in Vegas. It’s a lot like New York, but different. Thank you so much for dragging me away. I needed a break. With Nathan clearing things up so he can head to Utah for Thanksgiving, I was sure he’d say no.”

Zeus leaned in and kissed her temple. “Let’s head back to the hotel. I have something I want to give you.”

“What?” Carmen frowned. It wasn’t an anniversary, or her birthday, or anything. What could Zeus want to give her?

“It’s a surprise,” Zeus smiled. He held open the large glass door and waited for Carmen to enter the casino. He guided her to the elevator, ushered her in and waited impatiently for the tiny box to reach their floor. Once the door slid open, he pulled her down the hallway, swiped the key, then opened the door to their suite. He was anxious, worried, and his stomach was doing this fluttering thing that he’d never experienced before.

Carmen stepped inside, halted, then whirled around and wrapped her arms around Zeus. “We’re having room service. Just you, me, and something that smells incredible.” She leaned in and kissed him.

Zeus took her hand and led her to the chair. “I wanted tonight to be enchanting and memorable.”

“It is,” Carmen reached for the tail of a shrimp that was swimming in butter. She slid it into her mouth and smiled. “You ordered everything I love. It’s all so amazing, I don’t know where to start.”

Zeus dropped to a knee in front of her chair and took both of her hands. “Then let me start.”

“Zeus?” Carmen asked, a little niggle of panic formed in the pit of her stomach.

“I love you, Carmen Fennelly, and I think you love me, too.”

“I do,” Carmen frowned. Note to self — There will be no saying *I do* while vacationing in Vegas.

“Will you make me the happiest man alive and agree to marry me?” he pulled out an expensive diamond ring with tiny, smaller diamonds encasing it. It sparkled and shimmered in the light when he flipped open the lid and held it out to her.

“I—”

“I know it might be unexpected,” Zeus gripped her hand tighter. “I know we didn’t discuss this first, but it’s time, Carmen. You know it’s time to take that next step.”

“Yes,” she grinned and held out her hand.

Zeus slipped the ring on her finger, let out a long sigh of relief, then plucked her out of the chair, lifted her off her feet, and held her against him. “I was so afraid you’d say no,” he whispered next to her ear.

Carmen closed her eyes, trying to hide the fact she almost did.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige climbed from her vehicle, glad to be home. The days were getting shorter, but her workdays were getting longer. 'Tis the season. She draped her bag over her shoulder and headed for the front door. She needed food before she settled in for a relaxing night watching stray dogs and a few cats roam the neighborhood. She hated watching video from home security cameras, but it couldn’t be helped. It might be the only way to find their porch pirates.

She was mentally organizing the rest of her evening as she ascended the stairs.

“You look annoyed,” Carmen said from the large swing at the far end of the patio.

Paige jumped, mumbled under her breath, and focused on Carmen. She was so caught up in silently complaining about the rest of her evening, she hadn’t even seen her friend sitting there. “You look,” Paige hesitated to consider. She immediately spotted the large diamond resting on Carmen’s left hand. “Engaged and unhappy.”

Carmen shrugged. “Engaged and trying to be happy about it.”

Paige slowly moved forward, lowered her bag to the small table and settled into a chair. “Let me guess,” she smiled, remembering the mess she’d made of things when Dax proposed. “You got caught up in the charm and excitement of the moment, said yes, and now that you’re home, away from the amazing man that wants to commit an entire lifetime to you — being Carmen Fennelly — your feet have started to itch, and you’re trying to decide how fast you can run?”

“My feet don’t itch,” Carmen frowned. “But my head’s about to explode.”

Paige reached out and took Carmen’s hand in sympathy. “I’m the last person who should give advice when it comes to engagements and appropriate responses.”

“I know,” Carmen sighed. “What if that’s the reason I said yes? I saw what you put Dax through, I don’t want Zeus to feel — unwanted.”

“I deserve that,” Paige decided. “Is Zeus unwanted?”

“I—”

“Don’t answer with your head,” Paige warned. “Answer with your heart. Do you love the adorable maniac?”

Carmen smiled. “I do. And there I go again. I swore I wouldn’t use those words anymore, not out loud. Well, not unless I—”

“When you stand at the front of a church and accept a life, and an uncertain future, with a wonderful man,” Paige finished. “Deep down, you know you love Zeus. You know he’s the best man you’ve ever met. You also know you will never love anyone the way you love Travis Boudin.”

“I think I know that,” Carmen corrected, surprised Paige was using Zeus’ actual name.

“You know it,” Paige said with confidence. “You’ve just perfected the art of running.”

“I’m not running,” Carmen insisted. “I’m sitting right here, aren’t I?”

“And yet,” Paige grinned. “Your feet are starting to itch.”

“I can see this was a mistake,” Carmen moved to stand.

“I’m not trying to upset you,” Paige tightened her grip on Carmen’s arm. “Don’t go. You know I’m right and you need to think about this. What has you worried? Specifically?”

“I love him,” Carmen settled back against the swing. “I know that. He’s so — well, everything I’ve ever wanted in a man. It just feels too perfect. I wake up every morning wondering when my world is going to collapse around me. I go to sleep at night, worried about what the following day will bring. My work, our work, you know I’ve seen things, helped stop things that are unimaginably—”

“Horrible,” Paige nodded. “We both have. Which is the reason we need to grab onto happiness every chance we get. You know I understand. You know I nearly messed things up with Dax. Don’t let fear stand in the way of being happy, Carmen. Don’t let what happened with Brian complicate or destroy your future. It’s different with Zeus. You know that. You never loved Brian, not this way. You cared for him, you thought about loving him, then he was murdered. You’re mixing up genuine feelings for the feelings you tried to force but never could, and that has you spooked. Zeus isn’t a cop. He’s not in danger that way, and comparing the two is your way of taking a step back because you’re afraid.”

“How did you know?” Carmen wondered. “I mean, truly know that Dax was it for you? When did you realize you wanted to marry him, be with him forever, have the house, the dog and the whole crazy dream?”

“Immediately after I messed things up,” Paige considered. “We were standing there, in the dark, deserted hallway of the hospital, and once the words escaped my lips, I saw how much I hurt him. The guilt hit first. Then I was angry — because of my fear, and I turned that anger on him. How dare he try to change something that was so perfect already? How dare he try to move forward when I was comfortable exactly where we were? Then, I realized I might lose him because of fear and stupidity. I faced my fears and said yes. Then there was the whole second guessing and knowing he was hiding something fiasco. I let my imagination get the better of me, but that was also nerves and part of the fear. I knew that, deep down I knew, and I had to ask myself what my life would be like in five, ten, fifty years without Dax in it. I couldn’t imagine it. Then, I asked myself what it would be like if I accepted his love and tried to have faith in what we had built together. Could we also build a permanent life together? I saw that, almost immediately, and I wanted it. Marrying Dax was the best decision I ever made. I think the same is true for you and Zeus, but you have to believe that. Maybe you should try to do the same. Be honest with yourself. Can you imagine life without Zeus?”

“No,” Carmen stood. “I don’t think I can. You’re tired and, from the size of that bag, it looks like you have work. I’ll let you get to it.”

“I’m glad you stopped by,” Paige stood. “Sleep on it and if you need to talk, you know where to find me.”

“You need any help with that homework?” Carmen paused.

“No,” Paige lifted her bag and swung it over her shoulder. “Just a porch pirate stealing packages before the owners can retrieve them. I had two today, Gage had a third. It’s that time of year, I suppose.”

“Just yell if you need anything,” Carmen headed for the stairs.

“You know,” Paige called from the front door. “There’s one more thing you can add into the plus column if you marry Zeus; technically, I think that makes you a Goddess.”

Carmen laughed. “I already am. I’m the Goddess of technology.”

“Well,” Paige pushed open the door. “There you go. Match made in heaven if I ever saw one.”

Carmen waved, climbed behind the wheel, and drove away.

Paige watched her friend leave and hoped Carmen wouldn’t struggle with commitment and marriage as much as she had. There was no doubt Zeus was a good man. There was no doubt they were in love. But, for some reason, the idea of settling down had always scared Carmen Fennelly. Paige was pretty sure it could be traced back to her childhood — more precisely, the day her father walked out on his family and never looked back. With a sigh, she dropped everything onto the couch and went to find her husband.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige set her plate into the kitchen sink and, with a deep sigh, headed for the couch to spend the next several hours skimming through video.

Dax rinsed his plate, then hers, and loaded both of them into the dishwasher. He was shaking his head as he left the kitchen. Apparently, Paige thought they had magical housekeeping fairies that swooped in while they slept and cleaned up after her. When he saw she was working, he decided to let it go. “Do you want me to grab my computer and help?”

“What?” Paige glanced up. “That’s okay. You don’t need to spend your time on something like this.”

“I can’t think of a better way to spend my time than sitting with my wife,” Dax settled onto the couch next to her and immediately began rubbing behind her neck. She had about a million knots. “I didn’t ask about Carmen because — well, Zee. Is that what caused all this bottled up tension?”

Paige dropped her head onto the back of the couch. “She’s just — it’s complicated. I don’t know how much she’s talked to Zeus about this, and it’s sensitive.”

“We don’t have to talk about it, Paige.”

“I think we should,” Paige took his hand. “My father died when I was pretty young. It was hard on me but worse on mom. At least, that’s what I told myself. I had to cope because mom needed me. I didn’t really deal with the loss, I just set it aside and got through one day at a time. It was years later when I realized that when dad died, it was still a form of leaving and I struggled to deal with all the emotions. So, I sort of understand Carmen. Her father left — voluntarily. One minute, Carmen was his favorite princess, the next — poof, he was gone. She didn’t hear from him for years. Then, one day, out of the blue — he surfaced. Carmen thinks he found out she was a hacker and wanted to use that for some selfish scheme he cooked up.”

“What did she do?” Dax continued to rub her neck and shoulders.

Paige grinned. “She walked out on him.”

“Good for her,” Dax smiled in approval.

“She says she got over it,” Paige frowned. “I don’t think she really did. I thought I was over my father’s death, too. It wasn’t until I connected with Nathan, talked to him about dad, and developed a genuine, strong relationship with him, that I knew I still had unresolved issues. He helped me work through them and still—”

“When I proposed, you panicked.”

“Yeah,” Paige sat forward. “I’m sorry about that. Since you’re stuck with me for life, that one was it for us. It was the one and only proposal either of us get for an entire lifetime, and I spoiled it.”

Dax took her hand in his. “Now that I’ve had time to think about it, I have to admit my timing was off. I took you by surprise, gave you a shock, and then walked away when it didn’t work out the way I hoped it would. Let’s put that behind us and focus on the wedding — that was pretty amazing.”

“It was perfect,” she rested her head on his shoulders. “Do you have any idea how much I’m dreading watching this video tonight?”

Dax pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I’ll get my computer and we can watch it together. If I see anything, a car drive by, a kid walking a dog, a cat darting across the road, anything — I’ll point it out and you can take a look. You know we’ll mainly be fast forwarding through with nothing to see.”

“I—” she was going to object but changed her mind. “Alright, and then tomorrow night we’ll settle back here and have a movie night. You get to pick.”

“And popcorn, with lots and lots of butter?”

Paige smiled. “It’s a date.”

Dax returned with his own laptop, silently settled in next to her, and began to skim through video. They sat like that for hours, watching the world fly by on triple speed and making small talk when they could. At one point, they paused to laugh at two boys and a rambunctious dog who were clearly up to no good. Then, they moved on and absently watched the world go by one frame at a time. One hour turned into four and Paige considered stopping for the night. She was about to suggest they quit when she suddenly sat up straighter, rewound her video, slowed it down to normal speed, and watched it carefully frame by frame.

“Did you find something?” Dax wondered, stopping his own video to watch hers.

“I don’t know,” Paige watched the video carefully, then rewound it and watched again. There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, not really. The car was just driving down the road, same as all the other cars, so why did it slow down? And where did it go? She brought up the second tape, the one on the house at the end of the street. As she watched, she paid close attention to the time. One minute, then two passed, then three. The vehicle never appeared on the second camera system.

“Okay,” Dax caught on. “Maybe they live in the area. Maybe they turned and went in the opposite direction or took a side road to see a friend. I couldn’t make out the plate, did you?”

“No,” Paige minimized that clip and pulled up another. She slid the bar to the time she wanted and then sat back and watched. Again, one minute passed, then two. She was about to give up when the same vehicle came into view but made a left turn onto a sideroad and disappeared. She skimmed through the rest of the footage from that area, but the car was gone.

“Talk to me,” Dax draped his arm over the back of the couch. “There’s something I’m missing because to me, that just looks like a car driving through a neighborhood — coincidence at best.”

Paige grinned. “Coincidence is hooey.”

“Now, you sound like Duncan Havilland,” Dax frowned. He’d heard that saying from the racecar driving cop a million times since he’d met him.

“It’s one of his favorites,” Paige agreed. “But he’s not wrong.”

“So,” Dax absently rubbed a lock of her hair through his thumb and forefinger. “Now what?”

“Now,” Paige jotted down some notes and closed down her computer. “We set all of this aside and head upstairs. I’ll drive through the area tomorrow and see if I can locate the vehicle.”

“What if somebody owns one,” Dax shut down his own computer and stood. “But they already left for work?”

“I have a few systems I can run, see if I find a vehicle that matches in that area,” she also stood. “If not, Carmen offered to help, and I’ll see what she can find.”

“That’s a lot of work for a vehicle that might be stopping to pick up little Johnny from piano lessons,” Dax took her hand and headed for the stairs.

“That’s the job,” she wrapped her arms around his neck once they reached their bedroom. “This is personal,” she leaned in and gave him a quick, gentle kiss. “Thanks for the help.”

“I’m pretty fond of personal,” he scooped her up and tossed her onto the bed.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Thanks for agreeing to meet me,” Dax slid onto the chair across from Jericho. He needed coffee. Helping Paige skim through video last night had put him behind. He rose with the sun and arrived at the office early. He needed to finalize the details on a new donation some wealthy trust fund kid wanted to give the training center — custom made with about a million strings. Most of which Dax rejected.

“You look like you need this more than I do,” Jericho slid a cup of coffee across the table. “Sally should be back with cream and sugar.”

Dax took a long sip of coffee and tried to relax.

“So,” Jericho studied Dax for several seconds. “What’s up?”

The waitress approached the table with a second coffee mug and a full pot. She topped off Dax’s mug, poured one for Jericho, and tried to hand Dax a menu. “No,” Dax held up a hand. “Just the coffee.”

“You look haggard, kid,” Jericho observed. “Maybe you should eat something.”

“I’m fine,” Dax settled back. “Things are a little hectic but manageable. Once we get through this upcoming session, I’ll relax, and I’ll be refreshed just in time for the holidays. Which is actually what I wanted to speak to you about.”

“If you’re here to finagle time off for Paige,” Jericho began.

“Wouldn’t think of it,” Dax cut in. “As you know DMA budgets for several scholarships throughout the year. We’ve already completed the roster for our last course, and we ended up with a little extra. The boys and I were talking, and we thought we could use that money to help our neighbors, maybe help spread some Christmas cheer.”

“Like a sub-for-Santa type thing?” Jericho considered.

“Not exactly,” Dax leaned forward. “I casually mentioned this to Paige a while back, but she said it was above her paygrade. You, in coordination with the rest of your crew, would be in a better position to know who needs the help. I started thinking about those kids, the ones Paige rescued after their mother abandoned them. She said they’re thriving now, but it all started with a shoplifting call. Your department sees things, your deputies recognize when someone is struggling and could use a little extra help, but most of the time you’re limited in what you can do for them.”

“Why didn’t Paige just handle this herself?” Jericho wondered.

“She said she could,” Dax admitted. “But she also said she’s just one deputy, and it would be better if everyone had a chance to toss in a name. She’s not the only one that deals with single mothers that can’t afford a Christmas tree or a father on medical leave that won’t be able to afford presents for his kids this year. If giving us the personal information makes you uncomfortable, we can provide the funds — or the gifts — and someone from your office can deliver them. It just seems like a good time for DMA to give back to the community that gave all of us — and our business — such a warm welcome.”

“Let me think on it,” Jericho decided. “It’s a good idea. Give me a few days to work out logistics.”

“I can do that,” Dax took another sip of coffee, then glanced up when a woman approached their table.

“Jericho? Jericho Walters?” she asked in surprise. “Is that really you?”

“It is,” Jericho studied the woman. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t place her.

“And, you don’t remember me,” she said in understanding. “Well, that’s disappointing.”

“I’m sorry,” Jericho continued to study her. “I meet a lot of people in my line of work.”

“Right,” she said, trying not to sound too disappointed. “It’s just — well, I always wondered if you were the one that got away.”

Jericho frowned, what did that mean?

“Anyway,” she cleared her throat, clearly embarrassed. “I’m Harper Wellington. We attended high school together for a few months. Actually, we went to prom together just before my family had to move again. I always wondered about you. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

“That’s right,” Jericho was beginning to remember. “Your family bounced around a lot. Didn’t your father’s job keep you on the move?” Jericho asked.

“It did,” Harper smiled. “I realize now I had an amazing childhood full of adventure. At the time, I dreamed of staying in the same place for one entire school year. Funny how your perspective changes. Anyway, I’m glad I bumped into you, Jericho.”

“It’s good to see you again, Harper. Are you visiting family for the holidays?” Jericho wondered.

“Oh, no,” she smiled. “I actually moved here last month. I always had fond memories of Utah. When the opportunity came to relocate, I jumped on it immediately. I think Manti is even more charming than Nephi.”

Jericho grinned. “I enjoyed growing up in Nephi; but I have to admit, I have become partial to Manti.”

“Well,” Harper took a step back. “I’ve taken up enough of your time. Sorry to interrupt your—” she looked at Dax and didn’t know how to finish.

“Coffee break,” Dax gave her a friendly smile then focused on Jericho. He was watching her closely as she walked away. “Experiencing a little nostalgia?”

“I was a junior that year,” Jericho was lost in memories. “Harper was a sophomore but, at the time, she seemed mysterious and worldly. When she says her childhood was adventurous, that’s the way I always saw her. It never occurred to any of us she might be unhappy or long for stability.”

“If she just moved here,” Dax glanced toward the corner of the café where Harper was sitting alone. “She probably doesn’t know anyone. You should invite her to Thanksgiving dinner. We have plenty of food and space for one more.”

“Maybe,” Jericho glanced at Harper then back to Dax. “I like your idea. I’ll get back to you in a few days and we’ll discuss the best way to implement it.” He stood and dropped some cash onto the table.

“Jericho,” Dax put a hand on his arm to stop him. “If you don’t invite that lady to dinner before you leave, I’m going to. I think it’s only fair to give you ample warning.”

“Why?” Jericho frowned. “You don’t know her.”

“I was new and alone here once,” Dax shrugged. “She seems interesting and nice enough. She shouldn’t spend the day alone when she could spend it reconnecting with an old friend and making a few new ones.”

Jericho glared at Dax for several seconds. When Dax just silently stared back, Jericho sighed, turned, and headed for Harper’s table.

Dax was still grinning when the stoic Sheriff silently walked out the front door.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige sat back, frustrated and annoyed. She needed a break. She rubbed her eyes and tried to think. Continue to watch video of leaves blowing across the lawn or take a drive? Simple decision — drive won by a landslide.

As soon as she pulled into the neighborhood, Paige slowed and studied the area. She drove past her first victim’s home and continued down the path the vehicle she believed was suspicious took. Once she reached the sideroad, the one that didn’t have video, she pulled over and shut down her vehicle. This part, she needed to do on foot.

Paige had walked several blocks up the roadway, turned around and was headed back down the other side when a woman that looked about eighty flagged her down. The elderly woman met her at the top of the driveway.

“Can I help you?” Paige wondered.

“Oh, yes,” the woman sighed. “I just discovered a theft.”

“Package on the front porch?” Paige wondered.

“Yes, how did you know?” the woman frowned.

“There were other thefts in this area,” Paige admitted, pulling out her notepad to jot down some notes. “Why don’t we head inside? You can relay the details in comfort.”

“Alright,” the woman turned and headed back inside, Paige followed.

“Who do you think did this?” the woman asked.

“I’m working on that,” Paige glanced up. “I didn’t catch your name.”

“Oh, Gladys,” she said. “My name is Gladys Chilcott.”

“Can you give me a description of the items stolen? Approximately what time it happened, and any other information you think might help in my investigation.”

Gladys went on to explain the package contained her husband’s medical supplies. She wasn’t in a serious bind. She said, with the police report, she could just place a new order. The delay would be minimal, and Harold always placed the order before he needed it, just in case something was delayed.

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” Paige said once she had the details.

“Why would anyone steal Harold’s medical supplies?” Gladys wondered.

“I don’t think they knew what they were stealing,” Paige advised. “I think they just saw the package and decided to take it.

“Well,” Gladys frowned. “That’s just stupid.”

Paige smiled. “I agree. I’ll get this filed and if you remember anything you think might help, call me immediately.” She handed Gladys her card.

“Can I ask what the other victims lost?” Gladys said, reluctantly.

“I don’t think—”

“I just, well it’s Christmas time,” Gladys focused out the window. “If I can help the others, I’d like to. Harold and I — we don’t have a lot, but we could help someone.”

“That’s kind of you,” Paige began. “But the things that disappeared either can’t be replaced or, with a police report, they are already being replaced as we speak.”

“Somebody lost something priceless?” Gladys wondered.

“To her,” Paige closed her notepad. “She had a handcrafted quilt made from items of clothing that belonged to her family members — things they wore on special occasions. She provided the quilt squares, and a company compiled them into a quilt she planned to give her mother-in-law for Christmas. She’s pretty devastated.”

“Could you give me her name?” Gladys asked.

“I’m afraid that would be unethical,” Paige moved to the door. “It’s thoughtful, but the details are protected.”

“Right,” Gladys considered. “Could you give her my name? That wouldn’t be unethical if I was the one requesting it.”

“Why?” Paige considered and decided there shouldn’t be a problem with that.

“I’d like to contact her,” Gladys straightened. “I’ve made more quilts in my lifetime than I could count. I also have some free time before Christmas. If she can come up with alternate material, I think I could put something together before Christmas and her mother-in-law will still get a nice blanket for the holidays.”

“You can quilt?” Paige asked, amazed.

Gladys laughed. “I would hope so, I’ve been doing it all my life.”

“Then I’ll give Nancy your information,” Paige agreed. “She just might get her Christmas miracle after all.” She stepped onto the front porch and hesitated. “Gladys, do you recognize this car?” She pulled an image she’d taken from the video and held it out.

Gladys took the paper, studied it for several seconds, then handed it back. “The only person I know who owns a silver car that looks like that is Clark’s wife—Ashley.”

“Do you know their last name?” Paige asked.

“Of course,” Gladys frowned. “It’s Vayner.”

“How do you know them?” Paige wondered. “Do they live close by?”

“Close enough,” Gladys studied the picture. “I think they’re up on Chestnut Drive, just a few blocks up and then to the left. Why? You don’t think Ashley did this?”

“If I did?” Paige wanted to get a response.

“I’d say you’re never going to get answers,” Gladys sighed and handed the image back to Paige.

“Why do you say that?” Paige couldn’t let it drop.

“Ashley is the Relief Society president,” she huffed. “She helps people, she doesn’t steal from them.”

“Relief Society?” Paige asked.

“Yes,” Gladys crossed her arms over her chest, then narrowed her eyes at Paige. “You’re not LDS, are you Sugar? You’re not a Mormon?”

“Oh,” Paige should be used to this question by now. “No, I’m not.”

“Well,” Gladys looked at her in pity. “That’s too bad. The Relief Society is all of the adult women in the church, everyone over eighteen who attends that particular ward. They help people, take them dinner when they’re sick, provide support after the loss of a loved one, arrange for dinners to be delivered to a family after the birth of a child — that sort of thing. With all the good Ashley does, I just can’t take anyone seriously that thinks she’s sneaking around stealing packages off other people’s porch.”

“Well,” Paige held out a hand. “Thank you for your time, Gladys. Just give the medical supply company that case number and they should ship out new supplies immediately. Feel free to give them my number if they need to contact me.”

“Thank you,” Gladys tucked the card into her pocket. “And don’t forget to talk to Nancy. I really can help with that quilt.”

“I’ll let you know what she says,” Paige promised before she climbed into her vehicle and pulled away. She just got another lead. Maybe Gladys Chilcott could dismiss Ashely as a suspect, but Paige wasn’t deterred. She wanted to know all there was to know about Ashely Vayner, wife to Clark Vayner. That should be enough for her to get started.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was sitting at her desk, running a detailed background on Mrs. Ashley Vayner and her husband, Clark when Gage approached.

“We had two more,” he dropped into her visitor’s chair. When he spotted the driver’s license file on Ashley Vayner, he frowned. “Why are you running Mrs. Vayner?”

“Because I think she might be our porch pirate,” Paige punched in the information and hit send. She glanced up when Gage didn’t respond. “What?”

“Your way off on this one,” Gage decided. “I know her, a little. Everybody knows her. She’s a sweat lady that goes out of her way to help others. That woman is a saint. She wouldn’t steal from all these people — she’d help them.”

“Maybe,” Paige shrugged. “I’ll chase my leads, you chase yours. Oh wait, you can’t because you don’t have any leads.”

Gage smiled, “Actually, I do.”

“Care to share?” Paige wondered.

“If you can pull yourself away from harassing the pure and innocent,” Gage grinned when she scowled. “My latest victim had a good camera system. We spotted a truck, even got a good shot of the plate, the driver was suspicious. I want to head out and talk to him. You available to back me?”

“Absolutely,” Paige gathered up the information on Ashley and shoved it into a folder. She’d pick it up later if Gage’s guy wasn’t the thief.

“Why do you think this is your guy?” Paige asked once they pulled onto the highway.

“He just struck me as suspicious,” Gage shrugged. “He was driving around the neighborhood like he was looking for something and he turned down one road then doubled back and drove past the same houses again. He did it three times before he made a right and disappeared.”

“Okay,” Paige nodded. She couldn’t dismiss the lead, not when she was looking into a woman Gage thought was Mother Teresa on less. The two of them discussed the new cases and the property that was missing as they drove down a narrow sideroad and headed further away from town. Paige studied the area, it was a collection of farmlands, with houses situated off the roadway, and acres of property separating them. She turned to face Gage when he pulled onto the shoulder and parked in front of a modest and ancient home. “Are you sure you have the right address?”

“Positive,” Gage studied the house carefully but couldn’t tell if it was occupied or vacant.

The house itself was neglected. The wood siding was so weathered and faded, some of the panels were nearly white. Large trees surrounded the structure, with bare limbs that hung so low you’d have to duck just to walk to the front door. There were bushes lining the property a few feet from the road — if you could call them that. They too were neglected and seemed to be growing wild, they were so large and out of control they looked like mangled miniature trees. The grass was long gone, in its place was hard packed dirt and some kind of yellow weeds. A picket fence ran along the front of the house. At one time it was probably charming, now it was worn with several of the panels either missing or dangling precariously by one nail.

Paige studied the fence and wondered if it had started out as the proverbial white. “Should we venture to the front door?”

“The place looks haunted,” Gage sighed. “Let’s go.” He shoved out of the vehicle and waited for Paige to join him. The two of them walked the short distance to the door and knocked loudly. Nothing happened. No dog barked, no curtains rustled, nothing.

“Either nobody is home,” Paige turned to look around, “or the place is vacant.”

“Which only makes this more suspicious,” Gage frowned.

“Let’s take a walk,” Paige motioned to the house across the street. “Maybe the neighbor can shed some light for us.”

The two of them walked across the street and made their way onto the front porch of a small, white home. This house also looked old, but unlike their neighbor, it was clearly well cared for.

The door slowly slid open a few inches and a petite woman peered at them with wide, timid eyes.

“Hi,” Paige said in greeting. “Sorry to bother you, but could we ask you some questions about the house across the street?”

The woman relaxed — a little. “David’s place?”

“David?” Paige pushed.

“Yeah,” the woman frowned. “David Sullivan. He owns that house, the one you asked about.”

“And does he live there?” Paige wondered. “It seems—” she let the sentence hang.

“Oh,” the woman smiled. “Right. Well, David works long hours. He’s a handyman. You know what they say, mechanics never work on their own cars, and carpenters neglect their private homes. David works a lot. He rarely has time for upkeep on his own place.”

“You seem to know him well,” Gage observed. “Do you know what kind of vehicle he drives?”

“Sure,” the woman nodded. “He has a white flatbed truck. He uses it to haul equipment when someone needs yard work or repairs. Has David done something wrong?”

“Why do you ask?” Paige evaded.

“Well,” she looked at Paige then Gage. “It’s not every day we have two deputies knocking on our door. I can’t see Dave doing anything bad, not on purpose. He’s a good kid. A really good kid. His momma was sick for years before she passed last year. Dave took care of her right up to the end. It was hard on him when she finally passed. I think that might account for some of the clutter at his place, you know. It was just too hard to be here once his mom was gone. Why are you looking for him?”

“He was seen driving around a neighborhood where some items were taken,” Paige decided to try honesty. She wanted to see how this woman would react.

“Oh,” the woman relaxed. “I’m sure he was working a job there. David, well he’s not good with addresses. One day, he offered to take me into town to look at a new dresser — well, new to me. I found it in the classifieds. Anyway, I swear we drove around that neighbor at least ten times before he made the right turn, and we found the house. That boy couldn’t find north if his life depended on it.”

“Do you know when David gets home from work?” Paige asked, pretty sure this was not their guy.

“Oh, it varies,” the woman said. “It just depends on how many jobs he as lined up. Usually not until near dark, though.”

“Thank you for your time miss,” Gage hesitated. “I’m sorry, we didn’t get your name.”

“Ella,” the woman told them. “Ella Hovey. If you want, I can tell David you need to talk to him.”

“That’s okay,” Gage told her. “I think you provided what we need. If not, we’ll track David down later. Thank you for your time and have a good day.”

Once they were back on the highway, Paige turned to Gage. “You sure you want to write him off? It was a good lead.”

“I’m just putting him on the back burner for now,” Gage decided. “My gut says he’s not our guy. I think he looked suspicious because he was lost and couldn’t find the address he was looking for. It fits with what I saw on the feed.”

“Then we’re back to Ashley Vayner,” Paige sighed.

“Why would Mrs. Vayner steal from people in need when she spends all her free time helping those in need?” Gage argued.

“Good question,” Paige smiled. “Maybe we should ask her.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into her house tired and annoyed. She dropped her gear onto the couch and headed to the kitchen. She needed a glass of wine — a big one. She stopped when she spotted Dax closing the oven. That’s when she noticed the scrumptious aroma of pizza. “You cooked.”

Dax moved to her and pulled her into his arms. “You look grumpy. Is something wrong or just a rough day?”

“Both,” Paige sighed. “Neither. I don’t know. I think I found a suspect, but nobody believes me.”

“You identified the owner of the car?”

“I did,” Paige pulled out a wine glass then studied the bottles. Finally, she selected a white Pinot Grigio and pivoted to find a corkscrew.

Dax gently took the bottle from her hand and opened it for her. “Who is your suspect?” he asked absently.

“A woman by the name of Ashley Vayner,” Paige dropped onto a chair. “Gage thinks I’m harassing a saint and Jericho threatened me with serious discipline if I accused this Ashley woman without solid proof. Then Dean came in and basically called me a bully.”

“The community loves Ashley Vayner,” Dax filled her glass before he settled in next to her. He took her hand and weighed his words carefully. “If you think Vayner is your thief, you have to pursue it. But you should do it carefully, and you need to be subtle about it until you’re sure. Jericho is threatening you because he knows how serious the fallout will be if you’re wrong. However, I didn’t hear you say Jericho told you to back off.”

“No,” Paige took a long sip of her wine. “He didn’t go that far. He wouldn’t. The others, well I guess they’ll just have to deal with it if I’m right.”

“Speaking of Jericho,” Dax leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss. “He’s going to have a plus one for dinner on Thanksgiving.”

“What?” Paige looked at him in shock. “Who?”

“Does that bother you?” Dax wondered. “If he starts dating again, would that bother you?”

“Of course not,” Paige said immediately. *Would it?* She didn’t think it would bother her as long as the woman was — good enough, kind enough to date her boss.

“Uh-huh,” Dax grinned. “Well, get used to it. I’m hoping he gives this one an honest chance.”

“What are you up to?” Paige narrowed her eyes at him.

“Nothing,” Dax shrugged. “She just seemed nice, and I’d like to see Jericho find happiness. He’s been alone far too long. I think he’s ready, whether or not the stubborn fool realizes it.”

“What did you do, Dax Hamilton?” Paige demanded.

“I just gave him a little push,” he explained what happened at the café.

“And he went over and invited her?” Paige wondered. “Just like that?”

“Yep,” Dax smiled.

“You might be right,” Paige settled back in her chair. “He might be ready to date again. And I am fine with it. As long as she—”

“She what?” Dax laughed. “Passes the Paige Carter seal of approval?” The timer beeped, indicating their dinner was ready. Dax stood and dished up two plates. When he returned, Paige was scowling.

“First,” Paige glared at him. “That’s Paige Hamilton to you.”

Dax grinned. “I’m glad you remember.”

Paige ignored that. “Is that wrong of me? I want him to be happy, but I don’t think I could sit by and watch if he didn’t find someone that deserves him.”

Dax reached out and took her hand. “It’s not wrong. And, for what it’s worth, I liked her, and I think Jericho did, too. I don’t know how much was nostalgia and how much was interest, but I thought Thanksgiving dinner was a good time to find out.”

“I’m not going to worry about it,” Paige decided. “I’m going to focus all of my energy on destroying the life of a saint, and then I’m going to figure out how to win over the hearts and minds of the locals after I do it.”

“If she’s guilty,” Dax linked his fingers with hers. “She’s not the woman the town thinks she is and the people screaming the loudest right now, will be the first to apologize once it’s over.”

“Maybe,” Paige took a bite of pizza and groaned. “I just realized I skipped lunch and I’m starving.”

“You still up for movie night, or do you need to reschedule?” Dax took a bite of his own pizza.

Paige’s eyes grew wide. “I’m an idiot. I completely forgot. Let’s move this out there. What happened to all that buttered popcorn?”

Dax snatched up the pizza in one hand and his wine in the other. “Popcorn will have to wait. I was hungry. You sure you have time for this?”

“Absolutely,” Paige dropped onto the couch. She should be working, going over every detail of the Vaynor’s lives, but she could set it aside for one night. She glanced at Dax. She needed more balance in her life. She needed to spend more time being a wife. More time helping Dax out around the house. “Do you ever feel — resentful?”

“Huh?” Dax looked at her, completely confused.

“I spend a lot of time feeling guilty because I don’t help around the house as much as I should. I get caught up in my work or my plans for the day and I just leave it all to you,” Paige admitted. “I know I shouldn’t, but I know you’ll take care of it so I take advantage, then the guilt sets in and swear I’m going to do better — then, I don’t.”

“You’re work is important,” Dax took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

“So is yours,” Paige insisted.

“Yes,” Dax agreed. “And I do my work. But, for the most part, my job is an eight to five deal. Your job is a twenty-four-seven deal. You save the world and I’ll do the dishes.”

“See,” Paige pointed at him. “That, why don’t you resent that? You have work, you train the guys that save the world, but you don’t mind cleaning up when I forget or when I get distracted.”

“That’s the point,” Dax pulled the lever to recline. “I don’t mind. Now hush, we have a movie to watch and then, if you still feel guilty, I know how you can make it up to me.”

“One track mind,” Paige stretched out on the couch and rested her head on his thigh. They really should do this more often.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Where are we going?” Carmen demanded.

“Just wait,” Zeus took her hand and began rubbing his thumb over her palm.

Carmen shivered and frowned. Last time Zeus had a surprise for her, she’d nearly hyperventilated before he was done. She would not overreact this time. Surprises were good — great, actually. She loved surprises — but she didn’t, never had. In her experience, surprises were always bad.

Zeus pulled off the road and parked. He was halfway around the front of the truck when Carmen pushed open her door and climbed out.

“It’s beautiful up here,” she whispered, amazed by the view. “We’re not that far above town but it’s enough to see all the farms to the west and look,” she pointed to the south. “That’s Palisade’s Reservoir.”

“Do you like it?” Zeus stepped in behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“I love it,” Carmen glanced over her shoulder. “But why are we here?”

Zeus hesitated several seconds, trying to get his thoughts straight. “I love you. I never thought it was possible to love someone the way I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Carmen whispered.

“And because I love you, I can see my proposal isn’t making you happy. I want you to be happy.”

“I am,” Carmen insisted. “It just — I think it just took a few days to get used to the idea, that’s all.”

“Maybe,” Zeus shrugged. “I don’t know. I do know, I was trying to push you. I wanted you to catch up to my timetable. Instead, I should have relaxed and joined you on yours.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Carmen pulled free and turned to face him. “Are you saying you don’t want to get married? And why did you bring me out here to tell me you’re taking it all back?”

Zeus reached out and pulled her back into his arms. “First, I’m not taking anything back. I love you, remember. I’m just putting our future in your hands for a while. You want to wait, we wait. You want a long engagement, that’s what we’ll do. I love you and I’m not going anywhere. The next move is yours, Carmen — that’s all I’m saying.”

“And why here?” she asked again.

“I own this land,” Zeus admitted. “I bought it a few months back. It’s close to Dax and Paige and an easy drive to DMA. I was hoping we could build your dream home right over there,” he pointed off to the side. “Whatever you want, the sky’s the limit.”

“You own it?” Carmen just stared at him. “You bought all of this?” she raised her hands into the air and spun in a circle. “And, you want us to build a house together. And I can have whatever I want, right? Because we’re building the house ourselves. I can have a huge office. A large theater room. An amazing kitchen.”

Zeus laughed. “You can have all of that and more. If you agree, we can meet with an architect and have him draw up the plans. Once the weather breaks in the spring, we’ll start the construction.”

Carmen flung her arms around him. “I love you. I love this place. I can just see us, sitting on the porch having coffee each morning, watching the sun set each night from our comfortable porch — we can have a comfortable porch that faces west, right?”

Zeus held her tight. “You can have anything you want, baby.”

“Wait,” Carmen tried to push away, but he tightened his grip. “I have a couple things I want to say. Let’s get the easy one out of the way first. What about Ms. Ledbetter? Pearl needs my rent to pay for the care center where she lives. If we move—”

Zeus reached out and placed a hand on either side of Carmen’s face. “You’re amazing you know that? I’m standing here offering you a chance to build your very own dream home, and you’re about to turn me down to help an old woman you don’t even know. It’s no wonder I love you so much.”

“Zeus,” Carmen sighed. “I want the house, more than you know, but I can’t just leave Pearl in a bind like that. It’s a small town, the house will take time to rent, if it rents at all.”

“I already talked to Dax about the house,” Zeus pressed a soft kiss to her nose and frowned. “You’re cold. Let’s move this back to the truck where we have heat.”

Carmen let Zeus take her hand and lead her back to his truck. Zeus climbed into the passenger seat then held out his hand for Carmen to join him. She hesitated then climbed into his lap. He slammed the door shut and started the engine. Warm air blasted from the vents.

“Explain what you mean when you say you talked to Dax already,” she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Dax is negotiating with Diane Pembroke,” Zeus told her. “She’s the official property manager now that Ms. Ledbetter is in a care facility. He’s made her an offer — to buy the place. DMA will own it and we can remodel and use it for overflow housing.”

“You already have housing at DMA,” Carmen wondered if this was just another altruistic plan to take care of an elderly woman who didn’t have any family willing to step up and take care of her themselves.

“Yes,” Zeus agreed. “And the attendees will still use those rooms. The house will be for our more prestigious guests. Porter can use it when he comes out to visit Paige. I’m sure Sophie would like a little privacy and it might encourage them to visit more often and stay longer. We want to bring in guest speakers, but at the moment we don’t have anywhere to house them. If we brought someone in, they’d have to stay in a motel and we have little control over the amenities offered.”

“Okay,” Carmen sat up. “That makes sense. I want to ask if you’re doing this just to take care of Pearl but I’m selfish enough to tell you, it doesn’t matter. I want that house. Right here. I want to start my life with you. The house, the view and most of all — the amazing man. So, are you still going to marry me or what?”

“Are you sure?” Zeus pushed. “We could extend the engagement. Say at least a year. That would give you time to get used to the idea.”

“I’m already used to it,” Carmen disagreed. “I want to get married in June. Does that suit you?”

“June?” Zeus said in surprise. “Uh, I don’t think we can get the house built by then.”

“Then we stay in Pearl’s little house until it’s done,” Carmen shrugged.

“Carmen,” Zeus began.

“No,” Carmen shook her head. “I nearly messed this up as bad as Paige did. I’m not going to do that. You know I have some abandonment issues, because of my father. I realized I’m letting his issues interfere with our happiness. I’m going to stop doing that. I want to marry you. I want this house and I think I want a dog.” She slid forward until her mouth was nearly touching his “you think you can handle all that, stud?”

“That I can handle,” Zeus kissed her. When they finished, he grinned, “handle you? That’s an entirely different story; but, I look forward to spending a lifetime trying.”

“Good answer,” Carmen laughed.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Hey, Carmen,” Paige said, recognizing the number on the display. “I was just about to call you. How are you feeling?”

“Happy,” Carmen admitted. “You were right. I got spooked. I won’t say my feet were itching because, well that’s just gross and conjures images of disease and fungus.”

“Not really a visual I needed this morning,” Paige scolded. “You sound happy.”

“I am,” Carmen said without hesitation. “We were wondering if you and Dax were free tonight. Zeus wants to cook up some of his famous chili and I thought we could have a double date at my place. Just a relaxing evening where we eat too much and catch up.”

“Alright,” Paige frowned. Was Carmen up to something?

“Great,” Carmen relaxed. “Now that we’ve settled that, why were you going to call me?”

“I need your super Carmen powers on something, if you have time,” Paige grabbed the paper with Ashley’s information on it and relayed the details. “I’m not finding anything, but there is a sealed juvie record. I want to know what’s in that file, but there’s no way I have enough to convince a judge to go for it.”

“I’m shocked deputy,” Carmen said flatly “Are you asking me to break the law to satisfy your own personal curiosity?” She added a little fake gasp for effect.

“I’m asking you to get me everything you can on the woman,” Paige corrected. “Using any means necessary. I know how much you like being thorough.”

“Right,” Carmen laughed. “Are you seriously trying to pin this on me?”

“No,” Paige sighed. “Just get me what you can. Nathan would tan my hide if he found out I led you down a dark and illegal path that rejuvenated your compulsion to hack into the secret lives of the enemy. He’s convinced you gave up your old, wicked ways for the greater good.”

“I’ll call you when I’m done,” Carmen promised then disconnected.

Paige sat back. Carmen seemed happy, but she was definitely up to something. She was still trying to figure out what when Havilland approached her desk.

“I’ve got another one,” he admitted. “Same neighborhood. You game?”

Paige jumped to her feet and grabbed her coat. “Right behind you.”

An hour later they were sitting in the conference room, watching more home security video.

“Stop,” Paige sat up straighter. “Rewind. Yeah, there. Do you see that car? That’s the same silver compact I saw before. I want to talk to Ashley Vaynor. She has to be involved in this. What are the odds she’d be driving by — twice — when packages in the area just happened to come up missing?”

Margie stepped into the doorway. “Paige, Carmen Fennelly’s on line two.”

“What’d you find?” Paige demanded.

“Hey, is this the amazing digital Goddess of all things,” Carmen laughed. “Thank you for calling me back so quickly. I sure do appreciate your hard work on my case. Especially since the details were a little — sticky.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Paige tapped her pen on the table. “All that and more. Thank you, thank you, thank you. As always, you’re amazing. What did you find, Carmen?”

“Ashley Vaynor had a little shoplifting problem,” Carmen advised. “The first time she got caught, she was fourteen. She went about six months before her next stint in juvie. There’s a break for nearly a year before the little klepto stole again. She just turned seventeen at the time of her last arrest. That’s it. Somehow, she stopped cold turkey — pun intended since it’s almost Thanksgiving. No additional charges as a minor, nothing as an adult. The file is sealed as part of a plea deal and it will remain that way unless she’s arrested again. Plus, I think the statute of limitations is up. I don’t think they’ll reverse the seal at this point even if she is your porch pirate.”

Paige sat back and considered. “That has to be what… nearly thirty years. What triggered the relapse?”

“If there was a relapse,” Carmen said automatically. “And yeah, she’s the most likely suspect. Especially considering all this. Could be holiday stress or financial problems that just cropped up this year. It could be anything. You won’t know until you talk to her.”

“Right,” Paige focused on Havilland. “Thanks, Carmen. All kidding aside, I really do appreciate your help on this.”

“Happy to do it,” Carmen grinned. “I do need to polish my skills now and then.”

“Don’t tell Nathan,” Paige told her before hanging up.

“Ashley Vaynor?” Havi sighed. “Sometimes, I think you want to get me fired.”

“You can step away,” Paige offered. “Stay here, watch more video while I go talk to Ashley Vaynor alone.”

“Naw,” Havilland stood. “My feelings on the subject aren’t as strong as the rest of those guys. Sure, she might be a pillar of the community and all — but, that doesn’t mean she can’t also be a thief.”

“That’s what I love about you,” Paige pulled on her coat. “Always practical and unemotional. Even when your livelihood is on the line. How do you do it?”

“It’s a gift,” Havilland laughed. “Tell me what you found so when Jericho grills us, I’m prepared.”

Paige slid into his passenger seat and relayed the information she just got from Carmen.

“Viable,” Havilland decided. “So, how are we going to play it? Nice and sweet — hoping for some help? Or, fast and hard — take her off guard and see if she breaks?”

“Nice and sweet would be safe,” Paige offered. “Jericho might be happier with that tactic.”

“I vote for hard and fast,” Havilland disagreed. “Let’s take her by surprise and she how she reacts.”

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Paige grinned.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Mrs. Vaynor?” Paige asked when the woman opened the door.

“Yes,” she glanced from Paige to Havi and back to Paige. “Can I help you?”

“We’re here about some thefts in the neighborhood,” Paige stared at the woman, careful not to let any emotion show on her face. Because she was so focused, she saw it. A shocked flicker of fear, then it was gone. “Can we come in and talk to you, or would you rather take this down to the station?”

“I—” Ashley swallowed, terror gripped her throat, and she couldn’t speak for several seconds. “Come in.” She pushed open the door and took a step back. How did they know? She was so careful. Every time, she’d been careful.

“First,” Paige watched Ashley crumple onto the couch, and she knew she had her thief. “We need to ask you some questions regarding stolen packages reported by your neighbors. Before I do that, I need to read you your rights. You have the right to remain silent.” Paige went through the entire warning. Ashley surprised them both when she agreed to speak with them. “Ashley,” Paige glanced at Havilland. “Your car was captured on video at the time of the theft, at more than one crime scene. Can you explain why you were there at the exact time the theft was occurring?”

“I—” Ashley’s eyes darted around the room, looking for an escape. She knew she’d get caught, deep in her gut, she knew. But, she’d stolen those things, anyway. “I was trying to help,” she finally admitted. Tears streamed down her face. “I know it was wrong, but I was just trying to help.”

“Can you explain that?” Havilland tried to sound compassionate.

“I’m not a bad person,” Ashley began. She let out a sob, grabbed a tissue off the coffee table and blew her nose. “I spend a lot of time helping people, mostly families in our ward, but sometimes others. Anyway, I was at Ann Gallows home one morning, trying to comfort her. Ann’s husband deserted her and the four children nine months ago. She’s destitute and her oldest was just diagnosed with diabetes. The prescription is so expensive, but he has to have or he’ll die. So, she was crying, telling me how she won’t even have the money to buy the kids little things for Christmas this year. I offered to coordinate a sub for Santa event. She refused. Her pride won’t let her accept charity from anyone. She’s embarrassed, and she thinks it’s her fault that no good Carl left her and the kids with nothing. So, I sat with her and let her cry until she was all cried out. Then, I stepped outside and just inhaled the fresh cool air. That’s when I saw the UPS truck — again. The driver dropped two large boxes at the Jenkins home, then he immediately made another stop at Nancy and Boyd Miller’s place. I can’t explain why I did it, I know it was wrong, but I glanced around to make sure nobody would see me, avoided the camera at old man Dwyer’s place and snatched the package off Nancy’s porch. On the way back to my car, I couldn’t resist taking one of the boxes from the Jenkins as well. I decided to take them home, wrap them, and leave them on Ann’s doorstep Christmas morning.”

“What did you do with the things you took?” Paige pushed.

“The package I got from Nancy was a quilt,” she admitted. “I knew I couldn’t give that to Ann. It looked custom made, and I didn’t want anyone seeing it and accusing Ann or her kids of stealing. I dropped it in a donation box in Gunnison.

“And what did you get from the Jenkins home?” Havilland asked. They didn’t have a report from that house.

“Toys,” Ashley admitted. “I still have those. I re-wrapped them and planned to leave them for the kids.”

“We’re going to need you to get them,” Paige sighed. “Not yet,” she added when Ashley started to stand. “First, we need to talk about the other items you took.”

Ashley ran them through everything. She claimed she only took things from people she knew could afford it. She never stole from families that were struggling. Somehow, the woman thought that made it all okay. Once she finished confessing, Paige realized there were several items that hadn’t been reported. Ashley still had most of the stuff. The only exceptions were the quilt she donated in Gunnison and Harold’s medication — which she dropped off at the local clinic once she realized what it was.

“Did you ever consider returning the items you took?” Paige asked, anger seeping through despite her best effort to hide it. “Did you see Harold’s medical supplies and realize he might need those things to survive and consider dropping them back off where you found them?”

Ashley furrowed her brow. “I,” she hesitated. “Not really. It was risky enough to take them in the first place. I’d get caught for sure if I tried to return them.”

“So,” Havilland frowned. “Your focus was on making sure you didn’t get caught, not taking care of Ann and her kids?”

“No,” Ashely fidgeted on the couch. “I couldn’t help Ann and the kids if I got caught. So, I had to make sure I didn’t get caught.”

“You did get caught,” Paige said flatly. “Now, I need you to take me to the items you stole. I will be impounding them as evidence at this time.”

“Are you going to arrest me?” Ashley cried harder and her entire body started to shake.

“I’m going to screen charges with the District Attorney’s office,” Paige decided. “If you voluntarily surrender the items you stole, and you cooperate with the prosecutor, you might not spend time in jail — or not much time. That’s out of my control.”

Havilland stood. “You should think about hiring an attorney, Mrs. Vaynor. You’re going to need one. Now, can you show us where you stored the stolen property?” He turned to address Paige. “I’ve got this. You should go outside and call the boss.”

“Right,” Paige sighed but agreed.

\*\*\*\*\*

Three days later Paige was snuggled against Dax on their couch. The house was full of friends and family. Sophie was doing her best to keep Nathan honest as he told an outrageous story that may or may not have truly happened. You never could tell with Nathan. The men joined in, putting their own spin on the tale, adding in anecdotes from their own experience. The entire thing was getting out of control.

Carmen settled in next to Paige on the couch. “Another successful holiday. You should be proud and relieved it’s all over.”

“Proud of Dax,” Paige smiled up at him. “He did most of the work. And yes, relieved we have another one behind us. I love getting together, but it is a lot of work.”

“Maybe next year we’ll have our place finished and we can hold Thanksgiving in our new home,” Carmen offered.

“You seem happy,” Paige observed. “I mean, truly happy.”

“I am,” Carmen admitted. “You were right. I got scared now I’m not. I have an amazing man, with a crazy bunch of friends and to top it all off — I have you, Paige. The best friend anyone could ask for. Life is good.”

“What about the intolerable general?” Paige asked clearly not meaning it.

“I know Nathan is like a father to you,” Carmen sobered. “But, well — he’s special to me, too. He saved me, in more ways than one. I’ll always be grateful to him for that.”

“It’s okay,” Paige reached out and took Carmen’s hand. “Nathan can have more than one daughter. And you’re his, Carmen. Trust me, I can see it every time he looks at you. I don’t mind. He is truly one of a kind.”

“Thank you,” Carmen stood and headed back to join Zeus.

“You plan to talk to Jericho at all tonight?” Dax leaned in and bit her earlobe.

“I thought I’d leave that up to him,” Paige decided. “Behave.”

“Go on,” Dax laughed and gave her a little push. “Go make up.”

Paige stood and headed for the kitchen. She needed a minute before she took on Jericho. Before she had a chance to come up with a plan, he stepped into the room and settled onto one of the sturdy chairs.

“I like Harper,” Paige settled in next to him.

Jericho silently studied Paige but didn’t respond. He didn’t know what to say to that. He liked Harper, too. How much? He wasn’t sure, but he was grateful Dax insisted they include her tonight. “She’s grateful you invited her. She was planning to spend the night alone.”

“We had room,” Paige shrugged. “And anyway, you invited her.”

“I owe you an apology,” Jericho frowned when Paige shrugged. “No, let me do this. I’ve lived in this community a long time. I know these people, most of them have been friends or acquaintances for decades. I thought I knew Ashley Vaynor. I was wrong and I put my personal feelings ahead of the job — ahead of your instincts. You didn’t, Duncan didn’t. And the two of you did the job knowing you might not have my support. That won’t happen again. I need you to know I’ll back you. I will always stand for you when you’re right, regardless of the consequences. I already talked to Duncan. He told me he went into this believing I’d cave to pressure from the community if the going got tough. He was wrong, but I can understand why he thought I would.”

Paige blinked then shook her head. “I can’t believe he told you that.”

“That’s my point, Paige,” Jericho reached out and placed his hand over hers. “You and me — we have history. It’s complicated and not always pretty, but that’s family. You are my family, and I will always be here for you — personally. That holds true for the rest as well. I might not always agree with you, but if you do the job, I’ll have your back. You can trust that.”

“I know,” Paige turned her hand to grip his. “You are family, Jericho. For so many reasons. And I admit, I’m not that great at dealing with those complicated family issues. You’ve been angry, so I just avoided you.”

“I’m not angry,” Jericho corrected. “I was, but not for the reasons you think. Mostly, I was angry with myself. I threatened you but you pursued justice anyway — damn the consequences. Because of that, because you held true to who you are, you caught the person responsible for those thefts. Ashley will come out of this a little singed, but she won’t do jail time. She’ll have about a year’s worth of community service and I can live with that. I can’t live with you hiding things from me because you don’t trust me.”

“I do trust you,” Paige sighed. “Okay, I didn’t. Normally, I would have briefed you on the plan before I went out to talk to the suspect. I avoided you because I didn’t know what you would say or how you would react. That was also unprofessional and wrong. For that, I owe you an apology. So, I’m sorry.”

Jericho stood. He hesitated, then pulled Paige in for an unexpected hug. The man rarely showed affection and it took Paige by surprise.

“What’s this?” she returned the hug and realized it felt right. Jericho was her father in so many ways — just like Nathan. It didn’t matter that he never married her mom, Chaya Carter had brought them together in death more than she ever did when she was alive.

“My life has been complicated and so very lonely since I lost your mother,” Jericho didn’t let go. “I didn’t know what would happen when you returned. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I was sure having you here, was going to make my life even more difficult. Instead, you’ve brought me nothing but joy. You are family, Paige and you always will be. And since today is a day for giving thanks, I want you to know how thankful I am that you’re here and your mine.”

“Nothing but joy,” Paige tried to lighten the mood. “Even when I chase suspects over a cliff into the river, stumble onto a baby stealing ring, leave you to handle the violent members of a Mexican drug cartel—”

“You’re right,” Jericho laughed and stepped back. “Did I say joy? I meant your a nuisance and a pain in my—”

“And here we were,” Paige interrupted. “Having such a tender moment. While you’re in such a giving mood, I want to know how you feel about Harper. Tell me the truth, do you like her?”

“I don’t know yet,” Jericho said seriously. “I’m not ruling it out.”

“Well,” Paige bumped her shoulder to his. “I like her, and I think that’s a good first step.”

“Right,” Jericho laughed and headed for the door. “Because the world does revolve around you.”

“I’m glad we finally cleared that up,” Paige was smiling when she settled back in next to Dax. Carmen was right. Life was good, and she planned to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening. She glanced around at the people she loved. She had a lot to be thankful for, they all did.

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**Be sure to come back next month for the exciting Season Finale with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S5

**Tags:** Season 5

---

### [Smoke and Mirrors](https://melaniepsmith.com/smoke-and-mirrors/)

**Published:** October 31, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Smoke and Mirrors (S5E7) Paige and Havilland encounter a surprise on a routine traffic accident, then just when they think they have it all figured out, they're faced with another mystery. The investigation leads south, and what happens in Vegas…

**Content:**

****\*\*\*SMOKE AND MIRRORS\*\*\*****

Paige absently reached for the ringing phone as she skimmed through the report she’d just written. “Deputy Carter.”

“Paige Carter,” a male voice greeted. “It’s been a while. Calvin Wright here. How are you?”

“Wow,” Paige grinned and settled back in her chair. “That’s a blast from the past. I’m great and you?”

“Can’t complain,” Calvin told her.

“You still giving orders in the freezing metropolis of Green Bay?”

“Actually,” Calvin hesitated. “No. That’s actually the reason for my call. My wife’s father passed away nearly ten years ago. Her mom was still pretty self-sufficient — until recently. She fell last year, broke her hip. It took a couple hours before a neighbor found her and called for help. I decided it was time to retire and move to Des Moines. We packed up, bought a decent sized place, and moved Sheila’s mom into the basement. It didn’t take long for me to get bored. So, I took a job at the local department conducting backgrounds for new hires. It’s part time, but it gets me out of the house.”

“Congratulations, I think. Sorry about the fall and the hip.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MPS-PC_Cover-S5.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Smoke-and-Mirrors.pdf)

“I’m calling because the Chief here was contacted by a…” he checked his notes. “Looks like a guy by the name of Blaze Hawthorne. He said he works at an elite training center out there in Manti, with a man named Dax Hamilton. I was told you went and tied the knot — and this Hamilton character was the guy that finally convinced you to take the plunge.”

“Hawk called?” Paige sat back and considered. “Is this about Matt Warner?”

“As a matter of fact,” Calvin admitted. “He applied for an opening here in Des Moines. He’s got a few years with Johnson County, but that department is small. The application is pretty basic — other than an advanced course through DMA. This Hawthorne guy claims to be a marksman, said he retired from the military. He also said we’d be crazy not to snatch Warner up while we have the chance.”

“He’s right,” Paige agreed. “What do you need from me?”

“You’re familiar with Warner?”

“He came out last month,” Paige told him. “Attended a course at my husband’s facility. You can research the training center, but it’s top notch. There’s a waiting list just to get into a course at DMA. All the instructors are retired from the military — special forces. They train both military and law enforcement. Warner attended their advanced course and aced it. He’s a natural marksman. And, as far as Hawk goes — I’ve never seen a better sniper. The fact Hawk called you, speaks volumes. If you need more on that, you can call General Porter. He’ll vouch for Hawk — and Warner, for that matter — without hesitation.”

“Your word is enough,” Calvin assured her. “He really aced the course?”

“He did,” Paige didn’t hesitate. “What did Hawk say when he called?”

“He somehow finagled his way over to our SWAT Commander,” Calvin admitted. “Told him to convince the brass to hire Warner before he gets a better offer. He also highly recommended the kid for our tactical team. Seems Hawthorne was seriously impressed with Matt Warner and thought we’d want to look at him for SWAT as soon as Warner met the requirements.”

“We all were,” Paige told him who Hawk was, how Matt had competed against Ollie and Nathan, and then concluded with a run-down of the case they worked together. “The department would be lucky to have him. You won’t find a better shooter, and his instincts are sharp when it comes to investigations as well.”

“I’ll pass your recommendation along,” Calvin assured her. “We don’t know Dax or this Hawthorne, but I know you. He wouldn’t have the Carter seal of approval if he didn’t deserve it.”

“He’s got it,” Paige assured him. “Now, tell me how the kids are doing. I heard they’re both in college. Do they plan to follow in dad’s footsteps, or moms?” They talked for nearly an hour. The conversation was nearing a natural conclusion when Margie stepped up to Paige’s desk.

“Havilland could use your help,” Margie set a note on the desk in front of Paige.

“Gotta go,” Paige straightened. “Duty calls, but it was great catching up. Keep in touch and if there’s ever anything I can do for you — don’t hesitate to call.”

“Same goes,” Calvin said before disconnecting.

She slid into her jacket and headed for the door.

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\*\*\*\*\*

Paige approached the scene and immediately understood why Havi called for backup. The roadway was completely obstructed with vehicles — and people. A red SUV was blocking the roadway, and an EMT was working on a patient sprawled out on the highway. Unfortunately, with all the cars, the ambulance couldn’t reach their patient. Paige snatched up her microphone, switched over to the internal bullhorn, and pushed the door open as wide as she could. Then, she stood in the doorway, balancing herself with the open driver’s side door and the rooftop, and took charge. “Listen up,” she began. “We need to clear the way for the ambulance. To start, I need this green truck and the red Toyota gone immediately. If you witnessed the crash, stay. You can pull over there, on the side of the road and park on the shoulder. If you didn’t see the actual collision, leave the area immediately. Once those two cars are moved, I need this white SUV out of the way. Hurry, people. I’ve already called for a tow truck. Either you move them out, or I’ll move them for you.” That got their attention. Within minutes, the path was cleared, and the ambulance had snaked its way through the remaining vehicles and was loading their patient into the back.

Paige approached Havilland. “What else do you need?”

“Thanks for that,” he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and began cleaning away the blood that was covering his hands and forearms. Once he cleaned off most of it, he glanced around then moved in closer. “I’ve got two in critical condition. I’m not sure the driver of the truck is going to survive. The other one is stable — for now. Once we get the second driver transported and out of the way, I can start working the scene. In the meantime, can you to take a look in the bed of that truck over here? The guy might not make it, but we’ll need answers either way. I need a second opinion.”

Paige frowned, unsure what that was all about. “Let me guide in medical, then I’ll take a look.” Once the second ambulance was in position and the patient was being loaded, Paige took a few seconds to survey the area. Still too many rubberneckers but, at least for now, they were out of the way and wouldn’t interfere with the scene. With a sigh, she turned and made her way to the truck. Her eyes widened in surprise the instant she spotted the cargo area, but she quickly masked her reaction. *Blood — lots of blood*. Too much to be explained away by this accident. What in the world had they stumbled onto?

“I can see your reaction was the same as mine,” Havilland stepped in next to her once the second ambulance pulled away. “What I need to know is whether it’s human or animal blood. And, if it is human — who does it belong to?”

“I agree,” Paige ran her hand through her hair. “Call Jericho. Tell him you need a guard on the owner of this vehicle. Then, you handle the report and I’ll deal with the truck. I’m going to have it towed back to the office and lock it down tight in an evidence bay.”

They both glanced up when another vehicle pulled in behind Paige.

Havi grinned. “I’ll have Gage work on getting these people out of here. Maybe he can separate the actual witnesses from the curious gawkers.”

“Good idea,” Paige pulled out her walkie and contacted Margie.

An hour later, Havilland had the scene diagrammed. Gage had traffic under control and Paige had the vehicle in question locked up at the office. Once the first car was secured, she returned to inspect the second vehicle involved in the collision.

“I think I’ve got everything I need here,” Havilland studied the second car and wondered if Paige had found anything useful. “According to the witnesses, this BMW was speeding and tailgating the truck. A third vehicle, maybe black, maybe blue, maybe freakin’ purple according to one woman — maybe a Ford, maybe a Camry, maybe a spaceship from Mars for all I know—”

“In other words, your average, every day, typical, eyewitness accounts,” Paige smiled.

“Right,” Havilland took a deep breath. “Anyway, the unidentified vehicle pulled onto the highway, and barely missed the right front bumper of the truck. The driver of said truck, swerved and slammed on his breaks — probably hoping to avoid a collision. The driver of this BMW,” he pointed to the car Paige was inspecting. “He was driving too close and smashed into the back of the truck. But, after swerving to avoid the first car, the truck was now at an angle. When the BMW clipped the right fender, it struck with enough force that the truck began to spin and ended up in oncoming traffic. That’s when the cement truck broadsided him.”

“We’re lucky the cement truck didn’t roll,” Paige observed. “Otherwise, we’d be out here all night trying to scrape a ton of concrete off the pavement.”

“I guess there is that,” Havilland sighed. “I got his information, had Heidi do a blood draw, and released him fairly quickly. He had cement to deliver and it was clear, almost immediately, that he was just collateral damage in all of this. I didn’t need him to stick for the diagram and other than the front fender, his vehicle barely had a scratch.”

“We can talk to him later if we need to,” Paige agreed. “I can wait here; Frank should arrive any minute. I’ll deal with the tow if you want to head to the hospital and get an update.”

“Thanks,” Havilland paused and turned back. “Gage got another call and had to bolt, so it’s just you. Can you handle the rest of this? Oh, and let Jericho know I’m at the hospital. I’ll probably be there at least another hour, maybe two.”

“I’ve got it,” Paige assured him. Once Havilland left, Paige opened the passenger door and began rifling through the glove box.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige shut down the engine, slid from behind the wheel and approached the large glass revolving doors. With an inward sigh, she decided she spent entirely too much time in hospitals these days. After a quick glance around, she approached the desk.

It took some finagling, but she finally got the information she needed. Minutes later she was stepping from the vacant elevator into the halls of the third floor — which were eerily quiet at the moment. Following the directions the receptionist gave her, Paige made her way to a large waiting room.

Noise erupted the instant she pushed open the door. The room was packed. There were at least a dozen people of various ages mingling inside. A teenager was huddled in the corner, focused on his phone. A young boy of about five was sprawled on the floor, thick coloring book open and about a hundred crayons spread out around him. A young woman in her twenties was standing near the window, rocking back and forth, and murmuring to an infant. Paige swept the room quickly. When she realized Havi wasn’t there, she turned to leave.

She’d only taken two steps toward the door when it flew open and an elderly couple shuffled in, followed by Deputy Havilland. He spotted Paige immediately and headed her way.

“Is there somewhere a little more private we can talk?” Paige asked.

“Let’s go out here,” Havi turned back to the elderly couple. “Violet, Jack, you two just settled in over there on that couch. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Hopefully, the doctor will be back with an update by then.”

The instant they were out of the room, Havilland motioned to an open door down the hall. “I see you met the Hanson’s.”

“Not really,” Paige stepped into the small room and settled into one of three chairs. “The blood is not human. I sent it to the lab for a full analysis but —”

Havilland settled into the chair next to her. “It’s elk.”

“Makes sense,” Paige nodded. “The driver of the truck was a hunter, I presume.”

“Yeah,” Havilland ran a hand over his face. “He’s still in surgery. It’s bad. Last update was pretty devastating for the family.”

“They’re all here for the truck?” Paige wondered.

“They are,” Havi affirmed. “I haven’t been able to contact anyone connected to the driver of the BMW.”

“Meaning?”

“The registration comes back to Amelia and Charles Glover,” Havilland told her. “When I couldn’t find a listing, I asked Margie to do a little digging. It seems both Amelia and Charles are deceased.”

Paige frowned. “Stolen?”

“Nope,” Havilland sighed. “Margie checked. Amelia passed three months ago; Charles has been gone for six years.”

“How old are they?”

“Charles was eighty-four,” Havilland glanced at his notes. “Amelia was eighty-five when she passed three months ago.”

“Could be a family member that inherited the car,” Paige was watching Havilland. There was more.

“I asked Logan to respond to the address,” he continued. “The place has been cleaned out completely.”

“What does that mean?” Paige wondered.

“The Glover’s had money,” Havilland told her. “The house is one of those large, two-story monstrosities up on the hill. There’s a realtor sign on the front lawn. Logan was wandering around, getting a feel for the place, when a neighbor strolled over. The woman said Amelia was heartbroken after Charlie died. She got through the day working in her enormous garden out back. Apparently, Amelia Glover had quite the green thumb. Anyway, when Reed asked about the house, the neighbor said Amelia had a stroke a few weeks prior to her death. She let a younger man, a guy by the name of David, move in to help her. The neighbor was suspicious. Said Amelia Glover seemed to get worse, not better once the man moved in. Then, suddenly, she was gone. A week later, David had sold everything. One day Kate — that’s the neighbor — was attending the funeral of a dear friend, the next a large truck was in the driveway hauling out the elaborate furniture and the expensive paintings. Now, the house is on the market at a reduced price — no less. She said it’s clearly marked down to move it quickly.”

Paige frowned. “Do you have a way to reach this David guy?”

“Not yet,” Havilland stood. “I need to check on Watson, see if he’s out of surgery. Logan jotted down the information on the realtor and I’ll contact her in the morning. You might as well head home, there’s nothing much we can do here tonight.”

“You leaving?”

“Once I determine the status of Carl Watson, yeah.”

“How’s the other driver?” Paige stood. “Our John Doe that was driving the BMW?”

“Recovering,” Havilland shrugged. “His injuries were serious, but I’m told he came through surgery without any major complications. He’s still out cold from the anesthesia they used, and he’ll be incapacitated until morning. I asked the nurse to call me the minute he wakes. Maybe he can explain how he ended up in a vehicle that belongs to the recently deceased.”

“You need any help with the family?” Paige motioned toward the waiting area that was filled with Carl Watson’s loved ones.

“No,” Havilland shook his head. “They’re good people and seem like a close nit family. All of them are avid hunters. They were camping up the canyon. Hunting was the excuse, but I think it was mostly a chance to get away and spend a week or so enjoying the wilderness. Carl tagged an elk and wanted to get it down the mountain and to the processing plant immediately. He was supposed to drop it off and head back up to finish the trip with the others. When he didn’t return, they got worried and here we are. I’ll check in with them, get an update, then head out. We can pick this back up in the morning.”

“Sounds good,” Paige put a hand on his shoulder before she turned and slowly made her way back to the parking lot.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was nearly an hour late getting home. She walked through the house, confused when she didn’t spot Dax. Once she entered the kitchen, she heard laughter next door. Dax must be hanging with the neighbors. She should have called, but she lost track of time and it took longer than expected at the hospital. After rushing upstairs to change, she stepped onto the back porch and slowly made her way across the manicured lawn.

The entire group was there, including Wooly and Jaimie. “I think you lost your Mini-Me’s,” Paige said, settling onto the edge of a lounge chair.

“Ken’s mother agreed to keep them,” Jaimie slowly sipped a glass of red wine. “I needed a night away and Hawk promised to make his amazing sirloin tips in that secret magic sauce of his.”

“I’m always game for magic sauce,” Paige smiled at Hawk. “Did you make enough for one more?”

“Of course,” Hawk turned the steak like an expert.

“You’re home late,” Zeus pointed out. “Hot case?”

“Crash that turned weird,” Paige admitted. “Then it wasn’t and now I think it might be something else entirely — fraud, maybe.”

“What do you mean it was weird, then it wasn’t?” Ken asked.

“I headed out to help Havi on a serious crash,” Paige began.

“You guys had the road blocked off for hours,” Vato grumbled.

“Two were transported, one might not make it,” Paige ignored him. “Anyway, there was a ton of blood in the bed of the truck.”

“Blood?” Carmen scrunched up her nose. “Human?”

“No,” Paige shrugged. “We had to know for sure, but I tested it as soon as I towed the vehicle back to the office. Came back as a member of the hoof variety. I sent it to the lab to make sure, but the family confirmed it was from an elk and Havi verified it was all legal.”

“That must have been a shock,” Jaimie mumbled. “You arrived thinking you’d be dealing with a simple accident and found a truck bed covered in blood. I realize it’s October, but still.”

“It was interesting at first,” Paige admitted. “We were busy, so my focus was getting the vehicle out of there and secured, but it threw me for a minute.”

“So,” Dax wrapped an arm around Paige and pulled her against him, stretching his legs on either side of her body to hold her in place. “Where did the fraud come into play?”

“When I got to the hospital,” Paige accepted the glass of wine Zeus handed her. “Thanks. The victim’s entire family was there. They were all together — hunting up the canyon as an excuse for a family reunion of some sort — and, when the driver didn’t return, they got worried. Why don’t any of you hunt?”

The men exchanged looks, but nobody answered.

“You should understand better than most,” Carmen finally said. “Like Hemingway said, there is no hunting like the hunting of men.”

“And you guys don’t care for anything else,” Paige nodded. “Makes sense.” She focused on Hawk. He looked more uncomfortable than the others.

“When you’ve been forced to kill,” he turned the steak without glancing up. “You appreciate the beauty of life. An elk is majestic and magnificent from his rack to the distinct bugle of his mating call — he’s impressive and regal. I have no interest in killing something that stately for sport.”

“If we needed to hunt,” Vato added. “For food, like they did a hundred years ago, that would be different. We all work in the wilderness because we appreciate the vastness and the wonder. There’s nothing like coming around a corner and spotting a huge bull elk scraping the felt from his antlers or witnessing a large moose sloshing around in a shallow pond.”

“I agree,” Paige took another sip of wine. “And I’m glad you guys respect nature the way you do. But enough about that, I dampened the mood and didn’t mean to. I was just curious. Anyway, plasma mystery solved, I headed over to the hospital to help Havi. That’s when I learned the other driver — the one that was the prime contributor to the crash — wasn’t the registered owner of the expensive BMW he was driving. Both of the RO’s are deceased and we have no idea who the man is. He didn’t have a wallet on him, and I didn’t see one in the vehicle when I inventoried the contents.”

“Mysterious,” Jaimie agreed. “So, you think he was running some kind of con? Based on that? Maybe he just stole the car.”

“There’s more, but enough about my day — what did you guys do?”

The group allowed the subject change. After such a long difficult day, they all wanted to enjoy the company and comradery, not discuss local crime. It was late when Dax and Paige finally headed home.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was already at her desk when Havilland stepped into the bullpen. She glanced up, was immediately distracted by the large tree trunk in the corner, and frowned. “I’m never going to get used to that thing.”

“You’re in early,” Havilland settled into her visitor’s chair.

“I wanted more details before we cornered the realtor,” Paige admitted.

“Did you find anything?”

“Not really,” Paige sighed. “Logan said the man was going by David Bennett. I found a marriage certificate for David Bennett and Amelia Glover. The happy couple tied the knot three and a half months ago. Only one week after Amelia had a stroke. It was apparently a private ceremony, David hired a pastor to perform the ritual right there in the home — it was a five-minute, romantic bedside service. No fuss, no frills, just say ‘I do’ and sign on the dotted line.”

“Convenient,” Havilland stretched out his legs and crossed one ankle over the other. “Marr-wage. Marr-wage is what brings us togedder today,” he shook his head at her blank look. “You might be some bigshot FBI hero, but you are seriously lacking when it comes to culture. The Princess Bride is a classic.”

“That’s a movie, right?” Paige stared at him.

Havilland shook his head in disgust. “Seriously lacking, Paige. You should do something to rectify that; but, in the meantime… do you have anything further on this David character?”

“Nope,” Paige admitted. “Because he doesn’t exist. The social security number he provided is bogus. The date of birth indicates a man in his mid-fifties — fifty-four to be exact — and there’s no record of a David Bennett from Kentucky being born on that day. He’s a fraud and the identity’s as fake as Honey Stewart’s double D’s.”

“I’m crushed,” Havilland grinned and pressed his hand to his heart. “She swore those things were natural.”

“Uh-huh,” Paige rolled her eyes. “I scheduled a meeting with Janice, but we have to meet her at the realtor’s office. She has a client dropping in this morning to sign some paperwork and she can’t miss him.”

“Let’s go,” Havilland stood.

\*\*\*\*\*

It took less than ten minutes to realize Janice knew even less than they did. The only useful information they got from her was the name of the auction house that contracted with David Bennett to sell Amelia’s property. They also discovered David Bennett matched the description of the BMW driver.

“You want to stop in at the hospital first,” Paige asked. “Or head straight to the auction house?”

“They’re both in Gunnison,” Havilland punched the address into his phone. “Let’s start at the hospital. John Doe — AKA David Bennett — should be awake by now.”

The moment they entered the room, the man demanded an explanation. What happened? How did he get here? Who was going to pay for it?

“We were hoping you’d explain the details to us,” Paige answered.

“I’m Deputy Duncan Havilland and this is my colleague, Deputy Paige Carter. Can you tell us what you remember about the crash?” Havi asked.

“Crash?” David turned and focused out the window. “That’s right. I was traveling on —” he frowned. “I’m sorry, I’m not from around here, so I don’t know the name of the road. It’s the main highway that leads through town.”

“You were traveling on Highway eighty-nine,” Paige provided, handing the man a bottle of water.

“Right,” he took a slow, deliberate sip before he continued. “And that truck in front of me suddenly slammed on the brakes for no reason. I think he might have been one of those people that deliberately cause an accident. You know, for the insurance money.”

“Witnesses at the scene said you were speeding then riding the bumper of the black truck,” Havilland challenged. “They said he slowed for another vehicle and you struck him from behind, pushing his truck into oncoming traffic.”

“That’s a lie,” David insisted. “They must be in on it. You know what it’s like. I was driving an expensive car. They probably think they can get insurance money and damages from me as well.”

“The man is fighting for his life,” Paige scowled. “He isn’t running a con, Mr. —” she waited, wondering what name the man would provide.

“Bennett,” he said absently. “David Bennett.”

“Mr. Bennett,” Havilland moved to stand next to the bed. “We didn’t find any identification on you. The vehicle is registered to a Charles and Amelia Glover. The insurance card in the glove box was listed under the name of Amelia Glover. The address listed is a vacant house that used to belong to Amelia and Charles, but the couple is now deceased. Can you tell us how you came to be driving a vehicle that did not belong to you?”

“Amelia was my wife,” David told them.

“She’s at least thirty years older than you are,” Paige observed.

“Right,” David glanced away. “Charles died several years ago. Amelia was lonely and we met at the senior center. I lost my wife three years ago. She suffered from early onset dementia, and I spent a lot of time at the senior center back home. It was the place I felt most comfortable.”

“Where is that?” Paige asked, not buying this for a second.

David frowned. He didn’t want to give up too many details. The cops could check details and if everything didn’t match up perfectly, they’d detain him while they dug further. He looked down at his hands, trying to appear distraught. “New Castle… Colorado.”

“So,” Havilland frowned. “You lived in New Castle with your wife, who contracted early onset dementia and you put her in a home rather than caring for her yourself?”

“I —” David scowled. “I cared for her as long as I was able. Then, I was forced to ask the professionals for help.”

“We understand,” Paige stepped forward. “And three years ago, your wife passed on — is that correct?”

“Yes,” David nodded and set the bottle on the small table next to his bed. “Nancy was the love of my life. It broke my heart to see her like that. By the time she died, she didn’t even remember who I was.”

“Can you give us the name of the facility?” Havilland wondered. “Where your wife was — at the time of her death?”

“Why?” David pushed up in the bed. “What does my late wife have to do with the crash that nearly killed me?”

“That’s what we need to find out,” Havilland shrugged.

“We just need to verify who you are, Mr. Bennett,” Paige added. “Unless you have official identification you can give us. We understand this is a difficult time, but you were driving a vehicle that doesn’t appear to belong to you. We just need to make sure your story checks out. I’m sure you can understand.”

David considered. “The vehicle does belong to me. Amelia and I had an instant connection. We — well, I know this is going to sound odd because she was so much older than I was, but we just clicked. We could sit and talk for hours and hours. Mostly, we reminisced about Charles and Nancy. We were married, approximately three months ago. I’m still working through the legal red tape and that’s why the vehicle hasn’t been transferred into my name.”

“Three months, you say?” Havilland asked.

“That’s right,” David nodded. “Our marriage should be recorded — here in town. You should be able to confirm that yourself. Amelia and I were legally married three months ago.”

“It was closer to three and a half,” Paige corrected. “I already checked. And, you must have terrible luck, Mr. Bennett. It appears Amelia died approximately one week later. I suspect that’s the reason you’re having to deal with all that red tape.”

“Oh, good,” a nurse stepped into the room. “You’re awake. I need to get you down to radiology. The doctor has ordered an MRI this morning.” She turned to look at Paige and Duncan. “I was under the impression Mr. Bennett didn’t have any living relatives. Who are you?”

Paige pulled out the wallet that contained her badge, Havi just pulled back his jacket to reveal his badge fastened to his belt.

“Oh,” the woman glanced at David then back to them. “I’m not sure if it’s okay for you to be here.”

“I’ll help you get David into the chair,” Havilland offered. “Then we’ll get out of your hair.”

“That’s really nice of you,” the nurse said as Duncan pivoted to block her view.

Neither David Bennett nor the nurse noticed when Paige slid the water bottle from the table and dropped it into an evidence bag. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Bennett,” Paige stopped in the doorway. “We’ll be back to speak to you later.”

Duncan moved to the reception area and asked to speak with David’s doctor. Once they were confident the patient wouldn’t be released without their approval and they had a commitment from the staff to notify the office immediately if David got a visitor — they headed out to contact the auction house.

The supervisor wasn’t happy, but he agreed to suspend all sales for two days. That would give Havilland time to get a warrant to seize the property until ownership could be verified. Randy Gibbs insisted ownership had already been verified, but he reluctantly agreed. They stopped and dropped the water bottle at the lab before returning to the office.

\*\*\*\*\*

The following day, Paige was sitting at her desk, organizing her notes from care centers in New Castle, Colorado. She was trying to find the facility where David’s wife, Nancy had been housed. So far, she wasn’t having any luck. She glanced at the phone when it rang, sighed when she remembered Margie was out for lunch, and answered. “Deputy Carter.”

“Oh, yes,” a female voice said in greeting. “I, well my name is Candice Templeton and I’m looking for the police officer that is handling a traffic accident that occurred two days ago. The driver of one of the vehicles should be Donald Franklin.”

“Do you have a case number?” Paige asked.

“Well, no,” the woman admitted. “I — well, I think my fiancé may have been injured, but the hospital doesn’t have any record of him at their facility. I — well, um… Donny called me from the hospital and said he was okay, but they were keeping him for a few days. I forgot to ask him about a notice I received yesterday and called back immediately. They informed me no one by that name is housed in their facility. None of this makes any sense at all. I don’t know, I thought if I contacted the police, they could help me sort all of this out. I know it probably seems like a strange request, but I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You said Donny called from the hospital,” Paige tried to clarify. “Can you tell me what hospital he called from?”

“The phone display said Gunnison Valley Hospital,” the woman answered. “Can you tell me where that is located?”

“In the city of Gunnison, ma’am,” Paige frowned. “In Utah. Can you tell me where you are calling from?”

“Oh, sorry,” she sighed. “Like I said, my name is Candice Templeton and I’m calling from Mesquite, Nevada.”

“Could you describe your fiancé for me?” Paige began to take notes.

“He’s fifty-five years old,” she began. “With dark brown hair and a little gray showing around the edges. He’s about six feet tall, I would guess, and—”

“I’m going to stop you there,” Paige motioned for Havi to join her. “I need to put you on speaker. I believe my colleague is handling that case.

Havilland frowned but settled into Paige’s chair.

“Deputy Havilland has now joined us, Ms. Templeton,” Paige began. “And I believe the man you know as Donald Franklin is going by the name of David Bennett.”

“Why would he do that?” Candice exclaimed. “Oh fiddlesticks, my granddaughter was right, wasn’t she?”

“About what?” Havilland asked.

“Cortney met Donald,” Candice explained. “It was a lucky accident, I guess you could say. She’s attending Dixie College and decided to visit Las Vegas with some friends. They all stopped in for a visit. That was probably two months ago, maybe a little longer. Anyway, with the pandemic, the college is holding classes on that internet thing and the group of them headed to the city for a little fun before the weather turns.”

“And she didn’t like Donald?” Paige smiled.

“Oh, not really,” Candice admitted. “She said she didn’t trust him. Cortney thought he seemed — cagey, I think was the word she used. He wasn’t happy when she showed up. Cortney is very protective, and she interrogated him a bit, I suppose. Donny was angry and left early that night. Cortney asked me to be careful. She said she didn’t trust him, and she wanted me to take things slow with him. Can you imagine, a woman of my age taking things slow?”

“How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking,” Paige held her breath while she waited for the answer.

“I’m seventy-eight,” Candice sighed. “Other than creaky bones when I crawl out of bed, I feel like a spry sixty-five.”

Paige laughed. “You sound spry to me.”

“Is Cortney right about Donny?” Candice asked reluctantly.

“I’m afraid she is,” Havilland admitted. “I’d like to speak with you about Donald, Candice. I’d like to do that in person, but I have to run this by my boss before I can head down to you. Could you give me a number where I can contact you once I get this all sorted out?”

“Oh, sure,” Candice provided her phone number, her address, and her full name.

“What do you need to run by your boss?” Jericho asked from Margie’s desk.

“Can I drive to Nevada to interview a witness?” Havilland requested.

“Why?” Jericho frowned. “I think both of you better join me in my office and bring me up to date.”

Once his deputies had finished laying out the facts of the case, Jericho leaned back to consider. “Paige, can you work with Carmen and see if the two of you can determine who this man is?”

“I’m already doing that,” Paige told him. “I’m just waiting for the lab results to come back on the water bottle and they’re still running the fingerprints. She’s running what little we have, but she’s going to need more details if we want to find verified answers.”

“Alright,” he glanced at Havilland. “It sounds like the crash investigation is complete. Do you plan to charge this David Bennett character with a traffic violation?”

“Yes,” Havilland answered immediately. “Witness statements put him as the primary contributor. The black truck didn’t contribute as far as I’m concerned. He evaded a third vehicle that made an illegal turn in front of him then was hit from behind by the BMW being driven by Bennett. The witnesses said Bennett was speeding for at least a mile before the crash. Once he closed the distance between him and the truck, he was right on our victim’s bumper. I want to stop by the hospital for an update before I screen anything with the DA. If Carl Watson doesn’t make it, I’m going to file charges for manslaughter or vehicular homicide.”

“File what you have,” Jericho ordered. “We don’t know who this guy is, and we don’t want him sneaking out and vanishing. Stan can amend the charges later if we need to. Charge him with reckless driving now and tell Stan you want a warrant immediately. Once it’s served, I can post an officer at the door of the hospital to make sure he doesn’t go anywhere. Close out the crash and focus on the fraud. I’m going to approve the trip to Mesquite. Take Paige with you. It’s close enough, you should be able to make the trip in one day. If you don’t have enough time today, leave first thing in the morning.”

“I’m going to call Candice back and tell her we’ll be there tomorrow,” Havilland decided. “I’ll complete the paperwork and screen the charges with Stan before I head to the hospital.” He turned to address Paige. “Can you be ready to go by eight?”

“Do you want to leave earlier than that?” Paige considered. “I think it’s about four, maybe four and a half hours away. That’s at least eight hours of drive time, maybe nine. I can be ready by seven.”

Havi grinned. “Closer to three, I’m driving.”

“I better not get a call from Highway Patrol or any other department about my deputies and their unprofessional driving.”

Havilland nodded and waited for Jericho to step into his office. “You notice he didn’t say no speeding.”

“I noticed,” Paige grumbled. “But I might.”

“I don’t work for you,” Havilland moved to his desk. “Your demands are merely suggestions in my world.” He was still smiling when he walked out the door.

Paige watched him leave, then turned to snatch up her ringing phone. “Deputy Carter.”

“Paige,” Carmen said in greeting. “It’s Carmen.”

“Did you find him?” Paige demanded.

“Sort of,” Carmen sighed. “I tracked the David Bennett identification down. The real Bennett is technically missing but presumed dead.”

“What does that mean?”

“He was a recluse that loved to hike,” Carmen provided. “He went backpacking in the Alps eight years ago and was never seen again. A storm came in that took everyone by surprise. Add that to the fact the mountain range in question is vast and rugged —”

“And he may never be found,” Paige finished.

“Right,” Carmen agreed. “They searched for over three days, but never found the man, a body, or even the slightest sign David Bennett actually went hiking where he said he was going. It’s a mystery, but the family always thought he’d go out that way, so nobody is really pushing for answers.”

“They already have them,” Paige considered. “So, our suspect chose an identity that couldn’t be challenged and wouldn’t appear that suspicious if anyone went looking. How hard was it to find the information?”

“Any detective with decent skills would have found it,” Carmen frowned.

“I think that’s by design,” Paige decided. “Anything else?”

“Maybe,” Carmen hesitated. “David Bennett was originally from Alaska.”

“So, he’s used to remote,” Paige mumbled.

“He would be, yes,” Carmen agreed. “That’s not the intel, though. He moved to Montana about eight months before he went missing.”

“Okay,” Paige settled into her chair and waited for the real news. She knew Carmen well enough to know there was something else.

“He settled in a small town called Fairfield, just north of Helena.”

“You have a point, Carmen. What is it?” Paige pushed.

“Bennett was living with a great aunt at the time,” Carmen continued. “A woman by the name of Joyce Taylor. Joyce died two months after Bennett disappeared.”

“Died how?” Paige sat up.

“Poisoned,” Carmen told her. “Ethylene glycol, to be precise. The authorities suspected Bennett at first but once they realized he was dead, or likely dead, the case went cold. They found antifreeze mixed in with the cream Joyce used in her tea. They concluded, whoever poisoned her had to be living in the home at the time, or close to the time, of her death. The case is still open, but inactive.”

“You concluded it wasn’t Bennett?” Paige asked.

“I don’t conclude,” Carmen disagreed. “I gather evidence and give it to the hotshot detectives who conclude.”

“Fair enough,” Paige laughed. “I’ll conclude it wasn’t Bennett. Could they put anyone else in the house at the time?”

“That is inconclusive,” Carmen grinned. “A couple neighbors thought they saw a man, a stranger but they couldn’t be sure. A third neighbor claims to have met a man who said he was staying there. They all insisted it wasn’t Bennett, but the police couldn’t find another relative that might have been visiting.”

“How about a stranger?” Paige wondered aloud. “Is there any possibility that my suspect killed both Joyce and her nephew, then stole David’s identity to use later?”

“At this point,” Carmen sighed. “Anything is possible.”

“I need those DNA results,” Paige grumbled.

“You know you could send them to the FBI,” Carmen began.

“I’m not going to do that,” Paige decided. “I’m going over to the lab to sit on the technicians until they give me the results.”

“You’re not actually going to sit on them, right?” Carmen laughed. “Because you do know that will hamper any progress they might make while processing your evidence.”

“Funny,” Paige shook her head. “Let me know if you find anything else.”

“Will do,” Carmen disconnected.

Paige debated — head over to the lab to put pressure on the techs, or start a thorough background on Joyce Taylor and David Bennett? “Background,” she decided. Driving over to the lab would only annoy them. Worse, it would get her on Debbie’s bad side. As things stood, Debbie Strong, the lab supervisor, was pushing for quick results and promised to call Paige with an update before the end of the day. She could be patient and focus on Joyce and her reclusive nephew.

\*\*\*\*\*

Nearly two hours later, Paige was on the phone with Detective Brad Grant from Fairfield, Montana.

“As you can see,” Det. Grant said. “Misty indicated she met this strange man briefly a few weeks prior to Joyce’s death.”

“I’m not sure where you are,” Paige admitted. “I only had a few minutes to skim through this report before you called. Can you tell me what page you are referring to?”

“It’s the witness statement I obtained from Misty Lancaster,” Grant advised. “She was walking her dog one day and saw the man pull into Joyce’s driveway. She stopped to see if he needed help. Joyce was in her late eighties and Misty knew it was difficult for her to answer the door. She thought he must be a salesman or something. The man identified himself as Dirk Bixby and said he was staying with Joyce for a few days.”

“What’s with all the names that start with ‘D’?” Paige wondered. “Dirk, David, Donald—”

“Good question,” Grant agreed. “I didn’t have the others, but it’s a pattern. I think if we figure out the why, we’ll figure out who.”

“Or the other way around,” Paige located the witness statement he was referring to and quickly skimmed through it. “Her description is vague but matches our suspect in general.”

“Yeah,” Grant sighed. “It’s not enough, though.”

“Wait!” Paige straightened. “This says he had a tattoo. The incident occurred in the summer and he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Who sees a shirtless man and thinks salesman? Never mind. This is exactly what I needed to make a connection.”

“There has to be a million guys that match what we have,” Grant warned. “Dark hair, mid to late forties, around six feet tall. You’ll never get a warrant to inspect his chest.”

“No,” Paige agreed. “But I don’t need one.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s in the hospital and the nurses love to poke and prod,” Paige smiled. “I just need one to assist me in the poking and prodding. Then I need her to fill out a statement describing the man’s Celtic tree of life tattoo on his left pectoral area that just happens to have half a dozen birds flying towards his shoulder.”

“If he has one,” Grant warned. “And that’s a big if, but it would be unique and difficult to dispute.”

“He has one,” Paige said confidently. Her gut was telling her David Bennett was Dirk Bixby roughly eight years ago. That meant, he’d been operating this scheme for over eight years, there had to be more victims.

“I could talk to the witnesses again,” Grant offered. “Someone might remember something they forgot to report.”

“Alright,” Paige picked up a pen to jot down the new name. “Keep us posted. This is actually Duncan’s case, but you can talk to either of us. I’ll fill him in on the new developments.”

“I’ll call your office tomorrow after I interview the strongest prospects,” he decided.

“No,” Paige stopped him. “We’re taking a road trip in the morning. Call my cell.” Once she relayed her number, they disconnected.

“What new developments?” Jericho demanded.

Paige told him what Carmen found then explained the connection with the homicide in Montana.

“I’ll call Benny and have him track down a tox report on the late Amelia Glover,” he decided. “If we get lucky, he can tell us if someone poisoned her with antifreeze the same as Joyce Taylor. Most killers stick with what works if they get away clean. Get this information to Duncan then go home. It’s late and tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

“Alright,” Paige stood. “But he didn’t exactly get away clean. There’s still an open cold case on the murder. He may have changed his MO.”

“I’ll work on that tomorrow while you’re dealing with our victim in Mesquite,” Jericho followed her to the door. “Good work, Paige. I’m going to get grief from James on this one, but it looks like you stumbled onto another killer.”

“Don’t even start with me,” Paige warned. “This isn’t my case. Havi stumbled onto another killer. I’m just the girl standing in the background.”

“I’ll be sure to relay that little tidbit when Tolman starts in on firing you again,” Jericho grinned.

“What?” Paige whirled around. “He wants you to fire me. Because I’m good at my job?”

“It was a joke, Paige,” Jericho pulled open her car door. “Lighten up. He appreciates how thorough you are, same as I do.”

Paige continued to scowl as she climbed behind the wheel and headed for home.

\*\*\*\*\*

“You just cost me a hundred dollars,” Paige grumbled. “I hope you’re happy about that.”

“That depends,” Havilland pushed open his door and climbed from the vehicle, stretching a little before grabbing a large notepad.

“On what?” Paige slammed her door shut and walked toward the enormous front porch.

“On the details,” Havilland studied the mansion looming in front of him and shook his head in disgust. “You know this woman is going to end up dead in a few months if we don’t stop this maniac. She’s clearly loaded and David, Dirk, Donny, Dipshit doesn’t seem to waste much time between jobs.”

“We’ll stop him,” Paige said confidently. “I expect a call from Nurse Tracee any minute. And the bet was with Dax regarding your driving.”

“Never bet against a soldier,” Havilland laughed. “Especially when it comes to my driving. Who is Tracee?” Havilland paused.

“Nurse Ashlie Tracee,” Paige corrected. “And she’s the nurse that is going to check and see if your reckless driver has a tattoo of the Celtic tree of life.”

“You don’t think Ms. Candice Templeton knows?” Havi rang the bell. “They are engaged.”

“I doubt it, but we’ll ask,” she was about to say more but the door flew open and an attractive woman that could be seventy-eight stood in the opening. She actually looked to be sixty-something. She was breathing hard and looked pale. “Candice Templeton?”

“Yes,” she reached out and gripped the side of the door. “Sorry, I’m feeling a little dizzy today for some reason. You must be Deputy Carter, come in.”

“Ma’am,” Paige took the woman’s arm. “I think maybe we should take you to the closest hospital or clinic.”

“Oh,” she waved that off and started toward a large sitting room. “There’s really no need. It’s just a little dizzy spell. I think I may be getting the flu.”

“Are you also feeling nauseous?” Paige pushed.

“Well, yes,” Candice admitted. “But it’s nothing serious, I’m sure.”

“Headache?” Paige continued. She shook her head once when Havi narrowed his eyes at her.

“Not really,” Candice settled onto a fancy couch.

“Does that mean yes?” Paige sat on the couch next to Candice.

“It’s very slight,” Candice insisted. “Mostly I just have an upset stomach.”

“Either you let us drive you to the clinic or I’m calling an ambulance,” Paige shrugged. “Your choice.”

“Oh, alright,” Candice put a hand to her forehead. “But I think you’re overreacting.”

“I don’t think so,” Paige stood.

“Paige?” Havilland blocked her exit.

“I think Candice may have been poisoned,” Paige whispered. “She has all the symptoms.”

“Antifreeze?” Havilland studied the woman intently.

“Yes,” Paige stepped away and moved to the front door. “We’re not familiar with the area, Ms. Templeton. Can you tell us how to get to the closest hospital?”

“Oh, call me Candice,” she pulled on a jacket and followed the deputies out the door, pausing to lock up. “I really don ‘t think this is unnecessary.”

“Humor us,” Havilland took her elbow and helped her down the stairs. “We’re just being cautious.”

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” Candice wondered.

“Let’s just get you to the doctor,” Paige opened the back door and waited for Candice to slide in. “We’ll talk once the doctor has a chance to speak with you.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“I ran the tests you requested,” the doctor said twenty minutes later. “You were right. I need to speak with Ms. Templeton.”

“So, speak,” Paige motioned toward the woman who was now visibly upset.

The doctor moved to stand between Paige and his patient. “Ma’am, would you like this police officer to leave while we speak about your condition in private?”

“No,” Candice glanced around him to focus on Paige. “Please stay.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Paige assured her.

“Are you sure about this?” the doctor pushed.

“She told you to talk,” Paige stood and moved to stand next to the bed. “I’ll get you started.” She reached out and placed a hand on Candice’s arm. “I asked him to test your blood and see if you were poisoned. The test came back positive.”

“Poisoned?” Candice shifted her attention to the doctor. “With what?”

“Ethylene glycol,” the doctor answered.

“Antifreeze,” Paige corrected. “Seriously?” she glared at the doctor.

“Antifreeze,” the doctor agreed. “It appears you’ve been exposed to very small amounts. A nurse will be in shortly to hook up an IV with an antidote. We’re also going to put you on oxygen as a precaution. The damage appears to be minimal, but I want to run a few more test to check your kidney for damage. Can you tell us how long you’ve been suffering from flu-like symptoms?”

“I’m not sure,” Candice admitted. “Off and on for about two weeks now. What do you mean, you are giving me an antidote?”

“We will administer ethanol as an antidote to clear your system of the toxins,” the doctor was focused on a chart. “You should feel significantly better soon.”

“Can you be more specific?” Paige asked Joyce. “What do you mean by off and on?”

“Oh,” Joyce frowned and considered. “One day I’ll feel extremely ill, the next day I feel better. A few days later I might feel queasy again.”

“Just nauseous and woozy or have you vomited during these episodes?” the doctor asked.

“Just the upset stomach and weak,” Candice focused on Paige. “Sometimes I feel dizzy like I’ve had too much to drink, or I get headaches that make it difficult to think clearly. You think Ronny did this?”

“I know he did,” Paige said flatly. “I just need to figure out how.”

“But he’s out of town,” Candice objected.

“Exactly,” Paige shrugged. “Seems like a perfect alibi doesn’t it?”

“I will have to call the authorities and report this,” the doctor informed them. “I don’t have a choice.”

“Go ahead and call,” Paige nodded. “Ask them to respond and speak with us here.”

The doctor exited the room and seconds later Havilland entered. “I updated Jericho. He said he’s calling the locals.”

“The doctor just left to do the same thing,” Paige advised. “Now, Candice, we need to figure out how Donny is poisoning you. Can you think of anything you ate or drank on the days you felt ill?”

“I…” Candice frowned. “I don’t know.”

“Do you drink coffee or tea?” Havilland asked, thinking of the victim in Montana.

“I do,” Candice admitted. “Not every day, but I do like a cup of hot tea on chilly mornings.”

“Did you have tea this morning?” Havilland asked.

“I did,” Candice frowned. “Yes.”

“And how do you take your tea?” Paige asked. “Do you flavor it with honey or add milk or cream?”

“My guilty pleasure is hazelnut creamer,” Candice admitted. “I usually add sweetener and a bit of cream to my tea. Do you think that’s how he did it? In my tea?”

“It’s possible,” Havilland told her. “We’ll wait for the local cops to arrive, but do you mind if we search your residence to see if we can find what’s poisoning you?”

“Of course not,” Candice glanced at the door. “I think maybe I should call my granddaughter. Is it okay if I ask Cortney to come down and sit with me while I’m here at the hospital?”

“That would be fine,” Paige assured her. “I can see you’re shaken by this news. I want to assure you; Donald will not be a threat after today. He’s been charged for the crash already and if we can prove he tried to poison you, we’ll add attempted murder.”

“Don’t you have to convince the local police to charge him here?” Candice asked. “Since it happened in Nevada, not in Manti?”

“Don’t worry about that,” Paige patted her leg. “I know you said you wanted to get up and go for a short walk, but I think you should relax for a bit. Just settled back on the bed until your granddaughter arrives.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” Candice lifted her legs onto the bed and settled against the pillows. “I’m feeling a little sick at the moment.”

“Sick as in heartsick,” Paige asked. “Or sick as in your symptoms are getting worse?”

“Emotionally sick,” Candice assured her. “I’ll be fine. I just need a little time.”

“Can I ask you a question before we go?” Havilland stepped forward; not sure this was the right time, but he needed a few answers.

“Of course,” Candice shuddered. “Thank you,” she told Havilland after he covered her in a thin blanket.

“You said you and Donald are engaged,” Havilland glanced up when a man in a suit stepped into the room. “Have you set a date for the wedding?”

“Oh,” Candice frowned. “It would not be anything big. We decided to go to Vegas and do the quick chapel on the Strip thing. We’ve both been married before, so we didn’t want to waste all that money again. We planned to be spontaneous as soon as he got back from his business trip.” She frowned. “I guess that was a lie as well?”

Paige smiled. “I know many, many women who would completely freak out if they heard you say all that money was wasted.”

“I didn’t mean —”

“I know,” Paige smiled at her. “It looks like you have a visitor,” she turned to address the newcomer. “Would you like to introduce yourself?”

“Detective Joel Anderson,” he held out a hand to Paige. “Your sheriff called my boss. I assume you’re Deputy Carter and you must be Deputy Havilland.”

“Is there somewhere we can talk in private?” Havilland motioned to the door. “Candice has had a rough day, and she’d like to contact her granddaughter.”

“There’s a room just around the corner the nurse said we can use,” Anderson followed them out. Once they stepped inside the small break room and closed the door, he turned to address the deputies. “I have the basics, but maybe you could give me the details.”

“We’re a little sketchy on details,” Paige admitted. “Havi will explain our case, then I’ll tell you what I know about the case in Montana.”

“At some point,” Anderson looked from Paige to Duncan. “You know we’ll have to call in the Feds. We’re already talking three states and it sounds like we might be missing victims.”

“We’ll get to that,” Havilland explained his case then Paige picked up and filled him in on Joyce from Montana.

“Which is the reason you asked the doctors here to check for poisoning,” Anderson realized. “Have they given you the results?”

“Positive,” Havilland and Paige said together.

“I’ll need to get a warrant,” Anderson began to pace. “We need to search her house.” He glanced at his watch and frowned.

“She gave us permission,” Havilland advised. “If you have a consent to search form, Candice will sign it.”

“Is there any chance this Donald guy will return before we get started?” Anderson asked.

“No,” Paige answered. “He’s been arrested on the reckless driving and our boss arranged for a constant guard until he’s transported to jail. He’s not going anywhere.”

“That helps,” Anderson pulled out his phone. “I’ll get the form, but I still want a warrant. Consent will make it easier, but I don’t want any loopholes. If this guy tried to kill Ms. Templeton, our case needs to be solid.”

“Because she’s rich?” Havilland wondered.

“Because she’s loved in this community,” Anderson corrected. “Give me ten, then we’ll get Candice to sign the forms. I want to secure her house immediately.”

“When you go back in there,” Paige moved toward the door. “Can you ask Candice if Donald had a tattoo and, if so, have her describe it?”

“Because?” Anderson paused before hitting send.

“The mystery man in Montana had one,” Havilland stepped in behind Paige. “We want to see if she describes the same markings on Donald.”

“And you’re not going to tell me what it was or where it’s located?” Anderson asked.

“Nope,” Paige pulled open the door. “Not until you meet us at the Templeton estate with a warrant.”

“I believe that’s called extortion,” Anderson followed them into the hallway.

“No,” Paige considered. “Not really. Maybe bribery if I didn’t have a good reason for it.”

“Which is?” Anderson pressed.

“It’s cleaner,” Paige shrugged. “If you don’t know what the tattoo is, nobody can accuse you of leading your witness.”

“Nobody would accuse me of that, anyway,” Anderson turned toward the room where Candice was waiting. It surprised him to see Paige and Havilland walking in the opposite direction. “Where are you going?”

“We have some calls to make of our own,” Paige informed him. “We’ll meet you at the house. I assume you have the address.”

“Your assumption is correct,” Anderson scowled and wondered what those two were up to.

\*\*\*\*\*

“What calls are we making?” Havilland asked once they settled back in the car.

“Jericho first,” Paige advised. “I need him to get those DNA results over to Carmen.”

“I think he already did that, but we can check,” Havi hit speed dial and waited for his boss to answer. “And then who?”

“Agent Sparrow,” Paige was scrolling through her contacts.

“Jack?” Havi grinned, then sobered when Jericho answered.

“Zach,” Paige corrected. “Put him on the car system.

“Hey boss, let me switch you over to the speaker,” Havilland advised.

“Duncan said you sent the DNA results to Carmen,” Paige said in greeting.

“She’s had them for about an hour,” Jericho affirmed. “Heidi ran the fingerprints through AFIS, nothing on file there. Debbie is also checking CODIS on the DNA — she’ll call if anything pops.”

“Carmen will be faster,” Paige pondered. “The locals are working on a warrant, but we already know Candice was poisoned. Additional charges will help keep the elusive predator behind bars, but we need more. I’m calling in the Feds.”

“I already talked to Porter,” Jericho admitted. “He can’t spare Sean for this.”

“I was thinking of someone closer,” Paige answered. “Agent Sparrow, he works out of Vegas. Utah, Nevada… that’s his area. I think technically Butte would handle the Fairfield case, but they’ll make an exception if Sparrow is already on this.”

“You trust him?” Jericho wondered.

“With my life,” Paige didn’t hesitate. “He’ll work with us, not trample over us.”

“Then call,” Jericho agreed. “We could use the help. I’m confident there are additional victims, probably in multiple states. Carmen’s been working on the financials. The guy is loaded, but he spends money like it’s going out of style. He’s going to need an infusion soon if he can’t sell the house here in town soon.”

“Did we get an injunction on that?” Havilland wondered.

“Stan finalized it with Judge Potter just before you called,” Jericho advised. “The house, the paintings, everything at the auction house, it’s all frozen for now. Margie thinks she identified a niece, but she lives in Casper, Wyoming and hasn’t returned my calls.”

“Good,” Duncan glanced at Paige. “Candice has a granddaughter on the way, and she’ll cooperate. We’ve got a lot of circumstantial, but we need to pin down this guy’s true identity.”

“I’ll call Carmen after I talk to Zach Sparrow,” Paige decided. “I’m sure she has something, even if she’s still digging.”

“I’ll continue to work this on my end,” Jericho told them. “If there’s something under a rock I turn, he’ll follow through from here. Keep me posted.”

“I’ll call Zach,” Paige said once the call disconnected. “You head to the house. I want to be there when Anderson starts searching.”

\*\*\*\*\*

An hour and a half later, they were still searching Candice Templeton’s home. It was large and Paige was being meticulous. The front door swung open and a tall man in his forties stepped inside. He was wearing a black suit, a grey shirt and a dark gray, pin striped tie.

“Looks like your Fed just arrived,” Duncan whispered.

“Hey Zach,” Paige moved forward to greet her old friend.

“You always did know how to pick ‘em, Paige,” Zach glanced around.

“Blame him,” she pointed a finger at Duncan. “This is his case. I’m just—” Paige stopped abruptly and sprinted out the back door.

Zach looked at Duncan, who appeared just as confused as he was. Both men instantly broke into a run, following Paige out the door, past the outdoor swimming pool, and stopping at a large block.

Zach laughed once he dropped from the wall to the other side. “Man, I’ve missed that woman.”

“You’re going to destroy that fancy suit,” Duncan dropped to the ground next to him.

Zach shrugged. “It’s worth it. I haven’t had this much excitement since the last case I worked with Paige. There’s never a dull moment. Where do you think they went?”

“That way,” Havilland pointed to the thick trees. “Do you know what’s out there?”

“A whole lot of nothing, I think,” Zach started jogging toward the forest. “Until you hit the Virgin River.”

“Any idea what she’s chasing?” Duncan asked, careful to keep pace with the Agent.

“Nope,” Zach grinned. “But I’m sure it will be entertaining.”

Moments later, they broke through the trees and found themselves on the edge of a large, sandy expanse of nothingness. Near the river, Paige was wrestling with a woman.

“Told you it would be entertaining,” Zach started to jog toward the women but slowed significantly in the soft, deep sand.

“Now,” Duncan laughed. “You’re going to ruin those shoes. Paige might be entertaining, but the cost of admission is going to be high.”

“And you guys say us Feds are soft,” Zach studied Duncan’s attire. Tennis shoes, jeans, casual shirt, and jacket. “I don’t know why you’re complaining. Those shoes will survive the sand.” They stopped a few feet away from Paige.

Paige was getting tired of this. She’d just sprinted through a forest of thick cedar and sagebrush. She had a bleeding gash on her shin, sand in places she didn’t want to think about, and now the woman was trying to scratch her face off. Enough was enough. She pivoted, kicked out and was taken by surprise when the woman kicked her in the stomach. Paige went down, but so did her opponent. The woman regained her balance first, tried to stand and was stopped when Paige gripped the back of her flimsy pink halter-top. Material ripped, the shirt fell to the ground and the woman, who was now naked from the waist up glared at Paige in surprise, which quickly turned to anger.

Before she regained her composure, Duncan lunged forward, pushed her to the ground, and cuffed her hands behind her back.

Zach reached one hand out to Paige to help her stand. In the other, he held the florescent pink top. “Welcome to Nevada, kid.”

“Sorry to interrupt the joyful reunion,” Duncan was trying not to laugh. “But maybe Paige could get that thing back on the hysterical woman thrashing around on the ground and explain why she was chasing her in the first place.”

Paige snatched the miniscule cloth from Zach’s extended hand, marched over to where the woman was now sitting upright at Havilland’s feet and dropped to her knees. Within seconds she had the top tied around the naked woman. It wasn’t perfect, with the tear, but it should hold. She jumped to her feet and jabbed Duncan in the ribs. “Pervert.”

“I didn’t see a thing,” Duncan laughed, rubbed his side, but leaned over and helped the woman to her feet.

“I thought I saw someone in the trees earlier,” Paige gripped the woman’s arm and started back toward the house. “Then it was gone. She was sneaking past the pool once Zach arrived, probably wanted to get a better look. When she realized I spotted her, she tried to flee. I gave chase.”

“Have you ever lost a suspect, Carter?” Zach wondered.

“Nope,” Paige shrugged. “Now, let’s get her back to the station and see what she has to say for herself.”

They were approaching the thick trees when Detective Anderson emerged. “Who is she?” he demanded.

“Don’t know yet,” Duncan shrugged. “Maybe you can help figure that out.”

Anderson studied the woman, then focused on the FBI agent and settled on Paige. “You’re hurt. I’ll call a medic and you can explain what just happened. I leave the room for five minutes and come back to this…”

“I don’t need a medic,” Paige disagreed. “I need an interrogation room.”

“We can set something up back at the house,” Anderson decided. “That should give you time to fill me in on the details.”

\*\*\*\*\*

The group was gathered around the kitchen table, discussing their next move. Paige had explained what happened, Anderson had retrieved a first aid kit from his vehicle and a forensic analyst had finished fingerprinting the woman. They were waiting for the results after the tech ran the prints through the system to see if there was a match. Everyone looked up when the petite woman stepped back into the room.

“Her name is Veronica Leatrice Shaw,” Brandy Terrell told them.

“Thanks Brandy,” Anderson stood. “I appreciate the quick work.”

The analyst nodded, dropped her findings on the table and focused on Anderson. “Anything else? We’ve got another call over at the lake. They could use my help if I’m done here.”

“Yeah,” Anderson nodded. “Go, I’ll let you know if we need anything else later on.”

“There’s a lake close by?” Paige wondered.

“Lake Mead,” Zach said absently, studying the printout Brandy left. “Veronica has a record. And she’s new to town. Looks like she was locked up for shoplifting up in Wyoming last year.” He settled into a chair and began working on his laptop. “And she has a warrant out of Colorado for fraud.”

“We can work with that,” Paige decided. “Now, we just need to agree on who will interrogate her.”

“I vote for Paige,” Duncan cut in. “She’s the one that caught her and that will throw her. She’s figured out this guy’s a hot shot in a suit. If Paige goes in, with him, or in his place, she’ll think our track star has juice.”

“I hate to admit it,” Anderson settled into a chair. “But I agree. Now, we just have to figure out who goes in with her.”

Paige rolled her eyes. “It’s not a competition and it’s obvious.”

“Not to us,” Zach disagreed. “We need to set up a camera system to record the interview and hook it to a monitor where the rest of you can observe. Anderson, you come in to begin with. If she blocks, Zach, you waltz in acting all important and bring out the elite snob act.”

“Is it an act?” Anderson wondered. Everyone ignored him.

“Throw around big words and look down your nose at me,” Paige smiled. “Play it the same way you did with Weixel.”

Zach smiled. “Good plan and it should work. She’s not as sophisticated or as savvy as Weixel. She’ll fall for it.”

“Are you following this?” Anderson asked Duncan.

“Nope,” Havilland shrugged. “But I don’t need to. I’ll find a way to hook our camera to that big screen over there. Maybe Caroline has some popcorn. Give me ten, I’ll get this set up. Too bad beers out, this sounds like it’s going to be entertaining.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Detective Anderson and Paige stepped into the room and settled into the chairs set up across from their suspect. “I’m Detective Anderson with the Mesquite Police Department and this is Deputy Carter from Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office.” Anderson began.

Paige was watching Veronica carefully, so she saw the surprise before the woman masked it.

Anderson switched on a recorder in addition to the video. “This interview will be recorded. First, let’s get the technical stuff out of the way.” He relayed his case number, the time, and read Veronica her rights. Once she agreed to speak to them, he asked the first question. “Can you tell us your name for the record?”

“Justine La Fontaine,” she said without hesitation.

“And your date of birth?” Paige asked.

Veronica gave a fake birthdate.

“She’s probably used that alias before,” Zach said through the earpiece. “There’s a record under that name. Let me check the details.”

“Alright, Justine,” Paige ignored the look she was getting from Anderson. “Tell us why you were lurking in the backyard at the Templeton estate.”

“I wasn’t lurking,” Veronica objected. “I’m staying with Candice and I locked myself out of the pool house. I was trying to see if there was a key inside the house. When I saw all of you inside, I got scared and ran. I thought you might be burglars or something.”

“That’s twice you’ve lied,” Paige said flatly.

“I’m not lying,” Veronica insisted. “Ask Ms. Templeton.”

“We have,” Paige shrugged. “She doesn’t know anyone named Veronica.”

That got her attention. She panicked, looked at Anderson then focused on Paige. “Who is Veronica?”

“You are,” Paige opened a file. “Your name is Veronica Leatrice Shaw. I’m sure you just got confused when we asked for your name earlier. You’ve been in and out of jail nearly two dozen times,” Paige continued.

“Did you really think, after Brandy took your prints, we wouldn’t discover your identity?” Anderson pushed.

Veronica shrugged. “It was worth a shot.”

“You have been arrested under the La Fontaine name, but it was a fake and it’s been linked to your real name now. Oh, and did we forget to mention you have a slight matter of a warrant out of Colorado?”

Veronica glared at Paige, not so cocky now.

“Let’s try this again,” Anderson cut in. “What were you doing at the Templeton home?”

“I was looking for Donny.”

“Who is Donny?” Paige masked her surprise that Veronica had given him up so quickly.

“I don’t have to talk to you,” Veronica decided. “You can book me on the warrant and see if Colorado will extradite but I ain’t saying nothing.”

The door slid open and Zach stepped inside. He glanced at Paige, then focused on Anderson. “I’ll take it from here.”

Anderson frowned and reluctantly left the room. The displeasure with the change was clear, and it wasn’t fake.

“Pull up a seat,” Havilland motioned to a comfortable chair. “This is about to get good.”

“It doesn’t bother you?” Anderson settled in next to Duncan. “This is your case and she just took over.”

“Naw,” Havi shrugged. “If we get the bad guy, that’s all that matters.”

“You respect her,” Anderson realized.

“Of course,” Havilland turned up the volume.

“Ma’am,” Sparrow gave a soft grunt of displeasure as he settled into the chair next to Paige. “I’m Agent Sparrow with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

Veronica sat up a little straighter, clearly intrigued.

“I asked these local cops to wait for me to check a few things before we began but…” he shook his head. “Well, you know how these things work. They wanted to rush the process, pressure you into talking to them and walk away before I could offer you the amazing deal I’ve been negotiating.”

“What kind of deal?” Veronica demanded.

“I’ve been speaking with Colorado,” Sparrow steepled his hands in front of his face. “I think we’ve nearly reached an agreement. They just need to know you’ll make restitution for the merchandise you stole.”

“With what money?” Veronica narrowed her eyes at the agent.

“You mentioned Donny,” Sparrow shrugged. “Can’t he pay the debt for you. He’s loaded, after all.”

Paige straightened and slapped a hand to the table. “I told you about Donny in confidence and you’re going to use that against me to cut a deal?”

Sparrow glanced at Paige then returned his attention to Veronica. His entire demeanor was that of a patient parent dealing with an uncooperative child. He reached into a file and pulled out a sheet of paper. “I was able to access Donny’s financial accounts. Take a look for yourself. He should have more than enough to help you out.”

Veronica took the paper determined to ignore everything these cops told her. She changed her mind when she saw just how much money Donny actually had. “What do you want from me?”

Zach took the paper back. “I don’t believe Donald Franklin is his real name. I’m hoping you can tell me who he really is. You do that, and I can offer you a deal.”

“The warrant goes away out of Colorado?” Veronica pushed.

“I can arrange that,” Zach assured her. “What’s Donald’s real name?”

“I want it in writing,” Veronica decided. “You give me something in writing that assures me I won’t go to jail on that warrant out of Colorado and I’ll tell you who Donny really is.”

Zach turned to look at Paige. “Can you check on that?”

Paige stood and left the room.

“Alright,” Zach leaned forward. “Now, it’s just you and me. Give me something. You have my word the warrant in Colorado will be dealt with. What can you tell me about Donald?”

“You promise?” Veronica asked again.

“You have my word,” Zach nodded. “Deputy Carter should have the official paperwork within minutes. Who is Donald?”

“His real name is Trent Howard,” Veronica told him. “But I’m not saying anything else until I know the warrant is gone.”

Paige called Carmen. “Get me everything you can on Trent Howard. I don’t know where he’s from yet, but David Bennett is Trent Howard.”

“I’ll get started on that, send me when you get when you get it and I’ll dig deeper,” Carmen disconnected.

“I can’t believe that worked,” Anderson handed Paige the paperwork the federal prosecutor out of Vegas maneuvered. “Here’s her written guarantee. How will you get around the last part?”

“I’m not giving her the document,” Paige shrugged. “I’m giving it to Zach.” She stepped back into the room, handed Agent Sparrow the paperwork then settled back in the chair.

“I have a note here from Mindy Warren,” Zach told Veronica. “She says she can work a deal, but she needs to speak with you. Give me just a minute to contact her.” He dialed the number and then put the phone on speaker. “Okay, Mindy. You’re on speaker with Veronica Shaw.”

“Ms. Shaw,” Mindy came across loud and clear. “I’ve made arrangements for the charges in Colorado to be dropped if you cooperate with Agent Sparrow completely. You need to answer all of his questions completely and truthfully or the deal is invalid. Do you understand?”

“The Colorado cops can’t arrest me for what happened with that old guy?” Veronica asked.

“If you are referring to the fraud charges,” Mindy clarified. “No. They have eradicated those charges in exchange for your cooperation.”

“Alright,” Veronica spoke to Sparrow. “I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

“Thank you, Mindy,” Sparrow disconnected. “Tell us about Trent Howard.”

“I went to high school with Trent,” Veronica began. “He always had a thing for me, but he was a math nerd and not worth my time, goofy looking too. Anyway, I didn’t pay much attention until I flunked a test and was facing summer school — again. That’s when he said he could fix it. He did and we sort of agreed to an arrangement.”

“What kind of arrangement?” Paige asked.

Veronica sighed. She didn’t like the woman, but she agreed to talk, and she wanted the warrant to go away. “An intimate one. He’d fix things for me and I’d give him what he wants when he wants it.”

“Have you been in contact with Trent since high school then?” Sparrow wondered.

“Mostly,” Veronica admitted. “I moved away for a few years, then got married. After that, there were ten or so years that we didn’t have contact on account my no-good husband at the time didn’t like him.”

“Can you walk us through the timeline,” Sparrow asked. “Start after that ten years or so when you reconnected. Where did you live, where did Trent live?”

“First,” Paige interrupted. “If my calculations are correct, that means the two of you reconnected when you were in your mid-thirties, is that correct.”

“Yeah, about that.” Veronica agreed.

“Alright then, walk us through what happened then,” Sparrow prompted.

Veronica went through a timeline that covered the past twenty years or so. In the beginning, they engaged in small cons. Mainly, she’d pick up a guy that looked wealthy, drop a little Ambien in their drink, and coax them to a room rented under a fake name. Once he passed out, Trent would come in and they’d sift through the guy’s wallet, steal his watch, jewelry, and anything else of value — then bolt. That worked for several years but one night the guy didn’t pass out completely. When Trent tried to steal his wallet, the man attacked, nearly beating Trent to death in his rage. That’s when they decided to change things up a bit.

Trent got the idea to visit care centers and steal anything lying around that had value. That didn’t last long because there wasn’t much to steal. But, victimizing the elderly gave him an idea. He developed a new plan, a way to con lonely old people out of their savings. She thought they were living pretty well during that time and everything was finally going their way. Then, he took things too far. He began a courtship with a woman in Montana.

Paige and Zach knew she was talking about Joyce Taylor, but Veronica claimed she didn’t know the woman’s name — only the outcome. A relative came to town and needed a place to stay. The woman, who was in her eighties, let this relative stay with her. The man’s name was David Bennett, Veronica knew that for sure. She said Trent stopped by to surprise the woman one night, but instead encountered this David guy.

Trent was furious and went ballistic. He realized he overreacted, but it was too late. David had seen Trent’s true character and could ruin everything. Veronica claimed she didn’t know what happened, exactly. She just knew Trent called her and ordered her to bring the car to the woman’s house. When she arrived, Trent loaded up a dead body into her trunk and then made her drive his car back to their hotel while he took her car and the dead man to dispose of the body.

“What did he do with the body?” Paige asked.

“I don’t know,” Veronica insisted. “I really don’t. I didn’t want to know, so I didn’t ask. Trent can be scary, sometimes he acts crazy, I didn’t want to know. He did tell me he tried to subtly spread the story he went hiking in the Alps.”

“But he didn’t,” Sparrow asked. “He never had plans to go hiking at that time?”

“Not that I know of,” Veronica shrugged. “As far as I know, Trent made it all up to explain his sudden disappearance.”

“Then what happened?” Veronica looked away.

“You want that deal, don’t you?” Paige pushed.

“He killed her,” Veronica swallowed hard. “He told me he put antifreeze in her coffee cream. He said he watched a show on TV where a woman did that and killed two husbands and almost killed her daughter that way. He told me it was undetectable and since the woman was old, everyone would think she just died of old age.”

“And what did you do?” Paige asked, furious at the casual way Veronica described the death of another human being.

“Nothing,” Veronica shrugged again. “I didn’t have any part of that. He told me about it, but I wasn’t involved. One night, he came to the hotel and said it worked, the old lady croaked. I wanted to leave, that town was boring. Trent said he needed a little time. He said he found a guy, a forger that would make up some documents saying Trent and the woman had married. He thought he’d get everything once things settled.”

“Did he?” Sparrow wondered.

“He got some,” Veronica admitted. “I don’t think she had as much as he believed she did. He seemed frustrated, sulked for days after that, then he bounced back and said he’d just do it again. This time he got married.”

“Where was the next con?” Paige demanded.

“Jackson Hole, Wyoming,” Veronica considered. “I think her name was Alice. She was the daughter of some gold miner and she had loads of stuff — gold nuggets and jewelry everywhere. We hit it big time that year. Trent snuck stuff out nearly every day. He had a contact that would buy the gold and the jewelry. He took a couple paintings, too but I don’t know if he ever sold those.”

“And,” Sparrow tried to keep her on track. “Eventually the two of them got married?”

“Right,” Veronica nodded.

“How did she die?” Paige pushed.

Veronica dropped her eyes and focused on her hands that were folded in her lap. She sat that way for nearly a minute before she finally looked up. “I didn’t ask, but I think the same way. I didn’t want to know, not really. We had a good thing going and if I asked too many questions, I worried I might be next. So, I went along, fenced the goods he took, and tried to enjoy our good fortune.”

“Then what?” Sparrow wondered.

“Once Alice died, Trent inherited everything,” Veronica told them. “He had to use some of the money to fight off her kids — she had two of them, but he produced a notarized letter giving him full control of everything. He was angry he had to waste some of the windfall on attorneys but eventually he won.”

“Was the court case in Jackson Hole?” Paige wondered. If she knew where it was, she could track down the true heirs and try to get them some of their money back. Sparrow already had a colleague back in Vegas working on freezing the assets held under David Bennett’s name. They would find more.

“Yeah,” Veronica answered. “We had to stay there until it was all resolved, and I hated it. The climate was too cold.”

“I can see how that would be your biggest concern,” Paige said dryly. “What name did he use?”

“Oh,” Veronica closed her eyes and scrunched up her face. “Dylan, I think. Dylan Wicks.”

“What is the significance of the letter ‘D’?” Paige wondered. “Why does he always pick a name that starts with the letter D?”

“His brother’s name was Damien,” Veronica confided. “He died when he was fifteen. Trent told me they would sit for hours and fantasize, daydreaming about leaving town and striking it rich. He said every job he did, he did it for Damien.”

“How did he die?” Sparrow asked, curious now.

“I don’t know,” Veronica told him. “He never talked about it, not even to me. I asked once, but he went nuts. I think he broke a rib, maybe two but he wouldn’t let me see a doctor so I’m not sure.”

“He beat you because you asked about his brother?” Paige asked. “And you stayed with him? Did you ever think he might kill you? That you could be his next victim?”

“All the time,” Veronica shrugged. “That’s why I never pressed. If I went along, didn’t ask too many questions, and did what he asked, he took care of me.”

“How often did he beat you?” Sparrow pushed.

“Only when I got out of line and asked too many questions,” Veronica said with defiance. “So, I stopped asking. Problem solved, no more beatings.”

“Alright,” Paige decided that topic wasn’t going to get them anywhere. “So, you left Jackson Hole and moved where?”

“We had money, so we traveled a little but eventually we ended up in Idaho.”

“Do you know how long after you left Wyoming that you moved to Idaho?” Sparrow asked.

“About a year,” Veronica decided. “Yeah, a year, no more than eighteen months. When the money started to run out, we headed back to work the con again.”

“So, this was what?” Paige asked. “Five, six years ago?”

“Five maybe,” Veronica considered, then nodded. “Yeah, about that.”

“Where in Idaho?”

“Some Valley,” Veronica said. “That’s right, Sun Valley.”

“And do you remember what name he used there?” Paige asked.

“Duke,” Veronica said slowly. “Yeah, Duke Littlefield or Littleton, something like that.”

“And did he find an elderly woman to con there?” Sparrow asked.

“Of course,” Veronica laughed. “We never stayed if he didn’t find a mark.

“He was asking for a name,” Paige growled. She knew Veronica had some valuable information, but she was getting more and more disgusted with her attitude by the minute.

“Ruth something,” Veronica was on a roll now. She knew Trent would kill her if he ever found out she was the one that told these guys about the cons, but she couldn’t help herself. She was having fun and for once, she was the one in charge.

“Ruth what?” Paige asked.

“Hum,” Veronica pretended to ponder. “Thompson? No, Thomas. Ruth Thomas.”

“And was that another marriage?” Sparrow could see Paige was fed up with the games, but he’d play a little longer. They were getting good information.

“Yeah, he married them all after the first one,” Veronica admitted. “He said it made things a lot easier and they were all old, so they didn’t expect affection or kissing or anything.”

“So,” Paige sat forward. “He was never intimate with any of them?”

“Ooh, no,” Veronica jerked backwards. “Gross.”

“Did Ruth Thomas die as well?” Sparrow held back a grin.

“They all died,” Veronica scoffed. “That’s how Trent got the money.”

“Is there anything more you can tell us about Ruth?” Paige nearly sighed. Veronica was a sociopath, and it was clear she was enjoying this. She thought she was in charge.

“No,” Veronica shrugged. “She was just another rich old bat, but she had more money than we thought. We lived off that score for over two years before Trent found another mark.”

“Where?” Sparrow wondered just how many people Trent Howard had killed.

“Colorado,” Veronica frowned. “That’s where he met that younger woman. She was younger than us, but she had some mental disorder or something.”

“Early onset dementia?” Paige was alert now. Maybe she’d find Nancy after all.

“That’s the one,” Veronica pointed at her. “He said she couldn’t remember anything. It made cleaning her out easy, but I didn’t like all the attention he gave her. We fought a lot while we were there and that’s when I got arrested and stuff.”

“That’s why you have the warrant for fraud out of Colorado?” Sparrow clarified.

“Yes,” Veronica pouted. “Trent was never around. He was living in that big house with that woman that didn’t know anything, but he wouldn’t let me stay with him. I decided to go out and try working alone.”

“What was her name?” Paige held her breath, knowing in her gut it was Nancy.

“Nancy Pennington,” Veronica practically spat. “I hated her, hated the job, hated that Castle place. Trent said it was a sign, a castle for a king. But I wasn’t the queen, was I? No, Nancy was.”

“Did Trent have to put Nancy into a care center?” Paige tried to get her back on track.

Veronica laughed. “That would be a waste of money and Trent never wastes money.”

No wonder she couldn’t find a patient named Nancy anywhere in New Castle. “And Nancy died the same way?”

“Sure,” Veronica shrugged.

“Are you sure about that?” Sparrow could see Veronica was lying. Was she responsible for this death?

“I’m sure she did,” Veronica shrugged. “I told you, we never talked about it. But the antifreeze was working so well, I don’t see why he’d change his method.”

“What did he put the antifreeze in?” Paige could tell she was lying.

“You’d have to ask Trent,” Veronica shrugged.

“I will,” Paige assured her. “Where did you go after that? Actually, did Nancy have money?”

“Some,” Veronica frowned. “Trent said she didn’t have much, but I think he lied. After I saw that report you showed me,” she turned to Sparrow. “I know he’s been lying and keeping money hidden.”

“Where did you move?” Sparrow repeated.

“Casper, Wyoming,” Veronica sighed. “That’s where I got arrested again and I had to spend some time in jail. I hated that. Trent promised I’d never have to sleep in a cell again. Which is why I was so mad that he didn’t pay the fine and help me get rid of that warrant.”

“Who did he con in Casper?” Sparrow asked.

“Becky… no, Betty James,” Veronica nodded.

“When was that?” Paige wondered. Amelia’s niece, the one she couldn’t track down lived in Casper, Wyoming.

“Last year,” Veronica shrugged. “We finished up there and moved to Manti.”

“Why Manti?” Paige tried to sound casual.

“Trent met another woman,” Veronica pouted again. “Some girl he met at Betty’s house. She had some money, but after she left, Betty told Trent the girl’s aunt was loaded. When he finished with Betty, he started dating Theresa — he said it was business but I’m not sure. Anyway, she dumped him, said he was too old. That got to him and he didn’t like it. He’d been conning old people all his life and now he was becoming one. He nearly killed Theresa for that, but he decided to head to Utah and see if he could get his revenge by conning her aunt Glover.”

“Amelia Glover?” Paige asked.

“Yeah,” Veronica sighed. “And that’s it. That’s all of them. Well, all of them I know about. Like I said, if Trent kept the money secret, what else did he hide from me?”

“What about Candice Templeton?” Sparrow pushed.

“Oh, right,” Veronica scowled. “He was supposed to offload that house in Utah then move down here to hook up with Templeton. He promised I could keep her house. He said he’d give it to me for being so loyal and helping him out all this time. He wanted to move on, but I like it here in Mesquite. I like the warm weather and the casinos. I think this would have been the last job we did together. Now it is for sure because of you guys and all. I probably won’t even get my house. I mean, no marriage, no house — right?”

Paige just blinked at the woman in shock.

“Why were you at the house?” Sparrow was curious about that.

“Trent called, asked me to keep an eye on the woman,” Veronica shrugged. “He said he was in the hospital for a day or two and he needed me to make sure she didn’t do anything that would mess things up until he got back.”

“Did he ask you to do anything else?” Paige pushed, there was something Veronica wasn’t telling them.

“Not really,” she looked away.

“Did he ask you to put the antifreeze in her creamer?” Sparrow realized that was the only thing that made sense.

“No,” Veronica shook her head. “I didn’t have anything to do with the antifreeze. Well, not on purpose.”

“What does that mean?” Paige demanded.

“He asked me to sneak in and put the creamer in her fridge. I had no idea it was poisoned. I swear, he didn’t tell me why. I didn’t ask,” Veronica insisted. “I told you, I never asked questions. Trent didn’t like me to ask too many questions. As long as I did what he asked when he wanted it, everything was good between us.”

“He had the creamer all made up and he asked you to break into Candice Templeton’s home and leave the creamer in the fridge where she would find it?” Paige asked for clarification and to trap Veronica into confessing.

“Exactly,” Veronica smiled. “He said she liked the stuff, and he needed me to make sure she didn’t run out. He had another bottle in the fridge, at the hotel.”

“You still have another bottle?” Paige couldn’t believe it was this easy.

“Uh-huh,” Veronica nodded. “He left it in the small fridgie thing in the room.

They worked her for another forty minutes, going back over each of the women and the elaborate cons they perpetrated on each victim. Veronica stuck to her story, not deviating a bit as they covered each of the women, the areas and the amount of money and property they absconded with. Finally, Sparrow decided they had all they were going to get.

“I think we’re finished here,” Paige stood. Sparrow also stood. When Veronica started to stand, Sparrow stopped her. “Not yet. There’s someone else you need to speak to.”

Veronica watched them leave and wondered who wanted to talk to her now.

Detective Anderson returned. “Veronica Shaw, you are under arrest. Stand up and put your hands behind your back.”

“You can’t arrest me,” she screamed. “That FBI guy said the warrant was no longer good. He said I wouldn’t be arrested for all that stuff in Colorado.”

“You are not under arrest for the warrant,” Anderson cuffed her hands behind her back. “You are under arrest for the attempted murder of Candice Templeton. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say…” he recited Miranda, walked her out of the house and shoved her into the back seat of a waiting patrol car. Once they pulled away, he turned to focus on Paige.

“I guess that means you two are headed home to interrogate Trent Howard?”

“It does,” Havilland held out a hand. “It was a pleasure. If there’s ever anything we can do for you, don’t hesitate to call.” He passed Anderson his card then turned to focus on Sparrow. “You headed to Manti or will you be going home to Vegas?”

“Manti,” he smiled at Paige. “It was good to see you again, but you’re not ditching me yet. I want to see this one through to the end. If my calculations are correct, Trent Howard is responsible for at least seven murders, six women and David Bennett.”

“The case is yours,” Paige glanced at Havi for confirmation.

“She’s right,” Havilland agreed. “We’re talking at least five states and seven women. If that’s not federal, I don’t know what is.”

“I need to head back home, pack a bag and then head to your neck of the woods,” Sparrow told them. “Can we pick this back up tomorrow?”

“Sounds like a plan.” Paige turned to Anderson. “Will you take care of Candice? Give her the details you can, and let her know Veronica and Trent will be locked up for the rest of their lives?”

“I’ll head to the hospital now,” he promised. “Drive safe and thanks.”

When Paige got home that night, Dax was already in bed sleeping soundly.

\*\*\*\*\*

The following morning, Paige relayed the story to Dax over breakfast.

“Sounds like you have a busy day ahead of you,” he picked up the dishes and moved to the sink. “Anything you need me to handle on the home front?”

“Not really,” Paige considered. “Have you heard from Nathan lately? He hasn’t called for the past two days. I’m wondering if they plan to continue the tradition and spend Thanksgiving with us here in Manti.”

“He called,” Dax told her. “He said he couldn’t reach you and you didn’t return his call.”

“Did he leave a message?” Paige frowned.

“He did,” Dax smiled and turned to face her. “I told him you were traveling across the Nevada desert and probably didn’t have service. Sophia is counting down the days until Thanksgiving, so yes, we will be preparing a huge family feast that day. Don’t worry, I’ll help, so will the guys. We can plan that later, get to work. See if you can get another serial killer to confess.”

“I don’t think he’s as gullible as his girlfriend,” Paige slid into her jacket. “I’ll be surprised if he says anything.”

“Sounds like Agent Pirate might make the trip for nothing,” Dax tossed the towel onto the counter and pulled her in for a kiss.

Paige shook her head and tried not to laugh at the image that popped into her head of Zach as a pirate. “Zach, not Jack funny man.”

“And still,” he leaned in and kissed her neck. “Every time you mention him, I get this visual in my head of a man with one patch over his eye, a parrot balanced on his shoulder and a sword strapped to his belt where his gun should be. Oh, and the suit. I always see this pirate character in a black suit.”

“Go to work,” she snatched up her keys. “You have one more session to plan and I have a killer to interrogate.” She was laughing as she walked to her car.

She wasn’t laughing when she stepped into her office. Sparrow was already there waiting. So was Havilland and Jericho.

“Yo ho, the gangs all here,” Paige grinned at Sparrows frown.

“If I had a quarter,” Sparrow grumbled.

“The prisoner has been transferred to the conference room,” Jericho announced. “Decide who will be interrogating him and let’s get this started.”

“I think we all should,” Paige spoke up. “Let’s walk in together and see how he handles it.”

“I’m game,” Havilland agreed.

Sparrow nodded and the three of them walked into the room, shutting the door behind them.

“I demand to know what this is about,” Trent AKA David slammed a hand on the large table. “I told you I’m a victim here.”

“Uh-huh,” Paige settled into the chair across from him.

Havilland started the recording, read him his rights, and cited the case number. Then, he listed the names of the four people taking part in the interview. “Now that we’ve got that out of the way, are you willing to talk to us today?”

“Absolutely not,” Trent pounded a fist on the table. “I demand to know what this is about.”

“Before we get to that,” Paige said causally. “Do you prefer to be called David or Trent?”

The man went sheet white. “What? Who?”

“I’m Agent Zach Sparrow from the FBI,” Zach cut in. “Let me explain the charges, then we can get back to that.” He listed off seven counts of murder, fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, attempted murder, and the various interstate theft charges. “I may have missed a few, but we’re still investigating. I should probably let you know that all of your assets have been frozen until we can sort out what was ill-gotten gains and what belongs to you, personally.”

“You can’t —” he screamed.

“That means the financial holdings of Trent Howard, David Bennett, Dirk Bixby, Dylan Wicks, Duke Littlefield and Dalton Green,” Paige glanced at Sparrow. “I emailed Carmen last night, she called me with the information on my way in this morning.”

Sparrow nodded. “We know there is at least one more, and we will find it, I guarantee it. Now, you need to decide where we go from here.”

“I want a lawyer,” Trent growled. “I want a lawyer, now!”

“Sure,” Paige stood. “Oh, and you should probably know the homicide charges, they include Nancy Pennington. I’m pretty sure Veronica actually committed that one, but she insists it was you. I have to say, a jury will probably believe her — what with all those others hanging over your head, what’s one more that you didn’t commit.”

“I want a lawyer,” he repeated.

“I’ll contact jail transportation,” Havilland stood. “They can arrange for a ride back to your cell. Let them know you want your phone call, I’m sure they’ll arrange for it.”

“You have to get me a lawyer,” Trent objected when an officer stepped into the room. “You have to find me a good attorney.” He tried to pull away when the officer reached out and pulled on his arm.

“No,” Paige smiled. “We don’t. You can hire your own, or you can inform the court you want a court appointed rep. Either way, you’re no longer our problem. Good luck with that.”

Once everything was finalized, Paige walked Sparrow to his car.

“As always,” he stopped before pulling open the door. “It was a pleasure.”

“You know,” Paige took a step forward. “Vegas isn’t that far away. You know where to find me if you ever want to grab a beer and meet Dax and the boys. I think you’d like them.”

“I might take you up on that,” he pulled her into a hug. “Take care and be safe.”

Paige stepped back. “Always — and ditto.”

“Call me any time Carter,” he called before he pulled the door shut and backed away.

Paige watched, expecting to feel a twinge of envy. Zach was still working high-profile, dangerous cases. She gave that up for shoplifting, traffic accidents and crop symbols. She smiled, not so bad — Paige. And that traffic accident had led to the arrest of a serial killer, his psycho girlfriend, and the seizure of lots and lots of money. Money that belonged to the grieving relatives and would soon be returned to the rightful owners. Not a bad week if she did say so herself.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S5

**Tags:** Season 5

---

### [Concealed Detection](https://melaniepsmith.com/concealed-detection/)

**Published:** September 30, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Concealed Detection (S5E6) Dax agrees to grant a favor to General Porter and it doesn't turn out the way anyone thought it would.  Will a case Paige is working draw in the national news again?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*CONCEALED DETECTION\*\*\*****

“Sir?”

Nathan looked up from the map he was studying and focused on the doorway. “What is it, Joanne?”

“There’s a man here,” she hesitated. “He insists he needs to see you. I told him you were busy working on something important, but he said he traveled to Virginia because his visit is important.”

“Did he tell you why?” Nathan frowned.

“No,” Joanne sighed. “But he did say he’s an old friend. His name is Oliver Hicks.”

Nathan’s frown deepened. He hadn’t seen Ollie in over thirty years. “Send him in.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MPS-PC_Cover-S5.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Concealed-Detection.pdf)

Ollie made his way down the long hallway and paused a few feet from the open door. Annoyed, at himself and the situation, he shifted his cane and tried to minimize his limp. He stepped into the enormous office just as Nathan rounded the desk.

“You’re looking good,” Nathan grinned. “For an old guy.”

“Humph,” Ollie settled into one of the expensive visitor’s chairs. He began slowly perusing the office. “I always knew you had potential,” he focused on Nathan. “Even I didn’t realize you’d make it this far.”

“I always had good mentors,” they exchanged a glance. Both of them knew he was referring to Ollie. “I’m surprised to see you, here. It must be important to bring you all the way to Virginia.”

“I need a favor,” Ollie admitted. “Did we dispense with the obligatory small talk and you’re ready to get down to business?”

Nathan smiled and wondered how far Oliver Hicks would have risen if not for the battle that took his leg so many years ago. “There’s no need for social rituals with me, Ollie. You should know that. What can I do to help?”

“As you know,” Ollie settled further into his chair. “I’m aware of the arrangement you had with Dylan regarding his daughter. I understand because I had a similar arrangement with Tim.”

“I remember,” Porter nodded.

“We went about it in a different way,” Ollie continued. “I failed Tim’s daughter.”

“I disagree,” Porter interrupted settling in the chair next to Ollie. “You were severely injured. By the time you recovered enough to check on Scarlett, she was already gone. You can’t blame yourself. Nobody could have prevented that tragic accident, not even you.”

“That’s neither here nor there,” Ollie stubbornly disagreed. “This isn’t about me — it’s not even about Scarlett, not directly.”

“What is it about?” Nathan settled back to watch a great man that had experienced far too many disappointments in his life.

“It’s about Scarlett’s son,” Ollie told him. “He was just an infant when Scarlett was killed.”

“I remember,” Nathan tried to recall the details. “He was actually in the car with her that night. It was a miracle he survived. As I understand it, the driver was drunk and served time for vehicular homicide.”

“Right,” Ollie said absently. His mind was lost in memories — and regrets.

“So,” Nathan wondered what he could do to help Tim Anderson’s grandson. “Why are you here, Ollie?”

“It’s ironic,” Ollie said softly. “The way life turns out. I am here to see if Dylan’s daughter would be willing to help Tim’s grandson.”

“I see,” Nathan was intrigued. “How can Paige help — I’m sorry, I don’t remember his name.”

“Matt,” Ollie provided. “Matt Warner. His father, Daniel, immediately moved out to Swisher, Iowa to be close to his parents. They helped raise the boy. He’s now twenty-four and working for the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.”

“A police officer, like Paige,” Nathan nodded, but still couldn’t connect the dots. How could Paige help a small-town cop working in Iowa?

“Right,” Ollie smiled. “Funny how things work out. Under the circumstances, even a pessimist like myself could accept the argument the universe is somehow connected.”

“You’re not a pessimist,” Nathan disagreed. “You’re a skeptic.”

“Anyway,” Ollie continued. “Paige is married to that boy that now works with you. The Hamilton kid, I heard he took his men out to Utah and started up a training center. It’s gaining quite a name — good reputation. Cops covet a spot, but most departments can’t afford the price tag. Johnson County can’t afford an expensive school like that. But if you could convince them to give Matt the small-town, family discount…” he trailed off.

“He might be able to attend,” Nathan realized. “Why? There has to be a reason you want him to attend the course.”

“It will give him an advantage,” Ollie admitted. “That boy has potential, but he doesn’t stand out. He wants to move out of Swisher and get a job in a larger city. Unfortunately, he’s just another cop in a sea of cops that comes from a small department. Jobs in Des Moines or Cedar Rapids, Davenport — any of the larger cities with better perks and better pay — they’re competitive. He needs something to boost his resume. There are openings in a couple prime spots.”

“And a certificate from DMA would give him the credentials he needs to stand out in a crowd,” Nathan was still touched that the men had included Dylan in the name. They decided to honor both Paige’s father and Maverick, their own fallen team member. Thus, the Dylan Maverick Academy was born, DMA for short. It seemed fitting somehow. “Let me talk to Dax, I’ll see what I can do.”

“I owe you for this one,” Ollie stood. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help on this.”

“You don’t owe me anything,” Nathan also stood and held out a hand. “Ranger’s stick together. I should have an answer in a day or two. Will you stop on your way out and leave your number with Joanne? I’ll let you know as soon as possible. The next course is only a few weeks away. Can he swing the time off, get the approval he needs, and be ready to head out that soon? If not, we can aim for January.”

“If they won’t pay the tuition,” Ollie decided. “I’ll find a way to do it myself.”

Nathan nodded. If he got his way, there wouldn’t be a fee. He wanted the kid to get one of DMA’s highly sought-after scholarships. If the boys already awarded all the grants for this year, he’d just solicit a donation from one of his friends. All the contacts he’d acquired over the years should be good for something. “That’s a generous offer but let me see what I can do first. I’ll call you, and Ollie,” he waited.

“Yes,” Hicks paused in the doorway and glanced back over his shoulder.

“It was good to see you,” Nathan said, genuinely meaning it. “I hope you’ll stay in touch.”

“I could make a promise I probably wouldn’t keep,” Ollie sobered. “I won’t. I respect you too much to give you the casual platitudes I give everyone else. I will promise to try.”

“I’ll take it,” Nathan grinned. “As long as you also promise to answer when I call you. Give your number to Joanne. I’ll contact you in a few days and then I’m going to use that number to check on you now and then. Don’t avoid me, I have people; and to be honest, those people are your people, too.”

Ollie nodded, turned, and disappeared down the long hallway.

Nathan sat, silently remembering those early days. Ollie Hicks was injured by then. The Army promoted him to Colonel and gave him a desk job overseeing training for the Rangers. Nathan chuckled softly, remembering the antics he and Dylan engaged in under Ollie Hicks careful watch. The rough soldier wanted to be seen as rigid and uncaring, but Nathan knew — under the rough exterior — the man had a heart of gold. He snatched up his phone and dialed Dax.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige glanced up and set her book aside when Dax dropped onto the couch next to her. “Long day.”

“And they’re about to get even longer,” Dax sighed and slid beneath her feet, taking the right one in his hand as he began to rub.

“Anything I can do to help?”

“Funny you would ask that,” Dax shifted slightly and began to message her sensitive arch. “Nathan called me today.”

“What did he want?” Paige frowned. If the general thought he was going to pull Dax away for another mission, he was going to be disappointed.

“He asked me to add a cop from some…” he hesitated, trying to think of another word.

Paige laughed. “It’s always amusing when you try to pretty up your language for me. I worked for the FBI, I’m a cop, I’ve heard it all, Dax.”

“I don’t know, let’s go with Podunk USA,” Dax shrugged. “I forget the name of the place but it’s out in the middle of nowhere. Iowa maybe — Nebraska — somewhere out in corn country. The kids green at best and I’m not sure he’s going to be a good fit, not with this course.”

“Did Nathan say how he knew this small-town cop from Podunk USA?” Paige wondered. “Doesn’t sound like they collided at a food truck in Virginia. How does Deputy Cornfed know the estimable General Porter?”

“I don’t think he does,” Dax hesitated, but knew he had to explain. “Sounds like it’s the kid of a kid of a guy Porter once knew.”

“Come again?”

“Porter knew a guy, served with a guy during his Ranger days. This guy made a promise to a dying friend. The friend had a daughter and the cop is her kid.”

Paige sat up and shifted, dropping her legs to the floor. “Like me?”

“Like you if you had a kid, I think,” Dax corrected.

Paige stood and began to pace. “How problematic will it be to include him?”

“You want me to say yes?” Dax realized.

“I do,” Paige shrugged. “For Nathan, sure. It would mean a lot to him. I know that because he wouldn’t ask you to shuffle in another student if it didn’t mean a lot to him.”

“I agree,” Dax sat back and tried to jumble things to add one more participant.

“That would be enough for me. I’d be inclined to ask you to accommodate the small-town cop from Somewhere USA if there was any way that you could,” Paige admitted. “I’d ask you to try and make things work — for Nathan, because he’s done countless favors for both you and me.”

“Alright,” Dax agreed. “He’s in.”

“I’m also going to ask you to do it because of so much more,” Paige admitted. She settled back down on the couch and took his hand in hers. “Police in this country are under attack. They are being ambushed and killed, lured to fake calls, shot at on real ones, hit with frozen water bottles, firecrackers, and Molotov cocktails. Not for something they did, but simply because they put on a uniform and walked out the door to serve and protect their community. The current environment is hostile and dangerous. Every cop, no matter where they work, needs to know how to protect themselves, how to practice operational awareness on every call, to adapt to any contingency and have the training they need to go home at the end of their shift. Your course will teach this guy all of that and more.”

“I worry about you,” Dax admitted. “Every time you walk out that door, I worry. Life is getting crazy out there and it’s not just the big cities that are dealing with the threat.”

“True,” Paige leaned in and gave him a soft, but quick kiss. “It hasn’t reached us here, yet. It could, but it hasn’t. That’s why I’m asking you to help this kid. It doesn’t matter where he serves, he needs all the training he can get. He needs tactical knowledge, combat knowledge, training and experience he can only get from you and your band of militants — especially if he comes from a small town. It might be the only way he’ll have the opportunity to learn the skills he needs to survive.”

“I agree,” Dax sighed. “I’ll find a way to make it work. I just worry that we’re dropping him into the deep end before he learns to swim.”

“The upcoming course is advanced?” Paige asked.

“It is,” Dax nodded. “I tried to explain that to Nathan, suggested we get him into the next basic course at the beginning of the year, but he wouldn’t have it. He claims this kid is a sharpshooter and can hold his own. He insisted it had to be this course for some reason but he’s not saying why.”

“He has a reason,” Paige defended. “If he insisted, there’s something he’s not sharing but it’s important.”

“I already came to that conclusion on my own,” Dax studied her for several seconds. “Does it ever bother you?”

“What?”

“Knowing Porter stepped in to give you a boost now and then,” Dax wondered. “We both know, eventually, you would have made it on your own. Does Porter’s help tarnish that at all, for you?”

“No,” Paige settled back and considered. “It used to. At first, I was furious because I wanted to do it on my own. I wanted to prove that I could be as good at something as my father was — and I didn’t need anyone to help me.”

“What changed?” he wondered.

“Sophie,” Paige smiled. “She pulled me aside and asked me to let him help now and then — for him. She said it made the pain and the loss a little more tolerable every time he helped Dylan’s daughter. She was so sincere, I figured there had to be some truth behind the request. The next time he stepped in, I went to him like I did all the times before. But, this time, I just said thank you. He was so shocked, that alone was worth it. It’s not often anyone can shock General Nathan Porter. But, I also recognized the joy, and I mean pure joy was radiating from his face. I knew I’d never hassle him again — not over his support anyway. Why do you ask?”

“I’m trying to decide what to tell the kid,” Dax admitted. “He’ll know, eventually. The other guys attending this course, they’re brutal. They won’t be kind if he screws up. They may demand an explanation — of why he’s there. I won’t tell them, but that will only provoke them. When they don’t get answers from any of the instructors, they’ll confront the kid. He may know, he might not. But the not knowing will push him to find out. We can’t hide it, because Porter also asked us to award the kid a scholarship. Being from a small department, they could never afford the tuition. I was just trying to gauge how he’ll react.”

“I should have realized Nathan would ask. I was just about to make the same request,” Paige admitted. “Small departments have limited funds. When money’s tight, extra training is one of the first things to go. A scholarship is probably the only way this kid would be able to attend.”

“I already talked to the others,” Dax assured her. “We all agreed, he’s got the scholarship. The only thing we can’t agree on is which course.”

“Thank you,” Paige said. “That means a lot to me. It will mean the world to Nathan. But, it’s going to mean so much more to the cop. Now, back to your original question — about his reaction. Everyone is different,” Paige considered. “What if I talk to him, what’s his name? It feels strange to call him the kid.”

“Matt Warner,” Dax smiled.

“I could talk to this Matt guy and get a feel for things,” Paige offered again. “It might help if he knew the same thing happened to me. If he saw that, even with the occasional nudge that sometimes gave me an unfair advantage, I turned out okay.”

Dax grinned. “Are you sure about that?”

“Positive,” Paige tackled him. “You think I’m perfect. Now, stop talking and let me show you how grateful I am that you’re doing General Obstinate a favor. Then, you can show me how grateful you are that I’m willing to step in and help with the details.”

“I think we should both show our gratitude — together,” he stood, scooped her up, and threw her over his shoulder.

“Alright,” Paige slapped him. “I’ll play *the fireman rescues the damsel* tonight if you play *Madeline conquers the marine* next time.”

“Bite your tongue, woman,” Dax slapped her on the butt. “We never say the M-word in this house.”

Paige pinched him just as he tossed her onto the bed.

\*\*\*\*\*

Deputy Matt Warner was the first to arrive at DMA’s training room. He knew he was early, but he also knew this was the chance of a lifetime. An opportunity some secret donor had stepped up and offered him — no strings attached. So, he was tethering his own strings to the gift. He would ace this course and show all of them the generosity hadn’t been wasted. His thoughts returned to home. Des Moines had an opening in their department, but applications had to be submitted by the end of November. If he could get through the course and add it to his resume — this time, he might have a chance.

He still didn’t know who his guardian angel was. Oh, he had one. He knew that much. This wasn’t the first time someone stepped in and provided that tiny nudge he needed to help him achieve his goals. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that; but, at the moment, he was just going to accept the gift and be grateful he’d been offered such an amazing opportunity. He could deal with the rest later. He looked up in surprise when a group of men entered the room. He had expected stoic and serious. They were laughing and joking in that brotherly way you do when you’re close. He tensed. How would they feel about a guy that was forced on them at the last minute, because some rich donor bought his way into their course? This might be harder than he originally believed.

“Look guys,” Zeus motioned to the man sitting at the far end of the table. “Dax has a brother from another mother.”

Matt watched as the entire group turned and focused on him. He felt like a bug under a microscope. Were they looking for weakness? A reason to explain his late entry into their elite course? Their expressions didn’t change so he had no idea what they were looking for — or, what they found.

“What’s your name?” Dax stepped forward.

“Deputy Matt Warner,” Matt tried to sound confident.

“It’s just Warner, starting now,” Dax advised. “Rank has no place in this facility.”

“Did you know that?” Vato asked Hawk.

“Lodge a complaint at the next staff meeting,” Hawk grinned. “But he’s referring to them, not us. I will always out rank you.”

Dax rolled his eyes at his men then turned back to Warner. “You’re early. Orientation doesn’t start for thirty-five minutes.”

“I wanted to get an early start,” Matt shrugged. “Get the lay of the land so to speak, see what I could learn about the academy and the instructors.”

“Did you succeed?” Hawk wondered. He’d been worried about adding this guy to the course. He still wasn’t sure they’d made the right decision; but, so far, he was impressive.

“Not really,” Matt smiled. “You have this place locked down pretty tight. I’m sad to say, most of my knowledge came from a map.”

“Story of my life,” Zeus mumbled.

“And the academy?” Dax asked.

“What about the instructors?” Vato wondered.

“I believe you are the instructors,” Matt said cautiously. “I discovered your also family.”

“We are that,” Hawk agreed. “If you head back to the front foyer, on the north wall, we have a brochure that talks about the academy, the courses we offer, and our mission.”

“Mostly what you need to know is the pecking order,” Zeus offered. “Trainees are all equal and they occupy the bottom. Rank is irrelevant. Doesn’t matter if you’re a captain in the Coast Guard or a deputy for a small department. Equal standing, equal expectations.”

“After that comes the instructors,” Vato added.

“Except Dax,” Hawk pointed to a man they would always consider their leader. “His omnipotent power transcends the rest of us. If this guy tells you to do something, you do it.”

Paige stepped into the room and studied the single man sitting at the far end of the long table.

“Except Paige,” Zeus added when he noticed her. “Paige’s power reigns supreme — it even trumps Master Hamilton.”

“Can I get that in writing?” Paige wondered, moving up next to Dax.

“You’re early,” Dax told her.

“I figured,” Paige glanced back at Warner. “If he’s half the man Nathan hopes he is — he’d arrive early to check things out. I was right.”

“I guess that’s why you reign supreme,” Dax leaned in and kissed her then wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against his side. “The rest of you clowns get started. You have about ten to fifteen before the new group arrives.”

“I’ve got this,” she pulled away from Dax. “Let me have a few minutes alone.”

Dax studied her, nodded, then headed out to join his men.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” Matt said when Paige pulled out a chair and settled in next to him. He studied her uniform before he continued. “I don’t know who you are. Obviously, you’re a cop but do you run this place too?”

“No,” Paige smiled. “Forget that part about me being in charge. I’m just a deputy like you — one that has an amazing guardian and mentor that watches out for me. And please, call me Paige. When I hear the word ma’am, I think of an old English teacher I had in the tenth grade.”

“Alright,” Matt frowned. How much did this woman know about the circumstances that brought him here?

“Do you know who is helping you?” Paige hesitated. “Can I call you Matt? Or would you prefer Warner?”

“Either is fine,” Matt studied the woman closely.

“If your life has been anything like mine,” Paige continued. “Someone has stepped in — maybe once, maybe more than that, but always when you needed it the most — and gave your career a little boost. Probably just a slight nudge, but enough to get you noticed at a time when you needed to stand out in a crowd. Am I right?”

“I don’t know —” he began.

“I know, I’m a stranger and I’m asking you questions that are personal and probably sensitive,” Paige pushed. “I have a good reason for it. You can trust me with this. You can trust me, because I experienced that same little nudge. In the beginning, it annoyed me. Later, I came to cherish and appreciate it. I think I can help you understand if you’ll open up a little and let me.”

“And if I have?” Matt asked. “Had a nudge here and there?”

“We’ll just operate under the assumption that you have,” Paige decided. “Do you know why? Do you know who is doing the nudging?”

“No,” Matt decided there was no reason to deny it. She clearly had more information than he did.

“Do you want to know?” Paige wondered.

“I do,” Matt nodded. “More, I’d like to know why.”

“I like to think of my mentor, Retired General Nathan Porter, as my guardian angel,” Paige admitted. “Your guardian angel is a man that was close friends with your grandfather — on your mother’s side. Coincidentally, I think your grandfather may have been friends with my father as well.”

“Is that why I’m here?” Matt wondered. “Did your dad ask you to do this as a favor because he knew my mother’s dad?”

“No,” Paige studied him. “My father was killed a long time ago. How much do you know about your mother and her father?”

“Not much,” Matt admitted. “My mom died in a car crash when I was just a baby. Dad moved us to Iowa to be close to his family. My grandparents helped raise me so dad could continue to work.”

“Your grandfather’s name was Tim Anderson,” Paige told him. “I didn’t know him. I don’t personally know anything about him. Everything I know comes from my mentor, my father’s best friend, Nathan Porter. Nathan has watched over me for years because my father asked him to. Just before he died, dad begged Nathan to be there for me because he couldn’t. Dad was killed on a top-secret mission. One that was being carried out by an elite squad of Army Rangers. Your grandfather died on a similar mission. He too was a Ranger that belonged to an elite squad of soldiers.”

“I don’t know if you’re right,” Matt admitted. “Dad said mom was killed by a drunk driver only a couple years after her father was killed overseas. I don’t think dad knew much about his father-in-law.”

“Your grandfather, Tim Anderson, had a very good friend that was also an army ranger,” Paige continued with her story. “This fellow Ranger’s name is Oliver Hicks. He was seriously injured in the same mission that killed Tim. Ollie lost one of his legs then suffered from a serious infection. He was in the hospital for a little over two years. When he got out, he tried to look up your mom. You see, he’d made a promise to Tim. He swore he would protect your mother and watch out for her. A promise that was similar to the one that Nathan made to my father just before he died. You saw how my husband and the others interacted. That’s because they’re family… a Ranger family. You’re also family, Matt. It doesn’t matter that Dax, Hawk, and the others never met your grandfather. Ollie asked Nathan for a favor and DMA was in a position to step up. So, they did. It’s that simple. You’ve been given the chance of a lifetime. You can learn a lot from these guys. Ollie called in a favor and provided the tiny nudge that got you into the course. The rest is up to you. You can benefit from the chance you’ve been given, or you can waste it.”

“And you’ve been given similar chances?” Matt wondered.

“I have,” Paige agreed. “Before I came to work for Sanpete County, I was an FBI Agent. My career was on a fast track to management. Along the way, Porter gave the right people a gentle nudge and I found myself at the top of the pile for preferred assignments, training opportunities, and positions on elite task forces that catapulted my career faster than even I expected,” Paige grinned. “The retired general is a powerful man with a lot of friends — most of them owe him favors.”

“Did you resent the help?” Matt wondered, hoping he didn’t sound ungrateful.

“At first,” Paige admitted. “But I know my mentor. I got to see how happy it made him to help out the daughter of his best friend. I couldn’t resent something that was done out of love. So instead, I decided to work harder and make sure I deserved the opportunities I’d been given.”

“How did he feel when you left the FBI?” Matt thought that might have been an issue after all the effort this Nathan Porter guy had put into Paige’s career.

“He didn’t understand at first,” Paige admitted. “Now he can see how happy I am, and he supports the move.”

“I guess I can understand why this Tim guy would want to help my mom,” Matt considered. “And why Porter would step in and help you. It sounds like he took the time to get to know you. I don’t understand why a man I’ve never met would transfer that obligation to me. He’s not responsible for my career. He’s not responsible for me. Any duty he had to mom should have been over once she died.”

“Because your family,” Paige stood. “Now, the others should be arriving soon, and I need to get to work. I hope you’ll accept the gift and know it was offered out of love. Don’t resent the opportunity, embrace it, and use it to make your life a little better. I was eventually able to see that, and it made the gifts I received even more special because of it.”

Matt watched the woman leave the room. He was more confused now than he’d been before. He was also more determined to make the most of the chance he’d been given. He’d honor the memory of his grandfather and his mother by graduating at the stop of the class. Then, he’d head back home and hope it helped him secure a spot with the Des Moines police department.

\*\*\*\*\*

Matt sighed and stepped away from the group. They would never accept him, he understood that now. It was the third day of training and the other members in the group resented him. Well, not all of them. Most of these guys just ignored him. They realized immediately he hadn’t been to a DMA training course in the past, which meant he hadn’t earned his way into this advanced course like they had.

It didn’t matter that he’d just shot another perfect score. It didn’t matter that he could out shoot every one of these guys without any effort at all. They didn’t respect him because he hadn’t earned their respect. He made his way down the line, retrieved his target, and headed back to Hawk.

“Another good day,” Hawk observed. “We need to change things up, give you a little challenge to hone the skills you have and improve on them. You think you’re up for it?”

Matt glanced back at the others. If they pulled him aside, that would just make the rift bigger. If the entire group had to compete on a more difficult course, the resentment would fester and make things worse. It was a no-win situation so he might as well accept the challenge.

“Trust me,” Hawk suggested. “By the time this course is over, they’ll be lifelong friends.”

“Doubtful,” Matt sighed. “But I accept your challenge. I’m here to learn and improve.”

“Good answer,” Hawk nodded to Dax.

“Is it okay if I take a short walk? I won’t go far, just a few feet into the woods over there,” Matt advised. “When it’s time to start the next course, call out and let me know. I’ll be close enough to hear.”

“Alright,” Hawk agreed. “You have about fifteen. Once they’ve finish up, everyone will need a few minutes down before we start the next round.”

Matt slowly made his way into the thick forest. He wanted a minute to clear his head and enjoy the crisp clean mountain air. He needed the solitude before he returned to the jeers and rude comments. For some reason, the men in this group wanted to make him feel inferior. Like he was an amateur and they were all professionals. He wasn’t. He could admit they had more training and experience than he had. He was also surprised to learn this was an advanced course, not their entry level training session. But, it didn’t take long to realize a lot of what they were doing was just common sense. As long as he paid attention and reasoned out the problem, he could hold his own in the tactical courses — even in this crowd. With his natural ability at shooting, his firearms scores more than made up for any mistakes he made during the other exercises. He inhaled a long, deep breath then let it out. If the other men didn’t despise him so much, this experience might actually be fun.

He was wandering through a thick section of quaking aspen when he spotted the carving and smiled. His mother would love this. He didn’t hesitate even an instant, just pulled out his phone, crouched to get a better angle, and began snapping photos.

Chances were slim to none — and slim just headed out to lunch — that this was an authentic signature from Ted Bundy himself, but that didn’t matter. His mother, well, technically his stepmother, was obsessed with true crime novels and this was the kind of thing Christy Warner lived for. He knew she’d get a kick out of the images, so he didn’t care if they were forgeries.

“Look Shep,” a man nicknamed Fester — because his last name was Addams — called out. “The rookie thinks he stumbled onto a clue — one that’s been hidden since the seventies, apparently.”

Matt spotted the trio and sighed but continued snapping photos. He wouldn’t let the three musketeers ruin his find. He couldn’t wait to see his mom’s face when he showed them to her. It was something they shared, always had. She loved to lose herself in a good crime novel, he worked the mysteries in real life — on the job. His dad didn’t understand the connection, or the intrigue. His sisters thought they were deranged. That made the connection even more special in Matt’s mind. He was about to stand when Shep — the ringleader of the group — moved forward and shoved him. In his crouched position, he lost his balanced and toppled onto his back. Watson, the third member of the trio, rushed to stand on the opposite side, blocking Matt in so he couldn’t get up.

“Back off,” Matt warned. He stood up but Shep shoved him further into the forest. Matt nearly went down again, but at the last second, he regained his footing. He glared at Shep and wanted to punch him more than he wanted anything at the moment. Instead, he reined in his temper and turned to head further into the trees.

The trio followed. They’d only gone a few feet when Shep shoved him again. This time, Matt did go down. He stumbled, tripped over a log and landed on his butt in a sort of meadow filled with tall grass and wildflowers. “You’re gonna wanna back off,” Matt growled.

“Or what?” Shep demanded. “You plan to shoot us? That’s the only way you can beat us, and we all know it. But, starting right now, that’s going to change.”

“Somehow,” Matt shifted and was about to stand when his hand caught on something. He glanced down and saw a broken, rusty chain. He frowned but didn’t move. Turning his head to focus on Shep, he grinned. “I doubt that.”

Shep moved forward and crouched, invading Matt’s space so they were nose to nose. “Tomorrow,” he forcefully shoved a finger into Matt’s chest. “When we qualify, you’re going to drop one.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Bundy-Tree_MPS.jpg)

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“Again,” Matt slapped Shep’s hand away, “I doubt that.”

Shep leaned even closer. “You will drop a round or you’ll regret it.”

“You drop a round,” Dax pushed off the tree he’d been leaning against — observing. “You go home — all four of you. And, you’ll never attend another training course again.”

“You three,” Hawk growled, emerging from the shadows. “Come with me.”

Watson and Fester scowled at their friend as they rushed past Dax, eager to smooth things over with Hawk. Shep shrugged, trying to act cocky and nonchalant as he slipped past Dax —but he couldn’t quite pull it off.

“You okay?” Dax moved forward and held out a hand.

“I’m fine,” Matt glanced at the old chain again. “But what do you make of this?” He held his hand up a couple inches so Dax could see the ancient jewelry.

Dax frowned and crouched to get a better look. He glanced over his shoulder at the carving in the tree, then focused on the chain. “There is seriously no freakin’ way that’s legit.”

“I realize you’re the expert here,” Matt told Dax. “But I’m the cop. I think we should be extra careful until we can investigate further. Let me get clear of this chain, then we’ll take a look around.”

Dax studied the area carefully. If they just stumbled onto a crime scene, Paige would have his head if he contaminated it. Once Matt was free from the chain, Dax reached out and helped him to his feet. Then, the two of them slowly took a step backwards.

“Let’s head that way,” Matt pointed to the large open meadow. “Maybe ten, fifteen feet. We’ll see if there’s any indication this could be a dump site.”

“I think we should call in the locals,” Dax decided. “I don’t want to disrupt the area if this is a crime scene.”

“We don’t know what we have here. That’s quite a leap and this could be nothing. We need to be careful but I’m not ready to make an official report.”

“I am,” Dax disagreed. “We don’t want to contaminate the area any more than we need to.”

“What about your wife?” Matt asked. “Is she any good? We could start by calling her.”

Dax grinned. “In every way possible.” He reached for his phone and tried to speed-dial Paige but nothing happened. He didn’t have a signal.

Matt watched Dax move away and wondered what he just got himself into. He took a minute to stop and think. If he were home and just arrived on this call, what would he do? He had to get back into cop mode, street cop — not tactics. Okay, he’d walk the area and see if there was any disturbed dirt or other indicators that a body could be buried here. He headed out past the location of the chain and started to walk a straight line. It didn’t take long. A few feet further into the clearing and about six feet to the right, he found what he was looking for. “Dax?”

“Yeah?” Dax answered absently. He was wandering around, trying to get a signal but so far, hadn’t found one.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Necklace_MPS-scaled.jpg)

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“I’ve got bones,” Matt advised.

“What?” Dax whipped around to stare at the man. “Explain what that means — exactly.”

“Not a full skeleton,” Matt frowned. “The bone is sticking partially out of the ground, like something was digging here but suddenly gave up for some reason.”

“Something or someone?” Dax wondered.

“I think it was an animal,” Matt decided. “I think a fox, or a coyote — something was digging here and got spooked.”

“Alright,” Dax took a deep breath and tried to come up with a plan. “You stay where you are. Don’t disturb anything. I can’t get a signal up here, but if I head back down to where we set up the firearms course, I can make a call from there. In the meantime, while you wait for me to return, don’t touch anything. My wife is very particular, and she won’t be happy if anything is moved or disturbed in any way.”

“Got it,” Matt agreed. He might come from a small town in Iowa, but he knew how to preserve a scene — he was a cop. Once Dax disappeared, he let his mind wander. It was possible Bundy had dumped a body out here. He hunted in the area and even admitted he discarded some of his victims in this same mountain range. But, it was more likely someone else had spotted the carved name in the tree and decided it would be funny to use this as their dumping ground.

That’s if this was a crime scene. The chain might just be a chain. Some girl could have dropped it years ago while she was out looking for a secluded spot to neck with her boyfriend. And the bones? Well, maybe they came from a pioneer or a trapper that roamed the mountains a hundred years ago. He was letting his imagination get the better of him. Thinking of his mom and her reaction to his find was creating mystical fantasies in his mind and he needed to start acting like a cop instead of a crazy person. The best way to do that was to focus on procedure. He’d move away and make sure nobody else entered the area. He paused to get his bearings, made sure he could find this spot again, and made his way back to the overgrown trail a few yards away. He’d stand guard and wait for Dax to return with his wife — and crime scene tape.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Hey Dax,” Paige tried to chew and talk at the same time. “Don’t tell me you’re calling to ask the little woman to grab you lunch. I’m in the middle of a delicious double cheeseburger and a large, ice cold Pepsi at the moment.”

“I need you to head up and meet me,” Dax told her. “I’ll be at the spot I showed you last week, where we’re holding the firearms competition.”

Paige instantly went on alert. She dropped her feet from her desk and sat up a little straighter. “What happened? Is everyone okay? You didn’t have an AD or anything, did you?”

“No,” Dax sighed. “My people do not accidentally discharge their weapons. It’s nothing like that. One of the guys — well, actually the one Nathan convinced me to include in this session, Matt Warner—”

“What about him?” Paige interrupted, worried now. She stood and reached for her jacket.

“He found something I need you to take a look at,” Dax evaded.

“Found what, Dax?” Paige demanded.

“I don’t want to say,” Dax decided. “I want you to see this fresh and form your own conclusion once you see it.”

“You’re being awfully mysterious,” she complained. “I’ll head out, but if my burger gets cold for a pile of bear scat, you’re going to pay dearly. I swear, you will pay for the rest of your natural life.”

“I’m willing to chance it,” Dax assured her. “I’ll be anxiously awaiting your arrival.”

Paige frowned at her phone. Something was up. Dax was acting strange and he just hung up on her, without his usual goodbye.

“You want company?” Lovato asked. “I’m free and I’d love to head up the canyon for a bit.”

“It might be a wild goose chase,” Paige warned.

Lo shrugged. “Don’t care, if it gets me out of this stuffy office.”

“You drive, then,” Paige decided. “We’ll ride up together.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Lovato exited the vehicle and approached Dax. “Whatever you told her, made her jumpy. She’s been on edge the entire ride up.”

“What is this about,” Paige glanced around the area. “And where is Warner?”

“If you called her up here to make a report,” Tracy Shepherd began.

“You,” Dax turned on him. “Shut it. Hawk, load all these guys up and take them back to the center.”

“On it,” Hawk turned to the group of men lounging around a picnic table. “Load up. We’re heading out.”

“You keeping Warner?” Zeus asked.

“Yeah,” Dax sighed. “Did Hawk talk some sense into the troublemaking trio?”

“He tried,” Zeus frowned. “I’ll pull them aside once we get back and have a talk with them. They’re not bad, just competitive. Shep’s having a hard time with the entire situation. They know Warner didn’t attend a beginner course so the three of them just can’t accept that boy’s got game.”

“Either, you deal with it,” Dax warned. “Or I will.”

“And by that you mean they get a refund and an invitation to head home,” Vato stepped up to join them. “You know that will ruin their career. We’re all set, by the way. The men are loaded and Hawk’s ready to head out.” He turned to Zeus. “You going back or staying up here?”

“Headed back,” Zeus glanced at Dax. “There are three men that need to learn what it means to function as a team.”

“Tell Hawk I’ll call once I know what we’ve got up here,” Dax watched his men cross the clearing and climb into the van. He continued to watch as Hawk put the vehicle in gear and started down the canyon.

“Where is Warner?” Paige demanded.

“Let’s head back here,” Dax motioned her forward. “Just walk down that trail until you spot him.”

“Is he always like this?” Lo stepped in beside Paige and the two of them started up the trail.

“No,” Paige scowled. “And I’m trying to figure out what he’s up to.” It only took a minute before she spotted Warner standing in the middle of the trail. “Matt?”

“Paige,” Warner nodded. “Glad you could make it.”

“You want to tell me what we’re doing up here?” Paige demanded.

Matt glanced at Dax in surprise.

“I wanted her to see what we saw — come at it fresh, like we did. I didn’t want her to have any preconceived notions before she arrived,” Dax provided.

“Good idea,” Matt nodded.

“First,” Paige looked from Matt to Dax. “Why did that guy ask if I was here to take a report?”

“There was a tiny incident between your boy here and Tracy Shepherd,” Dax admitted. “I suppose, if Warner was so inclined, he could make a complaint.”

“I’m not so inclined,” Matt said quickly. “Let’s just deal with the real issue. I can handle Shep and his two sidekicks.”

Paige studied Matt, then focused on Dax. “What kind of complaint?”

“Simple assault,” Dax said without emotion. “He shoved Matt and then threatened him.”

“Why?” Paige was getting confused. “Never mind. What did you want to show me?”

“Walk this way,” Dax smiled when Paige rolled her eyes. She hated it when he quoted eighties songs.

“Don’t think I’m gonna give you a kiss,” Paige said over her shoulder.

They were several feet away from the tree when Lovato spotted the carving. He immediately started to laugh. “Tell me you didn’t call us up here to discuss Ted Bundy. There have to be a hundred of these things scattered around these mountains.”

“Bundy?” Paige moved forward a few more steps and spotted the tree. “I read about these.” She hurried forward to get a better look. “Most of them are forgeries but it’s fascinating anyway. All those people wandering around the woods selecting the perfect tree to carve the name of a sadistic psychopath.” She reached out and ran her hand over the letters. “It seems strange to actually see one in real life. I studied Bundy; everyone does that works for the FBI. But I studied him carefully for a case I was working. Another psychopath that was out killing people for fun. He was also a master chameleon, he had the same ego, had the same depraved sense of entitlement, and he loved to con people through manipulation,” she answered absently… lost in memories.

“Dax,” Lovato pushed. “Did you bring us up here to look at a tree?”

“It’s not just any tree,” Paige disagreed. “Anyway, you actually invited yourself so if this is boring you, don’t blame Dax.”

“I wonder if Jericho would let us chop this thing down,” Lo considered. “We could prop it in the corner of the bullpen. Might be a great conversation piece.”

“Sheriff Hayward did that,” Paige said absently. “I have a newspaper clipping with him standing there, pointing to the carving. He chopped down the tree and kept a huge chunk that had Bundy’s name on it if I remember correctly.”

“And he kept it in his office,” Lo remembered one of the old-timers telling them about that. They had a case in the city that crossed over into the county’s jurisdiction and the detective had to brief Sheriff Hayward on the details. “Right there, on the credenza behind his desk. I’m sure anyone that stepped foot in there asked about it.”

“He did?” Warner grinned. “I guess, if your brother was responsible for catching a serial killer, you’d want to brag a little. What better way to accomplish that, than to have a section of tree prominently displayed on the desk in your office?”

“I’m calling Jer,” Lovato decided. “I want that tree.”

“Not just yet,” Dax disagreed. “First, you won’t get service — not up here. You have to head back down to the vehicles to call this in. Plus, there’s more.”

“What does that mean?” Paige narrowed her eyes at Dax. When he refused to answer, she returned to Bundy. “There’s something else I remember. In 1989, just before he was executed, Bundy admitted he dumped bodies in Manti. He met with a Detective Couch, I believe, and provided information about the girls he killed here in Utah. They actually found remains in the area — here in Sanpete County. Once the bones were analyzed I remember hearing they belonged to one of Bundy’s victims. What was her name?”

Nobody answered for several minutes. Finally, Lovato spoke. “I think it was Debra Kent. But it could have been Nancy Wilcox.”

“No,” Paige shook her head. “It was Kent. Bundy said he disposed of the Wilcox girl near Capitol Reef National Park. They never found her body, or any remains.”

“So,” Lovato grinned. “That’s a no on heading back to the truck and returning with an ax?”

“It’s a no,” Paige glared at him. “The authorities searched a sixty-five-mile radius — right here. It was a huge effort. Search and Rescue teams from Bountiful to Vegas traveled in to help scour the mountain region looking for clues. They found trees like this one, what they called ‘Bundy trees’ — all over the place. Around a dozen of them were discovered near the burial site. The place they actually discovered a bone from one of his victims. The Sanpete County Sheriff at the time — which was not Jericho Walters — thought most of them were copycats, but he firmly believed at least one was done by Bundy himself.”

Dax and Matt glanced at each other, then tried to mask their expressions but Paige caught it. “What haven’t you told me?”

“Let’s move this way,” Matt decided. He slowly made his way toward the clearing where he found the chain that looked like it came from a woman’s necklace.

“What is this?” Lovato asked, glancing around a field of wild grass and flowers. It looked like every other clearing in the La Sal’s.

Matt crouched and pointed to the chain.

“Wait,” Paige demanded. She reached into her ‘go bag’ and pulled out three sets of rubber gloves. She glanced at Dax, then handed one pair to Matt and the other to Lovato before she pulled on her own set.

Dax nodded in agreement and took a step back.

Paige focused on Matt. “You found this. Do you mind if I try to retrieve it?”

“I’m off duty,” Matt shrugged. “And I think this is just slightly out of my jurisdiction. Go for it.”

Paige glanced at Lovato, once he gave her a nod, she pulled a pair of tweezers and a small brush from her pack. She carefully gripped the chain with the tweezers then began to brush the dirt away from the surface. It took longer than any of them would have liked, but finally Paige had the necklace free. She tightened her grip with the tweezers and held it up for all of them to see. Light caught the metal and tiny beams shot out from the surface of a small heart-shaped charm attached to the chain.

“Definitely a woman’s,” Lovato sighed. “I think we should consider calling in the Sheriff. You know how he gets when he misses out on stuff like this.”

“We have one more stop,” Matt objected. “Then I agree, you should really call in your boss.”

Paige stood, then pivoted when she felt a tap on her shoulder. As she turned, she spotted the evidence bag Lovato held out. Frowning, she dropped the necklace into the bag. “I’m the one that came prepared. I don’t see a detectives pack flung over your shoulder, what gives?”

“When you work in the big city,” Lovato grinned. “You always have an evidence bag in your pocket. You never know when you might need it.”

“The big city?” Matt wondered.

“Lo comes to us from the booming metropolis of Salt Lake,” Paige informed him. “Not as big as New York or LA, but big enough.”

Matt focused on the man. “Do you miss it?”

“Not at all,” Lovato assured him. “It’s better here, trust me you’re not missing a thing.”

The group headed for the area where Matt found the remains. “Before we go any further,” he glanced at Lovato then focused on Paige. “We are entering what is likely to be a crime scene. Tread carefully, I haven’t done a thorough search. Once I found remains, I backed away immediately.”

“Remains?” Lovato jerked his head up. “What kind of remains?”

“Take a look for yourself,” Matt pointed to the disturbed ground and waited.

Paige cautiously moved forward until she could clearly see the bones. “They’re human.”

“Looks like it could be a shin or a small femur,” Lovato agreed. “I’ll head down, call the boss. I’ll also grab a roll of tape. Let’s get this place secured. It’s going to be a long night.”

Paige moved to stand in front of Dax. “You don’t have to stay. I know you have a training session to complete and this will hamper that progress significantly. If you want to head down and deal with the others, I’ll arrange to meet with you later. Just don’t mention Bundy yet. I’d like to keep that under wraps as long as I can.”

“You want to keep the kid?” Dax focused on Warner. “Might be good practice and if this is Bundy — well, he does have a legitimate claim on that find.”

“If it won’t interfere with his training, yeah,” Paige nodded. “I could use him. And, like you said it would be good practice. He’ll get his training. It just might be in forensics and investigation rather than firearms and tactics.”

“He’s all yours,” Dax spotted Matt headed their way. “If he agrees. I won’t make him stay if he wants to head back.”

Before Matt had a chance to say anything, Paige addressed him. “I could use your help on this. I can’t say if it’s one of Bundy’s victims or if someone else used this as a dumping ground because they thought it would be cute to dispose of a body next to a Bundy tree.”

“I—” he looked to Dax for direction.

“I approved it,” Dax put a hand on his shoulder. “If that’s what you want. It won’t jeopardize your standing in our course. If it takes you away for more than a day or two, you will have to make a few things up, but we can work around it.”

“Then,” Matt looked from Dax to Paige. “I think I’d like to stay. I’m intrigued and leaving feels… I don’t know, like I’m abandoning something important.”

“Then you stay,” Dax turned to Paige. “I’ll head down, wait for the good sheriff to arrive and bring him back. Then I’m going to take off. I do have a couple things I need to follow up on. I’ll call you once I’m clear and see if you need anything. If nothing else, I can swing by and bring the crew dinner.”

“I won’t get the call,” Paige warned. “You know we don’t get service up here and I’ll be stuck at the scene until we clear for the night.”

“Hold that thought, I’ll be right back,” Dax headed to his truck, snatched up the satellite phone from the backseat, and flipped the power on. Once it warmed up, he punched in a code and made sure it was working. As a test, he called Hawk.

“Yo,” Hawk greeted.

“Wow,” Dax grinned. “It’s so rewarding to know all that professionalism I’ve drilled into you for decades finally took. Did you get the situation resolved with Shepherd?”

“It’s been handled,” Hawk assured him. “Why are you calling on the sat phone?”

“I’m leaving it with Paige,” Dax admitted. “Phones don’t work at the scene and I’m heading back to base. I wanted a way to call when I clear for the night.”

“So,” Hawk settled back in his chair. “This is a big deal?”

“Maybe,” Dax admitted. “I’d like to have a meeting with the entire team once I arrive. Can you make that happen?”

“They’ll complain,” Hawk warned. “But they’ll stay. What’s your ETA?”

“I’m just waiting for Jericho to arrive, then I’m headed back.”

“Sounds good,” Hawk relaxed. Dax should make it back before the others were finished for the day. On the way back to the office, the instructors decided to switch things around and pivoted into classroom exercises this afternoon. They could pick up firearms again in the morning — if they had a place to set up, that is. They didn’t need that particular spot. It was just ideal and fit the course they’d developed. Maybe he should work on an alternate plan. “I’m going to revamp the course, see if we can fit it into that other spot over by Joes. I’ll run it by you when you get back. See you when I see you.”

Dax had just disconnected when he spotted Jericho’s truck. *Good timing,* he grinned*.* He’d lead the boss back to the scene, say goodbye to his wife — which she’d scold him for — and get back to work. They might just salvage this day after all.

\*\*\*\*\*

Jericho sat in his portable folding chair, watching Paige methodically unearth another bone. He knew word would eventually get out and the media mob would descend and demand answers — again. He was running out of deputies that were willing to deal with the nonsense. At the snap of a twig, he glanced back and spotted James Tolman. Smiling, he stood. He’d just dump the chaos on the local DA. Tolman could handle the mob, he’d hide in the mountains.

“On the way up the canyon,” Tolman moved in beside Jericho and shook his hand. “I decided our only option is to fire that woman.”

“Never gonna happen,” Jericho settled back in his chair and waited for Toman to set up his own chair.

“I miss the old days,” Tolman continued. “A time when we arrived home just after five and never had to worry about all-night excursions that included dead bodies, kidnapped girls, and marijuana farms.”

“True,” Jericho shrugged. “But now, you have better stories to tell at those stuffy parties you have to attend.”

“I like those parties,” Tolman objected. “And you should be glad I do. Otherwise, you’d be representing our humble community and I know how much you love social events.”

“We’re all better off the way things are,” Jericho growled.

“What’s the status?” Tolman sobered when he realized Paige just retrieved another large bone.

“There might be enough to identify the victim,” Jericho glanced back and spotted Dax. “We’re keeping this close, but the girl appears to be missing her skull.”

“I thought Bundy discontinued that practice after he left Washington,” Tolman glanced around, then continued. “Do you really think it’s possible?”

“Possible?” Jericho accepted the sandwich wrapped in white paper that Dax handed him. “Sure. Probable? Now, that’s a different story altogether. About the other thing, I think the practice was sporadic. I vaguely remember a decapitate victim in Colorado.” He glanced at Dax. “You didn’t hear that.”

“You want anything?” Dax asked Tolman, smiling. “I’ve got ham, turkey, or a combo.”

“I’ll take one of the combos,” Tolman decided. “It looks like we could be here a while.”

Dax handed him a sandwich then provided chips and a bottle of water for each of them before moving on.

“Who is that?” Tolman noticed Matt and was sure he’d never seen the kid before. “The new kid.”

“Cop out of Iowa,” Jericho took a sip of water. “He’s the one that stumbled onto all of this. First, the tree. He said his mom’s obsessed with true crime stories. He thought she’d get a kick out of seeing the carving.”

“Vacationing?” Tolman wondered.

“Attending a course from DMA,” Jericho admitted. “Dax is keeping the rest of the group in the dark for now.”

“I thought the point of their training was learning to operate as a team,” Tolman frowned. “Why don’t they know all about this already?”

“Long story,” Jericho decided to skip the drama. “Matt wandered out, discovered the tree and ended up finding the necklace and the bones as well. He’s got talent and a good head on his shoulders. From what I’ve seen tonight, he’s a good cop.”

“And he’ll keep it quiet?”

“He will,” Jericho nodded. “Obviously, I’ve only known the guy for a few hours, but I think he’s solid.”

“We won’t be able to contain this forever,” Tolman warned.

“I know,” Jericho settled back in his chair. “Hope you’re prepared for the vultures. After all the dead bodies, kidnapped children, and marijuana farms — this time around, it should be easy.”

“Thanks,” Tolman sighed. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

“Do I look worried?”

“No,” Tolman focused on Jericho. “You look entirely too relaxed.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax crouched and placed a hand on Paige’s shoulder. “Take a break.”

“I’ve got…”

“And all of that,” he motioned to the ground and the remaining bones. “Has been there for a few decades. Twenty minutes won’t matter. Not to the victim, but it will matter to you — and me.”

Paige was about to refuse but reconsidered. Dax was right and she was starving. “Alright.” She stood and let him take her hand to lead her away from the scene. “Where are we going?”

“To my truck,” Dax informed her.

Paige came to an abrupt stop. “Dax, I can’t just leave. I have to protect the scene, I have to make sure we have a chain of evidence, restrict —”

“There’s nobody up there but Tolman and a bunch of cops,” Dax turned and stepped toward her until he was crowding her space. “We are going to the truck. Either you can join me willingly, or I’ll just pick you up and carry you there kicking and screaming. Your colleagues might enjoy the latter option, but we both know you’d hate it. I need a few minutes with my wife, alone. I don’t think that’s too much to ask under the circumstances.”

“What’s wrong?” Paige finally realized Dax was upset about something.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Dax evaded.

“I’ll agree to join you at the truck,” Paige considered. “If you agree to tell me what upset you.”

Dax glanced over his shoulder, spotted Matt, and nodded.

Paige walked silently the rest of the way to the truck. This had something to do with Matt Warner. She just didn’t understand why. Once Dax carefully arranged their dinner, Paige settled onto the edge of the tailgate and waited.

Dax chuckled. “Do you have any idea how loud you are screaming with that intense stare of yours?”

“Spill it,” Paige didn’t smile.

“I knew Warner would take a little heat for not attending the beginner course,” Dax sighed. “I didn’t realize it would cause the tension it has.”

“Why?” Paige wondered. “I mean, sure those guys excelled in your beginning course, but I didn’t think that was a prerequisite for attending this advanced course. You said you left that open because a member of SWAT or a special forces guy wouldn’t need the first class and should be able to drop into the advance course without a problem.”

“True,” Dax settled next to her and took her hand. “You have a point, a valid one. I think it’s a combination of things. Warner is not on SWAT. He works for a small department in the middle of nowhere. These guys are professionals and they expect perfection.”

“He’s struggling?” Paige wondered. He’d been amazing tonight; she couldn’t imagine him flunking out of training.

“He’s the best marksman in the group,” Dax disagreed. “I think that might add to it, at least for Shep. He’s used to being the best and I’m not sure he’s ever had to work for it. Now, this inexperienced kid comes along and outshoots him. He’s struggling to accept that and he’s poisoning the others.”

“Hawk’s a marksman,” Paige considered. “Can’t he do something?”

“He tried today,” Dax admitted. “Then Zee threatened the entire class to shape up or ship out.”

“Would you really send them home?” Paige asked, surprised.

“Of course,” Dax shrugged. “This is a tactical course, but a big part of that is working as a team. If Shep can’t put his petty jealousy aside and focus on the goal, I don’t have a choice. He’ll have to go.”

“Matt would hate that,” Paige leaned against Dax and took a huge bite of sandwich. “Oh man, I was so hungry.”

Dax wrapped his arm around her. “I take it you never finished that double cheeseburger?”

“No,” Paige took a sip of water, then took her time replacing the lid. “What are you going to do?”

“Give him one more shot,” Dax admitted. “I would send him home, but it will ruin his career. If I send Shepherd back, I’d have to boot Addams and Watkins, too. I’d rather not put that mark in their file.”

“But if they don’t work as a team, you’ll have to send them home,” Paige realized.

“I will,” Dax sighed.

“I have an idea. Since I’m partially at fault — well, me and Nathan — can you give me a day to arrange things before you decide anything?”

“What are you planning?”

Paige took another bite of sandwich to give her time to formulate her plan. “Before I say anything, is this Shep guy police or military?”

“Military,” Dax waited, anxious to hear what she was plotting. When she remained silent he continued. “He just finished ranger school and he’s being groomed to move into the marksman unit.”

“Good,” Paige nodded. “I’m surprised Hawk wasn’t able to get through to him, but Nathan called this morning. He was curious about Matt. He wanted an update, to see how he was doing. I told him you were worried and there were a few complications because he was dumped into an advanced course when he hadn’t attended the beginner’s course.”

“And he said anyone that didn’t like it could go pound sand?” Dax grinned.

“Basically,” Paige sighed. “The two of you are so sensitive and understanding. The men are lucky to have you.”

“They don’t have General Porter,” Dax narrowed his eyes at Paige. “Do they?”

“Well,” Paige cringed. “He’s heading out tomorrow. He wanted to check on Matt. He made Ollie a promise and you know Nathan.”

Dax considered. “Everyone knows Porter, well everyone in the army — especially anyone that wants to be a ranger — has heard of General Porter. They know he’s retired in name only and he still consults on the most dangerous operations. If Porter shows an interest in Matt, that might hold weight.”

“I was thinking of a little more than that,” Paige studied Dax. “I want Nathan to challenge Matt to a shooting competition.”

“Matt will win,” Dax warned. “I don’t think Nathan would like to get his tail kicked by a rookie.”

“Nathan won’t mind,” Paige said confidently. “And if Nathan has respect for Matt, the rest of your participants might change their opinion as well.”

“You’re hiding something,” Dax accused.

“I’m going to ask Nathan to stop by and see if Oliver Hicks will join him,” Paige admitted. “I just don’t know what he’ll say.”

“Some of these guys may have heard of Hicks, but most of them probably don’t know who he is.”

“Matt didn’t know,” Paige admitted. “But he’s a cop. We don’t really know war heroes. We do know the famous — or notorious — cops. I assume the military is the same.”

“Mostly,” Dax agreed. “If you can get Ollie here, I’ll introduce him. Some of the men will recognize the name.”

Paige popped the last of her sandwich into her mouth, took a long gulp of water then jumped to the ground. “Break time’s over, I’ve got to get back to it.”

Dax reached out and pulled Paige forward. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned forward. “Thanks for dinner.”

“I should be thanking you,” Paige gave him a quick kiss. “Thanks.”

“Thanks for taking the time to have dinner — with me,” he added, then gave her a longer, deeper kiss. “I was upset and worried. I don’t want to send Shep and his buddies home, but I couldn’t come up with another option. You came to the rescue and I appreciate it. Let me know if Ollie agrees to join Nathan. I think I have the perfect competition, and it will allow the men to have a little fun. Can you spare Warner tomorrow? You look like you still have a lot of work to deal with up here.”

“I was going to talk to you about that,” Paige pulled away. “I was hoping if I gave him back to you tomorrow, you’d be able to spare him the following day. Tomorrow’s just more digging and searching for evidence. Once we have things cleared — up here, I’ll need to start investigating. I think it would be good practice for him. I’m bringing in Sean. Jericho approved that just before you arrived. He can help, but I could use Matt if possible.”

“I think that would be great training for the kid,” Dax agreed. “We’re moving the shoot to another location, about a mile from Joe’s Reservoir. Matt needs to qualify with the rest of the class, but the following day we’ll be working on preserving evidence in a crisis.”

“Seriously?” Paige laughed.

“We preserve evidence. Think about any of the missions launched to take out terrorists,” Dax told her. “We went in, conducted the raid, but once the target was safe and clear, we searched for evidence — mostly intel, but we designed this class to work for cops and military. We have to preserve the evidence so when we turn it over to someone like you, we don’t get reamed for destroying your crime scene.”

“Good point,” Paige decided. “So, I’ll teach Matt how to process a scene and preserve evidence and you can teach him the rest. Deal?”

“Deal,” Dax tossed the garbage into a large bag in his truck and slammed the tailgate shut. “Let’s head back. I want to talk to Jericho before I head home.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Nathan glanced at Ollie, his friend was unusually quiet. “You nervous, old man?”

“Were you nervous the first time you met Paige?” Ollie countered.

“The hardest day of my life, I think,” Nathan nodded. “It will be fine.”

“Maybe,” Ollie stared out the side window. “What if he resents me… for helping? What do I say to that?”

“Tell him to suck it up and deal with it,” Nathan laughed at the expression on Ollie’s face. “I’m serious. You stepped in when he needed it and everything you did, was done with love. Tell him that and then tell him to be grateful he had someone that was willing to help.”

“Is that what you told Paige?”

“Only about a dozen times,” Nathan smiled. “After that, she finally understood and accepted the things she couldn’t change.”

Ollie laughed and shook his head. “I actually think you’re serious about that.”

“As a heart-attack,” Nathan pulled in behind the vehicles and shut off the car. “You up for a little competition?”

“That. I’m actually looking forward to,” Ollie shoved open his door. “Let’s get this over with.”

The group grew quiet the instant Nathan and Ollie entered the clearing.

Dax glanced up, spotted the two men and made his way toward them. “Welcome, I’m glad you could both make it. We still have a couple guys completing the course. Once that leg is finalized and scored, we’ll move onto the bowling pin shoot.”

“It’s been a long time since I participated in that particular event,” Ollie admitted.

“I have no doubt you’ll take us all,” Dax held out a hand. “It’s an honor to meet you in person,” he spotted Hawk headed their way. “I’ll introduce both of you to Matt, but first I think Hawk would like a word.”

“Oliver Hicks,” Hawk held out his hand. “It’s an honor.”

“I hear you’re the guy that beat my best score,” Ollie took his hand. “The honor is mutual.”

“Only one of them,” Hawk corrected. “The other two still stand. Probably will for the next two hundred years or so.”

The group laughed.

“You ready?” Nathan asked his friend.

“As I’ll ever be,” Ollie nodded.

“Dax,” Nathan glanced at Matt Warner. “Would you mind brining Matt to us? I think this first introduction would be better in private.”

“On it,” Dax turned and left the group. Moments later he returned. “Gentlemen, I’d like you to meet Matt Warner. Matt, this is General Nathan Porter, retired. And this is Oliver Hicks.”

Matt studied Ollie for several seconds before he reached out a hand. “I believe you’re the man that’s been watching over my career for the past several years. I don’t understand the reason you did it but thank you for the help.”

Nathan raised a brow, then smiled. This had to be Paige’s doing.

“I wasn’t sure you’d be happy about that,” Ollie admitted. He rested a hand on Matt’s shoulder. “Your grandfather was a great man and an even better friend. I wish you had a chance to meet him. If you had, that’s all the explanation you would need for my actions.”

“Maybe now that we’ve met,” Matt offered. “You can tell me about him sometime.”

“It would be an honor,” Ollie blinked several times then focused on Dax. “You plan to stand around gossiping all day or are we going to shoot something?”

Dax laughed. “Gather around,” he called to the men. “Nathan, you and Ollie take those chairs. I’ll introduce you in a few minutes.”

The men rushed to join Dax and the others.

“Hawk is going to explain the next phase of this competition,” Dax began. “But before we get started, I want to introduce two distinguished guests that have joined us this afternoon. First, we have Retired General Nathan Porter.” He waited while Nathan stood, nodded, then returned to his seat. “And he brought a special guest with him today,” Dax continued. “I’d like you all to meet Retired Colonel Ollie Hicks.”

“No way,” Shep said in awe.

“I can see some of you recognize the name,” Dax smiled. “For those of you who don’t, Oliver Hicks is an army legend. He still holds the record in the PPC and the International Sniper Competition. We’re lucky to have him with us today.”

“Okay,” Hawk stepped forward. “This next competition is just for fun. We have two tables set up, each has five bowling pins. You will be using a three-fifty-seven revolver that contains six rounds. You have to shoot all the pins off the table, not just tip them over but knock them completely off the table. It’s a timed event. Winner remains in the competition, the loser — and don’t read too much into that label — is finished. Once we cycle through the entire group, we’ll line up and go again until the last man is standing. Any questions?” When nobody asked anything, he continued. “Alright, get into two lines and let’s get started.”

The group competed, laughed, joked, and cheered. Finally, it came down to two shooters — Matt and Shep. Nobody was surprised. Hawk blew the whistle; the shooters began firing and the crowd silently watched Matt easily win the round. Everyone cheered and congratulated Matt — well, everyone but Shep and Fester. The group continued to laugh and joke for several minutes.

Dax waited for the right moment before he addressed the group. “Now, for the fun part. The winner gets to shoot against Retired General Nathan Porter.”

“Uh…” Matt glanced at Nathan.

“You’re not going to deprive me of a little fun, are you?” Nathan stood. “If you dare, let’s see who wins.”

Matt stepped up to the table and took one last glance at Nathan before he loaded his weapon and prepared for another round. When he finished, he turned to the cheering crowd and was surprised to see the chants and applause were for him.

“Sorry General,” Dax grinned. “The clear winner is Warner. Guess you can’t intimidate your way through this time. You’ll just have to accept defeat.”

Nathan held out a hand to Matt. “Well done, son,” he glanced back at the group. “You belong in this course, even I can see that. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

“You’re up,” Nathan turned to Ollie. “Show him how it’s done.”

Ollie stood and moved to take Nathan’s spot. Once the guns were reloaded, Dax blew the whistle. The crowd went instantly silent. Every one of them realized they were witnessing a true legend. Ollie won, but it was close. Matt only took a few extra seconds.

Once Hawk officially announced the winner, Ollie moved to stand next to Matt. “I wish Tim could be here to see you now.” He swallowed hard. “Thank you. You brought joy to an old man that hasn’t experienced true happiness since he lost his best friend. You’re a lot like him. He was a decent shot too, in his day. I was better —”

Matt laughed. “Of course, but I think he’d be even more proud if I won.”

“I had an advantage,” Ollie admitted. “They made you shoot with a revolver. Young kids today are accustomed to autoloaders. Me, I prefer my trusty six-shooter. It fits me like a glove, better fit than this new leg they gave me. But, all is fair—”

“Right,” Matt laughed.

“Now, I think we’ve taken up enough of your time today,” Ollie glanced at Nathan. “You ready to head out?”

“We’re done for the day,” Dax declared to the group. “Pack up and head back down. Classroom at zero-eight-hundred sharp.” He turned and nearly collided with Nathan. “Was there something else?”

“I was wondering,” Nathan maneuvered Dax to the side. “If you’re finished anyway, would you be willing to show me where Paige is working? I’d like to drop by and spend some time with her this afternoon.”

“Of course,” Dax motioned for Zeus. “I’m going to drive Nathan up to see Paige. Could you take Ollie with you?”

“I’d like to join you, if you don’t mind,” Ollie interrupted. “I’d like to meet Dylan’s daughter.”

“Can I come, too?” Matt asked hesitantly. “If we’re finished, I’d like to head back up and help with the search.”

“Alright,” Dax glanced around. “Matt, you drive the rental. Nathan can ride with me. I think Ollie might like to join you, if you don’t mind.”

“I would,” Ollie agreed.

“I think I’d like that,” Matt told him. “We’ll follow you.”

Dax was almost to the car but hesitated when he saw the look on Shep’s face. He wasn’t sure what that look meant, but he hoped it meant Shep had a change of heart and he would no longer harass Matt. He was grinning as he climbed behind the wheel.

“What?” Nathan demanded.

“I was just thinking this plan Paige came up with may have worked,” Dax admitted. “And, if it did, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

Nathan laughed. “You got that right.”

\*\*\*\*\*

The group spent several hours with Paige on the mountain before Ollie had to admit he was getting tired. Nathan was also ready to head back to the house. They agreed that both men would stay with Dax and Paige for the night. Nathan announced he’d be staying in the room downstairs and Ollie would occupy the guest room on the main floor.

Dax was approaching the front door when he spotted Hawk lounging in one of the patio chairs.

“I need a minute,” Hawk stood. “Sorry for the interruption but it’s important.”

“Just let us in,” Nathan instructed. “I’ll make sure Ollie gets situated before I turn in for the night.”

“What’s up?” Dax settled into a second patio chair.

“The men know there’s something up,” Hawk admitted. “We haven’t told them what, which only makes the cops more suspicious. They know it’s big and they want in.”

“Meaning?” Dax frowned.

“If Paige can use some extra hands,” Hawk began. “I think we should let the cops accompany Matt tomorrow and we’ll keep the military guys with us.”

“I’d have to run that by Paige,” Dax warned. “But, after that competition today—”

“Sending the cops off to work as a team might solidify things and help them finally create a cohesive unit,” Hawk agreed. “That’s what I was thinking. Plus, once they finish gathering evidence, we both know the next step is trying to identify the victim. There has to be a ton of missing persons cases to go through. These guys can help, they want to help. I think they’ll want it more if they realize this could be one of Bundy’s victims.”

“We don’t know that it is,” Dax argued.

“But we know it might be,” Hawk stood. “Now, I’m tired and I have a busy day ahead of me. I’ll have to adjust the schedule just a bit if we’re losing half our class.”

\*\*\*\*\*

It was nearly two in the morning when Paige finally arrived home. She slid open the door and silently removed her jacket. As she turned, she spotted Dax sitting on the couch. 
“Why are you still up?”

Dax set the file he was working on aside and stood. “I was waiting for you, of course.”

“What are you working on?”

“Nothing important.”

Paige focused on the file then turned back to Dax. “You should have gone to bed.”

“I know,” Dax took her hand and led her up the stairs. “Our guests are sleeping soundly; your plan seems to have worked, so we’ve achieved peace throughout the land, and I got some extra work done. Now, while you get ready for bed, I need to run something by you.”

“That sounds ominous,” Paige dropped onto the bed and started to remove her boots.

“The other cops want in,” Dax climbed into bed and waited.

“In on what?” Paige locked her gun in the safe, changed into an oversized shirt, and climbed in next to him.

“They know Matt’s been helping with something and the fact I won’t tell them what it is, has their interest piqued. They’ve decided it’s something big and they want in,” Dax explained.

“I should have realized that,” Paige considered. “Any good cop would smell a cover up immediately.”

“We can split off and work with the military guys if you can use the cops to help research, run down leads, whatever,” Dax offered. “We’ll just call this course a joint operation with the local police.”

“I could use them,” Paige sighed. “I’ll need to get the okay from Jericho, but we can’t hide this forever.”

“You think it could really be one of Bundy’s?” Dax asked, a little surprised.

“I know you heard Jericho talking to Tolman,” Paige admitted. “You know we didn’t find a skull.”

“Animals could have taken that portion,” Dax offered.

“True,” Paige shifted. “But Bundy did remove some of the victim’s heads with a hack saw. We also didn’t find any clothing. None of Bundy’s victims had clothing. He tossed them out the window as he drove down the highway on his way to dispose of the remains.”

“Okay,” Dax considered. “But that’s not unique to him. Other killers have done the same.”

“I dropped the skeletal fragments we discovered off at the lab earlier today,” Paige admitted. “I wanted them to get started on what we have. The anthropologist I spoke to confirms the bones are between forty and fifty years old. Not the victims age, but the amount of time the remains have been in the ground. That girl died forty or fifty years ago. That means —”

“She died around the time Bundy was killing girls in Utah,” Dax nodded. “It adds up, doesn’t it?”

“It does,” Paige nodded. “Then throw in the fact we know he disposed of someone else up those canyons, and the Bundy tree, the way the body was discarded… it all fits so far.”

“So, what’s next?”

“I had Margie and Susie pull all missing persons cases in the area. Tomorrow I’ll start skimming through them while I wait to see if they can extract DNA from the bones,” Paige closed her eyes and exhaled. “It’s going to take forever. First I have to find out if the person is still missing, then I have to try and track down next of kin and see if — by some miracle — they still have an item we can use to extract DNA. Speaking to that many people is bound to get the media’s attention, which will become a circus almost immediately. So, if you can spare the police officers attending your class — I can use them. I just need an hour to convince Jericho they can be trusted.”

“Will that be difficult?”

“Shouldn’t be,” Paige reached over and shut off the lamp. “Of course, there can be leaks. You always hear reporters quote an unnamed source at the police department. But, for the most part, cops are suspicious and untrusting. They don’t blab, they know it can destroy an investigation. Jericho knows that. It’s just a little risky bringing in so many people we don’t know. If one of them talks to his wife and his wife tells her friend and she tells two friends…”

“Got it,” Dax pulled her against him. “For what it’s worth, I trust them to keep it all confidential. If Jericho says go, I’ll remind them of that before I release them to you.”

“That should help,” Paige said through a yawn.

“Go to sleep,” Dax whispered next to her ear.

“Goodnight,” Paige relaxed for the first time all day.

“Goodnight, baby,” Dax kissed the back of her head. “I love you.”

“Me too,” Paige said, half asleep already.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax stood in the front of the room waiting for the men to get situated. “Alright, let’s get started. We completed the firearms portion of this course yesterday. Other than the final evaluation, the shooting is behind us. It’s now time to move onto evidence collection and scene preservation.”

“As you know,” Hawk picked up. “The way we process a scene is different for law enforcement than it is for the military.”

“The concept is the same,” Dax added. “The process may take a different route. For that reason, we’ve decided to partner up with the local Sheriff’s Office for this portion of the course. We’ll be splitting into two teams — the military and the police. All of the cops will head over and assist the police on a local case, the rest of you will remain here with us.”

“Does this have anything to do with the secret Warner’s been hiding?” Watson asked.

Dax ignored the question. “Everyone move, split into teams. The soldiers stay, the cops head out to the foyer. Each group will be given individual instructions on how we are going to proceed for the rest of the week. You’re on the clock until Saturday evening. Sunday is another down day. Any questions?” When nobody asked a question, the cops stood and left the room. Dax and Hawk followed.

“Today and for the next three days, you belong to Sanpete County,” Dax began the instant he reached the group. “They are working a case, one that will need to stay confidential. I’ve assured them, that won’t be a problem. Don’t make me regret it. I see you’re nodding, but I need to know you understand. You do not speak to anyone. Not even the guys you left back there in that room. This case is sensitive and I’m trusting you to keep it that way. Give it the same respect you would give a case that was assigned to you back home.”

The group mumbled promises and assurances.

“Alright,” Hawk stepped forward and handed Matt a set of keys. “You are leaving this facility, but you will continue to operate as a team. That doesn’t mean you argue with task force assignments. It means, unless otherwise assigned by one of the local cops, you arrive as a team and you leave as a team. If one of you works late, the rest of you stay behind to help.”

Dax focused on each man then nodded. “Last thing, if any of you want to stay behind and continue the course with the other group, you can. Just say the word. Otherwise, you belong to the locals for the rest of the week.”

They waited, but nobody backed out. “Alright, you’re dismissed. Get over to the sheriff’s office. They’re waiting for you.”

\*\*\*\*\*

There were seven police officers, including Matt. When the group stepped into the conference room everything went instantly quiet. Jericho stepped forward. “Gentlemen, take a seat.”

Matt settled into a chair to wait. He knew Paige and Lovato, had met Sheriff Walters, but he didn’t recognize the other two men.

“Dax assured me he’d be speaking to you before he sent you over to me. I’m the sheriff around these parts. My name is Jericho Walters. You can call me Sheriff. You can call me Walters. But, I prefer Jericho. My department may be a little less formal than the department you work for. We’re all friends here and we tend to address one another by name rather than rank and position. Most of you have met Paige, she’s the case agent and will be in charge of this task force. Mike Lovato has also been working the case from the beginning. Today they will be joined by Duncan Havilland and FBI Agent Sean Wilkens. And the two women standing in the doorway will serve as your support team. Anything you need, just ask Margie or Susie. Any questions?”

“I have one,” a man at the far end of the table spoke up.

“The next step was going to be introductions,” Jericho motioned to the man. “Since we haven’t reached that point yet, will you introduce yourself then ask your question.”

“My name is Travis Reed, and I work for Newport Beach PD in California. During this course the group just calls me Reed, so I’ll stick with that,” Reed decided. “My question is for Duncan Havilland. I’m just wondering if you are Havi the race car driver.”

“I am,” Havi grinned.

“Any questions relevant to work?” Jericho corrected. When nobody responded, he moved on to introductions. There were men from various departments of various sizes throughout the west. All of them seemed solid and competent. “Okay then, I’m going to turn this over to Paige.”

Paige stepped forward. “I’m going to repeat what you’ve already heard this morning. Being a part of this task force requires total confidentiality. I’m asking that you do not speak about the case to anyone outside this room. Not your wife, not your mother, not your priest. If we’re going to solve this mystery, I need to be able to speak freely, you need to be able to bring up questions, leads, or concerns. That only works if communication is open and we trust the team. If you don’t think you can work that way, I understand but I can’t use you on this.”

“Paige and I have spent a fair amount of time discussing the best way to present this case to the group,” Lovato stepped forward. “We decided to take a road trip. We want you to see the scene, see where the evidence was recovered and develop your own conclusions.”

“Matt,” Paige called out. “Did Dax loan you the van?”

“He did,” Matt nodded.

“Okay, all of you will load up and Matt will drive. Once we arrive at the staging area, gather together, I want to walk in as a group,” Paige hesitated when she spotted the files. “Margie and Susie have been working hard to gather those files. Each one is an independent case on a missing person. Once they obtained the original case, they worked to refresh the data and add anything new they found. There are nineteen cases. Once we return, each of you will be assigned a case.”

“We’re searching for a missing person?” Kyle Morgan from Boise, Idaho asked.

“Not exactly,” Paige said cryptically. “I could see the curious looks on all of you and knew you were wondering what the stack of files were for. I don’t want to say anything more until you see the scene for yourself. Then we’ll head back down and jump right in.”

“Fair enough,” Morgan agreed. “I prefer to walk into a scene cold. It helps me work through the evidence so I can develop my own theory on what happened.”

“Exactly,” Sean jumped in. “I’m with the FBI, so by the time we arrive, several investigators have already sifted through everything and decided on a theory. I like to go in cold. Sometimes, I even discover things the others didn’t because my experience and training is different than yours. Sometimes I miss things that the locals catch because their training and experience is unique. Keep that in mind today.”

“I know you guys have been in tactical mode the past week,” Paige stepped out the door and paused to make sure they were following. “The focus has now shifted to investigations. Dax told me this was supposed to be evidence gathering and scene preservation. I’ll cover a little of that, but mostly we’re going to work an investigation and you will see firsthand why it’s so important to focus on evidence. The smallest thing can crack a case, if the scene hasn’t been preserved correctly, a good defense attorney will get it tossed in a heartbeat.”

“Paige is being humble,” Sean told them once they reached the parking lot. “She works for Sanpete County now, but she was the best forensics expert we had at the Bureau. You can learn a lot from her, I suggest you take advantage of this opportunity every chance you get.”

“Load up,” Paige bumped shoulders with Sean as they walked to her vehicle. “Now they’re going to feel weird asking me questions.”

“I doubt that,” Sean slid into the passenger’s seat. “They strike me as tough, competent cops. Nothing intimidates them. Now they’ll know they’re in the presence of greatness.”

“Are you referring to you, or me?” Paige laughed.

“Take your pick,” Sean smiled. “I wanted to get up yesterday to see the scene for myself but I got tied up on another case. Nathan said if you hit a snag and need to use Carmen, don’t hesitate.”

“Good to know,” Paige started up Manti Canyon Road. It didn’t take long for them to reach the meadow where this all began. It was obvious the group recognized the location.

“I’m going to turn things over to Matt,” Paige smiled when he shook his head no. “Before I do that, I want to give you a little background. The other day, when you were all up here qualifying, Matt discovered something suspicious. He brought it to the attention of Dax. The two of them investigated further, careful not to disturb anything if this was in fact a crime scene. Once they determined the gravity of what they’d located, they called in me and Lo. I’m sure you remember being escorted back to the training center by Hawk and the other men. Matt and Dax stayed on scene to preserve chain of evidence and guide us in.”

They spent twenty minutes discussing chain of evidence, the preliminary investigation and how to conduct a thorough search without destroying the crime scene.

“Matt you’re up,” Paige finally said, motioning to the trail.

“I was wandering around, thinking and clearing my head,” Matt began. “That’s when I came across that,” he pointed to the carved tree.

“It’s a Bundy tree,” Morgan took a step forward and stopped. “Are you finished up here? Can we get closer?”

“Yes and no,” Paige smiled at the annoyed looks. “I have processed the scene, but I brought this group up to check my work. You are officially on the task force now. If you locate something we missed, your name will be on that — officially. Tread carefully, but feel free to take a closer look. Morgan, can you explain to those who may not know what a Bundy tree is?”

“Sure,” Morgan took a second to get his memories straight. “There are believed to be dozens of them in this mountain range. Nobody knows for sure if Bundy carved any of them himself or if they are all forgeries. I believe Pete Hayward had one chopped down near the site where they located human remains.”

“He did,” Lovato agreed. “He kept it in his office for years.”

“There’s been a long-standing debate on whether Bundy would mark a tree, directing authorities to the bodies. Some say there’s no way, he was a criminal mastermind and wouldn’t want to lead the authorities to the bodies. Others say he was narcissistic enough to think he’d get away with it and he’d probably get a kick out of manipulating the cops that way.”

“I don’t think they found any Bundy trees in Washington,” Randy Baker added. “I’m from Richland, which is only about three hours away from Sammamish where two of the girls went missing from the lake. I don’t think any carved trees were ever found. That doesn’t necessarily mean they didn’t exist. Back in the seventies, logging was less regulated. Someone could have chopped down the tree and used if for firewood.”

“And that’s why there’s still a debate,” Sean added.

“I don’t remember hearing about Bundy trees in Colorado either,” Chris Barnes added. “Everyone in Colorado Springs knows about Bundy. He escaped from our fine Aspen facility — twice. I don’t think any trees were found near our victims either. Again, that doesn’t mean much. Aspen is full of trees and if someone found one that had Bundy’s name carved into it — I’m sure they would have cut it down and considered it a novelty.”

“Are you guys seriously suggesting you found the remains from one of Bundy’s victims?” Axel Smith from San Antonio, Texas asked.

“I’m not suggesting anything,” Paige motioned for them to move to the next location. “Gather around. As you can see, the dirt has been disturbed in this area. Matt found a woman’s necklace partially buried here. It was old and rusted and it had a tiny heart-shaped pendant attached.”

The group remained silent, but Paige could see they were analyzing the information in their minds.

“The last stop is over here,” Matt directed the group.

“This is the main crime scene,” Paige warned. “Tread carefully.”

“What did you locate here?” Brad Miller from Fresno, California asked.

“Partial remains,” Paige admitted.

“By partial, what do you mean?” Reed wondered.

“I have recovered several large bones,” Paige told him. “Unfortunately, it appears the body was contaminated by animals at some point. At a guess we have most of the larger leg bones, I believe we recovered all the bones for one arm and most of the bones that make up the other. We have what I believe to be seventeen ribs and at least three of them were cracked. I have experts looking at those to see if the victim was beaten or if the damage occurred post mortem.”

“What about the skull?” Barnes asked.

“Missing,” Paige waited for a follow up.

“Is there any way to know if an animal took the head or if it was severed by a saw?” Baker asked.

“Not at this time,” Paige admitted, impressed Baker knew one of the ways Bundy removed body parts from his victims.

“Did you locate any items of clothing?” Miller wondered.

“No,” Paige glanced around. “I’ve searched the area pretty thoroughly, but you’re welcome to take another look.”

“No clothing but a necklace,” Smith mused and began to study the distance from where the remains were located and where the jewelry was found. “Was there a necklace mentioned in any of the reports — the nineteen you plan to assign?”

“I haven’t looked into any of them that deeply,” Paige admitted. “I’ve spent the past two days up here, collecting evidence and searching for anything I missed.”

“Okay,” Smith finally said. “Can we just take a step back. I’m still not convinced this is one of Bundy’s. Did that anthropologist determine the age of the bones?”

“She’s only provided a prelim on that,” Paige told the group. “But she believes the victim died between forty and fifty years ago.”

“Fits,” Morgan glanced at Matt. He’d been pretty reserved during this whole thing. “And you found all of this?”

Matt shrugged.

“There might just be hope for you yet,” Reed grinned.

“Were do you want to start?” Paige asked the group.

“I’d like to have some time to just walk around and take everything in,” Barnes requested. “It’s a lot to take in and, like you said, as a group we are generating a theory but we don’t have all the facts.”

“Does anyone know how many victims are still missing?” Miller asked.

“No,” Paige and Sean said together. “He confessed to thirty, but experts believe the count is much higher than that.”

“I think he confessed to killing a hitchhiker in Idaho,” Morgan provided. “She’s never been identified or found.”

“We had a victim in Washington that’s never been found, too. I think her name was Monson,” Baker provided.

“In Utah,” Paige told them. “Bundy told detectives he disposed of Nancy Wilcox near Capitol Reef National Park, but she’s never been found. Smith, the daughter of the Midvale Chief was located in Summit County, Aime was located in American Fork Canyon.”

“There’s definitely a pattern,” Reed observed.

“Yes, but there is a little-known fact regarding Smith and Aime,” Sean said in disgust. “He went back. Described a postmortem ritual of shampooing their hair and applying makeup. He didn’t mention those two specifically, but just before he was executed, he admitted to an FBI profiler that he was a necrophiliac. He did admit to visiting one of the Colorado victims’ weeks after her death.”

“In October, he attempted to kidnap DaRonch but failed,” Paige didn’t want to get into disgusting details of the Bundy cases, so she changed the subject. “A few hours later, he abducted Debra Kent in Bountiful. Then, he drove all the way down here to dispose of her remains.” Paige paused to let that sink in. “What I’m trying to tell you, is that the nineteen cases we located from our area —”

“That could just be the beginning,” Smith realized. “If Bundy did dump that body, the girl could be from anywhere.”

“Now you see why I need all the help I can get,” Paige shrugged. “Free labor is always a plus.”

“To continue with those still missing, I believe there were six from the general area if you count Kent,” Sean informed them. “Four from Colorado and two from Utah. In regard to Kent, they found one kneecap in this mountain range that was confirmed by DNA to belong to Kent.”

“Did you find a kneecap?” Miller asked.

“Yes,” Paige affirmed. “Two of them.”

“Guess that rules out Kent, then,” Smith sighed.

“There are also several victims who investigators believe are likely Bundy victims,” Paige told them. “That suggests there could be victims out there that haven’t been linked to Bundy because their remains were never located. The twelve experts believe he committed are documented because the remains were found. He also gave directions to another Utah woman’s remains moments before his execution, but the directions were later proven to be inaccurate. The problem with Bundy is you never knew if he was telling the truth or just messing with you because he was a manipulative narcissist and a psychopath that enjoyed the game.”

“If you want to spend some time scouring the area,” Lovato stepped in. “You need to get started. The sun goes down around nineteen hundred hours up here in September. It’s nearly noon already.”

The group disbursed to walk the area and search for clues.

“You know they won’t find anything,” Sean stepped up next to Paige. “If you didn’t find it, there’s nothing to find.”

“The practice is good for them,” Paige shrugged. “We told Dax we wouldn’t just work these guys to death, we’d teach them the tools of the trade. This is teaching.”

“Right,” Sean grinned. “And sending your kids out to play in a field is biology.”

“Could be,” Lo laughed. “But seriously, I always learn best by doing. If they spend a few hours carefully looking for clues, even if they don’t find anything, it’s a good lesson.”

“I think you should discuss leads,” Paige told him. “You helped me figure out which ones to focus on and which ones to set aside for later. Plus, you forced me to leave the office and chase a couple down. The break helped keep me focused. It’s a good tip.”

“Alright,” Lo agreed. “How long do you think the racer will wander around aimlessly before he joins us?”

“Havi is meticulous,” Paige watched her colleague focus on the same places she had. “He’s not as meticulous as me—”

‘Nobody on earth, or anyone that has ever walked the earth, is as meticulous as you are Paige,” Sean laughed.

“Shut up,” Paige glared at him. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“I put it in the plus column,” Lovato decided. “Unless it’s lunch time. Then, Paige and her techniques definitely land at the top of the minus pile.”

“No respect,” Paige complained. “Instead of complaining, you should all be grateful. If I handle forensics, that leaves you free to handle whatever it is you do best.”

“And what is that, Paige?” Lovato asked.

“For you?” Paige smiled. “I’m pretty sure it changes by the minute.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Several hours later the group was gathered around the conference room, hot pizza in hand, as they listened to Paige present her findings.

“You’ve got a pretty good circumstantial case,” Reed admitted. “But nothing concrete. Could be Bundy, sure. It could also be some lunatic that got his kicks out of jerking us around by dumping a body near a Bundy tree.”

“I agree,” Paige said truthfully. “At this point, we don’t know what we have. We need to dig into each of these missings,” she pointed to the stack of files. “And determine if they’ve been located. Were they runaways that surfaced years later and had a normal life with a family, a job, and a white picket fence?”

“You said the women,” Barnes scowled. “I can’t remember their names. Susie and Maggie?”

“Margie,” Paige corrected.

“Right,” Barnes nodded. “You said they did a fresh background on each of those cases. Did they find two-point-five children and a picket fence?”

“Nope,” Lovato shook his head. “They couldn’t find anything. That’s how they made it in the final nineteen. We started with dozens and whittled it down to this. Those files are women that went missing between forty and fifty years ago. All of those cases are still open today. The women were between the ages of fourteen and thirty when they went missing. They all had a promising future and there was no indication they left on their own, that doesn’t mean it’s been ruled out. It just means the report doesn’t indicate that was likely. We narrowed it down this way because those are the parameters Paige decided on.”

“We can change the parameters if we need to, but I’d have to have a good reason,” Paige added. “I came up with a short list of criteria based on the evidence we have available and information from the forensic anthropologist. You might be interested in knowing that all but two of the files are women between the ages of seventeen and twenty-four. Fourteen of them are young girls who are very pretty, had long straight hair parted down the middle, with a very slim build. Don’t get stuck on that, though. We still don’t know if this girl was killed by Ted Bundy.”

“So,” Baker considered. “Can we work this any way we want, or do you have a system you want us to follow?”

“What did you have in mind?” Paige wondered.

“I thought I’d focus on locating family,” Baker decided. “Parents may not be around or could be in a home or whatever, but siblings, cousins, uncles — anyone that might be able to provide more detailed and personal information could be available. I thought I’d look for someone that knows the details that might not be in those reports.”

“That’s a good start,” Sean told him. He grabbed the file off the top and tossed it to Baker. “Go ahead and get started.”

“Can you pass those around and we’ll all get started,” Morgan suggested.

“While Sean distributes the first round of files, keep in mind some of these will be easier to verify than others. We have nineteen files and only eleven investigators. If you can eliminate a case, prepare a detailed account of what you did and how you concluded they are not feasible victims, and then set it aside and grab another. Once we get through them all, we’ll decide on our next step.”

The group worked until twenty-one hundred hours. That’s when Jericho appeared, demanded they all go home, and disappeared.

“He’s acting a little strange lately,” Havilland observed.

“He is,” Paige agreed. “Do you think we should worry?”

“Naw,” Lovato snatched his jacket from his chair. “Maybe he just found a good woman.”

“Jericho?” Paige choked on her water.

“Find a bone?” Lo teased.

“There are so many things you could mean by that,” Paige slid into her jacket. “Instead of analyzing your response, I’m going home. See all of you back here bright and early.”

“I’ll lock up,” Havilland offered.

\*\*\*\*\*

It was eleven o’clock on Thursday morning when Lovato stood, stretched and glanced around. “I have a lead I want to follow. Anyone else have field work that wants to join me?”

“A real lead or are you just making excuses to get out of the office?” Reed wondered.

“First,” Paige focused on Lo. “I want you to explain the ups and downs of working leads and why it’s important to take a break from the mundane drone work and chase something down when it hits, even if it seems weak.”

“Alright,” Lovato described his philosophy and gave a couple examples demonstrating why the strategy has worked for him.

When he was done, Morgan stood. “I have something. Can I join you?”

“Absolutely,” Lovato agreed. “One thing we haven’t discussed is the restrictions.”

“What kind of restrictions?” Barnes wondered.

“None of you are certified in Utah,” Paige advised. “That means, when you go out in the field, you always have one of us with you. I should have explained that earlier. Nobody investigates a lead alone. We go in teams. No matter how small or insignificant it seems, you never go at it alone. And, because of the certification issue, partner up with one of us.”

“I have a small lead I’d like to look into,” Smith admitted.

“Havi,” Paige turned just in time to see him stand.

“Let’s go,” Havilland motioned to Smith. “There’s a house I want to stop at and see if this girl’s sister still lives there.”

Sean paired up with Matt, which left Paige, Reed, Baker and Miller.

“There’s three of us and only one of you,” Reed observed.

“Actually,” Baker spoke up. “I’m in the middle of something and I’d like to stay here if that’s okay. I could use a little assistance by the two women you said were support members. It might take a while, so go ahead and leave without me.”

“And then there were two,” Paige grinned.

Gage stepped into the room. “I just finished up a report and there’s nothing holding. If anything comes in, Dean can grab it. Do you need another hand?”

“Gage Clayton is actually offering to help with paperwork and research?” Paige looked at him in surprise.

“I was hoping there might be something else I could do, but if that’s where you need me,” Gage shrugged.

“I’ll take him,” Reed spoke up.

“No talking football,” Paige warned. “Get him up to speed on what you have and then head out. Miller, that means you’re with me. Let’s go I also have a house I want swing by and see if a cousin still resides there.”

\*\*\*\*\*

By the time Paige got back, Lovato and Havi had returned. Gage and Sean were still out in the field.

Baker glanced up. “I cleared one and grabbed a second. Just started, so I’m not sure what I have yet.”

“Cleared how?” Paige settled in next to him.

“Well, there was a name handwritten at the bottom of the case file,” Baker told her. “I tracked the woman down, she’s seventy-six now and resides in a rest home.”

“Was she related?” Paige wondered. “First, was she coherent enough to tell you if she’s related?”

“I spoke to her nurse,” Baker assured her. “They wouldn’t give me details but said Nelly’s problems were physical not mental. She was sharp and she confirmed that the missing girl was her best friend years ago. She admitted that Tanya Whittle ran off with her boyfriend. Nelly claims Tanya’s father was physically abusive, and Tanya just wanted to get away. Apparently the two women kept in touch. Tanya changed her name to Tammie White and lived a fairly good life. In fact, she married a doctor. He retired and the couple traveled to Japan last October, where they got stranded. Typhoon Hagi… something hit, and they were both killed. Nelly thought it was romantic. I tend to disagree. Anyway, she’s been located. Tanya Whittle was not murdered by a sadistic serial killer.”

“Could you confirm any of that?” Paige wondered. “I’m not questioning your work, but we need to confirm everything.”

“It’s confirmed,” Baker assured her. “I called the hospital where Tanya’s husband worked, and they sent me a photo.” He held it up for Paige to see. “No doubt this is our girl.”

“Why did they have a picture of Tanya? I thought the husband was the doctor,” Paige frowned.

“Small town,” Baker shrugged. “They like to keep things personal. They have photos of all the spouses and the children.”

“Did she have any?” Paige wondered.

“As a matter of fact,” Baker grinned. “When I called her son, Dr. Hoyte the second, he confirmed his parents were killed in a typhoon last year. He also admitted they knew his mom had been reported missing and that she was hiding from her parents. It was one of those family secrets they didn’t talk about. There’s no doubt, Tanya Whittle became Tammie White, got married and lived happily ever after.”

“Good,” Paige decided. “Put that file over there. We’re going to create a ‘no longer missing’ pile so we know what cases are definitely closed and which ones can still be worked.”

The rest of the group returned, and they all worked well into the evening again. By the time Paige closed down for the night, three more cases had been closed. At this rate they might work through all nineteen in just a few days. Unfortunately, that meant the parameters would have to be expanded to include all of Utah. Once they worked through those, they’d move to Idaho missing persons, then Colorado. The list could go on forever as she expanded across the country.

Depressed and exhausted, she locked up the office and headed home.

\*\*\*\*\*

Saturday morning, Paige rolled over, groaned, and pulled the covers over her head. She didn’t want to go to work today. Suddenly, her eyes flew open and she bolted upright. “Bacon.” She shoved off the blankets pulled on a an old pair of sweats and flew down the stairs. There was Dax, in the kitchen making breakfast.

“I think I died and went to heaven,” Paige grabbed the mug Dax held out to her and rushed to the coffee pot. “Yep, this must be heaven.”

“Only for an hour,” Dax set a covered plate on the table. “Then you have to head into the big bad world and prove whether or not that girl was one of Bundy’s.”

“Don’t remind me,” Paige growled. “I’m relaxing on a fluffy cloud, sipping my morning magic, and dreaming of a lazy day relaxing at home.”

Dax took the mug of coffee from her, grabbed her hand, and led her to a chair. “Sit and eat, the eggs are almost finished.”

“Why the royal treatment?” Paige lifted the lid, scooped up three pancakes, and grabbed several slices of bacon. She dumped about a ton of syrup on the pancakes and shoved a huge bite into her mouth. “Good,” she mumbled past her food.

Dax grinned and slid two eggs onto her plate. He returned to the stove and began cooking his own eggs. “You’ve been heading into work early and staying late all week,” he provided. “I wanted some time to sit down and discuss your progress over breakfast. Like we used to do. It’s been awhile since we had breakfast together.”

“That’s because you’re always on your way out the door when I get up,” Paige accused.

“That’s going to change,” Dax promised. Moments later, he slid his own eggs onto a plate and joined her at the table. “Tell me how the men are doing and if there’s been any progress. You’ve been able to keep things under wraps longer than I thought you could. I’m not surprised the men are acting like professionals. I am surprised the people you’ve talked to didn’t run to the newspaper to get their fifteen minutes.”

“They don’t know,” Paige swallowed a bite of egg and took another sip of coffee. “They know we found remains. They have no idea they could be one of Bundy’s victims. I think if Bundy did this, once we identify the body, that family member will know.”

“Makes sense,” Dax glanced at Paige’s plate that was now swimming in syrup and shook his head.

“What?”

“I’m not sure why I work so hard to ensure perfection when you’re just going to drown the entire breakfast in sticky, liquid sugar,” Dax set down the bottle and took a large bite. “Perfection.”

“Because you love me?” Paige smiled, she missed this.

“You seem pretty confident you identified the killer,” Dax pointed out. “How sure are you?”

“Not any more than I was before,” Paige shrugged. “We need to identify the victim. Once we do, we can talk to the family and see what the circumstances were on the night she disappeared.”

“And if it fits Bundy’s MO, then what?” Dax asked. “I mean, you can never positively state, without a doubt, this woman was killed by Bundy.”

“No,” Paige agreed. “But we can say that we believe, with a high degree of confidence that it was. That might have to be enough. We’ll never close the case, but we can inactivate it.”

“So,” Dax hesitated. “How are the boys doing?”

“They’re men,” Paige scolded. “But if you’re asking how they’re getting along with Matt Warner, the answer is great. They seem to be working well together, the entire task force is for that matter. Maybe better than any team I’ve ever worked with.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Dax handed her the last piece of bacon. “Are they learning anything? The departments that paid for training will expect those guys to come home with new skills and investigative techniques.”

“They’re learning,” Paige assured him. “Don’t worry. The departments will get their money’s worth. We’ve been taking turns, depending on the situation. Lo taught them about sifting through and working leads. I provided some information about forensics. Sean covered serial killer cases he’s worked in the past. Havilland covered race car driving and Gage answered all their questions about the NFL.”

“Glad to see their working hard and have their priorities straight,” Dax shook his head.

“I agree,” Paige sat back, stuffed but alert. “Thanks, you achieved perfection. Now, I need to shower and head into the office. The men will be waiting for me if I don’t hurry.”

Dax watched her leave and smiled. He was definitely going to change his schedule so they could do this more often.

\*\*\*\*\*

Matt gathered up his file and moved to sit next to Paige. “I have something I need you to look at.”

“Alright,” Paige pushed her own file away and focused on Matt.

“I’ve been working on locating this missing person,” Matt pushed the file toward Paige.

“No luck?” Paige asked pulling the file closer.

“Nakisha Fierro was twenty-one when she went missing,” Matt began.

“November 21st,” Paige noticed it was in 1974. “So, what’s the snag?”

“Says she attended a concert at Snow College on the night she went missing and was never seen again,” Matt continued.

Paige frowned. This one fit Bundy’s MO to a tee.

“I tried to locate her parents,” Matt continued. “I wasn’t having any luck. Then I skimmed through the data Margie provided. The updates, I mean.”

“Okay,” Paige wondered where this was going.

Matt flipped through the paperwork until he found the report he wanted. “It lists Aurora Fierro Donovan as a sister.”

“Did you contact her?” Paige wondered. “There’s a number listed.”

“I did,” Matt confirmed. “She won’t talk to me. She told me not to call her again and hung up.”

Paige frowned. “Is there an address listed?”

“Last known on this report is an address in… Monroe, Utah. But I have no idea where that is.”

“Monroe is about an hour south of here,” Havilland provided. “Why don’t the two of you head that way and check it out?”

“Is that an hour the way you drive?” Paige asked. “Or an hour the way normal people drive?”

“I’m normal,” Havilland objected. “But, at your snails pace, you might want to tack on another twenty minutes.”

“Bite me,” Paige frowned. “You have your computer up, run the sister and see if she has a driver’s license and what address is listed.” She relayed the information and waited.

“Valid license,” Havilland told them. “And she’s still in Monroe. I printed out the details. Do you show the house on one hundred West?”

“Yep,” Paige stood. “Let’s go. This lead is going to take at least two hours. If she agrees to talk to us — longer than that. If Jericho drops in, will you brief him and tell him to call if he needs anything from me. Margie said he’s unavailable until noon.”

“Right,” Havi nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”

\*\*\*\*\*

A little over an hour later, Paige pulled into the driveway of a well-cared for, modest home.

“Paige?” Matt looked up from the file.

“What?”

“This address is on the report,” Matt glanced up at the house. “It says Nakisha’s aunt and uncle lived here at the time. Apparently, her Aunt Skylar was the last person to speak to Nakisha before she left for the concert.”

“And now her sister lives here,” Paige shut off the car and pushed open the door. “Let’s go see what sister Aurora knows.”

“What if she doesn’t answer?” Matt wondered.

“I’ll knock again,” Paige shrugged. “And I’ll keep knocking until she does. That’s another lesson, Matt. Keep pushing until you get what you want.”

Matt nodded, but didn’t think that always worked. Sometimes, pushing just got you a trip to Internal Affairs.

Paige ascended the stairs and pushed the button for the doorbell. It was a nice rambler with a basement that was partially above ground. They didn’t have an actual porch, just a landing at the top of the stairs that would only accommodate one person. Matt remained two steps below her. At first nobody answered. Paige rang the bell again and suddenly the door flew open and an annoyed woman in her sixties filled the open space.

“Yes,” she said impatiently.

“Are you Aurora Donovan?” Paige asked.

“Yes,” she said, clearly still annoyed.

“My name is Deputy Paige Carter, and this is Deputy Matt Warner,” Paige began. “I believe you spoke to my partner on the phone earlier today.”

“And I told him I had nothing to say about my sister’s disappearance,” Aurora barked.

“As much as I understand your reluctance,” Paige pushed. “This is important. It will only take a few moments of your time. Could we please come inside where it’s a little more comfortable and speak with you?”

“If I say no, will you stop pestering me or will you keep this up until you get what you want?” Aurora asked.

“I’ll keep it up,” Paige admitted. “Like I said, it’s important.”

“Very well,” Aurora took a step back. “Come in.” She led them to a small sitting room a few feet from the front door.

“First,” Paige settled onto a couch. “I do realize this conversation might be painful. But I assure you, it is necessary.”

“Just ask what you came to ask so you can leave,” Aurora sighed.

Paige looked at Matt, hoping he’d get the message and take the lead. She was supposed to be training him, after all.

“Ma’am,” Matt began. “I have read the original report and I think I’m fairly clear on the basics. Your sister…” he glanced at the report. “Your older sister left that evening to attend a concert of some kind at Snow College, is that correct?”

“Why are we going over this again?” Aurora demanded. “My family has suffered for more than forty years since the loss of Kisha. Why do I have to go through it all again?”

“We located skeletal remains in Manti Canyon,” Paige provided. “They appear to be female and our forensics anthropologists indicated the individual died between forty and fifty years ago. We don’t want to bring up old memories, but we are trying to identify our victim.”

“We are contacting all of the families that reported loved ones missing during that time period,” Matt added. He should have started with that. Jumping in and asking the questions he wanted answers to was not the way to deal with this woman.

“I see,” Aurora stood and moved to stand in front of the window. “How likely is it that the remains belonged to my sister?”

“Likely enough we drove all the way out here to talk to you,” Paige provided. “We’ve narrowed down the information we have and her case remains one of the possibilities.”

Aurora stared out the large front window for several minutes before she spoke. “I think I’m understanding this correctly,” she finally said. “You are here to try to determine if the remains belonged to Kisha.”

“Yes,” Paige agreed. “And to see if there is anything you can tell us that’s not in the report.”

“Do you know who killed her?” Aurora asked.

“We don’t know for sure that we have located your sister,” Paige corrected.

“Right,” Aurora turned to face them. “Can you extract DNA from what you found?”

“Yes,” Paige assured her. “We’re waiting for the results as we speak.”

“Then I think I can help you,” Aurora returned to the chair she had vacated but instead of sitting, she practically collapsed and tumbled onto the surface.

“You were close?” Matt could tell he was right.

“We were,” Aurora nodded. “You wouldn’t think we’d be that close because there were six years between us. When I was little, I think she just saw me as a pest. As we got older, we became best friends.”

“I’m sorry,” Matt said sincerely. “I’d love to hear anything you could add, but first can you tell us why you asked about DNA?”

“Kisha was so excited that night,” Aurora said softly. “She was meeting a man at the concert. It wasn’t a date, not entirely. But she’d been interested in this guy for months and he finally asked her to attend the concert with him. He had a class that night, so he asked her to meet him in front of the library. She spent hours getting ready and called Aunt Skylar at least half a dozen times to ask about clothing, jewelry, perfume — you name it, she asked.”

“That’s why the report indicates your aunt was the last person to speak with your sister?” Matt wondered. “It looks like this used to be your Aunt Skylar’s home.”

“Yes,” Aurora focused on him. “She tried to stay here. She had two kids of her own and they loved their school and their friends. She didn’t want to uproot them and force them to start over. They were traumatized enough with the loss of Kisha.”

“But eventually she had to,” Paige said in understanding. She’d done the same thing.

“Yes,” Aurora nodded. “They remained here, in this home for another five years. By that time, I was working for a local mortgage company. My salary was decent at the time. I had also been dating Ben, my husband, for about a year by then. When Ben proposed, we decided we needed a place to live. I approached my aunt to feel things out a little and see if they were serious about moving. They were and we purchased their home — this home. They moved out of town, ended up in St. George and her kids still live down there.”

“Sounds like it worked out for both of you,” Matt observed.

“It did,” Aurora gave him a weak smile. “About the DNA. I asked because I think I may have preserved some of Kisha’s.”

“How so?” Paige wondered.

“We were all devastated,” Aurora told her. “My parents were never the same after that. I was never the same. Aunt Skylar blamed herself. I never understood that, but she did. It’s the reason she couldn’t stay here, I think. Anyway, my mother memorialized Kisha’s room. Nobody was allowed inside. Not even my father. Dad was more like a walking zombie than human for years. At first, he tried to hold out hope that Nakisha would return but then he just gave up. It’s awful to see a strong, vibrant man lose hope the way he did. Three and a half years after my wedding, dad had a massive heart attack and we lost him, too.”

“I’m sorry,” Matt knew he was getting too involved in this story. You had to hold back, keep a distance, and not get too involved; or, the job would destroy you. He couldn’t, not this time. This family had endured so much. All of the families they were contacting had. The loss of a loved one, especially one so young with their whole lives ahead of them was devastating and created such a ripple effect that withstood the test of time.

“Mom remained in the house,” Aurora continued. “She actually stayed there until four years ago when she fell and broke her hip. She had to have it replaced and the doctor’s said she couldn’t return home to live alone. I had to move her into an assisted living center.”

“Is that the first time you were allowed into your sister’s room?” Matt wondered.

“Yes,” Aurora nodded. “I went through her house, gathered up the heirlooms and left Kisha’s room for last. I had to sell the home to pay for mom’s care.”

“And you think there was something inside that room that might contain DNA?” Paige pushed.

“I have a small box of items that I think could contain Kisha’s DNA,” Aurora corrected. “I’ve never dealt with anything like that, so I just kept anything I thought might help,” she looked from one deputy to the other. “I mean, if someone like you ever came knocking on my door trying to determine if they finally found my sister’s body.”

“If you are willing to give us the box,” Paige reached out and touched Aurora’s arm. “And I know how difficult that will be. If you’re willing, I’ll personally go through it and see if we can find DNA on any of the items. If we do, regardless of the outcome, I promise, I will provide you with the results. That means, we test the objects and create a DNA profile. From that profile, experts will be able to determine if future remains belong to your sister.”

“I’ll get you the box,” Aurora stood, then hesitated when a man stepped through the door that lead to the back of the house.

“Rory?” he focused on Matt and Paige. “What’s going on?”

“Come with me, Ben,” Aurora instructed. “I’ll explain it to you while I retrieve Kisha’s box.”

“Kisha?” he studied Paige and Matt. “Did you find her?”

“Come on,” Aurora took Ben’s hand and disappeared down the hallway.

When they returned, Ben was carrying the box and gripping one of Aurora’s hands. It was obvious she’d been crying. Ben set the box on the coffee table then pulled his wife into his arms. “That box is all she has. I understand why you need to take it, I’ll just ask that you bring back as many items as you can. She has a photo album and a porcelain figurine that Kisha cherished, but the girl was just getting started and didn’t have much.”

“I understand,” Paige stood.

Matt also stood, but hesitated. “One last thing before we go.”

“Yes?” Aurora whispered.

“Do you know if your sister was wearing any jewelry the night she went missing? Did she have a favorite ring or a special bracelet she wore to impress her date?”

“My father gave her a necklace,” Aurora brushed away a tear. “She never took it off. It was a silver chain with a delicate heart pendent that had intricate carving on the top but the back was smooth.”

“Thank you,” Matt stepped forward and shook Ben’s hand. “Thank you for the time and thank you for your willingness to speak with us.”

“We should have the results back in a few days,” Paige added. “One of us will contact you as soon as we have answers.”

“Thank you,” Ben followed them to the door.

They waited to speak until they were in the car, headed back to Manti.

“She described that necklace in detail,” Matt said the instant they were back on the highway.

“She did,” Paige agreed. “I think our victim is Nakisha Fierro.”

“We’ll have to question them again,” Matt glanced at Paige. “I know there were a lot of things we needed to ask them, but she was already upset. I didn’t think it was the right time. Especially since we have to contact her again with the DNA results.”

“I agree,” Paige nodded. “I saw a few things in that box I think we might be able to test. We’ll have to go through it once we get back to the office, but I did see a hair brush and an envelope. If Nakisha licked the envelope, we might get lucky.”

“Or unlucky,” Matt countered. “Which is worse, not knowing what happened to your sister or knowing she was killed by a sadistic serial killer?”

“We don’t know that yet,” Paige warned.

“The more we discover, the more this looks like Bundy,” Matt insisted. “Waiting on the steps of a college library — definitely Bundy’s style. And did you notice the photo on the mantel?”

“I saw it,” Paige agreed. This was looking like Bundy’s work. “She fits the image but we already knew that. We had a photo in the file.”

“True,” Matt agreed. “But the one I just saw was Nakisha all dressed up. She was pretty and elegant, exactly the type of girl Bundy targeted.”

“I’m not saying it wasn’t Bundy,” Paige relented. “I’m just saying we can’t jump to conclusions yet.”

“So what’s our next move?” Matt wondered. “After we get back, go through the box and pull out anything that might contain DNA. Then what?”

“Then we pull the rest of the team in,” Paige decided. “I think the lead is good enough that it’s worth pursuing. We need to fenagle a list of students that would have been enrolled at Snow College in November of 1974. Then, we should also find out if there’s any record of who used the library that night.”

“Like a sign in?” Matt frowned. “I never had to sign to use the library.”

“No,” Paige agreed. “But you had to use a card to check something out.”

“That won’t capture everyone,” Matt sighed. “We’ll miss at least half of the students that way. A lot of kids go to the library to study. They don’t take anything with them when they leave.”

“We catch the ones we can,” Paige insisted. “We do the leg work, walk the beat, engage in the gumshoe detective work and see what we find.”

“I’m not complaining,” Matt assured her. “I’m just pointing out we’re going to miss a lot of potential witnessed this way.”

“Do you have a better suggestion?”

“Nope,” Matt admitted. “I was hoping you might.”

It was after seven and just getting dark when Brad Miller hung up the phone and stood. “I think I just found a witness.”

“Tell us,” Paige looked up from the list she’d been creating.

“A woman by the name of Allison Hopkins was working in the library that evening. She said she cleaned up early because she planned to attend the concert. As she stepped through the front doors, she spotted an attractive man wearing nice clothing. She can’t remember if he had on a suit or just a button down and slacks. Anyway, he had his arm in a cast and was asking another young woman if she could help carry his books to his car. The woman appeared to agree, but just then she was joined by a fellow student — a guy. Allison knew the guy, but she didn’t know the girl. His name is Cody Thomas. She doesn’t have any way to reach him, but they are friends on social media. She’s going to send him a private message and ask him to call us here at the office.”

“Just then, the phone rang,” Paige answered.

The entire room grew silent in anticipation. It was clear she was speaking to this Cody guy. She listened, jotted down a few notes, asked him a few questions, then hung up.

“The girl’s name was Jackie Butler,” Paige announced to the room. “I have a number for her. Cody and Jackie have remained close friends over the years, but he says Jackie is visiting her sister in Florida and won’t be home until tomorrow night or Monday morning.”

“So, we wait?” Matt wondered.

“On that lead,” Paige agreed. “It’s late. Let’s call it a night and pick this back up on Monday morning. You guys have the entire day off tomorrow.”

“Can we work?” Morgan wondered. “I’d like to make a few more calls. I think Sunday might be an ideal day to do that. I realize we’re talking about people who are now in their sixties but not all of them will be retired. They could be at work Monday morning. I’d like to get through my list tomorrow.”

“Me too,” Axel Smith agreed.

Reed glanced around the room. “I think we all would.”

“Give me a minute,” Paige stood and left the room. She settled into her chair and called Dax. Once she explained the situation, she told him the men were asking to work in the morning.

“Does that mean you’ll be working, too?” Dax wondered.’

“It does,” Paige said with regret. “I know you wanted to veg all day and watch movies. You can still do that, you’ll just have to do it without me.”

“Kind of defeats the purpose,” Dax disagreed. “I’ll agree to working the men tomorrow on one condition.”

“Which is?”

“I get to come, too,” he told her. “I want to spend the day with my wife, even if we’re investigating serial killers.”

“Deal.” Paige laughed. “But I never said this was the work of a serial killer.”

“True,” Dax agreed. “I did. How much longer tonight?”

“I think we’re going to break for today and pick it back up in the morning,” Paige was planning to work a little longer, but at the moment she just wanted to go home.

“Good. See you when you get here.” Dax disconnected before she could answer. She sighed, knowing that was by design. He didn’t want to give her the opportunity to change her mind.

“Tomorrow’s a go,” Paige said from the doorway. “Clean up and head out. I’ll see you bright and early but not before nine.”

Once the men filed out, Havilland approached Paige. “Are you calling the sheriff?”

“I’ll make the call on my way home,” she assured him. “You don’t have to work tomorrow. It’s supposed to be your day off.”

“Jericho approved overtime,” Havilland dismissed that. “I’ll work. Lo’s in, too. I’ll see you at nine.”

\*\*\*\*\*

The following day, the group gathered in the conference room and continued to make calls. They decided Dax wouldn’t actually call anyone, he worked in the background checking off names and jotting down new ones. When they discovered a student that had been in the library that evening, they asked for additional names. Having a concert that night made it easy to jog the student’s memories. They found two more women the charming man with a cast on his arm approached that night. The first one, Sally Mortensen, almost helped him but at the last minute she got a bad feeling about the guy and made up an excuse then ran back into the library. The second woman, Danielle Bergstrom, actually started down the sidewalk with the man but was joined by two of her girlfriends. The man suddenly changed his mind and told her he could manage on his own. They all remembered him as charming, good looking and very apologetic for needing help because of the broken arm.

It was shortly after eleven when Jackie Butler called. She relayed basically the same story with one added detail. She was sure the guy had dark hair, freshly shaven and was dressed very well. She didn’t think he was wearing a suit; she was pretty sure he had on dress slacks and a button down shirt. She remembered his face because she thought he was attractive, but would have been even more appealing if he grew a tight beard and had a mustache. She also said when Ted Bundy was all over the news in the eighties, just before he was executed, she remembers thinking he looked an awful lot like the man from the library that night. She listened carefully but when there was no mention of victims near Snow College, she decided it was a coincidence or her mind was playing tricks on her and she only thought that because she was looking at the image of an attractive man.”

“I think we should take a break and grab lunch,” Havilland suggested.

Everyone agreed.

Once they were in the car, Dax took Paige’s hand. “You okay?”

“It was him,” she turned to face him. “I keep telling myself I can’t prove that, but it was him.”

“It was,” Dax agreed. “I don’t see how you could ever prove it, not with certainty — not definitively. But it was him. How will you handle that?”

“You said you needed the men back tomorrow,” Paige began.

“If you need them, you can keep them one more day but after that I will need them back for Tuesday training. We can discuss further scheduling after that.”

“I could use them tomorrow,” Paige admitted. “I want Matt to go with me back to Monroe and I should have the DNA results back by tomorrow. It’s Lakisha. I can’t notify the family without proof, but it’s her.”

“I agree with that as well,” Dax pulled into the parking lot and shut off the car. “I’ll talk to the men before we eat. See if they want to stick. They won’t bail, but I’d like to give them that option.”

“That’s fine,” she knew they wouldn’t bail. Cops had a habit of seeing things through. It was the reason they were all working on their day off.

“You do realize, after all the calls you made today and yesterday, the media is going to learn about this,” Dax warned.

“I’m hoping they won’t put it together,” Paige admitted. “But yeah, we’re going to be invaded again.”

“Who won’t put it together? The media or the people you spoke to?” Dax asked.

“Both, I guess,” Paige admitted.

“That’s what I love about you,” Dax laughed. “You’re such an optimist. If only I could join you in that world of unicorns and rainbows.”

“Shut up,” Paige scowled.

“Reporters aren’t stupid,” Dax continued. “If that woman you just spoke to doesn’t put this all together I’ll be shocked. She told you she thought she saw Bundy and you were asking about a night that a girl went missing. It doesn’t take a whole lot of brain power to put that together.”

“I’ll call Jericho,” Paige relented. “Let’s order, then I’ll make the call.”

“Good plan,” Dax settled onto a chair. He glanced around the table. “Lunch is on me today. Consider it a small thank you for your sacrifice.”

The men cheered. Paige returned, frowning.

“What now?” Dax asked the instant she settled in next to him.

“Jericho is on his way,” Paige sighed. “I told him I had everything under control, but he insisted.”

Dax glanced behind him and got the attention of the waitress. “Could we add one more chair, Sheriff Walters will be joining us.”

“I’ll take care of it,” she rushed off to find an empty chair.

“You know what I love about you?” Paige asked Dax.

“Everything?”

“Well, there is that,” Paige agreed. “But you always just go with the flow. Nothing seems to faze you. I say Jericho is on the way, you shrug and get another chair.”

“Thank you,” Dax stood and took the empty chair from the waitress, positioning it next to Paige.

Jericho joined them and they had a lively and relaxing lunch. Once it was over, they all headed back to the office to work on more phone calls.

\*\*\*\*\*

Monday afternoon at precisely thirteen twenty three, the first media call came in. Margie referred them to the media liaison from the District Attorney’s office. After that, the phones went nuts.

“Ignore them,” Jericho told Margie. “James put out a press release and told every network from here to Timbuctoo how to reach his office for a statement. They’re just trying to subvert the system and scoop their competitors.”

“What if it’s important?” Margie argued.

“I guess they’ll have to call the emergency line,” Jericho shrugged. “Anything really important and they’ll call 911.”

“I guess,” Margie didn’t like letting the phone ring, but she also didn’t want to talk to another reporter.

Paige was in the conference room, trying to organize the information in a logical, easy to understand manner when her cell phone rang. She glanced at the display and answered immediately.

“Results are in,” Ann from the lab informed her. “It’s a match. Your victim is Nakisha Fierro. There’s no doubt the DNA found on the items you provided are a definite match to the skeletal remains you brought in the other day.”

“Thank you,” she hung up and dropped into her chair.

“Well?” Lovato demanded.

“That was the lab,” Paige looked up. “It’s a match. We located our victim. Nakisha Fierro has been located.”

“Now you have to tell her sister,” Morgan realized. “Do you think she’ll be relieved or devastated?”

“Probably a little of both,” Matt provided. “Losing Nakisha devastated that family but knowing — actually knowing your sister was killed by Ted Bundy… that’s going to be hard to digest.”

“There’s another problem,” Paige admitted. “We can’t conclusively say she was killed by Bundy. We can only present the evidence, explain our findings, and tell her we are fairly certain it was Bundy and we will be inactivating the case. Then once Brook is finished with her analysis of the bones, we can turn them over to the family so they can have a proper burial. It’s all we can do at this point.”

“You don’t think that will be enough?” Miller asked. “I mean, you have a room full of cops with varying degrees of experience and every one of us came to the same conclusion. That has to count for something.”

“I believe it will,” Matt told the room. “Now that we have the results and we’ve contacted everyone on the list, what’s our next step?”

Paige focused on him. “We take the results back to Aurora and Ben. Then, we request a final interview. Once we’re confident Aurora has answered all the questions she can, provided all the details she knows, we run her through it. After that, the only thing left is notification once the lab is finished with their analysis and they release everything to the family… well, actually a mortuary. We can’t release human remains to a family.”

“I’ll update James,” Jericho announced and left the room. He had only gone a few steps when he stopped. “Paige, take Matt out and interview the sister. Let’s get this closed out as soon as possible. She’s waited long enough to know what happened that night.”

“Alright,” Paige turned to Matt. “You started this, it’s only fair that you finish it. The rest of you don’t have to wait. If you want to head back to the training center, I can drop Matt off when we’re finished.”

“We’ll stay and try to organize everything,” Barnes decided. “If we get finished before you get back, we’ll take the van over to the training center.”

The room was silent for several seconds as Paige and Matt gathered their things and left the room. Paige was almost to the door when she heard one of the men, Axel Smith maybe, declare “holy freaking cow, we solved a Ted Bundy murder.”

“I still want that tree,” Lovato stood. “And I’m going to convince Jericho we should have it before someone else discovers it and the thing mysteriously disappears.”

“We could deem it evidence,” Chris Barnes suggested. “Yeah, it’s evidence and therefore must stay here, at the Sheriff’s Office, until the case is closed.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige and Matt pulled into the driveway but both of them just sat there. Finally, Paige turned to Matt. “You ready for this?”

“No,” Matt pushed open his door. “But, let’s go handle it anyway.”

The instant Aurora opened the door, she knew. You could see it on her face. “Ben?” she called out. “I need you in the sitting room.”

Ben appeared and escorted his wife to a chair.

“First,” Paige held out the box. “I want to return this to you. We only used what we needed.”

“We don’t have the official paperwork on the DNA yet,” Matt added. “We have the official word, but not the paperwork.”

“The lab called me personally,” Paige provided. “It was a match.”

Aurora gasped and gripped her husband’s hand even tighter. “I thought I was prepared,” she cleared her throat, then accepted the handkerchief Ben handed her. “I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize,” Matt assured her. “We understand this is an emotional time for you. You take whatever time you need.”

“I wanted to let you know,” Paige continued. “Right away. I didn’t want to wait another day or two for the actual report before I gave you the news.”

“What happens now?” Ben wondered. “Can we have access to the remains so we can give Nakisha a proper funeral?”

“Eventually,” Paige looked at Aurora. “Our forensic anthropologist isn’t finished with her examination and analysis of the bones. Once she has concluded her assessment and evaluation, she’ll release everything to the mortuary of your choice. Obviously all we have are skeletal remains. You’ll want to have a closed casket.”

Aurora frowned. There was something these two cops weren’t telling them.

“Aurora,” Matt began. “Do you think you’re up for an official interview?”

“Why?” Ben asked.

“Now that we know who the victim is,” Matt answered. “We would like to get as much information as we can from Aurora. We need to know everything you can tell us.”

“You already have the report,” Ben insisted. “That should be enough.”

“It’s not,” Paige answered. “There are some additional facts we need to share with you. Before we do that, we need to interview Aurora and find out if there’s anything she can remember that she hasn’t told us or that may not be included in the original report.”

“Do you know who did this?” Aurora asked quietly.

“We think we do,” Matt affirmed. “Can you run us through what you remember?”

“I don’t —” Ben began.

“It’s alright, Ben,” Aurora put her hand on his arm. “Let me do this. Let me try to close out this chapter so we can put the past where it belongs — behind us. It’s dominated too many years of my life. Let’s put this behind us and try to move forward.”

“If that’s what you want,” Ben took her hand again.

“Do you want to ask me questions,” Aurora asked Matt. “Or should I just tell you what I remember?”

“Why don’t you start and I’ll stop you if I need you to clarify anything,” Matt suggested.

“Alright,” Aurora closed her eyes, inhaled a deep breath, then focused on Matt as she exhaled. “Like I said…”

“Let me start the recording first,” Paige suggested.

“Oh, right,” Aurora nodded.

Paige turned on the recorder, went through the details, citing the date, the time and the case number then turned it over to Matt.

“Aurora, go ahead and relay what you remember about that day. The day your sister Nakisha went missing.”

“It was November twenty-first, nineteen seventy-four,” Aurora began. “It was cold that day. I remember it was a windy day, but we didn’t have any snow. I remember that because Kisha didn’t wear her winter boots. She said she didn’t need them to attend the concert because she didn’t have to walk through snow, and she’d be inside.”

“Nakisha was attending a concert,” Matt prompted. “Did she go alone?”

“Yes,” Aurora settled a little. They already covered this part. “There was a guy she liked. I don’t remember his name. She noticed him, in her English class, months earlier. She desperately wanted to get his attention and he finally noticed her. He invited her to the concert at the college, but admitted he had a class that night and it let out just before the concert was scheduled to start. He asked if she could meet him at the library and then they’d head over together. Kisha agreed. She didn’t mind. She had a reliable car and she was used to driving in the winter weather. Plus, like I said the forecast wasn’t calling for snow.”

“So, she took some time to get ready,” Matt asked.

“Yes,” Aurora smiled. “She was frantic, trying to pick just the right outfit, apply her makeup so it looked perfect, select shoes that looked good, but fit the season… just typical girls stuff when they’re preparing for an important date.”

“Did she talk to any friends or family before she left?” Paige asked.

“Yes,” Aurora nodded. “She called our Aunt Skylar several times. They were close. Skylar was the youngest and mom was the oldest. There were oh… I forget, nine years difference in their age. So, I’d guess Skylar was in her thirties at the time.”

“And how old was your sister?” Matt asked.

“Twenty-one,” Aurora answered immediately. “She had boyfriends before but I never saw her this excited over a boy before. I think she really liked this guy and she wanted the night to be perfect. Aunt Skylar was the last person to talk to Kisha. I helped her for a while, but I left about an hour before she did. I was meeting some of my friends to have a girl’s night. I was fifteen at the time so none of us could drive, yet. I walked to my friend, Lydia’s house and was supposed to spend the night. When Kisha didn’t come home, my parents panicked and drove over to make me go home.”

“Okay,” Matt looked at Paige, not sure what else she wanted to know. Then he remembered the necklace. “Can you describe what your sister was wearing that night?”

“Oh, let me think,” Aurora focused on the picture prominently displayed on the mantel. “Looking back, the styles were pretty silly back then. But if I recall, she wore a pair of orange bell-bottom slacks with a flowery button-down shirt and pair of yellow and black platform shoes that she loved. She always wore her hair long and straight, parted down the middle. Some of the girls wore pins to pull their hair out of their face, but Kisha didn’t like them so she usually wore it without headbands or braids or anything. She didn’t like to wear earrings because her friends all wore those big loops and she said they hurt her ears. The one thing she always wore was a silver necklace my father gave her on her eighteenth birthday. It had a little heart pendant with intricate carving on the front and it was smooth silver on the back. Sometimes she wore a ring of stacked bracelets around her left wrist, but I can’t remember if she had any that night.”

“Is there anything else you want to add?” Paige asked.

“I can’t think of anything,” Aurora considered for a moment. “No, most of my strongest memories are after that day. I have good memories before, but our world changed the day Kisha disappeared.”

Paige concluded the interview and shut off the tape. “Now, I have some things to tell you. I need to warn you, they’re going to be difficult to hear.”

“I need to know,” Aurora gripped Ben’s hand.

“I know you do,” Paige understood the need, better than most. She wasn’t sure Aurora understood what she was asking, though.

“You’re going to hear things,” Paige began. “The media has already picked up on this story so you will hear things — unpleasant things, if you turn on the news over the next few days.”

“What kind of unpleasant things?” Ben demanded.

“We believe your sister was murdered by a notorious serial killer,” Paige provided.

“Ted Bundy did kill Kisha,” Aurora whispered.

“You suspected Bundy?” Paige asked.

“Our family talked about it,” Aurora admitted. “We knew girls had gone missing in other parts of the state during that time. We knew a lot of them were abducted from colleges, at various events just like Kisha. Mom wouldn’t discuss it, but I talked to Aunt Skylar. Bundy’s picture was everywhere in the eighties when he was executed, and the stories were on every channel. Skylar was the one to suggest it, but I always thought it made sense.”

“Was it Bundy?” Ben knew what that could mean for them. Rory wanted this all to be over, but the media would hound them until they got their story.

“We believe it was,” Paige admitted.

“Can you tell me why?” Aurora asked. “Or are the details too horrific?”

“Some of them are,” Paige warned. “I need to know how much you want to know.”

“I—” she looked at Ben.

“As much as we need to know so we’re prepared,” Ben decided. “Nothing more. It’s bad enough to know that monster killed Nakisha. Neither of us need to hear the gory, disturbing parts of the case.”

“There is one thing you need to know,” Paige hesitated. “When we discovered the remains, the grave looked like an animal had been digging up the bones.”

“She’s not all there,” Ben realized. He was trying to remember the details of the Bundy murders. “Was her skull missing?”

Paige glanced at Aurora then focused on Ben. “Yes.”

“Oh my,” Aurora’s hand shot to her mouth as she gasped. “He decapitated her.”

“If he did,” Paige reached out and took Aurora’s hand. “She was already dead by then. I know it’s horrible, but you need to know we can’t conclusively say it was him and if it was, she didn’t feel it.”

“Alright,” Aurora swallowed. “That helps. Did he… I know his pattern but was the assault brutal like some of the others. If I remember correctly, they were all assaulted but some were violent and just horrible.”

“We can’t know that,” Paige glanced at Ben then looked back at Aurora. “There’s just no way to know at this point. We did find damage to several ribs, which is also consistent with Bundy. It was typical for him to physically assault his victims as well. I can stop,” Paige told her when Aurora closed her eyes.

“No, continue,” she opened her eyes. “I need to know and I want to hear it all at once.”

“Is that what led you to believe it was Bundy?” Ben asked.

“Partially,” Paige ran them through the injuries they could detect on the remains, the lack of clothing, the eyewitness accounts that described a man with a broken arm and the timing. Bundy was in the area when Nakisha vanished from a college on her way to a well-publicized event.”

“What happens now?” Ben asked. “I agree, everything points to Ted Bundy. But, he’s dead. What happens with the case now?”

“Since we can’t prove definitively that it was Bundy,” Paige explained. “We will inactivate the case but leave it open. That way, if we discover something that points in another direction, we can bring it back out and work it. I have to tell you that we had an entire task force working on this case. There were eleven full-time investigators — our conclusion was unanimous. Confidence is high that your sister was killed by Ted Bundy. I don’t know if that helps or makes things worse but that’s the conclusion we all came to.”

“I understand,” Aurora leaned into Ben when he wrapped an arm around her. “I think it helps, or will eventually. Right now, it’s just a lot to take in.”

“Is there any way to protect our identity from the media?” Ben asked. “I know that’s not entirely in your control, but we’d appreciate anything you can do.”

“I’ll do my best,” Paige promised. “But, the media is resourceful, and I can’t guarantee they won’t try to contact you directly. Just remember, you don’t have to answer the phone.”

“Whatever you can do would be appreciated,” Ben said in understanding. “Now, if you don’t mind I think my wife needs some time to digest everything she’s learned today.”

“We’ll let you grieve in private,” Matt stood. “Again, I am so sorry for your loss.”

“If you need anything,” Paige pulled out a card and handed it to Ben. “Call anytime. If I can help, I will.”

“Thank you,” Ben walked them to the door.

Once they reached the car, Paige turned to Matt. “So, it’s back to training for you.”

“I don’t mind,” Matt decided and settled into the seat. “I followed this one to it’s natural conclusion and it’s time to move on. I wanted to say thank you. To you for helping me accept the assistance Ollie gave me and to Nathan for stepping up and calling the training academy to get me in. I also want to thank Dax and the others, but I’ll do that in person. I’m not sure I’ll see General Porter again. Would you tell him I’m sincerely grateful for his assistance the next time you talk to him?”

“I will,” Paige assured him. “But it’s not necessary. What’s next for you?”

“Well,” Matt glanced out the window. “If I pass this course, I plan to apply for a bigger department. Des Moines has a couple slots they need to fill and I hope this course will help me land one of them.”

“And the case,” Paige smiled. “Be sure to mention the case and if they ask for references, I hope you list me as one of them.”

“You’d be okay with that?”

“More than okay,” Paige assured him. “I’d be offended if you didn’t.”

“Thanks for that, too,” Matt turned and focused out the window. The two of them rode in silence the rest of the way back to Manti — each lost in their own thoughts.

Paige pulled into the parking lot of the training center and spotted Dax and the rest of the group on the side lawn, engaged in some kind of hand-to-hand battle. She got as close to group as she could before she shut off the engine.

Matt jumped out, turned and hesitated. “Will I see you again?”

“I’ll make a point to stop by on the last day of class if I haven’t seen you before then,” Paige promised.

“Good,” Matt grinned. “Later then.” He ran forward and was surrounded by the entire class.

The cops flanked him in a protective way that telegraphed a warning to the others. Paige grinned. Mission accomplished. Matt wasn’t only accepted; he’d made some new friends for life.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S5

**Tags:** Season 5

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### [Precarious Misadventure](https://melaniepsmith.com/precarious-misadventure/)

**Published:** July 31, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Precarious Misadventure (S5E4) An innocent night out turns into a nightmare for a couple teenage girls.  Paige must decide if they are missing or if they've run off for a weekend of fun.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*PRECARIOUS MISADVENTURE\*\*\*****

“Cilla,” Trish pushed her way down the crowded hallway as she made her way to her friend’s locker.

Cilla looked up from her phone and spotted her best friend. She glanced down and started to read the message again.

“You seriously won’t believe what Casey did!” Trish leaned against the bank of lockers, glanced sideways, and frowned when she spotted her ex-boyfriend. “He is such a jerk.”

“Casey?” Cilla asked absently.

“No!” Trish shoved Cilla’s shoulder. “Nick. He thinks he’s so cool but he’s just a bully.”

Noise erupted around them, the crowd was chanting and laughing as they gathered at the other end of the hallway.

Cilla glanced up just in time to see Nick pushing Kyle into a nearby garbage can. Before she realized what Trish was doing, her friend had marched forward and was shoving Nick up against the wall.

“Leave him alone,” Trish demanded.

“What’s your problem, Trish?” Nick shoved her hand away.

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“You’re everyone’s problem,” Trish growled. “Picking on someone smaller than you… that’s just mean. It’s not cool.” She stood there, glaring at him, and blocking his escape.

Cilla pushed her way through the growing crowd and helped Kyle climb from the large plastic garbage can. As he began to stand, he tripped and they both tumbled to the ground in a tangled heap. Cilla’s phone slid across the slick floor and collided with Trish’s foot.

Trish leaned down, snatched up the phone and stared at the screen in shock. She whipped around and focused on Cilla. “Ben?”

Nick seized the opportunity, shoved past Trish, and joined his friends. “I can’t believe I ever dated you.” He called over his shoulder as he walked away.

“Let’s go,” Cilla grabbed the phone from Trish, gripped her friends’ hand, and dragged her into the bathroom.

“Cilla,” Trish said the instant they stepped inside the girl’s room. “What are you going to do?”

“We,” Cilla corrected. “What should we do?”

“He wants to meet you,” Trish giggled. “He’s so hot and he wants to meet you. Ben is so… well, not Nick. You have to go.” She grabbed Cilla’s hands and began jumping around, excited. “You are going to go, right?”

A few seconds later, Cilla sobered. “I can’t go.”

“You have to,” Trish grabbed her friend’s phone and held it out for Cilla to see the screen. “You totally have to go.”

Cilla remembered her parents lecture on being safe online and never meeting anyone she didn’t know. “But…”

“I’ll come with you,” Trish offered.

“How?” Cilla asked. “Your mom won’t let you go, either.”

Trish glanced at the message again. Cilla and Ben had initially connected through an app called Whisper. After exchanging secrets for weeks, Ben convinced Cilla to download another app called MeetMe. Trish helped her friend create a fake profile using a birthdate that fooled the system into thinking they were eighteen. Then, for weeks the two friends had tracked Ben’s location; giggling and fantasizing each time he got close to one of their houses or the school. That was the whole purpose of the MeetMe app. You could monitor each other and hook up with people who lived in your community.

Ben was a neighbor, he had to be safe. And he was super-hot; there wasn’t anyone in their school that even came close. And he wanted to meet Cilla. That was cool, and it would be okay if they went together. Maybe he had a hot friend. At first Trish was jealous that he picked Cilla, but now she was happy for her friend. Anyway, after breaking up with Nick, Trish wasn’t ready to hook up again. They were only fifteen. She had plenty of time to find her own hunk. Hopefully, she’d meet someone mysterious like Ben. Someone that made her smile and giggle, the way Cilla did when she got another message from her new guy. One day Trish would have a boyfriend that made her smile. She frowned as she once again, thought of Nick. He made her smile, at first. Then, he was just a big jerk. All he cared about was impressing his friends. She missed him, the old Nick, but she didn’t even like this new Nick.

“Trish,” Cilla asked, annoyed. “I have to tell him yes or no. How would we get out? How can we meet up with Ben without our parents finding out?”

“You tell your parents you’re coming to my house to study for a test,” Trish offered. “I’ll tell my parents the same thing. We’ll hook up with Ben, get to know him, and see if he has some cool friends. Nobody will ever know. We just have to get home before curfew.”

“That could work,” Cilla considered. “It won’t be unusual or anything. Plus, my parents are going out of town this weekend.” She glanced back at the phone. “What if I tell him I can’t on Thursday, but I’m free on Friday. I’ll check in with my aunt Friday after school, tell her we have to work on a project and I’m going to stay at your place. She’ll know not to check in until Saturday and that gives us plenty of time to hang out with Ben. You tell your mom you’re going to stay at my place.”

“That won’t work,” Trish disagreed. “I’ll just tell her we are working at your place, but I’ll be home before midnight. Otherwise, she’ll call your mom and we’ll get busted.”

“Right,” Cilla gripped her phone and hesitated. “There’s no going back. If I say yes, we have to go.”

“Say yes,” Trish nodded. “This is going to be so cool!”

\*\*\*\*\*

“He said to meet him on the north side of the building,” Cilla was trying to hide the excitement, but Trish could hear it in her tone. They were best friends and had been since… forever.

“Let’s just go over and sit on the ledge of that cement wall thing,” Trish offered. “We can see the doors and the parking lot from there.”

“It’s dark back here,” Cilla frowned. “I wonder why he wanted us to meet on this side instead of over were the lighting is better.”

“Maybe he wanted the first meeting to be a little more private,” Trish offered. “You don’t think he’ll be mad, do you? That I’m here, I mean.”

“No,” Cilla shrugged. “And if he is, he’ll just have to deal with it. You’re my best friend, he has to like you for this to work.”

“Thanks,” Trish wrapped an arm around Cilla’s shoulder in support. “It’s going to be fine. He liked you enough to want to meet in person. Once he does, he’ll recognize all your awesomeness and there’s no way he could resist.”

Cilla grinned. “Thanks for being here. You know I would have chickened out if it wasn’t for you. I owe you one.”

“Is that him?” Trish squinted at the bright headlights headed their way. “He drives a van?” she giggled a little and covered her mouth. She didn’t want to upset Cilla. Maybe the van belonged to his dad or something.

“What’s he doing?” Cilla asked when the van came to an abrupt stop. The side door slid open and a man jumped out.

“It’s her,” the guy called over his shoulder. “What’s it gonna be?”

“Grab them both,” the driver decided. A second man jumped from the back of the van. The two strangers lunged forward, each wrapping strong arms around one of the girls.

Trish screamed.

The man holding her tightened his grip with one arm and wrapped his hand through her long thick hair with the other. He gave it a forceful yank and put his mouth next to her ear. “Scream again and you die,” he growled.

Trish swallowed hard but remained silent.

“Did you leave your phone at home like you were told?” the man holding Cilla demanded.

Cilla nodded.

The man pushed her against the van and patted her down. “She’s clear.”

The second man shoved Trish up against the van next to her friend. “What about you?”

Trish turned and slid her phone into Cilla’s palm. Then she waited while the second guy searched her. Once he was satisfied she didn’t bring her phone with her, they threw both of the girls into the back of the van. Then, the men climbed in and the van sped away.

“Where’s Ben?” Trish finally asked. The van didn’t have seats, just a large empty cargo area. Trish had her back pushed up against the metal panel, one arm wrapped around a sobbing Cilla. She slipped the phone from Cilla’s hand and slid it into her pocket.

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The driver laughed.

“Are you Ben?” Trish wondered.

“You’re not such a stupid girl after all,” the driver smirked. “I take that back, you two did fall for the fake photo and the name… I can’t believe you didn’t pick up on the name.”

The other two men joined in with their own cynical, menacing laughter.

“You said your name is Ben,” Trish pushed down the bile that was trying to rise up her throat. She had to remain calm. If she could keep them talking, they wouldn’t realize she was tracking their route.

“Yeah,” the driver laughed again. “Ben Dover, and this is my friend, Percy Vere.”

The men burst out laughing and shaking their heads.

Trish realized the names were fake. No use asking who the third occupant was. Anything they said would be dumb and made up just like the others. Instead, she concentrated on remembering their faces. The man in the passenger seat was at least thirty. Who did she know that was thirty? Her neighbor, Danny Broadbent. He said he was thirty-two. Trish focused on the men. They looked about the same age as her neighbor. Okay, three man, all in their thirties. Ben, the driver, was blonde but his hair looked dirty and messy. Was he related to the kid in the photo or did he just find a fake picture that resembled him? Once her parents realized they were missing, they might be able to find this Ben guy on Cilla’s phone. They wouldn’t find him, though. They’d be looking for a kid with blonde hair and blue eyes. They wouldn’t be looking for this man or his friends.

“Shut that one up,” the passenger they identified as Percy barked. You know how much Niko hates the emotional ones.”

Trish tightened her grip on Cilla and shifted closer. “You have to stop crying. We’ll be okay. I promise, we are going to get out of this… somehow.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“I’m just saying,” Paige shrugged. “We have enough problems in this country, celebrities from Hollywood, the NFL and the NBA shouldn’t stoke the flames just for another fifteen minutes, that’s all.”

“But doesn’t being famous mean they have a way to promote their views to the masses?” Gage asked.

“Sure,” Paige agreed. “But it would be more beneficial to everyone if they did something productive, like use their platform to promote peace. They could tell those kids it’s okay to believe different things and disagree. Independent thinking is what makes us human.”

“I…” Gage stopped abruptly when a couple that was in obvious distress stepped through the front door. “Maybe we should finish this later.”

“Good idea,” Paige stood. “Like the next time we have to work on a Saturday while Havi and Dean enjoy their weekend racing expensive death machines around a track.” She turned and made her way to the front desk. “Hi,” she reached out a hand. “I’m Deputy Paige Carter, can I help you?”

“We need to talk to someone about…” the man swallowed hard and pulled the fragile woman closer.

“Our daughter is missing,” the woman closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then refocused on Paige. “Something is terribly wrong. We need your help.”

“Let’s head into the conference room,” Paige suggested and motioned for Gage to join her. Once they were settled around the large table, Paige took the lead. “Maybe you could start by telling us about your daughter. Just the basics, her name, her date of birth, when was the last time you saw her, that sort of thing.”

“Alright,” the man glanced at his wife. “I guess we should actually begin by telling you who we are. My name is Oliver Miles, and this is my wife, Reese.”

“Great,” Paige jotted down the names. “And this is my partner, Deputy Gage Clayton.”

“Our daughter is Trish Miles and she is fifteen years old.” Reese relayed her daughter’s birthdate, their home address, and their home phone number. “Trish also has a cell phone, but we’ve tried it at least a hundred times and she’s not answering. I know she’s a teenager and you’re going to say she just ran away, but she didn’t.”

“Before we get into that,” Gage soothed. “Tell us about the last time you saw your daughter.”

“Friday, after school,” Reese said immediately. “She said she had a school project and was going to spend the evening with her best friend, Cilla Walcott.”

“Have you talked to Cilla?” Paige wondered.

“She’s missing, too,” Reese admitted.

“Is it possible they went to a party,” Paige asked. “Or, maybe out of town for the weekend with some friends?”

“No,” the couple said immediately.

“Alright,” Paige sighed inwardly. “Have you spoken to Cilla’s parents? Maybe the girls are with them.”

“They were out of town,” Oliver provided. “I spoke with Noah. He and Skylar are on their way back. We didn’t want to wait any longer. We know you will wait before trying to search for the girls, so we wanted to make the report as soon as possible.”

“That’s not always the case,” Gage interjected. “So, Cilla’s parents are Noah and Skylar Walcott?”

“Do you know them?” Paige asked.

“I do,” Gage affirmed. “Noah works for ESPN.”

“Oh,” Reese gasped. “You’re that Gage Clayton.”

“I am,” Gage nodded. “So, you have ruled out the Walcott’s. Tell us about the encounter after school.”

“There’s not much to tell,” Reese began. “Trish came home from school, changed, and said she was headed over to Cilla’s to work on a project.”

“Did she arrive home on time?” Paige asked. “After school.”

“Oh,” Reese considered. “Yes. I was a little surprised when she immediately said she was heading to Cilla’s, but it was the beginning of the weekend and the girls are good students.”

“Those two have been inseparable since the first grade,” Oliver added. “There wasn’t anything unusual about Trish spending the evening with Cilla.”

“Did you expect her home that night?” Gage asked.

“Yes,” Reese nodded. “Trish said they had a lot of work to do, but she’d be home before curfew. I told her I love her and to make sure she got something to eat,” Reese pressed her lips together in an attempt to control the quiver, swallowed visibly then continued. “She hugged me, told me not to wait up and headed out the door. That’s the last time we saw our little girl.”

“And when she didn’t come home last night?” Paige wondered.

“We didn’t notice until this morning,” Oliver admitted. “The girls, they’re good kids. We’ve never had a problem. If Trish says she’ll be home before curfew, she’s always home. We decided to enjoy a rare quiet evening alone.”

“We had a little too much wine and both of us fell asleep just after eleven,” Reese admitted. “We got up, I made breakfast, and when Ollie went up to wake Trish to join us, he saw she was missing.”

“Her bed was empty,” Oliver told them. “It was obvious she hadn’t slept in it.”

“I called the Walcott residence but just got the machine,” Reese told them. “We tried calling Trish, but her phone immediately goes to voicemail.”

“The phone has to be dead or turned off,” Oliver added. “It rings once and then flips over to the message.”

“If the girls decided not to work on the school project,” Gage looked from Oliver to Reese. “If they decided it was Friday night and they wanted to head out and have a little fun, where would they go?”

“They wouldn’t…” Reese began.

“I’ve been thinking about that,” Oliver told them. “First, I want to say we’ve never had a problem with Trish. She’s always been honest with us. But she is fifteen and… well, we can all remember what it was like to be in high school.”

“Is there a place they would go,” Paige asked. “To party with some friends from school? Maybe a boyfriend she might meet?”

“They wouldn’t…” Reese began again.

“Sweetheart,” Oliver took his wife’s hand. “We did.”

Reese sighed. “I know. I just… I think she would tell me if there was someone. She hasn’t seemed interested, not since Nick.”

“Who is Nick?” Paige asked.

“Nick Garcetti?” Gage asked.

“Yes,” Reese frowned.

“Trish dated Nick for several months,” Oliver provided. “I don’t know what happened, but Trish was really upset about it when they broke up.”

“He broke her heart,” Reese nodded. “Since then, Trish hasn’t seemed interested in boys.”

“Is it possible the girls went somewhere with this Nick person?” Paige wondered.

“I doubt it,” Gage provided. “Nick has been going through some…. growing pains, I suppose you would call them. He’s a good kid, just a little lost at the moment. He’s dealing with some family problems. His mom had to take a second job and Nick is the one caring for his younger siblings. He doesn’t socialize much outside of school these days. His only outside activity is football.”

“So,” Paige considered. “Last night, when the girls went missing, Nick would have been home caring for his siblings?”

“Exactly,” Gage considered.

“So,” Reese asked cautiously. “You will take a missing person report?”

“To be clear,” Paige didn’t answer the question. “Are you here to report your daughter missing, or will you be making a report about Cilla as well?”

“Both,” Oliver answered immediately. “If you need to speak with Noah, I can provide you the number. They should be here within the hour.”

Gage handed a notepad to the couple. “Can you take a minute and just jot down everything you can think of that might help?” He motioned for Paige to leave the room. “Give us Trish’s phone number, Cilla’s cell number if you have it, any friends you can think of, and their contact information if you have it. We’ll give you a few minutes to discuss it and jot everything down on that pad.”

“So, you can leave the room and decide how to handle this?” Reese asked.

“Yes,” Paige answered honestly. “Normally, we would take the report and wait. We need to decide if this situation is different.”

“It’s different,” Oliver assured them. “And, when you return, we’ll try to help you understand why those girls didn’t run away or decide to spend the weekend partying.”

Paige didn’t respond, she just turned and left the room.

“I know what you’re going to say,” Gage said before Paige could speak. “But I don’t think Cilla Walcott just headed off to a drunken party for the weekend. I do know her parents. I’ve met Cilla. She’s a good kid, smart, cautious and she wouldn’t make her parents worry this way.”

“But her parents were supposed to be out of town,” Paige argued.

“Which is why Cilla would have invited a few friends over to her place, maybe had a pool party that got a little out of hand, maybe a little wild, but she wouldn’t leave town,” Gage argued. “I have to go with my gut on this one, I think those girls found trouble.”

“How?” Paige smirked. “I thought they were doing homework, being good little girls on a Friday night.”

“Because they were being typical teenage girls on a Friday night,” Gage shrugged, undeterred. “I think they went out. But they went somewhere they believed to be safe and they found trouble instead. I don’t know their daughter, but I think I remember her. I’ve seen her with Cilla and with Nick. She’s a good kid, Paige. I need you to trust me on this one. I see these kids nearly every day. I know the troublemakers and I know the kids that avoid trouble. Cilla and Trish are good kids.”

“Alright,” Paige decided. “I’ll follow your lead on this one, but you have to convince the parents to give us full access to Trish’s life. We need to search her bedroom, her social media accounts, her diary if she has one… everything.”

“I can do that,” Gage smiled back. “Because if you haven’t noticed, those two are desperate and afraid. I think they’ll agree to anything if we convince them it will help find their daughter.”

“I agree,” Paige followed Gage back into the conference room.

“Will you start looking for Trish?” Reese asked the instant they stepped back into the room.

“We are willing to start our investigation,” Paige settled into a chair.

Gage sat in the chair next to Oliver and rested his arms on the table. “If we trust your instincts and treat this as urgent, we’re going to need your help.”

“Anything you need,” Olive said immediately.

“That means we search your home,” Gage continued. “We have full access to your daughters’ room, her belongings, her computer.”

“You’ll have it,” Reese agreed.

“If she has a diary, we need to look through it,” Paige added.

“She doesn’t,” Reese informed them. “But you will have access to everything. Whatever you need, we won’t get in the way.”

“Good,” Gage glanced at Paige.

“You said the Walcott’s will be here soon,” Paige glanced from one parent to the other. “Are they going straight home?”

“No,” Oliver frowned. “They were going to meet us here. I need to call them. Should I tell them to go home?”

“It would be better if they met up with us at your house,” Paige answered as casually as she could. If the girls last known location was the Walcott’s, there could be evidence in the home. If someone broke in and forcefully kidnapped them, the last thing she needed was hysterical parents mucking up her crime scene.

“I’ll make the call,” Oliver stood. “Then you can follow us home.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige had finished the physical search of Trish’s room and was now focused on her computer. “Can you access her cell phone records from here?”

“Yes,” Reese assured her. “Trish’s phone is on our account. I just need to log in and I have access to all the phones.”

“Would you mind?” Paige motioned to the computer.

Reese opened up the internet and logged into her family account. Within seconds, she had all the data that pertained to Trish’s phone displayed on the screen.

Paige stood and motioned for Reese to take the seat. “Can you pull up her app history? I need to know which social media accounts your daughter uses.”

Reese hit a few buttons and a list of apps appeared on the screen. “I don’t recognize some of those. We have access to her phone. We monitor her every few months and make sure she’s not using anything dangerous. But, I don’t recognize these three.”

Paige did.

“And why did she need another calculator app?” Oliver wondered. “Her phone comes with a built-in app for that.”

“It’s not a calculator,” Paige turned to Gage, but paused when she heard voices outside. “Sounds like the Walcott’s just arrived. Before we go out to meet them, does Trish’s phone have the GPS tracking system activated?”

“It does, but we tried, and it wasn’t working,” Oliver admitted. “Since it was going straight to voicemail, we tried to track her location using the phone finding feature.”

“Do you mind?” Paige motioned to the computer. Reese jumped to her feet and offered the chair to Paige.

Paige settled in, maneuvered around the system for several minutes then gave up. Maybe she could get Carmen to help her with that later tonight. “Okay, let’s go outside and talk to the Walcott’s.”

After a brief discussion, the group headed out to search Cilla’s home and her electronics for clues.

Paige pulled into the driveway and shut down her engine. The house was enormous and tidy. She figured the couple had enough money to hire a gardner and a pool boy, maybe even a cleaning service. What would that be like? No more dirty dishes, no more sorting laundry. With a sigh, she joined the group at the front door. No sign of force, that was both good and bad. It meant the girls hadn’t been kidnapped from here, but it also meant there was no chance she’d find evidence inside.

“Cilla’s room is on the second floor,” Skylar announced, then frowned. “Cilla left her phone, there on the table.” She took a step forward but was stopped by Gage.

“Let us handle that,” he told her. “It could be evidence.”

“It could be the lucky break we need,” Paige corrected.

“How so?” Noah Walcott asked.

“If she has the same apps that Trish does,” Paige held out a glove covered hand, “we might be able to track their location using Cilla’s phone.”

“I don’t understand,” Reese tightened her grip on her husband’s hand.

“Let’s go into the living room and I’ll explain,” Paige motioned them toward a room that contained a large couch and several chairs.

“Can I get anyone a drink or… anything?” Skylar asked, hesitantly.

“We’re fine,” Paige settled into a chair and pressed a button to turn the phone on. “Do you know her passcode?”

“One, zero, two, four,” Noah and Skylar said together.

“Well,” Paige glanced up. “At least it’s unanimous.” She punched in the code and the phone came to life. “It worked.”

“It’s her brother’s birthday,” Skylar advised.

“They were close,” Noah added. “Well, they still are but Travis joined the Army last year and he doesn’t get home much these days.”

“Makes sense,” Paige nodded. She pressed the calculator button. “This app isn’t actually a calculator. Trish has one on her phone, too. It’s a cloaking app.”

“I don’t know what that means,” Skylar admitted.

“It looks like a normal calculator,” Paige explained. “But it doesn’t work. You punch a code into the bar and hit enter. That opens up a secret section of her phone’s memory where she can store apps and information she doesn’t want anyone to see.”

“That’s…” Noah frowned. “Not like Cilla.”

“And Trish had one of those, too?” Oliver asked.

“She did,” Gage nodded. “Do you think she used the same code?”

“Probably,” Skylar decided.

Paige tried it, but nothing happened. “Any other ideas?”

“Two-thousand, fifteen,” Noah said immediately.

“Right,” Skylar nodded.

Paige punched it in, and a new screen appeared.

“The year our boys won the championships,” Gage smiled.

“Cilla was so proud of Travis,” Noah glanced at Gage. “She bragged nonstop for months.”

Paige blocked out the conversation. There was something off about the interaction between Cilla and a boy named Ben. She recognized the app they were using. It was called Whisper. People posted images with confessions and directed them at individuals they wanted to connect with. This Ben guy had directed an awful lot of messages to Cilla.

“What’s wrong?” Gage asked.

Paige glanced up. “Do any of you know a boy named Ben?”

All four parents shook their heads.

Gage frowned. “I can’t think of a single Ben that attends Manti High.”

“Let me see…” Paige trailed off as she tried to access the kids’ profile. Once she did, she knew it was fake.

“What’s wrong?” Reese demanded.

“Cilla was interacting with someone that called himself Ben,” Paige advised.

“What does that mean?” Skylar asked, worried.

“The name is fake,” Paige told them. “When I switched over to his profile, the name he used was Ben Dover.”

Gage rolled his eyes. Seriously? That was the best he could come up with.

“We don’t know him,” Oliver glanced at his wife.

“That’s because he doesn’t exist,” Paige insisted. “Ben Dover?”

“What has Cilla done?” Noah asked, understanding showing on his face.

“What?” Skylar demanded.

“Bend over,” Noah told his wife. “The name is fake and meant to be clever.”

“Oh my,” Skyler pressed a hand to her mouth.

“What do we do now?” Oliver demanded. “Can you identify this Ben guy? Can you locate him and find out if he took our girls?”

“We are going to try,” Paige stood. “I’d like to see Cilla’s room. Then I’d like your permission to take her phone. I have someone that can help me analyze it and see if we can track this Ben Dover’s location.”

“Whatever you need,” Noah stood. “Follow me, Cilla’s room is upstairs.”

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\*\*\*\*\*

“Are you okay?” Trish finally asked the lump lying in the far corner of the room. They had finally started moving. She wasn’t sure what time it was, but she knew they’d been here for hours. Light seeped through the tiny window on the other side of the room. It was daytime now. It was Saturday and her parents would know she was missing.

“No,” a female voice croaked. “Do you know where we are?”

“We’re a few miles up the canyon,” Trish said confidently, then frowned. Maybe this was a trick.

“What canyon?” the girl cleared her throat and tried to sit up.

Light shone through a tiny window and Trish gasped when she saw the teens face. It was bruised, her eye was swollen shut and she was holding her arm against her body protectively.

“Did they do that?” Cilla asked.

“Yes,” the girl pushed her body into a sitting position and pressed her back against the cement wall. All three of them were chained to large metal rings fastened inside the concrete. There was no way to escape.

“How long have you been here?” Trish wondered.

“We move around a lot,” the girl told them. “I don’t even know where we are.”

“Utah,” Cilla glanced at Trish then back to the girl. “I’m Cilla and this is my friend Trish.”

“I’m Audrey,” the girl told them. “I’m from Arizona. I think they’ve had me for months, but I’ve lost track of time. What month is it?”

“July,” Trish frowned. *Months? What were these guys up to?*

“Okay,” Audrey closed her eyes. “July. I was right, they took me from behind a movie theater on the seventeenth of May.”

“Two months?” Cilla screeched. “They’ve had you for two months?”

“Shh,” Audrey panicked. “They’ll come in here if they hear you.”

“Why did they beat you?” Trish asked.

“Because they can’t break me,” Audrey shrugged. “There were others. Girls that went along so they wouldn’t get punished like me. I won’t go along. They can kill me first. I will never go along.”

“Go along with what?” Cilla asked.

Trish waited for the answer, afraid she already knew. These guys were sex traffickers. They were kidnapping young girls and selling them to the highest bidder… or worse.

“You already know the answer to that,” Audrey focused on Trish. “I can see it in your face.”

Trish nodded. “So, when you don’t do what they want, they beat you?”

“And they can just keep on beating me,” Audrey said defiantly. “I won’t ever do what they want.”

All three of them froze when they heard keys rustling on the other side of the door.

“Don’t say a word,” Audrey whispered. “No matter what they say or do, no matter what they do to me, do not say a word. I’ll handle this.”

Trish watched the three men as they stepped into the room.

“We’ve decided we deserve a little sample,” the guy that called himself Ben grinned. “After all, I did have to listen to all that sniveling teenage nonsense for weeks.”

“I’ve listened to your nonsense for months,” Audrey glared at Ben. “And you’re not a teenager. I guess you’re just stupid.”

“Shut up,” Ben lunged for Audrey but was stopped by the guy they called Percy.

“Niko said we have to leave that one alone,” Percy reminded him. “He wants her to heal before the auction. She’s bating you on purpose. Focus on these two. They’re fresh and innocent.”

“And they’re not bad to look at either,” the third man said.

“We have strict orders,” Ben reminded them.

“Oh, look,” Trish smirked. “Mo speaks.”

“As in the three stooges?” Audrey wondered. “Larry, Curly and Mo?”

“Naw,” Trish shook her head. “I wouldn’t offend the stooges that way. I was thinking more along the lines of Mo Lester. Another stupid name that matches his friends.” She glanced at the guy that called himself Ben. “I’d be careful where I Ben Dover, if I were you. There’s a Mo Lester in the house and he looks pretty desperate.”

“And creepy,” Audrey added.

“You’ve got a mouth on you,” Percy backhanded Trish across the face. “You’ll want to shut your trap and do what you’re told. Ask that one in the corner,” Percy sneered. “You wouldn’t want your face to look like hers.”

“I don’t know,” Trish wiped blood from the side of her lip. “Maybe I’ll Percy Vere too, just like you.”

“Let’s go,” Ben decided. “We can come back later, after Niko has assessed the meat.”

The instant the door slammed shut, Audrey turned on Trish. “I told you not to say a word. They will attack you, the same as they did me.”

“Good,” Trish shrugged. “That was the idea.”

“Why?” Audrey frowned.

“Because I can see your face,” Trish softened. “And I know you’re in pain. The last thing you need is for one of those morons to slug you again. They can focus on me for a while. You need to be able to walk out of here… once I come up with a plan.”

“We don’t even know where we are,” Cilla objected. “And they have us chained to the wall.”

“We can’t pull the chains out of the concrete, but I might be able to pry one of the rings apart,” Trish considered. “And I know where we are. We’re a few miles up Ephraim Canyon. We’re in a cabin, so it has to be on private property, and we left the main highway and travelled left for almost two miles.”

“How do you know that?” Cilla wondered.

“Because I paid attention in girls camp,” Trish grinned. “We all have our strengths. Mine is tracking and navigation. Work on your chain Cilla. See if you can pry one of the links apart enough to slip free.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige arrived home just after five. She changed out of her uniform, grabbed left-overs from the fridge and settled in on the couch. She was positive those girls had been abducted. Jericho agreed and approved her request to work a few hours from home. Dax was working late. He was with the guys up the canyon setting up a new course. She snatched up a cold chicken leg and took a huge bite. Then, she rested her head on the back of the couch and ran the case through her mind.

This Ben guy had basically stalked Cilla for weeks. He hooked up on the Whisper app, then once he had her attention, he convinced her to download another app. One called MeetMe. That app was dangerous. It allowed users to track the location of their prey. Ben knew every move Cilla made for the past week. But what he didn’t realize was Cilla had also tracked him. Once she left the Walcott residence, her and Gage had followed Ben’s movements around town. He'd spent hours at the park, lurked outside the theater and even walked past the high school every day… the creep. She knew where he went and when he went there, but she still didn’t know where he was. Or where he lived. He must be turning his phone off to ensure his privacy. Too bad the girls hadn’t done the same.

Paige finished her dinner and set the plate aside, skimming through all her reports, the data from the phone, her notes from the interview with Trish’s old boyfriend — Nick, and this Ben guys activity, trying to match it up with the movements of the girls for the past week. She mapped out everything, pulled out Cilla’s phone and scoured it for another app, a photo, anything that would tell her where she might be. Frustrated she couldn’t locate any other clues, she decided to check in with Nathan.

“Hey, kid,” Porter said in greeting.

“I thought I’d check in before it got too late,” Paige crossed her legs and settled in for a casual conversation with her favorite general.

“You sound tired,” Nathan observed.

“Frustrated, actually,” Paige admitted. “I have a couple missing teens and every lead seems to stop at a dead end.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Nathan said confidently.

“I hope so,” Paige settled in. “Because I have a bad feeling about this.” She told him a little about the case, about the new course Dax was building and about the upcoming training session they were preparing for. “He’s really excited so don’t pull him away this time. He needs to be here for the next few weeks.”

“There’s nothing on the table that requires his expertise,” Nathan assured her. “I do want to talk to him about a cop I met. I think he’d benefit from one of the men’s courses.”

“Has he applied?” Paige wondered.

“No,” Nathan admitted. “I was thinking more along the lines of a scholarship. He works for a small department. I don’t think they’d agree to the expense, especially this year.”

“Right,” Paige sighed. “I wake up feeling like I’m living in the Twilight Zone. The pandemic is bad enough but the anti-cop hatred stuff, the ambush attacks, the rioting and looting, it’s just crazy and it doesn’t make any sense.”

‘Be careful, Paige,” Nathan sobered. “I worry about you.”

“I am careful,” Paige assured him. “But we’ve been luckier than most. The protests and negativity haven’t really reached our department down here. Unfortunately, the budget cuts have. No citizen spending, no tax revenue, no extra money for training and equipment. I’m sure things are tough everywhere. I don’t think even Stephen King could conjure this nonsense and make it believable.”

“This too will pass,” Nathan laughed. “But maybe you could have that macho husband of yours give me a call when he has a few minutes.”

“I could do that,” Paige considered. “If you let me use Carmen for an hour tomorrow.”

“Brat,” Nathan smiled. “It’s a deal.”

“Thanks,” Paige relaxed. If anyone could find the missing girls through Cilla’s phone, Carmen could. She continued to talk to Nathan for another hour before they clicked off and she tried to get back to work. Her mind kept returning to the interview with Nick Garcetti. She felt sorry for the kid. It was obvious he still cared from Trish, a lot. He was just a sixteen-year-old kid, overwhelmed by his circumstances so he broke up with his girlfriend and focused on his family. A family in turmoil because their father had run off with a younger woman he met at the gym. Now, his mother was working two jobs and Nick had assumed the role of parent to his younger siblings. She knew immediately, he didn’t have anything to do with Trish and Cilla’s disappearance. He’d been home cooking dinner then cleaning up when the two of them went missing. She felt a little bad by the time she left the house. Nick was now even more stressed out. He wanted to find Trish as bad as her parents had.

With a sigh, Paige stretched out on the large couch. She drifted off to sleep — exhausted, lonely, and frustrated. Images of a sixteen-year-old boy that had to grow up way too fast dancing in her head.

That’s how Dax found her. He glanced at the mess scattered over the coffee table, focused on Paige, then resigned, settled onto the couch, and pulled her feet into his lap. After skimming her report, he picked up the phone and opened the hidden section using the code she listed in her notes. He read through the messages in the Whisper app, then opened the app called MeetMe. He read the last message three times before he slid from the couch and headed for the back door.

“Seriously, Dax?” Hawk sat up and slid his legs over the side of the bed. “We just got home five minutes ago.”

“Which is why I knew you’d be awake,” Dax shrugged. “Look, there are two fifteen-year-old girls missing. I need your help with something.”

Hawk rubbed his hands over his face, snatched up his jeans and pulled them back on. “You owe me.”

“Okay,” Dax smiled. “Add it to my tab.”

“The tab is closed,” Hawk smiled. “How can I help?”

“She was using an app called MeetMe to communicate with the man that abducted her, or at least it looks that way. He’s gone silent, I was hoping you could wake up his phone and pinpoint his location.”

“Let me grab my computer and I’ll head over to your place,” Hawk agreed.

“Thanks,” Dax sobered. “They’ve been gone nearly twenty-four hours now. We both know what that means.”

“Yeah,” Hawk paused. “Sick SOB to grab a couple kids like that.”

“I’ll go wake up Paige,” Dax decided. “She may not be thrilled that I called you in. Police business, blah, blah… you know the drill.”

“Your wife,” Hawk smiled. “You’re problem.”

“What do you mean, Hawks on his way over?” Paige sat up and tried to rub the sleep from her eyes. “Why?”

“This,” Dax motioned to the paperwork spread across the table.

“Nathan said I could tap Carmen for an hour tomorrow,” Paige objected. “He wants you to call him, by the way.”

“I can’t do another mission this soon,” Dax grumbled.

“Not another mission,” Paige focused on the phone and realized Dax had messed with her evidence. “Dax, ever heard the term chain of evidence?”

“Sure,” Dax settled onto the couch next to her. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. What did Nathan want?”

“He’d like you to give a cop he met a scholarship to one of your courses,” she glanced up and saw Hawk in the doorway.

“Is it safe?” Hawk grinned.

“That depends,” Paige scowled at Dax then focused on Hawk. “Why are you here?”

“I may be able to activate the phone without that Ben guy knowing and use his GPS signal to track his location.”

“You can do that?” Paige asked, warming to the idea. If Hawk could find her suspect, she’d be able to arrest him tonight and maybe find the girls.

“It shouldn’t compromise the chain of evidence if you supervise everything I do,” Hawk settled onto the couch next to Paige. “I’ll walk you through everything I do so there’s no question if this thing goes to trial.”

“Alright,” Paige motioned to the phone. “She has that calculator app that creates a hidden compartment. The app is inside that masked area on the phone.”

Hawk accessed the area that contained the app and then plugged the phone into his laptop. He opened a program Paige had never seen before, punched in a few commands then sat back and waited. Within seconds a GPS coordinate popped onto the screen. “Your boy is currently residing at the Willow Creek Inn off Highway 89 in Ephraim. Looks like his room is on the southwest corner somewhere.”

Paige grabbed Hawk and gave him a quick kiss, then jumped to her feet. “You two coming or do you need your beauty rest?”

“I’ll come with you,” Hawk stood. “As long as you promise not to kiss me again. I don’t think your husband appreciated it and since he’s my friend and business partner —”

“He’ll get over it,” Paige grabbed Dax’s shirt and pulled him against her, pressing a hard kiss to his lips. “Thanks.”

Dax wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in closer. He deepened the kiss, enjoying the feel of her for several seconds before he stepped away. “You’re welcome.”

Paige swallowed. How did he do that? Her heart was racing, and her mind was a jumbled mess. Would she ever get used to the potency of the man? She hoped not. “Let’s go. Can you two handle backup or should I call in Lo?”

“I think we can handle a sniveling pervert that kidnapped two young girls,” Dax turned to Hawk. “You got your gun?”

“I’ll meet you at the truck,” Hawk strolled out of the room and out the back door.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Paige wondered. “If he’s there and the girls are there, you two might have to testify. I can call Lo and have him meet me in the parking lot.”

“And if he’s not there, or the girls aren’t there, you’d be pulling the graveyard guy away for nothing. I’m not worried about testifying if I need to. Hawk’s fine with it, too. Let’s go.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige approached the lobby desk and set her badge on the counter. “I’m looking for someone, but I don’t know his name,” she began.

“I don’t know how…”

Hawk set a map of the hotel on the counter. “He’s in one of these rooms.”

“He’s either alone, or he would be with a friend,” Paige continued. “Most likely another man.”

The clerk began to tap on keys, pulling up each room in that wing. “Most of guests over in that section are families. Oh, here we go. I have a man by the name of Ben Holt. He listed one other guest.”

“Do you know which vehicle is theirs?” Dax asked.

“They show a Dodge van,” the clerk rattled off the license number before she focused on the map. “They should be parked over here. Exterior access is here,” she pointed to a door on the side of the building.

“Are they…” she glanced back at Paige and the badge she now had clipped to her waist band. “Should I be worried?”

“No,” Paige assured her. “Just stay in here, out of the way. Everything will be fine. I need the room number and a master key.”

“Oh,” the clerk gasped. “I don’t know if I’m supposed to…”

“I can get a warrant, but that will take time,” Paige pushed.

“I guess it’s okay,” the clerk programmed a key card and passed it to Paige. She pointed to the map and relayed the room number then watched, worried as the trio strolled confidently out the door.

\*\*\*\*\*

The arrest was uneventful. Hawk covered the hallway while Paige and Dax entered the room as if they’d done this a million times before. Paige was at the side of the first bed, man handcuffed and swearing seconds before Dax did the same with the man sleeping in the bed at the far end of the room. Once the two men were secured, Paige called Deputy Lovato and asked him to respond and transport the men back to the station.

“I need my pants?” the blonde demanded.

“This is unlawful arrest,” the dark-haired man insisted. “Where is your warrant? You violated my seventh amendment. No, my fourth.”

“Maybe you could exercise your fifth and shut up,” Dax suggested.

“I’ll have your badge,” the blonde barked and tried to spit at Dax.

“That will be difficult,” Dax shrugged and grinned.

Paige was about to intervene when Lo entered the room. “Mind filling me in?” He glanced at Dax motioned down the hall toward Hawk. “And while you’re at it, you can tell me why they helped in the arrest instead of me.”

“I was working a hunch,” Paige dismissed. “Let’s get them to the car and I’ll fill you in.”

Once the prisoners were loaded into the back of the patrol car, Paige turned to Dax. “I’ll ride with Lo. You and Hawk can head home and get some sleep. I know you have a busy day tomorrow. Don’t wait up, this might take a while.”

Dax pulled her in for a quick kiss. “Good luck, I hope you find those girls.”

Paige watched him walk away, climb into his truck, and pull out of the lot. Then, she turned to Lovato. “Think we can get a warrant for the van?”

“Maybe,” Lovato smiled. “I conducted a little Terry frisk on the blonde. Turns out he likes girly trinkets.”

“What did he have?” Paige glanced at the cruiser then back to Lovato.

Lo held out his hand and a thin bracelet dangled from his fingers. “Guess what name is on the surface.”

“Who?” Paige reached for it.

Lovato snatched it back and dropped it into an evidence bag. “Trish.”

“Gotcha,” Paige smiled. “I’ll send the e-warrant through while you drive us back to the station. That van isn’t going anywhere. Not while we have those two tucked away at the office. As long as they don’t make any calls, I think we have some time.”

“The girls aren’t here,” Lovato pointed out. “That means they have someone else working with them. We have a little time, but I want that van towed immediately. We may not be able to access it, but I want it locked up tight until the judge signs off on our request. I’m calling Logan. He can sit on it while he waits for a wrecker.”

“Good idea,” Paige listened while Lovato relayed the information to Deputy Reed. She hit send on the warrant at the same time Lovato clicked off with his partner.

The group traveled in silence all the way back to the office. Once inside, Paige secured the dark-haired man in a cell and escorted the blonde into the conference room. She read him his rights and then just sat there, silently waiting to see if he would talk on his own.

When he didn’t, Paige slid a printout across the table toward him. “We’ve traced that cellphone to you. We know you lured those girls out Friday night pretending to be a sixteen-year-old kid. You kidnapped them from the theater, and you are now holding them against their will. The only way to save yourself, is to tell me where they are.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” the guy told her.

“Let’s just start with your name,” Lovato changed gears, hoping to keep the man unbalanced. “You’re real name this time.”

“Ben,” the guy told them. “Ben Holt.”

“Uh-huh,” Paige settled into her chair. “See, here’s the problem, Ben Holt. You don’t exist. We already have a warrant for the van and my colleague out there is working on a warrant for your phone. It’s only a matter of time. If the phone doesn’t reveal your true identity, I’m pretty sure those fingerprints we just processed will. Do yourself a favor, tell us where you took the girls.”

“What girls?” Ben smirked.

The door opened and Logan peeked inside. “Sean’s here.”

“Great,” Paige smirked. “Give him the phone and both sets of prints. Will you also let him know I’ll be out in a minute to fill in the details?”

Once the door shut, Lo turned to Paige. “I’m thinking we don’t need a few minutes,” he glanced back at Ben. “Now that the FBI is involved, we’ll have the answers we need in less than five minutes.”

“The FBI?” Ben swallowed. “How… why?”

“How?” Paige smiled. “I called them. Why? Because kidnapping is a federal offense and he has resources that I don’t. Like, easy access to your phone data, your GPS history, the evidence of how you lured those girls to the theater in the first place.”

“How did you know…” he stopped. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“He will also be able to track that phone to the manufacturer,” Paige continued. “Then, he’ll know where it was sold and who purchased it. We don’t need you to tell us your name. Sean will provide it to us. Maybe you should just sit there and quietly think about the mess you got yourself into.”

“Oh,” Lovato leaned back in his chair and crossed one ankle over the other. “He’ll have plenty of time for that… If I had to guess, I’d say twenty to life.”

“I…”

The door opened and Sean Wilkens walked in. “His name is Myles Baker. Mr. Baker has two outstanding warrants for his arrest. One out of Texas, the other in New Mexico. It seems Mr. Baker moves around a lot. I wonder why he never put down roots anywhere.”

“I’m guessing it might have something to do with kidnapping,” Lovato said casually.

“The warrants are for attempted kidnapping in Texas,” Sean continued. “They’re anxious to get their hands on your prisoners. New Mexico wants him for auto theft, simple assault and various other minor charges related to the same incident.”

“I want a deal,” the man who was now calling himself Ben demanded.

“Why?” Paige dismissed him. “I have what I need.”

“I know where Peter took those girls,” Ben began glancing around the room frantically trying to think of a way out. “I can identify the boss. If you get me a deal, I’ll tell you everything I know.”

“Here’s the problem,” Paige leaned forward. “You made contact with Cilla. You talked her into meeting you behind the theater where nobody would witness the abduction. You, Myles.”

“Ben,” he corrected. “I go by Ben.”

“You can call yourself Dracula for all I care,” Paige continued. “You still have a problem. There’s nothing linking Peter to the abduction. There’s nothing linking him to Cilla. There’s nothing that proves he was even there when the girls were kidnapped. If anyone gets a deal, I think the DA will offer it to Peter first.”

“Do yourself a favor,” Lo focused on Ben. “Tell us where the girls are being held. Then we’ll think about a deal. Once we know the girls are safe, we’ll talk to the DA. He’s reasonable and your cooperation will be rewarded.”

“I…” Ben hesitated. He almost gave them what they wanted but stopped. If he revealed the location of the girls, he wouldn’t have anything to leverage. No, he wasn’t talking until he got a deal.

“Suit yourself,” Lo stood and left the room. Paige and Sean followed.

“What am I missing?” Sean asked the instant they were back in the bullpen. Paige filled him in. “If we’re dealing with multiple states, it’s probably cleaner for you to take this. I don’t like it, but it’s cleaner and those two will get longer sentences with the feds.”

“I agree,” Lo sighed. “I’d like the arrest, but it makes more sense to hand it over to you. Do we have anything on that Peter guy?”

“I ran his phone, too,” Sean admitted. “I got a warrant for both and used the same intel. It will stick, I’ve done this before.”

“You have,” Paige agreed. “Did you get a name?”

“Peter Rawlings,” Sean glanced at his notes. “He’s not wanted as far as I can tell. The van is registered to him. I’m waiting for forensics to get back to me, but they found a hair in the back cargo area. If it belongs to one of your girls, we’ve got him.”

“Maybe,” Paige considered. “He could just say the idiot Ben borrowed his van. Then, we’ve got nothing.”

“They kidnapped two girls,” Lovato disagreed. “There’s no way one guy was able to snatch up two girls at the same time then drive them to a secret location and control them while he did it.”

“I agree,” Sean added. “We just tell him we know he was there and he’s facing a life sentence if he doesn’t cooperate. He might be scared enough to talk.”

“I’ll switch out our prisoners,” Paige decided. “Myles who wants to be called Ben can sit in a cage while we have a little chat with his buddy, Peter.”

Paige escorted Peter into the conference room and settled into a chair across from him. “We know you kidnapped two teenagers last night,” she began.

“What?” the man feigned surprise. “I never left my room last night.”

“The hotel has a camera system,” Paige informed him. “I’ll give you one chance to amend your statement and tell me the truth.”

“I did leave,” Peter admitted. Stupid cameras. He was going to kill Ben. That’s why you always stayed in a dive. A dumpy motel never had security. “I was upset. Ben took off and left me back at the room and I was bored. I wandered around town for over an hour before I spotted a local café. I had some pie and a few cups of coffee then I left, wandered back to the hotel and turned in for the night.”

“Right,” Paige glanced at her phone display when it began to vibrate. She stood and headed for the door. “I need to take this.”

“Dax?” she answered the instant she was out the door. He wouldn’t be calling unless it was important.

“When we got home,” Dax started. “We decided to see if we could help. Locate the girls, I mean. We did.”

“What?” Paige darted across the room and snatched up a pen and a pad of paper. “Where?”

“Trish’s phone came on then immediately turned back off,” Dax told her. “It was enough. Hawk traced it to an area up Ephraim Canyon. It looks like it’s not that far from Jericho’s cabin.”

Paige began to pace. It made sense. The hotel was just off Ephraim Canyon Road. They could enjoy the luxury of a hotel room and still have a direct shot to the girls. “Can you send me the coordinates?”

“Already did,” Dax told her. “Check your phone, the text should be coming through any second.” Just then her phone chimed.

“Got it,” Paige glanced at the numbers and smiled. “You’re amazing. I owe you one for this. Tell Hawk thanks for me.”

“Love you,” Dax sobered. “Be careful, that area is desolate and out of the way. There could be more than one guy guarding those girls.”

“Trust me, Dax,” Paige softened. “This is what I do. It’s what I’ve done for years. You deal with the big scary terrorists and I’ll take down the child abductors and perverts. It’s a win for everyone.”

“Call me,” Dax insisted. “I’ll be waiting up for your call.”

“You don’t have to…”

“Don’t argue,” Dax interrupted. “Just go arrest the bad guys and let me know when you have them.” He disconnected before she could object.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I heard something,” Cilla whispered. Her fingers were raw, but she still hadn’t loosened the chain at all.

“It’s probably a deer or a bear,” Audrey shifted and pulled on her own chain. “I’m never going to get this thing to budge.”

“Mine isn’t bending either,” Trish admitted. “I was so sure we could slip one link from the chain and get free.

“There it is again,” Cilla insisted, louder this time. “I don’t think that’s an animal.”

“Be quiet,” Audrey scolded. “If they hear us, that monster Niko will come back. I can deal with anyone but Niko.”

“Yeah,” Trish agreed. “That guy was creepy.”

“And terrifying,” Cilla agreed. “I…” she let out a surprised scream when a loud boom erupted outside the door. The cabin walls shook and dirt particles from the old ceiling rained down on them. All three girls covered their eyes, nose, and mouth to keep out the dust. Once the air cleared, the entire room went eerily quiet.

Cilla screamed again when the door that led to the basement flew open and two shadows filled the opening.

“Cilla?” Paige called out. “Trish?”

The three girls held their breath, unsure if they should answer or not.

“I’m Deputy Paige Carter. Are you okay? Is it safe down there?”

“We’re alright,” Trish called out. “But we are chained to the wall. And there’s someone with us. Audrey Phillips and she needs a doctor.”

“I’m coming down,” Paige decided. She turned back to Lovato. “Cover me,” she whispered. “This could be a trap.”

“I don’t like it,” Lovato decided. “That’s a fatal funnel if anyone is waiting to ambush you.”

“Cilla?” Paige called out. “Your parents are worried about you. They said you played a game with your brother, Travis, before he went into the Navy. You called it apples and donuts. Do you remember.”

Cilla’s head shot up and she understood what the deputy was asking. Travis made the game up and they played it to fool their parents for years. If she was telling the truth, she’d answer with a sentence that contained the word apples. If she was lying, she’d say something about donuts. The cops wanted to make sure it was safe to come down and help them.

“Cilla?” Paige called. “Are you okay down there?”

“I’m starving,” Cilla answered. “I could eat an entire apple pie.”

Paige relaxed. “It’s alright. They’re alone.”

“How can you be sure?” Lo asked, not convinced.

“Because Cilla just told me,” Paige cautiously made her way down the stairs and spotted Cilla then Trish chained to the wall next to each other. There was a third girl about the same age huddled in the corner. She was several feet away from the friends and she was obviously in bad shape. Paige moved toward her first. “You must be Audrey.”

“Help them,” Audrey demanded. “We’ve been trying to get the chains separated but they won’t budge. Help them get out of there, then you can come back for me.”

“How about we get all of you free at the same time,” Paige suggested. “Lo, one of those guys has a set of keys that will open a padlock. I need it.” She crouched down next to Audrey. “The links in the chains have been welded together. If you can’t find the key, see if there’s a set of bolt cutters in that small shed on the south side of the cabin.”

“On it,” Lo turned and headed for the prisoners. Moments later, he returned with a set of keys. One look at Audrey and he knew she had to be the first one he set free.

“No,” Audrey objected when the male police officer headed toward her. “Get them first.”

“Hush,” Lovato soothed. “We’re going to help all of you. You first, we have an ambulance waiting outside. Let’s get you to the hospital.”

Once Audrey was free, Lovato moved to Cilla then Trish. Paige wrapped an arm around each girl and Lovato lifted Audrey into his arms. The group slowly ascended the stairs, walked silently through the kitchen then out the back door. Once outside, two paramedics rushed over with a stretcher. They secured Audrey and headed for the ambulance.

“We’ll come see you,” Trish called out just before they lifted the stretcher into the back of the vehicle and slammed the door.

“Can we go home?” Cilla asked.

“Soon,” Lovato promised.

“Your parents are waiting for you at our office,” Paige told them. “We need the details of how this happened, then your parents can take you home.”

“It’s my fault,” Cilla started to cry.

“It’s not,” Trish reached for her friend. “Can we tell you together? With our parents so we only have to go through it once?”

“Of course,” Paige motioned to the SUV parked on the dirt road ahead. “Are you sure neither of you have any injuries?”

“No,” Trish opened the back door and climbed inside. “We’re fine. I know my lip looks swollen and cracked, and I have blood on my shirt, but it’s not bad. I don’t need a doctor or anything. Just a fat lip.”

“Did one of them hit you?” Lovato’s eyes were cold and dangerous.

“Yeah,” Trish nodded and buckled her seatbelt then reached for Cilla’s hand. “But I’m okay. Really.”

“Which one?” Lovato demanded.

“We don’t know their names,” Cilla answered. “It was the guy they called Percy.”

“All the names are stupid,” Trish added. “Ben Dover and Percy Vere. They left but they’re two of the guys that kidnapped us. Them and the one I named Mo.”

“Mo?” Paige settled into the passenger seat, then turned to face the girls.

“Mo Lester,” Cilla grinned. “He didn’t like that name, which made it perfect.”

Paige smiled. “But Mo was still here?”

“Yes,” Cilla tightened her grip on Trish’s hand. “Mo and the evil, creepy one they called Niko.”

“We think the Niko guy was the boss,” Trish added.

“Alright,” Lovato shifted the vehicle into drive. “Why don’t the two of you try to relax while we drive back to Manti. We have a lot of questions and your parents are frantic. They’ve been worried about you.”

“We’re going to be in so much trouble,” Cilla told Trish.

“And we’ll probably be grounded for the rest of our lives,” Trish added.

The group traveled in silence all the way back to the office.

\*\*\*\*\*

Sean was standing just outside the large conference room, impatiently waiting when the group stepped through the front door. “The prisoners are in the cells in the back. I called the hospital. They are going to keep Audrey Phillips overnight. She’s dehydrated and she has a broken arm, two broken ribs and they are monitoring the injuries to her face. Basically, she’s a mess.”

“Was she reported missing?” Paige wondered.

“Yes,” Sean motioned to the conference room. “Why don’t the two of you head through those doors over there. Your parents are waiting and there’s a young man inside that is anxious to see Trish.”

“Me?” Trish frowned. “Who?”

Nick stepped from the room and stopped just outside the door, not sure what to do or how Trish would react when she saw him.

“Nick?” Trish stared at him, confused. “Why are you here?”

Nick slowly made his way to her side and took her hand in his. “I’m sorry to intrude. I just…”

“I interviewed Nick yesterday,” Paige moved forward. “He’s been really worried. I asked your mom to call him once we located you and knew you were okay.”

“But I thought…” Trish glanced from Nick to Paige.

“You thought I didn’t care,” Nick slipped his hands into his pockets. “I lied.”

“Cilla,” Paige put a hand on Cilla’s shoulder. “Let’s head inside. Your parents are anxious to see you and I think Nick and Trish could use a little privacy.”

Cilla waited for a signal from Trish. When her friend nodded, she let Paige guide her into the large conference room. The instant she stepped through the door, her parents were there, pulling her into a huge hug.

“Oh, baby,” Skylar sobbed. “We were so worried.”

“This was all my fault,” Cilla told the room. She focused on Trish’s parents. “I asked Trish to come with me. Please, don’t be mad at her. It was all my fault.”

Trish stared at Nick, unsure what to say.

Nick moved forward and pulled Trish into a bear hug. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I thought…” he cleared his throat. “I thought you were going to die, and I wouldn’t get a chance to tell you why I did what I did. I didn’t’ mean any of it.”

“Nick?” Trish took a step back and studied him, confused. “What’s going on?”

“My dad left,” he blurted. “My mom had to get another job and I have to stay home and make sure Annie, Brandon and Mason get dinner and do their homework.”

“You broke up with me because your dad left?” Trish frowned. “I still don’t understand why.”

“I can’t be the boyfriend you deserve,” Nick glanced down. “It nearly killed me, but I had to let you go. I can’t ask you to live this way. I can’t ask you to date a guy that can’t hang out on Friday night, can’t chill with our friends at a football game, I can’t even take you to the prom.”

“You’re an idiot,” Trish finally understood. “None of that stuff matters. Not if we care about each other. Nick, you lied to me, though. That does matter. It matters that you didn’t trust me enough to confide in me,” she reached out and took his hand. “I think we can fix all of that though, if you want to try.”

“I want to try,” Nick linked his fingers through hers.

“I’m sorry your dad left, that sucks,” Trish whispered. “If I say I forgive you, will you go in there with me. Will you help me face my parents?”

Nick shifted, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and led her toward the conference room. “I don’t think they’re mad. I think they are just glad you’re okay. It’s going to be fine.”

Once Nick and Trish joined the group, after her parents smothered her with relieved hugs, the girls relayed their story.

Paige walked the girls through the events, pausing to get clarification and documenting the actions of each of the men that had abducted the girls then held them captive.

Sean took notes, asked his own questions, then left to arrange for transportation to a federal facility where the men would stay until they stood trial.

Once the group finished the interview and headed home, Paige dropped her forehead to the table.

“What’s wrong?” Lo asked. “It’s a good day, we found the missing girls and even added a third rescue as a bonus.”

“That’s what’s wrong,” Paige lifted her head and focused on Sean. “You’ll have to interview Audrey as soon as possible. If we get lucky, she’ll have names for the other missing girls.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Sean assured her. “I’ll head to the hospital first thing and talk to Audrey Phillips before her parents arrive from Arizona. I’m also going to interview the four thugs that abducted those girls. But I want to wait for Lew to arrive. Trafficking is his specialty and he’ll know how to handle them. He’ll be able to tell if they’re lying — hoping to cover their tracks, or if we can trust the information and act on it.”

Paige relaxed, Lewandowsky was a pro, the best in the business when it came to human trafficking. If anyone could find those missing girls, it was Sean and Lew. She’d just have to accept that as a win and hope for the best. “I’m heading home,” she turned to Lovato. “Thanks for the help. You too, Sean. I’m glad we brought you in. Just the addition of Audrey makes this federal, add in the others and I suspect you’re going to have your hands full.”

“Yeah,” Sean stood. “And don’t think it escaped my notice that you didn’t offer to break the news to Porter. “You owe me, Paige. And, I will collect one of these days.”

Paige laughed. “As long as it’s not today.”

Dax was waiting when she arrived home. She settled onto the couch next to him and filled in the details she hadn’t known when she called him earlier. As promised, she called him once the girls were rescued before they started down the canyon.

“You okay?” he pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.

She sighed. “I don’t know. It feels….”

“Unfinished?” he offered.

“Right,” Paige sighed. “My part is over. I rescued my missing girls, reunited them with their parents; and, as an added bonus, I think I repaired a relationship that was on the rocks. All in a day’s work, so why am I so depressed?”

“Because you’re focused on the others,” Dax said in understanding. “But Sean will find them — if they can be found. And don’t forget, he’s got Carmen and those magic fingers and amazing hacking skills at his disposal. Porter won’t stand in the way of her helping. In fact, I think he’ll encourage it. I called him, by the way. We got that scholarship worked out. Matt Warner will be attending the training course we have scheduled in September. If Nathan’s right, he’s got talent. Shame he’s wasting away in a small town where nothing really happens.”

“That’s what people said about Manti,” Paige smiled. “Before I arrived.”

Dax laughed and pulled her in for a kiss. “You ready to head upstairs?”

“Beyond ready,” Paige stood and held out a hand to her husband.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S5

**Tags:** Season 5

---

### [Genetic Impersonation](https://melaniepsmith.com/genetic-impersonation/)

**Published:** June 30, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Genetic Impersonation (S5E3) The community is on edge trying to survive a global pandemic.  Dean reveals he has a girlfriend and she has a problem only Paige can solve.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*GENETIC IMPERSONATION\*\*\*****

Paige entered the building, crossed the open work area, and dropped into her chair with a long sigh. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, determined to block out the world and relax.

“Rough morning?” Mike Lovato asked, studying his colleague intently.

“You could say that,” Paige straightened and pulled her chair up to her desk, flipping on her computer. “If I have to respond out to Derek and Sophie Gibson’s place one more time, they’re both going to jail.”

“Another domestic?” Lovato nodded in understanding. “It’s a little early, isn’t it?”

“Normally, yes,” Paige agreed. “But since we’re experiencing a global pandemic and all… the two of them decided it was a magnificent idea to hop out of bed, conjure up a batch — or six — of Bloody Mary’s and get an early start. With each fresh drink the blood decreased, and the vodka increased. By the time I got there, the Gray Goose was cooked, and they were tossing items out the front window while having oral sex.”

“You lost me,” Margie frowned.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MPS-PC_Cover-S5.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Genetic-Impersonation.pdf)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MPSmith-Bloody-Mary-002.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MPSmith-Bloody-Mary-001.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MPSmith-Blody-Mary-003.jpg)

“F-you,” Paige grinned. “No, F-you and the horse you rode in on. I hate every F-ing thing you do…”

“Got it,” Margie shook her head. “The sayings you guys come up with are truly baffling.”

Paige was about to respond when Jericho opened his door and motioned for her to join him. Paige frowned, glanced at Margie, but only got a shrug. She made her way across the room and silently stepped into the office. Her boss immediately shut the door behind her and returned to his desk. Paige glanced around the room and spotted Dean sitting in one of the visitor chairs next to a gorgeous blonde. *What was this about?* She settled cautiously into a chair and silently waited.

“Dean and Miss Bentley have stumbled onto a delicate situation and they need our help,” Jericho began.

Paige glanced at Dean, turned to study the woman, then immediately focused on Jericho. She held back a grin. The atmosphere was tense, but to her it felt like two naughty children fidgeting on the couch while they admitted to a stern father they were pregnant. “What kind of help?” She finally asked.

“I’ll explain,” Dean sat up straighter but continued to hold the woman’s hand in support. “Cara is an amazing IT expert over at Snow College. She was recruited about a year ago and started her new job last fall.”

“Okay,” Paige settled into her chair, realizing this would be a lengthy explanation. She wanted to jump in, ask questions, and move the process along; but, she realized, that would make it seem like an interrogation, not a meeting with the boss.

“Before everything shut down,” Cara supplied. “I was working a lot of hours, tons of overtime, and I even took work home. The system needed a complete overhaul and I was really, really busy.”

“You know my schedule is also pretty hectic,” Dean provided. “Between the job and helping my parents at the track, it was hard to catch a few minutes to grab a quick dinner or sit down for a few minutes and have lunch.”

“But then everything shut down and you two had more time,” Paige said in understanding.

“I had too much time,” Cara glanced at Dean.

“I was still working and with a big race coming up, the track has taken up a lot of my free time,” Dean picked up the story. “I’m on a pretty strict training schedule and dad’s overwhelmed trying to get things organized to ensure the event runs smoothly. We need the revenue and now that things are opening up, we’re trying to have sanitation stations, offer face masks, limit seating so the fans are forced to social distance.”

“Right,” Paige nodded. “I understand. I’m sure it’s a huge undertaking.”

“I offered to help,” Cara added. “But my knowledge runs more toward fixing a carburetor than running an event.”

“You can fix a carburetor?” Paige asked, surprised.

Cara smiled. “My dad was in the military most of my life. We moved around a lot and mom drove an old beat up Toyota. It got great mileage but was constantly in need of repair. My dad taught me to troubleshoot when I was six. I rebuilt my first engine when I was twelve. He learned most of what he knew from his father.”

“Good to know,” Paige smiled back at her. “So, you had a lot of free time because Studley Earnhardt over there was training and working all the time.”

“Cara was bored and lonely without family around,” Dean told her. “I felt bad about the whole situation. We should have had more time together, but I was always busy, and she was just sitting at home binge watching Netflix.”

“Bummer,” Paige flashed Cara a look of understanding. “I know that can get old fast.”

“I bought two of those DNA kits,” Dean ignored the comment. “The ancestry ones, for Cara’s birthday a few months back. We did the tests together and, when I had time, we both started building a family tree.”

Paige frowned, realizing where this was headed.

“I love it,” Cara grinned. “I’m a geek at heart and researching my family line was so addictive. By the time I got the results back from the test, I already had a pretty big tree going. I knew my parents and my grandparents really well growing up. No matter where my dad was stationed, we always made sure we flew to Colorado for my mom’s annual family reunion. It was huge, with uncles, aunts, and a million cousins.”

“But when you got the results,” Paige said softly. “They didn’t match your tree?”

“Exactly,” Dean gave Cara’s hand a supportive squeeze.

“I called my dad,” Cara told her. “I asked him if they adopted me. He denied it. In fact, the question hurt him. He insisted I am his biological daughter and refused to discuss the problem any further.”

“How did he explain the test results?” Paige wondered.

“He said they must have made a mistake,” Cara sighed. “I don’t want to hurt my dad. We’re close. We always have been, but after mom died, it was just the two of us against the world.”

“Cara’s mom died of cancer when she was fifteen,” Dean provided.

“I’m sorry,” Paige said automatically.

“Dad was still a marine at the time,” Cara whispered. “He immediately retired, and we moved to Cedar City. Dad got a job at Southwest Tech in their Applied Technology Department. He soon became one of the leading instructors of the automotive technician program.”

“Makes sense,” Paige nodded. “Which is why you could rebuild an engine at twelve.”

“Cara’s an ace when it comes to mechanics,” Dean’s face radiated with pride. “But her dad is a wizard. He can diagnose any problem in seconds.”

“Is your dad still in Cedar City?” Jericho asked.

“For now,” Cara nodded. “He’s trying to sell the house so he can move up here. He wants to be closer to me and Dean’s father gave him an offer he can’t refuse.”

“Which is?” Paige wondered. It seemed like Dean and his family were quickly integrating this woman and her father into their family. She just hoped it wasn’t some kind of scam. She hoped the dad really was a former marine and the dynamic duo was telling her friend the truth — about everything.

“Scott will help my dad part time,” Dean provided. “With mechanical stuff, setting up the booths, arranging the seats, you name it. I guess you could say he’s going to be dad’s assistant to everything.”

“How soon will he arrive?” Paige wondered. Maybe she had some time to check him out and make sure this family was who they said they were.

“He’s been trying to come up on the weekends,” Cara told her. “But he’s also trying to sell the house. I’m not sure when he’ll be able to come up again. The realtor insisted on an open house this Friday and Saturday.”

“Cara and her father are very close,” Dean provided. “If he can’t come this weekend, I suspect he’ll insist on a trip sometime next week.”

“You still haven’t said what you need help with,” Paige told them. “From me.”

“I can’t ask my dad about my lineage again,” Cara told her. “His health isn’t as good as it used to be, and I can’t upset him while he’s still in Cedar City and I’m up here. I asked Dean to look into it, but he’s hesitant to pry into my family. He says uncovering skeletons might put a strain on our relationship. I need to know but I don’t know how to get answers.”

“You have to know,” Paige warned. “If I start digging, I’m going to turn over all the rocks. You might not like what I discover.”

“Dean told me you are amazing at forensics and that you won’t stop until you find the truth,” Cara looked straight into Paige’s eyes. “I need answers. Why don’t I have any of my father’s DNA? Why does he insist I am his daughter and I wasn’t adopted? I have a cousin on my mother’s side who is also on the same ancestry site. I’ve known him my entire life, played with him at family gatherings, grew up believing he was family — but I’m not related to him. Not really. Why?”

“How do you know you don’t have DNA connected with your father?” Paige wondered.

“That’s why Dean brought this to me,” Jericho answered. “He obtained the results from the ancestry site and ran Cara’s DNA through CODIS to see if he could find a relative. There wasn’t a match. He then pulled the results from Scott Bentley, from his time in the military, and had both of them compared by an expert. They don’t match. Cara Bentley has no biological connection to Scott Bentley.”

“Bold move,” Paige glanced at Dean, then Jericho. She hoped her fellow officer wasn’t in too much trouble for using their official system for personal use. She’d pull him aside later and tell him next time, he should come to her. She still had a few back channels she could tap into. Friends and acquaintances who owed her favors that would have been happy to help if they knew the backstory.

“Can you help Cara?” Dean asked. He already got a stern warning from his boss and notification the sheriff would put a letter of reprimand in his file for abusing the system. He didn’t care, if it helped Cara get answers, he’d take the reprimand and move on.

“I know you said you want to leave your father out of this,” Paige began. “I don’t want to upset him — or you — but that’s the most logical starting point. I have the time to investigate this. If you’re sure you want me to, that is.”

“Of course, I do,” Cara insisted.

“What if your dad committed a crime?” Paige warned. “If he says you’re not adopted — where did you come from?”

“If you are suggesting my father kidnapped me,” Cara said angrily. “Your way off base and Dean has seriously misjudged you.”

“Then how do you explain it?” Paige pushed.

Cara bit her bottom lip and hesitated for several seconds before she answered. “I don’t know.”

“We’ve talked about this,” Dean wrapped an arm around Cara in support. “I’ve talked to Scott myself. He’s not lying. He believes Cara is his biological daughter.”

Paige studied Dean. He was too connected to this family to make any kind of rational determination on that front, but she’d keep that opinion to herself. “You said your father was a marine,” Paige knew how lonely her mother had been when her father was out of town on mission after mission. “Is it possible your mother had an affair?”

“No,” Cara shook her head. “Plus, if I’m related to mom and not dad, Mark would have shown as a match — my cousin. Mark’s parents are Angela and James Colten. James and my mom are siblings. Dean keeps telling me DNA doesn’t lie. I know just accepting there was a mistake would be easier, but I’m a data girl. I trust science. I’m analytical and deductive in my reasoning. I know my parents aren’t my biological parents. I’ve accepted that — well, I’m working to accept it — even if my dad can’t. Now, I need to know why. Dad will always be my dad; nothing will change that. I love him no matter what. He’s always been my rock and he will continue to be my rock, and I will try to be his. But we need to know the truth. I need to know the truth.”

Paige turned to address Jericho. “And, you’re okay with me spending time on this?”

“Within reason,” Jericho nodded. “I’m approving you to work on it when we don’t have anything pressing. I wouldn’t want to deprive you of another visit to the Gibsons. Don’t neglect active calls, but yes… give it whatever time you need to help Cara and Dean get answers.”

“And if I stumble onto a crime?” Paige wondered.

“We’ll deal with that when and if it comes,” Jericho advised.

Paige took the next twenty minutes to gather information on Cara’s father, her mother, and any extended family members she had detailed information on. Once she was finished, she stood. “I will need to talk to Scott Bentley myself. Will you call me the next time he comes to town for a visit. I’ll do my best not to upset him, but if you want me to do this, I have to do it my way.”

“Alright,” Cara also stood. “Dean will let you know when dad comes up next time. He’s hoping to get away sometime next week.”

Dean stood and guided Cara out of the room. Paige watched until she was sure the two of them were far enough away, she could speak freely. “Have you checked them out yet?” she asked her boss.

“They check out,” Jericho nodded. “Cara is twenty-four. Scott Bentley retired from the Marine Corp in 2011. He was a Major at the time. He immediately moved to Cedar City and worked in the Applied Technology Department for the past nine years. He’s eligible to retire with a limited pension at the end of this year. The college has decided not to resume classes this fall so Mr. Bentley will be able to run his courses online. He’s going to see how things go but plans to retire once he qualifies. I didn’t check out the job with Dean’s father because, I assume, he’d know if his dad hired his girlfriends’ father to help out at the track. They appear legit. I know you’ll do a deeper dive, but I didn’t find anything that alarmed me.”

“You mean Margie didn’t find anything alarming,” Paige corrected. “I will look deeper, but I’m relieved to hear they come off as legit. I was worried this was some kind of elaborate con. Dean’s family has been through enough, they don’t need more trouble. Especially with the shutdowns and the economical strain they’re under right now.”

“I agree,” Jericho settled back in his chair. “Which is another reason I put you on this case.”

“Is it a case?” Paige leaned against the door jam.

“That’s what I want you to tell me,” Jericho grinned. “Keep me in the loop on this. I hope there’s an innocent answer to all of this, but we both know that’s unlikely. I want to be there when Dean learns the truth.”

“I can do that,” Paige pushed off the wall.

“Anything new with the Gibsons?”

“Nope,” Paige shrugged. “Just the usual. If they keep this up, I’m going to call Kathy over at the liquor store and insist she stop selling them Grey Goose.”

“Won’t work,” Jericho smiled. “They’ll just switch it up and start buying Smirnoff.”

“The entire Vodka isle is off limits until this deadly virus is under control or the world ends, whichever comes last,” Paige grumbled. “And no, I’m not kidding. I don’t know how, but I will find a way.”

“Just do it without getting me sued,” Jericho insisted. He watched Paige leave the room knowing Dean and his mystery were in good hands. He just hoped Cara and her Scott Bentley were exactly what they claimed to be. Because, with Paige digging up skeletons, if they had something to hide … it wouldn’t be a secret for long.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige slid from her vehicle and slowly made her way to the front door of Cara’s modest rental home. So far, she hadn’t found any red flags in her background. She’d checked — thoroughly. Dean was falling in love with the girl and Paige decided, since she’d been given permission, she’d turn over ever rock and search every closet for skeletons. She hadn’t been able to find even one.

The first thing she’d done was check CODIS and the independent results Dean had paid an expert to verify. There was no doubt, Cara was not related to Scott Bentley. The man might insist it was all a mistake, but Paige knew otherwise. Now, she had to find out if Scott Bentley was hiding the truth, if he could solve the mystery but didn’t want to, or if he was truly in the dark and just as baffled as his daughter. Dean insisted Cara’s father was honest, courageous and had just as much integrity as Dean. Paige was determined to judge that for herself. She rang the bell and waited. It didn’t take long. Within seconds, Cara was standing in the doorway. She was obviously nervous about the meeting.

“I promise,” Paige reached out to shake Cara’s hand. “I’ll be respectful. I just need to ask him a few questions.”

“I understand,” Cara took a step back in invitation. Once Paige was inside, she reached out, resting her cold, soft hand on Paige’s arm. “Can I be there? When you question him, I mean? Can I be there with him?”

“It would be better if I did this alone,” Paige gave her hand a gentle pat. “Trust me. This isn’t an interrogation. We’re just going to have a friendly talk.”

“Then why can’t I be in the room?”

“Because I want him to feel comfortable answering all my questions,” Paige explained. “There are some things he might try to hide to protect his daughter. Like if your mom did have an affair. That’s something a father wouldn’t want to talk about with his little girl in the room.”

“I’m hardly little,” Cara mumbled.

“To your dad,” Paige grinned. “You will always be little.”

“Okay,” Cara relented. “You’re right. There are things he won’t answer if I’m there. I agreed to do this your way. I’m going to trust you.”

“Good,” Paige followed Cara into what looked like a sitting room. The house was too small to have a formal sitting area or a den. The space was small, but somehow Cara was able to make it feel comfortable and cozy. She moved forward and stopped in front of a chair directly across from a tall, muscular man that was currently sitting on a small sofa.

Scott Bentley stood and held out his hand. “You must be Deputy Carter. I’m Scott Bentley.”

“You can call me Paige,” she settled into the chair and waited for him to return to his seat.

“Cara, baby,” his entire face softened when he turned to address his daughter. “Could you bring us something to drink?” He turned back to Paige. “We could make a fresh pot of coffee or there’s iced tea, I think we still have some orange juice and, of course, we have cola. I’m afraid my daughter only allows diet in the house but it’s cold.”

“Actually,” Paige shifted and glanced at Cara. “Ice water would be great.”

“I’ll take some juice,” Scott told her. “Whatever we have is fine.”

Paige waited until Cara had returned with their drinks, slid out of the room, and silently slid the door closed before she began. “I can see you two are very close.”

“We are,” Scott studied the closed door. “I don’t have anything to hide if that’s what you think. She’s my daughter. I can’t explain the DNA mix up. I know how accurate that stuff is. But Cara is my daughter, she has to be.”

“I’m not here to dispute that,” Paige decided to start easy. “Do you mind if I record this, so we only have to do it once?”

“No,” Scott motioned absently with his hand. “That’s fine.”

“Okay. Tell me about that time — when Cara was born. What was going on in your life? How was your marriage? Were you on a mission?”

“If you’re implying there were problems in my marriage, you’re wrong,” Scott took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.

“I’m not,” Paige said flatly. “Before we begin, let me tell you a little about me. I was an Army brat. I hope you won’t hold that against me. I know there’s a bit of a rivalry between the two branches.”

Scott smiled. “A bit.”

“My father was a Ranger and he was gone a lot,” Paige continued. “Mom tried to be strong, but I always knew she was really unhappy when dad was gone. For me, it was just the way it was. I didn’t know anything else. When I got older, I realized mom wasn’t just unhappy. She was constantly worried, and she was lonely. I’m just trying to get an idea of where you and your wife were emotionally, as partners, as people, when Cara was born. Was there a strain on the marriage because you were deployed? Were you on leave? Was it a time when you were living at the base waiting for your next mission? Run me through it, tell me about your life at that time.”

“Alright,” Scott focused on his glass and tried to remember what life was like during that time. “Cara was born in March of 1996. The conflict in the Persian Gulf was over — Desert Storm was considered a success in 1991, but I was still on leave until mid-1992. That was a difficult time for Nadia because she knew I was in a dangerous assignment. Once I returned, instead of getting a post here in the states, I was assigned to Okinawa Japan. Nadia went with me and both of us loved it there. We returned to the states in 1995. At that time, it felt like our marriage was stronger than it had ever been. Shortly after arriving back in the states, Nadia discovered she was pregnant. We were both thrilled and anxious to start a family. Originally, I was supposed to be stateside for the next couple years, but a situation arose that took me back to Kuwait.”

“How far along was Nadia at that time?” Paige wondered.

“About five months,” Scott took a sip of his juice before he continued. “She was upset that I’d be gone for the birth of our first child. To be honest, I was upset that I’d miss such an important milestone in our lives — and Cara’s. It couldn’t be helped, that was the life I chose. Before I shipped out, we packed up a few things and Nadia went to stay with her parents. They had a large ranch near Edwards, Colorado. It’s a beautiful place with a large home and property that borders a national forest. Nadia always loved it there because it was so peaceful. We thought it was her best option. I didn’t like the idea of her being alone those last few months of her pregnancy.”

“So,” Paige considered. “You were in Kuwait when your daughter was born?”

“I was,” Scott agreed. “What are you getting at?”

“Nothing,” Paige shrugged. “Just trying to get the big picture. How old was Cara when you returned?”

“I believe it was a six-month deployment, so Cara was about two months old when I returned,” Scott strained to remember, it was so long ago.

“Okay,” Paige made a note of the timeline. “So, you get home and then what happened? Did you stay in Colorado?”

“No,” Scott strained to remember. “I believe that’s when I was stationed in Texas.”

“And how long did you live there?”

“A little over three years,” Scott said slowly. “I think that’s correct. Our son, Micah was born.”

“How many children do you have?” Paige asked. She already knew, but she wanted him to relax again.

“Just two,” Scott told her. “Nadia easily miscarried. She had a hard time carrying our children full-term. Once we had two amazing babies, we stopped trying. It was just too hard on her. It was hard on both of us. The excitement, then the disappointment and the sorrow. We decided to be grateful for the children we had.”

That was interesting and the first Paige heard there may have been health complications with the mother. “Okay, Mr. Bentley, I’m going to be blunt. Is there any reason to believe your wife may have had another miscarriage and adopted a baby while you were away?”

“No,” Scott answered immediately. “First, she was careful. It’s the reason I insisted she stay with my parents while I was gone. Plus, she would miscarriage in the first trimester. If she carried the child into the fifth month, the pregnancy was fine. I was there for my son’s birth and I know there weren’t any problems — not after those first three to four months.”

“Alright,” Paige considered. “Do you still have contact with Nadia’s parents?”

“We do,” Scott sighed. “I was hoping we wouldn’t have to bring them into this but I’m still on good terms with them and Cara has an excellent relationship with her grandparents. Cara’s grandfather, Liam Bennett, he suffers from Alzheimer’s, so I doubt he’ll be much help. Natasha, Nadia’s mother, she’s still sharp as a tack. If you need to talk to them, talk to Natasha; but, please don’t upset her. She has her hands full taking care of Liam.”

“I appreciate your time,” Paige stood, not answering Scott’s request. She couldn’t make any promises, so she planned to avoid the request altogether. Cara deserved to know the truth. “I’ll be in touch.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Three hours later, Paige was sitting behind her desk, typing out a report. She’d been dispatched to a gas theft and an ungovernable juvenile on her way back to the office. She glanced up when Dean dropped into her visitor’s chair.

“Cara said you left without talking to her,” Dean accused.

“I did,” Paige settled back. “I know your girlfriend wants regular updates, but that’s not how I work. You know an investigation like this takes a lot of twists and turns before we uncover the real story behind the mystery. I won’t share anything until I’m absolutely sure it’s correct.”

“I do understand that,” Dean sighed. “Cara doesn’t. She’s not a patient woman, Paige. Give me something I can use to get her to back off and relax.”

Paige laughed. “You are in serious trouble, buddy.”

“Tell me about it,” Dean sighed again. “I keep telling myself I’m too young to get this serious, but when I start to back off, I miss her.”

“Then don’t back off,” Paige suggested. “Just take things slow. Let them develop the way things gradually progressed with me and my adorable neighbor.”

“Ha,” Dean shook his head. “Bite your tongue. I know what the two of you went through before you finally tied the knot. I seriously do not want to experience anything even remotely close to kidnapping, terrorist plots, B&E’s, ex-girlfriends…”

“Okay,” Paige laughed. “I get it. Bad suggestion. Just let things progress naturally and see where they go. You might be surprised. She seems like a really nice girl.”

“You seem surprised by that,” Dean narrowed his eyes at her.

“Not exactly,” Paige stood and gathered up her files. “Relieved, grateful, happy for you and your family. Not surprised.”

“You thought this was some kind of con,” Dean accused.

“I did,” Paige said unapologetically. “And I’m happy I was wrong.”

Dean thought he should be mad, but instead he was grateful. “Thanks.”

“For?” Paige slid the strap of her bag over her shoulder.

“Caring enough to check,” Dean shrugged. “Now, back to the case. What’s your next move?”

“I’ve been researching the grandparents,” Paige pulled open the back door. “Cara’s mother’s parents. They still live in Colorado. I want to get as much information as I can on them before I take a little trip.”

“You’re going to see them?” Dean asked, surprised.

“Maybe,” Paige dumped her gear onto her backseat and turned to face Dean. “At the moment, I’m looking for missing babies near Edwards, Colorado in 1996.”

“You talked to Scott,” Dean objected. “You can’t still think he abducted a child.”

“No,” Paige gave him a reassuring smile. “I believe him. I don’t think he had anything to do with this. I do, however, wonder if something happened to Nadia’s baby. The baby she was pregnant with when Scott was halfway around the world and she did something in desperation. Something she never even told him about.”

“That’s just…” Dean didn’t have a word to describe how messed up that sounded.

“I’m working on it,” Paige told him. “You told Cara to trust me. Now, it’s time for you to do the same. See you tomorrow.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped through the door and smelled something delicious. She dropped everything onto the couch, including her gun belt, then made her way to the kitchen. Dax was standing in front of the stove talking on the phone while he stirred something in a large pot.

Paige moved in behind him and started to reach out but had to pivot and duck when Dax turned abruptly. He hit the handle of the pot, scrambled to prevent their dinner from tumbling to the floor, dropped his phone — which skittered across the floor and crashed into the underside of the cabinet below the sink, cursed, then scowled when he realized Paige was doubled over, laughing.

“Laugh it up,” Dax flipped the heat off the pot of chili he was preparing and leaned over to snatch up his phone. “I’ll call you later,” he barked before disconnecting the line.

Paige moved to the stove, snatched up the spoon Dax had been using, and dipped it into the bubbling, spicy liquid. She scooped out a generous bite, paused to blow on the steaming beans and chunks of meat then slurped the contents into her mouth.

Dax watched her, grinning when she lunged for the fridge and pulled out a gallon milk. Clearly, her impatience came with consequences. “Now that you burned the roof of your mouth, want to tell me why you’re sneaking around in my kitchen?”

“I didn’t sneak,” Paige objected. “That’s amazing.” She pointed to the chili.

“It’s nearly finished,” Dax moved forward and wrapped his arms around Paige, pulling her against his chest. “If you’re going to sneak, I should at least get a ‘honey, I’m home’ kiss.”

Paige pushed up onto her tiptoes, pressed her lips to his then tried to back away.

Dax held on tighter and pulled her closer. “Nuh-huh.”

Paige laughed, but melted into him. The man had moves, and she could never resist a single one of them. Far too soon, Dax pulled back and stepped away. He moved to the stove and stirred his masterpiece. Paige watched him, silently. Sometimes, she was still amazed they were married, and this amazing man was her husband.

“Any progress on the mystery of Dean’s new flame?” Dax asked over his shoulder.

“Huh?” Paige asked before she pulled herself out of her daydream.

Dax dumped the chili into a serving bowl, glanced at Paige, and smiled. “Did dad do it? Did dad do it with the sexy military nurse? Oh, I know, did mom seduce the pool boy who had already gotten his stripper girlfriend pregnant? But she couldn’t care for her child because a famous Hollywood scout dropped into the private club where she worked and offered her the job of a lifetime. In desperation, she asked the nice lady that engaged in a little afternoon delight with her man to help a girl out of a bind.”

“Sure,” Paige settled onto one of the kitchen chairs. “Because hotshot Hollywood types always wander into seedy bars in Colorado to yank pregnant strippers out of poverty and into the limelight.”

“Who said the bar was seedy?” Dax set the chili on the table, then returned to the stove to pull the rolls out of the oven.

Paige laughed. “That was the only part that rubbed you the wrong way?”

Dax slid onto his chair smiling. “Why Colorado?”

Paige dished her plate and then gave Dax a recap of her interview with Scott Bentley. When she finished and Dax didn’t say anything, she forced herself to wait a few more seconds. Finally, she couldn’t take it any longer. “Well?” she scowled.

“Well what?” Dax considered.

“No words of wisdom?” she asked. “No King of the Intellectual advice on this one?”

“I love that you think I’m the King of the Intellectuals,” Dax grinned. “I wonder if you meant to let that one slip.”

“Shut up,” Paige slugged him. “Tell me what you think.”

“I’m just wondering why this is a police matter,” Dax pondered all the angles.

“It might not be,” Paige admitted. “On the other hand, it might have been an abduction that went unsolved for twenty-four years.”

“Have you checked?” Dax asked. “How many abductions were there in Colorado during this time frame that involved newborn girls?”

“I haven’t found any,” Paige sighed.

“I figured that would have been your next step,” Dax stood and dished himself another bowl of chili. “So, what’s next?”

“I’m going to finish going through the missing child or possible abduction cases tonight,” Paige warned.

“That should be fun,” Dax dug into his meal.

“It shouldn’t take too long,” Paige told him, frustrated she wasn’t getting anywhere.

“What’s bothering you?” he knew how Paige operated. Running through the case with him helped her see things she missed on the first go around.

“I don’t even know if we have a case,” Paige admitted. “I’m basically helping a friend solve a mystery and I can’t decide how I feel about that. Should I be using police resources to solve a non-police related family secret?”

“Sure,” Dax shrugged. “Because it could be a crime. And if that’s not reason enough, your boss told you to. Personally, as a citizen, I think you should use your resources to determine if a crime was committed. Once you are absolutely certain it was just a dark family secret, but no laws were broken — then you can stop. Or, you can continue and feel guilty because you’re wasting taxpayer money.”

“What crime was committed?” Paige pushed.

“I have no idea, I’m just the King,” Dax shrugged.

“Funny,” Paige sobered. “I’m serious.”

Dax reached out and took her hand. “I think you should stop worrying about why you’re doing it. Or if you should be doing it. Just solve the mystery and move on. Dean needs your help. For me, that’s reason enough. You said this girl seems perfect for him. That’s another reason this works for me. And, if that doesn’t cover it, Jericho asked you to.”

“But,” Paige began.

“And, you don’t know there wasn’t a crime. The woman could have been abducted from really great parents when she was an infant and she needs to know if that’s the case. If you don’t find any missing kids that fit in the Edwards area, fan out. She could have driven several hundred miles, snatched the kid, and returned to her parents with a ‘look ma, I’m a mommy.”

Paige smiled and shook her head. “I doubt that. I think I want to interview Nadia’s mother. If anyone knows the truth, she does.”

“Probably,” Dax focused on the last bite of his chili.

“What?” Paige frowned. “I missed a step, what was it?”

“I’m not a cop, babe. I’m just the King,” Dax caught her arm when she tried to punch him and pulled her against him. “Want to go upstairs and discuss my next decree?”

“No,” Paige pulled her arm away, laughing. “What did I miss?”

“You may have already done it,” Dax stood and began clearing the table. “I’m just wondering if Cara has given you the information on her matches.”

“Her what?” Paige stood to help.

“She did one of those DNA kits to see who matched,” Dax explained. “We know she didn’t match with the family she was supposed to. Who did she match with?”

Paige stopped in the middle of the kitchen, she blinked once, then again as she stared at Dax. “I’m an idiot.”

“But you’re my idiot,” Dax wrapped his arms around her and kissed her before she could object. When she tried to pull away, he deepened the kiss.

“I have work,” Paige objected.

“Me too,” Dax smiled. “Let’s play hooky.”

\*\*\*\*\*

The next day, Paige was sitting at her desk going through the last of the missing child reports in Colorado in 1996. She should have worked on this last night but once again, Dax distracted her, and she didn’t get any work done. She was smiling when Dean stepped through the door and stopped in front of her desk.

“Morning,” Dean settled into one of her chairs. “Anything new?”

“Not really,” Paige pushed the printouts aside to focus on Dean. “I’d like to look at Cara’s profile, on that ancestry site. I want to see who she did match with. We know she didn’t match with the Bentley’s or the Bennett’s. Who did she match with?”

“Oh,” Dean frowned. “Paige, will you be honest with me?”

“Sure,” Paige waited.

“Do you think Cara was kidnapped as a baby?”

“I don’t have any evidence to support that,” Paige said truthfully.

“But you can’t rule it out,” Dean pushed.

“Not yet,” Paige shrugged. “I know that’s why you’re so worried. I know it’s the reason you didn’t look into this yourself. Here’s what I can tell you. I don’t think Cara’s father was involved. You were right about that. He comes across as truthful and sincere. And, if he knew Cara wasn’t his kid… that man belongs on the big screen.”

“So, what does that mean?” Dean stared out the large front window.

“It means I keep digging,” Paige told him. “And I want to start by figuring out who she is related to. Then, I can run the name and see if there are any missing kids with that last name, who were kidnapped around that time.”

“Cara should be home,” Dean stood. “Let’s go pay her a visit.”

\*\*\*\*\*

It took all morning, but with the help of Dean and Cara, Paige finally had a good idea what family Cara came from. It was impossible to narrow it down to one specific person. There were several brothers in the family. She did have a general idea, though. Now, she was back at her desk, trying to locate records on the dad. Once she found him, she should be able to follow it down through each kid. One of them had to live around Colorado. Or they had at one time. She was positive she was on the right track.

Jericho stepped into the office, started for his door, pivoted, and settled into one of her chairs. “Any progress?”

“Maybe,” Paige ran him through what she had.

“If you narrow down the father, what are you planning to do with that information?” Jericho asked.

“I don’t know,” Paige admitted. “It’s tricky. The dad doesn’t always now he has a kid. You know that. Sometimes mom sees that double pink line and panics. She might have the baby and raise it herself, or she might silently put it up for adoption. We learned firsthand how far some parents will go to get a baby when Sean’s nephew disappeared. Nadia was having problems, experienced a lot of miscarriages. What if she lost the baby and bought Cara from a desperate mother? That’s not illegal. But if we start snooping around and dad finds out… he might not be all cordial and understanding when he learns something like that was kept from him all these years.”

“Keep tugging that line and see what you come up with,” Jericho decided. “Plan on heading to Colorado tomorrow. You can interview the grandmother and find out what she knows. Once you check off that box, we’ll sit down with Dean and discuss where to go from there.”

“You sure you want me to leave town tomorrow?” Paige wondered. “Gage is still out of town with the football team. That’s going to leave you shorthanded.”

“I’m sure we’ll find a way to manage without you,” Jericho stood. “Talk to the grandmother. If we’re lucky, she knows what happened and we can close this one out and give Dean, Cara and her father peace of mind.”

“Don’t count on in,” Paige mumbled once Jericho was safely inside his office. She went back to running names, hoping something would pop and she’d figure this out. It didn’t. When her phone rang, she absently answered, deeply lost in a long list of property that belonged to a family named Turner. “Deputy Carter.”

“King Hamilton,” Dax laughed. “I’m just calling to let you know it’s going to be a long night. Someone distracted me last night, so I didn’t get my work done. A minor bump has come up with one of the training sessions and we need to get it ironed out tonight.”

“You can try to blame that on me,” Paige grinned. “But it’s not going to fly. Anyway, I’m at the office sifting through records. I’ve got enough to do to last several hours, don’t worry about me. I can grab something for dinner on the way home if I don’t get a chance before that.”

“Make sure you get the chance,” Dax ordered. “I’ll try not to be too late. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow. Should be a light day on my end. I’d leave some of this until then, but it’s time sensitive and has to be dealt with tonight.”

“About that,” Paige grimaced. “It looks like I’m heading to Colorado in the morning. It’s about a five to six-hour drive one way. Add in interview time and I’m looking at a fourteen, maybe sixteen-hour day. Could be longer if Murphy stops by to visit.”

“You want company?”

“I thought you just said you’re busy,” Paige reminded him.

“Actually,” Dax smiled. “I said I’m busy tonight, but tomorrow is going to be light. If I hammer all of this out before I leave, I can tag along — no problem. And, I can make sure you eat something besides potato chips and coffee.”

“I never eat potato chips with my coffee,” Paige teased.

“Tell the boss you’ll have company,” Dax decided. “I’ll make it work on my end.”

“Alright,” Paige relented. “See you tonight.”

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\*\*\*\*\*

Dax pulled the vehicle up to the curb and parked a few feet before the driveway. “Looks like a nice place.”

“Yeah,” Paige unfastened the seatbelt. “Scott said his late wife loved it here because of the beauty and the peaceful feeling. I can see why. He made the right call. This had to be a great place to relax during the last few months of her pregnancy.”

“I’ll stay close,” Dax shut down the engine. “I’m just going to head up the sidewalk and stretch my legs.”

Paige pushed open the door and climbed from the truck. “I shouldn’t be long. Let’s grab something to eat once I’m done.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Dax said, stepping in next to her. He brushed a hand over her knuckles then leaned against the hood and watched her make her way to the front door. He continued to wait until she disappeared inside before he pushed off the truck and strolled down the sidewalk.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Mrs. Bennett,” Paige settled onto the large leather couch. “This shouldn’t take long.”

“Can I offer you something to drink?” Natasha Bennett asked.

“No, thank you.” Paige shifted. “I’m fine. I have just a few questions. Do you mind if I record this, so I don’t have to come back and bother you again?”

“Oh,” Natasha’s hand reached for the pearl necklace she wore, and she began to fidget. “I suppose that’s okay.”

“Thank you,” Paige switched on the recorder. “Mrs. Bennett, as I mentioned to you on the phone when I called yesterday, I wanted to talk to you about the time when your daughter came to stay with you and she was pregnant with Cara.”

“Please, call me Natasha,” she requested. “I do remember you saying that, but I don’t understand. Why are you here to talk about my late daughter and the birth of her first child?”

“When was the last time you spoke to Scott?” Paige diverted.

“Um,” Natasha stared at the mantle in concentration. “I’d say it’s been nearly a year ago. I’ve been so busy with Liam and Scott’s students keep him busy. Then, with that horrible virus… well, we haven’t wanted company. They say it hits those in our age bracket harder than most. I wanted to be careful, you understand.”

“I do,” Paige agreed. “So, did you see Scott a year ago, or just talk on the phone?”

“We don’t have a lot of interaction with Scott these days,” Natasha admitted. “We did when Nadia was here. We saw the kids several times a year. As you probably know, Scott was in the Marines. He traveled a lot and Nadia moved with him when she could. They spent three whole years in Japan. That was difficult, but Nadia flew home once a year to check on us and have a short visit. Now that’s she’s gone, it’s difficult but Cara tries to come by and every once in a while, Scott will call or if he’s in the area, he might drop in.”

“So, when was the last time you spoke with Cara?” Paige already knew the answer, Cara hadn’t called since she got the DNA results. She didn’t know what to say to her grandmother and she was afraid the perceptive woman might sense something wrong.

“I’d say it’s been… oh, maybe a month ago,” Natasha struggled to remember. “Now that I think about it, maybe two months. I think she called in April, just after all this crazy virus stuff began.”

“Alright,” Paige continued. “Cara is dating a man by the name of Dean Bridges.”

“That’s right,” Natasha smiled. “He’s that handsome young police officer. I spoke to him last Christmas. He seems like a very delightful young man.”

“Dean is a friend of mine,” Paige smiled. “I’ll tell him you said so.”

“Please do,” Natasha dropped the necklace and clasped her hands in her lap.

“I’m here because Dean asked me to look into something for him,” Paige was watching Natasha Bennett closely. The woman was nervous. “There are some questions, about Cara’s birth. Since Nadia was here, staying with you when Cara was born, I was hoping you might be able to fill in some blanks for me.”

“Oh,” Natasha glanced away. “What kind of blanks?”

“Scott said he was deployed to Kuwait when Nadia was about five months along,” Paige frowned at the way Natasha was fidgeting. “They thought, since Nadia had such a difficult time getting pregnant, the peace and quiet might help her during those last few months and she wouldn’t have to be alone.”

“That’s right,” Natasha glanced at Paige then immediately looked down at her hands.

“Do you remember how long Nadia stayed,” Paige asked. “I mean after Cara was born. I believe Scott said once he returned to the states they moved to Texas.”

“I think it was a month, maybe two,” Natasha continued to fidget and wring her hands.

“Mrs. Bennett,” Paige studied the woman carefully. “Why are you so nervous?”

“It’s just,” Natasha glanced around the room. “Well, you’re the police and I’m worried about Liam. I don’t normally leave him alone this long. I’m afraid we’ll need to cut this short. If you have more questions, please ask them. I need to go check on my husband.”

“Alright,” Paige considered. “Maybe, instead of me asking you questions, you could just describe that time to me. Tell me about Nadia, about her pregnancy, about her daily routine.”

“Before or after the baby was born?”

“Both,” Paige settled back to wait.

“Well,” Natasha took a deep breath then let it out. “Nadia was a fragile girl. She was always delicate that way but more so when she was pregnant. She spent most of her time relaxing out on the deck or inside, downstairs in our recreation area. We have comfortable couches down there and Nadia could put her feet up and relax.”

“Anything unusual with Nadia or the pregnancy?” Paige wondered.

“I still don’t understand why you are here asking these questions,” Natasha objected.

“I’m just trying to get a clear picture, that’s all,” Paige said calmly. “Scott said Nadia had several miscarriages during their marriage. I’m just wondering if Nadia was having problems with this pregnancy. Did the doctor have her on bedrest? Could she get around okay? Did she get tired easily?”

“Scott had no right to tell you that,” Natasha frowned. “That’s personal. It was private.”

“He wasn’t gossiping or criticizing,” Paige didn’t want to cause problems between this woman and her son-in-law. “He was explaining why Cara was such a miracle. Why they were both so happy to start their family. And, why they were careful. Why he asked her to come stay with you while he was away.”

“Oh,” Natasha shifted in her seat. “I suppose that’s okay, then.”

“So,” Paige pushed. “Did Nadia have medical issues before she gave birth?”

“She wasn’t on bedrest,” Natasha said sternly. “She did get tired, but our doctor said that was normal.”

“Can you tell me about the time after Nadia brought the baby home from the hospital?” Paige wondered.

“Nadia didn’t go to a hospital,” Natasha admitted. “She had the baby here.”

“She did?” Paige sat back. “Why was that?”

“We have a private doctor,” Natasha explained. “There was no reason for her to leave. We knew she’d be more comfortable here at home, in her own bed.”

“Did Nadia grow up here, in this house?”

“She did,” Natasha said proudly.

“And when she returned, to stay while Scott was on leave, did she reside in that same childhood bedroom?”

“Of course,” Natasha raised her chin a little higher. “She loved that room.”

Paige thought about her bedroom, in the house where she now lived. The last thing she’d want to do is have a baby in there. Her thoughts turned to the Master Bedroom. That was her private space, an intimate space she shared with Dax. She certainly wouldn’t want to give birth in their bed — that was just… icky. She wondered how Nadia felt about going into labor and having a child in the bed she had when she was… well, a child. “Did she have a nursery for Cara or did the baby stay in the room with Nadia?” Paige tried to get the interview back on track.

“There was a small room that I used as a sewing room,” Natasha continued, unfazed by the delay. “We put the baby in there. It was right next to Nadia’s room, so it seemed like the perfect solution.”

Solution? Did Natasha view Cara as a problem in need of a solution? “Did Nadia stay inside the house, or did she go out? Like for walks or a drive into town for lunch just to get some fresh air?”

“After the baby was born?” Natasha asked.

“Yes,” Paige nodded. “Did she have a stroller she used to take Cara for walks, or did she spend time walking around the neighborhood or shopping for baby clothes?”

“Not really,” Natasha shuddered. She remembered that time, right after Nadia gave birth. Her daughter had been depressed all the time. She wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t sit outside, she wouldn’t even leave her room.

Paige studied the woman; something wasn’t right here. She needed more information, but she wasn’t going to get it from Natasha. “I don’t want to keep you from Liam much longer,” Paige offered. “Could I just get the name of the doctor, the private doctor you mentioned. The one that was here for the birth.”

“Why?” Natasha looked at Paige in panic. “I mean, he probably won’t remember. That was so long ago, and he’s been retired for years. Why would you want to talk to him?”

“Just tying up loose ends,” Paige stood. “Like I said before, trying to fill in some of the blanks for Dean.”

“I don’t think there are any blanks to fill in,” Natasha disagreed. “Our private doctor’s name was Brent Harris. He’s obviously retired now, and I’ve heard he’s in bad health. I hope you won’t go over and upset him. He’s a good man.”

“I’m not here to upset anyone, Mrs. Bennett,” Paige moved toward the door. “You should check on your husband and I hope you can enjoy the rest of your day.”

Paige walked to her car, deep in thought. Once she reached it, she realized Dax hadn’t made it back. She slid open the passenger door, secured her recorder inside the glove compartment and straightened. Shifting so she could glance around and see if she could spot her husband. She smiled when she saw him and immediately headed that way.

“Now try it,” Dax waited for the boy to get a good grip on the bike before he stood.

Paige paused a few feet away and watched a grinning boy slowly climb onto his bike and cautiously press on the peddle. He slowly pressed the other one then, realizing his chain really was repaired, he stood up, peddled faster, and rejoined his friends. “Not bad for a city boy.”

“Whose calling me city?” Dax cocked his head to study Paige. “I’m guessing the interview didn’t go the way you planned.” He reached out to take her hand, but Paige jumped back.

“No way,” Paige shook her head. “You’ve got grease all over you and this is my good suit.”

Dax plucked an old torn, filthy towel off the ground and carefully wiped all the grease off his hands. “What do you say? Wanna ditch the ride home, find a cheap motel and get dirty?”

“Nope,” Paige turned and started to walk away. She laughed when Dax caught her around the waist with one arm and pulled her backwards. “Let’s find somewhere to eat,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m starving. And you can fill me in on the interview and what has you so worried.”

Paige was silent all the way back to the truck. Once she climbed into the passenger seat, she waited for Dax to start up the engine and pull away.

“Talk to me,” Dax took her hand and linked fingers. He lifted it to his mouth and brushed light kisses over her knuckles. “What happened?”

“She was nervous,” Paige looked out the side window. “Really, really nervous. I tried to help her relax, but it didn’t help. She knows something and my gut is telling me, whatever happened out here, in that ranch house, twenty-four years ago, it wasn’t a normal birth.”

“Are you saying… is it Nadia?”

“Yes,” Paige looked at him. “Nadia came here to stay with her mother while her husband was on a military mission of some kind. She moved back into her childhood room and gave birth on her teenage bed.”

Dax made a strange face. “Weird. I’ll give you that, but it doesn’t mean nefarious.”

“No,” Paige sighed. “But it does seem just a little too convenient. Nadia gives birth at home with a private doctor for the rich and years later, her daughter discovers she wasn’t really Nadia’s baby after all.”

“So,” Dax wondered. “You didn’t get anything you can use from the interview?”

“She gave me the name of her private doctor,” Paige shrugged. “It’s something, but Natasha said he’s ill and I may not be able to talk to him.”

“But you want to try?” Dax realized. “Before or after we eat?”

“I thought you were starved.”

“I am,” Dax grinned. “Just goes to show how much I’m willing to sacrifice for my wife. It must be true love.”

“After,” Paige decided. “I’m sure the second I left; Natasha was on the phone to her doctor. I doubt we’ll get anything from him.”

“Alright,” Dax pulled into the parking of a small café. “We eat, then we’ll head over and interrogate the doctor. Maybe this time I can watch.”

“You are so not funny,” Paige gave him a shove toward the door. Dax held open the door and motioned her inside.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige, Jericho, Dean and Cara were seated around the large conference room table.

“What are you saying?” Cara asked. “Be specific and spell it out for me.”

“I can’t be specific,” Paige gave her a sympathetic look. “I haven’t figured it all out, yet.”

There was a knock on the door. Margie stepped inside and glanced around the room. “There’s a man by the name of Scott Bentley here.” She glanced at Dean, then Cara. “He said he wants to speak with his daughter, and he wants to be included in the meeting.”

Cara stood. “I’ll talk to him.”

“Bring him in,” Paige decided. “I don’t think he knows what’s going on either and he deserves answers just like you do.”

“Are you sure?” Dean looked at her in surprise.

“I am,” Paige focused on Dean. “You interviewed him. What do you think? Have you changed your mind about him?”

“No,” Dean answered immediately. “I trust Scott. It’s just…”

“I don’t know him well enough to know if I trust him,” Paige cut in. “But I do trust my instincts. And, my gut is telling me that man has believed Cara is his daughter for the past twenty-four years. He’s just as upset and confused as she is and maybe, together, we can figure this all out.”

Scott and Cara Bentley entered the room. Cara settled back into the chair next to Dean. Scott took the seat next to her.

“Hello, Mr. Bentley,” Paige greeted.

“I prefer Scott,” he glanced at Jericho then focused on Paige. “Do you have any answers?”

“Not really,” Paige sighed. “I was about to go over my investigation so far and then I wanted to discuss where you want me to go from here.” She proceeded to tell them what she had done so far and relayed her conversation with Natasha to the group.

“You think my wife kidnapped a child,” Scott finally whispered. “I don’t believe that’s possible. I know the DNA tests prove that Cara wasn’t my child. I’m going to have to learn to deal with that. It doesn’t change anything, not for me, but it was a betrayal. Unfortunately, my wife is no longer with us so I can’t demand answers. I’ll find a way through the disappointment and the confusion, but I won’t believe Nadia kidnapped a child from another mother. She understood the love, how precious and rewarding it was to have children in the home. She never would have maliciously and callously taken that special gift away from another mother. Not by force.”

“I agree with my father,” Cara told them. “I don’t know what happened, but I do know, without a doubt, my mother, the kind and generous woman who raised me, she wouldn’t inflict that kind of pain on another human being.”

Paige flipped on the computer and a list of names appeared on the wall. “I believe one of these men is your biological father. I’ve followed this as far as I can through your mother’s side. Natasha isn’t going to give us answers. Well, she’s not going to give them to me. I’m not sure if Cara could get her to break, eventually. The doctor had a stroke and, although it is possible to speak with him, he’s very difficult to understand and he’s got an entire lifetime of doctor patient privilege behind him. He won’t talk, I’m sure of that.”

“What are you planning to do with those names?” Scott asked.

“That’s up to you,” Paige shrugged. “Or Cara. There’s also one other name that I’ve located.” She clicked a button and the screen went to the next page.

“I know that name,” Cara moved closer to Dean. “I think she came up as a second or third cousin.”

“Second,” Paige nodded. “I believe this woman is related to your bio mom.”

“You want to contact her?” Scott asked.

“I think the logical next step is to either contact this woman,” Paige pointed to the screen that read Amber Walker. She flipped the page backwards. “Or, I start contacting these men and see if any of them might have had a child in 1996.”

“Dad?” Cara reached out and took her father’s hand. “I need to know what you think.”

“It makes me nervous,” he admitted. “You are my daughter. I can’t stop feeling that way, but you might also be the daughter of one of them.”

“I am your daughter,” Cara gave his hand a squeeze. “That will never change. But don’t you want to know?”

“What if you mother did something terrible?” Scott focused on Cara. “What if she took you away from parents that wanted you. From one of those men and they have lived over two decades not knowing what happened to you?”

“I don’t believe that happened,” Paige answered immediately.

“Why?” Scott asked in wonder.

“Because I couldn’t find a report,” Paige focused on Scott Bentley. “I looked. I searched the entire state of Colorado. Then, I moved to Utah, up to Wyoming and over to Nebraska and Kansas. I even checked New Mexico. I can’t find a single child that went missing during the time your wife gave birth. I can’t find a baby girl that was snatched from a hospital. I can’t find an infant that was kidnapped or stolen during those two months after Nadia gave birth and before you returned from Kuwait. There are missing children, but none of the abductions happened during those two months in those areas and involved newborn baby girls.”

“What if she went somewhere else?” Scott pressed. “What if she took this precious little girl away from someone that wanted her, someone that loved her?”

“Do you think that’s what happened?” Paige asked. “Because just a few minutes ago you told me you were absolutely positive your wife didn’t do that.”

“No,” Scott whispered. “I don’t have another explanation, but I don’t believe Nadia would do that.”

Cara glanced at her dad, then she looked at Dean. “I think we should contact the woman. If I was an unwanted pregnancy, my bio mom might not have told the father I exist. But she wouldn’t be able to hide a large lump from family. That woman is related through my mother. If she doesn’t know anything, her mom might, or her grandmother might.”

“You were never unwanted,” Scott focused on his daughter. “Please, no matter what we find, you have to know you were always wanted.”

“I didn’t mean it that way,” Cara leaned in and gave her father a hug. “I know you wanted me. I know mom did. I’m just saying, what if my biological mother didn’t want to get pregnant. What if she just hooked up for one night and didn’t know who the father was. What if she was desperate and alone and she needed a way out. I could see mom stepping in to help. Can’t you?”

“Yes,” Scott swallowed hard. “I just wish I knew what happened to my baby. Nadia was pregnant when I left her. Where is my little girl or my little boy? I don’t even know if my child was a daughter or another son.” He jumped to his feet. “Excuse me, I need some fresh air.”

Paige watched him leave. “Will he be able to handle this?”

“Yes,” Cara moved to stand but Jericho stopped her.

“I think I could use a little fresh air myself,” he stood and silently left the room.

“He’s in good hands,’ Paige assured her.

“Yeah,” Dean pulled Cara into a hug. “You going to be okay?”

“I’m just worried about dad,” Cara stared at the empty doorway. “I didn’t stop to think how this was going to impact him. I just needed to know so I pushed forward. It was selfish of me.”

“I think it was smart,” Paige told her. “Right now, you are in a place in your life where you have people that can help you. I’m a trained investigator. I have access to systems and people that you don’t. It was smart to ask Dean for help and it was smart of Dean to refuse. This could get messy and it’s better that I was the one to uncover the truth. That gives Dean the opportunity to be your support system. And your dads.”

“Are you sure he’s okay?” Cara worried.

“Better than okay,” Dean smiled. “He’s with the all-knowing Jericho Walters. Trust me, the boss has seen everything, done everything and even got the t-shirt. He’ll know what to say to your dad.

Once Scott and Jericho returned, the group worked to develop a plan, a strategy of where to go next and who to talk to first.

\*\*\*\*\*

“You sure you want to do this?” Paige asked Dean. “I can just go in myself and let you listen to the tape.”

“I’m here,” Dean reached out and pressed the button to ring the bell. “I’m going in.”

The door slid open and a woman that couldn’t be more than forty stood in the opening. “Can I help you?”

“My name is Deputy Carter, and this is my partner, Deputy Bridges,” Paige held out her badge. “Are you Amber Walker?”

“I am,” the woman answered in surprise.

“I was hoping we could come inside and speak with you for a moment,” Paige was careful to keep her voice flat.

“Is something wrong?” the woman started to panic. “Jimmy, is Jimmy okay?”

“As far as we know,” Paige reached out to calm her. “We’re not here about Jimmy. Can we have just a minute of your time?”

“Alright,” Amber stepped to the side to allow room for the two officers to enter. “My son, Jimmy, he’s with a friend. He’s just down the road but I thought…”

“I’m sorry about that,” Paige settled onto the edge of a chair. The room was cozy, but cluttered. Normal for a single mom with a rambunctious child. “How old is Jimmy?”

“He’s nine,” Amber settled onto the couch and pulled her legs beneath her. “I don’t want to be rude or anything, but can you tell me why you are here?”

“Deputy Carter is helping me with something,” Dean began. “It started out as a private matter, but now we’re conducting an official investigation to try and determine the facts.”

“How does that involve me?” Amber asked softly.

“I’m dating a woman by the name of Cara Bentley,” Dean began then paused. “You know her?”

“We’ve never met,” Amber evaded. “I did send her a message about a month ago, but she didn’t get back to me.”

“Can I ask why you tried to contact her?” Paige asked before Dean could continue.

“How are you involved?” Amber focused on Paige.

“Cara brought a situation to me,” Dean told her. “Because we are dating and because I’m a police officer. I took a look and decided it was better to get a neutral party involved. Paige is our neutral party.”

“You said this was now an official investigation,” Amber studied Paige then focused on Dean. “What are you investigating?”

“First,” Paige spoke up. “I’d like to know why you tried to contact Ms. Bentley.”

“I think she might be my niece,” Amber told her.

“Not a cousin?” Paige asked.

“No,” Amber shook her head. “I know the DNA said that, but I don’t have any cousins that are unaccounted for.”

“But you do have a niece?” Paige asked.

“I don’t think I want to give you any further information until you answer my question,” Amber decided.

“I think you already know the answer,” Paige said flatly. “We are investigating the circumstances around Cara’s birth and how she came to live with the Bentley’s.”

“She doesn’t know?” Amber asked, surprised.

“No,” Dean shook his head. “Until we did that DNA test, she had no idea the Bentley’s were not her biological parents.

“Why didn’t anyone tell her?” Amber asked, getting angry. “If I knew she was unaware of the connection, I never would have contacted her that way. I would have been more… I don’t know, cautious.”

“Who should have told her?” Dean asked.

“Her mother, of course,” Amber stood and began to pace. “She had to tell her father about it, so he could have told her. Someone. I don’t know. They were supposed to be a loving family. They promised my sister they would love that sweet little baby and give her a good home.”

“They?” Dean pushed. Was Scott involved in this after all?

“She,” Amber corrected. “I should have said she.”

“Amber,” Paige stood and moved to stand in front of her, blocking her path. “Cara’s mother passed away when she was a teenager. She didn’t tell her anything. Her father didn’t know Cara wasn’t his biological daughter. Nadia never told him. We are here to try to get answers for a family that is a little lost at the moment. I think you have those answers. I hope you will share them with us, so we can explain what happened and give a confused and baffled family the answers they desperately need.”

Amber stared at Paige in disbelief. After several seconds she focused on Dean. “They didn’t know?”

“They didn’t,” Dean said softly.

Amber sighed and returned to the couch. “Chloe, my twin sister, she was the wild one. Growing up, she was the girl that took all the risks. She was the one that convinced me to do things that I knew would get us into trouble. But Chloe had a way of talking people into anything.”

“You were twins, so you were close?” Paige asked.

“Very,” Amber nodded. “Chloe and I were inseparable until we turned fifteen. That’s when I began to say no. I was tired of getting into trouble and I wanted more out of life. Chloe just wanted to party. So, when she started to hang with the troublemakers, I pulled away. I made new friends, went to school dances and football games. Chloe went to raves and underground keggers where she got drunk out of her mind and usually a little high.”

“You took drastically different paths?” Paige offered.

Amber laughed. “That’s one way to put it. Anyway, at sixteen Chloe was out of control. My parents basically gave up on her. They tried everything, but the more rules they gave her, the more fun it was to break those rules. I even tried to talk some sense into her. She was partying every night; she had no hope of graduating from high school let alone get into college, and she didn’t seem to care about anything but her next fix. Her friends weren’t friends. They used her, then ignored her. She hooked up with a guy named Donny or Darrell, I can’t remember — I think it was Donny. He was a real jerk. He got her hooked on Jungle Juice and pot, then he dumped her.

There was another guy, he was nice enough and he seemed to treat Chloe well. I got the impression he just wanted to help. I actually felt sorry for the guy. I think he was her rebound guy. Chloe hooked up with him for a few months then dumped him the way Donny dumped her. I saw him about a week later and he looked crushed. Anyway, my sister was headed for disaster when she found out she was pregnant. That’s when we all thought she was going to change. She did, until after she had the baby. Then, she went back to her old ways. She was supposed to be breast-feeding Luna, but she stopped abruptly and switched to baby formula.

The next thing we knew, she would get the baby to sleep, then sneak out the window. I did what I could to help when Luna woke up in the middle of the night, but I was still in high school. I was just a kid, trying to get good grades and hang with my friends. I didn’t want the responsibility that came with raising a kid. And I resented Chloe, what she was doing to our family, how she treated me and my parents. I helped some, but it was her problem, not mine. So, the brunt of it landed on mom but she couldn’t stay up all night and function at work all day. Something had to give, and it did. Chloe took Luna shopping one day. She had dropped out of school by then and she was just hanging out, wandering aimlessly when she ran into her old gang. They wanted to party, but Chloe had a kid now. I can’t tell you what happened after that. Chloe wasn’t all that clear. I can guess. Chloe decided to ditch the kid and get high. I don’t know if she gave Luna to the woman while she was sober or after she was high. She just came home alone.

Mom freaked out, wanted to know where the baby was. Chloe told her to chill out. She found a good home for Luna and the baby was better off — and so were we. Mom was livid. How can you go out shopping one morning and give your own baby to a stranger? She tried to retrace Chloe’s steps, talked to shop owners, and even tracked down some of her friends, but nobody knew anything. Nobody saw Chloe with another woman. I tried to get answers from my sister but she either didn’t have the answers or she refused to give us anything that would help. Finally, we just had to accept what happened and hope Chloe was right. I never stopped thinking about baby Luna, but I also knew we’d never find her. One night, just before Chloe died, she told me she gave her baby to a woman who really, really wanted a little girl. She said the woman was sad because her baby had just died. Chloe decided it was the perfect solution. She wouldn’t be encumbered by a baby and the woman wanted to be a mother.”

Paige just stared at Amber in disbelief. “You never thought to report the child as missing?”

“Was she missing?” Amber challenged. “Luna’s mother found her a new home. One she believed was a good home where Luna would be loved and provided for. It was like an instant adoption without all the money and the paperwork. We searched; my mom never stopped searching. I think to this day, she still walks down the sidewalk and wonders, could that woman be baby Luna?”

Paige started to object. How could a woman give a baby to a stranger? How could the family just accept that decision and hope for the best? But Amber was technically right. The infant wasn’t a missing person. Cara’s mother had willingly given her baby to a stranger. “And now?”

“Now what?” Amber asked.

“You said Chloe died,” Paige reminded her. “Can you tell us how?”

“Overdose,” Amber whispered. “We lost Chloe to alcohol and drugs. We also lost Luna to the same thing because it was the drugs and the partying that made Chloe casually give her own baby to a stranger. Chloe didn’t make it to twenty. The cops found her body alone and discarded in a flop house.”

“I’m sorry,” Paige said softly.

“It was a long time ago,” Amber cleared her throat. “Anyway, when I got that match with Cara Bentley, I wondered. So, I decided what the heck, maybe I could give this to Mom. She’s struggled, a lot. She blames herself. Losing Chloe, we all basically knew that would happen if she couldn’t get her life together. Losing Luna… that was something none of us ever really got over. I struggled with my own guilt, wondering if I’d helped out more, if Chloe wouldn’t have felt so overwhelmed. Mom thinks she pushed Chloe too hard, and she just gave up and took the easy way out. The not knowing was the hardest. Was Luna still alive? Was she dead, buried somewhere as baby Jane Doe? Or, did she get lucky and land a good home with a good family like Chloe insisted?”

“She landed in a good home with a good family that loved her and cared for her,” Dean told her.

“I’m glad,” Amber brushed back a tear. “Will you ask her if I can meet her sometime? And Mom. My mom would really love to meet her. We’ve tried to accept what is and move on, but you never do. I can’t tell you how much that would mean to Mom.”

“I’ll ask her,” Paige gave Amber her card. “You can tell your mom we came and if she has questions, have her call me on that number.”

Amber took the card.

“I have one more question,” Dean waited for her to settle back on the couch. “Do you know who the father was?”

“Not for sure,” Amber sighed. “I like to think it was that good guy and not Donny, I think his name was Mitch. He was really good to my sister. Chloe was horrible to him. She was still hurting after Donny tossed her aside for some new girl, but Mitch was there for her, in a good way. He tried to dial back the partying and he was trying to help her at least graduate from high school. I remember coming home one night. Mitch was sitting at the kitchen table doing Chloe’s homework for her. I asked him why he bothered. He just said he could see Chloe’s potential, even if nobody else could.”

“Thank you,” Paige stood. “That helps.”

“You know which one it is,” Amber realized.

“I do,” Paige affirmed.

“Who?”

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to share that right now,” Paige held up a hand when she could see Amber was about to argue. “We had more than one possibility and you just answered that question for me. I won’t tell you who Cara’s father is before I tell her.”

Amber relaxed. “That’s fair. I hope she’ll tell me some day herself. Either way, I may be able to help her deal with the fallout.”

Dean stood, then paused and turned to look at Amber. “Thank you. I appreciate your willingness to tell us about your sister and her baby. I know Cara will be just as grateful.”

“So,” Paige turned to face Dean once they were back in the car. “Do we go talk to the father or do we let Cara do that?”

“I’ll talk to Cara,” Dean decided. “I think she’ll want to do that herself. If she doesn’t bring Scott with her, I’ll be there for her.”

“Alright,” Paige grinned. “Then let’s make one more stop before we head home.”

Dean snapped in his seatbelt. “Where are we going?”

“I have a few more questions for Natasha Bennett.”

\*\*\*\*\*

It was late when Paige stepped into the house and made her way up the stairs. She dropped her gear in the closet and silently slipped into bed. Dax’s arms instantly went around her waist and he pulled her against him.

“Was it worth a second trip to Colorado?” he asked.

“Absolutely,” Paige grinned. “Now, go back to sleep. I’ll explain everything in the morning.”

And, she did. Over breakfast, she relayed the story Amber told her and Dean about a drugged-out teenager and a woman who had just lost her miracle baby.

“So,” Dax sipped his coffee. “Did Natasha come clean on your second visit?”

“How did you know I went back to question Natasha?”

“Because I know you,” Dax shrugged. “Did she shed any more light on things or was it just confirmation of what Amber told you about her sister?”

“Mostly confirmation,” Paige admitted. “Once I started to relay the story, she caved. It went down basically the way Amber said it did. Chloe ran into her old friends while she was out walking. Cara’s mom, Nadia, had been called into the shop because some of the items she ordered for her own baby had arrived. She went downtown to see if she could get some of the money refunded and ran into Chloe. Basically, the girl just abandoned her kid to dart into an alleyway and get high. Nadia stepped in and cared for the baby until the mother returned. Chloe returned high, complimented Nadia, and told her she was a natural mother. Then, Chloe offered her baby to Nadia. She jumped on it and whisked Cara away before Chloe could change her mind.

Once Nadia got home, she told her mother what happened. Natasha paid Dr. Brent Harris to change the official documents switching the babies identities. That day, Cara Bentley was officially born, and Luna Evans was buried in the family cemetery on the edge of the property next to Natasha’s brother.”

“Wow,” Dax sat back. “That’s some story. How is Cara and her father taking the news?”

“I think it was a relief,” Paige stood to clear the table. “Even though both of them insisted Nadia wouldn’t kidnap an innocent child, I think they worried they were wrong. This gives them closure, I guess.”

“Will they connect with Amber and her mother?

“Once Scott moves here permanently, they are planning a casual gathering,” Paige told him. “Cara said she wants Dean there and they’ll keep it informal and public. Like a picnic at a park or something like that.”

“What about the father?” Dax wondered. “How does Cara feel about him?”

“It sounds like she’s going to try to contact him,” Paige shrugged. “Amber seemed to think Mitch Tuner was a good guy. I guess only time will tell.”

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S5

**Tags:** Season 5

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### [Emergency Assist](https://melaniepsmith.com/emergency-assist/)

**Published:** May 30, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Emergency Assist (S5E2) Dax heads to Washington to assist Nathan on a top secret mission. He struggles to deal with memories from the past. Sanpete County is called in to assist a neighboring department on a missing helicopter.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*EMERGENCY ASSIST\*\*\*****

“Right,” Dax reached over and took Paige’s hand.

Paige smiled in support, but she wasn’t feeling all that happy at the moment. Dax was about to head out of town. He was getting his marching orders from Retired General Nathan Porter. Worse, her husband was stressed about this particular mission and he couldn’t share the details. She knew she signed up for this, but she didn’t have to like it.

“I’ll contact Zee,” Dax pressed a kiss to Paige’s knuckles. “It’s a good plan but we’ll refine it once we get there. Will do. See you soon.”

“Guess the op is a go,” Paige watched Dax carefully.

Dax tossed his phone onto the coffee table and sighed. “It’s a go.”

“When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow. Early,” Dax shifted to study Paige. “Sorry I ruined your night off.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Paige shrugged. “You okay?”

“Me?” Dax frowned. “I’m heading to Washington to sit in a secure room with air conditioning and as much coffee as I can stomach. It’s the men I’m worried about.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MPS-PC_Cover-S5.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Emergency-Assist.pdf)

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“And the Training Center,” Paige added. “I know you and the guys were working hard to develop a new course. You shouldn’t worry about that. Hawk and Vato will come through on the final planning and Wooly will handle any last-minute purchases from home. The course will be amazing.”

“Yeah,” Dax sighed and reached for his phone. “I have to call Zee, give him a heads up. He needs to be ready to head out at zero-dark-thirty tomorrow morning.”

“Call him,” Paige motioned to the phone. “Then I’m going to pamper you for an hour or so before you rush off to double check your luggage and pace the floor; worrying about what you forgot, and if Hawk and Vato will remember to include that special something only the amazing Dax Hamilton would think to add to the course plan.”

“You know me well,” Dax grinned. “Now, tell me about that pampering.”

Paige laughed when he tackled her. “Call Zeus,” she reminded him.

Dax picked up his phone and pressed a button. “It’s a go. Tomorrow, zero-six-hundred.” He disconnected the call, threw Paige over his shoulder and headed for the stairs.

“Nice briefing commander,” Paige twisted but couldn’t break free.

Dax tossed Paige onto the bed, then just stood there watching her.

“What?” she was surprised at the sudden change in mood.

“Sometimes,” Dax settled onto the bed next to her. “I’m going along, living my life and everything is just moving forward. Then, suddenly, it hits me… how did I get so lucky? I hope you know you are the best part of my life. I’m not sure I deserve you, but I’m thankful I have you.”

Paige leaned in and gave her macho man a quick kiss. “You’re just feeling a little lost tonight. You’re headed back to Washington to oversee an important — and if I’m reading you right — dangerous mission. But, instead of being right in the thick of it, you’ll be safe and comfortable lounging in a cushy chair with our favorite general. He struggled, too. For a long time, he didn’t know how to deal with overseeing the danger instead of leading the boys into battle. Talk to Nathan, he can help. And, I wish I could tell you not to worry, that your men will be fine. I know I can’t predict that, so I’ll just say they are trained for this and if anyone can get through it — our Rangers can.”

“See,” Dax stretched out on the bed next to Paige. “I don’t deserve you, but I’m lucky to have you.” He reached out and ran a finger across her cheek. “I’m not sure there’s anyone else in the universe that could understand me as well as you do.”

“And…” she leaned back when he tried to roll them over. “Hawk knows the Center as well as you do. I’m not saying he doesn’t need you. I’m saying the two of you have spent hours discussing the new training course. He knows what you want, and he also knows you better than anyone in the universe — next to me. He’ll be fine, the course will be a hit, and you’ll be back before you know it.”

“I love you,” Dax shifted and pinned her beneath him. “And, I’m going to miss you.” He pressed a gentle kiss to the side of her neck.

“I won’t give you the chance,” Paige grinned. “I’m going to call you a million times and tell you all about the boring parking problem I had to deal with or the teenage burglar breaking into vehicles for a few coins.”

“Promise?”

“I swear I will give you all the boring details,” she shifted again and began to pamper.

\*\*\*\*\*

The following morning Paige watched Dax slowly walk to his vehicle and drive away. He reminded her of a mighty warrior marching into battle. A feeling of apprehension and loneliness fell over her. She knew he had to do this, she supported him completely, but she was going to miss him terribly. She had just settled back into the kitchen for her second cup of coffee when her cell phone began to ring. *Jericho*. “Hey boss,” she said in greeting.

“I know it’s early, but I’m calling you in. We’ve got an emergency and I need you assisting me on this one.”

“Just tell me when and where,” Paige darted up the stairs. “I’m up, Dax just headed out of town. I can be out the door in five, I just need to know where I’m going.”

“Meet me at the mouth of Ephraim Canyon. We have a downed helicopter, went down last night. Once we get the details, we’ll call in Search & Rescue and I’ll get the rest of the guys to join us.”

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“Why the delay?” Paige balanced the phone on her shoulder while she pulled on her boots.

“The initial call went to Emery County. They started the search last night. When they didn’t find the bird, they notified the sheriff. Trent’s crew resumed the operation this morning, but Trent realized the crash site could be in our grids; so, he asked me to head up and assist.”

“Trent who?”

“Sheriff Trent Peters,” Jericho advised. “The Emery County Sheriff. He’s out of town at the moment, but he checks in with his crew on a regular basis. Once he was appraised of the situation, he contacted me. Are you on your way?”

“I should be there in ten,” Paige affirmed.

Paige pulled in behind Jericho, then followed him up the main road that led to the top of Ephraim Canyon. Once they hit the top, they crossed over Skyline Drive and continued down the other side toward Joe’s Reservoir.

Emery County’s command post was parked in the picnic area near the lake. Paige and Jericho stepped inside and approached the man in charge. It was immediately obvious they weren’t welcome.

“Trent called me this morning,” Jericho approached the lieutenant. “Sheriff Walters from Sanpete County.”

“I know who you are,” Lt. Wilson didn’t even glance up. “If you could wait outside, I’ll be with you when I have a break. We’re a little busy at the moment.”

Jericho narrowed his eyes at the Incident Commander. “Is there someone that can give us a quick briefing? Once we know the basics, we can take it from there.”

Now he did glance up. “What do you mean by that?”

“We’re operating on the border,” Jericho shrugged. “There’s no way to know if he went down in your county or mine. You continue the search in your area, we’ll deal with ours.”

“Again,” Wilson focused on the small desk in front of him, and the paperwork. “If you’ll wait outside, one of us will assist you as soon as we can.”

“Look,” Paige began but stopped when Jericho gave her a warning look.

“We’ll be outside,” Jericho motioned to the door and waited for Paige to exit. Jericho moved to his truck and dropped the tailgate.

“How long are we going to let that moron jerk us around?” Paige jumped up next to him.

“Not long,” he pulled out his phone and dialed the office. “Margie, get ahold of Clayton and Havilland. I need one of them to shuttle the command post up Ephraim Canyon and find somewhere to set up close to Joe’s Reservoir but make sure it’s on the Sanpete County side. Have the other one lead the way so he can scout the area and find a level spot to stage. I want a location where we can stage the motorhome overnight if we need to.”

“I take it that means we’re not waiting,” Paige grinned.

“We’re not waiting,” Jericho considered his options.

It was nearly an hour later when Havilland called Jericho over the radio.

“Go ahead Duncan,” Jericho answered.

“Command Post has arrived,” Havi advised. “It’s located in a large area slightly off the roadway below Forest Road 2348.”

“Copy,” Jericho answered. “We’ll head that way.”

“Incoming,” Paige whispered and motioned to Lt. Wilson who was now headed toward them.

“If you’re interested in helping,” Lt. Wilson said in greeting. “You can head up this road,” he pointed to a thin line on the map he held. “Search from this point all the way to the next ridgeline.”

“Actually,” Jericho glanced at the map then focused on Wilson. “I just need some basic information.” He glanced to the side and spotted a plume of dust in the distance. It was obviously coming from the same roadway the lieutenant had just indicated. He was trying to send them on a wild goose chase and have them cover an area that had already been cleared. He shifted and refocused on Wilson. “That roadway is in your grid. I’ll take my people and handle the area west of here. We just need the basics before we get started.”

Wilson glared at Jericho for several seconds before he answered. “We received a call of a missing child near the campground. It was coming up on dusk, so we contacted Skybirds out of Provo to see if one of their helicopters was available for a contract flight. They had one of the TH55’s ready to go for a private rental but the company cancelled. They were about to close it down for the night when we called. Since the chopper was already cleared for a trip, they agreed to fly the area and see if they could locate the child.”

“Alright,” Jericho jotted down some notes. “What time was that?”

“Like I said, shortly before twilight, call came in around nineteen-forty hours. Chopper went out, set down over there,” he pointed to an open parking lot. “He immediately hooked up with mom and dad who advised they had just located the missing child. The pilot cancelled and said he was heading back to Provo.”

“And that’s the last you heard from him?” Paige asked.

“No,” Wilson focused on Jericho. “A short time later, he put in a distress call. Said he was losing power and would try to find a safe place to land. That’s the last we heard from him.”

“Do you have his last known coordinates?” Paige wondered.

“Joe’s Reservoir,” Wilson turned to look at Paige. “I thought that would be obvious.”

“Right,” Paige glanced at Jericho. “I’m going to head out, hook up with the guys. I have something I want to check before we brief.”

Jericho nodded and silently watched as Paige made her way across the parking lot. Wilson frowned. “What is she doing?”

“Investigating,” Jericho straightened. “Thanks for the information. If we find anything, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

“That’s it?” Wilson scowled.

“Like I said, I don’t want to interfere with your operation. I’m just here to assist. We’ll cover our grid, you cover yours.” Jericho continued toward his vehicle.

Wilson turned and marched back inside his command center determined to resolve this before Sanpete County could interfere and take all the credit.

Jericho reached the command post and looked around. The boys had set things up nicely and the rig looked level enough. He glanced back and frowned when he couldn’t see Paige headed their way. He was still wondering what kind of trouble she was rustling up when he stepped inside and spotted Havilland and Clayton. “Looks good. Any word from Paige?”

“I thought she was with you,” Gage slid into the passenger chair and glanced out the large front windshield. “Looks like her headed this way.”

Jericho spotted the vehicle and settled onto the couch to wait.

Margie emerged from the back office area. “Susie’s handling the office. I thought you might need my help up here.”

They all focused on Paige when she stepped through the door.

“Where’s the roses? The red carpet? The champagne?” She continued into the cramped motorhome and settled onto the couch.

“What did you find?” Jericho demanded.

“First, I spoke with the parents of the missing kid,” Paige shifted and pulled out her notes. “Their daughter was six. She loves animals and has a habit of chasing them into thick brush or dense forest. They didn’t call the authorities right away because they can usually locate her themselves. Cute kid and I think she calls the shots in that family a little more than she should. She had me for about five seconds before I realized the shy smile and the innocent eyes was all an act.”

“We know that much,” Jericho pushed.

“We do,” Paige nodded. “The Jackson’s were just settling in for the night when Tasha disappeared. Trinity, that’s mom, she was inside their trailer cleaning up and pulling out the beds while it was still light. Gabe was gathering wood so the kids could roast marshmallows and settle down a bit after an adventurous day. Gabe and his son, Anson returned and built the fire. Trinity joined them and realized Tasha was missing again. They all began to search. They couldn’t say how long, but it was a while. They finally decided to call the police.”

“And by that time, it was almost dark,” Jericho nodded.

“Right, it’s what made them start to panic,” Paige agreed. “They said it took a while for the chopper to arrive. They continued to search while they waited. Anson, he’s around ten, spotted the bird in the distance and ran to tell his parents. Gabe thought he heard something and was making his way into a stand of trees to investigate. He returned with his daughter just in time to see Skybirds land in the parking lot. They took Tasha with them to talk to the pilot, wanting him to see their daughter was fine and wanting her to apologize for wasting his time. Like I said, she’s a charmer. The mom was a little frustrated when her daughter batted her eyes, gave him a flirtation grin, and shyly said she was sorry. Mark Lopez, that’s the name of the pilot, was smitten.”

“Where did you get the name?” Havi wondered.

“Little Tasha’s father is some kind of business wizard who never forgets a name,” Paige shrugged. “He remembered it even though he only heard it once when Lopez introduced himself.”

“How does all of that help?” Gage wondered.

“It helps us formulate a timeline,” Paige stood and moved to a large whiteboard. “I called Skybirds and spoke with a supervisor once I finished with the Jacksons. They said the pilot checked out at Joe’s at…” she paused when the door flew open and Sgt. Alva climbed inside.

“You made good time,” Jericho observed.

“No traffic,” Alva closed the door and moved to lean against the counter. “Tell me what I need to know.”

“Paige was just filling us in,” Jericho motioned for her to continue.

“Just you or will the rest of the team be joining us?” Paige wondered.

“Just me for now,” Alva advised. “I got the basics from Susie. From what little information I’ve gathered, I assume this is a search and recovery.”

“Most likely,” Jericho agreed. “We’re getting a late start. The chopper went down last night. It could be a rescue, but it’s more likely a recovery.”

Alva nodded. “Right. So, we can discuss the delay later in private. Right now, what I need from you to get my people started — is the last known.”

Paige glanced out the window and spotted several other Search & Rescue members gathered in the staging area. They were loading up packs with snacks, drinks, and medical supplies. “I was just about to get to that.” She glanced back at Jericho. “Once I finished speaking with the Jacksons and they confirmed the chopper left about fifteen minutes after arriving, I contacted air traffic control and obtained their last known trace based on radar.” She punched in the numbers and the map shifted. “That is the location the helicopter vanished from their screen.”

“Alright,” Alva moved forward. “Why is Emery County starting from Joe’s?”

“It’s that obvious?” Paige asked sarcastically.

Alva swung around to study her in confusion.

“Ignore Paige,” Jericho sighed. “We don’t know. I assume it’s because that’s the location they were last seen by this Jackson family.”

That didn’t make sense to Alva but he brushed it aside. “The TH55 is an older bird. He would have been using VFR,” Alva said absently as he studied the map before him.

“I agree,” Jericho stood. “If I had to guess, I’d say he was using this road to guide him down the canyon, Jericho pointed to the main dirt road that led back to Ephraim. “Probably using dead reckoning to determine exactly where he was at and how much further he had to go.”

“Could you repeat that in English? What is VFR and dead reckoning?” Gage grumbled. “From now on, I think I’ll just throw out random football terms in my briefings and see how you guys like it.”

Paige laughed and even Jericho grinned. “VFR is Visual Flight Rules. He didn’t have a fancy dash display to read things for him… digitally. He used line of sight to guide the way.”

“Alright,” Gage nodded. “So the main road makes sense. What was that other thing?”

“Dead reckoning is when a pilot navigates using familiar terrain or landmarks,” Paige provided. “What? We worked with a lot of pilots when I was with the FBI.”

“A lot of the pilots use Joe’s as a landmark because it’s a large body of water and easily identifiable. With some of the smaller lakes and ponds they use the body of water along with something else to determine where they are. For instance, they can tell they’re at Pete’s Hole because of the bridge.”

“Basically, the same as we do in our vehicles,” Havi nodded. “How does that help us?”

“I want to start at that last known Paige got from the tower,” Alva decided. “Then, we fan out and cover this entire ridge line.”

“Why that ridge?” Havi wondered.

“I’m not a betting man,” Alva turned. “But I’d bet the farm that helicopter is either here,” he pointed to a ridge that was covered in dense trees and brush. “Or, this one.”

“Or somewhere between the two,” Jericho sighed. “That’s a large area. We can’t cover both today. You sure about that one?”

“No,” Alva focused sober eyes on Jericho. “But we start at the last known and fan out from there. That means this ridge is the most logical choice. If we strike out tonight, we start again first thing and look until we find him.”

“I agree,” Jericho focused on the map. It was a good plan. One that was going to be slow going and require a methodical and systematic approach. “I want Carter, Clayton, and Havilland to team up with SAR and work the grid. I’m also calling in Bridges and Reed. I’ll send them your way once they arrive.”

“What about the regular calls?” Margie wondered. “I could take phone reports from here.”

“No,” Jericho disagreed. “I need you working on the maps, keep me updated on our progress. Susie can handle the phone reports and Lovato can handle everything else. If I had a phone, I could actually contact my people and give them direction.”

“Any word on the Sat phone?” Paige wondered. The mayor was resisting. Sure, having a satellite phone available would be expensive but with the lack of service up here in the canyon, it was essential. Maybe after this situation was over, he’d finally understand the need.

“No,” Jericho moved toward the door. “Margie, I need to drive up the canyon and find service to make a few calls. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“He’s pissed,” Gage observed.

“Yeah, can’t blame him,” Paige sighed. “Grab some snacks, I think we have a long, tiring day ahead of us.” She reached into the freezer and pulled out an arm full of frozen water bottles, then passed them around to her colleagues. “Let’s go for a hike.”

\*\*\*\*\*

By two o’clock that afternoon, the entire group was exhausted, dirty and starving. Alan moved up next to Paige and held out a granola bar.

Paige shook her head. “I’m pretty sure if I see another one of those in the next seventy-two hours, I just might jump over that cliff back there.”

“Will you take your radio,” Alan wondered. “That way, if you spot the plane on the way down you can radio up and relay the location.”

“I hate you,” Paige smiled. “I’m such a dusty mess you could probably plant radishes in the creases of my jeans and they’d flourish.”

“I live for this stuff,” Alan shrugged. “I mean, all of us… Search & Rescue, we all spend hours out here hiking, snowshoeing, climbing. We can’t get enough, it’s why we’re so good.”

“Maybe,” Paige considered. “But I think I still hate you.” Just then her phone made half a dozen beeping noises. “Hold up. I think my phone just found a magic tower and I have service.” She scrolled through the notifications and frowned. Dax had called three times. “Gage!” she called, hoping her friend would hear the request.

Gage eyed the bark on a nearby tree and, for the hundredth time, wished he had thought to pack a sandwich before heading off in to the wilderness. When someone elbowed him, he thought he’s just gotten off track due to delirium brought on by starvation.

“Gage,” Amy called. “Paige is calling for you.”

Gage frowned and turned around. He spotted Paige and his frown deepened. She was pointing to her phone, then she held up one hand and started to swing it back and forth.

“I think she’s telling you she’s going to make a call and we should keep going,” Amy provided.

Gage nodded at Paige then turned to face the young woman that was outpacing them all. “Since when do you speak Paige code? I’m pretty sure whatever she’s doing, it’s some highly classified top secret federal code that none of us are supposed to decipher.”

Amy shrugged then turned and made her way back to Alan. “Hey, it looks like we have service up here. We should probably take a break and let anyone make a call that needs to. It could be hours before we get another chance.”

“I agree,” Alan whistled and called his team to gather around.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Is something wrong?” Paige asked when Dax answered her call.

“Not on my end,” Dax stood and moved to the other side of the room. “We’re in the dreaded waiting stage. The boys should touch down in an hour or so.”

“Oh,” Paige hesitated. “Then why the three calls? Sorry I missed you by the way. It’s been an interesting day.”

“How so?” Dax glanced at Nathan then turned away hoping for privacy.

“Dax?” Paige pressed.

“I’m alright,” he assured her. “I just… well, the waiting, the anticipation, the not knowing, it’s driving me crazy and I just needed to talk to you for a minute. I won’t keep you. I can tell you’re busy.”

“Not busy exactly,” Paige proceeded to tell him about the missing helicopter, the jurisdiction issues, and the uncooperative lieutenant. “I wanted to call sooner, but we just don’t have service up here. Jericho has complained to the mayor, tried to explain why it’s so essential to get us a satellite phone, but he’s not budging. Anyway, it wouldn’t help on this operation anyway. Did you talk to Nathan?”

“About?”

“You already know,” Paige shook her head in frustration. “If you don’t take this opportunity… over the next hour while your men are safe, secure and enroute, I’m going to call General Porter myself.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Dax insisted. “I’ll get through this and I’ll be home before you even realize I was gone.”

“Talk to Nathan,” Paige said again. “Now, I have to go. We have at least another hour in this grid, then we need to clear one more, maybe two, before we call it due to darkness and resume in the morning.”

“Sounds like a late night,” Dax softened. “Did you eat anything?”

“A granola bar… yum,” she couldn’t even fake enthusiasm for the dry, slightly stale snack.

Dax laughed but sobered when he glanced at Nathan. “I have to go. Promise me you will be safe and get something to eat.”

“I love you,” she whispered. “Talk to Nathan.” She disconnected, knowing he was too stubborn to do what she asked.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige from Command,” her radio crackled.

“Go ahead,” Paige responded.

“Have you finished up that last grid?” Jericho asked.

“About five minutes ago,” Paige advised. “We’re having a debate on where to go next.”

“Return to base,” Jericho ordered. “Navigate northeast about a mile. You should connect with an old logging road. I’m sending a vehicle up to get you.”

“What kind of vehicle is large enough to transport the entire team and still small enough to traverse that logging road?”

“I’ll worry about that, you just get the team to the road. I’ll see you within the hour,” Jericho answered criptically.

“What did that mean?” Gage wondered, staring at his own walkie.

“No idea,” Paige shrugged. “Let’s go break the news to the superheroes. I can’t believe they’re all still so upbeat and happy.”

“If I don’t get something to eat soon,” Gage turned and started toward the group. “I think I might have to start eating dandelions.”

“I hear that makes a pretty good tea,” Paige smiled and worked to keep pace with her partner. It was nice to know her fellow cop was just as miserable as she was. Maybe there was something to that whole misery loves company thing.

Twenty-five minutes later, the entire group ascended a hill and emerged on the overgrown logging road. Gage broke out in a huge smile. Paige frowned. The rest of the group followed the deputies to the waiting vehicles.

“What are you two doing here?” Paige demanded.

“Saving you from granola bar hell,” Hawk laughed. “Jump in. Margie’s arranging food back at the base.”

Paige climbed into the passenger seat and waited. There had to be a reason Hawk and Wooly brought their transport jeeps up to help and she was pretty sure that reason had a name — Dax Hamilton. “He’s in Washington, does he have to control the entire world?”

Hawk sobered. “You know he does.”

“What’s wrong?”

Hawk glanced to the back and shook his head. “Later.”

Paige was about to protest but stopped when she saw the look on Hawk’s face. “Fine, why is Wooly here? I thought he was still in Nephi with his family.”

“He headed back this morning,” Hawk shrugged. “With Dax and Zee gone, I needed the help.”

“Then why pull away to help us?”

“Because Dax asked me to.”

Paige was grateful for the food. She was grateful for the short break before they resumed the search. She was even grateful for the company. Plus, as an added surprise, Hawk passed Jericho one of the training center’s emergency Sat phones and insisted the sheriff keep it until they found their man. But, the biggest shock came when Hawk and Wooly insisted on joining the team as they headed back into the wilderness to resume the search for a stranger. Something was up and the possibilities were starting to terrify her.

Once they were all set up in the same location where they left off, Paige turned to Hawk and demanded an explanation. When he didn’t answer immediately, it almost pushed her over the edge. “He’s in some kind of danger, isn’t he?”

“No,” Wooly and Hawk answered together.

“There’s something you want to tell me, but you’re hesitating. Just explain it. I can search and listen at the same time,” Paige insisted.

“He sent us here,” Hawk began. “Because it was something he could control. He could utilize us to make sure you’re safe and that your fed. He’s not himself. This mission, Porter never should have called him in.”

“Why?” Paige lifted a set of binoculars and studied a group of trees. She thought she’d seen something flashing a second ago.

“Beer can,” Wooly provided lowering his own binoculars. “Four o’clock, someone hung it in the tree and there’s a slight breeze. When the wind hits it just right, it sways.”

“I see it,” Paige lowered her own binoculars. “And if the sun hits just right, it creates a flash. I was hoping it might be the metal siding from the helicopter.”

“I can’t tell you where they are going,” Hawk picked the conversation back up. “I doubt I’m supposed to know.”

“But he told you?” Paige asked in surprise.

“Not exactly,” Hawk answered cryptically. “I asked him why this mission was getting to him. We’ve planned and executed a hundred just like it. Why this one? What had him so conflicted and… I don’t know, spooked.”

“His answer was *the Shark*,” Wooly didn’t look at Paige, instead he continued to survey the wilderness before them.

“What is the shark?” Paige wondered.

“Who?” Hawk corrected. “Scott Elliott.”

“Who is Scott Elliott?”

“Elliott was a difficult soldier,” Hawk began. “He had an attitude problem, resisted authority at every turn, and basically got moved around when things got hot.”

“Why?” Paige wondered. “The military is usually pretty good at dealing with problems.”

“Because he was good,” Wooly provided. “The brass was in denial, minimized the problem, sometimes even looked the other way, which only made the situation worse.”

“Again,” Paige was trying to focus her attention on the search, but what these guys were saying didn’t make sense. “Why?”

“Because he was good,” Hawk repeated. “Those in charge thought the trade-off was worth it.”

“You didn’t like him,” Paige observed.

“I hated his arrogant, selfish guts,” Hawk turned toward her. “Nothing will ever change that, and I’ll never apologize for it.”

“What does this Elliott guy have to do with Dax or the stress he’s been under for the past week?” Paige wondered.

“Elliott did something on a mission,” Wooly provided. “Something serious enough the entire squad refused to work with him.”

“I don’t think the military reacts well to mutiny,” Paige answered.

“These were Rangers,” Wooly shook his head. “We have a little more leverage than the average soldier.”

“How did that happen?” Paige asked in surprise. “How did you have a Ranger that was also insubordinate?”

“He was good,” Wooly shrugged.

“Nobody’s that good,” Paige objected. Her dad was a Ranger, Nathan was a Ranger, she knew the code.

“The Major approached Dax and asked him to take Elliott onto our team and see what he could do. They didn’t want to lose such a valuable asset, but they were fed up with his antics.”

“Something bad happened,” Paige realized.

“You could say that,” Hawk grumbled.

“Tell me,” Paige insisted.

“We were in the final planning stages of another mission,” Hawk continued. “Dax was worried about the last-minute change, because this one was risky. It was a dangerous and volatile area. Ops in this particular zone frequently turned unexpectedly. We suspected a mole, someone passing intel to the enemy but we couldn’t prove it. So, Dax worried about the change, but at the same time he was grateful because we needed another man. Dax decided to plug him in on the backend, the periphery, where we needed more manpower. Elliott challenged the plan, insisted his amazing talents would be wasted in such an insignificant position and demanded Dax switch his assignment. Dax refused. Elliott was angry, but he dropped it. We all thought the conflict had been resolved.”

“Until we were setting up,” Wooly picked up the story. “We were out there, all of us hanging out, hoping we didn’t end up dead. He walked right past his assigned position cocky as ever and settled into a spot closer to the frontline — the assignment he argued for and was denied.”

“What did you guys do?”

“There wasn’t much we could do,” Hawk told her. “We needed a man at the back and now we didn’t have one. Plus, Elliott was in a dangerous position. It was more likely he’d shoot one of us than the enemy.”

“Why didn’t he know that?”

“Because he wouldn’t listen,” Hawk provided. “Because he was arrogant and selfish. Because everyone he’d worked for in the past let him get away with disobeying orders and bullying his way through. Because throughout his entire career, when he pulled that crap, the team would adjust around him. We’re pretty good at improvising and Elliott had come to expect that response from everyone around him.”

“Not Dax,” Paige realized.

“Dax ordered him into position,” Wooly told her. He could see, even now, the events that unfolded were upseting Hawk. No wonder Dax was on edge.

“He ignored it,” Hawk advised. “He challenged it, challenged Dax and his authority. I offered to knock him out cold, but Dax wouldn’t let me. Elliot was given one last chance to do the right thing. He made the wrong decision and it not only cost him his life, it cost another good man his legs.”

“What?” Paige stopped, realized where she was and that she was supposed to be searching, after a quick glance around, she rushed forward a few steps and reconnected with the line. “What happened?”

“Most of it’s classified,” Hawk shrugged. “The long and short of it? We were attacked. Our intel was sketchy, but we knew a small group of militants were operating in the area. We thought we could handle it. Get in, get out and nobody would even realize we were there. We were wrong. Instead of a small contingent, we were fighting off an army of nearly a hundred.”

“Elliott was separated from the rest of the team,” Wooly added.

“Which was the reason Dax and I had considered that location and rejected it,” Hawk growled. “We saw the danger, almost immediately. As much as you hope you can have a smooth and easy execution of the plan, you always have to expect the worst.”

“Elliott placed himself in danger and he paid a high price for that mistake,” Wooly sobered.

“Unfortunately,” Hawk added. “So did Zinc.”

“That was the man who lost his legs?” Paige wondered.

Hawk nodded, but the two men remained silent, clearly lost in memories. “Sam Kazenski was a corporal on the team,” Hawk finally told her. “He’s a good man and was a good Ranger. Unlike Elliott, Zinc was a team player.”

“What happened?” Paige asked softly.

“We had an asset in the area,” Hawk began. “I can’t get into it further than that. I’ll just say she was valuable and irreplaceable.”

“She was the mission?” Paige realized. “An extraction, rescue, whatever?”

“Yeah,” Wooly agreed. “We got word she was being held in some caves up in the mountains. We had one shot so even though we knew the mission could be compromised, we had to go in and try.”

“And the last thing you needed was a team member playing cowboy.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Wooly disagreed. “Like we said, he was good. It’s the reason he got away with so much for so long.”

“Okay,” Paige relented. “Then insubordinate.”

“Yes,” Hawk agreed. “We…”

“Hold that thought,” Paige interrupted. She left the line and moved to stand next to a shallow gully off to the right of the ridgeline. She stood there for several seconds, surveying every inch of the thick foliage.

“Did you see something?” Wooly asked.

Paige rubbed her hands over her face in frustration. “I thought so, but no. This is worse than finding a needle in a haystack. We’re never going to find him.”

“Of course, we will,” Hawk put a supportive hand on her shoulder. “It’s just going to take time.”

“It’s nearly dark,” Paige glanced around. “Looks like tomorrow is another day of hiking. And, the chance of finding Mark Lopez alive was already slim to none. After another night alone, slim just left the building.”

“You can only do what you can do,” Hawk gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Now who’s trying to control the world?”

“Not control it,” Paige sighed, “save it.”

“I think that might be worse,” Wooly decided. The group made their way back to the search line and continued walking.

“Finish the story,” Paige finally requested.

“There’s not a lot to tell,” Hawk shrugged. “We headed in to rescue the maiden and almost immediately we were ambushed. We’ll never know if things would have turned out differently if Elliott had taken up position where he was supposed to. He didn’t and before we knew it, there were too many militants to hold back.”

“Elliott was wounded within minutes,” Wooly picked up the story. “He was cut off from the rest of us and we couldn’t get to him.”

“Zinc decided to sneak around from the back and try to drag Elliott back to us where Doc could work his magic.”

“No man left behind?”

“Yeah,” Hawk nodded. “Plus, he was still alive. We had to do something. It was a good plan. Zinc headed off and the rest of us tried to give him cover. He was nearly to Elliott when the world exploded. An IED had been planted out of sight.”

“How did Zinc survive that? He had to be on top of it.” Paige asked, horrified.

“He wasn’t the one that set it off,” Wooly stared straight ahead, seeing the mountain, the battle, the carnage as clear as it had been that night.

“Elliott knew he was in serious danger,” Hawk told her. “He spotted Zinc and started to crawl toward him. He trigged the explosion — was basically on top of it when it exploded. Zinc was thrown backwards.”

“He landed a few yards away from where we set up to provide cover,” Wooly added. “Doc went to work saving him. In the chaos, it was easy enough to sneak in and retrieve the target.”

“You couldn’t retrieve Elliott’s body?”

“There wasn’t enough left to retrieve,” Hawk whispered. “We checked. What didn’t get obliterated when the device detonated was catapulted over the cliff. We couldn’t get to it and we were still taking fire.”

“How did you escape?”

“Doc called for a medical evac,” Hawk turned to face her. “Dax called in reinforcements. We hunkered down until the cavalry arrived.”

“And Dax has never gotten over it,” Paige realized. “Leaving his man behind like that.”

“It’s more than that,” Hawk disagreed. “There is that, but it’s more. Dax blames himself. He’s always believed it was his failure — in leadership — that created the entire scenario. He thinks he should have been able to control his men. Elliott didn’t respect him, so he did his own thing, rejected the plan and went off the rails.”

“That’s on Elliott, not Dax,” Paige defended. “But Dax thinks he has to control the world.” She sighed, understanding why Dax was so out of sorts. “Are the men headed into the same location? The same mountain — on this mission?”

“They are,” Hawk nodded. “And it’s still just as dangerous. Dax and Zeus will come up with a plan. It won’t be a replay of before but…”

“But in his head,” Paige nodded. “Dax will see the past and it will take a bigger toll because he’s not there this time. He’s lounging in an air conditioned room sipping coffee with my favorite general. That will be worse.”

“Yeah,” both Hawk and Wooly said at once.

“I’ll call Nathan,” Paige assured them. “He can help. He’s walked a few miles in the same shoes, so to speak. What they do — are doing — it’s not easy. Nathan will help.”

“He won’t thank you for that.” Hawk warned. “Dax is…”

“I know,” Paige cut him off. “Doesn’t matter. It’s part of the contract. He’ll just have to deal with it because he’s the one that decided to get married.”

“You know,” Hawk grinned. “You’re good for him. You’re the yin to his yang. I know I got in the way, when I first arrived. I didn’t get you and I’m sorry for that. He needs you, in ways I don’t think he even realizes. I’m glad the two of you found each other.”

“The connection is mutual,” Paige said softly. “I need him just as much as he needs me. He grounds me in a way no one else ever has. I hope one day you find your yin, Hawk. You deserve to be happy.”

“Not likely,” Hawk grinned. “My yang is too obstinate.”

“On that note,” Wooly glanced to the side. “I think your leader over there just called it a night.”

Paige glanced up and spotted Alan addressing his team and Gage headed their way.

“Jericho called it,” Gage said as he approached. “Said to head to the jeeps and return to base. We’ll pick this back up at zero-seven-hundred.”

“We have a conference call first thing,” Hawk advised. “If someone can give us a ride back, you can keep the jeeps for transport. We won’t need them for another week or so.”

“I’m sure we can find a way to get you home,” Gage glanced at Paige. “Paige should have room — I mean you are next door neighbors.”

“You can ride with me,” Paige agreed. “Let’s go. I need to call Nathan then I’m going to sleep like the dead.”

“Maybe you should sign up for one of our courses,” Wooly suggested.

“The exercise would do you good,” Hawk teased. “Improve your stamina and enhance your endurance.”

“Sure,” Paige grinned. “Right after you finish yoga for beginners.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“You’re as bad as he is,” Nathan told Paige when she’d finished lecturing him on the reasons, he shouldn’t have pulled Dax into this one.

“Meaning?” Paige grumbled.

“Meaning,” Nathan said casually. “I already know everything there is to know about that mission. I also know how to help Dax cope with his unresolved feelings. Give me a little credit, kid. By the time he leaves Washington, the entire sordid mess will be a distant memory.”

Paige relaxed. “Okay, I get it. I should have trusted you. I do trust you. It’s just…”

“It’s Dax,” Nathan said in understanding. “I’m also a married man, Paige. I get the emotions and the need to protect. Dax doesn’t need your interference on this anymore than he needs mine. What he needs is perspective and I’m working on that. Now, it’s late and we both have an early start. Try to get some sleep. Things here are going according to plan and Dax should be home the day after tomorrow.”

“Goodnight,” Paige softened. “I don’t know why, you’re an obstinate dictator but I love you.”

“I don’t know why,” Nathan smiled. “You’re a petulant delinquent but I love you, too.”

Paige hung up, thinking she’d drop into bed and sleep for hours. Instead, she realized she was still revved. There were too many problems jumping around in her mind. She slid off the couch and slowly walked to the kitchen. After a cup of hot chocolate and an hour studying maps, maybe she’d be calm enough to sleep.

Two hours later, she had a new plan for the search in the morning and a strategy to convince Jericho and Sgt. Alva that she was right. They were going to find that pilot tomorrow if it killed her. She smiled as she ascended the stairs, headed for her room. It just might kill her, but she wouldn’t give up. And, when Dax got back, they were implementing a regular hiking routine. It would help him in the training and after today, she realized she needed more exercise than she got from her treadmill.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige had just thrown together the necessities for the day and was headed for the door when her phone started to ring. She glanced down and smiled. “Hey stud,” there was laughter and mischief in her tone. “I’m just heading out, but my husband is still thousands of miles away. He’s not due back until tomorrow. Come over early, we have the entire evening all to ourselves — I’ll provide dessert if you bring dinner.”

“Hold on,” Dax played along. “Bambi, I’m on the phone with my wife, I’ll just be a minute. Oh, yeah — I love that one and wear those sexy black boots, they highlight those long, luscious legs of yours.”

“Okay,” Paige climbed into her work vehicle. “That’s no longer funny.”

Dax laughed. “Any luck finding the pilot?”

“Not yet,” Paige started the engine. “I’m heading back up. Thanks for the food, and the men. Jericho also said he appreciates the borrowed phone.”

“You guys really need to get one for yourself,” Dax told her. “You spend a lot of time in the canyon and I’m not sure service up there could be any worse.”

“Jericho is working on it,” Paige insisted. “The mayor is resisting. Doesn’t think the need justifies the expense.”

“He would if it was his life on the line,” Dax grumbled.

“You okay?” Paige heard the tone in his voice.

“Rough day,” Dax shrugged that off. “I’ll be fine.”

“Uh…” Paige hesitated. “You sent the men and it gets boring out there, walking the ridgeline all day.”

“They told you about the mission,” Dax realized.

“They did,” Paige admitted. “And I think we should talk about it when you get home.”

“It’s water under the bridge, Paige,” Dax brushed that off. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

“I disagree,” Paige wasn’t about to let this drop. “Did you talk to Nathan?”

“That’s not necessary,” Dax sighed. “I didn’t call for a lecture. I called because I miss you and I wanted to wish you luck in the search today.”

“I’m heading up the canyon now,” Paige advised. “We only have a few minutes before I lose you. So…” she took a deep breath. “I miss you, too. I love you. And, I’m not going to let this drop. If you haven’t talked to Nathan by the time you get home, I’m sleeping on the couch until you do. You don’t get to control everything, Dax. Nathan has been there. Talk to him.”

“Says the woman trying to control everything,” Dax sighed. “I’ll talk to him. I promise.”

“I think I’m losing you,” Paige said when she heard crackling noises on the phone. “Good luck with the op and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Dax hung up and dropped his phone onto the conference table. He sat there, staring at the wall, lost in memories he wished he could forget. He was still mired in the nightmare when Nathan stepped into the room. Dax didn’t realize he was there until he settled into the chair next to him. Dax glanced up, about to greet the good general but stopped when Nathan began to speak.

“It was nineteen-ninety-three,” Nathan was the one staring aimlessly into space now. “We were headed out on a particularly messy and dangerous mission. It was one of those that lacked planning…”

Dax listened as Nathan detailed an event that was even more screwed up and chaotic than the one that cost Elliott his life. Maybe Paige was right, Nathan did understand, and he always had a way of putting things into perspective.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige entered the command post, prepared for battle. She’d convince this group she was right because she knew in her gut they were searching the wrong area.

“Hawk was generous enough to loan us both the satellite phone and their transport jeeps for another day,” Jericho began. “Sgt. Alva, brief us on the progress we made yesterday and cover the plans for today.”

“Before you do that,” Paige stood. “Can I have a minute?”

“Alright,” Jericho frowned.

“I spent some time last night going over the data,” Paige moved to the computer and pulled up the map. “We know this was the last known location of the helicopter based on intel from air traffic control.”

“Right,” Alva said impatiently. “Which is why we started there.”

“I understand why we always start with last known,” Paige pushed. “But I think we need to move one ridge over.”

“We will,” Alva tried to brush her off. “Once we’ve finished searching this ridgeline.”

“Just hear me out,” Paige insisted. “This is the last known,” she marked the location with a digital pin. “We searched three quarters of this ridge. But, Lopez was still in the air when he made that call. He was going down. Most likely from here, as he flew to the right of the road to keep a visual for precise navigation.”

“I agree,” Alva moved forward and studied the map. “I get what you’re saying. He didn’t just drop out of the sky like a lead balloon. The helicopter kept moving. He probably made the call somewhere back here. Then, he dropped below radar here…” he pointed to the location Paige marked on the map. “So, as he continued to descend he would have done everything he could to land somewhere around here.”

“Right,” Paige nodded. “I think he was either trying to get back to the main highway where he could land on asphalt..”

“Or,” Alva studied the lines. “He was trying to get into a better position to land on this dirt roadway. That would shift his route and bring him above this ridgeline. I see where you’re coming from.”

“We could walk the rest of that ridge,” Paige pointed to the place they’d spent all of the previous day.

“Or,” Alva considered. “We could pick the search back up over here, clear this ridge and if we don’t find him, go back and clear the rest of this ridge before we move back here.” He pointed to another ridge further away and to the north.

“I’ll support you,” Jericho continued to study the map. Paige, as always, had a good point. “No matter where you decide to start the search today, I’ll support it.”

“I think we should go with Paige’s theory,” Alva decided. “I don’t like abandoning an area once we get started, but she makes a good point. If we adjust our plan and account for an out of control descent, chances are high he went down somewhere in this sector. We’ll start there, cover it thoroughly and completely then fan out.”

They had just climbed into the two jeeps they planned to use for transport when they spotted half a dozen Emery County vehicles headed to a ridge closer to the county line.

“They’re following us,” Gage realized. “They spent the entire day yesterday scouring the area around Joe’s and continued east from there. Now, suddenly, they decided do a search to the west, practically on top of our team. Somebody gave them a heads up.”

“I don’t think so,” Havilland disagreed. “I think they were watching us and realized we knew something they didn’t. They want to locate the missing pilot, so they packed up and moved their operation as close to ours as they could get.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Paige decided. “The goal is to find the wreckage and recover the body or rescue the pilot if he somehow miraculously survived the crash and the elements.”

“We all know that’s not likely,” Alva stepped in beside them. “And I called Ryan last night, once I hit the valley, I filled him and suggested his team should pick up the search on that ridge this morning.”

“Because?” Gage wondered.

“Because this isn’t a competition,” Alva shrugged. “We all want the same thing. And having a team of highly qualified searchers looking for our victim in an area where there is zero probability he’ll be located doesn’t make any sense. The helicopter didn’t go down east of the reservoir. They need to search that ridge just in case he made it further than we think.”

“I agree,” Paige told the group. “The numbers don’t support the theory. I can’t see how the pilot could have made it that far, but we all know — sometimes people in crisis manage the impossible.”

“What do you mean the numbers don’t support it?” Alva asked.

“I calculated the distance,” Paige shrugged. “I used the information the Jacksons gave me and figured out what time he took off from the parking lot — give or take a minute or two. The kids were fascinated with the helicopter, so the family watched Lopez take off and head west. We know following the road would make the most sense because he was navigating with VFR. So, I used the time of take-off and the time of his last transmission when he informed dispatch he was having trouble. Then, I did the math and determined his speed. Based on that speed, I calculated the rate of descent. Probability is high, the helicopter went down somewhere on the ridge east of where we searched yesterday. Again, if he was an excellent pilot, it’s possible he made it to the next canyon over — but, highly improbable.”

“How long did you work on this last night?” Alva asked, impressed.

“A couple hours,” Paige shrugged. “I needed to do something menial and analytical to settle before I turned in.”

“Looks like you found it,” Alva climbed behind the wheel of one of the jeeps. “Meet you at the top.”

Paige glanced at Havilland. “You drive.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MPSmith-Aerial.jpg)

It was thirteen-twenty-four when Travis — a Search & Rescue member that had joined the team six years earlier — spotted the wreckage. He saw a brief glint in the distance. When he moved closer to the edge of the ridgeline, he could see the tail of the bird. It was sandwiched between the wall of the canyon and several large pine trees.

Paige and Havilland made their way to the side of the canyon. “They’re going to need climbing equipment to get down there,” Havilland immediately realized.

“Yeah,” Paige nodded. “If I had to guess, he was dead the instant the bird hit the side of that mountain. He’s lucky it didn’t explode.”

“I can’t see any part of this that points to luck,” Havilland disagreed. “The guy never had a chance.”

“It helps,” Paige watched three Search & Rescue members rig a complicated system and secure it to a nearby tree. “Knowing he didn’t sit out here, suffering, while we wondered around in the wrong area.”

“I guess,” Gage stepped up next to them. “But then again, dead is dead.”

“Jericho contacted Sheriff Peters,” Alva informed them. “Apparently, he’s now back in town and was coordinating their search this morning. Ryan’s on the way over with his team. We might need them. This is a technical area and the more manpower we have, the better.”

“It’s not technically a crime scene,” Paige decided. “But be careful. The collision site looks dangerous and the entire thing could come tumbling down if we move the wrong way and destabilize things down there. It looks a little precarious and unpredictable.”

“How about you do what you do,” Alva grinned. “And let us do what we do. My guys know how to deal with this. Trust them, I do.”

“I trust you,” Paige assured him. “And them. I just don’t want to see anyone get hurt. We need to recover the body, but it’s not worth another life. That’s all I’m saying.”

“Understood,” Alva continued to watch his team carefully.

They had just reached the wreckage when Ryan and the Emery County Rescue Team arrived. Alva left, had a brief conversation with a tall man dressed in forest green cargo pants and a white tee. He had sun bleached blonde hair that fell just below his shoulders but was cropped to prevent any stray strands from falling over his face and impeding his sight. Paige recognized the small logo on the left breast of the t-shirt — Emery County SAR. It must be the man named Ryan Alva mentioned earlier.

“We need to move a few feet to the left,” Alva informed them when he returned. “Ryan and his team will be taking over operations up here on top. We decided it was best to let my guys continue the extraction since they’re already down there. That will free up Amy and Tom to head down and help stabilize things below.”

“Sounds good,” Paige mumbled. She continued to watch the activity below. Once the two additional SAR members reached the wreckage things seemed to move a little more quickly. By the time the Emery team raised the body, that was now securely strapped into an orange stokes, Jericho had arrived accompanied by Sheriff Peters.

“Hey boss,” Gage looked up and spotted Jericho.

“I don’t know if any of you have met Sheriff Trent Peters,” Jericho introduced the imposing man standing next to him. Peters was taller than Jericho and nearly as large as Gage.

“My boys have gone up against his son a time or two,” Gage grinned. “Jury’s still out but he’s a formidable opponent on the field.”

Jericho laughed. “And his father is a formidable force on the streets.”

“Used to be,” Peters corrected. “Now I spend my days riding a desk and hoping my men play well with others. Which I’m told, didn’t happen on this particular call.”

“We found our way through it,” Jericho assured him. “Now, as the helicopter ended up on my side of the line, I suppose I need to figure out a way to get it removed.”

“I’ve already started on that,” Peters assured them. “Lt. Wilson contacted Skybirds. They’ve been updated and, as Mark Lopez was assisting my department when he went down, we took care of notification to the Lopez family as well.”

“I’ll coordinate the removal with Skybirds,” Jericho offered.

“They’re sending a specialized team up,” Peters continued. “They said they contract with some conglomerate that has the expertise and the skill to extract that thing from the trees. They should be arriving around five tonight. They wanted to give us plenty of time to do whatever we needed to do to close out our case then they’ll come out, survey the area and get a feel for the situation. I expect them to start the extraction sometime tomorrow.”

“NTSB will also be arriving sometime tomorrow,” Jericho informed him. “I’ll leave those details to you Trent. I don’t see any reason for us to be in the middle of any of this. If anyone has question, they can contact me directly, but once we clear here tonight — it’s all yours.”

“Such a tragedy,” Tent focused on the activity below. “We accept the risk the second be pin on that badge, but that man… he was a qualified pilot that came out one night to help a family desperate to locate their daughter.”

“He accepted those risks the second he slid into the pilot’s seat,” Paige disagreed. “Law enforcement isn’t the only career that comes with risks. He knew what could happen and he did it anyway.”

“True,” Sheriff Peters agreed. “I suppose that’s true. Doesn’t make the outcome any less tragic.”

Paige was thinking about Dax at the moment, not Mark Lopez. She knew, he’d be right in the middle of things at the moment. It was just after three. That meant it was after two in the morning in the middle east. She knew that’s where the mission was occurring. She might not know where, but she knew it had to be somewhere in that region. She also knew, tactically, it made sense to hit the target in the middle of the night when most people were sleeping. She prayed everything went according to plan and the good guys made it out alive — and without serious injury. After what Hawk and Wooly told her, she wasn’t sure Dax could handle another death or loss of limb. Not on this one.

The group waited while the medical examiner loaded the body into a large SUV and drove away. They gathered the evidence they needed from the ridgeline and photographed the crash site. Then, one by one, they piled into the training center’s jeeps and silently made their way back to the command post. The instant they came to a stop, the Search & Rescue members piled out, climbed into their own vehicles and drove away.

Paige remained on scene and helped Havilland clean up the area then followed him back to the office. By the time they got everything cleaned up, restocked and stored away, it was after six.

Jericho stepped from his office and focused on his two deputies. “You two head home. It’s been a long, depressing day and there’s nothing left here that can’t wait until tomorrow.”

“I thought when we found the crash, somehow it would feel more — rewarding, I guess,” Paige admitted. “It doesn’t. I just feel empty and depressed.”

“We all feel that way,” Jericho assured her. “We did the job, found the body and gave that family closure. It has to be enough.”

“Is it?” Havilland wondered. “I mean, they can have a funeral, a celebration of life or whatever, but the man is still dead. I’m not sure you ever get closure after something like this. After the kind of death the three of us deal with on the job. It’s never natural — or at least, it’s rarely natural. We deliver the kind of news that destroys families. So yeah, we all feel empty and depressed. Still, each of us will show up tomorrow and do it all again.”

“Which is why the three of us,” Jericho began. “And, all the rest of the great cops out there should work hard to enjoy life, appreciate family, and experience love while we can.”

“And drive a fast car around the track every chance you get,” Havi grinned. “Which is exactly what I’m going to do tonight. See you tomorrow.” He headed for the door and never looked back.

“Hawk called,” Paige told Jericho. “He’s grilling steaks. Said to bring you by, you up for some of the family appreciation and life enjoyment?”

“I…” Jericho was about to decline but changed his mind. “Okay, we can take the jeeps. Make sure they get returned in time for the boys to use in that next course.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Paige tossed her boss the keys to one of the jeeps. “I’ve got the phone, so I’ll return that as well. Any luck with the mayor on that one? We both know the commissions won’t approve the expenditure if the mayor continues to resist.”

“He’s coming around,” Jericho pulled the door shut and locked it. “See you at the militia house in five.”

Paige was laughing as she pulled out of the lot. Dax wouldn’t appreciate the new name Jericho assigned his precious home. Serves him right. He’s the one that brought a macho band of ex-rangers to town. He could deal with the fallout. She sobered, for the hundredth time wishing Dax would call and tell her how everything went. She was worried about him. At least when he was home, she could give him a quick kick in the butt and force him out of a rut. She couldn’t do that when he was in Washington with Nathan. She grinned, she couldn’t do it — but the formidable General Porter would. That was good enough for tonight. It had to be.

\*\*\*\*\*

Several hours later, Paige had finally drifted off into a restless, edgy sleep. She moaned and tried to shift when she felt something heavy pin her to the mattress. Was this a dream? Another nightmare? She wasn’t sleeping, but she wasn’t quite awake either. A smile spread across her face when she felt familiar, warm lips glide over the side of her neck then move to her jawline and finally settle on her mouth.

“Oh, Fabio,” Paige whispered breathlessly. “Don’t stop. You either Axel, just move a little to the left.”

Dax bit her lip then rolled away. “Sorry, I think I have the wrong house. I was supposed to meet Candy and her gorgeous sidekick Kitty. I do love me some…”

Paige tackled him, laughing. “Don’t say it.” She wrapped her body around his and resumed the kiss. When they broke apart, she continued to hold on. “I missed you. And, you had me worried. Why didn’t you call?”

“I missed you,” Dax sat on the edge of the bed and started to remove his boots. “All I could think of was getting home. Once the op and the debrief was over, I rushed to my room, threw my stuff in my bag and caught the first flight available. I nearly missed it; they were just getting ready to close the gate when I arrived. Once we landed, it was too late to call. Plus, I decided it would be more fun to surprise you.” He slid back on the bed and pulled her against him.

“Did everything go okay?”

“Like a well-oiled machine. No problems, no injuries… well, Wolfe buggered up his knee on a protruding rock, but nothing too serious.”

“And you’re okay?”

“I’m better than okay,” he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Stop worrying about me.”

“Never gonna happen,” Paige pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “I’m contractually obligated. Plus, I think protecting the people I love is in my DNA.”

“I talked to Nathan,” Dax admitted. “Well, he actually talked to me. I assume that was your doing, but I’ll let you have your little denial. Anyway, it helped. You should know, we have a series of missions taking place over the next few months that might require my assistance. Nathan was so pleased with the way things went this time; he wants a repeat in a couple months. This time, I’ll need to take Hawk back with me. He was my righthand man on a similar op and his memory and input will be invaluable.”

“I understand,” Paige sat up. “Well, I’m going to try to be understanding. But Nathan needs to understand that you have a business to run out here. He also needs to be reminded of the promise he made to me — and you. He said if you agreed to help him, you could do it from the comfort of your own home. From Utah. He insisted you wouldn’t have to travel back and forth all the time. I plan to remind he made that promise and I’m going to hold him to it.”

“Maybe you could bank the venom until morning,” Dax ran a hand down her side. “Tonight, I want something a little sweeter.”

“I might be able to accommodate you,” she barely finished the sentence before Dax showed her just how sweet he could be.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MPS-Line.png)

**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S5

**Tags:** Season 5

---

### [Peculiar Inquiry](https://melaniepsmith.com/peculiar-inquiry/)

**Published:** April 30, 2020
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Peculiar Inquiry (S5E1) Paige and Dax are finally settling into married life, the training center is thriving and Paige works to solve another local mystery.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*PECULIAR INQUIRY\*\*\*****

“Don’t forget the whipped cream,” Paige called out. “And sprinkles.” She laughed when Gage flipped her the middle finger.

Deputy Clayton tried to hold back his smile but failed as he covered the white foam a little too thoroughly with tiny, colorful sprinkles. He was still smiling when he slid the mug of hot chocolate onto the table in front of his partner and settled into the chair across from her.

“You think I’m going to be annoyed,” Paige grabbed the mug of hot chocolate and raised it to her lips, closed her eyes, and took her first slow sip. “But you, my friend, underestimate the power of the sprinkle.”

“And you, my friend,” Gage sipped his mug of coffee. “Underestimate the power of the sugar crash.”

“That’s a myth,” Paige settled further into her chair. “Like Big Foot and werewolves.”

“Actually,” Gage watched his partner lick the sugar-coated foam covering her drink before she took another careful sip. His teeth ached just watching her. “It’s a scientific fact.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MPS-PC_Cover-S5.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Peculiar-Inquiry.pdf)

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![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Mug_MPS.jpg)

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“That’s what they say about Big Foot,” Paige countered. “Stop being a party pooper just because I was right.”

“I still can’t believe you won that one,” Gage grumbled.

“Lost a bet, Master Clayton has,” Paige did her best Yoda voice. “Sore loser he is. Accept defeat and humility he must, before his attitude banish, he can.”

“You,” Gage shook his head. “Make a terrible Yoda, but you did get the master part right.”

“Funny,” Paige held up a finger before Gage could continue. “Hold that thought.” She reached down to respond to Margie’s call over the radio. “Go ahead for Carter.”

“I need you to respond over to the Temple View Lodge on an unattended death,” Margie relayed. “The manager discovered one of the guests in his room after checkout.”

“Copy,” Paige grinned when Gage shoved a disposable mug toward her. It now contained the sweet mess Gage had purchased as payment for losing a bet.

“Need a back?” Gage followed her out to the parking lot.

“Couldn’t hurt,” Paige shrugged. “And, thanks.” She held up the mug of hot chocolate.

“A bet’s a bet,” he answered before climbing behind the wheel of his own vehicle. He fired up the engine, then waited for Paige to pull onto the highway.

\*\*\*\*\*

“ME will verify,” Paige sighed as the coroner’s transport van pulled from the lot, “but it looks natural to me. He also wasn’t dead long before the body was discovered.”

“So, what prompted him to stay?” Gage wondered.

Margie’s initial information was that the manager waited an hour after checkout before he headed to the room to confront his guest. The story changed once the deputies arrived. The manager corrected his original statement and admitted the man had called the night clerk and arranged to stay another three days. The clerk was a new hire and didn’t know how to enter an extension into the system. The manager didn’t see the note his employee left him until after he’d called the police to report the death.

“No idea,” Paige turned and headed back toward her crime scene — if it was a crime. She had just finished searching the small drawer of the nightstand when Jericho stepped into the doorway.

“Why don’t you have a log?”

“I put up tape to block off the sidewalk,” Paige objected. “You’re trespassing in a restricted area, Sheriff.”

“I contacted Tolman,” Jericho ignored her. “He doesn’t see a need for a warrant at this time. Unless we find something that points to foul play, we’re working this as a natural death. Just collect all his personal belongings and notifying his next of kin.”

“We have to find them first,” Paige pulled out another drawer then moved to the table that was covered with maps, file folders, and a laptop computer. She flipped open the top folder and frowned.

“Find something?” Jericho moved to stand next to her.

“The manager was able to give us a name,” Gage slid open one of the drawers in the small dresser and began to sift through it. “Our victim is Chris Kendall of Twin Falls, Idaho. We have an address but Inspector Clouseau over there doesn’t want to turn notification over to the locals yet.”

“Inspector who? Never mind. Why not?” Jericho started flipping through documents. “Looks like our guy was a private investigator.” He held up a business card. “Maybe we should call the office, see if anyone answers.”

Paige was silently reading through the document on the top of the file she’d opened. “Pink Panther,” she said absently.

“What are you talking about, Paige?” Jericho asked, annoyed.

“Jacques Clouseau,” Paige glanced up. “The incompetent detective in the Pink Panther series. And, just because I’m not ready to rule this death-by-one-too-many-cheeseburgers doesn’t mean I’m inept. I’d rather be Yoda.”

“And I’d prefer you stick to deputy and act like a cop,” Jericho grumbled; Gage turned away to hide his smirk.

“From all appearances,” Paige shrugged. “It looks like a heart attack.”

“Death by cheeseburger,” Gage nodded in agreement.

Jericho frowned and moved closer to Paige. Clearly, it was going to be one of those days. Sometimes he felt more like a babysitter than a supervisor. He focused on the file Paige had discovered. “I agree, it looks natural. So, I need to know why we aren’t calling the locals up in Twin Falls, Paige.”

“Because we haven’t determined cause of death yet,” she said flatly. “Appearances aren’t facts. And before I notify anyone, I’d like to know what he was up to. From the information in this file, it looks like he was following a woman by the name of Charity Johnson. His client was the victim of a burglary and fraud — it’s vague, but I’m guessing identity theft.” She hesitated at the bottom of the page. The document looked like a summary of some sort and read like cop notes. To the side were the letters ‘JDLR,’ but Paige had no idea what that meant.

“Just doesn’t look right,” Jericho said softly.

“What doesn’t?” Paige pivoted abruptly to focus on her boss.

Jericho pointed to the handwritten letters in the margin of the document. “JDLR just doesn’t look right. I wonder if our PI was on the job before he broke out on his own.”

“You think he was a cop? I agree, because that’s how this summary reads; but, how did you know that?” Paige looked back at the paperwork. The letters in question were scribbled next to Charity’s name. “I’ve never heard that abbreviation before.”

“We don’t use a lot of acronyms here,” Jericho shrugged. “But in some larger departments that’s cop speak. It means something he uncovered doesn’t pass the smell test. There was something about this Charity Johnson that didn’t add up.”

Paige focused out the window for several seconds, then gathered all the documents into a pile and set them on top of the laptop.

“Paige,” Jericho said hesitantly. “What are you doing?”

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“Collecting our victim’s personal property,” she grabbed all the items off the table and headed for the door.

Jericho followed. “This is not our case. Someone hired that man to look into something for them. They didn’t hire us. And, the something wasn’t just out of our jurisdiction, it happened in a completely different state.”

“Chris Kendall died in our jurisdiction,” Paige countered. “That is our case.”

“And he died from a heart attack,” Jericho moved in closer, trying to get her attention. She was hidden behind the car door, setting her victim’s property on her back seat.

“It looks like he died of a heart attack,” Paige disagreed. “What if he was poisoned? What if he was killed because he was looking into something for someone?”

“What facts are you using to develop that theory?” Jericho demanded.

“I don’t know,” Paige slammed the door in frustration. “I just think I need to look into this a little more. Maybe he did keel over from a heart attack. Maybe this is a simple unattended death. But aren’t you the least bit curious? He uses lingo like a cop, his notes read like a cop, and now he’s dead. Don’t we owe it to him, a fellow officer, to find out for sure?”

“A possible former officer,” Jericho corrected. He settled next to her. “The burglary and the fraud happened in Idaho. The mayor blew a gasket over the amount of time we spent working that case for Vegas. This is going to look and feel like a repeat. He doesn’t have the power or authority over us that he would like, but he does have influence. I can give you one day, that’s it. And keep it quiet. Benny’s quick and he’s thorough. Once he rules natural causes, I have to pull the plug on this one.”

“The only reason the mayor’s causing a stink is because Lo arrested his nephew and wouldn’t drop the charges,” Paige grumbled.

“That,” Jericho agreed, “and because I got to Tolman before he did. Mayor Fowler knew he couldn’t take on the sheriff and the local DA — and win. He had to drop it.”

“I don’t know what he’s complaining about,” Paige sighed. “That high-priced attorney Fowler hired got the kid a sweet deal. Better than most could finagle. If the mayor’s nephew had consequences the first time, he may have refrained from stealing Elaine Parker’s SUV in the first place. And seriously, what was Lo supposed to do? He was stuck between our resident family law judge and the local mayor.”

“Lo did the right thing,” Jericho pushed away from the vehicle. “And I told him as much. Our budget is just paying the price in the short term. You have one day, Paige. Make it count.” He turned to leave but was stopped when Paige called out to him.

“We still on for tonight?” Paige asked. “Dax is marinating the steaks and Carmen said she’d throw together a potato salad.”

“I’ll be there,” Jericho reluctantly agreed. Paige and Dax were determined to pull him into their circle. They seemed to think he was too much of a recluse and needed to socialize more. He was happier with a cold beer, his favorite lounge chair, and his trusted remote. “I’ll stop by the bakery and grab something for dessert.”

“Sounds good,” Paige headed back toward the open hotel door. She had a lot of work to do, and she only had one day to do it.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was reading the transcript of a conversation Chris Kendall had with Charity Johnson for the second time when her phone rang. She absently reached for it but paused when a paragraph caught her attention. The phone rang two more times before she remembered it. “Deputy Carter.”

“It’s Benny,” the medical examiner informed.

“You finished the autopsy?”

“Just completed it,” Bennie admitted. “Jericho mentioned something about it maybe being a cop — or a former cop. I wanted to be thorough.”

“And?” Paige pushed back from the desk and settled further into her chair.

“Mr. Chris Kendall had an acute myocardial infarct. The mode was cardiac arrest.”

“Can’t you just say the man had a massive heart attack?” Paige wondered.

“No,” Benny dismissed that immediately. “He had a severe blockage in one coronary artery and another, slightly less restrictive, blockage in a second artery. It was only a matter of time and it appears his time simply ran out.”

“You didn’t find any indication foul play was involved?”

“I’m not sure I understand the question,” Benny considered. “I didn’t find any evidence this death was suspicious.”

Paige rolled her eyes but silently listened.

“I have sent samples to the lab and I ordered a complete work up. If there was something in his system that shouldn’t be there, those techs will find it. I have to say, I don’t expect any surprises on this one. It appears to be a simple, natural death — well, if death can ever be considered simple.”

“I understand. Keep me posted,” Paige requested. “And I’m holding the body until I speak with his next of kin. I’ll let you know when notification has been made and what arrangements they prefer.”

“I’m going to hold him on my end until the toxicology report comes through,” Benny advised. “I’ll let you know when he can be turned over to loved ones on my end.”

“Sounds good,” Paige clicked off. She returned to studying the printout again. It appeared to be a casual conversation between Kendall and his suspect; one Kendall, or a secretary, had transcribed. She found the place where she’d left off and read the exchange one more time.

Kendall: You say Twin Falls is a temporary stop. Where do you call home, then?

Johnson: Actually, I said I wouldn’t be staying in Twin Falls permanently.

Kendall: How long have you been here?

Johnson: Close to two years.

Kendall: And before that?

Johnson: I spent some time in Omaha.

Kendall: Nebraska is a long way from Idaho.

Johnson: I was headed west from Chicago and made a few stops along the way.

Kendall: So you’re from Chicago? Originally?

Johnson: Sure.

Kendall: How long ago was that?

Johnson: I left eight years ago, but I don’t want to talk about it. Bad memories.

But Kendall had checked, and he couldn’t find a Charity Johnson that lived in Chicago — ever. A few pages later, Charity said she went to Thomas Kelly High School and lived in the Brighton Park area. Kendall actually flew to Chicago and interviewed former classmates that would have attended the school at the same time as Charity. Nobody knew her. Nobody ever heard of her. No wonder he thought something just didn’t look right. Nothing about Charity passed the smell test.

Paige picked up the phone and dialed an old friend. She struck out and got voicemail. She was about to hang up but decided to leave a message. Trent would get back to her. The question was when. She was running out of time and every nugget she found led to a brick wall. She was frowning when Mike Lovato dropped into her visitor’s chair.

“Bad day?” he asked.

“Not exactly,” Paige sighed. “I suppose I should be happy. Benny ruled my unattended natural.”

“But you smell a rat?” he countered.

“I do,” Paige ran a frustrated hand over her face. “But I only have one day to prove it.”

“I suppose that’s my fault,” Lo scowled. “Sorry about that. I’m not sure how I was supposed to handle that powder keg of political crap, but we’re all suffering for my decision and I’m sorry for it.”

“I’m not,” Paige shrugged. “You did the right thing. The kids a nuisance at best, a delinquent on his way to a long career behind bars at worst. You had the guts to ensure, this time, he had consequences. I’d be annoyed if you caved.”

“The choice wasn’t all that difficult,” Lo shrugged. “Judge verses Mayor, Judge won.”

“I guess,” Paige glanced at her phone and willed it to ring.

“Gage told me about the dead guy,” Lo admitted. “Anything I can do to help?”

“I don’t think so,” Paige picked up a pen then began tapping it on her desk in frustration. “Chris Kendall was a PI investigating a burglary for a client. His prime suspect was a woman by the name of Charity Johnson.”

“And he followed her here?” Lo asked.

“Looks like it,” Paige agreed.

“Did you talk to her?”

“I can’t find her,” Paige admitted. “I can’t find hide nor hair of a Charity Johnson in Manti, Laurel Bluffs, Ephraim… anywhere. I’ve fanned out to Gunnison and up to Nephi.”

“Your suspect doesn’t exist?” Lo frowned.

“She does,” Paige admitted. “On a superficial level. She has an Idaho driver’s license. She lived in Twin Falls for just under two years before the burglary occurred and she split. I’m not entirely sure how Kendall tracked her here. I’m hoping once I get through the rest of that, I’ll find the trace.”

“But?”

“Her records go back five years,” Paige told him.

“Five years in Idaho?” Lo asked, confused.

“No,” Paige said impatiently. “Five years, period. Before that? Nothing. Charity Johnson doesn’t exist.”

“Fake identity?” Lo wondered.

“I…” Paige paused and snatched up her ringing phone. “Deputy Carter.”

“Paige Carter,” a familiar voice greeted. “Sorry for the delay, I had to pull myself up off the floor. I was so shocked when I heard the message, I fell off my chair.”

“How are you Trent?”

“Could be better, could be worse,” he gave his usual response. “I know you didn’t call to catch up and talk about the Cubs.”

“I love the Cubs; but, no,” Paige admitted. “I need a favor.”

“I could be in the favor business,” Trent decided. “How can I help my favorite agent?”

“How about your favorite deputy?” Paige corrected.

“Deputy works, too,” Trent paused. “That’s right, you left the Bureau and went to work for some small-town department out west. How’s that working out?”

“Better than expected,” Paige tried not to be impatient with the small talk.

“I also heard you went and got yourself married,” Trent joked. “Say it isn’t so.”

“All true,” Paige laughed.

“The fragile hearts of hopeful men are breaking all across the world, but you didn’t call to talk about your love life. Tell me what you need,” Trent understood Paige Carter and knew she’d be itching to get down to business.

“I’m looking for a woman,” Paige began. “She’s going by the name Charity Johnson, DOB eleven-sixteen-eighty-three.”

“I’m assuming she’s from Chicago,” Trent surmised.

“Says she was,” Paige evaded. “I don’t need a full background — not at the moment. I’m just looking for evidence she actually lived there. She claimed she grew up in the Brighton Park area and left the state about eight years ago. If the timeline is correct, she should have had a license until twenty-eleven, twenty-ten at least. She would have been in her late twenties at the time.”

“I’ll key it in and go with a few extra years on each end,” Trent decided. “In fact, let’s just use twenty-nineteen as the end date. It might take a bit longer, but sometimes it’s better to go wide.”

“I agree,” Paige handed Lo the transcript so he could be reading it while she waited. “How’s Marcy and the kids?”

“Marcy’s still too good for me and the kids are amazing,” Trent smiled. “And that man you married? He treating you right?”

“I have to admit, Dax is my better half,” Paige pointed a finger at Lo in warning. “Not that I’d ever admit that to him. You have nothing to worry about. He treats me better than I deserve.”

“Not possible,” Trent frowned at the results. “I’m sorry to report your girl doesn’t exist.”

“I’m not surprised,” Paige considered.

“Fake name?” Trent decided.

“Fake everything,” Paige corrected. “I doubt she ever lived in Chicago. I think it’s a diversion, a safe one.”

“Fake life,” Trent realized. “Well, you always did love a challenge.”

“This one is a little more complicated than usual,” Paige confessed. “Thanks for the help, Trent. Tell Marcy hello and don’t be a stranger. You have my number, call any time.”

“Right back attcha,” Trent said immediately. “I’m afraid I have to let you get back to that mystery of yours. The boss is calling, and I want to get home relatively close to quitting time. Jake has baseball tonight and I promised him I’d be there.”

“Thanks again for all your help,” Paige said again. “Talk to you later.”

“Another brick wall?” Lo deduced.

“Yeah,” Paige studied him. “If you really want to help, you can go through some of this stuff. I’m looking for anything that explains how Mr. Chris Kendall landed in Manti. It would also be nice if he jotted down the name Charity Johnson is using these days.”

“Give me a stack,” Lo stood. “I’ll read through them at my desk.”

\*\*\*\*\*

It was just after five when Jericho stepped from his office, spotted his two deputies hard at work, and frowned. He made his way to Paige’s desk. “Status?”

“Bupkis,” Paige admitted. “Charity Johnson doesn’t exist. Not here in Manti, not anywhere else prior to twenty-fourteen.”

“I admit, that’s odd,” Jericho glanced at Lovato. “But, it’s not criminal.”

“It might be,” Paige disagreed. “We know she’s a criminal. It’s a crime if she’s using one of the identities she stole in a burglary.”

“Did she use one of those identities here in Sanpete County?” Jericho challenged.

“Could have,” Lo answered. “We won’t know if we don’t solve the puzzle. How would it look if one of our innocent citizen’s got victimized by the dastardly Ms. Johnson also known as someone else, and word gets out our department knew we had a criminal in our midst but we just couldn’t be bothered to look into it?”

“Nice try,” Jericho turned and started for the door. “Go home. We’ll talk about it in the morning.”

“Thanks,” Paige stood and turned to face Lovato. She’d take the file home with her and give it a few hours after the barbeque was over and their guests headed home.

“No thanks necessary,” Lo also stood. “You have me intrigued. People don’t just disappear. I’m thinking we need to ask ourselves why now, and how. Was it an identity she stole? One she bought. Is she running from the law or just running? Did your dead PI get too close for comfort? I’m a puzzle guy and this puzzle has me hooked.”

“Don’t get too hooked,” Paige stepped through the open door. “Jericho will probably put the brakes on all of this in the morning.”

“There’s nothing that says I can’t work on it at home. My time, my choice,” Lo offered.

“Let’s see how things go tomorrow,” Paige decided. She planned to work on it during her off time as well, but Jericho wouldn’t be happy about that. He’d be furious if she pulled Lo into her insolent plan — so would the mayor.

Paige was smiling when she climbed into her vehicle and started for home. She had one more ace up her sleeve and she was going to use it. She pressed the call button on the steering wheel and waited for her favorite general to answer.

“Hello, Paige.”

“Nathan,” Paige greeted. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“No,” Nathan smiled. Paige needed a favor. “I actually just pulled out of the lot and I’m headed for home. What can I do for you?”

“Who says I need something?” Paige asked automatically.

“Then you just called to say hello?” Nathan made a right onto the highway. “Some kind of pre-call to check in before I got home, settled down and made my routine nightly call to you?”

“Fine,” Paige relented. “I need something. Can I use Carmen?”

“I think you should probably ask her that question,” Nathan smiled. “And, if I were you, I’d also get the go-ahead from that overprotective ranger of hers. He might take exception to the idea of using the woman he loves.”

“I have no idea what that devious mind of yours is thinking and I’ve decided I don’t want to know,” Paige smiled. “I need her to run a background check for me.”

“On who?” Nathan sobered. “Is there more trouble out there?”

“No,” Paige assured him. “Nothing like that. It’s just… well, a man was found dead at one of the local hotels. The coroner ruled it a natural death; but, I think he was a former police officer turned private detective, and the case he was working has me stumped.”

“In what way?” She had Nathan’s interest now. Paige never got stumped.

Paige proceeded to explain the situation in detail. “So,” she added. “I need my technical magician to look into it for me.”

“Why are you asking permission?” Nathan wondered. “You usually just call to advise me Carmen is working for you as an afterthought to cover you both in case of trouble.”

“I’ve learned my lesson,” Paige teased. “I’ve seen the error of my ways and I want to stay on the straight and narrow — do things right this time.”

“You expect trouble,” Nathan grinned. “Witness protection maybe?”

“I’m leaning that way,” Paige admitted. “They created a false history but if the agent was sloppy, he might only go back five years and call it good.”

“I agree,” Nathan considered. “Tell Carmen she has my blessing. I’ll find a way to justify it if asked. I know she’ll be careful, but make sure she knows this could blow up if the wrong person realizes we’re snooping.”

“Thanks,” Paige said sincerely. “I owe you one.”

“You owe me about a hundred,” Nathan corrected. “But who’s counting?”

“Apparently, you are,” Paige pulled into her driveway but didn’t shut down the car. “I just got home. Are you still planning on calling later tonight?”

“Do I need to?” Nathan wondered.

“How about I call you tomorrow if Carmen finds anything you need to be aware of,” Paige offered.

“I have meetings from thirteen-hundred to sixteen-hundred,” Nathan checked his schedule. “I should be free the rest of the day.”

“Love you,” Paige said in answer.

“I love you, too, kid. Be careful,” he added. “We have no idea what we’re dealing with here. You know how some of these guys get. You step on the wrong toes…”

“I know,” Paige interrupted. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this. Talk to you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight,” Nathan disconnected.

Paige glanced up and saw Dax headed her way. She pushed open the door and began gathering up the files she brought home.

“Let me help you with that,” Dax offered.

“Earlier today, I told someone you’re better than I deserve,” Paige admitted. “I think you just proved me right.”

“Nope,” Dax snatched up the files and headed for the door. “I just needed someone to stock the cooler.”

Paige laughed and followed him inside. “I need a minute alone with Carmen. I saw Zeus’ truck; I assume they’re on the back patio.”

“Five minutes,” Dax warned. “I’m starving and Jericho should be arriving any minute. No work tonight, you promised.”

“No work for a few hours,” Paige corrected. “But you already figured that out. You carried in my homework.”

“Send Zee inside to help me,” Dax decided. “That should give you and Carmen the privacy you need.”

“See?” Paige wrapped her arms around his waist. “Better than I deserve.”

“By the time tonight is over,” Dax leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. “I just might agree with you.” He smiled and playfully swatted her butt. “Go talk to Carmen. Get the work out of the way so we can enjoy our evening.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Several hours later, Paige was settled into one of the comfortable lounge chairs trying to enjoy the evening. Jericho approached, handed her a beer, then settled into the chair next to her.

“Thanks,” Paige accepted the bottle and took a sip before setting it aside.

“You look relaxed,” Jericho observed.

“I am,” Paige admitted. “Are you?”

“I am,” Jericho settled back and stretched out his legs. “I admit, I wasn’t looking forward to this shindig.”

“Because?” Paige wondered. *Maybe that’s why he was so grumpy this morning*.

“I assumed you asked me here out of pity,” Jericho admitted. “I thought it would be awkward and uncomfortable — that I’d feel like a fifth wheel.”

“But?” Paige pressed.

“I was wrong,” Jericho grinned. “Once I got here, I realized it was just a small gathering of friends. It wasn’t awkward at all. It was a nice evening, Paige. Thank you for including me.”

“Good,” Paige took another sip of her beer. “Maybe next time you won’t fight and complain so much.”

“Maybe next time,” Jericho looked out at the group, “we can hold the party at my place.”

Paige choked, coughed and spit out her beer. Jericho laughed. He was still laughing when Dax settled in behind Paige.

“You trying to kill my bride, sheriff?” Dax asked.

“Just took her by surprise,” he sobered. “I was about to talk business with my stubborn employee. You going to give me grief if I do?”

Dax smiled and glanced at his watch. “I’d say tonight broke some kind of record between the two of you. Two and a half hours with no shop talk. It’s a miracle.”

“I’m going to take that as a no,” Jericho decided. “Tell me what’s bothering you, Paige.”

“I need more time,” she shrugged. “You know that already. What you don’t know is that I’m stumped. And, since you gave me a deadline, I enlisted Carmen to help.”

“Okay,” Jericho considered. “Carmen has assisted us in the past. That’s not the reason you’re worried.”

“It’s just something Nathan said earlier,” Paige admitted. “He approved my request to bring Carmen in, but he warned me to be careful.”

“Why?” Dax wondered.

“He mentioned witness protection,” Paige told them. “I already thought of that. The mystery woman can’t be in danger or she’d have a Marshal with her. But, witness protection is run by the FBI and they can be territorial.”

“No,” Dax said sarcastically. “Really?”

“Stop it,” Paige scolded. “I’m just saying Carmen has to be careful. And, even then, we might be invaded by the feds.”

“Why do you think the new identity is official?” Jericho wondered.

“Because if she’s this master burglar,” Paige began. “She would have money. That kind of money buys the good stuff. The criminals are better at this than we are. Plus, the setup seems sloppy to me. Most agents would take the time to create an elaborate, foolproof backstory. Whoever created this identity, they threw together five years’ worth of history and called it good. I think they never expected anyone to go looking.”

“Why would that say FBI?” Jericho wondered.

Carmen and Zeus joined them. “It could be a lazy tech guy.” Carmen added. “You have no idea how much grief I took from my colleagues whenever I set up a new life for one of our wits. They thought I was being excessive.”

“I thought they’d be thorough,” Jericho admitted.

“Most of us are,” Carmen agreed. “Most new identities are ironclad. That’s the whole point, right?”

“But you have lazy agents, lackluster computer techs, overconfident analysts and uncooperative participants,” Paige added. “Combine just two of those on one case and you end up with a sloppy backstory. One that someone like me, or our dead PI, stumbles onto and it becomes obvious the whole thing just doesn’t look right.”

“Okay,” Jericho had to agree with her logic. “But, wouldn’t someone stop the woman from committing a felony if she was under protection?”

“Not if her obligation was complete,” Carmen told them. “I mean, not if she had done whatever they wanted her to do. Say she was testifying against someone dangerous. The Marshal’s office would have her under constant protection until she testified, or the trial was over. Then, the case would be turned over to the Bureau and they’d come up with a backstory and relocate her under a new identity. Once that happens, she’s basically on her own. They give her the necessary paperwork, fly her to a new place and wish her luck.”

“So,” Dax surmised. “If their witness is a criminal, like maybe a burglar, once she’s fulfilled her duty, she could return to a life of crime.”

“Right,” Jericho nodded. “And you think this woman, the one Kendall was chasing, was a burglar in her previous life.”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” Paige told him. “The job was a professional hit. She got in, took what she wanted and got out. The victim is rich, loaded actually. The residence has excellent security inside and out; yet, she was able to get in unnoticed, get the goods and get out. She was detected at the last minute, she tripped something climbing over a wall, but she still got away with the stolen property.”

“I know the mystery is intriguing,” Jericho began. “You’ve got my attention and you piqued my interest. Unfortunately, it doesn’t change the facts. The crime occurred in Idaho. You can’t prove the woman is even in Utah. You’re asking for more time, but you’ve exhausted all your leads.”

“I don’t have any other cases pressing,” Paige began. “And, there are still things pending on our case.”

“Like what?” Jericho asked.

“Notification,” Paige admitted. “I’m going to call Twin Falls in the morning. I still haven’t been able to reach anyone at his office. Someone might call me back tomorrow. Hopefully, they’ll call me back. Anyway, I’m not finding next of kin from here. Maybe someone up in Twin Falls can help me locate a spouse or another family member.”

“That should have been handled already,” Jericho scolded.

“I know,” Paige accepted the criticism because Jericho was right. Chris Kendall probably had people in his life that loved him. They could be worried at this very moment, wondering why they hadn’t heard from him. And, that was all on her. “I got caught up in his case and neglected my own.”

“Not exactly,” Jericho disagreed. “You called his office. They didn’t return the call. It was the obvious choice. We had his business card. I’m just saying we need to call the locals up in Idaho first thing tomorrow. We can’t justify a longer delay.”

“I agree,” Paige relaxed. “I also want to call Kendall’s client.”

“The victim of the burglary?” Jericho realized. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“I’ll be careful,” Paige assured him. “I won’t interfere with the locals. I just have a few questions I want to ask, that’s all.”

“I’ll give you tomorrow morning to tie up loose ends,” Jericho decided. “Tread lightly, Paige. We don’t want a turf war with our neighbors.”

Paige held back her smile — barely. She just got what she wanted and she didn’t want her boss to change his mind. “Don’t worry, Sheriff. I’ve got this.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Hello,” Paige sat forward in her chair. “Is Trish Arrington available?”

“Who, may I ask, is calling?” the man on the other end inquired.

“This is Deputy Carter with the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office,” Paige advised. “I have a few questions for Ms. Arrington. It will only take a moment.”

“Hold please,” the line went eerily silent.

“Hello,” a female voice came over the line. “Trish Arrington speaking. Can you tell me what this is about, please?”

“This is Deputy Carter from Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office,” Paige repeated.

“I’m sorry,” Trish cut in. “I’m afraid I don’t know where that is.”

“It’s in Utah, ma’am.”

“Oh,” Trish frowned. “I don’t think I know anyone in Utah.”

“I’m calling in regard to a private investigator you hired,” Paige answered. “Mr. Chris Kendall. I believe he was investigating a burglary that occurred at your residence three months ago.”

“Oh, yes,” Trish relaxed. “Don’t tell me Chris has gotten himself into trouble. He’s a retired police officer, you know. He understands the law. I can’t imagine Chris doing anything that would involve the police.”

“You sound like a friend,” Paige observed.

“Cousin, actually,” Trish told her. “A close cousin. He’s more than a friend, he’s family.”

“Mrs. Arrington,” Paige began.

“Oh, you can call me Trish.”

“Trish,” Paige hated notifications, but she hated them more over the phone. “I’m afraid I have some bad news. I’m sorry to do this over the phone. I had no idea the two of you were related.”

“What is it?” Trish demanded.

“I’m afraid Chris Kendall suffered a heart attack yesterday. It was severe and he was alone in his hotel room. He was discovered a short time later, but it was too late. He didn’t make it. I regret to inform you, Chris Kendall passed away.”

“Oh, dear,” Trish held back the tears. They wouldn’t help Chris. “Do the girls know? Have you notified his daughters?”

“I’m afraid not,” Paige admitted. “I’ve been trying to reach someone at his office. We found a business card in the room, but I haven’t been able to reach anyone, and they haven’t returned my calls.”

“Chris is looking for a secretary,” she hesitated. “Was looking. He’s been a private investigator for nearly ten years now. He opened up the firm after Darla passed away — that was his wife. I think he just needed something to occupy his time and chase away the boredom. Anyway, Natalie quit a few weeks back. She decided to stay home after the baby comes and just be a mom. Sorry, you don’t care about that. The point I was trying to make is that Chris was checking the machine himself. He called in every night while he was on the road and planned to start interviewing candidates next week. This is going to crush those kids. How do I tell them they lost their father?”

“We’ll handle that, Trish,” Paige assured her. “Give me a few hours. Once we finish up here, I’ll contact the local authorities and have them talk to Chris’ children in person. Do you happen to have their names and the best way to contact them?”

“Oh, yes,” Trish fumbled with her phone. “Let me see here. The girls are twins, Jasmine and Lilly. Okay, I have their information.” She provided Paige with their full names, their addresses and a phone number for each of them.

“I really appreciate your help with this,” Paige told her once she had the information. “Like I said before, give me a couple hours then you can contact the twins.”

“Wait,” Trish said, realizing the deputy was going to disconnect. “You didn’t realize I was a relative so can you tell me why you called? Originally?”

“I wanted to ask you about the case he was working,” Paige admitted. “But in light of your connection to Mr. Kendall, I don’t think the timing is appropriate. I’m going to let you go. I’m going to let you take some time to grieve the loss of your cousin.”

“No,” Trish objected. “Chris would do this for me. I’m okay. Ask me whatever it is you need to know.”

“Alright, but if things get too difficult, just let me know and we can talk later. Can you tell me about the case? Explain why you hired Chris to look into things. I assume the police are handling the burglary.”

“You probably know my husband and I are wealthy,” Trish began. “Brenton’s family — well, he comes from southern aristocrats. They didn’t take it well when he announced he was moving to Idaho. Initially they threatened to cut him off — from the family money. But once his parents understood he was following his own aspirations, they decided to support him. He was lucky. He had an inheritance from his grandfather. He used every penny to invest in his dream. We moved out here to Idaho where Brenton opened up a manufacturing plant where he builds and sells farm equipment. I couldn’t begin to explain it — all those computer generated components. Anyway, he’s done well for himself — for us.”

“You were targeted for your wealth,” Paige deciphered what the woman was trying to say.

“Exactly,” Trish confirmed. “We called the police immediately. They tried to help, but for some reason, they couldn’t. Maybe they’ll explain it to you, since you’re also a cop. They just said the prints came back to a woman by the name of Charity Johnson. Chris was able to get more from them. He said this Charity woman lived in Twin Falls, but after the break-in, she vanished. The police couldn’t find her and for some reason there was limited information on her past. The detective told me he couldn’t find any family connections, no friends either, basically nothing to follow up on. Their case is still open, but it’s inactive. They won’t work on it unless something new surfaces.”

“So, you hired Chris?”

“Not exactly,” Trish sighed. “I tried to hire Chris, but the man was stubborn. I insisted on paying him, he wouldn’t have it. He took on our case because we’re family. I knew he wasn’t well. His doctor told him to check back in a week and they’d discuss his options. Was it his heart?”

“It was,” Paige confirmed.

“I knew it,” Trish said, clearly annoyed. “I told him to fire that quack and go to a specialist. But Chris was stubborn, and he didn’t trust easily. I think he was comfortable with his doctor but the man… sorry. You don’t need to hear this.”

“It’s okay,” Paige thought Trish was right. With the massive blockages, Chris Kendall should have been taken into surgery immediately. “I really am sorry for your loss.”

Trish Arrington went on to describe the theft and provided amazing descriptions of the property that was taken that night. The most valuable piece had monetary and sentimental value. It was a diamond and ruby jewelry set that had been given to Benton’s grandmother by Queen Elizabeth. Trish still had the provenance, which decreased the value for the burglar, but it was still worth a fortune.

“The fraud has been the biggest hassle,” Trish admitted. “The property, well that’s just stuff. My identity, that’s a nightmare. The woman has purchased twenty-two thousand dollars’ worth of property in my name. Benton has a business to run. He can’t have creditors and the police chasing his wife because she didn’t pay her bills.”

“Which is why Chris stepped in to help,” Paige realized. She’d dealt with a few large identity theft cases when she worked at the FBI. They could be a nightmare. She thought she might be able to help Trish navigate the system and protect herself and her husband’s company.

“He knew he could help,” Trish answered. “I think maybe I do need some time to myself. Thinking about Chris — emotionally, I’m barely holding myself together. Can we finish this up tomorrow?”

“Of course,” Paige gave Trish her number and told her to call back when she felt up to it. She also offered to help deal with the fallout from the fraud. Trish was grateful for the offer but by the time she hung up, Paige could tell she was distraught and not really listening. She had started to grieve the loss of someone she loved. With a sigh, Paige picked up the phone and called Twin Falls.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was leaning back in her chair, eyes closed, feet propped up on her desk when Gage dropped into her visitor’s chair. She opened her eyes to acknowledge him but didn’t move.

“I was thinking,” Gage began.

“That’s always dangerous,” Paige dropped her feet to the floor and straightened in her chair.

“Well,” Gage raised an eyebrow. “I suppose I could have been napping like my colleague.”

“I wasn’t napping,” Paige objected. “I was sifting through what we know, trying to find another lead.”

“I wonder what it says about my judgement,” Jericho pulled up a second chair. “Knowing how much it terrifies me when I hear two of my best deputies have been spending time contemplating their current case and plotting.”

“I’ve got nothing,” Paige admitted.

“You looked wrung out, what happened?” Jericho demanded.

“Notification has been made,” Paige shrugged.

“By you?”

“Sort of,” Paige admitted. “Unintentionally. I called Kendall’s client to ask a few questions. Turns out, she’s his cousin. I didn’t have a choice, I had to notify her over the phone.”

“Not ideal, but it couldn’t be avoided,” Jericho gave her a nod to continue.

“That’s when I learned Kendall’s wife had passed away approximately ten years ago,” Paige sighed. “But, he has twin daughters. I called Twin Falls, thinking maybe they could send out a detective to talk to the girls.”

“Good plan,” Jericho approved.

“And I was directed to Detective Tom Jones,” Paige shook her head. “Turns out, Tom’s father and Chris Kendall were partners — on the job — for years. Chris was like a second father to Detective Jones and I pretty much shattered his day as well.”

“Again,” Jericho said softly, “not ideal, but it couldn’t be avoided.”

“Right,” Paige laughed. “I just got off the phone with Brenton Arrington, the cousin’s husband. He called because his wife was too distraught to ask for the details. He explained that Chris was like a brother to him and he wants to make sure he’s given a proper funeral. He was looking for the details on how to get the body transferred back to Idaho.”

“Did you refer him to Benny?” Jericho asked.

“I did,” Paige affirmed. “And I called Benny to let him know Benton would be contacting him.”

“So,” Gage let out a long breath. “Now what?”

“Now nothing,” Paige picked up the file she’d been studying, closed the folder, and dropped it on top of the large pile she’d collected from Chris Kendall’s hotel room. “Benton added a detail I didn’t know. After Charity was arrested — yeah, she was arrested for the burglary. After she was arrested, she went before the judge and bail was set — twenty-five thousand to be exact. Benton said there was a man in the courtroom during the hearing. He was clean cut, wore a black suit and strutted around like he was in charge or something. He paid the bail, in cash, and escorted Charity out of the building.”

“And?” Jericho asked.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/BreakIn_MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Burglar_MPS.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Burglar03_MPS.jpg)

“And,” Paige frowned. “It’s just another red flag pointing to FBI involvement. I think we can assume Charity was given a new identity for some reason, relocated, and released on society to pick up where she left off — burglarizing wealthy citizens. I’ve got nothing left to go on. You’re right, she hasn’t committed a crime in here in Manti, I can’t even prove she was ever in Manti. I think it’s time to close my case and move on.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Jericho smiled. “Because I’ve changed my mind. I want you to work this case for a few more days.”

“What about the mayor?” Gage asked.

“I don’t work for Mayor Fowler and neither do you,” Jericho said flatly. “We work for the citizens of Sanpete County. I can’t, in good conscience, ignore the fact we might have a professional burglar in the area. We have large, expensive homes in this community — many of which sit unoccupied for months. It’s our duty to protect this county and that’s what we are going to do.”

“Go sheriff!” Paige laughed.

“Don’t get cocky,” Jericho warned. “My actions might have just as many consequences as Mike Lovato’s did.”

“Understood,” Paige sobered. “I appreciate the support, but I don’t have anything more to go on. I’ve hit a wall, then another, then another.”

“Like I said when I got here,” Gage jumped in. “I’ve been thinking. We believe this Charity Johnson was a career burglar.”

“Right,” Paige agreed.

“Then she may have been arrested,” Gage provided.

“Maybe,” Paige agreed again. “But, without a name, we can’t conjure a rap sheet.”

“No,” Gage waved his hand in dismissal. “But we have the media. We think she goes after the rich. The rich whine, louder than normal folks, when they get victimized. I was thinking we could start searching through newspapers for high profile victims that were burglarized.”

“That’s a good idea,” Jericho said in support. “Paige, you said she lived in Twin Falls for about two years. I think we can assume she stayed clean — in Idaho — before she did the Arrington hit. Let’s divide up the country and look for anything big that happened prior to that. Let’s start in twenty-seventeen and go back at least five years. She was probably active longer than that, but five years is manageable.”

\*\*\*\*\*

They had just finished dividing up the country into sections when Paige’s phone rang. “Deputy Carter.”

“Paige, it’s Carmen.”

“Did you find something?”

“Sort of,” Carmen hesitated. “I kept hitting the same wall you did. Two years back and we’ve got plenty, then once you hit five — nothing. I decided to do a little digging with the Marshal’s but it’s tricky and we needed to be quiet about it.”

“Tell me you didn’t hack into their system,” Paige moaned.

“I did, but not deep,” Carmen assured her. “Nothing that would ring any bells. I can confirm they don’t have an active case concerning Charity Johnson. They do have a sealed case that looks like it could be related.”

“You didn’t take a peek?”

“I wanted to,” Carmen complained. “You have no idea how much I wanted to dip a toe in, but I know the guys that handle the big stuff over there. If I got within a hundred yards of that file, they’d get an alert.”

“Are you telling me Carmen Fennelly is afraid of the Marshal geeks?”

“No,” Carmen said quickly. “I respect the Marshal geeks, same as they do me.”

“Okay,” Paige considered. “So, they probably had a case, but it’s concluded. What about the FBI?”

“I did a little snooping,” Carmen admitted. “The trail was leading me back to Quantico, so I backed off. I think you were right about witness protection; but, if I dig deeper, someone will get a hit and they’ll be able to trace it right back to me. You know how those guys are. What little I already did could have triggered an alert.”

“Don’t go any deeper,” Paige decided. “You’ve snooped far enough. I think you gave me what I needed, anyway.”

“I’ll call Nathan and let him know,” Carmen decided. “Just in case I did trigger something. He needs to be prepared. I could have hacked in and nobody would know I was even in there, but I thought I should take the official route. Nathan approved it, so we can fall back on that if we need to.”

“This way was better,” Paige agreed. “Thanks for your help. I’ll call Nathan in an hour or so.”

“Alright,” Carmen said, relieved. “Is there anything else I can do to help?”

“Gage had an idea,” Paige proceeded to explain his theory about the burglaries. “We’ve divided up the country and plan to start searching for newspaper articles on burglaries where the victims were mega rich.”

“I’ll program a run,” Carmen offered. “Between the four of us, maybe we’ll catch a break. Gotta go. I’ll get to work pulling your data on the media stories once I finish up with Porter.”

“Sounds good,” Paige disconnected then settled back in her chair to consider.

That’s how Mike Lovato found her. “Asleep again,” he dropped into her chair. “Married life seems to be interfering with your sleep, deputy.”

“How did he find her?” Paige said in answer. “There had to be a reason Chris Kendall came to Manti. There had to be a reason he extended his stay another three days.”

“He tracked the money,” Lo gave her a smug look. “So did I.”

“What?”

“Charity Johnson,” Lo began. “Currently, Felicia Stewart, is renting a small cabin just a few miles up the canyon.”

“Are you sure about that?” Paige questioned.

“Do the Irish drink whiskey?”

“Probably not all of them,” Paige said absently, then smiled. “You up for a little stake-out?”

“Will the boss fire us?”

“We have his blessing,” Paige stood. “I’ll fill you in on the way. You drive.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Okay,” Paige said once they were inside the vehicle, headed toward the canyon. “I want details. *Follow the money* is a concept I understand. But how did following Charity’s spending lead you to this cabin?”

“Reach in the back and grab the top file on that stack,” Lo told her.

Paige grabbed the file, opened it and began to read.

“You found a gas charge in Burley before she left Idaho,” Paige nodded. “That was the last time she used the Charity Johnson identity.”

“Last I could find,” Lo admitted. “We thought she left immediately following her release. Not so. She holed up in a motel for a month and a half before she split. I was able to track her movement pretty well during that time. I’m guessing our PI did the same, maybe the records are on his computer rather than hardcopy. She was up to something, but I have no idea what. Can’t say if Kendall figured it out. Anyway, I contacted the station and they were able to clip out a section of video that showed her activity at the station.”

“Where you discovered the make and model of her vehicle,” Paige nodded.

“I also got the plate,” Lo told her.

“Then?” Paige wondered.

“Basic algebra, baby,” Lo grinned.

“Meaning,” Paige said, not amused.

“She was driving a red Nissan Altima. I did a little research and determined it was a 2015 registered to Charity Johnson.”

“Okay,” Paige nodded. “I assume that was in Idaho.”

“You assume correctly,” Lo agreed. “That year, that model, that make, has an eighteen gallon tank. And, researching further, I discovered it gets between twenty-seven to thirty-eight miles per gallon.”

“Which means, she didn’t have to gas up until she arrived here in town,” Paige realized.

“Bingo,” Lo pointed his index finger toward Paige. “So, I just drove around to all the gas stations in the area and asked to view their surveillance video. I knew what day she arrived based on the last transaction in Burley. It was only a couple weeks ago, so most of them still had the footage.”

“And you found her?” Paige was amazed all that work paid off.

“I did,” Lo pulled off to the side of the road. The cabin in questions was about a hundred yards ahead.

“How many hours have you spent on this?” Paige wondered. “That’s a lot of video.”

“I didn’t view the entire day,” Lo told her. “I figured it took her about five to six hours to drive from Idaho out here to Manti. She bought the gas in Burley that morning around ten. I got them to give me a copy of everything for the following week, but I started with that day. I watched everything after three that afternoon until I found her.”

“And you were able to identify her,” Paige was amazed by that. “Her new identity, I mean.”

“She bought gas at the Chevron just before five that evening,” Lo nodded. “And I scored big time. She used a new credit card under the name Felicia Stewart.”

“Why didn’t you bring me in to help?” Paige wondered.

“You were busy,” Lo shut off the vehicle and slid his seat back to get more comfortable.

“But…”

“Paige,” Lo interrupted. “Gage helped make the calls. We contacted all the hotels and rental agencies. I actually hit on this cabin in the first hour. It wasn’t a big deal. And Gage went back to scouring newspapers.”

“Right,” Paige turned to look out the window. “I forgot about that.”

“You didn’t run your list?”

“I cheated,” Paige admitted. “Carmen offered to run it for me. I got distracted going through the rest of that file.”

“Did you find anything helpful?” Lo wondered.

“Maybe,” Paige shrugged. “I mean, everything is helpful, right?”

“That’s her,” Lo straightened.

“Where do you think she’s going?” Paige watched as the woman in question climbed behind the wheel of a red Nissan Altima.

“Only one way to find out,” Lo turned the key and started the engine.

“We have to be careful,” Paige warned. “There’s not a lot of traffic up here. If we get too close, she’ll know we’re following her.”

“Thanks for the tip,” Lo grumbled. “Because, you know, I’ve never tailed a suspect before.”

“Sorry,” Paige said defensively. “I was just thinking out loud.”

Charity Johnson, now Felicity Stewart, headed out of town toward Ephraim. Paige and Lovato followed her all the way to Pawn Pro on Main. They continued to watch as the woman headed through the front door.

“You up for a little role playing?” Lo asked.

“What did you have in mind?”

Lovato opened his change drawer and pulled out a ring. He slipped it on his left hand and smiled. “For the next ten minutes you’re Mrs. Paige Lovato and we’re going shopping, dear.”

Paige snorted. “You sound like an eighty-year-old woman.”

“At least I don’t look like one,” he opened the door and climbed out of the car to wait.

The two of them walked hand-in-hand into the pawn shop. They spotted their target immediately. She was negotiating with the man behind the counter, trying to get far more than he was willing to give on a diamond and ruby jewelry set.

“Lady,” the man barked. “I don’t even know if that’s real. You want a quick sale; you get what I offer, or you leave.”

“This thing is worth at least ten — fifteen — thousand,” she insisted. “I’m only asking seven. You’ll double your outlay. It’s a bargain, one you shouldn’t pass up.”

“I don’t know,” Lo moved forward and held out his badge. “I’d pass it up if I were you.”

The woman now calling herself Felicity turned to flee and collided with Paige. In seconds, she was cuffed and secured against the glass counter. “That’s stolen property, by the way. Oh, and it’s a bargain at ten. Felicity here just forgot to grab the provenance. Without it, ten might be about right. With it… the appraisal Trish Arrington had suggested an insurance value of a hundred and twenty.”

“Thousand?” the pawn shop owner gaped.

“Thousand,” Paige nodded. “Not that you’d get that. Like I said, it’s stolen property and I’m seizing it for evidence.”

“You’ve got nothing,” Felicity growled. “Some guy sold that to me. I had no idea it was stolen.”

“Great,” Lo pushed open the door. “Then the prints taken in Twin Falls, Idaho when Charity Johnson was arrested won’t match the ones I’m going to take just before I throw you in a cell. Good to know.”

Felicity’s attitude changed at that point and she cursed, insulted and threatened the two deputies all the way back to the station.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige,” Gage jumped up from his chair the instant he saw her step through the door. “I…”

“I need just a minute, Gage,” Paige followed Lovato and their prisoner into the back. Moments later, she was back. “What did you find?”

“You found her,” Gage said in surprise.

“Lo found her,” Paige dropped into her chair. “With your help, I hear.”

“Right,” Gage settled back into his own chair. “I have something else. I think I found her real name. Or, at least, the one she was using before she went into the federal protection program.”

“What did you find?” Paige wondered.

Gage held out a newspaper article, the front page of The Denver Post. “One Scarlett Harris of Denver, Colorado was apprehended in connection with the burglary of several homes in Cherry Hills Village. Sources say she is cooperating with police in exchange for leniency. To date we have not discovered what information Ms. Harris might have that would warrant an exchange. We will bring you additional details as they become available.”

“When was that?” Paige jumped up and moved to stand next to Gage’s desk.

“A little over two years ago,” he handed her the printout. “There’s more.” He pulled out a second report.

“She testified against the Denver mafia,” Paige skimmed the new report. “She was burglarizing a high-level mobster’s home by the name of Rizzo Carlino when she witnessed a homicide… holy cow. She witnessed the execution style murder of Adalmar Ritter, a dignitary visiting from Germany.”

“Why was a German dignitary visiting the home of a top-level mafia thug?” Lo wondered.

“Because he was selling a painting,” Gage provided. “A stolen painting believed to be destroyed in Germany during World War II. Some rare piece of art painted by a guy named Gustave Courbet. According to history, it was destroyed in a bombing at Dresden Castle. Turns out, that was a lie. It was hidden away by a Nazi soldier and passed down through his family. A great nephew, or grandnephew, I don’t know the proper term — Adalmar Ritter. Anyway Ritter smuggled it to America. He believed he was safe because he had diplomatic immunity. According to court records, an argument broke out between the two men and Carlino accused Ritter of a double-cross.

“This is the world according to Charity?” Lo surmised.

“Right,” Gage agreed. “The mob guy shot the German in the back of the head. The cops believed our suspect with a dozen names made off with the painting. Unfortunately, it has never been recovered. She was caught inside another home in the Cherry Hills Valley area that same night — burglarizing the home of a wealthy tech mogul. He apparently had better security than our mobster and she was arrested inside the home. She had several stolen items in her possession at the time.”

“And then she offered up eyewitness testimony of a murder and walked,” Lo mumbled. “Gotta love the system of justice we have here in America.”

“It works,” Gage protested. “Most of the time.”

“If the locals thought she stole the painting,” Paige considered. “Why did they call in the feds before they got their answers?”

“They didn’t,” Gage shook his head. “The feds swooped in, took custody of Charity — Scarlett Harris at the time — and didn’t share anything further with the Denver cops. I called, by the way. I spoke with a detective that worked the case. That’s all they know.”

“What happened with the killer?” Lo asked.

“He was convicted and will spend the rest of his life behind bars,” Gage answered.

“Well, at least that worked out. What are we going to do with her?” Lo asked Paige.

“Leave her for now,” Paige shrugged. “We can hold her for twenty-four hours. She was trying to sell stolen property. And, we found Trish Arrington’s credit card and fake ID with all of Trish’s personal information listed. We’ll conduct an interview tomorrow.”

“An interview with whom?” Jericho asked stepping from his office.

“Lo and Paige arrested our suspect,” Gage advised. “She was trying to pawn property she stole from Trish Arrington, Kendall’s cousin from up in Idaho.”

“You’ve confirmed it’s the same property?” Jericho asked.

“I did,” Paige assured him. “I got a detailed description from Trish when I spoke to her earlier. It’s a valuable diamond and ruby set. I’m sure she’ll be happy to get it back. She said it belonged to her husband’s grandmother.”

“She also had fake ID,” Lo provided. “I booked it, but in addition to Trish Arrington, she had a three-pack under the names Janet Langford, Susan Williams and Amy Robins.”

“Woman with a dozen names,” Gage said again.

“I want to leave her in back to stew overnight,” Paige advised. “I’ll pick it up in the morning. It’s after five and I’m sure you don’t want to pay us all overtime for this.”

Jericho shook his head in resignation. He’d give Paige one night, but he didn’t think it was going to help. The prison would demand a phone call, and odds were good she’d call her FBI handler to get her out of this mess. Paige was right, they could deal with this cluster in the morning. “Go home. All of you.”

Paige smiled and watched Jericho head out the back door. “We won that round. Let’s go home. We’ve all been working way too many hours on this case. I for one plan to have a glass of wine and a long soak in a hot bubble bath for at least an hour.”

“Thanks for the invite,” Lo smirked. “But I’m afraid I have to decline. I like my nose and I don’t think that new husband of yours would approve.”

“It was a statement,” Paige told him. “Not an invite.”

They continued to laugh and joke all the way out the door and into the parking lot.

\*\*\*\*\*

Supervisor Special Agent Todd Gray settled in at his favorite table, in his favorite restaurant. He had worked a longer day than usual and couldn’t wait to get home, kick his feet up, and relax. The waiter had just set a glass of expensive wine on his table when a beep sounded on his phone. He glanced at the display and frowned. Within minutes, he was out of his chair and headed back to his office. Dinner would have to wait a little longer.

Gray was sitting behind his desk in Quantico, studying the screen in disbelief. Carmen Fennelly tried to access the files on Scarlett Harris. Why? There was only one explanation — she was pulling data for Paige Carter. But, that file was classified. This time, Carmen had gone too far. She had to pay. General Porter wouldn’t be able to save the reckless hacker this time. He straightened in his chair, pulled up his letterhead and began to type out a referral to the DOJ. Carmen wouldn’t just lose her job over this; she was going to be charged criminally.

The Department of Justice was sensitive about sharing classified information these days. The whole Clinton debacle and the lawsuit filed by the soldier was still a little too raw. Anyone leaking information these days, was punished to the fullest extent of the law. Gray smiled, served her right. If Porter had left the arrogant hacker in the basement, she wouldn’t be in this mess. He continued to smile as he typed out his complaint. After reading through the details one last time, he had to admit, it was perfect. Carmen Fennelly would spend at least a decade in a cell — where she belonged.

He was whistling when he closed his door, rode the elevator to the executive parking garage and pulled onto the highway. The mistakes he made in the Harris case would stay hidden and Little Miss Busybody would rot in a cell. A long, frustrating day was concluding on a high note.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige rose early, showered, dressed and even had a relaxing breakfast with Dax before she headed for the office. It was time to interrogate her prisoner. She had just settled behind her desk when the front door opened and SSA Gray with two additional agents walked through the door. They made their way to Margie’s desk, made some demand that was too low for Paige to make out and motioned for the Sheriff’s door.

Margie disappeared into Jericho’s office and returned with the boss. After a quick glance in Paige’s direction, Jericho motioned them inside and shut the door. *What was that all about?* But she knew. Carmen’s search had triggered an alert and Gray was here to complain. Maybe she should call Nathan. Just as she was having that thought, her phone began to ring. She glanced down, read the display and grinned.

“Speak of the devil himself,” Paige greeted. “I was just about to call you.”

“Todd Gray is attempting to cause trouble,” Nathan had his *don’t mess with me* tone this morning.

“I figured as much,” Paige confided. “He just arrived and is meeting with Jericho as we speak. Anything I should know?”

“He must have received an alert yesterday,” Nathan advised. “When Carmen went searching for your missing woman. He fired off a referral to the DOJ insisting they prosecute Carmen immediately.”

“For what?” Paige demanded, furious now.

“He said she leaked confidential and classified information to a civilian, that would be you,” Nathan added.

“I have a higher security clearance than he does — that would be thanks to you,” Paige added.

“Apparently, he didn’t know that,” Nathan smiled. “Carmen is clear, don’t worry about your favorite hacker. I simply showed the AG a copy of her clearance and yours and he dropped the referral immediately.”

“Then why is he here?” Paige wondered.

“I doubt he knows,” Nathan admitted. “I just got out of a meeting with the prosecutor five minutes ago. He’s there to try to cause problems for you.”

“It won’t work,” Paige relaxed. “Jericho’s been involved in the case from the beginning. He knows I brought in Carmen and he was fine with it.”

“Don’t let Gray push you around,” Nathan warned. “He’ll try. And don’t give him any more information than you have to. I have a feeling that man is going to be transferred to Butte, Montana before this is over.”

“Why?” Paige was confused about that.

“Because he took over the Scarlett Harris case himself,” Nathan said in amazement. “He arranged for protection and apparently, he also used federal funds to bail her out of jail in Idaho. The Director isn’t happy that once she was free, she disappeared. Gray was supposed to keep an eye on her and he let her burglarize Benton Arrington’s home. Benton is a successful businessman in Idaho and that’s bad enough — but, his parents are George and Florence Arrington.”

“Why do I know that name?” Paige wondered.

“Because they are close friends with Senator Glasgow from the great state of Georgia,” Nathan reminded her.

“Who is a golfing buddy of the President,” Paige realized. “Not a good move by Gray.”

“He’s going to have consequences on this one,” Nathan assured her. “I already talked to Director Mason this morning. He’s not happy Gray circumvented the system and sent a referral to the DOJ without his approval. Seems every step Gray takes, it’s the wrong one.”

“I should feel sorry for him, but I don’t,” Paige admitted. “He’s been out to get Carmen since she went over his head and helped his team catch the bad guy.”

“He’s not only after Carmen,” Nathan warned. “He didn’t have anything good to say about you in that referral.”

“You read it?” Paige shouldn’t be surprised, but she was.

“I did,” Nathan sighed. “Watch your back, he’s out for blood.”

“Gotta go,” Paige said when Jericho’s door opened, and he motioned for her to join them. “I’m being summoned to the lion’s den.”

“Call me back when you can,” Nathan requested.

“Will do,” Paige disconnected and made her way to Jericho’s office. Once inside she casually sat in the visitors chair closest to the door. The room remained silent for several seconds.

“Paige,” Jericho began. “SSA Gray here has flown out personally from his office in Virginia to file a formal complaint against you.”

“For?” Paige settled back in her chair.

“Accessing classified information,” Gray provided. “Insubordination and jeopardizing national security.”

“Really?” Paige glanced at Jericho. “All that. It would seem I’ve gone rogue.”

“This isn’t funny,” Gray chastised. “The complaint will hold, especially after your co-conspirator ends up in prison.”

Paige nodded. “Yes, I heard you filed a complaint against Carmen. Good luck with that.”

“So,” Gray smiled. “Nathan Porter has been notified. He won’t be able to save her this time. He won’t be able to save you, Paige. For the good of this department and the good of this country, resign now and avoid a public spectacle.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Paige said softly. “I’m afraid I can’t comply with your request.”

“You’re going to regret this,” Gray insisted. “We’re dealing with highly confidential information here. You exploited your friendship with a top analyst in the Bureau to access restricted information for personal use. That’s a felony.”

“You said that already,” Paige shrugged. “I’m guessing you told Sheriff Walters the same thing in that closed door meeting you had prior to my arrival. So, why am I here?”

“I need to know what specific information Fennelly accessed and what she shared with you,” Gray glared at her.

Paige smiled. “I’m sorry, that information is classified. I’m unable to share anything with you due to the level of clearance you currently hold.”

“You are only making this more difficult for yourself,” Gray warned. “We both know you lost your clearance the instant you resigned from the FBI. There is nothing you know that is above my level.”

“I did lose my clearance,” Paige agreed. “But, unfortunately, you are wrong about the rest. If you have further questions, I suggest you take them to General Nathan Porter, chairman of the committee where Carmen Fennelly is currently assigned. He’ll extract the details your clearance allows and let you know what he believes you need to know.”

“Deputy Carter,” Gray seethed. “You are a local deputy in small-town Utah, working for a hillbilly sheriff — there is nothing you know that is beyond my clearance. Tell me what Carmen shared with you. It’s your only chance to come clean. Continue with these stall tactics and I will have your badge.”

“I believe that is the decision of the hillbilly sheriff,” Jericho objected. “And I have no intention of following your recommendation.”

“Last chance,” Gray focused on Paige and ignored Jericho.

“I can give you Nathan’s number if you don’t have it,” Paige stood. “If that’s all?” She addressed the question to Jericho.

Jericho also stood. “Gentlemen, I believe this meeting is over.”

“Mark my words,” Gray stood. “You will regret this.”

“I doubt that,” Paige exited the office and settled in behind her desk. She knew Jericho would need answers, but she wanted to keep up appearances. Her dismissal of Gray was going to infuriate him.

Once the group was gone, Jericho settled into one of Paige’s chairs. “Explain.”

“My clearance is higher than his,” Paige began. “He would know that if he bothered to look. The accusation is ridiculous and, he doesn’t know it yet, but he’s in hot water with the DOJ and Director Mason over this. He went over Mason’s head. Gray doesn’t have the authority to file charges with the DOJ without running it by Mason first. Nathan thinks the arrogant jerk is headed for Butte, Montana. I think he’s right. And, I’m filing my own complaint against him. He has no right disrespecting you over what I did.”

“I’ll handle the complaint,” Jericho demanded. “You stay out of this. I was well aware of your actions and I approved them. If there’s blowback, I’ll take the hit.”

“Nope,” Paige shrugged. “There won’t be any blowback. But, he attacked me, he attacked you, he attacked our profession and he attacked Carmen. In his way, he also attacked Nathan. It’s personal. You can file a complaint, but I’m adding my own to the mix. Neither one is necessary, he’s already in trouble. Let me explain why.” She proceeded to explain what Nathan had told her about the case, losing his subject and the connection to the president.

“You’re right,” Jericho smiled. “My complaint is redundant. So, what are we going to do with Ms. Scarlett Harris?”

“I can’t believe he didn’t ask about her,” Paige shook her head. “I can’t believe he didn’t demand her immediate release into his custody.”

“I don’t think he realized we have her,” Jericho provided. “She wasn’t mentioned at all today. As far as he knows, she’s still missing.”

“I can talk to her,” Paige offered. “With Gage, but I don’t think she’ll talk. She’s been in the system too many times. She knows the drill and she’ll lawyer up immediately.”

“Or call Gray back to bail her out,” Jericho agreed. “I’ll call James and see how he wants it handled. He needs a heads up that the feds are in town and itching for a fight.”

“Good call,” Paige looked up when Margie approached.

“I hate to interrupt,” she looked at Paige then Jericho. “But Steve Marshall is on the line, someone spray painted the side of his barn again. Is Paige available to handle it or should I call Lovato in?”

“I think we’re done here,” Paige looked at Jericho.

“We’re done,” he stood. “I’ll turn this over to James and we can get back to business as usual.”

“Hallelujah!” Paige called just before she disappeared out the door.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S5

**Tags:** Paige Carter, Season 5

---

### [Dubious Loitering](https://melaniepsmith.com/dubious-loitering/)

**Published:** December 28, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Dubious Loitering (S4E9) A mysterious man is loitering around the local beauty salon.  What will Paige do now that she discovered Dax's secret.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*DUBIOUS LOITERING\*\*\*****

Paige pulled into a parking spot a few feet away from the salon and shut down her vehicle. The man was still sitting causally on the bench and did seem to be watching the small business but trying to be cool and nonchalant about it. She continued to watch for several minutes and understood why Trudy had called. The man was making her ‘girls’ nervous.

She pushed open the door and slid from behind the wheel, strolling toward the stranger. Her gait was slow and easy. She didn’t want the man to feel threatened, if she did this the wrong way, rather than cooperating, he’d become defensive.

When she reached the bench, she moved in close enough for him to know she was there for him but not too close. It took several seconds before he calmly glanced in her direction, then refocused on the beauty salon. Paige took in his attire, not a homeless guy. Oh, he was dressed to blend with an old, somewhat tattered coat that had definitely seen better days, scuffed cowboy boots and faded jeans. He topped it all off — literally — with a black Stetson cowboy hat that had a thin silver band covered in large turquoise stones. Not a homeless guy. If the hat didn’t give him away, the expensive wristwatch would have.

“You plan to stand there all day, officer?”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/FB-Post-Medium.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Dubious-Loitering.pdf)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MPS_Winter.jpg)

“You plan to sit here all day, cowboy?” Paige answered, but settled onto the bench next to him. The cowboy’s mouth twitched slightly, but that was his only reaction. “I’m Deputy Paige Carter,” she held out her hand in greeting. He ignored it.

“Is that your way of asking for my name?” he gave her another quick glance before stretching out his long legs and settling further into the bench. Clearly telegraphing the fact that she didn’t worry him one bit.

“It’s my attempt at polite conversation,” Paige shifted and tried to appear equally unconcerned.

“I’m pretty sure I haven’t broken any laws here,” the man continued to watch the salon. “If there’s something I’m unaware of, by all means, let me know.”

Paige grinned. “You’re making the girls inside a little nervous,” Paige debated but decided honesty would be best with this guy. “I’m wondering if that’s your objective.”

“Nope,” he glanced at her again, then refocused on the shop.

Paige waited, letting the silence settle around them. He ignored her. “So,” she said when it became obvious he had no intention of sharing. “When I’m finish up here with you, I’ll need to head inside and assure those women they’re safe. Trudy is pretty protective of her employees. She thinks of them more as family than the hired help. She’ll demand an explanation from me. I’ll have to explain how I know you’re not an ax murderer.”

Once again, the corner of his mouth twitched. He slowly turned his head toward her, one eyebrow raised in question. “Do I look like an ax murderer?”

Paige studied him carefully. “Going strictly from first impressions, I’d have to lean toward no. However, first impressions aren’t always correct. We learned that lesson with Ted Bundy. That man was a chameleon, he was also a cold-blooded psychopath that could blend in with anyone. Those close to him, truly believed he was a smooth talking, good looking, young man with loads of potential.” She leaned in closer to him, “guess you never really know.”

The man laughed. “You have a valid point.” He continued to grin as he stood and held out a hand. “Good talk, Deputy Carter.”

Paige stood, took his hand and was impressed by his firm and professional handshake. The guy was clearly used to being in charge. She studied his profile, more than a little curious now. After a quick shake, he dropped her hand, pivoted and strolled away. Paige watched him disappear and was amazed he never looked back. Once he was gone, she turned and made her way inside the salon.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MPS_styling-products.jpg)

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“So?” Trudy glanced up from the front desk. “What did you find out?”

“The metal bindings on those benches are just as bad in the winter as they are in the summer,” Paige gave her hips a little twist. “Sizzling hot when you’re wearing shorts but the cold, well that’s just as uncomfortable in the wintertime.”

“Paige Carter,” Trudy wasn’t amused. “You have exactly ten seconds to answer my question before I call Jericho Walters.”

“You sure you want to go there, Trudy?” Paige asked, undeterred. “He’s still a little grumpy these days.”

“Spill it!” she demanded.

Paige sighed. “He seemed harmless enough,” she glanced around the room then focused back on Trudy. “You in the middle of a civil suit or anything?”

Trudy frowned. “No, why?”

“Because he struck me as an investigator,” Paige told her. “Anyone cheating on their spouse? Embezzling from a part-time gig? Hiding a deep, dark family secret?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Trudy scowled. “A private investigator?” She shook her head and focused on each of her girls. “Anyone want to share anything?” When nobody responded Trudy focused back on Paige. “What do you suggest we do?”

“Nothing,” Paige shrugged. “If he comes back, call dispatch. Margie will notify us and someone will come back out and have another talk with the man. In the meantime, just take normal precautions. Don’t open the shop alone, don’t leave anyone to close by themselves. Walk to your vehicle’s together, that sort of thing. If he comes back, call.”

“That’s it?” Molly Savage asked.

“For now,” Paige addressed the entire room. “Sitting on a public bench, even in the middle of winter, isn’t against the law. But, if you feel harassed or threatened, call. We’ll drive by the area now and again over the next few days to see if he’s still hanging around. Otherwise, try not to worry.”

“Sure,” Peggy Newton grumbled. “Some homeless vagabond sets up residency on the bench outside our window and we’re not supposed to worry.”

“He’s not homeless,” Paige answered casually.

“How can you be so sure about that?” Trudy asked.

“I just know,” Paige wasn’t about to reveal her observations to these women. Twenty minutes tops and the entire city would know the deets.

“You really don’t think we should worry?” Trudy pressed.

“I don’t,” Paige assured her. “I think you should be careful, and I think you should call if he returns. Other than that, enjoy the holiday season.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige left the shop and climbed behind the wheel; grateful her shift was over. She snatched up the mic and called dispatch. “Show me clear and off duty. You can short form this, no police action necessary.”

“Copy,” Susie’s voice crackled over the airwaves. “Fourteen hundred hours.”

Paige pulled into her driveway and shut off the engine, then she just sat there, disappointed. Dax was due back today. She felt anxious to see him but was hoping he’d beat her home. Apparently, hope had turned its back on her — she probably deserved it.

The house was cool and felt too empty. Dax had only been gone a week, but she was lonely without him and she felt a little lost all alone night after night. How had she come to depend on his presence so quickly? Well, he would be home tonight and they would talk. Because of her, Thanksgiving had been strained. She wouldn’t drag this out and ruin her first Christmas with her new husband.

After a quick shower, Paige slid into her favorite sweats, pulled an old FBI hoodie over her head and paused, glaring into her sock drawer. The thick, soft, and obnoxiously bright socks called to her. With a grin, she snatched them up and yanked them on. Happy feet made for a happy girl. She was still smiling when she reached the living room. Now what? She dropped onto the couch, snatched up the remote and turned on the gas fireplace. Then she settled back against the cushion, propped her legs on the coffee table and let her head fall back.

Questions about the mysterious stranger flooded her mind. He intrigued her, but her gut said he was harmless. There was a reason he landed in Manti, a reason he was scoping out the hair salon. And, only he knew what that reason was. She closed her eyes and let her mind circle the possibilities.

That’s how Dax found her. He was tired, dirty, cold and happy to be home. This training session had been the best one yet. If things continued on the path they were going, their biggest challenge would be fitting in all the applicants. He pushed open the door and had only taken one step inside when he spotted her. His breath caught in his throat and his heart skipped a beat. His wife — that fact still amazed him. Sometimes, the reality of it hit him upside the head with so much force he couldn’t believe it was real.

Paige Carter, now Hamilton, was a complicated woman. She was focused, relentless in her pursuit of justice and unwavering when it came to her own sense of right and wrong. She was also beautiful and loving. He silently slid the door shut and just stood there, watching her sleep. She looked peaceful, like an angel without a care in the world. Then, she slowly opened her eyes and focused on him. Not sleeping, just letting her mind wander and sift through a case most likely.

Paige felt Dax’s presence. Her toes began to tingle and she opened her eyes, wondering how he’d managed to get inside the house without her hearing him. “Hey,” she said in greeting.

“Hey,” Dax answered. He hated this wall that had erected between them, but at the moment he didn’t know how he was supposed to act around her.

Paige stood and slowly made her way across the room. She caused the tension they were both feeling and she was determined to fix it. Nathan was right, hiding from Dax wasn’t the answer. They needed to talk.

Dax was so distracted by Paige walking toward him, he didn’t realize her intentions until she was less than a foot away from him. He raised his arms and braced his hands on her shoulders to stop her. “I need to shower. I have a weeks’ worth of grime to wash off before I feel human again.”

Paige leaned forward and brushed a soft kiss to his lips, then she took a step back. “I missed you.”

*Okay, that was progress*, Dax decided, a little surprised at her words. “I missed you, too.” He smiled, reached out and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “You have no idea how much I missed you. Give me ten minutes, fifteen tops. Once I wash off the wild, we can catch up.”

Paige watched him make his way up the stairs. She continued to stare at the empty staircase for several seconds before she headed for the kitchen. After pulling the pizza she remembered to buy at Papa Murphy’s out of the fridge and dropping it on top of the stove, she too made her way up the stairs and into their room.

The shower was still running but Dax hadn’t closed the bathroom door. Her showers were always hot and steamy, Dax liked things lukewarm — tepid even. She didn’t know how he could stand it — no scorching hot water steaming up the mirror or escaping under the door for him. Not even after surviving an entire week in the wilderness, in the middle of winter, with temperatures that had dropped below zero. Not to mention the storm that had blown through three nights ago.

She moved to the door that separated their bedroom from the bathroom and leaned against the jamb. She was still watching when he pushed open the door and stepped onto the cool tile, snatching up a towel and running it over his head. She let her eyes drift and frowned. Dax had always been fit and trim, but looking at him now, he was totally ripped. How had she missed that?

Clearly, he was working out on a regular basis. Probably a training regimen he developed for himself and his men. Knowing Dax, whatever he came up with was mandatory for all employees. A unit that trains together stays together and the center relied on the men’s reputation and image to bring in clients. Dax would understand that more than most. Carmen’s words came back to her and for about the millionth time, Paige realized she’d been neglecting her duties — neglecting her husband. She’d been so focused on her own job and her own problems, she wasn’t really seeing Dax, wasn’t paying attention to the world he was creating.

She knew the instant Dax spotted her. He had dried off his hair and ran the towel over his body then wrapped it around his waist, tucking a corner in near his hip. Then, he turned, took one step toward the sink, and froze. Their eyes locked and she wondered what he was thinking. Normally she could read him, but not tonight.

Dax spotted Paige and for the second time tonight, he was surprised. When he focused on her eyes, something sparked, only for a second before she masked it. He continued forward and picked up his regular routine; deodorant, a splash of cologne, then he finally pulled out his toothbrush to clean his teeth. When he finished, he turned and was surprised to see she was still there. “You keep looking at me like that and I guarantee we won’t be doing any talking tonight.”

Paige nodded and disappeared into the bedroom.

“Not the reaction I was hoping for,” Dax mumbled. When he entered the bedroom, he spotted Paige on the small couch positioned against the far wall in the sitting area. He quickly dressed, pulling on a faded pair of comfortable jeans and then slid a long-sleeved t-shirt over his head. He considered socks, dismissed the idea and settled onto the couch next to Paige. They sat there for several minutes, inches away but worlds apart as each of them tried to decide how to start the conversation.

Dax spoke first. “There’s something I want to tell you.” He stood, frustrated at himself. He always knew exactly what he wanted and how to get it. He moved to the window and stared into the darkness. “That’s not exactly true. I need to tell you, have needed to tell you for several months.”

“What made you wait months before discussing it?”

Dax turned to face her. “Timing. You were stressed over the wedding, then your uncle showed up. I couldn’t add even more stress to your plate. Then you were dealing with violent and dangerous felons who had escaped from the Gunnison prison. After that, you had a madman taking shots at you, Dean and Jericho. I couldn’t divide your attention and risk it. If you got hurt because of me — ”

In that moment, Paige wondered if she’d been wrong. Was Dax keeping secrets because he was trying to protect her, not because he didn’t trust her? She considered that and realized it was something she could live with. Much easier than knowing him, his men, her best friend — none of them trusted her. “I know you worry. I know my job is dangerous — sometimes — but not all the time. Usually I’m just dealing with strange men loitering on a public bench or a gas theft.”

Dax just stared at her.

Paige stood and moved to stand next to him. She reached out and took his hand then guided him back to the couch. “Tell me.”

Dax let out a huge sigh, leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “You got it right,” he began. “Early in the summer, when you discovered the downed aircraft. You’re right. There was money inside.” He proceeded to tell her everything. Why they responded, how they initially climbed the tree to make sure nobody was injured inside, why they decided to take the cash and what they did to make sure Contreras could never trace it back to them.

“You’ve been busy,” Paige should have known Dax would be careful. She should have trusted him.

Dax focused on her for several seconds then let out a long, tense breath. “You already knew.”

“I did,” Paige admitted.

“How long?”

“When did I know for sure?” Paige asked. “The weekend before Thanksgiving when you and the guys did that three day survival course.”

“How?”

Paige confessed. She told him how she borrowed his keys to do a little breaking and entering. She explained why she knew the funds would be in the basement and even confessed to snooping until she found the combo.

“Ken was taking the funds to the bank to deposit them into the account to cover another scholarship,” Dax told her.

“I saw that, too,” Paige dropped his hand and settled back against the couch. “You manipulated me. You may not have lied to me, but you took something that’s important to me and used it against me. Talking through a case with you is important to me and you used that to try to redirect my investigation.”

“I know,” Dax took her hand again. “And it nearly killed me. The instant you left that day, I confronted the guys and told them I was out. I told them I didn’t want any part of it.”

“But,” Paige frowned. “Carmen said you have to keep reigning in Vato.”

“Did you talk to Carmen about this?”

“No,” Paige hesitated. “But I did talk to Nathan.”

Dax considered, then decided he could live with that. “They talked me out of it. While I was over here struggling to deal with the situation and not tell an out-and-out lie, they were over there freaking out a little. They realized just how much money we took and what would happen if Contreras ever found out. With us particularly because of the history Zeus and I have with the man.”

“What happened?”

“I told them I was out, they convinced me we could use the money for good and nobody had to be out,” Dax shrugged. “It was a good plan and so far, it’s worked.”

“I like that you’re using the money to sponsor cops who wouldn’t be able to attend without it,” Paige admitted.

“So,” Dax shifted and focused on Paige. “Where do we go from here? I broke something and I need to fix it. I just don’t know how.”

“I think we both broke it,” Paige stood and began to pace. “I told you it was okay to keep secrets. I told you I could live with it. I promised you I could deal because I was already used to Nathan keeping secrets. I was wrong. The instant you had a secret, I went bat-shit crazy. Before the wedding, I kept thinking maybe there was someone else.”

“What?” Dax jumped to his feet and moved to stand in front of Paige. “Never,” he reached up and placed a palm on each cheek. “Never. You’re it for me now and forever. I don’t understand why you can’t trust that. I know that sounds ironic under the circumstances, but Paige how many times do I have to tell you, in how many ways, before you believe I love you?”

“See,” Paige pointed a finger at him. “I told you I helped to break this. I’m not good at it. I might never be good at it.” She took a deep, shuddering breath and dropped back to the couch, placing her hands over her face in frustration. “I know you love me. I do. I’m just having a hard time trusting that love will last forever.”

“Why?” Dax settled down next to her and took her hand in his. He was kicking himself all over again. He should have known keeping a secret, any secret, from Paige would cause this kind of crack in their foundation.

“I think, maybe,” she glanced up at him and took a deep breath. “I think, deep down inside, I feel like I’m going to lose you, too. Just like I lost my dad all those years ago. Like I lost my mom. I’m afraid to get too close because I already love you so much I don’t think I can live without you. If I stop fighting these feelings, if I just let them grow and develop and then something happens — ”

“Nothing is going to happen to me,” Dax assured her. “Look at me,” he insisted. When she finally raised her head to look at him, he reached out and ran a gentle hand over her cheek. “My job isn’t dangerous. Not anymore. I know I help Nathan out sometimes, but that’s just behind-the-scenes stuff. Tactics, planning, risk assessment and troubleshooting — from home mostly. But, if I have to go to Washington, I’m still locked up in a skiff somewhere hammering out the details with your favorite general. I’m safe. You’re the one that risks your life every time you walk out that door.”

“I’m beginning to understand that, too,” Paige admitted. “And, I have no idea how you stand it. I’m sorry, for all of it. I’m sorry that your parents hate the woman you married because I chose to be a cop rather than a fashion designer or an accountant.”

Dax grinned. “I don’t know, I’ve heard it can be brutal backstage at those fashion events. Being a cop might be the safer option and I can’t see you sitting in front of a sewing machine playing with silk and lace.”

Paige laughed. “I can barely sew on my own buttons.”

Dax sobered. “My relationship with my parents is complicated. It’s always been complicated. You didn’t create it and you’re not standing in the way now. They made their choice. If they can’t accept who I am, what I do and who I love — it’s their loss.”

“It really is,” Paige leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips. She was about to move back when he pulled her forward and deepened the contact.

“Now that we’ve finally made progress,” he grinned, then pulled her in for another kiss. “Do we need to discuss the details of the money? We’re not throwing it away on expensive equipment or blowing it in Vegas.”

“If you want my opinion,” Paige waited until Dax nodded. “I think you should go to Vegas. Maybe one weekend in Vegas, a couple weeks later another weekend hanging out in Mesquite.”

“I don’t understand,” Dax frowned. “You think we should stop being cautious and throw the money away on gambling and expensive toys?”

Paige laughed. “No, I think you should each take around ten grand and head for Vegas.”

“Paige,” Dax sobered. “Contreras is watching. We can’t flaunt the money or he’ll realize we took it. He won’t come after me or my men. He’ll target you, Carmen and Jaimie.”

Paige hadn’t thought of that, but Dax was right. Contreras and his men were cowards. They got rich by taking what they wanted and never giving a second thought to the victims they left in their wake. “I’m not saying to flaunt the money. I’m saying you should launder it. If you each take around ten thousand in cash, head to Vegas, buy that much in chips, play a few games, then cash in — you can keep the receipt and show exactly where the funds came from. That would give you around fifty grand to use for the rest of the snowmobiles you need, ammo, additional weapons, snow gear, whatever. Then, you head to Mesquite and do it all again. Suddenly, the training center has enough petty cash to get you by until the real money starts flowing in from your courses.”

Dax just stared at her, dumbfounded. It was a good plan, but he never would have considered it. He wanted to keep the money legit so when Paige discovered what they were doing, she could live with their decisions. He had seriously underestimated his wife.

“You can breathe now,” Paige laughed.

“Are you really okay with this?” Dax wondered.

“I am,” this time Paige was the one to gently run a hand over his face and then slid her fingers through his damp hair. “The money is ill-gotten gains. I won’t lose any sleep knowing that monster Contreras lost and lost big.”

“But — ”

“But nothing,” Paige shrugged. “I trust you with the funds more than I trust some government bureaucrat that would just use it to build another golf course. You are actually using the money for good. You’re benefitting law enforcement and the military. You’re giving back to the men and women who stand at the gates and guard the innocent. I’m good with that. I’m more than good, I’m proud of what you’re doing. And, at some point when you and the guys decide I can be trusted, I’d like to help.”

“Paige,” Dax took her hand. “This wasn’t about trust. It was about protecting you. I could never ask you to choose.”

Paige frowned as the weight of that sentence hit her. “You thought I’d chose duty over you?”

“No,” Dax sobered. “I knew you’d choose me and I couldn’t live with that. I couldn’t live with what it would do to you. You have more integrity and honor than anyone I’ve ever met. How could I force you to turn your back on your ethics, on your duty over money?”

Paige just sat there in shocked silence. “Wow,” she finally whispered. “I never saw that coming.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means,” Paige ran her hands over her face. “I couldn’t have been more wrong about all of this. It means, I’m the one that broke something in our relationship and it means I’m going to fix it.”

“We’re going to fix it,” Dax corrected. “Because I’m the one that took the money and hid things. I’m the one that started all of this. I was wrong to keep secrets from you.”

Paige studied her hands. “I have a secret I’ve been keeping from you, too.”

“That you knew about the money?” Dax wondered. “That’s a pretty small secret considering.”

“No,” Paige stood and this time she was the one that moved to the window. “Contreras killed Santiago Esposito — Scratch. Contreras had two of his men, Mook and Pablo, the names you gave me, they killed Scratch.”

“I figured,” Dax studied her, wondering where this was going.

“First,” Paige turned to face him. “They tortured him and questioned him about the money. We found a tape. Apparently, Contreras insists on proof when he orders a hit. Mook and Pablo taped the entire torture session and planned to return to Mexico and turn the evidence over to Contreras as proof the deed was done and the money is gone.”

“I’m sorry you had to watch that,” Dax moved to her and pulled her into his arms. “Knowing Edwardo Contreras, I’m sure it was excessive and violent.”

“It was,” Paige admitted. “I’ve been able to piece things together — Scratch’s movements while he was in hiding. He fled the area after he killed Adam Langford, worried he might be sent away for life. Once he returned to Mexico, he hooked up with some of Ramen Trevil’s men and convinced them to bring him into the fold. He was throwing money around, which put him on the radar for both of them. Once he was killed by Mook and Pablo, the Trevils connection slipped back into the shadows. Nobody is willing to confirm it.”

“I’m confused,” Dax pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “What’s the secret?”

“Scratch was skimming funds,” Paige took a step back. “He bought a beach house, an expensive car, new clothes, you get the idea. Contreras is convinced Scratch stole the money from the plane.”

Dax nodded. “And that’s the reason he was tortured.”

“It is,” Paige watched him carefully as he considered the new information.

“I know you think I should feel guilty about that,” Dax began. “Maybe I should. Maybe I do feel a twinge of sympathy for this punk kid who hooked up with bad people and got himself killed. I don’t feel responsible, Paige. And, just like I accept you as you are, risks, dangerous job and the possible implications of that — I hope you can accept me, warts and all. Scratch was a drug dealer. He was also a killer. I don’t know if this Adam Langford kid was his first victim. I actually doubt that he was. The instinct to kill was too quick and calculating. Scratch’s death is not on me or my men because we took that cash. His death is a result of his own choices. My intel also revealed skimming from both sides. Scratch was stealing from both Contreras and Trevils. He tried to play both ends. The instant he accepted a job from Ramin, he was a dead man. The instant he dipped his hand in the cookie jar, he ensured that death would be painful. I can say that nobody should have to die that way, but I won’t feel guilty or responsible — not even for you.”

“It’s a little unnerving,” Paige sighed. “To realize that General Nathan Porter, a man I respect more than anyone in this world — well, present company excluded — a man that filled in for my father when I needed him, knows my husband better than I do.”

“I assume that means you discussed this with Porter and he had the same take?”

“Yes, and yes,” Paige squirmed. “Did I break a rule or a sacred marriage edict? Because, I didn’t plan to tell Nathan anything. He just has a way of knowing and as much as I tried to resist, he somehow got me to open up and tell him what was bothering me.”

“You didn’t break a rule,” Dax grinned. “He’s your father — in every way that counts — and he cares about you. I understand.” He flashed his sexy grin. “Now, if we're finished talking,” he plucked her off the floor and tossed her onto the bed. “There’s something else I’d rather be doing tonight.”

Paige laughed and rolled away when he dropped down beside her. “We’re nearly done.”

Dax groaned.

Paige laughed. “I know you think you just disappointed me. I saw it in your eyes before you so carefully explained your absence of guilt. I’m not disappointed. I actually agree with everything you just said. I was just worried — because I do know you and I know you are an amazing, caring, fair man. I supposed, in my way, I was trying to protect you.”

Dax relaxed. “Thank you.” He moved forward and pressed his lips to hers.

“All this protecting each other seems to be the thing that’s getting us into trouble,” Paige observed. “Don’t protect me, Dax. I would choose you. I will always choose you. The rest doesn’t matter. We can work through the rest, fight it out, compromise, negotiate, and then make up, but I don’t want you to protect me.”

Dax grinned. “It’s so cute that you even think that’s possible.” He sobered. “Paige, I protect what’s mine. I protect what’s important to me. There is nothing more important than you. I guess you’ll just have to learn to live with that, too.” He shifted and pulled her against him, nuzzling her neck and inhaling her scent. “I love the way you feel.”

Paige sat up. “There’s one more thing.”

“You’re killing me,” Dax rolled over and studied the ceiling.

Paige hesitated, but she wanted to get it all out there. “Vato,” Paige said softly.

“What about Vato?” Dax turned a worried glance her way. “Did he do something to you? Say something?”

“No,” Paige settled back down next to him. “He and I had a conversation. I guess you could call it a first step towards a truce.”

“And?”

“And you guys need to stop protecting him,” Paige demanded. “Every time you do that, it makes him feel like an outcast. You’re not helping him, you’re hurting him.”

“Look at you,” Dax grinned. “All logical adult.”

“I’m serious,” Paige pushed.

“I know,” Dax sighed and took her hand in his. “I’ve actually been pretty hard on him lately. Mostly because of you. He opens his mouth and I think — not again. Not another complaint about Paige knowing too much. Not another argument because he doesn’t trust you the way the rest of us do — and I slam him, sometimes too hard because of it.”

“You need to stop that, too.”

“What part of protect what’s mine did you not understand?” Dax wondered.

“I’m serious,” Paige turned onto her side to face him. “Vato and I will figure this out but it’s between us. If you stand in the middle and grunt like some macho caveman protecting his frail wife, we’ll never work through it. The others, your men that would do anything for you, they didn’t trust me either. But desperate times forced us to work together. There was a metaphorical pissing contest, followed by some push and pull, but we worked through it quicker because we all wanted the same thing. We were desperate to find you before you got dead. It’s going to take longer with Vato. Emotions aren’t driving us at the moment. Just give the two of us a little time, I think we can work it out.”

“I think when I tell the guys I brought you in,” Dax said softly. “When they know you know, and none of us will be arrested or pulled into interrogation — I think Vato will take that first step towards trusting you. The others already do. I hope you know that, too.”

“I do,” Paige rolled over on top of him. “Now, as much as I love the goofy gang of militants. There’s something else I want to do tonight. I hear making up is explosive. Let’s make up.”

Dax laughed but willingly complied.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige and Dax sat on the bed, him in nothing but his tight, black briefs, her in nothing but his shirt — scarfing down pizza.

“Tell me what I’ve missed,” Dax took a swig of beer and set his plate aside. “I’ve been gone nearly a week. Any big cases that are baffling the amazing Paige Carter?”

“Not really,” Paige set her plate aside and snuggled in close to him. “Things have been pretty normal for the holidays. A few shoplifters, gas thefts, public shouting matches over the last Instant Pot. Normal stuff for the season.”

“But?” Dax detected something; he just wasn’t sure what.

“I was called to the salon just before I went off duty today,” Paige began.

“Hair emergency?” Dax grinned.

“Do you want to hear this or not?”

“My bad,” Dax motioned for her to proceed.

“I’m intrigued,” Paige admitted. “Trudy said there was a guy loitering on one of the benches. He’d been there for three hours, just watching.”

“You checked him out?”

“Not really,” Paige admitted. “He wasn’t doing anything wrong. I watched him for a few minutes. Trudy thought he was a homeless guy, but he’s not.”

“How could you tell?”

“Expensive watch,” Paige said absently. “And he had an expensive Stetson with an expensive band, silver with turquoise stones. Not the cheap kind, not imitation, the real thing and they were large stones, intricately strung together by a professional. He’s not homeless. I think he was just trying to blend in.”

“But he didn’t,” Dax observed. “Not really. What did he say?”

“Why do you just assume I talked to him?” Paige wondered.

“Because Trudy called it in, Margie sent you out to look into things and you couldn’t look into it if you didn’t talk to the guy.”

“You have a good cop brain,” Paige grinned, knowing it would annoy him. He considered himself a soldier and a carpenter. Being a cop wasn’t even in his stratosphere.

“What did he say?”

“Not a lot,” Paige admitted. “He never told me his name and I didn’t have any reason to insist he show me ID. He wasn’t harassing anyone, not even Trudy or the girls. He was just relaxing on a public bench watching the world go by.”

“But?”

“I don’t know,” Paige settled against the headboard. “At first I thought maybe PI, he had a professional air about him.”

“Now?”

“I think businessman,” Paige shrugged. “I don’t know why he’s here, but he’s not homeless and I don’t think he’s a threat.”

“You liked him,” Dax realized.

Paige shifted her eyes to the side to give him a quick look and admitted she did.

“Sounds mysterious,” Dax decided. “And if you’re right, he’s here for a reason and a little friendly chat with my cop didn’t scare him way. He’ll be back.”

“I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing,” Paige admitted.

\*\*\*\*\*

At eleven o’clock the following morning, Paige was called back to the salon. As she pulled up, she spotted the same man, sitting in the same spot, wearing the same coat, hat and boots. She waited and watched, same deal as the day before. He wasn’t bothering anyone, wasn’t breaking any laws, wasn’t really a problem for anyone but Trudy and the girls. She stopped at a temporary sidewalk vender, bought two coffees and made her way to the bench.

“I didn’t realize cops walked the beat here in Manti,” the man said without looking over. “I always thought that was a big city thing, like in New York.”

“Small town charm, I guess,” Paige held one of the cups out to him. “I come in peace.”

The man glanced at the coffee then focused on Paige. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not a coffee drinker.”

“Never?” Paige asked in amazement. “How do you get up in the morning?”

He laughed, a genuine, amused reaction to her sincere astonishment.

“You don’t miss what you never had,” the lines in his face hardened and he refocused on the large bay window of the salon.

*Interesting*, Paige filed that away for later. “So, of all the gin joints in all the cities — ”

He didn’t take the bait. They sat there in silence while Paige drank her coffee and realized there was more to this man than she originally thought. He was scoping out the place but he was also suffering. He was stressed about something and a little sad. She read it in his eyes, every time he looked at the large open window.

Paige was just finishing her coffee when the man turned and focused on her. “I take it they called you again.”

“Yeah,” Paige admitted. “They did. Like I said, it’s a small town. Having a stranger sit outside watching like they’re fish in a large hair styling tank is making them nervous.”

“I’ll go,” he stood, looked at Paige as if he was going to say something, shook his head once and started to turn away.

“I know there’s no reason to trust me,” Paige stood. “I’m a stranger to you, too. But, if there’s anything I can do to help you — just give me a call.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card.

He blinked in surprise, slid the card into his inside pocket, nodded once and walked away.

“Right,” Paige headed for the salon, Trudy, and twenty questions.

\*\*\*\*\*

That night, Paige stepped through the front door and was greeted by the amazing smell of sweet, honey barbeque. She followed her nose to the kitchen where she found Dax sliding a foil covered container into the oven. “Forget the man, I want ribs.”

Dax smiled, moved across the room, and pulled her body against him.

Paige was so focused on dinner; she wasn’t paying attention to Dax. Not until he pulled her against him and gave her a steamy welcome home kiss that added a hint — or, more accurately, a promise — of so much more. “You’re in a good mood.”

“I am,” Dax agreed. “You ready to eat or do you need a few minutes?”

“I’m starving,” Paige moved to the cupboard and grabbed two plates. She returned for the glasses and flatware, snatched up the paper towels and set those on the table with the other dishes. She had just moved to the refrigerator and pulled out a gallon of milk when she was struck by her surroundings. She froze in place and only broke out of her stupefied shock when Dax turned and bumped into her. She would have tumbled to the floor if he hadn’t wrapped a strong arm around her and pulled her against his chest.

“What is it?” he whispered so close to her ear it gave her goosebumps. “You okay?”

“I — ” she took a step back, set the milk on the table and focused on Dax. “I’m fine. It’s just — ” how to explain what she was feeling without sounding like a complete idiot.

“Tell me,” he pulled her against him again, eliminating the space she’d put between them.

“It’s stupid,” Paige decided. “Let’s just eat.”

“We will,” Dax guided her to a chair and gave her shoulder a gentle push. “Talk to me.”

“Don’t laugh,” Paige warned.

“I make no promises, babe,” Dax grinned.

It was just what she needed. “Just before the wedding, when Sophie was staying here,” Paige began.

“Yes,” Dax settled into the chair next to her.

“There was one morning when she was down here making breakfast for all of us,” Paige shifted absently. “When I walked into the kitchen, you were here, setting the table, just like I was doing tonight. Sophie was frying bacon or something and the two of you seemed to have a smooth rhythm. It was like a well-choreographed dance with you slipping behind her to set the table, her loading up pancakes and bacon then moving to set them on the table, neither of you colliding or getting in the others way. Anytime I’ve tried to help Sophie in the kitchen, she ends up frustrated and finally tosses me out. I remember standing right over there,” she pointed to the kitchen door, “wondering if I would ever have that with anyone. I knew I’d never have it with Sophie, but I wondered if you and I — maybe a few years down the road — if we might get there. If we’d get to a point where we could just sense each other’s next move and smoothly slide around it. For some reason I wanted that, I longed for it.”

“And now you have it,” Dax leaned in and kissed her forehead. “We have it.”

“It’s nice,” Paige whispered. “And now, it would be nice if the man I love more than anything in the world would bring me some ribs already.”

Dax was still laughing when he set their dinner on the table and settled in to enjoy a meal with his wife. “So, anything happen today?”

Paige swallowed a huge bite of potatoes, wiped her mouth, then glanced at Dax. “I got another call on the mysterious stranger at the hair salon.”

“How did that go?”

“I think this has something to do with one of Trudy’s girls,” Paige admitted. “And whatever it is, I think it makes him sad.”

“Sounds like you made some progress,” Dax decided. “Did he tell you his name yet?”

“No,” Paige sighed. “And I’m not sure we made progress. I just got a tiny glimpse before he masked it and left but I think he’s suffering in some way.”

Dax reached out and took her hand. “And it makes you sad.”

“A little,” Paige shrugged. “Anyway, tell me about your day.”

Dax grinned. “Before I do that, I wanted to run something by you. See how you would feel about it.”

“Alright,” Paige sat back to give him her full attention.

“I’d like to have Christmas Eve dinner with all our friends and extended family,” Dax told her.

“I don’t think Nathan and Sophie can get back here that soon,” Paige considered. “Nathan said he’s knee deep in a new project and it was hard to take the time in November.”

“I know,” Dax admitted. “I talked to him already. He can’t fly out again and I understand that. We’ll just have to catch him next year. But, I wanted to do something special, not formal or anything but a big fancy meal for the guys, Carmen, Jericho and us. I want Christmas day for just you and me. I thought if we did it up right the night before, maybe the peanut gallery would give us one day alone to just celebrate us.”

“I like it,” she frowned. “But what are we going to eat? Sophie always cooks the turkey. I can’t do that. I’m sorry I’m not domesticated that way. I know that has to be disappointing, you married a woman who can’t scramble eggs.”

Dax laughed. “I’m perfectly happy with my wife, thank you very much. I’m never disappointed. I’m proud of you. This is my idea, I’ll take care of the turkey.”

Paige narrowed her eyes at him. “You can’t cook either.”

“No,” Dax’s smile widened. “But I can deep fry.”

“You’re going to deep fry the turkey?” Paige shook her head. “No, do you have any idea how many people burn down their house trying to fry a turkey?”

“I won’t do it inside and I have the men to help,” Dax assured her. “Have a little faith. I’ll order the rest. I’m sure Carmen will make a pie or something.”

Paige let out a huge breath. “Alright. Carmen makes amazing pie and I’ll come up with a menu I can handle. Anything else, you can order in.”

“You sure?”

“Positive,” Paige considered. “It’s a good idea and I’m glad I have an excuse to force Jericho to join us. He normally heads up north and spends the holiday with his family but he’s still not fully recovered and I get the impression he doesn’t feel up to all the chaos. His siblings have a million kids and Jericho needs to relax this year. He doesn’t need more stress.”

“How is my favorite sheriff doing?” Dax wondered. “I’ve been so busy, I haven’t had a chance to check in.”

“I’m worried about him,” Paige told him. “I think now that things are starting to settle down and he doesn’t have the investigation into Mom’s death occupying his time — he’s a little lost.”

“He’ll pull through,” Dax said confidently. “Now, let’s talk about our own plans for the holidays.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige, my office,” Jericho demanded the second she stepped through the door.

Paige glanced at Margie who shrugged before she answered an incoming call. She slid through the door and settled into one of Jericho’s chairs. “What’s up?”

“I got a call from Trudy,” Jericho informed her. “She’s worried about that stranger and doesn’t think you’re taking the situation seriously.”

“She’s wrong,” Paige said flatly.

“What are you doing to get rid of him?” Jericho asked.

“Nothing,” Paige shrugged. “I’m keeping an eye on him, trying to get him to trust me enough to at least tell me his name, but other than that, he hasn’t done anything illegal.”

“He’s sitting on a park bench holding surveillance on a private business,” Jericho grumbled.

“Is this about Trudy complaining, or is it about you being in a pisser of a mood ever since you got shot?” Paige wondered. “We both know the man has a right to sit on that public bench for the next twenty-four hours if he wants to. He’s not breaking the law and I’m not going to do anything to get rid of him as you so eloquent put it until I figure out why he’s here in the first place.”

“Another Paige Carter mystery to solve?” Jericho grumbled.

“Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours,” Paige pushed.

Jericho glanced away for a minute then refocused on Paige. “It’s nothing,” he sighed. “Really, Paige. I’m fine. Just keep me in the loop on the mysterious stranger. I’ll handle Trudy. She’s just worried about her girls.”

“I understand that,” Paige considered. “But I don’t think he’s here for nefarious reasons. I think it goes deeper and it’s personal. Kind of like whatever you’re keeping locked up inside.”

“I’m — ”

“Yeah,” Paige stood. “I know, you’re fine. Dax and I are making dinner on Christmas Eve. Nothing fancy, just a small get together for close family and friends. You’re invited to join us. I expect you to join us,” Paige added.

“I might be busy,” Jericho fibbed.

“Nope,” Paige moved to lean over his desk. “I know you’re staying in town for the holidays. I know you are going to be alone and I won’t accept that. You are my family whether you like it or not and you will be missed if you stand us up.”

“I’ll think about it,” Jericho finally told her. “I just don’t want to get in the way. You don’t get to spend a lot of time with that obstinate general you care about so much. You should have this time with him and his lovely wife.”

“They won’t be there,” Paige settled back into the chair. “Nathan is working on some top-secret project again. Whatever it is, he’s right in the middle and can’t get away. It’s just me, Dax, you, Carmen and the boys. I might add one or two people, but it’s not likely. Jericho, I think of you as family. I need you to celebrate the holidays with family.”

“I’ll try,” he offered.

“Nope,” Paige shook her head. “Not good enough. I want a commitment. Nathan was a good friend of my fathers. He’s like family on Dad’s side. You are the man my mother loved. If things had turned out a little differently, you would actually be my family. I think of you — on my mother’s side — the same as I do Nathan and Sophie on Dad’s side. I need you to be there, Jericho.”

“I’ll stop by for dinner,” Jericho decided. “What can I bring?”

“It’s up to you,” Paige stood. “Thanks, it means a lot to me — having you here and sharing that time with you.”

“What about Dax’s parents?”

“He sent them a card and a couple presents,” Paige sighed. “I feel like I’m getting in the way, then Dax reminds me they were like that before I was in the picture. I guess it is what it is and we all have to accept it.”

“Don’t sweat it too much,” Jericho laughed. “Nobody gets along with their mother-in-law.”

“Good to know, Sheriff Crankypants. Don’t even think about bailing on me,” Paige warned, but she was grinning as she left the room.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax was curious. No better way to satisfy that curiosity than personal contact. He had some Christmas shopping to do, anyway. He wanted this Christmas to be unforgettable. He wanted Paige to remember their first holiday season together as special. Starting the tradition of friends and family for Christmas Eve dinner was only the beginning. He had a whole list of traditions he wanted to start with Paige. If he also got a chance to talk to this mysterious stranger while he was out and about — well, that was just a happy bonus.

He pulled his truck into a slot a few rows down from the salon and took in his surroundings. At the moment, the bench was empty. Not a problem, he’d just step into the jewelry store and take a look around. Thirty minutes and several hundred dollars later, Dax exited the store and spotted the man Paige had described. And, just like clockwork, he was settled in on the public bench watching the women work inside the salon. With a grin, he headed that way.

The man looked up when Dax settled onto the bench, stretched out his legs and crossed his arms over his chest. He continued to study Dax for several seconds before he shifted, and his attention was once again on the women inside.

“I think you should go with red,” Dax said without emotion. “Yeah, it’s in season and the blue and the purple — don’t get me wrong, I know they’re pretty popular at the moment — but I just don’t get it and I think red will match your scowl a little better.”

“Why do I get the feeling I’m being tag-teamed by the clever Deputy Carter?” the man asked.

“She didn’t send me,” Dax continued to watch the women work. “In fact, she has no idea I’m even here.”

“Friend of yours, then?” the man asked.

“You might say that?” Now Dax did glance at the man now. “She’s my wife.”

He shook his head but smiled. “Lucky man.”

“I agree,” Dax openly studied the stranger.

“Had I known what the future held for me,” he sighed. “I would have just given the woman my name.”

“You could always give it now,” Dax suggested.

“I think that persistent wife of yours deserves that honor,” he shifted and settled further into the bench.

That was true, so Dax didn’t push it. “You could always go in, schedule a cut if you’re not sold on the red highlights.”

“I’m picky about my cut,” he answered honestly. “As are you. What branch?”

“Army,” Dax studied the man a little closer. “You?”

“Same,” he admitted. “Although, it was a lifetime ago. I’d guess your departure was a lot more recent.”

“Do we ever really depart?” Dax wondered.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I got out a few years back,” Dax admitted. “Started a new life and thought I was happy. I was wrong. Then, two things happened. First, I met Paige and she changed my life in ways I never expected.”

“And the other?”

“My past came back to haunt me and my team,” Dax hesitated. “My men, my family — they didn’t hesitate. They rushed in and saved me — with the help of my talented and extremely smart and observant wife that is.”

“And somehow you got pulled back in?”

“Oh,” Dax grinned. “That happened first. The rest followed. General Porter doesn’t seem to know how to take no for an answer. Plus, I’m not sure he realizes he’s actually retired.”

“You work for Nathan Porter?”

That got Dax’s attention. “I do. I’m guessing you know him.”

“Is there a soldier that doesn’t?”

“Good point,” Dax frowned. “If you know Porter and that relationship is good — If there are no surprises, you should talk to Paige.”

“Because?”

“Because they’re tight,” Dax stood. “They’re family. And if Nathan vouches for you, Paige will go out of her way to help you — in whatever way you need her to.”

“I’ll think about it,” he hesitated. “Thanks, uh — I won’t ask your name because you didn’t press on mine.”

“Dax Hamilton,” he reached out a hand. “Thank you for your service. And, I’m serious, talk to Paige. You can trust her and I’m sure she can help. She seems to be magical that way.” He walked slowly back to his truck, deep in thought. The instant he climbed behind the wheel; he knew — once again — he was going to act on impulse.

Dax could feel the mysterious stranger watching him as he pulled into traffic and made a quick right. He’d have to be careful, but he was certain he was doing the right thing. He made another right and pulled into a parking spot several feet from the intersection. Then, he slipped out of the truck, using the building for cover, he got into position and waited. It didn’t take long. The man shifted and was so focused on the salon, he didn’t notice the sneaky soldier snapping photos around the corner. Once he was certain he got enough, Dax slid back into his truck, made a U-turn and headed toward the office.

He was smiling when he stepped into his new, lush surroundings. He had to admit, the guys could decorate. He dropped into his leather executive chair and pulled out his phone. Three rings later, he connected with the tenacious general. Well, Dax could be stubborn, too.

“Is this important?” Nathan asked in greeting.

“Could be,” Dax evaded.

“Cut the crap, Hamilton,” he barked. “It’s not that kind of day and I’m headed into another superfluous meeting with a group of stuffy bureaucrats who overrate their importance in my world.”

“Okay,” Dax sobered. “I get it. I caught you at a bad time. I just need you to look at a few photos and tell me if you recognize the man.”

“Send them — ” Nathan glanced at his phone when the notification sounded. “Give me a minute.” He pulled up the text message and scrolled through the images. “Looks like David Jackson, why?”

“And this Jackson is former Army?”

“Sure,” Nathan said impatiently. “What is this about?”

“He’s here in town,” Dax told him. “Paige has encountered him twice now. He seems to be casing a small hair salon and he’s making the women nervous.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Nathan scoffed. “If that’s David, he’s not casing anything. You make it sound like he’s planning a diamond heist. Did he tell Paige who he is and why he’s there?”

“Yeah,” Dax said sarcastically. “That’s why I went to the trouble of sneaking a picture and texting it to you. I missed your charming demeanor and pleasant personality.”

“Didn’t I say it’s not that kind of day,” Nathan grumbled. “Anyway, I am charming and pleasant. Now, I have to go. The meeting is about to start. Tell Paige to call me later tonight if she needs to know more.” He took a step toward the door. “Dax?”

“Yeah?”

“Did the two of you work things out?”

“We did,” Dax assured him.

“I have some ideas about that other thing but now is not the time to discuss them,” he said cryptically. “I think we can make things work for you, without fear of… complications.”

“We’ll talk when you have more time,” Dax assured him. “If I don’t catch you beforehand, have a Merry Christmas and give Sophie a kiss for me.”

“Will do,” Nathan said before he disconnected the call. What in the world was David Jackson doing in Manti?

Dax glanced up and was surprised to see Hawk standing there. Just the guy he planned to look for.

“You were late for the meeting, so Zeus ordered pizza for all the vultures,” Hawk moved forward and settled into a chair. “I can grab you some before it’s gone if you want.”

“I ate,” Dax brushed that off. “I’m glad I caught you alone, anyway. I need help with something and it just occurred to me that some things probably need to change around here.”

“How so?”

“We all just fell back into our normal routine,” Dax settled back. “I used to be your commander, but out here I’m an equal partner. I’ve been giving you assignments as if you were still my right-hand man.”

Hawk shrugged. “I think it was easier to just fall back into old habits and nobody around here minds.”

“I’m not the boss, Hawk. We all contributed to this endeavor.”

“Not equally,” Hawk objected. “And, before you jump me, I’ll concede and say I agree — to a point. But, I also think we need a final voice of reason and you have established yourself as that voice with each one of us. I think this structure works. In fact, I think we should make it official. We can hash it out in the meeting, but as far as I’m concerned — you’re the CEO of this venture. The rest of us can be VP’s or whatever. What I’m saying, is we need to develop a business plan, an organizational structure and a contingency if someone gets disgruntled and decides to leave.”

“Is there trouble I don’t know about?”

“No,” Hawk shook his head. “But we’re all alphas with hair trigger tempers. I just think we should plan for the worst and hope for the best.”

“Alright,” Dax nodded. “We’ll add it to the agenda.”

“What’s the favor you need?”

“A complete packet,” Dax pulled out his phone. “I’m sending you some photos. The guy’s name is David Jackson, former Army and he’s associated with Nathan Porter somehow. I need everything you can find.”

“What did he do?”

“Nothing,” Dax sighed. “Yet. He’s dodging Paige and he’s being cryptic. I just want to know everything I can about him until she figures out why he’s here.”

“On it,” Hawk stood to leave.

“There’s one more thing,” Dax focused on Hawk. “I told Paige everything. You were right, she’s on board and there won’t be any trouble because of it.”

“Told you so,” Hawk laughed as he again turned to leave.

“You’ve been waiting a long time to say that,” Dax laughed, too.

“Decades,” Hawk said casually before stepping into his own plush office.

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\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the closest spot, snagged the two cups of hot chocolate she’d purchased and headed for the bench — and the man. He didn’t look up. “You said you don’t drink coffee,” she settled onto the bench. “How do you feel about hot chocolate?”

He glanced up and smiled. “Love it, actually.” He took the cup she offered. “Maybe tomorrow you’ll bring donuts.”

Paige rolled her eyes. “Clichés.”

“Thanks for this,” he took off his gloves and gripped the hot mug with both hands. “Temperatures are dropping.”

“You need warmer outer gear,” Paige observed.

“I met your husband today,” the man said.

“Where? Why? Wait — ” she frowned. “How do you know it was my husband?”

“He told me,” the man shrugged. “Seems like a good man. He said I could trust you.”

“I — ”

The man held up a finger as he fished his ringing phone out of his pocket. One look at the display and he smiled. “And he works fast.”

*What did that mean?* Paige wondered.

“Hello, Nathan,” the man greeted.

*Nathan?* Paige’s frown deepened.

“David,” Nathan greeted. “I’m just heading into another meeting, so I only have a minute. Rumor has it you’re in Manti, Utah.”

“And by rumor, you mean Dax Hamilton called you,” he corrected.

“Not the point,” Nathan brushed that off. “I also understand you’re avoiding Paige Carter.”

“Not really,” he glanced at Paige. “In fact, she just brought me hot chocolate. And she doesn’t look happy about this call.”

“I’ll deal with Paige later,” Nathan paused outside a secure room. “My meeting is about to start. I just wanted to let you know, you can trust Paige. Tell her why you’re in town. She can help.”

“You’re the second person today that told me to trust the persistent deputy,” the man smiled. “I’ll think about it. Go deal with your meeting. Everything is fine here.”

“Are you?” Nathan softened. “Is everything okay with you?”

“No,” he sighed. “But I’m working on it.”

“One more thing,” Nathan glanced up and motioned for the guard to wait. “Paige is Dylan Carter’s daughter.”

“Really?” the man studied Paige with interest now. “I see and I understand. Stop holding up your meeting for this. I’ll let you know if there’s anything you can do to help because I know that was going to be the next thing out of your mouth. Go, save the world.”

“I’ll be in touch,” Nathan said before disconnecting.

“Clearly, I’m missing something,” Paige sipped her hot chocolate.

“They’re only trying to help,” the man assured her. “In fact, there’s a good possibility it worked. I need to go. I need to think. Thanks again for the hot chocolate,” he stood and walked away.

Paige remained on the bench until her chocolate was gone. She was fuming by the time she climbed behind the wheel. Dax had some explaining to do. He had no right to interfere in her case or go behind her back. And, Nathan — that man was going to answer for his intrusion as well. Seriously, the guy was over a thousand miles away and he still insisted on butting in where he didn’t belong. She backed out of her parking spot and punched the gas. First stop, the training center.

She was nearly there when she got a call from Margie.

“Paige, where are you?” Margie’s voice was strained.

“What’s wrong?”

“Jericho collapsed,” Margie told her. “He’s on his way to the hospital. I don’t know how serious it is and I have to stay here. Someone has to man the store. I was wondering if you could go, make sure he’s okay.”

“I’m on my way,” Paige didn’t hesitate. “Where did they take him?”

“Gunnison Valley,” Margie choked out. She was doing her best to hold her emotions in check, but she was worried.

“I’ll call you as soon as I know anything,” Paige clicked off, hesitated, then called Dax.

Dax was just closing out his meeting when his cell phone rang. He glanced at the display, debated, then answered. “Is this a social call or am I in trouble?” he teased.

“I’m going to be late getting home tonight,” Paige told him.

“What’s wrong?” he stood and started to leave the room.

“Jericho collapsed at the office, he was rushed to the hospital by ambulance,” Paige tried to keep the panic at bay. “I don’t know how long it will take.”

“Where are you?” he pivoted, snatched up his coat and started for the door.

“Actually,” Paige nearly laughed. “I’m approaching the training center as we speak. I wanted answers as to why you interfered in my case and thought that was a conversation we should have in person.”

“Pull into the lot,” Dax ordered. “I’m coming with you.”

“What?”

“Pull into the lot, Paige. I’m headed outside,” he could hear the stress in her voice. She was worried about her boss.

Paige hesitated, then pulled into the lot. She spotted Dax immediately. Just seeing him standing there, ready to give his support and comfort, his love — it made her heart do a little flip and she realized she was no longer angry. Dax would always be there for her when she needed him. He would always step in and help in any way he could.

Dax strolled across the parking lot, yanked open the door, and wrapped his arms around his wife. She was trying to hide it, but her eyes told him just how worried she really was. “It’s going to be okay.”

“He collapsed, Dax,” Paige whispered. The sound was muffled because she was holding onto Dax, her face pressed against his large chest.

“It was probably a complication from his injury,” Dax said calmly. “He’ll be okay.”

“I called him names,” Paige choked. “He didn’t want to come to that Christmas dinner you’re planning, so I bullied him into it and told him he’s cranky.”

Dax laughed. “He is cranky and that’s why he’s going to be okay.” He took a step back and unbuckled her seatbelt. No way could she drive to Gunnison like this. Once the belt was free, he reached in, shut down the vehicle, and lifted her out of the seat.

“Dax!” Paige protested. “Put me down, this is embarrassing. We have an audience.”

Dax turned and grinned at his men. “That’s not an audience.”

“Dax,” Paige gave his chest a shove.

He continued across the parking lot until he reached the passenger side of his truck. Zeus lunged forward and opened the door. “Thanks,” Dax said as he gently set Paige on the seat. “I won’t be back today.”

“We got the gist,” Hawk stepped forward and passed Dax a thick manila folder. “Easy reading on that — thing you asked for.”

Dax raised one eyebrow in surprise. The file was thicker than he expected.

“It’s all good,” Hawk assured him. “Call us with an update. He might be cranky, but we all have a soft spot for the good sheriff.”

“Will do,” Dax dropped the folder onto the back seat and climbed behind the wheel.

“What’s in the file?” Paige asked once they left town and were headed toward Gunnison.

“Intel on David Jackson,” he glanced at her then refocused on the highway. “I got your mystery man’s name from Nathan. Hawk pulled everything he could find. It’s in the file.”

“Are you going to share?”

“Of course,” he reached out and took her hand. “I wasn’t stepping on toes, Paige. I went Christmas shopping because I had a few minutes before a staff meeting and he was there, sitting on the bench, watching the salon. I reacted; it was impulse. I’m sorry if that bothers you, but I don’t regret it. I asked Hawk to run everything so I could give it to you.”

“Thank you,” Paige close her eyes and readjusted her seat.

“That’s it?” Dax assessed her. “You must really be worried.”

“I am,” Paige admitted. “He’s family and I jumped him this morning because I was annoyed. He’s struggling, has been for months. He’s just not himself and I think he’s lonely — maybe a little lost without Mom’s case to occupy his down time. So, I pushed, he relented, and I left. I don’t know if I can live with myself if that’s the last conversation we have.”

“Paige,” Dax took her hand. “He’s going to be okay.”

“You hope he’ll be okay,” Paige disagreed. “You want him to be okay but we don’t even know what happened.”

“We will soon enough.” The two of them drove in silence the rest of the way to the hospital.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Are you family?” the receptionist asked.

Paige was nearly out of patience with this woman. “Yes.”

“Relationship?”

“Daughter. Step-daughter,” Paige corrected at the woman’s skeptical look. She didn’t hesitate, didn’t flinch, didn’t regret the lie for a minute.

“Jericho Walters is in surgery at the moment,” the receptionist softened. “There were complications from his previous surgery where they removed his spleen. The details are vague, but from the notes I believe there was a tear of some kind that caused internal bleeding. They are repairing the damage and expect him to make a full recovery.”

Paige sagged against Dax in relief.

“Thank you,” Dax guided Paige to a waiting area and settled her onto a small couch. “He’s going to be fine. Breath, baby. It’s okay. I need to call the men, do you want me to contact Margie?”

“No,” Paige pulled out her own phone. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Anyone else?”

“I don’t know,” Paige frowned. “I don’t think so. He has a brother and a sister I think, but I don’t know anything about them.”

“Margie will know,” Dax patted her hand and moved just outside the door to make his call.

Two hours later, Margie had joined them. Paige was reading through the file Hawk complied, fascinated. The man was a saint. David Jackson had flown Apache helicopters then Black Hawks in the Gulf War. He left the army and, along with another man in his unit, started up an aviation company where they transport rich executives around in style. The company was a huge success and the two men continued to use some of their own wealth to help their fellow soldiers. They volunteer their time and resources to helping wounded warriors get back on their feet. “Nowhere near homeless,” Paige mumbled.

“I’d say he’s the furthest thing from,” Dax agreed. “So what brought him to a small town hair salon?”

“I have no idea,” Paige jumped to her feet when a man in a white coat stepped into the room.

“Is the family of Jericho Walters in here,” the doctor asked.

“We are,” both Paige and Margie stepped forward. Dax slid in behind Paige and wrapped his arms around her waist in support.

“Mr. Walters came through the surgery well enough,” he glanced at his notes. “He’s been overdoing it. Near as we can tell, he took a fall or overextended somehow causing a tear. Basically, we had to go back in and stitch him back together. He was bleeding internally, which is why he collapsed. I want to keep him here for a few days. Once he’s released, he will need to take it easy. Does he have anyone to help him?”

“Yes,” all three of them said at once.

“We’ll handle it, doc,” Dax assured him. “We just need you to tell us how far we need to go. He’s independent and he won’t be straight with us. If someone could give us the details before he’s released, we’ll make sure he behaves this time.”

“I’ll meet with you again before I sign off on the release,” he promised. “We just finished the procedure. He’ll need at least another hour before the anesthetic wears off. I’ll approve visitors in ICU once he wakes. He’s fine. Go get dinner, take a break and try to relax while you can. I know Jericho Walters and he’s going to be a handful. You’ll need all the rest you can get. Now, I have another patient waiting.” With that, he turned and left the room.

“He’ll stay with me,” Margie decided. “I don’t care what he says, he’ll stay with me.”

“You know he won’t,” Paige shook her head. “He’ll insist on going home, alone. Instead of fighting him on that, maybe you could start to put together a schedule. The guys will want to help. We’ll make sure he has three meals, shovel his driveway, do his laundry, whatever. Once he’s back on his feet, the schedule can taper off but I want it to last at least until the end of January.”

“I can do that,” Margie shifted from worried friend mode to competent assistant.

“She’ll have the schedule finished before we leave tonight,” Paige smiled.

“I want in,” Dax decided. “My men will want a turn on that schedule as well.”

“You guys are so busy,” Paige objected. “We can handle it.”

“I care about him, too,” Dax stood. “Let me make a call. I think the best route is to have them call Margie individually. That way, they can pick up a shift when they’re available and I don’t have to be the middleman.”

“Thank you,” Paige decided not to argue. Instead, she pulled out her own phone and dialed Nathan. She needed to know more about David Jackson and his family.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige, I’ve been expecting your call,” Nathan said in greeting.

“Something came up and it’s later than I originally planned,” Paige sighed. “Can you talk?”

“Why are you at a hospital?”

“How do you know I’m at the hospital?”

“Are you hurt?”

“No,” Paige rushed to reassure him. “It’s Jericho. He’s as stubborn and pigheaded as a certain general I know. Complications from his previous surgery and they had to go back in and stitch him up. He was bleeding internally and collapsed at work.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Nathan said sincerely. “And since I am stubborn and pigheaded, let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. I understand just how annoying over cautious doctors can be. I know a guy, a doctor in the area who would be more than happy to make a house call so your favorite sheriff doesn’t have to return to the hospital.”

Her heart softened. Nathan Porter was stubborn, pigheaded and interfering but his heart was always in the right place. And there was nobody on the planet that had more contacts, more access to intel and more leverage than he did. “I think he’d appreciate that.”

Nathan laughed. “Not if you tell him I arranged it, but I’ll call Scott and give him your number. Now, you didn’t call to discuss your boss or his health problems. You want to know about David.”

“I do,” Paige agreed. “I’m not going to yell at you over that because Dax told me he called you.”

“I’m so relieved,” Nathan said flatly.

“I also have a pretty complete packet — from an anonymous source — that gives me a clear picture of his military service, the business he started with another soldier and the work he does for our wounded vets.”

“Since we both know there are only two possibilities for that anonymous source and I had Carmen tied up all day, tell Hawk to send me what he has and I’ll fill in any blanks.”

“I don’t think I need that,” Paige disagreed. “Thanks, but I think I have what I need on that end. What I want from you is the personal stuff. You called him, which tells me you know him. How close are you?”

“I have to admit,” Nathan said with regret. “Not as close as we should be. He stays busy with the various pursuits you mentioned, and I’ve been busy with my committees. He’s a good man, if that’s what you’re asking.”

That was a huge compliment coming from Nathan Porter. “I think something personal brought him to Manti. Do you know him well enough to tell me what that could be?”

“I know him well enough to know about his personal life,” Nathan frowned. “I don’t know how that would bring him to Manti.”

“Can you guess?”

“No,” Nathan dismissed that.

Paige laughed. “Why do I even try?”

“David Jackson is married to a lady with class,” he said easily. “Kendall is very supportive and generous. She’s also heavily involved in the volunteer work David engages in to help our veterans. They’re good people, Paige.”

“Do they have children?”

Nathan frowned. “Two, I think. Although, I believe they are adopted. Like I said, I haven’t kept in touch on a personal level as much as I should have. Are you thinking one of his kids could be in trouble?”

“I don’t know,” Paige sighed. “He’s not talking, and I just don’t see anything in this file that points to a reason for him to be here. Or, a reason to sit out in the cold on a public bench in front of a hair salon.”

“Do you want me to call him?” Nathan offered. “I could try to dig, see if he’ll confide in me.”

“No,” Paige said immediately. “I’m trying to gain a rapport with him. Maybe he’ll break and confess everything.”

“Not likely,” Nathan laughed. “I said he was a good guy; I didn’t say he was a sap.”

“Anyway,” she wouldn’t get anything more on that topic from Nathan. It was time to finish out this call and get back to work. “I mailed a package to your house yesterday. It should be arriving in the next couple days. You’ll have to let me know if you like your present.”

“I know you didn’t get what you wanted from me,” Nathan debated. “I’m sorry for that. I’ve thought about checking in a hundred times over the years, but I just got busy and pushed it aside. As a favor to me, will you try to help him. Whatever he’s dealing with, I could tell it was bothering him. Work that magic of yours, flash your charming smile, and he’ll be putty in your hands.”

“I thought he wasn’t a sap,” Paige smiled, knowing that was exactly what he intended.

“He’s not,” Nathan assured her. “One more thing before I let you go.”

“What’s that?”

“He knew Dylan.”

“He — ” Paige blinked in surprise. “He knew my father?”

“He did,” Nathan sobered. “They worked together and sometimes played together. They were friends. Not like I was, but David was someone your dad confided in, blew off steam with, had serious discussions with. They were friends and you should know, when I spoke with David this afternoon, I told him who your father was.”

“David Jackson flew Black Hawks for an elite unit,” Paige realized. “Did he transport you guys on your missions?”

“Sometimes,” Nathan wasn’t going to hide anything from Paige.

“Did he fly that night?”

“No,” Nathan didn’t hesitate. “David wasn’t assigned to that particular mission. I do think it impacted his life, though. I’ve always wondered if it’s the reason he delves so deeply into his volunteer work. We’ve never talked about your dad in that way. It’s just too painful.”

“I understand,” Paige didn’t know what else to say. “I’ll let you go, I know you have a million things to do. Make sure you take Christmas off. For Sophie, take the day off and spend it with her. You’ve been working a lot lately and she’s felling a little lonely.”

“Understood,” Nathan smiled. Paige was good at stepping in when he neglected Sophie too long. It wasn’t necessary, he could always tell when it was time to show his wife just how special and important she was, but he was glad Paige noticed. He thought it might help her figure out her own marriage. “Goodnight, kiddo.”

“Goodnight, old man,” Paige grinned as she disconnected. She was still sitting there in shock when Dax returned.

“You okay?”

“I don’t know,” Paige turned to look at Dax. “David Jackson knew my father.”

“It really is a small world,” Dax wrapped an arm round her and pulled her toward him. “Where will you go from here? I mean, will you tell him who you are?”

“Nathan already did,” Paige’s mind returned to their meeting that afternoon. “I think that’s why he left so abruptly after Nathan’s call. It shook him, probably as much as it just shook me.”

“He — ” Dax stopped and looked up when Margie approached.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” Margie focused on Paige. “Susie just called. She said a David Jackson is trying to locate you. He’s called three times now and she doesn’t know what to tell him.”

“Did he leave a number?” Paige asked.

“Not exactly,” Margie frowned. “He wouldn’t leave a message, just said he’s staying at the Country Village Motel in room 115. He wants you to call him when you can.”

“You want me to find you an empty room?” Dax offered.

“No,” Paige considered. “I think Jericho is out for the night. I’ll come back in the morning and see if he can handle visitors. Let’s head back, I want to talk to David Jackson in person.”

“Goodnight, Paige,” Margie pulled her in for a hug.

“Do you need a ride back?” Paige wondered.

“No,” Margie smiled. “Riley is on his way. He should be here any minute then I’m heading home as well. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Dax pulled Margie in for a hug. “Get some sleep. Jericho is going to be fine.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige knocked on the outer door and waited. No answer. She knocked again. Still no answer. She waited a few seconds then gave it one last try. She was about to give up when the door suddenly swung open. David Jackson stood there, ear pressed to his cellphone, a weary look on his face. He motioned for them to enter then walked away.

“I love you, honey,” David said into the phone. “I know. I’ll call first thing. I’ll think about it. Goodnight, dream of me.”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Paige said the instant he disconnected the call.

“My wife,” he settled into a chair with an exhausted sigh. He focused on Paige, then turned his attention to Dax.

“I can wait outside if it would make you more comfortable,” Dax offered.

“No need,” David motioned for both of them to sit. It was a small sitting area with a couch and a lounge chair. David currently occupied the lounge chair. “I have a few contacts of my own. I made a few calls after I spoke to Nathan. I should probably amend my previous statement, from earlier, and say you are both lucky. I don’t mind you hearing this. In fact, you might be able to help. Stay and let me explain why I’m here and why I’ve been spending so much time at the salon. If I don’t accept your offer to help, I think my own amazing wife might just fly out and tan my hide.”

“Because?” Paige wondered.

“Because, she thinks I’m obstinate and stubborn,” David covered his face with his hands. “And, she’s right.”

Paige glanced at Dax and smirked. “Must be an army thing.”

David looked up and locked eyes with Paige. “In the spirit of full disclosure, I knew your father.”

“Nathan told me,” Paige said softly. “We can get into that later. I’m here to see why you have that weary, desperate look on your face and how I can help.”

He smiled and got a sad, far-away look on his face. “That’s something your father would have said. If I can barely bring myself to discuss Dylan Carter, I can’t even imagine what it’s like for you. Yet, you’re willing to put that aside to help me with my problems. He would be proud of you.”

“You knew him well?” Dax asked, taking Paige’s hand.

“I did,” David nodded. “I wasn’t as close to Dylan as Nathan — nobody was as close as Nathan. But, we were friends — good friends. His death, it left a permanent scar.”

They sat there in silence for several seconds. None of them sure how to proceed. Finally, David spoke again. “I was born into a family that was very religious. An LDS family with strict rules and morals. I think I accepted them because I was raised to live a certain way, not because I knew it was right for me. When I turned nineteen, they expected me to serve a mission for the church, but I had other plans. I joined the Army and lucked my way into an aviation career. I loved flying Apaches and I was good at it. So good, I soon found myself on the front lines flying in horrendous conditions, often operating under the cover of darkness.” He smiled then. “Still, I loved it and apparently I was good because the army fast tracked my progress, sent me to additional training, and within a fairly short amount of time, I found myself flying Black Hawks for SOAR — I’m a Night Stalker,” he said to Dax.

“Special Operations Aviation Regiment.” Dax explained. “The Night Stalkers don’t quit. They’re a highly trained unit that flies the most dangerous and top-secret missions.”

“We provided Special Forces teams with aviation support,” David added.

“Is that how you met my father?” Paige wondered.

“We met before that, but it’s when we got to be true friends,” David closed his eyes as dozens of memories tried to flood his mind. He pushed them back, determined to explain the reason he was here. “Like I said, I joined the army when I was nineteen. My parents were disappointed, I was an arrogant know-it-all kid and I was hurt. I wanted them to support my dream and they didn’t — because me serving a mission for our church was their dream. I turned my back on everything I believed in. While assigned to Fort Carson in Colorado, I started dating a girl and thought I was in love. She was a little wild, pretty much up for anything, and it was just the outlet I was looking for.”

“I’m going to go out on a limb here and say it wasn’t Mrs. Jackson,” Dax deduced.

“No, her name was Tilly,” David smiled. “I never questioned that, being a stupid kid with a huge crush.”

“It wasn’t really her name?” Paige realized.

“It was a nickname,” David closed his eyes, regret so palpable it nearly swamped him. “I got transferred to another base. When I asked Tilly to join me, she laughed and explained that our relationship was always temporary for her. She didn’t love me, was just having fun in the moment, and wasn’t looking for anything more. I was and it crushed me. I moved on, transferred around a lot, threw myself into my training, and my missions became even more dangerous. I never gave Tilly a second thought, not once my heart recovered. That experience shaped my life for a lot of years. Then, I met Kendall and she showed me what true love and a true partnership means.”

“What happened?” Paige asked, knowing the real reason for being here hadn’t been revealed yet.

“A private investigator paid me a visit,” David explained. “It was a few months back and completely out of the blue. He said he was hired by a woman named Matilda Beckett to deliver a letter. He left the letter and his card then told me if I had any questions, I could contact him. I had tons, some he could answer, some he could not. The letter was written by the girl I knew as Tilly. Her real name was Matilda. I’m not going to go into detail because much of the letter was personal and private. In short, I have a daughter I never knew existed. Tilly didn’t know she was pregnant at the time of my transfer, but once she realized we were having a baby, she decided to raise the girl on her own. She had been honest with me. She really didn’t want anything permanent. She also decided she didn’t want a man in her life, and she made the decision to raise the girl on her own.”

“Then why have a PI track you down?” Paige wondered. “This daughter had to be an adult by then.”

“Tilly was dying,” David answered softly. “She had cancer. In fact, she had already passed away by the time the detective found me. Tilly was worried about Amy. She thought she needed someone to look out for her and she wanted me to step in and fill that void.”

“Did she regret her decision to keep you out of your own daughters’ life?” Paige wondered.

“No,” David sighed. “Not according to the letter. She insisted she did the right thing and she had no regrets. She only wanted me to step in because she wouldn’t be there for Amy.”

“Amy Moore?” Dax wondered.

“Yes,” David nodded. “So, now you know why I’ve been sitting outside the hair salon. I’ve been watching Amy, trying to get a feel for her personality. I figured her mother didn’t want me around and Amy is her daughter. I don’t want to make things more difficult for her or appear out of the blue if I’m not wanted.”

“Did you know Amy was married and has two small children?” Dax asked.

“I didn’t realize Amy was a friend of yours,” Paige studied Dax carefully. “Did you two date?”

Dax laughed. “No,” he sobered. “She cuts my hair, baby. She cuts all of our hair. Amy was married to a man by the name of Gabriel Moore. He was also in the army. Unfortunately, he was killed on a mission in a remote Afghan village. Gabe and his unit were engaged in a humanitarian mission — of sorts. The day started out pretty routine until they were ambushed. It resulted in multiple fatalities and a boat load of injuries — the whole thing was FUBAR in a matter of minutes.”

“I didn’t know that,” David considered. “In fact, Tilly didn’t mention Amy had a connection to the military at all. I wonder why.”

“Wild child,” Paige shrugged. “Apparently he knows your daughter better than I do. What I do know is the woman is shy and reserved. That doesn’t sound like this Tilly you described. I think you should approach her. Tell her who you are, tell her Tilly contacted you and you’re not here to disrupt her life, you just want to make sure she’s okay and she knows how to reach you if she ever needs anything.”

“Voice of experience?” David asked.

“Sort of,” Paige shrugged again. “You know my dad was killed when I was young. I didn’t hear from Nathan until I was an adult. I had my mom and he didn’t want to get in the way. Then Mom died. I lived out here until I turned eighteen, then I moved back east. That’s when Nathan approached me. He told me about the connection to Dad and he explained why he watched from the shadows, but he was watching. Then, he said he just wanted to make sure I was okay and I knew I had a friend in the area if I ever needed anything.”

“It didn’t end there,” David insisted. “I know Nathan, he didn’t just walk away and wait for you to call.”

“No,” Paige grinned. “I don’t think you should, either. I think you should approach her, take a step back and then just appear unexpectedly. Drop in for a haircut and request Amy. Go for a walk at the same time the salon closes and just happen to run into her and walk with her to the parking lot. I’m not saying stalk her but just be around. Let her get to know you. I don’t know how much time you have, but I recommend you take that first step soon. I’m pretty sure that wife of yours wants you home for Christmas.”

“Why are you helping me?” David wondered.

“I’m a cop — serve and protect, remember,” Paige stood. “Honestly, it really is that simple for me. But, you also have the Nathan connection. He seems to think you’re a good guy, Dax thinks you’re a good guy, and my gut is telling me you’re a good guy. If that’s not enough, anyone that was a friend of my dad’s — is a friend of mine.”

“Paige,” David also stood. “Your dad was an amazing person, warrior, and friend. He was also the best mentor any soldier could have. He’d been in the game longer than me. He helped me navigate the minefields and avoid the normal pitfalls and mistakes. I truly believe I owe my success to Dylan Carter.”

“Dad would disagree,” Paige hesitated. “I was just a kid when he died, but I know that much. My father helped people, not just on the job. He mowed the neighbor’s lawn when she broke her leg. He used to snow blow the entire block if he was home after a blizzard hit. Your belief that my dad would be proud of me, that means a lot. It means a lot because I want to make him proud and because you knew him. He thought of you as a friend and if he helped you along the way — it was because he could see your potential. That’s on you, not him. Once I knew your name, I had a friend pull some information on you. I’m sure you expected that, I had to see who I was dealing with. Your accomplishments are impressive. The life you’ve made for yourself, the volunteer work you do taking care of our injured soldiers — all of it proves my dad was right. Dylan Carter saw the possibilities, David Jackson lived up to that potential on his own.”

“Thank you,” he turned to Dax. “Both of you.”

“I know Amy a little,” Dax offered his hand. “Let me know if you want help with the impromptu meeting. I think I can arrange something to make it less awkward.”

“I’ll let you know,” David waited for the two of them to leave and close the door behind them. Then, he called his wife.

\*\*\*\*\*

Two weeks later, it was a cold, crisp Saturday morning and Dax was standing in Jericho’s garage — knuckles scraped raw and bloody, his shoelaces slathered in oil, and his pant legs soaked all the way through and frozen to his skin. “Screw it,” Dax gave the snowblower a little kick. “I’ll just shovel the snow the old fashion way,” he started to clean up his tools when his phone began to ring. Grateful for the distraction, he snatched it out of his pocket and didn’t even look at the display. “Hamilton.”

“Dax?” Came a soft, tentative female voice.

“Yes,” Dax frowned, not recognizing the person on the other end of the line.

“This is Amy Moore,” she said. “From Trudy’s salon. I um… well, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something. I’m sorry, I pulled your number from the records here at the salon and if you wanted to, you could probably get me in some really serious trouble — but, this is important.”

Dax laughed. “I won’t rat you out to Trudy. I need an hour, to finish up a few things before we meet. You still at the shop? I can swing by there and hook up with you at the bakery. Important issues are always better with coffee and pie.”

“I agree,” Amy smiled. “I’ll be there in an hour.”

Dax stepped into the bakery and spotted Amy in the far corner of the room. She was staring out the window and tearing a thin white napkin to shreds. When he pulled out his chair, she nearly fell out of hers she jumped so high. “You okay?”

“I’m not sure,” Amy admitted. “Um, the waitress said she’d come back.”

“That’s fine,” Dax reached out and patted her shaking hand. “Talk to me.”

Tears started to fill Amy’s eyes, but she blinked them back. “I don’t know what to do,” she whispered.

“About David Jackson?” Dax wondered.

“I was pretty sure you knew,” she sniffled. “That’s why I called you.”

“I know the basics,” Dax glanced up when the waitress approached. He ordered two coffees, a slice of pumpkin pie and a cherry pie with whipped cream for Amy. He topped it all off with a dozen donuts. He planned to take those home to his wife and knew the boys would devour anything left behind. Once the waitress left, he focused on Amy. “Tell me what has you so upset.”

“All the girls were terrified,” Amy began. “When he was just sitting out there watching us. It didn’t bother me that much, but I grew up with my mom and she was a little crazy. I guess you probably figured that, too. Anyway, she had people over all the time, so I was used to being watched, or shoved to the side. Mostly her friends treated me like a miniature slave. And that sounds petulant — and petty.”

“It sounds human,” Dax corrected. “Are you saying you feel bad because David scared your coworkers?”

“A little,” Amy admitted. “I know that shouldn’t matter, I mean it wasn’t really my fault — but, it was.”

“Is he still watching?”

“No,” Amy shook her head. “He’s really nice, actually. He came in for a haircut and explained who he was and said what happened between us was my choice. He assured me he would accept my decision, but he wanted me to know he would like me in his life.”

“Sounds nice,” Dax decided. “So, what’s the problem?”

“I feel — ” she sighed. “This is going to sound stupid. I feel like I’m betraying my mom. I think I could handle this better if she was still alive. I’d not only handle it; I’d demand an explanation. She told me my father left because he loved his job more than us. She lied. My entire life was a lie and I’m not sure I can forgive her for that. Dax, he let me read the letter mom sent him. She made so many decisions — for all of us — she didn’t have the right to make. Then, I think about Gabe. David Jackson, my father, was also in the army. He was a hero and I think Gabe would be disappointed in me if I don’t give this stranger a chance. I’m just so torn up and confused I don’t know what to do.”

“How can I help?”

“I realize you and I don’t really know each other that well and I’m dumping a lot of bad, personal crap on you right now,” Amy’s face flushed with embarrassment.

“Don’t worry about that,” Dax gave her hand another friendly pat. “What do you need?”

“Information, basically,” Amy took a deep shuddering breath. “I know you have access to stuff normal people can’t see. I don’t know David Jackson. I have no idea what kind of man he is, if he can be trusted, if he’s after something, or if he really is just a great guy that wants to get to know his daughter. I need to know if this is real. I have to protect my kids.”

“Give me a minute,” Dax stood and stepped just outside the door to make a call.

“Hey,” Paige answered. “What’s up?”

Dax explained the situation and asked her to bring the file Hawk generated so Amy could read it. “There’s nothing classified in there and I think it will help ease her mind.”

“When I didn’t hear anything further and he stopped hanging out on the bench, I thought he might have run for the hills,” Paige admitted. “Give me a couple minutes, I’m actually just around the corner from there. I’ll bring you the file, there’s nothing classified or sensitive in it. She can have it.”

“Who did you call?” Amy asked when Dax returned.

“My wife,” Dax smiled.

“Why?”

“She’s bringing something I think might help,” Dax stood when he spotted Paige in the doorway.

“I’m going to leave this to you,” he brushed a gentle kiss across Paige’s lips. “Amy, this is my wife. I think you’ve met before. She can answer your questions better than I can and I have about a dozen honey do’s on my list — and only three more days to complete them.” A thought struck him and in typical Hamilton fashion, he went with his gut. “What are you and the boys doing Christmas Eve?”

“I’ll probably be finishing up my list as well,” Amy smiled. “The kids are out of school but I just can’t seem to find the time to get everything done.”

“We’re having a little get-together,” Paige gave Dax a nod. “Just a few friends and extended family. You should come, bring the kids with you. The last thing you need to worry about is dinner that night.”

“Oh, I couldn’t,” she started.

“I also think we should invite David Jackson and his wife, Kendall,” Paige continued undeterred. “I called him on my way over. His wife will be arriving in the morning. That gives them Sunday to catch up and spend time together, Monday for a little last-minute shopping and Christmas Eve dinner on Tuesday night with all of us. It’s a great way to interact and you know I’m a cop. You know it will be safe.”

“You know him well enough, trust him enough, to invite him into your home?” Amy looked from Dax to Paige.

“I’ve got this,” Paige nodded to Dax. “You can take off.”

Dax gave Paige one last kiss, snatched up his donuts and disappeared.

“I don’t know David Jackson that well either,” Paige began. “But, a very good friend, someone I would trust with my life, he knows David very well. He has assured me, I can trust him. Now, I’m going to do the same for you.”

“Because this man you know trusts him?” Amy asked.

“This man’s name is General Nathan Porter,” Paige went on to explain who Nathan was, what he did and how he knew her father.

“Okay,” Amy let our a relieved breath. “That actually makes me feel better about all of this.”

“Amy,” Paige reached out and took her hand. “My father died when I was little. There’s so much I don’t know about him. So many things I would love to know. I have memories, which is more than you have and I cherish those. You have the opportunity to meet your father. You can ask him those questions, spend time with him, get to know his kids — your brother and sister — and you might even have nieces and nephews. If not now, it’s entirely possible you will later on. What I’m saying, is that you have been given the chance of a lifetime. I personally believe you should grab on with both hands and enjoy the ride.”

“I know I’m not being rational,” Amy looked away. “Mom was — I don’t know, she was different. My childhood was unconventional and chaotic. I think that might be the reason I was so drawn to Gabe. From the very beginning, he helped me find structure and stability. Now he’s gone and I’m having a hard time keeping my feet planted firmly on the ground. Working for Trudy helps. I don’t know what I would have done if my Aunt Clemmie — Mom’s sister — didn’t contact me. Clemmie has known Trudy for decades and she knew I had a license to do hair. It worked out, but I sometimes worry about my kids. I’m terrified I’m going to turn into my mother and make their life unstable and chaotic the way mine was.”

“You seem pretty stable to me,” Paige observed. “So, what do you say? Wanna come to my house for dinner on Christmas Eve? I’ll invite David and his wife and all of us can spend some time getting to know each other better.”

“You want to get to know him, too?”

“I guess I forgot that part,” Paige nodded. “My dad, Dylan Carter, and David Jackson were friends. They served together in the army. I would very much like it if I could get to know him better. I think he might have some stories to tell. And, I think if I take the pressure off a little and get him to tell me about my father — it might help you learn a little about your father.”

“Okay,” Amy agreed. “Okay, we’ll come. I just don’t know how I’ll explain him to my kids. I don’t know if I want to tell them he’s their grandfather, yet. I’ll explain it to him, but maybe you could let Dax know.”

“We won’t reveal the secret,” Paige promised. “I also have a file for you. Take it, read it after you put the kids to bed. I think it might help you understand the kind of man you father really is. I think it might help you relax a little and enjoy getting to know a good man who traveled miles from home, at Christmas time, to do the right thing.” With that, Paige stood, passed Amy the file, and walked away.

\*\*\*\*\*

Two days later the Hamilton house was filled with friends, family and noise. When Paige heard that Duncan Havilland wasn’t headed home for the holidays, she insisted he join them for dinner. He arrived five minutes ago, Jericho Walters in tow. The men were all outside on the back porch now, arguing over the best way to fry a turkey.

“They’re all nuts,” Carmen stepped into the kitchen and handed Paige a glass of wine. “And before the night is over, they’ll probably burn down your house.”

“Hope not,” Paige smiled. “Because then Hawk and Vato will have to move in with you and Zee.”

“Why are you trying to ruin my evening?” Carmen wondered. She glanced back outside and grinned when she spotted Zeus.

“Just the facts ma’am,” Paige smiled. “Grab that bowl so I can keep these warm while we wait for the main course.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you cook before,” Carmen considered. “Nope, never.”

Paige smiled. “Why cook when you can get your friends to do it for you? Speaking of friends and cooking, that pie looks amazing.”

“Thanks,” Carmen beamed. “It’s my specialty. The newfound family out there seems to be getting along pretty well.” Carmen was referring to Amy, David and Kendall. The kids were outside with the crazy men, of course.

“I think that’s going to work out okay,” Paige decided. “Amy’s a little lost and David and Kendall have their feet planted firmly on the ground. They have a lot to offer her and in return, David gets a new daughter and two grandkids he never knew about.”

“Do you think she’ll relocate?” Carmen wondered. “Because that would be a shame. She’s the only person Zeus will let cut his hair.”

“Dax said the same thing,” Paige shrugged. “I guess if she does, they’ll just have to deal.”

“So,” Carmen studied the sheriff for several seconds. “What’s the deal with Jericho? He seems down and I don’t think it’s all about his injuries.”

“I don’t know,” Paige frowned. “I’m worried about him.”

“Maybe you should go out there,” Carmen suggested. “Take a minute to pry, you’re good at that.”

“Thanks a lot,” Paige slid a salad she’d been tossing into the fridge and turned to study Jericho. He did seem down. “Duty calls, wish me luck.”

“You won’t need it,” Carmen assured her before she walked away.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped onto the porch and made her way to the chair next to Jericho. He watched her intently as she crossed the open area and dropped down beside him.

“If you came to chant Ho, Ho, Ho — your husband already took care of it.”

“He would,” Paige smiled. Her husband looked like he was having the time of his life, showing off to his friends.

“Looks like you solved the mystery of the strange man,” Jericho shook his head at the men’s antics. “You do know one of them is going to get third degree burns and end up in the emergency room.”

“I’m used to it,” Paige assured him. “They’re always like this. I have no idea how they get anything done.”

“Your mom would like him,” Jericho said softly.

Paige reached out and took his hand, hoping to give him comfort. “Mom would have loved him. Tell me what’s going on with you, Jericho.”

“I’m fine,” he gave his automatic response.

“Of course, you are,” Paige gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Now, tell me what’s wrong.”

“Just evaluating my life,” Jericho said cryptically. “Where I am and where I want to be.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning,” Jericho sighed. “Next year is an election year,” Jericho stared into the darkness. “I need to decide if I have four more years in me.”

“You’re thinking about leaving us?” Paige asked in horrified shock.

“I’m not leaving,” Jericho studied her in surprise. “I just have to decide if it’s time to retire.”

“It’s not,” Paige dropped back in her chair. “It’s really, really not.”

Now Jericho gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m too old to be getting shot, kid.”

“So, stay behind your damn desk where you belong,” Paige barked.

That made Jericho laugh out loud, something he hadn’t done in a while. “I’m still pondering, that’s all. I promised myself I wouldn’t leave until I got justice for your mother. We did. Then, we had all that trouble and had to rescue Dax and just when things were settling back down, a crazy man came to town and shot me. I’m just wondering if I’m getting too old to keep up.”

“Well,” Paige sighed. “Then act your age and stop trying to keep up with Jimmy Johnson over there. Nobody can, so trying is futile.”

“Don’t worry about me, Paige,” Jericho patted her knee. “Whatever I decide, I’m going to be fine. In fact, spending more time at the cabin fishing sounds pretty good right about now.”

“Because it’s freakin’ wintertime,” Paige bumped him with her shoulder. “Any warm summer activity sounds pretty good right now. And, if you want to fish more, get your obstinate, cranky butt out of the office and fish more. Instead of retiring, just utilize your vacation time and work on more balance in your life. I understand why you lived the way you did. I basically did the same. Until Mom’s killer was dealt with, all I had was work. You too. Now you have me, those nuts over there, Margie and all of your men. Not to mention Angela Hayes. That woman has a thing for you and she’s got it bad.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Jericho shifted uncomfortably. “Angela Hayes is very supportive of law enforcement. She no more has a thing for me than she has a thing for Mike Lovato.”

“Right,” Paige shrugged. “Maybe I’ll suggest a date to Mike, if Angela is into him, too.”

“I’m not taking the bait, Paige,” Jericho grumbled. “Don’t you have potatoes to burn or something?”

“Nope,” Paige grinned. “Already burned. Seriously, Jericho. I want to spend more time together. I already told you that. We have a date on the night of mom’s death. I want other dates, happy ones. I want you to drop in for a casual BBQ in the summer. I want you to feel comfortable enough to stop in on your way home if you are feeling lonely, missing mom, or just want to talk. You find excuses, use my cases and come by on rare occasions. Stop using work as a crutch. Just come by. I think it’s time we started treating each other like family because that is exactly what you are to me. And you’re not quitting. That’s non-negotiable.”

“Let’s start that family thing by keeping this discussion to yourself, alright?”

“No problem,” Paige stood. “I don’t have to keep it to myself because you didn’t even say it. You didn’t think it and you certainly won’t be following through with it. Now, I’m going to tell Havi to come over and babysit his boss because that man is feeling out of sorts this Christmas the same as you are. The two of you can cry on each other’s shoulders and enjoy the entertainment while I finish throwing together this meal.”

The group spent the next several hours laughing, joking, and harassing each other. By the time they left, it was indeed a very Merry Christmas.

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**Be sure to come back next season for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be working hard to solve new local crimes and build relationships. The new season begins April 2020.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S4

**Tags:** Season 4

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### [Collateral Damage](https://melaniepsmith.com/collateral-damage/)

**Published:** November 30, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Collateral Damage (S4E8) Paige is called to a dead body in the campground when she arrives, she learns her victim is linked to a previous case.  Can Dax continue to keep his secret or will Paige learn what he is hiding?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*COLLATERAL DAMAGE\*\*\*****

“So,” Paige finished off her coffee and focused on Dax. “What’s on the agenda for today?” She held up a finger when her phone rang. “Hold that thought. Hello?”

“Paige,” Margie greeted. “I know you still have twenty minutes but is there any way you could check on early?”

“What’s going on?”

“Sherrie Norton, the manager up at the Manti Campground,” Margie began. “She called, I’m going to warn you ahead of time, she’s pretty hysterical. Anyway, she says there’s a dead guy up at the campground.”

“I thought it was closed,” Paige frowned.

“It is,” Margie confirmed. “She went up to do one last check before she leaves town. She always spends a couple months with her sister down in Mesquite during the off season. She’s scheduled to leave in the morning, so she was doing one last drive through before she heads out. She was nearly finished when she spotted the body in one of the campsites.”

“Alright,” Paige stood. “I need a minute, then I’ll head that way.”

“Duty calls?” Dax asked once she ended the call.

“Yeah,” Paige sighed. “Body up the canyon. I might be late.”

“Watch your six,” Dax stood and pulled her in for a quick kiss.

“Yeah,” Paige stepped back. “I’ll do that.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/FB-Post-Medium.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Collateral-Damage.pdf)

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A few minutes later, Paige was climbing into her vehicle and pulling onto the highway. “Dispatch,” Paige called into the radio. “I’m enroute to the campground.”

“Carter?” Gage’s voice came through the speaker.

“Go ahead, Clayton.”

“I’m about two minutes away from the mouth. I’ll follow you up.”

“Sounds good,” Paige considered. Margie must have called Gage in, too. She spotted the sheriff’s vehicle pulled off to the side of the road, slowed, honked, then continued up the canyon. It didn’t take long before they reached their destination. The instant Paige pulled through the gate, Sherrie Norton jumped from her vehicle and rushed to the driver’s side of Paige’s marked unit.

“He’s up there,” she pointed to the left. “At that last campsite. I um… well, I was wondering if I had to go back up there. I don’t want to see him again and I was thinking maybe… well, maybe I could just wait here.”

“That would be fine,” Paige agreed. “I’ll need to talk to you once I’ve seen the body, but you don’t have to go back up there again.”

“Thank you,” Sherrie said in obvious relief. “So, just follow that road. At the end, it loops around and the body is in the site at the top of the loop. Don’t worry, you can’t miss it.”

“Thanks Sherrie,” Paige smiled then motioned for Gage to follow her. She made her way through the campground and stopped at the base of the loop. After pulling her vehicle to the side, she jumped out and approached Gage. “I want to walk in. I need to see if there are any tire tracks that might be unique or any other clues that might help. You can wait here if you want. I’ll call you when I’m ready.”

“Naw,” Gage slid from the vehicle. “I’ll walk in with you. Two pair of eyes are better than one. Let’s see what we see.”

The two deputies slowly made their way up the roadway. There were tire tracks, tons of them. Some were smaller, clearly ATV’s, others were larger from a truck or a jeep. None were unique. “Let’s see if we have better luck with the body.” Paige sighed and slowly made her way to the large lump situated next to the firepit. The instant she reached the man, she cursed under her breath.

“I wanted him to pay,” Gage said soberly. “But not like this.”

“Yeah,” Paige circled around and crouched down in front of the lifeless form to get a better look. “Santiago Esposito also known as Scratch, seriously pissed someone off.”

“I agree,” Gage scowled. “What is that, the brown stuff smeared all over him.”

Paige glanced up in surprise. “You hit the turf one too many times with that linebacker nose of yours, Gage?”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning I could smell the peanut butter a mile away,” Paige straightened. “How did you miss it?”

“First,” Gage’s scowl deepened. “That’s a gross exaggeration. Second, I smelled peanut butter, but why in the world would someone smear it all over his legs, chest and arms?”

“It’s a trick the Mexican Mafia uses,” Paige explained. “If they’re close to a wilderness area, like this one, they smear the dead body with peanut butter after they’ve finished. It’s a great way to dispose of a corpse that you never want found.”

“Because the peanut butter will attract the wildlife in the area,” Gage nodded. “Especially in the winter. It would probably have worked if Sherrie hadn’t come up to do one more walkthrough before she left town. The campground is closed, nobody uses it this late in the season. A good hard winter, hungry carnivores, and a little good luck,” Gage snapped his fingers. “Your unwanted body simply disappears.”

“Exactly,” Paige sighed. “I need to walk the area, just in case, but I don’t think we’re going to learn much up here. Somebody wanted Scratch dead; but first, they wanted something from him.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/MPS-Open-Camp.jpg)

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“I know we have to look at the Langford’s,” Gage ran a frustrated hand over his face. “I know we have to look, but will you let me try to do it quietly? I don’t want them pulled into the middle of this unless they belong there. Adam’s friends are still struggling to cope with his senseless murder. His parents are now divorced and they’re both struggling. Adam’s younger brother has closed himself off completely. The entire family is a wreck. I’d just like to talk to them, see if I can determine where they were at the time of death before we do the official interrogation thing. Do we know time of death? Based on the condition of the body do you think he was killed today?”

“No,” Paige sighed. “The ME will determine TOD, but if I had to guess, I’d say it was probably yesterday — last night at the latest. The cold weather has delayed the process which is the only reason he wasn’t discovered by the coyotes or a mountain lion yet. I’m surprised the crows and the buzzards haven’t started in — we got lucky and he still has his eyes. Another day or two and it’s possible we never would have found him; or, if we did, his body would have been destroyed by wildlife to the point we’d never know what happened to him.”

“Are you cool with me talking to the Langford’s?” Gage asked again.

“Sure,” Paige shrugged. “At this point, I’m not sure that’s even necessary. Scratch was tortured for information before he was shot. We already know he’s part of the Contreras organization and they used a well-known cartel technique to dispose of the body. My focus will be on the Mexican drug trade.”

“Then let’s wait on talking to the Langford’s,” Gage agreed. “I just can’t see any of them doing this.”

“I don’t see that either,” Paige sighed. “There’s nothing here. I’m not even sure this is where they tortured him. There’s just nothing here,” she repeated in frustration.

“I’ll call the ME,” Gage offered. “You do your thing and make sure you can’t find any other clues.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Before we get into the weeds on the upcoming training session,” Dax started the meeting. “Wooly, tell us what you found on the intel I received.”

“Nothing good,” Ken admitted. “Scratch is back in town. I know Paige will want to know immediately so she can go after him. He’s wanted for the murder of that high school kid.”

“Right,” Hawk nodded. “The one out at that barn just before the wedding.”

“I’ll make sure she knows,” Dax decided. “She’ll have to fight Gage for the arrest though, that case was personal for him. The victim was one of his boys. The minute I tell Paige he’s back in the states, she’ll want to know how I know — and why.”

“That won’t be hard,” Ken added. “He’s not being subtle. He’s out there, driving an expensive car and flashing cash like it grows on trees or something. Scratch is showing off and acting like he doesn’t have a care in the world.”

“Where’s he getting the cash?” Zeus wondered.

“That’s the question,” Ken shrugged. “There are rumors he’s working both sides and skimming a little from everyone. If any of them are true, he’s an idiot.”

“Both sides?” Vato asked.

“Edwardo Contreras and Ramin Trevils,” Wooly explained. “The two main cartels in Mexico.”

“I thought you said that Scratch guy worked for Contreras,” Vato said, confused. “How does Trevils play into this?”

“From the intel I was able to gather, Scratch was a low to mid-level dealer for Contreras. When he disappeared, after the murder, he returned to Mexico. While there, he hooked up with some of Trevil’s men and decided to work for him as well. He’s actually kept the double duty thing under wraps — for the most part. I wouldn’t say it’s a well-hidden secret, but it’s not common knowledge, either. Which is probably the only reason he’s still breathing. Those two are enemies and neither one of them would tolerate an asset working both ends. Anyway, scratch is back and he’s spending money like it’s going out of style. I realize the cartel pays well, but not that well. You can only skim for so long before you get caught. I’m afraid Scratch’s time is running out.”

“Because?” Hawk asked.

“Contreras also sent two of his best men up here, Mook Bugatti and Pablo Veranda,” Wooly explained. “No word on when they left or if they’ve arrived, but they’re headed to Manti for a reason. I think the reason is Scratch.”

“Not just two of his best men,” Dax added. “Two fixers. Okay,” he nodded, resigned. “I’ll let Paige know. Now, let’s get down to business. Our first session went well but we have that three-day winter survival course coming up and we need to tweak the lesson plan a little for the session just after Thanksgiving.”

“Right, I have some ideas on that,” Hawk pulled out his notes and began to explain the changes he wanted to implement.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the driveway and frowned when she realized the house was completely dark. Where was Dax? Surely, he hadn’t gone to bed already. She wasn’t that late. With a sigh, she reached for her bag and climbed from her vehicle. Her frown deepened when she realized the front door was locked. She dug out her keys and fumbled around in the dark for several seconds before she finally got the thing unlocked. Once inside, she moved to the couch and began to discard her gear. She had just slipped out of her uniform shirt and was standing there in a white t-shirt when her phone began to ring. She snatched it up without checking, positive it had to be Dax. It wasn’t.

“Hey, Paige,” Carmen said relieved. “I’m glad you’re home. Since Zeus went with Dax, I didn’t want to stay home alone so I’m on my way over to your place. In fact, I’m just pulling into your driveway. Is the door locked?”

“No,” Paige frowned at the headlights shining in through the large bay windows. “Why… never mind.”

“I’m headed in,” Carmen informed her before disconnecting the call. Seconds later, she bounced through the front door and dropped a large bag on the floor with a thud.

“What do you mean Dax is with Zeus?” Paige asked.

“Do you ever check your messages?” Carmen scolded. “Dax said he couldn’t reach you, but I was sure the two of you must have connected by now.”

“It was a busy day,” Paige said feeling defensive.

“Fine,” Carmen dropped into a nearby chair. “Don’t kill the messenger.”

“Where is Dax?” Paige pulled out her phone and saw Dax had indeed been trying to call her.

“Ken found a good deal on some snowmobiles,” Carmen explained. “But they were up in Salt Lake. The guys headed out to take a look. Zeus wasn’t sure they’d make it back tonight. It was late — after work — when Wooly finally got ahold of the guy. The seller I mean. They headed up, but it’s at least a two-hour drive one way. By the time they get there, stop for dinner, check out the machines and head back, it would be in the middle of the night. I told Zeus they should just find a hotel and hit the road first thing.”

“That’s probably a good idea,” Paige settled onto the couch. “Does any of this worry you?” Paige asked hesitantly.

“Any of what?”

“The training center,” Paige clarified. “It just feels like they are spending an awful lot of money. I want to be supportive, but if they get too far into debt, they’ll never get out of the red.”

Carmen frowned. Dax said he was going to talk to Paige about the money. Obviously, they hadn’t had that conversation yet. Even so, without the extra cash, the guys wouldn’t be that far into debt. “Do you and Dax even talk? I mean, I know you married the guy, but do you talk about what he’s doing with the new business?”

“I guess we don’t,” Paige realized. “We talk, but usually it’s about my work, not his. I don’t know that much about the courses, the goals, or the finances.”

“Well,” Carmen considered. “Maybe you should make the time. It’s a big deal, Paige. What those guys are doing—it’s huge and they’re already in demand. Zeus told me they’re nearly booked solid. That’s for next year. The guys wanted to add another course this year, but Dax won’t budge on that one. He’s doing the survival course this weekend, then another session the week after Thanksgiving, but after that, he’s shutting down until mid-January.”

“What do you mean shutting down?” Paige was beginning to feel selfish. They always talked about her cases and what happened on the job that day, but she was starting to realize they never talked about Dax and his new project.

“Seriously, Paige?” Carmen censured. “They’ll still be working, Dax just decided they needed time to evaluate, revamp the lesson plans, come up with new courses so every class wasn’t just a repeat of the last. He really is brilliant — in the training and the business stuff. This is going to succeed and he won’t have to leverage the farm to make it happen.”

“They’ve spent a lot of money,” Paige disagreed. “I know Dax had a pretty big chunk, but that has to be gone now. I’m not complaining, if the guys had to get a business loan to get started, that’s normal. I just think buying all the extras is excessive. They just purchased that trailer, now they’re off splurging on snowmobiles.”

“Used snowmobiles,” Carmen corrected. “And how else are they supposed to get the clients into the backcountry in the wintertime? You say splurge, I say necessity.”

“You’re really not worried?” Paige realized.

“Nope,” Carmen insisted. “Paige those men are minimalists. Their world consisted of tents, desert sandstorms, and powering through anything to get to the bad guy. Almost everything they made before this went into savings. They’re not out buying expensive tuxedos and fast cars. They’re spending the money each of them scraped up from various jobs and locations to get their business — one that has tremendous potential — up and running. Don’t worry about the money, your man is keeping a tight rein on things. Vato? That man would mortgage the farm, the business, and his right kidney if they let him.”

“Okay,” Paige stood. “If you say it’s fine, I’m going to trust that it’s fine. Now, I’m starving. Did you eat?”

“Nope,” Carmen followed Paige into the kitchen. “Let’s order pizza.”

“Brilliant idea,” Paige reached for the phone just as it began to ring. “Hello?”

“Hey, kid,” Nathan Porter’s voice came through the line. “I just wanted to check in and make sure we’re still on for Thanksgiving.”

“We are,” Paige settled into one of the kitchen chairs. “Dax has a course the week after that, but we should be all set for the holiday.”

“Great,” Nathan frowned. “I’ll let Sophie know. Now tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s complicated,” Paige admitted. “Nothing to worry about. I just have a lot on my mind, and I caught a case today. One that is frustrating me. You don’t want to hear this.”

“I’d love to hear it, but it sounds like you have company,” Nathan heard the female voice in the background.

“Right,” Paige gave Carmen the thumbs up. Pizza was on its way. “That’s just Carmen.”

“I’ll let you go for now,” Nathan decided. “Sophie and I were on our way out the door anyway, but I wanted to check in and make sure our plans were still a go before I purchase airfare.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing you,” Paige told him.

“You’re not getting off the hook that easily,” Nathan warned. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Have a good evening and try not to keep Carmen up all night. I need her on a conference call at ten — my time.”

“I’ll be sure to remind her,” Paige smiled. “Have fun and I’ll talk to you soon.”

“I love you, kid,” Nathan answered.

“Love you, too,” Paige disconnected and slipped her phone into her pocket. She turned to Carmen to ask if she’d deal with the pizza while she called Dax but didn’t get the chance because the doorbell rang. Once the driver had left, Carmen talked Paige into eating while their dinner was hot. By the time they ate, cleaned up, and Carmen told her what she could about the project for Nathan, it was nearly midnight. The instant she stepped into her room, she pulled out her cellphone and realized she’d missed another call from Dax. And, he sent a text.

“Sorry I missed you. I’m beat, turning in. Early start in the AM. You should know, Scratch is back, and Contreras sent Mook Bugatti and Pablo Veranda up with him. Bad news. I love you. Dax.”

Paige frowned at the message. How did Dax know Scratch and two other thugs were close by? Why was he watching Contreras? Did this have anything to do with the secret he’d been keeping? And if so, how would it connect with her current case? Was he involved? She knew Scratch was back in town, his body was currently on a slab at the morgue. Was it possible this Mook and Pablo duo was responsible? She didn’t get to talk to her husband, but she was pretty sure he just gave her a solid lead. With a sigh, she hit voicemail and heard Dax’s voice explaining why he’d suddenly gone to Salt Lake. Once she finished listening to the messages, it hit her. Dax was better at this marriage thing than she was. He’d called four times today and she’d not only missed every one, but she hadn’t returned any of them. Carmen’s words hit her again — with even more force this time around. She was a horrible wife. She didn’t know anything about the work Dax and the guys were doing, but Carmen seemed to know everything. She climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling willing her mind to relax so she could get a few hours’ sleep before she had to get back to work. She failed.

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\*\*\*\*\*

Paige made her way down the stairs and followed her nose down the hallway. Obviously, Carmen was already up. She stepped into the kitchen and spotted her friend flipping pancakes on the grill. “Morning,” Paige stumbled to the coffee pot and began doctoring the elixir she desperately needed this morning.

Carmen turned, studied Paige and frowned. “You look awful.”

“You’re so good to me,” Paige dropped onto a chair and took a long, desperately needed sip. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“What are you stressing about now?” Carmen slid a plate stacked high with pancakes in front of her.

“I didn’t get a chance to talk to Dax last night,” Paige admitted. “I feel like a horrible person. He called five times and I missed every one. He also sent a text message informing me a killer I’ve been chasing is back in the area. He’s always thinking of me and my job, even though he has to be more than busy with his own.”

“And I basically threw that in your face last night,” Carmen realized. “I wasn’t being critical.”

“You were,” Paige took another sip of her coffee. “And, you were right. I guess I take Dax and our relationship for granted sometimes. He’s just always there and when he’s not…”

“You can’t sleep,” Carmen settled in next to her. “I couldn’t settle either. I guess I didn’t realize how much I rely on Zeus either. I tossed and turned for over an hour before I dropped off. I think I’ve gone and done it, Paige.”

“What’s that?” Paige scooped several pancakes onto her plate and drenched them in syrup.

“I think I’m in love with him,” Carmen said softly. “I think I’ve fallen so hard for that man I’ll never recover if it doesn’t last.”

Paige looked up and realized Carmen was really stressed over her emotions. “He feels the same, you have to know that.”

“I know he loves me,” Carmen admitted. “But would he be devastated if I dumped him?”

“Absolutely,” Paige frowned. “You won’t, right?”

“I don’t think I could,” Carmen sighed. “I’ve never been this entangled before. You know that. I keep my distance, keep it all safe and casual — just in case. I don’t have a ‘just in case’ with Zeus. That man snuck in and stole my heart. He broke down all my defenses because he wouldn’t allow any distance between us.”

“The sneaky troublemaker,” Paige grinned.

“This is serious,” Carmen stabbed at her pancake.

“Carmen,” Paige reached out and covered her friend’s hand in support. “It’s okay to fall in love. I’m still stumbling around, trying to figure out how to be a wife to the most amazing guy on the planet, but the one thing I don’t stress over is the love — mine for him or his for me. That part, it’s natural and it’s real. It’s also mutual, just like you and Zeus.”

“What if I mess it up?” Carmen asked.

“Then you’ll fix it,” Paige shrugged.

Carmen pondered her relationship, then shifted to consider her friend. “Will you fix things with Dax?”

“What does that mean?” Paige didn’t like knowing her friend sensed she had a few issues that needed to be worked out with her husband.

“You’ve been different,” Carmen said hesitantly. “Since the wedding. No, that’s not right. Something changed before the wedding. If you don’t fix it, the relationship is going to change and if you wait to long — the change will be permanent.”

“I know,” Paige relented. “I’m still struggling with the secrets.”

“You need to get over that,” Carmen insisted. “Whatever Dax is keeping from you, he has his reasons. I keep secrets from you and so does Nathan. You aren’t bothered by those, in fact, I think you expect it from us. Why is Dax held to a different standard?”

“Maybe because I love him,” Paige said absently.

“Thanks,” Carmen stood. “I thought you loved us, too. I won’t break the news to Nathan, it would devastate him, and he has too much on his plate to deal with the heartbreak.”

“You know what I mean,” Paige grumbled.

“You get the dishes,” Carmen evaded. “I cooked and I have a conference call to get to.” She moved forward and pulled Paige into a hug. “Thanks for letting me crash here. I really did appreciate the company.”

“Any time,” Paige watched her friend disappear out the back door. She focused on the dishes, tempted to ignore them, but she couldn’t. If she left them in the sink, Dax would deal with them when he got home and that wasn’t fair. Once they were rinsed and loaded in the dishwasher, she showered, dressed, and headed into the office — all the while thinking about Dax.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige approached her desk and frowned. Duncan Havilland was settled in her visitor’s chair, one leg crossed over the other resting casually on her desk.

“Paige,” Havi said in greeting.

“Duncan,” Paige mimicked his tone as she dropped into her own chair. She stared at his feet and waited for him to get them off her desk.

“Didn’t realize you were so testy in the morning,” he dropped his feet to the floor with a thud and grinned.

“Why are you here?” Paige asked, annoyance replacing the guilt and confusion she’d been feeling all morning. “I thought you were on afternoons this week.”

“I was,” Havilland shrugged. “Gage and I decided to trade shifts. You’re stuck with me for today and tomorrow.”

“Why?” Paige narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re up to something.”

“Naw,” Havilland grinned casually. “We traded because Gage needs to be at some football camp, training event, or some such thing at the high school and because I can help get to the bottom of the Scratch issue.”

“How so?” Paige wondered.

“Detective Nelson got ahold of me yesterday,” Havilland was all cop now, the casual teasing set aside to focus on business. “He works drugs over in the Bluffs.”

“Okay,” Paige was alert now. “I assume he had a lead on the murder.”

“Maybe,” Havilland shrugged. “Not sure. He did say Scratch was running with a couple frequent fliers. David Winzer also known as Tarzan, and Horatio Fino who is not so affectionately called the Nose. Tarzan is locked up at the moment. I thought maybe we should pay him a visit this morning.”

“And Fino?” Paige asked. “I refuse to call anyone the Nose.”

“You say that now,” Havi stood. “You might change your mind when you see his.”

“I doubt it,” Paige also stood. “I’ll meet you at the jail and we’ll go from there.”

\*\*\*\*\*

It took less than ten minutes to get David Winzer into a private room where they could discuss his association with Scratch and his friend’s untimely death.

“I don’t know nothing about Scratch,” Winzer insisted.

“You do know Scratch,” Havi pressed.

“Maybe I did,” Winzer admitted. “But, I didn’t do nothing and I don’t know how he got dead.”

“Where was he getting the money?” Paige asked softly. “He was throwing money around like he owned a money tree. Where did he get it?”

“Don’t know,” Winzer turned his face away from hers, but there was a look in his eyes that told her the man was lying.

“Answer the question,” Havilland demanded.

“That’s okay,” Paige smiled. “You and I know he’s not spilling his guts in here, but I’m not sure Mook and Pablo will see it that way.”

“You know Mook?” Winzer asked, surprised. “You have to tell him I didn’t say nothing. You have to tell him, I’m not a rat.”

Havilland flashed her an annoyed look. Paige ignored it. “Why would I do that? You’re not helping me; I can’t see any reason to help you.”

“He’s gonna kill me,” Winzer whined. “You don’t narc on Mook.”

“Where did Scratch get the money?” Havilland pushed.

“Don’t know,” Winzer’s gaze bounced from Paige to Havilland, back to Paige and then landed on Havilland. “For real. You have to help me, man. Tell Mook I didn’t talk, and I’ll tell you what I know about the cash.”

“Did Scratch always use cash?” Havi asked.

“Yeah,” Winzer nodded. “Yeah, always cash. So, you’ll help me. You gonna tell Mook?”

“Where did he get the cash, Tarzan?” Havi asked again.

“It’s a secret,” Winzer whispered. “We tried, me and the Nose. We badgered him but he wigged and wouldn’t tell. Maybe Trevils? They hooked up — when he was down in Mexico on account of that kid dying. Scratch, he was furious. He’s the one that did that kid. He said Football, that’s what he called him, he said Football was bad for business. Scratch wacked him because he stuck his nose in at the high school. Scratch ghosted the next day, slid into a hole down south and ran into Trevils’ men somehow. They worked out a deal and Scratch, he thought he was smart — playing both sides and getting paid for it. Now he’s dead.”

“He was dropping more cash than that,” Paige insisted.

“Yeah,” Winzer nodded. “Yeah. He scored that dope car. I dunno how he did it. Scratch, kept it on the down low, we couldn’t break him. The Nose, he even broke Scratch’s face, but he wouldn’t say. It was a secret, but Pablo said he stole it.”

“Pablo told you Scratch stole from Contreras?” Havilland asked.

“Yeah,” Winzer bobbed his head. “Sure. Me and the Nose was trying to find the cash. Pablo said Contreras would be happy if we found it and we’d be dope. But Scratch wouldn’t tell. Now he’s dead.”

“How much cash did Scratch steal?” Paige asked. Could this be about the plane crash?

“Dunno,” Winzer frowned. “Nobody steals from Contreras but…” he paused to consider. “Well, Scratch bought that sick car — must have been a lot. I mean, Mook came looking, so it had to be a lot.”

They worked him for another twenty minutes but didn’t get anything else. The man that called himself Tarzan didn’t know where Mook and Pablo were staying. According to him, you didn’t contact them, they called you.

Havilland followed Paige to her vehicle. “So, what’s our next move? Chase down Horatio Fino or focus on Mook Bugatti and Pablo Veranda.”

“You’re familiar with Mook and Pablo?”

“Anyone that’s ever worked dope knows about Mook and Pablo. I suffered through a year in Narcs before I left Laurel Bluffs,” Havi scowled. “You should have told me — before we confronted Tarzan in there.”

“I don’t get it,” Paige considered. “Why Tarzan? The guy’s a scrawny wimp, not a sexy jungle man. What gives?”

“Don’t change the subject, Paige,” Havilland pushed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Dax sent me those names and I haven’t had a chance to run them,” Paige shrugged. “I just threw out the names to see if I got a reaction. I had no idea who they were.”

“Even more reason to mention it before we questioned a suspect,” Havilland insisted. “You didn’t answer me — The Nose, or Mook and Pablo?”

“I think Mook and Pablo will be more difficult to locate,” she glanced down when her phone beeped. She yanked it out and saw Dax sent her a text.

“I’m home.”

“Problems?” Havilland asked.

“No,” Paige sighed. “But I need an hour.”

“I’ll head back to the office,” Havilland decided. “I can call the hotels from there and see if any of these guys made things easy for us.”

“I’ll meet you back at the office in an hour,” Paige said before she climbed behind the wheel and pulled away.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the driveway and just sat there staring at the front door. She had no idea what to say to Dax, she just knew she had to say something. She wasn’t angry with him, not really. She knew it was irrational, but she was annoyed. She felt abandoned, and the irrational side of her thought he should have made more of an effort to talk to her before he left town. She knew it was her fault and maybe that’s why it bothered her so much. Dax had called, then he called again. When he didn’t hear back, he left a detailed message telling her what he was doing and then sent her a text. What more did she want from him? With a sigh, she pushed open the door and started for the house. No sense asking herself questions she didn’t have an answer for.

She had just reached the top of the stairs when she spotted movement at the house next door. Curious, she made her way to the edge of the patio and spotted Ken. She was about to call out and say hello when she spotted the envelope. When Ken pulled the side door shut, the envelope shifted, and several hundred-dollar bills dropped to the ground. He crouched, snatched them back up and tucked them inside an envelope — a thick envelope. Where did Ken get all that cash? She continued to watch as he slid into the SUV and pulled away.

Paige shot one last glance at the front door, silently made her way across the patio and darted back down the stairs. She climbed into her patrol vehicle and backed away. Just before she pulled onto the highway, she spotted Dax standing in the open doorway, frowning. “In for a penny,” she mumbled and headed for the canyon. Before she returned to the office, she wanted one more look at the dump site. And, she needed time to think. Where did Ken get all that cash? From Dax’s old house, that’s where. Where did Dax get that kind of money? Most of his funds were gone now. He used them to buy the property and build the training center. Her mind was racing with thoughts she didn’t want to consider.

She pulled into the campground and made her way to the end of the loop. She had just finished walking the perimeter of the site when she heard a noise. She pulled her weapon and swung around to face the intruder. “Stop, police.”

Vato emerged from the shadows, glanced at her gun and frowned. “I realize we’re not exactly friends, but I don’t think I deserve to be shot — again.”

Paige shoved her gun back into the holster. “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you,” Vato moved forward and casually settled on top of the picnic table. “We need to talk.”

“About?” Paige didn’t move.

“A truce,” Vato glanced around and frowned. “Why are you out here, anyway?”

“Police business,” Paige moved forward and settled onto the table next to him. “What did you have in mind?”

“Look,” Vato sighed. “I know you and I got off to a bad start.”

“So,” Paige glanced toward the trees just in time to see something glistening in the distance. She stood and made her way toward the shiny object.

Vato watched, interested in what she was doing and more than a little curious. He continued to watch as she slid a pair of tweezers and a plastic bag from the large pack she carried and crouched. Moments later, she had dropped the mysterious item into a bag and was headed back toward him.

“Sorry,” she settled onto the table. “Duty called.”

“What was it?” Vato asked. “If you’re allowed to say.”

Paige shrugged. “A fitness watch.”

“Do you know who left it here?” Vato didn’t see how she could possibly know that.

“No,” Paige set her go-bag on the table and turned to address a man she didn’t really know. “I’m working a case, Vato. A man’s body was located out here. Over there,” she pointed to the fire pit. “It could be a clue, or it could be nothing. That’s police work. Now, tell me how I can help you.”

“I haven’t watched the news,” Vato admitted. “Who died?”

“A drug dealer named Scratch,” Paige saw the recognition in his eyes. “You know him.”

“I don’t,” Vato said honestly. “I know of him. I know he’s the guy that killed that kid just before your wedding. I know you’ve been looking for him and I know Dax conned Carmen into watching the cartel’s movement just in case the guy returned.”

“Why?” Paige wondered if he would answer. It was a question she should be asking Dax.

Vato shrugged. “For you, I suppose.”

“There’s no more to it than that?” Paige challenged.

“That’s a question for Dax,” Vato decided. “What I will say is that Dax has a grudge against the up-and-coming drug lord. I assume you know what happened to Zeus down in Mexico.”

“I do,” Paige considered. She should have thought of that. Of course Dax had a grudge against Contreras and of course he’d have Carmen keep an eye on things with Zeus living in the area. “You’re right, I’ll ask Dax directly. You can tell me more about this truce you’re proposing.”

“There are very few people I trust in this world,” Vato began. “Dax and the others, that’s basically it. For me, they’re family. I have my sister, but she’s... well, she lives in a whole different world. She doesn’t understand what I do — what I’ve done. She doesn’t understand me. Don’t get me wrong, I love her, and I would do anything to protect her.”

“I got that loud and clear,” Paige said without emotion.

“I guess you still blame me for what happened to Dax,” Vato realized.

“I don’t,” Paige said honestly. “I think you should have trusted these men you call family. I think you should have told Dax and Hawk what was going on, so they could have helped from the start, but I don’t blame you for a madman’s actions.”

“I think maybe that’s the problem,” Vato said soberly. “The problem between you and me.”

“Care to share?” Paige looked up and waited.

“It’s easy for you,” Vato refused to look away. “Trusting people. It seems to come easy for you. Something comes up and you instantly share — with Dax, with Carmen, with Nathan. Your natural response is to talk it through, trust those around you, and ask for their input while at the same time you demand their loyalty. It’s not that easy for some of us.”

Paige thought about the situation with Dax. It wasn’t all that easy for her, either. “Assuming you’re right, how does that explain the tension between us?”

“I don’t know you, Paige,” Vato sighed. “At first, I think I resented you. Resented the relationship you had with Dax and the others. I wasn’t coping well and it felt like I was the outsider. I blamed you for that. I didn’t know you, I didn’t trust you, but they did. And, because of what I did, they didn’t trust me. I have no one but myself to blame for that, I’m not saying different, but it was… challenging.”

Paige studied Vato for several seconds. “I know how it feels to be the outsider in that group. Hawk, Wooly, and the Doc — none of them trusted me when they first arrived. I had to prove myself and it took time. Less time because we had to save Dax, but I had to prove myself just the same. You’re not an outsider, Vato. You’re on the injured list. You shouldn’t be, we both know that. They know it, too. But, Dax feels guilty and that guilt is pushing him to indulge you and your whims. He continues to be overprotective of you and you let him because more often than not, you get what you want. You’re taking advantage of the situation while at the same time, you resent it. You want things to change, change them.”

Vato considered what she was saying. She was right. “I guess I don’t get any pampering or kid gloves from you?”

“Nope,” Paige stood. “I tend to be a straight shooter, it’s part of my charm.”

“You’re good for him,” Vato said softly. “I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. I’m not sure you understand how important you are to him. You’re his world and you can hurt him. You are probably the one person that can destroy him. He trusts you, more than he trusts us. I would never have believed that could be possible if I didn’t see it for myself. I guess part of my resistance — towards you — part of it, is knowing just how much power you have. You scare me, Paige. There’s nobody in this world I respect more than Dax and you have the power to break him.”

Paige studied Vato for several seconds. She didn’t know how to respond to that. She decided on honestly. “Then you should know — should understand — it’s mutual. Dax has the power to destroy me, too. He can hurt me; he could break me. I’m just as vulnerable when it comes to Dax as he with me.”

“I think maybe I believe that,” Vato stared aimlessly into the wilderness. “I’m going to work on the rest of it, too. I’m going to stop taking advantage, I’m going to stop milking their sympathy, even if that means I no longer get what I want. Because, I don’t want to be protected. I want to be their equal. I think, maybe, once I accomplish that — things between us might begin to improve.”

“I think they already have,” Paige put a hand on Vato’s shoulder. “Dax respects you, too. It won’t take much. If you push back, just a little, he’ll realize it’s time to let his little bird fly.”

Vato scowled.

Paige laughed. “Lighten up, soldier. It was a joke.”

“Too bad it wasn’t funny,” Vato grumbled but he was smiling.

“Good talk,” Paige called over her shoulder as she walked away.

Vato continued to grin and watch as Paige slid into her vehicle and drove away.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige tried to focus on the case, but her thoughts kept going back to Vato’s words. She had the power to destroy Dax. And, if she was going to be honest with herself, she was breaking a promise. Her actions were causing a rift in their marriage. She was the one taking a step back. She was the one that didn’t return his calls. She was the one avoiding him. Carmen had been right, too. Secrets were a normal, expected part of her relationship with Nathan and her best friend. Knowing that, didn’t bother her at all. Why did knowing Dax had a secret hurt so much? She couldn’t explain it, not even to herself. It just did.

She pulled into the police station and shut down the vehicle. She had to push her personal issues aside and focus on the murder. Scratch might have been a turd, but he was dead and that made him hers.

Havilland glanced up when Paige stepped through the doors. He glanced at the clock, then refocused on his call.

Paige waited for him to hang up. “I don’t want to hear it. I decided to check out the campsite again.” She pulled out the evidence bag and dropped it on the desk. “Know anyone that can access the data on this thing?”

Havilland stood and moved to stand next to Paige. “Maybe. You think it belonged to one of the killers?”

“I think it’s a long shot,” Paige dropped into her chair. “If this Mook guy and Pablo are professional fixers, what are the odds they lost a watch right next to our crime scene?”

“Long,” Havi admitted. “I’ve got nothing. They’re not staying here in town. I asked Nelson to check the lodges in Laurel Bluffs just in case, but I think it’s more likely they’re staying with fellow cartel members.”

“We’ll chase the leads,” Paige decided. “Even if they’re long and improbable.”

“Give me the watch,” Havilland decided. “I’ll see what I can track down from the serial number.”

“Alright,” Paige agreed. “I’m gonna spend some time getting to know Mook and Pablo. Maybe something will jump out at me.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the driveway and for the second time that day, just sat there — thinking. She owed Dax an apology and procrastinating wasn’t going to help. She slowly made her way to the front door, pushed it open and stepped inside. Dax was waiting for her on the couch. She could feel him watching her as she pushed out of her boots, unsnapped her duty belt and dropped it over a chair. He didn’t say a word, just watched her walk across the room and settle onto the couch next to him.

“I was hoping you’d tell me what I did,” Dax forced his face to remain neutral.

“Nothing,” Paige admitted. “I did.”

“I don’t understand,” Dax continued to watch her, barely blinking.

“I’m a horrible wife,” Paige said in defeat. “I was busy, but that’s no excuse. I wish it was. I got so caught up in what I was doing, I got lost in my world and didn’t even think about yours. Then, I pulled up to the house and it was dark — completely dark and I was confused. When Carmen called and said she wanted to stay with me because you and Zeus were spending the night in Salt Lake, I was taken completely by surprise. And, I guess I was disappointed. I’ve gotten used to having you here, when I get home. Especially after a long, difficult day and you abandoned me. I know it’s not rational, but…”

Dax pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “It doesn’t have to be. That’s love, babe. I’m sorry I left without talking to you.”

Paige pushed away from him. “Don’t.” She shook her head. “Don’t take the blame for what I did. I was hurt and disappointed and then that turned to annoyed. I knew it was illogical to be angry with you. I’m the one that failed here. Then Carmen slapped me with another unpleasant reality, and I realized just how bad I am at this.”

“What reality?” Dax reached over and pulled her onto his lap.

“You are in the middle of a huge project,” Paige began. “The training center, it’s important, it’s amazing and I’m told you guys are already in demand. Yet, I have no idea what you’re doing, what you need, if the previous courses were a success — I basically know nothing about what you’re doing. We talk about me, my job, my cases, my feelings. I never ask about you.”

“That’s not true,” Dax disagreed. “You’ve been to the training center. You’ve seen the progress. You know I have a three-day winter survival course this weekend. You know I have another course the week after Thanksgiving. I know you know, because I talked to Nathan earlier and he said you mentioned it.”

“How monumentally supportive of me,” Paige grumbled.

Dax shifted, placed one hand on the back of Paige’s neck, the other around her waist. Then, he pulled her forward and pressed his mouth to hers. The kiss was loving but a little desperate. When he pulled back, he smiled at her. “I happen to like our life. I like talking about you, your job and how you’re feeling. I missed you.”

“I’m sorry,” Paige whispered.

“You’re forgiven,” Dax gave her another quick kiss. “Now, tell me about your day.”

“Nu-huh,” Paige shook her head. “You tell me about your day.”

Dax laughed. “Okay, but can we do it after dinner? I’m starved.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Friday morning, Paige stood just inside the front door and watched as Dax, Hawk and Vato pulled away. Once they hooked up with Wooly and their clients at the training center, they were headed into the wilderness for three days. *Finally.* She’d been trying to act normal for the past two days after her husband’s disastrous trip to Salt Lake. She tried to push her growing anxiety aside, tried to forget the image of Ken dropping hundred-dollar bills just outside Dax’s back door, and failed. A million different possibilities had run through her mind. *Were the men into something illegal?* She dismissed that one almost immediately*. Maybe one of them inherited a fortune from a surprise relative.* Again, no. If that had happened, they would have told her about it immediately. That only left one possibility. The more she considered it, the more she was starting to believe Dax and his men discovered the downed plane in the tree. They were the ones that took the cash. They climbed inside, took the money then called in the tragedy. It made sense, didn’t it? If she was right, what was she supposed to do about it?

She was saved from answering that question when her phone rang. “Carter,” she answered.

“I found the Nose,” Havilland said in greeting.

“Me too,” Paige grinned. “I just looked in the mirror and there it was — like magic — right there on my face.”

“You want in or not?” Havilland wasn’t amused.

“Where?” Paige pulled on her coat.

Havilland rattled off the address. “It’s a sort of flop house for company men,” Havilland explained. “The Contreras estate owns the place. He sends his men up to deliver product, collect money, deal with a problem, whatever. They flop at the house then head back to Mexico.”

“Do you think Mook and Pablo could be staying there, too?”

“It’s possible,” Havilland admitted. “I asked Nelson to help since he pitched in with some of the leg work and Gage is going to meet us out there as well. I thought, with him being so close to the kid and all, well I thought it might help.”

“I agree,” Paige slid behind the wheel and started the engine. “I’m headed out now. See you in ten.”

She pulled up to the staging area and spotted Havilland, Gage and Jericho. So, the sheriff was coming out to play on this one. She approached him and took a minute to study him carefully. “You seem to be able to stand upright okay,” she said in greeting. “Glad to see you’re recovering.”

“Paige,” Jericho ignored her assessment.

“I’m just wondering if this is a good idea,” Paige continued.

“You don’t think these particular members of the drug cartel should be arrested?” Jericho asked.

“I don’t think a man who is recovering from a gunshot wound should participate in the arrest of some high-level, violent members of the drug cartel when he’s on light duty,” Paige corrected. “You’ve been off less than a month, Jericho. Maybe you should sit this one out.”

“I’m fine,” Jericho assured her. “I’m not planning to join the entry team. I’ll just wait out here and support my men if they need me.”

Paige didn’t like it, but she backed off. He was the boss and babying him like a mother hen wasn’t going to fly with Jericho. “At least go sit on Gage’s tailgate. I’m getting tired just looking at you.”

Jericho scowled, but obeyed.

They stormed the house, guns drawn, ready for anything. What they got was a quick and easy sweep. Nobody drew a gun, all the occupants surrendered without incident. Paige recognized the man called the Nose immediately from his mugshot. He had a humdinger, alright. She covered her mouth to hide her grin, then turned away and focused on the rest of the men sitting against a far wall. It took her a minute, but she also recognized Mook. The single photo they had of him was a few years old, black and white, and grainy, but there was no mistake — they had Mook Bugatti in custody. Pablo Veranda had to be the man sitting next to him.

The group decided they would not conduct any interviews at the scene. A transport van arrived and took all the prisoners to booking except for the Nose, Mook and Pablo. They were separated from the others and shuttled to the main office.

Paige brought Horatio Fino — the Nose — in first. After she recited Miranda, she settled back in her chair and waited. It didn’t take long.

“I want a deal,” Fino demanded.

“You need to have something I want to get a deal,” Havilland advised. The man wasn’t under arrest, yet. Maybe there was something they didn’t know and he wanted to confess.

“I know who killed Scratch,” Fino admitted.

“You got proof?” Paige asked. “Or is this just a ploy to get off easy?”

“I know,” Fino insisted. “I didn’t do nothing. You can’t arrest me for not doing nothing.”

“You got me there,” Paige glanced at Havi. The two of them shared a smile before she focused on Fino. “Who killed Scratch?”

“I get a deal?” Fino asked.

“Tell me what you,” Havilland casually suggested. “What deal are you looking for?”

“I don’t go to jail,” Fino insisted. “I didn’t do nothing, so I don’t go to jail.”

“I think we can accommodate that,” Paige said reluctantly. “Who killed Scratch?”

“Mook and Pablo,” Fino glanced around nervously.

“And how do you know Mook and Pablo killed Santiago Esposito?” Paige asked.

“Who?” Fino asked, clearly confused.

“Scratch,” Havilland shook his head at Paige. “How do you know Mook and Pablo killed Scratch?”

“Because they made Dingo ditch the car,” Fino swallowed hard.

“Do you know where this car is located now?” Havilland asked.

“Uh-huh,” Fino swallowed again. “Dingo told me. He said he dumped it in the ravine. The gully out by the Bluffs. You know after you leave the city and head west, out by the old railroad tracks.”

“Right by the tracks or further out?” Havilland knew the area well.

“Right there,” Fino insisted. “He said he crossed the tracks and headed into the trees right there. Then he pushed it over and it tumbled and rolled a few times then wham, it settled at the bottom with a thud.”

“Why did they want Dingo to hide the car?” Paige asked.

“That’s where they done it,” Fino explained. “That’s where they killed him. They had to hide the blood.”

“Is that the only reason?” Havilland asked.

“Well — ” Fino hesitated. “I guess some of the blood was from them trying to find the money. Scratch wouldn’t crack. That made Pablo furious, but Mook said the idiot wasn’t holding out, he just couldn’t tell on account he already spent it all.”

“What money?” Paige asked, a knot forming in her stomach.

“The money from the plane,” Fino said it in such a matter-of-fact way, it didn’t leave room for uncertainty.

“So,” Havilland glanced at Paige. “You’re talking about that plane crash earlier this year?”

“Sure, yeah,” Fino nodded. “The plane went down on the way back to Mexico and the money disappeared. Contreras was livid about that. He was hot to get it back. When Scratch started spending like he did, we all knew. I warned him. Told him he was gonna get dead if he didn’t stop but he thought he was invincible. I was right, he got dead.”

“Scratch said he took money from the plane after it crashed?” Paige pushed. If Scratch took the money, she was wrong about Dax and his men.

“No,” Fino shrugged. “But that would be stupid. Ask me, he waited a few months then he couldn’t resist and started spending some of it. When nobody noticed, he spent more. He had that dope ride and he bought a house on the beach. Said he always loved Texas and he wanted a place to relax. Before long, he was buying expensive jewelry and clothes to go with the ride. Contreras noticed, sent Mook and Pablo up to whack him and recover the rest of the funds.”

Paige frowned. “But they didn’t recover the funds?”

“Nope,” Fino shrugged. “Like I said, he must have spent it all. Scratch wasn’t what you would call a financial genius. If he had a dollar in his pocket, he couldn’t wait to blow it. Sometimes on blow,” Fino laughed at his own joke. “Between that and the house, the car, the clothes, I think it went poof. That’s what Mook and Pablo say. They said their work here was done and they were going to split, head back to Mexico and report in. They already broke the news to Contreras over the phone. He wasn’t happy, but what you gonna do?”

“You done?” Paige looked at Havilland.

“Yeah,” Havilland focused on Fino. “You want that deal, you stay where I can find you.”

“Where would I go?” Fino held up his hands and sobered. “You won’t tell Mook or Pablo, right? They won’t know I told you about the car?”

“I won’t tell,” Paige stood and motioned toward the door. “You’re free to leave.”

Once he left the room, Paige sighed. “The guy’s an idiot but as long as we locate the car before we talk to Mook and Pablo, they won’t know he ratted them out. Well, unless he blabs about it to all his friends.”

“I don’t think he’ll blab,” Havilland considered. “He’s afraid of Contreras and Mook and Pablo are upper level. Fino won’t want anyone to know he said a word. He’s smart enough to realize if word gets out, it will buy him a one-way ticket to the morgue.”

“I hope you’re right,” Paige stood. “Let’s go see if we can find the car that went thud.”

It took two hours to locate the car and another forty-five minutes to yank it out of the ravine. Once it was on level ground, they towed the mangled mess back to evidence. Paige spent three more hours going over the vehicle inch by inch. She had blood, she had teeth, she had skin. She also had a gun. She was pretty sure, once ballistics were analyzed, they would be able to prove it was the weapon that fired the final shot that killed Santiago Esposito — also known as Scratch. Now she just had to put Mook and, or Pablo inside the car. She gathered up the blood and tissue samples, pulled as many prints from the inside and outside of the vehicle as she could find, and dumped it all on the lab techs to analyze. Then, she headed back to the office.

The instant she stepped through the door, Havilland was up and headed her way. “The guys we left at the flop house, found a video camera. It was in the room where Pablo was staying. They also gathered up all the discs. Nelson has a couple guys going over all of it now. If they find anything, they’ll let us know.

“You think they were that stupid?” Paige wondered. “To make a tape of something incriminating?”

Havilland shrugged. “We’ll know when we know.”

“There’s nothing else we can do tonight,” Paige decided. “Shift was over an hour ago. We might as well head home and pick this back up in the morning once we have the results on the search, ballistics and if we’re really lucky, answers from the lab.”

“I agree,” Jericho stepped from his office. “Let’s all go home.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige entered her empty house, dropped a white paper bag containing a burger and fries onto the kitchen table, set the official file on the plane crash on the table next to it and dropped into one of the sturdy kitchen chairs. She had to know. She just kept telling herself, she had to know. Maybe she’d look over the case file and decided Mook, Pablo and the irritating Nose was right. Scratch stole the money and he was blowing it on frivolous extravagances. Right, and Pegasus is going to mystically appear and give me an adventurous ride over the city.

She pulled out her dinner, took a bite of the burger and flipped open the folder. Her report sat on top, but that’s not what she needed. She flipped through the documents until she located the envelope that contained the photos. She flipped through them one by one, absently nibbling a fry as she worked. Suddenly, she found the one she was looking for. The image was clear. Whoever climbed that tree left very distinct gouges in the trunk, evidence they couldn’t remove or undo once it was there. She sat back and considered, taking another bite of her burger.

Setting her dinner aside, she flipped through a few more images and stopped once again when she found the one she was looking for. She focused on the strange drag marks in the roadway. The evidence that proved there were at least three men on scene that day. Sitting back, she considered. At least three, most likely four; Dax, Hawk, Zeus and Vato. During that time period, the men were frequently in the backcountry, scouting for the best locations to hold their training exercises.

They were the type of men that would rush to the scene and try to help if they could. If they saw a plane go down, they wouldn’t think twice. They’d just rush in and see if they could help. They also had the skills and the equipment to scale the tree and take a look inside. And, Dax would be careful. He’d eliminate any evidence once he realized the significance. Then, there were the markings in the dirt. At the time of the crash, Vato was still struggling with his leg. She remembered the way he shuffled and balanced on one leg before he pushed his weight inside and dropped onto the seat — sliding his bad leg across the ground before lifting it inside. The last clue was the generous ‘insurance policy’ the widow received even though she’d never paid a dime for a policy. The men would have investigated her thoroughly. Once they realized she had a son, they would have stepped in and helped. It was the type of men they were. But, wasn’t that noble and selfless?

Everything fit. If she was right, she would have to decide how she felt about it? That was a conundrum. One she wasn’t going to solve until she knew for sure. So, what should she do about it? She closed her eyes and tried to talk herself out of the next step. Dax and the men had a big secret, but did that justify snooping? Illegal snooping? Could she live with herself if she snuck over to the house, broke in — using Dax’s key, of course — and found their stash? Then what? Confront them? Arrest them? She frowned. No, she would never arrest them and, technically, they hadn’t done anything illegal. No victim, no crime and nobody reported any missing money. She might be able to swing evidence tampering. “Stop it Paige,” she scolded herself. “What are you doing? Trying to find a crime you can indict them for?” She’d never do that. She wouldn’t do that even if her sneaky husband wasn’t involved. She stared out the window, aimlessly lost in the darkness. It didn’t take long to realize she wouldn’t do anything, but she had to know.

Paige stepped onto the back patio of Dax’s house and glanced around nervously. She couldn’t believe she was doing this. Her hands were shaking when she pulled Dax’s spare keyring from her pocket, fumbled around until she found the right one, slipped the key into the lock, and turned. The soft click of the lock disengaging felt like an explosion in her current state of mind. She slipped inside, silently closed the door and flipped the deadbolt behind her.

Paige just stood inside the kitchen for several minutes, working hard to steady her nerves. She hadn’t been inside this house for several months, but nothing had changed. Memories flooded her mind and she had another internal debate with herself. This was wrong. She should just go back home and wait for Dax to return Sunday night. She’d corner him, confront him about what she knew and see if he admitted everything. What if he didn’t? Maybe it made her a coward, but she couldn’t confront him and risk, even the slightest possibility, that he would lie. She could forgive a secret. She wasn’t sure she could forgive a lie.

Paige took a deep breath and forced her body to move forward. If Dax was involved, if he discovered a large crate or bag of illegal drug money inside that plane, he’d secure it. Dax would be careful. She knew that. Dax wouldn’t take any chances under normal conditions but his relationship with Contreras wasn’t normal. As ruthless as the drug boss was, Paige was pretty sure Dax was already on his hit list. Probably Zeus too. Contreras wouldn’t be happy that Zeus escaped his near death experience, or that Dax broke him out — killing several of his men in the process.

Anger and annoyance replaced the anxiety. What in the world was Dax thinking? What was Zeus thinking? The dynamic duo were the last two people in the universe that should steal from Contreras. She slowly made her way down the stairs and stopped at the door that led to the basement. Once she stepped through, there was no going back.

A short time later, she was standing in a room at the far end of the house staring at a brand new, expensive, gun safe. It was similar to the one she had in her own basement. She reached out a hand and tried the knob. No luck, but she hadn’t expected it to be open. Kind of defeated the purpose of the safe. Knowing Dax, he’d have the combo hidden somewhere inside this room. She began to search the obvious spots, then the not so obvious ones. She was about to give up when she spotted the manilla folder barely poking out from under a sturdy filing cabinet. Bullseye. She gripped the edge with her fingernail and slowly slid the file across the concrete floor. Once it was clear, she flipped open the lid and frowned. Inside was some kind of military notes. She flipped through, careful not to bend or damage any of the pages inside.

When she flipped over the fifth page in the file, she found what she was looking for. Scribbled on the back of the page was the combination to the safe. She recognized it for what it was immediately, it was similar to the safe she had at home. She carefully moved forward and began to follow the meticulous directions. Paige held her breath as she made the last turn and heard the soft click of the lock releasing. She reached out, then hesitated. Once she opened the thing up, there was no going back. “You’ve never backed down from anything, Paige,” she whispered. “No reason to change that now.” With the flick of her wrist, she turned the knob and pulled open the heavy door.

She thought she was prepared for what she would find. She wasn’t. There were so many stacks, row after row of carefully piled hundred-dollar bills filled the shelves. A clipboard was tucked into a sleeve on the door. She pulled it out, unable to stop the curiosity. Her eyes widened in shock — millions. Someone had printed up a ledger, but there were very few entries on the page. The first one — labeled Driscoll — had to be the payment to the pilot’s widow. There was another ‘withdrawal’ while she was on her honeymoon with Dax, and one with the name Deputy Nick Crandall.

She knew that name. Why did she know that name? Then it hit her, Crandall was the deputy from some small town in New Mexico. The cop that attended the October training session on a scholarship. Paige looked up at the money again, then back to the ledger. The men were using the funds to sponsor participants who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford their course. They were using the money for good. They were using the money to help cops and small police departments with a limited budget get state-of-the-art training. Did that change things? She didn’t know. What she did know, was how much the revelation hurt. Why was Dax keeping something good and philanthropic a secret? Didn’t he trust her? She slammed the door shut, locked it, slid the folder back under the file cabinet and rushed out the door. She needed space and she needed time to think.

\*\*\*\*\*

The following morning, Paige stepped into the office tired, exhausted and grumpy. Her mood didn’t improve once she met Mook’s attorney. The man insisted on having one present before any questioning. Being the rule abiding cop she was, she obliged. The lab did have good news for her. Both Mook and Pablo’s prints were found inside the vehicle and the blood matched Scratch’s blood type. They were still waiting on DNA, but they were fairly confident it would match.

There was also another interesting development. The gun. They could confirm it was the weapon that was used to kill Scratch, but it could also be matched to two other unsolved murders. Now she just had to put that gun in the hand of one of her suspects. Paige knew that was going to be difficult with the annoying attorney in the room.

“I’m just asking if you know Santiago Esposito,” Havilland pushed. “His friends and colleagues call him Scratch.”

“I have advised my client not to answer that question,” the attorney jumped in.

Paige wanted to punch the woman in her nasally nose and see if it cleared things out enough to make her speak in a normal tone. She refrained — barely. “You don’t want to answer any of our questions, Mr. Bugatti. That’s fine, how about you listen? Last night, a vehicle was recovered from the ravine near Laurel Bluffs. The vehicle had Mexico plates and was registered to the Contreras Enterprise — I believe that would be your boss.”

“I object,” the attorney interrupted. “You’re stating facts that have not been established.”

“This isn’t court, Ms. Stamile,” Paige rolled her eyes.

“Actually, those facts have been established whether your client wants to admit it or not,” Havilland added.

“When you ditched the car,” Paige continued. “You probably didn’t realize that is a common dumping ground for vehicles. The Laurel Bluffs Police Department does regular sweeps in that area for the very reason you chose to ditch the car in the gully.”

“Again,” Ms. Stamile objected.

Paige held up a hand. “We have the car, Mook. We have your prints; we know you were the driver of that van. We have Mr. Esposito’s blood and tissue in the back, on the carpet, the seat and the right panel. We have the gun.” Paige smiled inwardly. That got a reaction.

“My client denies any knowledge of this Mr. Esposito character,” Stamile parroted. “That van was stolen from the driveway of the house where he was an invited guest while he vacationed here in America.”

“Right,” Paige began. She paused at the sharp knock on the door.

Jericho pushed open the door and motioned for both Paige and Havilland to join him.

“For the record,” Paige stood. “Deputy Havilland and myself will be leaving the room for a moment. Recording will be stopped at zero-nine-fifty-two.” She pushed the button to shut off the recording and slid through the open door.

“You need to see this before you go any further,” Jericho motioned to his office. Paige and Havi followed him. Once they were all inside the room, Jericho closed the door.

Paige frowned, glanced around, then settled into a chair next to Gage. Havi followed her lead.

“Detective Nelson had this brought over first thing,” Jericho began. “By the time the officer arrived, you two had already begun your interrogation. I decided to view the footage along with Gage before I interrupted.”

“They found something significant?” Paige asked.

“You could say that,” Jericho motioned to Gage, who used a remote control to start the video.

The group watched, horrified as Mook and Pablo tortured Scratch without mercy. It was immediately clear they believed, without question, that Scratch was the one that took the money from the plane. Their reasoning was solid. Scratch was in the area at the time of the crash. Scratch knew the plane would be transporting goods and in the area on that day. Scratch was currently spending money like it was going out of style. Scratch was working for Ramin Trevils. The video clearly showed both men participating in the torture. Finally, Mook pulled out what appeared to be the gun they currently had in their possession and fired the fatal blow. He then told Pablo to save the video so they could deliver it to Contreras as proof the job was done.

“It looks to me like you just solved two cases, Paige,” Jericho studied her. “Mook Bugatti pulled the trigger and we solved the mystery of the downed aircraft. The man inside was transporting illegal drugs and cash for the Mexican drug cartel and Santiago Esposito decided to help himself to the loot.”

“Right,” Paige’s mind was reeling. A man had been tortured and killed for a crime he didn’t commit. Well, partially. She was pretty sure Mook would have killed Scratch, anyway. She didn’t think Contreras would tolerate one of his men working for his biggest competitor. Especially when that competitor was Ramin Trevils and Contreras’s sworn enemy.

“You disagree?” Jericho frowned.

Paige forced her face to remain neutral. Revealing the questions, the confusion, and the uncertainty she felt at the moment wouldn’t do any of them any good. “No,” she sighed. “I just think it was a senseless murder and the victim wasn’t any better than the perpetrator. All of this nonsense happened over power, greed and ego. Some days a win just doesn’t feel like a win at all.”

“That’s why we will always have a job, kid,” Jericho softened. “Wrap this up then go home. You look worse than I feel.”

“I think I will,” Paige stood. “I’ll go book Mook on first degree murder and while I’m at it, I might as well deal with Pablo as well.”

“I’d like to do that, if you don’t mind,” Gage stood. “For Adam. I’d like to handle it myself.”

“You sure?” Paige focused on Gage.

“Positive,” Gage nodded.

“Then you two go home,” Jericho ordered. “Both of you are on overtime at this point. Take the afternoon off. This cluster is now in the hands of our illustrious DA.”

“You sure you’re okay?” Havilland asked once they reached the parking lot.

“Peachy,” Paige gave him a half-hearted smile. “We got the bad guys, case closed. I’m just tired. I’ll be good as new come Monday morning. You should head out to the track this weekend; the weather is supposed to be great and it might be your last chance to have a little fun before the snow flies.”

“I just might do that,” Havilland settled into his car and pulled away.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into her empty house and went straight up to her room. She felt sick and bone tired. For the first time since they started dating, she was glad Dax wasn’t home. She needed time to work through everything she’d discovered over the past few days. This would be her only shot at quiet contemplation. She didn’t know how to handle the information. For a brief second, she almost took it to Carmen. The idea popped into her head, but just as quickly, she realized Carmen knew. Carmen was part of it — had to be. Her best friend had deceived her just as much as her husband had. That’s when she realized, she was alone. She couldn’t talk to Nathan, Dax had top secret security clearance. If the government found out the guys stole money from a vicious, violent man on the FBI’s most wanted list, they wouldn’t forgive him. No, for Nathan’s sake as much as Dax’s, she couldn’t discuss this with him.

That meant she couldn’t discuss it with anyone. She had one day to figure out how to proceed. Dax was due back tomorrow night. Then, Nathan and Sophie would be arriving early Monday morning. They’d spend the week together, enjoy the holiday, then Dax and the men would be heading out Friday morning to supervise their last course of the year. The timing sucked royally. She curled up in a ball and let the misery engulf her. Within minutes, exhaustion won, and she drifted into a fitful sleep.

She woke early the next morning, still not sure what to do. She stumbled to the kitchen, prepared a pot of coffee and settled onto the couch with a throw blanket and a steaming cup of magic. *Okay*, Paige thought, *instead of falling apart, define the problem*. It was a technique she’d learned at the academy. As she saw it, the problem was twofold. First, the criminal investigation into the crash. That had pretty much resolved itself. Jericho, Havilland, Gage, they all thought Scratch took the funds and he paid a high price for his greed. She could just close it out and be done — end of story. Could she live with that? *Yeah*, she realized. *She could*. Would that cause her any trouble down the road if the truth ever came out? That one was harder. Technically, she might be able to get evidence tampering on the guys, but not likely. Even that was weak. There was no crime, there wasn’t even a victim. Well, no victim when it came to the missing money. Scratch had been victimized, but that was a different problem. She’d just close out the case first thing Monday morning and be done with it.

Second problem, Dax. He lied to her. Maybe not straight out, but he did mislead her, and he interfered in her case. Maybe that was overstating things. When she insisted there was money in the plane, he simply told her to follow the evidence and not chase theories. It was a deliberate misdirect on his part, but she had to be honest and admit he’d told her that a million times before — on other cases. Logical, sure. But this problem wasn’t logical. It was emotional. Hiding this from her, leaving her out, sneaking around behind her back because none of them trusted her enough to include her — that hurt. Logically she could tell herself to forgive Dax. Emotionally? Well, that’s where things got a little dicey. She was in the same boat with Carmen and didn’t know how to handle any of it.

Plus, she didn’t know how to confront Dax and not tell him about Scratch and the torture. She knew telling him would upset him. It would hurt him to know a guy, even Scratch, endured that kind of torture as a result of something Dax did. She could never tell him. If that meant the money remained a secret, that’s how it had to be. Dax could never know Scratch was killed because of him. With that decided, she got up and shifted gears, preparing for company and the upcoming holiday. She knew things would be strained for the next few days but Nathan and Sophie would serve as a buffer. Paige would just try to push the rest to the back of her mind and fake it.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax climbed from the bed, dressed then just stood over Paige, debating if he should wake her up or let her sleep. Something had changed between them. He felt the distance every time they were alone together. With company, she mostly just ignored him. It wasn’t blatant. She didn’t act like she was angry. They weren’t fighting, but they weren’t together either. He sighed, slung his bag over his shoulder and left the room.

Dax was surprised to see Nathan already up, sipping coffee and reading the morning news on his tablet. “Morning.”

“Leaving already?” Nathan glanced up. There was tension between Dax and Paige, he felt it the instant he arrived. They didn’t fight, but there was something off between them.

“Yeah,” Dax dumped the remaining coffee into a mug, then absently filled it and started a new pot. “We decided to take the entire course into the wilderness this time. I probably won’t see you before you head out. I’m glad you could come out again this year and hope you have a safe trip home.”

Nathan frowned. They were well beyond that kind of goodbye. “You want to talk about it?”

Dax hesitated then shook his head. He didn’t have time to talk and what would he say? I’m not myself because something changed between me and my wife and I have no idea what it could be. Better to just bolt and try to corner Paige once they were alone again and things settled down. “Seriously,” Dax moved forward and gave Nathan a quick hug. “I’m glad you had the time again this year. It’s a tradition I look forward to. Please tell that lovely wife of yours I’m sorry I missed her. Now, I’ve got to head out before I’m late. That’s not the example I want to set for the attendees.”

“Dax,” Nathan said softly. “I hope you know you can talk to me about anything. I realize I’m sort of a father figure to Paige, but I think of you as a son and I will always make time for you.”

“Thanks,” Dax nodded, touched by the offer.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige remained in bed until she heard Dax’s truck roar to life and pull away. With a sigh, she climbed from the bed and made her way down to the kitchen. She needed coffee and time alone to think. The instant she stepped through the door; she knew that was something she wasn’t going to get — not today. “Good morning, Nathan.”

“Is it?” Nathan studied Paige carefully. Something was seriously wrong, and she was going to tell him what it was so they could fix it. “Dax wasn’t himself this morning. I wonder, do you normally let your husband head off into the wilderness for an entire week away, in the middle of winter, without saying goodbye?”

Paige moved to the counter and began preparing her coffee. “Leave it alone, Nathan.” When she finished, she turned to face him and did her best to appear casual and unconcerned. Apparently, she failed.

“Sit down,” Nathan ordered.

Paige raised an eyebrow, hesitated, then complied. Once she was settled into the chair next to the one man she respected more than anything, she felt childish. He was only trying to help. “Why do I feel like I was just called to the principal’s office?”

“Interesting that you would revert back to adolescence,” Nathan observed. “Tell me what is going on with you.”

“I just finished a difficult case and I have a lot on my mind,” Paige tried to appear nonchalant.

“Whatever this is — ” Nathan studied her more closely then shook his head. “This has nothing to do with the job or a case. This is marriage drama.”

“Then it should stay inside the marriage,” Paige thought she was right about that, but keeping it inside the marriage hadn’t resolved anything.

“No,” Nathan sat back. “It should remain within the family. We’re family. Spill it.”

Paige looked away and focused on the wintery scene just outside the window. Guilt hit. Nathan was right. Dax was headed into the wilderness, in freezing temperatures, for an entire week and she hadn’t even said goodbye. What if something went wrong? What if he was injured?

“Paige,” Nathan reached out and laid his hand over hers. “Talk to me.”

“I’m just not sure I should,” Paige admitted.

“Because it’s personal marriage stuff?”

“No,” Paige turned her gaze to his. “Because Dax still works for you. He has a pretty high security clearance. What if I say something that puts that in jeopardy?”

“You’re not speaking to Retired General Porter here,” he gave her hand a squeeze. “You’re talking to family. No matter what you tell me, it will stay here, between you and me.”

“And Sophie,” Paige said confidently.

“Maybe,” Nathan admitted. “Depends on what it is. Sophie and I — we don’t exactly have secrets, but we have an understanding. I’ll tell her as much as I can, and she trusts me to deal with the rest. The same goes for her. Family issues, neighborhood drama — my Sophie only tells me what I need to know.”

“Dax has a secret,” Paige began. “One he’s keeping from me.”

“But you know what it is.” Nathan nodded. “And it bothers you. It’s something you believe would get him into trouble?”

“It’s not just Dax,” Paige continued. “All the men are in on it — and Carmen.”

“So, what is this secret?”

“Before I get into that,” Paige shifted. “I want to ask you a hypothetical question.”

“We can play it that way,” Nathan frowned. What in the world had the kids done this time?

“If, hypothetically, someone with top level credentials had in his possession a large sum of money — cash he basically stole from a violent drug boss wanted by the Bureau — would that risk his security clearance?”

Nathan sat back. So, the boys found the money. They had the missing cash Contreras was fuming over. “Paige,” he answered carefully. “Has a crime been reported regarding the cash?”

“No,” Paige said immediately.

“Then,” Nathan smiled. “There’s your answer. No victim, no crime. You know that better than anyone.”

“But — ” Paige frowned.

“But nothing,” Nathan sobered. “Do you think Dax and his men forced the plane to crash?”

“So, we’re tossing out the facade of a hypothetical now?”

“We are,” Nathan watched her carefully. “Because we don’t need it. There was no crime. If the boys found the plane, discovered there was cash inside and hauled it away to use for that new training facility — I say good for them.”

Paige looked at him in surprise. “You’re serious. You really don’t have any problem with this, do you?”

“Nope,” Nathan wondered why she did. He couldn’t come up with an answer, so he just asked.

“There’s more,” Paige admitted. “Dax has a secret, but so do I. A man is dead. He called himself Scratch, but his real name was Santiago Esposito. He was a mid-level dealer in the area. A few months back, he murdered a kid — one of Gage’s football players — over a few hundred bucks. He claimed Adam got in the way of his business, so he took him out. I’m telling you this because you need to know the guy wasn’t an innocent victim. He worked for Contreras and he was bad news. Even so, he didn’t deserve what he got. His body was dumped up the canyon, at the campground, covered in peanut butter.”

“Awe,” Nathan said in understanding. “An old, but reliable way to dispose of a body. I’m guessing it didn’t work this time?”

“No,” Paige forced the image of Scratch’s mutilated body — and the images on that video of how he got that way — from her mind. “The weather delayed things. The odor didn’t draw in the local carnivores soon enough. Local camp host did one last, quick drive through before she left town for the winter and discovered the remains.”

“I take it the condition was horrendous?” Nathan once again placed his hand on top of Paige’s.

“He was tortured,” Paige said flatly. “There was a moment, in the beginning when I wondered if Dax and his men did it.”

“What?” Nathan asked in shock. “We don’t torture people, Paige. How could you suspect Dax of something like that?”

“I don’t know,” Paige shrugged. “It didn’t take long before I realized he didn’t do it. They didn’t do it. None of them would participate in something that sadistic.”

“I think you need to take a minute and ask yourself why you considered it in the first place,” Nathan pushed. “Because the fact you thought, even for an instant, that your husband would torture and kill a man that way, speaks volumes.”

“Why does my fleeting thought disturb you so much?” Paige wondered. “You guys kill people all the time. You send top secret, lethal teams into strange countries and gun down the enemy for nothing more than getting in the way of the mission. Killing a drug dealer isn’t out of the realm of possibilities. Especially when that dealer worked for a man who abused and nearly killed Zeus.”

“It is when the man was tortured first,” Nathan returned. “That’s not what we do and the fact you could suspect Dax, even for an instant, makes me wonder if you even know your husband at all.”

“Maybe I don’t,” Paige admitted. And that was the thing she was wrestling with the most. “We talk about me, my job, my cases. We have long, intense and sometimes heated conversations about what’s going on in my life. We don’t talk about Dax.”

“Is that his choice, or yours?”

“I haven’t figured that out yet,” Paige admitted. “I feel like a horrible wife. I don’t know anything about the training center, how Dax feels about it, if he’s stressed or excited, or if they are drowning in debt and uncertainty. I was worried they were going too far into debt, so I asked Carmen about the money. She was surprised and disappointed in me for not knowing more about the details. She praised Dax, said he’s an amazing businessman and he’s good at reigning in the others. I didn’t know that. I don’t know anything because we don’t talk about it. Dax asks me about my day, he pushes and prods until I give him all the gory details of whatever case I’m working at the moment, and we hash it out. Then we have dinner, go to bed, whatever. He doesn’t tell me about his day, his projects, his frustrations or triumphs with the job.”

“Why do you think that is?”

“I’m worried it’s my fault,” Paige blinked the moisture from her eyes. She would not cry over this. “I get so caught up in what I’m doing, I don’t stop to ask about his projects. Half the time I miss his calls and don’t remember to call him back. When I’m working a case, I tend to get tunnel vision. I cherish the talks I have with Dax. Walking him through a case clears my head and lets me sift through the evidence. Rearrange the details and leads so I can explain them to Dax helps me arrange them in a more logical and organized fashion. He helps me work through what I know, and where I need to go next, like nobody else could. I’m not sure it has ever even crossed my mind to ask him about his day.”

“Again,” Nathan pushed. “Why do you think that is?”

“I don’t know,” Paige said in frustration. “Maybe I’m just selfish.”

Nathan laughed. “You’re the least selfish person I know. Tell me why, Paige.”

“When I was little,” Paige said softly. “I’d ask my dad about his missions. He’d brush me off, change the subject, or tell a story I knew was fake. He did the same with Mom. She never knew where he was, what he was doing, or any of the details. Dad protected us, I guess he needed to shield us from his work. I understand that now, but it made me believe there was a dark side to what he did. I think — well, recently I’ve been thinking I don’t ask Dax about his day because I just assume he’ll do what dad did. He’ll brush me off or change the subject.”

“And somewhere deep inside, you worry there’s a darker side to the man you love,” Nathan nodded. “There’s not. What your dad and I did, it wasn’t dark, either. Not in the way you mean. It was difficult, it was dangerous, and it wasn’t something you didn’t discuss with a five-year-old child. It might have seemed the same, from a child’s point of view, the way he dealt with your mother — but it was different. Chaya didn’t want to know. Dylan couldn’t discuss any of it with your mom. Not the way I discussed things with Sophie. I couldn’t tell her everything — still can’t — and she understands that, but we do talk about some of it. We always have. She was there for me when I needed her, when I needed to feel something good and bright to clear out the bad and the ugly. Dylan didn’t have that with Chaya. He dealt with it in other ways. When things got bad, he’d head to the batting cage or go for a long run. Once his head was cleared, he’d go home and play a game with the daughter he loved more than anything in this world or have a quiet evening with his wife.

What I’m trying to explain to you, is that things were different between them. Chaya couldn’t handle the ugly. Your life is swamped with it. Dax was special forces, there’s nothing you could deal with out here that’s too difficult or horrific for him to handle. There’s nothing Dax deals with now that you couldn’t handle. And, because Dax knows and respects you — he would never change the subject or tell a fake story. I think this goes back to trust, Paige. You don’t trust Dax. Maybe you should ask yourself why that is.”

“Maybe because he’s keeping secrets,” Paige mumbled.

“No,” Nathan disagreed. “Because I have more secrets than a hundred men, but you trust me.”

That was true. She considered for several seconds but didn’t have an answer. “I don’t know. I do trust you, so why do I doubt Dax?”

“Only you can figure that one out, kid,” Porter smiled.

“There’s more,” Paige told him. “I’m keeping a secret from Dax.”

“What kind of secret?” Nathan wondered.

“I told you the man was tortured,” Paige took a deep breath and spilled it all. She told Nathan about Mook and Pablo, and the video. She told him Contreras killed Scratch in such a violent and horrific way because he believes Scratch was the one that stole the money. She explained her concern and her worries because of the history Dax and Zeus have with Contreras. She explained her concerns about the money. At the moment, Contreras is confident he punished the right man, but he wasn’t able to locate the cash. He hasn’t stopped looking.

“And you haven’t told Dax because — ”

“He’ll feel responsible,” Paige once again looked out the window. “I guess that means deep down inside, maybe where it counts, I do trust Dax. I know he’s a good, honorable person. And, because I know that, I also know he’ll suffer knowing an innocent man paid the price for what he did.”

“Again,” Nathan shook his head. “I’m beginning to wonder if you know that man of yours at all.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means,” Nathan paused to consider. “It means Dax is a good, honorable man. He’s also level-headed — well, he is when it comes to everything but you. He’s realistic with a worldview that is more in line with mine than yours. Dax might feel a little twinge of guilt over the way this Scratch character died — because Dax and his men took the money and someone else paid the price. He won’t feel guilty over the death of a common street thug, one who murdered an innocent high school kid over a few bucks. The man deserved to be punished. He was a killer, Paige. How do you know he didn’t kill others? I realize your unwavering moral compass pushes you to believe justice could only be served if Scratch was arrested and spent the rest of his miserable life in jail. I tend to be more flexible on the matter. I can be satisfied and accept justice was served with his death. Dax and the rest of his men will see things my way.”

“You seem pretty confident you’re right about that,” Paige realized.

“I am,” Nathan assured her. “Now, stop trying to protect that man of yours. Sit him down, tell him everything and let him explain his side of things.”

“Are you sure he will?”

“Positive,” Nathan sobered. “Is that what’s stopping you? You’re worried he will lie?”

“I don’t understand why he’s hiding it in the first place,” Paige evaded.

Nathan was pretty sure he did, and because he did, he remained silent. Dax was protecting Paige. He was worried the money would be a complication for her. He was worried she’d have to take sides, betray her unyielding sense of right and wrong, or demand he turn the cash into the authorities. Dax didn’t want to put her in that position, and he knew the money was better off with him and his crew. Once the newlyweds dealt with the issue and the fallout, he’d have to sit down and have a little heart to heart with Dax Hamilton. He had a few ideas on how they could shift those funds around and make them legit.

“I guess why doesn’t matter,” Paige decided. “And, he’s unavailable, out in the middle of nowhere for the next six days. I’ll talk to him, but that’s going to have to wait. How — ” she stopped when Sophie stepped into the room.

“Carmen just called,” she announced. “I’m heading out for the day. Nathan, our plane leaves early tomorrow. Please try to pack up what you can today. I’ll finish up when I get home, but as fun as it is, shopping can be exhausting.”

“I’ll take care of dinner,” Paige offered. “I’m off today. Nathan and I will block out some time to gather everything up so you won’t have to deal with it. Don’t worry, just go have fun with Carmen.”

“Thank you, dear,” Sophie relaxed. “I’ve had such a wonderful time out here. I am so grateful we’ve turned this into an annual tradition.”

“Me too,” Paige gave her a warm smile just before she heard a car horn beep twice.

“That’s me,” Sophie stopped to give Nathan a quick kiss, then glided across the room and out the door.

“She is the most graceful person I have ever met in my life,” Paige observed.

“She’s one of a kind,” Nathan said absently. He turned back to Paige. “Dax won’t lie to you, Paige. Now that we’ve settled that, anything else on your mind?”

“Isn’t that enough?”

“Probably,” Nathan stood. “Let’s take the day to relax. I’m thinking we binge watch action flicks, scarf down too much popcorn, and leave the worries of the outside world behind for a few hours.”

“We’ll have to take an intermission at some point and pack up a few things,” Paige warned. “I promised Sophie I would help you pack; I won’t break my promise.”

“It’s a deal,” Nathan settled onto the couch.

Paige paused for a moment to glance around the room. When her gaze reached him, she noticed the amusement in his eyes. He didn’t say a word, just silently waited to see if she’d take her usual place by his side. They’d done this a million times back in Virginia. Nathan would always be a second father to her and for one night, she was going to let herself be a carefree child and lean on her dad.

Nathan waited for Paige to settle in next to him, then he casually draped an arm over the back of the couch and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Talk to Dax, princess. Once you do, you’ll feel better. Now, I thought we could start with Die Hard.”

Paige laughed. “By all means, no reason to break tradition now.”

Nathan hit a button and the music began to play. They were the closest thing to father and daughter either of them would ever have. They were both thinking how lucky they were to have one another — to have this closeness — as they settled in for a long mindless day of entertainment.

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**Be sure to come back next month for the surprising season finale. Paige Carter be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S4

**Tags:** Season 4

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### [Treacherous Kinship](https://melaniepsmith.com/treacherous-kinship/)

**Published:** October 31, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Treacherous Kinship (S4E7) A routine traffic accident turns into the scene of a more sinister plot. Paige rushes to catch a sniper before anyone else gets injured.  Dax struggles with a decision while he worries about the safety of his wife.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*TREACHEROUS KINSHIP\*\*\*****

“You made that up!” Paige insisted. She knew graveyards was more adventurous than the day shift, but Dean had to be exaggerating.

“Nope,” he shrugged and laughed. “I guess we’re just lucky she didn’t use the frying pan on his head.”

“Domestics are dicey,” Paige grinned. “I’ve always said you never know what you’re walking into, but that one takes the cake.”

“All in a day’s,” Dean shrugged, took a sip from his cup and scowled. “You call this sludge coffee?”

Paige took a sip from her own cup. “I’ve had worse. You need to work more day shifts, buddy. You take what you can get because if you wait for a fresh pot, you don’t get your coffee.”

“Naw,” Dean shook his head. “The dark agrees with me. I’ll stick to graves.”

Paige dumped some cash on the counter, held up her cup and pointed to Dean’s. “We took most of what was left, but you could use a fresh pot, Beth.”

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[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Treacherous-Kinship.pdf)

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“Thanks, hon,” Beth called back, slid the cash into the registered and continued to ring up her customers. She liked knowing the local cops would stop by during her busy time to check on her. She offered the coffee for free, but they wouldn’t accept. Didn’t mean she’d stop trying. Convenience stores could be dangerous, her husband reminded her of that often enough, but she’d never be happy sitting behind a desk. She liked people, she loved this job; and, she had to admit, she enjoyed her daily interaction with the men and women in blue.

“Let’s ditch the stale brew and head over to Dirk’s for a real breakfast,” Dean suggested.

“I’m game,” Paige agreed. “You buying?”

“Not on your life,” Dean tossed his cup in the garbage. “I’ll meet you over there.”

“Deputy Carter,” Margie’s voice came over the radio. “Not so fast,” Paige called to Dean. “Go ahead dispatch,” Paige replied but remained focused on Dean. “I think you ditched the sludge a few seconds too soon.”

“I need you and Deputy Bridges to head to Highway eighty-nine, just south of town. There’s an accident, at least three cars are involved.”

“Injuries?” Paige asked, rushing around her vehicle.

“Unknown at this time,” Margie advised. “Do you want me to notify Fire?”

“I’ll advise,” Paige decided. If there weren’t any injuries, there was no need to bring out the engines.

“Bridges,” Dean’s voice came over the air. “I’m enroute.”

“Copy,” Margie acknowledged. “I just received another call on this. Complainant says it all started with a hit and run. Maybe a pickup, maybe an SUV. No further at this time.”

“Copy,” Dean sighed. With that description they’d never locate the vehicle.

Minutes later, Paige pulled to stop in the southbound travel lane and flipped on her lights. They had a real mess on their hands. “Dispatch, myself and Bridges have arrived.”

“Copy,” Margie answered. “Zero-nine-thirty-eight.”

Paige had just exited her vehicle when a woman in her mid to late thirties rushed toward her.

Dean joined Paige and waited for the woman to reach them.

“We need an ambulance,” the woman said in greeting. “There’s a man in that truck over there with a head injury.” She pointed up the road, several yards to the north. “He’s lost a lot of blood. His wife got him into the back of the truck so he could lay across the seat, but she hasn’t been able to stop the bleeding. I tried to step in, but she wouldn’t let me.”

“Can you tell us your name, ma’am?” Paige asked.

The woman hesitated, trying to hear what the male officer was saying into the radio. Once she was sure he was calling for medical assistance, she refocused on the woman. “Um, Tracy. Tracy Cox.”

“Okay, Tracy,” Paige soothed. “I’m Deputy Carter. I need to go check on the injured man. Which car is yours?”

“Um,” Tracy looked around then pointed. “The white Camry.”

“Okay,” Paige put a hand on her shoulder. “I want you to go wait next to your vehicle. I’m going to head over and check on the others. I need Deputy Bridges to join me. Together we might be able to stop the bleeding. Before we do that, do you know what happened to the driver of this truck?” Paige pointed to a well-maintained Ford truck that was only a couple years old. The owner wouldn’t have abandoned it, unless he was the suspect.

“He…” she glanced around then pointed north. “There. He’s related to the others. They had a little boy, three, maybe four years old. He was upset, when he saw the blood and realized his father was hurt, he — well, basically he lost it. This guy, the driver of this truck was related. Grandpa, uncle, I don’t know. He took the little boy for a walk to calm him down.”

Paige spotted a man and a young child walking away from the area. The man was holding the kids’ hand and appeared to be talking to him. That could wait. “Okay, if you’ll just head over — ” She didn’t finish the sentence. A shot rang out from the hills to the east. It was so close, she could actually hear the bullet wing by before it collided with a wooden fence post. She lunged for the woman. Dean did the same. Together they dragged a panicked Tracy behind the large pickup truck.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MPS_Paige-Carter-S4E7_Nurse.jpg)

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Dean basically shoved the woman onto the ground, positioning her behind the large tire. “Don’t move,” he ordered. “The engine block and the wheel will protect you. Don’t move an inch, do you understand?” he wasn’t sure she was listening. It was obvious the woman was in shock. “Tracy Cox?” he barked.

“Uh?” she screamed when another shot rang out and the window of the pickup shattered.

“Don’t move,” Dean ordered again. He turned to address Paige but waited. His fellow deputy was notifying dispatch they were taking fire. She had moved several feet away and was currently crouched at the back of the truck, trying to locate the sniper. “I need my rifle,” he settled in beside her. “Can you see him?”

“No,” Paige shifted her attention to Dean, “we need our rifles. How are you going to get from here to there without getting dead?”

“I have to try,” he insisted. “We’re sitting ducks out here and our handguns are useless.”

“I agree,” Paige glanced at the woman. Tracy hadn’t moved an inch, maybe she’d actually stay there until the danger was over. “But we have to be smart about it. As soon as he fires the next shot, dart behind Tracy’s Camry. That’s the easy part. The challenge will be getting from the Camry to our vehicles.”

“One obstacle at a time, Paige,” Dean shifted, ready to move the instant the next shot sounded.

It was a good plan. One that might have worked if it wasn’t for traffic. Everything happened so quickly they didn’t have time to block off the roadway. The shot rang out, Dean darted behind the Camry and a teenager driving an old, beat-up Acura that had seen better days panicked, swerved, and collided with the back end of the Camry. The front panel struck Dean with so much force he catapulted through the air and landed in the middle of the roadway.

Dean hit the ground with so much force, Paige heard the thud and winced. She rushed to the Acura, determined the teen wasn’t hurt — just dazed, and ordered her to stay sheltered inside the vehicle. Then, she rushed to Dean. He was unconscious but she had to get him out of the roadway. She had to find cover. She glanced up and realized she was only a few feet away from her own vehicle. She shifted, slid her arms under Dean’s shoulders and started to pull. Tracy rushed in, grabbed Dean’s legs and the two of them moved quickly, sliding in between Dean’s car and Paige’s.

“Thanks,” Paige glanced up once Dean was settled back on the ground. “But that was dangerous. We told you to stay behind the truck.”

“I’m a nurse,” Tracy kneeled over Dean, pressed her hand to his neck and sighed in relief. “He has a pulse.”

“Can you tend to him?” Paige wondered. She needed her rifle.

“I — ” Tracy raised her arms over her head and screamed. Bullets rained down around them. The onslaught seemed to last forever.

Paige lunged forward, shielding Tracy’s body with her own. They were on the ground, both of them covering Dean’s body with their own. The shooter was now out of control. Bullet after bullet struck the surrounding area. Windows shattered, bullets bounced off the concrete and sliced through metal as the projectiles struck vehicle after vehicle. All Paige could think of was that poor, frightened teen she’d left in the car. She’d never forgive herself if the young girl didn’t make it.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MPS_Paige-Carter-S4E7_Casings2.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MPS_Paige-Carter-S4E7_Gun.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MPS_Paige-Carter-S4E7_Brass2.jpg)

\*\*\*\*\*

“It’s a great unit,” the man said. “You won’t find one this age in better shape.”

Dax studied the travel trailer for several seconds. He was pretty sure he’d toured at least fifty of the things over the past two days. None of them would work for what the team needed. This unit was in good condition, but it would take too much time and effort to alter the design and give them what they wanted. He waited until the man wasn’t looking, then subtly shook his head and left the rest to Hawk.

“Thank you for your time,” Hawk reached out a hand. He was a little annoyed they had to drive all the way out to Palisade Lake to see the trailer in the first place. “We still have a few more trailers to look at today. If we decide we’re interested, I’ll contact you later tonight.”

Once they were back in the vehicle, maneuvering their way through the campsite, Dax sighed. “Maybe we should find a way to use some of that money and grab one from a dealership.”

“I know you don’t want to do that,” Hawk shifted to study his friend’s face. Dax was staring straight out the window. His right hand was draped over the steering wheel, his left resting on the door through the open window. He looked relaxed, but he wasn’t. He was worried. “I agree with you. It’s too risky. We can use some of the cash, if the rig only costs a few thousand but we won’t find anything less than twenty at a dealership, that’s going to raise a few eyebrows. It’s a small town and people talk. We’ll have better luck if we stick to private. Prices are better.” Hawk frowned when he heard gun fire.

“Probably someone up in the hills target practicing,” Dax knew that sound well.

After the second shot, Hawk started to frown. “It’s closer,” he rolled down his own window. After the third shot, he knew. “I want a better look. Take this road, I’ll guide you in. I’m not sure that’s target practice. If it is, they’re too close to the road to be legal.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MPS_Paige-Carter-S4E7_Road.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MPS_Paige-Carter-S4E7_Cedar.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MPS_Paige-Carter-S4E7_Sniper.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MPS_Paige-Carter-S4E7_Police-Car.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MPS_Paige-Carter-S4E7_Forest.jpg)

Dax shrugged and made a right turn onto a well-packed dirt road. He continued to follow Hawk’s directions as they made their way north on what looked like a service road. When it came to shooting, there wasn’t a man alive that was better than Hawk. The instant they heard rapid fire; they knew. Dax pressed on the gas, the vehicle shot forward, and they flew toward the danger.

 Dax spotted the dust before he saw the vehicle. He had to swerve quickly to avoid a head-on collision. Seemed the truck was in a hurry. Well, so was Dax. He focused on the driver, wanting to get a good visual just in case this was their shooter. They had only gone a few more yards when Hawk ordered him to stop. Dax slammed on the brakes, the vehicle slid on the dirt then caught. The instant the truck stopped sliding, Hawk flung open the door and jumped to the ground.

“You’re a maniac,” Dax climbed from behind the wheel. “You know that, right?”

“Get your binoculars,” Hawk ordered soberly. “And call Paige.”

“I will,” Dax snatched up a black case that held an expensive pair of high-powered Swarovski optics. “Maybe they can stop that guy that almost hit us, see if he’s the sniper.”

“Call her now,” Hawk insisted. “Then take a deep breath.”

“Why would I — ” Dax froze at the sight below. His breath stuck in his throat, his stomach clenched, and he could barely hold himself upright through the panic. “Paige,” he whispered. He recognized her truck. What was left of her truck, anyway?

“Call her,” Hawk ordered. “Take a deep breath and call her.”

The damage was horrendous. At least two dozen rounds had struck Paige’s vehicle alone. The other truck, Dax thought it belonged to Gage or Dean, was partially blocked by her car, but what was visible was equally destroyed. He yanked out his cell phone and dialed Paige. “Voicemail,” he tossed the device to the ground in disgust.

Hawk continued to study the area below. “Call her again.”

“She won’t answer,” Dax insisted. “Even if she’s not — ” he couldn’t say it.

“She’s not,” Hawk put a hand on Dax’s shoulder in support. “Call her again.”

Dax took a deep breath, leaned down and retrieved his phone. He waited then disconnected when he got voicemail again.

“Again,” Hawk pushed.

“What’s the point?”

“Because she’s probably busy at the moment,” Hawk was careful to keep his voice level. “If she saw it was you, she most likely thought ‘I’ll get back to him later’. If you keep calling, she’ll know it’s important and she’ll answer. Or, if the phone is in the car, she’ll see you called several times and it must be important and she’ll take a minute to call you back. Keep calling.”

“Fine,” Dax hit send again and started to pace. He couldn’t take his eyes off her vehicle. There was so much damage, if she was inside... he swallowed hard and hit send again.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pushed her body into a sitting position and surveyed the area. The attack had stopped and the area was quiet now — eerily so. She tried to brush glass shards from Tracy’s hair but pulled her hand back when the woman raised her head and stared straight into Paige’s eyes. Paige felt sorry for the unlucky nurse. She hadn’t signed up for this. Tears rolled down Tracy’s dirt-streaked face, her eyes were wild, and her breathing was labored.

“Tracy,” Paige said softly. “I need you to calm down. Are you injured?”

“I...” she paused. “No, I don’t think so.”

“Good,” Paige put a supportive hand on Tracy’s thigh. “I know you’re terrified. I know this is the last thing you thought you’d be dealing with today. I need to check on Dean. You cannot go into shock. You’re a nurse, you know what will happen if you slip into shock. Take deep breaths and let them out slowly.” She frowned when her phone began to ring. She slid it from her pocket and saw it was Dax. He’d have to wait. She had more pressing things to deal with at the moment.

“He needs a doctor,” Tracy glanced at Dean. “If he’s still unconscious, he must have a serious head injury. Time is not on his side.”

“I’m not,” Dean opened his eyes and moaned. “I do have a killer headache though. What in the hell happened?”

“You got hit by a car,” Paige moved forward and impatiently snatched up her phone. She glanced at the display, Dax again, she slid it back into her pocket and ignored it. “You hit your head pretty hard. Then the world erupted in gunfire. Are you hit?”

“I don’t think so,” Dean tried to sit up, but his head felt like it would explode.

“I need to go check on the teenager,” Paige wondered if this was a trap. Had the sniper stopped, reloaded and was right now waiting for someone — anyone — to surface so he could get a clean shot?

“Deputy Carter,” Margie’s voice came over the radio. “Medical is arriving, where do you want them to stage?”

“Tell them to hold back,” Paige decided. “We need to secure the area and make sure it’s safe before we bring unarmed responders into a hot zone.” Her phone chimed again but she ignored it. “Can you contact the sheriff? Tell him he has a man down. 10-85 bravo.”

Margie relaxed, Dean was injured but not seriously. “Copy, I’ll handle it.”

“Maybe you should answer that,” Dean suggested when Paige’s phone rang again.

“I’m a little busy here,” Paige growled, yanked out the phone and saw it was Dax again. She frowned, that wasn’t like him. “Hey, Dax. I’m in the middle of something, can I call you back?”

Dax felt his body relax. “Your sniper’s gone. It’s safe to move around. And, you have a terrified kid hyperventilating in an old Acura. You might want to check on her before she has a heart attack.”

“How do you know that?” Paige stood and started to turn in a circle, wondering where Dax was and what he knew about this. “Where are you?”

Dax would never be able to describe the overwhelming relief he felt the instant he spotted Paige. “To the east, if I had to guess, I’d say your two o’clock.”

Paige swung around and spotted two men on the hill. She held back a smile when Dax gave her an exaggerated wave. “What are you doing up there?”

“Hawk followed his nose,” Dax shrugged. “We’ve got your nest, babe. Hawk and I will hang here until you’ve finished your work down there and can join us.”

“Dean is injured, and I know we have one more injury from the crash,” Paige glanced toward the truck and spotted the older man and the boy crawling out of a nearby ditch. *Good thinking.* “Jericho is on the way, but he had a meeting out at Laurel Bluffs. It might be awhile before I can join you.”

“I’ll maintain,” Dax hesitated. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” that’s when it hit her. Dax kept calling because he saw the destruction and he didn’t know if she was alive — or dead. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I didn’t know you were here,” Paige began. “I didn’t...”

“I know,” Dax assured her. “That’s why I kept calling. It’s not something I would normally do. I figured you’d realize that and get in touch.”

He sounded casual, but Paige knew it was an act. He’d been worried, she could tell just by the tone of his voice. “I’ll get up there as soon as I can. Right now, I need to check on the teen and the others.”

“Get the medics up here,” Dean couldn’t sit up, but he wasn’t helpless. “I’ll hang here with Nurse Nancy.”

“Tracy,” the woman corrected.

Dean smiled but remained focused on Paige. “You check on the man with the head wound.”

“First, I need to calm down a terrified teenager,” she smiled at Dean. “I’ll trade you places.”

“Wish I could,” Dean sobered. “I’m pretty sure my head is about to explode, though. Guess you better sooth the kid.”

“Dispatch,” Paige said into the radio. “Send in medical. Multiple injuries. I’ll take as many as I can get at this point.”

“Copy,” the air went silent for several seconds. “You have an EMT vehicle and two ambulances headed in now. They’ll assess and determine if they need additional manpower. Direct them to the most severe case and they’ll take it from there.”

“Copy,” Paige stepped around her vehicle just in time to intercept the EMTs. “I’m told there’s a man in the truck down there with a head wound. It happened in the initial crash. I never made it far enough to evaluate. I was headed that way when the gunfire started. Deputy Bridges is over there, sandwiched between our vehicles. He also has a head wound, but he’s coherent. I’ll see what I can do about the girl in the car.”

“I’ll head to the truck,” the driver told her. “The rig will come with me, Sam will stay here to deal with the deputy. Let me know if you need help with the teen. She looks shocky, but not injured — then again, I could be wrong. You never know until you know.”

“I’ll advise,” Paige took a deep breath and started for the car. She was about to make contact when she spotted Jericho. Logan and Havi pulled in behind him. She considered, then decided Jericho could wait. She reached out, pulled open the door and focused on the girl. “Are you hurt?”

The girl continued to suck in air and frantically slapped at the seat belt release.

Paige crouched down and took the girls hand in hers. “Hey,” she soothed. “I need to know if you’re hurt. Look at me. Just me. You need to take slower breaths. In… out… in… out.”

“I…” she hiccuped through violent sobs.

“What’s your name?” Paige asked, hoping to draw her attention away from the panic.

“Bianca,” she choked.

“Okay, Bianca,” Paige reached across her body and released the seat belt. “Can you move? Do you think you can get out of the car? I need to make sure you haven’t been injured.”

“I…” she took another long breath. “Okay.” She slowly slid one leg around, then the other. Her entire body was shaking uncontrollably.

“How are you feeling?” Paige asked. “Any pain? Did you hurt yourself when you crashed into the car? Any dizziness?”

“No,” Bianca shook her head. “I’m not hurt. I’m okay.”

“Good,” Paige relaxed. She was studying the vehicle and realized it didn’t have one bullet hole. Bianca wasn’t the target — just a traumatized witness.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MPS_Paige-Carter-S4E7_Teen.jpg)

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![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MPS_Paige-Carter-S4E7_Paramedic.jpg)

\*\*\*\*\*

Jericho stood back and waited for Paige to deal with the upset teen. The area looked like a war zone. And, it didn’t escape his notice the bulk of the damage was directed at his deputies. *Was this personal? A madman who just wanted to take out a cop?* In all the chaos, nobody seemed to have seen anything. Margie had reports of maybe a truck, maybe a sports utility vehicle, maybe a man, maybe middle aged, maybe in his twenties. Once the shooting began, that’s all anyone focused on. It would be a miracle if they tracked down the shooter at all.

Paige escorted Bianca to the EMTs then headed for her boss. “I need to get up on the hill.”

“Because?” Jericho glanced up and spotted two men.

“That’s Dax and Hawk,” Paige responded to his frown. “They found the nest. The spot where the sniper set up to ambush us. I need to process it, see if there are any clues up there…” she glanced around. “Because there aren’t any down here.”

“Where is Dean?”

“Over there,” she pointed to her car. “The EMT is making sure he’s stable before they transport.”

“Let me have a word,” Jericho sighed. “Then we’ll head up and see what the boys have.”

Paige pulled in behind Dax’s SUV and took a few seconds to look around. It was a good hiding place. She couldn’t even see the vehicle from below. She was studying the ground when Dax moved in beside her. “I assume that was you.” She pointed to the tire tracks in the dirt.

“Yeah,” Dax shrugged. “We were in a hurry. Gunfire tends to generate that reaction. Well, it does for us.” He reached out and ran a hand down her arm. He needed the contact. “The truck slid a bit before I got it stopped. You okay?”

“Yeah,” Paige sighed. “I don’t — ”

Jericho stepped forward. “I’m heading down,” he motioned to the side where the ridge tapered off and flowed into a stand of trees. “Hawk says that’s where our man set up.” He glanced at Dax then back to Paige. “You two take a minute, this can wait.”

Paige watched him walk away. She knew he was giving her permission to take a personal moment with her husband. The instant he faded into the trees, she turned back around and placed her hands on either side of Dax’s face. “I’m fine.”

Dax silently studied her face, then pulled her against him and wrapped his arms around her in a desperate hug. They stood there for several seconds before Dax pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers. “You scared me.”

“I know,” Paige straightened then linked her hand with his. “Sorry.”

“I know,” Dax gave her hand a quick squeeze then the two of them headed for the tree line where her boss had just disappeared.

“Well,” Dax studied the spent casings that covered the ground. “Apparently nobody taught the man to police his brass.”

“Not military,” Hawk agreed. “And the gun jammed.”

“What makes you think so?” Paige wondered. “It would explain the time lapse. I wondered why he let me pull Dean to safety once he was injured. We were out in the open, he had to have a clean shot at one of us, but he didn’t take it. It all happened fast, just a few seconds tops. Dean went flying and landed in the road. I rushed out and the nurse helped me get him situated between our vehicles. Then the world exploded.”

“You lost me,” Hawk glanced at Dax and knew this was going to be difficult to hear, but they needed to know.

Paige explained the events and the delay while she pulled Dean to safety, ending with bullets flying everywhere.

“And he focused on the patrol vehicles,” Jericho added.

“So,” Dax considered. Knowing how close Paige had come to getting shot, then the risk she took to save Dean, was giving him a bad moment but he had to put it aside. “The target was either you, Dean, or the nurse.”

“I’d have to agree,” Jericho nodded. “But the nurse, by all accounts, is a happily married woman with a young family. Her kids are in elementary school, she had just dropped them off and was headed for work when all of this happened.”

“And her husband?” Hawk wondered. “Anything in his job or personal life that might set someone off?”

“We’ll have to look into it,” Paige moved toward the pile of casings. “But so far, no. Now, explain how you know the gun jammed?”

“I can see a bullet in that pile of brass,” Hawk shrugged. “Once you retrieve it, take a close look. Odds are good you’ll find some slight scraping from when it jammed and then cleared. Regardless, a live bullet among the empty casings tells me the gun jammed.”

“We’ll get forensics up here once they’ve finished down on the highway,” Jericho advised.

“There might not be a target,” Dax hesitated.

“Meaning?” Paige asked.

“The target might be cops in general,” Dax frowned. “His goal could be to kill a cop, any cop, he might not care who it is.”

“I thought of that,” Jericho admitted. “I don’t like it, but it’s possible. Makes investigating difficult, though. If Paige or Dean was the target, it gives us something to look into. Random gives us nothing.”

“Targeted doesn’t give us much,” Paige disagreed. “I’ve been in law enforcement more than a decade. There are innumerable cases, not just during my time out here, but also when I was chasing serial killers for the FBI, that are controversial. I couldn’t begin to narrow down suspects at this point.”

“We saw a guy leaving the area in a hurry,” Dax provided. “A guy in an old white truck.”

“Witnesses told Margie it was a truck that started all of this,” Jericho considered. “They also said it could have been an SUV.”

“What did start this?” Hawk asked.

“Hit and Run,” Paige moved forward and crouched to get a closer look at something on the ground.

“Did you find something?” Jericho asked.

“Cigarette butt,” Paige stood. “I need my bag.”

“I’ll get it,” Dax offered and headed back to the vehicles. He needed a few minutes alone to settle his nerves. Paige could have died today. One slight deviation, one lucky shot, and he would have lost her. Knowing that, having it shoved in his face this way, was a little unnerving.

“He’s worried about you,” Hawk watched Dax leave.

“I know,” Paige frowned, “but, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“You didn’t see him,” Hawk continued. “Dax is good under pressure. He’s the coolest, most level-headed man I know. This shook him. Seeing the damage down there nearly leveled him. I know this is going to keep you busy and you’ll probably take a few risks before it’s all done. Just remember you’re married now. You have a husband who loves you.”

“I’m well aware of that, Hawk,” Paige grumbled.

“Try to remember you’re his entire world,” Hawk added.

“He’s right, seeing the destruction down there would have been like a punch to the gut,” Jericho thought about Chaya. Paige understood loss, but he wasn’t sure she understood the kind of loss a person felt when the love of their life was suddenly and violently taken from them. “Speaking of that,” he turned to face Hawk. “Why are you here, anyway?”

“Hawk recognized the shooting as a problem — we scoped the problem,” Dax provided as he handed Paige her go-bag.

“I’m not biting,” Jericho scowled. “Those first few shots could have been target practice. It’s common in this area.”

“I agree,” Hawk shrugged. “At first, we shrugged it off as reckless fun.”

“But?” Paige asked.

“But I wanted to be sure,” Hawk glanced at the casings. “It was too close to the road and I had a bad feeling, plus the timing… well, it piqued my interest. Could have been someone serious about their target practice, I didn’t think so. Like I said, too close the road and the rounds were carefully executed. Anyone that careful and calculating would know the laws and wouldn’t draw unnecessary attention to himself. He shot, then waited a few seconds like he was readjusting and focusing in, then took another shot. Those first three were precision shooting. The last was a temper tantrum, in my humble opinion.”

Paige was going over the entire incident in her head. “It fits,” she decided. “Dean and I arrived, and the nurse approached us immediately. We were gathering information from her — right out in the open — when the first shot rang out.” She began to pace the area. “This spot — it’s not that far away. It could be two men working together, one to set up and get into position up here, the other to cause the crash.”

“To set up the ambush,” Dax nodded.

“Or,” Jericho added. “It could be one man acting alone. He could have been the driver and that’s why he’s so close to the road. Cause a little hit and run, speed away, and slide your truck into those trees over there. If he had the gun ready to go, it wouldn’t take long to set up and fire that first shot. From the reports the initial contact with the Camry was basically a PIT maneuver. She lost control, struck the first truck, which slid into the second truck. A few seconds later you have a chaotic scene in desperate need of a cop. It was well executed — like a pro.”

“A pro could do it easy enough,” Hawk agreed. “But this guy’s not a pro.”

“You sure about that?” Paige asked.

“Positive,” Hawk moved to stand on the edge of the tree line, parallel to where the shooter set up. “If I wanted to take out a cop — or two — I wouldn’t set up here. Over there you’ve got a cleaner shot, the vehicles are obstructing from this angle, ten feet to the north, they’re still obstructed, but I could make the shot. The angle’s better.”

“And,” Dax joined his friend, “then there’s the weapon. A pro would use a .308 not a .223.”

“And a pro wouldn’t have missed,” Hawk added. “He had a shot of you and Bridges, the nurse too — if you still want to include her in the mix. He had a clean shot before you even knew he was up here. A pro could have eliminated all three of you while you stood out in the open chatting, then drove away clean. This wasn’t the work of a pro.”

“I agree,” Jericho glanced around. “A pro wouldn’t have left that, either.” He pointed to the array of casings scattered around the area.

“No,” Hawk focused on the sheriff. “This was personal and, unless you find some nefarious dealings with the nurse or her husband, the target was one — or both — of your deputies.”

“And the job wasn’t finished,” Dax realized. He focused on Paige. “You’re still in danger.”

“IF he was after me,” Paige sighed and relented. “And, yeah, I know with my background, especially the FBI stuff, that I’m the likely choice. If he’s after me, it’s going to take time to figure out who. I’ve worked a lot of cases throughout my career. All those files, it’s a ginormous haystack, I’ll never find the needle.”

Jericho focused on Dax. “There’s another possibility.”

“I thought of that,” Dax nodded. “I’ll meet with the team as soon as we’re finished here. We’ll see if there’s anyone nearby that we may have pissed off.”

“Focus on spouses or loved ones,” Jericho suggested. “If they have a beef with you but they’re after Paige, it might follow you took out their spouse and they want to reciprocate.”

“Right,” Dax’s mind was racing. There were so many possibilities. The most obvious one was something none of them had thought of because they didn’t know it was a possibility.

Paige turned to Dax. “I know you had a busy day planned today. I’m going to be at least an hour up here, maybe two. Why don’t you and Hawk head back to the Center? I’ll stop in once I’ve cleared here and conduct an official interview with both of you.”

“Good idea,” Jericho focused on Hawk. “Seems you know your stuff. I assume you have experience — as a marksman?”

“I do,” Hawk nodded.

“Mind if we keep you on tap?” Jericho asked. “I’m hoping we can catch this guy before he strikes again but if not — ”

“I’ll be here,” Hawk agreed. “Whatever you need.”

“Thanks,” Jericho smiled. “Go ahead and take off. I’m sure you have top secret training ops to plan.”

Dax took Paige’s hand and grinned at her scowl. “Walk me to the car.”

“Why?” Paige tried to pull away.

Dax leaned forward and whispered close to her ear. “Because you’re my wife and you’re contractually obligated.” He gave her earlobe a gentle nip before he turned and pulled her forcefully toward the trees.

“I’m working,” Paige protested.

The instant they were out of the sight, Dax grabbed Paige around the waist and sandwiched her between his body and a nearby tree. He pressed his mouth to hers in a desperate and wild kiss. After a few seconds, it turned loving, then he shifted and deepened the kiss into a passionate promise of more. Finally, he stepped back.

Paige took several seconds to calm her breathing and her racing heart. The man had moves. With very little effort, he could take her breath away while leaving her frustrated and on the verge of begging — for more. She narrowed her eyes at him when she realized he was grinning. It was a satisfied cat just ate the canary grin. “No kissing,” she hissed. “I’m working here.”

The grin turned into a huge smile, amusement sparkled in his eyes. “Me too. I’ll be at the Center until fourteen hundred, then we have another appointment.”

“I’ll make it long before then,” she assured him. She slugged him in the stomach when he leaned in and gave her another quick peck on the lips before turning to walk away. She nearly missed; he was that quick. She shook her head, turned and headed back to the scene. She had work to do.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Alright, spill,” Hawk demanded. He was driving now. They had made their way back to the highway and were speeding toward town.

“There’s another possibility we didn’t discuss up there,” Dax turned and gave his friend a grim, worried look. “Contreras.”

Hawk’s eyes widened in surprise. “I didn’t think of that. It’s his MO, but we’ve been careful. There is no way he knows we have his cash.”

“You sure about that?” Dax asked. The men had spent a lot of money while he was away on his honeymoon. It was time to double check. He had to make sure they covered their tracks and laid enough breadcrumbs that anyone that did came looking would find a logical explanation for the sudden influx in the budget.

“I’m sure,” Hawk said confidently. “Carmen handled it, but I checked her work. I did a search. There’s nothing to find, nothing Contreras has the ability to find. We’re covered, Dax. I just don’t see how he could know.”

“He’d go after Paige first,” Dax pushed. “Paige and Jaimie. Contreras is smart enough to know he couldn’t hit any of us directly. We have training and experience. His goons are hacks. But he could hit Paige. Today proved just how vulnerable she is when she’s working.”

“We’ll take another look,” Hawk decided. “I’ll have Zeus call Carmen in. We’ll sit down and go over everything just to make sure, but I don’t see it. It feels personal to me. I think someone’s been harboring a grudge. The question is ‘against who’ and only Dean or Paige will be able to figure that one out.”

The instant they arrived at the Training Center; Dax locked himself in his office. An hour later, he had a detailed drawing of the driver of the truck completed and ready to distribute. *None too soon*, he thought when he heard the impatient knock on his door. “It’s open,” he called out.

Zee and Carmen stepped into the office. “Hawk tells me you have doubts about my work,” Carmen said as she dropped into one of his comfortable visitor chairs. “Don’t. I’ve covered my tracks and then I covered them again. Nobody, not even the hot-shot geeks at Quantico, could follow the money. I’m just that good.”

Dax smiled. “I know you are that good, but someone took a shot at Paige this morning and I need to be sure it’s not our not-so-friendly drug lord south of the border.”

Hawk stepped in, spotted the drawing on top of the desk and picked it up. He studied it for several seconds then dropped it back on the desk in front of Dax. “He had a scar over his right eye.”

“What?” Dax let his gaze skim the drawing again. “I didn’t see a scar.”

“Because you were too busy playing chicken with a madman,” Hawk settled into a chair. “Trust me, there was a scar. Ran just above the eyebrow.” He closed his eyes and tried to call up the image. “Jagged, not smooth, about three quarters of an inch long, no more than an inch tops.”

Dax pulled the image toward him, hesitated, then added a scar.

Hawk nodded once. “Better.”

Wooly stepped into the office, glanced around, then took a seat. Vato followed and did the same.

“Alright,” Dax began. “Now that we’re all here, I want to start by discussing the shooting that occurred this morning.” He outlined what happened and his concerns. “Carmen, I know you’re confident in your work and I don’t want to offend you, but I need you to go over it one more time. I need to be sure Contreras is not the one taking shots at my wife.”

“I’ll double check it, but it’s not him,” Carmen assured him. “I’m sure of it. I’ve been watching his organization for several months now — for Paige. She wants to know if Scratch lands back here in Manti. I’ve been keeping an eye out for him and the others. I haven’t detected any activity from Contreras, not here in Utah.”

“Wooly,” Dax shoved the drawing toward him. “Run it. See if you can identify him. You’ll need to take a copy. I have to give that one to Paige. She’s going over her old cases and Jericho wants Dean to do the same once he’s released from the hospital. I know I could be wrong. I hope I am wrong, and this has nothing to do with us. I hope that man can be linked to a previous case one of them worked years ago. I just need to cover all the bases.”

Ken stood, snapped a photo with his phone then pushed the drawing back to Dax. “That’s all I need. I’ll get on it. He doesn’t look familiar. I’m fairly confident this guy doesn’t belong to Contreras. If he does, he’s new. I’ll check, but I have to agree with Carmen on this one. We’re headed down the wrong road here. We have to follow it, but I don’t expect to find anything. I think this one is going to lead back to one of the cops. Or, it’s just a crazed madman that wants to take out a cop and he doesn’t care which one.”

“Where are we at on the trailer?” Vato considered the topic of Paige closed and decided to move on. “Has this scared you enough you’re bagging the plan we all agreed on?”

“What plan is that?” Dax focused on Vato with barely contained anger.

Vato squirmed, a little. Dax had that effect on people — especially when he was pissed. Right now, he was livid. “The plan to use some of the cash to purchase a decent unit rather than settling for some handy POS.”

“We didn’t agree on that,” Hawk stepped in. “We agreed to use the remaining legitimate funds and buy something that actually fit into the budget.”

“We could get a better unit if we just used the cash and found something on a lot,” Vato pushed. “We all know it. If Dax was still lounging on a beach with his new wife, you wouldn’t hesitate.”

“You’re wrong,” Hawk headed Dax off. “We used the funds as we needed but we were cautious. Flashing thirty thousand at some used trailer lot might be easier, but it wouldn’t be cautious. In fact, it would be stupid. I don’t do stupid.”

Vato jumped to his feet.

“Sit down,” Dax ordered. “The unit we’re looking at this afternoon looks promising. I did a little research. The floor plan is about as perfect as you can get. We’ll still have to do a little remodeling, but the price is right, and the layout is right. If the condition is right, we’ll make an offer and this task will be finished. We need to discuss the upcoming session. We only have one week before the men start to arrive. This first go-around has to be perfect. We want return customers and that means the client goes home happy.” He glanced up at the soft knock on the door. “It’s open.”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Paige pushed the door open and leaned against the door jamb. “I can see you’re busy. Maybe I could borrow Hawk first. It should give you enough time to finish up this meeting.”

Hawk stood. “I’m up to speed. We can discuss anything I missed on our way to check out the trailer this afternoon.”

“Alright,” Dax nodded and waited for Hawk to leave the room.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Okay,” Paige settled into one of Dax’s soft leather chairs. “Hawk took me through what happened this morning. I just need you to walk me through what you remember, and I’ll get out of your hair.”

Dax pushed his chair back, away from the desk. “Come over here,” he held back a grin.

“No,” Paige frowned. “This is official business, Dax. I’ll conduct it from here.”

“Alright,” he snatched the drawing off the desk and opened a drawer on his desk. “I was going to give you some information, but I guess it’s not important.”

“What information?”

“You’ll have to come over here, next to me, if you want to see it,” he waited. It only took five seconds. She was up and around the desk holding out her hand. Dax reached around and gently began to run his palm up the inside of her leg. He was only a couple inches above her knee when she swatted it away. He chuckled, feigned surrender, and pressed his knuckles into the back of her knee. When her leg buckled and she started to waver, he pulled.

Paige tried to stifle the laugh but failed. She landed in Dax’s lap with an ungraceful thud. “I’m still working. This is an official interview, Dax. Let me up.”

“Take a break,” he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. “I miss having you all to myself twenty-four hours a day. Our honeymoon wasn’t nearly long enough.”

Paige managed to sit up but, when she pushed forward and tried to stand, Dax stopped her. She shifted but hesitated when he slid the drawing of a man in front of her. “What’s this?” She was suddenly serious.

“The man driving the truck,” Dax knew he had her attention, but it wouldn’t last long. Any second, she’d remember where she was sitting and insist on moving. “I sketched it for you, Hawk added a few details as well. It’s as close as we’re going to get to the man that nearly wiped us out. We only saw him for a few seconds.

Paige shifted and looked at Dax in amazement. “You drew this? You got a quick look at the guys face when he drove past, and you drew this — from that?”

“Yeah,” Dax shrugged. “It would be sharper if I hadn’t been dodging, trying to avoid a collision, but it’s close enough.”

She studied it for a few more seconds. “I don’t recognize him. I’ve been going over cases in my mind all day, thinking about the ones that might come back on me. There are some — there’s almost always a relative, or a loved one, that’s convinced we got the wrong guy. Their brother, father, mother wasn’t capable of the horrible things we accused them of doing. They cling to the belief we messed up, have the wrong guy. Usually, they turn that anger, that denial, onto us. We become the bad guy. I learned to deal with it pretty early on. You have to. This picture — it’s not someone I remember.”

“Take it,” Dax offered. “Maybe Dean will recognize him. Maybe it’s not you, after all.”

“I’d like to say that would be a relief,” Paige set the paper on the desk and turned to face Dax. “I don’t think it matters. Me, Dean, the nurse — it doesn’t matter who. The guy we’re looking for didn’t care if he killed other people as long as he hit his mark. He failed, which means he’ll come after us again. I know you’re worried about me. I know there’s nothing I can do to ease that concern, or to spare you all the stress. All I can do is say I’m sorry for it.”

“I know there’s a risk,” Dax spoke softly. “Every time you walk out the door, I know, and I accept that. I thought I understood. I was a soldier. I marched into battle willingly, knowing the risks, knowing I might not come home. It’s different on the other side. I don’t think I truly understood what I put my family through every time I headed off on another secret mission. Standing on that ridge today, seeing what was done to your vehicle, not seeing you, not being able to contact you — ”

“I know,” Paige settled in closer and rested her head on his shoulder. “How can I make it easier? Because this one worries me, Dax. We’re dealing with a dangerous man — one that didn’t leave me any clues to follow. And, he’s not done.”

Dax smiled. “That’s not your job. It’s your job to chase down the bad guys and stop them. You will stop this one, and I’ll be home waiting for you once you do. You have accepted my past, my secret missions for Nathan, and this training center. I accept you. I accept all of you. Just don’t take to many risks. Promise me you’ll be careful. I love you, Paige. I don’t think I can manage without you.”

Paige stood, leaned forward, placed a hand on each arm rest, and trapped him in the chair. She studied his face, wanting to ease the worry she saw there. Instead, she brushed a gentle kiss over his lips. “Same goes.” She moved back to the visitor’s chair. “Now, run me through what happened this morning and don’t leave anything out.”

He waged a silent war within himself but, in the end, his need to protect her won. He knew he should tell her all about the money, his fear Contreras was behind all of this because his team stole the maniac’s money, and the danger she could face because of it. He knew it was a lead, one she’d insist on following. He also knew, if he confessed it all now, she’d be distracted. She’d be upset with him, furious he kept it from her and distracted. He couldn’t risk it. Her job was too dangerous at the moment, Paige needed a clear head, revealing something that would interfere with her concentration could be deadly. No, confessing his sins would have to wait. He just hoped he hadn’t already waited too long. Couldn’t be changed. For now, duty called. He took a deep breath and began to describe his morning.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige made her way down the long hallway and tried to ignore the smell of — hospital. She failed. Dean’s room was easy to find, he had a uniformed officer standing guard outside. She flashed her badge and ID then stepped inside the room. The first thing she noticed was Jericho sitting casually on the couch reading a magazine.

She crossed the room and dropped down next to him. “Anything new? Other than the armed guard outside.”

Jericho set the magazine aside and focused on Dean. “The doctor wanted to keep him overnight. He’s pretty sure the kid just has a severe concussion. They gave him a heavy dose of pain meds then sedated him. He’s out for the night. You might as well head home, too. Logan and Havilland have the city covered. Lovato will be working the graveyards with Gage. This can wait until morning.”

“Where did you get the cop?” Paige wondered. “I didn’t recognize him.”

“Laurel Bluffs,” Jericho admitted. “Chief Beckett called, wanted to know what he could do to help. With Dean out cold for the night, I wanted someone watching over him just in case.”

“Good thinking,” Paige agreed. “Are you going home?” Paige wondered.

“Yeah,” Jericho settled back. “Soon.”

Paige pulled out the drawing Dax created and passed it to Jericho.

“Who is this?”

“The man Dax and Hawk saw speeding away.” Paige sighed. “Could be nothing, could be our sniper. I wanted Dean to look at it, see if he recognizes the man because I didn’t — don’t. He doesn’t look familiar to me. I may forget names, but I remember faces and I’m fairly certain I’ve never seen that one before.”

“Put it away until morning,” Jericho handed the drawing back to her. “Dean will be awake and you can run it by him. Go home, Paige.” He stood. “I’ll walk you out.”

“And you’ll go home, too?” she wondered.

“I will.”

\*\*\*\*\*

The following morning Paige, once again, made her way down the long corridor that lead to Dean’s room. She wasn’t at all surprised to see Jericho was already there.

“Paige,” Dean pushed his body into a sitting position.

“You look better,” Paige moved forward and settled onto the couch. “How do you feel?”

“Head still aches, but mostly I’m fine,” Dean frowned. “The doc said he’d release me this morning, but no word yet on when.”

Paige pulled the sheet of paper out and handed it to Dean. “Dax and Hawk saw that guy speeding away from the area after the shooting. I don’t recognize him, do you?”

Dean frowned and studied the drawing closely. “Maybe,” he glanced up and locked eyes with Jericho. “He resembles someone I knew once. I haven’t seen him in years, and I could be wrong, but — ”

“Who?” Jericho was afraid he already knew the answer.

“Harold Kingsley had a lot of relatives,” Dean handed the sketch back to Paige. “This could be a brother or a cousin. He did have a brother, what was his name? Evan, no Ethan. Ethan Kingsley. This could be him. I never actually met him, just saw him a few times at… well, I saw him.”

“Paige,” Jericho continued to watch Dean. “Step outside.”

“Huh?” Paige was focused on the sketch but looked up in surprise at the request. “Why?”

“Because your boss told you to,” Jericho said impatiently.

Paige looked from Jericho to Dean and, scowling, made her way to the entrance. She let the door close behind her, but immediately began to pace. Every few seconds she would glance through the window, curious and angry that she’d been ordered out of the room like a child. Dean and Jericho were engaged in a heated debate for several minutes before Jericho motioned for Paige to return.

“Before you say anything,” Jericho jumped in. “Dean is going to share some sensitive and highly personal information with you. It does not leave this room. He thinks you need to know everything if you’re going to investigate.

*Interesting*, Paige thought. “You can trust me.”

“If I didn’t believe that,” Jericho frowned, “we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“I’m not entirely sure that is Ethan Kingsley. Harold came from a big family and there were lots of cousins, uncles and nephews.”

“Why does that name sound familiar to me?” Paige wondered.

“It should,” Jericho laughed. “The man killed at least fifteen women before he got dead himself.”

“Right,” Paige moved to the couch and slowly lowered herself onto the cushions. “He was murdered by his own son. I didn’t work the case. I was knee-deep in the Blue Mountain Butcher case at the time. Sean worked it, though.”

“I didn’t realize,” Dean frowned and wondered how much the fed remembered.

“Even if Sean recognized you from the case, he’d never say a word,” Paige assured him. “How were you connected? I don’t remember the name Bridges with that one.”

“My family officially changed our names,” Dean admitted. “The whole ordeal was such a fiasco and the media was relentless. After the case closed, we all petitioned the court together and then had the records sealed. Bridges was my mother’s maiden name.”

“I’m ordering you to keep that to yourself, Paige,” Jericho supplied.

“Right,” Paige growled. “Because I was going to head on over to the local news station and give them a hot scoop. Utah cop changed name after controversy details at ten.”

“Both of you stop,” Dean said quickly. Jericho was about to erupt; it was written all over his face. “I trust you and I need you to know what happened. I guess, in a twisted, illogical way, it might explain the reason that man took a few shots at us. Well, it might if it’s a relative of Howard Kingsley.”

“Go ahead,” Paige settled back and waited.

“Like I said, mom’s family name was Bridges. My father was a Clawson.”

“As in Mandy Clawson?” Paige asked, surprised.

“She’s my sister,” Dean admitted.

“That makes James Clawson your father,” Paige realized. “But he was exonerated. The son did it,” Paige frowned.

“To protect Mandy,” Dean reminded her. “And Harold’s family never believed he killed those girls, or that Allen killed his own father. They still blame my family for all of it.”

“That’s more common than you might think,” Paige told him. “People don’t want to believe the person they love is capable of such horrific, inhumane acts. They live in denial long after the evidence proves they’re guilty.”

“As you probably know,” Dean continued. “Kingsley tried to abduct Mandy. She was dating his son, Allen, at the time. She left his house and was walking home when Harold attacked her. You might not know I was the one that stepped in and saved her. It was dumb luck, really. I was seventeen and working a part-time job for the summer. One of the guys called in sick and I had to stay and work instead of heading out of town to party with my friends. We closed up, I headed home and came around the corner to see Harold struggling to load Mandy into the back of his van — she was fighting like a caged alley cat. I would have beat the man to a bloody pulp if it wasn’t for Mandy. She was hysterical. I got her home and my dad went nuts.”

“Did you guys report the assault?” Paige wondered.

“Yeah,” Dean sighed. “For all the good it did. Dad was ready to head straight to the Kingsley farm and kill Harold that night. Mom talked him down and called the cops. Mandy was a mess and not a good witness. Harold denied everything. As a family, we finally decided to focus on Mandy and drop the charges.”

“Why couldn’t you do both?” Jericho wondered.

“Mandy couldn’t handle it,” Dean admitted. “She was dealing with too much. Not just the attack, but an attack by her boyfriend’s father. She really liked Allen, but she couldn’t stand being around him. She finally refused to see him. The idea of facing him and his father in court really freaked her out.”

“And then Harold ended up dead and your family became the prime suspects in his murder,” Paige realized.

“Yeah,” Dean agreed. “And the cop remembered dad’s demeanor and his comments the night we reported the attack. He threatened to kill Harold. It was all they needed. They focused in on dad and didn’t look at anyone else.”

“Sean did tell me that,” Paige admitted. “We talked our cases through — often, even when we weren’t working together. We met up and talked through the Kingsley case. Sean was out on an island and needed confirmation he was headed in the right direction — the rest of the team disagreed with his assessment but he couldn’t let it go. He told me the locals zeroed in on someone, but he didn’t think they had the right guy. If I recall, he also said a family member did most of the real investigating before the Feds were called in.”

“It was me,” Dean admitted. “I think that’s when I decided to become a cop. Dad was charged with homicide and his attorney hired a PI, but the guy was green. We were working together to clear dad’s name. I think it was more luck than talent, but once we started looking, we realized — almost immediately — Harold had to be responsible for all the missing girls. We knew we were right once we located the cave. That’s when we notified dad’s attorney. Dad didn’t kill Harold, but someone did — he was dead. The attorney was the one that called it in to the FBI.”

“You located the cave?” Paige asked. “The one Harold kept the girls locked up in while he tortured and abused them?”

“We found it,” Dean admitted. “I knew if I found any evidence alone it would be tainted. I was the son of the accused. I never went anywhere without the PI. We found it, knew immediately it was some kind of prison. The PI spotted a huge lock of blonde hair. We backed away, careful not to disturb anything and contacted the lawyer. The FBI showed up the next day. I think the attorney put some pressure on someone and left my name out of it completely to keep it clean.”

“He must have,” Paige nodded. “It would have stuck out if the son of the man accused of killing Harold located the bat cave.”

“Right,” Dean agreed. “I do know the PI submitted his report and left me out altogether. He said I was a minor and my identity had to be protected. Anyway, the Kingsley’s refused to believe Harold had a part in the disappearance and murder of fifteen girls. You said women, but they were only kids. They accused dad’s attorney of planting evidence to frame Harold. Insisted Allen was innocent, and Mandy made the whole thing up. Every day one member of the family or another was on the news screaming about corruption, cover-ups and misdirection. The media ran with it. I suppose it pushed up the ratings. Nobody seemed to care they were ruining the lives of innocent victims.”

“You said you didn’t change your name until after,” Paige remembered. “Why did you wait? Why not move in the middle of it all and change your name, start a new life?”

“I was determined to go to the trial,” Dean admitted. “I was the only one but I had to know. I had to see for myself that Allen was convicted, and my family was in the clear. We thought once Allen was sentenced our lives would return to normal. They didn’t. The media didn’t stop. The Kingsley’s didn’t stop. Ultimately, we had to move, there was no other option.” He sighed and glanced out the window. “I know you expect me to say Allen Kingsley got what he deserved. I still struggle with it, though. I don’t know if the verdict was justice. I do know, Harold Kingsley was a monster and Allen is paying the price for his dad’s heinous crimes. It doesn’t surprise me to learn someone in that family still blames me.”

“He was an accomplice,” Paige argued. “He is paying the price for his own participation in those repulsive crimes.”

“Maybe,” Dean focused on her. “Or, maybe he was another victim.”

“He lured those girls out to their farm and turned them over to his sociopathic father,” Paige argued. “He bears just as much responsibility for what happened as a result of those actions as Harold does.”

“He was seventeen years old when he lured the last girl,” Dean said softly. “He started dating Mandy just before his eighteenth birthday. There was no proof he continued after that. I think it’s the reason Harold tried to eliminate Mandy. He wanted her out of the way, believing life would go back to the way it was before Allen fell in love with my sister.”

“What if he wasn’t in love?” Paige wondered. “What if it was a handy front? One that allowed him to continue the partnership unnoticed.”

“He loved her,” Dean said without a doubt. “That is the one thing I do know.”

“Maybe it’s the reason he killed his father,” Jericho provided.

Paige almost forgot Jericho was in the room. “Doesn’t matter. So, he loved her. He still helped his dad torture and kill fifteen girls.”

“No,” Dean studied Paige. “He lured fifteen girls out to the farm where his father took control of them, locked them into a make-shift prison he constructed from an old cave, where he tortured; and, ultimately, killed them. I’m not saying Allen’s innocent in all of this. I’m just saying one day he’s seventeen years old, a minor that has no individual rights or control over his life, a kid who was raised by a monster, and the next he’s eighteen and in love. A year later, he’s standing trial for killing the monster, and on top of that he’s blamed for the maniac’s heinous crimes. Someone had to pay and Harold was dead. Allen was the perfect stand-in. I don’t believe Allen would have confronted his father for anyone but Mandy — for anything but love. Maybe that’s enough to make the outcome just. I don’t know. But, I wonder, was he an abused kid conditioned to do what his father said, or was he a willing participant? I’m not sure any of us will ever know. I also think, if justice is the goal, the answer matters.”

“Right now,” Jericho cut in before Paige could continue the argument. “The question isn’t Allen Kingsley’s punishment and if it was appropriate. We need to figure out who wants you dead.”

“Start with Ethan,” Dean turned back to Paige. “I didn’t know him, but I heard he was close to his brother. I also heard he has a questionable past.”

“You didn’t look?” Paige asked in surprise.

“I was trying to get away from the past, not bring it into my new life,” Dean reminded her.

“What — ”

“Mr. Bridges,” the doctor said, stepping into the room. “I’m about to sign your discharge papers. Is there anything I need to know before I send you on your way?”

“No,” Dean assured him. “I’m doing much better this morning. I’d really just like to go home.”

“Give us fifteen minutes,” the doctor told him. “The nurse will be back to escort you out.”

“Do you have a ride home?” Paige asked.

“I was hoping one of you would do the honors,” Dean admitted.

“We’ll both go,” Jericho decided. “Paige, you load up Dean and follow me out. I want to get a look at the place, see if we need added protection until this thing is over.”

“I’m a cop,” Dean grumbled. “I don’t need protection.”

They ignored him and started to formulate a plan.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige slowly made her way up Dean’s driveway. She hated to admit it, but she was impressed. “I think I need to talk to the boss about a raise.”

“Racing,” Dean glanced around, wondering if the enemy could be hiding in the trees. “Pays well.”

“Why work the job when you could just do this?” Paige asked. “Have this. I know you’re good. I’ve seen you race. You’ve got natural talent. Why not focus on that?”

“Why did you leave the FBI to work for a small-town police department?” Dean challenged. “You’d be more effective, have more money and more prestige if you stayed in Washington.”

“True,” Paige grinned. “But the commute would be impossible.” She brought the vehicle to a stop in front of the large home and spotted Jericho on the porch waiting. Before climbing out, she reached into the back and released her rifle.

“Don’t you think that’s a little excessive?” Dean asked.

“Have you forgotten what it feels like to cower behind a vehicle while a maniac fires in your direction and all you have on you is a pistol?”

“Point taken,” Dean shoved open the door and started for the house, wishing he had his own rifle now.

They had just reached the porch, Dean was ascending the first step, Paige standing behind him, when the first shot rang out. Dean dove to the right behind a large metal cooler, Paige joined him. Jericho was using a large wooden pole attached to the railing for cover. Bullets flew by, splintered the thin wooden rail, shattered a clay pot, and ricocheted off the metal leg of a nearby chair.

Jericho shifted and fired in the general direction the shots were coming from. Paige followed his lead. The volley of gunfire intensified. Jericho aimed and fired two more rounds into the trees, then he dropped, blood immediately saturated his shirt on the left side of his torso.

“How bad?” Paige called out. “Jericho, answer me.” She wanted to run to him, she wanted to throw all her training out the window and make sure he was okay. Instead, she waited. The air around them had become eerily quiet. Not only because the shooting had stopped, but because not a creature was stirring; no birds chirping, no squirrels gathering nuts or leaves, nothing.

“We need to get him inside,” Dean pushed up and lunged across the opening, landing so close to Jericho’s body, Paige thought he was going to land on top of him.

“You get him inside,” Paige decided. “I’m going after the gunman.”

“No,” Jericho croaked out.

He was holding his side, blood covered his hand now, but Paige tried to ignore the panic and desperation she was feeling. “He’s not getting away this time.”

“Not alone,” Jericho tried to shove his body upwards. “Call for a back and wait.”

“You’re delirious,” Paige decided. “You have to be to think I’ll just sit out here and wait for help to arrive before I corner that maniac.”

“You’re delusional if you think I’ll allow the insubordination,” Jericho was sitting now. “Dean, go inside and see if you can find a towel or something. We need to put pressure on this wound until Margie can get me transport.”

“Call for help, Paige,” Dean demanded before he disappeared into the house.

“He’s going to escape,” Paige grumbled. “And we’re going to be dealing with this nonsense again tomorrow.” She ran her hand through her hair in frustration, dropped down next to Jericho, and contacted Margie. “Shots fired. I need medical. Patient is conscious, breathing and alert. Make sure they know we have an officer down with a gunshot wound to the left torso. Margie, I also need backup.”

“Carter from Havilland,” Duncan Havilland said the instant she stopped talking.

“Go,” Paige answered.

“What’s your location?”

“Dean’s place,” Havilland knew where Dean lived, and Paige knew that. The two of them hung out and talked racing every waking minute they weren’t working.

“Show me enroute,” Havi advised dispatch. “ETA two minutes.”

The instant Havilland pulled in, Paige was off the porch, darting toward his truck. “Grab your rifle, we need to go.”

Havilland glanced at the porch, decided Dean could handle Jericho and followed Paige across the open front yard. He had his own rifle slung over his shoulder. The instant they stepped into the dimly lit forest, he shifted the gun from his shoulder and held it in his left hand, prepared to raise and fire if necessary.

Paige slowly made her way through the woods. It didn’t take long before she spotted blood. So, one of them hit their target. Jericho wasn’t the only one leaving the area with a gunshot wound.

“He’s losing a lot of blood,” Havilland observed. “He won’t get far.”

They continued to follow the path of crimson liquid all the way to a narrow dirt road. The trail stopped and fresh tire marks told Paige, their suspect had vanished into the wind — again. In frustration, she kicked the trunk of a nearby tree. “I knew it! I knew if I waited we’d lose him.”

“It was the right thing to do,” Havi moved in beside her. “You know it. At least you would if you weren’t emotionally involved in this case.”

“I’m not emotionally involved,” Paige disagreed. “I’m frustrated and determined to catch the coward,” she paused to focus on her friend. “He is a coward. He can’t even confront his enemy head on. He hides in the trees and sets up an ambush. He’s a loser and a coward and I’m freakin’ pissed we lost him again.”

“Yeah,” Duncan grinned. “Because none of that screams emotionally involved. I stand corrected, pardon the mistake.”

“Bite me,” Paige growled before she turned and stomped back toward the house.

“I might,” Havilland called out to her. “If you weren’t married to the scariest man on the planet. Speaking of which,” Havilland considered.

“What?” Paige came to an abrupt stop before she turned to glare at her colleague.

“You should probably call him,” Havilland decided.

“Why?” Paige started forward again.

“To let him know you’re okay,” Havilland glanced pointedly at the media vans and the cameras the reporters were now setting up.

“Right,” Paige sighed and pulled out her phone.

“Miss me already?” Dax asked in greeting.

“I um…” Paige hesitated. “I’m just calling to let you know I’m okay.”

“What happened?” Dax sobered.

“Not anything too bad,” Paige lied. “I was just, well… there was another shooting. But I’m okay.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m at Dean’s house,” Paige frowned. “But Jericho was shot. I’m leaving here in a couple minutes. I want to follow the ambulance to the hospital and make sure he’s okay.”

“Did you catch the mystery man?” Dax wondered. If the shooting happened at Dean’s house, did that mean he was the target?

“No,” Paige admitted. “He got away, but he’s injured. Both Jericho and I shot back. One of us hit him. There’s a trail all the way out to a dirt road then it disappears.”

“I’ll get Ken working on identifying him from the sketch, then I’ll meet you at the hospital,” Dax decided.

“I’ll deal with that later,” Paige didn’t want Ken poking around, drawing the ire of a madman intent on killing toward Dax or the team. “Dean was the target. It has to do with his past, a family thing. I’ll fill you in on what I can later. Just don’t do anything that will redirect his attention to you or your men.”

“We’ll talk about it at the hospital,” Dax evaded.

“You don’t — ” she sighed. No reason to end that sentence, Dax already disconnected the call.

“You sure that’s a good idea?” Havi asked.

“What?”

“Maybe you should stay out here, gather clues and do what it is that you do and I can follow the ambulance to the hospital and make sure the boss is stable,” Havi offered.

“There’s nothing I can do here,” Paige glanced around. “We’ll have forensics gather up the blood and the empty casings, but beyond that, there’s nothing to find.”

“You’re probably right,” Havilland told her. “I’ll direct them in, see if they can get a cast of those tracks, too. Could be the tires are unique and we can narrow down the vehicle.”

“Thanks,” she put a hand on his arm. “Let’s go check on the boss.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax stepped into the waiting room and immediately spotted Paige. She looked tired and a little lost. He was halfway across the room when she turned and locked eyes with his. He detected a million emotions in that one look. Without saying a word, he stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her, and silently held her for several seconds. Her body shook and he could tell she was fighting to keep her emotions under control. Paige was such a strong woman — a true warrior — allowing herself a moment to just feel, to let loose and give in to the emotions was always an internal battle with her. He stepped back, took her hand and led her out of the room.

“Where are we going?” Paige didn’t think they should leave. “What if the surgeon can’t find me?”

“I checked at the desk when I arrived,” Dax assured her. “Jericho will be in surgery for another hour at least. We need privacy and you need a break.” He pushed on a door, grateful when it opened. The room was a smaller version of the waiting room they just left. He stepped inside, pulling Paige in behind him, then let the door close. After a slight hesitation, he flipped the lock.

“I don’t think—”

“Shut up, Paige,” Dax pulled her across the room and settled into an old, well-used lounge chair. Once he was settled, he pulled Paige onto his lap. “Just let go, baby.”

“I can’t,” Paige took a deep breath. “We didn’t get him. I should have chased after him but Jericho ordered me to wait. He was lying there bleeding all over the place and he ordered me to wait for backup.”

“He was right,” Dax said softly. “I know that’s not what you want to hear with your boss lying on the operating table fighting for his life, but he was right. The man you’re after is dangerous. Nobody should go after him alone.”

“I thought he was fine,” Paige sighed. “I stood over him and saw the blood, but he was talking, giving orders, being his usual bossy self so I thought—”

“He’s going to be fine,” Dax pressed a kiss to the back of her head. “And, once he’s off the operating table and settled into a room where he can start to recover, you and the boys will catch the man that did this.”

“I’m being ridiculous,” Paige impatiently wiped a tear from her cheek. “I’m sitting here crying because my boss took a bullet.”

“We both know Jericho is much more to you than a boss,” Dax turned her face toward his and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “Don’t minimize the relationship you share with him. Jericho Walters is family — to both of us. We’ll get through this together, I promise.”

“Okay,” Paige took a deep breath. “I’m not sure how much I should tell you, but I don’t think you need to go over your past missions any longer. We know who this is — well, we have a general idea. The DNA will confirm, but this isn’t about me or you. It’s about Dean.”

Dax relaxed. This wasn’t about him and it wasn’t about the money. He would tell Paige about that, when the moment was right, but it was an immense weight off his shoulders knowing the danger came from Dean, not him. “Can you tell me about it?”

“Later,” Paige decided. “I’ll tell you what I can later. Right now, I want to focus on Jericho.” She stood, wiped the moisture from her face and held out a hand. “Margie and the others are on their way over. I need to be there, I need to explain what happened once they arrive.”

“Alright,” Dax stood and took her hand. They were almost to the door when he stopped her, turned her to face him and kissed her. This kiss was gentle and supportive. “I’m here for you, Paige. Lean on me, I won’t let you fall.”

Paige gave him a weak smile. “I know.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Four hours later, Jericho was out of surgery and recovering in ICU. They had to remove his spleen, but the doctors believed he would make a full recovery. Paige was now lying across her bed, Dax settled at her feet. He was giving her the most amazing foot massage she had ever experienced. “I’ll give you an hour to stop that,” she moaned.

“Tell me about this guy. Why is he after Dean?” Dax wondered. “The kid is probably the most likeable cop you have in the department.”

“I thought that was me,” Paige feigned hurt.

“Nope,” Dax grinned. “You’re the most meticulous. You’re also the sexiest, the most adorable and the most stubborn. Dean’s likeable.”

“You’re right,” Paige decided. “About Dean.”

“I’m right about you, too,” he lifted her leg and pressed a gentle kiss to her ankle before shifting it aside and picking up her other foot. “Tell me what you can.”

“I know I’m stalling, but I don’t know how much to share here,” she dropped her head on her pillow and let out a huge, audible sigh. “Dean told me some stuff in confidence. It’s personal and if anyone found out about it — well, let’s just say it would be complicated and intolerable.”

“Are you worried I’ll tell someone,” Dax wondered. “Or are you worried about betraying a trust?”

“The trust thing,” Paige said immediately. “I know you wouldn’t say anything to anyone. But, just to be clear, anything I do tell you — it has to stay here, with you and me. You can’t share it with your men.”

“So,” Dax said slowly. “Both then.”

“No, I…” Paige paused. “Maybe. I know you tell your guys everything.”

“Not everything,” Dax disagreed. “You have to trust the people you work with. They have to trust you. If this is about trust, Dean’s trust, I can live with that. You don’t have to tell me anything. It’s enough to know it was about him, not me — or you.”

“I don’t know how to do this,” Paige growled. “How do I maneuver through the gray area? Dean told me some stuff about the case, Jericho brought you into the case. Then there’s the whole contractually obligated thing. Am I contractually obligated to tell you? How far does that contract go? What secrets are acceptable? I just don’t know.”

Dax laughed and stretched out next to her on the bed. He pulled her against him and ran his hand down her arm. “You and I, we will always have secrets. You on a case, me when I’m working something hot with Nathan. It’s part of the package. I can live with it. I knew the score, Paige. I accepted the entire sordid bundle of complications when I married you. There is no contract that says what we tell each other, and when.” He truly hoped that was true.

“Sharing my work,” Paige turned to face him. “That’s our thing. Walking you through a case helps me organize my thoughts. It helps me see things I missed before. I’m struggling to do that with this one because it’s all so personal — and emotional. Havi told me that and I jumped down this throat, but he was right. I want this guy, bad. That’s emotion talking. The maniac shot at me, twice in as many days. I want to shove his rifle down his throat for what he’s done — to me, to Dean, and to Jericho. I’m not staying objective on this. Dean is far from unbiassed. You’re not impartial, either. There are too many emotions flying around and not enough logic.”

“So,” Dax pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Set the emotions aside and be logical.”

“Right,” Paige threw her hands in the air. “Because it’s that easy.”

“No,” Dax wasn’t deterred. “But it’s necessary. You have accepted the emotions, now set them aside. Focus on the evidence, on the logic. It’s what you do best. Walk me through what you can. Leave out what you think you need to protect. It might help.”

“I’m going to tell you everything,” Paige decided. “You’re my husband and I trust you. I know you’ll understand why it has to be kept under wraps and you’ll protect the secret — probably better than I can.”

“Just tell me what you’re comfortable sharing,” Dax offered.

“I’ll tell it all,” Paige insisted and then she did.

Once Paige finished, Dax took a moment to consider. “So many things just fell into place,” Dax admitted. “I remember Dean’s reaction when Jericho wanted him to keep Piper busy. He would have hated that. Dealing with her advances, her attempts to manipulate him out of a story, that would have been harder on him than anyone else in the department, I think.”

“I forgot about that,” Paige cringed. “I made a comment, questioned his resolve and it offended him. Now I understand why. I think I owe him another apology.”

“Where will you go from here?” Dax knew, but Paige needed to focus on the work, not the personal, emotional aspect of this case.

“I need to start running backgrounds,” Paige decided. “I want to track down this Ethan Kingsley guy, see if he’s anywhere near Manti. If I can’t place him here, or if he has a solid alibi somewhere else, I’ll fan out. Somehow I need to create a family tree. I think Sean might be able to help with that, but it’s sticky. I don’t know how much he remembers and if he put it all together.”

“I suspect he did,” Dax shifted and rolled on top of her. “Sean’s a good cop and he understands the code. I’m sure he recognized Dean the instant they met, he just kept it to himself.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to her neck.

“What are you doing?” Paige narrowed her eyes at him.

“If you have to ask, I’m not doing it right,” Dax tightened his grip when she tried to move.

“I have work,” Paige insisted.

“It can wait,” Dax wasn’t deterred. It took less than a minute to change her mind.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Ethan Kingsley is in the clear,” Paige announced when Dean stepped up to her desk. The man looked horrible, exhausted for sure, but she also recognized the guilt. “It’s not your fault.”

“Of course, it is,” Dean settled into her visitor’s chair. “Jericho was shot because of me. All of us could be dead, because of me.”

“Alright,” Paige settled back. “Tell me what you should have done differently. If this is your fault, you must have made a mistake. You did something that caused this situation to escalate. What was it?”

“I… don’t know,” Dean said in frustration.

“Because it’s not your fault,” Paige insisted. “Harold Kingsley was a predator and a sociopath. We’ll just have to disagree about Allen. He may be a victim, but he was old enough to know better. He was old enough to find a different way. I don’t feel a bit sorry for either one of them. Your sister fell for a charming guy and you saved her from a horrendous attack. Does that make this your fault?”

“No,” Dean sighed.

“If this is one of Harold’s relatives,” Paige said forcefully, “and, after pulling photos, mug shots and driver’s license photos, I think it is — all of this is on them, not you.”

“Jericho lost his spleen defending me,” Dean ran a hand through his hair. “The rest of his life will be filled with antibiotic shots, blood clots and the risk of infection.”

“You’ve been spending entirely too much time with Google,” Paige tossed her pen at him. “Stop it. I need your focus on this case, not fretting over the worse case scenario when it comes to Jericho’s future health.”

“It’s all a part of the whole,” Dean insisted.

“Well,” Paige smiled. “It’s not your part. I’m leaving the worrying to Margie. That’s her part. Your part is compiling a list of relatives you remember. I’m searching, pulling names from booking sheets and police reports but you lived this. Who lived in the area? Who came to visit? If your sister can handle it, she might know some names you don’t.”

“I’ll talk to my parents,” Dean agreed. “I need to let them know someone found me, anyway. They need to be on alert.”

“I was thinking the locals should be notified, but I wanted to leave that up to you,” Paige suggested. “If there’s someone you trust, let them know what is happening here and ask them to watch out for anything suspicious out there. Where does your family live now?”

“Here,” Dean said absently. “Well, over in Fayette. They built and run the racetrack.”

“Why didn’t I know that?” Paige wondered. “That’s still our area. We don’t have to notify anyone. What about Mandy?”

“She helps my parents deal with the day-to-day operations and she races now and again,” Dean shrugged. “What can I say, it’s in our blood.”

“You haven’t told them?” Paige realized.

“Not yet,” Dean frowned. “I need to do that in person and it’s going to shake them. We’ve been safe here for the past Seven years. How did the Kingsley’s find us?”

“Do you think it was the serial killer case? By the way, I need to apologize to you for that,” Paige sobered. “For how I handled the thing with Piper Weber. I offended you and I’m sorry.”

“Let’s just leave that in the past,” Dean decided. “We already worked it out. My baggage made me overreact.”

“Your baggage made you the perfect distraction,” Paige corrected. “But it also came with a price. I’m sorry for that.”

“It wasn’t your choice,” Dean brushed that off. “Let’s just set it aside for now. All of it. I don’t think we’re going to know how they found me until we catch them — or at least identify him. Now, tell me why you’re so sure Ethan isn’t involved.”

“If he’s involved,” Paige passed over an email she got from Ethan’s employer, “it’s long distance.”

“Okay,” Dean dropped the paper back on the desk. “So, Ethan was at work when the shooting occurred — That’s a pretty solid alibi. It takes at least nine hours to get here from Pueblo.”

“Yeah,” Paige agreed. “I don’t think his lunch break lasts that long.”

“Alright,” Dean pushed forward and snatched up a pen and a pad of paper. “Here are the relatives I know off the top of my head.” He listed names and approximate ages for those family members he knew.

Paige took the paper when Dean finished. “There’s at least two dozen names here.”

“There are more,” Dean told her. “I can think of others. Faces I remember but I have no idea what their names were. Dad might be able to help. Are you comfortable with me sharing that photo? I’d like to show it to my parents. I was just a kid, a senior in high school. I didn’t pay attention to the neighbors — not really.”

“I disagree,” she pointed to the list. “As far as the photo? I don’t have a problem with you sharing it with your parents. Take a copy, see if it jogs something. In the meantime, I’ll start running this list. If we get lucky, one of these guys owns a white pickup truck and doesn’t have an alibi.”

“Thanks,” Dean stood and pulled out his phone. “I’ll just take a picture and they can look on the phone.”

“No need,” Paige pulled out a copy of the original drawing. “I made a few thinking we might need them. Take one, show your parents and see where it leads.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can but—”

“But it might take time to explain,” Paige nodded in understanding. “I’ll be here, take whatever time you need.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Dean walked with trepidation up the back stairs and through the French doors into the spacious kitchen. That’s where he found his mother. He knew she’d be there.

“Dean?” she smiled in greeting. “I didn’t know you were coming out today.”

“We need to talk,” he stood a few feet away, focused on her face. “Where’s dad?”

“There’s trouble,” she realized. “How bad?”

“Could be bad,” Dean admitted. “Can you get Dad so we can talk this out together?”

“He’s in the den,” she wiped her hands on a towel, moved forward and placed a gentle hand on his cheek. “It will be okay. Let’s go interrupt your father.”

They walked down the long hallway, through a classy foyer and into a dimly lit den. James Bridges was sitting casually behind his desk, going over the books.

“James, come on over here, we need to talk,” Charlotte Bridges told her husband.

“Charlotte, I need to… oh, I didn’t realize you were here, Dean,” James stood and joined his wife on the leather couch. “What brings you out in the middle of the day?”

“Dean said there’s some trouble,” Charlotte told him.

“What kind of trouble,” James demanded.

“The old kind,” Dean settled into a lounge chair. “First, I need to explain what has been happening and I need you to listen. Once I’m done, we can discuss it.”

“Alright,” James took Charlottes hand and silently listened to Dean’s version of events.

“All of you need to be careful,” Dean added after he finished the story.

“Why didn’t you tell us you were in the hospital?” Charlotte scolded. “We should have been there for you.”

“I’m sorry,” Dean sighed. Dealing with his mother was always tricky. “They admitted me and almost immediately administered pain killers. They knocked me out. When I woke the next morning, the doctor was ready to release me. I didn’t have time to fill you in.”

“Then you went home and this man shot at you again,” James considered. “What do you know about him? Why do you think it’s connected to us?”

Dean pulled out the drawing and handed it to his father. “Paige’s husband, Dax and one of his military friends spotted this man leaving the area. He was driving reckless, speeding away like he was in a hurry. I don’t recognize him but he resembles—”

“Yes,” James cut him off. “Yes, this is… what was his name? Charlotte?”

Charlotte took the drawing and studied it for several minutes. When she finished, she dropped the paper on the table in front of her and focused on Dean. “I can’t be positive.”

“Guess,” Dean pushed.

“I think,” Charlotte looked at James. “I think that might be Terrance.”

“That’s right,” James picked up the drawing again. “Terry Kingsley. He was a cousin to Harold on his father’s side. This man is slightly older than I remember, but it could be Terry.”

“Is that a guess?” Dean wondered. He didn’t know any Terry Kingsley.

“It’s a good guess,” Charlotte told him. “It could also be Liam, but the man in that drawing looks more like Terry.”

“Charlotte,” James said softly. “Did you see the scar?”

“I did,” Charlotte pursed her lips. “A lot of people have scars.”

“Not like that one,” James insisted. “Terry was wild and uncontrollable, even as a child. He was only fourteen years old when he snuck through the back door to Twisted Lizard Tavern. Nobody noticed him until he stole a beer from a guy playing pool. A brawl broke out and Terry tried to steal the group’s money. They were betting on the game and the pool was sitting on the edge of the table. Terry snatched it up and tried to run. He stole from the wrong crowd. The guy went after him, Terry broke a beer bottle and charged his aggressor. The man easily plucked the bottle from Terry’s hand and hit him in the head with it. The edge sliced open Terry’s right eye.”

“That would leave a jagged scar like that one,” Dean agreed. “Any idea where Terry is now? I don’t remember him from the trial.”

“He was locked up,” James admitted. “When all of… well, you know. When it happened, Terry was in prison. You could find out why. There were a lot of rumors, but there were always rumors about Terry. Like I said, he was wild.”

“I don’t think that word is nearly strong enough for what you’re describing,” Dean stood.

“Dean?” Charlotte also stood. “Do you have protection? Is the department watching out for you to make sure your safe?”

“I work with good people, mom. I’ll be fine,” Dean gave her a quick hug. “I do have one last question.”

“What’s that?” James also stood.

“Do you have any idea how he found us?” Dean looked from one parent to the other. “I thought we were careful. I thought changing our name and moving was enough.”

“I don’t know,” James considered. “But the racetrack is becoming more popular. It’s possible someone we knew, from the old days, attended a race and spotted one of us. We did interact with the Kingsley’s. We were all part of the racing world. Someone could have told someone who told someone and so on. Terry may have been chasing rumors.”

“Why?” Dean wondered. “Were they close?”

“Not exactly,” Charlotte sighed. “Why don’t we sit back down?” Once they were settled, she got a faraway look on her face, like she was remembering a story from another time. “When they were kids, Terry, Ethan and Harold were very close. But, like your father said, Terry was wild. He didn’t seem to have any boundaries.”

“You knew them?” Dean asked.

“We didn’t associate with them,” James corrected. “But we all went to the same school. We knew of them and we steered clear. Most everyone did.”

“Okay,” Dean nodded. “So, what happened?”

“What always happens,” James laughed. “A girl.”

“It wasn’t Dawn’s fault,” Charlotte insisted. “But I suppose you could say she was the catalyst. Both Terry and Harold fell for her. Things got ugly and there was a fight. Harold ended up in the hospital and Terry fled. He stayed away for nearly three years. Then, one day he marched back into town large as life and started wreaking havoc again. Nobody really knows what happened, but the two of them had another falling out. None of us heard from Terry again.”

“But there were rumors,” James added. “You know how it is in a small town. We heard when Terry was arrested, when he was in prison, when he got out. We all wondered if he’d ever return. Guess he did.”

“So, why come after us?” Dean still didn’t understand.

“An old grudge,” James focused on Charlotte. “Terry blamed your mother for Dawn’s rejection. She rejected both of them, but Terry convinced himself Charlotte was the reason Dawn never gave him a shot.”

“Maybe I was,” Charlotte admitted. “I did put pressure on her to stay away from them.”

“She made her own choices,” James gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I think, if Terry rolled back into town and discovered his cousin had been murdered and Allen was in prison for it, he would have wanted details. Once he learned Mandy, you and me were involved, he wouldn’t let it drop.”

“Okay,” Dean stood again. “Be careful until we catch this guy. And do what you have to do to keep Mandy safe. I don’t know what you want to tell her, but I’m going to leave that to you.”

“I’ll handle it,” Charlotte assured him. “You be careful, Dean. He’s already come after you twice. Make sure the sheriff and your fellow officers have your back.”

“Jericho is in the hospital,” Dean admitted. “He was shot protecting me, at my house.”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Charlotte patted his shoulder. “We’re going to worry. Please keep in touch and let us know you’re okay.”

James stepped forward. “You’re good at what you do, but watch your back. The Kingsley’s are ruthless and Terry is the most unpredictable of them all. He won’t hesitate to take you and a couple dozen others out if it achieves his goal.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Dean told them. “I’ve got backup. I have highly trained professionals watching out for me. Take care of yourself and if you hear or see anything suspicious, call.”

“We will,” Charlotte assured him.

Dean left the house and headed for his car. He could see his parents were still watching him when he left their driveway and pulled onto the highway. He considered the new information all the way back to the office.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Okay,” Paige settled back in her chair. “So, Terrance Kingsley does not have a white pickup truck registered in his name. However, his father — Stanton Kingsley — does.”

“One more thing that points to Terry,” Dean agreed. “Any idea where he might be?”

“Not a clue,” Paige sighed. “We don’t have enough for a warrant, yet. Let me check something.” She turned to her computer and punched in some information, seconds later, Terrance Kingsley’s rap sheet was displayed on her screen. “Okay, he did some time in federal prison. Gotcha!” Paige snatched up her phone and scrolled through her contacts until she found the name she needed.

“Agent Robins,” he said in greeting.

“Randy, it’s Paige Carter.”

“Been a while,” Randy grinned. “You must need something. Make it quick, I’m on my way out. I have just enough time to grab a bite before I have to catch a plane.”

“Where to?” Paige wondered. “Florida Keys? Some beach in Texas?”

“Bugtussle, Kentucky,” Randy grumbled.

“You made that up,” Paige insisted.

“You have no idea how much I wish I had,” Randy complained. “What can I do for my favorite ex Fed?”

“I have the name of a guy who served some time in federal prison,” Paige filled him in on the case, leaving out Dean’s family details. “I have DNA, I was wondering if you could check, see if you guys have a sample I could use for comparison. I need a warrant and if the results match, I should have enough to get what I need.”

“Sure, Casey can help you with that,” Paige heard him call for Casey in the background. “Casey will get the info and take care of what you need. If there’s DNA, she’ll find it. Now, gotta go. I told her to give you whatever you need but if you have any trouble, you know how to reach me.”

“I wouldn’t want to interrupt your vacation in Bugtussle,” Paige laughed at his curse then sobered when Casey came on the line. She explained what she needed and gave the woman a number where she could be reached. Once she hung up, she focused on Dean. “Now we wait.”

“They’ll have a sample,” Dean was sure of it. “My parents said he was wild, always in trouble and usually getting caught. So, if I followed you correctly, you want to obtained the genetic framework from the Feds, take it over to our lab and compare the two. If the results match, we take that to a judge and get a warrant?”

“Exactly,” Paige grinned.

“What’s the warrant for? We don’t know where he is.”

“Financials,” Paige frowned. “We track his movements through his purchases, see if we can place him here in Manti — hopefully at a motel.” She glanced at the phone when it rang. “Deputy Carter.”

“It’s Casey,” the woman on the other end advised. “I’ve got your results, where can I email them?”

Paige provided the information and was about to disconnect. “Was this in CODIS?”

“Nope,” Casey said cheerfully, referring to the national database that contained DNA information. “It was still waiting in the black hole. I got some grief about it, seems nobody thinks this Terry guy is a priority. I cut through it and you’ve got the intel. Randy said to help you with what you need. So, is there anything you need?”

“Nope, I think this will do it,” Paige advised. “I’ll let you know if I need anything else. Tell Randy I owe him.”

“We all do,” Casey said before she disconnected.

“Now what?” Dean asked. “Do you want me to take that over to the lab and push?”

“Naw,” Paige stood. “I’ll take care of it. It’s been a long day, go home. I heard Havi and Logan check on. We’re off duty until tomorrow. If I’m lucky, we’ll have a warrant and the information first thing. Once it comes in, we can figure out where the man is hiding out. A motel would be nice, but I don’t think we’ll get that lucky.”

“I agree,” Dean headed for the door. “Goodnight, Paige.”

“Hey, Dean?”

“Yeah?”

“Havilland is waiting outside for you,” she admitted. “He’s going to escort you home and make sure there’s not another ambush. You can thank me later.”

“Not likely,” Dean grumbled.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax made his way into the house, tired, hungry and in desperate need of a shower. The instant he stepped through the door, he spotted Paige — and she was still working.

“Long day for you,” Paige glanced up from the report she was reading.

“You too,” Dax settled onto the couch and began removing his boots. “Hot lead?”

“Not so far,” Paige focused on Dax. “You look tired. You never look tired. Trouble in paradise?”

“No,” Dax dropped his boot to the floor and settled back on the couch. “Wooly found a trailer — finally. I swear if I never look at another travel trailer in this lifetime it will be too soon. Unfortunately, it was in Nephi. Hawk and I decided we’d better headed out and look it over. It was after six when we got there but the three of us decided it was perfect. We’ll have to do a little altering, but not much. We paid the man, took care of all the paperwork and transported the unit back to the Center.”

“Sounds straightforward enough,” Paige wanted to ask him where he got the money to buy the trailer, but she stopped herself. She agreed to support this endeavor, she’d trust Dax not to get so far in debt they wouldn’t recover.

“It was,” Dax agreed. “Until we parked the thing. We were just closing up when Vato arrived.”

“And that created a problem?”

“He launched into another rant — I’d heard it all before and I was tired so, well… it got pretty ugly.”

“Rant about what?”

“He’s upset that we settled for a used trailer instead of investing in a newer unit from a lot,” Dax ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

“I thought you said the trailer was just a sort of… mobile office,” Paige sat back. “I didn’t think you were planning to stay in the thing, just park it to reserve a camping spot and have a place to work while on a training mission.”

“It is,” Dax agreed. “Which is why this trailer is perfect. It’s in excellent condition, the layout is great for our needs and we don’t need comfort — we need functionality.”

“I know Vato is one of your guys,” Paige said carefully. She knew the newest member of the team didn’t like or accept her. In fact, she got the distinct feeling he resented her, but she wouldn’t put Dax in the middle of it. She’d find a way to deal with Vato and the tension she felt when he was around. “I also know you guys are giving him a lot of leeway because he was injured — ”

“Paige,” Dax warned. He didn’t want to have this conversation again.

“Just hear me out,” Paige requested. “I’m not saying you’re wrong. I just think he’s taking advantage and sooner or later, you will have to reign him in. You wouldn’t let Hawk or Zeus get away with questioning your authority. You shouldn’t let Vato, either.”

“I’ll think about it,” Dax relented. “Now, what’s all this?”

“I was able to get a warrant for Terry Kingsley’s financials,” Paige updated Dax on the new developments. The lab confirmed the DNA was a match to both the cigarette butt and the blood. With that and Jericho in the hospital, plus all the rest, it was easy to get a warrant for Terry’s financials.. “I’ve been going through them, trying to figure out where he’s staying but I’ve got nothing.”

“Maybe it’s because I’ve got trailers on my mind, but have you considered the possibility he’s camping out in the mountains? He was driving a truck. It would be easy enough to drop the trailer and have easy transportation until he’s finished,” Dax stretched out his legs, dinner could wait.

“I hadn’t considered that,” Paige admitted. “But it’s possible. And, it would explain why I can find gas charges and sporadic restaurant tabs, but nothing that points to lodging.”

“You said he’s driving his father’s truck,” Dax considered. “Check and see if dear old dad owns a trailer.”

Paige shifted her laptop and punched in Stanton Kingsley. Sure enough, Stanton Kingsley owned a twenty-four-foot travel trailer, properly registered to his address in Pueblo, Colorado. “I’ll call the locals in the morning, have them drive out and check to see if the trailer is parked at Stanton’s residence.”

“It won’t be,” Dax said confidently. “I’m starved, but we could take a little nighttime drive through the mountains if you want to go looking tonight.”

“No,” Paige sighed. “We’d never find it. Terry’s a seasoned criminal. He wouldn’t make it easy for us. I think, for now, that’s a dead-end.”

“So,” Dax stood and held out his hand. “What’s next?”

Paige stared at the outstretched hand in confusion.

“I’m starving and I doubt you ate,” Dax grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. “We can finish this discussion over dinner. There must be something we can throw together in the kitchen.”

“I’ll make us a sandwich,” Paige offered. “And, I don’t know. I asked Sean to get me the original file, on Allen Kingsley’s case and Harold.”

“Makes sense,” Dax started to pull items from the fridge. “Go back to the beginning and see what pops.”

“I’m worried,” she admitted. “There’s not a lot to go on here. We might have to wait until he strikes again. What if he succeeds this time? What if someone ends up dead? So far, two cops have ended up in the hospital.”

Dax moved around the counter and wrapped his arms around Paige. “You’ll figure it out. If there’s a clue to find, you’ll find it.” He just hoped she did before this Terry fanatic struck again. Because Paige was right, next time the casualties could be higher.

Paige had just set the top piece of bread on their sandwiches when the doorbell rang. “That’s going to be Sean.”

“I’ll get it,” Dax headed for the door and returned a few seconds later.

“You want one?” Paige offered.

“Naw,” Sean shook his head. “I ate. I would like to know why you’re looking into one of my old cases.”

“Your case?” Paige raised an eyebrow.

“I worked it,” Sean shrugged. “Maybe I wasn’t primary, but it’s still mine.”

“Dean Bridges,” Paige watched Sean for a reaction. It was subtle, but it was there. “You knew.”

“That he’s really Dean Clawson?” Sean settled onto a chair. “Sure.”

“Have you heard what’s been going on out here?” Paige wondered.

“Apparently not,” Sean frowned. “I just got back in town two hours ago. What did I miss?”

Paige filled him in while she ate her dinner.

“Terry Kingsley wasn’t part of the investigation,” Sean said confidently. “If I remember correctly, his name did surface. He had a sheet about a mile long, but he was locked up tight.” He closed his eyes in concentration. “Bank robbery, I believe.”

“He’s out now,” Paige popped a chip in her mouth. “And he’s working hard to take out Dean.”

“Why?” Sean couldn’t see it. “He hated Harold. I can’t see him tracking down James Clawson’s son and assassinating him for revenge.”

“I agree,” Paige admitted. “At first, that was the theory. We thought a family member discovered Dean’s location and wanted him to pay for Harold’s death and Allen’s incarceration. But, Dean’s parents painted a different picture. The cousin’s weren’t on speaking terms, so why go after Dean now?”

“Beats me,” Sean focused out the window and considered. “I can’t think of a single reason. That’s a copy,” he pointed to the file. “I’ll go through my own file and my notes and see if I can come up with anything. I want in, Paige. This was my case, if it’s come back to bite the Clawson’s I want in.”

“Clear it with Nathan,” Paige didn’t hesitate. “I’ve got no objection. I’ll take all the help I can get.”

“I’ll let you get back to it,” Sean stood. “I’ll call if I hit on anything, you do the same.”

“Count on it,” Paige stood.

“Naw,” Sean smiled. “Finish your dinner. I’ll let myself out.”

“So,” Dax said when he was gone. “I guess play time’s over and we’re spending the evening revisiting the life of a serial killer?”

“I’m spending the evening working,” Paige corrected. “You can relax with a good movie.”

Dax gathered up the dishes and set them in the sink. “I’m contractually obligated as much as you are. Let’s go see if we can figure out a motive for all of this.”

\*\*\*\*\*

They didn’t. They worked until one o’clock in the morning, but nothing jumped out as a reason to try to kill Dean.

“You can pick it back up in the morning,” Dax slid into bed and pulled Paige against him. “Give it time, you’ll figure it out.”

“What if I don’t?”

“You will,” Dax said through a yawn. “Shut it down and go to sleep.”

Paige smiled and settled in closer to her husband. She got lucky and she knew it. Not just anyone would spend the night skimming through the gory details of a serial killers crimes. It wasn’t his job, wasn’t his responsibility, but he did it for her — and he did it because he was still worried. She knew that too. Dax wouldn’t relax until the sniper was caught and the threat was neutralized. She drifted off, thinking about the motives of a killer.

Three hours later, Paige bolted upright in bed. She knew what Terry Kingsley wanted.

“What are you doing?” Dax asked when Paige jumped from the bed and began to dress.

“I know what he wants,” Paige whispered. “Go back to sleep.”

“Not likely,” Dax climbed from the bed and began to dress.

“What are you doing?” Paige frowned.

“Going with you,” Dax pulled a clean shirt over his head and began searching around in the dark for a clean pair of socks.

“Police business,” Paige disagreed. “Go back to bed.”

“I have no idea where you’re going,” Dax found some socks and settled onto the bed and slid them onto his feet. “I do know you’re not going alone. Tell me what you figured out.”

Paige sighed, slid into her boots and headed for the stairs. “I’m not waiting,” escaping without him wasn’t possible, so she reluctantly agreed. She knew she shouldn’t hunt a killer by herself, but she didn’t want Dax risking his life for this. He would. He’d jump in front of her and take a bullet if he thought she was in danger.

Once they reached the living room, Dax gripped Paige’s forearm and forced her to stop. “What did you figure out?”

Paige reached out and snatched up a photo of a necklace. “This!”

“Your sniper is after a necklace?” Dax took the picture to study it more closely. “Your sniper is after the key. That’s not some decorative symbol. It’s a real key, that opens something real.”

“And probably something valuable,” Paige added. “Sean said Terry was in prison for bank robbery. What if that key opens a box or a safe where he stashed the money?”

“But how did Mandy get it?” Dax wondered. “This says the necklace belonged to Mandy but she didn’t want it back after the case was closed.”

“She didn’t want it back because Allen gave it to her,” Paige provided. “We need to get to Dean’s house.”

“You think Terry went back?” Dax considered. “I agree, should we call Dean? Maybe you should warn him there’s danger.”

“Dean’s not there,” Paige stepped onto the porch and waited for Dax to follow. She frowned when she saw the rifle but didn’t object. “Havi talked him into staying at his place for the night. Jericho was shot at Dean’s residence. Clearly Terry knows where Dean lives, and his special talent is B&E.”

“That’s breaking and entering?”

“You’re catching on,” Paige headed for the driver’s side of her vehicle, but Dax stopped her.

“I’ll drive.”

She started to object but decided if Dax drove, that would give her time to plan. “Don’t pull into the driveway. I want to approach the house from the woods. We need to scope it out, see if Terry’s gained access before we decide how to handle it.”

Dax maneuvered the vehicle off the road and into the trees. “That’s as far as I can get,” he told Paige once he parked and shut down the engine. “What’s the plan?”

“First,” Paige jumped to the ground and retrieved her own rifle from the back. “I want to scout the area. Be careful, if he’s not inside, he could be hiding out here in the trees.”

“Copy that,” Dax slung the rifle over his shoulder and followed Paige further into the dark forest.

The instant they reached the edge of the trees that bordered Dean’s house, they spotted him. Someone was moving around inside Dean’s house.

“You sure it’s not Dean?” Dax whispered. “I’d hate to storm the place and shoot a cop in his own home, or worse, get shot myself because I startled the jumpy lawman.”

“I’m pretty sure,” Paige pulled out her phone. “Havi wouldn’t let Dean come back here, but just in case — ” she punched send and waited. “Havi, Paige. Is Dean still at your house?”

“Do you have any idea what time it is?” Havi grumbled. Then it hit him. “He’s here. Why?”

“I’m at his place and there’s someone inside,” Paige advised.

“We’re on our way,” Havi disconnected.

“Is that a guy thing?” Paige frowned.

“Is what a guy thing?” Dax asked innocently

“Barking into the phone then hanging up before the other person can respond?” Paige slid the phone back into her pocket.

Dax shrugged. “Maybe. It’s effective when dealing with a woman who likes to argue about everything.”

“Then why did you do it to me?” Paige narrowed her eyes in challenge.

“It’s a mystery,” Dax grinned. “What’s the plan?”

“We might as well wait,” Paige decided. “Havilland lives just up the road.”

“Nice digs,” Dax glanced around. “Racing must pay well.”

“Apparently,” Paige pulled her phone back out and sent Havilland a text letting him know they were camped out in the trees.

Three minutes later, Havilland responded. ‘Incoming, don’t shoot.’

“They’re here,” Paige told Dax. “Don’t shoot my backup.”

“I’ll try to control myself,” Dax said flatly. He glanced up when he heard the men approaching. “I thought Paige called in the cops, not a couple elephants stomping through the wilderness.”

“Stealth wasn’t our priority,” Havilland grumbled. “You better be right about this, Paige. It’s cold, I haven’t had nearly enough coffee and its four freakin’ clock in the morning.”

“Nearly five,” Paige motioned to the house. “You tell me. Am I right?”

“What’s he looking for?” Dean wondered.

“I think he wants the necklace,” Paige focused on Dean. “The one Allen gave Mandy. I think it opens something. I think he took a shot at you because killing you would flush out your family. If I’m right, they’re safe. If I’m right, he has no idea where your parents or Mandy are. He came after you hoping to ambush Mandy at the funeral. Then, he could get the key and disappear.”

“Why?” Dean wondered. “It’s just a stupid plan. Especially because Mandy doesn’t have the stupid thing. The Bureau still has it.”

“He doesn’t know that,” Paige glanced back at the house. “He’s searching for something.”

“He has to know I wouldn’t have it,” Dean objected.

“He’s looking for an address,” Paige decided. “He’s trying to locate Mandy. I think he’s in there looking for a clue. His attempts on your life have failed so far, I think he decided to fall back into old habits. He’s a B&E man. He’s just engaged in a little burglary while you’re away.”

“How do you want to handle it?” Havilland asked. “Do we storm the house or set up and call him out?”

“Or just wait him out,” Dax added.

“Dean,” Paige focused on her colleague. “It’s up to you. No matter what we do, there could be a shootout in your home. In addition to the damage, there will be questions once it's all over. You tell us how you want to deal with this.”

“Wait him out,” Dean decided. “He’s dangerous. If we call him out, we lose the element of surprise. If we storm the house, we lose the element of surprise. If we wait, we might catch him unprepared and have enough time to neutralize him before anyone else gets hurt.”

“I’ll take the back,” Havilland offered. “Paige you and Dax take the front. Dean, you joined me out back. We’ll set up on all four corners and wait. Don’t take any chances. Have your weapon out and ready to go before you make contact. We don’t take any chances here.”

“Agreed,” Paige watched as Havilland and Dean walked away. “I’ll take the left corner, you take the right. Make sure you can see the front of the house and any windows on the right side. I’ll do the same on the left. If he comes out, tell him to freeze, then shoot if he doesn’t comply. He’s already put the sheriff in the hospital. We can justify our action if he hesitates for even a second.”

“I’ve got this, Paige,” Dax leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “Be careful.”

Paige watched him walk away. She knew he could handle himself, but it didn’t make the situation any less stressful. With a sigh, she moved into position and settled in to wait.

Havilland slid in behind a tree and focused on the side door. If the suspect didn’t exit through the front, this was the most likely escape. It didn’t take long. The instant he spotted the door slide open, he pulled his gun and prepared himself for anything.

Terry Kingsley stepped through the side door and started across the lawn. He was frustrated and out of ideas. Taking out the cop hadn’t worked; he’d only succeeded in getting himself shot. Breaking into his house hadn’t led to any clues either. He had to find a way to bring the girl out in the open. He was so engrossed in his thoughts, he didn’t register the danger until it was too late.

“Police, freeze!” Havilland called. His gun was drawn, and he was ready for anything. The instant Kingsley reached into his pocket; Havilland fired. The bullet hit its mark and the suspect dropped to the ground. “Subject neutralized,” Havilland called over the radio.

“Can you repeat that?” Susie asked, confused. She didn’t show Havilland on duty. He certainly wasn’t checked out on anything.

“Dispatch,” Paige answered. “Reserve this frequency for priority traffic. I’ll advise when the situation is resolved, and the scene is secure.”

*Situation? What situation?* Clearly Paige and Havi didn’t want the details going out over the air. She punched in what little information she had and hoped someone would fill her in soon.

“He’s dead,” Havilland informed Paige when she stepped in beside him.

Paige moved forward and crouched next to the body. “You check his pocket?”

“Nope,” Havilland frowned. “He didn’t obey my command and reached for something. He’s a sniper that’s already taken a few shots at the police. I wasn’t willing to risk it.”

Paige reached into her go-bag, grateful she’d thought to bring it with her. She pulled out a camera and shot a couple photos. Forensics could document the rest of the scene, she wanted to know what he was reaching for. She slipped on a pair of rubber gloves and slowly slid her hand into the outer pocket of Terry’s jacket. Her fingers hit what could only be a pistol. “He was going for a gun. You’re lucky you shot first. If you hesitated, even for a second, he might have got off a shot.”

Havilland relaxed. He was confident he could justify his actions even if the man didn’t have a gun, but this was cleaner. “What do we tell the media?”

“Nothing,” Paige pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contacts until she found Tolman. “The DA can handle the press. If I’m going to wake him up, we should give him something to do.”

“It’s over,” Dax placed a hand on Dean’s shoulder. “You and your family are safe. You can put this behind you and move forward.”

“This isn’t the way I wanted it to end,” Dean let out a long breath. “I wanted answers. Now, I’ll never get them. We can never relax, not as long as there are questions.”

Paige slipped her phone back into her pocket. “Tolman is on the way. Dean, we’re going to keep you out of this as much as possible. Terry came back because he followed us here after we left the hospital. Tolman will buy it because he knows this is where Jericho was shot. We were watching the place and spotted the subject inside. We waited for him to exit and when Havi gave him the command to stop, he went for a gun. You don’t talk to the media. You steer clear of the cameras and when this is all over, you and your family go back to your normal routines.”

“You know I can’t do that,” Dean shook his head. “I’ll tell Tolman what happened. I’ll explain why. If he feels it’s necessary to include my real identity, my family will deal with it.”

“That’s not necessary,” Paige insisted.

“It is,” Dean said stubbornly. “Because if we hold anything back and it somehow gets out, it will turn a clean shooting into something surrounded in controversy. I won’t do that. We give Tolman the facts and let him handle the situation the way he deems fit.”

Paige wanted to argue, but she recognized the look of determination in Dean’s eyes. It wouldn’t do any good and it would just waste time. “Fine, we lay it on the line and hope Tolman sees things our way.”

“Stop worrying,” Dean placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s going to be fine.”

“Sure,” Paige didn’t believe that for one second. “It will be fine — Dandy. You’ve got to be kidding me, Dean. How do you think Jericho is going to react once he hears what happened out here and he finds out you spilled your family secret to the local district attorney?”

“He’ll understand it was my decision and he’ll support me,” Dean shrugged.

“Must be nice,” Paige grumbled. “Existing in that fantasy world you created. Do you have unicorns? Fairies? Oh, are there dragons?”

Dean laughed. “Relax, Paige. I’ve got this.”

They all looked up when they spotted the headlights. Tolman had arrived.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped outside and dialed Dax.

“Let me guess,” Dax frowned at the information Ken left on his desk. “You’re headed to Colorado?”

“Sorry,” Paige balanced the phone on her shoulder while she dug for her car keys. “I have to deal with this.”

“You going alone?”

Paige glanced up and spotted Dean leaning against her vehicle. “I was.”

“What does that mean?”

“Looks like I’m going to have to fight Dean on this one,” Paige glared at her fellow deputy.

“Don’t fight it,” Dax suggested. “He has a bigger stake in this than you do. Let the kid go with you. It might help him close this out and move on.”

“Maybe,” Paige motioned for Dean to move so she could open her door. “Anyway, it’s a nine hour drive one way. I’m going to be late. Don’t wait up.”

“I’ll see you when you get here,” Dax turned to look out the window. He’d wait up. It was time to have that talk.

“Anyway,” Paige shook her head, knowing Dax would do what he wanted no matter what she said. “Love you.”

“Paige?” Dax was serious now. “I love you, be careful and make sure you stop for dinner on the way back. I need to work on something with my men. We’ll order in, so I won’t have anything handy when you get home.”

“We’ll stop,” Paige hung up and climbed behind the wheel. “Get in already,” she motioned to the passenger’s door.

Dean climbed in and studied Paige. “I thought I was going to have to argue.”

“You might have,” Paige put the vehicle in gear and pulled onto the highway. “Dax did that for you.”

“How?”

“He reminded me of the stakes,” Paige told him. “The personal stakes for you and your family. Plus, I figure if I said no, you’d just climb into your own car and head out alone. This way is better. I can keep an eye on you.”

Dean shook his head and settled in for a long ride.

They arrived at the Colorado State Penitentiary at a little past six. The inmates were just finishing up mealtime. It took some fast talking and twenty minutes, but they were finally escorted into a room where they could speak with Allen Kingsley without the glass barrier. The guard escorted him in and shackled him to a chair.

“I have to say,” Allen studied Dean. “You’re the last person I thought I’d see here.”

“This isn’t a social visit,” Paige jumped in. “What happened to your face?”

“I walked into a door,” Allen shrugged.

“Right,” Paige set that aside. She didn’t really care why the man was attacked. She had a message to deliver.

“Did Terry arrange that?” Dean asked.

Allen’s surprised showed, just for a moment but it was enough for Paige and Dean to recognize. Terry Kingsley was responsible for the bruises. “I said I walked into a door.”

“As you wish,” Paige settled back. “Did you break? Did you tell Terry’s thugs that you gave the necklace to Mandy?”

Allen glared at her but didn’t say a word.

“I don’t think you did,” Dean provided. “But someone did. He located us. Came after me, but he failed. When you talk to your family, you should tell them that. Terry failed and if any of them try to follow in his footsteps — they’ll fail, too.”

Paige leaned forward. “We’re better than you are. We’re faster, more experienced and we’re smarter. You relay that message to your clan, Allen. Tell them I have the necklace now and I’m not nearly as easy to get to as a young inexperienced girl. I have it locked up safe and secure. In fact,” she looked at her watch. “Agent Sean Wilkins retrieved the item from evidence nearly an hour ago. You remember Agent Wilkins, don’t you Allen?”

“Sure,” Allen glanced at Dean. “He’s the reason I’m in here instead of his father.”

“You’re here because you’re a killer,” Paige corrected. “You’re here because you helped your father kidnap, torture and kill at least fifteen girls. You’re here because it’s where you belong.”

“I didn’t torture anyone,” Allen’s face paled at the accusation.

“I believed you,” Dean said softly. “I actually believed you loved her. Paige said it was all a ruse, but I believed you. Realizing I was wrong, it makes this easier for me. If you actually loved my sister, you never would have put her in danger. You used her, gave her the key to protect yourself but you risked her life — for what?”

“I didn’t know anything about the key,” Allen admitted then clamped his mouth shut.

“Right,” Paige studied the man before her. He was weak, but he was clever. She could see it in his eyes. “I think we’re finished here. We just stopped by to let you know your cousin failed. Terry is dead. Your family has probably been notified by now. He failed and if anyone else comes for the key, they’ll fail too. Make sure you relay that message, Allen.” She stood and waited for Dean to join her.

“I did love Mandy,” Allen focused on Dean. “Maybe you could tell her that. I didn’t know the necklace was a key. My father lied. I made the mistake of believing him. He said the necklace was an heirloom, a romantic token my grandfather gave my grandmother on their wedding night. He said he picked the key because Gran held the key to his heart. It was too sentimental, too normal. I should have recognized it as the lie it was, but I believed him, maybe because I wanted to believe something good came from my family. I gave that necklace to Mandy because I loved her. I will always love her. I have no reason to believe you’ll pass on the message, but I think knowing might help her accept what happened. It wasn’t fake, it wasn’t a ruse like you said, it was real. At least it was for me.” He stood and motioned to the door. “Guard, I want to go back to my cell now.”

Paige watched as the inmate was escorted from the room. She waited, knowing the words struck a cord with Dean. Once he moved toward the door, she followed. They walked in silence all the way back to the car.

“Don’t say a word,” Dean told her once they were settled and on their way back to Manti.

“You were right,” Paige admitted. “I didn’t think he was capable of love, but he was. He loved Mandy. I’m not sure what that means, but you were right about that.”

“I don’t think he knew,” Dean told her.

“About the necklace? No, he didn’t know,” Paige agreed. “Or he didn’t want to. Deep down, he knows his father is a liar and a sociopath. He had doubts, but he pushed them aside. I think he was telling the truth, or at least a version of the truth. He desperately wanted to believe in romance. He wanted to believe his grandparents had something good. His father was a predator. Terry was a maniac. Allen was searching for something good and he thought he found a little bit of light in the necklace. Will you tell Mandy?”

“I don’t know,” Dean admitted. “I’m going to talk it over with my parents. They’ll know if the time is right better than I will. Mandy and I used to be close, but this incident, me deciding to become a cop, it’s pushed a wedge between us. I can’t read her the way I used to. Mom will know and I’ll follow her lead on this one.”

“He’ll give the message to his family,” Paige assured him. “Your parents, Mandy, they’ll be safe now. Even if the Kingsley’s know where you live, they’ll come after me — or they’ll let it drop.”

“Is that better?”

“Of course,” Paige grinned. “Because I’m married to a macho, former Special Forces, warrior. I also have a whole team of fighters living next door. And, if that wasn’t enough, the scariest general that ever lived is only a phone call away. The threat has been redirected at worst, neutralized at best. Put it away, Dean. We won this one.”

“I guess,” Dean pushed the seat back, stretched out his legs and closed his eyes, prepared for the long ride home. “Maybe we could stop in Colorado Springs for dinner. I’m starved.”

Paige laughed and relaxed. Life was finally back to normal.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S4

**Tags:** Season 4

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### [Inevitable Apprehension](https://melaniepsmith.com/inevitable-apprehension/)

**Published:** September 28, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Inevitable Apprehension (S4E6) Paige and Dax are back from their honeymoon and try to adjust to normal life again.  A prison break has everyone on edge until the violent felons are captured.  An old friend comes to town.   

**Content:**

****\*\*\*INEVITABLE APPREHENSION\*\*\*****

Paige stepped into the office and grinned. It was good to be back. Oh, she loved her honeymoon. She loved the beaches; she loved the food, and most of all she loved the uninterrupted time she had with Dax. But there was nothing like sleeping in your own bed and she was definitely glad to be home.

“Look who the cat drug in,” Havilland smirked. “And look at that tan. Must be nice to have two full weeks lounging on the beach, Pina colada in one hand...”

“If you finish that sentence, Duncan,” Jericho warned. “You’ll be handling phone reports for the next two weeks.”

“Hello, Jericho,” Paige settled into her chair.

“Glad to have you back, Carter,” Jericho frowned. “Or is it Hamilton now?”

“I haven’t decided,” Paige admitted. “I kind of like being Paige Hamilton, but I’ve been Carter for so long it’s hard to give it up. Plus, it was my dad’s name. I’m still contemplating my options.”

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“Well, make sure Margie knows what to put on your check,” Jericho paused in his doorway. “Gage is handling a felony theft over at Jake Pendleton’s farm. Why don’t you head over and give him a hand?”

“Is he okay?” Paige wondered. “From what I’ve heard, Scratch is still hiding out in Mexico.”

“He’s coping,” Jericho moved into his office, cutting off any further conversation.

“Hello, Margie,” Paige stopped at Jericho’s ace-of-all-trade’s desk on her way out the door. “For now, just leave it Carter on the check. I’ll let you know when, or if, that changes.”

“He’s doing better,” Margie assured her. “Gage, I mean. He sometimes gets that sad, melancholy look in his eyes, but he’s doing okay.”

“Good,” Paige smiled and headed for the door.

\*\*\*\*\*

“The place looks amazing,” Dax settled into the executive chair behind a large wooden desk that wasn’t here when he left for his honeymoon. “You guys have made remarkable progress in my absence.”

“Most of it was Zeus and Ken,” Hawk dropped into a fancy new visitors chair. “Zeus has been using the center to occupy his time since his woman had to fly out to Washington to help Porter on a new top-secret operation.”

“I didn’t realize Carmen was out of town,” Dax frowned. Paige was going to be disappointed. His wife — and he could admit, he enjoyed calling her that — planned to have a dinner date with Zee and Carmen now that they had returned. Sort of a thank you for all of Carmen’s hard work on the wedding. Apparently, that would have to wait.

“You up for a staff meeting?” Hawk asked. “We need to bring you up to speed on everything and decide if we’re ready to start a session. The course is nearly full for October if you think we can swing it.”

“Call in the rest of the guys and we’ll discuss it,” Dax decided.

A few moments later, the entire group was gathered in his office.

“Looks like sunshine and a fine woman agree with you, man,” Zeus observed.

“Right,” Dax sighed. “Honeymoon was great, the beach was great, Paige was great. Now, let’s move on.”

“Testy, isn’t he? You’d think two weeks relaxing on the beach would make him more amenable to our charm.” Hawk shot a grin to the rest of the room. “If Dax doesn’t want to share, let’s get down to it. Ken?”

“Maybe we should start with the pink elephant in the room,” he suggested. “The insurance packet has been delivered to El Paso. Once I determined the widow wasn’t involved and the pilot was working for Contreras against his will, we put it all in motion. Everything went smoothly on our end. Evan had her sign the documents and it’s all legit now. Or, at least it appears that way. Mrs. Holden Driscoll is officially a quarter of a million dollars richer.

Carmen has hidden the insurance company information well enough to pass a cursory look. If anyone digs deeper, they could get suspicious but there’s nothing to find. It might come across as a shell corps if Paige or any of her friends start sniffing around; but, it will never lead back to us or the center.”

“Do we know how the widow reacted when she got the surprise money?” Dax wondered.

“Yeah,” Hawk jumped in. “Evan said she was shocked, but didn’t ask too many questions. We know Contreras needed a plane and he threatened the husband, using potential violence against Darla and the kid as leverage. Darla Driscoll knew all about her husband’s activities, though. My take, she didn’t push very hard because she didn’t want to risk losing the cash.”

“Did she say anything we could use?” Dax asked.

“There was one strange comment she made to Evan,” Hawk paused to remember the exact wording. “She thought it was odd that the cartel used threats and intimidation to force her husband to fly for them, then offered such generosity after his untimely death.”

“So,” Dax sat back. “If questioned, she’ll assume the money came from Mexico. Sounds like we’re covered on that end. I think we can close that chapter out for now.”

“I agree,” Hawk opened a binder. “We have used some of the cash to outfit this place. Money was tight after we purchased the land and paid for construction. Carmen worked her magic before she got called away, so we should be covered there as well. I’ve left a file for you to look over in the desk. Take a look when you have a chance and let’s decide how to proceed in the short term. Long term, the requests are coming in; so, we shouldn’t have to tap into the emergency funds once we’re up and running.”

“I trust you were extra careful when you covered your tracks?” Dax was a little uneasy about using drug money to fund operations at the center, but he wouldn’t complain.

“We’re good,” Zeus assured him.

“I’m going to tell Paige about the money,” Dax decided now was as good a time as any to break the news.

“I trust the lot of us won’t end up behind bars once she knows the truth,” Vato spoke up.

“I trust Paige,” Zeus jumped in. “In fact, I’m not sure why you haven’t already discussed this with her. It would have made things easier before the wedding.”

“We brought Carmen in to help,” Dax continued, ignoring Vato’s question. “Hawk and Vato are single, but that leaves Paige and Jaimie. I can’t share the information with my wife and ask Ken to keep the secret from his. For what it’s worth, I trust Jaimie. Ken, if you explain the need for complete secrecy with her, I’m confident Jaimie will keep this within the family.”

“We all know this was an issue before the wedding,” Hawk began. “We could see Paige was upset. But obviously you worked that out. Why risk it now when the conflict has been resolved?”

“I haven’t exactly had problems keeping it from Jaimie,” Ken cut in. “But the guilt is killing me. We’re struggling a little on the money side. Jaimie is stressed all the time because the center is new, and we don’t know if it will take, or if we’ll all lose our shirts. I’d like to tell my wife we have a buffer. I’d like to ease her mind. Keeping the secret just feels wrong to me. I know you guys can’t understand, not until you’re married. I’m with Dax on this one. He tells Paige and I talk to Jaimie.”

“And if it all blows up in our faces?” Vato asked. “If sharing the secret gets us in hot water with the law?”

“I don’t see how it could,” Hawk relented. “Plus, I trust Paige. She won’t do anything that will hurt Dax — or by extension us. She proved herself, more than proved herself, when Dax went missing. I’m good with it. Confess your sins to your wife,” he glanced at Ken. “Both of you. If Jaimie had to talk to someone, she would talk to one of us. She’s a safe bet and I get your point. Starting a business is stressful for all of us. You’ve got the added concern of the kids and your mom. I can see how Jaimie would be worried. If telling her helps ease that off a little, have that talk. Just make sure she knows how ruthless Contreras is. If word gets out about the money, Jaimie, the boys, your mom, Paige, Carmen and all of us will be looking over our shoulders for the rest of our very short lives.”

“I don’t like it,” Vato grumbled. “But it looks like I’m outnumbered.”

“Looks like,” Dax agreed. “Ken keep it from the boys and your mom. Only discuss this with Jaimie and only in private. If your mom finds out, she might let it slip to that no-good brother of yours and then we will have trouble.”

“Agreed,” Ken nodded. “I just need Jaimie to know and she’ll safeguard it with her life. I’m not worried about that and you shouldn’t either.”

“Will we at least be notified?” Vato wanted to know. “Will you let us know when you’ve told Paige, so we can prepare for the worst?”

“I have no idea when I’m going to tell her,” Dax admitted. “If it will help you accept it, I’ll inform you after we’ve talked. I think I’ll know the right time to bring it up. In my case, it’s better if it just happens naturally. In Ken’s case, I think the sooner the better. There’s no need for Jaimie to worry.”

“Alright,” Zeus spoke up. “There’s no need for anyone to worry, because our tentative October session is booked. We have one slot open if we want to start the scholarship program immediately. Hawk selected the candidate, we just need to take the final vote.”

Hawk pulled out a file and began to read through the reasons he selected Deputy Nick Crandall from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico as their first scholarship recipient.

“Where the hell is Truth or Consequence?” Ken wondered.

“No idea,” Hawk smiled. “But it seemed appropriate for our first good deed.”

“I think we’re ready for October,” Dax decided. “We’ll still have some final touches to work through on the building but the session is booked, let’s get this venture rolling. I’m also a yes on Deputy Crandall.”

“I’m a yes,” Hawk lifted one hand.

“I’m in,” Zeus smiled.

“Me too,” Ken nodded.

“Then it’s unanimous,” Vato settled back. “Now, we just need to divvy up assignments and finalize the lesson plan.”

“I’ll notify the sheriff that we’ll have a class running here and up the canyon,” Dax added. “Hawk, can you meet with me later this afternoon? You and I will start going through the course with a fine-tooth comb and start filling in the details.”

“Sounds good,” Hawk agreed. “I’ll head back in here after lunch.”

“That will give me some time to sift through these files and get back up to speed on the progress,” Dax sat back. “We’ve got a lot to do before October, let’s make this happen.”

The men silently filed out of the room, each deep in their own thoughts.

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\*\*\*\*\*

“I heard you were due back today,” Gage said in greeting. They were standing in the middle of an alfalfa field.

“I heard you were outstanding in your field, but isn’t this a little much even for you?”

“Funny,” Gage shot her an annoyed glance. “Our victim left his tractor out here last night with plans to finish working the field early this morning. Unfortunately, someone stole it before he got the chance. I’ve got it listed on NCIC, so hopefully it will turn up in a day or two.”

Paige glanced around but didn’t see anything she could really help with. “Jericho sent me out here to back you, but it looks like you’ve got it handled already.”

“Pretty much,” Gage shrugged. “You look good. Sunshine and relaxation seem to agree with you.”

“Maybe you should try it,” Paige squinted up at her oldest friend. “Because you look like crap. You have to put the Langford case behind you, Gage. We’ll catch the monster as soon as he gets back. He won’t stay in Mexico forever.”

“I don’t know if you heard, toxicology matched the results from the lab,” Gage sighed. “Adam was given a concentrated dose of ecstasy. That red cup was laced with enough poison to bring down an elephant. His heart would have given out in minutes. It wasn’t negligence, it was premeditated murder. Scratch has to pay for what he did.”

“We’ll make sure he does,” Paige gave him a friendly pat on the back. “Every cop in the country is looking for him. He’s listed on NCIC as the homicidal maniac he is. The minute he steps foot in our grid, we’ll scoop him up. In the meantime, you need to find a way to get your own closure.”

“I’m working on it,” Gage sobered. “I just can’t get the image out of my head. I wish I’d sent Lo to the lab to retrieve the results. The tech was very detailed in her description of those last minutes. He had to be terrified. There’s no doubt about the homicide when you combine the drugs with the autopsy report. Scratch and his crew held Adam on the ground and poured a lethal dose of narcotic laced punch down his throat, then they just left him there to die. And for what? The couple hundred he might have made from high school kids looking to experiment?”

“Well,” Paige desperately wanted to change the subject, but she knew Gage needed to talk this through. “On a positive note, Lo tracked the beer to a brewery in Laurel Bluffs. We know who purchased the alcohol that night. Trent Hanson, also known as Chevy on account he drives a Chevy, has been positively identified. That’s one more link in the chain and one more piece that will bring Scratch and his gang down when we locate them. We did the work, Gage. The case is solid. Have a little faith. Scratch will pay, eventually.”

“Enough about that,” Gage changed the subject. “Tell me about you. Paige Carter, a married woman. It’s going to be hard to think of you as Hamilton after all this time.”

“I’m thinking about leaving it,” Paige admitted. “I mean for work. My email, my name tag, everything is under Carter. I thought maybe I’d legally change it to Paige Carter Hamilton then just drop the Hamilton at work. What do you think?”

“What does Dax think about that?” Gage wondered.

“I haven’t talked to him yet,” she confessed. “I thought I would have more time to decide. Then I get to work, and Jericho wanted to know what Margie should put on my check. I guess It’s more pressing than I originally thought it would be.”

“You have a couple days to decide,” Gage assured her. “Give me a minute, let me clear this.” He moved to his truck and picked up the mic. After a short exchange with Margie, he glanced back at Paige. “I have a gas theft at the Chevron. If I clear in time, maybe we can meet back up for lunch.”

“Sounds good,” Paige glanced down at her phone when it started to ring. “Catch you later.” She watched as Gage pulled away before she answered Dax’s call. “Deputy Carter,” she said out of habit.

“I must have the wrong number,” Dax smiled. “I was looking for Mrs. Hamilton.”

“You found her,” Paige slid behind the wheel and started the engine. “You at the training center?”

“Yeah,” Dax relaxed. “The boys have been busy in my absence.”

“If you’re not too busy, I’ll drop by for a minute,” Paige offered.

“I always have time for my wife,” Dax grinned.

“You just like saying that,” Paige accused.

“Absolutely,” Dax motioned to Zeus who was standing in the doorway, waiting for Dax to finish his call. “Duty calls. Just head back to my office. I have chairs and an actual desk now, we don’t have to settle for the floor.”

“I’m working,” Paige laughed and disconnected.

\*\*\*\*\*

It took longer than she expected to reach the training center. On the way out, she’d been interrupted by a shoplifter. The instant she parked the vehicle, she realized Dax was right. The boys had been busy. The front door was unlocked, so she let herself in. The main lobby was now painted in a neutral tan color. The floor was sleek marble and the counter was a deep black granite with gray veins running through the large rock. It looked professional, but expensive. She wondered how deep in debt the men had gone to create this image. She wasn’t going to worry about it. This was Dax’s dream and she would support him. As she made her way down the hallway, she glanced into rooms along the way. Some were completed, others empty. Lavish expense transitioned into sturdy, serious, and comfortable. Again, she wondered about the cost.

When she reached Dax’s door, she smiled. “Fancy digs you got here, cowboy.”

“Hey beautiful,” Dax closed the file he’d been studying. “Come over here and sit on my lap.”

“I’m working,” Paige rolled her eyes.

“What a coincidence,” Dax pushed his chair back. “Me too.” He gave his thigh a little pat.

Paige shook her head and couldn’t help but smile. “I wanted to talk to you about the whole name thing.”

“At least come over here and lean against the desk,” Dax patted the elaborate wood surface.

Paige sighed, but moved forward. She had just leaned up against the front, facing Dax, when he wrapped his arm around her and pulled. She wasn’t ready for the assault and tumbled straight into his lap. She burst out laughing but narrowed her eyes at him. “Working here,” she scolded.

Dax leaned in and pressed his lips to the side of her neck. “Me too.”

“Stop it,” she wiggled but he wouldn’t release his grip.

“What about your name?” he whispered in her ear.

“Dax,” Paige warned. “I need to have a serious conversation with you.”

“I can’t help it if I missed you,” Dax kept his grip on her waist but shifted so they could have a more serious conversation. He reached up to run his hand over her back and felt the ballistic vest instead of flesh. “I’m glad you wear this on the job, but sometimes it really does get in the way.”

“Like a chastity belt?” Paige laughed.

“Something like that,” Dax sighed. “Okay, the name. I would like you to change it to Hamilton but it’s your name, your decision.”

“I was thinking of legally making it Paige Carter Hamilton. That would make Carter my middle name, officially.”

“Unofficially?” Dax wondered.

“Well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Paige bit her bottom lip. “I was thinking I’d still go by Carter at work. It would make the transition easier and I wouldn’t have to change my business cards, my name tag, my email address and about a million other things I haven’t thought of.”

“Okay,” Dax shrugged.

“If I do that, when I’m at work, I’d still answer Deputy Carter,” she warned. “Will you be okay with that?”

“Sure,” Dax reached out and began rubbing Paige’s right thigh. “Work is work, Paige. Sure, it might be an easier transition, but I think there’s more to it. I think this has more to do with your mom and dad than work. If you want to honor the old man by keeping his name on the job, do it. Work is work, and no matter what you call yourself, I know your mine.”

“I thought this was going to be harder than you’re making it,” Paige admitted. “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings, but it seemed simpler this way. Plus, there is the family thing. I’m the last of us. It just feels wrong to completely abandon Carter.” Her phone started to ring. Paige glanced down and saw Jericho’s name. “I need to grab this.”

“Go ahead,” Dax let her shift but wouldn’t let her get off his lap when she tried to stand. He immediately realized the call was important.

“Let me up,” Paige told him the instant she disconnected the call. “Does that television work?”

“Sure,” Dax reached for the remote and flipped on the screen.

“See if you can get a local news station,” Paige requested.

“Sounds like duty calls,” Dax started scrolling until he found what she wanted. “What’s up?”

“There,” Paige pointed to the screen. “Pause that.”

“Who are they?” Dax studied the five photos displayed across the television.

“Escaped prisoners,” Paige turned to face Dax. “From Gunnison Prison. They were up Mayfield Canyon working to clear out debris from a camping area. Apparently, the creek got clogged with branches and other debris from a collapse upstream. The forest service sent in a couple guys who got the jam cleared, but they requested a work crew to clean up the mess. One of the guards took those five men up to do the work. They killed the guard and escaped into the wilderness.”

“So much for easing back into things,” Dax stood and moved to stand next to Paige.

“Dax,” she reached for his arm. “This place would be an ideal location to get all the provisions those men need. You have guns, clothing, backcountry gear, all-terrains. Do you know what they could do or how far they could get if they found this place?”

“We haven’t officially opened yet,” Dax soothed. “Very few people even know we’re here. Even less know what we do. We’ll have to take that into consideration once we’re fully operational. We’re close to the state prison in Gunnison, and our security will need to be tight. But right now, I don’t think those men would even know to come here.”

“Leave that picture up there,” Paige requested. “Call in your men, make sure they stay alert. And you be careful today. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“Hawk,” Dax called before he reached out and took her face between his hands. “Relax. We’re going to be fine. I’m worried about you. Promise me you’ll be careful. Those men already killed once, I doubt they would hesitate to kill again.”

“It’s barely... oh, hey Paige,” Hawk glanced from Dax to Paige then back to Dax. “What’s wrong?”

“Jot down the information on those men,” Dax ordered. “Then, go do what you do. I want to know everything there is to know about all five of them.”

“Who are they?” Hawk began to write down names.

“Escaped prisoners who killed the prison guard that was supervising them,” Dax informed him. “Send anything you find to Paige’s phone immediately.”

“On it,” Hawk turned to go.

“I’ll leave those pictures up until you have better ones,” Dax added. “Get the info out to the men. They escaped from Mayfield, but the canyons are connected. If they make their way north...”

“We’re in their path,” Hawk nodded. “Do they have a vehicle?”

“No,” Paige shook her head. “That’s the only good news of the day. The prison vans are equipped with kill switches that require a code to activate the engine. They wouldn’t have the code and the guard was dead. Even if they hot-wired the van, it wouldn’t activate without the code.”

“I guess that’s something,” Hawk shifted back to Dax. “We have security and we’d be a prime target. The good news is nobody really knows what we’re doing here yet. Well, except for the military and law enforcement. The escaped felons shouldn’t know how lucrative a hit this would be. Do you want me to activate the system?”

“Yeah,” Dax decided. “Get the world out, activate the system, and then come back in here and explain exactly what that means.”

“I have to go,” Paige announced. “Don’t wait up. I could be late.”

“Be careful,” Dax grabbed her and pulled her against him, pressing his lips to hers. “And call if you can. I love you.”

“Love you too,” Paige stepped back. “Stay alert. If they get up in the mountains and steal a car, it wouldn’t take long to hit this area. I know you guys are working on getting this place up and running, but don’t leave the building without a partner.”

“We know what to do, babe,” Dax grinned. “Now, stop playing cop with us and go catch the bad guys.”

“That’s a big ten-four,” Paige rushed out of the room.

“I’ll get started on the intel,” Hawk decided. “If you press the green button on your phone, it’s an intercom. All the guys will hear it, we can brief in your office.”

“Sounds good,” Dax said absently. He moved to the window and was now watching the woman he loved rush into danger.

“She’ll be fine,” Hawk understood immediately. “She’s a good cop and she’ll be careful.”

“I know,” Dax continued to watch as Paige pulled onto the highway and disappeared. “The minute you get something, send it to Paige.”

“I’ll send it to both of you,” Hawk assured him. “I’ll be in my office if you need me.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled up at the park across from the Gunnison State Correctional Facility and parked next to Jericho in such a way that they could talk through their driver’s side windows. “Why are they staging here?”

“The prison warden chose the location,” Jericho advised. “I tried to talk him into relocating but he wouldn’t hear it. I think he’s looking for visibility.”

“How soon can we leave?” Paige asked. “I want to get a look of the actual crime scene before it’s trampled by a million cops with good intentions.”

“I have the details already,” Jericho advised. “Let’s head up now. We can check back in later, once we have a better idea of where those men are headed.”

“I’ll follow you,” Paige shifted into drive. “You do know the feds will be all over this don’t you?”

“I was hoping for Sean,” Jericho admitted.

“He’s in Washington,” Paige shook her head. “Nathan’s working on something big and pulled both Sean and Carmen back east. Brinkley specializes in these types of searches,” Paige added. “I’m hoping Trent’s close enough they’ll pull him in.”

“The name sounds familiar,” Jericho frowned and tried to remember why. “Do I know him?”

“Baby theft case,” Paige reminded him. “I know you were really impressed by his charming personality when he followed you down that creepy staircase into the cellar of death.”

“Right,” Jericho remembered now. “If I recall correctly, he had a little thing for you. Does the man know you’re married?”

“He’s all talk,” Paige shrugged that off. “I’ll follow you out.”

Paige pulled off to the side of the road behind Jericho and joined her boss at the junction where the small trail led off the main dirt road. “There’s been a lot of traffic up here already,” she observed.

“I’m told they tried to keep it to a minimum,” Jericho started forward. “But with the original crew that found the body, the ME, and an entire K9 unit, it’s been compromised for sure.”

Paige stopped a few feet away from where the guard’s body had been located. She glanced at the van, a long folding table and then back to the body. “It looks like they just finished lunch and initiated the attack while the guard was relaxed.”

“I agree,” Jericho moved forward. The remnants of their meal were still spread out over the table. “There are only five places,” he observed. “But, it appears the guard sat down and ate with the men. Where’s the sixth lunch?”

Paige started to look around when she spotted the sleek black Ford pull in behind her cruiser. She grinned when the door flew open and she saw a familiar face. “I wondered how long it would take you to break away and find the real action.”

“Carter,” Brinkley didn’t break his stride. He walked right up to Paige, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug, lifting her feet off the ground. “Good to see you, again.”

“Right back atcha,” Paige laughed.

“Sorry I missed the big day,” he frowned. “That’s right, it’s not Carter is it?”

“I pretty much answer to anything,” Paige shrugged. “I got your message. How’d the case turn out?”

“We got our man,” Brinkley grinned. “Always do. So, I guess I have to curb the naked jokes from now on seeing as you’re a married woman and all that. I suspect my prurient fantasies are no longer appropriate.”

“Your fantasies were never appropriate, Trent,” Paige grinned. “Maybe we could oh, I don’t know, start looking for five dangerous killers that are on the loose and desperate.”

“I’m game if you are,” Trent turned to Jericho. “Sheriff, good to see you again.”

“Ditto,” Jericho relaxed grateful the fed was someone he already knew and had worked with on a previous case.

“So,” Brinkley turned back to Paige. “Any thoughts?”

“The boss just pointed out that we’re missing a place setting,” Paige informed him.

The group walked forward, and Paige spotted the remnants of a half-eaten sandwich next to a large log. “I think I found something over here.” She straightened and studied the area carefully. “We have a straggler,” she decided. “I think one of our prisoners headed out alone.”

Agent Brinkley studied the ground that surrounded the rock, then took several steps toward the thick trees. “I agree, you two up for a little hike?”

“I’m game,” Paige answered immediately. She glanced down when her phone chimed. “And, I have some new information on our bad guys.”

“Dax?” Jericho asked.

“He put Hawk on it,” Paige informed him. “Next to Carmen, there’s no one better.”

“What did he find?” Trent tried to see the display.

“John Delaney has a girl,” Paige turned the phone around so Jericho and Trent could see her picture. “Looks like her mamma lives close by here. She rattled off the address.”

“That’s just outside Gunnison,” Jericho pulled out his phone. “I need to call this in. Chief Strong will need to get some of his men over to the house and hold surveillance just in case he shows.”

“How will you explain the intel?” Trent asked.

“Paige was contacted by her CI,” Jericho grinned. “Did that come from Dax?”

“Nope,” Paige shook her heard. “Directly from Hawk.”

“Can you call him?” Jericho asked. “Tell Hawk to send the information directly to you. We’re going to officially list him as your CI. I want this all above board.”

“Dax already told him to send me whatever he finds as soon as he finds it, but I’ll call him and let him know he just got a new title,” Paige started for the truck. “Before we head into the woods, I want some provisions.”

“And, I want my rifle,” Jericho decided.

“I want my binoculars,” Trent joked. “And a latte. Anyone know where I can get me a good latte?”

Both Paige and Jericho ignored him. Paige grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler in the back seat, her go bag, an extra magazine for her pistol, and then swung her rifle over her shoulder. She started to shut the door, then snatched up one more fully-loaded magazine for the rifle and shoved it into her pocket. Once she shut the door, she glanced up and realized the men were waiting on her. She rushed forward to join them by the rock.

“Maybe you want to reapply your lipstick and add some pink gunk to your cheeks while we wait,” Trent called out as she approached.

“Shut up,” Paige growled. “It looks like the dogs all went after the other four. The ground here doesn’t look disturbed at all.”

“I agree,” Trent sobered. “Let me take the lead, you two follow close behind.”

“Maybe Paige...” Jericho began.

“No,” Paige interrupted. “Next to Sean, Trent’s the best tracker I know. He should lead.”

“I’m hurt,” Trent didn’t take his eyes off the ground. “You think Porter’s pet agent is better than me?”

“I think most people would call me Porter’s pet, not Sean,” Paige replied. “And you know Wilkens could find a mountain man in the Alaska wilderness and still make it home in time for dinner.”

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“Alright,” Trent relented. “I’ll give credit where credit is due. Sean Wilkens is unnaturally adept at tracking. Turn here.” He led the group further into the wilderness, stopping occasionally to read the signs.

“The man isn’t hiding his tracks all that much,” Paige observed.

“If he continued this way,” Jericho realized. “He connected with an old dirt road that leads to a small cabin.”

“If he holed up inside,” Brinkley frowned. “We could have a barricade deal on our hands.”

“We’ll deal with the situation when we get there,” Jericho decided. “No use borrowing trouble.”

“Oh, hey,” Trent fell back beside Paige. “I was going to tell you, I checked on that widow you asked me about. You know, the downed aircraft you guys had out here a few months back.”

“And?” Paige hadn’t given up on finding the missing property from that plane.

“She came off clean when I initially made contact,” Trent explained. “She said she didn’t know what her husband was doing or why he was flying under the radar. I didn’t believe her. She knew more than she was saying, but I let it go. Bothered me, though; so, I asked a buddy of mine that works the area to check up now and again and see if anything changes.”

“Did it?” Paige wondered.

“Yeah,” Brinkley nodded. “She recently came into some money.”

“What kind of money?” Paige was now alert.

“Came from an insurance company,” Brinkley continued. “The documents say it was life insurance. My guy got the loan officer at the bank to show him the file. But, here’s the thing... there’s no record of the late Holden Driscoll or Darla — his wife — ever paying into an insurance policy.”

“Is the insurance company legit?” Paige wondered.

“On the surface it is,” Brinkley shrugged.

“What does that mean?” Jericho asked, the first indication he was following the conversation.

“It means the comp geeks are indecisive on their conclusions,” Trent admitted. “I got conflicting answers. One guy said it’s legit. Another piped up and said it’s only legit on the surface, like a shell or something. He tried to follow it further, but hit a wall. He can’t find anything hinkey, but he can’t find anything so…”

“So,” Paige surmised, “its hinkey.”

“That’s my take,” Brinkley agreed. “Our guys are good, but the trail just vanishes.”

Paige wished Carmen was home. She’d ask her friend to do a little digging, but she couldn’t interrupt when she was on a real op for Nathan. His endearment only went so far. “She had an alibi,” Paige recalled. “It couldn’t be the missing money, could it?”

“If there was money missing,” Trent added. “I know you think someone climbed up there and ran off with something. But, that something doesn’t have to be money. And, the widow didn’t strike me as someone that had computer skills. Especially not these mad skills. Someone with experience and knowhow had to set this up to get by our techs. And they got by, Paige. I’ve pushed. There’s nothing there, they said they can’t go any further and they have other cases that needed their attention. I decided they’d wasted enough time on a hunch.”

“I understand,” Paige would ask Carmen to take a look once she was back home. In the meantime, she’d do a little more digging on the widow. Darla Driscoll just might not be as clean as they originally believed.

“Heads up,” Jericho slowed as he approached the edge of the trail. “Our guy veered off here. That means, he’s headed straight for the old cabin. It would be an ideal place to hole up for a few days and see if the dust settles enough to sneak out undetected.”

“How far?” Trent asked Jericho.

“Maybe five-hundred yards out,” Jericho guessed. “It’s been awhile since I’ve been up here. The cabin is located off to the right. It sits back in the trees a little ways, but you’ll see it clearly from this dirt road.” He frowned when his phone began to buzz.

“Once you’re finished with that,” Trent frowned. “I think maybe you should shut it off, at least until we know what we’re dealing with.”

Paige pulled out her phone and switched it to silent.

Jericho moved a few yards away, back into the shadow of the trees as he took the call. A few moments later, he approached the duo. “That was Strong. Our guy is at the location Paige provided. He’s armed, the girlfriend’s mom had her father’s old deer rifle stashed in the closet. They’ve called in SWAT. Looks like that op might take a while. The girlfriend is still inside. So far, they can’t tell if she’s a willing participant or a hostage.”

“Either way,” Paige whispered. “He’ll use her once he realizes he’s trapped.”

“I agree,” Trent motioned toward the trail. “Let’s go see if we’re in the same boat and on our own.”

The instant they came around the bend, they knew their man was inside the cabin. There was a dim light flickering behind what Paige assumed was the kitchen.

“Candle,” Jericho whispered. “He’s not using the fireplace yet. He’s probably waiting a few more hours before he risks it. He has to feel pretty safe in there. The chance of discovery was pretty low.”

“We discovered him,” Trent disagreed.

“We’re the best of the best,” Paige grinned. “With honors.”

“We need to get close enough to see inside,” Jericho ignored her. “I happen to know the owner doesn’t leave any weapons inside the cabin when he’s not using it, but the suspect could have taken the pistol off the guard.”

“Someone did,” Paige agreed. “Let me see if I can sneak around the side and get a clear view through the window.”

“Why you?” Trent objected.

“You have your strengths, I have mine,” Paige answered softly. “Cover me just in case.”

Jericho and Trent both pulled their handguns from their holsters and watched as Paige made her way silently toward the side window.

It didn’t take long before she returned. “He’s in the kitchen eating a cold can of stew,” she scrunched up her nose. “Nasty.”

“Does he have a weapon, Paige,” Jericho asked impatiently.

“I didn’t see one,” Paige shook her head. “I suppose he could have it sitting on his lap under the table, but there was no indication that he’s armed.”

“Do we burst in and take him by surprise, or announce ourselves and tell him he’s surrounded, and he should surrender?”

“Both,” Jericho decided. “I’m going to take cover behind that tree right there. You and Paige head to the back. There’s a small door just around the corner to the left. Once you’re in position, I’ll announce I’m here and tell him to step out onto the front porch with his hands up. He won’t do it, but that’s your cue to break in the back door and subdue him. The door leads into the kitchen, so you should be right on him before he knows there’s trouble.”

“Unless he’s hiding a pistol in his lap,” Trent grumbled.

“You got a better idea?” Paige asked

“No,” he admitted.

“Paige,” Jericho continued. “Try to get into position so you can see his reaction when I announce I’m here. He might stand up, try to look out the window and to determine how many he’s up against. If he does, you’ll know if he has a gun.”

“Right,” Paige pulled out her own gun and moved toward the house. She glanced back at Trent and silently mouthed “Stay close”.

The apprehension was uneventful. Stanley Barber wasn’t armed. And, he did exactly as Jericho had predicted. The instant Jericho called out, Stanley stood and moved to the window. He was unarmed and taken completely by surprise when Trent and Paige burst through the back door. Trent kicked the wooden barrier open and Paige flew past him, vaulted over a kitchen chair, and collided with Stanley with so much force they both dropped to the floor in a daze. Trent was on their prisoner immediately and had him cuffed in a matter of seconds.

“These local cops you work with are a bad influence on you agent,” Trent grumbled, a little breathless from the action.

“I have no idea what you mean by that,” Paige was grinning and thinking of Gage Clayton. More than once she’d scolded him for the exact same takedown technique.

“I’ve read the book,” Brinkley replied. “That maneuver is not in the book.”

“Depends on what book you read,” Paige glanced up at Jericho who was now blocking the doorway.

“The only place you’re going to find that move is in the NFL playbook,” Jericho frowned. “The locals aren’t a bad influence, that retired linebacker you call a partner is.”

“Don’t rain on my parade,” Paige pushed herself up until she was standing again. “What are we going to do with him? I don’t think we should escort him through the forest on foot.”

“I called Strong,” Jericho answered. “He’s sending up a guy in an explorer. They can access this cabin from that trail we intercepted. In the meantime, we wait. He’s not going anywhere.”

“I have a better idea,” Trent moved to their prisoner. “We interrogate.”

“How’s the standoff going?” Paige asked Jericho.

“No progress,” he admitted. “Don’t worry, John Delaney’s not going anywhere but a cell.”

“Or a box,” Trent disagreed. “It’s just as likely he’ll choose death over a long, miserable life in a cell.”

“He won’t go back,” Stanley provided. “He told us as much when he planned the breakout. He can’t take life without his girl. He might take her with him, he might go the suicide by cop route, but he’s not going back.”

“And you?” Trent asked. “You didn’t put up much of a fight.”

“I never planned to leave in the first place,” Stanley told them. “Once they killed the guard, I didn’t have a choice.”

“They killed the guard?” Paige asked.

“That’s right,” Stanley shrugged. “One minute I’m wolfing down that sorry excuse for a sandwich, the next the guard is dead and the four of them are searching the body for the keys to the shackles. Once they got all of us free, they disappeared into the woods. I had a choice, sit there and get blamed for the whole mess, or take my chances alone. I figured I’d walk in the opposite direction and let fate decide where I landed.”

“You just landed another life sentence behind bars,” Trent rolled his eyes and looked at Paige. “Anything you want to know?”

“Yeah,” Paige moved forward. “You said John planned the escape. When, if one minute you’re dining on that sandwich and the next the guard is dead?”

“He was whispering about leaving all day,” Stanley admitted. “At first, I thought it was just talk. I mean, what are the chances? Nobody breaks out and makes it for long. But he kept it up. Said he couldn’t live without his girl. The next thing I know, he jumps the guard and the other three joined in. I didn’t see exactly how that guy got dead, but I think one of them broke his neck. Then, they were gone and I was left to decide what to do. I bolted.”

“John needed his girl, but what about the other three?” Paige asked. “Did they say where they’d go if they got away?”

“No,” Stanley evaded and looked away.

“You know,” Trent leaned forward. “I get the feeling he’s lying.”

“Yeah,” Paige agreed. “I bet that Warden knows what Stanley here lives for. I bet if I asked him real nice like, he’d be more than happy to share the details. I wonder what life behind bars would be like without that favorite luxury.”

“You cops are all the same,” Stanley complained.

“I imagine you’re right about that,” Trent sat back. “So, what’s it gonna be, Stan? Loyalty to a bunch of guys that left you holding the bag, or you go back to the same life you left. It ain’t pretty but it’s yours.”

“None of them have a girl,” Stanley began. “Not that they mentioned. The three of them, they’re tight. They started talking about the Great Western. One of them said it runs all the way from Canada to Mexico. I don’t know where they went, I really don’t. But I’d start searching that trail if I were you.”

“Which one, Stan?” Trent pushed. “Canada or Mexico?”

“They were still fighting about that when they disappeared,” he looked away. “LeRoy wanted to head for Mexico. Brent said it had to be Canada. Darrin didn’t say. I don’t know, I don’t,” he insisted.

“Transports here,” Jericho announced. “Stanley,” he moved forward. “This is your last chance to do the right thing. Where are the three remaining men going? We’ve already got John trapped and they’re not with him. Where did they go?”

“It could be either,” he insisted. “If I say, it would just be guessing.”

“Then guess,” Trent pushed.

“My guess would be Canada,” he admitted. “They didn’t say that, so I don’t want any trouble if I’m wrong. But Brent said the cops would expect them to go to Mexico. That’s why he was pushing for Canada. He thought they’d have a better chance of disappearing if they headed north.”

“You ready for us to head out?” two uniformed cops stepped into the doorway. “The Chief’s anxious to get this one into a box.”

“He’s ready,” Jericho motioned for them to take the prisoner.

“We had another guy follow us up,” the cop informed them. “He’s available to give you three a ride back to the scene if you want. We spotted your vehicles parked down there on the side of the road and thought you might need transpo once we relieved you of this guy.”

“That would be great,” Jericho answered for all of them. “I didn’t think to ask when I spoke to the chief.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige, Trent, and Jericho were back at their vehicles in a matter of minutes. Jericho had pulled out a map of the area and they were searching it for the most likely route the remaining men would take to Canada.

“I just have to say,” Trent finally spoke. “We’re taking the word of a convicted criminal that, at the very least, watched while his buddies murdered their guard. Are we sure he’s not leading us astray? Can we be certain he’s not engaging in a little misdirection, so the three buffoons can sneak down to the border and slip into the Mexico?”

“No,” Jericho didn’t look up from the map. “Which is why Chief Strong is taking three of his men and half a dozen of you feds south to search that area as well. Feel free to peel off and join them if you think we’re on the wrong track here.”

“While you two fight this out,” Paige pushed away from the hood of the car. “I need to make a phone call.”

“Checking in with the old ball and chain?” Trent asked.

“Yep,” Paige said unfazed by the comment. She had promised Dax she’d call if she got the chance and she was going to keep her word.

“I saw you got your man,” Dax said in greeting.

“One of them,” Paige agreed. “We think three of them are headed to Canada. The last one is barricaded and surrounded by SWAT, so he’s not going anywhere.”

“I heard that, too,” Dax admitted. “Sounds like you might be awhile.”

“Probably,” Paige agreed. “We have a lot of ground to cover but if our prisoner was telling the truth, we have a place to start.”

“Did it sound credible?” Dax wondered.

“It did to me,” Paige told him. “He could be lying, trying to give the others time to get away, but I don’t think so. If they were that close, I think he would have joined them. He strikes me as the loner type rather than a team player.”

“Be careful,” Dax couldn’t help but worry. Paige was out chasing killers.

“I’m always careful,” Paige said casually. “Brinkley’s with us. I don’t think you two met, but he was helping us on that baby theft case. The one with Sean’s sister.”

“Right,” Dax remembered that case well.

“He had news of the missing money from that plane that crashed,” she shifted to make sure the others couldn’t hear. “He said the widow received a huge sum of money in the form of a life insurance payout. But here’s the thing, the pilot never paid for life insurance. The geeks back at Quantico haven’t been able to trace it yet, but I think she may have been involved somehow. Brinkley has a man down in Texas keeping his eyes and ears open.”

“Hum,” Dax said evasively. “Sounds like you have a new lead.” He still planned to tell her everything, but he didn’t want to do it over the phone, and he didn’t want her distracted while she was chasing three dangerous men through the wilderness.

“Maybe,” Paige frowned in frustration. “If Carmen was home, I’d ask her to look into it, but I can’t bother her while she’s on some secret assignment to save the world.”

“It does pale in comparison when you put it that way,” Dax laughed.

“I gotta go,” Paige said abruptly. “Don’t wait up. I could be a while.”

“Zee is a little lost without Carmen,” Dax told her. “I talked him into coming over for an evening of guy time since you were busy. We might still be up when you get here. Until then, tell Jericho to take care of my cop.”

“Not likely,” Paige laughed. “See ya.”

“I love you, too,” Dax laughed as he disconnected then sobered thinking of the news Paige had shared. He’d have Zeus call Carmen. The guys were sure she’d handled it well enough and he didn’t doubt her. Carmen would have covered her tracks well, but it was worth another look just to be safe. He didn’t care if Paige discovered the truth, he would eventually tell her the entire story anyway. He did care about some fed he didn’t know. He also cared about the entire tech section of the Bureau back at Quantico. Carmen would care about that, too. Yeah, it was always better to be safe.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige made her way back to Jericho’s vehicle. He was still studying the map, but this time Trent was explaining something.

“You two get it all hashed out?” Paige wondered.

“Yeah,” Jericho folded up the map. “We’re heading this way. Brinkley will let us know when to shift gears and alter our route.”

Paige focused on her old friend and former colleague. “High praise. Jericho doesn’t give up the reins easily.”

“It’s my charming personality,” Trent grinned. “He can’t resist.”

“Right,” Paige rushed to catch up with Jericho, who had passed the vehicles and was now waiting on the gravel road.

“We’ll head north,” Trent was serious now, he had clearly transitioned from relaxed to serious tracker. “I may veer off now and again. You don’t need to follow. I’ll let you know when I pick something up. In an area this populated, there are bound to be false hits — tracks that are fresh, but don’t belong to our men.”

“You can tell the difference?” Jericho wondered.

“Usually,” Trent shrugged. “Not always, thus the warning. I might need to head in, leave the actual path and survey the area for clues before I know if we’re heading in the right direction.”

“Lead the way,” Paige said cheerfully. She hung back a little, wanting to give Trent his space to work. Jericho matched his stride with hers.

“You get things squared with Gage?”

“Gage is fine,” Paige insisted. “It makes it worse, knowing the suspect is out of reach.”

“We’ll get him,” Jericho said confidently. “I take it you’re not going to let that plane crash situation go. That’s why you asked Agent Brinkley to keep his eyes and ears open.”

“I did let it go,” Paige disagreed. “I inactivated the case, we don’t have any leads to follow at this point. But I haven’t been able to close it and I know there was something inside that plane. Whoever took it knows what it was, and the cartel knows. I have a feeling, before this is all said and done, we’ll all know.”

“Trent is leaving the roadway again,” Jericho focused up ahead. Brinkley had disappeared into the trees, Paige and Jericho patiently waited on the main trail. The agent returned almost immediately, shook his head, and continued forward. This same ritual continued for over an hour.

Paige stood, impatiently waiting for Trent to return from another excursion into the forest. She was tired, hot, and her feet were killing her. When Trent returned, she expected him to continue hiking, the same as he’d done every other time he returned from a wild goose chase. He didn’t.

“I’ve got them,” Trent approached the duo. “I spotted a new trail and the footprints are a match for one of our convicts.”

“You couldn’t possibly know that,” Jericho disagreed.

Paige moved forward and followed Trent back into the trees. She crouched and studied the clean, undisturbed footprint among the other, less obvious prints. “He’s right, we found them — or, at least their trail. Trent, lead the way.”

“The route continues, in sort of a parallel path along the road,” Trent advised. “They are probably sticking close to the road, feeling safer and more confident with the constant reminder they are headed in the right direction.”

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It was almost an hour later when the small group located their target. The fugitives were camped a few hundred yards from the road — not nearly far enough away to avoid detection. Trent and Paige held surveillance while Jericho slipped away to call in reinforcements.

\*\*\*\*\*

“We’ve got men in position sixty yards to the north,” Trent updated Jericho. “Are you guys set to the east?”

“Clayton and Havilland are set up in those trees about fifty feet to the east,” Jericho confirmed. “They’re ready on my go with one of the feds and two men from Gunnison.”

“My guys just checked in,” Chief Strong advised. “They have two feds and three of my officers set up to the west, about a hundred yards from camp. The terrain is difficult and they didn’t dare go any further for fear the noise would tip them off.”

“Paige,” Jericho looked up. “You, Trent, Mike and Dean will head in from the south. I want this to be a coordinated attack. All sides converge as a cohesive unit and take them down hard. We know Barber didn’t have the weapon and Delaney is using an old rifle he found in the house. That means the likelyhood that at least one of these three is armed, is high. Nobody gets dead, not on my watch.”

“I second that,” Chief Strong added softly. “I need to take this,” he motioned to his phone.

Within minutes Strong returned. His face was stone-cold and void of emotion. “The situation in the valley has concluded. John Delaney decided to come out shooting. He’s dead, one of my officers sustained injuries, but he should make a full recovery. Let’s take these three down and end this tonight.”

Margie’s voice came over the radio. Paige adjusted her earpiece until the message came through loud and clear. They had finally patched the radios and all the agencies could now communicate on one channel. Paige switched over and checked in.

“Get in position,” Jericho motioned to Paige.

Her team slowly made their way toward the target.

“On my mark,” Jericho’s voice sounded in Paige’s ear. “When I say go, everyone moves in. We know Team Bravo to the west will be slightly delayed. If the suspects head that way, Alpha, Delta and Charlie make sure you notify Bravo they have incoming.”

“Copy,” Paige answered for her team. She waited while she heard the acknowledgment from the other.

“No tackles,” Trent warned. “This one is different. We have three bogies and at least one is armed. We do this by the book, Carter.”

Paige shot him an annoyed look but just nodded in agreement. The man had always been bossy but thorough, it was just one of the many reasons he was the best. She knew, no matter what happened out here, Trent would have her back. She was sure he knew she would return the favor.

“Move in,” Jericho’s distinct voice echoed over the air. Dozens of cops converged on the small camp, determined to capture the three fugitive’s and return them to a cell where they belonged.

The first few seconds were pure chaos. The three men, who had been relaxing in front of a small campfire, jumped to their feet in surprise. One of them, Paige thought it was Darrin Benson, started to reach for something under his shirt — most likely the missing pistol. She didn’t have a chance to find out; within seconds, he was thrown to the ground from behind. His two friends were also faced down in the dirt, hands cuffed behind their backs, cops yelling over each other as they ordered their prisoners to keep their hands visible and remain on the ground. Not one of them moved an inch.

Paige currently had her left knee shoved into the back of LeRoy Harris. Trent tested the cuffs to make sure they were tightly secured then motioned for Paige to stand. As she got to her feet, she glanced around. Now that the dust had settled, she let out a sigh of relief. “That was almost too easy,” she softly complained to a small group that was huddled around the prisoner.

“Quick and clean,” Trent moved forward. “Just how I like it.”

“You might want to keep that little tidbit to yourself,” Lovato laughed. “It’s nothing to brag about my friend.”

“Men,” Paige rolled her eye and took a step back when Dean reached down and yanked LeRoy to his feet.

Dean quickly marched the prisoner out of the camp and dumped him unceremoniously into a waiting van. Smiling he returned to the group. “Ladies, I think my job here is done.”

“I suppose you’re going to take credit for that arrest,” Lo smirked.

“Nope,” Dean smiled back. “I think we should let the fed take the glory. That way, he gets to write the report.”

“That’s not necessary,” Trent began.

“Just accept it,” Paige patted him on the back. “We’re used to it. You wouldn’t want to confuse the locals with interagency cooperation, would you?”

“Then you do the report,” Trent called out.

“Nope,” Paige said over her shoulder. “I left the Bureau. I’m just a local now. I might not hit all the salient points. It’s been way too long and I already demonstrated I lost the book.”

Trent turned to focus on his agents and zeroed in on a man just a few feet from his location. “You,” he pointed at the guy. “This one is yours. Make sure the report is finalized by ten tomorrow morning. We’re moving out.” Brinkley smiled and winked at Paige when he saw her roll her eyes. He moved in beside her and slung an arm over her shoulder. “I’ve been at this long enough, I know how to play the game.”

“You always did,” Paige admitted. “Looks like this op is finally over.”

“Can’t complain,” Trent glanced around. “The good guys won this round. Hey, if I don’t see you before I go, it was a pleasure doing business — as always. You look good Carter, stay tight.”

“You too,” Paige smiled at her old friend. “Stay safe and don’t be a stranger.”

She climbed into her vehicle and headed for home. Another win for the good guys.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S4

**Tags:** Season 4

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### [Tumultuous Bliss](https://melaniepsmith.com/tumultuous-bliss/)

**Published:** August 30, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Tumultuous Bliss (S4E5) A young man is dead but was it murder or an accident?  Paige prepares for her wedding, but realizes Dax has a secret.  And will family drama ruin the couple's perfect wedding?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*TUMULTUOUS BLISS\*\*\*****

“Deputy Carter,” Margie’s voice came over the radio.

“Carter,” Paige responded.

“Your assistance is needed on an investigation,” Margie advised before rattling off the address. “Contact Sheriff Walters when you arrive.”

“Copy,” Paige flipped around and headed in the opposite direction, curious about all the secrecy. Clearly Margie, and by extension Jericho, didn’t want the details going out over the air. The address was on the outskirts of the county, just this side of Laurel Bluffs. From what she could remember, nobody lived out there anymore. So, what kind of investigation could Jericho need her help with? A million different possibilities ran through her mind before she reached the turnoff.

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[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Tumultuous-Bliss.pdf)

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As Paige made her way slowly down the dirt and gravel roadway that led to an abandoned home, she studied her surroundings carefully. All the buildings had been constructed well away from the highway. The house itself was situated about a hundred yards from the base of some rolling hills directly behind the property. About fifty feet to the left of the home was a huge barn. Paige spotted Jericho’s vehicle immediately, it was parked next to an expensive white compact car she didn’t recognize. The entire area was overgrown with tall grass, weeds, and wildflowers. The field to the left of the barn as well as the section directly in front of it was a mess. If she had to guess, she’d say at least a couple dozen cars had driven through the area recently leaving trampled down grass and huge ruts. Halfway between the house and the barn it was obvious someone tried to go four-wheeling and got stuck, leaving a muddy mess in their wake.

She backed her vehicle in next to Jericho and shut down the engine. Now that she arrived, she could see Gage’s truck and a small red Toyota Camry parked closer to the barn. If Clayton was here, why did Jericho need her? She paused for another minute to take in her surroundings. Jericho was standing near the red car talking to three teenagers and a man. Gage must be inside the barn — someone as big as he was couldn’t remain hidden for long. It was time to talk to her boss and get the scoop before she tracked down her partner. She climbed from the vehicle and only made it a few feet across the newly formed parking area when Jericho broke away from the group and headed her way.

“I know you were hoping for an easy day today,” he said in greeting. “Sorry to disappoint you. Don’t worry, I won’t cancel your vacation. Dax would kill me if I didn’t let you off for that fancy wedding of yours.”

“I can work another day or two if I need to,” Paige glanced around casually. When she was sure the group of citizens remained where Jericho had left them, she refocused on her boss. “Why am I here? And, why would I expect you to cancel my vacation?”

“There’s a body inside the barn,” Jericho practically whispered.

“Is that the family?”

“No,” Jericho sighed. “Before I get into the details, I want you to take a look around. Go in, do what you do, and come back out here and tell me if there was foul play or just death by misadventure.”

Paige raised her eyebrows. “Now you’ve got my attention. Seriously, if I need to, Dax will understand. I can work tomorrow. Carmen and Sophie have it all covered, anyway. I’m pretty sure I was only requested to keep up appearances.”

“You work the case today,” Jericho sobered. “Then you let it go. Didn’t I hear someone say the in-laws arrive in the morning? You need to be there to greet them, make a good first impression and all that. I’ll back Gage on this one if he needs it and I’m pulling in Mike to help. I just want your eyes on it today. That’s it, Paige. I want your word on that or I’ll send you back to the office to deal with all that paperwork you hate so much. Today only, then put the job aside and prepare for the wedding. You have other, more important things to concentrate on — like finalizing the flowers and buying some new shoes.”

“Really?” Paige frowned. “You default to flowers and shoes? I’m pretty sure that’s called stereotyping — or in our world, profiling. And, it’s persona non grata these days. Some might even call it sexists.”

“Paige,” Jericho warned.

“Fine,” Paige sighed. “I’ll be in the barn.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped through the small man door and immediately spotted Gage. The building was dimly lit from two small windows situated in the upper loft area of the barn. Clayton was standing at the far end of the building looking down on what was obviously a body. She slowly made her way toward him, careful not to disturb any evidence along the way. The instant she saw his face, she knew. “He was one of your boys, wasn’t he?”

“Huh?” Gage looked up, dazed.

“He played football, at the high school.”

“Yeah,” Gage sighed. “He was a good kid. I know what this looks like, but I don’t believe it. I need your help, Paige. You have to prove this wasn’t a simple overdose.”

“Let’s step away for a minute,” Paige suggested.

“I’m fine,” Clayton said stubbornly.

“Good,” Paige answered flatly. “But I want you to give me some information about the victim and I don’t want any evidence destroyed while we stand around chatting. We need to move over there, to those chairs.” She pointed to the side of the large space where a few folding chairs had been abandoned. Or, maybe they were already here when the party started.

Gage studied his partner for several seconds before his shoulders slumped and he headed for the chairs.

Paige followed. The instant he settled his large body onto one, she dropped down next to him. “What was his name? Our victim.”

“Adam Langford,” Gage said absently.

“Age?” Paige could see she was losing him. He was too close to this case and his emotions were driving him, not his training.

“He was a junior,” Gage stared vacantly across the large empty barn. “I guess that would make him seventeen.”

“Did he have a history of drug use?” Paige pushed.

“No,” Gage focused on her intently. “The opposite. After that fiasco with the steroids, Mark and I implemented new rules. In addition to the random drug testing, we have a zero-tolerance policy on the team now. You get caught using, you’re benched. No excuses, no exceptions. Adam never used, his tests were always clean. The kid was a health nut, Paige. I don’t think he even used aspirin. He wouldn’t have done this, not the way it looks. I’m actually surprised he was even here.”

“Did his friends know why?”

“I haven’t talked to them,” Gage admitted.

“If you want my help, you have to do things my way on this one,” Paige decided. “Can you do that?”

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning,” Paige glanced around. “I want some time in here alone. I need to take a closer look around, see if there’s any evidence, and examine the body. I need you to go outside and figure out a way to interview the witnesses. They’re minors so it’s going to be tricky. Find a way to make it happen. Get me some answers, Gage. I need to know why he was here, who he came with, and if he was having any problems in his personal life.”

“He was,” Gage sighed. “But he wasn’t suicidal if that’s where you’re going with this.”

“I was actually wondering if he was stressed and thought a party would loosen things up a bit. You know, give him a little escape from reality.”

“His parents are in the middle of an ugly divorce,” Gage told her reluctantly. “But he was handling it. He was using football to cope; and, the hopes of a scholarship to a good school. He didn’t risk that to let off a little steam. There has to be another explanation.”

“Then go find out what it is,” Paige pressed. “I need to start working the scene before Benny arrives to take the body. I’m sure Jericho has called him in by now.”

“I’ll leave,” Gage relented. “But you have to promise me you won’t just accept the way things look on the surface. You need to investigate this and find the answers.”

“I promise I will do my best to find the truth,” Paige worded her response carefully. “But you have to promise to accept my findings, even if you don’t like them.”

“I promise to accept the truth,” Gage evaded.

Paige smiled. It was just like Gage to use her own words against her. “Go get me some answers. And tell Jericho I’ll let him know when I’m ready for Benny.” She watched her friend slowly leave the building and wondered if she could keep her promise. She only had one day to figure this all out. It was clear Jericho wouldn’t back down and let her work another day. *Better get to work*, Paige thought as she crouched down and began a thorough examination of the victim.

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\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped to the large wooden doors, studied the locking mechanism, then disengaged the system and pushed the heavy doors open. Sunlight burst through the opening and illuminated the interior of the barn. She stood in the doorway and imagined how the place had looked only hours before.

Jericho stepped in beside her and waited.

“I see Benny arrived,” Paige didn’t look up, she continued to survey the scene, then the parking lot and considered.

“He’s ready whenever you are,” Jericho provided. “Mike and Gage are inside the motorhome interviewing the kids. Dr. Anderson, the girl’s father, is sitting in because they’re all minors.”

“Do you know if they’ve learned anything?” Paige shifted to look up at her boss.

“Maybe,” Jericho shrugged. “I told them to finish up with all three so we can send them on their way, then we’ll have a briefing to discuss the situation. Do we have a situation, Paige?”

“Yeah,” Paige sighed.

“Walk me through it,” Jericho demanded.

“What do you see?” Paige asked.

“I’m more interested in what you see,” Jericho countered. “It’s the reason I called you out here this morning.”

“Plastic red cups,” Paige said flatly. “I need to grab some things from my vehicle. Take a minute to look around. I assume you called in forensics. I’m going to need them.”

“I did,” Jericho studied his deputy for several seconds. “Heidi’s on her way. She should be arriving any minute now.”

“Good,” Paige jogged across the expanse, flung open the back door to her SUV and began pulling items from the back seat. Within minutes she was back by Jericho’s side.

“Red cups?” Jericho asked. He followed Paige inside and watched as she started placing markers next to what looked to him like random items. “What are you doing?”

“I want the cups tested,” Paige told him. “I’m selecting them randomly, so we have a good dispersed selection of evidence to prove my theory.”

“What is your theory?” Jericho pressed again.

“Red cups,” Paige shrugged. “It makes the party unusual.”

“Not really,” Jericho disagreed. “There’s a reason Toby Keith wrote a song about the plastic red cup.”

They had reached the body and Paige carefully set a marker next to a cup that had to be the victims. Jericho figured the boy was drinking out of it when he collapsed. The physics, based on the placement of the body and the location of the cup, fit.

“Do you see anything unusual about that cup?” Paige asked, straightening to her full height.

“What I want to know is what you see,” Jericho told her again.

“I see a black mark running up the side,” Paige sobered. “One that I haven’t seen on any other cup around here. Why does the victim’s cup have a black line running up the side?”

Jericho spotted the marking, it looked like someone had used a thick black marker to run a black line from the bottom of the cup all the way to the top. That was curious. He took a few seconds to look around. None of the other cups had the line. “That’s odd, but I’m not sure it makes this suspicious. Kids do strange things. That marking might mean something silly and innocuous.”

“Kids do strange things, I agree,” Paige slipped her hands into her front pockets. “But I’m not convinced this party was thrown by a bunch of high school kids.”

“You think... Paige, if there was an adult here, and they did nothing to help that boy when he went down, they’re culpable. You better be sure, because the kid was beyond help when Dr. Anderson arrived. He estimated the boy had been deceased for at least two hours by the time he got here. But, if there was an adult present, and they just abandoned that boy and let him die...”

“Then its negligent homicide,” Paige nodded.

“I’d push Tolman for more,” Jericho said angrily. “I’d push for the max he thought he could get and let him deal it down from there. But, before you go there, explain your theory.”

“The red cups,” Paige grinned when her boss scowled.

“You keep saying that,” Jericho glanced around, not seeing where she was going with this.

“How many teenage, or underage drunken fun fests have you broken up over the course of your career?”

“A lot,” Jericho frowned as her point finally struck home. “Where are the beer cans?”

“Or the empty bottles?” Paige added. “Girls like wine coolers or hard lemonade. You’ve been to more of these than I have, but with all the trash left behind, there should be bottles and cans. Plus, the red cups. That implies a mixed drink. It’s difficult for a kid to get the hard stuff. It’s only sold at the liquor store and they ID everyone. Hell, they still ID me.”

“Some kid could have stolen his father’s vodka,” Jericho considered.

“I think they had some kind of jungle juice,” Paige shook her head. “And a lot of it, more than you could get with one bottle of vodka. Some of the cups have red liquid in them. Others have what looks like beer. So, my educated guess is some kind of jungle juice and beer... a keg.”

“And,” Jericho considered. “Like the hard liquor, you have to be over twenty-one to rent a keg. Unless...”

Paige cut him off. “I realize some kid could have found his dad’s keg in the old shed and pulled it out to use for a party. But where did he get the beer to fill the keg?”

“They do it all the time over at the college,” Jericho was playing devil’s advocate, but he was starting to believe Paige was onto something.

“True, but at the college, they just con some twenty-two-year-old student into joining the festivities. It’s easy to find a willing adult to do the buying.”

“Okay,” Jericho decided. “We’re officially classifying this as a suspicious death. Now, you have eight hours to prove you’re right. Less than eight, you’ve already been here for one.”

“Eight,” Paige pushed. “If I can’t come in tomorrow, I want to work late and see what I come up with before it’s all turned over to Gage.”

“It will be turned over to Mike and Gage, but I’ll give you the eight. Then,” Jericho gave her a stern look, “the only thing you will be thinking about for the next month is a wedding, your in-laws, and relaxing on the beach.”

“I could...”

“No,” Jericho put his foot down. “Eight hours, then you’re done. We did solve one or two crimes around here before you arrived. I think we can handle this one without you.”

“Alright,” Paige grumbled. “Eight hours. And, I need both Mike and Gage to help.”

“You’ve got them,” Jericho glanced up and saw Brian Anderson exiting the motorhome. His daughter, Kate, was directly behind him. “Are we finished here?”

“Not quite,” Paige crouched down next to the victim’s lifeless form. She used a pen to push up the sleeve of his shirt. “He has bruising,” Paige glanced up at Jericho.

“I’ll get Benny to rush the preliminary,” Jericho sighed. “Maybe he can determine if they’re defensive wounds or if someone held him down while he was convulsing and tried to help. Either way, it’s suspicious. Work the case.”

“That’s all I have for now,” Paige stood and brushed the dirt from her pants.

Jericho gave her a subtle nod, then headed out of the building to speak with the doctor.

\*\*\*\*\*

Once the witnesses had been sent on their way, the body had been removed and Heidi had collected the evidence and was headed for the lab; Jericho gathered his deputies for a briefing inside the motorhome.

“First,” Jericho began. “I want Paige to explain why she has determined this was a suspicious death and not a simple overdose.”

Gage’s head shot up and he focused on Paige in surprise. It’s what he believed, what he had hoped for, but deep down, he knew it was a longshot.

Paige walked Gage and Mike Lovato through her findings and waited while they considered her theory.

“Somehow,” Lovato focused on Paige. “I think you might need more than a red plastic cup to get a conviction on this one. I could be wrong of course, but I think a jury of some poor smuck’s peers might need additional concrete evidence before they throw his sorry butt behind bars for a decade or two. Unless you think he was bludgeoned to death with one of those offensive red containers.”

“It’s possible,” Paige took a sip of water. “Five minutes around you and my inner Lizzie Borden is screaming to get out and say hello. A little red cup might be more than enough to get the job done.”

“Yeah, well tell Lizzie I said hi,” Lovato grinned and held up his middle finger.

Paige also grinned and slid her hand out of her front pocket, her middle finger the only one extended as she reached up and scratched her temple with the extended digit.

“That’s enough,” Jericho sighed. “Mike, tell us about the witness interviews.”

“Right,” Mike shifted and pulled a notepad from his back pocket. “It took some doing, but we finally got the kids to admit they did sneak out last night. With Dr. Anderson in the room, they didn’t want to come clean at first. He actually helped push them until they confessed. The original plan was to meet up at the high school at midnight and attend this party; but, they ultimately decided against it.”

“Adam convinced them it was a bad idea,” Gage corrected. “They met at the high school as planned, but once they were gathered on the bleachers and started to talk, Adam refused to go. He said with all the turmoil at home, it was even more important to get a football scholarship to a good school. He thought it was his only chance to escape; and, attending a party with alcohol and drugs would risk his future. He wasn’t willing to take the risk.”

“So, what changed?” Paige asked. “Because obviously, he ended up here after he ditched his friends.”

“The four of them drove around, goofed off for a few hours, then headed home with plans to meet back up for breakfast this morning,” Mike continued. “None of them knew Adam was coming here but when he didn’t show up at the café and didn’t answer their calls, they got worried and drove out to take a look around. Kevin Draper provided our best insight into what was going on with Adam last night. He showed us a text he received from Adam just before four in the morning. It mentioned Felicity Broadhead and said she claimed she was in danger.”

“Who is Felicity Broadhead?” Jericho asked.

“I should have thought of that before,” Gage sighed. “She was Adam’s girlfriend, but they broke things off earlier this year. The best we could pin down with the help of the witnesses was early February.”

“That’s more than six months ago,” Paige considered. “If they split that long ago, why the contact last night?”

“Kevin didn’t know,” Mike picked it back up. “Adam told him she’d been texting all night and said she claimed to be in trouble, but he didn’t trust her. The texts seemed to get more urgent and Adam didn’t know what to do. Kevin told him to ignore her. She was old news, and she was trouble.”

Paige turned to Gage. “Is she? Trouble, I mean.”

“She is,” Gage nodded. “About this same time last year, the two of them were pretty hot and heavy. In fact, Felicity was distracting Adam to the point his game was suffering. It was like he was obsessed, and that girl was all he could think about. I finally pulled him aside and had a talk with him. Focusing all his attention on a girl is fine off the field, but the minute he hit the grass, his teammates counted on him and he was letting them down. I told him to put the girl aside and focus on the game when he was on the field or I’d be forced to reduce his playing time. He bounced right back. I actually thought the relationship was — I don’t know — healthier I guess, after our talk.”

“But they broke up in February?” Paige asked.

“They did,” Gage shrugged. “Apparently, Felicity preferred obsession to real emotion. As soon as Adam took a step back, she looked for other ways to get that high. Rumor had it, one of those ways included illegal drugs and booze. Adam came to me for advice before he finally ended it. He said he cared for Felicity, a lot, but he didn’t like the person she had become. Adam ended things and Felicity used partying to fill the void. When the old man found out about the wild behavior, she blamed Adam. He immediately tried to get Adam thrown from the team, or at least benched for the rest of the season.”

“For what?” Jericho asked.

“Felicity is the daughter of Rodney Broadhead, the state legislator who has higher aspirations. Rodney approached Mark and asked for a favor. He wanted Adam punished. Said all his daughters’ problems were a direct result of her short relationship with Adam. His goal was to get the kid thrown off the team permanently. Short of that, he wanted Mark to bench Adam for the rest of the season. The pompous idiot tried to convince Mark it was the right thing to do. He said his daughter was suffering and the only thing that made her happy was going to the football games with her friends. If Adam was playing, Felicity couldn’t enjoy the evening. She had no other choice, her only other option was a drunken party. Plus, according to him, it didn’t look good to have the boy that broke his precious daughter’s heart out there representing the local high school and having a good time while she was home suffering,” Gage shook his head in disgust.

“Did she cause problems for Adam?” Paige asked. “Could that be why he decided to meet her last night? An attempt to make it stop?”

“Not that I know of,” Gage frowned. “From all outward appearances, it looked like the two of them just went their separate ways.”

“We need to interview Felicity Broadhead,” Paige decided. “We need to know why she contacted Adam last night and if she somehow talked him into coming out here to see her.”

“Kevin was clear,” Lo put in. “Felicity kept saying she was in danger and needed Adam’s help. It doesn’t explain how he got dead, but it is suspicious.”

“Then why did you give me grief about my theory?” Paige glared.

“Because I could,” Lovato laughed.

“Paige and I will notify Adam’s parent,” Jericho cut in. “Mike, I want you and Gage to start contacting local breweries and find out who bought the beer. It’s the middle of summer and a weekend, so that should keep you busy until we’re finished. Once Paige and I have talked to the Langford’s, I want to switch off. Gage, you’ll come with me. We’ll start at the top of that list you got from the kids and try to determine who was here last night and who wasn’t. Paige, I want you and Mike to go out and interview Felicity.”

“Mike and I could start by interviewing Felicity and then move on to the breweries,” Gage suggested.

“I understand why you want to conduct the interview,” Jericho told Gage. “But it won’t work. She knows you, from school. You’re big and strong and intimidating. I’m talking stature, but I’m also talking reputation. You played for the NFL, now you’re a cop, and you were Adam’s coach. The only hope we have of getting answers from that girl is to put her at ease. We do that by sending in two cops she’s never seen before and then we hope her father is playing golf.”

“I agree,” Paige gave Gage a sympathetic look. “We’ll get answers, but it has to be me and Lo. Trust us, we’ll do right by Adam Langford.”

“Yeah, man,” Mike put a hand on Gage’s shoulder. “We got this. Now, let’s go harass the local breweries.”

“He’s struggling,” Paige told Jericho as they watched the two men walk away. “What are we doing with the motorhome?”

“He’ll get through it,” Jericho said confidently. “And we’re leaving it. If Dean has time, he’ll bring Havilland out to retrieve it. If not, we’ll deal with it later today.”

Paige climbed into the passenger side of her bosses’ truck and buckled in. “Then, I guess it’s time to head over and ruin the lives of an innocent family. I hate notifications.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“So,” Paige slid into Mike Lovato’s passenger seat. “Any luck with the beer?”

“Maybe,” Lo answered. “There were a couple good possibilities. We’ll have to speak to the buyers in person before I decide. I take it the notification was a difficult one.”

“They all are,” Paige sighed. “But I mostly feel sorry for Adam’s little brother. The kid won’t be able to leave the house unsupervised until he’s forty.”

“It’s tough to lose a kid,” Lo sympathized.

“Worse when you have two parents who seem to hate each other,” Paige sighed. “They immediately started the blame game. I think an ugly divorce just got much worse.”

“Then let’s solve this and get it off the table,” Lo suggested as he pulled into the driveway of a large home.

Paige glanced up. “So, this is the guy I complain to when I don’t like the annual budget?”

“Good luck,” Lo laughed. “He’s a politician. I’ve never met one that couldn’t dodge and weave when they wanted to.” Lovato shut off the engine and climbed out of the vehicle.

“Think he’ll let us through the door?” Paige wondered as she joined him at the front bumper.

“Let’s go see,” Lo decided. Moments later they were sitting in some kind of flowery, pink room with fluffy doilies made from feathers. The butler had placed them here and assured them he would retrieve Mrs. Broadhead at once. That was at least ten minutes ago, and Lovato was beginning to wonder if she’d escaped out the back door.

“I’m so sorry to keep you waiting,” a woman that looked to be in her late forties said as she flounced — that was the only word to adequately describe her bouncy walk — into the room and dropped onto the fluffy pink lounge chair. “Linton, darling, would you please bring us some iced tea? It’s truly stifling in this room today.”

“Yes madam,” the butler gave a little bow before quickly exiting the room.

“Linton said you needed to speak to me about my daughter,” Mrs. Broadhead said once he was gone. “I can’t imagine what Felicity could have done to bring the police to my doorstep.”

“It’s more that we need to speak to your daughter,” Paige corrected. “We think she might have some information that will assist in our investigation.”

“What kind of investigation?” the woman asked.

“First,” Paige ignored the question, “could you tell us your first name? For the report.”

“Report?” Mrs. Broadhead frowned.

“Your full name, please,” Lovato repeated.

“Francine Dubois Broadhead,” she spat. “What is this investigation you mentioned, and what does my daughter have to do with it?”

“Is Felicity at home this morning?” Paige asked.

“She’s sleeping,” Francine narrowed her eyes at Paige, clearly used to getting her way.

“Would you mind asking her to join us?” Lovato pushed. “This shouldn’t take long.”

Francine stared at the attractive man for several seconds before she pushed to her feet and left the room.

“This is going to be fun,” Paige mumbled under her breath. “Do you think Felicity will answer our questions with her mother in the room?”

“We don’t have a choice,” Lo settled back. “We’ll get what we can from the girl and hope we get more from the others that attended the party.”

Mother and daughter stepped back into the room. The connection was obvious immediately. Francine was completely put together, not a hair out of place, makeup expertly applied; while Felicity was disheveled and clearly annoyed. But the coloring, the build, the attitude, was identical.

“Felicity,” Paige began. “We need to ask you some question about Adam Langford.”

“We have nothing to say about that horrible boy,” Francine scowled. “If you had told me this was about that selfish, no-good...”

“It’s okay, mom,” Felicity swallowed hard and looked from Lovato to Paige then to her mother. “Can you give me a minute?” she finally asked. “Mom, can I talk to them alone.”

“No,” Francine’s chin raised an inch. “You know your father would never let you talk to the police without an adult present.”

“Either you can leave now,” Felicity pushed. “Or, I’ll just sneak down to the station later and talk to them there.”

“Why?” Francine asked. “Why do you want me to leave? What could you possibly say that you don’t want me to hear?”

She sounded hurt, but Paige thought it was all an act. Her usual way of getting what she wanted from those around her.

“You and daddy hate Adam,” Felicity didn’t budge. “I can’t have a conversation with you in the room. You’ll interrupt, and the police will never get the information they need.”

“I promise, I won’t say a word,” Francine settled back into her chair. “Go ahead ask your questions.”

“Felicity,” Paige started again. “I have information that you were trying to contact Adam last night. Can you tell me why?”

Felicity glanced at her mother, straightened her shoulders and sighed. “I was at a party with a few friends.”

“Where?” Lovato asked.

“Some old barn out by the Bluffs,” Felicity waved that away with a hand. “Scratch was pissed all week and he wanted to let off a little steam. He promised us a good time and said he’d bring all the...” she glanced at her mother then back at the cops. “Well, he brought the entertainment.”

“He brought the booze and narcotics,” Paige corrected. “Do you know what he was mad about?”

“No,” Felicity shrugged. “Something about some guy back in Mexico. Who cares, I was there to have a good time. I didn’t want to hear about Scratch and his stupid problems.”

“Do you know Scratch’s real name?” Lovato asked, maybe it was one of the guys on his list of beer purchases.

“That is his name,” Felicity shrugged again. “Anyway, as soon as I got there, he started to go on and on about Adam. Langford this and that stupid jock that. It was getting boring. I finally told Scratch I was leaving, but he said I had to get Adam to come out first — to the party.”

“Why?” Paige asked.

“I have no idea,” Felicity rolled her eyes.

“He didn’t say anything, didn’t give you a reason why he needed to talk to Adam?” Lovato leaned forward. “You do understand lying to the police is a crime.”

“You wait just a minute,” Francine jumped in.

“He said this guy in Mexico was on his back because business was slow,” Felicity admitted. “Scratch said it was Adam’s fault, and he wanted to talk to him. He just wanted to warn him, you know, scare him a little.”

“What did you do?” Paige asked.

“I laughed at first,” Felicity admitted. “I thought he was kidding. There was no way Adam would show at a party. Mr. Goody-to-shoes doesn’t know how to have a good time. It’s all about football and the stupid future. One day he’s going to look back and regret how he treated me, he’ll realize how much fun we could have had and he’ll wish he listened to me. He’ll wish he had a little more fun while he was young. That’s why old people have a midlife crisis, you know? They take life too serious, waste all their time on homework and never let loose and just have fun. Most people don’t let loose and enjoy the adventure while they can. Then wham! One day, they’re old and it’s too late. They have kids and jobs and all that stupid stuff to deal with. They try to fix it with a lame tattoo and hope it will make them feel cool again.”

“Right,” Paige wondered if Felicity would make it to her eighteenth birthday. Especially when her mother sat there quietly and didn’t say a word about this intellectual philosophy on life her daughter seemed to embrace so willingly. “So, you laughed at Scratch and he did what?”

“He grabbed my arm and yanked me outside,” Felicity pouted. “It hurt and I think I might have a bruise.” She lifted the sleeve of her shirt to inspect her bicep.

“Did he say anything else to you?” Lovato asked impatiently.

“Oh, yeah,” Felicity looked up. “He said I had to get Adam to the party or he would cut me off,” she glanced at her mother. “All of it. So, I sent Adam a text and said I was in trouble and I needed his help.”

“Did he respond?” Paige asked.

“No,” Felicity pouted again. “He ignored me completely. Can you believe that? He just ignored me. But Scratch said to try harder and so I kept texting all night. It was about three-thirty, I think, when Scratch warned me I was running out of time. That’s when I sent Adam another text begging him to help me. I told him I was in danger and I needed a ride home.”

“But there wasn’t any danger?” Lovato asked.

“Well,” Felicity glanced at her mom again. “I was in danger of losing my supply. That’s the worst kind of danger, right?”

“Your supply of what dear?” Francine asked. “You know your father and I would buy you anything you need.”

Felicity gave her mother a condescending smile. “I know mom, but I don’t like to bother you. And, Scratch likes to help me out now and then. It’s a win, win for everyone.”

“Apparently not Adam Langford,” Paige grumbled. “What happened when Adam got there?”

“How did you know he finally showed up?” Felicity asked, amazed.

“Because Adam’s body was found in the barn this morning,” Lovato glared at the girl. “So, if you know anything about what happened to him now is the time to speak up.”

“Adam is dead?” Felicity’s eyes widened in shock.

“My daughter didn’t know,” Francine jumped in. “You can’t hold her responsible for something that happened without her knowledge.”

“What happened when Adam arrived?” Paige asked again.

“Um...” Felicity looked at her mother, bit her bottom lip and considered.

“He came into the barn,” Paige pressed.

“Yeah,” Felicity nodded. “He um, well he came in and saw I was just partying like normal and he started in with the same old sermon. It annoyed me. He was all high and mighty, lecturing me about using people and how I’m ruining my life and all that. I heard it all before and didn’t want him to kill my buzz, so I left.”

“You didn’t say anything to him?” Lovato didn’t believe her for one minute.

“Maybe I yelled at him a little,” Felicity admitted. “I mean, he really was ruining the whole party. I just wanted him gone but Scratch said he needed to talk to Adam alone. That’s when I left. Me and... it doesn’t matter who. We just got in our car and left.”

“So,” Paige said slowly. “You lured Adam Langford out to the middle of nowhere so your drug dealer could confront him about lost sales. You knew Adam would show up if you said you were in trouble, because Adam was a good guy that cared about people. But you just ditched him as soon as he arrived because he had the gall to try to help you clean up your life. Does that about cover it?”

“Well, when you say it that way,” Felicity pouted. “It makes me sound cruel or something.”

“Or something,” Lovato mumbled. “How many people were still at the party when you left?”

“Just a couple,” Felicity admitted. “Most everyone had already left by then. Like I said, it was like... three or something, maybe closer to four when I told Adam I needed a ride. It had to be after four when he got there and most everyone already went home to crash.”

“Do you remember, specifically, who was still there when you left?” Paige pushed. “And, I need names.”

“Oh, but I don’t want to get anyone into trouble and stuff,” Felicity bit her lip again.

“Would you rather get yourself into trouble — and stuff?” Lovato asked.

Felicity glared at him, pouted, then relented. “I don’t think anyone from school was there. Maybe just Scratch and his crew.”

“The names of the people in his crew,” Lovato glared back at the girl.

“Um... Chevy? Yeah, Chevy was still there,” Felicity nodded.

“Does Chevy have a real name?” Paige asked.

“Just Chevy on account he drives a Chevy, you know.”

“Who else,” Lovato asked.

“Um, Peaches,” Felicity whispered. “His name is Peaches cause he can’t grow a mustache.”

“Anyone else?” Paige pushed.

“Um, maybe Dong,” Felicity closed her eyes. “Yeah, Dong on account...”

“We got that one,” Lovato shook his head. “Anyone else still there when you left? Maybe someone with an actual name?”

“Those are names,” Felicity looked at Mike confused.

“Anyone else that you can remember?” Paige asked.

“No,” Felicity closed her eyes again. “No, I think that was it. Everyone else had left by then. I just stayed because Scratch said he had some great...” she trailed off and glanced at her mother.

Paige stood. “We may need to talk to you again, Felicity. And, I’d tell you Adam was right, you are ruining your life, but I’m sure you wouldn’t listen — so, what’s the point?”

“My daughter isn’t in any trouble, is she?” Francine stood and clasped her hands together.

“I don’t know yet,” Paige told her. “We’re still in the early stages of the investigation. But Felicity did lure Adam out to the barn and, as a result, the boy is dead. You might want to keep a tighter rein on your daughter from now on, Mrs. Broadhead.”

Once they were back in the vehicle, Mike turned to look at Paige. “I’d never believe it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. How can anyone be that freakin’ stupid and make it to adulthood?”

“The daughter is trouble, the mother is oblivious to reality,” Paige leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “And Felicity is stupid enough to do this Scratch guy’s bidding.”

“Well, he did threaten to cut her off,” Lo smiled as he pulled away. “There’s nothing more dangerous than losing your supply, right?”

Paige snorted. “That one will be dead or in prison before she hits thirty.”

“What do you want to do now?” Lo wondered.

“Let’s head out to Laurel Bluff and see if there’s anyone available that deals with the drug trade out there,” Paige decided. “There has to be a reason he chose that particular barn and the closest town is Laurel Bluffs.”

“I agree,” Mike made a left onto the highway and headed out of town. “Maybe we should call Havi. He might have some insight, or at least know who to tap for intel when we get there.”

“Good idea,” Paige pulled out her phone. When she was finished, she looked at Mike. “Take a detour and head back to the office. There’s no need to make the trip to the Bluffs, Havi is very familiar with Scratch and his entire crew. He said he’ll meet us in ten and provide all the dirt in person.”

“Back to the office it is.”

\*\*\*\*\*

It was after dark when Paige finally made it home. She hadn’t exactly solved the case, but they were close. Scratch’s real name was Santiago Esposito. He was a known dealer with close ties to Edwardo Contreras and his drug organization down in Mexico. He’d been operating out of Laurel Bluffs for nearly a year now, but he was slippery. There were several warrants for his arrest, but nobody seemed to be able to catch the weasel. Every time they closed in on him, he vanished with his entire crew. Havi thought Contreras, or high-level members of the cartel, provided safe passage back to Mexico when it got too hot here in the states. Most of the warrants were drug-related, but there were two for violent assaults.

Paige thought Havilland might be right, but that didn’t help put the men that killed Adam Langford behind bars. Benny came through for them. The preliminary autopsy showed defensive wounds and bruising on Adams arms and legs. They were consistent with her own conclusion, Adam had been restrained by more than one person. The lab results weren’t back on the liquid in that cup yet, but Paige was sure it would be toxic. It was clear from the investigation they’d completed that day that Scratch decided Adam was interfering in his business — so, he took him out and tried to make it look like an overdose. It made Paige sad and furious that it was that simple. A good kid with a promising future was dead over a few bucks and a drug dealer’s need to act tough in front of his friends.

She was able to give Gage what he asked for, but she wasn’t sure it made the end result any better. At least she proved the kid didn’t head out to a drunken fun fest and accidentally overdose. The world would know that Adam Langford was murdered by a sadistic criminal that was just out to make a buck. Warrants had been issued and, once again, Scratch had disappeared into the wind. Paige was a little surprised when she heard Tolman had charged Felicity as a co-conspirator. The esteemed Mr. Broadhead would use his influence to get her off, no doubt. But he would also be embarrassed in the process. Paige wondered how he would handle it, but she didn’t really care that much. The Broadhead family mess was completely out of her control — thank goodness.

With a sigh, she glanced at the front door then dropped into a lounge chair. She couldn’t face the happy people inside. Not yet. Today was not the kind of day you shared with the people you loved. Paige absently wondered if this was how it started. She’d heard stories from other cops who said their marriages started to crumble because they left the job at the door and couldn’t share the day-to-day events with their spouse. She’d always shared the details of her investigations with Dax, sometimes when she shouldn’t. Would marriage change that? Would they become distant? Would she feel like she had to shield him from the ugliness of the job? Or, would he get tired of hearing about it? With a long sigh, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

Paige heard the screen door open and instantly knew Dax had joined her on the front porch. She didn’t open her eyes, couldn’t open them yet. She hadn’t decided how much she should tell him tonight. Laughter and joy had echoed out from the kitchen since the moment she arrived home. Something inside her didn’t want to ruin that for him.

“Rough day?” Dax asked settling in beside her and taking her hand in his.

“Sad and frustrating day,” Paige opened her eyes. “You don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to ruin all of that…” she pointed to the door. “So, I thought I’d just sit out here for a little while.”

“Paige,” Dax drew circles on the top of her hand with his thumb. “Tell me. That’s our thing. I don’t want it to change just because we have company or because we’re getting married. You can always share your day with me, good or bad. I’ll understand, I promise. And, it usually helps to unload.”

“One of Gage’s boys died,” Paige stood and moved to stand against the railing. “He was only seventeen and he was trying to do the right thing. It got him killed by a drug dealer out of Mexico. It’s just sad and infuriating and the guy, the villain in all of this who goes by the ridiculous name, Scratch — he’s vanished. Havi said that’s what he does. He gets into trouble and poof — gone like the wind. Apparently, he gets help from his boss, some Contreras guy that everyone seems to be afraid of. Edwardo Contreras runs a group of monsters that are giving the cartel a run for their money down south. He’s rumored to be ruthless and batshit crazy. Probably why he has guys like Scratch working for him in the states. Anyway, Adam Langford tried to help an old girlfriend in need and he got dead for it. This Scratch guy believed that Adam was interfering with his dealing. He might have been right, on a really small scale. There were a couple guys on the team — football — that considered trying something or other. Adam talked them out of it. Scratch heard about the lost deal and now Adam’s life is over. It’s such a waste and Gage is crushed. Adam was one of his boys. I solved the crime but what difference did it make? I didn’t even know how to help Gage deal with his grief.”

“So, you came home and sat on the front porch alone, brooding.”

“I’m not exactly brooding,” Paige said in defense. “I’m readjusting.”

Dax moved in behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Sometimes the job is harder than it should be. It’s hard because the answers don’t give you the closure you were looking for. You investigated that boy’s death hoping when you solved the mystery, you would understand why he ended up dead. Unfortunately, the why of it just made things seem more... unjust. And for you, a woman who lives her life seeking justice, it’s a difficult pill to swallow.”

“It’s not any easier for you,” Paige settled back against him. “You spent an entire lifetime seeking justice. Which is why I didn’t know if I should talk to you about this.”

“Of course, you should,” Dax pressed a kiss to her temple. “I’m familiar with Contreras and his men. Zee has experienced their kind of vengeance up close and personal. Be careful. He’s dangerous and the rumors are true, the man’s as crazy as a stomped ant.”

“That’s who had Zeus? When you went down and rescued him from that prison in Mexico? It was Contreras that did that?” Paige asked.

“It was,” Dax turned her to face him. “I have contacts in Mexico. Do you want me to find out if this Scratch guy is down there? The authorities won’t be able to pick him up, they’re almost useless when it comes to dealing with the cartel. But at least you’ll know where he is.”

“Can you do it safely?” Paige wondered. “I don’t want a target on your back over this. But, if you can do it secretly, I think I would like to know. His real name is Santiago Esposito.”

“Consider it done,” Dax leaned in and gave her a proper kiss this time. “Welcome home.”

“Sorry I didn’t come in right away,” Paige rested her head against his chest.

“All I ask is that you don’t shut me out,” Dax said softly. “This, talking through your day, sharing the details of an investigation, it’s sort of our thing. I don’t want to lose that. We’re both busy. Me with the training center, you with your job, and then there’s the wedding chaos, but we still need to take time for us. That’s what the joviality and the laughter in there is all about. Once our big day is over, we can get back to normal again. When we do, I hope you remember you can talk to me about anything. I plan to share my frustrations and triumphs with you. I’m hoping for the same in return.”

Paige straightened and looked Dax in the eye. “Okay, it’s a deal. No secrets.” She froze when she saw the flicker, just for a second, before he masked it. Dax was keeping a secret from her and he had no intention of sharing. Her mind was racing, but she allowed the kiss. She knew it was his way of shielding the truth and she wondered what he was hiding. So much for sharing frustrations and triumphs. The man was a fraud. The two of them walked into her small home together. Paige greeted her guests, but her mind was still reeling. She had always trusted Dax, was planning on marrying the man, but that little flicker had changed everything. Could she trust him? Was she making a mistake? Would her family and friends understand if she called the wedding off this close to the big day? Was she overreacting? Did Nathan know the secret? Had the good General pulled her fiancé into another dangerous mission without telling her? She had to stop this, or she was going to go crazy. She forced a smile on her face and settled into a chair to visit with her guests. Tonight, she’d just pretend everything was fine. Once she retired for the evening, she could think about her future — or her lack of one.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax watched in frustration as Paige pulled his mother’s luggage from the back of the car and headed for the house. Anyone else would say she was just being helpful. He knew better. He knew Paige, her moods, her demeanor, her reactions. Something was off today. She was avoiding him, putting his parents between them, using his family as a buffer so she didn’t have to talk to him. But, why? He couldn’t think of a single thing he had done to upset her. And, with his mother jabbering on, he wasn’t going to find out any time soon.

“Hawk and Vato are staying with Zee,” Dax set the luggage inside his old living room. “So, the two of you will have the house to yourself. Make yourself at home. We’ll meet at six and head into town for dinner.”

“It’s so good to see you, son,” his mother leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. “But you should have told us you were marrying a cop. I wasn’t prepared for such a shock.”

Dax shot a glare at his father who just shook it off and lowered his head in regret. So, his father had failed him — again. The man promised to break the news to his mother before they flew out to visit. Now Dax would have to deal with the passive-aggressive crap from his mom. He just hoped she didn’t take her annoyance out on Paige. Something was already wrong. He didn’t want his mother to make it all worse. He had to get Paige alone somehow and force her to tell him what was bothering her. But how? Every time he turned around, she was heading off with Carmen or Sophie to check on the shoes or the dresses or the flowers. He was afraid he might not get a second alone with his bride until after the wedding was over.

“Dax,” his mother called out. “Your home is lovely. Can you explain again why you’re moving next door to a house that needs so much repair when you have this lovely home available immediately?”

Dax sighed and settled onto a chair, prepared for an afternoon of frustration and meddling. Maybe he should have waited and flown his parents in the day before the wedding. He was beginning to think less time with them might have been better.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige,” Sophie stepped into the kitchen. “I know it’s early, but the dress shop just called. We need to head in right away for your final fitting. The wedding is only two days away and the seamstress wants to make sure she got the alterations correct this time.”

“Can I join you?” Olivia Hamilton asked sweetly.

“Um...” Paige wondered what Dax's mother was up to. She was being way too friendly, more so than she’d been since she arrived ten days ago. “I guess, if Sophie doesn’t mind.”

“It’s fine, dear,” Sophie studied Dax’s mother. It was clear the woman had an ulterior motive, she just couldn’t figure out what it was. “But we need to leave immediately. If the dress needs further alterations, the seamstress only has today to complete them.”

“I’m ready,” Paige stood.

Olivia carried the empty mugs to the sink before joining them in the doorway. “Do you think I’ll need my purse? I left it over at my son’s home. Dax has such a lovely home, doesn’t he?”

“Dax is a talented man. Don’t worry about your purse. You shouldn’t need it,” Sophie assured her.

The dress shop was bright and cheery with hundreds of wedding dresses laid out on racks with the best ones displayed on individual hooks that covered the cream-colored walls.

“Oh,” Olivia said immediately. “What a quaint little store.”

Paige eyed her suspiciously but didn’t say a word.

“I can’t wait to see what you picked out,” Olivia said absently as she moved from rack to rack sliding the sleek material between her outstretched fingers.

A middle-aged woman approached the group with a garment bag over her shoulder. “I think it’s perfect but go on into the dressing room and try it on just to be sure.”

Paige gripped the bag like a lifeline and rushed out of the room. She wasn’t sure how to take the change in Dax’s mother. Her thoughts turned to Dax and that same feeling of unease swamped her. She still didn’t know how to feel about the secret. Should she confront him, demand to know what he was hiding? Should she just let it go? Should she take it as a sign that this was all wrong and put a stop to the wedding before it progressed any further? That last one felt wrong, but if he couldn’t be honest with her, did they even have a chance? She was so deep in thought, she actually jumped at the loud pounding on the dressing room door.

“Come on, Paige,” Carmen’s voice filled the stall. “I know you’re in there, let me in. I want to help.”

Paige unlocked the door and slid it open just enough for Carmen to slip inside. “What’s with Mrs. Hamilton? I didn’t know she was coming today.”

“I didn’t either, but I couldn’t say no when she asked. It would have been rude,” Paige slid the dress up her body then turned, a silent signal she wanted Carmen to zip up the back.

“It’s perfect,” Carmen grinned. “Come out and see how amazing you look in the big mirror.”

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They had just stepped through the door when Sophie and Olivia joined them. “You look absolutely beautiful,” Sophie brushed a tear from her cheek. “I am so happy for the two of you. Dax is going to adore you in this,” she added with a watery smile. “Don’t you agree?” Sophie turned to address Olivia.

“Oh,” she looked away. “It’s fine. A little simple for my taste, but if that’s what you like I suppose it will do.”

Carmen opened her mouth to respond but Paige stomped on her foot. “Does that mean you don’t like it?” Paige asked, wondering what had prompted her to say anything. She didn’t care if the woman hated the dress, so why was she pretending she did?

“Well,” Olivia said slowly. “I just think my son would prefer something more feminine. But if you like it, I’m sure it will be fine.”

“Have you met your son?” Carmen asked, annoyed. Paige elbowed her in the ribs.

Thirty minutes later the group was pulling into the driveway of Paige’s residence. Carmen jumped from the backseat and darted onto the front porch. She shoved Dax, who had been impatiently waiting for the women to return, back into his chair. “No you don’t,” she warned. “The groom cannot see the wedding dress before the big day.”

“I don’t need to see the dress,” Dax shifted in a failed attempt to stand again. “I need to talk to Paige.”

Paige slid past Dax and rushed up to their room, slipping the garment bag into the closet before dropping, emotionally exhausted onto the bed.

Carmen leaned against the door jamb and waited. When Paige didn’t look up, she confronted her friend. “First of all, I’m going to tell you straight out, if there was a two-by-four inside the vehicle, I would have given Dax’s mother a few good whacks to the head. That woman is... I don’t even know what to call her.”

“I know,” Paige sat up. “But she’s only here a couple more days. I can tolerate her subtle jabs a little longer.”

“If you call that subtle,” Carmen stepped inside and dropped onto the bed next to Paige. “Never mind. Go talk to Dax. I don’t know why you’re avoiding him, why you’re shutting him out this way, but I can see how much it’s hurting him and if nothing else, he deserves to know why.”

“I’m not…”

“You are, and you know it,” Carmen interrupted. “If you won’t talk to me, go talk to him.”

Paige climbed from the bed and went to stand in front of the window. She should talk to Dax, but what was she supposed to say? Spill the secret you don’t want me to know. What if it was something stupid, just a small, innocent thing he couldn’t reveal? She’d feel like an idiot if she made a big deal over nothing. Well, she wouldn’t know if she didn’t ask. “I’ll be on the front porch.”

The instant Paige stepped outside, she spotted the truck. She didn’t recognize the sleek black vehicle and she couldn’t see the driver well enough to identify him. Not until he shut off the engine and jumped out of the driver’s side door. “Wyatt?” Paige called out in surprise. “I thought you said you had to work. Please tell me you didn’t do something stupid just to attend the wedding.”

“I couldn’t miss my favorite cousin’s big day,” Wyatt moved forward and lifted Paige into a big bear hug. “It’s good to see you, Paige. I have so much to tell you. The job, it’s amazing and the crew, I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to work with. I owe you big time for the reference.”

“Put me down already,” Paige grumbled. The instant her feet hit the ground, she pulled him toward the front porch and dropped into a comfortable chair.

“Hey, Dax,” Wyatt said in greeting before settling into the chair next to Paige.

“Wyatt,” Dax nearly sighed. He almost had his chance to speak with Paige, but once again they were interrupted by company. “Glad you could make it.”

“How did you make it?” Paige demanded. “You said something about a big race. I hope you didn’t jeopardize your job just to attend the wedding.”

“The race was canceled,” Wyatt told her. “Well, most likely it will be rescheduled later in the year, but there was a problem with the track. When I heard the race was off, I explained how important it was to me to attend your wedding and the boss approved a few days off. I’ll have to bolt as soon as the ceremony is over, we have another race on Sunday but when I realized I could squeeze this in, I didn’t hesitate.”

“I’m glad,” Paige said sincerely. “Now, tell me about the job.”

“If you’ll excuse me,” Dax stood. “I’m going to head out. I have a few things I need to handle over at the training center. I’ll be back in time for dinner.”

Paige watched him go and wondered if Carmen was right. Was she hurting him? Or, was he using the training center as an excuse to escape? She wasn’t going to worry about it. Right now, she wanted to hear all about Wyatt’s new job. He looked so happy, much better than the last time he came to town. Back then, he’d been working for criminals, though. Back then, he’d been under the thumb of his no-good father which had nearly landed him in federal prison. She was glad he escaped and was hopeful the move would last this time.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax silently slid from the bed and made his way through the darkness to the closet. He grabbed a t-shirt and jeans, pulled them on then fumbled around for his shoes. He hadn’t slept a wink last night. The strain between him and Paige was just too big to ignore. The answer hit him at around three this morning. Now, he just had to figure out how to deal with the fallout. When he stepped back into the bedroom, he realized the small lamp next to the bed was now on, illuminating the entire room with its soft glow. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Are you leaving?” Paige focused on Dax’s face and frowned. For the first time in nearly two weeks she saw him, really saw him, and she realized Carmen was right. She was hurting him. She hadn’t meant to, but the sadness and the pain radiating in his eyes nearly broke her. She hesitated, shocked that she’d missed it, unsure how to fix it.

“I’m going for a drive, I need some time to myself,” he mumbled as he walked quickly from the room.

Paige jumped from the bed and ran to the window just in time to see his taillights disappear into the darkness. She rushed to the closet and pulled on one of Dax’s shirts and the first pants that hit her fingers, slid into a pair of shoes and darted toward her vehicle. Moments later, she was pulling into Carmen’s driveway. The area was dark, the sun hadn’t even come up yet. Zeus and Carmen were probably still asleep. Well, this was the price they were going to pay for friendship. She jumped from her vehicle and dashed up the stairs. She was pounding so hard on the front door that, by the time Carmen opened it, her hands were aching and raw.

“What?” Carmen demanded.

“I need to talk to Zeus,” Paige rushed past her friend and darted into the master bedroom. She paused for a second beside the groggy lump then shook him as hard as she could.

“Paige,” Zeus threw off the covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “This better be important.”

“I need you to find Dax,” Paige moved to stare out of the window. Partially for her but also to give Zeus a little privacy as he pulled on a pair of sweats.

“Is he missing?” Zeus frowned. “Not that I’d blame him. He’s been hurting for weeks and you haven’t seemed to care.”

“I know I deserve that and more,” Paige turned to face him. “I know this is my fault, but he said he was going for a drive. He said he needed time to be alone. What if he doesn’t come back?”

“He will,” Zeus gave her shoulder a little pat. “Do you seriously think he’d abandon you? That he’s cruel enough to disappear and make you deal with his mother alone?”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Paige dropped onto the bed. “I might have to deal with Dax’s mother.”

“Just sit tight,” Zeus winked at her. “I think I might know where he went.”

Once Zeus was gone, Carmen settled onto the bed next to Paige. “Coffee’s on. Do you want to move this to the back patio? We might as well enjoy the sunrise since we’re up.”

“Sorry,” Paige tried to smile but didn’t quite pull it off. “I think I might have messed up this time. I think... what if I broke it beyond repair?”

“Fix your coffee, then tell me what caused this,” Carmen soothed. “Then, we’ll figure out a way to fix it.”

Paige doctored her coffee and joined Carmen on the back porch. She didn’t sit, she was too worried and upset to calmly talk this out. “It started almost two weeks ago,” Paige began to pace. “When I got home from my last day at work. I’d worked a homicide all day and I was emotionally drained from all of it, I guess. The situation was sad and depressing and you guys were all inside laughing and joking. I just couldn’t handle it, so I procrastinated. I settled into a chair on the front porch and tried to leave the job at the door.”

“I remember,” Carmen took a sip of her coffee. “Dax gave you a few minutes then he joined you. The two of you seemed fine when you finally came inside.”

“I wasn’t,” Paige admitted. “We talked about work but then Dax said something about us always sharing our lives with each other. It was a good moment,” Paige admitted.

“So, what happened?” Carmen pushed.

“I agreed with him and said something about no secrets,” Paige turned to face her friend. “That’s when I saw it. Just a flicker, it only took a second, less than a second really but it was there and it sucker punched me. Dax has a secret. One, I realized that night, he doesn’t plan to share with me. I saw it, the sadness, the deception, the guilt. He tried to mask it with another kiss, but I know what I saw.”

Carmen shrugged. “So?”

Paige narrowed her eyes at her friend and forced back the emotions. “So, he’s a fraud. He’s lying to me. He’s hiding something.”

“You hide things from him, too.”

“Not the important things,” Paige dismissed the claim immediately.

“Oh,” Carmen took another sip of her coffee. “So, you told Dax that you and Gage dated in high school?”

“Of course not,” Paige frowned. “That would only hurt him and it only lasted a minute, less than a minute. Gage and I had a few dates and realized we were better suited as friends. End of story.”

“Then why haven’t you told Dax?”

“Because there’s nothing to tell,” Paige insisted. “Plus, Clayton’s my partner now. Sometimes we need to work late on a case. I don’t want Dax to worry. There’s no point in telling him, in forcing him to deal with everything that would come with the knowledge. So what, about a million years ago, Gage and I had a disastrous kiss before we decided we should just be friends.”

“So,” Carmen settled back. “You have a secret, one you don’t plan to share with Dax. I guess you’re a fraud. Call the press.”

“You’re not helping,” Paige dropped down next to her friend. “That’s different.”

“Why?” Carmen wondered. “Because it’s your secret? You and I, we fell in love with complicated men. They are former Rangers, tough, strong and loyal men. But, they come with baggage. They’ve both been on top-secret missions that were dangerous, controversial and classified. They have secrets they will never be able to share, not even with the women they love.”

“But all of that is in the past,” Paige insisted. “This is a secret he’s keeping now.”

Carmen shrugged. “I still don’t see the problem. The man loves you, a blind man could see how much that man loves you. He demonstrates it every day in so many ways. I think you miss half of them, maybe on purpose, maybe because you’ve gotten so used to the little things, you take them for granted. Dax is not a fraud. He’s honorable and trustworthy and if he has a secret, there could only be two reasons why. One, because he’s working on something for Nathan. And, you said you could live with that. He asked before he accepted the job. You assured him you were used to the national secrets and they didn’t bother you.”

“Is he?” Paige asked directly. “Is he working on something for Porter?”

“I have no idea,” Carmen said truthfully. “I get the impression General Porter confides in Dax more than anyone else. I also get the impression that Nathan shares intel on other missions, stuff being worked by other operatives just to get Dax’s take. The man knows his stuff and he can spot pitfalls and potential issues better than anyone I’ve ever worked with. I suspect he frequently works on things for Nathan. Things he never shares with the rest of us.”

“You said two reasons,” Paige pressed.

“The only other reason Dax would keep something a secret from you, is to protect you,” Carmen said flatly. “And, I know you don’t think you need to be protected from anything or anyone, but if you love Dax, you have to love everything about him. He loves you and it’s his nature to try to protect you. There’s not a malicious bone in that man’s body. Whatever he’s hiding, he’s doing it for noble reasons. I have no doubt about that.”

“How can you be so sure?” Paige wondered. “From the minute I saw it, I hopped onto the express train to crazy town and I couldn’t get off. Not until this morning when I saw the pain in his eyes. He’s hurting, and it’s my fault.”

“How could you not be headed for crazy town, Paige?” Carmen asked. “Especially since that woman that calls herself Dax’s mother arrived. For the past several months you and Dax have not had one minute to yourselves. I love Sophie and Nathan dearly, but having them living in your house while they plan your wedding would make anyone take a dive into the batshit cave. Then, add in Dax’s parents and now your cousin? Mother Teresa would be searching the deepest, darkest sections of the basement for her sanity.”

“So,” Paige sighed. “What do I do?”

“You wait for Zeus to find Dax,” Carmen shrugged. “Then you fix it.”

“Wow,” Paige rolled her eyes. “You’re so insightful. Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Good question.”

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Zeus pulled in behind Dax’s truck and watched his friend for several minutes. Finally, he pushed open the door and moved in beside him.

“I wanted to be alone,” Dax continued to stare into the wilderness. Bright rays of light were beginning to crest over the horizon turning the sky a deep shade of orange.

“Keep this up,” Zeus put a hand on his friend shoulder, “and you might just get your wish.”

“Meaning?”

“You have that woman of yours terrified,” Zeus scolded. “She rushed over to my house, dragged me out of bed and made me promise her I would find you. She made me promise I wouldn’t let you leave her alone to deal with your mother.”

That did make Dax smile. “I doubt Paige is terrified. She seems to be handling mom better than I am.”

“Only because she’s a cop and she has a lot of practice dealing with the unreasonable,” Zeus smiled. “I have always adored your mother, but that passive aggressive crap she pulls makes me want to smack her.”

“Get in line,” Dax sighed. “I’m not leaving, and Paige doesn’t have to deal with mom.”

“She’ll be happy to hear that,” Zeus told him. “After the whole gay thing, I think it might be a good idea to keep those two separated for a while.”

“What gay thing?” Dax wondered.

“Man, the two of you seriously need to talk more,” Zeus shook his head.

“I agree,” Dax did look at his friend now. “That’s the problem. One I plan to fix as soon as I see her. Now, explain the gay thing.”

“Your mom was doing that thing she does where she pretends to be asking innocent questions, but really she’s just being nasty. She started asking Paige questions about being a cop. Then, she implied it was a man’s job and told Paige you like your women feminine. She said if Paige wanted this marriage to work, she should seriously think about switching careers. Or better yet, just stay home and take care of you like she did with your dad. She went on to suggested that Paige might be comfortable as a cop because it’s a man’s world with high levels of masculinity and testosterone. Further implying that Paige has more than her share of both for a woman.”

“What?” Dax fumed. “She’s finally crossed the line and this time her petty excuses and false innocence won’t save her.”

“Then she asked Paige if she was absolutely positive she’s not gay,” Zeus continued. “Your mom suggested that, for the good of all parties involved, Paige might want to postpone the wedding until she comes to grips with her own sexuality. After all, it would be extremely unfair to a man like yourself to get married, only to realize a few years down the road that his wife actually prefers women — which would explain Paige’s career choice, of course.”

“When did this happen?” Dax fumed.

“When they went to get the dress,” Zeus admitted. “Carmen was already beyond livid with your mother. She said Olivia criticized Paige’s wedding dress and said it was fine, but not really something you would like your bride to wear. Olivia advised the group that her son would like something with frills and lace; a dress that’s feminine and girly. Not the simple gown Paige picked for the occasion. But if Paige liked the dress, your mom thought it would be okay to keep it.”

“I know she’s my mother,” Dax ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “But, sometimes I wonder why I spend so much time and energy trying to please her. I’m the disappointment. She wanted a doctor, or a lawyer, and I became a soldier. She can’t accept the person I am, so she’s taking it out on Paige and for some reason that I can’t begin to understand — Paige is taking it. This has to stop.”

“So, go stop it,” Zeus suggested. “But you need to start with a meaningful conversation with Paige.”

“She doesn’t want to marry me,” Dax admitted and realized somehow it hurt more when he said it out loud. “I should have realized that months ago. I should have known after I proposed.”

“I think you’re wrong about that,” Zeus disagreed. “I think it’s something else, something the two of you need to discuss, to air out and deal with it in the open. She loves you, even I can see that and I’m shallow.”

“You’re not shallow,” Dax disagreed. “You just want everyone to think you are. Paige might love me, but she doesn’t want to marry me. I have to accept that. It’s more important for her to be happy than it is for her to be my wife.”

“Let’s go home so Paige can prove you wrong,” Zeus suggested. “She’s waiting for me to bring you back so the two of you can have that meaningful talk.”

Dax nodded and headed for his truck.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was out the door and sliding into the passenger seat of Dax’s truck before he came to a complete stop. She slammed the door shut and turned to address the man she loved. “I’m sorry.”

“We need to talk,” Dax said at the same time.

“Let’s go to the training center,” Paige suggested. “I haven’t had time to stop by for awhile. I’d like to see the progress.” And, it was only a short drive, but it would be private.

Dax pulled up the drive and parked in front of the large building. He shut off the truck but remained frozen behind the wheel. Paige jumped out and rushed around the front of the vehicle. When she reached the driver’s side door, she flung it open and grabbed Dax’s hand.

Dax studied her with confusion but complied. If she wanted to talk inside, that would be better. They’d have more privacy that way.

“I heard you telling the guys the offices were finished,” Paige waited for Dax to unlock the front door. “Will you show me yours?” she was grinning inside. She’d just take Dax to his office and show him everything was fine, she was no longer a crazy lunatic. She had a plan now, and she hoped it would work. It had to work. They were getting married in less than twenty-four hours. This cloud that had been hanging over her needed to be gone before then.

“Sure,” Dax cringed inside. He didn’t want to call off the wedding in his office, the place he’d be spending countless hours trying to concentrate on business. “It’s this way,” he motioned toward a hallway that was nearly finished.

“It looks like it’s ahead of schedule,” Paige observed.

“It is,” Dax agreed as he maneuvered her into his corner office. The room was framed in completely and the sheetrock was up, but a thin layer of powder still covered the entire concrete floor. “Look, I know you’ve been miserable, and I finally figured out why.”

“Oh?” that took Paige by surprise.

“I’m sorry I pressured you,” Dax tried to readjust his thoughts and move forward.

Paige frowned and realized he didn’t know why she’d been so crazy. Didn’t matter. She was here to seduce the man she loved and there was no time better than the present to do it. She took him by surprise, tried to pivot and trap him against the wall, but she lost her footing and they both tumbled to the ground. Paige smiled, even better. She landed on top of Dax, then shifted and pinned him beneath her. He was looking a little dazed and a lot confused. She’d remedy that soon enough.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I thought we were going to talk,” Dax said once he caught his breath again. “You are completely covered in white powdery dust.”

“So are you,” Paige grinned. “And I think we just had a pretty intimate conversation.”

“Paige,” Dax began. “I know I pressured you into getting married. You said no when I asked, and I should have respected that. I’m going to respect it now. When we get back to the house, I’ll break the news to Sophie and Nathan. I created this mess, I’ll clean it up.”

Paige sat up in surprise. “You don’t want to marry me anymore?”

“Oh, baby,” Dax closed his eyes. “I want to marry you more than I want to take my next breath. But, not when I know you don’t want to marry me.”

“What if I do want to?” Paige asked hesitantly.

“We did this at the hospital,” Dax shook his head. “I asked, you panicked, and I got mad. I forced you to reconsider, and it isn’t what you want. I love you too much to go through with this. Sometimes I wonder if you truly know how much I love you. I need you to be happy and this wedding isn’t making you happy.”

“I admit I haven’t been myself lately,” Paige began. She had to fix this. “I’ve been a little crazy and extremely selfish. I’ve hurt you and I didn’t mean to do that. But, sometimes I think you don’t understand how much I truly love you.”

“I don’t know what to do,” Dax admitted. “I don’t know what’s right anymore. I just know you haven’t been happy. You’ve been upset and you shut me out. I don’t know why, I just know I can’t live like this.”

“I’m sorry,” Paige said again. “Dax, do you trust me?”

“Of course,” Dax answered immediately.

“Then will you try to trust me when I say I do want to marry you?” she asked. “Will you have faith in us, in what we have and believe me when I say you are the perfect man for me?”

“But...”

“No buts,” Paige interrupted. “I’m asking you to believe in us if you can’t believe me. I broke this, I know that. I’m trying to fix it. I know I’m not the woman your mother wanted for you, but I think I’m the right woman for you.”

“You’re perfect for me,” Dax scowled. “And I’m going to have a little chat with that mother of mine the first chance I get. I’m sorry, Zeus just told me about the whole gay cop thing. I’m sorry.”

Paige laughed. “It was actually sort of funny, once I took a step back from being insulted,” she grinned. “And I think I just proved how into men I really am.”

“Right,” Dax sighed. “Maybe I’ll start the conversation with a recap of this morning’s events.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s not a conversation you want to have with your mother,” Paige shuddered then sobered. “Dax, I’ll call off the wedding if you don’t really want to marry me. But, if you’re taking that step because you believe it’s what I want, we are so getting married tomorrow. Because I want to be your wife. I trust you enough to believe in us. Can you do the same?”

“On one condition,” Dax decided.

“What’s the condition?” Paige asked, worried.

“You tell me why,” Dax brushed her hair away from her face. “What happened that made you step back? What made you stop believing in us?”

Paige studied him for a long time before she answered. “You’re keeping secrets.”

“What?” Dax tried to think back, to figure out what she was talking about.

“That night on the porch,” Paige admitted. “You said we would always share the good and the bad. I said something about no secrets and I saw in your eyes that you have one. There’s something you can’t or won’t share with me. It rattled me. I’m not proud of the way I handled it and I’m better now. But I started thinking all these crazy thoughts. Was there another woman in your life? Maybe your mom was right, and you really wanted someone more girly with a safe, frilly job. Was it something bigger? A few logical thoughts broke through, like maybe it had something to do with Nathan and the consulting gig. I let it consume me until I lost sight of who I am and what we are together.”

“All of this was because of that stupid secret?” Dax pulled her onto his lap. “Let’s get it out of the way then. I didn’t want to keep it from you, anyway. I’ll explain everything, and you can tell me how you want me to handle it. I’ll do whatever you want me to do. No arguments, no complaints.”

“You’ll just lay down and beg like a little puppy?” Paige frowned.

“That’s not what I meant,” Dax shook his head. He knew that freakin’ money was going to come between them. It was the reason he decided to bail in the first place. He let the guys talk him out of it before, but he was going to resolve this today. He’d just tell Paige everything and she could decide where they went from here. He’d support her no matter what she decided.

“In a way, I suppose you gave me the answer I needed,” Paige began. “But, I don’t want to know the secret anymore. It’s enough that you were willing to share it with me. I can see there’s a legitimate reason you haven’t done so already. I also know you and eventually, you're going to tell me whether you should or not. What I won’t accept is the rest. This is a partnership. You won’t tell me something and then silently sit back and do whatever I demand. It’s not who we are, Dax. I never want it to be that way with us.”

“Then I’ll tell you the entire story and we’ll decide how to move forward,” Dax suggested.

“Is it about work or pleasure?” Paige asked.

“Work,” Dax hesitated.

“Then we’re not going to talk about,” Paige insisted. “We already agreed both of us would put work aside and only discuss the wedding and our future. I have to insist we stick to the original agreement. Today is going to be a busy day. You need to confront your mother, then we need to prepare for the rehearsal and the dinner, then we need to get ready for tonight’s events and don’t even get me started on the chaos of tomorrow morning. I simply don’t have time to discuss your work right now,” Paige stood. “We better head home. We have a lot to do.”

Dax didn’t move. She was brushing the secret aside, after nearly two weeks of making him suffer for keeping it, now she didn’t want to know. She refused to listen to his explanation. Maybe this wedding was making her crazy. With a sigh, he stood and made his way to the truck. He wasn’t sure he would ever understand women. They truly were a dangerous and perplexing species. He walked to the passenger side and pulled open the door. Paige shifted and pulled him in for a long, deep, passionate kiss.

“Yeah,” she grinned as she slid onto the seat. “We’re good now.”

“Right,” Dax shook his head and wondered what had just happened as he climbed behind the wheel and headed for home.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige knew something was wrong the instant she saw Wyatt’s face. She jumped from her car and rushed to the front porch to find out what had happened. She barely registered Dax moving in behind her. “Wyatt?”

“Hey, Paige,” Wyatt glanced up, then away.

“What’s wrong?” Dax asked.

“Um,” Wyatt looked from Dax to Paige and sighed. “Dad is what’s wrong. He showed up. I swear I didn’t tell him anything. He just showed up and informed me he’s going to the wedding.”

“And?” Paige pushed.

“And,” Wyatt swallowed. “He said he’s going to cause trouble for you if I don’t quit my job and work for his friend Nigel.”

“Then,” Paige shrugged. “He can just do his best to cause trouble for me. You are not going to ruin your life, Wyatt. Promise me you won’t listen to him. That’s what I want as a wedding gift, your promise that you won’t give in to Boyd Darrow or his strong-armed tactics.”

“Paige, when dad says he’ll cause trouble, he means it.”

“I’m a cop, Wyatt,” Paige grinned. “I live for trouble.”

“Dax,” Wyatt turned pleading eyes his way. “Tell her not to fight this. I have to do what dad says. It’s not worth the damage he could do to Paige or you if I resist.”

Dax smiled and wrapped his arms around Paige. “I’m a former Ranger, I also live for trouble. Tell your dad to bring it on. There’s nothing he could do that would cause any real trouble for either one of us. Stand your ground, Wyatt. At some point, we all have to stand up to our parents and set new ground rules.” He pressed a gentle kiss to Paige’s temple. “I think I’m going to go inside and do just that myself.”

“What did he mean by that?” Wyatt asked once the door slammed shut.

“His mother is trying to rule his life,” Paige shrugged. “Dax has decided to shift the balance and let her know he’s going to live his life the way he chooses, not the way she would choose.”

“Oh,” Wyatt studied the closed door. “Dad will lie, he’ll spread false rumors and damage your reputation if I don’t do what he wants.”

“Wyatt,” Paige settled into the chair next to him. “Your dad can’t ruin my reputation, not around here. Mom was very well liked by the people of Manti. And, I think I’ve proven myself since I arrived. I’m not worried about your dad. You shouldn’t worry either. I’m serious, that’s all I want as a gift. I want your promise that you will return to that great job you told me so much about and you’ll let yourself be happy. The rest will work itself out.”

“Are you sure?” Wyatt asked, skeptically.

“I’m one hundred percent positive,” Paige grinned. “Now let’s go see how Olivia Hamilton handles the news that, in spite of her best efforts, Dax really is going to marry this testosterone filled, danger seeking, ordinary woman.”

“There’s nothing ordinary about you, Paige,” Wyatt grinned. “And that’s a good thing. Don’t let your mother-in-law or anyone else tell you differently.”

The instant Paige stepped into the room, Dax moved toward her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Paige is ready for her apology, mom.”

“I don’t...” Paige started.

“Hush woman,” Dax leaned forward and kissed the top of her head. “I’ve been waiting for this my entire life. Don’t spoil it.”

“I’m sorry,” Olivia said reluctantly. “If Dax wants to marry you, if he thinks he loves you and he’s willing to spend the rest of his life with you, I’m willing to support him.”

“Mother,” Dax grumbled. “Is that seriously the best you can do?”

“It’s okay,” Paige winked up at Dax. “If your mother still wants to attend our wedding, and she thinks she still loves you, even though you’re not a boring accountant or a dentist and you’re marrying a cop, I’m willing to accept her. And, I’ll try not to tell my friend’s too many mother-in-law stories.” Out of the corner of her eye, Paige saw Dax’s father wink at her and for the first time since the couple arrived, she thought she might come to like the man one day.

Dax broke the silence with his laughter and the tension immediately left the room.

\*\*\*\*\*

The night was nearly over. Paige surveyed the room again grateful everyone she loved was here with them tonight. Dax was huddled in the corner with Nathan and Zeus. Sophie just excused herself to head to the ladies room and Carmen was approaching with another glass of champagne.

“Just a few more hours,” Carmen said, passing a flute to Paige. “And you’ll be Mrs. Dax Hamilton. Have you decided if you’ll change your name at work? Will you still be the infamous Deputy Paige Carter, or will it now be Deputy Hamilton?”

“I think, for now, I’m going to keep Carter at work but change it officially to Hamilton,” Paige smiled. “The community just barely learned my name, I can’t wait three more years for them to figure out Carter and Hamilton are the same person.”

Carmen smiled and glanced at Zeus. “I wonder if we’ll ever decide to do this.”

“Are you finally talking about it?” Paige asked.

“Excuse me,” Boyd Darrow moved in front of Paige, partially blocking out Carmen. “I need a word with my niece. You don’t mind, do you?” He glared at Carmen, clearly dismissing her.

“Actually,” Carmen began.

“No,” Paige shook her head. “We need to do this, Carmen. Please excuse us for a minute.”

Carmen hesitated before she moved across the room and joined the men.

“Funny,” Paige took a casual sip of her champagne. “I don’t remember inviting you to the wedding or any of the festivities leading up to the main event.”

“I noticed,” Boyd growled. “You’re just as spoiled and ungrateful as that mother of yours. Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” He began searching for Wyatt.

Paige spotted him first. When Wyatt stood and started her way, she gave him a subtle shake of her head to dissuade him.

“You might want to explain that to my son next time you see him,” Boyd leaned in closer and wrapped his beefy hand around Paige’s arm. “Wyatt seems to have forgotten his place in this world and that seems to have started the moment he reconnected with you.” He tightened his grip until it pinched. “Rectify that or you will regret it.”

“I doubt that,” Paige shrugged. She was going to have a bruise, but she wouldn’t let Boyd Darrow see he was hurting her.

“Right now,” Boyd tightened his grip even more. “This town believes the nonsense your mother fed them about that no-good father of yours. You’re riding high on daddy’s status as a war hero. How do you think the good citizens would feel if they knew your daddy was a coward? How do you think they’d react if they found out Dylan Carter was nothing but a common bully that picked on people, including soldiers, that were weaker than him just to make himself feel like a big bad tough guy? You still believe that nonsense my sister tried to peddle. You’ve cozied up to his bully friend and you fell for the national hero crap General Porter fed you. I know the real story. Dylan Carter died as he lived… a big, phony coward. You think about that, Deputy Carter. You think about your reputation in this small Podunk town and decide if you want them all to know where you really came from. Tell Wyatt to call me, I’ll let him know who to contact for his next job. If I don’t hear from him by tomorrow, everyone will know what really happened the night Dylan Carter died.”

Paige was fuming. She didn’t stop to consider where she was. She completely forgot she was in a fancy dress. She just knew — at that moment — she hated her uncle more than she’d ever hated anyone in her life. Her body reacted to the fury. She pivoted and slammed Boyd Darrow against the wall just before she brought her knee up and slammed it into his groin.

Darrow doubled over in pain but still had enough venom in him to spew more hatred.

“Go ahead, spread your lies,” Paige took a step back. “Nobody will believe you and Wyatt, well I think you just sealed the deal on that one. You’ll be lucky if your son forgives you in time to attend your funeral. Have a nice life, Uncle Boyd.”

He tried to reach out, tried to snatch onto her arm again, but he missed, and the momentum had him falling face first onto the hard ground.

Dax was across the room and by Paige’s side immediately. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Paige focused on Wyatt. “I’m good. I need to go settle my cousin. He looks a little green around the edges.”

“Let me see your arm,” Dax insisted.

“Later,” Paige locked eyes with Dax. “Right now, I really need to settle Wyatt down before he does something he regrets.”

“I understand,” Dax let her go. He had something important he needed to deal with as well. Dax caught up with Boyd just outside the main entrance to the reception center. The man was still hurting from Paige’s carefully placed knee but Dax didn’t care. He moved in and blocked the man’s path, then he shifted, wrapped his hand around Boyd’s neck and slammed him against the brick wall.

“Back off,” Boyd wheezed.

“I held back,” Dax tightened his grip. “I let you put your hands on my woman because she needed to handle you herself. I’d say she did a pretty good job, but now I have a message for you. Come after my wife again and you’ll deal with me.”

“That’s enough, kid,” Nathan moved forward. The man was starting to turn blue. “Come on, Dax. Loosen up a bit. The last thing Paige needs right now is her future husband locked up in prison for murdering her scumbag uncle. He heard you and I think he understands.”

Dax released his grip but didn’t move away. “Do you?”

“Bite me,” Darrow spat. “I’m finished with the lot of you. This town’s not worth the trouble. You want to run around and pretend like your someone out here in Podunk, be my guest. My son will come running back soon enough, tail between his legs. Mark my words, that traitor of mine will beg me to get him another job so he can be someone.” He shoved past Dax. “He needs me.”

“Where do you think he’s going?” Dax watched as Boyd headed across the parking lot, stepped over a loose chain and made his way toward a brand-new Lincoln Navigator.

“I think he plans to steal that car,” Nathan shook his head. “The idiot.”

The two of them watched as Boyd did in fact, try to steal the car. The vehicle was so new it still had the temporary tag in the windshield. They continued to watch as Jericho Walter’s stepped from the shadows, threw Darrow to the ground, and cuffed him.

“I’ll go see if he needs help,” Dax decided.

“Naw,” Nathan put a hand on Dax’s shoulder. “You get back to Paige, I’ll see if Jericho needs help.”

\*\*\*\*\*

The party was over and all the guests had retired to bed when Paige stepped onto the back porch and dropped into her favorite chair. It was only then that she let the tears flow. She knew it was all a lie. She knew she shouldn’t listen to anything that man said, but his words had sliced open an already raw wound. How could she not think of Dylan Carter just before the most important day of her life? How could she not long for him to be here, to walk her down the aisle, to give her away to a man she knew — without a doubt — he would have loved immediately? They had so much in common. Which is why she knew, deep down inside, her father was not a coward.

Dax stepped silently into the darkness and sighed. “I’m beginning to think the universe is conspiring against us.” He lifted Paige into his arms and settled onto the chair with her in his lap. “Talk to me, Paige. Tell me what that vile man said to upset you.”

“That’s only part of it,” Paige bit back another sob. “I’ve been thinking a lot about dad lately. I love Nathan and I’m so grateful he’s here. I’m happy but a little conflicted, I guess.”

“You wish it was your own dad giving you away tomorrow,” Dax tightened his grip and pulled her closer. “That’s understandable. I don’t think Nathan would be hurt at all if he knew you felt that way. He loves you, he made a promise to your dad to protect you, and over time he came to think of you as his own daughter, but he also loved your dad. I bet he’s been thinking about Dylan Carter a lot over these past weeks as well.”

“I didn’t think of that,” Paige admitted. “But, you’re probably right. They were best friends. I don’t think they could have been closer if they were brothers.”

“They were,” Dax said softly. “In every way that matters.”

“My uncle said that dad was a coward,” Paige admitted. “He said mom was so in love with my father that she turned a blind eye to his faults and idolized him. She made him into a martyr. He said dad lived his life as a coward and a bully and he died a coward. He said Nathan is protecting him. He said if Wyatt doesn’t call him, he’s going to tell everyone how dad really died.”

“The man is a liar, Paige,” Nathan stepped from the shadows. “Boyd Darrow is the coward, and he was always jealous of Dylan. He set out to hurt you tonight, and it looks like he succeeded. Don’t let him ruin your happiness.”

“I know he was lying,” Paige took a deep breath. “My gut tells me he was lying. It’s just... there are so many secrets. It seems we’re all drowning in them these days. Everything dad did was a secret. His death was a secret. Mom went chasing killers in the middle of the night and didn’t tell anyone because she was trying to uncover a secret, she fell in love with Jericho but that also had to remain a secret. My entire life is one big secret.”

In that moment, Dax realized why Paige had reacted to his secret the way she had. And he knew, without a doubt, he was going to come clean. Not tonight, not over the next couple weeks, but soon. He was going to tell her everything and let the chips fall where they may as the saying went. “Paige,” he shifted so he could see her better in the dim lighting. “I didn’t know your father, but I knew of him. Every Ranger that came after him knows who Dylan Carter was and what he stood for. There are legends, I guess you could say. Dylan Carter was a legend. Not only because he died heroically for his country, but because of the way he lived.”

“How so?” Paige asked.

“Everyone knows that Dylan Carter wouldn’t tolerate bullying,” Dax began. “He was the exact opposite of what your uncle depicted tonight. The instructors relay a story at the beginning of every new Ranger class to drive home the need to work as a cohesive team. We have to put personal grievances aside and function as one unit. We’d never survive if we didn’t trust our men. Our very lives are in their hands. We understand that on a mission or when we’re deep inside enemy lines. It’s a little harder to live by at a training exercise.

Every session begins with the story of Dylan Carter. We’ve all heard it a million times. Carter was training with his men but there was this one guy that everyone hated. He wasn’t Ranger material and was close to washing out. This guy was arrogant and a know-it-all to the core. On this particular day, Carter was training with his men when this guy that was disliked by pretty much everyone started to struggle to complete the task. One of your dad’s best friends jumped in and started to give him a hard time. It was payback pure and simple and everyone knew it. Well, according to legend, your dad stepped in and told his friend to knock it off. The friend was having too much fun, though. So, when this guy messed up again, he mocked him in front of the whole team. Dylan stood up for the looser. He spun around and punched his friend in the face so hard the man had a black eye for three weeks.”

“It was more like two,” Porter smiled. “Closer to ten days.”

“It was you?” Dax burst out laughing. “If the guys knew Carter gave the infamous General Porter a black eye, the story would take on a whole new life.”

“Which is why they will never know,” Nathan grinned. “The point is, your dad always stuck up for the little guy, even when he hated the twit with every fiber of his being. There was a place for frivolity and during training, on a mission, that was not the place or time to divide the team or trample on a man’s confidence.”

“Why is tonight the first time I’ve heard of this? Why didn’t you tell me that story before?” Paige asked Nathan.

“It wasn’t my finest hour, kid,” Porter shrugged. “I was the bully that day. I still contend the idiot deserved it, but it wasn’t the proper time or place and your dad knew it. He warned me, but I thought he’d ultimately take my side. He didn’t. Your dad did the right thing. Your dad always did the right thing when it mattered, Paige. I hope you will remember that. He was a great man. That uncle of yours tried to convince you he wasn’t. He questioned my credibility because your dad was my best friend. That’s like saying your confidence and loyalty toward Carmen is somehow biased and not a true representation of the amazing woman she is because Carmen is your best friend.”

“Okay,” Paige nodded. “That makes sense. I guess it’s just hard because I will never know how or why he died. That mission is classified, and I suspect it always will be.”

“You are correct,” Nathan sobered. “The mission was controversial. Nobody wants the world to know what happened during those three days. I know you were complaining about secrets, but anything I tell you about that time must stay within this circle. You can’t utter a single word outside the three of us. Can you do that?”

“Won’t you get into trouble for telling me anything?” Paige asked. “And, even if you could justify letting something slip to me, how would you explain relaying top-secret information to Dax?”

“He wouldn’t have to,” Dax said softly. “I already know.”

“You know how my dad died?” Paige turned on him. “How? Why?”

“I was pulled in,” Dax told her. “I read the file because a mission I was leading was similar to the one that killed your father. Someone decided it would benefit my team if I knew the details of that earlier mission — a mission that didn’t go as planned. For all I know,” he turned to focus on Porter. “That someone was you.”

“I had a hand, but it wasn’t my decision,” Porter admitted.

“That sort of irritates me, but it also makes things easier,” Paige decided. “I mean, he was my dad and I’m not allowed to know, but this man — a guy who never even met Dylan Carter — knows all about his death.”

“Paige,” Porter sobered. “That mission will never be open and available. Not in my lifetime, not in your lifetime. We went in to rescue a dignitary. A guy who had been captured by the enemy and was being tortured for information. The amount of intel he had was astronomical. If the enemy knew everything he knew, many, many lives would have been lost.”

“Isn’t that what you guys did?” Paige asked. “I mean on a regular basis. Why was this mission such a secret?”

“Because the dignitary wasn’t being held behind enemy lines,” Dax answered. “He was being held in a country that was supposed to be our ally. A county that just turned a blind eye to what was happening. They had to go in, rescue the prisoner, and get out without anyone knowing they were even there.”

“Right,” Paige was starting to understand now. “So we don’t want anyone to know we snuck in and executed a mission behind our friend’s back and this friend doesn’t want anyone to know they allowed the enemy to use them to hurt us.”

“Basically,” Nathan agreed. “We rescued the prisoner but there were complications. Before we could regroup, Dylan realized the enemy had captured one of our men. Keith was injured and they took advantage of that vulnerability. You never leave a man behind — never. Dylan went back in, hoping to catch them by surprise and rescue Keith. It took time before we realized he was missing. Two of us followed your dad back in, but we were delayed. Dylan got Keith out, but he lost his own life in the process. All of us were injured that day, but we made sure everyone came home. It wasn’t easy, but we brought Dylan home. At that point, it was all we could do. We figured at least it would give your mom closure.”

“And you had to do something similar?” Paige asked Dax.

“Yes,” Dax closed his eyes as he remembered his own mission, the gunfire, the mortars, the loss of life. “And I too lost a great man.”

“Can I ask you something?” Paige turned to Nathan.

“You can always ask,” Nathan smiled.

“Boyd said if I didn’t talk Wyatt into taking the job that he had, he was going to make sure everyone knew the details of dad’s mission. Is there any way he knows?”

“No,” Nathan and Dax said together.

“He was lying,” Dax assured her. “I wasn’t even allowed to tell my men. I could use the information to help ensure the mission’s success, but I couldn’t share what I knew with anyone. Not even Hawk and he was my second at the time.”

“I miss him,” Paige focused on Nathan. “It helps to have you here, but I miss him so much.”

“Come here,” Nathan held out his arms to her. “I know, sweet pea. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of your father. It’s been difficult these past few months. He would be so proud of you and he would approve of this one. I have no doubt your father would be thrilled with the man you’ve chosen to marry.” He took a step back and brushed away her tears. “It’s late and you have a big day tomorrow. You should turn in now. I’m sorry Boyd Darrow ruined your evening and I hope you will disregard everything he told you tonight. He was being cruel and selfish.”

“I love you,” she pushed up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Goodnight, Nathan.”

“Goodnight, kid.”

Dax took Paige’s hand and led her to their bedroom. “Before we settle in, there’s something you need to know. I planned to wait until after the ceremony to tell you. Instead, I think I should get it out there now.”

“What is it?” Paige braced for more bad news.

“Boyd was arrested immediately after he left the reception center tonight,” Dax paused. “Well, after I warned him what would happen if he ever laid a hand on you again.”

“You didn’t!”

“I absolutely did,” Dax shrugged unapologetically. “He slithered away to lick his wounds in someone else’s Lincoln Navigator. Jericho arrested him on the spot. I think he enjoyed it a little more than usual.”

“I should be mad, at both of you, but I’m not. He seriously tried to steal a car right outside?” Paige asked in amazement.

“Shows what a complete idiot that man is,” Dax pulled off his shirt and tossed it onto a chair. “Anyway, Jericho turned him over to Agent Wilkins. Sean has a file on Boyd two inches thick. The feds are fighting, as we speak, to see who gets him first.”

“I knew Sean had a file,” Paige admitted. “He showed it to me. We agreed he could use it later once we knew if Wyatt was going to go clean or return to the life. I didn’t want Wyatt to feel responsible for his father’s arrest back then.”

“How do you think he’ll take it now?” Dax dropped onto the bed and began to remove his shoes.

“I don’t know,” Paige shrugged. “But it’s out of my control. If he’s dumb enough to steal a car right out in the open like after, just after he made a scene with a dozen cops in the house, he deserves to spend the rest of his miserable life behind bars.”

“You realize, he probably will?”

“I know,” Paige pulled back the blankets and climbed inside. “Thank you, for everything.”

Dax slid in beside her. “I don’t know how you define everything, but there’s no need to thank me, baby. I will always be here for you and I’m always going to sneak behind your back and threaten anyone that touches you.”

Paige gave his shoulder a swat.

“I am,” Dax grinned. “Deal with it.”

“I love you Dax Hamilton,” Paige whispered into the darkness.

“I love you more, Paige Carter,” Dax shifted and wrapped his body around Paige in comfort and love.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stood at the top of the stairs and tried to will the butterflies in her stomach to take a nap. She wasn’t nervous about her future, not anymore. She was terrified she was going to trip on the long dress, rip out the back, and take an unceremonious tumble down the huge flight of stairs. Couldn’t she just start this walk from the foyer?

“Breath, Paige,” Sophie Porter gave the dress one last tug, moved to stand directly in front of Paige and gave her a nod and a smile. “Perfect, now you just need that gorgeous husband of mine and you’re ready to go.”

“Thank you,” Paige pulled Sophie into a last-minute hug. “I never could have pulled this off without you.”

Sophie pulled out a small handkerchief and began dabbing her eyes with the cloth. “I’m heading down, now. If I don’t, I’ll never get through this. Make sure you smile at least a little, Dax is waiting.”

“Come on, kid,” Nathan slid his arm through hers. “I’ve got you and I won’t let you fall.”

“You never did,” Paige gave his arm a quick squeeze, let out a huge breath and waited for the music to start. The instant it did, Carmen and Zeus slipped out of some hidden room and made their way down the stairs. Paige watched as Margie and Hawk moved forward, then it was her turn. The rest of the men were already waiting next to Dax. Nathan held firm, moving at pace with Paige as they took one step at a time until they reached the landing.

“Piece of cake,” Nathan whispered into her ear. “Now, look at your man. He only has eyes for you, my dear. The look of love on his face says it all.”

Paige looked up and locked eyes with Dax. Nathan was right, his face radiated love and it was all for her. At that moment, she realized it was all worth it. She was marrying her perfect soulmate. The secrets didn’t matter. The long hard road they took to get here didn’t matter. Her uncle and his words of hatred didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was Dax. She reached the front of the room and waited while Nathan placed her hand on Dax’s palm and in that moment her entire body relaxed. Today was the first day of the rest of her life and she was going to make sure that life was amazing.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S4

**Tags:** Season 4

---

### [Impartial Hindrance](https://melaniepsmith.com/impartial-hindrance/)

**Published:** July 29, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Impartial Hindrance (S4E4) Paige responds to an assault in progress and will have to decide who to trust.  The investigation pulls her into another cold case, one that originated in Nevada and the victim was one of their own.  Dax and the group look into the dead pilot and decide on a course of action that could be risky.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*IMPARTIAL HINDRANCE\*\*\*****

“Dispatch,” Paige called over the radio as she pulled onto the roadway. “Show me cleared on the vandalism and enroute back to the office.”

“Cleared at eleven-twenty-three,” Margie’s voice replied. “I just received a new call — fight in progress at the park. Can you head that way?”

“Copy,” Paige made a U-turn and headed in the opposite direction. “Do we have anyone available to back?”

“I’m enroute,” Gage answered. “But I just left the Lovell farm. I’ll expedite.”

“Again?” Paige shook her head. Those two brothers were becoming a nuisance. “Maybe you should have booked them.”

“Negative,” Gage disagreed. “It would give them something to brag about.”

“Margie,” Havilland’s voice crackled over the airwaves. “Clear me on this juvenile problem and show me enroute as well.”

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[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Impartial-Hindrance.pdf)

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“Copy,” Margie acknowledged. “Eleven-twenty-six.”

“I’ve arrived,” Paige notified her colleagues. “Two adult males, mid-to-late fifties, I’m going to attempt contact. I’ll advise.”

Paige climbed from her vehicle and slowly made her way to the two combatants. The smaller of the two was momentarily distracted by her approach. It was enough for the second enormous man to get the upper hand. He planted a direct blow to the guys’ ribcage. The smaller man went down — hard. He was on his knees, clutching his ribs and gasping for air. *Got the wind knocked out of you, didn’t you?* Paige thought as she moved in between them.

“Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office,” Paige barked. “Break it up. Hands in the air and step back.”

The massive giant, he was at least six-four and over two hundred pounds of pure muscle, ignored her completely. He shoved past her and swung, attempting to strike his opponent again.

Paige grabbed for his arm, caught it, and stumbled a little as she tried to wrestle control of the angry and determined suspect. “Police,” she tried again. “Get down on the ground.”

The man pivoted to face her. At the same time, he jerked his arm forcefully in an attempt to get free. Paige held firm.

“Get off me lady,” the man demanded. “This is none of your business.”

Paige tightened her grip. “I’m a cop,” she said again. “Stand-down, now.”

Instead, the man reached out with his other hand and gave her chest a forceful shove.

Paige stumbled and lost her footing. She was finally starting to regain her balance when the large man twisted unexpectedly and focus on his original target. As he swung around, his elbow collided with Paige’s face with so much force, her vision went gray. She tried to focus through the haze and the searing white hot pain that exploded in her cheekbone. Tried to regain her balance while she continued to stumble backward and ultimately fell to the ground with a thud. Tried to push aside the memory of crunching and popping noises that echoed in her head when the man’s elbow collided with her nose. Tried to ignore the intense pain that radiated behind her eye, exploded across her cheekbone, and continued down to her jaw. She covered her face with the palm of her right hand in an attempt to control the blood that was now gushing from her nose. Frustrated and royally pissed off, she stood.

Paige blinked, blinked again and mentally willed her eyes to focus on the massive form in front of her. His back was now to her and he was moving closer to his prey. Paige kept her right hand on what was sure to be her broken nose and stumbled forward. *Where was her backup?* She was surprised when the smaller man jumped to his feet, spun, and used what could only be described as arrest control techniques to knock the larger man to the ground and subdue him.

“Cuffs?” the man called.

Paige yanked the steel manacles from her belt with one hand as she continued to hold her nose with the other. She dropped to one knee, hoping she could manage the restraints one-handed, then scowled when the man impatiently snatched her cuffs from her hand and expertly snapped them in place. Before she had a chance to react, an enormous shadow engulfed her*. Another threat? A partner?* Paige glanced up and relaxed. *Yeah, it was a partner — hers*. Gage Clayton was looming over her and frowning. He shoved a handkerchief in her face then turned to study the man who had slowly climbed to his feet and was now standing before him.

“You a cop?” Gage finally asked. “I was just pulling in when I saw you take that man down.”

“Was,” the man shrugged.

“And now you’re under arrest,” Paige used the picnic table to balance her weight as she stood. “Gage, cuff him.”

“For?” the man asked.

“Mutual combat,” Paige didn’t take her eyes off Gage.

Gage sighed, moved behind the man and secured the cuffs. He took the prisoners arm and guided him to the bench. “Sit here and wait while we sort this out.”

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Paige’s scowl deepened when she spotted two women marching briskly across the large, well-manicured lawn. They were headed straight for her and they didn’t look happy. “Now what?” Paige sighed and practically growled when the former cop — allegedly — laughed.

“Excuse me,” one of the women called out when they reached the picnic area. They both stopped and slammed their hands on their hips. “Why are you harassing that man?” the speaker pointed to the guy that claimed to be a former cop.

“Police business,” Paige tried.

“That man,” the second woman pointed to Gargantua who had shifted into a sitting position and was now leaning against a tree. “He attacked this poor, innocent man for no reason. I believe in America we still have the right to protect ourselves. This is a clear case of self-defense.”

“Don’t you worry,” the first woman turned to address what they believed to be an innocent victim. “We’ll testify for you, if it goes that far. No judge or jury would convict you of anything. And, if she doesn’t set you free, we’ll complain to the sheriff. Jericho Walters will not tolerate this kind of injustice.”

“You go right ahead and...” Paige was interrupted.

“Paige, sit down,” Gage placed a hand on her shoulder and pushed her onto the bench next to the former cop. “Put your head back,” he turned to face the angry women. “Ladies, did you witness the entire incident?”

“We did,” they said in unison.

“Then would you mind taking a minute to fill out a witness statement — you know, to make it all official?” Gage requested. “It would really help us out. Let me grab the forms from my car. Maybe you could just take a seat over there, on that other table, in the shade. I’ll be right back.”

“We could do that,” the second woman turned to her friend in question.

“Yes, we will,” she took another second to glare at Paige. “Come on Cecil.”

Paige watched as they settled onto the bench and began to whisper.

“So,” the man turned to study Paige. “How’s the face?”

“I want that man arrested,” the large man on the ground barked. “I’m pressing charges... official like. I want him locked away. I want him to pay. I’m the victim here. Get these things off me. I was defending myself. That man’s a stalker. He’s been harassing me for over a year. I feared for my life. I demand you arrest that man and get these things off me!”

“Those women seem to think you attacked ‘that man’ for no reason,” Paige lowered her head slowly and cautiously pulled the cloth from her face. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement in the parking lot and realized Havi just arrived. She sighed, frustrated the blood had continued to flow, and pressed the cloth back to her face.

“Better late than never,” Havilland commented as he approached the table. “Ouch.”

Gage returned from his vehicle and made a quick stop at the table where the women were still waiting. He had a brief conversation, handed them the paperwork and a couple pens, then headed toward Paige. He held out a bottle of water and a large package of gauze. “Once you stop bleeding, we’ll decide what to do here.”

“My detail,” Paige mumbled through the gauze. “My decision.”

“I want him locked up!” the huge man yelled. “He’s stalking me. That has to be a crime. I’ll go to the media, tell them how he got special treatment. I’ll tell everyone how you protected a madman and victimized an innocent guy that stopped at the park to enjoy his lunch.”

The man sitting next to Paige snorted.

Paige dumped some of the water onto the gauze, took a second to clean off her face and stood. “Havilland, can you transport Bruce Banner over there to lockup?”

“Bruce who?” the large man looked confused. “My name’s not Bruce, it’s Duke Hunter. I’m not going to jail, I didn’t do nothing.”

Havilland shook his head and gave the large man a look of pity. “If you’re going to go all Hulk Smash on us, you should at least be familiar with the radiated scientist.” He moved to where the man was sitting, gave his arm a yank and forced him to stand. “The office or booking?”

“For now,” Paige sighed. “Just take him to the office and lock him in the back. I’ll be there as soon as I can to start the interview.”

“What about him?” Duke dug in his heels.

“Not your concern,” Paige moved forward. “You’re looking at assault and battery, assault on a PO, and maybe I’ll throw in felony stupidity just because I can. You might want to focus on your own problems and let me deal with your friend over there.”

“He ain’t no friend,” the man hesitated, debated, then glanced at Gage. With a sigh, he realized fighting would be useless and let Havilland escort him to the cruiser.

“Here you go,” the women approached Gage and handed him their statements. “Will you be releasing him now?”

Gage took the time to skim through the statements. “We appreciate your assistance and will take your information into consideration. However, we still have a few things to sort out before we can let him go.”

“My detail...” Paige started.

“Come on,” Gage ignored her, gripped the man’s bicep, and waited for him to stand on his own.

“But...” one of the women, Cecil, began.

“I’m calling Jer,” the second woman glared at Paige. “He’ll make this right. Don’t you worry, Jericho Walters is fair and sensible. He’ll sort this out in no time.” She turned away, digging around in her purse as she walked away. Within seconds, she had her phone to her ear.

“Great,” Paige sighed and slowly made her way back to her own vehicle.

The instant she stepped into the office, Paige was confronted by Margie — a cold pack in one hand, two pills in the other. She scowled, took the cold pack and ignored the pills. Margie followed as she headed for her desk.

“It’s just a couple of minor pain pills,” Margie held them out again but now had a cup full of water as well. “Take them.”

Paige sighed, gulped down the pills and tossed the paper cup into her trash can. She leaned back in her chair, propped her feet on the desk, and gently set the cold pack on her bruised and throbbing face. “Thanks,” she mumbled.

Margie gave her a quick nod and returned to her desk.

Paige closed her eyes and considered. She had a strong case against the larger suspect but next to nothing on the former cop — if he was a cop. She’d have to check that out. She sighed, shifted and tried to relax. The cold pack felt amazing on her battered face. She could take a few minutes before dealing with the cluster in back. It would do them both good to sit in a cage for a while — especially if one of them really was a cop. He’d hate that and maybe he’d be compelled to cooperate. *Or,* she thought, *it might piss him off and she’d get nothing.*

“In my office,” Jericho barked the instant he stepped through the door. “Both of you!”

Paige jumped in her chair, glanced at Clayton, and stood. Time to face the music.

Havilland joined them.

“As I understand it,” Jericho focused on Havilland. “You arrived late and your participation was limited to transport.”

“I was there,” Havi shrugged and dropped into a chair.

Jericho turned to Paige. “I’d like to know why I just got yelled at for a full twenty minutes by Anna Brooks, followed by another ten from Cecil Turner. They insist my overzealous deputy is victimizing a victim.”

“I...” Paige began.

Jericho held up a hand. “I read their witness statements. It appears to be a clear case of self-defense. The man was just sitting there when the aggressor jumped to his feet, pulled him off the park bench, and punched him.”

“You read their statements?” Paige said slowly. “How?”

Jericho smiled. “Welcome to the age of technology. They both took a picture of the document before they turned it over to Clayton. Once they finished lecturing me on civility and police responsibility, they were more than happy to text me a copy.”

“Of course they were,” Paige sat back, bumped her head on the wall and winced.

“Who used you as a punching bag?” Jericho asked. “And, did you haul them both in because you were irritated and cranky?”

“Sir,” Gage answered. “Duke Hunter was booked on assault and assault on a PO.” He glanced at Paige and grinned. “I couldn’t find the code for felony stupidity. He insisted on filing a complaint against Orlando McDermid for harassment and stalking. McDermid has not been charged yet. Paige needed a little time to deal with the face before we could start the interview.”

“You okay?” Jericho asked.

“I wasn’t irritated and cranky,” Paige answered. “I’m pissed, but that is beside the point. I hauled them both in because I still have questions and I need to interview McDermid before I can fully understand the situation and decide how to proceed. And for the record, you were forced to deal with a couple women who are mildly annoyed at what they perceive as injustice. I have to go home and deal with Sophie and Carmen. Do you have any idea the kind of grief I’m going to get? We were supposed to meet with the photographer next week for some preliminary photos,” Paige grinned. “Guess I get a pass on that one now.”

“Interview this Orlando guy and see if he is, in fact, stalking this Duke character,” Jericho decided. “The assault charges are solid. Havilland, transport Duke Hunter over to booking. Keep me advised on the rest.”

“One other thing you should probably know,” Paige stood. “Orlando McDermid says he used to be a cop.”

“And you still locked him up?” Jericho frowned.

“I did,” Paige didn’t blink. “He was cocky and uncooperative at the scene. I was hoping an hour behind bars would encourage him to talk.”

“I think you let your emotions make your decision,” Jericho steepled his hands on the desk. “Watch your step on this one. If he is a victim, and there is strong evidence to support that, he walks. In my store, an ex-cop deserves the benefit of the doubt. If you don’t boot him, I will.”

Paige opened her mouth to object then closed it. Jericho was right. Her case was weak and allegations from a suspect looking at jail time for assault, wouldn’t hold weight — not against a former cop. She needed information and Orlando McDermid was the man with all the answers. She wondered if he’d block her inquiries or answer her questions. He hadn’t exactly been uncooperative, more like pushy and used to being in charge. He hijacked her detail and her reaction had been emotional. It was bad enough when a fellow cop did that — but coming from a stranger and a suspect, that was unacceptable. “I’ll let you know what he says.”

“I’ll be here,” Jericho said in dismissal.

Paige retrieved McDermid and moved him into the conference room. Once they settled in, she read him Miranda. “Do you understand your rights?”

“Yeah,” McDermid settled back in his seat. He knew the drill and after that last cluster, he had no intention of cooperating with some local cop with a complex.

“You indicated, to Deputy Clayton, you used to be a cop,” Paige began. “What agency?”

“Why?”

“Mr. McDermid,” Paige sighed.

“Ollie,” he corrected. “Mr. McDermid is my grandfather. I go by Ollie.”

“Ollie,” Paige said flatly. “If you are in fact former law enforcement, you know why I need to verify that.”

“I know it has nothing to do with this situation,” Ollie countered. “It’s irrelevant.”

“You also know that, as a former cop, your treatment would be different than a common street thug. There’s a code, and whether you committed a crime or not, we still believe in professional courtesy.”

“That’s what you call locking me up next to a killer? Professional courtesy?” Ollie disagreed. “I can do without your brand of courtesy. I didn’t volunteer that status. He asked,” Ollie gestured to Gage. “I answered.”

“I’ll give you that,” Paige settled back. “And still...” Paige wondered what he meant by a killer.

“How about you just treat me the same as you would any other citizen,” Ollie suggested.

“I’m attempting to do just that,” Paige pushed. “If a citizen said I learned that maneuver in the Army, I’d verify. If they said I’m a doctor, I’d verify. You said you were a cop. I need to verify.”

“Want,” Ollie corrected.

“Excuse me?” Paige narrowed her eyes at the man and wondered why he was being so difficult.

“You want to verify,” Ollie said casually. “You don’t need to.”

“Actually, I do.”

“Because?” Ollie asked, truly curious why this was so important to her.

“My boss, the sheriff, says the allegations are minor and unverifiable. He expects me to cut you loose — especially if you’re one of us,” Paige provided. “My standard is a little higher. I’m not willing to take you at your word. For me, there is no trust — I need to verify and act accordingly. If you’re impersonating a cop, I also act accordingly.”

“Is there a law in Utah about impersonating a retired cop?” he asked with a smirk. “Is that a felony or a misdemeanor?”

“Clearly, this is futile,” Paige decided. “You have two options. One, you tell me where you used to work, I verify the information, and if everything checks out, I spring you. Or, two; you continue to play games, I fill out an information, send it over to the DA’s Office, and our local prosecutor decides if there’s enough to file charges for harassment and stalking. I still spring you and chances are pretty high you’ll bolt. The DA’s office will issue a warrant and somewhere down the line, some cop somewhere will stumble onto it. He might brush it off as minimal and insignificant, or he might throw you back in jail for a few days. Either way, you’re no longer my problem. What’s it going to be? You’re choice.”

Ollie studied Paige for several seconds, shifted and pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. He tossed her the leather case that had a flat badge and his Vegas ID showing his status as retired.

“Lieutenant,” Paige said, passing it back. “You’re free to go. Or, you could stay and tell me why you think that man is a killer. If I believe you, I’ll do what I can to help.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got it handled,” Ollie stood.

“You might want to reconsider,” Gage spoke up. “You just got an offer nobody should refuse.”

“The case was already worked by experts in Vegas,” Ollie smiled. “I’m pretty sure they have more experience handling homicides than a cop in Manti?”

“You might be surprised. Paige is too humble to blow her own horn,” Gage began. “Have a seat and I’ll explain why you should accept the help she’s offering.”

“Gage,” Paige warned. “He said he’s got it handled. Let him handle it. Have a nice day, Ollie McDermid.”

“I believe,” Gage focused on the lieutenant, “that before somebody makes a decision, they should have all the facts. He might still say no thanks, but if he does — he’s an idiot. I don’t think he’s an idiot.”

Paige rolled her eyes but gave up. She never could control Gage Clayton, attempting to do that now was another act of futility. “While you exaggerate my credentials, I’m going to make a phone call.”

Ollie studied Deputy Carter as she moved toward the door. There was something about her that made him think she was probably a good cop — well, other than arresting him. When she reached the opening that led to the outer offices, he called out to her. “Ask for Sergeant Benner. He was primary on the murder before it went cold.”

Paige ignored him and continued to her desk. She dropped into her chair and looked up the number for Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. It took three transfers, but she was finally sent to Sgt. Benner. She didn’t ask for him directly in spite of Ollie’s suggestion, but she thought it was a good sign she ended up there based on her request.

“Violent Crimes Division, Sgt. Benner,” came a sturdy voice.

“Deputy Paige Carter, Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office,” Paige replied. “I wonder if I could have just a few minutes of your time.”

“Always happy to help our extended family,” Benner said cheerfully. “How can I assist Sanpete County, that’s Utah right?”

“It is,” Paige affirmed. “I’m looking for information on a former employee, a Lt. Ollie McDermid. He says you guys were working a case against a Duke Hunter. A homicide.”

“So,” Benner said slowly. “The L.T. followed Hunter to Utah. What did they do?”

“Do they teach avoidance as a matter of practice out there in Vegas?” Paige said, even more annoyed now.

Benner laughed. “No, I think we just come by that naturally. I’ll tell you about the case but first I need to know if the L.T. is okay.”

“He’s fine,” Paige sighed. “There was an altercation, fight in the park. Duke Hunter has been arrested. He claims he’s an innocent victim and McDermid is harassing him. He wants charges filed.”

Benner snorted.

“Funny, McDermid had the same reaction.”

“You say tomato...” Benner smiled. “One man’s harassment is another man’s investigation. I can think of a lot of names for Duke Hunter, but innocent victim doesn’t make the list.”

“I thought McDermid retired,” Paige disagreed.

“He retired from the department,” Benner agreed. “Then he went down and obtained a PI license. The L.T. is legit. His investigation is legit.”

“Why didn’t he tell me that?” Paige wondered.

“Couldn’t say,” Benner evaded then changed his mind. “He did have a bit of trouble with a cop a few months back, over in Bunkerville. Hunter came across as the innocent victim and Ollie got tangled up some. Turns out the guy, the officer, had a grudge. He applied here with Metro and washed out. So, I’m not sure it was so much Hunter having credibility as the L.T. working for the wrong organization.”

“Which is why I got attitude when I started to push,” Paige realized. “Any way you could send me a copy of your file, on the murder that is?”

“Why?” Benner’s voice grew cold.

Paige smiled. “Guess I just hit boggy ground. You don’t need to get territorial. I’m not looking to interfere, I’d just like to take a look. See what I see.”

“There’s nothing to see,” Benner said defensively. “The investigation is solid. If you're looking for a way to make a name for yourself — look somewhere else. The case might be cold, but it’s mine. One of ours was killed and the SOB responsible walked. We worked it hard, but there just wasn’t enough. Eventually, we hit a brick wall and the case went cold. Doesn’t mean I’m done with it. So, yeah, I’m territorial and it’s going to stay that way.”

“What do you mean by one of your own?”

“Ollie hasn’t told you?” Benner realized. “I can send you the initial report but the rest of the file is need to know.”

“Hey,” Paige forced her voice to appear casual and unaffected. “I get it. I’m just a small-town cop with nothing to offer. It’s just... well, I was hoping to get some insight into how the big city detectives handle a case. Never mind. Guess when we come across a killer out here, I’ll just have to stumble through somehow and hope I don’t muck it up too bad.” Paige glanced up when Gage and Ollie approached her desk.

“Is that Benner?” Ollie asked.

Paige nodded.

“If you put that on speaker, I can probably cut through some of the red tape,” he smirked. “To help out a small-town cop. Wouldn’t want you to muck anything up.”

Paige studied him coolly then hit the button that switched to speaker.

“Hey, Scott,” Ollie leaned forward and hovered over the speaker. “I could share my file with these guys, but I’d rather keep it close. I tend to go over it at odd hours and I’m not comfortable parting with it, even temporarily. As a favor to me, would you mind shooting a copy of everything out this way? I think Deputy Carter just might be the miracle we’ve been hoping for.”

“You sound okay,” Benner said flatly. “At least you did before you asked me to send a confidential file to a cop who, apparently, has never worked a homicide.”

“She was being flippant and facetious,” Ollie focused on Paige. “Personally, I don’t think it helped the situation but I’m going to cut her a little slack. Looks like the damage to her face is making her grumpy.”

“Man, Ollie,” Benner groaned. “Tell me you didn’t pop a cop.”

“Not me,” Ollie assured him. “But Carter’s face got up close and personal with Duke’s elbow.”

“That should keep him behind bars, at least for a few days,” Benner decided. “Just so I’m clear, Deputy Carter, does that mean you do have experience working homicide?”

“I may have been involved in one or two,” Paige reluctantly admitted.

“Look Scott,” Ollie sighed. “Paige here used to work for the FBI. I’m told she has a doctorate in forensic science and extensive experience working cases that involved serial killers. We’re at a standstill, couldn’t get through the door at the lab, but she might be able to give us what we need. If not, maybe she’ll call in a favor. I just need to convince her I’m worth the trouble.”

“Talk about burying the lead,” Benner sat up. “I’ll agree as long as the lot of you keep me in the loop. No more going off the radar, sir.”

Ollie laughed. “Is that an order?”

“Sure,” Benner relaxed. “As a sergeant, I always give my exec orders.”

“I’m just a regular guy now,” Ollie said automatically. “I’ll hand you back over to Carter. She can give you the details on the best way to transmit that file. The case is still yours, I’ll make sure you stay in the loop.”

Paige picked up the phone. “Email is fine unless you’d rather overnight it. Any packages should come to the main office here in Manti, I’ll give you the address.”

“I’ll do the overnight thing,” Benner decided. “More secure. And... sorry about before. I was getting territorial, it just burns that Hunter is still walking around free after all this time.”

“You guys sure he’s the one?” Paige pressed. “And, if you’re that sure, why is he still walking around?”

“I’m sure,” Benner said without hesitation. “Ever have a case where you knew in your gut the guy was guilty. A name that kept surfacing, everything pointed to him, and deep down in your marrow you just knew? That’s Duke Hunter. He’s a cold-blooded killer, I just can’t prove it. No prosecutor alive would risk a trial with what we have. Knowing is different from proving. And then there’s the one-shot deal. If we lose, we don’t get another chance.”

“Double jeopardy,” Paige said in understanding. “I get it. I’ll wait for snail mail, but is there anything you can email me today? Even if it’s just the basic stuff that already went public?”

“I’ll put something together and send it off before the end of the day,” Benner promised. “I’ll also get the file copied and mailed in the next hour or so. I know the L.T. hasn’t convinced you to take this on; or, to use up one of those favors. But, if it matters, I’m asking you to do the same. We have some trace evidence we collected at the scene, but we never found the body. Mika just disappeared. Technically, it’s still classified as a missing person case. Our department won’t approve the funds to get the evidence tested. Low priority. An adult woman has a right to disappear if she wants to and I haven’t been able to convince them it’s worth the expense. I can’t even prove she’s dead. Plus, the lab is backed up. They’re picky about what cases they approve and what evidence they process. I don’t blame them, what we got is circumstantial at best. It just would have helped add weight — or, might have. We were hoping it would give us enough to make that link, maybe give us the probable cause we need for a warrant to dig deeper.”

“What kind of evidence are we talking,” Paige asked. “If I’m following correctly, sounds like you need a forensic exam of some trace. Hair? Soil? What exactly do you have?”

“We have hair,” Benner confirmed. “I know some of it belongs to the victim, maybe all of it. But if I’m right, there’s a good chance we could find canine intermingled in there as well. The right kind, as in breed or color, we make the connection to Hunter. Duke had a Bullmastiff at the time. We got lucky, the dog — not so much. Hunter raised him to be aggressive. Neighbors had over a dozen complaints on file before the final incident. Last year, he bit a neighbor. And I mean a serious attack. The kid, teenager that lived up the street, had to get sixty stitches. Animal Control confiscated the dog, had to put him down. Hunter got a couple charges out of the incident and was forced to pay damages. It took some fast talking, but I was able to convince the vet, as part of my investigation, to preserve some hair and DNA just in case we needed it. It’s locked up tight and I can make it available if necessary. First, we need to know if there’s anything to compare it to.”

“I can work with that,” Paige considered. “How does the dog play into this?”

“Our victim didn’t have pets, she was severely allergic,” Benner explained. “We believe Mika was abducted from her home, late at night. There weren’t any obvious signs of a struggle, but Mika would have fought. The hair particles were located in the kitchen. Like I said, I know some of it was Mika’s — several strands were found on the floor. But there are smaller, partial strands that look different. My theory is that Hunter came in, tried to drag her out, but Mika fought. Once they reached the kitchen, he grabbed her by the hair in an attempt to control her. The struggle was big enough that several strands of her hair ended up on the floor. The thing is, Hunter lived with that dog. If you’ve ever had a dog or a cat, you know they get hair on everything. If Hunter was in the home, it’s highly probable some of his dog’s hair ended up at the scene. Especially if he was fighting against a struggling, combative woman. If we can connect it, we can put him inside the residence.”

“That’s weak,” Paige argued. “A good defense attorney could come up with a million different innocent reasons for the dog hair. Anything else?”

“Ollie has a cell phone, but I think I’ll let him explain that one,” Benner decided. The phone was the reason for the trouble in Bunkerville. “We’ve got soil and vegetation, clumps that were located on a vehicle belonging to Duke Hunter. Unfortunately, we live in the desert — tracking that down to a manageable search area is going to be impossible. For now, I’ll get you what I can. Give me a call when the package arrives and let me know if you have any questions. Once you’re familiar with the case and the evidence, we can talk strategy.”

“I’ll be in touch,” Paige clicked off and glanced up. Jericho had settled into her visitor’s chair.

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“Now what?” Jericho asked. “I see your cop isn’t in cuffs, but you haven’t set him free.”

“Actually, I have,” Paige ran through the situation with Jericho and waited.

“So,” he finally said. “When I told you to extend your prisoner a little professional courtesy; you took that to mean, jump in and solve a murder?”

“Um-huh,” Paige tried to hold back her grin. “I’m sorry, did I misunderstand your directive?”

“Deliberately,” Jericho grumbled. “How is your caseload? We have a responsibility to the citizens of this county before we take care of a cold case from Vegas.”

“I’m good,” Paige shrugged. “I’m waiting on a couple things. If they come in, I’ll juggle. I still have a few questions for Ollie the former cop. You want to join me while I try to get answers?”

Jericho nodded and stood. “Let’s go see what we can do to assist Nevada.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into her drive, shut down the engine, and just sat there. Once Ollie McDermid realized Paige might be able to help him, he spilled the entire depressing story. Now, here she was, determined to nail the clever killer, frustrated he had evaded this long, and still annoyed at the throbbing in her face. She might be home at last, but at the moment, all she wanted to do was run. Maybe she could head back to the office and use the new case as an excuse to hide. She felt like a coward but facing Sophie Porter was worse than staring down the barrel of a gun held by a meth-head flying high from his last fix. With a loud sigh, she climbed from the vehicle. She turned toward her house, but spotted Dax headed her way and waited. He was traveling quickly across his own front lawn. He must have been visiting with his men on the front porch and spotted her car. Maybe this was good, in the low light, her bruising and swelling might not look as bad. *Yeah, this was good*. Her optimism lasted exactly six seconds.

“You worked late,” Dax said as he approached. “The guys wanted to BBQ so...” He stopped, frowned and moved closer. Once he was within reach, he gripped her chin and turned her into the light where he could get a better look. “What happened?”

“Fight at the park,” Paige pulled away. “It’s fine. I’m fine. The guy was huge, I mean megasaurus huge. He got in one good shot with his elbow. Now, he gets to spend the next few days in a cell wondering if that was such a good idea.”

Dax took her hand and silently pulled her into the house.

Once they were standing inside the kitchen, Paige couldn’t take the silence any longer. “I know the timing is off. I know it complicates things. And now I’m going to have to deal with Sophie and Carmen, so do me a favor, please?”

Dax pulled a cold pack from the freezer and moved to stand in front of her. He tilted her head back and studied the damage before gently pressing the frozen bag to her face. “I don’t think you broke it, there’s a possibility you have a crack; but if so, it’s minor. Can you breathe okay?”

“I breathe just fine,” Paige said impatiently. “It’s bruised, that’s all. I’m fine. I’m sorry. We’ll have to cancel pictures next week, but I’m hoping my face will be back to normal on our wedding day.”

“As long as you didn’t break it,” Dax settled onto a chair. “It should be.”

“I can tell you’re angry,” Paige settled in next to him. “I am sorry.”

“I’m not angry at you,” Dax sighed. “You can’t expect me to just shrug it off when you come home injured.” He took her hand. “I know it’s part of the job, but I don’t have to like it.” He brushed his hand over her head, pulled her forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Other than the elbow to the face, how was your day?”

“Busy,” Paige relaxed. She realized she’d been just as stressed over a confrontation with Dax as she’d been over the inevitable confrontation she was going to have with Sophie and Carmen. “The other guy, the original call was a fight, the other guy is a retired cop from Vegas. He retired after elbow-to-the-face guy murdered his sister. They haven’t been able to build a strong enough case, so Ollie McDermid — the retired cop — has been following the suspect; trying to get something that will break it wide open and get a violent predator off the streets. He’s determined to give his parents some closure.”

“If they don’t have the evidence, how can they be sure he did it?” Dax asked, amazed he’d been able to follow that convoluted explanation.

“They’re sure,” Paige shrugged. “And from what I’ve heard so far, I’m leaning in that direction. Ollie’s sister, Mika, she was a prosecutor for Clark County. She told her brother she stumbled onto something big and if she could confirm it, she was going to need his help. Then she disappeared, whoosh, vanished completely. That was nearly two years ago. Problem is, they can’t find the body. Duke Hunter was well known in the area as a local spine cracker.”

“So, you plan to step in and help?” Dax gave her hand a quick squeeze. “They’re lucky to have you. Does this mean you’ll have to leave town again?”

“Not yet,” Paige set the cold pack on the table. “I’ll work it from here for now. I might need Carmen’s help on a cell phone. I need more details to ensure it was a legal seizure. Benner was vague about that and it could get sticky — Which is why I need the amazing Fennelly. Anyway, let’s go get this over with. If I’m lucky, Carmen and Sophie will scold me for a few minutes, we’ll have an uncomfortable dinner, and in a day — two tops, Carmen will forgive me enough to help.”

“At least you have a plan,” Dax stood and took her hand. “Bring the cold pack. You’re going to need it. What about the pain? Do you need something to take the edge off?”

“I took a couple pills before I left the office,” Paige continued out the door. “I’m good for now.”

Dax knew being angry with Paige was pointless. It wasn’t her fault some killer decided to slam her in the face with his elbow. He could be furious at the killer, though. Good thing the guy was behind bars. Otherwise, Dax didn’t think he’d be able to stop himself from launching a search and destroy mission of his own. He pushed his raging emotions aside, masked his face, and pulled Paige onto the front porch. Conversation stopped completely the instant the group saw her.

“Oh my goodness,” Sophie Porter stepped forward. “What on earth happened to you?” She spotted the cold pack in Paige’s left hand and immediately snatched it up, directed Paige to a chair, and set the frozen bag onto her nose. Once she settled in beside her, she gently took Paige’s hand and waited.

“I was trying to break up a fight at the park and one of the men elbowed me,” Paige mumbled. “It looks worse than it is.”

“Not really,” Hawk took a swig of his beer and flipped over a steak before he lowered the lid on the grill and settled back in his chair. “I’ve had one or two of those myself. They hurt like a bugger, look bad too; but, I can’t say the visual is worse than the reality.”

“Thanks,” Paige shot him an annoyed look. “You’re a plethora of information tonight Hawk.”

“You’re welcome,” Hawk grinned. “I’m just that kind of guy.” Hawk sobered. “Tell me you got him. Tell me the man that did that to your face is locked up tight, because if I know anything about Dax Hamilton, jail is the only place the guy will be safe from his wrath.”

Paige focused on Dax, studied him for several seconds and realized Hawk was right.

“There’s nothing wrong with protecting your woman,” Zeus said, pulling Carmen closer.

Paige shifted her attention to her friend. So far, Carmen hadn’t said a word.

“We’ll have to cancel the photographer,” Carmen said without emotion. “It would have been easier to get some of the shots out of the way ahead of time, and we could have incorporated them into the displays. We’ll come up with something else. There’s not enough time to reschedule. We’ll just have to do the entire shoot on your wedding day. I didn’t cause this, so don’t take it out on me when you two want to escape and head off on your honeymoon, but you’re stuck hanging around dealing with pictures.”

“Are you mad?” Paige asked Sophie.

“No, dear,” Sophie patted her knee. “Everyone here knows being a cop is dangerous. I got the anger out years ago — Back when you were still with the FBI tracking down violent killers. It took a bit of time, but I accepted the risk long ago and trust you to be careful. Carmen and I will just have to shift some things around and adjust,” she shrugged. “We’ll manage.”

“I’ll help with that,” Paige promised. “I’m working a case, but I’ll help.”

“That’s okay dear,” Sophie said again. “Carmen and I have a system. We’ll take care of everything.”

“Carmen?” Paige pushed. “Do you want to help me grab some drinks from the kitchen?”

“We’re good,” Carmen forced a smile. “Don’t worry about this, Paige. Sophie’s right. It’s not a big deal, we’ll adjust. It doesn’t require a private discussion.” Carmen didn’t want Paige to corner her alone tonight. Her friend had a way of reading her, forcing her to open up, and that wasn’t something she could do. Not tonight. The attack on Paige’s face was unavoidable and just one more thing to deal with in an already stressful day. She’d been a mess for hours. Was still a jumbled mass of nerves. She’d been stressed, anxious, and confused since this afternoon when the guys approached her, gave her some cryptic story about a project — a covert, off the books, venture she couldn’t discuss with anyone — and told her to take twenty-four hours to decide if she wanted in. They needed her help, would happily read her in, but she had to decide for herself if she could hide things from her best friend and help them work out the tech stuff. She loved Zeus, more than she believed she’d ever love anyone, but could she betray Paige? Could she hide something important from her closest friend? Because, from the serious and covert explanation she’d received earlier in the day, this was important. She wasn’t sure she could risk her friendship that way though, not even to help this team of men that had slowly become family. But, now that she knew, could she walk away and forget it? Or would the not knowing drive her insane? She wanted to scream. Instead, she forced a smile on her face and settled in to pretend she was having a good time.

\*\*\*\*\*

The large package was sitting on her desk when Paige arrived the next morning. “That was fast.”

“Huh?” Gage looked up from a report he was typing.

“Nothing,” Paige settled into her chair and emptied the contents on her desk. There was a plastic bag filled with photos, a stack of papers stapled into sections, and a CD. She decided to skim through the photos first. She wanted to create a visual image of the scene before she dove into the details.

There were a lot of them. Sergeant Benner, detective at the time, was thorough. Paige was studying a photo of Mika McDermid’s bedroom when Ollie stepped into the office and settled into her visitor’s chair. She glanced up and considered. “Tell me about your sister.”

“In general?” Ollie shifted in an attempt to get comfortable. “That could take days.”

“Okay,” Paige realized that was too general. “Her last name was McDermid, and the file says she was single at the time she went missing. Had she ever been married?”

“No,” sadness showed on his face and in his eyes. “Mika was driven to succeed. She had a few boyfriends over the years. There was a fairly serious relationship in college I thought would lead to marriage, but Mika...” he sighed. “My sister was an attractive woman, beautiful inside and out.”

“I can see that,” Paige glanced at a portrait that was taken the year before she disappeared.

“But,” Ollie continued. “She wasn’t... I don’t know exactly how to put it. She didn’t use men, was never insensitive or cruel — she truly was a good person and the idea of using someone would never occur to her — she just never took them seriously. She was obtuse, I guess you could say, when it came to men. Which I always found perplexing because Mika wasn’t simple-minded or stupid. She was a very astute woman and highly successful in her professional life. Her personal life? Mostly she was just casual and spontaneous when it came to men and she expected the same from them. She worked long hours, dedicated her life to her career, and if the current man in her life became too much of a distraction, she ended it.”

“Sounds lonely,” Paige observed.

Ollie smiled. “That’s exactly what I told her, many times. She told me, I had my priorities; and, she had hers. She insisted she wasn’t lonely and casual affairs filled that hole. My family, my kids, filled the void not having her own children left. She was amazing with my kids. I don’t think she ever missed a school play or a baseball game. They’re adults now, both of them have their own lives and their own children, but they always remained close to their Aunt Mika. They’re struggling. The not knowing, it eats at you and it never goes away. To be honest, in some ways, Booker and Kierra were closer to my sister than they were to me or their own mother.” Ollie took a moment to pull in the emotions. “Anyway, her work was her life and she excelled at it. I know she got a great amount of satisfaction from it.”

“I’m sorry,” Paige said softly. She gave him a moment, clearly seeing he was lost in old memories and the pain those memories caused.

“Anyway,” Ollie finally said. He didn’t have time to wallow. “My sister was devoted to her career and her family. She did not just up and leave on her own. You know, I’ve heard that a million times. We all have. I can’t count the number of times a parent told me the same thing about their teenage runaway, or an abusive husband insisted his wife was missing in spite of evidence to the contrary. I worked the streets nearly all of my thirty years and I know there’s an element of denial when you don’t have logical answers.”

“Yes,” Paige said slowly. “But, I agree with you. Mika didn’t decide life was too... something, pack up and disappear without a trace. Everything I’ve read so far, including the public stuff that I found on the internet, points to foul play. Your sister was grounded, she was successful, and she had strong ties to her community.”

Ollie studied Paige and nodded.

“I have to get this out there,” Paige said soberly. “If she didn’t escape, if she didn’t run away to enjoy a simpler life, you have to know she’s dead.”

“We know,” Ollie glanced out the window. “My family, my parents, my kids, they still hold out hope. I do not. I’ve done my best to prepare them for the worst but, until we find her, until they have her physical remains — that tangible proof — they will continue to hope. They need closure, Paige. They need me to succeed or they will never truly move forward.”

“I understand,” Paige thought of her own mother’s murder. There was no doubt her mom had been killed, but until she solved the mystery, until she caught the man responsible, her life had been uncertain. She had gone through the motions, but never truly lived. It was a cloud that hung over her, the same as Ollie now had a cloud over him. She would do everything in her power to give him what Jericho had given her... she would give him answers. “Benner said Mika was working on something. Something she thought was big. Did she ever tell you what it was?”

“No,” Ollie frowned. “I pushed her. She said if she could verify it, she’d ask for my help. We argued about that. I told her it was my job to verify — to do the investigating — it was her job to get justice. She wouldn’t budge. I do know she was working a case that involved a dancer and a rich casino owner. I got the feeling something came out in that case that pointed to darker, more serious criminal activity.”

“Do you have the details on that other case?” Paige asked. “I don’t think it’s out of the realm to consider a hit. The rich casino guy could have hired Hunter to eliminate the problem — especially if she was getting close to exposing him for something. If Mika was digging into something big, we have to look at it.”

“I considered that,” Ollie told her. “It’s a dead end. Not because there’s nothing there, but because we can’t get access. Once the charges involving the dancer were disposed of, the judge sealed it. He won’t unseal it so I can go fishing. And yes, I asked. So did Benner.”

Paige thought of Carmen and wondered if she could justify using the talented hacker to gain access to sealed records. She’d have to think about that one. For now, she’d move on. “I was looking through the pictures that Benner sent with the file. He documented everything.”

“Benner’s good at what he does,” Ollie admitted. “He’s one of the best investigators our department has ever had. I’m not an investigator. I’m a street cop. As a deputy, I worked graves, hunted the criminals that came out after dark, even ran a dog for a while until I made SWAT. Once I was promoted to sergeant, it was back to the streets,” he smiled. “Most of my colleagues wanted a desk job as they rose up the ranks. I got promoted to lieutenant, requested Watch Command, and loved every minute.” He shrugged, not sure why he shared that.

“Did you retire to pursue this?” Paige asked. She could understand it if he did. She’d quit a prestigious job with the FBI to move back home and work the streets. She quit to solve a cold case, her mother’s case. Maybe it was the similarities in the cases that kept pulling her deeper.

“I retired because it was time,” Ollie said thoughtfully. “Thirty years on the street is a long time. Thirty years in law enforcement feels more like ninety. Maybe it was this case, maybe it was just all the changes. The job, it’s different today than it was a few decades ago. Different than it was a decade ago. A cop’s job has always been difficult, but nowadays — with all the cameras and armchair quarterbacks in the media, the politicians, the public — it was time to hang it up and move on.”

Paige understood and there was nothing more to say on that topic. Well, nothing they could do to fix it. Cops today just had to learn to adjust. She passed Ollie the photo of Mika’s bedroom she’d been studying. “I have a question, well a few questions, about that photo.”

Ollie took it, studied the familiar scene closely then dropped it back on the desk. “Shoot.”

“Do you know if Benner and his team, or the forensics team took the lid off that small ceramic box? The one on the nightstand.”

Ollie opened his own file and flipped through pages until he found the one he wanted. He skimmed through the report, picked up the photo and sat back. “Yes,” Ollie nodded. “They opened the box to get a detailed shot of the contents. Why?”

“Inside that box is a key,” Paige considered. “It looks like a safe deposit box key to me. Do you know where she banked and if anyone else had access to that box? Could she have put information in there, on the case she was working?”

“I doubt there’s anything work-related in there,” Ollie considered. “I know she stored the basics in there; her will, titles to her vehicle, the deed to her house, that sort of thing. I can access it, but I haven’t dealt with it. I figured it was low on the priority list.”

“Where would she put work-related information?” Paige pushed.

“Mostly, she kept it all in her briefcase,” Ollie sighed. “And it’s missing.”

Paige passed him another photo. “Is that what she kept here?” The photo showed a small work area, a desk, an executive leather chair, a bookcase filled with binders of case law, and a small credenza with a large open space just the right size to fit a standard briefcase.

“Yeah,” Ollie nodded.

“What about digital files?” Paige asked.

Ollie frowned. “She would have backed up her work, she was careful, and she wouldn’t want to lose hours of prep work and research. I don’t know where she kept it.”

“What about a cloud account?”

“No,” Ollie shook his head. “Not private enough. She was a prosecutor. Even I know a cloud account can be hacked and the owner of the cloud has access to files. If she kept it on her home computer, she would have made sure the computer had a password and the files were password protected. We’d have to ask Benner if they looked at that. They did take the computer into evidence.”

“I have to call him anyway, I’ll ask,” Paige decided.

“Alright,” Ollie realized Paige was asking questions he’d never thought to ask. He wondered if Benner had. “Now what?”

“Benner mentioned a phone,” Paige said. “Tell me about it. Then we’ll start going through this one report at a time. You can explain what you know and provide any details that didn’t make it into the official reports.”

Ollie reached into his bag and pulled out a cell phone secured in an evidence bag. “I’ve maintained the chain of evidence with this. Benner is expecting to get it as part of his case.”

“He’ll get it,” Paige shrugged. “First, I want to see if there’s anything on it. Once I’m finished, I’ll book it as evidence then turn it over to Sgt. Benner.”

Ollie handed Paige the bag. “It has a passcode.”

“I figured,” Paige took the bag and slipped it into the bottom drawer of her desk.

“How did you get it? And who does it belong to?” Paige asked.

“I’d say it’s mine,” Ollie said flatly. “It used to belong to Duke Hunter. I assume he realized I was tracking him and he got nervous. He tried to sneak away and toss his phone. I followed him to Bunkerville. When he tossed it into a dumpster, I retrieved it. I was just tucking it away when he came back. Maybe he was having seconds thoughts, maybe he forgot and left something in the memory, maybe it was something else entirely. Only Duke knows the reason he returned. It was too late. I secured it in a lockbox in my trunk. Hunter realized he couldn’t get it back and went nuts. He called the local police and we had a little disagreement over the whole thing, but I won.”

Paige ran the situation through her mind and tried to think of every angle, every argument some shifty defense attorney would use to try to get it tossed. They were on solid ground. The second Hunter threw the phone into a dumpster, he lost all expectation of privacy. He also forfeited ownership. “We don’t even need a warrant to access it,” Paige realized. “We just need your permission.”

“Clearly, you have it.”

She’d talk to Carmen as soon as she got home. If her friend wasn’t too busy, there was nobody better to hack into the device. “Alright, let’s get to work.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax was sitting in the kitchen, architectural plans covering the entire table, when the doorbell rang. He frowned, wondering who could be visiting in the middle of the day. He swung the door open and spotted Carmen. “Hey, Paige is still at work.”

“Um,” Carmen shifted nervously. “I actually wanted to talk to you.”

“Alright,” Dax stepped back so she could enter. “Let’s sit here, I’ve got plans covering the entire table. You want something to drink?”

“No thanks,” Carmen settled onto the couch.

Dax moved to the lounge chair across from Carmen and studied her face. She was nervous and more than a little stressed. “What’s up?”

“You guys wanted an answer today, this afternoon,” she clarified. “I was hoping I could talk to you about something before I make my decision.”

“You want to know how I can do it,” he said in understanding. “You want to know how I can live with myself, keeping secrets from the woman I love.”

“In a nutshell,” Carmen relaxed a little.

“At first,” Dax admitted. “I had decided to back out. I decided I couldn’t do it. It felt like a betrayal.”

“Exactly!”

“Then,” Dax continued. “I realized if I backed out, my men would continue. You have a right to decide your own course of action on this. You are the one that will have to live yourself knowing you are keeping secrets from a friend. I was there initially, so I didn’t have a choice. You do. But...”

“Do I?” Carmen sighed. “Now that I know you guys are involved in something, I’m not sure I do. I don’t want to betray Paige, but I also need to protect all of you.”

“We don’t need your protection,” Dax smiled.

“Protection through help,” Carmen clarified.

“Alright,” Dax gave her that. “But we can do this without you. It would just be easier and safer if you’re involved. I can tell you this,” Dax decided. “I’m mostly okay with it now. I might not like having to keep secrets from someone I love, but I can live with it. I can live with it because I’m keeping the secret to protect Paige. Not from harm or danger but from having to make a difficult ethical decision. She shouldn’t have to choose. She shouldn’t have to suffer for my actions or my decisions.”

Carmen frowned. “You’re making me think I should run in the opposite direction. Are you asking me to do something that will risk my job? What are you guys into?”

“It’s a gray area,” Dax admitted. “I don’t think so. Your federal and nothing about this falls under your jurisdiction.”

Carmen covered her face with her hands. “I thought coming here, discussing this one-on-one, would help. You’re just making things harder... and scarier. Can you tell me if you broke the law?”

“We didn’t,” Dax said without hesitation.

Carmen studied him intently. “You didn’t waver or evade on that one. I guess that’s a good sign. Okay,” she finally said. “I’m in.”

“You sure?” Dax pushed. “You can’t change your mind.” He was pretty sure once she knew what they had, she wouldn’t back out; and, she’d understand the need for secrecy.

“I think I’m sure,” Carmen nodded. “I guess we should go tell the rest of the gang. Maybe once I know what I’m getting myself into, this nauseous feeling might go away.”

“It will,” Dax assured her. “I’m not sure we handled this the right way. I think fear of the unknown has made you panic.”

Dax knocked, then pushed his front door open. All eyes were on them as they stepped inside. Dax gave Zeus a nod before he moved to sit in his favorite chair. He really should take it next door. That was another thing he’d need to discuss with Paige. He was living with her, but the majority of his belongings were still here. Once they were married, they’d have to work on a more permanent, mutual arrangement. Dax watched as Zeus settled in next to Carmen and took her hand in support before he spoke. “Carmen has decided to join us.”

“Now,” Carmen glanced at each one of them. “Tell me everything.”

\*\*\*\*\*

It was late in the afternoon and Paige and Ollie were still scouring through reports and photos. Ollie dropped back in his chair and ran a hand over his hair in frustration. “I’ve gone through these a million times. There’s too much information and we’ve still got nothing.”

Paige glanced up from a photo she’d been studying. “Can you hand me that magnifying glass?”

Ollie casually passed it over, sighed and pulled up another interview. Due to the large volume of information, they had readjusted their process. Ollie would skim the report or the typed interview and fill in any blanks that were left out. Benner had interviewed over seventy people, coworkers, former associates, old boyfriends, even casual dates and acquaintances that only lasted a few days or weeks. He was thorough. Yet, they still didn’t have a single lead to follow.

Paige lowered the picture and focused on McDermid. She could tell he was frustrated and knew she’d have to read through each of the documents herself. It would take time, which is why she agreed to have him go through them one by one and relay anything the document might be missing. She watched as he set one document aside and picked up another one. “I need you to look at something,” she interrupted. “Take a look at this picture,” she passed it over to him with the magnifying glass. “Something is missing from that display case.”

Ollie studied the picture and considered. Paige was right. There was an obvious hole between a tall crystal award Mika had received from the city after winning a difficult, highly publicized case and a collection of law enforcement challenge coins. *What used to be in the middle?* He closed his eyes and tried to remember. He’d been in that room a million times, what was missing? “It was the three monkeys,” he frowned. “Why would someone steal a bronze statue of monkeys?”

“The three monkeys?” Paige asked.

“See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil — The three monkeys,” Ollie shrugged. “She put it up there as a joke... or a reminder.”

Paige frowned. “A reminder of what?”

“She had a case,” Ollie settled back and tried to remember the details. “It was a few months before she disappeared. Do you think that could be important?”

“Anything could be important,” Paige motioned for him to continue.

“Mika prosecuted a man that had embezzled a lot of money from a local business. What was it?” He stared out the window and tried to recall the details. “It was an Italian import business. High-end artsy stuff; statutes, paintings, blown glass, that kind of thing. Movous Gallery, that’s it.”

“Okay,” Paige considered. “And they gave her a statue that represents corruption and looking the other way in the face of impropriety? That doesn’t fit the image you described.”

“That’s why it was a joke,” Ollie explained. “It was a simple bronze statue, nothing special and it couldn’t have been that valuable. There was a guy, the son of a congressman. He had influence and privilege. He had money and didn’t need to embezzle anything. His father insisted he had to get a job. I think the guy was rebelling, stealing from his employer for sport and to embarrass his father. For years, everyone looked the other way. The District Attorney himself feigned ignorance and initially tried to block Mika from pursuing the indictment. She believed the congressman was pressuring her boss, forcing him to turn a blind eye.”

“How’d she win that one?”

“Mika also had friends in high places,” Ollie smiled. “She called up a former lover who is now one of the governor’s top aides. Suddenly, the DA backed off. Told her she was risking her career but he wouldn’t stop her. If she had failed, she would have been fired immediately. She didn’t fail. At the press conference, the CEO of Movous presented her with that statue. It was engraved. I’m going to get this wrong but it said something like ‘With sincere gratitude for standing up for justice,’ I think that’s close. Anyway, it was just a token — an amusing symbol.”

“So, basically the entire world knows about it,” Paige surmised.

“Pretty much,” Ollie agreed. “Anyway, Kyser Stafford is now serving ten years in a federal prison. He can’t be responsible for this.”

“You sure about that?” Paige asked. She picked up the phone and dialed an old friend. “Hey, Allen, it’s Paige Carter.”

“Paige, it’s been a while. How are you?”

“Life is good. Hey, I need a small favor,” she requested.

“It’s gonna cost you,” he joked.

“Add it to my tab,” she laughed.

“Your tab is running out of room, it’s enormous!”

“Not so big,” Paige disagreed. “I seem to recall cleaning the slate a few years back when a certain guard who was also a close friend of yours nearly lost his job over a mistake.”

“Yeah,” Allen sobered. “Thanks again for that. How can I help you?”

“Can you run a name for me?” Paige requested. “See who he’s been talking to. I need to know if there has been any contact between a Kyser Stafford and Duke Hunter.”

Paige waited and listened to keys tapping in the background. “Kyser maneuvered himself into quite the luxury accommodations out there in High Desert. Well, luxury for a federal prison in the middle of the desert, that is. Some of these units are more like a country club than a prison. Kyser Stafford, most likely with influence from his father — the esteemed gentleman from Nevada — has managed to get himself fairly liberal phone and visitation privileges. I’m not seeing a Duke Hunter on the records, though.”

“Is there anyone that stands out?” Paige asked. “Someone who visits him regularly?”

“Looks like Jeanette Ramsey checks in every Wednesday like clockwork,” Alan advised. “I can pretty much guarantee they engage in what you would call conjugal visits.”

“Ever heard of Jeanette Ramsey?” Paige asked Ollie.

“No,” Ollie stared at her in amazement. With a casual phone call, she’d just accomplished something that would have taken him days and the information wouldn’t have been as detailed.

“Give me everything you have on this Jeanette woman,” Paige requested. She jotted down an address, date of birth and basic description. She could get the rest from the woman’s driver’s license. “Any chance you could email me the visitation logs?”

“Sure,” Allen decided. “Give me ten and you’ll have them.”

“Thanks, Allen,” Paige said sincerely. “I do owe you one. If I can ever help you out, don’t hesitate to call.”

“It’s a pleasure as always,” Allen clicked off.

“Can you call Benner?” Paige asked. “Give him this information and have him run a complete background on this Jeanette Ramsey. She says she lives in Vegas and visits Stafford weekly. That’s only what? An hour’s drive?”

“About that. You think this was a hit,” Ollie considered. “One ordered by Kyser Stafford.”

“Or his father,” Paige said soberly. “I could be wrong, but why would Mika’s killer steal a worthless statute if it didn’t have relevance?”

“I have no idea. But, what good would it do him to kill the prosecutor?” Ollie wondered. He didn’t expect an answer, so he just stood and moved into the conference room to make the call to Benner.

“Any progress?” Jericho approached her desk.

“I’m not sure,” Paige considered. She told him about the missing statue and the connection to Stafford. “Why kill her? It won’t change his sentence or get him out early.”

“Revenge?” Jericho provided. “He was a spoiled rich kid. His behavior, the embezzlement, it wasn’t about the money. He wanted to get revenge on his father and humiliate him. Why? Because dear old dad forced him to get a real job. It plays for me. Just more of the same pattern. Revenge is revenge. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn this Kyser kid paid, manipulated, or conned someone into killing Mika McDermid — because she had the nerve and the talent to not only file charges, but win.”

“I hope not,” Paige fumed. “Because if it’s that simple, if Mika died because she did her job; well, that’s just going to piss me off.”

“Welcome to my world,” Jericho stood. “By the way, Tolman just called. It seems our friend Mr. Hunter insulted Judge Potter. He’s been remanded to jail for thirty days for contempt of court. Potter won’t even consider a plea on the assault until he’s served his time for contempt.”

“Really?” Paige grinned. “Gives us more time. If I can’t find anything in thirty days, I doubt I’ll find anything.”

“Put it to rest for the night,” Jericho ordered. “I’m calling it a day. Go home.”

Ollie stepped back into the room. “Benner’s on it. We’ll know everything there is to know about Jeanette Ramsey by morning.”

“I just ordered Paige to go home,” Jericho informed him. “You should take a break as well. Paige can fill you in, but Hunter isn’t going anywhere. We’ve got time.” He turned and disappeared out the door.

“What does he mean by that?”

Paige told him about the contempt charge. “Now, I am going home. I’ll take this file and read through some of the documents later tonight.”

“If you’re going to work anyway,” Ollie suggested.

“Nope,” Paige stood and gathered up the files. “I’m getting married next month. I have plans to finalize and my face is killing me. I need a break. Go back to the hotel, take a swim, order a movie and relax. We have a couple good leads. Put it away. I have a feeling you’ve lived inside this case twenty-four seven for the past two years. Instead of reading all the reports again, call your kids or your parents. Do something other than work.”

“You’re right,” Ollie knew he wouldn’t do that. He might call home, but he wouldn’t put it aside. They had new leads, he was determined to follow them.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into the room and spotted the gang hovered over what looked like large rolls of paper. She slipped upstairs and changed, then joined them in the kitchen. “That was fast,” she glanced over Dax’s shoulder and realized the architect had completed the plans for the new training facility.

“Hey,” Dax straightened, turned, and smoothly wrapped his arms around her waist. “How’s the face?”

“Okay,” Paige relaxed against him, realizing just how exhausted she was.

He kissed her on the top of the head then pulled back. “Sophie was a little frustrated with the mess. She headed over to my place to cook dinner in peace. I promised her we’d relocate once you got home.”

“Why don’t you take your men over,” Paige glanced at Carmen. “I need a minute with Carmen.”

Carmen shifted in her chair uncomfortably. Could Paige know already? How?

“I think...” Dax began, recognizing Carmen’s panic.

“I need a favor,” Paige said softly. “I need to see if Carmen can work on a project for me. I may have to call Nathan for approval. It shouldn’t take long. We’ll be over in just a few minutes.”

Carmen relaxed.

Dax kissed Paige on the forehead and winked at Carmen. “Alright.”

As soon as the men left, Paige explained what she needed. She pulled the phone from a bag and passed it to her friend. “Can you help?”

“I don’t see why not,” Carmen considered. “I’m just assisting the local cops on a case. And this hacking is legit. We don’t need a warrant, the guy tossed it freely into the trash.”

“That’s how I see it,” Paige agreed. “I still don’t know where Mika kept her backup files. Benner has the computer in evidence. I could ask him to pull the hard drive and send it to me.”

“No,” Carmen shook her head. “I’ll call down, have it transferred to the Bureau and sent to me directly. It preserves the evidence. I’ll put a rush on it, make them send it overnight. If there’s something to see, I’ll find it.” And assisting Paige would help push aside the feelings of guilt. She understood why Dax insisted on secrecy. He was right, Paige would suffer if she knew. But, Carmen also knew they couldn’t keep the money or their plans hidden from the astute deputy for long. She just hoped when it all hit the fan, Paige would be in a forgiving mood.

Two hours later the group had relocated to Dax’s spacious back porch. Dax and Paige had settled onto a glider. Paige was sprawled on her side, her head in Dax’s lap. Dax was messaging her head, her hair tangled in his fingers. He focused on her face, there was a multitude of hues; purple, black, blue and a tint of yellowish-brown — dark nasty splotches that started out almost black then faded from a dull green to an unsightly yellow. At least the swelling was finally under control. With a sigh, he forced himself to push the anger and frustration away. There was nothing he could do about it, anyway. Paige shifted, grabbed a small decorative pillow from under her feet, and settled it under her head. Dax smiled. They didn’t relax like this nearly enough. He could push everything else aside for just a little while and enjoy it.

Sophie stepped onto the porch, spotted Paige and smiled. Finally, the girl never took an instant for herself. It wasn’t healthy. “I forgot to mention, Nathan called earlier this evening.”

“Yeah?” Paige asked. “Did he save the world from imminent destruction?”

Sophie grinned and glanced around for an empty seat.

Hawk jumped up, took her arm and led her to a rocker covered in an enormous and extremely soft cushion.

“I can’t take your seat,” Sophie argued.

Hawk ignored her and settled into an Adirondack chair a few feet away.

“Oh, alright,” Sophie settled in and focused on Paige again. “Nathan is sure he can tie things up in the next couple days. He’s heading out as soon as it’s all settled. I expect him this weekend. If you don’t mind, he plans to stay out here with me until after the wedding.”

“I wonder if that’s a good idea,” Paige grinned. “Who else is going to protect the world that hates and fears him?”

Zeus laughed. “Sophie, are you familiar with the X-Men?”

“I knew that sounded familiar,” Sophie smiled. “I always did enjoy the good-natured teasing between Paige and Nathan. I think she’s the only one that could get away with it.”

“Someone has to keep him grounded,” Paige smiled.

“You do that in so many ways,” Sophie said seriously. “You came to us when things were a bit strained. Our life was difficult and complicated. You saved us. I will always be grateful to you for that. I’m even more grateful today. I’m not sure you understand just how much it means to me, having the opportunity to help plan the wedding. I wasn’t able to have children, you know that. I’m well aware I pushed my way in uninvited; but, thank you. You have made an old woman’s dreams come true.”

Paige sat up, a little shocked by the turn in the conversation. “Sophie, you never have to be invited. You and Nathan, you’re family. I’m the one that should be thanking you. I was overwhelmed and stressed before you arrived. I think Dax was harboring a few homicidal urges, but he’s a controlled man... he resisted.”

Dax pressed a kiss to her temple and draped an arm over the back of the chair. “Paige is right, you are family. And, you’re always welcome in our home. I’ll enjoy having a little time with Nathan as well. I know Paige has enjoyed your visit.”

“Well,” Sophie brushed a tear from her cheek. “Enough about that. I just wanted to let you know Nathan is only a few days out and I’m grateful you gave me the opportunity to help. In every way that matters, Paige, you are my daughter.” She glanced at Hawk. “I don’t suppose you have any wine?”

Hawk jumped to his feet. “Your wish is my command. Paige? Carmen?”

“Absolutely,” they both said in unison.

Vato stood and moved to a cooler tucked away in the corner of the patio. “Who wants beer?” The men responded with an affirmative and Vato quickly passed each one of them a cool, wet bottle.

Once the wine was poured, the group settled into casual and jovial conversation.

Paige’s mind returned to Sophie’s words. She hadn’t really thought of it, but looking back, she could see Sophie and Nathan’s life had been difficult. Nathan rarely stayed home for any length of time, picking up and leaving at the worst possible moment on a new secret mission. Sophie never knew if he would come home alive. There had been tension, frustration, and worry. A tight bond had grown out of that frustration, at least between her and Sophie. She knew their weekly lunches gave Sophie an outlet, an escape from the loneliness. She had never doubted the love or devotion the Porter’s had for each other. It showed the instant they were together. She did, however, see the void and understood — almost immediately — she had been the one to fill it. Who filled Mika’s void? She told her brother if she got lonely, she’d just have a quick fling with a new man. But Paige wasn’t buying it. Maybe Ollie’s children were enough, just like Paige had become like a daughter to Sophie. Maybe Mika developed a bond with her niece and nephew to fill the void left by her solitary life. *A life she chose*, Paige reminded herself.

“We lost you,” Dax whispered in Paige’s ear.

“Just thinking,” Paige took his hand and finished off her wine.

“You ready to go home?” Dax asked.

“We can stay,” she shrugged.

“If you’re leaving,” Carmen spoke up. “I’d like to spend an hour on that phone. Unless you’re too tired.”

Paige turned to Dax. “Why don’t you stay and visit for an hour while Carmen and I do a little hacking.”

“One hour,” Dax reluctantly agreed. “Then you’re mine.”

Carmen grinned all the way back to Paige’s house.

“Knock it off,” Paige handed the evidence bag to Carmen.

“Can’t,” Carmen took the phone and glanced around. “Do you know where Dax put that laptop? The one Nathan sent him.”

“Yeah,” Paige motioned to the couch. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll get it.”

Ten minutes later, they were in.

“He only had the basic security on this thing,” Carmen complained. “Next time, bring me a real challenge.”

“Alright,” Paige decided. “Find me a link between Mika McDermid and Duke Hunter. Or, a link between Duke Hunter and Jeanette Ramsey. Kyser Stafford could have hired Duke to take out Mika but there’s no record they ever had contact — it could have been his father. But, why would a sitting congressman risk losing everything for revenge? That doesn’t play for me. I don’t think the esteemed gentleman from Nevada would get his hands dirty that way. Especially not for a son who had embarrassed him and jeopardized his re-election the way Kyser did. No, I don’t think it was dear old dad.”

“You want me to check?” Carmen asked, excited at the prospect of hacking into another politician’s private computer.

Paige eyed her friend. Carmen was a little too accommodating on that one. “No, that’s how you got caught before. Stay away from Congressman Stafford. He’s not involved.”

“Killjoy,” Carmen continued to scroll through data. “I have a number this Duke guy called daily, sometimes a couple times a day.”

“Can you tell who it belongs to?” Paige asked with anticipation.

“Nope,” Carmen pulled up his contacts. “He has her listed as ‘Hot Legs’ — men!”

“What about the number?” Paige asked. “Can you track it?”

“It’s one of those pre-paid things,” Carmen shook her head. “I might be able to trace it back to the distributor and then hack their files to get customer data but that will take time. And if she paid cash...”

“What about movement?” Paige asked. “Can you track the movement of that phone? Can you tell me where the phone has been?”

“Which one?” Carmen asked.

“Both.”

“Sure,” Carmen agreed. “This one is easy. I can just pull up the GPS history and map it out. The burner? That will take time and I can’t do it on this unit. I need my computer. I’ll work on it tomorrow,” Carmen promised when she saw the frustration in Paige’s eyes. “If she still has the phone and she’s still using it, and it’s still turned on, I’ll get you everything I can. If she tossed it already...”

“She still has it,” Paige was sure of that. “I’ll stop at the jail in the morning, see if Hunter had a phone on him when he was booked. Maybe we’ll get lucky. I’d lay odds he has a listing for Hot Legs. If it’s not the same number, we’ll have another phone to track. Get me something. I don’t have enough PC for a warrant on the phone right now. I need more.”

“Go away,” Carmen ordered. “Let me work.”

Paige stepped into the kitchen and began to pace. A missing statue connected to Kyser. A missing woman. A missing briefcase. Something big Mika was working on. If she found something illegal or even unethical on the congressman that would change things. And who was Jeannette Ramsey? Did she play into this or was she just a handy release for a caged man? The problem with this case was too much information. Information that led to clues, but the clues were taking them into a dozen different directions.

“Paige,” Carmen called. “I think I have something.”

“What did you find?” Paige rushed back into the living room.

“I’m not sure,” Carmen was studying a map. She minimized the screen, opened a new program and punched in an address. It was an apartment building. “Give me...” Carmen opened a third program, typed rapidly on the keyboard and sat back. “Bingo!”

Paige smiled at the name. “Jeanette Ramsey,” she dropped into a chair. “Duke Hunter’s been canoodling with Kyser Stafford’s woman.”

“Canoodling?” Carmen snorted. “Yeah, that’s one way to put it.” Carmen moved back to the map, punched a couple buttons and the lines changed colors. “That’s Duke’s activity for the three months before he ditched the phone.

“He visits that address at least once a week,” Paige realized.

“I’m thinking she bounced on Duke at least as often as she did Kyser the criminal,” Carmen sat back.

“That’s one way of putting it,” Paige smiled. They both looked up when Dax stepped through the door.

“Hour’s up,” he moved over and took Paige’s hand. “Sorry, Carmen. You have to go home now. Zee’s waiting on the porch. He said something about you playing with Paige long enough, now it’s his turn.”

Carmen rolled her eyes. “I’m going to keep this,” she slid the phone back into the evidence bag. “I’ll tag you tomorrow and let you know what I find.”

The instant Paige stepped into her room, she dropped onto the bed. She was exhausted and still a little shaken by Sophie’s remarks, but revved. Her mind was racing with the new information.

Dax settled on the bed next to her, lifted her leg, and began to remove her boots. “What’s on your mind? It sounded like Carmen found something.”

“A connection between Duke Hunter...”

“That’s the man responsible for your face?” Dax forced his voice to remain flat.

“I always thought that was my parents, along with a little help from a higher being,” Paige joked.

Dax studied her silently.

“Okay, yeah,” Paige confirmed. “Duke is the guy that assaulted me. He’s messing around with the same woman that pays weekly visits to Kyser Stafford in prison.”

“The congressman?” Dax asked.

“His son. Why did you know that, but I didn’t?” Paige shrugged it off and focused on Dax. “And this can all wait until tomorrow. Do you know what that was all about? With Sophie? She’s normally not that... open.”

“She’s worried about you,” Dax took her hand and began running his thumb over her palm. “You asked me one time about my parents. I shrugged it off, gave you a dismissive answer and put it away. You let me.”

“I figured you didn’t want to discuss it,” Paige shifted and leaned against the headboard wondering where Dax was going with this.

“When I joined the army, my father was proud,” Dax began. “My mother was upset. I suppose that’s a natural reaction for a mother. She was worried. She knew very well, especially at the time, all the soldiers that were sent to Iraq wouldn’t come home alive. I brushed off her concern, annoyed she wasn’t happy for me. When I joined the Rangers, it got worse. I tried to visit my family between missions, tried to fit into their happy, normal little world; but I couldn’t. The life I was living was starkly different from the life my parents lived. My dad, he did his best to be supportive. Oh, he was worried. He always told me to be careful, but he tried; and, I think under it all, he was truly proud of the man I had become. My mom was distant. Every time she looked at me, there was sorrow, fear, and frustration. I knew she worried about me. I knew she was frustrated because I wouldn’t give it up. I guess it shouldn’t have surprised me when she started to pull away. It did. I eventually decided it was better for both of us if I gave her what she wanted. I stopped visiting. Instead, I called them. I usually spoke to my father, but I stayed away. I think it was easier for all of us.”

“And now?” Paige wondered. “You’re no longer a Ranger, you’re no longer in danger.”

“I was,” Dax disagreed. “They don’t know. I didn’t tell them I’ve been working with Porter. They don’t know I was kidnapped, or anything about the ordeal in Arizona. I’d like to keep it that way. Our relationship is slowly getting better. It has been getting better since I retired. We talk more, but our wedding will be the first time I’ve seen them in years. They believe I’m settling down. They think I’m more grounded now and I’m safe. My mother is better off believing I’m just a carpenter.”

“That’s your choice,” Paige decided. “Um... does she know I’m a cop?”

Dax gently traced the outline of the ugly bruise. “They know. I told my father months ago. He said he’s breaking it to mom gently, whatever that means. Anyway, they know. I can’t say how mom will treat you. She won’t be rude or insulting, but don’t expect a warm and friendly greeting. Anyway, I’ve seen the same look of worry and fear in Sophie’s eyes since you ran into Duke’s elbow. I think being here, seeing you day after day, it’s more real for her. Sophie is not like my mother. If you stopped visiting, she’d just fly out and stand on the front porch until you let her into the house.”

“She would,” Paige laughed.

“My mother has a weakness that Sophie Porter doesn’t have. Maybe living with Nathan conditioned her to accept the fact that danger and evil is a part of life,” he shrugged. “I don’t know. I just think, once she’s back home, once the wedding is over and she doesn’t have to see your injuries up close and personal, she’ll be fine. Everything will go back to normal. Until then, she might be a little emotional and more affectionate.”

“I know it bothers you, too,” Paige said softly. “I am careful and this...” she motioned to her face. “It’s not the norm.”

Dax raised a brow. “That’s the second time you’ve come home with a bruised face in a matter of months.”

“True,” Paige said slowly. “But before that, how many times last year?”

“I understand,” Dax locked eyes with her so she would know he meant it. “I don’t have to like it when you come home hurt, but I understand. And, I trust you to be careful.”

“It still makes you angry,” Paige argued.

“Yes,” Dax agreed. “And, it always will.” He grabbed her around the waist and dragged her toward him.

Paige was laughing when he pressed his lips gently to hers.

He pulled back and smiled. “Now it’s my turn to play.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“You have Hunter locked up,” Ollie argued. “Bring him in and question him.”

Paige sighed. They’d been having this argument for over an hour and Ollie McDermid did not want to take no for an answer. “I’m not going to interview him until I hear from Carmen. I need to know what Mika had on her computer and I need to know if she was able to get anything from Jeanette’s phone number. Once we have the answers, I can get a warrant and then, maybe we’ll interrogate Hunter.”

Ollie opened his mouth to argue.

“No,” Paige said before he could go over it all again. “The instant Hunter knows we’re onto him, he could alert Ramsey. He’s in jail, not Gitmo. He has phone privileges.”

Ollie settled into the chair. “Okay. What is taking Benner so long?”

“The wheels of justice?” Paige offered. “I hear they turn a bit slow.”

“I just can’t figure out how this all ties together,” Ollie admitted. “Mika was chasing something big. Did that connect to Stafford or his old man? With the Ramsey connection, it looks like Hunter went after Mika for revenge. For Stafford? What’s the connection? Other than Ramsey being involved in some sick love triangle. Did she get her boyfriend to knock off the person responsible for her other boyfriends’ incarceration?”

“It appears that way,” Paige agreed. “Maybe the something big doesn’t have anything to do with her...disappearance.”

“Her death,” Ollie corrected. “If we can get enough, maybe we can get Hunter to produce the body.

“I don’t... hold that thought,” Paige said when her phone began to ring. “Deputy Carter.”

“You busy?” Carmen asked. “I need to stop at the store anyway, so I gathered everything up and I’m headed your way.”

“We’ll be here,” Paige promised. “Did you find anything?”

“Three minutes,” Carmen promised. “It will be easier if I show you.”

Gage, Ollie and Paige were impatiently waiting in the conference room when Carmen arrived. “I need a minute to set up,” Carmen told them. She set her laptop on the table and powered it up.

“Carter,” Paige said when her cell began to chime. “Yes. Uh-huh. And it’s a match? Thank you. I owe you one.” She slid the phone into her pocket and realized everyone was staring at her, waiting for news. “That was Sean — Agent Wilkens,” she settled into a chair. “Benner was going to ship the hair and other particles to me. Then, I’d have to analyze them and ship them back to Vegas for comparison with the controlled samples from Duke Hunter’s former dog. Instead, I called in a favor. Sean personally delivered both samples to the FBI lab this morning. Most of the hair found in the kitchen was from a human female. There were a few strands that were canine. After a comparison to the Bullmastiff owned by Hunter, the results are conclusive. It’s a match. Either Duke or Duke’s dog was inside your sister’s residence.”

“I knew it,” Ollie said grimly.

“Sean is bringing the soil and vegetation samples as well as Mika’s hard drive back to me,” Paige explained. “He’s leaving Vegas now. Once he arrives, I’ll analyze the samples and see if there’s anything unique.”

“The only thing unique about the Vegas desert is its vastness,” Ollie grumbled.

“I think the phone records might help narrow that down,” Carmen provided.

“Right,” Paige focused on her friend. “Show us what you found.”

“I’m going to start with the map,” Carmen began. “I was able to access basic information on the burner, the one Duke Hunter called daily.”

“Jeanette Ramsey’s phone?” Paige asked.

“I can’t confirm that,” Carmen shrugged. “It’s a high probability, but there’s no way to confirm.”

“Go ahead,” Paige knew the drill, but she also knew in Carmen’s world high probability meant they were right.

“Okay,” Carmen turned the computer screen so they could see.

“Wait,” Gage jumped up. “Let’s put this up on the wall.”

Minutes later a large map was covering the side wall.

“The phone Lt. McDermid recovered from the trash is highlighted in blue.”

“What time frame?” Paige asked.

“The dates you provided,” Carmen assured her. “It’s the two-week period that covers the time of Mika’s disappearance.”

“Okay,” Paige stood and moved closer. “And this would be date and time?”

“Right,” Carmen agreed. “I added those to keep everything straight.” She punched a few buttons and pink circles appeared. “Those are from the burner in question. I don’t have the phone so I can only show you what tower she was using during that time frame. Once you get the phone, we can match it up the same as I did with the blue info. She’s still using it, by the way,” Carmen added. “Guess she doesn’t want to toss a perfectly good phone.”

“They overlap, though,” Ollie observed. “She was in the same area as Hunter. Frequently in the same area. What is that, off to the left? That’s not the prison.”

“Good eye,” Carmen gave him an approving smile. She punched a few buttons and most of the lines disappeared. Seconds later the map was enlarged. “Okay, on this day, at twenty-three-eighteen, Duke Hunter’s phone — the one you recovered from the trash — was at this address based on his GPS history.”

“Mika’s house,” Ollie realized.

“I’m sorry,” Carmen could see how difficult this was for the grieving brother.

“Continue,” he motioned to the screen.

“Okay,” Carmen moved the mouse so the display followed Duke’s route. “He stopped here,” she zoomed in. “I downloaded the data from the tower, and it matches. Duke’s phone pinged off that tower at zero-zero-forty-three. The second phone, the pink circles, she got a call at the same time. That one pings near her apartment. I don’t have her phone so I can’t tell you anything more about that. Her phone pings again, off the same tower Hunter’s phone connected to for the original call. That was at two-ten. I’m thinking she headed out and got lost or was maybe giving Hunter a heads up the approaching car was just her. They did whatever, maybe she insisted on seeing the body, maybe she helped in the killing, who knows. Anyway, Hunter’s phone stays in that location for almost two hours. It narrows things, but if Hunter left his phone in the car and Ramsey drove him and the body out to the middle of the desert, the area could still be unmanageable.”

“It doesn’t make sense to transfer Mika’s body to a different car,” Ollie disagreed. “Maybe Hunter left his phone in Ramsey’s car and they took his truck out to dispose of her remains.”

“Makes more sense,” Carmen agreed. “Anyway, once they finish, they head off in different directions. The pink phone returns to Ramsey’s area. I only know that because she made another phone call and it pinged near her house. Hunter’s phone heads back to his place. I can trace that route using GPS.”

“What time was the call?” Paige frowned. “It had to be in the middle of the night.”

“Zero-five-twenty-eight,” Carmen glanced at her notes.

“She didn’t call Hunter to tell him she got home safe?” Paige asked.

“Nope,” Carmen shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you who she called, only that she called.”

“We need to call Benner,” Ollie decided. “With the dog hair and this…” he motioned to the map. “He should be able to get a warrant for Hunter’s place and it’s enough to bring Jeanette Ramsey in for questioning.”

“The call means we’re missing someone,” Gage said softly. “There’s someone else involved. If you bring in Ramsey, will her accomplice rabbit?”

Ollie called Benner. The sergeant listened to the new evidence and frowned. He hadn’t exactly missed the statue. He noticed something had been there and was gone, but it seemed unimportant at the time. It was enough for him to request a photo, but he didn’t look into it any further. He should have. That was a mistake. They could also prove Duke Hunter had been inside Mika’s home and he made a trip to the desert in the middle of the night. It was still circumstantial but stronger than anything he’d uncovered. Okay, there was no way he could have discovered any of that at the time. Most of the information came from the phone Ollie retrieved just over a month ago. At least he had the foresight to preserve the evidence from the dog but knowing someone else cracked his case stung. “I’m not ready to bring her in. And before you start to argue, I want to see if we can locate the burial site, maybe find Mika’s body before we go that far. It will give us leverage. I’m going to hook up with Thad and see what his schedule is like today. If we take the chopper, we have a better shot of narrowing things down. We have a starting point and with the FLIR, we should be able to see if the ground has been disturbed. It’s a long shot, the body’s been out there for two years now.”

Ollie didn’t like it, but he knew Benner was right. “Agent Wilkens is on his way back with the soil sample,” Ollie advised. “I’ll let you know if Paige narrows things down any further. We’ve got a two-hour window, that’s too wide with too many unknowns in a desert the size of the Sierras.”

“I agree,” Benner was trying to picture the area. “There’s nothing out there, not much traffic either. We should be able to search without much fanfare. I assume Wilkens was looking for me to run through the new info on the dog?”

“Yeah,” McDermid agreed. “He said you were in court and he couldn’t wait around. He asked me to relay the details for him.”

“Let me know if this miracle worker discovers anything about the soil,” Benner decided. “In the meantime, I’m going to nag our favorite pilot. The sooner we get up, the longer we’ll have to search.” He clicked off, punched the GPS coordinates into his phone, and dialed the hanger.

\*\*\*\*\*

It was just after three when Sean Wilkens stepped into the office. He handed Paige an evidence bag then moved to study her board. “You’ve been busy.”

“As we speak,” Paige moved to a desk where she had set up a microscope, “Benner is flying the desert looking for a grave. Carmen came through for us, as usual. She’s amazing.”

“Where is the digital dung digger anyway?” Sean asked.

“She had another project she needed to work on,” Paige said absently as she turned knobs and adjusted settings.

Sean joined her. “You’re not going to take it to the lab for testing?”

“Eventually,” Paige looked through the lens and frowned. “I need the report, which one was it? Where’s Ollie?” The two of them had spent so much time together over the past couple days he almost felt like an old friend.

“The report on the soil sample?” Sean asked.

“Yeah,” Paige was flipping through documents.

“I can tell you the details,” Sean leaned against the table. “I asked for them when I picked it up. Several witnesses reported seeing a strange blue pickup in the neighborhood, different times, different areas. One neighbor insisted the truck made Mika nervous. After at least a half dozen interviews, with each person saying the same thing, Benner realized someone was casing Mika’s home.”

Ollie stepped back into the room, realized they were talking about Hunter’s truck and shuffled through the photos until he found the pictures. He handed them over to Sean. “Description matched perfectly.”

“I remember that,” Paige nodded. “I need to know where you got this soil.”

“I won’t go into detail on how we narrowed down the vehicle,” Ollie settled into a chair. “It’s all in the reports and you can read them later. As you can see, there is damage to the left rear panel. That was one of the leads we received from the neighbors. There’s more but I’ll just say that truck is the truck Mika’s neighbors observed frequenting her home; or, I should say the area surrounding her home. That’s when Benner put Hunter under surveillance.”

“But this was days after Mika disappeared?” Paige wondered.

“Weeks, actually,” Ollie admitted. “But, Duke Hunter was no longer driving his truck.”

“Okay,” Paige nodded. “Strange, but how does that pertain to the soil?”

“They were able to locate a storage area,” Sean provided, hoping to move the explanation along. “Hunter was the only name on the rental.”

“Benner got a warrant to access the garage,” Ollie provided. “By then we knew the date and a probable time, when Mika disappeared that is. The manager of the storage unit was able to determine Hunter accessed the shed the following morning at approximately zero-seven hundred. With a suspicious disappearance, witnesses seeing the strange vehicle at odd times in the area, and Hunter hiding the truck the day after Mika went missing, a warrant was approved.”

Sean shook his head. “I have no idea how, that’s the weakest case I’ve ever heard to seize a vehicle.”

“Just lucky, I guess,” Ollie shrugged. “The soil came from the truck. The tires were clear by then. I think Benner dug a large chunk out of the wheel well. Hunter just drove up the following morning, backed the truck inside and stored the vehicle — preserving the evidence for us.”

“You look confused,” Sean noticed. “What’s wrong?”

“This mud came from a marsh,” Paige straightened and began to pace. “It has cattail and cottonwood in it. There are also bird feces from more than one species. How is that possible in the desert?”

Ollie smiled, “Because we have a wildlife refuge out in the middle of our desert.” He snatched up his phone and moved just outside the door to call Benner.

Sean moved to the computer and pulled up a map. “Looks like it’s about ninety miles north of Vegas on I-93.”

“It’s close,” Paige nodded. “They may not find her tonight, but they’re going to find her out there. Eventually, somebody would have found the body,” Paige decided. “That area has a campground, hiking trails, and visitor center. Someone would have eventually stumbled onto a shallow grave.”

They glanced up when Jericho stepped into the room. He stood in front of the elaborate board and studied the case. “Looks to me like you still have several unknowns.”

Ollie McDermid stepped into the room. “I’m heading…” He stopped. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Jericho turned and held out a hand. “It’s good to see you again, Lt. McDermid.”

“Retired,” Ollie said out of habit. “I really appreciate your support on this. I know you have your own crimes to solve. I can’t thank you enough for allowing Deputy Carter to assist us in getting justice for my sister.”

“Justice is the reason we all became cops,” Jericho said soberly. “It doesn’t stop at the border.”

“True, but I still want to say thank you,” Ollie turned to Paige. “Benner and the team have moved over to the Pahranagat Wildlife Refuge. They still have a couple hours before dark. I’m not sure I can do anything more here. If you don’t need me, I can be of more help out there with the search.”

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“You’re going to head back to Vegas?” Paige asked. “Before I bring Hunter into interview?”

“We both know I can’t be involved in that,” Ollie said soberly. “I think I can be more useful to my team back in Vegas.”

“I’m intrigued now,” Sean offered. “I can stay and help Paige if nobody objects.”

Ollie focused on Paige, his expression told her he was deferring the decision to her.

“I’ll take the help,” Paige turned to Jericho. “If you don’t mind.”

“Not our case,” Jericho glanced at McDermid.

“If Paige is willing to involve Agent Wilkens, I don’t have any objection,” Ollie decided. “However, it’s not my case either. It’s Sgt. Benner’s.”

“I think he’s a little busy at the moment,” Paige smiled. “I’ll just make an executive decision. Sean’s in. Ollie,” Paige approached him and held out her hand. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you. Have a safe trip back. You have my number. Be sure to give me a call as soon as you find her. In the meantime, Sean and I will see what we can do to identify the third suspect.”

“The feeling’s mutual,” he glanced at Jericho. “We’ll be in touch and Sheriff, thanks again.”

“Alright,” Jericho settled into a chair. “Tell me about this third suspect and how are we going to find him?”

The group broke for dinner and had now reconvened. They were currently discussing possible connections between all the players. Jericho decided to stay and work on the puzzle, he didn’t have anything better to do. Might as well support his cop.

“Deputy Carter,” Paige answered her phone on the first ring, thinking it was news from Las Vegas.

“Paige,” Carmen said hesitantly. “I know you’re busy, but I was wondering if you could head over to my place? I found her files. I’ve been going through them for the past hour and I need to run something by you.”

“We’re on our way,” Paige clicked off. “Carmen has something. From the hard drive Sean brought back from Vegas.”

Moments later they were standing on Carmen’s front porch. She answered the door, glanced at Jericho and Sean, then motioned them inside. “No Ollie?”

“He’s headed back to Vegas,” Paige settled into a chair. “He wanted to help with the search.”

Carmen relaxed. “I think that might be a good thing.”

“Why?” Paige was now on alert. Whatever Carmen found, it wasn’t good.

Carmen motioned to her computer, they all moved to the small office and settled around the desk. “I’m going to project it up there,” she pointed to a large television mounted to the wall. Within seconds Carmen had a document displayed where they could all see it. “This was the last entry. I think it has something to do with the case she was working. In a nutshell, this Callie Winters was having an affair with some big-time casino owner, Dagon Ripley. Ripley spends money like its water, takes Callie on expensive vacations, buys her jewelry, the works. He basically gives her anything she asks for. Which was quite a feat for the exotic dancer. Anyway, that’s all fine and good until Callie decides she doesn’t want to be the side-piece. She wants to be the main attraction. She pushes and complains and keeps pushing until Dagon decides she’s more trouble than she’s worth. Now, here’s where it gets dicey. Mika’s case is against a guy named Neville Hunt. Callie claimed Hunt was muscle for Dagon. One night, Callie was found beaten to the verge of death in a local park. She identified Hunt immediately but insisted he had to be acting on orders from Dagon. Mika decided to look into the claim.”

“What does this have to do with Mika’s death?” Sean asked.

“I’m getting to that,” Carmen explained. “So, Mika starts playing detective. She has tons of notes in here. I think she used her computer like a whiteboard, or more accurately a sounding board. She rambles sometimes and jots down ideas to follow. I had to sift through a ton of entries to find her conclusions. Here is the first one you need to see. She’s been hanging out at the casino regularly, trying to spot something she can act on. This goes on for several weeks then she decides it’s a waste of time. Instead, she pays Callie another visit and demands more details. This is when Mika learns there’s a connection to Kyser Stafford.”

“What kind of connection?” Paige sat up straight.

“Thought that might get your attention,” Carmen scrolled to the entry. “Okay, here we go. She says Callie was telling her about parties on a yacht, blah, blah, blah... Okay, this is it.” Carmen clicked on an MP3 file and a female voice filled the room.

“I don’t know, the ocean,” the woman that must have been Callie Winters said. “It was warm. I never paid attention to where we were going. I was having too much fun.”

“Were you and Dagon alone?” that must have been Mika.

“No,” Callie pouted. “He always had to bring his stupid friends with him.”

“What friends?” Mika again.

“They were younger than Dagon,” Callie said. “Kyser, the stupid politician’s son.”

“Kyser Stafford?” Mika asked.

“I guess, yeah,” Callie pouted again. “I hated them. They were childish and stupid. They thought they were all that just because their daddies were important. I asked Dagon why he always had to invite the immature crowd when he knew how much I disliked them. He said they were harmless, and they were just having a little fun. He said if you grease the right hands, have the rights friends, business runs smoother all around.”

“Did he say what he meant by that?” Mika asked.

“Not then, but later he got angry. Told me to stop complaining about Kyser and Butch because Congressman Stafford was paving the way for big changes and if I liked the parties and the spas I should just go along, keep my mouth shut, and enjoy the good life.”

Carmen hit pause. “She continues on, whining about pretty much everything and she never explains who Butch is.”

“We could go through Kyser’s records, see who he was linked to,” Paige decided.

“Wait on that,” Carmen was skimming through files again. “Okay, I think this is the right one.” Another document popped up on the screen. “It’s another, what I’ll call journal entry. Mika was digging into the Kyser connection. I haven’t found it yet, but I assume Callie gave her something that intrigued her. She talks about high-level corruption and how Dagon made huge contributions to the congressman’s campaign. Something about using a PAC so he didn’t have to declare it and they could keep everything hushed. Okay, here’s what I was looking for. *Callie’s certainly not a credible witness and would be destroyed on cross so I have to find something concrete. I think Dagon’s men are onto me so I can’t go back to the casino. Not for a week or so, anyway. That will give me time to look into Carson. If I’m right, this scandal is going to be devastating for Las Vegas.”*

“Carson?” Jericho asked.

“Could that be Dale Carson? The Attorney General?” Sean asked.

“That’s my guess,” Carmen told them. “Because Dale Carson has a son named Dale Carson Jr — a son everyone calls Butch.”

“What do we know about Butch?” Paige asked Carmen.

Carmen pulled up a photo. “He’s tied loosely to Kyser, but this was the only photo I could find that includes them both. They run in the same circles, seem to know the same people, attend the same parties but they’re never captured together. Carmen opened several additional pictures. This is the same party. They’re both there, but not together.”

“Hiding their friendship or casual acquaintances?” Sean wondered.

“That’s the million-dollar question,” Carmen shrugged. “If you believe Callie, they’re tight. When they travel with Dagon, they’re always together. She says they act like immature brothers.”

“I still don’t understand how it could be devastating,” Jericho put in. “So the AG’s son is a douche? A lot of rich kids are spoiled brats. So, he’s friends with Kyser. Might be embarrassing to admit your son has a close friend that’s a criminal but not devastating.”

“I agree,” Sean considered. “Is there more?”

“Some. I was curious,” Carmen admitted. “I don’t have the records, that would be illegal, but I was able to track down both Butch and Dagon’s cell phone numbers. I checked the tower by the casino and Dagon got a call the morning of Mika’s death at five-forty-six. Butch got a call at five-twenty-eight.”

“The same time Jeanette made the call after returning home,” Paige considered. “So, they con Duke Hunter into killing Mika, Jeanette makes sure he goes through with it, then calls Butch to report in. Butch then contacts Dagon to inform him the job is done. It’s complete speculation, but it fits. What did Mika have on Dagon? Because that’s a lot of work and probably a lot of money for an assault.”

“One more thing,” Sean focused on Carmen. “Why didn’t you want Ollie here for this?”

“Mika dated Dale Carson,” Carmen provided. “Before he got married. Some long-term relationship they had in college. They remained casual friends. But Dale stayed close to Ollie. McDermid helped support Carson when he was running for office. There’s a newspaper article about how Lt. McDermid, a highly respected administrator with the LVMPD worked hard to get the police union to back his friend.”

“And then his friend’s son kills his sister,” Jericho sighed. “I hope that’s all it was because if Carson is dirty, McDermid is going to be crushed.”

“He told me there was a guy in college he thought Mika would marry,” Paige explained. “I bet it was Dale Carson.” She sighed. “I’ll have to go through all of it, see if there’s more. Flesh out the details and determine if there’s a solid case and Mika just didn’t see it. Or, if she did and that’s what got her killed.”

“No,” Jericho stood. “You need to gather all of this up as well as the soil samples you analyzed and transport them back to Vegas. Turn them back over to that hotshot homicide sergeant and put it all behind you.”

“You want me to quit?” Paige said, clearly outraged by the suggestion.

“It’s not your case, Paige,” Jericho said forcefully. “We’ll give them until tomorrow, see if they locate the body. If so, we bring Hunter back in and grill him. You and Sean should be able to crack him. See if he knows Jeanette was using him while she continued an intimate relationship with Kyser. Then you take everything we have and dump it back on Benner.”

“But,” Paige wanted to argue but she didn’t have an argument, not really.

“I can look into their financials,” Carmen offered. “I have some time tonight, I can see if anyone was getting paid off. Maybe with a focus on Carson.”

“I don’t want to hear this,” Jericho grumbled. “Hacking into the personal financial data on a sitting State Attorney General? You’re crazy. If you can accomplish that, you’re good but I don’t want to know.” He turned and headed out the door.

“Do it,” Paige decided. “We need to know why she thought it would be so destructive. And, I need to know if I should warn Ollie it’s coming before anyone else gets wind.”

“I’ll call you,” Carmen promised.

It was one o’clock in the morning when Carmen finally figured it all out. She glanced at the phone, debated then punched in Paige’s number.

“Hello,” came Paige’s groggy voice.

“I’m sorry to wake you but I thought you’d want to know what I found.”

Paige glanced at Dax, saw he was still asleep and rushed out the door. She made her way down to the living room and dropped onto the couch. “Okay, tell me.”

“It’s not Dale Carson,” Carmen knew Paige would want to know that first. “The senior attorney general. It’s his Deputy. Assistant Attorney General Gerry O’Neal. He’s on the payroll for Dagon Ripley. I have to assume that O’Neal ran interference, made sure Dagon and his men got off on any charges that were serious. Butch is dirty as they come. He’s being paid by Dagon as well. I started running the names of Dagon’s men through the court system. A ton of arrests, his musclemen are violent, but no convictions. And, from the looks of it, Neville Hunt was his best man. Most active one, anyway.”

“And if it came out that O’Neal was on the take,” Paige realized. “Any cases he tried would come under scrutiny. They’d have to be retried and a ton of criminals might be set free. Mika was right, this will be catastrophic for Vegas.”

“There’s more on the congressman,” Carmen provided. “Dagon Ripley donated heavily to his campaign. I’ve found a half million he transferred to two separate PACs. There could be more.”

“Why?” Paige wondered. “The casino business is profitable. Why did Dagon need to bribe his way through?”

“I haven’t discovered that, yet,” Carmen rubbed at her eyes. “And, I’m too tired to keep looking. I can pick this back up tomorrow if you need me to.”

“I’ll let you know,” Paige said feeling a little guilty. “Go to bed. You can call me when you wake up.”

Carmen shut down the computer and turned to see Zeus standing in the doorway.

“You’ve been busy today,” he took her hand and kissed her palm.

“I have the information you and the guys wanted as well,” she dropped onto the bed exhausted.

“That could have waited a few days,” he said, worried. She looked wiped out.

“I know, but while I was digging, I thought I might as well shovel your steaming pile of dung as well,” Carmen sat up and pulled off her shoes. “I hacked into the ME’s computer and got the name. Your pilot was Holden Driscoll from El Paso, Texas. I’ll play with it more tomorrow once I get Paige the rest of what she needs.”

“Thank you,” Zeus climbed into bed. “You’re amazing.”

“I know,” Carmen smiled and climbed in next to him.

\*\*\*\*\*

It was four o’clock in the morning when Paige was once again awakened by her phone.

“Once we’re married,” Dax grumbled. “I’m enacting a bedroom rule. No cellphones.” He turned over and covered his head with his pillow.

Paige smiled and left the room. “Ollie?” she answered.

“Sorry to wake you,” Ollie said immediately. There was a lot of noise in the background and Paige could barely hear him. “We found her. I thought you might want to know.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Paige realized. “I, well, congratulations is definitely wrong.”

“I understand,” Ollie said softly, remembering how it felt to stand over the shallow grave. He had silently stood there for several long agonizing minutes frozen in place, too many emotions flowing through him to identify. It was so surreal. After all this time, after devoting his life to bringing down her killer, it was all coming to an end. And, he owed it all to Paige Carter. He sighed as the image of bones popped back into his head. Mika was no longer Mika. Her body was decomposed, just a pile of bones but it would give his family the closure they desperately needed. They could have a funeral now, dedicate a place in the local cemetery where they could visit and mourn. He had to keep telling himself this was a good day. Through the sorrow and the gut-wrenching pain, he would remember it was a good day.

“Are you alone?” Paige asked. “I have something I need to tell you. I’ll share it all with Benner, but you need to know first.”

Ollie stepped away from the crowd and wandered to a tree several yards away. “What did you find?”

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Paige began to lay it all out for him. When she finished, he remained silent.

“She should have brought this to me,” he closed his eyes, knowing, before this was over, another family was going to be destroyed. Dale Carson had never stopped loving his college sweetheart. He moved on, fell in love with Kate and started a family, but Mika remained an important part of his life. Knowing his son was involved in her death, even if the involvement was minor, would destroy him. Knowing he had trusted a man that was dirty, was going to be almost as difficult. Raging storms were on the horizon for his friend, in his private and professional life. Ollie would make sure he was there to help his friend through it. “So, now what?”

“Now,” Paige decided. “I’m going to try to get a couple more hours sleep. Tell Benner to call me later and let me know what else he needs from me. I can interrogate Hunter if he wants me to or he can head this way and conduct the interview himself. Either way, the boss approved a trip down to Sin City to turn everything back over to Benner. He can pick it up from there.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Benner did want her to interview Duke Hunter immediately. Once Paige laid everything out, he sang. She could tell he was livid that Jeanette was still spending time with Kyser. Hunter mistakenly believed, once the guy was convicted, she dumped him. He had killed for her, with her. He was clear about that. Jeanette Ramsey participated in the assault. In fact, he claimed she had dealt the final blow using the bronze statue of three monkeys. Then, they dropped the statue and the lifeless body into a hole and headed out. Duke didn’t know anything about Butch, O’Neal, or Dagon. He killed Mika because he loved Jeanette and she asked him to. It was that simple. The idiot.

Paige was just finishing up her report when Jericho appeared in his doorway. “You’re done here. Get that stuff gathered up and hit the road. Take tomorrow off, it’s Friday and you can start your weekend early.”

“But...”

“Do it,” Jericho ordered. “I’m sending you to Vegas. That’s at least a five-hour drive, ten round trip, and you put in a full day today. I’ll see you on Monday.”

Paige was still feeling guilty about the extra time off when she pulled into the driveway. The instant she stepped through the front door and spotted Nathan, guilt changed to happiness. She dropped her bag on the chair and moved in for a big bear hug. “I heard you saved the day and decided to head to Manti to see if we have any small buildings you could leap in a single bound.”

Nathan pressed a kiss to her temple. “Always were a mouthy little thing.”

Paige frowned and pulled back. “Um, I have to make a trip to Vegas. I’ll be back tomorrow but...”

“I’m here until after the wedding,” Nathan studied her face and scowled. “Sophie played that one down. That’s not like my wife. Did you at least get your man?”

“He’s currently sitting in jail,” Paige smiled. “Pissed off the judge. Thirty days contempt of court before they even get into the assault. Once he’s done here, he’s headed to Vegas to be tried for the murder of a well-respected prosecutor. I think I can safely say, that man will not see the outside of a cell anytime soon.”

“Then we both saved the day,” Nathan settled back in his chair. “Don’t you worry about the trip.” His eyes twinkled as he leveled them on his wife. “I can show my wife how much I’ve missed her. Plus, it will give me some time to relax and settle into my vacation.”

“Want company?” Dax moved from the foot of the stairs and wrapped an arm around Paige’s waist. “We can head to Vegas, get a room for the night, and come back tomorrow.”

“I like that plan,” Paige turned and kissed him softly. “I have to change and pack a few things, then we need to head out. But first, I should call Carmen and thank her again for all her help.” She stopped halfway up the stairs and looked at Nathan. “And you will not hassle her about it. She was mine before she was yours.”

Nathan laughed. “Wouldn’t think of it, sweetheart.”

Once Dax had an overnight bag packed, he moved up behind Paige and pulled her against his chest. “I need to head next door and let the guys know I’m going out of town. I won’t be long. Take your time. If you want, we can take an hour or so to visit with Nathan before we go.”

“I’ll visit when I get back,” Paige settled against him. “Jericho gave me tomorrow and the entire weekend off. Let’s do what you said. We’ll go to Vegas, drop all the evidence off with the homicide guys, and get a room. We can relax, maybe go for a swim, and have a little downtime. Things are going to get crazy and hectic around here once we get back. The wedding is less than a month away and we’re not even close to ready. We’ll get back tomorrow, and I’ll have the entire weekend to visit with Nathan.”

“Sounds like a good plan.” Dax turned her to face him and ran his thumb over her face. “You might not think so, but it’s looking better today.”

“It must be, I got through my entire shift without a pain pill,” Paige smiled and pressed her lips to his. “Go fill in your team. I’ll be ready when you get back.”

Dax made his way next door. He stepped into the living room and spotted his men. Ken was packed and ready to leave, Vato and Zeus were playing some kind of video game. Hawk was still rumbling around in the back bedroom. “I have to head to Las Vegas with Paige tonight. I’ll be back sometime tomorrow. Maybe you could wait to leave until we pull out.”

“We can do that,” Hawk agreed, stepping into the room. “Vato will drive us up to Salt Lake and we’ll head out from there. Ken’s flight leaves first but he’ll probably make it back before I do.”

“Don’t worry,” Wooly told Dax. “I know what I’m doing. We just need to determine if the pilot was knee-deep in the muck or if he was coerced. That should be simple enough.”

“If the pilot checks out, I’ll have Evan start working his magic from the Cayman’s while I’m there to oversee it. If not, we can go over the preliminary stuff for the scholarship program. Wooly will keep me posted and I’ll proceed accordingly. Go spend some time with your woman. With all the wedding plans and the new business, you two haven’t had ten minutes alone,” Hawk observed.

“Do you want me to call you from Texas?” Ken asked Dax.

“No,” Dax shook his head. “Keep Zee up to date and Carmen’s here if you need anything from her. She finished up with the case Paige had her working on and Nathan’s here visiting until after the wedding. Carmen should have some free time over the next few weeks. Let’s take advantage of that while we can. I’ll be back tomorrow night at the latest. You’re sure we can trust Evan with this?” he asked Hawk.

“We can trust him,” Hawk assured them. “I’d trust him with my life.”

“I think you are,” Dax grinned and headed back home. He had two full days alone with Paige. He was going to make the most of it. Heaven only knew the next month was going to be complete chaos.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S4

**Tags:** Season 4

---

### [Lucrative Deception](https://melaniepsmith.com/lucrative-deception/)

**Published:** June 28, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Lucrative Deception (S4E3)  When a plane crashes in the wilderness, Paige must determine who the pilot is and why he was transporting.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*LUCRATIVE DECEPTION\*\*\*****

Paige woke to the smell of breakfast. She shifted and snuggled in closer to Dax. Maybe if she pretended like she was still asleep, she wouldn’t have to start her day.

“I know you’re awake,” Dax sniffed at her neck.

“What are you doing?” Paige swatted him away.

“I smell bacon,” Dax grinned. “I wanted to see if it was you.”

“Ha, ha,” Paige tried to shift away, but he wrapped his arms around her and wouldn’t let her move. “Not funny, it’s not that kind of morning.”

“I don’t know,” Dax climbed from the bed and began to get dressed. “Smells like we have an amazing breakfast waiting for us downstairs and I don’t have to settle for stale donuts.”

Paige groaned. “Really? Pig jokes and donuts?”

“I’m an overachiever,” Dax shrugged. “Should I tell Sophie you’re on your way?”

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[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Lucrative-Deception.pdf)

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“Fine,” Paige threw off the covers and climbed from the bed. “I’ll be down in a minute.”

Dax settled onto the mattress. “Now what?”

“She just makes me feel guilty,” Paige dropped down next to him. “I mean, she’s amazing and I can’t believe how fast this wedding thing is moving now that we’ve picked a date, but she shops and cooks and spoils us constantly. Shouldn’t we be doing the pampering? I mean, she’s our guest.”

Dax smiled and took her hand. “Sophie is having fun. You have to see that. She’s having a blast shopping and cooking and pampering. I’m not going to dampen that by resisting. You shouldn’t either. Instead of feeling guilty, I choose to be grateful.” He stood. “Which is why I’m going downstairs to set the table and have an amazing breakfast before I go sign away my life savings and my future.”

“Then you’ve decided?” Paige asked seriously. “You’re going to buy that land?”

“Are you having second thoughts?”

“No,” Paige considered. “Not second thoughts. It’s an amazing location and I’m still shocked you got such a great deal. It’s just...”

“It’s just a lot of money,” Dax agreed.

“And, it’s a little scary,” Paige added. “Plus, with Sophie buzzing around like a queen bee managing wedding stuff — I guess it’s just a little overwhelming. All the changes, I mean.”

“I think having Sophie, Carmen, and my team here is the reason I am good with all of it. It’s the reason we can plan the wedding and take steps to start up the business at the same time. Plus, it leaves you free to save the world. But this is our future, Paige. You have to be okay with it, too. All in, or all out.”

“All in,” Paige stood. “I need a little bathroom time and then I’ll be down to help. Tell Sophie I will only be a minute.”

“There’s the strong, confident woman I fell in love with,” Dax kissed her temple before he headed downstairs.

Paige stepped into the kitchen and paused in the doorway. She watched silently as Dax and Sophie finished cooking, made coffee, set the table, and chatted easily about their upcoming day. Sophie casually commented she was feeling rushed because Carmen was due to arrive in forty minutes. The two of them would be interviewing photographers all day. Dax insisted on handling clean up, arguing that if Sophie was going to cook, he was doing the dishes. Paige wondered if she’d ever settle into a rhythm that smooth with the man she was about to marry. Somehow Sophie was just a natural — at everything.

Dax glanced up and spotted Paige. The look on her face must have given away her musings because he shot her a slightly worried, questioning look.

“Good morning, Sophie,” Paige said cheerfully as she moved toward the woman who had become her surrogate mother nearly a decade earlier. “Any word from that workaholic husband of yours?”

“Good morning, dear,” Sophie set a large plate of pancakes on the table. “Nathan is tied up with some project again. He thought maybe he’d swing out this weekend, but it’s looking doubtful. He doesn’t think he’ll be able to get away. Maybe next week. Sit down, fix your plate while it’s hot.”

“Why don’t you sit down and let me finish up here,” Paige offered. “I heard you say Carmen will be arriving soon. Dish your plate and tell me about the photographers. Are you sure you don’t mind handling that while I’m at work today? I feel like I’m taking advantage.”

Sophie turned back toward the stove. Dax blocked her path. “Sit,” he motioned toward the table. “We’ve got this.”

“Oh, alright,” Sophie relented. “Paige, you need to stop stressing about this.” She settled onto a chair and began to fill her plate. “I’m here to help you plan the most important day of your life. Carmen and I have it covered. We’re enjoying ourselves. And we both know you would be perfectly happy to throw on a dress someone else picked out for you, slip on an old pair of shoes, and walk down the aisle come August. Let me do what I do best, and you go serve and protect the community.”

Paige slid a plate of eggs onto the table and settled in to join a woman she loved dearly, but she would never understand. “Just don’t let Carmen buy any more shoes.”

“I second that,” Dax slid onto a chair. “Zee threatened to shoot me if the two of you go shopping again. Apparently, last week Carmen came home with half a dozen bags. I’m told they’ve run out of closet space.”

“That friend of yours exaggerates,” Sophie smiled. “There were only four bags and two of them contained wedding supplies.”

The three of them fell into comfortable conversation as they had a cozy family breakfast before each of them rushed off to start their busy day.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Well,” Dax said as he stepped from the building. “It’s official. We are cash poor but land wealthy.”

“It was a great deal,” Wooly said defensively. “I can’t believe those kids went for it. I offered to have someone appraise the property out here in Manti, but Darrell convinced his sister they should rely on someone they trusted back in Tennessee. Worked out better for us, but I still feel a little guilty.”

“I don’t,” Hawk shrugged. “It’s not our fault they trusted the wrong guy. We simply paid their asking price. They can’t complain and we got an amazing deal. Now we have more cash than we expected to cover startup costs.”

“It’s going to be tight,” Dax warned. “We’ll have to be frugal and make do with the necessities until we start bringing in clients. Most of the reserve will be used up by construction costs. We don’t have a business until we have a building.”

“We can’t skimp too much, though,” Vato argued. “If we don’t have top of the line equipment and a great course, we won’t get any clients.”

“I found that property and convinced Darrell it was the perfect time to sell his great-grandfather’s ancient investment,” Wooly shrugged. “I’ll get us a deal on equipment. We lucked out. Far as I can tell, nobody in that family has ever even been to Utah, let alone seen the property they just off-loaded.”

“I’ll give you that, but getting a deal on the equipment will be even more challenging,” Vato argued. “Maybe we can find an estate sale somewhere. You know, keep an eye out for some widow selling her late husband’s prized gun collection. They don’t always know what they have and if we stumble onto the right sale, we might be able to pick up a few rifles for a good price, but that’s a long shot at best.”

“I don’t want cheap weapons,” Dax disagreed. “We need modern, top of the line rifles, shotguns, and handguns if we want to compete in this market. We’ll have to find other ways to save and just expand slowly over time.”

“Maybe we should consider a loan,” Vato pushed. “I know all the reasons you don’t want to; but, if we are going to do this, we have to do it right.”

“Since we finished early,” Hawk interrupted, “I wanted to head into the canyon and see if we can find a spot to use for the backcountry training courses.” He knew Dax was getting annoyed at Vato’s insistence they go into debt to make this venture a reality. “We won’t be able to leave the equipment up there. We’ll have to set up at the beginning of each session so we should go deep into the wilderness and find a spot that’s not easily accessible by the regular campers but close enough it doesn’t take all day to get there. We have the rest of the day free, you guys up for a road trip?”

Dax glanced at his watch. He had time. “Let’s take your car,” Dax decided, motioning to Hawk. “We have a few hours to scout before I need to head home.”

Zeus began kicking at Dax’s ankle.

“Knock it off,” Dax gave his friend a shove.

“I was just trying to dislodge that ball and chain,” Zeus laughed. “Not even hitched yet and you’re already tied to a schedule.”

“You’ve got nerve,” Dax grinned. “Who rushed off yesterday because his woman was due home any minute and he hadn’t finished his honey-dos.”

“Not the same,” Zeus opened the back door and slid into Hawk’s vehicle.

“You just keep telling yourself that,” Dax climbed into the passenger seat and started adjusting the controls. “Maybe someday someone will actually believe you.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“It’s that one, up ahead,” Dax pointed to a smaller pathway that took off from their current trail. “We should be out of the way up here. I think we’ll have enough privacy to make one of these camping spots our staging location. From here, we’ll take the men and hike further into the wilderness — away from the public. We’ll need to locate at least two more backup areas in case someone sets up here during the busy season.”

“How far do you want me to go?” Hawk asked.

“At least another half mile,” Dax decided. “Just keep your eye out for a good spot. The downside is the weather and access.”

“Yeah,” Zeus focused out the window. “It’s the end of June and there’s still snow on the northern benches and look how muddy it is. Any earlier and we might not get in at all.”

“Eventually, we’re going to need snowmobiles,” Vato added.

Dax shot the man an annoyed look. The guy needed an attitude adjustment. When he wasn’t complaining about his injuries, he was complaining about money and doing his best to blow what little they had left. “Pull off to the side over there. I want to get out and take a look around.”

“Yes, sir,” Hawk pulled off the road into a small camping area and shut down the engine. “Let’s scout.”

“It’s clearly not used frequently, but it is used,” Wooly observed. “We’d have to send someone out to ensure it’s available before each session.”

“I know we’re spending money like it’s going out of style,” Zeus considered. “But it’s the right time of year to get a good deal on a cheap trailer. We don’t need anything elaborate, just something we could use as a mobile office.”

“Good idea,” Hawk added. “The backcountry portion won’t be longer than a week. If we pulled the trailer up a couple of days before each course and left it throughout the training, nobody would mess with the area.”

“Legally,” Wooly added. “We could stay for a full fourteen days. That would give us plenty of time...” He realized Dax had left the conversation and was distracted by something off in the distance. “Dax?”

Hawk moved to stand next to his friend. “It’s low.”

Zeus joined them. “That plane has to be in trouble. No pilot would fly at that altitude in these canyons on purpose.”

“Or, he’s avoiding detection,” Dax didn’t take his eyes off the plane. “I think he’s using the river as a guide but, he’s going to crash. Let’s see if we can get to that canyon from here.”

“Why do you think he’s going to crash?” Vato asked.

“Because that’s a boxed canyon and at that altitude, he’ll never be able to pull out,” Dax headed for the SUV.

“And if I remember correctly,” Wooly added. “It’s too narrow to maneuver once he realizes the danger.”

“Exactly,” Dax slid into the passenger seat and slammed the door.

Hawk jumped in and waited while Vato slowly climbed into the back seat. Once the door closed, he floored it. Moments later, the vehicle was flying over the terrain, bumping over rocks, and barely avoiding protruding limbs.

“Take that trail that leads off to the left,” Dax ordered. “We need to get further east, and this trail is slowly making its way west.”

“That’s not a trail,” Wooly objected.

“It is today,” Hawk laughed as he veered sharply and began to follow what looked like a flash flood drainage creek that was currently bone dry. He pressed harder on the gas, hoping it would give him the momentum he needed to get through the soft sand without getting stuck. They moved quickly, leaving a huge plume of dust in their wake.

The group was still flying down the dry creek bed, but the area had opened up providing several feet of clearance on each side of the vehicle. Zeus rolled the window down and stuck his entire upper body outside. He raised a high-powered set of binoculars and did his best to hang on while he searched for the wayward plane. “Got it!” he called after only a few seconds. “We’re headed straight for it and it’s definitely going down. He’s not trying to climb, he’s slowing. Okay, he’s banking hard to the left and losing altitude. Now he’s leveling out...”

There was silence for nearly a full minute. “Zeus?” Dax pushed.

Zeus dropped back onto the back seat. “Lost him,” he sighed. “He never pulled out. I think he collided with the trees. At least we didn’t see a huge explosion. That’s good news, right?”

“Maybe,” Dax said soberly. “If the crash doesn’t kill him on impact, we might get there in time to help.”

“How close do you think we can get in this creek bed?” Hawk wondered.

“It’s the only drainage system for that entire canyon besides the river,” Dax advised. “If we’re lucky, this trail will lead us directly to the plane.”

“It’s not a trail,” Wooly mumbled again.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/away-1230142_640-Small.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/old-plane-aircraft-aeroplane-airplane-PHG36GD-Small.jpg)

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They had traveled over a mile and the terrain was getting more difficult to maneuver. Hawk glanced at the dials on his dashboard, grateful they still had over half a tank of gas. He would not make the same mistake that couple from New York made last month. He’d never hear the end of it if he did. The engine was a little hot, but the levels were holding steady. They should be okay if they didn't do any heavy climbing. “We have to be close.”

“Slow down,” Vato called out. “I think I saw something. Looked white with a little splash of red.”

“That could be our plane,” Zeus tried to glance over the front seat through the windshield. “Or, it could be a Coke can. Where is it?”

“Up,” Vato held out a hand. “Give me the Steiner’s.”

Zeus passed over the binoculars and waited.

“It’s the plane,” Vato lowered the high-powered lenses and passed them to Dax. He motioned in the direction he had spotted the wreckage.

“I’ll guide you in,” Dax told Hawk as he peered through the lenses and focused on the dangling airplane. “Looks like we’re headed straight for him.”

“Where?” Hawk studied the open terrain ahead.

“The plane is dangling in the trees a couple hundred yards out,” Dax advised. “To the left at your ten.”

“Alright,” Hawk nodded. “I see it now. I’ll park over there to the right. If that thing comes crashing down, I don’t want it to take out our only means of transportation.”

“Good call,” Wooly leaned forward and studied the dangling object. “I can’t see any movement. Do you think he could have survived?”

“Doubtful,” Dax continued to watch as they approached the scene. He couldn't see the front of the plane but from this angle, it looked like the pilot had crashed headfirst into a large trunk.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax climbed from the vehicle and cautiously made his way closer to the small plane that was perched precariously in the trees above him. As he circled around to the left, he immediately spotted the damage. There was no chance anyone had survived that impact. The nose of the aircraft had made a direct hit into an enormous tree trunk. The entire cockpit had crumpled into a mangled mess. The front end of that plane looked like a Coke can — one that had been stomped on before it was thrown into the recycle bin. The pilot was clearly dead. Dax pivoted, thinking he’d head back and give his team the bad news, but stopped. He didn't have to go anywhere. His entire team had followed him into the forest — even Vato.

 “I've still got our gear in the car,” Hawk silently pondered the situation and considered. “Pilot’s dead for sure, but we have to check. Could be an injured passenger that’s trapped in the back.”

“Yeah,” Dax sighed. “We do. Let’s grab the gear we need and get this done.”

Vato didn't move. He just stood there, looking at the wreckage and the plane that was dangling precariously in the thick trees.

“You coming?” Dax turned to Vato.

“You know I’m sidelined on this one,” Vato barked. This was normally his area of expertise, but not anymore.

“Why?” Dax pushed.

The men stood frozen, waiting for Vato’s response, hoping he didn't blow up at the suggestion — the way he normally did these days.

 Dax silently waited as he continued to study Vato. It was time they all stopped being so overprotective of the former Ranger. If he was going to be part of the new team, he’d have to pull his weight. Today was as good a day as any to start. “If you’re up to it, I’ll leave you here to decide our approach while we grab the gear. If not, you might as well wait in the car.”

Vato focused on the task at hand. Could he do it? Was he ready? He’d been demanding the team treat him with respect for several months now. He hated the way they protected him, the way they were always watching, expecting him to trip and fall or something, never giving him any real responsibility because they didn't believe he could handle it. Dax was finally complying with his request. Their leader was giving him a chance to prove he was a valuable resource, not just a burden. What if he failed? Would they give him another chance? Or would he be out for good? The stakes were high and that scared him? He took two steps forward and focused on the obstacle above him. That’s when he realized he could do this. It looked worse than it really was. “I’m in.”

“You sure?” Hawk began then stopped when he saw the warning look on Dax’s face.

“Good,” Dax turned. “You can tell me the plan when I get back. Is there anything we’re going to need that Hawk won’t have in his regular gear?”

“Pry bar,” Vato said absently. He was focused on the trees around the plane. He already knew the route he wanted to take to get there. “We might have to use some muscle to get that back door open.”

“Is there any way to steady the carnage while we work?” Wooly asked.

“Not really,” Vato shook his head. “Grab whatever rope you have. We’ll have to construct a safety system so if the plane dislodges, it won’t take us down with it.”

The men worked as a cohesive team to rig the safest system they could come up with utilizing what little they had available. They just hoped the plane didn't come crashing down during the rescue mission.

“Are you sure we need to do this?” Wooly asked one final time. “I mean, as long as we've been here, there hasn't been the slightest hint of movement inside that thing.”

“It’s necessary,” Dax buckled his harness and motioned for Vato to head up.

\*\*\*\*\*

Vato shifted and tested the branch to his right. It seemed sturdy enough. He climbed out of the way and motioned for Dax to proceed. His leader, and friend, maneuvered his body onto the upper branch and pulled his flashlight off his belt. Vato relaxed for the first time since he’d been shot. He felt free again. Being up here, in the trees, working, being part of the team... it felt right. He knew if he tried to thank Dax for giving him this opportunity, the man would just shrug it off and pretend it wasn't significant. But, it was. And, they both knew it. Things changed the moment he gripped the rope and pulled his body off the ground the first time in months. Now, sitting here on top of the world, he swore to himself he was never going back. No more feeling sorry for himself, it was time to get to work. “Pilot’s gone. They might be able to identify him through dentals but...”

“Nobody should have to see this,” Dax finished, turning his attention away from the bloody mess tangled with twisted metal that used to be a man’s face. He was thinking of Paige, knowing she’d probably be the one to deal with the carnage. Once they cleared out the scene, Paige would work tirelessly to identify the victim and notify the family. She had a difficult task ahead of her. He shook off his thoughts and focused on Vato. “You hang out here, let me see if I can get inside. Only one of us needs to go in there.”

“I can...”

“I’m here,” Dax cut him off. It was one thing to push his men beyond their comfort zone. It was another to risk their safety when they weren't a hundred percent. He reached his gloved hand out and pulled on the lever. They were all surprised when the large door swung open.

“Well,” Zeus called up. “At least that’s one problem eliminated.”

Dax pointed his flashlight inside the open cargo area of the plane. He frowned when it hit a large clear plastic package filled with white powder; the image of a scorpion prominently displayed across the top.

“See anything?” Hawk called up.

“Drugs,” Dax continued to slowly move the light around the entire area. He spotted two more packages of what he thought was cocaine. “And three large black bags.”

“Empty?” Wooly asked.

“They look full,” Dax shifted and slipped the flashlight back into a clip. He steadied his weight on the flimsy branch in front of him and leaned inside as far as he dared. It took two attempts, but he finally reached the handle of the bag and pulled it forward. The plane creaked and groaned, but didn't move.

“Stop messing around up there,” Hawk ordered. “What’s in the bags?”

Dax slid the zipper sideways and peeled back the opening. He wasn't too surprised when he spotted the contents. The low-flying plane, the drugs, it all fell into place.

“The suspense is killing us down here,” Zeus called. “What did you find?”

Dax zipped the bag closed. He lifted it carefully out of the plane as he turned and released it. The heavy canvas dropped with a thud onto the hard-packed earth below.

“There is a lot of cash in there,” Vato observed. “Are you debating your options?”

“It’s not my decision,” Dax moved backward until he felt like his position was solid again.

“What are we going to do?” Vato pushed. “You know we could use that money to help us with the necessities.”

“Is that your vote?” Dax wondered. “This isn't my call alone. We all have a say.”

Zeus whistled.

“You said there are three of those?” Wooly asked for clarification.

“Yep,” Dax drawled.

“Can you get to all of them safely?” Hawk wondered.

“Is that what we decided?” Dax sobered. “There’s nobody else in here, by the way. It looks like it was a solo run. Just the pilot, the drugs, and he must be on his way back to Mexico with the cash.”

“I say we take it,” Hawk decided. “It would be different if it was some businessman or a wealthy family’s legacy, but this is drug money. It’s not like anyone will report it. I say take it all and we can decide how to handle it later.”

“I don’t know,” Wooly disagreed. “It feels like stealing.”

“I don’t have a problem stealing from the Cartel,” Zeus said without hesitation. “It’s their fault I ended up in a Mexican prison fighting for my life not so long ago. As far as I’m concerned, they owe me restitution. My vote is hell to the yeah.”

Dax grinned. Of course, Zee would see it that way. “Whatever we’re doing we have to decide. Someone else may have seen that plane go down. Once the authorities arrive, it’s out of our hands. Do I pull out the rest, or do we walk?”

“We take it,” Vato voiced his opinion. “I’ll help.”

“Ken?” Dax focused on Wooly. He wanted it to be unanimous.

“You didn't vote,” Wooly observed. “Are you a yes, or a no?”

Dax nodded. It was only fair, he needed to voice his feelings out loud, just like his men. “I say yes with a condition.”

“Which is?” Hawk asked.

“We keep it to ourselves,” Dax decided. “Until we decide how we’re going to handle it, and what we are going to do, nobody besides the five of us can know anything about this.” He focused on Zee. “Not even Carmen.”

“I can’t...”

“If I have to hide it from Paige, you can keep it from Carmen,” Dax interrupted. “At least temporarily.”

“Why not just tell them both?” Wooly asked, not wanting to keep the discovery from his wife.

“Because I would never force something like this on Paige,” Dax answered immediately. “It’s not fair. Knowing would risk her career — everything she’s worked so hard for her entire life — just to make our lives easier. It’s an unfair position to put her in. It’s an ethical dilemma I can’t ask her to face — especially not as a local cop responsible for this area. She can’t be a part of this. She can’t know anything about it.”

“Right,” Zeus realized. “Because if she knows, she’ll either have to look the other way or seize it. You’re right. Paige shouldn't have to make that decision. She shouldn't have to choose between her professional life and her personal life. Neither should Carmen.”

“Okay,” Wooly decided. “We need it, let’s take it. We can debate how we use it later. Let’s just grab the loot and get out of here.”

“You also have to keep this from Jaime,” Hawk warned.

“I got that,” Wooly sighed. “I don’t like it, but I get it.”

Dax managed to slide the other two bags out of the plane and dropped them onto the ground below. He turned to Vato, “You go first. I want to do another quick check to make sure we’re not leaving anything incriminating. You never took off your gloves, did you?”

“Nope,” Vato shifted and started to cautiously make his way back down.

Dax patted his flashlight — check. He studied his gloves — no tears. He surveyed the area where he and Vato had waited — nothing left behind there, either. He lowered the door on the plane, making sure it was tightly secured, and headed down. The only evidence they were leaving behind was something they couldn't control. Paige would notice the rope burns on the trunk of the tree and realize whoever discovered the wreckage had also explored it. He dropped onto the ground, released the rope, stepped out of his harness, and motioned for his men to head out. Couldn't be helped and she wouldn't know who discovered the body or what else they had discovered. That would have to be good enough.

“Wait,” Wooly objected. “I can live with taking the money, I think. But, I can’t live with sneaking away and not reporting this. That man’s family has to know what happened to him.”

“We call it in, we get caught,” Vato objected. “You know I’m right,” he turned to Dax for support.

“There are only two things I know for sure at this moment,” Dax answered. “Somewhere inside those bags, the Cartel has at least one — maybe more — tracking devices.”

“We can’t stay here until we find them, and we can’t take those bags home,” Hawk realized. “We need a plan.”

“What’s the second thing?” Zeus asked.

“I know that Hawk has one of those burner phones he loves so much inside the car,” Dax waited for Hawk to confirm he was right.

“A couple of them, actually,” Hawk grinned.

“Let’s get this loaded up,” Dax motioned toward the money. “We’ll make our way out of this canyon and moved further up into the next canyon. There’s another area I wanted to look at, anyway. Once we find a secluded spot, we hunker down and go through all of this, find the trackers, and then drive around until we find service. That’s when we call it in. The man is dead already, a few hours won’t make a difference — not to him.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Three hours later, the group was confident they had located all the tracking devices. They were state-of-the-art GPS units and must have been expensive. They were also easy to detect. Each bag had three of them hidden inside various stacks of money. Once they located the first one, they realized all they had to do was fan the entire stack and the bundle with the metal strip inside wouldn't fan. It was too stiff and rigid.

“You would think they’d hide these better,” Zeus observed.

“I would think they’d be more random,” Hawk added. “I mean really, three strips in each bag. It would have been more difficult if they had put one in one bag, four in another, two in another...”

“What are we going to do with the trackers and the bags?” Wooly asked. They didn’t trust the bags. Dax worried they could have trackers sewn into the seams somewhere, so they had emptied all of their gear into the back of Hawk’s cargo area and transferred the money one stack at a time into their canvas gear bags.

“Let’s load up and try to find a signal so we can call in the crash,” Hawk suggested. “We’ll keep an eye out for a good spot to dump those along the way.”

Dax stood. “Give me a minute.” He walked to the SUV and started rummaging through the loose gear in the back. Moments later, he returned with the first aid kit. He dug around for a minute and pulled out a small package.

“What’s that for?” Zeus asked.

“I’m being careful in case Paige finds any of this stuff,” Dax slid his gloves back on. “If we leave so much as a stray hair on one of those bags, she’ll find it.” He tore open the plastic, removed the thermal blanket from the package, and spread it on the ground. “Grab those bags and drop them at one end. We’ll roll this up and find a cave or something to dump it in.”

“I think that foil liner will interfere with the GPS signal,” Wooly realized as he dropped one of the bags onto the blanket. “When the owner of that money heads out to search, they might never find it.”

Vato gathered up the trackers and dropped them on top of the pile.

Dax hesitated, ripped open an alcohol wipe and thoroughly cleaned each of the tiny metal strips before dropping them one by one on top of the bags. Once everything was gathered, he rolled it all up, tucked the corners inside to keep it closed tight, and carried the bundle to Hawk’s SUV.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I can’t exactly say it’s hidden, but it’s out of sight,” Zeus said as he climbed back into the vehicle. “With any luck, it will stay that way.”

“Good,” Hawk pulled away. “I called in and reported the crash. Gave them the coordinates we jotted down when we exited that dry creek bed.”

“What voice did you use? Are you sure Paige won’t recognize you?” Dax asked. “That’s the first thing she’ll do — pull the tape.”

“Nasal accountant with a twangy lisp,” Hawk laughed.

“Did the dispatcher understand you at all?” Wooly wondered.

“Enough,” Hawk shrugged. “Even my mother wouldn't recognize me. We’re safe. And, we should have enough time to get out of this canyon before they arrive.”

“Doubtful,” Dax disagreed. “They’re probably at the mouth already.”

“They would be,” Hawk smiled. “If I called Sanpete County.”

“Who did you call?” Dax frowned.

“Nephi Police Department,” Hawk made an abrupt turn and continued quickly up the trail. “The non-emergency line. With the delay, we should be free and clear before Manti’s finest is even notified.”

Dax groaned. “Did it have to be Nephi?”

“What’s wrong with Nephi?” Hawk asked absently as he pulled to the side of the road. He slid the sim card from the burner and tossed the device into the river. With the spring run-off, the phone would be miles away within an hour. He pocketed the card and pulled away.

“Sheriff Dusty Hawkins,” Dax answered softly.

“The idiot cowboy you told me about?” Zeus asked. “The sheriff you decked for kissing Paige?”

“That’s the one,” Dax sighed.

“Oops,” Hawk said sheepishly.

“It probably won’t matter,” Dax decided. “It’s not his jurisdiction. The call taker should just pass the information on to the right department and close it out on their end.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige?” Margie called across the room.

“What’s up?” Paige shifted to look around her computer screen.

“Natalie, a dispatcher up in Nephi, got a call,” Margie began. “Some guy reported a downed aircraft. She could barely understand him plus service was terrible, kept cutting out, but she was able to get the coordinates. When she plugged it into her system, she discovered it’s ours. The man said he would wait for the authorities to arrive. Can you head up while I try to contact Gage?”

“On it,” Paige stood. “Where am I headed?”

Margie handed her a map that marked the location where the caller was supposed to be waiting. “He said the plane is northeast of there in the canyon.”

“I’ll advise,” Paige snatched up the information. “How did Nephi end up with this, anyway?”

“No idea,” Margie shrugged. “Call came in on the non-emergency line. That’s all I know.”

“Tell Gage I’ll meet him there,” Paige said as she headed out.

Gage parked behind Paige’s unit and joined her on the side of the road. “You think it was a hoax?”

“Not sure,” Paige sighed. “Clearly we don’t have a complainant, but someone left the dedicated trail and drove down that dry creek bed. I talked to Air Traffic Control; they've got nothing — not even a blip on the radar. They were surprised when I told them we might have a downed aircraft out here. I think we need to document this and then follow the creek in just to be sure.”

“Could be a hoax; but you’re right, we have to check. I’ll drive,” Gage offered. “Snap your photos and let’s go.”

Paige finished documenting the area and climbed into Gage’s passenger seat. She thought about the call for several minutes before she spoke. “Why would someone call in a downed plane, agree to wait for the police, and leave without providing the details? Maybe you’re right and it is all a big prank.”

“It could be legit,” Gage decided. “Some people don’t want to get involved. It’s possible someone was out here in an area they know they’re not supposed to be in and saw a plane go down. They decided it was important to call in what they saw but didn't want to get caught.”

“True,” Paige continued to study the tracks ahead of them. “They came back here quite a ways.”

“Yeah,” Gage agreed. “There are two sets of tracks, in and out. Could have been a couple of kids messing around off-road when they saw the plane and got spooked.”

“Could be,” they continued in silence until Paige saw something in a tree. “Slow down.”

Gage slowed to a crawl then slammed on his breaks when he spotted the plane dangling haphazardly in the forest to the left. The two of them sat silently studying the area. “Got any theories?” Gage finally asked. “Because I’m a little stumped here. I do know it wasn't just an innocent mistake.”

“No,” Paige sat back in her seat and pondered the evidence. “Someone tracked down that plane and deliberately mislead us. If they went to the trouble of locating the wreckage, why call in coordinates nearly a mile away from here?”

“Some kind of delay tactic?” Gage offered.

“Makes sense,” Paige reached for the handle. “It’s also the reason they called this into Nephi instead of us?”

“What?” Gage joined Paige in front of the vehicle. “This didn't come into Margie?”

“Nope,” Paige spotted the area where their mysterious vehicle must have parked. “Why don’t you start taking photos of the area. I want to check something out. Then I’m going to do a quick search to see if they left anything behind.”

“On it,” Gage turned and pulled a camera case from his back seat. He snapped photos of the tire tracks, the disturbed dirt that made a trail toward the forest and the foliage that led into the trees. Clearly, someone had driven out to the crash site, then left their vehicle and wandered in for a closer look. A section of foliage was trampled down creating a trail that disappeared into the shadows of the thick trees, but there wasn't any other evidence. No obvious leads they could follow. He took his last shot then moved in beside Paige. She was crouched on the ground, studying the dirt. “Did you find something?”

“Nothing that will help us solve this mystery,” Paige stood. “But this is where they parked.”

“They?”

“Yeah,” Paige pointed to a spot on the ground. “We can follow the tire tracks and see this was the end of the road for them. They parked here, then when they were finished doing whatever it was they did, they circled around and headed back out.”

“Right,” Gage nodded. “I noticed that.”

“So,” Paige pointed to another disturbance in the dirt. “Driver and a couple feet back, passenger.”

“Which means there had to be at least three of them,” Gage realized. “Only way somebody would jump in the back seat. But, what’s the deal with that?” He pointed to an area that looked like something had been dragged or someone stomped around a bit before climbing in.

“No idea,” Paige shrugged. “You get what we needed from here?”

“Yeah,” Gage said with a sigh. “But it just tells us someone was here. I didn't find anything that would indicate who.”

“Either they were careful or lucky,” Paige agreed. “I didn't find anything either. I guess it was too much to ask for a dropped wallet or a used water bottle we could process for DNA.”

“Let’s take a look at the plane,” Gage decided. “I called it in. Jericho is sending out the experts, so we’ll have company soon.”

The two of them slowly made their way into the thick trees. The area below the crash site was also disturbed. “They spent some time here,” Paige deduced.

“I can’t see the pilot,” Gage moved back where he thought they might be safe if the plane suddenly dislodged and came tumbling down. “But, by the look of it, the plane struck that tree with so much force he most likely died on impact.”

“I agree,” Paige joined him. “You have any binoculars? I want to get a better look and I’m not comfortable climbing that tree just yet.”

Gage headed back to the vehicle and returned with a case.

Paige studied the plane, the tree, and the cockpit. “I can kind of make out a body,” she finally told her partner. “Identification is going to be difficult.”

“Let’s hope he’s carrying a wallet, or his flight data has enough to track him,” Gage said hopefully.

“I can see marks on the trunk and the limbs just above the left wing,” Paige’s mind was racing. What was going on here?

“What kind of marks?” Gage wondered, confused. If the pilot was killed instantly, how could there be marks on the tree?

Paige handed the binoculars back to Gage. “Do you think he was meeting someone? Out here? If he’s not showing on the radar, he had to be flying low.”

“If they were doing some kind of illegal deal, why call it in at all?” Gage wondered. “I mean, wouldn't it be easier to just get in, grab whatever it is you wanted, and bolt? Safer to just leave the thing out here to be discovered a year from now — or never.”

“It would,” Paige hadn't figured it all out yet, but none of this passed the smell test. This was not an innocent crash with some good Samaritan calling in the tragedy. All she knew at the moment was a group of at least three people located this plane and scaled that tree. Which meant they had come prepared. They probably retrieved something, called in the crash, and disappeared. And, at the moment, she didn't know who the pilot was, what he was transporting, or how in the world she was going to solve this mystery. Because, the three men left enough evidence to prove they were here, but they didn't leave a single lead she could use to identify them.

\*\*\*\*\*

The men had gathered in Dax’s living room. They silently studied the large bags of cash on the floor before them. Nobody said a word. The reality of what they had done was still setting in.

“We survived phase one,” Hawk finally said. “Now, what’s phase two?”

“We need a place to stash it,” Dax looked at his men. “Somewhere safe. Once it’s secure, we can debate what to do with it.”

“What’s to debate?” Vato asked. “We need it, we spend it.”

“We spend it,” Wooly disagreed. “We get caught.”

“Or dead,” Zeus said, remembering his time in Mexico. The Cartel took their business seriously and wouldn't hesitate to kill when crossed. “We have to be smart about this. It’s not just the law or the IRS we have to avoid. It’s Edwardo Contreras and his ruthless band of savages.”

“What makes you so sure this is Contreras and not Ramin Trevils?” Hawk asked.

“Because Dax saw a scorpion on the bag of cocaine,” Zeus answered soberly.

“It’s Edwardo Contreras,” Dax confirmed. “His mark was on all three bags.”

“That would have been valuable information to have,” Wooly grumbled. “I mean, while we were deciding if we should take the money and run.”

“Why?” Hawk asked. “Doesn't really matter which Drug Lord is after us. Ramin would be just as ruthless over this much cash.”

“I agree,” Zeus sighed. “We knew we were taking money from the Cartel. Didn't really matter which one. Eventually, one group will emerge as the victor in their battle for control, but it doesn't really matter which one. They are both willing to kill, Ramin Trevils is just more sophisticated about it. He fancies himself a gentleman. Rules matter in his organization. With Contreras, there are no rules. Either way, the code dictates death when it comes to stealing.”

“True,” Ken relented. “I guess Ramin’s need to keep up appearances just makes him seem less threatening. But, when it comes right down to it, dead is dead.”

“So,” Dax brought the conversation back to its starting point. “Where do we hide the loot?”

“We need to go through it completely,” Hawk decided. “I know we’re fairly confident we ditched all the trackers, but I want to be more than fairly certain. Vato and I can do a more thorough search tonight. We’ll go through the stacks one bill at a time and make sure we didn't miss anything.”

“I can stay and help,” Wooly decided.

“I don’t like having that much cash lying around,” Dax disagreed. “We need to stash it somewhere close. You can methodically search a few stacks at a time, but I want the rest safe and secure while you do it.”

“What’s more safe and secure than a safe?” Zeus asked. “You got somewhere we can stash a new gun safe out of sight? The basement would be ideal if we can get the thing down there.”

Dax considered. “Let’s head down and find the best location. I've got that storage room in the back. Should be enough space if we move some stuff around. We don’t need anything big, just strong and secure. We’ll measure the stairwell and the hallway while we’re at it.”

“That doesn't cover tonight.” Hawk challenged.

“It does if we take the truck up to Cabela’s today. The five of us should be able to manage one of the smaller models,” Dax decided.

Hawk stood. “First, let’s stash these in your current gun safe in the spare bedroom. We can shuffle your guns around to make room temporarily.”

The men went to work rearranging and measuring. The sooner they could get the cash out of the living room, the better.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige watched as Search & Rescue extracted the mangled body from the cockpit, secured it to a stokes for transport, and slowly lowered it to the ground. She continued to watch as the experienced team of volunteers made their way out of the trees. Jericho called in NTSB after Gage verified they did, in fact, have a downed aircraft. Their team would deal with the wreckage, but they wouldn't arrive for at least another day. Once they extracted the plane from the tree, it would be transported to a federal facility where they could conduct their own investigation. Paige knew it could take months, but eventually they would all know why the plane crashed; pilot error, or mechanical failure.

Alan Banks dropped from the tree and approached their small group. Jericho had arrived before the rescue team and the three law enforcement officials were standing stoically by watching as the volunteers did their best to retrieve the remains. “You were right,” Alan told Paige. “Someone scaled that tree before we did. Basically, the same way we did. They had to have climbing gear readily available. Kind of rules out a of couple kids messing around where they shouldn't.”

“Find anything else we should know about?” Jericho asked.

“There are a couple bags of white powder,” Alan advised. “We left it where it was. Didn't want to contaminate any evidence. I’d say you’re dealing with a drug plane. Explains why they weren't detected by radar. They were probably flying too low, ended up in this boxed canyon and couldn't pull out. High price to pay for an easy mistake.”

“Only a couple of bags?” Jericho wondered. “Not an entire shipment?”

“Nope,” Alan glanced back at the scene. “At a glance, I spotted two. Body’s ready for transport but I doubt the ME can get his vehicle back here. What do you want us to do with the remains?”

“Leave him on the stokes,” Jericho decided. “We’ll transport him back to the road in Gage’s truck. ME should be waiting for us by now.”

“On it,” Alan turned and headed back to his team.

“They retrieved the money,” Paige said softly.

“How did they know he would crash here, though?” Jericho agreed, but it still didn't make any sense.

“Now you understand my frustration,” Paige answered. “I guess I have to go up there. Now that they have the body, I’ll need to document everything and retrieve the drugs.”

“Let’s wait,” Jericho decided. “I’ll call Mike in, have him protect the scene until the NTSB arrives. Their investigators can secure the drugs. It’s not like we’re going to charge this guy for possession or distribution. Our chain of evidence will be intact if we discover something related down the road.”

Paige didn't like it. She wanted to get up there, scour the entire area for clues, and see for herself there wasn't anything more to find. But in her gut, she knew it was useless. Search & Rescue had already disturbed any clues she might find in the trees. Nothing she found would be worth the risk. She had to accept, this time, there was nothing more she could do.

\*\*\*\*\*

The following morning Paige woke early. She rolled over and realized she was alone. Where was Dax? She stumbled into the kitchen and spotted him at the kitchen table, sipping coffee, and scrolling through something on his phone. “You’re up early.”

“I was just about to say the same,” Dax slid his phone into his pocket and studied Paige. “Long night, early day?”

“The NTSB will be arriving today,” she settled in next to him and took a tentative sip of her doctored brew. “I want to be there when they bring the plane down. The SAR guys could see drugs in the back. I need to have them analyzed, see if we can figure out who they belong to, dust for prints, that sort of thing.”

Dax hated knowing his team was causing sleepless nights and long hours for Paige. It made him feel guilty about the way they had handled things. On the other hand, even if they left the money where it was, she’d still be working through the case exactly the same way she was now. Technically, his involvement hadn't changed anything. Somehow, that didn't erase the guilt. “Then what?”

“I’m waiting to hear back on the dental records,” Paige settled back. “The pilot can’t be identified unless the ME finds something we can trace, like a knee replacement with a serial number or a unique tattoo — Something that will give us a lead to follow. I might have to wait for the DNA results to come back and see if he’s in the system. If he’s running drugs, there’s a good chance I’ll get a hit.”

“What about the plane?” Dax asked. “Can’t you see who owns it and then trace it back to the pilot that way?”

“I’m still working on that,” Paige sighed.

“There has to be a record somewhere,” Dax pushed. He initially thought identification would be easy. The plane was still intact. You could see the N number from the ground. Tracking the registration through the FAA should have been simple and quick.

“There is,” Paige sighed. “The plane is registered to a guy by the name of Stanley Whittle. He died twelve years ago. The record hasn't been updated; they just keep renewing the registration under the same name.”

“Who pays for it?”

“The Stanley Whittle trust,” Paige frowned. “I’m hoping to get more today. Dean uncovered what little we know last night, but we’ll have to track down the trustee today and try to get the details. Once the NTSB arrives, they should have all the FAA records, maybe that will help. With any luck, I’ll know who was flying that plane before I come home tonight.”

“I’m not sure how lucky that is,” Dax disagreed. “Once you know, you have to make notification to the poor saps family.”

“True,” Paige moved to pour herself another cup of coffee. “Those are always stressful. But he might have a wife or a brother that can fill in some blanks for me.”

“Like?”

“How did they know?” Paige said in frustration.

“I’m not following.”

“Somebody got there before we did,” Paige admitted. “Someone knew he crashed, swooped in, and retrieved the money before we could seize it. How did the Mexican Cartel know he was going to crash? Assuming he works for the Cartel.”

“And, assuming it’s gone,” Dax said carefully. “How do you know they swooped in and took the money? Or that there was any money there to take.”

“What else?” Paige said absently. “It had to be money.”

“You know you get into trouble when you try to spin theories instead of following the evidence,” Dax warned. “You’re making a lot of assumptions. It could have been something else.”

“Like?” Paige asked doubtfully.

“I don’t know,” Dax shrugged. “Guns or people.”

“Not people,” Paige disagreed. “Or we’d have more dead bodies.”

“I agree,” Dax was at a loss here. “Walk me through it.”

“Money is the only thing that makes sense,” Paige repeated. “I think he was doing a delivery. He loaded up a bunch of magic powder and headed out to make his run. He drops off the drugs and picks up the cash. Then, he heads off to the next stop. Alan said there were only a couple packages of drugs inside a nearly empty cargo area. He did spot a scorpion on one of them, so I have a call into DEA. Hopefully, we can identify which organization is involved. Anyway, I think he was nearly finished delivering the merchandise. Or he was completely finished, and the leftover packages belonged to him. — payment for the run, maybe.”

“I guess it’s possible,” Dax relented. “But, it’s just as likely that the man already finished the drug run, stopped off somewhere to deposit the money, and was on his way back home to enjoy his nose candy. Maybe he even had a quick whiff before he crashed.”

“Tox report will tell me if he had a habit of sampling the goods,” Paige dismissed that and considered. “Nope, not buying it.”

“Which part?”

“If he didn't have anything valuable in that plane, why did someone follow him out, climb that tree, and remove something from the wreckage.”

“Are you sure they did?” Dax pressed.

“Yeah,” Paige focused on him. “I saw the markings on the trees myself. And, I saw the tire tracks. Somebody was there. At least three people. They left footprints in the dirt. Someone got there before we did. Someone followed him out and did something before we even knew we had a crash. I need to find out what.”

Dax held back a sigh. He told the guys Paige would recognize the markings on the trees. He hadn't even considered their footprints, but he should have. Paige Carter never missed a thing which is why he made sure there wasn't anything there for her to find. “I still think you’re jumping to conclusions. You said the pilot was flying a plane that belongs to a dead man. What if this has something to do with fraud, embezzlement, or even blackmail? He could have had paperwork somebody wanted destroyed, a compromising video he was using to blackmail the Whittle family, or a million other possibilities. Assuming there was money is making a huge leap if you ask me. What if you’re wrong?”

“You’re right,” Paige yielded. “I still think it was money. Basically because of the drugs. It’s the only thing that makes sense. I also know the Cartel has spies littered around the country. The odds are too astronomical to consider, but its possible someone was watching for the plane, saw it go down, and rushed out to retrieve the money for their boss. The loot could be halfway to Mexico as we speak. On the other hand, you could be right and there wasn't any money. If there was something else in that plane, it was important enough that somebody was willing to kill the pilot to retrieve it.”

“People do like their secrets,” Dax answered.

“That would mean the plane was sabotaged. We won’t be able to answer that question until the NTSB concludes their investigation. If someone tampered with it, they’ll find the evidence. Until I know for sure, I shouldn't limit my investigation. I’ll need to explore all possibilities. But first, I need to figure out the identity of the corpse in the morgue. Anyway,” Paige stood. “I should get started. You might want to grab dinner with the guys tonight. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be another long day.”

Dax watched silently as she turned and left the room. He focused his attention out the back window. Feeling guilty over a secret was bad enough, what he was feeling right now was more difficult to describe. He normally walked Paige through an investigation in an attempt to help her solve the mystery. This morning, he’d thrown out possibilities and planted seeds of doubt in an effort to hinder one. It didn't sit well, and he had no idea what he was going to do about it. He let out a long, frustrated sigh. There was one thing he did know for certain, he needed to know more about that pilot.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Give me some good news, Doc,” Paige said in greeting.

“Tox report is back,” Benny Parks glanced up. Their unknown victim was currently on his table awaiting autopsy. “Our John Doe wasn't sampling his product.”

“So, it was clean?” Paige asked. “Completely?”

“It is,” Benny nodded. “I've done a visual search of the body and an x-ray. This individual didn't have any major medical procedures or implants that will help in identification.”

“I’m still waiting for that good news,” Paige frowned.

“I might have something once I cut into him,” Benny shrugged. “Right now, I can tell you he’s a fairly healthy male — other than the obvious.”

“You mean death?” Paige said flatly.

“Yes,” Benny nodded. “He’s in his mid-fifties and at some point, he broke his right ankle.”

“That’s it?” Paige asked. “That’s all you've got? Then why am I here?”

“Now there’s a question,” Benny mused. “A conundrum debated by the greatest philosophers throughout the ages.”

“Benny?” Paige warned.

He grinned. “I thought you might want to look into this...” He pulled back the sheet and displayed a large tattoo that covered the man’s lower right calf.

“Now we’re talking,” Paige moved closer to get a better look. “That’s got to be unique. Can you tell if it was one sitting or a series of additions over the years?”

“I’d say it was done by the same artist,” Benny pivoted and snatched a digital camera off a nearby counter. “I don’t see any fading. That means it wasn't started thirty years ago and finished up last year. The ink is consistent.”

“So maybe a series,” Paige decided. “But not one that extended for a long period of time. He didn't get the sword, wait ten years and add the skull.”

“Exactly,” Benny agreed. “And look here...” he pointed to an image near the center of the tattoo. “This orange is the same as the orange on the outer rim.”

“Okay,” Paige pointed to the camera. “Can you send that to me right away? I want to start looking for those symbols. I don’t suppose you know what they mean?” She studied the image for several seconds. “That looks like an eagle’s claw, but it blends with that symbol.”

“Sorry, I’m afraid I won’t be any help there,” Benny continued to study the image. “But it is intriguing, isn't it? If I had to guess, I’d say each one of these has significant meaning — at least they did to this man. What it means, I couldn't begin to guess. The symbols could be Chinese, Korean, Mandarin. I just don’t know.”

“Okay,” Paige straightened. “Send that to me. It gives me a lead that I can start looking into. And let me know as soon as possible if you find anything else once you get started on the autopsy.”

“With any luck,” Benny set the camera back on the counter. “I’ll be able to track down the dental records before the end of the day.”

“That would be amazing,” Paige glanced back at the mangled body. “Goes to show one mistake... Anyway, I appreciate your help, Doc.”

“I’ll be in touch,” Benny called after her.

\*\*\*\*\*

“You’re late,” Jericho said when Paige stepped into the office.

“Actually, I was early,” Paige moved to her desk and flipped on her computer. “Any word from NTSB?”

“ETA is noon today,” Jericho followed Paige to her desk. “Where have you been?”

“Talking to Benny,” Paige settled into her chair. “No word on dentals yet and apparently the guy was a healthy man before he nosedived into that tree.”

“We’ll figure it out eventually,” Jericho told her not really worried.

Paige turned the monitor so Jericho could see the tattoo. “That’s our victim’s right calf.”

“Gives us somewhere to start,” Jericho moved closer. “There’s a lot to decipher in there. And again, it’s going to take time. Which means it’s going to have to wait. We have a video conference to attend.”

“A what?”

“Join me in the conference room,” Jericho stood and headed for the large room.

“Who are we conferencing?” Paige asked dropping into one of the large comfortable chairs.

“Margie tracked down the attorney that oversees the Whittle trust,” Jericho informed her. “He’s located in San Francisco.”

“And you arranged a meeting?”

“I asked SFPD to pick him up and bring him to the station for a meeting,” Jericho corrected. “I want this to be official. We’re dealing with an attorney and if we tried this on the phone or in his office, he could just hang up if he didn't like our questions. This way, we have backup.”

“Good thinking,” Paige considered. She was about to ask Jericho another question when Margie stepped into the room. The secretary powered up the large television set, connected a few cords to a laptop and then handed Paige the remote.

“You ready?” Margie asked.

“Let’s get this started,” Paige wasn't sure what she was supposed to do with the device so she set the remote in front of her on the large table.

Margie pressed a few buttons on the computer and a room occupied by three people appeared on the television screen. With a nod, Margie left the room.

“Good morning,” one of the men said in greeting. “I’m Detective Mark Whitaker. To my right is my partner, Detective Scott Landry and over there is the man of the hour, Mr. Keller Williams, the attorney overseeing the Whittle trust.”

“I understand you have some questions,” Keller Williams spoke up. “I’m not sure I will be much help. I do oversee the Whittle estate, but as I understand it, you are inquiring about an aircraft. I’m afraid that portion of the trust is sealed, and the details cannot be disclosed.”

“Why?” Paige asked, annoyed.

“Again,” Williams sighed. “I’m not at liberty to say.”

“What can you say?” Jericho pressed.

“I can tell you the aircraft in question is the property of the trust,” Williams said cautiously. “I can tell you the registration and all the paperwork are up to date and that everything is legal and above board. Beyond that, I’m afraid I can’t help you.”

“You said that portion of the trust is sealed,” Paige said. “Does that mean the rest of the trust isn't sealed?”

“That’s correct,” Williams nodded. “With a few other exceptions. The vast majority is open and accessible. Unfortunately, this item is not.”

“But Stanley Whittle is deceased,” Paige pushed. “Why the need for secrecy?”

“Again,” Williams said with impatience. “I’m not at liberty to discuss that. Now, I’m afraid I’m due in court this morning so if that’s all...”

Paige glanced at Jericho. There was nothing they could do. Williams was free to leave and they couldn't stop him.

“One last question,” Paige decided. “Can you tell me the name of the judge that sealed the information? Our local District Attorney is going to want to know the details.”

Williams let out a loud sigh. “That would be Judge Andrus. Clinton Andrus. But, I have to warn you, if you try to interfere with the late Stanley Whittle’s wishes, I will do everything in my power to stop you.”

“Then it’s personal?” Jericho realized. “Whittle was a friend and this was personal for him.”

“I will confirm that much,” Williams stood. “Good day, gentlemen.”

Once the attorney left the room Jericho addressed the detectives. “I’m afraid I wasted your time this morning, gentlemen. For that I am sorry.”

“No apology necessary,” Whitaker shrugged it off. “Gave us a break from the tedium.”

“Well,” Jericho gave them a friendly smile. “I appreciate your time in any case.”

“Uh,” Scott Landry spoke up. “I can’t confirm any of this, but I talked to a friend at the courthouse earlier this morning. I was digging a little, hoping to get something we could throw at the attorney if we needed to. Anyway, she wouldn't tell me the specifics, said it could get her fired, but apparently... let’s call it a rumor. Apparently, Stanley Whittle was your typical spoiled playboy. He was caught with his pants down, so to speak — more than once. My source hinted that the estimable Stanley Whittle sealed that document because all of his offspring aren't legitimate. He threw the illegitimate children, the ones conceived through various illicit affairs, a bone when he died. Probably to keep them quiet.”

“Interesting,” Paige thought. “Well, thank you for your help.”

“If I can ever do anything for you,” Jericho added. “Be sure to give me a call.”

“Will do,” Whitaker replied. “Good luck with the secret plane mystery.”

“Thanks,” Paige said before clicking off. She disconnected the cables that ran to the laptop in an effort to ensure the call was really gone.

“What does that tell you?” Jericho asked.

“It tells me the pilot was a secret,” Paige recalled her conversation with Dax. “What if he had something? What if he was blackmailing the Whittle family — threatening to expose the secret if they didn't give him his fair share of the estate? That could get him killed if the family is as wealthy as we think.”

“It’s a theory,” Jericho decided. “Problem is, you have no idea what was in that plane. In fact, maybe there wasn't anything in the plane but a dead pilot.”

“Someone climbed that tree,” Paige disagreed.

“Someone might have thought there could be something in the plane and when they got up there, they realized it was empty. You need to focus on identifying the pilot, notifying the family, and leave the rest alone. Drop it, Paige. I mean it. The case is closed until we actually have a case.”

“But...” Paige started.

Jericho stood. “That’s an order. We have enough to do around here without conjuring up mysteries that might not be mysteries at all.”

Paige settled back in her chair and sighed. She knew Jericho was right, she just didn't like walking away before she had all the answers.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax stepped through his front door and spotted Hawk, Vato, and Wooly relaxing in the living room.

“You look as bad as we feel,” Hawk observed. “What’s up?”

“We need to talk,” Dax settled into an empty lounge chair. “Have you talked to Zeus? I tried to call, but he didn't answer.”

“He’s on his way over,” Hawk admitted. “I was just about to call you. I agree, we need to talk.”

The front door opened, and Zeus walked in.

“Now that the gang’s all here,” Dax began.

“First,” Wooly interrupted. “We have something we need to say.”

Dax was surprised. Normally, Ken would never cut him off. This must be important.

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“We spent the night securing the safe and transferring the money,” Vato began.

“It’s clean,” Hawk assured them. “We went through each stack a bill at a time and there’s nothing that will lead anyone back to us. The trackers we ditched were the only ones.”

“Okay,” Dax settled back. “Good.”

“We counted it,” Vato provided. “Since we were doing a thorough search anyway, we decided we should have an accurate accounting.”

“There’s just over seven million,” Wooly said softly. “Seven million reasons Contreras will want us dead.”

“Which brings us to the reason for this meeting,” Hawk said soberly. “The gravity of what we have done hit the three of us about halfway through our inventory.”

“We can’t spend the money,” Vato provided. “Not the way I’d like to. We have to be smart about it. If we suddenly buy land, build a state-of-the-art training facility, and purchase expensive equipment like ATV’s, snowmobiles, guns and the rest...”

“We’ll stick out like a neon sign,” Zeus agreed. “And, Contreras is going to be watching. He probably knows by now that his plane went down, and he knows where. He’ll have spies, guys he sent here to investigate. The kind of spending we need to do, that’s just going to draw attention.”

“I agree, and you guys will need to be careful,” Dax decided it was as good a segue as he would get.

“What do you mean us guys?” Hawk narrowed his eyes at their leader. Dax was still in charge and he always would be.

“I mean, I’m out,” Dax ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I can’t do it. I can’t create a wedge between me and Paige for money. I trust you to use it wisely. I won’t stop you from using it to supplement the business, but I don’t want to know about it. I can’t.”

“What changed?” Zeus asked. He didn't like keeping secrets from Carmen either, but something happened and it was eating Dax up inside.

“One of the things that brings Paige and me together, something we share, is our breakfast conversation. She runs through her current investigation and I help her sift away the clutter and focus on the evidence. This morning, for the first time since I met her, I was impeding her investigation instead of helping. I can’t do that again. I won’t.”

“As much as I understand your position,” Hawk said cautiously. “I don’t think you need to back out completely.”

“I've made my decision,” Dax disagreed.

“Just hear us out,” Wooly pushed. “We talked about this most of the night. And, if you two agree, we think we’ve come up with a solution.”

“I’m listening,” Dax told him.

“Like we said,” Hawk told him. “We can’t spend the money on the business. Not overtly anyway. So, we thought we could use it to help others.”

“How?” Dax wondered.

“We would need Carmen,” Hawk warned Zeus. “We need someone that could set up a secret account that can’t be traced. We were also thinking we should look into the dead pilot. We all know enough about Contreras and his organization to understand all of his employees aren't willing participants. If the pilot has a family, and he was participating out of fear or coercion, I think we should make sure that family has a nice big insurance policy they didn't know existed. If he was there because he chose to be, for greed or power, they’re on their own.”

“Okay,” Dax considered the proposal. He might be able to work with that. “What about the rest?”

“We’d like to set up a scholarship program,” Vato answered. “It would give access to smaller departments or injured soldiers that might not be able to afford our prices.”

“So,” Dax considered. “We use the money to pay ourselves, which funds the equipment we need and allows participation by those who couldn't otherwise attend?”

“Exactly,” Wooly nodded. “If we have a lot of interest in the scholarship program, we could approach Porter, maybe tap into his contacts for donations.”

“And Carmen could hide our funds by funneling the money into a dedicated account along with the legitimate sponsors,” Zeus added.

“It could work,” Dax decided. “But it doesn't solve my problem with Paige, and it involves Carmen. She also works in law enforcement, in a different capacity, but it creates a conflict. Zee, how do you feel about all of this?”

“I want to leave it up to Carmen,” Zeus said without hesitation.

“How is that possible?” Hawk asked skeptically.

“If we decide to bring Carmen in, I want to explain the situation to her. Tell her we have a proposal and we could use her help, but it might create an ethical conflict. She also needs to know it's something she has to hide from Paige. We can give her enough information to make the decision. With the current structure, what we’re talking about here, I think Carmen will join us. I also don’t think she’ll have a problem with it. She’s a hacker, and this will be hacking for the good of others. The idea is growing on me. I think it might be fun, we have a chance to use our good fortune to help others.”

“I support the endeavor, but I still can’t be part of it,” Dax decided.

“I have a suggestion,” Zeus focused on Dax. “A way to be involved with us and not cause problems with Paige.”

“Go ahead,” Dax didn't see how the problem could be resolved but he was willing to listen.

“This morning you and Paige sat down for your morning ritual,” Zeus began. “She started talking about the crash and you tried to steer her away from the details. Is that the issue here? You feel like you were being dishonest and standing in the way of her discovering the truth?”

“Basically,” Dax nodded.

“Then stop impeding,” Zeus suggested. “Don’t try to redirect her. Just talk things through the same as you normally do. This case is short lived. Once she discovers the identity of the pilot and makes notification to the family, she won’t have anything to investigate. Sure, she might come back to it. She’s tenacious that way. She might continue to search for the truth. She will probably work hard to figure out what was in the plane and who could have taken it. But, we didn't leave any clues. We don’t need you to run interference. Don’t redirect. Don’t stand in the way. Let Paige do what she does. Talk things out the way you always do. As long as you don’t confess, we’re safe.”

“And if she figures it out?” Dax pushed.

“Then we’ll deal with it,” Hawk decided. “I don’t see how she could, but I also don’t think it’s the monumental problem you believe it is. Paige is a smart woman. If we took the money and bought a private island or used it to throw big drunken brawls, maybe. But if we stick to the current plan? If we use the funds to provide advanced training to her fellow law enforcement professionals, and soldiers that need a fresh start — I don’t think Paige would care. I honestly don’t think Paige would have the major ethical dilemma you are envisioning. She’s smart and she’s practical. If nothing else, your kidnapping demonstrated to all of us that Paige can be an ends kind of cop.”

“What does that mean?” Dax wondered.

“Only that she willingly accepted our tactics,” Wooly provided. “Even when they didn't line up with her personal and professional standards.”

“Paige is solid,” Zeus added. “We don’t need you to run interference. And if you abandon those efforts, there’s no reason you can’t be involved in our plan.”

Dax considered the situation. They were right. This morning, he was torn between loyalty to his friends and loyalty to Paige. If he took a step back and didn't try to influence her one way or the other, maybe he could still be involved. It’s not like he could distance himself completely, even if he wanted to. The business was as much his as it was theirs. Anything his men did on behalf of the company would also touch him. It wouldn't matter if he was involved or not. “We’ll move forward with this plan, as long as Zeus agrees to involve Carmen. I think we should let things settle for a month or two before we bring her in, anyway. We can’t do anything until we look into the pilot. And, we can’t do that until we know who he is. Plus, we have enough on our plate. We need an architect to draw up the plans and Ken needs to locate a construction crew that won’t take us to the cleaners on the building.”

“Agreed,” Hawk relaxed. He firmly believed everything they did, they had to do as a team. If Dax bailed, the entire plan would fail.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Deputy Carter,” Paige answered the ringing phone.

“Dental records are in,” Benny advised. “The pilot is from El Paso, Texas. His name is Holden Driscoll. I've emailed you the details.”

“Anything else I should know?” Paige asked.

“Not from my end,” Benny admitted. “Autopsy showed basically what we thought it would. Driscoll died from blunt force trauma from the impact. No surprises. Let me know when notification has been completed with the family. I’ll contact the wife and let her know how the process works to claim the remains.”

“Will do,” Paige hung up and spotted Jericho. “Benny’s identified the victim. I’ll need to call El Paso and have one of their officers handle notification. Apparently, he was married and now has a widow.”

“Let me know if you have any trouble,” Jericho offered. “I’ll make a call to the boss if necessary. I want this closed out as soon as possible. The sooner we tie up loose ends and turn it over to NTSB, the better.”

“You’re not even curious?” Paige wondered. “You can just drop it and move on?”

“I can and you will, too,” Jericho advised. “We have enough to do without manufacturing busy work just to satisfy our own curiosity. If something comes up regarding that plane, we’ll deal with it. Otherwise, close it out and move on. Any word from Gage?”

“He’s on his way back,” Margie advised. “He said he was able to handle the family without making an arrest.”

“What was Gage on?” Paige asked.

“Another family fight at the Lovell farm,” Margie sighed. “If those two boys don’t learn how to moderate their liquor, someone is going to get seriously injured.”

“One night, or five, in a cell might make that sink in better than placating the parents. Separating a couple of thirty year old’s as if they’re still misbehaving teenagers engaged in harmless sibling rivalry, isn't working.”

“Maybe,” Margie agreed. “But, I doubt locking them in a cell would alter their behavior. That ship sailed years ago.”

“I guess,” Paige dropped back into her chair. Once she read Benny’s report, she located the number for El Paso and made the request. She didn't like passing such a difficult task off to another department but that seemed to be the theme of the day. Pass notification off to El Paso. Pass the investigation off to NTSB. Pass her unanswered questions off to the round file and move on. Paige glanced at the pile of unsolved crimes accumulating in her open file and sighed. She didn't have the energy to tackle those today. “I’m heading out,” she called to Margie. “See you tomorrow.”

Paige stepped through the front door and immediately heard voices. She made her way into the kitchen and spotted Carmen and Sophie at the kitchen table. Photos and notes were scattered across the entire surface of the table. “Am I interrupting?”

“Not at all,” Sophie stood. “Join us. We’re trying to make the final decision on the photographer and decided we need wine. Do you want some?”

“Absolutely,” Paige grabbed a wine glass from the cupboard and joined the women at the table.

“Rough day?” Carmen asked.

“Frustrating day,” Paige corrected. She settled in next to her friend.

“Then wine and good company are just what the doctor ordered,” Carmen smiled, pouring Paige a generous glass of the golden liquid. “Let’s get drunk.”

Paige laughed. Maybe Carmen was right. A little girl time might pull her out of this funk. And, it was probably time she put a little effort into planning her wedding. Sophie and Carmen were great, but she couldn't let them do everything. “Tell me about the photographers.”

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S4

**Tags:** Season 4

---

### [Wild Excursion](https://melaniepsmith.com/wild-excursion/)

**Published:** May 30, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Wild Excursion (S4E2)  A New York couple is missing in the wilderness.  Can they survive in the wild or will a mistake prove fatal?  Dax and the team start to make plans to start up a black ops training facility.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*WILD EXCURSION\*\*\*****

“Maybe we did take a wrong turn,” Sierra Vaughn admitted.

“You think?” Kendall said sarcastically as he gripped the steering wheel tighter and tried to slowly maneuver around the enormous ruts that were so deep, they nearly swallowed the entire tire. He pressed on the gas and hoped he had enough momentum to climb out of the hole. He knew renting a vehicle, even an SUV, was a bad idea. He was from New York. He walked to work, walked to the theater, walked to his favorite restaurants. But, thanks to his wife, he was currently out in the middle of some isolated wilderness, completely lost, nearly out of gas, and fighting to stay on a trail so tiny the vehicle barely fit.

“Don’t take this out on me,” Sierra warned. “We followed the direction that GPS woman gave us.”

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“If we stayed on the highway like I wanted to, the ‘GPS woman’ wouldn’t have said a thing,” Kevin grumbled. “But, no. We’re traveling through the wild west, we have to explore, see the sites, get the whole backwoods experience.”

“Right,” Sierra grumbled. “I’m sure people from Utah go to New York and decide it’s inconvenient and not really important to see the Statue of Liberty. I mean, what’s the point when you can just detour around it and lock yourself in a luxurious hotel room? In fact, I bet they skip the city altogether and spend their time sightseeing on Ocean Parkway — it has a lot of nice beaches.”

Kendall started to reply but hit a hole so large it felt like the bottom of the vehicle hit the ground. The jolt made his foot slip off the pedal, when he slid it back, he pressed down harder than he meant to, and the back of the vehicle began to slide. He slammed on the brakes and ended up sideways on the roadway. Just when he thought things couldn’t get worse, the car died. He tried to turn the key, to restart the engine, but nothing happened.

“What’s wrong?” Sierra asked, worried.

Kendall slammed his hand on the steering wheel. “I think we ran out of gas.”

Sierra’s eyes began to water, but she blinked back the tears. She would not cry. She would not give Kendall another reason to yell at her. A knot began to form in her stomach and her throat constricted. She was on the verge of a panic attack and she needed air.

“Sierra?” Kendall studied his wife, concerned.

Sierra shoved open the door and jumped out of the vehicle. Once the cool air hit her face, she leaned forward and braced her hands on her knees. She’d get through this. They were okay. Someone had to come by, see them, and recognize immediately they were in trouble. She inhaled one long breath and slowly let it out. As she started to take another deep breath, she felt her husband’s hand on her back.

“It’s going to be okay,” Kendall began to gently rub circles down her spine. “Somehow we will figure this out. They have to have Triple A. We’ll just call for help.”

Sierra straightened and turned to face her husband. Before she could say anything, he pulled her against him and pressed a gentle kiss on her temple. “I’m sorry. I was frustrated and I took it out on you.”

“It’s okay,” Sierra straightened. “Technically, you’re not wrong. I did insist we leave the Interstate and explore the old highway. I just thought...”

“You wanted to enjoy the journey not just the destination. I get it,” Kendall pivoted and crouched to retrieve his phone from the console. He frowned as he stared at the display. Nothing. No bars, no signal, no lifeline... no rescue.

“What’s wrong?”

“We don’t have a signal,” he turned the phone so she could see.

Sierra began to turn in a circle and study their surroundings. “Do you think that mountain is in the way? Maybe if we walk up there a little way, we can get high enough to send a text.”

Kendall walked forward and stood on the incline in front of the vehicle. He studied his phone display again — nothing. He raised his phone in the air and turned in a slow circle — nothing. With a sigh, he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I think we need to try. Grab your phone too, and we’ll both watch for a signal.”

Sierra reached inside the car, grabbed her phone and a jacket, then slammed the door shut. The sound seemed to echo forever in the silent, open wilderness. A shiver ran down her spine as she realized just how alone and vulnerable they were out here.

Kendall took his wife’s hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “It’s going to be okay. Let’s continue up this roadway. It’s uphill and we might find an opening where a signal will come through.”

“And if we don’t?” Sierra asked, worried what his answer would be.

“If we don’t, we’ll have to try and walk out,” Kendall decided. “Once we hit that larger road, the one we were on originally before we turned onto this smaller trail, there was sporadic traffic. If we can get back to that road, we should be able to find help.”

Sierra took a deep breath and tried to accept their current dilemma. “Alright,” she pivoted and focused on the trail ahead of them. “Let’s go.”

Twenty minutes later, the couple stood on the crest of a hill. The area was beautiful, but isolated. It was also bright; the entire area was completely covered in snow. And, they still hadn’t found a signal. “I’m afraid calling for help is out. We’re not going to get cell service out here,” Kendall decided. “If we want to walk out, we need to turn back and head in the other direction. Once the sun sets out here, it’s going to get cold.”

“I need water,” Sierra settled onto a rock, she was breathing hard and it felt like she was sucking air through a straw. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“It’s the altitude,” Kendall ran his hand over her head. “I read about it and thought they were exaggerating the effects. Just try to inhale slow, deep breaths. We’re not used to being this high up. We live at sea level where the air is thinner.”

“Why aren’t you winded then?”

“I am, but I started to regulate my breathing ten minutes ago and I think I’m finally getting used to it,” Kendall gave her a sympathetic smile. “Why don’t you wait here. I need to pee.”

“What if I need to pee?” Sierra asked. She didn’t, not yet; but eventually, she would.

“Pick a tree,” Kendall spread his arm out, motioning to the forest.

“That’s easy for you to say,” Sierra grumbled. “You’re a guy. The world is your urinal.”

Kendall laughed. “Membership has its privileges.”

“Just hurry,” Sierra stood. “I’m pretty sure we only think we’re alone out here. There are animals everywhere, and I think they’re watching us.”

“Don’t let a devious squirrel steal your phone,” he called over his shoulder as he headed for the thick trees.

Sierra moved closer to the edge of the mountain range. There was a steep drop-off that led to a huge snow-covered valley. She had never seen anything like this in her life. She was a city girl, always had been. It was the reason she wanted Kendall to leave the main highway and explore a little. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined anything as stunning as this. She also never envisioned the possibility they might get stranded and this isolated without phone service. She moved a few feet to her right and stared at her phone in shock. “Kendall!”

“What’s wrong,” her husband emerged from the trees and rushed toward her.

“It beeped,” she glanced at her phone. “I don’t dare move. I might lose the signal. It only shows two bars, is that enough to make a call?”

“Put it on speaker and try your mom,” he suggested.

Sierra tried, but the call didn’t go through. “Should I try a text?”

“Yes,” Kendall moved closer to shade the phone so they could see it better. “Text your mom. Tell her we’re stranded in the mountains near Manti and we ran out of gas. Tell her to send help. Do you remember the number on that little post where we turned onto the trail?”

“No,” Sierra stood completely still and tried to type. “I think it was thirty-something, but I wasn’t really paying attention.”

“Tell that to your mom, just tell her we’re on a trail labeled thirty-something,” Kendall decided.

The couple stood completely frozen while they waited to see if the text went through. Finally, the status changed from “sent” to “delivered” and then a message popped up that read “Call me.”

Sierra began to type again. Her mother would panic when she read the message, but maybe she needed to. “Okay, we know she got the message and I told her we can’t call her because of bad service, and she needs to call for help.” She glanced down when a new message arrived. “Mom wants me to wait while she calls the police, what should I tell her?”

“I don’t think we should. We’re blocking the road, if someone sees the car, they might stop to help; but, if we’re not there, they may just leave. Tell her we need to get back to the car and that we’ll be fine, even if we’re stranded overnight,” Kendall decided. “Oh and let her know we’ll try to walk back up here tomorrow morning if we haven’t been located by then.”

“You think we’ll have to sleep in the car tonight?” Sierra asked, even more worried now.

“We might.”

Sierra sent the message. When she got an okay from her mom, they started back toward the car.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped back into the office and glanced at Jericho’s assistant. The woman wasn’t herself today. Paige dropped her lunch on the edge of her desk and headed for Margie. “You okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” Margie glanced up. “Headache. I should be able to make it a couple more hours.”

“Or,” Paige settled onto the edge of Margie’s well-organized desk. “You could go home now, and I’ll handle any calls that come in. I don’t have anything pressing, just more paperwork.”

“Paperwork you will never get finished if you have to do my job,” Margie argued.

“Go home,” Jericho stepped from his office. “We’ll handle anything that comes in here.”

“What if you get called out,” Margie hesitated.

“Then I’ll handle the call and the boss can cover the phones,” Paige stood. “Go home already, my lunch is getting cold.”

Margie studied Jericho for several seconds then sighed, stood, and began to gather her things. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Now that we’ve settled that, you want some fries?”

“I don’t know how you eat that junk day after day,” Jericho turned and disappeared into his office.

Paige was settled back in her chair, feet propped on the desk, a French fry in one hand, her Diet Coke in the other. The office was quiet, and she was bored with the paperwork. Her mind began to wander to the situation with Dax and his men. Hawk and Zeus spent two hours the previous evening pitching a proposal for a new business venture. Dax insisted she stay for the entire thing and wouldn’t commit until he discussed it with her privately. Apparently, he was taking this getting married thing seriously. She sort of understood, but the money he was thinking of investing was his life savings. Savings he accrued before he ever met her. Most of it was the money Piper had stolen when they split up and finally returned the last time she came to town. None of it had anything to do with her.

With Dax’s financial backing and leadership, and the men’s expertise, the business would be a huge success. But, what if it wasn’t? Would Dax blame her for not anticipating the pitfalls? She didn’t know anything about business. She certainly didn’t know anything about the market they were trying to break into. The men wanted to buy some land here in Manti and open up a highly specialized training facility; high-level combat and tactical stuff with a state-of-the-art firing range. Paige figured they could easily tap into the security and law enforcement markets. She was just nervous, it was a lot of money and it wasn’t hers. She didn’t think she should have a say. On the other hand, isn’t that how marriage worked — like she’d know. Her mind drifted to her mother then even further back to her father. When she started to think of her own wedding, she remembered why she hadn’t been sleeping. The idea of planning such a big event was making her crazy, tired and grumpy.

 She was grateful for the distraction when Margie’s phone rang. Paige straightened and tried to wipe the French fry grease from her fingers before she snatched up the call. “Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office.” She reached for a scratch pad and bumped her large cup of soda nearly, knocking it over. She grabbed for it, caught it just in time to avoid disaster, but knocked her remaining fries onto the floor. Resigned, she moved her soda out of the way and decided she’d lost her appetite, anyway. “Ma’am,” Paige tried to calm the frantic woman. “I need you to take a deep breath and answer some questions.” Paige saw movement and realized Jericho was standing in the doorway of his office waiting patiently to see what they had.

“Okay, I understand,” Paige tried again. “Ma’am, I seriously need you to stop and take a breath. Tell me your daughter’s name. Okay, Sierra Vaughn. And her husband?”

Jericho moved forward and settled into one of Paige’s visitor chairs. From this end of the conversation, he thought she might need his help.

“Okay, your son-in-law is driving a rental vehicle and he’s not familiar with the area. Yes, I am familiar with New York. I got that. Yes, I understand they rarely drive, and the car is out of gas. Yes, I got that too. Do you know what type of vehicle they rented? No, okay. Do you know where they rented the vehicle? Salt Lake? I assume they picked it up from the airport. Do you know which company? Did they have any idea where they were? No, I’m afraid indicating they are in the mountains doesn’t help much. Do you know if they traveled with plenty of clothing and if they have any food or water with them? I understand you’re not with them, but what are their normal habits when they travel. Do they take snacks and water or do they stop every few hours to pick something up?” Paige shook her head at Jericho in exasperation. “Can I get your phone number? Thank you, and I will also need your daughter’s number. Yes. Okay, please stay by your phone in case I have further questions. Yes, our office will begin an immediate search. I’ll let you know if we locate them. Alright, I’ll be in touch.” Paige hung up the phone and sighed. “Margie needs a raise.”

“I agree,” Jericho shifted. “What do we have?”

“Couple from New York decided to take back roads and explore the scenic beauty Utah has to offer. Somehow, they made a wrong turn and ended up in — and I quote — the mountains near Manti.”

“That’s helpful,” Jericho grumbled.

“Then they ran out of gas on a trail with a brown marker that said thirty-something,” Paige smiled. “I know, that’s not helpful either. If they took Manti Canyon Road, all the trails are in their thirties; thirty-one, thirty-two, thirty-four, thirty-seven.”

“Are you telling me they left the main road and took a rental vehicle up an ATV trail?”

“I’m telling you they sent a text to mom saying they left the main road and turned onto a smaller road marked with a brown sign that had a number thirty-something on it.”

Jericho shook his head. “I’ll call Gage and Lovato,” Jericho stood. “We’re going to need everyone we can get to start driving those trails.”

“I’ll contact Airport PD and see if someone can track down the make and model of the car they rented. On the bright side, mom says her daughter always travels with a cooler full of snacks and water. They won’t starve and they shouldn’t wander off in search of a convenience store.”

“Not funny,” Jericho walked away.

“No,” Paige mumbled. “It’s not, because we’re going to spend the rest of the afternoon looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack.” She called the Airport Police Department and was assured they would track down the car. Then, she dialed her Verizon contact to see what they could tell her about Sierra Vaughn’s phone activity. She was just hanging up when Jericho pulled his door shut.

“We’re meeting Gage and Mike at the mouth of the canyon. I’ll lock up, you go ahead and head out. Susie’s on her way in to handle the phones.”

“I’m working on phone data and Officer Stanway from the airport promised to call as soon as he located the vehicle information. I’ll see you at the mouth,” Paige headed out the back door and slid into her cruiser. Once inside, she called Dax to tell him she was going to be late.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Kendall,” Sierra wheezed. “I am so tired. Please tell me we didn’t get lost again. We should be able to see the car by now.”

Kendall paused, turned and pulled his wife into his arms. “We’re not lost. The car is just around that bend. We have plenty of water and once we get there, you can relax until the police find us.”

“If they find us,” Sierra corrected.

“They will,” Kendall leaned in to give her a quick kiss. “Let’s go. We’ll be there in less than five minutes.”

As they walked, Sierra was sure she could hear something off to the left. “What is that?” she asked as they came around the bend and spotted the car. It was only a few yards away.

“What was what?” Kendall asked, taking her hand.

“That!” she froze.

“Probably a deer or something,” Kendall pulled on her arm to get her moving again.

“I don’t think so,” Sierra rushed forward and continued to walk toward the car at a quickened pace. She glanced to the left and gasped in shocked surprise. “Kendall,” she whispered. “That is not a deer.”

Kendall smiled and turned to glance in the direction his wife was looking. “Don’t panic,” he said when he spotted the large black bear. “We just need to get to the car.” He pulled the keys from his pocket and casually pressed the unlock button. Nothing happened, he was too far away. They continued to watch the wild predator as they slowly made their way toward the vehicle. The bear was watching the couple but hadn’t made any aggressive movements — so far.

Kendall pressed the button again when they were about ten feet from the car. They both began to move faster. Within seconds, he reached out, pulled open the back door and pushed his wife inside. He climbed in behind her and slammed the door shut tight. That did attract the attention of the bear. He watched in horror as the large black carnivore began to stalk their car.

“Kendall,” Sierra gasped in horror. “It’s coming after us and the window is open!”

Kendell lunged over the seat, tried to slide the key into the hole, missed and tried again. This time, he hit his mark. He twisted the key at the same time as he pulled the button on the driver’s door to roll the window back up. Once the passenger window was up, he checked the other three windows just to make sure they were completely secured, then removed the key. He dropped back onto the back seat in relief just as his wife began to scream. “Sierra,” Kendall warned. “You have to stop. That’s not helping and it’s probably going to make him try harder.”

The bear raised up on his hind legs and slammed his front paws onto the top of the car. When that didn’t work, he pressed his nose against the passenger window.

“I am not walking up that road in the morning to call mom,” Sierra said forcefully. “We can sit here and starve to death, but I will not get eaten by a bear.”

Kendall pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, forcing her head against his chest. “We’re going to be okay. He can’t get inside, and the police are looking for us. We have plenty of food and water. We’ll be...”

“What?” Sierra asked.

“Food,” Kendall focused on the sack they had tossed on the floorboard of the backseat. “You didn’t finish your turkey sandwich at lunch. Do you think that’s what he wants? Maybe he can smell it.”

“What if we throw it out,” Sierra wondered. “Do you think he’ll leave if we give it to him?”

“Maybe we should try,” Kendall considered. “We’d have to do it fast. If we unwrap it, roll down the window a little while he’s on the other side of the car, and throw it far enough, maybe we can get the window back up before he makes it around the car. Can you keep watch?”

“Be careful,” Sierra begged. “If I tell you he is coming, just drop it and roll the window back up.”

It worked. Everything went according to plan. Once the window was securely in place, the couple watched intently as the bear slowly approached the discarded sandwich. He sniffed once, then devoured it completely. Kendall and Sierra watched in horror as the large animal returned to the vehicle. This time, he climbed on top of the hood and began clawing at the windshield.

“Why didn’t it work?” Sierra demanded. “Why didn’t he leave?”

Kevin studied the bear, hoping the windshield would hold. “I think he wants more. Don’t look at him. I think I heard somewhere that you should never look an aggressive animal in the eye. Try to ignore him.”

“How?” Sierra shuddered. “That’s pretty much impossible. What if he breaks the window?”

“It will hold,” Kevin said, hoping he sounded more confident than he was. It had to hold, otherwise, they were going to be dinner.

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\*\*\*\*\*

It was just after five and Paige was tired, frustrated and starving. Jericho had insisted they meet in the turnout at five o’clock sharp. So, where was he? She looked up when she heard a vehicle approaching... actually, there were two of them. The black SUV belonged to none other than Hawk. She watched as Dax climbed from the passenger seat. Zeus, Hawk, and Vato — who was still moving slower than the rest — followed.

“What are you doing here?” she wondered.

“We ran into Gage,” Dax pointed at the second vehicle. “He said you haven’t had any luck yet, so we decided to help.”

“And I have food,” Gage approached with a large box.

“Where’s the boss?” Paige asked.

“He and Mike got tied up,” Gage said as he began pulling out Styrofoam containers and placing them on the hood of his truck. “An injured hiker. Looks like he broke his leg. They’re assisting Fire but should be here any minute. The sheriff was talking about doubling up. He didn’t like the idea of being out here alone after dark. When those guys offered to help, I figured they could each ride with one of us and that would keep all four search teams running, rather than condensing into two.”

“Good idea,” Paige glanced at Dax and grinned. “I’ll take Zeus with me.”

Zeus started to respond but stopped at the look Dax was giving him.

“I’m afraid you’re stuck with me,” Dax handed Paige her meal.

“I guess I’m stuck with the boss,” she winked at Zeus. “Sorry, he pulled rank.”

They all looked up when Jericho and Mike Lovato pulled into the clearing.

Once the meal was over, the group marked off trails they had already searched, and Jericho gave out new assignments. Airport PD had come through for them earlier that afternoon so they knew they were looking for a white 4Runner and they even had the license plate. Jericho had Susie put out a BOLO just in case they found their way out of the canyon and didn’t think to call and cancel the search. Every cop in the state was on the lookout for their car and their lost New Yorkers.

“We stop at midnight and pick it back up in the morning if we don’t locate the car,” Jericho ordered. “Meet back here and check out before you go. I want to know all my people are off this mountain before we call it a night. We can start again at seven if we don’t find them.”

“Hopefully, it won’t come to that,” Lovato studied his map then turned to Vato. “You ready?”

“Let’s go,” Vato slowly pushed to his feet and made his way to the patrol car.

“It’s good for him,” Paige decided when Mike pulled away. “He needed to get out and Lo won’t baby him like the rest of you do.”

“We don’t...” Hawk started.

“We do,” Dax decided. “And Paige is right, assisting with this search might do him good.”

“Pull out,” Jericho gave Hawk a nod and the two of them headed for Jericho’s vehicle.

Zeus joined Gage and Dax climbed into Paige’s passenger seat. “You navigate,” Paige instructed and held out a map. “Some of these trails are difficult in a vehicle and will need my undivided attention.”

“Smells like gasoline in here,” Dax observed.

“It’s the gas can. I shoved it in the back and covered it with a blanket, but I don’t think it helped much. The couple ran out of gas,” she glanced at Dax. “It’s necessary. I’d say roll down the window, but it’s starting to get cold.”

Dax stretched out his legs and began pressing buttons on the side of his seat. “I think I like this — seeing you in action. You’re cute when you’re bossy.”

“Just navigate,” Paige smiled. “What’s the first trail on our list?”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Kendall, I’m freezing,” Sierra tried to snuggle closer to her husband.

“Let’s try to get situated,” Kendall focused out the front window.

“Is he gone?” Sierra asked.

“I don’t think so,” he sighed. “I think he’s just over by that tree line. Let’s move some of this stuff into the front seat to make more room. That guy at the rental place said the back seats fold down to make more room. If we can figure out how they work, we should be able to stretch out.”

“We’re going to have to sleep here, aren’t we?”

“Maybe not,” Kendall lifted the largest suitcase onto the passenger seat. “But I think we should get comfortable just in case. We’re going to be okay. We have more food in the cooler and plenty of water. I’ll set out some of the clothes for us to lie on,” he began pulling sweatshirts and t-shirts from his luggage. It didn’t take long to lower the seats and create a make-shift bed. The couple settled in for a long wait.

“Kendall?” Sierra said hesitantly.

“Yeah, babe?”

“I have to go to the bathroom and I don’t think I can wait any longer.”

“You could wander over to that tree line,” he joked.

“Not funny,” Sierra slapped his shoulder. “What should I do?”

“He looks like he’s just foraging around for food,” Kendall decided. “Maybe you could be really quiet and open the door on the opposite side of the car. If you hurry and do your business, I might have enough time to go after you — before he returns. I’ll keep watch and let you know if he starts back this way.”

“What if he runs over here before I can get back inside?”

“I guess you better hurry. If I say he’s coming, get back inside the car and shut the door,” Kendall answered.

“You could be a little more thoughtful and understanding,” Sierra mumbled. “It’s not my fault I can’t just go out the window.” She started rummaging around in her purse for the small package of tissue she always carried. Once she found what she was looking for, she focused on her husband. “Are you sure this will work?”

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Kendall softened. “I promise. Go ahead, I’ll tell you if he starts back this way.”

Sierra gripped the handle on the door. She hesitated, fear coursing through her as she glanced over her shoulder to make sure the bear was still up near the tree line.

“Go ahead,” Kendall encouraged.

Sierra slowly slid the door open then paused to look around again. Once she was sure it was safe, she lowered one leg onto the hard-packed dirt roadway, froze to listen for any indication the bear was headed her way, then slid the other leg out. She held her breath the entire time she was outside, listening intently for the slightest noise. When she heard a twig snap in the distance, she barely stopped herself from screaming as she jumped into the car and slammed the door shut. Her heart was beating a mile a minute and her hands were shaking as she tried to pull on her pants and refasten the button. She glanced up and saw her husband was silently laughing at her.

“It’s not funny,” Sierra pouted. She was barely holding back her tears.

“It’s kind of funny,” Kendall moved forward. “Now it’s my turn. I thought you slamming that door was going to bring him back, but he just looked up, studied the car for a few seconds and started to dig around in those bushes again. Tell me if he heads this way.”

“Maybe I’ll just laugh,” Sierra shifted so she was close to the side window and focused on the bear. She might be mad at her insensitive husband, but she didn’t want him to be eaten by a bear.

Kendall shoved open the door and positioned his body just inside the opening. A few minutes later, he slammed the door shut, locked it, and settled back onto the improvised bed.

Sierra sighed but didn’t take her eyes off the bear. “I’m sorry. This is all my fault. If we stayed on the highway, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“Hey,” Kendall reached out and took his wife’s hand. “Come over here.”

Sierra crawled across the car and snuggled in next to her husband.

“Thank you,” Kendall pressed a gentle kiss to Sierra’s forehead.

“For what?”

“For making me leave the highway,” Kendall said seriously.

Sierra snorted out a laugh.

“I’m serious,” Kendall insisted. “This is an adventure you and I will remember for the rest of our lives. When we’re eighty, sitting on the balcony having breakfast with our grandkids, they’ll think you and I are the coolest grandparents ever. And, we owe it all to you. We explored the wilderness, enjoyed nature, stared down a bear and lived to tell about it.”

Sierra smiled. “The last part still remains to be seen.”

“The cops will find us. And, we’re safe until they do.”

“I hope you’re right,” Sierra grinned. “But, why the grandkids? We’re not going to share our adventures with our children?”

“Oh, heck no,” Kendall smiled. “Don’t want to give the little tykes any ideas. But, the grandkids… well, the rules go out the window when it comes to the grandkids.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“Okay,” Paige said as she pulled back onto the main road. “One more down. Looks like we have two left.” She headed for the next marker.

“Wait,” Dax objected immediately when Paige took a turn onto the next trail.

“What?” Paige stopped and focused on Dax.

“You can’t drive this trail in a vehicle,” Dax glanced around. “You’ll have to back out.”

“I have to clear the trail,” Paige pressed the gas and the vehicle began to move forward.

“Paige,” Dax said more forcefully. “You cannot get your vehicle down this trail. We need to turn around and head to the last one on your list.”

“I think I’m more familiar with the tail system up here than you are,” Paige ignored him.

“Have you ever actually been on this trail?” Dax pressed.

“Not that I remember,” Paige continued down the narrow, rocky path.

“Zee and I rode this trail last week,” Dax informed her. “Sounds like I’m more familiar with it than you.”

“What do you mean you rode this trail?” Paige asked. “What did you ride?”

“The dirt bikes,” Dax shrugged.

“What dirt bikes?” Paige wondered. “I haven’t seen any dirt bikes.”

“They’re stored in Carmen’s back shed.”

“So,” Paige said slowly. “While I’m slaving away at working all day, you guys are out playing.”

“Not every day,” Dax glanced out the side window and recognized their location immediately. “Now, you seriously need to stop.”

Paige bounced over a large rock and gripped the steering wheel tighter when the back-end began to slide. She over-corrected and the side of the SUV hit the dirt embankment that ran the length of the narrow trail. Once she regained control, she glanced at Dax. “I have a job to do, Dax. It would help if you’d stop complaining and help me watch for obstacles.”

“When you crash, get us stuck, or high centered, don’t look at me to save us,” Dax shifted in his seat and gripped the handle above the door. “And, I’d recommend you stop driving like Jimmy Johnson. The ruts on this trail are deep and if your tire drops into one at this speed we’re going to roll for sure.”

“Dax,” Paige said, annoyed. “I don’t tell you how to sheetrock a room. Don’t tell me how to do my job.” She did slow down but refused to admit it was because Dax told her to. She was also starting to think he was right about this trail. If she was having a hard time maneuvering, could a couple from New York that rarely drove even get this far? Probably not. She began looking for a place to turn around.

A few feet ahead, the trail made a significant bend to the right. As Paige rounded the curve, she realized the road contained a massive dip then a rise. Not a problem for a four-wheeler or a dirt bike, but there was no way her vehicle would make it through without getting stuck. She slammed on the brakes. The back wheels spun out on the soft, powdery dirt and the vehicle started to slide. Before she could regain control the front tire hit a huge rock, and she barely avoided a rollover. She turned the wheel and the vehicle jumped over an embankment that was at least a foot tall and came to rest on the flat surface of a meadow. Before Dax could say I told you so, she flung open her door and jumped from the vehicle.

Dax took a deep breath, opened the door, and casually stepped outside. One look at the right front tire and he knew they were in trouble. He just hoped Paige had a spare. He glanced up and saw she was several feet away, pacing. He moved to the front of the SUV, leaned against the front bumper, and waited.

Paige was tired and irritated. She was also trying to avoid the inevitable. When she returned to Dax, she was going to have to eat crow — he’d never let this one go. She paced back and forth a couple more times in frustration before she turned and went to face the music. She expected him to make a snide comment the moment she approached. He didn’t. He remained silent as she made her way past him and leaned forward, resting her head on her forearms.

“You ready to tell me what’s going on?” Dax asked softly.

Paige raised her head and studied Dax for several seconds. What was he asking? “I have a couple of city slickers from New York missing in the wilderness, a flat tire, and it’s getting darker by the minute.”

“That’s not what I’m asking and you know it,” Dax stared past Paige into the darkness. “I’m trying not to take any of it personally, but it is personally... isn’t it?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Paige stood. “I have a tire to change.”

Dax caught her around the waist and pulled her against him. To his surprise, she went willingly. In fact, she practically collapsed against him, resting her head against his shoulder. “Talk to me, Paige. If you’re having seconds thoughts, if you’re not ready to be my wife, I need to know.”

“I’m not having second thoughts,” Paige insisted.

“You never sleep, you’re not eating and right now, if I walked away, I’m not entirely sure you’d remain standing,” Dax argued.

“I’m not having seconds thoughts,” Paige straightened. “If I woke up tomorrow and realized the wedding was over and you and I were married — well, I’d be thrilled, ecstatic, blissfully happy as I began my life as Mrs. Hamilton.”

“You’re stressed over the wedding.” Dax realized. “You’ve been avoiding me because you don’t want to plan the wedding.”

“I’m... I’ve just been busy,” Paige tried. “I’m not avoiding you?”

“You do know you don’t have to do it all alone.”

“Okay,” Paige relented. “You’re right. I asked Jericho to conduct the ceremony, but that’s as far as I got. I tried to start a list, you know order flowers, pick a dress, pick a date... but, my heart begins to race and I can’t breathe. I’m pretty sure planning our wedding is going to give me a stroke. I’m beginning to think I made a mistake. That hospital chapel is sounding pretty good right about now.”

Dax laughed and pulled her in for a hug. “We will plan the wedding — together. And Carmen is chomping at the bit to do the shopping and organizing. Let her help. Let her get started and we can make the final decisions together.”

“I’m afraid if I let Carmen start the planning, by the time the whole thing is over I’ll have her plan the whole thing and she’ll never speak to me again,” Paige confessed. “You have no idea how appealing that is to me. Just pick a date and time, tell me where to show up and I’ll be there. That’s my idea of the perfect wedding.”

“I don’t think you really mean that,” Dax gave her a gentle kiss on the top of her head. “And, we will discuss this further but I think we need to get that tire switched out before it gets any darker.”

“I’ll do it,” Paige started to pull away. “I got us into this mess.”

Dax tightened his grip. “I have a proposal.”

“You sure you want to go there?” Paige asked. “Your last proposal was a bit of a disaster.”

“True,” Dax smiled. “But, I think you’re a changed woman and this one will be better.”

“Propose away,” Paige told him skeptically.

“First,” Dax settled back against the hood and pulled Paige with him. “I have a demand.”

“Careful, Ace. You know how I feel about demands,” Paige warned.

“When we leave here, I drive.” He leaned in for a kiss. He was about to deepen the contact when Paige pulled away.

“Working here,” Paige objected. “Which is why I’m also driving. My job, my vehicle.”

Dax gave her another kiss.

“Dax,” Paige scolded.

“I doubt the squirrels will run off and tell the good sheriff you kissed your boyfriend,” Dax countered. “My demand is this. You let me drive the rest of the night and when we get home, as a reward for relinquishing control, I’ll give you a nice long message and work all those knots out of your shoulders.”

“How about I drive, and you still give me the message?” She was only fighting this on principle. She actually welcomed a break and she trusted Dax to be safe.

“Nope,” Dax took her hand and led her to the back of the truck. “Is this blanket clean or is it covered in some kind of bodily fluid I don’t want to know about?” He held out a folded wool blanket that she had thrown on the top of her equipment pile.

“It’s new,” Paige frowned.

“Good,” Dax led Paige away from the vehicle and shook out the blanket. He spread it onto the ground and gave her a gentle shove.

Paige lost her balance and fell to the ground, exactly where Dax wanted her. “Okay,” she laughed. “You can drive. But I get a really long message.”

“Good,” Dax moved back to the vehicle and began unloading gas cans, canvas bags, and plastic boxes in an attempt to access the spare tire compartment.

“You didn’t say what your proposal was,” Paige realized.

Dax pulled the tire and the jack out of its hiding place and set it aside. He moved back to stand over Paige. “My proposal is that you stay here and relax while I fix that,” he pointed backward. “I’ll get the tire changed and everything tucked back inside while you take a nap.”

Paige snorted. “Not likely.”

“And in return, I get one day,” Dax concluded.

“I don’t understand,” Paige sat up.

“One day,” Dax said again. “Twenty-four hours. You, me, and the chipmunks. I’ll rent a couple ATV’s and we can come up here and explore. We’ll pack a lunch and make an entire day of it. No Jericho, no Gage, no work, and definitely no wayward Rangers. Just you and me and the great outdoors. You take a vacation day so the sheriff can’t call you in.”

Paige considered. “I could just borrow the ATV’s from the office and call it a training day.”

“Nope,” Dax disagreed. “We are going on a stay-cation. If it’s training, Walters can order you back to work. I want your undivided attention for an entire day.”

“I could probably swing that,” Paige decided.

“Then it’s a deal?”

“Alright,” Paige agreed. “I don’t know when I can take the day, but I’ll ask Jericho. We might want to wait until things warm up. We still can’t get up on top and where there’s not snow it’s pretty muddy.”

“I don’t want to wait,” Dax stretched out on the ground to find the best place to put the jack. “Anyway, right now we have the entire mountain to ourselves. Well, except for a couple of New Yorkers. I like it better this way.”

Paige sobered. “We have to find them tonight. Sierra’s mother assured me they could make it at least one night, but if they’re in a rental, they probably don’t have blankets or a means of staying warm. I doubt they realize just how cold it gets once the sun goes down.”

“We can only do our best,” Dax slid the jack into position. “Now, you relax while I take care of this.”

Paige settled back onto the blanket. She was tired and it was nice to have a guy pamper her for a change. Normally, it was her and her colleagues coming to the rescue. For once, she wasn’t going to argue. Instead, she’d relax and try to think of a way to be a better partner. Dax was a good man and she was lucky to have found him. She wanted him to feel the same.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax set the gas cans at the back of the cargo compartment of the police unit and closed the door. He cautiously approached Paige, not wanting to frighten her. If he did, he might just get shot. He was a little surprised she’d actually fallen asleep, but he also knew she hadn’t slept for at least three nights. Not well. He was sure it was the reason she’d given in so easily. He settled in next to her head and gave her shoulder a gentle shake.

Paige bolted upright and looked around. “I’m awake.”

“Good,” Dax stood. “It’s all fixed, let’s head out. We still have one more trail to search.”

“I can’t believe I fell asleep,” Paige stood and gathered up the blanket. “How long was I out?”

“Not long,” Dax took her hand. “I just finished loading everything back up. I’d estimate you were only out for a few minutes.”

“A few minutes too many,” Paige grumbled as she climbed into the passenger’s seat. “I can’t believe I fell asleep on the job.”

“Technically,” Dax disagreed. “You were on a break. I believe federal labor laws require at least fifteen minutes down for every four hours you work. That means you still have at least five more minutes before you’re back on the clock.”

“I’m pretty sure law enforcement is exempt from that regulation,” Paige reached for the door.

Dax didn’t move. “I won’t tell if you don’t.” He laughed, turned and slammed the door shut.

“Thanks,” Paige said softly when Dax climbed behind the wheel.

“For?”

“All of it,” Paige turned to watch out the front window. “Changing the tire, not giving me a hard time about it and driving.”

Dax glanced at her then focused back on the trail. “We’re a team.” He carefully maneuvered back onto the trail and slowly made his way back out to the main roadway. “Where to?”

“The trail is just up the road from here,” Paige focused on the map. “It’s a fairly easy trail, nothing like that last one. I have been on this one — several times.”

Dax turned on the trail and slowed. Paige flipped on a spotlight and the immediate area was instantly illuminated.

“I don’t know if they would be on the trail, or if they pulled off to the side. We need to watch the tree lines and the meadows as well as the road,” Paige said absently as she focused on the area.

“The road has a lot of ruts, but it’s fairly easy to maneuver,” Dax decided. “This could be the trail.”

They traveled in silence for over a mile. Dax would slow when he spotted something, Paige would spotlight it and they moved on. “Do you think they got this far?” Dax asked.

“You never know,” Paige answered absently. “Let’s keep going. This trail goes on for miles and then connects with the upper loop that eventually leads to a couple reservoirs. There are some high vistas that might have cell reception.”

They had traveled several miles when they spotted the white vehicle. Dax slowly maneuvered over a difficult section of the trail, expertly missing the deep ruts. “I’m surprised he made it through those.”

“Maybe it’s the reason he spun out,” Paige focused on the vehicle blocking the trail.

Dax pulled the patrol unit up next to the rental that contained their missing persons and put the vehicle in park. “I assume you want to call this in.”

“Yeah,” Paige grabbed the mic for her radio. “Dispatch, Carter.”

“Go ahead,” came Susie’s cheerful voice.

“I’ve located our missing New Yorkers,” she relayed the GPS coordinates. “I’ll be out of my unit making contact.”

“I’m headed your way,” Jericho advised. “ETA ten minutes.”

“Copy,” Paige turned to face Dax. “I need you to wait here.” She pointed to her rifle case on her back seat. “If there’s trouble, you’re my back. I don’t expect anything but…”

“But you never know,” Dax glanced at the black case then back to Paige. “You sure you don’t want me to come with?”

“No,” Paige pushed open the door. “Just watch my six.”

Dax climbed from the vehicle, swung open the back door and unsnapped the brackets on the case. He checked the safety, lifted out the rifle and made sure it was loaded. He stood just inside the door and rested the rifle on the backseat, determined to be ready if there was trouble. He continued to watch as the woman he loved approach the strange vehicle. The muscles in his gut tightened and he realized just how much he didn’t like Paige approaching that vehicle alone. Was something wrong? Was this a trap? Why hadn’t the couple exited the vehicle? They should have jumped out in relief the instant they pulled up.

Paige pointed her flashlight into the front of the vehicle and realized it was empty. She moved to the back window and saw movement. Someone was inside. She knocked on the window and waited. She could see a figure leaning over the seat. It took several seconds but eventually, the window rolled down a couple inches. “I’m Deputy Carter. Can I get you to open the door?”

“You have to get back in your car!” the young guy said urgently.

“Sir,” Paige said again. “I’m the police. I need you to open the door.”

“There’s a bear!” Sierra yelled. “And he’s coming back.” She pointed out the window behind Paige.

Dax spotted the bear seconds before he saw Paige spin around and draw her gun. He rested the rifle on the open door as he moved to the front of the vehicle and pressed on the horn. The bear jumped back, growled and then darted into the thick trees.

“He...” Sierra began then jumped when Paige knocked loudly on the window.

“Come on, you two,” Paige said loudly. “I need you to move over to my vehicle.”

Sierra tossed Kendall his shoes then grabbed hers and moved toward the door. Kendall waited for his wife to slowly grip the hand. She glanced back at him hesitantly “Go on, we’re safe.”

Once Sierra stepped from the car she paused and waited for Kendall. He slid outside and reached for her hand.

“He left,” Sierra whispered.

“We have to move,” Paige ordered. “I need you in my car.” She moved forward, grateful the couple rushed ahead of her. Once they reached her vehicle, she opened the back door and slide out the rifle case. The instant the couple was secured inside she turned back to Dax. “You got this?” Paige asked, glancing at the tree line where the bear had disappeared. “I need to get gas into that car so we can get out of here. I didn’t like the way that bear was acting.”

“I got it,” Dax frowned. He thought he saw a shadow headed this way. “I just spotted something to the left of where he fled. Stay alert.” He didn’t like the way the bear had acted either.

Paige set the gas can on the ground and straightened to secure the back door when Jericho and Hawk pulled up. Jericho climbed from the vehicle and glanced cautiously around. Something was up. Dax was standing guard. But it couldn’t be too serious or Paige wouldn’t be working on car maintenance.

Hawk spotted Dax and immediately pulled his weapon and moved in next to his friend. “Where’s the threat?”

“Black bear,” Dax pointed to the bear that had clearly returned. “I scared him away but for some reason, he’s back.”

“Paige?” Jericho grabbed the can and moved toward the disabled car. “Give me the status.”

“The status is a crazed black bear that doesn’t seem to want to leave,” she unscrewed the gas cap and glanced back at the bear. “Dax scared him away with the car horn but he didn’t go far. He should be ten miles away somewhere up in those hills by now, Instead, he spooked but returned. Why?”

“I’ll call Manzano,” Jericho decided. “If I had to guess, someone — or several someone’s — fed that bear. He associates vehicles with food and he wants more.

“And, he’ll do it again,” Paige realized. “Will Fish & Game relocate him?”

“It’s out of my control,” Jericho frowned. “But I intend to make sure they understand my position on the matter. In a few months, this canyon is going to be covered with unsuspecting campers. That animal is a public safety hazard and I want him gone.”

Paige emptied the gas can into the vehicle, replaced the cap and headed back to her unit. She opened the back door and focused on the terrified couple. “Did you guys feed him?”

“Uh…” Sierra glanced at her husband.

“We had a sandwich in the back seat,” Kendall admitted. “He was focused on that side of the car so we thought he could smell it. I opened the window and chucked it out, hoping that would make him go away.”

“It probably made him stick around,” Paige advised. “I need your keys.”

“Oh,” Kendall pulled the keys from his pocket. “Do I need to go back? I mean, I’d like Sierra to stay in here with you. But, I should probably get the car out of here. That guy at the rental place said we couldn’t let anyone else drive.”

“I’m an exception,” Paige took the keys. “I’ll have Dax drive you out of here and I’ll follow in the rental.”

“If you take the couple back to the station,” Dax offered. I can wait here with the sheriff and me and Hawk can transport the car when we’re done.”

Paige turned to Jericho. “Any word from the feds?”

“Manzano is heading up himself,” Jericho advised. “He wants to observe the bear tonight and satisfy himself that it really is a threat. I think Dax’s plan is a good one. Gage and Lovato are both headed this way. I’ll divert Mike and tell him to hook up with you and accompany you back to the station. Gage and Hawk can continue this way and help out if we need them.”

Paige turned to focus on Dax. “Alright, but don’t forget our deal.”

“A promise is a promise,” Dax grabbed her around the waist and gave her a quick kiss.

“Working here,” Paige objected. “Now get out of my way. I need to get these two out of here and Sierra needs to call her mom. Then, I’ll make sure they get settled into a room for the rest of the night. I might be late.”

“We might be late,” Jericho frowned when the bear turned and started back toward them. Dax reached in and leaned on the horn again. The bear disappeared as he darted back into the trees.

“Give the girl her gun back,” Jericho pulled a tactical shotgun from his truck and held it out to Dax. He kept the rifle for himself. “And, I’ll pretend I didn’t see those pistols the two of you are carrying on your hip.”

“We’ve got permits,” Dax assured him. “We’re legal and lucky for you old man, we know how to use them.”

“Yeah,” Jericho grumbled. “I just won the lottery.”

They watched as Paige pulled away with the lost couple from New York.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige interviewed Kendall and Sierra then waited while Sierra had a long conversation with her mother. Once she finally convinced her worried mom that she really was okay, Paige ushered them out the door. She drove down Main Street and the Vaughn’s decided to stay at the Manti County Village Motel. It was late when she finally got them settled and assured them someone would be there first thing in the morning with their vehicle.

She pulled into her driveway and sighed. Jericho was on the front porch waiting.

“I was planning to catch you at the office, but it took longer to deal with the bear problem than I anticipated,” Jericho stood. “Dax intercepted me to let me know you’d already left.”

Paige climbed the stairs then settled into the chair next to the one Jericho had been waiting in. “What’s up?”

“You get the kids settled?”

“Yeah,” Paige sighed. “And mom’s been assured her daughter is okay and won’t be traumatized for life.”

“You sure about that?” Jericho asked. “The traumatized part?”

Paige laughed. “I think I am. By the time they got checked in at the Country Village, they were laughing and joking. Kendall was entertaining us with the lively version of his Utah adventure he plans to relay to his grandchildren.”

“I’m glad,” Jericho straightened. “That bear was a problem. Manzano started out with a lecture about wild animals and how people have to learn to interact with them. Then, the bear charged. He put him down with a tranquilizer and called in a team to extract him, but the thing got close enough, I think it even scared our local game expert. I guess he had a change of heart and realized what would happen if a kid happened by on one of those 90cc machines. He came around to my way of thinking right quick.”

“Will they be able to relocate him, or do they have to put him down?” Paige wondered.

“He’s working on shipping it to some remote, rarely visited area like Alaska,” Jericho assured her. “Now, what’s going on with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re exhausted and not yourself,” Jericho pushed. “You’ve been that way for days. Is it the wedding?”

“I know I asked you to conduct the ceremony,” Paige sighed. “But that’s as far as I’ve gotten. When I think about ordering a cake, picking flowers, dresses...”

“You hyperventilate?”

“Basically,” Paige admitted. “I can’t sleep. I have nightmares about shopping... hours and hours of shopping. I just know I’m going to forget something important.”

“You have people that are willing to help you,” Jericho said seriously.

“So I’m told,” Paige settled further into the chair. “I’ll figure it out. But enough about that. What brought you to my humble home this late in the evening?”

“Just checking on a friend,” Jericho studied her. “How do you plan to handle the stress? I know how you are, Paige. You’re great with details if you're working a case. Nothing slips by. But when it comes to organization and paperwork...”

“I suck?”

Jericho laughed. “You do. And I need you back at one-hundred percent.”

Paige considered, now was as good a time as any. “I promised Dax I would ask for a day off. He wants twenty-four hours of ‘us’ time. Something about communing with the squirrels.”

“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Jericho decided. “Take Friday.”

“Are you sure the office is covered?”

“I’m positive,” Jericho gave her knee a pat. “But, take the whole weekend. Head up to my cabin and spend Friday communing. Then, take Saturday and Sunday to sit down with that man of yours and hammer out some of the details. At the very least, you should be able to set the date. You already know most of the other details. You want that bigshot General of yours to walk you down the aisle.”

“Um...”

“No, it doesn’t bother me,” Jericho knew exactly what she was thinking. In an alternate universe, he would have been her step-father. “I’m perfectly happy with the role you gave me. Carmen will obviously be your bridesmaid and Dax probably already asked the motley crew of his to be groomsmen. It doesn’t have to be fancy, that doesn’t fit either one of you. Just hammer out the basics. Set a date. Decide where you want the ceremony to happen. The rest will work itself out.”

“You sure about the cabin?”

“Positive,” Jericho gave her another pat. “I’ll get you the keys tomorrow. It’s still a mess up there but you can use the ATV’s in the shed. Just replace the gas. Spend the day enjoying nature then get down to business. I think you’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish without distractions.”

“Okay,” Paige stood. “I think I’m going to take you up on that. Maybe if the two of us work on it together, I won’t have a mental breakdown before I say I do.”

Jericho stood. “This is one of those times I really wish your mother was still here,” he whispered before he pulled her into a fatherly hug. “Hang in there. You’ll get through this and I’m here if you need me.”

“Thanks,” Paige cleared her throat. She was also spending a lot of time wishing she had her mom to help her. Chaya Carter would know exactly how to plan an amazing wedding. Unfortunately, Paige took after her father. “Goodnight, Jericho. And, thanks.”

“Any time, kid.”

Paige watched as he silently made his way to his vehicle and slowly drove away. She knew he would be thinking of Chaya Carter tonight as much as Paige was. With a deep sigh, she turned and stepped into her house. It was time to find Dax. She wanted her massage.

“Hey, babe,” Dax was sitting on the bed watching something on YouTube while he waited. “That didn’t take too long. You deal with Walters?”

“Yeah,” she settled onto the bed next to him. “How come you left him alone on the front porch? That wasn’t very hospitable of you.”

“He wanted it that way,” Dax shrugged. “Said he just needed a minute and preferred to wait outside. I offered to sit with him and relax with a cold beer but he declined. I think he was feeling nostalgic or something. Anyway, he wanted to be alone. I thought I’d grant his wish.”

“He brought up mom,” Paige said softly. “I think maybe he’s been thinking about her. You know, ever since I told him about the wedding.”

“Makes sense,” Dax shut off the television. “Now, before I fulfill my promise, I got a call from Sophie Porter tonight.”

“Why’d she call you?”

“She wanted to make sure I was going to be okay with a long-term visitor.”

“Meaning?” Paige frowned.

“She will be arriving on Tuesday,” Dax informed her. “She also wanted to know if my mother was helping you plan the wedding. She’s feeling motherly and wants to help but didn’t want to step on any toes.”

“I never asked about your parents,” Paige realized. “When do I get to meet them in person?”

“They’ll come out for the wedding but have no plans to crash before then,” Dax informed her.

“But Sophie’s coming on Tuesday?” Paige mused. “Did she say why? Or how long she plans to stay? She never travels without Nathan.”

“She said she considers you a daughter,” Dax explained. “She desperately wants to help you plan the wedding. In light of our recent conversation, I think she has perfect timing. You’re like a daughter to her, Paige. I think you should let her help.”

Paige dropped onto the couch and considered. She also thought of Sophie as family. Maybe having her here would help relieve the stress and anxiety she’d been feeling. Maybe it would help fill the void her mother’s absence made. “I agree,” Paige finally told him. “Now, I have news from Jericho I think you’re going to like. Our twenty-four hours was extended to seventy-two. She waited for him to get settled before she explained their new plans.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S4

**Tags:** Season 4

---

### [Explosive Appeal](https://melaniepsmith.com/explosive-appeal/)

**Published:** April 28, 2019
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Explosive Appeal (S4E1)  The team is still in Arizona.  Paige responds to Dax's surprise proposal.  Paige and the team respond to a bomb threat at the local high school.  Is the suspect just looking for attention, or is there something more urgent simmering under the surface?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*EXPLOSIVE APPEAL\*\*\*****

**Previously on Paige Carter...**

The team is still in Arizona. Dax and his team have finally stopped the national security threat, but it has come at a high price. Vato is in surgery fighting for his life. Agent Wilkens is working to locate the missing high powered, military grade weapons before they are shipped overseas and end up in the hands of terrorists. Dax surprises Paige with a proposal she didn’t expect.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/grand-canyon-828762_640.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/FB-Post-Medium.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Explosive-Appeal.pdf)

Dax put his large hand behind Paige’s neck and pulled her forward. “Paige Carter?” he said when her mouth was just inches from his.

“Yes, Dax Hamilton?” Paige whispered.

“I am undeniably and irrevocably in love with you.”

“Ditto,” Paige laughed.

Dax sobered and locked eyes with Paige. “Marry me.”

Paige took an abrupt step backward. “What?”

Dax grinned and waited.

“Are you kidding me?” Paige demanded. “You’re proposing here? In a deserted hallway — in a hospital? Now? While your friend is somewhere down there…” she flung her arm outward. “Still in surgery, fighting for his life?”

Dax continued to grin. “Seemed appropriate… for us.”

Paige stared silently for several seconds. Dax was serious. Her heart began to beat way too fast and her breathing became labored. “You already maneuvered your way into my house. I still don’t know how that happened, but apparently my neighbor moved in while I was dealing with dead bodies, kidnapping plots, terrorists trying to kill us all, and exploding warehouses. No discussion, no planning — just wham there you are. Now you want to get married! In the middle of all this chaos? Maybe we should just march into the chapel right here at the hospital and see if we can find the local padre. We could have the ceremony tonight. You know, get it over with before we head back home.”

“Never mind,” Dax straightened, livid at her reaction and more than a little hurt by her rejection. “Oh, and I’ll rectify the rest of that as soon as I get home.” He pivoted and walked silently away, never looking back as he disappeared around the corner.

Paige started to panic. What was she doing? Why had she said that — out loud? Okay, so every time she stopped to think about their arrangement, it gave her a little jolt. She’d always been independent. She never truly thought she’d have her own happily ever-after. That was something other people had, like Nathan and Sophie. For her, relationships were fleeting — not serious commitments. So, she panicked. But, was the proposal really that surprising — especially after everything they’d gone through this past year. Just a few hours ago, she had demanded the Secretary of Defense himself arrange an emergency flight to Arizona so she could make sure Dax was safe — that he was okay? Hadn’t she panicked the entire way down, unwilling to consider the possibility he was seriously injured again... or worse? So, why the overreaction? Why did she just make Dax feel unwelcome, like he was an intruder in her home? In her life. “Dax!” she called as she began to run.

Dax heard Paige call his name, but he was done. She didn’t want him around. Fine. He’d rectify that immediately. Okay, sure, he knew his proposal would take her by surprise. He surprised himself when he voiced the question out loud. But once it was out there — hanging in the air between them — he expected her to say yes. Instead, she made it clear just how much she didn’t want him. Not as a husband, and apparently not as a roommate. Dax felt Paige’s hand on his arm, but he didn’t stop. Not until she jumped in front of him and shoved his body against the wall.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/grand-canyon-1956139_640.jpg)

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“I’m sorry,” Paige swallowed the lump forming in her throat.

“Okay,” Dax tried to move around her.

“No,” Paige held firm. “It’s not. And, I didn’t mean what I said back there.”

Dax raised an eyebrow.

Paige bit her bottom lip, knowing if she smiled Dax would misinterpret her response. “Well, I have wondered a time or two how we ended up living together. And, I can admit, it’s unnerved me a little. But not because I want you to move out. It’s just... new and unexpected.”

“I need to check on Vato,” Dax tried to sidestep but Paige moved with him.

“Do you want an answer to your question first?”

“I already got my answer, loud and clear,” Dax ran a frustrated hand through his hair and leaned his head back until it collided with the wall. “I’m tired and you’re right. It’s not the place to have this discussion.”

“My answer is yes,” Paige waited until Dax opened his eyes.

“Why?”

“Because I am undeniably and irrevocably in love with you,” Paige did smile now.

“Not good enough,” Dax insisted. “You claimed to love me before I popped the question, and the answer was still — get out of my house.”

“No,” Paige said slowly, knowing he wouldn’t make this easy. He was trying to hide it, but she’d hurt him, and she was truly sorry for that. “I never said I wanted you out of my house. I said I wasn’t sure how you got there in the first place. Now I’m saying I don’t just want you to stay, I want you to be contractually obligated to be there.”

“Why don’t we talk about it when we get home?” Dax offered again.

Paige dropped down on one knee and grabbed his hand. “Dax Hamilton, will you marry me? I was an idiot. I ruined your proposal and I want a do-over. Will you please be my ball and chain?” She grinned as she batted her eyelashes at him.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/B-hospital-corridor-hospital-hallway-hospital-PHC77S9.jpg)

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Dax smiled at that. “Stand up.” He lifted her off the floor, pivoted and sandwiched her body between him and the wall. “Mine was better.” Once he had her where he wanted her, he pressed his mouth to hers. The instant they made contact, he relaxed knowing things were right between them again. The woman would drive him insane; but, he realized, she was worth every aggravating minute. Loving her might be a challenge, but it was a challenge he would face willingly — for the rest of his life. He pulled back a little so he could focus on her face. He had to know if she really wanted this the way he did; or, if she was just doing it for him. “I don’t want you to say yes unless it’s what you want.”

“Yes,” Paige gave him a quick kiss. “I want to marry you, Dax Hamilton.” She kissed him again. “I love you and I want to be your wife. I could ask the nurse to let me broadcast our news over the loudspeaker. Maybe that would convince you I’m serious.”

“I don’t think that will be necessary. But,” Dax grinned. “Should I ask the nurse for directions to the chapel?”

“Nope. I want to marry you in Manti,” Paige finally relaxed. “I want Nathan to walk me down the aisle. I want Carmen to be my bride’s maid. I want Jericho, not some stranger, to conduct the service — if that’s okay with you. And, I even want that obnoxious band of militants you call friends to sit in the audience and cheer you on.”

“Then, let’s get married,” Dax pulled her closer to give her a proper kiss this time.

That’s how Carmen and Zeus found them.

“Hey, you two,” Zeus called. “We’ve been looking all over for you. The doc came out and said Vato made it through surgery. He’s still not out of the woods, and it’s gonna be touch and go throughout the night, but we can stop in for a minute if we hurry and we stay quiet.”

Dax ignored his friend completely. When Paige tried to pull away, he gripped her by the back of her neck, shifted, and deepened the kiss.

“Uh,” Zeus cleared his throat. “Hello? I get the happy reunion and all, but if we don’t hurry, they won’t let us in.”

Dax let Paige pull away this time, straightened, took her hand and casually made his way down the hallway. He didn’t say a word as he walked past Zeus and Carmen.

“What was that all about?” Zeus asked.

“No idea,” Carmen shrugged. Paige and Dax were acting strange. “But we better catch up or you won’t get to see Vato.”

Dax glanced at Paige and grinned. His smile widened when she glanced at her left hand and wiggled her ring finger.

“Don’t look so happy,” Paige whispered. “I’m pretty sure it’s not official until you seal the deal.”

Dax lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Don’t you worry about that. You’ll get your diamond.”

Paige frowned as they rounded the corner. “Um, I can’t...” She stopped when she spotted Hawk and the rest of the men. They could discuss the actual ring once they were home. She didn’t want a big diamond. She wouldn’t be able to wear one. It would just get in the way while she worked. Somehow, she’d have to make Dax understand that. Not tonight, though. She’d already messed this whole thing up enough tonight. They’d just go in, see Vato, and work out the details later.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax stepped into Vato’s room and headed for the couch. It was early, but he wanted to be here when his friend woke up. He still couldn’t believe the idiot had jumped in front of a bullet — for him. It was the second time one of his men risked their own life to save his. The first time Maverick lost his life. Now, Vato was recovering but he would never be the same. It would kill the stoic soldier when he learned the news. It was going to destroy the man’s life, knowing he couldn’t return to active duty. Dax planned to do everything in his power to make the transition easier. He settled onto the couch to wait.

Zeus slid into the room and spotted Dax. The look on his friend’s face told Zeus everything he needed to know. Dax felt responsible for Vato and he was suffering with the guilt. “I’d tell you to let it go, but I know you won’t.” He dropped onto the couch next to his friend.

Dax remained silent.

“Can we talk about something else?”

“I’d appreciate it,” Dax said flatly.

“Good,” Zeus settled back and crossed one ankle over the other. “I want to talk about business.”

“Before you commit to something back home, don’t you think you should know what Carmen has planned for the future?”

“We’re working on that,” Zeus frowned. “But it’s out of our control.”

“Which is why talking business is futile,” Dax insisted. “Until I know if you’re actually staying, or if you’ll have to bail on me, I’m not getting into a big project with you.”

“I told you...” he didn’t finish because Vato shifted and tried to sit up.

“Welcome back,” Dax stood and helped his friend into a sitting position. “How are you doing?”

“I don’t need to be pampered,” Vato grumbled. “And, the doctor already broke the news so you’re off the hook. I’m fine. You and the guys might as well head home. They’ll release me in a couple of days, and I can head to the base so they can process me out.”

“And then what?” Dax asked.

Vato shrugged. “I’ll figure it out. The rest of you guys did. It’s not the end of the world.”

“I have a better idea,” Dax returned to the couch. “We’ll hang out here and wait for the doc to release you. Then, you can head back to Manti with me and the rest of the guys, and we’ll touch base with Porter once you’re settled.”

“There’s no reason...”

“I like that idea better,” Zeus interrupted. “We’re stuck here until Wilkins and the rest of the feds complete their inventory, anyway. They want us to stay close in case they have questions. And, I’m kind of getting used to this couch.” He bounced a couple times before he stood and made his way toward the door. “Now that we finalized a plan, I’ll be back in an hour with Carmen and the others.” He slipped out the door and disappeared, not waiting for an answer.

\*\*\*\*\*

**Three Months Later…**

Paige sipped the last of her coffee and gently set the cup on the table. She loved it out here — especially this early in the morning. With all the guys milling around, it was the only time she could get a quiet moment to herself. Hawk and Zeus were restless, Vato was miserable and obstinate. He took his foul mood out on anyone brave enough to venture into his universe. Paige was coming dangerously close to her limit with that man. She understood his disappointment and his struggles. The bullet had caused extensive internal damage and nicked a vertebra in Vato’s back. Physical therapy was helping, but the doctors told him not to expect a full recovery. They wouldn’t know the extent of permanent damage for another eight or nine months. Vato took the news hard and was struggling to come to grips with his new reality. But, it was time to get over it already. Yeah, he took a bullet, and the injury ended his military career. The other guys found a way to settle, Vato would just have to do the same.

But, they hadn’t. Not really. Zeus was still on edge, waiting to hear what the Bureau would do with Carmen. Nathan was trying to work a deal behind the scenes to keep Carmen on his team and working on special FBI projects on the side. Paige hoped he succeeded because if Carmen had to go back to work for Agent Grey... well, Paige wasn’t sure her friend would survive. No doubt the egomaniac would shove her back into the dungeon. Hawk was waffling. She could tell he wanted to stay, but job opportunities in Manti were... limited for a man with his skills. And Dax was busy remodeling her basement. At least Ken was settled back home in Nephi with his family and Doc Jeeves had flown out a month ago to hook up with his wife on some humanitarian mission that desperately needed another doctor.

Paige sighed and began to absently twist her engagement ring. Her life was way more complicated than she wanted it to be at the moment. So complicated, she hadn’t even started to plan her wedding. The one and only step she’d taken was asking Jericho if he’d perform the ceremony. They didn’t know where they would gather, hadn’t settled on a date, and every time thought about the guest list — she got a massive headache. She glanced at the ring, amused at herself. The nervous twisting was becoming a habit. She had to admit, Dax understood her. She should never have worried about some gaudy diamond. The man knew her better than she knew herself. Oh, this ring had a diamond... three large ones actually. But they were inlaid into the white gold with a couple additional smaller diamonds that accented them perfectly. She loved it and couldn’t have done better if she’d picked it out herself. “Speak of the devil,” she mumbled when the back door opened, and Dax stepped onto the porch.

Dax grinned and dropped into a comfortable chair. “Just the way you like me, babe.”

“Probably. Looks like we’re about to get invaded.” Next door, Hawk and Zeus had stepped onto the back porch. They were engaged in a deep and somewhat heated conversation. “What’s the plan for today?”

“No plan,” Dax shifted and stretched out his legs. “I should be able to get the sheetrock up in the family room. I have no idea what those two are up to, and Vato will probably piss and moan until I hit him upside the head with a two-by-four.”

“They need a plan,” Paige stood. “A clear direction for the future, a goal they can work on, something that will keep them busy. And I need to get ready for work. Forego the two-by-four. I don’t think you can rattle anything loose anyway, and it will just make Vato more intolerable. Instead, why don’t you give him a job. Ask those guys to help you with the remodel. It’ll get the dust out of my house sooner and it’ll give them a project to keep ‘em busy until things settle around here.”

“You sure?” Dax stood. “What if they can’t swing a hammer?”

“That’s what she said,” Paige laughed and dodged, darting inside before he could catch her. Dax followed. “I don’t have time for your antics this morning. I’m already getting a later start than usual.”

“Then don’t discuss my hammer,” Dax pulled her forward and wrapped his arm securely around her waist. “Good morning.”

Paige relented and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Try to be patient with Vato. You were in the same boat, not that long ago — Grumpy attitude and all. He’ll come around. He just needs to feel useful again.”

Dax gave her a gentle kiss then released her. “I know and I’m trying. Come say goodbye before you leave. I’ll be out back enjoying my morning coffee.”

Paige turned and ran up the stairs. She still had time for a quick shower if she hurried.

\*\*\*\*\*

It was nearly one in the afternoon and things were quiet... too quiet. Gage was grumbling at his desk as he sorted through old cases. Jericho was locked in his office with the door shut so he could finalize his budget proposal without interruption. Margie was doing something magical on the computer, and Logan was studying the newest criminal justice techniques from an ugly green book. *Rookies*, Paige thought. One day he’d realize the only way to learn police tactics was through experience. She pulled up another open case and sighed, determined to get through the paperwork before she left today. It had been piling up for weeks and she couldn’t put it off any longer. Her attention shifted when a call came in.

“Sheriff’s Office, what is your emergency?” Margie asked.

Paige watched as the dispatcher straightened and began to frantically type something into her system. Something was up and based on Margie’s reaction, it was big.

“Stay on the line, please.” Margie placed the caller on hold and turned to address Paige. “There’s a bomb threat at the high school. The principal is on the verge of panic and the secretary is so hysterical I can barely understand her. They seem to think it’s legit, not a prank. Can you and Gage head over, see what resources we need?”

“I’m coming too,” Logan jumped to his feet.

Paige nodded and headed for the door. “You get to advise the boss.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Margie assured her.

“How’d the threat come in?” Gage asked.

“Anonymous call,” Margie advised. “But the caller was calm and controlled. I’m going to keep Kathy on the phone until you arrive. I’ll let you know if I get anything else from her but it’s doubtful. I think the scene may be utter chaos by the time you arrive.”

“Copy,” Paige answered as she pushed her way through the back door.

\*\*\*\*\*

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/b-group-of-high-school-students-running-into-school-MRJ3BXL.jpg)

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Margie was right. The parking lot was pandemonium, Paige could only imagine what it was like inside the school. She parked as close as she could to the front door and pushed her way inside.

“If one of these delinquents called in a prank to get out early, they will not like the consequences,” Gage growled behind her.

“Where’s the rookie?” Paige asked.

“You know I hate it when you call me that,” Logan barked as he rushed in behind them. “Looks like the principal’s anxiously waiting.” He pointed to the man pacing inside the front office.

“Who alerted the students?” Paige asked before the office members could start asking questions. She needed to get the situation under control.

“Uh,” Kathy, the secretary, disconnected with Margie and stood. “I made the broadcast over the intercom. It was just the code that would notify our teachers we had a situation. I guess they must have panicked and started evacuations.”

“If you were going to create chaos and mayhem, why not just pull the fire alarm?” Gage asked. “It would automatically signal police and fire, and the kids would have calmly left the building. We could have avoided this,” Gage pointed to the panicked scene just outside the office.

“We...” Principal Swanson began.

“I told him if he ever did that again, I’d make sure Jericho threw him in a cell,” Chief Rosen advised from the doorway. “Principal Swanson started using the fire alarm as his personal alert system anytime there was an emergency. Real or imaginary.”

Paige smiled. “The boy who cried wolf, I get it. I assume your bomb guys are here.”

“Yeah,” the Fire Chief nodded. “Kurt started the search with the dog and Sam just arrived with the robot. It would help if you could get the rest of the kids out of here and away from the building.”

“On it,” Paige turned to her colleagues. “Let’s split up. We can cover more ground that way.”

“I’ll take the hallway that leads to the gymnasium,” Gage offered. “I’ll herd the kids still lingering in the hallway out onto the football field.”

Paige shook her head. “I should have known. I’ll head down the main hallway and into the cafeteria. It’ll be easier to push those kids out the side doors. Logan, you take the other hall and herd the stragglers toward the rear of the building and gather somewhere out there. Once we get the building cleared, Fire will have free and unrestricted access to search for explosives.”

“I’ll set up a Command Post outside in the front parking lot,” Jericho advised, moving in next to Rosen. “Check in once you have evacuated your respective areas.”

“You got here fast,” Paige observed. She hadn’t even seen him come in.

“Head out,” Jericho answered. “Chief, let’s move outside and we can coordinate resources from there.” He turned to address the office staff. “You’ll need to evacuate immediately. I’ll wait while you lock up. We want this place locked down and the building completely cleared out just in case the call wasn’t a hoax. Swanson, come with me. I want to know exactly what the caller said and if they gave you any indication where they may have placed the device and why.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Nearly two hours later, the group was sitting in the faculty lounge. Logan was jotting down notes on the giant chalkboard.

“So,” Logan turned to face the group. “At twelve-forty-two the call came into the office. The caller requested Principal Swanson directly. That call lasted under a minute. Swanson notified his staff and Kathy made the announcement within minutes of the call. Then she phoned Margie through 911.”

“We need to know where the call came from,” Jericho interrupted. He didn’t want or need the recap. “Where are we at on the phone records?”

“Havilland’s working on it,” Gage provided. “He’ll head this way the minute he has them.”

“We know it was a hoax,” Paige provided. “But the caller was calm and collected. It wasn’t a panicked ‘get out of the building or it’s going to blow’ kind of thing. It was convincing enough to panic the staff. Why? What’s the motive? Are we dealing with a kid or a disgruntled parent?”

“Or a nut case that gets their kicks from causing havoc,” Jericho provided.

“When I find the turd that did this, I’m going to squash him like a bug,” Gage grumbled.

“Can’t handle a few juvenile delinquents, Clayton?” Paige teased.

“Those ungovernable malcontents ripped my shirt,” Gage pouted. “I can’t just buy another one off the rack, a uniform in my size has to be special ordered. You can give me a good armed robbery or a simple homicide over those scrawny troublemakers any day.”

The group laughed then sobered when Duncan Havilland stepped into the room.

“What did you find?” Jericho demanded.

“I have a photo,” Duncan passed a sheet of paper to his boss. “It was a kid. Probably a student. Is the principal still on scene? I’d like to see if he can identify him.”

“He’s in the office with the superintendent,” Paige offered. “I think a couple of the teachers are up there, too. Let’s go see if anyone knows this kid.”

“Good work,” Jericho put a hand on Havilland’s shoulder. “How’d you get that photo so fast?”

“Once I tracked the source it was easy,” Havilland provided as the group made their way down the deserted hallway. “The call originated at the City Pool — outdoor phone.”

Jericho smiled. “And Public Works installed cameras two weeks ago after that last vandalism incident.”

“Exactly,” Havilland nodded. “George met me at the building and we pulled the footage in less than five minutes. He burned me a copy of the video for evidence, but I wanted a printout before I headed this way. With any luck, one of those teachers will recognize the kid and this nightmare will be over.”

Jericho stepped into the office and realized the group was engaged in some kind of argument. The instant they spotted the cops, they froze in curious silence. “I need to know if any of you recognize this kid.” He held the photo out to Principal Swenson.

“Debra?” Swenson passed her the photo. “I know who it looks like to me, but I can’t believe he would do something like this.”

Debra Dawson took the picture and studied it for several seconds. “I’m fairly certain that is Kevin,” she glanced at Swenson. “But, I can’t believe...”

“What is Kevin’s last name?” Paige asked.

“Oh,” Debra focused on the photo again. “Um, Granger. Kevin Granger. Phil?”

Principal Phil Swanson sighed. “That was my guess as well. I’ll get his file.”

“Kevin is an ideal student,” Debra said, worried and confused. “He’s a straight-A student. He never causes any trouble. I just can’t believe he would do something like this.”

“Do you know his parents?” Gage asked. Maybe the kid was having trouble at home.

“Not well,” Swanson returned. “Connie and Stiles are private people. Stiles works in Gunnison, I believe. I think he does the books for the feed store. Connie doesn’t work, unless she does something from home. Kevin is their only child, and he’s a good kid; respects authority, never mouths off, never sluffs class, and always does his homework as far as I’ve heard.”

“That’s right,” Debra added. “He’s a good kid, one of my favorite students. There has to be some kind of mistake.”

“I’ll copy the details,” Swenson opened the file and began to write the information onto a large pad of paper. The cops were obviously convinced they had their man. He would never stand in their way, even if he didn’t agree. “Here is Kevin’s home address and his phone number.” He ripped the sheet from the pad and held it out to Jericho. “Is there anything else we can do to help?”

“No,” Jericho informed him. “This will give us what we need. Thank you for your assistance. You’re free to leave at any time.”

“Thank you, Sheriff,” Swenson said sincerely. “We appreciate your work out here today.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“So,” Paige said once they were outside in the parking lot. “Who do you want to interview the kid?”

“Take Gage,” Jericho decided. “And I want him arrested. He caused a lot of trouble today. He’ll be back home by morning, that’s if DT agrees to take him at all, but I want him to sit in a cell overnight. Use those powers of persuasion to make it happen.”

“If I’m doing all the persuading, why do I need Gage?” Paige smirked.

“Intimidation,” Jericho winked at her. “Clayton doesn’t have to say a word.” He climbed into his car and pulled away.

“I’m not sure how I feel about that,” Gage finally said.

“At least you get to participate,” Logan grumbled.

“At least you get to go home on time,” Paige countered. “Come on, Master of Intimidation. Let’s go scare a confession out of an underage miscreant.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the driveway of a well-kept, modest home. The trees were trimmed, the lawn was manicured, and there wasn’t a bit of clutter in the front yard. She frowned, that was unusual. She climbed from her vehicle and took the time to glance around. She’d guess the family owned at least an acre of property with a vacant field to the left, and another home on an equally large lot to the right. She glanced up when Gage arrived but continued to take in her surroundings.

“Something wrong?” Gage asked, stepping in beside her.

“Not wrong,” Paige corrected. “But where’s the basketball hoop? Or, the basketball for that matter? No dirt bike, no skateboard, what does this kid do for fun? And where does he store it when he’s not using it?”

Gage shrugged. “Now days kids are more into video games than outdoor recreation. Maybe he’s not into that stuff and he likes to spend his free time indoors.”

“Maybe,” Paige wasn’t convinced. “Let’s go talk to Kevin.”

The two of them made their way to the front porch. Paige rang the doorbell and smiled when Gage stopped a few feet behind her. His large, imposing stature would be the first thing the resident would see when they opened the door. A small woman stood behind a sturdy screen, her demeanor telegraphing just how nervous and apprehensive she was. Panic was written all over her face before she masked it with a smile. Paige wondered if this was her normal reaction to the police or something more.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m Deputy Carter and this is my partner Deputy Clayton,” Paige paused. “Can we come in and have a word with you, Mrs. Granger?”

“Um, I guess so.” She slowly swung open the screen door and took a hesitant step back.

Paige entered the house and immediately spotted what had to be their suspect. “Kevin Granger? Would you please join us?”

Kevin swallowed hard then nervously walked into the living room and dropped onto the couch.

“Is there anyone else in the residence?” Gage asked.

“My husband,” Connie answered.

“My sister,” Kevin said at the same time.

“Ma’am could you ask your husband and your daughter to join us?” Paige asked.

“We don’t have a daughter,” a man provided as he stepped into the room. “Kevin is an only child.”

Paige focused on Kevin. Was he being obstinate on purpose or was there something else going on here? “Why would he claim to have a sister if he’s an only child?”

“I don’t know,” the man moved forward and held out a hand. “Stiles Granger. Can I ask what this is about?”

“Deputy Carter,” Paige accepted the handshake but continued to watch Kevin. “That’s my partner, Deputy Clayton.”

“I know who you are,” Stiles nodded to Gage. “You’re a bit of a local legend around here.”

“Back to the sister,” Paige didn’t want the men to get sidetracked talking football. “Kevin, why did you say you have a sister?”

“It’s just something he does,” Stiles dismissed the claim. “Ignore it, we do. Again, what brought you to my home today?”

*It’s just something he does?* Paige was getting a bad vibe here. Maybe that could be true if the kid was five, but not a teenager — what would be the point? “Before we get into that, would you mind if we took a look around? I need to be certain there is nobody else here in the residence.”

“Unless you have a warrant, I’m afraid I do mind,” Stiles settled into a chair. “I already told you, there isn’t anyone else here. What is this about?”

Another red flag popped up in Paige’s mind. She glanced at Gage and saw he was frowning now, too. “As you may have heard, there was a bomb threat at the high school this afternoon. We’re following up on some information we received. I’d like to speak with Kevin alone, if you don’t mind.”

“Actually,” Stiles straightened. “I think I do mind. He’s a minor. As I understand it, you can’t interview a minor without his parent or guardian present.”

*Interesting*, Paige thought*. Now, why doesn’t he want me alone with his kid?* She needed a new plan. “Kevin, can you tell me what you know about the call that came into the school this afternoon? The one notifying the principal there was a bomb.”

“Nothing,” Kevin lied.

“Can you tell me where you were between twelve-thirty and one o’clock this afternoon?” Paige pressed.

“Uh, at school?” Kevin asked.

“Is that a question?” Paige inquired.

“I don’t think I like your tone, deputy,” Stiles interrupted.

“And we don’t like fake bomb threats,” Paige said in dismissal. “Kevin?”

“I was at school,” Kevin swallowed hard. This was not working out the way he had hoped. How could he tell the cops why he did it, if his parents had to be here?

“This interview is over,” Stiles stood. “If you have any further questions, you can speak with our attorney.”

“That’s okay,” Paige also stood. “Kevin, you are under arrest, please stand up and put your hands behind your back.”

“For what?” Stiles yelled.

“For making a terroristic threat. It’s against the law to claim a bomb was planted in a building. It doesn’t matter if the threat is real or manufactured. Your son wasted a lot of time and money today with his juvenile stunt.”

“You can’t,” Stiles took a step forward but was blocked by Gage.

Paige smiled, maybe her boss knew what he was doing when he sent the linebacker as backup. “I’ll let you know once he’s been booked.”

“Stiles?” Connie whined. “Don’t let them take our son.”

“Keep your mouth shut, boy,” Stiles ordered. “We’ll deal with all of this once I get you back home.”

Paige might have felt sorry for the couple — well maybe, if they weren’t hiding a big fat family secret. But she was even more certain now than she was before — something strange was going on in this house, and she was determined to figure out what it was. She opened the passenger door and guided Kevin into the passenger seat before turning to address Gage. “I...”

Gage shook his head and shifted his eyes to the front window. “Why don’t you take the kid up the road a ways and question him there. Maybe just go around the corner. I’m going to do a little knock and talk at the neighbor’s house. I’ll hook back up with you when I’m done, and we can transport the kid together.”

“Good plan,” Paige climbed behind the wheel and drove away. To Kevin’s parents, it would appear as if the cops were escorting their kid to detention. Once she was around the corner, out of sight, she pulled to the side of the road and shifted to face Kevin. “Okay, now tell me what the whole ‘I have a sister’ thing is really about.”

“I do have a sister,” Kevin insisted.

“Where was she?” Paige pressed.

“In her bedroom,” Kevin swallowed. “Um, if I tell you about my sister are you going to... I mean, do you have to tell my parents what I said?”

“Not necessarily,” Paige studied the teenager and realized he was afraid. “Why did you call in the bomb threat today?”

“It was the only way to get you to my house,” Kevin mumbled. His head was down and he was staring at his lap.

The kid was in trouble and desperate. Paige had a feeling the call was a plea for help. “Here, let me get the cuffs off, then you can start at the beginning and tell me why you were so desperate to get the cops to your house, you decided to commit a felony.”

“It’s a felony?” Kevin swallowed hard. “I didn’t...”

“Come on, shift around so I can take off the cuffs.”

Kevin pivoted and stared out the window. Once the handcuffs were removed, he rubbed his wrists, wondering how he should start and how much he should tell.

“Okay, kid,” Paige settled back against her seat. “You can tell me about your sister, or you can tell me about the phone call, or you can explain why you are afraid of your father. But, start talking.”

“It’s all a part of the same thing,” Kevin took a deep breath. “I do have a sister. Dad built a bedroom, playroom, and a bathroom in the basement for Beth Ann just after mom brought her home.”

“Why did your parents say you made it up?”

“Because they don’t want anyone to know,” Kevin said angrily. “That’s why she never leaves. She’s a big secret, our secret, and I’m not supposed to tell anyone.”

“What do you mean by she never leaves?” Paige pushed.

“They have her locked in the basement,” Kevin said softly. “She’s not allowed outside. She can’t even go upstairs. She can’t go to school. She can’t have friends. Her entire world is inside that house.”

“And how do your parents treat her?” Paige’s mind was reeling. “Is she well fed? Do they care for her needs? What if she gets sick and needs a doctor?”

“It’s nothing like that,” Kevin said immediately. “My parents love her. They take really good care of her. We usually have family dinner down there, and she plays in the room they built for her. Mom spends time with her every day, like home school. They don’t hit her or abuse her, they just keep her locked up — like a stupid pet or something. It’s not right, she should have friends... and a life.”

Paige frowned. “And the bomb threat today?”

“I knew you’d find me,” Kevin admitted. “I knew you could track where the call came from, I saw the new camera. Jim and Nate think they got away with it, but after the damage they caused tagging the pool a couple weeks ago, I knew you guys would do something. When you put in the camera, that’s when I got the idea. I just figured if you had to come to my house, maybe you would find Beth Ann.”

“Any reason you didn’t just tell someone?” Paige was trying to understand why the kid thought breaking the law was his only option. She also made a mental note to contact Dean. He’d want the two names Kevin just provided. It might be the break he needed to close the vandalism case.

“I tried that, it didn’t work.”

“You told someone about Beth Ann?” Paige asked.

“Yeah,” Kevin shut down completely.

“And what happened when you didn’t keep the family secret?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Kevin turned away.

“I think maybe it does,” Paige softened. “Who did you tell?”

“My friend,” Kevin said reluctantly. “He lives next door.”

“Did he say something to your mom or dad? Did he let it slip that he knew?”

“No,” Kevin glared at her. He didn’t want to talk about this or his punishment.

“Come on, Kevin,” Paige pushed. “Tell me what happened.”

“He told his mom what I said. She told my mom, and I learned my lesson.”

“I don’t understand what that means,” Paige insisted. She needed Kevin to tell her what happened. It might explain his drastic actions today.

“They locked me in the shed,” Kevin barked. “Are you arresting me now or what? Will you at least go back and help Beth?”

“How long were you locked in the shed,” Paige pushed, undeterred.

“Ten days,” Kevin sighed. “Now can we help Beth?”

“How did you miss school that long with no one noticing?”

“It was in the summer. I didn’t have school.”

“Does the shed have air conditioning?”

“No,” Kevin watched out the window again.

Paige had a million questions. How hot did it get? Did they open a window? Did they give him enough water to avoid dehydration? “Did they bring you food and water?”

“Some,” Kevin still didn’t look at her.

Paige could see the kid was starting to shut down completely. He didn’t want to talk about his abuse — and she was positive now they had abused him. Kevin wanted to help his sister. A sister Paige was beginning to think wasn’t his sister at all. “Sit here, I need to talk to my partner.” She climbed from the vehicle and walked back to see what Gage had learned from the neighbor.

“Took you long enough,” Gage said through the window.

“I was busy,” Paige leaned against the door frame. “What did you learn?”

“It intrigued the neighbor when I asked about a girl living next door,” Gage told her. “Apparently, her son Shane and Kevin are friendly. One day, around three years ago, Kevin told Shane he had a sister. Shane insisted he was lying because he hadn’t ever seen a girl next door. Kevin said that’s because his sister isn’t allowed outside. Shane thought it was strange enough he told his mother. Shanda, Shane’s mother, dismissed it. Then, a few days later she had an opportunity to question Connie about it. Connie got upset and insisted Kevin made the whole thing up because he wanted a sibling. She went on to explain she was pregnant years ago with a little girl, but she miscarried. According to Connie, Kevin never got over it, so he frequently made up stories about having a little sister.”

“I want to call in Social Services,” Paige decided. “We need to get inside that house.”

“On what grounds?” Gage didn’t think they had enough.

“On the grounds that after Connie was confronted by the neighbor, they locked Kevin in the shed for ten days as a punishment for sharing the family secret.”

“We might be able to get a warrant on what we have,” Gage offered. “I mean, we’re just asking for a welfare check. We need to know if there is a little girl inside or not. Judge Potter might bite.”

“He will definitely bite if we can get DCFS on our side,” Paige insisted. “I’m going to call Jericho. Maybe he can get that same lady that helped Misty and her brothers. I think her name was Jan.”

“Right,” Gage studied Paige’s car. “Jan Bolton. Are we sure the kid is telling the truth, not just trying to get out of trouble for the bomb scare?”

“You tell me,” Paige focused on Gage. “I know you got the same impression I did once dad stepped into the room. His story doesn’t pass the smell test.”

“Call Jericho,” Gage sighed. “There were giant red flags popping up all over the place. We have to follow through.”

Paige stepped away and phoned her boss. Ten minutes later, she returned to the truck. “Prepare yourself. Jericho is calling in Jan, but he’s headed our way. He wants to decide for himself if the kid goes to DT or a shelter.”

“If he brings in Jan, she’ll make that call and the boss won’t have a say,” Gage disagreed.

“Oh, Jericho will have his say,” Paige countered. “The question is whether or not Ms. Bolton listens. Give me a minute, I need to inform Margie. We’ve been out here too long and the happy couple might have called an attorney for their kid already.”

“Right,” Gage climbed from his own vehicle. “I’m going to go up and sit with Kevin. He might open up and tell me more while we wait.”

“I thought you were just here for intimidation,” Paige joked.

“And, I intend to intimidate the kid until he spills his guts,” Gage countered as he walked away.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige hung up with Margie and spotted Jericho and Jan Bolton. She just hoped she was right about this because now that the Division of Child and Family Services was involved, it just might get ugly. “Ma’am,” Paige held out a hand to the local director. “Would you like to talk to Kevin before we head to the residence?”

“I need five minutes,” Jan glanced at Jericho. “The patrol car is fine.”

“Just give Gage the boot, it’s all yours,” Paige motioned toward her car. Once Jan walked away, Paige addressed Jericho. “What was that about?”

“She’s opposed to having a discussion with a child inside a patrol car,” Jericho advised. “I explained the situation and let her know as of this minute, the kid is under arrest. She can talk to him in the car, or not at all. She decided to talk.”

“Playing hardball,” Paige grinned. “I like it, but I’m afraid she might question the whole under arrest thing. Once I realized what was really going on here, I uncuffed him.”

“I know you’re mad about the threat at the high school, boss,” Gage added stepping in beside Paige. “But that kid is a victim and he was just trying to get help.”

“Looks like he won you over, too,” Jericho frowned. “This better not be a con.” They watched as Jan Bolton exited the vehicle and headed their way, scowling.

“Kevin says the two of you have been interrogating him without a representative.”

Paige almost rolled her eyes, but she stopped herself. “Kevin is mistaken.”

“So,” Jan pushed. “Neither one of you had a discussion with that kid about his home life?”

“Kevin provided some details of his home life on his way to DT,” Paige said flatly. “I believe it’s called spontaneous utterance.”

“You should have called me earlier,” Jan insisted. “That kid is traumatized, and you forced him to talk about it. That should never have occurred without a professional therapist present.”

“Actually, I didn’t force that kid to say anything,” Paige knew she should back down — she needed Jan’s assistance to get inside the residence — but Kevin wasn’t traumatized, he was tenacious. “How about you, Gage? Traumatize any children lately?”

“Nope,” Gage smirked.

“Enough, you two,” Jericho stepped in before Jan decided she didn’t need assistance from the local police. “However we got here, we’re here. What do you want to do about it?”

“I need to speak to his parents,” Jan sighed. “I’d like to do it alone, but under the circumstances I think it would be best to have a law enforcement presence nearby just in case.”

“Gage, you stay with the kid,” Jericho ordered. “Paige, you and I will accompany Ms. Bolton back to the Granger residence where we can have a discussion about their children.”

“I’m glad to hear you acknowledge there’s more than one child.” Paige mumbled.

Jericho gave her a warning look and started for the house.

Paige followed Jericho and Jan Bolton back onto the front porch of the Granger residence. The conversation was extremely short. Jan rang the bell. Stiles opened the door. Jan explained her request. Stiles slammed the door in her face.

“How would you like to proceed?” Jericho asked Jan. “I’m inclined to believe my deputies. There’s something strange happening in that house and we need a way inside so we can determine what it is.”

“I agree,” Jan was frowning. “I think with the bomb threat, the previous statement to the neighbor, and Kevin’s statement we have enough to get Judge Potter to issue a warrant. I mean, we’re not arresting anyone — yet. We just want to get inside to check the welfare of a child.”

“Are you prepared to argue there is a child?” Paige asked.

“Yes,” Jan didn’t hesitate. “I believe Kevin is a good witness. He says there’s a little girl inside. I see no reason for him to lie. I need to get inside to assess the situation and make sure she’s okay. Judge Potter will agree.”

Paige returned to her vehicle and slid behind the wheel. “Gage, I’ve got this. Go strategize with the boss. I need to type up a warrant.”

“A warrant?” Kevin stared in shock.

“Your parents won’t let us inside,” Paige explained. “So, I have to get a judge to sign a warrant saying I can go in the house, look around, and see if there is a little girl locked up in the basement. And, if there is, I need to make sure she’s okay. The warrant just says your parents have to let me in.”

“Are my parents in trouble?” Kevin asked. “I mean, I know they will be but... maybe this was a mistake.”

Paige studied Kevin for several seconds. “You know what, kid? Sometimes the right thing is the hardest thing. And sometimes, when we do the right thing, life gets harder for a little while. But the right thing is always the right thing. I think your parents might be in a lot of trouble. If they are, it’s not your fault — it’s theirs. No matter what happens, none of this is your fault. Remember that. Also know, you have four people that care about you. We’re here for you and we’ll help you get through this. Okay?”

Kevin just nodded. He remained silent as Paige typed up the request and waited for her warrant to come through. It took less than ten minutes. She printed it out and approached Gage. “He’s upset. He thinks it’s his fault his parents are in trouble with the police. I think he could use a friend. Maybe you two could talk about football or something while we do this?”

“I got this,” Gage nodded. “Go save the girl.”

“Hey, Kevin?” Paige knocked on the window. “You never said, how old is your sister?”

“Ten,” Kevin answered. “Beth Ann is ten.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“This can’t be legal,” Stiles objected. “This is our home. You can’t just barge in and invade our privacy. We have rights and you’re stomping all over them. In our own home.”

“Stiles make them stop,” Connie wailed. “You can’t let them do this.”

“Where is the door to the basement?” Paige asked for the third time.

“Jericho, can you accompany me into the back-bedroom area?” Jan requested. “I would like to take a look and see how the rooms are set up.”

“I will not let you invade our privacy this way,” Stiles bellowed. “I’m calling a lawyer.”

“I thought you already did that,” Paige raised an eyebrow. “To help your son.”

“I...” Stiles didn’t seem to have an answer for that.

“The basement?” Paige asked again. “I’m not interested in the bedrooms. I want to see the basement.”

Paige saw Connie glance toward the kitchen, then look away abruptly. *Bingo!* She moved forward and headed straight for the kitchen. She was a little surprised when Connie jumped forward and blocked the doorway in an attempt to stop Paige from entering the room. “Step aside or you’ll be sitting in the back of a patrol car in handcuffs.”

“Stiles,” Connie called.

Paige glanced over and spotted Stiles. He was frowning and his demeanor had completely changed. Paige thought she read acceptance and defeat on his face.

“Stiles,” Connie yelled again.

Paige maneuvered around the frantic woman and made her way through the kitchen. It was larger than she expected and immaculate. She paused at the kitchen counter, turned a corner and froze. The door she was looking for was situated just inside a little alcove. There was one door that Paige was sure led to the basement, and a second door on the other side that led outside. “Where is the key?” She was fuming at the sight before her. The door was a normal wooden door, but someone had screwed a metal plate to the outside. There were two long bars that ran the length of the door, each one secured to the opposite side of the wall with two padlocks; one on top, the other near the bottom.

Jericho stepped in behind Paige and frowned. He knew Jan had followed him through the kitchen by the loud gasping sound she made when she spotted the door. “If they won’t get the keys, I have a crowbar in my car.”

Paige watched as Stiles closed his eyes and sighed.

Connie started to cry. Paige watched in fascination as silent tears turned to shuddering sobs. Then, she dropped onto a kitchen chair and began to protest. Her words were incomprehensible, but they all understood the message — she wanted all of them out of her house and she wanted it now.

“What’s it going to be?” Jericho turned to Stiles. “The key or by force?”

Stiles gave his wife an apathetic glance before he silently walked across the room and retrieved a small key chain from inside a cabinet next to the refrigerator. He held it out to Jericho and turned to leave.

“I’m afraid I can’t let you go anywhere, Mr. Granger,” Paige informed him.

“I got this,” Jericho nodded to the door. “You and Jan go down, see what’s on the other side of that door. I’ll contain the couple until you return.”

“You sure?” Paige asked, not sure she should leave him there alone.

“Go,” Jericho answered.

Paige looked at Jan who swallowed hard then gave her a nod. The key slid into the first lock with ease. She gave it a gentle twist and it smoothly disengaged with a soft click. She slipped the lock out of the hook and repeated her actions on the second lock. “Stay behind me,” Paige ordered Jan.

Jan nodded, but didn’t say a word. The two women descended the stairwell slowly and cautiously. Once they reached the bottom, they both froze in surprise. There was a large open play room full of the latest toys. In one corner was an enormous playhouse, in the other was a small table with two chairs. To the right of the stairs was a larger dinner table that could accommodate a family of four. Paige realized that must be where they ate dinner. There was a small hallway that led out of the room. Once Paige was satisfied the playroom was empty, she made her way across the large expanse in the direction of the hall. There were two rooms, one on each side. The one on the left was open and Paige could see it was a bathroom. It was decorated in pinks and purples with flowers and other feminine touches that a ten-year-old child would favor. She continued to the second door. This one was closed tight. Paige knocked softly and waited.

“If she doesn’t open it, we’ll need to enter anyway,” Jan whispered.

Paige turned to reply but was stopped when the door flung open and a dark-haired little girl stood on the other side.

“Who are you?” Beth Ann demanded.

“My name is Deputy Carter, and this is my friend Jan,” Paige informed her. “Can you tell us your name?”

“I’m not supposed to talk to people,” Beth Ann refused.

“Oh, but we’re not just people,” Paige said in her most nonthreatening tone. “I’m the police. You’re right, shouldn’t talk to strangers but it’s always okay to talk to the police.”

Beth frowned, considered and then nodded. “My name is Beth Ann Granger.”

“It’s nice to meet you Beth Ann,” Jan smiled. “Maybe we could go upstairs into the living room and talk. It’s a lot more comfortable on the couch.”

“I can’t go upstairs. It’s not allowed,” Beth looked at her feet.

The girl was dressed in a frilly dress and fancy black shoes. She looked healthy enough, Paige thought. Well, other than that whole locked in the basement and forbidden to come out thing. Kevin was right, his parents did care for this girl. A girl that didn’t possess even one trait that matched the Grangers. Connie was blonde as was Kevin. Stiles had more of a dishwater color with light brown tints. This kid, she had hair so dark brown; it was nearly black with auburn highlights and deep brown eyes. A stark contrast to the Granger’s green eyes. There was absolutely no chance Connie Granger gave birth to this little girl — unless she had a fling with a dark, handsome mailman.

Jan held out a hand. “It’s okay, let’s go upstairs. Stiles and Connie know we’re here and they said it was okay.”

“They did?” Beth asked in surprise.

“Absolutely,” Paige affirmed. “So, what do you say? Should we head upstairs? Kevin’s outside. Maybe, once Jan says it’s okay, you can go outside and see him.”

“Outside?” Beth asked in amazement.

“We’ll work up to that,” Jan shot Paige a look that screamed, GO SLOW.

Paige shrugged and motioned for the stairs. “After you.”

Beth Ann took one cautious step and then another. Paige’s heart broke to see the hesitance and the wonder as the little girl slowly ascended the staircase one tentative step at a time — headed toward freedom for the first time in her young life. Sadness turned to anger when she stepped back into the kitchen and spotted the sadistic couple that had deprived the girl of her childhood. How many things had she missed out on? She’d never chased butterflies in the spring. Never stomped in a puddle after the rain. Never laughed with her friends as she learned to ride a bicycle, or ran through the sprinklers on a hot summer afternoon.

In that moment, Paige realized just how brave and compassionate Kevin really was. He could have continued on with the status quo. Lived his life, moved away, gone to college and ignored the sister his parents kept locked in the basement. But, he wanted more for the ten-year-old girl he clearly loved. Wanted it enough to call in a bomb threat. Wanted it enough to suffer another punishment if his plan failed.

Jericho took in the group as they emerged from the basement. The little girl was a cute little thing and obviously the victim of an abduction. He wondered how old she had been when the Granger’s snatched her up and hid her away. He’d have to order a DNA test, but it wasn’t really necessary. There wasn’t even the slightest family resemblance, which explained the need for secrecy and confinement. The look on his deputy’s face told him Paige was furious. Jan looked sad but resigned. He knew she’d seen far worse throughout her long career, but he also knew each case she handled took a toll. It took a toll on him as well. His thoughts were interrupted when Connie jumped to her feet and lunged for Beth Ann.

“What’s wrong, mom?” Beth asked. “Am I in trouble? I thought you said it was okay.”

“Come in here, dear,” Jan ushered her away from Connie. “It’s fine. Your mom’s just a little sad to see you up here. She’s not used to it. Let’s come out here and sit on the couch for a minute.”

“I think we should have Gage bring Kevin in,” Paige decided. “She’s nervous and doesn’t know how to act or what to think. Kevin could help her through this.”

“I knew that kid couldn’t keep his big mouth shut,” Stiles grumbled. “He’s going to regret what he’s done. Mark my words, that kid will pay for destroying this family.”

“Somehow,” Paige said flatly. “I doubt that.” She glanced at Jericho before she left the room.

Paige and Kevin stepped into the living room. Kevin was terrified, even with the knowledge his parents were in the kitchen and he wouldn’t have to face them. The instant he spotted Beth Ann, he shot across the room and dropped onto the couch next to her. The two siblings began a hushed conversation. Jan stood and joined Paige near the door. They couldn’t hear everything Kevin was saying, but within minutes, Beth Ann’s demeanor changed. She was still timid, but she trusted her brother and it showed. Kevin stood and held out a hand. Beth Ann slowly got to her feet and slid her tiny hand into his. Beth Ann took one deep breath and the two kids walked silently toward the door.

“Ready?” Paige asked Kevin.

“Yeah,” he glanced at Beth Ann. “We’re fine, right?”

Beth Ann nodded and gripped Kevin’s hand tighter. The instant the kids stepped through the door onto the front porch, Beth Ann stopped in amazement. “It’s so bright.”

“Can she have a minute?” Kevin asked Paige.

“Sure,” Paige motioned for them to move forward. “You’ll be riding with Jan. Just let her know when you’re ready.”

“Can you let me,” Kevin glanced at Beth Ann. “Can I go with her and get her settled before you take me to jail?”

“You’re not being arrested, Kevin,” Paige shook her head. “Jan will take you and your sister to a shelter. Once you get there, you’ll have to talk to a therapist and tell her everything. Hey, kid?” Paige waited for him to look up at her. “You did the right thing. Now, you have to finish it. You have to tell her everything.”

Kevin took a deep breath. “Okay.”

“Right answer,” Paige nodded at Jan. “They’re all yours. I have work inside.”

Jan stepped forward and put a hand on Kevin’s shoulder. The group ambled toward her vehicle. Paige could see Jan was letting them set the pace and she understood why. Kevin understood the gravity of what was happening, but Beth Ann was distracted. Everything out here was new to her. The shock would set in soon enough. She sighed, turned and stepped back inside.

\*\*\*\*\*

An hour later, the group settled into the open bullpen of the office. Connie and Stiles Granger were inside the conference room waiting for their attorney. Paige, Jericho, and Gage were outside waiting for Tolman. Paige was happy to let the attorneys hash things out, as long as the dynamic duo experienced what it felt like to lose their freedom. How it felt to be locked up with no way out.

They all glanced up when the door opened, expecting to see District Attorney James Tolman. Instead, Jan walked in and made her way to the group. She settled into one of Paige’s visitor chairs and sighed. She looked exhausted and stressed.

“In addition to the kidnapping and unlawful detaining charges, I would like you to charge the Granger’s with child endangerment and neglect.”

“For?” Jericho asked.

“We had a very long, very detailed conversation with Kevin about the time he spent in the shed three years ago,” Jan took a deep breath. “It had a small window near the top, one that doesn’t open but it allowed light to come in. He could tell when it was daytime and when it was night. It’s the only way he knew he was in there for ten days. There was no circulation in that building, no ventilation, and he was locked in there without water in the middle of summer. They basically shoved that kid into an oven and hoped he’d survive. Kevin said he was sweating so profusely, he stripped down to his underwear hoping it would give him some relief. They didn’t even give him a blanket. He spread out his clothing so he wouldn’t have to sleep on the hard floor and waited out his sentence. He was so dehydrated and weak after only one day, he spent the entire time lying on the floor waiting, day after day, to be set free.”

“No wonder he kept the family secret for so long,” Gage responded.

“Brave kid,” Paige added. “He risked everything to save that girl.”

“Tolman should be here any minute,” Jericho told Jan. “Let him know you want the additional charges. He won’t argue.”

Just then Tolman stepped into the room with a man Paige didn’t recognize. “This is Dr. Howe. He’ll be conducting a DNA test on our two suspects.” He glanced around the group. “Jan.”

“I need to talk to you about some additional charges,” Jan said in greeting.

“You can use my office,” Jericho offered. “I’ll supervise the test. Do we have a warrant?”

“I’ve got it,” Tolman held out a stack of papers. “Give them that copy. Their attorney will want it for his records. The man’s not happy and we’ve already gone a round over this. He lost. He’s going to try to convince you to release his clients. We’ve gone a round on that as well. He told me he would personally guarantee they would show up for arraignment. I rejected his request. I want those two locked in a cell.” He turned to Jan. “Let’s talk.”

“I think he’s pissed,” Paige observed.

“He is,” Jericho watched as the local DA stepped into the office and closed the door. “And what Jan is about to tell him, won’t improve his mood. Let’s get this over with,” he turned to look at the doctor. “After you.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Three days after the arrest of Stiles and Connie Granger, Paige and Jericho pulled into the parking lot of the local Social Services office. The DNA results were in and the Granger’s were not related to Beth Ann — no surprise there. The surprise came when Paige entered the results into CODIS, the DNA Index System maintained by the FBI. Apparently, prior to three-year-old Beth Ann going missing, her parents had completed a child identification kit. The local police department was handing them out at a summer event. Beth Ann’s parents filled in the details and gathered the recommended samples; never truly believing they would need it. They had; and Beth Ann Savett’s DNA was in the system, making identification easy.

Paige had contacted the detective working the missing person case immediately. Detective Robert Kane from Laurel Bluffs PD offered to notify the parents and arrange a meeting. Initially Paige was surprised to learn Beth Ann’s family lived in Laurel Bluffs; but, once she thought about it, the child’s complete confinement made more sense. *Wouldn’t it have been easier on the entire family if they had just moved out of state and started over?*

With a sigh, Paige climbed from the vehicle and joined Jericho. They silently made their way inside to find Jan Bolton. The director had insisted on holding the meeting here, at her facility. She thought Beth Ann would be more comfortable in the child friendly atmosphere and Jan wanted their therapist to attend just in case Beth Ann didn’t take the news well.

Paige stepped into the large foyer and glanced around. It was decorated with comfortable chairs, paintings obviously created by the children who stayed here, and lush carpet. Basically, it was designed with children in mind, not heavy traffic like the old building where she worked. To the right was a large room Paige assumed was some sort of recreation area. She spotted Kevin and Beth Ann at the far end and could tell they were having a serious discussion about something.

Jan Bolton stepped from a room to the left. She motioned for them to join her and disappeared. It was a conference room and Jan wasn’t alone.

“Sheriff,” a middle-aged man in a suite stood.

“Hello, Robert,” Jericho turned to Paige. “This is Deputy Paige Carter. Paige, this is Detective Robert Kane with the Laurel Bluffs Police Department.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Kane settled back into his chair. “Duncan speaks highly of you, which means you must be good. Havi doesn’t compliment anyone. I admit, this case was a shock that came out of left field. Seven years! I honestly didn’t believe we’d ever solve this one. You hold out hope, at least for the first year or two, but then another year passes and; in your gut, you know — realistically, if you find something, it’ll be a recovery. This one floored me. Right here, all the time. I’ve kept in touch with the Savett’s. They’re good people. I’m glad they got their happy ending.”

“Happy is relative,” Jan said soberly. “They have a long, hard road ahead of them. They took Beth Ann when she was so young, she doesn’t seem to remember having a family before the Granger’s.”

The room grew silent when a couple stepped tentatively into the front foyer.

“That’s them,” Kane stood. “You ready to get this started or you want me to have them wait?”

“I think we’re ready,” Jan glanced at a petite women sitting quietly on the other side of the large conference table. “Do you need more time, Nancy?”

“No,” Nancy closed a file she’d been studying. “I’m ready.”

“While Det. Kane escorts the Savett’s into the room, I’d like to introduce Dr. Nancy Atwood. Nancy is a highly qualified therapist who specializes in childhood trauma.”

Paige gave a polite greeting then refocused on the Savett’s. She recognized the couple immediately. Yes, she did a thorough background on both of them. After what Beth Ann had already been through, she wasn’t taking any chances. She watched as they followed Det. Kane into the room and settled at the far end of the conference table, clinging to each other for support as they slowly took a seat at the large conference table.

“I know you’re eager to see your daughter,” Jan began. “But as I told you on the phone, the police would like to speak to you first. Then, we have a few things that need to be settled before we can proceed.”

 “What does that mean?” Clark Savett asked.

“It means,” Jan continued. “It’s my job to ensure the health and wellbeing of the child. Yes, you are Beth Ann’s parents, I understand that, but she doesn’t know you. We are making progress and she’s a resilient little girl. A happy child, we want to keep it that way. But, before we get into those details, Deputy Carter would like a minute to explain what brought us here in the first place.”

Paige stood. “I know this is difficult and I want to make it as quick and easy as possible. When I’m finished, feel free to ask me any questions I failed to answer.” She told them how Kevin had orchestrated a bomb threat hoping to get the police inside his house where they could discover Beth Ann. She went on to explain their daughters living conditions, making sure they knew the girl wasn’t abused or neglected... other than the no going outside thing. She finished with an assurance that they had arrested Connie and Stiles Granger and both of them were facing serious charges.

“Do you have any questions?” Kane asked the couple.

“I don’t think so,” Clark Savett glanced at his wife. “Not at this time.”

“We just want to see our daughter,” Juliette practically whispered. “We want to take our daughter home.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Nancy said soberly. “I’m Dr. Nancy Atwood, and I’ve been evaluating your daughter. Beth Ann is traumatized. There are only three people she knows in this world — and two of them are in jail. Contact with her brother is essential to get her through this transition period.”

“Her brother?” Juliette Savett asked. “You mean that boy I saw with her in the other room? That’s not her brother.”

“That boy has a name,” Paige spoke up. “Kevin is Beth Ann’s brother in every way that’s important. He is her rock.”

“He’s also the only thing keeping that child from having a breakdown,” Nancy said calmly. “It is my conclusion that without Kevin, Beth Ann will slip into a panicked state. She’ll shut down completely. Separating those two will cause irreparable harm.”

“I...” Juliette stopped when her husband placed a firm hand over hers.

“What does that mean, exactly?’ Clark asked.

“We ask that Kevin have, for lack of a better word, visitation rights,” Jan explained. “Kevin doesn’t have any living relatives, other than his parents and we all know they are going to jail for the foreseeable future. That means, you will need to bring Beth Ann back here, to this facility, where the two of them can visit, play games, whatever.”

“Kevin will have to live here?” Juliette asked.

“For now,” Jan evaded. She hadn’t found a suitable foster home for the teenager yet. But, she was determined to locate the perfect couple that would take him in and give him a chance.

“You said he faked a bomb threat at the high school?” Clark focused on Paige. “I’m not sure I want my daughter to have that kind of influence in her life.”

“Kevin called in a bomb threat,” Paige nodded. “Not for kicks or for bragging rights to his friends. He did it to save your little girl. He did it knowing he was risking his own safety and wellbeing. I’d say that’s exactly the kind of influence you should want for your kid.”

“You said the Granger’s didn’t abuse or neglect our daughter,” Juliette read between the lines and worried the people who had her little girl were violent or worse, and these people were trying to hide it.

“As far as we can tell,” Jan jumped in. “They didn’t. We’re not at liberty to discuss their treatment of Kevin.”

“I don’t understand,” Juliette pushed. “Why would they treat my daughter better than their own child?”

“Because Kevin didn’t keep their secret,” Jan provided. “And that is all I can say on the matter.”

“And if we don’t agree to visitation?” Clark asked. “Or, if we change our mind later?”

“You will not have the luxury of changing your mind,” Jan advised. “You will have to sign a document agreeing to regular visits and a memorandum of understanding will be filed with the court. It will be a binding contract, Mr. Savett.”

“And if we don’t agree?”

“Then, Beth Ann will remain here until I determine she is emotionally strong enough to endure the transition without her brother.”

“If we won’t let that boy see her, you’re going to keep her from us?” Juliette asked in horror. “That’s extorsion or bribery or something.” She looked to Det. Kane for help.

“I think you should take a minute to observe Kevin with Beth Ann,” Kane suggested. “I spent some time with both of them yesterday. He’s extremely protective of your little girl. This is a good thing, and it doesn’t have to be permanent. Once Beth Ann adjusts, you can re-evaluate how much contact Kevin has with her.”

“Can we have a minute alone with Deputy Carter?” Juliette asked.

“Sure,” Kane stood and motioned for the other two women to join him. They slid out into the hallway, closing the door behind them.

Paige waited to see what this was all about. If anything, she had expected the couple to request a private meeting with Kane.

“You seem to know this Kevin kid pretty well,” Juliette began. “Can you tell us anything about him?”

Paige studied the woman for several seconds, wondering what this was about. “I can tell you his principal and his teachers vouched for him. They said he’s a good kid, a straight-A student and he always respects authority. If you’re truly worried about the kind of influence he will be on Beth Ann, you don’t need to. He’s a great kid and doing the right thing here came with a high personal cost. He did it anyway. That alone should tell you the kind of character that kid has.”

“He’s going to be placed in a foster home, isn’t he?” Juliette asked. “If they can find a home that will take a kin that old. He looks about fifteen, sixteen?”

“He’s fifteen,” Paige affirmed. “And yes, Jan is looking for a home where he can be placed. She wants a family close enough that Kevin doesn’t have to change schools. This has turned his life upside-down. If she can keep him in the area, at least he won’t lose his friends, too.”

“We have two small boys,” Clark was watching his wife and he thought he knew what she was getting at. “They’re twins, five years old and a handful, but they’re good kids. I can’t expose them to someone that will be a bad example. I need to know it’s safe to have this Kevin kid around my family.”

“It’s safe,” Paige said without hesitation. “But nobody said you have to let the boys have contact with Kevin. If you’re that worried, can’t you find a sitter?”

“Can I have a minute alone with my husband?” Juliette asked.

“Sure,” Paige rose and left the room. Less than two minutes later, the couple joined the group in the foyer.

“Are you ready to meet your daughter?” Nancy asked.

“Almost,” Juliette glanced at Clark who gave her a quick nod. “We’d like to talk to you about fostering Beth Ann’s brother.”

Paige stared in wide-eyed shock. “Didn’t see that one coming.”

“Neither did I,” Jan studied Clark and Juliette. “Are you sure? I don’t want to cause irreparable damage to Kevin, either.”

“We’d like to get started on the process and in the meantime, while we wait, we can take a little time to get to know him,” Juliette suggested. “We don’t even have to tell him until it’s all official if that would help.”

“Like you said,” Clark added. “He’s the reason we are here today. He did the right thing, now we’d like to do the same.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was exhausted when she stepped through her front door. It had been a long couple of days. Worse, it had been emotionally draining. Once the Savett’s convinced Nancy and Jan they were serious about wanting to take home both kids, they were introduced to Kevin and Beth Ann. The little girl was confused and more than a little scared. Clark and Juliette got to witness firsthand the strong, unbreakable bond the siblings held. They got to see why it was so important to keep Kevin in her life. She hoped things worked out — for all of their sakes.

She took a step toward the staircase and paused when she heard voices in the kitchen. Paige pivoted and dropped her gun belt onto the couch before making her way to the back of the house and her unexpected company. She relaxed when she spotted Zeus and Carmen, grateful she wouldn’t have to entertain tonight.

Carmen spotted Paige and jumped from her chair. Before Paige knew what was happening, she was smothered in a big bear hug.

“Can’t breathe,” Paige mumbled.

“Sorry,” Carmen released her, but did a little dance in front of her friend. “Nathan called. He worked a miracle. I get to stay!”

“Here? In Manti?” Paige clarified.

“Yes,” Carmen hugged Paige again. “I will continue to work for Nathan on whatever project he has going, but that won’t take a full-time tech. So, I get to work with Sean Wilkins here locally. I don’t have to go back... I’ve been permanently freed from the dungeon.”

“I’m so glad,” Paige moved around her and settled into a chair next to Dax. “I’d hate to have to slay a dragon just to pay you a visit.”

“Which means,” Zeus added. “Now Dax and I can start talking business.”

“Go home,” Dax ordered his friend. “I want to spend some quality time with my woman.”

“Your woman wants food.” Paige stood and moved to the fridge, knowing Dax had something waiting. Her man always took care of her.

Dax winked at her before he gave Zeus a playful shove toward the door.

Paige laughed and relaxed. Tonight, she was going to enjoy a peaceful night at home with her fiancé. She was still smiling when Dax returned. Finally, everything was finally falling into place.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S4

**Tags:** Season 4

---

### [Winter Crisis](https://melaniepsmith.com/winter-crisis/)

**Published:** December 29, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Winter Crisis (S3E9) - Paige returns to work just in time to deal with the first real snow storm of the season.  A family adventure turns tragic and Paige must determine if it's a freak accident or something more sinister. Dax and his team face a crisis that could turn deadly.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*WINTER CRISIS\*\*\*****

Paige slowly opened one eye and rolled over, expecting to find Dax still sleeping soundly. He wasn’t there. She glanced at the clock and frowned. It was barely after six. That sinking feeling she’d been having for the last few weeks was back. Something was wrong but Dax wouldn’t talk about it. He wouldn’t even admit there was a problem. Was it her? Or something with the project the guys were working on.

She climbed from the bed, dressed, and headed for the kitchen. She needed coffee if she couldn’t have her man. She settled into her favorite recliner, doctored coffee in hand, and considered. She knew Dax was next door with the team. She knew they were working on some top-secret mission involving Reynold’s partner and his co-conspirators. She knew if he wanted her there, he would have invited her. But, at the moment, she was finding it hard to care. Forty minutes later, she had a thermos full of her morning magic in hand as she climbed the front stairs and rang the doorbell. If Dax wasn’t going to invite her over, she’d just invite herself.

Dax frowned at the sound of the doorbell. Who would be at his front door this early in the morning? He stood, but Hawk beat him to it.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Front-Cover-3.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Winter-Crisis.pdf)

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Hawk glanced out the front window and grinned. “It’s Paige,” he focused on Dax. “I told you she was losing patience with you.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Dax started for the door.

“I’ve got it,” Hawk swung the heavy wooden door open wide and took a step back in invitation. Not what Hamilton had in mind, but the guy was going to ruin the best thing that ever happened to him. Hawk wasn’t going to let that happen. Paige Carter was perfect for their obstinate leader, but somewhere in the past couple of weeks Dax had taken a wrong turn. Hawk was determined to correct course.

“Hawk,” Dax warned.

Paige could tell Dax wasn’t happy to see her. She wondered why Hawk had allowed her through the door. Normally, Dax called the shots; but, by the look on his face, Hawk was in some serious trouble. She regretted that... a little, but it couldn’t be helped. She turned away from Dax and finally noticed the room. Someone had spent a lot of time creating a diagram of Reynold’s players on a large whiteboard. There was also a corkboard leaning against the fireplace full of photos. “You’ve been busy.” Paige studied the whiteboard carefully. She didn’t recognize some of the names. She knew Nathan had been working nonstop to bring every player to justice, but she hadn’t realized just how many he’d already identified and captured.

“We have,” Dax continued to watch Paige. He was conflicted. He wanted her input, but he also wanted to protect her. He wanted to keep her safe. He knew he couldn’t do that when she was on the job. The huge bruise she’d gotten fighting a domestic terrorist group that was trying to blow up the feed store, proved that in technicolor. But he didn’t have to bring additional danger into her home, or her life. He understood that now. He had watched Porter with Sophie over Thanksgiving and realized he’d been a terrible boyfriend. He’d been including Paige in the danger instead of protecting her from it. Seeing Nathan pamper and protect his wife had made Dax feel selfish. He was trying to do better, but it seemed the universe was conspiring against him.

Paige continued to ignore Dax, but it took effort. For weeks now, she’d been trying to figure out when their relationship had changed. Was it while Nathan was still here or after he left? She didn’t know. And, since she didn’t know, she couldn’t pinpoint the cause. A notation at the top of the board caught her eye. “Is this,” she pointed to the writing. “Are you certain you’re looking for a Colonel; or, is that a guess?”

“We’re certain,” Ken moved in closer. “Nathan confirmed it with a member of the team that was sent to eliminate Vato.”

Paige focused on the newest addition to the team. She still hadn’t figured him out and she was pretty sure he didn’t approve of her involvement. With any of it; definitely in the mission, but did he resent her relationship with Dax as well? Was that the rub? Could Vato be the reason Dax had changed so abruptly? Paige turned back to address Ken. “Was this board your doing?”

“Yeah,” Ken shrugged. “It’s a logistics thing, I guess you could say.”

“Ken does love his whiteboards,” Zeus said cheerfully. “Nathan got Secretary Harris to round up the entire unit that was sent to deal with Solo and Vato. It was pretty easy to weed out the bad actors from the ones that were completely in the dark. Unfortunately, that left a few in the middle. The General is still working on that; but, there was a sergeant — a guy that is somewhere in the middle — he revealed that intel about the Colonel. We think it’s Reynold’s partner.”

“Harris had Hastings picked up around the same time Bucket crossed the border into Iraq,” Hawk explained. “He wanted to make sure Hastings was out of contact with the men while the rescue was in play. When the lieutenant on the ground couldn’t reach Hastings, he called some colonel to get further instructions. The sergeant overheard at least part of the conversation. By that time their target — meaning Solo and Vato — had been intercepted by Bucket and the three of them were headed in the opposite direction.”

Paige nodded. “Sounds like a pretty solid lead.”

“Glad you approve,” Vato said sarcastically. “Why is she even here? She’s a civilian. Since when do we work with civilians.”

“Since the rest of us became civilians,” Hawk said in challenge.

Paige tried not to be hurt by Dax’s silence but failed.

“That’s different,” Vato disagreed. “We all know she’s only here because she’s dating Dax. But Jeeves didn’t bring his wife into the mission.”

“That’s because Nancy is a trauma nurse. If I thought we needed additional medical personnel, Nancy would be here.”

“Fine,” Vato turned to Ken. “You didn’t bring your wife.”

Paige tuned them out. She was trying to figure out Ken’s method. Some connections were obvious, but some were in the wrong place.

“What did we miss?” Dax finally asked. He’d been watching Paige and realized she’d spotted a problem with the information; or, a flaw in the diagram.

Paige turned to face him, but he kept his face completely neutral. She had no idea what he was thinking at the moment, but at least Vato had finally shut up. She didn’t blame him for his skepticism, in fact, she expected it. She’d gone through the same thing with the rest of the guys months ago. She was just tired of it. She shouldn’t have to prove herself over and over again. Especially not to the man she loved. Paige turned away from Dax and focused on Ken. “Why did you put these two over here?” She was referring to Corporal Danny Crenshaw and the assassin he had hired to eliminate Nathan. Her mentor was another person that was keeping secrets. At least, before he left town, he finally relayed the story to her and admitted he’d been forced to kill a man in self-defense.

“Because...” Ken began to study the board, not sure what he missed. “They’re just periphery.”

“Paige?” Dax pushed.

Paige continued to focus on Ken. “When Nathan was here, he showed me a file you guys compiled on Danny Crenshaw and his hired hitman. Do you still have a copy of that file?”

“Uh,” Ken glanced at Dax. Once his leader gave him a subtle nod, he moved to a stack of files and began sifting through them. It only took a minute to find the one he wanted. “What are we looking for?” Ken asked, setting the file on the table and flipping it open.

“Now, we’re letting her look through the files?” Vato demanded.

“Shut up or leave,” Dax moved in next to Paige. He didn’t like being ignored and it was obvious she was doing it on purpose.

Vato dropped onto the couch with a dramatic thud and a grunt.

“I remember seeing a name in here,” Paige reached for the file. “Do you mind?”

Ken pushed it her way.

“Do you guys have a list of Colonels that you’re working from?” she asked absently as she flipped through pages.

“Do you have any idea how many colonels there are in the army?” Vato mumbled.

Paige looked up and focused on Hawk. “You don’t need to list all of them. We know he has to work in Washington. I would think that narrows the search to someone stationed at the Pentagon.”

“Right,” Hawk pulled out his phone and snatched up a pad of paper and a pen before he settled into a chair to start a list of potential suspects.

Vato watched and wondered what happened to his team. The guys he knew would never accept a suggestion from a local the way these guys just did.

“Got it,” Paige snatched up one of the sheets of paper triumphantly.

“What?” Dax asked, taking the page from her hand. He moved in behind her and wrapped his right arm around her waist, pulling her body against his. Then, he leaned forward and whispered in her ear so only she could hear. “Tell us what you found, then we need to talk.”

Paige closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Dax always had this effect on her and he knew it. He knew she couldn’t resist that deep seductive voice or his hot breath tickling that sensitive spot right below her ear. But she wouldn’t let him win that easily. She tried to take a step away, but he just tightened his grip and pulled her closer.

“What did you find, Paige?” he knew she found something, and it sounded important. But, at the moment, all he wanted to do was throw her over his shoulder and carry her back to her house.

Paige grabbed the page back from Dax and set it on the table in front of them. “Here,” she pointed to a paragraph halfway down the page. “It says Crenshaw was disciplined over an incident in Iraq. He claimed he was just following orders and tried to appeal, but the panel felt he engaged in conduct unbecoming.”

“How does that pertain?” Hawk asked.

“Because,” Dax looked up. “His supervisor, the guy he blamed for giving the order, was Colonel Terry Louis Devonshire.”

The entire room stared dumbfounded at the revelation.

“How did we miss that?” Zeus finally asked.

“He works at the Pentagon,” Hawk added.

“Because we didn’t look,” Dax realized. He also realized just how stupid it had been to keep Paige out of the investigation.

“I’m clearly missing something,” Paige said looking at the each of the men in the room wondering who this Devonshire was.

“Devonshire hates Porter,” Vato provided. He was kicking himself for not making the connection himself. Especially with Hastings involvement. “The good General blocked his promotion... because of that incident in Iraq.”

“Among other things,” Dax sighed. “Ken start gathering everything you can on Devonshire. See if you can map his movements for the past few months. Zeus, call Carmen and get her started on his financials. I need to call Porter. He’ll want to ask Bratton about this new development when they speak.”

“Nathan is going to talk to Bratton?” Paige asked.

“Yeah,” Dax took her hand and started for the front door. “We’ll be back in a while.”

Paige thought about resisting, but in all honesty, she didn’t want to. She silently followed Dax next door and sighed in frustration when he retrieved his secret phone and dialed Porter.

“Is this important?” Nathan asked in greeting. “Harris and I are headed up to deal with Bratton as we speak.”

“Colonel Terry Devonshire,” Dax answered.

Nathan stopped abruptly in surprise. “What led you to him?” he finally asked.

“Paige,” Dax settled onto the couch. “He’s connected to Crenshaw.”

“The incident in Iraq,” Nathan said softly. “I should have thought of that. I should have made the connection myself.”

“What happened now?” Secretary Harris demanded.

“I’ve got to go,” Porter decided. “I’ll fill Harris in. Have Carmen do a deep run. We need everything. I’ll call you once we’re finished with Bratton.”

“I’ll look forward to the call,” Dax clicked off. “Now,” he studied Paige for several seconds. “I’m sorry.”

“For?” she asked hesitantly.

“For freezing you out,” he motioned to the couch in invitation. “I’d like to explain why if you’re willing to listen.”

Paige moved forward, wondering if she should follow his orders so easily. She settled on the couch next to him and was a little surprised when he took her hand. Dax didn’t speak immediately, he just stared at her hand as he gently rubbed circles with his thumb along the top.

“The night you came home injured, it bothered me more than it should have,” he said softly. “I tried to brush it off. I told myself it was the job; and, now and again, you were going to get hurt doing your job. I don’t like that, but I thought I understood it.”

“And every day since was a reminder?” Paige realized. “Is that what’s been going on with us?”

“Partially,” Dax admitted. “It was a reminder,” he reached up and gently ran his hand over her left cheek.

“Dax,” Paige took his hand in hers.

“Wait, I’m not finished.” He brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed her knuckles. “Then, Nathan and Sophie showed up for Thanksgiving. I watched you that first night. I saw the amazement and the longing on your face the instant Sophie stepped into the room. Nathan’s whole world was consumed by that woman. And, I realized I don’t give you that. I love you and in some ways, you are my world; but, I don’t...”

“Dax,” Paige wasn’t sure what to say. She was a little embarrassed that her thoughts and emotions had been read so easily that night.

“I continued to watch, every day, as they visited,” Dax continued. “And one day it hit me...”

“What?” Paige frowned.

“I don’t protect you,” Dax settled back against the couch. “I know you are constantly in danger at work. I know it’s part of the package and I can’t do anything about that. But, when you come home, I pull you in. I expose you to more danger and it’s selfish. I’ve been trying to do better, but it seems my entire team is conspiring against me. Plus, I need you involved. Do you have any idea how much time we’ve spent trying to figure out who the Colonel could be? And you walk in, study the board for less than two minutes, and immediately know exactly who we’re up against.”

“We don’t know that for sure,” Paige argued. She didn’t know how to respond to this conversation. She had looked at Nathan and Sophie with envy; but, it was different. Sophie was... soft. She needed Nathan to protect her but that’s not what Paige wanted in a man. She needed someone that would treat her as an equal. She wanted the relationship she used to share with Dax — before their surprise Thanksgiving visitors.

“I know,” Dax disagreed. “The instant you said it, everything suddenly clicked into place.”

“I can tell it clicked for the rest of your team, too. Did Nathan agree?”

“Yes,” Dax sighed. “It’s not just one thing. It’s a whole string of them linked together. And, it should have been obvious. Except, he’s been careful. He made sure his name was miles away from this thing. The man isn’t just dirty, he’s a psychopath. What he did to those villagers in Iraq, it was pure evil. Nathan blocked his promotion. He found out about the slaughter and proved Devonshire lied. Some of the men confided in Porter, told him how much Devonshire enjoyed it, and Nathan put everything he had into ruining that man’s career.”

“Sounds like he had good reason,” Paige was starting to understand. “And you? Does he have a beef with you, personally?”

“A slight one,” Dax admitted. “But, it’s mostly animosity toward my team. Not just me.”

“Which means he has a reason to want all of you dead,” Paige surmised. “Great.”

“He’s not a match for my team, Paige.”

“I hope you’re right,” Paige hesitated, wanting to get this right before she continued. “I understand how my job impacts you. I understand, because your job impacts me, too. I understand because I saw what it did to mom when my dad was killed. And I know, every time I walk out that door, you wonder if I’m coming home. The same as I do every time you leave town with your men. Every time you are forced to deal with another problem associated with this Reynold’s thing.”

“I know,” Dax sighed. “So, what do we do about it?”

“We don’t try to change who we are, for starters.”

“Meaning?” Dax asked.

“Meaning,” Paige smiled. “I’m not Sophie Porter. I’m not weak and pampered and I don’t want to be. I have no interest in being protected, Dax. I want us back.”

“I saw your face,” Dax disagreed.

“I’m not sure how to explain that,” Paige admitted. “I do envy Nathan and Sophie. What they have, the bond they share, the love that has lasted decades... I think I’d like to have that someday. And, watching the way Nathan is with Sophie did make me think. He loves her so much, the instant she walks into a room, nothing else matters.”

“And you don’t think I feel the same?” Dax finally understood the look Paige had in that moment.

“I’m not your world, Dax,” Paige shrugged. “Not in the same way. I know you love me. Just like I love you, but we both get caught up in other things. Sometimes, when you’re working with your men, I think I could dance naked on the table and you wouldn’t even notice I was there. But, when I’m working a case... I think I take you for granted, too.”

Dax smiled. “Can we put that to the test?”

“You want me to dance naked in front of your friends?”

“No,” Dax didn’t have to think about that one. “But you could dance for me.”

“Not on your life, pal.”

“I’m going to try to work on that,” Dax promised. “Not the naked dancing thing,” he grinned. “But, I never want you to feel like you don’t matter. Because you matter more than anything. I’m just not very good at this.”

“That makes two of us,” Paige smiled. “Maybe we could work on it together. And don’t shut me out. That was the worst part. It wasn’t as bad when Nathan was here. But, at the moment, I don’t even have work to fall back on.”

“Any word on when Tolman will clear you?” Dax frowned. “He knows the shooting was justified.”

“No,” Paige sighed. “I think he’s punishing Jericho. We’ve had more than our share of problems this past year. Tolman just wants to make sure we break the pattern.”

Dax stood and held out his hand. When Paige took it and stood, he grabbed her, threw her over his shoulder, and headed up the stairs.

Paige laughed. “I’m still not going to dance.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Trent Bratton walked down the long, deserted corridor flanked by his boss, Secretary of Defense Mike Harris, and Retired General Nathan Porter. What in the world was going on here? His nerves were jumping all over the place and he wondered if he was going to have a breakdown before this day was through.

He could deal with Harris; the man was an authoritarian, but he was fair. Porter? That man scared him. The guy was connected. His connections went all the way to the Oval Office. There were a lot of people that gave a collective sigh of relief when Porter announced he’d be retiring. It was common knowledge that Nathan Porter had the power, the contacts, and the moxie to orchestrate a world war if he wanted to. Conversely, he’d probably stopped more conflicts internationally than anyone knew. Unfortunately, his retirement was on paper only. He remained active in Washington to this day. His current, top-secret committee was only one example of just how deeply involved the former general remained in the game to this day. And he was currently escorting Trent Bratton down an abandoned hallway into a secret facility where his body would never be discovered.

The trio stepped into a large room that contained an uncomfortable looking couch to one side, a small conference table, and several chairs.

“Have a seat,” Harris motioned to the table.

“What is this about?” Bratton demanded. “And what is he doing here?” He turned to glare at Porter, hoping his fake bravado would mask his fear. “I assume you’re responsible for all the theatrics.”

Nathan settled onto the couch. He promised Mike he’d let his friend take point and he was going to honor that promise. But, if Bratton was involved in this... theatrics would be the least of his worries.

The two men stared at each other for several seconds before Bratton caved and settled into one of the executive chairs.

Mike Harris also settled into one of the chairs. “We are here to discuss your behavior over the past several months.”

Bratton frowned, unsure what his boss meant by that.

“It has come to my attention that, on multiple occasion, you have gone behind my back and countermanded several orders I issued personally. I’d like to know why?”

“I don’t understand,” Bratton glanced at Porter then back to his boss. “Do you have specifics?”

Harris pulled out a sheet of paper and set it on the table between them. “I issued that order last month. Two days later, you issued this order.” He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a second sheet of paper. “I’d like to know why. Because my contacts have informed me that, based on your actions, two of our most valued Special Forces operatives nearly lost their lives before they made it out of Iraq.”

Bratton read through the order issued by Harris. “I never saw this.” He had checked, how had he missed this order? Harris would never forgive his actions... and he shouldn’t. But he had checked!

“It is protocol to run the names through the system to make sure you’re not interfering with an ongoing operation before taking the kind of action you implemented, is it not?” Harris demanded.

“I did,” Bratton focused on his boss. “I ran both Vaughn Turner and Jared Soloman through the system. This was not in there. It wasn’t!”

Harris glanced at Porter, he believed Trent — the man wasn’t this good at acting. *But how*?

“They must have someone inside, a tech we haven’t located yet,” Porter said soberly. “Have you had your computer worked on recently?”

“What? Who?” Bratton asked, confused.

“I’m not willing to get into that yet,” Harris told him. “Has anyone been inside your office to work on your system in the past... six months?”

“Uh…” Bratton tried to remember. “Yeah, the new kid. He said he had to update my firewall. Something about a new spam scheme going around. Other than him... what was his name? Paul? Pete? No, it was Paton. Paton Velasquez.”

Porter stood, “I’ll check on it.”

“What’s going on here, Mike?” Trent asked when Nathan left the room.

“Cole Reynolds,” Mike replied. “I tried to warn you. I subtly suggested you might want to evaluate your friendship with that man and make sure he didn’t pull you into something shady. You chose to get in bed with a traitor and now you’re paying the price.”

Trent closed his eyes, worried how deep this thing with Reynolds actually went. He had trusted the wrong man. Cole was a friend, at least Trent thought he was. His company, Retrocero Inc. had landed the best contracts the government had to offer, because of his many contacts. When Bratton heard his old friend had been arrested, he’d gone over every action he’d made that involved the talented negotiator. He thought he was in the clear. Apparently, he missed something. He just hoped his career wasn’t over because he’d chosen the wrong friend. “How high is the price going to be?”

“That remains to be seen,” Harris sighed. “There are other orders, but I want to talk to you about that one. Why did you deem those two operatives expendable?”

“Hastings,” Bratton explained. “Major Hastings contacted me personally. Said Turner was working for him and he was dirty. He said Turner somehow arranged a transfer because things were getting hot under the Major’s command. Hastings said he was closing in and Turner outmaneuvered him, but our boys’ lives were in danger. I did not see that order, Mike. I learned my lesson after Reynolds, I realized I had to triple run everything. I checked to make sure Vaughn Turner wasn’t working some kind of mission, undercover. I confirmed he wasn’t in the system. There wasn’t a secret mission that would explain his actions. There was nothing there.”

“Major Hastings was working for Cole Reynolds,” Harris knew the information would be a blow, but Bratton had to know he’d been used. There was no way to soften that blow.

“What?” Trent jumped to his feet and began to pace. “Hastings convinced me to kill two innocent men to cover up Reynolds crimes? I’m going to kill him.”

“You’ll have to find him first,” Mike said flatly. “And I have him hidden away so deep, not even the avenging angel could find him to escort him down to hell.”

Trent dropped back into his chair. “What kind of mess is this? I mean, active military, computer techs, these guys have been screened, Mike. How did they infiltrate the Pentagon? I thought... okay, I know it’s naïve, but I thought I could trust these guys. I got complacent. I assumed the days of foreign spies and internal corruption was behind us.”

“I wish it were,” Mike turned when Nathan stepped back into the room. “Don’t keep us waiting.”

“There is no such person,” Porter settled back onto the couch. “Never has been. The last tech you guys hired was eighteen months ago.”

“That’s not possible,” Trent objected. “He had ID, he had the proper credentials. He was in the system. That’s why I remember his name. I ran him myself.”

“If he could block my orders from showing in your system, he could add a fake profile that only popped up for you,” Mike considered. “But, if we know when he worked on your system, we’ll have video.”

Trent lowered his face into his hands, worried about every decision he’d made in the past six months. “I knew I should talk to you about some of those orders, but we’ve both been so busy. We rarely have five minutes to discuss anything that’s not pressing.”

“I’m starting to wonder if that’s by design,” Mike sighed.

“So,” Trent looked up. “What now? I’ll help in any way I can.”

“I need you to stay here for a while,” Mike told him. “I have other orders I need you to look at. I need to know why you issued each one of them. Who did you talk to? Be specific. Did anyone ask you to produce them? Even the slightest, most casual connection is important. Start with that one. Other than Hastings, did anyone get involved? Not just high level, Trent. I want to know if your secretary prompted you or made sure you completed it before you left for the day... anyone, no matter how insignificant it seems. Once you’ve finished with that one, go through these,” he placed a stack of papers on the desk. “It’s important we catch all of them. I need every name.”

“I’ll do what I can, but what if I forget someone,” Trent worried. “Or, what if I list someone that’s innocent?”

“I still believe in due process,” Harris stood. “I’m not going to send them to the gallows based solely on your memory. Give us a little credit.” He glanced at Porter and smiled. “Even Nate has standards.”

“Okay,” Trent swallowed hard. He was still worried about his job and his involvement. The military always needed a scapegoat and at the moment he felt like the perfect patsy. No matter how bad the publicity got, Secretary Harris could just point a finger in his direction, throw him under the bus, and walk away clean. Kathy was pushing him to retire and move out to Wyoming closer to the kids — and the grandkids. Maybe he should listen. Maybe he should walk away while he still could. “I’ll handle it,” he finally said. “But, if I’m not allowed to leave, can you let Kathy know? She’ll worry if I don’t come home on time and I haven’t called.”

“I’m going to tell her you are working on something classified,” Mike nodded. “Something that took you out of town unexpectedly. And, it’s sensitive enough you won’t be able to contact anyone until it has been resolved.”

“That will be enough,” Trent was grateful at least his wife wouldn’t have to worry. “Kathy’s been in the life long enough to know how it works. She won’t ask questions.”

“Now,” Porter stood. “We’re going to leave you to that. Just punch the button over there if you have any questions. One of us will get back to you.”

Trent focused on Mike Harris. “I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“That’s worth a lot,” Mike said before he turned and left the room.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige practically skipped down the stairs and started to hum as she doctored her coffee. She turned and spotted Dax, grinning. “What?”

“Nothing,” Dax answered, amused. “I’ve just never seen anyone this happy to be going to work. Especially not in a snowstorm like this one.”

“I know it’s pathetic,” Paige settled onto a chair next to him. “But I’m going stir-crazy. You can only binge watch Netflix so long before it feels like watching paint dry.”

“I know,” Dax stood and dumped his remaining coffee in the sink. “I’ll be next door all day if you need me. Carmen found something on Devonshire last night that we need to look into.”

“I’ll be happily assisting Manti’s residents while they deal with the winter chaos,” Paige grinned. She couldn’t help it. Tolman had finally cleared her shooting — deeming it justified after three full weeks. She knew it could be worse. Lo told her, up in Salt Lake, the guys expected their leave to last at least three months after a shooting. She couldn’t even imagine the stress and anxiety that caused. Three weeks was more than she could deal with.

Dax stopped to give her a quick kiss before he pulled on his winter coat and disappeared out the back door.

Thirty minutes later, Paige was backing out of her driveway when her first call came in.

“Fire is on the way,” Margie advised. “It sounds like a simple ambulance back. The family was up the canyon sledding when dad lost control and struck a tree. He’s unconscious, please advise on his condition when you arrive. The family is pretty upset.”

“Copy,” Paige flipped on her lights and maneuvered around a vehicle that was going so slow they might as well just stop and go home. Even the idiot driver couldn’t dampen her good mood.

Unfortunately, her first call did. Paige spotted the family immediately. Fire was already on scene and, from the looks on their faces, it wasn’t good. She pushed out of her vehicle and sloshed through a foot of snow before she lost her footing, slid down an embankment, and landed on her butt in a large valley. The area was surrounded by steep hills that should have been the perfect place for family fun. Paige slowly stood and approached the small group that was hovered over a body.

“Let’s talk over here,” one of the firemen said in greeting. “I’ll fill you in on the details.”

They had just stopped a few feet away from the family when another police car pulled up. Jericho climbed out and headed straight for Paige. “You might as well wait,” Paige told the man who was apparently the first on scene. “The boss will want to hear this, too.”

“What do we have, Sam?” Jericho asked soberly.

“We called him just before your deputy arrived, Sheriff,” Sam, the fireman, advised. “It’s officially a fatality. Looks like he was booking it down that hill, lost control, and collided with that tree. I’d say, based on his injuries, he died instantly.”

“I’d like to take a look,” Paige was shifting from one foot to the other, swaying from side to side in an attempt to keep warm.

Jericho grinned. “I think you had one too many cups of coffee this morning. If you can’t stand still, you might as well head over, double check the basics, and make sure this was just a tragic accident. We’ll take it from here,” Jericho held out a hand to Sam. “I’m sure you have other calls to handle. It’s not even ten and the entire city is already a mess. Just have the ambulance wait in case we need him to transport.”

“Will do,” Sam shook the sheriff’s hand. “Good luck.” He turned, motioned for his men to head out, then made his way back up the hill to the engine. The flashing red lights pulsed ominously creating a solemn contrast with the bright white snow as the group of somber firemen climbed aboard and drove away.

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“I’ll deal with the family,” Jericho offered. “You check the body and the sled for any evidence this was something more than the obvious. And, try to be quick. I’m going to catch pneumonia in this wind.” He pulled his cap further over his ears in an attempt to protect them from the blizzard raging around them. “And stop smiling,” he ordered. “This isn’t supposed to be fun.”

“Aye, aye, sir,” she saluted before she turned and headed toward a grieving family. It wasn’t fun. The children were hunched over their father, crying. This family was devastated, and their lives would never be the same. She knew that first hand and empathized more than she wanted to. But she had a job to do. It was probably just an accident the way the fireman said. But Paige was familiar with the sled the man had been using. It was expensive, and the selling point was the fact that this sled had handles that allowed you to steer. An accident like this one was supposed to be impossible. So, what happened? Operator error? Inexperience? Or, something more sinister? *Stop it Paige*, she scolded herself. *You always assume the worst*.

Ten minutes later, Paige stood and approached Jericho. “Let’s get him transported. I’m taking the sled in for evidence.”

Jericho frowned and pulled her to the side where they couldn’t be heard. “Something wrong?”

“The steering mechanism on that sled was cut,” Paige whispered. “Not broken, sliced. It’s a smooth cut like someone did it with a sharp knife.”

“The sled was sabotaged,” Jericho realized.

“Yeah,” Paige nodded. “Now I just have to figure out who the target was. Because, unless the wife did it...”

“It was random,” Jericho concluded. “It’s either the wife or it had to be random. Otherwise, the suspect couldn’t control which family member would be riding the thing when it malfunctioned.”

“Exactly,” Paige sighed.

“Welcome back,” Jericho slapped her on the back. “Let’s get out of this weather. I’ll have John transport the body to the ME’s office. No point in making Benny respond in this mess when we have an ambulance right here.”

“I agree,” Paige focused on the lifeless form now covered with a large blanket. “I’ve got everything I need from the body. I don’t think there are any additional clues that will help, other than the sled.”

“Gage could use some help,” Jericho glanced back at the family. “I’ll get them on their way, you good to handle the rest?”

“Yeah,” Paige said immediately. “In fact, I can take care of them if you want to bolt. Go help Gage. I got this.”

Jericho hesitated, then turned and headed for his vehicle. It was going to be a very long day.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige slowly made her way down the nearly empty roadway that led home. She was exhausted — in a good way. Even the mess created by the severe winter weather couldn’t dampen the relief and satisfaction she felt now that she was back on the job. It suddenly hit her, she’d been in Manti for nearly three years and she loved it here. She had finally found the place she belonged. She was proud of the job she’d done in Quantico, and she wouldn’t change the relationship she had with the estimable Nathan Porter for anything, but Manti was home. She’d even found a way into the hearts and minds of the rough, macho team of soldiers occupying the house next door. That alone was a miracle.

*Speaking of the house next door*, Paige frowned as she pulled into her own driveway and focused on the strange vehicle parked across the street and a few houses to the south of Dax’s home. It was the same white rental she spotted last night. Was someone watching them? Someone working for Reynolds? She focused on her own house. Dax was inside that was obvious from all the lights. She glanced in her rearview mirror and debated, head inside or investigate? Suddenly, her front door swung open and Dax stepped outside. He smiled as he descended the stairs and pulled open the driver’s side door.

“Staying home? Or, did you get called back out?”

“Do you know how long that vehicle has been parked back there?” Paige glanced in her mirror one more time. “The white rental.”

Dax frowned. “Now that you mention it, I think it’s been there at least a couple hours. You want me to check it out?”

Paige shook her head as she climbed from her vehicle. “No. I’m going to check it out.” She pointed to her chest. “Cop.” She grinned and shoved her finger into Dax’s chest. “Civilian.”

Dax grabbed Paige’s hand and linked fingers with her. “Partners,” he corrected. “Let’s go confront a bad guy.”

Paige knew arguing with the stubborn man wouldn’t do her any good, so she shifted her position, pivoting behind him as she pulled her right hand free and reached out with her left.

“Got it,” Dax grinned. “So, Trigger, how do you want to handle this?”

“You go back to the house and I’ll find out who has been watching you the past few days,” Paige offered.

“How about you tap on the window and I’ll stand to the side and serve as backup,” Dax continued to casually walk toward the vehicle. He tensed when the driver’s side door flew open and a dark figure climbed out. He relaxed when he realized the woman standing in front of them was Piper Weber.

Paige sighed and refastened the strap that secured her service weapon in its holster. She hadn’t even considered Piper Weber, but she should have. “Piper.”

“Paige,” Piper said in dismissal. “I’m here to visit Dax, do you mind?”

“Not at all,” Paige didn’t move. “Go ahead, visit.”

“Why are you here?” Dax asked impatiently. “Why are you staking out my house?”

“I’m researching,” Piper said defensively. “Her friend, General Porter, has blocked me at every turn in Washington. I’m here to find out why. If there was nothing to the hot lead my source provided, Deputy Carter wouldn’t need a powerful General’s interference. The fact she got Porter involved tells me I’m on the right path and this story is huge.”

Paige rolled her eyes. “I’ll leave you to this,” she told Dax. “I’m tired and it’s cold out here. She’s not worth it, see you inside.”

Dax didn’t let go of Paige’s hand. “I agree. Bye, Piper.” He turned and escorted Paige back to the house and through the front door.

“She’s not going away any time soon,” Paige dropped her coat onto the couch. “What is that amazing smell?” Her stomach growled so loudly, she instinctively covered it with her right palm and laughed. “Sorry.”

“Just as I suspected,” Dax rested his hands on Paige’s shoulders, then steered her toward the kitchen. “You didn’t take time to eat lunch, did you?” He pushed her into a chair, moved to the stove, and grabbed a huge ladle. “I made beef stew and...” he pulled open the door to the oven. “Fresh rolls,” Dax pulled a glass container from the warm oven. “Dig in,” he dumped the rolls into an empty bowl on the table before dishing a huge bowl of stew and placing it before Paige.

“You did all of this?” She glanced around in amazement. Dax didn’t cook. “Why?”

“Because,” Dax settled into the chair next to Paige and reached out for a hot roll. “I was hungry.”

“Why, Dax?” Paige asked again.

“We had a breakthrough on the Devonshire front,” Dax admitted. “And, since I was done working, and I knew you wouldn’t eat, I thought I’d throw together a quick stew and we could discuss your day and then mine over a hot meal.”

Paige took a bite of the stew and practically moaned. “You should cook more often.”

“Naw,” Dax grinned. “I can pull off a good stew and I’m amazing with a juicy steak and the BBQ, but that’s it as far as my culinary skills go. The rest is up to you, I’m afraid.”

Paige had eaten half her dinner and scarfed down two rolls before she focused on Dax. “What was the break-through?”

“You first,” Dax buttered another roll. “Tell me about your first day back on the job. Was it all you could have hoped for? Did you get to arrest anyone?”

“My first call was a death,” Paige frowned. “I think it might have been murder. But then we got swamped with crashes and stalled vehicles, and I had to put it aside to deal with the storm.”

“You think it was murder, or you know?”

“I know someone cut the lines on a man’s sled,” Paige sighed. “The obvious suspect is the wife. The first suspect is always the spouse but...”

“But...” Dax prompted.

“She was devastated,” Paige frowned. “I mean, completely shattered. And then you have the kids. I just don’t think that mother would kill her husband in front of the kids. They were hysterical. My gut is telling me it wasn’t her.”

“But?” Dax asked again.

“But,” Paige grinned. “If it wasn’t mom, it almost has to be random.”

“How so?” Dax wondered.

“They were the only people on that hill,” Paige scraped the last of her soup from the bowl.

“Want more?” Dax stood.

“Oh, yeah.” She handed him the bowl and focused out the window. “If his wife didn’t kill him, then someone else cut the line, but they couldn’t have known who would get hurt. It could have been one of the kids, or mom, or they could have loaned the sled to a neighbor. If mom didn’t do it that leaves me with nothing. Well, nothing except random.”

Dax slid the bowls onto the table and considered. “What if it was someone that knew dad would use it first? I mean, it’s the first big snow storm this season. If the family went out to have some fun, would dad test it first? If they hadn’t used it since last year, he may have wanted to make sure it was all working the way it should before he set the kids free on a large hill?”

“That’s good,” Paige dug into her soup. “I have to go back out and talk to mom again tomorrow. I’m going to explore that possibility. I also have to look into his work and his financials. Stan’s working on a warrant for the business stuff,” she frowned again. “There’s something off with that guy. I swear he’s a nervous Nelly every time we work a case. I wonder why.”

“Because you’re scary,” Dax grinned. “What do you want to do about Piper?”

“Ignore her and hope she goes away?”

“Not likely,” Dax studied Paige. “Nathan hit her with obstacles at every turn back in Washington. In Piper’s world, that means you’re hiding something. She’ll gnaw on this until she chews it to death. We did what we had to do. There was no other way to handle it, not with Reynolds and now Devonshire involved, but she’s not going away. Watch your back, babe. She’s out for blood this time.”

“She’s out for blood because she wants you back and she thinks I’m standing in the way,” Paige stood and gathered up the dishes. “Thanks for this, it was amazing. Piper sat outside in that cold car for several hours. Why? I wasn’t here. She had to know I was at work, so why not just march up to the door and try a little seduction? What’s her end game, Dax?”

“She knew it wouldn’t work,” Dax moved to the stove and started putting things away. “But, you’re right. There was a reason she sat out there. Piper never does anything unpleasant without a reason.” He turned and leaned against the counter. “I’ll think about it. Later. Right now, I want to talk about Devonshire and what we found. This new information might take me out of town again and I want your take before I commit to a plan.”

Paige frowned but followed Dax into the living room. They settled onto the couch where she waited silently for Dax to begin. It took longer than she thought it should. “What has you so worried?”

“Carmen traced some purchases to Arizona,” Dax began. “Just small ones and they could be a ruse.”

“A trick to lure you guys back to the warehouse,” Paige realized.

“Exactly,” Dax settled back and began to run through each purchase. “They were all made at remote locations. None of the convenience stores had camera systems. Not good ones. But, if you follow the trail, they lead right back to Arizona... to Reynolds manufacturing plant. The place they were holding Camille and Zee.”

“So,” Paige considered. “Now you have to decide if Devonshire is hiding, on the run, and he stopped at those places because he thought he could never be traced.”

“Or,” Dax added. “If it wasn’t even Devonshire at all and he’s trying to lay a few breadcrumbs here and there, so we’ll follow them and walk into a carefully planned ambush.”

“Can you show me what you have?” Paige sat up and shifted. “I mean, can I actually see the evidence? It sometimes helps me if I can see it, process it, study it myself for clues or subtle issues.”

“Tonight, or do you want to wait until tomorrow?”

“Tonight,” Paige decided. “I have a murder to solve tomorrow. Has Sean looked at all of it?”

“Not yet,” Dax admitted. “He was called back to Washington to present his final report on the cops murder. I think he’ll be back sometime this week.”

“I’d like him to look at it all, too,” Paige considered. “He’s good, better than he gets credit for. I know you military guys don’t like working with the feds, but Sean might see something the rest of us missed.”

“Or, you might.” Dax stepped onto his front porch and made a subtle perusal of the area, hoping Piper was long gone.

“She’s gone,” Paige smiled when Dax pulled open his front door. “I looked for her, too. Piper is going to be a problem, but she’s a problem for another day.”

“I agree,” the two of them stepped into the warm living room and glanced around. Hawk was sitting on the couch, laptop resting on his thighs as he used a mouse to maneuver around something. Carmen and Zeus were inside the room Carmen had set up as an office. They were arguing about something, Paige couldn’t figure out what. Vato was skimming through files and scowled when Dax stepped inside with Paige. He still didn’t understand her involvement and was pretty sure he never would.

“I want to start with Carmen,” Paige decided. “Hey, Zeus. Can I have a few minutes with the amazing Fennelly?”

“Sure,” Zeus sighed, stood, and left the room.

“Trouble in paradise?” Paige asked, settling into the chair Zeus had just vacated.

“He wants to move here,” Carmen closed her eyes and sighed. “Permanently. He wants me to transfer out here and work with Sean or something. He doesn’t even know. He just wants to stay. He likes working with Dax and he wants... I don’t think he even knows what he wants. He just wants to stay.”

“And you?” Paige asked hesitantly. She had kind of gotten used to having her friend so close. It was going to be hard when Carmen headed back east.

“I like it here,” Carmen said carefully. “But Nathan sent me here to hide. I don’t see how this could be permanent. I have a job to do, one that is normally in Washington and before that, Quantico.”

“I think it’s a little early to be arguing over logistics,” Paige decided. What was Dax going to do when this assignment was over? They hadn’t discussed it. Did he want to move on? Find another house to flip? Move back east to continue his work with Nathan? Paige had no idea. She forced those thoughts aside and began to quiz Carmen about Devonshire and the new intel.

“Wait,” Paige held up a hand to stop Carmen’s scrolling. “Stop right there.” She waited while Carmen stopped the video.

Dax stepped into the room.

“I thought you said you didn’t have video,” Paige scolded. “What do you call this?”

“I call it a big fat nothing burger,” Zeus grumbled. “I’ve gone over that video a hundred times. The quality is crap and there’s nothing there. The timing is right, but whoever made that purchase knew there was a camera and he was careful to avoid detection.”

“Not so much,” Paige smiled at Dax. “Carmen zoom in. Right, now move the frame a little higher, right there. Okay, just a little to the left. Perfect.”

Dax crouched to get a better look. “It’s blurry,” he focused on Carmen. “Can you enhance it at all?”

“Not much,” Carmen started pushing buttons and working the mouse. “Okay, that’s the best we are going to get, I think. The video is a dozen steps below substandard.”

“That’s Devonshire,” Hawk said from the doorway. “But how?”

“Reflection,” Zeus shook his head in disbelief. “Why do we even sit here working all day? We should just wait for Paige here to get off work. She can find whatever we’re looking for in about ten minutes.”

“Seven,” Dax corrected and grinned. “Paige found that image in seven minutes. So, it was actually Devonshire who made the purchases. Does that mean he’s running, or he wants us to chase?”

“I think,” Paige settled back against the chair. “He’s running.”

“Why?” Hawk wondered.

“Because if this was some elaborate scheme to get you to chase him,” Paige turned to face Dax. “I think he would have made it obvious. He would have tried to be subtle about it, maybe avoided all the cameras except one. But he would have made it easier to find him. This…” Paige pointed to the screen. “He didn’t know about this. Couldn’t have. He certainly wouldn’t rely on it to draw you in. He thinks he got away undetected. That was the last of it, right?” She asked Carmen.

“Yeah,” Carmen nodded. “That was the last of the video.”

“So,” Paige deduced. “If it’s a trap, he hasn’t set it yet. He could still be out there, formulating a plan. Maybe setting up the ambush, but he doesn’t know you guys know he’s there. I’d stake my life on it.”

“How about ours?” Vato grumbled. Okay, maybe the girl had talent. They had all looked through those files a hundred times and missed it. Still...

“Yours?” Paige stood and shrugged. “Sure.”

“His?” Vato pointed to Dax.

“That’s up to him,” Paige sobered. “You don’t have enough information to determine what Devonshire is doing out there, yet.” Paige frowned. “Why don’t you know? Carmen? I thought you were able to hack their camera system. Shouldn’t there be footage of Devonshire entering the compound?”

“They shut it down,” Carmen said softly. She focused on Zeus. “After the last time these guys got in. They shut the entire system down completely.”

“Why?” Paige shifted to look at Dax again. “Devonshire is a Colonel. He’s a military man. You guys rely on accurate intel. Why would he shut down the camera system? It makes us blind, but it also handicaps him and his men. Why shut it off? Especially if he thinks you don’t know he’s out there.”

“Good question,” Dax moved out of the small room and headed for the living room and the couch. He settled in to consider. “He didn’t go dark to impede us. As far as he knows we’re still chasing our tails back east. He didn’t leave a trail, not much of one. I doubt he even knows we’ve identified him.”

“Nathan didn’t mention it to Bratton?” Paige asked.

“No,” Dax said absently. “He wasn’t sure where Bratton stood and, even though he’s locked up in a secret holding cell, Bratton could have the means to make contact. They couldn’t risk it until Devonshire was in custody.”

“Bratton is not involved in this,” Zeus insisted. “He may have been tricked into signing a few orders or altering shipments, but he’s not dirty. I know the man better than any of you and he’s unbelievably naïve, but he’s one of the good guys.”

Paige smiled. “He was right about him,” she pointed to Vato. “Well, maybe.”

“I agree,” Dax pulled Paige down next to him. “So why shut down the system?”

The group pondered the new information for several minutes. “He’s preparing another shipment,” Vato finally said out loud. He didn’t have any proof, but it made sense to him. He just wondered if it would make sense to the rest of them... especially the former agent turned deputy. He found himself wanting her approval, and that just irritated him.

“Carmen,” Dax considered. “I know you can’t tap into their system but what about traffic cams? You found a couple last time that we could use. Any chance you can tap in again and monitor what vehicles routinely head that way?”

“On it,” Carmen jumped up and left the room.

“On a different topic,” Dax decided it was time to share with the group. “When Paige got home tonight, Piper was parked up the road watching this place. I know she was out there at least two hours, maybe more. I saw the car when I headed home to start dinner.”

“Why?” Zeus asked, perplexed. “I mean, she knows you’re not ever taking her back. She knows about Paige and she’s been warned. She’d never get through this group without serious consequences. Why sit outside and stake us out?”

“Could she be working for the enemy?” Vato asked.

“Not willingly,” Dax rejected. “But unwillingly?”

“Like they kidnapped someone else?” Carmen asked, stepping back into the room. “It’s recording. I’ll skim through it in the morning.”

“No,” Dax frowned. “But, if they fed her enough details, changed the players to make Paige and maybe even Sean look dirty, then played up the patriotic duty angle; Piper would bite. Not because she’s patriotic, but because she knows a lot of American’s are. She’d use it to break a big story in hopes of securing another promotion.”

“So, what do we do about it?” Hawk asked. Piper Weber was a distraction they didn’t need on a good day. With everything going on at the moment, the woman’s interference could be fatal. “How do we eliminate the Femme fatale for good?”

“I like the sound of that,” Vato grinned.

“Me too,” Zeus laughed.

“Not funny,” Dax rolled his eyes and glanced at Paige. Her too? The woman wasn’t even trying to hide her smile. “I’ll find a way to deal with Piper. You guys just focus on Arizona and get me some intel on what they’re doing inside that warehouse.”

“Should I call Ken back?” Hawk wondered. Their teammate left that morning to head home and spend a couple days with his family.

“Naw,” Dax stood. “I’ll call him in the morning. He can get started from home. We’ll pick this back up around nine.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Hawk agreed.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Zeus laughed at the one finger wave he got from Dax as his best friend escorted his amazing woman out the front door. Now it was time to deal with Carmen.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige slowly opened one eye, then the other. She shifted, knowing it had to be time to get up and head into work, but Dax stopped her. Paige smiled when he wrapped one arm around her waist, pulled her backward, and snuggled closer.

“Morning,” Paige whispered.

“Shh,” Dax gave her ear a gentle kiss then moved to her neck. “I was enjoying the peaceful morning and the warm body.”

“So,” Paige teased. “I’m just some random warm body to you?”

“Of course,” Dax bit her earlobe. “What was your name again?”

“Louie,” Paige shifted and sat up. “As in V. Slugger.” She started to study the room in an exaggerated way.

“I suppose you want me to ask what you’re looking for,” Dax said flatly.

Paige smiled. “My balls.” She burst out laughing. “Get it? Baseball? Louisville Slugger.”

Dax stood and headed for the door. “Baby, I’m thankful every day that you don’t have any. Although, according to my men, you did steal mine.”

“If you make me coffee,” Paige jumped from the bed. “I’ll give them back.”

“Hallelujah,” Dax laughed and continued into the kitchen.

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\*\*\*\*\*

Two hours later, Paige was pulling into the snow-covered driveway of one Mrs. Yvette Hatchell. She sat in her vehicle for a few extra seconds as she slowly took in the front yard. There was a snow shovel leaning against the garage and someone had taken the time to clear the driveway and the sidewalk that led to the front door. Large red ribbons were tied in a straight line all across the front railing. The family was ready for Christmas. Paige sighed and pushed open the door. They were ready... until yesterday. Now? Paige supposed that would be answered when she solved the mystery. She just hoped three small children didn’t lose their mother so soon after they had witnessed the tragic death of their father.

One of the children in question slowly opened the door when Paige rang the bell. “Hey there.” Paige crouched down to the little boy’s level. “Do you remember me? Deputy Carter? We met yesterday. I’m here to talk to your mommy. Is she here?”

“Anakin,” a female voice came from somewhere inside. “I told you not to open the door without asking.”

“Hello, Mrs. Hatchell,” Paige straightened. “This shouldn’t take long.”

Yvette pushed open the door, taking Anakin’s hand as she waited for Paige to enter. “In here.” She motioned to a sitting room off to the side of the foyer.

Paige turned when she heard a slight noise and smiled at the little girl peeking around the corner. Kammie had also been sledding the day before and Paige guessed she was about eight. She would put Anakin somewhere around five or six. “Before we get into the details,” Paige began. “Can you tell me the full names of your children and their birthdates? I need the basics for my report.”

“Oh,” Yvette settled onto a chair, pulling Anakin onto her lap. “This is Anakin Dillan Hatchell and he’s six.” She relayed his birthdate and motioned for her daughter to join them. “That is Kammie Anne Hatchell, she’s nine. My oldest son, Jovan Damien Hatchell, is eleven.” She added the two older kids’ birthdates then brushed a tear from her face with obvious impatience.

“Okay,” Paige lowered her notepad and focused on Yvette. “Whose idea was it to go sledding yesterday?”

“Dillan’s,” Yvette said with a hesitant smile. “Jovan has been pestering both of us for weeks to get out, but there wasn’t enough snow. Dillan bought that stupid sleigh at the end of last year. We only took it out once and the kids had a blast. I think Dillan wanted to get out and have a fun day with the kids as much as they did.” Tears flooded both of her eyes and Yvette slammed them shut and took two slow, shuddering breaths before she opened them again and focused on Paige. “It was supposed to be a grand adventure. Dillan was always buying the next big thing,” she swallowed hard. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without him. What are my children going to do without their father?”

Paige was even more certain today than she’d been yesterday, Yvette Hatchell did not murder her husband.

“I know you can’t answer that,” Yvette added immediately. “I don’t know why I asked. Deputy Carter, can you tell me why you are here today. I mean, I thought... well, I didn’t realize after a tragic accident like the one Dillan... what I mean is...”

“I’m investigating your husband’s death,” Paige offered. “I know this is difficult and I’m going to try to make it as quick and easy for you as possible, but I have some questions. I need to ask you about your husband.”

“What do you mean by that?” Yvette frowned. “What does it mean that you are investigating Dillan’s death. I mean, well this was just a tragic accident. What is there to investigate?”

“I wonder if there is someone that could watch the kids for a bit,” Paige evaded. She didn’t want to discuss murder in front of two small children that were still trying to cope with the loss of their father.

Yvette started to decline but she saw something in the officer’s demeanor that changed her mind. “Let me call Kathy, she lives next door and she offered to help out if I needed anything today. Let me just call her and see if she can take them for an hour.”

Paige stood and moved to stand in front of the window while a grieving mother made arrangements for a friend to watch her kids. She wished there was someone that could be here for Yvette, but that someone would have to be Paige. She had already delayed long enough. Ten minutes later, the kids were shuffled out the front door headed to Kathy Hovey’s house for cookies and hot chocolate.

“This wasn’t an accident, was it?” Yvette asked as she settled back into the chair. “You wouldn’t be acting like this if Dillan died yesterday from a freak accident with the sled. What am I missing? What happened to my husband?”

“The sled had been tampered with,” Paige decided to be direct. She was convinced Yvette was not involved. If she was, the woman deserved an Oscar.

“Tampered how?” Yvette furrowed her brow as she tried to understand what the deputy was telling her.

“Someone cut the line,” Paige settled back into the chair across from Yvette. “That sled has two lines. You pull on one and it presses a sort of brake that makes the sled turn. You pull the other, it goes the other way. Pull both of them and the sled slows or stops.”

“I remember,” Yvette studied the deputy. “You’re saying somebody cut one of the lines? That when Dillan pulled on the handle to control the direction, that’s what made him go off course and slam into that tree?”

“I am,” Paige said soberly.

“And you think I did this?” Yvette stood and began to pace. “That’s what they say on television. The spouse is always the first suspect. You think I killed my husband.” She turned and glared angrily at Paige. “You think I’d do that to my children? Never mind that Dillan was the love of my life. You think I’d take him, a loving father, away from my kids?”

“No,” Paige said flatly. “I don’t.”

“You...” Yvette froze. “You don’t?” Now she was confused.

Paige smiled. “No, Mrs. Hatchell. I don’t believe you are the one that killed your husband. But that leaves me with the question of who did. Can you think of anyone that might do this? Was your husband having trouble with anyone? Had he received any threats recently? Had you?”

“Me?” Yvette settled back into the chair. “Why me? Oh, because of the sled. No. I’m a stay-at-home mom. I don’t have any enemies. I’m afraid to even use that thing. There’s not an adventurous bone in my body. If someone did this, they knew Dillan would be the one to get hurt.”

“How?” Paige asked, more curious now.

“Dillan let the kids think they were adventurous,” Yvette began. “He wanted to boost their confidence. He would pretend like they were taking these big risks but really, he always knew it was safe. He took the sled down first, to make sure it was working properly, on account of us only using it once last year. We tested it out then hung it in the garage all summer. Dillan was excited to go out and he wanted to use the sled, wanted to test out what it could do, but mostly he wanted to make sure it worked properly before he let Jovan take a turn. Kammie would go slow, she’s not as adventurous as her older brother. Anakin would insist Dillan ride down with him. But, Jovan...that kid inherited his father’s spirit. And Dillan encouraged it, but he was a good father. He would never let Jovan take the maiden voyage and anyone that knew Dillan at all would also know that.”

“So,” Paige pushed. “Is there anyone that Dillan knew well, anyone that was close enough to your family that they knew you would be sledding yesterday, that maybe had a falling out with your husband?”

“Recently?” Yvette pondered.

“Fairly recently,” Paige nodded. “Because they had to have access to the sled, and they had to know you guys were having a fun family day in the snow.”

“I don’t know,” Yvette stalled.

“Who?” Paige pressed.

“I think... maybe,” Yvette stood and swallowed hard. “I think there is someone you should probably speak to. Let me get his card.”

Paige frowned and wondered what this was all about. She stood when Yvette entered the room and held out a business card. Paige glanced down and spotted the private investigator title immediately. She raised an eyebrow at Yvette. “Why do you want me to speak with Craig Maldonado?”

“Dillan hired him and his partner to look into something at the office,” Yvette evaded.

“Do you know what?” Paige pressed, Yvette was hiding something.

“I think maybe you should speak with Craig and Makale. That’s Craig’s business partner, Makale Irwin. Maybe they can help. Maybe not, but if Dillan was... you know. Well, maybe they have information that could help.”

“Mrs. Hatchell,” Paige tried to press.

Yvette just shook her head and her eyes filled with tears. “Please, just talk to Craig.”

“Okay,” Paige realized she wasn’t going to get anything more from the widow. “Could you let him know I’ll be contacting him and that it’s okay for him to talk to me? Some PI’s take the privacy of their clients more seriously than others and I can’t figure out who did this if nobody is willing to cooperate.”

“I’ll call him,” Yvette promised as she opened the door. “I’ll make sure he’ll talk.”

Paige pulled away from the house more confused than when she’d arrived. She dialed Stan on her way back to the office.

“District Attorney’s Office, Stan Donaldson speaking,” Stan greeted.

“It’s Paige Carter. Any word on my warrant?” she asked.

“I sent it to the office,” Stan said curtly. “Sheriff Walters has been notified.”

Paige hung up, frowning as usual when she spoke with Stan Donaldson. What was it about her that put that man on edge? She pulled into an empty spot and made her way through the front door of the office. The instant Margie saw her, she motioned toward Jericho’s office, meaning Paige was wanted inside.

“Stan sent over the warrant,” Jericho said in greeting when he spotted Paige in his doorway. “I thought we’d head over and serve it together.”

“First,” Paige stepped inside and dropped the card onto her boss’s desk. “You familiar with Craig Maldonado or Makale Irwin?”

“Not personally,” Jericho picked up the card to study the small print. He was pretty sure Clark knew Craig. Maybe he should make a quick call to see what his friend could tell him. “Why?”

“Yvette Hatchell gave me that card,” Paige provided. “She said she thought he might be able to answer some of my questions. She promised to call over and let him know he could speak with me about her husband’s case.”

“Dillan Hatchell hired a private investigator?”

“Apparently.”

“Why?”

“Now, there’s the million-dollar question,” Paige sighed. “Yvette clammed up. The instant I started asking about enemies and who had access to the sled, she froze and gave me that card.”

“Let’s serve the warrant first,” Jericho decided. “The longer we wait, the better the chance the partner could hear we’re coming. We don’t want to give anyone time to destroy evidence. Once we’ve finished at the office, we’ll swing by and see if we can speak with this Craig Maldonado or Makale Irwin.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Paige turned to leave. “How about you meet me at the office? That way, we’ll have two vehicles if there’s a lot to transport.”

“I’ll be right behind you,” Jericho stopped to advise Margie of the plan and dialed Clark Anderson on his way to the car.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the parking lot of Maldonado and Irwin and shut down her engine. The trip to Dillan’s office at Skygen Incorporated had been illuminating. His partner, Konner Gray, was now Paige’s number one suspect. Not because he’d said anything incriminating. No, it was what Konner didn’t say that had Paige intrigued. Now she was off to find out why Dillan Hatchell had decided he needed a private investigator. And, if that need had anything to do with one Konner Gray. Paige would bet the farm it did. She spotted Jericho and climbed from her car, anxious to get this meeting over with. She had a ton of documents to go through and inside one of those files, there was a smoking gun. Paige and her gut knew that without a doubt. The hard part would be finding it.

“After you,” Jericho pulled open the exterior door and followed Paige inside. They were greeted by a middle-aged blonde woman with bright blue streaks splattered throughout her long locks.

“You should try red and green,” Paige pointed to the dye job. “This time of year it would feel more festive.”

“How can I help you?” the woman glared, clearly not amused.

“We need to speak with a Craig Maldonado,” Paige held out her badge.

“Do you have an appointment?” the secretary asked.

“I got this, Paulina,” a man stepped from an inner office and motioned for Paige and Jericho to follow. “We can do this in the conference room. There’s more space and I think it might be a little more comfortable. Yvette called. It was a shock to hear about Dillan. Awful time of year for those kids to lose their father.”

“I’d say any time of year is a bad time for murder,” Paige settled into a chair and waited.

“So, you’re sure then?” the man dropped into a chair. “Craig Maldonado by the way. Makale will be joining us shortly. He did most of the work on this particular case.” He leaned forward and held out a hand to Jericho then shook Paige’s hand before he settled back in his chair.

“Can you tell us why Dillan hired you?” Jericho asked once he was settled across from the PI.

“He wanted us to look into his business partner,” Craig glanced up when a second man stepped into the room. “This is Makale Irwin, my business partner.”

“And a much better one than Konner Gray,” Makale settled into a chair and dropped a large stack of files onto the desk. “I’m also a CPA, which came in handy with Dillan’s case. Konner was embezzling funds. Had been for some time. He started out small and when Dillan didn’t notice, he became more... confident and reckless. Dillan did notice, he just didn’t want to believe someone he trusted the way he trusted Konner would jeopardize the company and their friendship. He made excuses until it got so excessive, he could no longer look the other way.”

“Did Konner know he was being watched?” Paige asked.

“Not at first,” Makale shrugged. “But once I had that final meeting with Dillan, he told me he was going to confront Konner and give him the opportunity to make it right.”

“But you didn’t believe he would,” Jericho surmised.

“How could he?” Makale shook his head. “There was a reason he was stealing in the first place. We’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars. Konner couldn’t make that up, not in time to appease Dillan. He only gave him ninety days. If you’re looking for a suspect in Hatchell’s death, I’d start with Konner Gray. The man is dirty, dishonest, and he was desperate enough to try something stupid.”

“We just executed a warrant on the business,” Paige provided. “It would save us a lot of time if you could share what you found.”

“Yvette asked us to give you the file,” Craig reached out to Makale who slid a large file across the table. “It’s all in there. Makale laid it out plain as day. Dillan was smart, and he understood the accounting mumbo-jumbo; but, Makale likes to make things simple. You know, in case it went to court. He has a way with graphs and charts and all that crap. Helps with a jury if you know what I mean.”

“I do,” Paige smiled. She’d understand the accounting stuff just fine, but she thought the graphs and charts might help Jericho follow along without his typical whining and complaining. Dealing with finances always made the boss grumpy. Gage was worse, so she’d count her blessings and be happy it was Jericho helping her on this case instead of her childhood friend, the former football star turned cop. With Jericho, she might just make it home in time for dinner.

“I appreciate the assistance,” Jericho stood. He was glad he didn’t have to drop Clark’s name to encourage cooperation. He’d save the Anderson connection for another day. And Clark had been right, these two were professionals.

“Always happy to help the locals,” Craig stood. “And, it makes things easier when the client doesn’t stand in the way. I know the spouse is always a suspect, but Mrs. Hatchell... she’s a sweetheart. Losing Dillan like this, well... it’s going to be tough. I hope you can scratch her off the list soon. For the sake of the kids and the holidays.”

“We’re close,” Paige decided it couldn’t hurt to tell the PI’s the truth. Yvette Hatchell wasn’t on the list... not really. But without proof, she couldn’t eliminate the woman completely. She could drop her to the bottom though. And, she had. Once they reached the parking lot, she turned to face her boss. “It’s nearly quitting time. I was thinking I’d head into the office and unload all of that...” she pointed to the evidence crammed into the back of her vehicle. “Then I’d like to head home and go through this after dinner.”

“I’ll meet you at the office,” Jericho glanced at the evidence then back to Paige. “I’d like a copy of that file. I’ll go over it tonight as well. Don’t give me that look, it’s still your case but I’m invested now. I’m the one that had to deal with that family yesterday, in a blizzard. I could have contracted pneumonia and died. I think I earned a little fun.”

Paige laughed. “You think reading through a financial report is fun? Jericho Walters, you seriously need to get out more.”

“No,” Jericho opened his door. “I think arresting the patronizing, self-righteous thief will be fun. Reading through that file is a necessary precursor. It will get me into the right frame of mind — for when I come face to face with the condescending prick again. See you back at the office, deputy.” He tipped his hat, climbed behind the wheel and drove away.

Paige was still smiling when she pulled away from the lot. Konner Gray was in for a rude awakening and he wouldn’t even see it coming.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into her driveway, shut down her vehicle and sighed. She climbed out and silently made her way across the street. Piper Weber ignored the gentle tapping on the side window, initially. When Paige curled her hand into a fist and began to pound on the cold barrier, Piper shoved open the door and jumped to her feet.

“This is a public roadway,” Piper growled. “I have a right to park on a public roadway.”

“What do you want?” Paige asked with a sigh. “What are you hoping to gain from sitting out here in the cold all night? If you tell me what you’re looking for, maybe I can help.”

“Why?” Piper narrowed her eyes at Paige. This had to be a trick. Paige was a dirty cop, wasn’t she?

“Call it a public service,” Paige shrugged. “Why are you watching that house?”

“My informant said those men are hiding a criminal,” Piper admitted. “I need to get a photo.”

“What is this criminal’s name?” Paige knew Piper had to be talking about Vato. The man never left the house. The guys were worried he was still a target, and they wanted to keep him hidden for as long as possible.

“I can’t tell you,” Piper pouted. “You’ll just go in and arrest him and take all the credit.”

“If you’re looking for Vaughn, he’s not a criminal,” Paige offered. Maybe if she gave a little Piper would give something in return.

“You know Vaughn Turner is inside and you haven’t arrested him?” Piper pivoted, leaned down and pulled what looked like a warrant from the passenger seat of her car. She shoved it toward Paige. “That proves my contact is right, you’re dirty.”

Paige took it, studied it and sighed. It was a good fake, but it was a fake. “Come with me.”

“Why?” Piper didn’t move. “You can’t arrest me. I didn’t break any laws.”

“I’m going to run this name through the system and prove to you that your informant,” Paige passed the paper back to Piper. “The guy that gave you that, he’s the bad guy. He’s the criminal, and he’s using you. He wants you to do his dirty work while the coward sits in a nice warm luxury hotel and enjoys room service, cheap liquor, and a good laugh at your expense.”

“You’re lying,” Piper retorted, but there wasn’t any emotion behind her words. She was beginning to wonder if Colonel Devonshire was using her.

“Climb into my car and see for yourself,” Paige offered. She fired up the engine and punched a code into her office computer. Within seconds it was ready to go. Paige turned the screen slightly, so Piper could see it, then typed in Vaughn’s information. She just hoped nothing sensitive would come up because she had to prove Dax and his men were not hiding a fugitive, but she didn’t have to provide Piper Weber with a new story.

Piper leaned forward, watching the screen as a few names appeared. Vaughn Turner was not one of them. “Why does he want me to spy on Dax?” she asked as she plopped back against the seat.

“I can’t tell you that,” Paige closed the lid on her computer. “I can tell you the man you are working with — he’s the wanted fugitive. If I had to guess, I’d say the guy feeding you all the false intel is Colonel Terry Devonshire. And, if you were to run him through your stations’ system, you would discover he’s on the run. He’s hiding out and he wants you to tell him what Dax and his friends are doing. You’re aiding and abetting. I’m pretty sure the first amendment doesn’t cover that one.”

“Why does Devonshire want you out of the way?” Piper asked, then silently scolded herself. “I’m not admitting he’s my source, but you jumped on that name immediately. Why would a man like the Colonel want you out of the way? All of you guys said the information I was given on you was fabricated. I couldn’t confirm that because General Porter got in the way, but there has to be a reason.”

“I can’t tell you that, either,” Paige sighed. She figured Devonshire just wanted her preoccupied and out of the way, but she couldn’t tell Piper that. She was dealing with a reporter. Paige also figured the Colonel was trying to ruin her reputation; to discredit anything she touched that pertained to him or his men. So, how to respond to Piper? “Why do you think Dax and all of his men are here? They all left the military. Why did they settle out here, in Manti — together?”

“They’re working on something for Porter,” Piper dismissed the question, then straightened as things started to fall into place. “And my questions were getting in the way. Colonel Devonshire wanted them to get in the way. He wanted me to interfere with something important. If Devonshire is dirty and Dax and his team are working for Porter that means...” she studied Paige for several seconds. “That means you’re not dirty. You didn’t let a killer go free, did you?”

“No,” Paige never took her eyes off Piper. This was too important. Piper had to find her credible. Otherwise, she would never leave. “I would never let a criminal walk, Piper. I know you don’t know me and you don’t like me. There is no way for me to prove to you I have integrity and I take my job as a law enforcement professional seriously. All I can do is tell you the truth. I never let a killer walk. I wasn’t in the process of getting fired. I came to Manti because this is where my mother was killed. I needed to come home. End of story.”

Piper frowned. “I can check that,” she warned. “I can find out if your mother was killed here. If you’re lying, I’ll know you lied in less than an hour.”

“Then, go find out,” Paige said confidently. “Jericho tried to arrest my mother’s killer last year. He was forced to kill him in the process. His name was Daniel Owens. Go ahead and check. And when you discover I’m telling the truth, maybe you will realize you’re helping the wrong person. And then, maybe you’ll understand why you need to stay out of the way. Dax and his men, they’re dealing with something that could get them all killed. Can you live with that? Knowing that because of you, one or more of those men lost their lives?”

“No,” Piper admitted. “But if it’s that big, I want the story.”

“Which is why I’ve already told you too much,” Paige decided. “I don’t know you well enough to know if you’ll do the right thing. You are a reporter so I’m going to guess no. Just remember, if Dax dies, you had a hand in that. And, you should also know, if you compromise this mission... I’ll come after you myself.”

“You shouldn’t threaten me,” Piper pushed open the door. “I’m a reporter and I record everything.”

“Good,” Paige stepped from the vehicle. “Then, when you start to have doubts, when you start to wonder if I’m serious, be sure to rewind that tape and listen again. And know, if anything happens to Dax, I won’t rest until you pay.” Paige slammed the door shut and made her way to her front porch. She watched as Piper walked quickly to her rental, climbed inside and drove away. She hoped the woman would get a clue and leave, but she wouldn’t count on it. She wondered if giving her a new bite to chew on would keep her occupied or encourage her to get in the way. Only time would tell.

\*\*\*\*\*

“What did you say to her?” Dax asked the instant Paige stepped inside.

“I told her she was getting in the way,” Paige used the toe of one boot to force off the other one. “I told her she was being used, and she mentioned Devonshire. I think he’s her source.”

“And?” Dax pressed.

“She had a fake warrant for Vato,” Paige pulled off her second boot. “I proved to her that it was fake.”

“She’s playing a dangerous game,” Dax moved forward. “But I think she’s too stubborn to listen.”

“I know,” Paige sighed. “But I tried.”

“There’s more,” Dax decided.

Paige focused on him. “I told her if she gets in the way and you get dead, I’m going to hold her personally responsible and act accordingly.”

“You what?” Dax erupted. “That’s going to put her mind into overdrive. Paige, you should have let me handle this. Piper Weber is a reporter first. That kind of warning, it’s going to motivate her. She’s going to dig into things. She’ll find out I’m working for Nathan.”

“Dax,” Paige sighed. “She already knows that. I can’t stand the woman but she’s not stupid. She already put it together. You and the rest of the merry band of militants aren’t hanging around here in Manti for kicks. Nathan blocked her. Nathan is in charge of a top-secret committee in Washington. I used to work in those same circles. She’s circling the edges already. She knows it’s all connected. She just doesn’t know how. And, Devonshire has given her enough information that she knows Vato is involved. She knows he’s here. Which means, you guys have to assume Devonshire knows Vato is hiding out here. He told her to get him a photo just to be sure; but, he knows.”

Dax dropped onto the couch and considered. Paige was right. Piper wasn’t stupid and if she had all the information Paige had just laid out, she knew too much. It was time to have a one-on-one with his ex. He was probably the only one that could convince her she was working on the wrong side and she was putting them all in danger... including herself. Because once Devonshire no longer needed her, he wouldn’t hesitate to have her removed — permanently.

“Anything new in Arizona?” Paige decided to change the subject.

“Yeah,” Dax glanced up. “Catch a murderer?”

“Not yet,” Paige stood and walked into the kitchen. “I’m starving. Then, I have work. I know whodunit, now I just need to prove it.”

“Tell me,” Dax moved in behind her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Sorry I blew up at you. I’m just…”

Paige smiled and twisted to face him. “You are?”

“Sorry,” Dax leaned in and stole a kiss.

“And,” Paige pulled away. “You are also stressed, frustrated, and tired.”

Dax smiled. “That too. Who committed death by sledding?”

“Business partner,” Paige opened the fridge and pulled out a foil wrapped plate. “Mine?”

“Yours,” Dax affirmed. “I already ate. Why’d he do it? Must have something to do with the business.”

“Konner Gray was embezzling from the company,” Paige pulled off the foil and smiled. Fried chicken, potatoes and something green. “Dillan Hatchell hired a PI firm who laid it all out in technicolor. And I mean they laid it all out, completely. The investigator guy, he’s also a CPA, he created charts and graphs and everything. Gray stole over two hundred and fifty thousand from the business. Apparently, Dillan confronted him, told him he had ninety days to pay it all back, or he was taking the evidence to the cops. Konner sabotaged the sled. You were right by the way. Yvette, our victim’s wife, told me Dillan would never let the kids use the sled without testing it first to make sure it all worked the way it was supposed to. Konner would have known that. He snuck in, snipped the line and snuck out. Now, I just have to prove it.”

“You will,” Dax said confidently. “Maybe he’ll confess once he knows you have the evidence on the embezzlement.”

“He might confess once Jericho arrests the guy,” Paige smiled. “My boss is pissed.” She proceeded to tell him about Konner Gray and his condescending pompous attitude while they executed their warrant.

\*\*\*\*\*

It was nearly midnight. Paige was just finishing up with the financials she obtained from the PIs, and Dax was going through the documents Nathan had obtained from Bratton. They both froze, then looked at each other in confusion when the doorbell rang.

“I got it,” Paige stood and grabbed her gun. She cautiously glanced out the window and lowered her weapon. “This better not be a bootie call.”

Dax frowned and moved to stand behind Paige. His frown deepened when he spotted Piper. “It’s late.”

“I know,” Piper shivered. “Can I come in?”

Paige sighed, turned and headed back to her chair. She gathered up the evidence and shoved it back into a folder. One glanced at the intel Dax had been studying told her he had already done the same. “How can we help you, Piper?”

“Everything you told me was the truth,” Piper admitted. “Everything. So, I ran Terry Devonshire through our system at the station. He’s the one with the warrant. I’ve been an idiot.” She glanced at Dax. “You and the men told me I was being used, but I didn’t believe you. I didn’t want to. I guess...”

“You wanted Dax to know he chose the wrong girl,” Paige provided. “It’s not a secret, Piper. Why are you here? Now, at midnight I mean. What was so important it couldn’t wait until morning?”

“I got another call,” Piper admitted. Paige was right. She did want Dax to know he’d chosen the wrong woman. But, she was starting to think he hadn’t. She was starting to wonder if Paige Carter was actually the right woman...for Dax. “Terry Devonshire called me. He’s angry that I haven’t been able to get a photo of Vaughn Turner. He threatened to take his story somewhere else. I tried to placate him. I told him I was getting closer. I told him I thought I had a way to get inside but I couldn’t do it until tomorrow.”

“I’m still unclear,” Dax said impatiently. “What is the reason for this late-night visit?”

“Devonshire has someone here,” Piper whispered. “I think someone is watching me, here in Manti. He told me to get the photo and then, once Vaughn’s identity was confirmed, his man would take it from there. Dax, I think Devonshire sent an assassin to take out your friend. I think all of you are in danger. I think maybe it’s my fault. I tried to tell myself it could wait until morning. That I’d rush over first thing and warn you, but what if I’m wrong? What if that call was enough and they try something tonight? I didn’t mean to wake you...” for the first time she looked at Dax and then Paige. They were fully dressed. “I didn’t wake you.”

“No,” Paige sighed. “I’m working a case, a local case that has nothing to do with Dax, his friends, Devonshire or my favorite general. It was pressing, and I was nearly finished when you arrived.”

“Oh,” Piper focused on Dax. “I know you don’t want to see me. I know I’ve caused you a lot of trouble. But, well... I just don’t want you to die.”

“I appreciate that,” Dax smiled. “I’ll warn the men. I also suggest you call the station and ask your boss to relocate you. Tonight. Tell him you need a safe house. We both know they can arrange that. I highly recommend you leave town for a few days, Piper. Devonshire is dangerous and if he sent an assassin, if he no longer needs you...”

“I might be on the list,” Piper realized. “I’ll call my boss. I’ll find somewhere else to go. Somewhere he can’t find me. You do the same. Be careful. I know this is big, I can feel it all the way down to my bones. Stay safe, I really do mean that.”

Paige and Dax watched as Piper slowly made her way to the front door and disappeared into the black winter night.

“Do you think he’s going to try something tonight?” Paige finally asked.

“I’ll call Hawk,” Dax snatched up his phone. “But I think he has decided Piper Weber is disposable. I think she’s the one that needs a safe place to stay tonight.”

“I could stop her,” Paige offered. “I could escort her somewhere, make sure she’s safe.”

Dax shook his head. “Her boss will handle it. They have contacts everywhere. If she listened, and I think she did, she’ll be fine.” He punched in a number and waited. When Hawk answered, he was on high alert. Dax explained his visitor and added a warning to be on high alert for the next twenty-four. He hung up and turned to face Paige. “You look beat, let’s call it a night.”

“I am beat,” Paige agreed. “And I have a suspect to arrest in the morning.”

“You have enough?”

“I do,” Paige let Dax take her hand and lead her up the stairs. “People are so stupid. Even Gage could have followed the trail Konner Gray left in his wake. And Gage is allergic to bookkeeping.”

“He just says he’s allergic,” Dax corrected. “Because he knows you’ll step in and save him.”

“That’s supposed to be a secret,” Paige whispered.

“You save him,” Dax continued. “The same as you save the rest of us. Sorry about the late-night visitor. I know...” Dax paused not knowing how to continue. What was the appropriate thing to say when your ex-girlfriend showed up at midnight... at your new girlfriend’s home? “I’m at a loss here. I’m just sorry.”

“Not your fault,” Paige decided Dax was miserable enough. He didn’t need her added harassment over the whole Piper Weber fiasco.

Dax climbed into bed and pulled Paige close. “I love you.”

“Goodnight,” Paige settled against him. “I love you, too.”

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\*\*\*\*\*

Dax tossed the rag into the kitchen sink and decided he was becoming far too domesticated. He smiled, it was worth it. Paige was anxious to get back to work and had left nearly thirty minutes earlier. The least he could do was clean up after breakfast. He frowned when his secret phone began to ring. “Hamilton.”

“Dax,” Nathan answered, tension evident in his voice. “There’s been an incident and I need you to get a message to Paige.”

Paige had just finished discussing the details of the case with Jericho when her phone began to ring.

“Go ahead and take it,” Jericho nodded at the interruption.

“It’s Dax,” Paige knew it couldn’t be good. “Hello.”

“Paige,” Dax said in greeting. “I know you just got to work, but I need to meet you. Can you head over to the park? It’s important.”

“Uh...” she glanced at Jericho. “We were just heading out to arrest our suspect.”

“I know,” Dax sighed. “And I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

“Can’t you just tell me now?”

“Not on the phone,” Dax pushed. “I need to see you in person.”

“Go ahead,” Jericho decided. “It will give me some time to finalize a few things with James before we make the arrest.”

“Okay,” Paige said hesitantly. “I’ll head over now, but I only have a few minutes.”

“I’ll make it quick,” Dax disconnected and climbed from his truck. He was already at the park. His mind was racing a hundred miles a minute and once he put everything in motion, there would be no stopping it. The plan was moving fast, maybe too fast. He glanced up and frowned when he spotted Piper Weber headed his way. He didn’t have time for her now.

“This will only take a minute,” Piper took the lead.

“I’m busy, Piper.”

“I know,” her voice began to shake and she cleared her throat.

Dax took a closer look and realized Piper looked...frazzled. Her hair was normally perfect, not a hair out of place. This morning, it was a little wild and she was on the verge of breaking down completely. He placed a hand on her shoulder and guided her to the bench of a nearby picnic table. “What happened?”

“You were right,” Piper inhaled slowly and then let out a long, deep breath. “Someone tried to kill me last night. Obviously, he failed; but, that’s only because I was prepared. I called Peter...” she motioned to the only car in the parking lot besides Dax’s truck. “He was headed down to meet me. I was traveling north on the freeway when a vehicle tried to run me off the road. I panicked a little, then realized he was trying to kill me. I took the next exit and the man pushed me off the road, literally with his truck. My car rolled, but I got away and Peter picked me up. We dumped the van a few blocks away and ran the rest of the way to the safe house. Derek took care of everything from there.”

Dax wondered what Piper had told her producer to get him to act so quickly. “Why are you here? What do you need from me? More money?”

“No!” Piper pulled an envelope from her bag and passed it over to Dax. “I just needed to...”

Dax slid open the flap and glanced inside. It was a check for a large amount of money. “What’s this?”

“I’m here to give us both closure, I guess. That...” Piper pointed to the envelope. “That is everything I stole from you plus interest. I’m sorry, I was so angry when I realized you weren’t going to fall in line with my fantasy, well... I convinced myself I deserved the money.”

“What changed?”

“The file your men have on me,” Piper admitted. “I took it to Derek. My producer may be ruthless when it comes to a story, but he’s also protective. He sat me down and suggested the only way out of this mess, the only way to save my career and eliminate the threat, was to make things right. He offered up Frank, the station’s accountant. Frank ran the numbers and provided a figure. That’s what I owe you, interest accrued, a slight penalty for failure to pay, and then Derek added a little bonus for the help and the warning you gave me last night. If it wasn’t for you and Paige, I’d be dead.”

“I don’t need the money,” Dax tried to hand the envelope back.

“I need you to take it,” Piper refused. “I followed you here because I need to make this right. Paige was right about something else. I did think you chose the wrong woman. I was wrong about that, too. Paige Carter is exactly the woman that you need, Dax. I hope you know that. I hope you will cherish her. And, I hope one day the two of you will forgive me for the trouble I caused. Do something spectacular with that,” she pointed to the envelope. “And stay safe. Last night showed me just how real and how dangerous this situation is. I don’t think I ever really understood that — how dangerous your job was. It’s just another thing that makes Paige perfect for you.” She stood and motioned for Peter to move closer. “I’m going into hiding for a while. I’ll still be working, just from the shadows until this all blows over. I guess what I’m trying to say is goodbye, Dax.”

Dax stood and was taken by surprise when Piper pulled him into a hug and gently kissed his left cheek. As he watched her walk away, he spotted Paige standing beside a tree to his right. He sighed and made his way to the only woman he had ever truly loved.

“I didn’t want to interrupt,” Paige said, watching Dax closely.

“She was attacked last night,” Dax took Paige’s hand and pulled her toward the table. “Our warning apparently saved her life. She wanted to thank us and say goodbye.”

“She’s leaving?” Paige watched the car pull away and disappear. “What’s in the envelope?”

“Money,” Dax settled onto the bench and took her hand in his.

“What’s the money for?” Paige asked. Wondering why they were here.

“She wanted to give back the money she took when our relationship ended,” Dax sighed. “I didn’t ask you here to talk about Piper. I need to tell you something.”

“What happened?” Paige was beginning to panic. Why all the cloak and dagger stuff? Something was seriously wrong.

“Before I explain the details,” Dax linked his fingers with hers. “Nathan is okay. They tried to take him out, but he’s fine.”

“What does that mean?”

“Someone planted a bomb under his car,” Dax began. “He wasn’t in it when it exploded but he was supposed to be. You are going to hear, from the media, that General Nathan Porter is dead. He’s not.”

“I need to talk to him,” Paige jumped to her feet. “I need to call him.”

“We knew you would need that,” Dax pulled a strange looking phone from his pocket. “Just hold down the number one and it will ring his phone.” He stood, pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and walked away. She needed privacy and he could give her that.

“Nathan,” Paige relaxed a little when she heard his voice. “I need to know what happened.”

“Hey, pumpkin.”

“Tell me,” Paige demanded.

“There’s not much to tell,” Nathan began. “I was leaving the office after an early morning meeting with Harris. There was a man in the lobby that appeared to be watching me. My gut told me something was off. I’ve always told you to trust your instincts. Well, trusting mine this morning saved my life. There was a bomb under my car. The experts are still analyzing it. If I had to guess it was on some kind of timer. I think the kid in the lobby triggered the bomb; either he was actually the one to trigger it, or he got a message to someone that I was leaving. I was suspicious enough that I took a short walk around the corridor. I wasn’t thinking bomb, I was thinking kidnapping.”

“So, you decided to take a leisurely stroll to make an abduction easier?” Paige accused.

“No,” Nathan said calmly. “I decided to draw them out. I know you think I’m just a helpless old man, but I can take care of myself, Paige. I was never in any danger.”

“I have one word for you, Nathan,” Paige tried to settle her panic but she couldn’t. “Bomb.”

“Yes,” Nathan admitted. “I was completely taken by surprise with the bomb. When nobody approached me, I started for the garage thinking I had overreacted. I stepped from the elevator but that feeling returned. Something wasn’t right. There was a homeless man pushing an old grocery cart just a few cars down from mine but everything else was quiet. Too quiet. I turned, thinking I’d just get back in the elevator and summon the car service when everything around me exploded. Somehow, I had the presence of mind to call Harris who was already on his way to my location. He got me to safety and let me know he had sent a car for Sophie. We’re safe, Paige. And, that homeless victim is currently housed in the morgue, highly guarded, and believed to be the body of retired General Nathan Porter. As long as they believe I’m dead, I’m safe. But you aren’t. Devonshire is out of his mind if he thinks he can just kill people in broad daylight and get away with it,” Nathan fumed. He still hadn’t calmed his wife down over this and he could tell Paige wasn’t taking the news well, either.

“He tried to eliminate Piper Weber last night,” she informed him. “She just showed up and told Dax about the attack. She’s going under. The station has a Safehouse where they’ll keep her until this has been resolved.”

“The Colonel must be desperate,” Nathan decided. “Piper Weber is too high profile to eliminate. He’s planning something and whatever it is, it’s going to happen soon. I need to talk to Dax.”

“I’ll tell him to call you back,” Paige decided. “First, I need to talk to him for a few minutes. Are you sure you’re not in any danger? You’re sure you and Sophie are safe?”

“I’m positive, kid. Don’t worry about me. It’s you and Dax and that team out there that need to be on high alert. The world thinks I’m dead and you have to keep it that way. Devonshire will only act if he thinks he succeeded in getting me out of the picture.”

“I love you,” she choked out.

“I love you too, kid. Don’t take any risks and try to keep in touch. I’m going to worry about you,” Nathan was frantic, and he needed to talk to Dax.

“I’ll have Dax call you. Goodbye, for now.” They disconnected and Paige turned to Dax. The instant she saw him, she lost it. Nathan could have been killed. Dax and his team were probably next. What did this Devonshire guy have in store for the man she loved? She glanced at her watch. She was running out of time, Jericho was waiting for her to arrest a killer.

Dax wrapped his arms around Paige and tried to soothe her. “We will all be okay, I promise. We will all get through this. Are things settled with you and Porter?”

“If he really is safe, yeah,” Paige pulled back and focused on Dax. There was more.

“He’s safe,” Dax said confidently. “But, I’m not sure you are. I need you to get Jericho alone and tell him what’s happening. Only Jericho. Nobody else can know the truth. The world has to believe Nathan is dead.”

“I’m not sure I should. Nathan said...”

“I know,” Dax wiped the tears from her face with his thumbs. “But Devonshire thinks he took out Porter. He tried to take out Piper. The next move will be you.”

“Or you,” Paige disagreed.

“And me,” Dax corrected. “I have the team and we’re prepared for anything he might throw our way. You are out here in the open, most times you’re alone. It would be easy to call in a bogus call, like a vehicle burg — something that wouldn’t have you on high alert — and ambush you. I just need you to be careful and I need Jericho to know the danger, so he can prepare for it. After that stunt with the ATF, your boss could be on the list too. We have no idea what target Devonshire will try for next. Tell Jericho, promise me you will tell him everything.”

“I promise,” Paige whispered.

“Thank you,” Dax leaned in and gave Paige a gentle kiss. “I have to leave. We need to head to Arizona again. Ken’s working out logistics as we speak but if he can swing it, we’re going to be leaving before you get home tonight.”

Paige closed her eyes and tried to be strong. Things were moving too fast. Fast left room for sloppy. “Are you ready for this? It just seems...”

“We’re ready,” Dax assured her. “This is what we do, Paige. My team, we’ve been deployed tons of times on missions that have far less planning than this one. We’ve been inside the building, we know the layout, we’ve already scoped the best escape routes. This one, the risk assessment won’t reach higher than a four, five tops. Trust me. I’ll stay safe. I need you to do the same.”

“Okay,” Paige took a deep breath and let it out. “You have an op to plan and I have a killer to arrest.

“That’s my girl,” Dax pulled her in for a tight hug. He hated leaving her like this. He’d just dumped so much onto her emotional plate and he wasn’t going to be here to help her through it. After what happened with Nathan, Paige was going to worry about him. The same as he would worry about her. But they both had a job to do and they would do it... in spite of the risks. “I’ll call you.” He pulled out the phone she used to dial Nathan. “Keep that one. Nathan brought me two of them, he gave them to me while he was here for Thanksgiving. They’re encrypted, impossible to trace. Not even the NSA can record these. Keep it with you and I’ll call you when I can. And don’t forget how much I love you,” he pulled her in for another kiss.

Paige knew she had to get going, but she needed one thing from Dax before she went. She took a step back and looked him directly in the eyes. “Do me a favor, kill the sadistic SOB that tried to murder Nathan. Kill him for me, kill him for you, for Nathan, and most of all, kill him for Sophie. Because, Nathan was trying to sound upbeat, but I know his wife is a mess right now. We all need closure and locking that man in a cell just isn’t enough.”

“I’ll do my best to make that happen,” Dax gave her one more quick kiss before he released her and watched her walk to her patrol car and drive away.

Dax was just climbing into his truck when the encrypted phone began to ring. He answered as he started the engine. “Hamilton.”

“Don’t forget, this could be a trap,” Paige said softly. “And, don’t forget I love you, too.”

Dax didn’t respond. Paige had already disconnected. He put his truck in gear and headed home to finalize what he hoped would be his final mission. It was time for a change and he had an idea on how he could make that happen.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige,” Jericho watched his deputy climb from her vehicle and head his way. Something was seriously wrong. “You okay?”

“No,” Paige sighed. “Do you want to talk about this now, or after we arrest Gray?”

“You tell me,” Jericho decided to leave it up to her.

Paige looked around, decided they were alone and filled her boss in on the current situation.

“You’re going to stick with me today,” Jericho decided. “I don’t want you to go anywhere alone. We’ll arrest Gray and head back to the office where you can interrogate him. But under no circumstance will you step foot out in the open alone. In fact,” he pulled out his cell phone and started scrolling through his contacts.

“Who are you calling?” Paige demanded.

“Gage,” Jericho said in answer. “I need you to respond to my location. If Konner Gray decides to escape out the back, I’m going to be waiting. That means Paige needs a new partner to go in through the front.” Jericho paused. “Expedite.”

“You don’t seriously believe this Devonshire guy would try to take me out inside that office building.”

“I have no idea what this Devonshire guy would try to do. We’re being cautious today,” Jericho ordered. “We’re being cautious every day until your boyfriend or that father figure that is now apparently dead can resolve this once and for all. And if they don’t eliminate Terry Devonshire soon, I’ll take care of it myself.”

“I think maybe Arizona is just a little out of your jurisdiction,” Paige glanced up when Gage flew into the parking lot. He slammed on his brakes and the tires slid at least two feet before the vehicle came to an abrupt stop. Paige rolled her eyes. “You might want to gauge the Gage. Tell that man to expedite and suddenly he turns into Havi or Dean.”

“Nothing wrong with being prompt,” Jericho smiled. “You two give me exactly two minutes to get into position then you head in the front. I’ll be waiting out back for Konnor the coward to attempt his escape.”

“You say that like you know he’ll run,” Gage frowned.

“Because he will,” Paige motioned for the front door. “Clocks started, let’s move over here to wait.”

Things went down exactly the way they expected. The two deputies walked in the front, Konner Gray tried to slip out the back. He had only taken two steps when he was blocked by Jericho Walters.

“Excuse me,” Konner attempted to move around Walters. “I’m afraid I don’t have time for another interview. I said everything I had to say yesterday. If you have further questions, you will need to contact my lawyer. I’m a busy man and I’m afraid I’m late for an important meeting.”

Jericho grabbed the man by the back of the neck, spun him around and slammed his face into the bright, shiny, yellow sports car.

“Not my car!” Konner yelled.

“You mean Yvette Hatchell’s car.” Jericho slapped on the handcuffs in a matter of seconds. He was a little disappointed the obstinate fool hadn’t resisted. Today, he needed to take his frustration out on someone and Konner Gray was a deserving target. Oh well, he’d just go for a drive to calm his nerves. Now that Gray was in custody, they had plenty of time. Plus, a drive around the county would give him the chance to scour the area for outsiders. Strangers that were lurking where they shouldn’t be lurking looking for trouble... or an opportunity to ambush his deputy. Jericho was going to make sure that didn’t happen. He would not lose another Carter, not today — not ever. He’d protect Paige with his life if he had to. She was going to be safe.

Gage stepped forward. “Do you want me to transport, boss?”

“Yeah,” Jericho focused on Paige. “Paige follow him. Lock him in one of the cells then wait for me. I shouldn’t be long.”

Paige frowned, hesitated, but ultimately followed orders. Jericho was up to something but now wasn’t the time to ask what it was.

\*\*\*\*\*

It was almost two hours later when Jericho walked through the back door. Paige thought he had a slight limp. She still wondered where he had been and what he’d been up to. Duncan Havilland stepped inside a few seconds later. He shoved a short, bald guy into a cell before he moved forward and dropped something onto Margie’s desk.

“Who is he?” Paige asked, immediately.

“The boss says he’s some kind of assassin,” Havi shrugged. “I was driving by, spotted the two of them in a scuffle... the boss was winning if you’re wondering. But I thought, what the hell, I’ll stop and see if he wants assistance. Jericho is pissed. I mean, livid. I’ve never seen him this angry and that guy back there...” Havilland pointed a finger toward the holding cell. “He’s lucky I stopped.” Havilland paused to glance around. “I think Walters might have killed the guy if I hadn’t stopped him. Won’t talk about it either,” Havilland whispered. “I’m lucky I got that much. I’m not sure if I should book him on attempted murder or what. Is annoying the Sheriff a felony?”

Paige’s mind was reeling. How did Jericho find Piper’s would be assassin? “Book him on the attempted murder of Piper Weber,” Paige decided.

“The reporter?” Havi asked, even more confused.

 “That’s the one,” Paige stood the instant Jericho exited his office. She followed the boss into the conference room, knowing she wouldn’t get answers until Jerico was ready to give them. It was time to focus on their killer, Konner Gray.

“You read him Miranda?” Jericho asked calmly. A little too calmly if you asked Paige.

“He’s waived his right to an attorney for now,” Paige nodded. “Said he considers himself a cooperating witness and there must be some kind of mistake.”

“Good,” Jericho settled into one of the chairs and winced at the pain he felt in his right hip. He was getting too old for this shit. One of these days, a suspect just might get the better of him if he wasn’t careful.

Paige realized Jericho was injured but she could also tell he wasn’t in the mood for sympathy. She settled into the chair across from Konner Gray and began her interrogation.

\*\*\*\*\*

“We’re not taking any chances,” Dax ordered from the passenger seat of the jeep. He wished he had time to call Paige and let her know the op was a go, but things were moving fast and if they didn’t resolve this now, they might not get a second shot. “Wooly,” Dax called.

“Chopper is in position,” Ken advised. He was able to get Harris to transport them from Manti by helicopter to Arizona. The bird was now waiting in a remote location to take them back home once the op was complete. “Harris also contacted the hospital in Flagstaff and told them he was conducting a top-secret training exercise in the area. The staff is on standby in the event any of us get injured. I recommend we don’t, much simpler all around.”

“I second that,” Dax jumped from the vehicle the instant Hawk brought it to a stop. “Zee, you’re up. Make the hole big enough this time. I’m not a freaking cat or a scrawny mutt.”

“One time,” Zeus complained. “You play it safe one time and this is the thanks.”

Dax grinned and waited for Zeus to cut the fence. They’d be heading in from the east this time. Camille had helped them understand the layout of the building a little better and that seemed like the best entrance. Once inside, they’d move through the structure as a unit and hopefully, track down Devonshire. Dax was still trying to figure out how to honor Paige’s request without causing problems for his team. He knew if push came to shove, they’d lie for him. He just hoped they wouldn’t have to. He didn’t like putting them in that position. Regardless, Terry Louis Devonshire was a deadman walking. He just didn’t know it yet.

Zeus stepped back. “Done.”

“Move in,” Dax whispered into his mic. “Coms and hand signals only from this point on.”

The group moved forward, silently approaching the side door. They were surprised to discover the guard tower was empty and there weren’t any guards at the door. Dax gave the signal to enter and Hawk and Thor took the lead. Vato and Zeus followed with Jeeves, Dax, and Wooly stepping inside and closing the door behind them. The group hesitated, listening for a disturbance but the warehouse was eerily silent.

“Move out,” Dax whispered into the headset. They had decided to methodically clear the entire structure as a group, soundlessly moving from room to room until they found their target. They were making good time, better than any of them had hoped when they rounded a corner and came face to face with two men. Well, not exactly. The workers had their backs to the team and they were hunched over an old generator. Hired help? Or, a clever disguise?

“Stand down,” one of the men ordered, obviously the team had been spotted. Instead, his partner lunged to the side. Thor raised his weapon, but the guy’s partner was quick. The threat was neutralized instantly; incapacitated by his partner with an elbow to the side of the head. In a matter of seconds, the unconscious worker was secured to the large machine. “Hawk,” the second man raised his hands in the air as he stood, hoping the group wouldn’t shoot. “What are you doing here?”

“Funny,” Hawk stepped forward to secure the second worker. “Stand down,” he told the group gathered behind him. He always believed Charlie Hopkins was a good man. Was he wrong? “Hopper was about to tell us what he’s doing in the Devils’ lair.”

“We don’t have time for this,” Dax decided. “Secure him to the wall and keep moving.”

“Dax,” Hopper said softly. “I understand your position, but you need to know the Colonel has the place rigged. He’s planning to blow the entire building to smithereens.”

“How long do we have?” Zeus jumped in. “Can I disable the system?”

“I don’t think so,” Hopper shook his head. “They don’t trust me, which is why they sent the idiot over there down with me. They need the generator to open the large bay doors. When we don’t return, the Colonel will send someone else down to find out why.”

They all turned to Dax and waited for him to decide their next move. Before he had a chance, gunfire erupted around them. He turned, fired and took out two men. Two others had approached from the opposite direction. His men took them out immediately. A fifth guy fired, turned and started for the door. Thor moved forward, aimed and hit his mark. Dax turned back to assess the damage and realized Hawk was leaning over the body of Hopper.

“Status?” Dax demanded.

“He saved my life,” Hawk reached in and pulled a sheet of paper from Hopper’s shirt pocket. “He shoved me out of the way and took the bullet.”

“What’s that?” Dax put a hand on his friend shoulder in comfort as he took the crumpled page.

“Hopper said Devonshire loaded up at least three trucks with drones and other munitions,” Hawk stood. “He’s planning to ship them out tonight. That’s where he has them stashed. He’s blowing the warehouse so nobody misses the merchandise.”

“I’m sorry,” Dax motioned for the team to continue. “No matter his reason for being here, he was one of the good guys in the end. I’ll make sure Secretary Harris knows that.”

“Thanks,” Hawk glanced back at his man, straightened his shoulders and did his best to focus on the mission. He’d grieve for the man who saved his life later. Right now, they needed to find Devonshire. And, Hawk didn’t care if this was deemed a catch and detain operation. Hoppers death just made it a kill mission in his eyes. Devonshire would not walk out of here alive.

The group continued through the warehouse, careful to detect any booby traps Devonshire had set out for them. They had just completed a second gunfight and was assessing the damage when Zeus found the main device. He rushed forward and studied the explosive mechanism carefully. He was so focused on his work, he didn’t realize Dax had moved in next to him.

“What’s the status? Any chance we might get out of here alive?”

“Slim to none,” Zeus said soberly. “And, I think slim just left the building. I can’t disable it. This looks like the work of Evil.”

“Vanguard’s working with Devonshire?” Dax considered.

“Makes sense,” Hawk put in. “Those two were inseparable before Evil got his double D and split.”

“Yeah,” Jeeves added. “He deserved that dishonorable discharge and a whole lot more.”

“That complicates things,” Dax decided. “Evil will protect Devonshire to the death.”

“Or,” Hawk thought about what Hopper had told him just before he died, “the shipment. I think maybe the Colonel sent Evil over to make sure the shipment didn’t have any problems once he got the explosives set up.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Dax decided. “We’re screwed. Zee can’t disarm the bomb. We either bolt and hope we make it out alive or we finish the mission and most likely die in the process.”

“I know you’re in there,” Devonshire called from a room down the hall. “There’s no way out of here. My men have you surrounded. Surrender and I might let you live.”

“Bull,” Vato disagreed. “He thinks he can kill us all.”

“How much time, Zee?” Dax whispered.

“I have an idea,” Zeus straightened and faced the team. “But you might think I’m crazy.”

“That’s a foregone conclusion,” Hawk smiled. “Tell us.”

“He set the bomb,” Zeus explained. “Well, he ordered it done. Devonshire knows exactly how much time he has. He’ll stall, hoping to take us out but knowing it won’t matter if he doesn’t. He’ll try to bolt at the last minute.”

“You want to reduce the time,” Dax realized. “Then we take the offense and get the hell out of Dodge before it blows.”

“Exactly,” Zeus focused on each of the men. “I know it sounds crazy, but...”

“But it might be just crazy enough to work,” Dax finished. “I’m in.”

“Me too,” Thor nodded at Zeus. He trusted these men with his life and if he was going to die, at least he’d die among friends.

Wooly shook his head and smiled. “I have one condition.”

“What’s that?” Jeeves asked.

“Devonshire dies,” Ken glanced down the hall. “That man does not make it out of this building alive. If you can guarantee that, I’m in.”

“I already made that same promise to Paige,” Dax admitted. “The Colonel tried to kill Porter, he’s not getting out of this building alive.”

“Tried?” Vato asked.

“That’s right,” Dax told his team. “And failed.”

“For Porter!” Hawk said, maybe a little too loud.

“The general is dead,” Devonshire called out. “You joined the wrong team.”

“Get into position,” Dax ordered as loud footsteps echoed down the hallway. Devonshire sent his men into a what was tactically called a fatal funnel. Dax and his men had the advantage, what they didn’t know was how many men Devonshire had with him. One by one, armed men fell just outside the doorway. When the onslaught ended, Dax turned to focus on Zeus. “You done?”

“We have seven minutes,” Zeus stood and joined his team.

“We go on three,” Dax ordered. “Me first, you follow in teams of two.”

“No,” Vato shook his head. “You and me, Thor and Hawk, Zeus and Wooly. Jeeves takes up the rear. We need him safe just in case.”

“I’m still in charge here,” Dax disagreed. “I go first.”

Vato started to argue but stopped when he saw the look in his leader’s eyes. Dax wanted to be the first through the door to protect his team; but, also for the best chance at killing Devonshire. He was taking all the risks and Vato wasn’t willing to let him. He started to take a step back, but when Dax took a step forward, Vato spotted the man hiding in the shadows. He lunged forward and collided with Dax, knocking his leader to the ground as the shot rang out. The man hit his target, just the wrong target. Vato went down, hard.

Dax recovered just in time to see Devonshire jump backward, pivot and take two steps forward. The coward thought he could escape. He was wrong. Dax raised his rifle, aimed and fired. His bullet sliced through the air and collided with the back of the Colonel’s skull. He instantly fell forward and landed face down on the hard, white floor. Blood seeped from his head and pooled against the rubber strip that ran the length of the hallway.

Dax realized the battle had continued, and he needed to engage. Before they were finished, ten additional men funneled down the hallway and were shot by Dax and his team. When silence finally settled over them Dax rushed to Vato and dropped to his knees. “You idiot, I had it covered. Jeeves, can we move him? We’re running out of time.”

“I think I’ve stopped the bleeding,” Jeeves stood, his arms were covered in blood to his elbows. “We don’t have a choice. Either we move him, or we all die. Let’s go.”

Dax leaned down and threw Vato over his shoulder. “Move out!”

Thor and Hawk moved to the front of the group. Jeeves remained by Dax’s side and Zeus and Wooly protected the team from the rear. They ran down the corridor toward the same door they had entered. Hawk broke off from the group, leaned down, and threw Hopper’s body over his shoulder. He hit the door seconds after Zeus.

“We never leave a man behind,” Hawk explained as they made their way across the large opening. They were halfway across the lot when the world around them erupted.

Dax was almost to the fence when he heard the first explosion. He knew it was only the first because Reynolds had much bigger munitions stored inside that building. Hot air slammed into his back with so much force it lifted him off his feet and catapulted him into the chain-link fence. He felt a sharp pain on the side of his head before his world went black.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stood and moved to the door when the knocking continued. She flung it open, annoyed at the interruption then froze. Something else had happened.

“Carmen Fennelly is here to speak with you,” Margie advised. “She said it’s important and if I’m not willing to interrupt, she’s going to break the door down. I decided I believe her.”

Paige left the room and approached Carmen. “What happened?”

“Can we use that room?” Carmen pointed to the conference room.

“Gage,” Jericho barked. “Secure the prisoner in the back.”

Gage moved quickly into the room and pulled Konner Gray to his feet. The second they were out the door, Carmen slammed it shut and moved to the table, setting her laptop on the surface and opening the lid. She punched in a few buttons and motioned for Paige to watch the video.

The small group watched in horror as three figures emerged from the warehouse. One of them had a man slung over his shoulder. Three additional figures emerged and the last one had a second man slung over his shoulder. Paige started to relax. She recognized Dax as the first figure carrying an injured or wounded — she refused to think dead — soldier to safety. Then, the world erupted. The video immediately became static, then turned black.

“I thought you said there wasn’t video,” Paige turned on Carmen. “How did you get that?”

“I’ve been working on reestablishing the connection,” Carmen admitted. “I was using the data from before, when they rescued Zeus. I finally tapped in and got that up and running. I’ve tried to call, I called every stupid phone they have but nobody will answer. Are they...?”

“Paige,” Jericho said softly. “Make the call.”

Carmen started to cry and Margie stumbled forward and dropped into a chair. They all looked up when Gage opened the door and stepped into the room. “Bad news?”

“We don’t know,” Jericho admitted. “Paige is trying to find out.”

“What do you know?” Paige said in greeting when Nathan answered the phone.

“Nothing,” Nathan sighed. “I’m here with Harris. We’ve lost contact. I saw the last transmission, the one Carmen sent, but we just don’t know anything at this point.”

“I need transportation,” Paige decided. “I need the fastest transpo you have to Arizona. Tell Harris to make it happen. I’m going to that warehouse and I need Sean Wilkens to join me.”

“Sean is already there,” Jericho admitted. “He’s standing by with HRT. We got there late. The building is unstable and there have been additional explosions; but, Sean is already on scene.”

“I’ll be at the airport in fifteen minutes,” Paige advised. “Make this happen Nathan. There will be two of us.” She hung up and turned to face her peers.

“Nathan?” Margie asked. “I thought...”

“There’s a lot that can’t be shared, not yet. Paige, I’ll drive you to the airport,” Jericho stood. “Margie, you see what you can find out from Flagstaff PD. I doubt they know anything, but I want to know everything they know. Gage, you need to finish up with Mr. Gray. If you can’t get a confession, just book him. We don’t have time for his games tonight.”

Paige was out the door and practically running to Jericho’s car.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Try again,” Dax ordered. “We need to get this information to Sean. He was staging down the road far enough Devonshire’s team wouldn’t see them. He probably thinks we’re all dead and the op is complete. He needs to know there’s a shipment headed out as we speak.”

“I’m trying,” Ken grumbled. “If we don’t have service, we don’t have service. What do you want me to do, launch myself into space and establish a connection manually?”

“Yeah,” Dax answered, not amused. “I would love that. I need to speak to Sean.”

“Stop the car!” Ken ordered. “I have service.”

“No!” Jeeves yelled. “We can’t. I have him stabilized but not for long.”

“Here,” Ken handed the phone to Dax. “Make it quick.”

Dax grabbed the device and put it to his ear just as Sean was answering the call. “Sean, is that you?”

“Man is it good to hear your voice,” Sean greeted. “The world out here is on fire.”

“I know,” Dax cut him off. “I have bad news. Devonshire sent a shipment, at least three full trucks, to a garage a mile east of here.” Dax rattled off the address. “A man by the name of Evan Vanguard will be in charge over there. You need to get to that address immediately. Take HRT. This could get ugly. Vanguard will shoot first and ask questions later. Do not underestimate him.”

“As in Evil Vanguard?” Sean asked. That got the attention of the Special Agent standing next to him.

“Yes,” Dax affirmed. “There are at least three trucks, Sean. You have to get them all. Devonshire planned to ship them out tonight. He’s sending them to his same contact in the Mediterranean. We have to get them all. That explosion is a ruse, it was meant to mask the fact he was planning another shipment.”

“And Devonshire?”

“Dead.” Dax wasn’t going to elaborate. “Vato is injured, we’re headed to the hospital. Any chance you could check in with the boss. Our service is spotty out here at best.”

“I’ll call Harris with the update,” Sean confirmed. “Head to the hospital in Flagstaff. They’ve been put on alert and they’ll be ready for anything.”

“Copy,” Dax decided Sean didn’t need to know they already had that information. “Out.”

“Hawk, step on it,” Jeeves ordered. “I’m losing him.” Jeeves shifted and started to give Vato CPR. If he could just keep his brother alive, the hospital might be able to save him. But, that was a big if. Vato was fading fast and Jeeves needed help.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige jumped from the helicopter and ran to the waiting vehicle. At least Nathan had come through for her... or Secretary Harris did. She didn’t care which. She had just climbed into the back seat when her phone began to ring. “Nathan, I made it. There’s a man here that says he’s taking us to the hospital. Why are we going to the hospital?”

“Sean heard from Dax,” Nathan advised. “He sounded fine. Are you on your way?”

“Yes,” Paige motioned for the driver to start moving. “You can fill me in while we drive.”

“Vato was injured,” Nathan explained. “It sounds serious. The team is headed to the hospital. That’s all I know. There is no report on any other injuries at this time. Sean’s on a second mission to stop our weapons from landing in the hands of terrorists. Seems Devonshire hooked up with a man we fired. A man with a grudge against our country. Things are still a mess out there, kid. The entire building went up, several explosions and the fire department is just now moving in to put out the flames.”

“I’ll call you when I know more,” Paige promised. “Now, we are just pulling into the hospital and I need to find Dax.” Paige hung up and unhooked her seatbelt. She was out the door before the car even came to a complete stop. She hit the ground running and burst through the emergency room doors. It only took a few seconds to zero in on Dax. He was standing alone, watching out the window, and he looked... amazing, and tired, and a complete mess. She was halfway across the visiting room when Dax turned and spotted her.

He felt her somehow, he knew she was there — for him. She had traveled all the way to Arizona to be with him. He turned and met Paige in the middle of the room. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a tight hug.

Carmen moved forward, searching for Zeus. She didn’t see him until he stood and made his way toward her. They were still at odds when he left. Carmen didn’t see how she could make him happy and Zeus refused to accept reality. She didn’t care. She loved that man and somehow, they would figure it all out. Later.

Zeus was laughing as he picked Carmen up and swung her around. “You do care, at least a little.”

Carmen hit his shoulder. “Of course I care, you idiot.” The tears started to flow. She didn’t understand why. Zeus and Dax were okay, but she couldn’t stop them. “We saw you. I got the video up and running and we saw you exit the building. Then it exploded, and we had no idea what happened to you.”

“Let’s go out here,” Zeus took Carmen’s hand and led her out of the room.

Dax thought that was a good idea. He needed to speak to Paige in private.

“How is Vato?” Paige asked as they left the crowded room and headed down an empty corridor.

“Touch and go,” Dax admitted. “The idiot saved my life. He knocked me out of the way and took a bullet to save me.”

Paige swallowed the panic that clawed up her throat. Dax had come close to dying... again. “I guess that means I have to be nice to him now,” Paige tried to joke.

“I guess,” Dax took an abrupt left turn and pulled Paige down a deserted hallway.

The instant Paige knew they were alone, she pushed Dax up against the wall and wrapped her arms around him. They stood there for several minutes, each one lost in their own thoughts before Paige took a step back.

Dax put his large hand behind Paige’s neck and pulled her forward. “Paige Carter?” he said when her mouth was just inches from his.

“Yes, Dax Hamilton?” Paige whispered.

“I am undeniably and irrevocably in love with you.”

“Ditto,” Paige laughed.

 Dax sobered and locked eyes with Paige. “Marry me.”

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**Be sure to come back next season for another exciting episode of Paige Carter. She'll be working with her peers to solve new local crimes and build new relationships. The new season begins... April 2019.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S3

**Tags:** Season 3

---

### [Active Discord](https://melaniepsmith.com/active-discord/)

**Published:** November 29, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Active Discord (S3E8) - Radical activists are causing trouble in Sanpete County.  Porter and his team work to find a way to save Vato and Solo from imminent danger in Iraq. 

**Content:**

****\*\*\*ACTIVE DISCORD\*\*\*****

“I am so stuffed,” Paige moaned as she pulled into the driveway.

“I told you not to have that chocolate cake,” Dax laughed.

“Hello! Triple chocolate delight,” Paige reasoned.

“And now you’re miserable,” Dax leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss. “And, you taste like chocolate.”

Paige grinned. “I taste delightful.”

Dax laughed and pulled her closer for a deeper kiss when the radio came to life. They both glanced down and Dax sighed as they listened to the local dispatcher.

“Bridges,” Susie called over the air.

“Go,” Dean answered as he stood and dropped a twenty on the table. He knew the waitress wouldn’t let him pay for the coffee, but the pie was fresh and he’d more than make up the difference with such a large tip.

“I have a call over at the Moroni Feed processing plant,” she advised. “Not sure exactly what they have. The security guard called in a suspicious vehicle, said he was headed out to confront the trespassers. I haven’t been able to reach him since.”

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[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Active-Discord.pdf)

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“I’ll head that way,” Dean slid into the patrol car and started the engine.

Paige glanced at Dax, her face full of regret. Havilland was out of town, so Dean was working alone tonight.

“Go on,” Dax motioned to the radio and waited as Paige lifted the mic.

“You want a back?” Paige asked.

“I’ll advise,” Dean decided.

“I’m available,” Paige decided. She turned to face Dax, their plans for a relaxing night at home had just been shattered completely. “Sorry.”

Dax shrugged. “No apology necessary. It’s the job.” He grabbed the video they had rented from Redbox and pushed open the door. “But I’m not waiting.”

Paige laughed. “I wouldn’t think of it. Hopefully, this call will be simple, and I’ll be home just in time for popcorn.”

“I thought you were stuffed,” Dax closed the door and headed for the house, knowing he’d be lucky if she returned before the closing credits.

“Show me enroute,” Paige told Susie as she backed onto the roadway.

“I can call you if it gets hot,” Dean offered.

“Already on my way,” Paige brushed that off. She pulled onto the highway and accelerated. Several minutes later she decided to request her colleague’s status. “How close are you? Can I catch up before you arrive?”

“I can see you in my rearview,” Dean said in amazement. The woman must have floored it the instant her tires hit the asphalt.

“10-4,” Paige gradually started to slow as she pulled in behind Officer Bridge’s cruiser. “Susie, any updates?”

“I still can’t reach... Standby.” Several seconds later Susie came back over the air. “I just got a shots fired call by someone driving past the area. They were pretty sure it was near the entry gate at the plant. But he said he had his kid with him and wasn’t comfortable stopping.”

Paige and Dean flipped on their emergency equipment at the same time.

“We’re expediting,” Dean informed the night dispatcher.

“Keep traffic light until we advise,” Paige added. Good thing she decided to back her colleague. They could be driving into a cluster and nobody should have to deal with that alone.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dean pulled into the lot and immediately spotted the man lying on the ground. He shoved his car into park and jumped out, hoping the guy wasn’t dead.

“I’m okay,” the guard said as he shifted to focus on the cop. “I’m hit, in the leg, but I’ll live.”

“Show me arrived,” Dean advised. “I need medical. Gun-shot wound, left upper thigh, victim is conscious, stable and alert.”

“Copy,” Susie switched over to request an assist from Fire.

“They planted something,” the guard groaned. “Over next to the building. I didn’t have a chance to investigate but we could have explosives.”

“Susie,” Dean stood and looked around, *where was Paige?*

“Go,” Susie said in answer.

“Ask them to send in the bomb guys, we have a suspicious package.”

“Copy,” Susie said, more alert now. “ETA on medical is three minutes.”

Dean finally spotted Paige. She had continued toward the river and was now out of her vehicle, making her way into a large field. He took a step back to see what she was chasing when the world around him erupted. Hot air slammed into him with so much force, he stumbled, tripped over the guard’s leg, and went down hard.

Paige scrambled over a large bush, ducked under a fence and realized she was never going to make it. She reached down to press the button on her walkie when a loud explosion erupted from the feed plant. A bright plume of light and dust shot several feet into the air. Paige turned and ran towards the mayhem, subconsciously headed back to check on Dean. She relaxed and paused when his voice echoed throughout the night. Dean was pissed off, but fine. Paige pivoted and refocused on her fleeing suspects.

“Dispatch,” Dean barked, clearly annoyed. “Advise Fire that the package was an explosive device and it just detonated. There could be others and the back of the building is now on fire.”

“Copy,” Susie relayed the info. “They said they are still at least five to six minutes out from your location.”

“Suspects are traveling southbound through a large field in a silver Mazda,” Paige advised as she ran back towards her own vehicle. “I can’t see the plate. It’s a newer model, no more than five years, tops.”

“Copy,” Susie switched to her computer, determined to find a silver Mazda in the system if it took all night.

“I’m fine,” the guard grumbled. “Go, catch ‘em. Don’t let them get away with this.”

Dean hesitated, but ultimately decided the leg wound was serious; but, not life-threatening. “Medical is on the way.”

“Help her,” the guard pointed to Paige. “I’ll be fine. I can hear the sirens already.”

Dean jumped back into his vehicle and stomped on the gas. The entire vehicle slid across the hard-packed dirt before the tires caught and the car lunged forward. He could see Paige had finally reached her own vehicle and was in pursuit of their fleeing suspects. She was now approaching the intersection where Moroni Feed Road connected with State Highway 132. The dirtbags responsible might have a head start but they would never outrun a cop. Especially not Dean Bridges — full-time cop, part-time race driver. He smiled as he pushed his car to go even faster.

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Paige yanked on her steering wheel and forced her vehicle into a sliding turn. She knew she was taking that right way too fast, but these guys would not escape. Not on her watch. Her heart was pounding, and her breathing was a little more rapid than usual, but she survived the turn and from here, it was a straight shot into Ephraim. She’d catch the perps, a twenty-something delinquent was no match for a seasoned cop.

“We’re in pursuit,” Dean advised dispatch. “Suspect is traveling southbound on one-thirty-two. Speeds are eighty-five and climbing.”

“Copy,” Susie replied. “Southbound, state road one-thirty-two.”

 “We just passed the wrecking yard,” Dean called. “Still southbound on one-thirty-two. Paige, I’m closing in. Be advised I’ll be passing on the left in about five seconds.”

Paige shot a glance in her rearview mirror and frowned. She glanced at her speedometer, she had hit ninety and was still climbing but Dean was closing fast. In comparison, she looked like she was an old granny barely hitting forty. She tried not to be annoyed, reminded herself he was a race car driver, but it didn’t help. She was still frowning as Dean’s patrol cruiser flew by and maneuvered back into the southbound lane.

“Dean,” Paige called. “We need to stop them before they hit Ephraim. See if you can PIT them while we’re surrounded by fields. That way, if they lose control, nobody else will get hurt.”

“Copy,” Dean smiled, accelerated and started to close in on the vehicle. He was a little worried about bumping such young kids at these speeds, but it couldn’t be helped.

“Susie, we just passed the cement yard,” Paige advised. “Priority traffic only.”

“I’m getting into position now,” Dean advised. It took less than a minute to close the distance and set up just to the left of the silver Mazda. Dean focused on the car as he bumped the left side of the cars rear panel utilizing the PIT maneuver, or Pursuit Intervention Technique, on the inexperienced driver. The car abruptly turned sideways, slid several feet and collided with a wooden fence. The old rotting post gave way, the vehicle continued further into the field, and the entire driver’s side of the car came to rest against a large sprinkler system some local farmer used to water his crops. “Vehicle disabled. We just passed mile marker sixty-two,” Dean told Susie for the record.

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“We got runners,” Paige called into her walkie as she jumped from her car and followed three of the passengers into the field.

Dean was already out of his vehicle wrestling with the driver; who was trying to climb over the center console and escape through the open passenger’s door. “I have one in custody,” he said a moment later. “Paige, you need a back?”

Paige didn’t answer.

Susie waited several seconds then tried again, still no answer.

“Paige, what’s your twenty?” Dean tried again, he needed to know her location if he was going to help. He reached into his trunk and retrieved his leg shackles. He’d just secure the prisoner as best as he could then go after Paige. He was nearly finished attaching his prisoner to a large bar that ran the length of the backseat when he heard a vehicle approaching. He straightened, alert and on edge, but relaxed when he spotted Sheriff Walters. He snapped the lock shut and rushed to his boss. “I have one in custody, but Paige could be in trouble.”

“I’ll secure the prisoner,” Jericho frowned and tried to survey the area, but it was pitch black out here. There was never a full moon when you needed one. “Find Paige.”

Dean took off, running in the direction he had last seen his partner.

Paige was fighting with one of the runners. She knew she couldn’t catch all three, but she was determined to stop at least one of them. When the trio started up the incline that led into the foothills, she had pulled a Gage Clayton. The man hadn’t expected the tackle, but he recovered quickly. Before she could get the cuffs on the squirming felon, he began to fight. They were now on the ground, wrestling for control. She finally thought she had him pinned but somehow, he was able to get his right arm loose. He twisted, and Paige lost her grip and her balance. She was falling forward when the suspect swung out and hit his mark. Paige saw stars. The bright lights rendered her blind for several seconds. The man’s fist had collided with her cheekbone with so much force, her eyes began to water. It wasn’t just his strength; her forward momentum had made the blow that much worse. But it got her attention. She swung her elbow outward and connected with his chin, then snapped the cuffs on the guy’s left wrist before he could recover. Paige yanked hard — maybe a little harder than necessary — and smiled when the kid swore and screamed out in pain. It took less than five seconds to get the cuffs on his other hand. Her prisoner was secure.

Paige stood, a little breathless, and pulled the guy to his feet. Unfortunately, he wasn’t done fighting. He lunged to the side in an attempt to knock Paige off balance again. It didn’t work, she was prepared this time. His shoulder missed its mark and the guy faltered, nearly falling back to the ground. He recovered quickly, took a step forward and tripped over Paige’s outstretched leg. This time he did go down, hard. And, without his arms to catch the fall, his shoulder and face took the brunt of the impact.

Paige bit back the pain as the guy’s boot caught on her calf and sliced a significant gash into her flesh. The sight of him lying there in agony helped to calm her anger... a little. She swung around, alert and ready when she heard a noise directly behind her.

“Fifty percent ain’t bad,” Dean said as he moved in to study her prisoner. He’d been worried about his colleague. One against three was bad enough but knowing at least one of the three had a gun and had already used it... that made everything a hundred times worse.

“We’ll get the others,” Paige said confidently. “They’re on the run. They’ll make a mistake eventually and when they do, we’ll be there.”

 “Stand up,” Paige ordered her prisoner. “Now,” she pulled on the cuffs to get the guy moving. As he began to slowly get to his feet, she took a minute to survey the area. She felt like a sitting duck out here and she didn’t like it. If the guy with the gun decided to use it again, the result could be fatal. It was too dark out here to spot him in time to avoid an ambush. The two deputies flanked the troublemaker, who was now standing, and started back toward the main road.

Jericho was standing just outside Dean’s vehicle, rifle in hand, waiting, when his two deputies emerged from the darkness and pushed their prisoner toward the back of Dean’s cruiser. “That looks painful,” he said casually when he spotted Paige’s face. His voice might sound controlled; but, in reality, he was fuming.

“It’s fine,” Paige grumbled. “I think we should move him to my car,” she decided. “Let’s keep them separated until we get answers.”

“I agree,” Jericho moved in beside Dean and the two of them escorted the prisoner up the road to where Paige had abandoned her car and took off on foot.

“You’ll never catch Liam,” the kid taunted. “He’s long gone by now.”

Paige grinned, the idiot had just given her a lead to follow and he didn’t even know it. “What’s your name?”

“I don’t think I have to tell you that,” the kid scowled and lowered his gaze to the ground. He was obviously unsure of his position.

“Doesn’t matter to me,” Paige shrugged. “I’ll just book you as John Doe. I do have to warn you though, we have a lot of John Does in our facility. It’s going to make it a little more difficult, if anyone comes looking that is.”

The kid frowned, focused on Dean, then Jericho, and finally glared at Paige. “Bite me.”

“You have the right to remain silent,” Dean advised. “I suggest you exercise that right.”

“I can talk if I want to talk,” the guy was obviously feeling cocky. “I got that first amendment thingy.”

“Yeah?” Paige grinned. “Then I guess you’re familiar with that fifth amendment thingy as well?”

“Sure,” the kid pushed out his chest and tried to act tough. “I know all about that one, too.”

“Get in,” Jericho ordered. They had reached Paige’s vehicle and he’d had about enough from the guy. “You can exercise all of your rights once we get to the station.”

Paige slammed the door shut and turned to focus on her boss. “Do we need to head back and deal with things at the plant?”

“No,” Jericho watched through the side window as a young kid, who had just ruined his entire life, shifted and squirmed in an attempt to get comfortable. “Jack’s got that investigation. They got the fire out fairly quickly, it was superficial. They found another device on the other side of the building that didn’t detonate. Once they were sure they had all the explosives, Jack sent a team over to the turkey farm. The guard told the firemen, when he confronted them, all four of the culprits started spewing some nonsense about animal rights and how tyranny will never prevail.”

“I don’t recall any animals inside the feed store that needed to be liberated,” Paige grumbled. “And I use that term lightly.”

“Exactly. That’s why Jack decided to check out the turkey farm. And, trying to apply logic to their criminal activity is like trying to argue with a drunk,” Jericho turned to face his deputies. “You two head out. I saw more explosives in the car over there. I can wait for Jack’s team. They’ll retrieve the devices and probably impound the vehicle as evidence as well. Shouldn’t take long and maybe Jack will have an update on the turkey farm by then.”

“It bites that we lost two of them,” Dean finally spoke. “Especially now that I know we’re dealing with a group of domestic terrorists. And, one of them has a gun. You sure about us leaving? Two of them are still out there and could be watching.”

Just then a red SUV appeared in the distance. “There’s Jack, get back to the office and deal with those two. I’ve got this,” Jericho ordered.

“We’ll catch the others,” Paige insisted again before she climbed behind the wheel and started her engine and pulled away. The entire left side of her face hurt and her cheekbone was throbbing with so much intensity she felt like AC/DC was performing a concert inside her head. She glanced at her glove box, trying to remember if she had aspirin in there. *Probably not.*

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax was well into the newest action flick when his burner phone began to chime. He frowned, stood and slid the green button to answer seconds before it clicked over to voicemail. He was still frowning when he said a curt “Hamilton.” He didn’t recognize the number displayed on the screen and nobody but Porter was supposed to have this number.

“Hey, Dax,” came a friendly voice. “I was afraid I was going to miss you. Porter said to check in once I touched down in Kuwait.”

“Why me?” Dax asked. He moved back to the couch and settled in. He was grateful for the update from Bucket, one of his former Rangers, but he was also confused.

“Not sure,” Bucket shrugged. “Something about being offline while he went after another traitor. Anyway, I’m here and Camp Wolverine is the same as it was last time we were here. Hot, dry, miserable, and covered in about a foot of light, powdery dust.”

“I hear you,” Dax vividly remembered the fine flour like sand that got stuck in everything you owned. He decided it made sense for Nathan to divert the call to him, especially if he was on another one of his top secret, self-assigned apprehension projects. Porter had been on the warpath ever since the mission in Arizona. Dax had to admit he approved of the old man’s methods. But, if the guys Porter brought down so far hadn’t been traitors and criminals, he might actually feel sorry for them. General Nathan Porter was proving, on a daily basis, why he was feared and respected by so many. “I assume you’ve been fully briefed on the situation.”

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“Yeah,” Bucket sighed. “This whole thing bites.”

“I agree,” Dax also sighed.

“Talon pretty much covered it, I think,” Bucket said soberly. “Basically, I was never here. In and out without being seen, then head off to Germany for plausible deniability. We’ve done this a million times.”

“Yeah,” Dax agreed. “But this time, the friendlies are the enemy. You can’t let them know you were there. You can’t trust anyone; do you hear me?”

“I know,” Bucket sighed again. “My only friends are Vato and Solo. I just don’t know what I’m going to do if someone shoots at me.”

“You shoot back,” Dax said immediately. “If they shoot, they’re dirty.”

“Or, they’ve been given an order and a BS excuse why I’m the dirty one.”

“True,” Dax relented. “But you don’t get dead over this. You know the mindset, man. This mission is no different from any other mission you’ve been sent on.”

“We both know that’s not true,” Bucket disagreed. “But enough about that. Any ideas on how I don’t get dead sneaking up on the elusive duo?”

 “Yeah,” Dax smiled. “You got a laser pointer?”

“Sure,” Bucket also grinned.

“Use the team signal. Solo and Vato will understand and the enemy won’t see it. Even if they do, they won’t understand the code.”

“Good idea,” Bucket admitted. “Now, I have to go talk to a villager about a ride.”

“Brock,” Dax said using the man’s real name. His team members knew how serious he was when he addressed them that way. Brock Jarrett, Bucket to his brothers, was a good soldier but even great men could find themselves trapped without warning.

“I’ll be fine, Dax.” Bucket assured him. “The three of us will be home-free before you know it.”

“If anything goes wrong call this number,” Dax gave him Dalia Abadi-Basara’s secret contact. He had already called her and arranged emergency help if it became necessary. She was still angry at him for letting Ahmed get killed, but she was a friend and would never deny him in a true emergency. “The woman on the other end will know what to do if you call.”

“Who is she?”

“A friend,” Dax said cryptically. “One that doesn’t exist once this mission is over. Do not mention her, whether you request her assistance or not.”

“Because?” Bucket trusted Dax, but this was all a little more secretive than usual.

“Because she was a friend of the White Scorpion and if the military ever discovered her existence, she’d be hunted the same way he was.”

Now it all made sense. “You kept her a secret, even from the brass.”

“I did,” Dax admitted. “And I need you to do the same. She’ll be there, if you need her. With any luck, it will all go as planned and you can ditch that number and forget you ever heard it.”

“I won’t say a word,” Bucket promised. “Not even to Porter.”

“Thank you,” Dax said, relieved. “But, don’t hesitate to enlist the help if you need it. The woman is resourceful and effective.”

“Duly noted,” Bucket glanced over his shoulder. “Now, I think my ride is here. I’ll have Vato call you when we’re clear.”

“I mean it,” Dax said again. “Be careful and don’t get dead.”

“Out,” Bucket said before disconnecting.

Dax shut off the television, no longer in the mood to be entertained. His mind was racing. Bucket was headed into one of the most dangerous missions he had ever accepted. Not because the enemy was more lethal than drug lords or evil dictators; but, because the enemy was supposed to be the good guys. And, that was going to mess with Brock’s head. Dax just hoped he wouldn’t have to make that choice... shoot a soldier or get shot himself. Because he honestly didn’t know what Bucket would do in that particular situation.

Dax moved to stand in front of the large front window and stared into the darkness. Then there was Nathan. Porter was taking risks, more so than he had in years. Dax was pretty sure he and Sean were the only people on earth that knew Nathan had killed a man last week. He hadn’t had a choice, the guy had fired the first shot and missed... thank goodness. Porter returned fire and hit his mark. The General’s obsession and determination to end this battle was putting him in danger. The amateur assassin was waiting in the dark when Porter showed up at Corporal Danny Crenshaw’s ‘secret’ apartment. Within seconds, the man was dead, and Porter had a new lead to follow. He’d left the body for the locals to discover after notifying Agent Wilkens. Sean had smoothed things over and filed a report of self-defense, closing out the case. He added the necessary protection so nobody could access it without his approval, then buried it. The good General was in the clear, this time. But, Dax was afraid that incident might not be the last.

 Especially now that Carmen had discovered a secret account in the Netherlands and Nathan had seized every penny. Reynolds still wasn’t talking, but his partner had to be livid. Unfortunately, Reynolds was the one to set up the account and the other signers were fake; aliases set up to mask their true identities. Dax was sure Carmen would discover the secret military mastermind they believed was behind the entire operation, eventually. But, in the meantime, Porter was making enemies, making arrests — with the help of Sean Wilkins — and refusing protection. The egomaniac was a “highly decorated General” he didn’t need a babysitter. Dax sighed and pulled on his jacket. He’d just head next door and brief his men. Trying to relax at this point, was futile.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige and Dean entered the interrogation room and settled into the uncomfortable chairs. Dean started the recording and relayed all the pertinent information, including Miranda. “Do you understand your rights as I have explained them?”

“I’m not an idiot,” he pushed back, tipping the chair onto two legs, and leaned against the wall. “I understand just fine.”

“And do you want to talk to us without an attorney present?” Paige asked.

“Sure,” the guy shrugged.

“Can you tell us what happened tonight?” Paige asked.

“I got arrested,” he snorted. “Maybe you’re the idiot.”

“Why don’t we start with your name,” Dean shifted gears.

The man shrugged and dropped the chair back onto four legs with a loud thud. He leaned forward and smirked. “Rick Dryer.”

“Okay, Rick Dryer,” Paige said flatly. “What were you doing at the plant?”

“What plant?” Rick asked with a grin. “We just went for a leisurely walk. You know, to take in the fresh air and all before it snows.”

“Right,” Dean fumed. They weren’t getting anywhere with this guy and he was tired. “Last chance, tell us why you were at the plant or you can sit here while we go talk to your buddy in the next room.”

Rick knew they were trying to play him. Liam had explained it before they headed out tonight. “Go ahead,” he decided. “Brent won’t tell you anything, either.”

Paige pushed her chair back and stood. “I’ll be sure to let him know you’re the one that gave us his name. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to know just how... helpful you’ve been tonight.”

“Wait,” Rick jumped to his feet. “I didn’t tell you nothing.”

Dean closed the door and sighed. “You think the other miscreant will cooperate more than this guy?”

“I don’t know,” Paige considered. “I think someone told them not to talk. Someone that’s been through the drill more than once. I want to check in with Susie and see if she found a Liam that matched our description.”

“I did,” Susie stepped up to the duo. “Liam Duncan was arrested seven months ago with Brent O’Neal. Brent is your second guy in there,” she pointed to the conference room. “I already fingerprinted him and ran it through the system. He’s got a warrant, but it’s minor. Two-seventy-five out of West Valley for criminal trespassing.”

“Better than nothing,” Dean took the paperwork. “And, it will keep him behind bars until we can put the explosives case together.”

“I doubt we need it with the fleeing,” Paige considered. “But, we can use it when we interview him. We have a name and a prior charge. Let’s see what he has to say about attempted murder.”

Dean smiled and followed Paige in to trick a criminal.

\*\*\*\*\*

An hour later the two deputies left the conference room, Brent in cuffs on his way to the local jail.

Jericho stepped from his office and glanced at the clock. “It’s nearly one in the morning. You two finished for the night?”

“We have to book these two first,” Dean disappeared into the backroom.

“It wasn’t a question,” Jericho rubbed a hand over his face. “Get them locked up then head home. We’ll finish this up in the morning.”

“I put together a press release,” Susie handed Jericho a sheet of paper. “I didn’t find anything that led to the fourth suspect, but I could send that description over to the media, ask them to run it on their morning shows first thing.”

“The fourth suspect’s name is Ryan Schmidt,” Paige advised. “This one finally let that slip.” Paige gave her prisoner a little shove.

“You tricked me,” Brent insisted. “You lied so I’d confess.”

“Well,” Dean emerged with the second prisoner. “You didn’t confess, so our tactics are irrelevant.”

The two prisoners shared a panicked glance then masked their fear and tried to return to cocky.

“Book ‘em,” Jericho said again. He handed the press release back to Susie. “See what you can do to find this Ryan yahoo and add him in. Send it to me as soon as you’ve finished.”

“And me,” Paige added. “I want to see the photo, I might be able to identify him. I got a pretty good look at all four of these guys while I was chasing them.”

“Good idea,” Jericho approved the request. “Once Paige gives the okay, go ahead and send it off. If we get their ugly mugs to the public first thing, they’ll have a harder time hiding.”

“You’ll never find them,” Rick said confidently. “They’re long gone by now.”

Jericho studied the kid for several seconds. “Make sure you send those to Salt Lake and Vegas as well. I want a regional broadcast on these guys. They won’t be able to sneeze without being noticed.”

Brent scowled at his friend but remained silent.

Paige turned to leave then stopped. “Susie, I’ll call you when I leave the jail. Hopefully, you’ll have a photo by then.”

“Sounds good,” Susie watched as the three cops left the building. Jericho looked tired, Dean looked pumped and Paige looked like she’d just been hit by a garbage truck. That bruise was going to look awful by morning. And, was that a limp? What happened to her leg?

Paige stepped through the door, surprised to see Dax waiting. “You didn’t need to wait up.”

Dax was off the chair and across the room in seconds. “What happened?”

Paige raised a hand and gently touched her face, pain radiated through her entire head. “I ran into a fist.”

Dax shook his head, took her hand and led her into the kitchen. “And the leg?”

“A boot buckle tripped over my calf,” she shrugged at the look Dax was giving her. “What can I say, it was a difficult night, but I won.”

“I think that’s all a matter of perspective,” Dax pulled out a chair and ordered her to sit. He moved to the freezer, pulled out a bag of frozen peas and returned, placing the package on her left cheek. “That will help with the swelling, but there’s nothing I can do about the bruise or the bloodshot eye. You should have addressed that immediately. As it stands, come morning, you’re going to be in a lot of pain and you’ll look like you ran into a solid brick wall.”

“Why are you up?” Paige shifted the peas and scowled, annoyed she was getting a lecture. It was the middle of the night and she was tired. Her body ached — everywhere — and she just wanted to crawl into bed and die.

“The leg?” Dax held out the palm of his hand.

Paige narrowed her eyes at him but complied.

Dax gently removed her boot and pulled up her pant leg. The cut was substantial, but it didn’t look too deep. There was dried blood everywhere. “You didn’t even clean it?”

“I was busy,” Paige said defensively. “I had criminals to interrogate. Once they were booked, I just wanted to get home. I figured I’d deal with it here, alone, by myself, without the third degree.”

Dax smiled. “Guess things didn’t work the way you planned.” He moved to the sink, soaked a small rag completely and returned to gently clean Paige’s calf and ankle.

“It hasn’t escaped my attention that you didn’t answer my question,” she studied him. Dax was worried about something. “Spill it, Dax Hamilton.”

“Bucket called,” Dax continued to focus on the task at hand. “I was waiting up for you, sort of. I’m also worried I’ll get a call from the desert. Notification we failed, and I lost three friends in this war.”

Paige reached down and took his hand, hoping her touch would give him comfort if it didn’t give him strength. “You told me, more than once, to have faith in you. How about we try to have faith in this Bucket guy? Although, I’m not sure the name conjures a feeling of strength, exceptional expertise, and skill.”

“His name is actually Brock Jarrett,” Dax smiled. “And, he has a head the size of a five-gallon bucket. Seemed to fit at the time.”

“Okay then,” Paige watched Dax secure the third butterfly strip to her leg and stood. “Big head, big brain. It’s all good. He’s going to be fine.” She took his hand and led him up the stairs and into their bedroom. She briefly paused to consider that thought. Somehow, the man had basically moved into her house. No discussion, no fanfare, nothing... but it hit her immediately, they were basically — unofficially — living together. Before she panicked and said something she’d regret, she pushed that thought aside and focused on the problem at hand. “Is someone going to call? Tonight, once they are safe?”

“Vato is supposed to call as soon as they’re back at camp Wolverine in Kuwait,” Dax settled into bed. “But that won’t mean they’re safe. From there, the two of them will be transported to Jordan, then on to St. Paul before, I assume, they’ll land in Washington to be debriefed.”

“So,” Paige yawned. “Enough time to catch a couple hours down before we both have to get back to work.”

Dax pulled Paige closer. “You sleep, I’ll protect you while you do.”

Dax stayed that way for several hours before he finally drifted off as well.

\*\*\*\*\*

Brock Jarrett shifted his body into position. *Finally!* Solo and Vato were late. So late, in fact, he was starting to worry something had already gone wrong and he had failed. His mind and his body relaxed as he waited for just the right moment to deliver the message. He was close to two hundred meters away from his target. It was close enough the laser pointer would catch the men’s attention, but far enough away from the enemy that they shouldn’t spot the green light and investigate.

Nearly five minutes after he had first spotted his friends, he flipped on the light and flashed the laser beam in Solo’s face. After a two-count delay, he flashed one more time, another second and four more quick flashes. There, that should do it. He waited patiently, hoping his message had been received and accepted. He knew it was a success when after about ten steps, the two Ranger’s made an abrupt change in course and headed his way.

Bucket slowly drug his body over the tiny hill of sand he’d been hiding behind and stood. His hands were raised, just in case. Several tense seconds passed as the three friends assessed the situation.

“Bucket, is that you?” Vato finally whispered.

“It is,” Bucket approached. “And we need to get out of here.”

“What happened?” Solo was frowning, and he had a large gash on the side of his head.

“I think I should be asking you that question,” Bucket reached into his back pocket and pulled out a large camo handkerchief.

“We need to get to safety,” Vato pulled on Solo’s arm. “We’re trying to outrun a rogue drone. It already fired on us, but it missed.”

Bucket frowned. “Not completely. Over here,” he guided them further away from their path into the desert landscape, back toward the Euphrates River.

“We need to avoid the river,” Vato hesitated. “They monitor this area. If we get too close to the water, we’ll be detected for sure.”

“That’s during the day,” Bucket disagreed. “Right now, the only monitoring the military is engaged in... is you. They have no idea you’ve been intercepted, let’s keep it that way. They have to know about the drone trouble. I’m sure headquarters updated them on your status and now they’re just patiently waiting to ambush you when you step over that hill.”

“They also know Solo lost most of his supplies when we were dodging a drone a few miles back,” Vato took a second to survey the area. “We basically have nothing.”

“I brought plenty of supplies,” Bucket assured him. “We’ll be fine.”

“Why are you here?” Solo asked again.

“Your mission was compromised,” Bucket informed them. “Dax cornered Reynolds and found out they knew you were coming. The extraction team up ahead... it’s actually an extermination squad. The second they spotted you, they have orders from Hastings to kill.”

“There are regular soldiers in that group,” Vato said, a horrified lump settling in his stomach. He had nearly walked into a trap. One that would have gotten his friend and brother killed. He might deserve to die, but Solo didn’t.

“I figure they were told some kind of lie to make you seem dangerous,” Bucket led them straight into the brush that surrounded the river.

“Where are we going?” Vato finally asked.

“You were late,” Bucket tried not let impatience show in the accusation. “I had time to scout around a bit. We can use the date trees and foliage to keep us out of sight all the way to the road that cuts across and leads to Diwaniyah. If we can make it to the village, I think we can find a place to hide out for the night.”

“They’re using the drone to monitor and control our movement,” Solo considered. “Once we leave the river, we’ll be out in the open. I don’t see a way to make it into town without being spotted. We can’t risk it. Any casualties will be blamed on the evil American’s. The Iraqi’s will know that drone is one of ours. Relations are bad enough as it is.”

Bucket handed Solo a pair of high-powered, night vision binoculars. “They haven’t moved. So, our only obstacle is the drone.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Iraq-Pictures-2004-187-Small.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Iraq-Pictures-2004-186-Small.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Iraq-Pictures-2004-038-Small.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/awaiting-flight-PL8JEN5-Small.jpg)

Solo studied the image for several seconds, then he raised the lenses and studied the horizon. “And it’s headed right for us. I thought we lost it, but apparently, it’s still hot on our trail.”

Bucket pulled a high-powered sniper rifle from a case. “Then we take it out.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” Vato shook his head. “You think you can take out a military drone with that thing? You’re nuts!”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Bucket shrugged. “Take this,” he pulled out a low-tech electronic device and shoved it at Vato. “Once I’m in position over there,” he pointed to another sand dune that would, hopefully, provide enough cover to make his plan work. “Turn it on and point it towards the drone. It will jam the signal long enough for the guy controlling that thing to lose contact. Once it starts to wobble, I’m a go.”

“And, our well-planned escape is toast,” Solo argued. “The instant you fire that rifle, the Calvary will invade.”

“True,” Bucket considered that. “So, what do you suggest? We have to get rid of that drone.”

“I have an idea,” Vato said softly. “We use part of your plan. Let’s head in the opposite direction. Over there,” he pointed away from the river. “You stay hidden, so nobody knows you’re here. Solo and I will draw the drone into the area by moving out into the open. You turn on the device and jam the signal. If we’re lucky, you can control it long enough, the pilot will return to base once he regains control. They have a mission out here, they can’t risk a rogue drone turning on them and taking out our own men.”

“Actually, I think that might work,” Bucket considered. “I wish I knew how those guys jammed the signal and took control. I’m not sure I can jam it long enough to be effective.”

“I know how it works,” Vato said reluctantly. He didn’t really want to tell his friends Hastings had taught him the flaws and ordered him to take out a convoy of Kurds that were helping with Intel. He didn’t, of course, but Hastings didn’t know that. Instead, he intercepted the group and helped them leave the country undetected.

Bucket passed the device back to Vato and waited. Vato shifted to try to get more light and within seconds he had the remote adjusted to where he needed it.

“Okay,” Vato handed the controller back to Bucket. “I’ll be your bait. Once you see the drone, you should be able to take control. Then, just use that thing like you would a video game. It doesn’t have a stick like the military uses, so you’ll have to use the arrows to fly it in the direction you want it to go.”

“We’ll be the bait,” Solo corrected.

“If they only see me, they might think they already took you out,” Vato disagreed. “It provides options if things get ugly. The two of you can make your way back home without the threat of being followed.”

“Apparently he forgot that we never leave a man behind,” Bucket said at Solo’s look. “Go for a walk already, I want to get this show on the road.”

The two men stepped forward and began walking away from the river, back toward Najaf. “I don’t know about you, but I’m getting an uncomfortable feeling of déjà vu,” Solo frowned.

“I see it,” Vato said softly. “Let’s just hope Bucket does, too. Because in a matter of seconds we’re going to be a fond memory.”

Just as Solo turned to respond, the drone wobbled, stalled then accelerated. In a matter of seconds, it steadied, made an abrupt turn and headed back toward the nearest base. The two men pivoted and rushed back to the river, positive their location was masked from anyone looking. “Now what?” Vato finally asked.

“Let’s hang tight for a few and make sure they don’t send anyone over to investigate,” Bucket decided. “I’ll doctor Solo’s wounds while we wait, and you can take a nap.”

Vato snorted. “Not likely.”

“Once we’re sure the coast is clear, we make our way to the road,” Bucket advised as he pulled a first aid kit from his pack. He reached in a pocket and flipped on his satellite phone.

“You sure that’s a good idea?” Solo asked, studying the device.

“Yeah,” Bucket handed Solo the phone. “Because I have to make a call. Let me know when it’s up and running.”

“To who?” Vato asked.

“No idea,” Bucket evaded. “Dax told me if we got into a jam, call the number he provided and someone on the other end would help.”

“Dax does have contacts,” Vato agreed. “And a lot of them are still here in the Middle East. If the order came from Dax, we can trust it.”

A short time later, they were climbing into the back of a beat-up, ancient pickup truck. Dax had saved them, again.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Make it stop,” Paige groaned and pulled her pillow over her head.

Dax slid from the bed, grabbed his phone and walked out of the room.

“We arrived,” Bucket advised. “And, I had to call your friend. These two were being chased by a drone and we had to take improvise. We figured once word reached the extermination squad, they’d converge and our chances of getting out alive would be greatly decreased.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Dax would call Dalia and thank her himself. And, he’d make sure Porter bought her a dozen goats. That should cover the debt and then some. “Just forget the number, forget the contact and forget my involvement in all of this.”

“In what?” Bucket grinned. “I was never here.”

“Right.”

“I think that’s my ride,” Bucket sobered. “I miss having you in the loop, but I hope we never do another one like this.”

“Ditto,” Dax balanced the phone on his shoulder while he prepared the morning coffee.

“I’ll turn this over to Vato,” Bucket decided. “I gotta head out. Frankfurt here I come.”

“Catch you on the flip side,” Dax said softly. “And, don’t get dead.”

“You think he’s headed to another mission?” Solo asked in greeting.

“No idea,” Dax frowned. “I thought he was turning it over to Vato.”

“He said you wouldn’t want to talk to him,” Solo shrugged. “Anyway, thanks for the contact and Bucket told us nobody helped... not even him. We have about an hour before our plane heads to Ammon. Then I’m told we’ll stop in Amsterdam before heading to St. Paul. I assume the General will fill you in once this is all put to rest for good.”

“I suppose,” Dax settled onto a kitchen chair. “You get a rest before you head back out?”

“As far as I know,” Solo settled onto the hard-packed dirt, glad they made it and grateful he had friends like Bucket and Dax.

“Feel free to drop in for a visit if you’re ever in the area,” Dax offered. “I’m sure I owe you a beer... and more, for this one.”

“I’ll take the beer, but we’re good on the rest,” Solo rested his head against a large generator. “This could have gone so wrong,” he whispered. “We had no idea we were compromised. I was worried about the radio silence bit, but we all agreed it had to be that way. That’s the first thing I’m going to add to my verbal report. You never go silent completely. I should have been stopping to check in now and again.”

“It’s not your fault and things worked out,” Dax had already pointed that flaw out to Porter. He’d been a little insubordinate about it if truth be told.

“Thanks to you,” Solo continued. “And, you would have spotted the flaw before I ever left the states.”

“Probably,” Dax agreed. He glanced up when he spotted Paige in the doorway. They wrapped up the conversation and he turned to study her injuries when she settled into the chair next to him and took a long sip of her morning brew.

“Trouble?” Paige asked.

“No,” Dax stood and doctored his own cup before settling in next to her. “The men are safe. Bucket is on his way to Germany as we speak and Solo and Vato will be taking off in about forty.”

“So why the frown?”

“Have you seen your face?”

Paige shrugged. “Battle scars.”

“You’re going to scare small children,” he glanced up at the knock on the back door. “Come in.”

Hawk and Ken stepped through the door. Hawk opened his mouth to say something, spotted Paige and just stared in shock.

“Seriously?” Paige stood and casually walked to the counter, poured another cup of coffee, and headed for the door. “You’d think the three of you had never seen a black eye before.” She continued through the door, down the hall, and back up the stairs. She needed to get ready for work. They had two more criminals to catch. She was glad Dax’s friends were safe, one less thing to worry about. Now, if she could just get Nathan Porter to stop chasing bad guys and let his team of military hotshots take the risks, life would be good.

“What happened to her?” Hawk finally asked. “I thought she had the night off.”

“She got called in and collided with a guy’s fist.”

“Ouch,” Ken settled in a chair across the table. “Jeeves probably has something that would help.”

“I doubt she’d let him near it,” Dax shrugged. “The men made it to Wolverine.” He went on to explain the mission, the complications, and the outcome.

“You enlisted the help of the Flowering Sycamore,” Hawk decided.

“I did,” Dax affirmed.

“The what?” Ken frowned.

“It’s not important,” Dax brushed it off. “Once they reach Washington, Porter should be there to intercept the two of them and stash them away where it’s safe. Vato is going to need to visit Camille. But, once they’re done, I’d like to have some time to debrief him myself.”

“To make sure he’s telling us everything,” Ken surmised. “I’d like to think we can trust him, same as we used to but there are a few things that don’t make sense. That’s my take, anyway.”

“I agree,” Dax stood when he heard Paige. “Give me a minute.” He left the room and caught Paige just before she disappeared out the front door. “No goodbye?”

“I didn’t want to interrupt,” she leaned in and gave him a quick peck. “Or, give you nightmares. Apparently, my face scares small children.”

Dax pulled her closer. “Be safe and don’t stop any more fists with your face,”

“I can’t make any promises,” she took a step back. “I could be late. I was able to watch the news before I came back down. Our two missing felons won’t be able to take a leak without one of Manti’s astute citizens spotting them and calling it in.”

“But that means you will have several dozen sightings that aren’t really sightings at all,” Dax realized. “You’re going to have to check them all out. I get it. We have a plan of our own to start planning. If you can’t make it home for dinner, make sure you take the time to eat.”

“Love you,” Paige leaned in and gave him a goodbye kiss before she pulled open the door and disappeared.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I understand,” Paige dropped her head onto her desk in frustration. “Yes Mrs. Walcott, I got that, too. I believe you. I’ll look into it. I’m sure you’re right. Yes, that would be frightening. Uh-huh. Thank you for calling.” Paige hung up before the woman remembered something else that was traumatic and urgent.

Lovato silently watched Paige as she reached out, fumbled around and missed the base on her desk twice, connected and finally hung up the phone. She did this without looking up, her head was still planted face down and resting on the wooden surface of her workspace. When the phone started ringing again, she finally raised her head a few inches, focused on him and pointed to his phone.

“Margie will get it,” Lovato ignored the phone as it rang two more times.

“I will just have to call them back later,” Paige pushed her body into an upright position and settled against the back of her chair. “And then I’ll have to deal with another well-meaning citizen who just thought they should call and let me know. Seriously, Mrs. Walcott? That woman couldn’t identify the Goodyear Blimp if it was hovering three feet above her head. She’s blind as a bat. That wasn’t a lead... it was a negative lead.”

Lovato laughed. “Paige, you have to learn to listen, jot down the basics and pretend like you believe them. Then, you hang up and file the information in the “not in this lifetime” pile and move on.”

“I’m just wondering how you and I got stuck with desk duty again,” Paige frowned. “Following bad leads. I seem to recall not too long ago we were in these exact spots, making these exact same calls, probably to the exact same people.”

“Just lucky, I guess,” Lovato reached for the phone when another line began to ring.

Paige listened to her colleague. Lo wasn’t a bad guy. In fact, sometimes he was almost human and he was a great cop. As much as he tended to annoy the locals on routine calls, he was a pro at the PR when it came to stuff like this. They were lucky to have him.

“Grab your jacket,” he stood and waited by her desk.

“What do you have?”

“Maybe nothing,” Lo handed Paige the information. “But, like I said last time, you’ve gotta get out of the office now and again and chase down the decent ones. Otherwise, you’ll get stir crazy. Let’s take a break and do a little chasing.”

“You might as well look into this one as well,” Marge held out another sheet of paper. “Seems George spotted a couple vagabonds loitering at that park across from the temple. Said they looked like the men we’re after, but he can’t be sure. The instant he headed that way, the two of them took off. He thought it seemed mighty suspicious and thought you should know.”

Paige sighed. It was suspicious, maybe. Or, it was just a couple out-of-town men who stopped to snap a photo and headed out once they were finished.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Now what are you doing?” Lovato asked when Paige fired up her laptop and tried to balance it on her lap. He was driving north, headed out to investigate a theft called in by a camper up the canyon. Could be their suspects desperate to find a place to crash. With the photos plastered everywhere, they had to be scrambling to find a way out. Not only had the media run the story, but the links were popping up constantly on social media. Margie had even put the details on the department’s website and social media platforms. Word was spreading, and the entire community wanted to help catch the terrorist that had blown up their feed store. To them, it was personal. Liam and Ryan had hit the wrong town.

“I want to map out the reports we think are credible,” Paige shifted and added another pin to her map. “The places we’ve been where we think someone really did see our suspects.”

“Like the park across from the temple?”

“Yes,” Paige added another pen. “And the market. I also think there’s a good chance this call is also legit. They don’t have a way out of town, the bomb guys impounded their car. They can’t just check into a motel because there’s not a place in this county where they wouldn’t be spotted and reported.”

“So, you think they headed up the canyon and stole a tent and some bedding?” Lovato actually agreed. The instant the call came in, his cop senses told him they had another lead. It was the reason he volunteered to handle the detail.

“I do and so do you,” Paige glanced at him. “Okay, I think I have them all and if we’re right, they’ve been headed in this direction all day.”

“I still can’t figure why they didn’t split up,” Lovato made a right turn onto the canyon road. “They keep getting spotted because they’re staying together. It would have been smarter to go their separate ways and try to blend.”

“They shot a security guard and tried to blow up the feed store,” Paige pointed out. “How smart can they be?”

“You know what I mean,” Lovato grumbled.

“I do,” Paige had been wondering the same thing. “I’m thinking they are the only ones that can answer that.”

Lovato pulled off the gravel road and parked in a large meadow. “I think this is the right spot.”

A woman in her thirties stepped from a small trailer and approached the two deputies. “I’m Michelle Carlson,” she held out a hand. “I know for you this is probably a nuisance call, but the trailer is so small we let the boys put up a tent. It keeps them out of our hair and it gives them a little independence. Anyway, we all went fishing earlier this morning and when we got back this afternoon, the tent was gone. Vanished and the sleeping bags, pillows and even little Bobby’s bag of snacks... all gone. It wasn’t windy or anything, so I can’t imagine mother nature is responsible. It just had to be theft, it’s the only explanation.”

Paige took the lead. She finally got the mother calmed down, had a detailed description of the missing items, down to the purple thread she’d tied to the zipper of Bobby’s sleeping bag and the transparent fishing line she had used to repair a small tear in the window of the tent. If they found the thief, they’d know it. Paige assured the family they would drive the area and see if they could spot their missing property. It took longer than she had hoped, but they were finally back on the road looking for a suspicious tent.

“I guess I should tell you,” Lovato finally said. “If I find the tent and the bags, I won’t be booking them into evidence. I’ll take pictures, document the repair and the string but then I’m taking that property back to that family.”

Paige agreed, but she wondered why. She was still trying to formulate her question when Lovato answered it for her.

“I was raised in a big family,” he began. “Dad tried to get out, fishing, hunting, the works as much as possible. But our setup was basically the same as theirs. We could only afford a small trailer big enough for the parents and the smaller kids. The rest of us older boys had to make due in a tent. It was a pain, at first, to set up. But, we realized out there... out in the wilderness all alone, it was a grand adventure. And if anyone had told us we had to crash inside the trailer after that... well, I’ll just say it would have ruined the entire vacation.”

“Mom and I never went camping,” Paige admitted. “I think it was too much of a reminder of dad. Anyway, I can’t relate, but I think I understand. And I agree, if we find the tent and bedding, we get to be the heroes. We get to save the day and return them. You won’t get any arguments from me.”

“Good...”

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“Stop the car,” Paige reached out and touched Lovato’s arm. “Did you see that?”

“What?”

“There’s something colorful back there,” Paige pointed off to the side of the road. There was a small camping spot on the side of the road but it was empty. To the left was a thick grove of trees.

“I didn’t see it, but let me back up and we can check it out,” Lovato decided. He put the vehicle in reverse and was directly in front of the area where Paige had seen something when he spotted it himself. He maneuvered the truck to the side of the road so another vehicle could snake past and parked. He was rounding the front of his car when a shot rang out and collided with his windshield, barely missing Lovato as it whizzed past his head. “Take cover!” he called out to Paige as he scrambled to move behind the left tire.

Paige had just climbed from the truck when she heard gunfire. Before she could identify where it came from, the windshield shattered. She dropped to the ground and crab walked backward until she was completely under the back-end of the vehicle. She pulled her gun and waited. It didn’t take long. She couldn’t see the man’s face, but a pair of jeans-clad legs emerged from behind a tree. He was approaching from the rear, probably hoping to catch Lo off guard and ambush him before he could respond. “Lo?” Paige whispered. “Incoming at your six.”

“Copy,” Lovato whispered into his walkie, hoping Paige had her radio on her. “I can’t see him yet.”

Paige hit the button on her own walkie and again and started to whisper. “Dispatch, shots fired. We’re up Ephraim Canyon near Pete’s Hole.” She watched as the pair of legs moved closer. “Lo, he’s closing in about fifty yards out, still at your six.”

“I’m not going to see him until he’s right on me,” Lovato realized.

Paige took a deep breath and silently moved further to the back of the truck. She could finally see the man’s entire body. It was Ryan and he still had the gun. Where was Liam? She studied the surrounding area closely but still couldn’t see their second man. Maybe Ryan was here alone. Paige shifted and got into position just as Ryan shuffled to his left and raised his pistol. She took aim and fired. Ryan went down immediately. She was still scrambling to get out from underneath the truck when Lovato appeared and held out his hand.

“He’s dead,” Lo said softly. “But I can’t see Liam Duncan anywhere.”

Paige gripped Lovato’s outstretched hand and let him pull her to her feet. “Let’s move that way,” she pointed to the thick stand of trees. “It will give us cover and we won’t be sitting ducks like we are out here.”

“Keep your gun ready,” Lovato moved to stand on the left side of Paige. If anyone got shot today, it would be him.

“We’re going to talk about that,” Paige scowled. “Once we’re in a controlled environment.”

“Copy,” Lovato took a deep breath before he darted out into the open and disappeared into the trees.

Paige kept pace with her partner and relaxed a little once they were shrouded in shadows and the thick aspen that surrounded them. “Let’s try to make our way toward the tent,” Paige whispered.

Lovato nodded and headed that way. They were only about fifteen feet away from the tent when Liam emerged. He immediately raised his hands into the air and dropped to his knees. “I’m not armed. Ryan forced me to do this. I didn’t want any part of it, but they threatened to kill me if I didn’t participate.”

“Don’t move,” Lovato commanded. “You stay here, cover me while I check it out.”

“Be careful,” Paige moved forward and aimed her gun at the man’s head.

“I’m coming in,” Lovato called out. “Don’t make any sudden moves or my partner will shoot.”

Liam bit back a curse. He was trapped and somehow these two small-town cops weren’t making any of the usual mistakes. He had to come up with an excuse for the gun. How could he explain an illegal pistol tucked down the back of his jeans? Especially after he’d just told them he wasn’t armed. His fingers itched to grab it and take his chances, but if the man really had a partner with a gun pointed in his direction, he might be able to kill one cop, but he would also end up dead. He wasn’t ready to die, not yet.

Lovato grabbed the man’s right hand shifted to cuff it. He brushed his knee against the man’s back and felt the gun. Instinct kicked in and he had the man face down in the dirt, wrists cuffed and the gun tossed aside in a matter of seconds. “Thought you said you weren’t armed.”

Liam studied the cop, not sure how to respond so he didn’t say a word.

Paige moved forward, away from the shadows and focused on their prisoner. She crouched in front of him to get a better look at his hands. It didn’t take long, only a couple seconds. She stood and took a step back. “This one is our bomb maker.”

“You sure?” Lovato asked. He took a step forward, then stopped when he heard the sound of a vehicle approaching. “I think the boss just arrived.”

“I’m sure,” Paige locked eyes with Liam. “He’s got gunpowder stuck under his fingernails.” There was more, but now wasn’t the time to explain it. “Let’s get him up and secured. Then we can come back and tear down the tent. Little Bobby’s vacation just might be saved after all.”

“Stand up,” Lovato ordered. Liam ignored the request. Lovato moved forward, gripped a large chunk of Liam’s hair and pulled. In a matter of seconds, Liam was on his feet, marching back toward the cars.

Paige grinned, enjoying Lo’s unconventional methods. She thought he’d let go of the man’s long hair once he was on his feet, but she’d been wrong. He continued to direct their prisoner like a horse being guided by a set of reins. Once they reached Gage and his patrol car, Lovato shoved Liam forward. Gage caught him, helped him into the back seat and slammed the door.

“Who shot him?” Jericho asked.

“Me,” Paige held out her gun. “I know you’ll need this and I’ll have to head to the office to be interviewed but first, Lo and I need to return a tent.”

“I heard,” Jericho glanced through the trees and spotted a bright swath of purple and a small patch of blue. “I assume the victims were kids.”

“They were,” Lovato stepped forward. “And I promised them if we found their property they could have it back.”

“Photograph everything, then return it,” Jericho decided. “There’s no good reason to ruin a couple kids vacation over this. We have our man and the theft of a tent is small in comparison to the other charges that man is facing.”

“Thanks,” Paige started to turn.

“But,” Jericho continued. “Lovato and Reed are going to have to do it. I need you back at the office. You can call Eric Graham on the way. I’ll transport you, Gage can handle Duncan.”

“Logan’s not here,” Paige began. She stopped when she saw another marked unit approaching the area. “Never mind.” She sighed and headed for Jericho’s passenger seat. She had barely buckled in when her boss accelerated, made a sharp U-turn and headed towards town.

“Are you mad?” she finally asked.

“I can’t talk to you about the shooting,” he turned to look at her. “But, no. Not exactly.” Jericho sighed. “Paige, look at you. You have a bruise the size of Montana that occupies the entire left side of your face. Your eye is bloodshot and you’re still limping. And to top it all off, that man tried to kill you.”

“If it makes you feel better,” Paige held back a grin. “I think he was trying to kill Lo.”

“It doesn’t,” Walters pressed a little harder on the gas pedal. “You’re off until after Thanksgiving. No argument. You need time to recover and that...” he waived his hand backward. “That’s going to take time. You’ll be on paid leave until Tolman clears you. I don’t need to hear it, I know it was justified but we have to go through the process and you need time to deal with Nathan and his band of merry men.”

“I don’t even know where Nathan is,” Paige complained.

“He’s here, in town,” Jericho glanced at Paige. “You didn’t know they were coming?”

“They?”

“He has his wife, Sophie, I believe, with him.”

“I guess we did talk about spending the holiday together, but that was before.”

“Before he had to save the world from a rogue government agent, an unsuccessful businessman and a bunch of assassins that used to run around in camo and blow things up?”

“Yeah,” Paige smiled. “Before that.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was halfway through the door when she spotted Nathan. He was out of his chair and across the room the instant he saw her. He gripped both of her shoulders and studied her face. Just when she thought he might release her, he pulled her closer and engulfed her in a big bear hug. Paige appeased him, wondering if this was for her... or him. She knew the General’s life was unraveling and after the last few weeks, he didn’t know who to trust anymore.

“I’m fine,” Paige finally assured him. “And, since I had to shoot someone today, you’re in luck. I have a few days off to catch up.”

“You shot someone?” Nathan took a step back and again, took a minute to study her face. “You okay, kid?” An image of a middle-aged man sitting on a chair in a dark corner, a rundown apartment, and a rifle aimed in his direction as he opened the door, flashed in his mind. Nathan pushed it aside. He wanted to focus on Paige, not deal with his most recent ghosts.

“Did he hurt you?” Dax finally asked.

“No,” Paige moved forward and settled into a chair. “It was the same guy that shot the security guard last night. And, I think he was aiming at Lo. Got his windshield and came around the back to try again. I had to stop him. I didn’t have a choice. Other than him, nobody got hurt. Well, except the truck and the Mayor’s budget. But, I think they’ll survive.”

“I doubt it was that simple,” Nathan settled into a chair across from Paige. “Can you tell us? I think both of us could use a little distraction.”

“Is everything okay?” Paige was worried now. Had something happened to the Rangers before they made it home?

“It’s fine,” Dax moved across the room and settled onto the couch. “Solo and Vato are here. They’ll be staying with Hawk and the others at my place.”

“Which means Sophie and I will need to crash here, if that’s okay,” Nathan reached out and patted Paige’s leg. “It might be a little crowded, but I think we can manage.”

“Why are they here?” Paige wondered if she would like Vato. After everything that had happened, the meeting was going to be awkward.

“And I might as well tell you, because you are going to find out eventually,” Dax sighed. “Piper is back.”

“Why?”

“I think she smells a story,” Dax frowned.

“And, I think I put up too many roadblocks,” Nathan added. “She came back here to sniff around because of the unit. Dax and his men have been staying in one place for months. She’s decided that’s significant and she’s determined to uncover why.”

“Can we,” Paige considered. “I don’t know, do something that will lead her on a wild goose chase? I want her gone.”

“I think,” Nathan hesitated. “Under the circumstances, it might be better to let her sniff around on her own. Nobody in this town knows anything. As long as Carmen and the men don’t talk, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

“But…” Paige began, then stopped when Sophie stepped into the room. Nathan’s face lit up like the north star. He rose, crossed the room and took her hand. They strolled casually across the room as Nathan led her to the couch. Paige watched with admiration. She had always envied the love they had for each other. Her gaze shifted to Dax. Could they ever have that? The kind of love that stopped everything in the room when she walked in? She smiled. Probably not. She was lucky if Dax noticed her, especially when the room was full of Rangers.

Once Sophie was settled, she focused on Paige. “I’d like to hear the story behind that bruise, dear. And, I think I heard you say you were forced to defend the life of a fellow cop this evening. I have to say, I’m starting to think it was much safer for you in Quantico.”

Paige shifted when Dax stood and moved to the couch. He settled in next to her and immediately took her hand in his. Paige glanced down, momentarily wondering if she’d been wrong. Maybe they could have that kind of connection. The same strong bond the Porter’s had always enjoyed. She forced her mind to push that topic aside, it was a worry for another day. With a deep breath, she began to tell the story of four animal rights activists that set out to destroy the area’s feed production in a misguided attempt to liberate farm animals everywhere.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S3

**Tags:** Season 3

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### [Toxic Indulgence](https://melaniepsmith.com/toxic-indulgence/)

**Published:** October 28, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Toxic Indulgence (S3E7) - A wealthy citizen is murdered by poisoning at his annual charity party for the elite.  Agent Sean Wilkens uncovers some urgent Intel and Dax goes on the offense.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*TOXIC INDULGENCE\*\*\*****

“James Tolman,” Martin Wolfe approached the small group and extended his hand. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“Quite a party you have here,” Tolman shook the man’s hand and glanced around the room. “A Martin Wolfe gathering does generate a crowd.”

Martin laughed. “Human nature, I suppose. Curiosity has always been a great motivator.” He glanced up when a young, attractive woman approached with a fresh tray of expensive champagne; only the best for the estimable Martin Wolfe. The host of the biggest party in the region— an annual event that brought in the wealthiest patrons for miles— accepted the fresh glass, took a few seconds to down half of the bubbly liquid, then continued. “I like my privacy, as you well know; but, once a year I come out of what the kids these days call my safe space and mingle for an evening. It’s good for business; and, now that the vultures are used to the routine, it offers me a modicum of privacy throughout the rest of the year. Something I could never achieve otherwise.” He laughed and took another long sip of the golden liquid. “And, it guarantees this…” he swung his glass through the air in a sweeping motion that took in the entire crowd. “Anyway, it truly is great to see you, James. And, for the record, I’m glad that insufferable opponent of yours dropped out of the race. I didn’t like him. Didn’t know him; but, I did see that interview on the morning show and I have to say, he was even more arrogant than I am... Which is quite an accomplishment, just ask my wife. Unfortunately, I won’t be here next month — business in Athens — so, congratulations on four more years of... whatever it is you do as Manti’s esteemed District Attorney.”

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“Thank you,” Tolman said politely. Wolfe wasn’t wrong, James didn’t know anyone more arrogant and egotistical than the tech giant standing before him. But, the man was also kind and very generous. “I appreciate the support.”

Across the room, a man called Wolfe’s name. “Duty calls,” Wolfe started to turn, stumbled, and began to cough. He pushed the drink he was holding toward Tolman then bent over, trying to find some relief from the excruciating pain that suddenly attacked his stomach. That’s when he felt his throat constricting. He tried to gulp air, tried to get oxygen to his lungs, which now felt like they were on fire; but, failed. In desperation, he glanced up, hoping to find someone that could help. Instead, he stared into the hard, cold eyes of a killer… his killer. Reality hit like a freight train and, in that moment, he knew he was going to die. Panic set in and his body started to shake uncontrollably — from the pain, the fear, and the anger and embarrassment of knowing he’d been fooled. Suddenly, he couldn’t hold his weight any longer. Martin Wolfe fell to the floor with a loud thud as his body began to convulse.

“Find a doctor,” James yelled. “There has to be one in this crowd.” He began to survey the area, looking for anyone that had medical training and could help. Instead, Tristin Balli forced his way through the gathering crowd and moved in beside Tolman.

“What happened?” Wolfe’s head of security demanded.

“Tristin,” James Tolman grabbed his arm. “We need to lock the place down. Martin’s been poisoned. Nobody leaves, I don’t care who they are or how urgent their excuse. Get your men on it immediately. I’ll call Jericho.”

“Consider it done,” Tristin focused on the best boss he’d ever had as he pulled out a portable walkie and barked orders into the speaker. Once the entire residence was locked down, he turned to update Tolman but couldn’t find him. The man had vanished, completely.

“Miss?” Tolman stepped into the large kitchen and spotted the woman that had handed Martin his last drink. “Can I have a word?”

“I uh…” the nervous woman stammered.

“It’s not really a question,” Tolman pushed. “I need you to step in here.” James gestured down the hallway to an open door that led to an office. As soon as the woman stepped into the room, Tolman motioned to the couch. “Make yourself comfortable. You’ll need to wait in here until the sheriff arrives.”

“I didn’t…”

Tolman shook his head. “Don’t explain it to me. I need you to wait and speak with the police.” He closed the door firmly behind him, set the flute of champagne — the murder weapon— on a small table just outside the door, and stood guard over the evidence and the one person he hoped had the answers he desperately needed.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige cursed under her breath as she reached for the ringing phone. “This better be an emergency.”

“Paige, it’s Jericho. Wake up,” he demanded. “I’m on my way to your place, ETA ten minutes.”

Paige sat up, rubbed at her eyes, and glanced at the clock. “It’s after midnight. What’s going on?”

“Tolman called,” Jericho sighed. “Martin Wolfe is dead.”

“What?” Paige jumped up and made her way to the closet. She snatched up a pair of jeans and a hoodie. “How?” She moved quietly from the bedroom and into the hall, closing the door silently behind her. She didn’t want to wake Dax.

“James thinks someone poisoned him,” Jericho advised. “He’s doing his best to contain the guests, but he needs help — fast.”

“Guests?” Paige frowned as she pulled the shirt over her head. “Oh, that’s right. Tonight was that big shindig of his. He was killed at his own party? That bites.”

“I’m sure he would agree,” Jericho said flatly. “See you in five.” He disconnected without waiting for a reply.

The instant Jericho pulled into the driveway of Martin Wolfe’s elaborate second home, he knew they had a mess on their hands. The entire parking staff had been corralled on the front porch. Two security guards stood at the top of the stairs, waiting for the cops to arrive. The young employees did not look happy.

“How many people were invited to this thing, anyway?” Paige asked, surveying the area... and the large number of cars parked in every vacant spot possible. “I mean, does the fire marshal know? I think the benevolent Mr. Wolfe may have exceeded capacity.”

“Martin Wolfe does whatever he wants… well, did. This is an annual event. The rest of the year he’s practically a recluse. That’s when he’s in town and not crashing at his apartment in Salt Lake. Plus, he spends a lot of his time —spent a lot of his time — traveling the world bringing in new contracts.”

“Yeah,” Paige frowned. “Because a few billion just isn’t enough. I heard the man was a workaholic. And, what does he have to show for it? An early death that’s what. Does Tolman have any idea who was responsible?”

“He didn’t say,” Jericho ascended the stairs and made his way past a dozen angry young kids and their loud, belligerent demands for answers. He stepped into the large home and sighed. The adults weren’t behaving any better than the teens. “I’ll find Tolman. You head that way and touch base with Tristin Balli. James said the head of security was guarding the body. Bridges and Lovato are on their way. They’ll start interviewing the guests. We can follow-up tomorrow if we have to. For now, we just need to make sure we have a complete guest list. Those who were invited and the plus ones. Make sure you get the names of everyone that was here at the time of his death. I also want to know everyone that went near that glass of poison.”

Paige sighed and shoved her way through the large crowd. The guests were clearly horrified and intrigued by the sight of a dead body sprawled on the floor. It always amazed her how morbid humankind could be. One minute these people were mingling, laughing, and joking with a friend. The next they were standing over his dead body— gawking. She moved forward and pulled out her badge. “Tristin Balli?” she asked a large man keeping the guests several feet away from the scene.

“Who are you?”

She held her badge higher to make sure he could see it. “Deputy Paige Carter. Can you give me some space and let me get a closer look here? If you’re available, I could really use the help to manage the scene. We need to push this crowd back at least five more feet. Ten would be better.”

“You heard the lady,” Tristin called out. “Move back.”

The crowd began to mumble and complain, but they complied.

Paige thought she’d learned as much as she was going to learn from the body when Benny Parks, the local Medical Examiner, arrived. The instant he reached the body, he crouched and began his own thorough examination of the corpse. Paige waited — impatiently— through the grunts, the hums, and okays for several minutes before she couldn’t take it any longer. “Anything I should know before I leave you to it?”

“What?” Benny glanced up in surprise. “Oh, no… not really,” he straightened. “I assume you found the source of the poison and contained it? I’d like the lab to compare what I get from the body to the possible source to be sure.”

Paige pointed to a small bag that held the empty flute. Next to it was the small container she had used to preserve the remaining champagne. “The District Attorney himself secured that evidence. Once I arrived, he couldn’t hand it over fast enough. Lucky for us he was on scene when it happened. Otherwise, it would probably be splattered all over that fancy marble floor. Anyway, if there’s nothing else… I need to head in and help Jericho with interviews. He’s all yours, Doc.”

“Check in with me tomorrow, make it the afternoon,” Benny acknowledged. “I’m not going to start on the exam until morning. There’s no rush, we know cause of death— it’s pretty obvious.”

Paige focused on the foam that had gathered around Martin’s mouth and nose. “Yeah, we do.” With another long sigh, she turned and made her way through the crowd in search of her boss. Instead, she found James Tolman outside a closed door. “Boss in there?”

“Yeah,” Tolman said soberly. “This cluster is going to turn into a circus before morning.”

“Meaning?” Paige frowned, not sure what he was implying.

“Martin Wolfe dead at his annual charity event… from poison? The national syndicates will go nuts over this. We’re going to be invaded, again. You thought it got crazy when we uncovered those bodies? Just wait a day or two… you haven’t seen crazy until you’ve dealt with the death of a celebrity.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” now Paige was frowning. She had to warn Dax… and the guys. Piper Weber was about to make another appearance in Manti. *Great, as if this nightmare wasn’t bad enough*.

“Anyway, that’s a worry for another day,” Tolman focused on Paige. “Jericho’s trying to interview a waitress. She’s the one that gave Martin the glass that contained the poison.”

“How can you be sure it was that glass of champagne that contained the poison?”

“Because I was talking to him,” Tolman barked. “Sorry, it’s a legitimate question.” He raised his eyebrow at her. “One I would normally ask you. I know because I was standing there having a casual conversation with the man. He was congratulating me on the election since I’m now running unopposed and he was heading to Athens. We were just casually shooting the breeze, for several minutes, when that girl moved in with fresh drinks. Martin snatched one off the tray, drank half of it in nearly one gulp, then continued the conversation. I’m telling you, he was fine before that. It only took a minute… seconds, really. And, I was standing right there!”

Paige realized he blamed himself. She could understand, it would be tough to realize a murder occurred right under your nose and you had no idea it was even happening. But, with poison… there was no way Tolman could have anticipated that. “You couldn’t have stopped it,” she finally told him. “Nobody could have prevented it. Unless you knew he had that kind of enemy after him… there was nothing you could have done to prevent this.”

“Still…”

“Focus on the things you can control,” Paige suggested. “Let’s catch the person responsible. Then, you can make sure they pay for killing your friend.”

Tolman just nodded.

“Now,” Paige reached for the door handle. “I’m off to rescue my boss.” Paige stepped into the room and took a minute to look around. Jericho was trying to comfort a woman who was near hysterics. He glanced up and gave her what could only be described as a desperate look. She could practically hear him demanding she step in and help. She moved forward and took a seat on the couch next to the woman. “Hi,” she said softly. “I’m Paige Carter. What’s your name?”

The woman looked up, surprised. She swallowed hard and took a deep breath before she answered. “Sh… Shannon,” she sniffled.

“Shannon,” Paige said calmly. “Can I get your last name?”

“Shannon Con...Conley,” she sniffed.

“Great,” Paige smiled. “I can see you are upset,” she began. “There’s no reason to be scared. I’m just here...” she pointed to Jericho. “We’re just here to find out what happened tonight. That man outside is the local District Attorney. He says he was standing with Martin Wolfe when you brought over a tray of fresh drinks.”

“I did, but it wasn’t me.”

“Shannon,” Paige soothed. “I’m not saying you did anything to Mr. Wolfe’s drink. I just need you to walk me through it. Have you been here all night, working? Tell me about that tray of drinks. Did you get them from the kitchen? Did you load them up yourself? How many other people took glasses off that tray before you approached Martin and offered him one? Was there anything different about that particular tray and where you got it? Just walk us through what happened, in as much detail as you can remember.”

“Oh,” Shannon swallowed again. “Okay. I’ve been working here all night. We got here early, before the guests started to arrive, so we could set everything up. The tables, I mean.”

“Okay,” Paige nodded. “Do you remember what time you arrived?”

“Um...” Shannon took a ragged breath but was starting to calm down. “I rode over with Kathy. She picked me up just before six...maybe five-forty-five.”

“Do you know Kathy’s last name?” Jericho asked.

“Uh, yeah. Tippets. Kathy Tippets.”

“You’re doing great,” Paige encouraged. “So, Kathy Tippets picked you up at five-forty-five. What time did you get here, to the Wolfe estate?”

“Just before six,” Shannon said confidently. “We were supposed to be here at six, but we got here a few minutes early.”

“And did you have a staff meeting beforehand or did you just start setting up?” Paige asked.

“We just started in,” Shannon said. “We’ve all done this before. On other jobs. We all knew what had to be done, so we just started doing it. I helped Kathy and Pete carry the food out to the tables and some of the others began to pour out the champagne...into glasses. We wanted them all ready to go, you know. Parties like these, they get pretty hectic at first. The guests like to have a drink or two before they start to loosen up and mingle. Like I said, we’ve done this before, so we knew we’d go through a ton of champagne in the first hour. We like to have it ready so we’re not scrambling so much.”

“That makes sense,” Jericho encouraged. It was a little annoying that he’d ask the girl a simple question and she’d burst into uncontrollable tears. But, Paige comes in and asks basically the same thing and the girl’s all cooperative and almost chatty. “So, the initial drinks had to be gone by the time Martin took that last glass.”

“Right,” Shannon agreed. “We had used up all the original stock. One of the kids... the one’s parking vehicles outside, came inside for a quick snack and Mrs. Wolfe asked him to grab a couple friends and restock.”

“Do you know where they got the alcohol?” Paige asked. “The stuff they carried in to restock what you guys had already used?”

“Outside somewhere,” Shannon said slowly. “I don’t know where, but they carried the cases in from outside.”

“Okay, so did you guys go back into the kitchen and pour a bunch of new glasses or did you just restock a tray at a time?”

“No,” Shannon shook her head. “We had two of the girls — Tina and Marnie — in the kitchen, pouring while we circulated throughout the room.”

“Do you know if Tina or Marnie filled the glasses you picked up that last time?” Paige asked.

“I don’t think either one of them did,” Shannon told them.

“I don’t understand,” Paige pushed. “Did you refill the tray yourself?”

“No,” Shannon frowned. “When I ran out, I was headed back to the kitchen, but that woman stopped me. She handed me the tray and pointed to Martin Wolfe. She said it looked like he needed a fresh drink and we shouldn’t make him wait or he’d take it out on the company — where I work — and we wouldn’t get the job next year.”

“Do you know who the woman was?” Jericho asked.

“Was it maybe Mrs. Wolfe?” Paige added.

“No,” Shannon shook her head vehemently. “It wasn’t Mrs. Wolfe. I met her first thing... when I got here. I met her because she was out telling us how she wanted us to set up the tables. This lady was younger, but I don’t know her. I just assumed, well I assumed it was a personal assistant or something by the way she was giving orders. Plus, she seemed comfortable. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“You’re doing good,” Paige assured her. “You don’t know her, but can you describe her? What color of hair did she have?”

“Blonde.”

“Good,” Paige jotted that down. “And you said she was younger. Was she older or younger than me?”

Shannon studied Paige for several seconds. “I think... yeah, I think she was maybe about ten years older than you. I mean, I can’t say for sure but…”

“You’re doing good,” Paige stopped her. “So, Martin Wolfe and his wife are in their late fifties. I’m in my thirties. Would you say this woman was in her mid-forties? Does that sound right?”

“I think so, yeah.”

“What about build?” Jericho asked. “Was she small and lean like Paige here? Or, maybe curvier— like Mrs. Wolfe?”

“She was pretty,” Shannon said without hesitation. “She was wearing an amazing dress, it was dark green, forest green, maybe. And she was taller than me so pretty tall. I’m five-seven and she was an inch or two taller than I am. She wasn’t exactly curvy, but she wasn’t thin either. Just normal, I guess.”

“Similar to your build?” Paige asked.

“Yeah,” Shannon said cautiously. “Sort of. I mean she was more… just more.”

“The build was similar, but she showed it off more? Is that what you mean?”

“Exactly,” Shannon relaxed. “Her dress was short. Not indecent, but she wanted to show off her legs. And, it was kind of low cut.”

“You’re really helping us out here,” Paige praised. “Is there anything else you can remember that might help?”

“I think she had a tattoo,” Shannon was pulling a face that made Paige realize she was trying to concentrate. “I couldn’t see it clearly, her dress covered it up. But, when she handed me the tray of drinks, her thin strap fell off her shoulder and right in here...” Shannon pressed her right hand against the left side of her torso right next to the shoulder joint. “She had some kind of tattoo. I’m sorry, I don’t know what the picture was. I think it had wings though. And, a lot of color.”

Paige shot a look at Jericho. Shannon was proving to be a very informative witness.

“Is there any way you can clear something up for me, Shannon?” Jericho asked.

“I’ll try,” Shannon turned to face the sheriff.

“You said you don’t think Tina or Marnie poured the wine in the glasses. Why do you think someone else did it?”

“There are several reasons,” Shannon paused to consider. “First, I glanced into the kitchen and it was empty. They weren’t in there. I assumed, since the party was nearly over, that Mrs. Wolfe had asked them to start cleaning up or something.”

“You don’t think they could have poured the last of the champagne into glasses before they moved on to something else?” Jericho asked.

“They could have, but I know they didn’t pour those glasses.”

“How?” Paige pressed.

“Because we have to pour all the glasses exactly the same,” Shannon explained. “Stefano, that’s our boss. Stefano insists every single glass has to have exactly the same amount of liquid in it. Presentation, ladies! He’s told us that a million times. We get into trouble if the glasses aren’t uniform. The ones I got from that lady, they weren’t uniform. One had more than the others, but they were all different.”

“Like someone poured more into the glass Martin took?” Jericho asked.

“Yeah,” Shannon nodded. “It’s human nature, I guess. That one had more, it was almost full. The others were maybe halfway full, some a little less, and some a little more. They were all different, but it was obvious the one Mr. Wolfe took was full. It’s sort of unconscious, you know. If you see a glass that’s only half-full, you think...’someone drank part of that one’ and you grab a different one.”

Paige realized that was by design. The killer had set the tray up to look like a normal tray, but also to make sure Martin took the correct flute. “Anything else?”

“Just that they spilled some of the alcohol on the tray and it wasn’t cleaned up,” Shannon told them. “It’s another reason I know Tina and Marnie didn’t do it. They would have cleaned it up instantly. Stefano is very strict about presentation and having it roll around like that would get us fired. I tried to stop and wipe it up, but the lady insisted Martin needed a new drink immediately. She told me to take care of him first, then I could deal with the messy tray.”

“Do you know what happened to the tray,” Paige asked. “After Martin got sick?”

“Um, yeah.” Shannon swallowed hard. “Since all the drinks looked half used, nobody wanted any. I was headed back to the kitchen to combine them, to make them full glasses when Mr. Wolfe...” she swallowed hard again, and her eyes began to water.

“Don’t think about that,” Paige tried to direct her away from the image of a dead Martin Wolfe. “You headed back to the kitchen, then what?”

“When I realized he was sick just after I gave him that drink, I was afraid I did something wrong. That there was something wrong with the champagne. I took the tray back into the kitchen and put it in the walk-in fridge. I hid it in the back, so nobody would accidentally give it to one of the guests. Then, I locked the fridge.”

Jericho stood. “I’ll go track down Mrs. Wolfe and see if the tray is still back there. I doubt it will have prints and if it does, they will probably be Shannon’s, but it’s worth a shot.”

“Am I in trouble?” Shannon asked.

“No,” Paige assured her. “But, we will need you to come into the station and have your fingerprints taken. If that tray has two sets, we need to rule yours out and focus on the other woman. The woman that gave the tray to you in the first place.”

“Do I have to?” Shannon started to visibly worry.

“Is there a reason you don’t want us to have your prints?” Paige asked.

“No,” Shannon said immediately. “It’s not that. It’s just...I don’t have a car. That’s why I rode with Kathy. It’s hard for me to get around and I can’t ask Kathy to take me. She has a young daughter, it would be too hard for her to make a trip like that.”

“What if we sent a tech out to your house? Would that help?” Paige offered.

“I don’t want to put anyone out,” Shannon added.

“It’s fine,” Paige assured her. “I’ll ask Heidi to stop by sometime tomorrow. Did you give Jericho your contact information?”

“I did,” Shannon remembered. “He has my address and my number.”

“Okay,” Paige stood. “I think that’s everything for now. Heidi will call you tomorrow and schedule a time she can stop by and do the prints. Otherwise, I probably won’t need to contact you again. Here’s my card, you can call me if you remember anything or if you have any questions. I really appreciate your help. That information you gave us was very detailed and very helpful.”

“Sorry about...” she sighed, embarrassed. “Sorry about the hysterical crying earlier. I... well, I realized I was probably the one that killed that kind, friendly man and I thought the sheriff was going to arrest me and put me in jail. I don’t know how I’m going to live with that —knowing I killed someone. I feel so guilty and sad.”

“Shannon,” Paige waited for Shannon to finally look at her. “You did not kill Martin Wolfe. You didn’t.” Paige insisted when Shannon looked like she wanted to argue. “Someone used you as a tool to kill that man. It was not your fault. Please, remember that. You didn’t do this. You can feel sad over the loss of a kind man. But, you should not feel guilty. Someone... a sadistic coward, did this. And, I’m going to catch the person responsible and throw them in jail. They will have consequences for their actions and they’re going to have plenty of time to regret them.”

“Thank you,” Shannon said softly. “I’ll try to remember that when I start to feel sad and horrified.”

“I hope you do,” Paige motioned to the door. “You’re free to go.”

Jericho approached Paige, frowning.

“What now?” she asked immediately.

Jericho motioned to the empty office. “James, please join us.”

“Do I need my attorney?” James asked when he saw Jericho’s face.

“We have a problem,” he closed the door and moved to sit in the same chair he occupied while they interviewed Shannon Conley.

“What’s the problem?” Tolman asked, settling into a second leather chair.

Paige settled onto the couch and waited.

“Mrs. Ryenne Wolfe has left the building,” Jericho informed them.

“What do you mean she left? I gave strict orders that nobody was to leave the scene. Where’s Tristin?”

“I’ll go find him,” Paige offered.

Paige finally located Tristin Balli on the front porch with the rest of his men. The instant she opened the front door, the group became eerily silent. “Balli? I need a word.”

Balli glared at Paige for several seconds without moving. She realized he was trying to play the tough guy in front of his subordinates. Maybe she should have asked. Too late now, she remained in the doorway— waiting. Finally, he pushed off the railing and walked purposefully toward the door.

Once they were inside, he turned and glared at her. She didn’t know what he was about to say because they were interrupted.

“You might want to ditch the attitude,” Jericho growled from the open doorway of the office. “It’s late and I don’t have time for a pissing match.” He turned and disappeared, expecting the duo to follow.

Tristin Balli was strutting when he stepped into the office. His steps faltered when he spotted James Tolman. He started to worry when Deputy Carter pulled the door shut. “What is this about?”

“I think I was pretty clear,” Tolman seethed. “I told you to keep everyone inside. I remember, very distinctly, telling you to make sure nobody left the premises for any reason. I know you understood. You acknowledged the request.”

“I did,” Tristin frowned. “We locked the place down completely.”

“Then where is Ryenne Wolfe?”

“She was distraught,” Balli argued. “The crowd was too much for her and seeing her husband lying there like that... well, she asked Bobby, the chauffeur, to take her to the jet. I didn’t see any reason...”

“I can think of about a dozen,” Paige barked. “You just set our investigation back significantly.”

“You can’t think…”

“Doesn’t matter what we think,” Tolman said coolly. “The fact still remains that I told you not to let anyone leave, for any reason; and, you let at least two people, that we know of, leave before the police could question them. You know better, Tristin.”

“I do,” he sighed. “But Ryenne is not a person that takes orders well. She’s usually the one making demands. Plus, she was crying and upset. She was not in any condition to be reasonable, let alone interviewed by the police.”

“That wasn’t your call,” Jericho said, clearly frustrated a prime player in all of this was missing. “You just better hope she didn’t get to the airport and decide she’d rather be in Cabo.”

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t leave,” Tristin pulled out his phone and made a call. “The jet’s not going anywhere. I’ll give you the hanger information and you can interview her whenever you want. I have to warn you though... tonight’s not a good time. Bobby said she took a valium and said she was going straight to bed.”

“While you’re here,” Paige decided. “Let’s get your interview out of the way.”

\*\*\*\*\*

By the time they got the interviews concluded, the guests and temporary employees on their way home, and the residence secured, it was nearly seven in the morning.

“Paige, get some sleep,” Jericho ordered as he pulled into her driveway. “I don’t want to see you for at least six hours.”

“Will you be in the office when I get there?’

“I’m heading home for now,” Jericho admitted. “I’m getting too old to pull an all-nighter. These late night emergencies are harder than they used to be. I need a few hours as well.”

“See you when I see you,” Paige jumped from the car. “Do you know the family?”

“You mean do I know Mrs. Ryenne Wolfe well enough to know if she killed her husband?”

“Yeah,” Paige smiled. “That. See, you’re not that old. Your mind still works.”

Jericho laughed. “I don’t know, Paige. Get some sleep, we’ll talk about it later.”

Paige watched as her boss shifted into reverse and headed home. She turned and took two steps toward her house when she spotted Hawk on the front porch of Dax’s residence. She paused to consider, pivoted and made her way across the lawn that separated the two homes.

“Paige,” Hawk said casually. “Looks like you got an early start.”

“Actually,” Paige climbed the stairs and dropped into one of the patio chairs. “I barely got to bed before I was called out.”

“So, what can I do for you?” Hawk asked wearily.

“You’re going to hear it in an hour or so anyway,” Paige began. “Martin Wolfe was murdered last night.”

“Bummer,” Hawk said flatly. “Who is Martin Wolfe?’

Paige shook her head in disbelief. “You seriously need to expand your horizons. Martin Wolfe is a big shot billionaire tech giant. He’s an international superstar in the electronic industry and he was murdered in his own home, at his own fancy party.”

“Why are you telling me?” Hawk wondered. “It’s a tragedy, but irrelevant to our investigation.”

“Because he’s basically a celebrity,” Paige pushed. When Hawk still didn’t follow she sighed. “Because the media is going to descend like vultures. The national media. Meaning…”

“Meaning Piper Weber is going to stop in for a visit,” Hawk scowled. “You don’t think she’d come here, do you? To the house to bother Dax?”

“She did last time,” Paige stood. “And, it wasn’t pretty. I was just hoping maybe you could help keep her away from Dax. With everything that’s going on, having another encounter with the nation’s sweetheart — who is anything but — is something he doesn’t need right now. I’m going to be busy until we can figure out who did this and arrest them. Too busy to run interference. So, I need a favor. Just intercept her, handle her, whatever.”

“That’s not a favor for you,” Hawk disagreed. “And it would be my pleasure to deal with Ms. Weber. I thought we already had. It’s disappointing to hear she paid Dax another visit. I guess this time we’ll have to make sure she gets the message loud and clear.”

“Thanks,” Paige stood. “Now, I need to catch a couple hours before I head back in.”

“I’m sure you’ll catch the person responsible; but, good luck,” Hawk stood. “And, don’t worry about us. We’ve got things covered. You just focus on catching your killer, so we can get rid of the media frenzy as soon as possible. Having a bunch of overzealous busybodies in town will make it harder to keep our mission a secret. We’ll have to be extra careful until they leave.”

“Understood,” Paige bounced down the steps. “And, good luck with Piper, you’ll probably need it. That woman is one sneaky, conniving piece of work. It still baffles me that Dax dated her at all.”

“I think she was just handy,” Hawk shrugged. “He wasn’t around enough to see the real Piper under the fake charm. Plus, he didn’t care enough to look.”

“Awe,” Paige teased. “I guess we are becoming friends, after all. It’s not necessary, though. Throwing me a bone to make me feel better. I know where I stand with Dax and that woman doesn’t threaten me. Not even a little.”

“Good,” Hawk held back a grin as he watched Paige make her way home. Were they becoming friends? Maybe. If nothing else, he could definitely see why Dax had fallen for his sexy, fearless, intelligent neighbor. He swung open the front door and headed for the kitchen. The rest of the guys needed to know Piper Weber might make an appearance... and they needed to be prepared for the encounter.

\*\*\*\*\*

 Paige stepped through the back door of the office and spotted Jericho impatiently waiting in her visitor’s chair. “Thought you were taking a nap.”

“I did,” Jericho stood. “Let’s go.”

“Okay,” Paige shrugged. “Where are we going?”

“To the airport,” Jericho stepped out the front door and approached his vehicle. “I want to talk to Mrs. Wolfe.”

Paige climbed into the passenger’s seat and buckled the belt before turning to focus on her boss. “Can I ask you something?”

“Just ask it,” Jericho grumbled.

“Maybe you didn’t get a long enough nap,” Paige surmised by his surly attitude. “I have two questions, actually. First, have we heard anything from the media? Tolman was sure the whole world would descend once they heard the news.”

“James will be holding a press conference at fifteen hundred this afternoon.”

“James Tolman and the District Attorney’s Office is going to take care of it, then?”

Jericho sighed. “For the most part. And, the answer to the question you are not asking —no, you do not have to be there. I’ll handle it.”

“Good,” Paige said in relief. “But, that brings me to the second question. Why are you so involved in this case? Normally, you just have line guys handle things and you keep your finger on it from a distance. You know, you hang out in the background to make sure we don’t mess anything up.”

“Tolman insisted,” Jericho scowled. “Seems I’m the only one he trusts to make sure his friend gets justice.”

“Tolman doesn’t trust us to handle it?” Paige asked, insulted.

“I think he knows you can handle it,” Jericho pondered. “I just think he knows me... has known me longer, and he wants me personally involved. Maybe because he’s too personally involved. I agreed to join you while you interview Mrs. Wolfe.” He turned to glance at Paige. “You are conducting this interview, not me. I’m just your backup. I’ll appease Tolman, to a point, because this is a high-profile case and I can run interference. But, this is your investigation, Paige. Don’t back off or wait for permission. Just interrogate the wife and run things the way you would if Gage was here instead of me. I won’t get in your way.”

“Okay,” Paige stared out the windshield. “I don’t know this family, but the spouse is always a suspect. Is that okay with you?”

“I said interrogation, not witness statement,” Jericho reminded her.

“That’s right, you did.” They rode in silence the rest of the way to the airport.

Paige glanced up when Jericho brought the vehicle to a stop. “Fancy jet.”

“Fancy is easy when you have the kind of money Martin acquired,” Jericho climbed from the vehicle and made his way toward the plane. They were stopped just inside the hanger by what could only be a private security guard. Jericho remained silent, hoping Paige would step up and deal with the delay.

“I’m Deputy Paige Carter and this is Sheriff Walters,” Paige pulled out her badge. “We need to speak with Mrs. Wolfe.”

“She’s resting,” the guard continued to block their pathway.

“Then she’ll have to stop resting while we conduct our interview. I believe Tristin Balli informed you ahead of time we’d be coming.”

“He did,” the guard still didn’t move. “But Mrs. Wolfe ordered me to decline our request. She said she is not in the right frame of mind to be hassled by the local police.”

“Her frame of mind might change for the worse if we have to take this to the station. I doubt a woman who is used to this kind of luxury would enjoy being transported in the back of a patrol car.”

“You wouldn’t…”

“I will,” Paige said flatly. “Now get out of my way or I’ll arrest you for interfering with an investigation. And, Mrs. Ryenne Wolfe will be discussing the incident in an interview room instead of the overpriced leather couch installed in that jet.”

“I need a minute to ask…”

“It’s not a request,” Paige informed him.

The guard moved away to have a private conversation.

“Give them a little authority and it goes to their head,” Jericho whispered. “You ready for a battle with the self-important Mrs. Wolfe? I doubt she’s going to offer you tea once we finally get inside.”

“I know everyone grieves in their own way, but this... sneaking away last night before we had a chance to talk to her, posting a guard to turn us away today...it all seems more than a little suspicious to me.”

“I agree, she is being difficult. I don’t know her, I’m not sure if I’ve even met her before,” Jericho considered. “But, the feeling I get from the staff is that she’s in charge and you don’t cross her or tell her no. She might just be accustomed to getting her way and I’m sure she’s not in the habit of dealing with us little people.”

“Or,” Paige continued to stare at the private plane. “She’s avoiding us because she’s afraid she might give something away. My gut says there’s more to this than a snobby widow that can’t be bothered with the local cops.”

“I guess we’ll find out,” Jericho focused on the guard, who was now headed their way.

“Tristin has arranged a meeting,” his tone screamed ‘I just did you a favor.’ “Follow me.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Humphreys-Peak-5.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Jet.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Hanger.jpg)

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Paige shook her head but followed. “Even if you offered me all the money in the entire universe, I still couldn’t do that man’s job.”

Jericho grinned. “I’m pretty sure you would be fired on your first day.”

They climbed the stairs and stepped into an excessive display of wealth. Even the screws that held the counters in place were gold plated. Paige’s first thought was how much money this couple spent on a plane and how many needy, suffering children or veterans could be helped by the waste. Sometimes, life just wasn’t fair.

“Sheriff,” Ryenne Wolfe said in greeting. “I don’t appreciate you strong-arming your way into my private space. This plane is my sanctuary. It’s a private oasis I shared with my husband, a place where I could go to escape his death and grieve for a while. You have now ruined that. I hope whatever it is you have to ask me was worth the loss.”

Jericho gave Paige a nudge.

“Can you tell me why you left last night after District Attorney Tolman very specifically directed everyone on scene to remain inside the residence to be interviewed?”

Ryenne Wolfe ignored not only the question but Paige’s existence completely. “Well, did you have a question for me, Sheriff?”

“Yeah, Paige just asked it.”

Ryenne fumed but turned to address the deputy. “I left because it was my husband that died. I was distraught, and I see no reason for this interruption. Martin suffered a severe heart attack and passed away in a very public, very humiliating way. I have no doubt the media is already blasting his photograph all over the internet.”

“Martin did not suffer a heart attack. Why would you say that?” Paige frowned. “He was murdered.”

“Now, you’re just being ridiculous,” Ryenne turned her head away from Paige like a defiant ten-year-old. “Martin was a workaholic. He was never home, always working on that next big project. I told him to slow down, but he wouldn’t listen. He had a heart attack. I warned him this would happen, I never imagined it would happen at the one party he allowed me to throw each year. What people must be saying.”

“Mrs. Wolfe,” Paige ignored the comment. Her gut was telling her this woman was involved. The heart attack excuse was part of the act. “There was a guest, a woman with blonde hair, wearing a dark green dress.” Paige saw the recognition and maybe panic in the woman’s eyes before she masked it. If she hadn’t been looking, she would have missed it. “Can you tell me who she was? This woman was comfortable enough in your home that she directed the staff. She gave the catering personnel orders.”

“I have no idea who you are talking about,” Wolfe said defensively. “Staff is never invited to our parties and I don’t have any children. There is simply no one that would direct the hired help, other than me. You must be mistaken.”

“What about a blonde woman in a dark green gown? Do you remember anyone that fits that description?”

Ryenne waved her hand in dismissal. “I have no idea; the party was a plus one. Most of our friends and colleagues came as a couple. Half of those in attendance were women. I have no idea which one was wearing green or who wore purple. Your questions are ridiculous, and I’m done here. Please, leave my plane immediately or I will be forced to contact my lawyer.”

Paige studied the woman for several seconds before she turned and made her way back to the car.

“So?” Jericho asked once they were back on the highway.

“She’s involved,” Paige said confidently. “I’m not sure how, she certainly didn’t pour the champagne into the flute last night. I doubt she even ordered the champagne or bought the poison herself. She has people for that. Carrying out such an unsavory act would be beneath the pompous, arrogant Ryenne Wolfe. But she ordered it done, I’m sure of it.”

“Now you just have to prove it,” Jericho made a left turn before he continued. “I agree, for what it’s worth. That woman orchestrated this whole thing. She’s not grieving the loss of her husband, she’s grieving the loss of her freedom. It’s rather inconvenient for a woman who is used to giving the orders. She’s in charge, people do what she says, she doesn’t sit for an interview with cops that asked all the wrong questions. She’s a manipulator, and we didn’t cooperate. We won’t get another shot at her. She’ll delegate this problem to her attorney.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Paige decided. “I’m done with her anyway... until I arrest her. And, I will arrest that woman. She’s going to find out just how unimportant she truly is. On the bright side, the whole world will know who she is. She’ll be famous. Something she couldn’t accomplish living in Martin’s shadow.”

“Infamous,” Jericho corrected. “So, what’s the next move?”

“I need to talk to Martin’s business associates,” Paige decided. “That means a trip to Salt Lake. But I definitely need to meet with his secretary. While I’m there I’d like to talk to his accountant, his attorney, and the people that weren't invited to the party but spent a lot of time around Martin Wolfe. If he was such a workaholic, his colleagues and his subordinates probably know him better than his wife. There’s no time like the present to get started on a new list,” Paige was surprised they were already back at the office. She pushed open the door and headed inside.

\*\*\*\*\*

 “Sean,” Dax said in answer. “This is a surprise. You usually relay information through Nathan or Paige.”

“I’ve identified the man that killed Brian Stewart,” Sean said in greeting. “Our murdered cop. We’re tracking the man now. He’s just a low-level street thug. He must have had help; this guy could never ambush a cop on his own.”

“Interesting, but I’m still unclear on what that has to do with me,” Dax settled into his chair, realizing this would be a long call.

“I want Reynolds to pay,” Sean said softly.

“Can you trace the street thug back to Reynolds?”

“I have a wire transfer,” Sean affirmed. “Fifty thousand from one of Reynolds off-shore accounts into Damian Duffy’s savings account two days before the murder. Two days after the murder, Duffy withdrew twenty thousand in cash. My guess, he used the cash to pay his buddies that helped him.”

“Fifty is low,” Dax considered. “But, Reynolds is strapped for cash. Probably why he utilized a common thug rather than a professional.”

“Yeah,” Sean agreed. “But, that’s going to work in our favor. Once I catch this guy, he’ll sing. A pro would never say a word.”

“A pro would have left the country the minute the deed was done,” Dax added. “So, you just called to let me know?”

“Not exactly,” Sean hesitated. “I want Reynolds to pay, for everything. The FBI has picked this up...officially now. It was a murder for hire, on a cop and it involves multiple jurisdictions. Reynolds operates out of Washington, the thug was here in Chicago, and then we have the investigation Stewart was looking into that involved shipping out of New Orleans.”

“Are they going after Reynolds on conspiracy to murder?”

“That, amongst other things,” Sean answered. “But, there’s one other thing and the agents that took over don’t see it — or don’t care.”

“What?” Dax asked, knowing they had just reached the reason for the call.

“Reynolds just transferred sixty-five thousand from the same off-shore account to another off-shore account.”

“Do you know who?” Dax asked.

“Yeah,” Sean said, concerned. “Major Trent Hastings.”

“Vato?” Dax was now alert. His former colleague was in trouble. It was the only explanation for a transfer to the Major.

“Has to be, doesn’t it?” Sean asked. “I mean, if you look at the big picture, Reynolds needs Vato dead so he can’t testify against him. He’d kill Camille, too — if he could find her.”

“I agree,” Dax sighed. “They have something sinister planned for Vato. Nathan is working on something, to get him to safety, but it’s taking too long and this proves it.”

“The feds are also going after Reynolds for the illegal drone and weapons shipping. They think they have a strong enough case to get a conviction. You need to know, they’re formulating a plan to seize everything. His house, his company, everything. They’re working on an Op plan as we speak.”

“Can they do that?”

“Sure,” Sean said immediately. “Ill-gotten gains. He’s going down and I think he’ll go down hard. But, he’s going to serve his time in a cushy federal prison, not a state-run facility in general population. I think it’s better than he deserves. But, once he’s out of the mix... it’s going to make our job more difficult. We still haven’t discovered who his partner is. And, he has one. I’d stake my life on that. I think whoever it is, works pretty high up in the military.”

“Bratton?”

“I don’t think so,” Sean disagreed. “I know the good general is focused on him, but I don’t think he’s dirty. I’m getting the impression he’s just friends with the wrong people and too stupid to know it.”

“I know Bratton,” Dax admitted. “A little. And, I tend to agree with your assessment. I think Reynolds is using him and Bratton doesn’t even know it.”

“Dax, I’ll pass this on to Nathan, but if Reynolds has already paid Hastings, the job is going down in the next couple of days. It’s a pattern. And, I have no way of knowing what it is that’s going down. I have no way to stop it.”

“I might,” Dax knew he’d have to call Porter. “When are you going to fill in the General?”

“As soon as I hang up,” Sean said soberly. “I have to, I work for him.”

“I’m not asking you to stall,” Dax said without hesitation. “In fact, I need him to know immediately. I’ll give you twenty then I’m calling him myself. He’s the only one that knows the status on Vato’s extraction. I do know he was able to move our Ranger friend to Al Hillah last night. Hastings no longer has direct control over Vato, but that doesn’t mean he’s safe.”

“I guess that’s good news, anyway. I’ll let you go. Once I have Duffy in custody, I’ll be joining the FBI task force to go after Reynolds. When I have a better idea of what direction the feds are going with this, and when they plan to hit Reynolds, I’ll give you a call.”

“I appreciate it,” Dax disconnected, considering his options. It about killed him, but he waited the full twenty minutes before he dialed Nathan Porter’s burner phone.

\*\*\*\*\*

 “I wasn’t even at that party,” Tessa Whitman, the personal secretary for Martin Wolfe said in irritation. “I don’t see any reason you need to interview me.”

“Now that you mentioned it,” Paige said, undeterred. “Why didn’t you get invited to the party?”

Tessa snorted. “Are you kidding me?”

“Not at all,” Paige pushed. “According to HR, you’ve worked for Mr. Wolfe for twelve years now. I would think, as his personal assistant, he’d extend an invitation for a job well done.”

“Then,” Tessa scowled. “You’d be wrong. Mrs. Wolfe wouldn’t have it. He talked to me —a few years back— Martin told me he wanted to invite me. Thought I deserved a fun night out and he was sure I’d get a kick out the big brouhaha and all. But, Ryenne Wolfe would not tolerate her husband inviting the hired help to the one and only social event she was allowed to throw each year. I wasn’t a member of the *elite*. I’m the hired help.”

“Sounds like that pissed you off,” Paige observed. *But, if that was the case, wouldn’t she poison the misses, not her boss?*

“Not really,” Tessa sighed. “Sure, it would have been cool to go — once. You know, just for kicks to see what the big deal was. And, if I’d let on how much I wanted to see it, Martin would have invited me despite his wife and her snobbish objections. I guess that’s why I didn’t let on. I pretended like I wasn’t interested. They had enough problems as it was, I didn’t want to cause more.”

“What kind of problems?” Gage asked.

“You think Ryenne did this?” Tessa focused on Paige then the large cop sitting next to her. *Where did she know that guy from?* “Right, the spouse is always a suspect. And, Ryenne might be a good one — if she didn’t have to get her hands dirty. I just can’t see that woman killing her husband. The whole thing would be beneath her. She has people.”

Paige smiled, realizing her initial instinct was correct. The woman Tessa was describing matched the woman Paige had encountered in the multi-million-dollar jet. “Do you have any idea who might have done this, Tessa?”

Tessa hesitated then shook her head. “Not really.”

“Someone who felt slighted or wronged by Martin?” Gage pressed. “Someone he had a falling out with?”

“I don’t think so,” Tessa lowered her eyes to stare at her hands.

“There’s someone,” Paige said softly. “Someone you don’t want to mention. Is it a business colleague, or something more personal?”

Tessa let out a deep sigh. “I guess since he’s dead... well, I guess it’s okay. Martin met someone. He was seeing another woman.”

“He was having an affair?” Paige asked. That could give them another suspect. Or, give the wife motive. “Do you know the name of his mistress?”

“That’s a polite word for his bimbo on the side,” Tessa focused on Paige. “I don’t know her name. I only saw her once. We were out of town on a big account. Martin took me along because he had several meetings scheduled and he needed me to organize the presentations. You know, keep them in order so he didn’t give the wrong pitch to one of the groups. I helped him put it together, so I was the obvious choice.”

“Did you accompany him out of town frequently?” Paige asked.

“No,” Tessa settled back and relaxed a little. “Just now and then. He liked to go alone. Liked the time away. If you’ve met his wife, you can probably understand why. I think he just needed a few days now and again to escape the nagging. Anyway, we had just completed a big presentation in Italy and I went to my room to rest. Then, I decided I was hungry and went down to the in-house restaurant to grab a salad. Martin was having a romantic dinner with a blonde. He didn’t see me, and I never told him I saw him. But, after that, he’d shut the door while he was on the phone sometimes. Other days, he’d leave the office early. Before Italy, he never left early. Usually, he stayed late. He had a side-piece, but I think I’m the only one that knew about it.”

“Is it possible his wife found out? Gage asked.

“I don’t know how,” Tessa shrugged. “She never came to the office, so she wouldn’t know he left sometimes. She never went on business trips with him. She rarely called here, just now and then when she needed something. And, if he was out, she wouldn’t know he was with his... mistress.” Tessa grinned.

“Can you describe this woman?” Paige asked. “Was she tall, short, thin, curvy, sophisticated or sexier and more seductive?”

“I’d say seductive,” Tessa tried to remember as much as she could about the woman. “The night I saw her, at dinner, she was wearing a low-cut red dress with high-heels. You know those sexy shoes that men love for some reason. They were sitting down, eating, so I don’t know how tall she was. But, she was definitely flirting, coming on strong and he was eating it up.”

“Anything else stick out?” Paige asked.

“Maybe,” Tessa considered. “She came across as high-maintenance. I’m not sure why, but maybe the polished fake nails. Her hair looked like she went to the salon, a lot. And she was wearing all this gaudy jewelry, fake I think. Although, I wouldn’t know if it was real.”

“So, she spent money on herself?” Paige thought she understood.

“Was she Italian?” Gage asked. “Did you ever hear her speak?”

“Once,” Tessa admitted. “She was American. I was turning to leave, and I heard her fake surprise when she talked a little too loud.”

“Did you understand what she was saying?” Paige pushed.

“Yeah,” Tessa rolled her eyes. “She was all flirty and over-exaggerated. She said, ‘Oh, Martin,’ in that high-pitched, fake embarrassed way women do. She was definitely American.”

“Do you think she was there for him?” Gage asked.

Tessa shrugged. “I have no idea. Like I said, it was a secret affair. Martin didn’t even know I knew, so we never talked about it. She could have met him there, or she could have flown in just to see him. Your guess is as good as mine.”

“I have one last question,” Paige was sure they wouldn’t get any more from this woman. “Do you know if she had a tattoo?”

“I don’t...” Tessa brightened. “Wait, she did have something. Part of it was showing when she turned. A colorful... something, on the left, right by her inside shoulder. I only saw a flash before she turned back.”

“Okay,” Paige handed Tessa her card. “If you can think of anything else, please don’t hesitate to call.”

It was nearly eight o’clock at night when the two deputies finally hit the highway, headed back toward Manti. Once the interviews were complete, they were both starving and decided to grab dinner before heading home.

“Now what?” Gage finally asked.

“I’m going to meet up with Tolman in the morning,” Paige decided. “I need a warrant for Martin Wolfe’s financials. Both, his company expenditures and his private accounts.”

“That’s going to take a lot of time to go through,” Gage warned. “Think about what you buy in a month and then times that by about a million. Martin Wolfe was loaded. Can you imagine how many purchases he’d make in a year?”

“I don’t need to go back a year,” Paige disagreed. “Not at first. Trust me, this is my strong point. I did it for years for the FBI. Spreadsheets, ledgers, they’re my friend.”

“Don’t expect me to help with that,” Gage warned. “I’m pretty sure I’m allergic.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped through the front door and was surprised to see Dax waiting. “Is something wrong?”

“Vato,” Dax informed her. “Nathan got him moved, out from under Hastings. But, Sean called. He found evidence that Reynolds paid Hastings sixty-five thousand dollars. He’s formulating a plan to take Vato out while he’s stuck in Iraq and I’m not sure we can stop it.”

“What did Nathan say?” Paige settled onto the couch next to Dax. “Can he help?”

“He thinks it’s nothing to worry about,” Dax said in frustration. “He’s sending Solo over to extract him. So, he thinks the problem is already solved.”

“But, you don’t?”

“I don’t,” Dax sighed. “I know you trust Porter, but I know he’s wrong about this. It took too long to make arrangements for Vato to return to the states. Why? Someone is getting in the way. He only transferred Vato this morning. Again, why? Who keeps putting up roadblocks? Someone who knows Solo is headed in and they want to take Vato out before that happens.”

“Did you tell all of this to Nathan?” Paige asked, conflicted.

“I tried, but he said I’m just getting jumpy,” Dax grumbled. “Because of what has already happened. He’s sure the plan is going to work and Vato will be back here in no time.”

“What can we do?”

“Something you’re not going to like,” Dax warned.

“Tell me what you have planned,” Paige said, resigned.

“I don’t have a plan,” Dax started. “Not yet. It’s more of an idea that is still formulating. I need to go directly to the source. I need to corner Reynolds and force him to give me the answers I need.”

“Wow,” Paige said in shock. “I don’t even know where to start with that.”

“Just hear me out,” Dax requested. “There was good news today. Sean arrested a man named Duffy that Reynolds hired to kill Carman’s cop. He paid a couple of his buddies to help him. All three of them are in custody and they couldn’t throw Reynolds under the bus fast enough.”

“That is good news,” Paige smiled. “I knew once Nathan got Sean involved, he’d break the case. I’ve never met a better investigator than Sean Wilkens. Not that the locals weren’t devoted. But, Sean has access to systems and information they don’t have. Both as an FBI Agent and as part of Nathan’s committee. And, he tied the killers to Reynolds?”

“Yeah,” Dax nodded. “Follow the money. Sean had access to Reynolds financials. He found a payment of fifty thousand to this Duffy guy. Then, he tracked those funds and Duffy withdrew part of it the next day. Sean figured this Duffy guy paid off his buddies. Sounds like he was right.”

“Can they tie Reynolds in with the murder?”

“Sean said the FBI got involved, took over the case because of all the jurisdictions as well as Reynolds illegal shipping. He’s going down, soon.”

“Okay,” Paige was trying to tie everything together. “And, you want to use that?”

“I do,” Dax said soberly. “Now that Sean finished up the homicide case, he’s going to be working with the task force that is going after Reynolds. He said they’re moving fast. They want to swoop in, arrest him and seize everything. I need to get to him first.”

Paige’s mind was racing. If the feds were going after Reynolds anyway, maybe this would work. “I’ll need to talk to Sean, convince him to call me before he talks to Nathan. One thing that works in our favor, the feds love to plan. They’ll develop the plan, then take a day or two to hash it out, walk it through a few times, and get the proper approval. The bureaucratic red tape will cause an even longer delay.”

“Then, you’re in?” Dax asked in surprise. “I thought you’d argue with me on this.”

“I’m conflicted,” Paige admitted. “If Nathan says Vato is safe, I want to believe Vato is safe. But the money, the roadblocks... you also have a point. Let’s make sure.”

Dax smiled. “Sounds like you want to accompany me. I have to warn you, I plan to break into his house and... compel him to talk. You probably shouldn’t be there.”

“We’ll see,” Paige shrugged. “I’m in the middle of a murder investigation of my own. I might not be available to go with you, but I’d like to help you come up with a plan. I know you well enough by now to know, the guys will be there. Even if they’re on the outside, they’ll have our back. Let’s hash this out tonight and we can decide who goes when the time comes.”

Dax just stared at Paige for several seconds.

“What?”

“You... well, after last time I just thought...”

“I’ve been enlightened,” Paige shrugged. “I can’t do everything, and I trust you. I guess having you head out to rescue Zeus without me, helped to give me perspective. Now, can we talk about something else?”

“Sure,” Dax sobered at her tone.

“This case is going to bring in the national media,” Paige said cautiously.

“What you really mean is this case will bring Piper back into our lives,” Dax corrected. “I realized that as soon as I saw the news. Don’t worry about Piper. She won’t get in your way.”

“I’m more worried about her getting in your way,” Paige said honestly. “Especially with all of this going on. Nothing you guys are doing on that committee can raise the attention of a reporter like Piper.”

“We’ll be careful,” Dax promised. “Did you eat?”

“That was quite a subject change,” Paige grinned.

“You’ve had a long day,” Dax shrugged. “We can talk about business tomorrow. Right now I want to take care of my girl.”

“I ate, but I am beat,” Paige stood and held out a hand. “Let’s follow up tomorrow. I need sleep.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Two days later, Paige was still scouring through financial data. Her eyes hurt, and the numbers were starting to blur together. She needed a break. “Anyone want lunch? My treat.”

Jericho materialized in his doorway. “If you’re willing to pick up, I’ll buy. Go to Dirk’s. Margie, call in an order ahead of time. We could all use a break. I’m also going to call Tolman and ask if Stan can take some of these and work on them from his desk.

Less than twenty minutes later Paige returned with an armload of food. When she stepped into the office, she realized it was empty. Where did everyone go? “That’s okay,” she called out. “I got it. I don’t need any help.”

Gage stepped from the conference room, then rushed over and took the large box Paige was carrying. He turned and disappeared into the conference room again.

“I thought you were allergic to spreadsheets,” Paige said the moment she stepped into the doorway.

“I am,” Gage said as he took the last lunch container out of the box. “But Dirk’s ribs are like an antihistamine. Once I dump some of this amazing sauce into the mix, I’m good.”

“That’s good to hear,” Jericho snagged a large stack of papers. “It means you can help.” He dropped the stack in front of Gage. “We’ve got a long night ahead of us. There’s something in here, we just need to find it.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Hawk moved to the door and swung it open. He forced his face to remain neutral when he spotted Piper Weber standing on the front porch.

“Oh,” she said in surprise. “I was looking for...”

“Yes?” Hawk motioned for her to continue. “Please, finish that sentence.”

“What are you doing here?’ Piper demanded. This was a complication she didn’t need.

“Funny,” Thor said in the background. “I was about to ask you the same question.”

“I’ll come back,” Piper turned to leave.

“And, we’ll still be here,” Zeus said from behind her. “Might as well take care of this once and for all. Go on in, have a seat.”

Piper wasn’t scared of these guys, not really. She hesitated, weighing her options. Might as well get this over with now. They were clearly here to erect a barrier between her and Dax. She’d let them think they succeeded. “Fine,” she pushed past Hawk and settled onto one of the living room chairs. “What do you want?”

“You know what we want,” Thor gave her his most menacing stare. “I explained it to you a few years back, in that deserted alley. I was under the impression you got the message. Apparently, I was mistaken.”

“I got the message,” Piper flipped her hair behind her shoulder in an attempt to appear unfazed. “I just chose to ignore it.”

“You always did like to do things the hard way,” Zeus settled into one of the other chairs. “But, you see, it wasn’t an empty threat. And now, with the bump in your career, you have more to lose.”

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s actually a promise,” Hawk settled onto the couch. “The warning is the same. Unfortunately for you, I’m sure we could find the right reporter to share our story with. With everyone gathered here to report on Martin Wolfe’s death, we have plenty to choose from.”

“I like Trinity Snow,” Jeeves put in. “She’s friendlier than the others.”

“You are seriously threatening me with Trinity?” Piper brushed that off as ridiculous. “I’d smash her to pieces without even trying.”

“You could try,” Zeus handed Hawk the file Carmen had compiled. She’d been able to get even more dirt on America’s not so sweet, sweetheart.

“What is that?” Piper asked, a little worried.

“Evidence,” Hawk flipped open the file. “You see, we did our homework. It’s what we do.” He passed her a photo and waited for her to respond.

“So, I go to the bank,” Piper tried to hand it back to Hawk.

“You go ahead and keep that,” Hawk smiled. “It’s a copy.”

“What would I want that for?”

“Because it’s a photo of you at the bank, cleaning out Dax Hamilton’s bank account just before you left town, in his car,” Hawk provided.

“You could never prove that,” Piper was starting to get worried.

“This here,” Hawk picked up another sheet of paper. “It’s a sworn affidavit from the bank manager verifying the transaction. This one, it’s the bank teller testifying to the same thing.”

“Who cares?” Piper’s voice had gone up an octave. Clearly, she cared.

“I think America might,” Hawk said casually. “I mean, you’ve deemed yourself America’s Sweetheart. I wonder how they would feel if they knew while Dax was off fighting for his country, risking his life to protect all of us back here in the states, you were stealing his car and all his money. Dax is a national hero, and you wiped him out. I think a good number of your fans just might take exception to that.”

“And, I think Trinity just might gain the upper hand if she had all of that...” Jeeves pointed to the file. “People seem to love video these days, pictures, bank statements, affidavits, and well...us.”

“Yeah,” Zeus leaned back. “I know I’m willing to sit down with a pretty little up-and-coming reporter and share what I know, how about you guys?”

“Stop it,” Piper jumped to her feet. “I get it. You want me to leave Dax alone. I’ll do that. But first, I need to speak to him. I need to warn him.”

“About?” Hawk said, unconvinced.

“His neighbor,” Piper said in resignation. She wasn’t going to get to Dax unless she could satisfy his men. “She’s a fraud. It’s the reason I’m here. Everyone else is reporting on the death of Martin Wolfe. I’m doing a story on the cop investigating Martin Wolfe. Did you guys know she messed up a case so severely a murderer went free? It’s the reason she left the FBI. She was about to get fired. She acted so quickly, left Washington and fled out here so fast the local Sheriff didn’t have the information when he decided to hire her. A few weeks later and she’d be unemployed right now. There are rumors she took a bribe, let the killer go on purpose. Paige Carter is a dirty cop and Dax needs to know what a fraud she is.”

The men all exchanged glances, what in the world was this woman up to?

“I’d be careful if I were you,” Dax said from the kitchen doorway. Everyone looked at him in surprise. When had he come in? “Paige isn’t dirty, but I’d bet the farm the person who told you that lie is not only dirty, but he’ll be in a cage soon.”

“Dax,” Piper stood. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I just thought you should know. I hope you haven’t gotten involved with that woman.”

“Why Paige?” Ken asked the group. “I mean, of all of us she’s the lowest threat at the moment.”

Hawk shot him a warning glare.

“What does that mean?” Piper demanded.

“It means,” Dax made his way across the room and settled into his lounge chair. He hated the fact he still had a slight limp. “You’re playing a dangerous game with some very dangerous people. And, if you air that crap they peddled, you just might go down with them.”

“What happened to you?”

“I fell,” Dax said in dismissal.

“From what?” Piper said, clearly not believing the explanation. “The roof?”

“Close,” Dax just stared at her for several seconds. “But I can see you won’t let this go. Who is your source, Piper?”

“You know I’d never tell you that.”

“And, so does he,” Hawk realized.

“Doesn’t matter,” Dax shrugged. “Consider yourself warned.”

“I won’t back off a story just to save your girlfriend,” Piper was annoyed. Just by his reaction, she realized Dax was involved with the cop. What could he possibly see in Paige Carter? How was it possible he would choose a local cop over her?

“Let me explain how this is going to go down,” Dax informed her. “You, being the stubborn, illogical woman that you are, can run that story. You can go on air and claim that Paige is dirty, that she let a killer go free. Then, the FBI will come out and tell the world the story is incorrect. This will prompt you to dig deeper where you will ultimately learn that your source was using you and the entire thing was a fabrication. By this time, you will be so deep in your story that you will have to dig in your heels, convince the network there is a story there and you’ll push yourself further out on a limb. That’s when I’ll step in. I won’t take this to Trinity Snow. I’ll go to Monica Lake.”

“You hate me that much?” Piper asked softly. Dax knew the history between her and Monica. Her biggest nemesis would jump on the story without hesitation.

“I don’t hate you,” Dax disagreed. “I love Paige. I’ll do whatever it takes to set the record straight. I won’t let you or your anonymous source harm her in any way. And, the evidence these guys have on what you did to me, we’ll use that... in the beginning. Then, I’ll turn over everything I have regarding Frank Thomas.”

“I told you that in confidence,” Piper glared at Dax. He had her, if anyone knew about Frank, her career would be over.

Dax shrugged. “Go after Paige and everything’s on the table. But, if I were you, I’d start by looking into your source. You just might find the entire thing was fabricated to get Paige out of the way.”

“Why?” Piper asked. “Why would someone want to make up a story like that about a former FBI agent that is now a local cop in a small town?”

“I can’t answer that,” Dax answered.

“You won’t answer that,” Piper corrected.

Dax remained silent, so did the rest of the men.

“Is there anyone I can talk to,” Piper asked. “To verify your story that this was all made up?”

“Sure,” Dax smiled. “Start with General Nathan Porter, retired.”

“Wasn’t that her mentor?” Piper asked. “Surely, he’ll defend and block the instant he knows.”

Hawk laughed. “He’s going to know the instant you leave this house. Be aggressive, Piper. Don’t take no for an answer. You’re a reporter... find the real story.”

Piper turned and walked to the front door. “I have a feeling all of you are setting me up. If I’m right, don’t think a little bad publicity is going to stop me from bringing that woman down. And, the rest of you along with her.”

“Ironic,” Dax contemplated. “That’s exactly the warning I have for you. Run the story, do the bidding of a criminal that is also a traitor to his country, and you just might find your own name and reputation smeared in the process. That’s not a threat, it’s a promise.”

“If Nathan Porter gets involved, you’ll be lucky to escape jail,” Hawk added.

“The truth will come out,” Piper promised before she flung open the door. “And, I’m the one that’s going to find it.”

The group waited several minutes before anyone spoke.

“I’d still like to know, why Paige?” Ken asked. “She’s knee-deep in Wolfe’s murder. She’s not a threat. Why go after her now?”

“Paige is always a threat,” Dax said thoughtfully. “She doesn’t think like we do. At first, I thought Reynolds was behind this. But now, I think it’s his partner. Another military man that doesn’t understand Paige, the way she thinks, or what her next move will be. He can’t outsmart her, can’t get ahead of her analytical mind. He’s a military man. Sean pegged that one. And, he needs Paige out of the way. The Martin Wolfe murder has her busy, but not out. I still run things by her at night. This story, it would redirect her attention, keep her busy while they make their next move. And, he miscalculated. He thought feeding it to Piper would create a wedge between me and Paige.”

“Vato?” Hawk asked.

“I think so,” Dax sighed. “We need to finalize the plan. I get the feeling the feds are moving in and the partner may know that. We need Intel. Ken were you able to get the blueprints to all of the Reynolds properties?”

“Yeah,” Ken punched some buttons on his tablet and handed it over to Dax. “I think that is the most likely target. It’s a mountain cabin... resort really. He goes there when he gets stressed.”

“Where is it?” Zeus moved in to get a better look.

“Arizona,” Ken said in answer. “It’s near Humphreys Peak just outside of Flagstaff.”

“Makes sense,” Zeus decided. “With his business out there, he’d need a place to relax nearby.”

“Get that to Sean,” Dax told Ken.

“But...” Jeeves frowned.

“Sean is working with us on this,” Dax assured them. “He’s part of the task force created to bring Reynolds in but we’re on the same team. He’s the one that told me they’re looking for him. They already served a warrant on Reynolds apartment in Washington. That’s what I came over to tell you when I spotted Piper. Cole Reynolds is now a wanted man on the run. I think you’re right — if he’s not at that cabin, he’s on his way there. We need the feds to bring him in. I just want to have a little chat with the guy before they do.”

“Will Sean give us enough warning?” Hawk didn’t like sharing Intel with the feds. They never played well with others.

“He will,” Dax assured them. “They’ll need to get approval and another warrant for the cabin. It’s going to take time. Enough time that we can head out and beat them there. I’ll go in, get what we need and make sure he’s detained. That will give Sean time to find me and take custody of the prisoner while we move on to deal with whatever I get from Reynolds.”

“That means bringing Porter in on the plan,” Hawk mumbled. “What if he shuts us down?”

“Porter is already in on the plan,” Dax informed them. “He’s on board, as long as we get the timing right. He won’t shut it down. He thinks it’s overkill and unnecessary, but he’ll have our back.”

“Then let’s get started,” Hawk pulled out a map and spread it on the coffee table in front of them. “We have a mission to plan.”

\*\*\*\*\*

 “I think I have something,” Paige sat back to consider.

“What?” Jericho straightened in his chair.

“Ryenne Wolfe religiously went to The Spa at Zermatt every week,” Paige began. “I’ve gone back an entire year, and she had an expensive spa treatment every single Wednesday.”

“Why is that significant?” Margie asked.

“Because three weeks ago, they stopped. No more charges and she doesn’t have a charge at a different resort,” Paige considered. “I don’t know what it means, but I think someone should check it out.”

“Where is it?” Jericho asked.

“Looks like somewhere in Midway,” Paige flipped through her file and settled on another document. “And, I believe she took the company chopper. Fuel receipts show a regular trip on each Wednesday. Midway’s what? A two-hour drive. So, she talked husband dearest into loaning her the helicopter.”

“From the picture we’re getting,” Gage put in. “He would have let her use it. He probably reimbursed the company out of his own funds. Or, he would have if his accountant suggested it.”

Paige flipped through more pages. “He did,” she smiled at Gage. “Good catch. Looks like he wrote a check to his own company each quarter just before the accountant submitted the company taxes.”

“I’ll send Havilland,” Jericho decided. “Dean’s busy, but Duncan will get there nearly as quickly, and he’ll get the answers we need. Won’t be as fast as chopper ride, but I doubt it’s going to take two hours.”

“You didn’t want to go?” Gage whispered so only Paige could hear.

“No,” Paige gave him a subtle shake of her head. “There’s something I need to do. In fact, I need an hour or so. Can you let Jericho know I’ll be back?”

“Okay,” Gage frowned. “Anything you need help with?”

“No,” Paige stood and pulled out her phone. “But, Nathan’s been calling for the last forty minutes. I need to find out why.”

“Go,” Gage motioned to the door. “I’ll handle things here. It could be important.”

“Where’s she going?” Jericho asked as soon as he disconnected the call.

“Something urgent from Porter,” Gage informed him. “She said she needs an hour.”

Jericho just nodded and got back to work. He was pretty sure he’d discovered a pattern in Martin’s spending as well.

\*\*\*\*\*

The instant Paige stepped into the house, she knew something was up. All the men were gathered in Dax’s living room, engaged in serious conversation. The conversation stopped abruptly, and the room went eerily silent the moment they saw her. “Porter called.”

“Did he fill you in?” Dax wondered.

“Apparently, not completely.”

Dax took a minute to explain the situation to Paige as well as the plan. The window was short, so they’d have to head out tonight. The Feds were gearing up for a hit the following evening. “I have to go tonight,” Dax explained. “We need time to get to the target and scout it before the feds swam in and force us to leave.”

“I understand,” Paige studied Dax. “What did you leave out? There’s something you’re not telling me.”

Dax sighed, then filled her in on the visit from Piper.

Paige glanced at Hawk then back to Dax. “Reynolds? Was he trying to keep me occupied while they went after Vato? That doesn’t make sense, I’m already occupied.”

“I don’t think it was Reynolds. I think Cole is on the run and not communicating with anyone,” Dax disagreed. “I think it’s his partner. Sean is sure the guy is in the military and that makes sense to me. He has to have rank and probably works out of the Pentagon. He’s blocking Nathan’s attempts to remove Vato, and he’s put something in motion, or he will soon. He needs to take Vato out and he needs you out of the way to do it. Or, Porter, or both.”

“If you were in trouble,” Zeus provided. “Nathan would be distracted. He’d focus on saving your reputation. If they were quick and careful, they might slip a plan through that would eliminate Vato for good.”

“And,” Paige said in understanding. “He used Piper Weber to create a wedge between you and me.” She was watching Dax.

“I think so,” Dax agreed. “He can’t read you, doesn’t understand the way you think. He needs you completely out of the picture for this to work. I’m not sure why, but there has to be a reason. The timing isn’t coincidental.”

“Let me think on it,” Paige decided. “I don’t know why either, but you’re right... there has to be a reason. Now, I have an hour, what do you need before you go?”

Dax ran the plan through for her, twice. Paige stopped him several times to offer suggestions and to give insight into the FBI. By the time the hour was up, the group had a better understanding of how the feds would run their op, how long of a delay they could expect before the Calvary rushed in with the warrant, and a perfect way to get a signal to Sean. He would need to know where in the house Dax had cornered their intended target. It was going to be Nathan that relayed that Intel. Once the task force entered the residence, Sean would hook up with Dax, relieve him of their prisoner and notify the team he had apprehend Cole Reynolds.

“Alright,” Paige stood. “I need to get back. I’m sure you guys will take off before I get home, so just be careful.”

“I’ll call you once we arrive,” Dax promised. “Now, I’ll walk you out.”

Once they were on the porch, Dax pulled Paige into his arms. “Are you really okay with the plan?”

“I am,” Paige wrapped her arms around his neck. “On one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“I want you to make that man pay dearly for his actions,” Paige locked eyes with Dax. “I want you to scare him. I want you to terrify and intimidate that man so severely, he wets his pants. And, if you can justify it to Nathan, throat punch that traitorous SOB at least one time for me.”

“And here I thought you were going to tell me to restrain myself,” Dax laughed. “I was sure I was going to get the lecture on process and letting the legal system work. How I shouldn’t let my emotions get the better of me. Instead, I got a She-Devil out for revenge. I’m not exactly sure how to take that.”

“Then just do as I ask and we’ll both be happy,” she leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss. “I have to get back to work. We’re making progress and I can’t leave my team hanging much longer.”

“You know who did it?”

“I know the wife was involved, but I think maybe she had help from the mistress,” Paige confided. “I can’t prove it yet, but the description matches. The girlfriend was the one that delivered the poison.”

“Why would they work together?” Dax couldn’t follow her logic this time. “Wouldn’t they hate each other?”

“Probably,” Paige shrugged. “Which is why I think they will roll on each other the instant I have enough to arrest them both. But, the why of it? I still haven’t figured that out yet.”

“You will,” Dax assured her. He pulled her in for a longer, deeper kiss. “I have faith in you. Don’t worry about us, we’ve got this.”

“I’m still baffled by the fake report they gave Piper. The only reason she ran with it was because she hates me. From before. And, because you turned her down for me.”

“I did,” Dax ran a hand down her hair. “And, I’d do it all again. Piper is a sore loser, and that’s probably part of it. She also wants to get back at me for rejecting her. And, she’s always chasing that next great story. The one that will put her in the big league. I’m sure this sounded great professionally and it gave her a chance to get back at both of us on a personal level. Don’t worry about Piper. The instant she contacts Porter, he’ll shut it down. I have no doubt, every door she knocks on will be locked up airtight. Go catch a killer and forget Piper Weber. Because that’s exactly what I plan to do.”

“Be careful,” Paige took a step back. “I love you. See you when you get back.”

“Paige?” Dax said softly. He waited until she stopped and turned back to face him. “I love you, too.”

Paige was still smiling as she pulled out of her driveway and headed back to the office. When she pulled into the lot, she took a minute to refocus on the case. She couldn’t think about Dax or his mission. She couldn’t think of the risk to Dax, his team or Sean. She had work to do. She had a killer to catch... or, two. It took longer than it should have, but she was finally back on track by the time she stepped into the conference room.

“Trouble?” Jericho asked.

“I hope not,” Paige settled back into her chair. “I’ll fill you in later. I think the worst of it has been diverted but just in case, I’ll speak with you in private, later.”

“Fair enough,” Jericho pushed several sheets over to Paige. “I’ve been working on Martin’s expenditures. I discovered a pattern. I believe he was meeting with his girlfriend nearly every other week on Thursday afternoon.”

“Only every other week?” Paige asked skimming through the documents. “I expected it to be more.”

Jericho started to respond but stopped to answer his ringing phone. “Walters.”

“Hey, boss,” Havilland said in greeting. “I think I have something for you.”

“Let me put you on speaker,” Jericho punched the button then set his phone on the table. “Go ahead.”

“I got lucky,” Havilland explained. “I made it just in time to catch the manager before she left for the day.”

“You’re already in Midway?” Paige asked in surprise.

“Was I supposed to go to Midway?” Havilland said sarcastically.

“What did you find,” Jericho said impatiently.

“Right,” Duncan cleared his throat. “Wendy, that’s the manager, said there was an incident. Ryenne was a regular, but she wanted special treatment and that upset the other guests.”

“What kind of special treatment?” Paige asked.

“That’s the interesting part,” Duncan continued. “Ryenne insisted on having private time in the sauna. She locked the door and wouldn’t let anyone else in, except one Skyller Franks. Ryenne ordered two other women out of the area when they tried to join the duo for a steam session. Ryenne became indignant, said the two of them needed to talk business in private and the women would have to come back later. Well, one of the women was an Eccles. She complained to Wendy, who in turn spoke to Ryenne Wolfe. Ryenne tried to play that ‘do you know who I am’ bit, but Wendy wouldn’t budge. She was more worried about losing the other customers. Ryenne and Ms. Franks left together, both of them visibly angry, and neither one has returned.”

“As in Rice-Eccles Stadium, Eccles?” Jericho asked.

“Yep,” Havilland smiled. “Looks like Ryenne Wolfe took on the wrong woman. I think the other lady was related to John Huntsman somehow. Anyway, the spa didn’t want to lose two of their best customers to accommodate Ryenne Wolfe.”

“Did they know anything about this Skyller Franks?” Paige asked. She glanced at Margie, who had retrieved her laptop and was frantically typing on the keyboard.

“No,” Havilland sighed. “Not really. I have the manager scanning through video to see if they still have an image of the woman. She is a blonde, and she’s the right height and build. Wendy thought she was about five-eight, maybe one fifty.”

Paige smiled. “There’s our link.”

“But why would the two of them hook up?” Gage still didn’t understand that part. “They should hate each other. They were both after the same man.”

“No idea,” Duncan said, also perplexed. “Wendy’s waving at me. Maybe she found something. I’ll let you know if I get anything else.”

“Thanks, Duncan,” Jericho answered. “Good work and drive safe on the way back. There’s no reason to rush the return trip.”

“Killjoy,” Duncan said before disconnecting.

“I think I found something,” Margie said once Jericho hung up. “Skyllar Franks has a Utah driver’s license.”

“You got a photo?” Paige moved to stand behind Margie. “Bingo, blonde hair, five-eight, one-fifty and not a hair out of place.”

“Where does she live?” Jericho asked as he studied the photo Margie had put on the big screen.

“Looks like,” Margie scrolled further down the screen. “Park City.”

“See what you can find on Ms. Franks,” Jericho ordered. “Look in court records as well. I doubt someone that polished will have a criminal record, but she may have been sued, or maybe she’s divorced.”

“I’m going to check social media,” Paige decided. “People put everything on there these days. We might hit the jackpot.” Paige left the conference room to retrieve her own laptop. Once she returned, it only took a few minutes to locate Skyllar Franks on Facebook. “I think I found her.”

“Anything useful?” Gage asked, moving closer so he could see the screen.

Paige smiled. “I’d say that’s pretty useful.”

“What did you find?” Jericho demanded.

“A tattoo,” Gage settled back, grinning. “A very colorful tattoo. One that has a large heart in the center and blue, purple and green wings, right where Shannon said it was.”

“I want to bring her in,” Paige focused on Jericho. “Can we convince Tolman we have enough to bring her in for an interrogation?”

“We don’t need his approval,” Jericho decided. “Pick her up. Once you get a confession, we can book her and let James do the rest.”

“That means a trip to Park City,” Paige warned.

“I’ll call Havilland and divert him,” Jericho decided. “He’s right there and he can enlist the help of the locals to bring her in.” He stood and left the room. “Paige,” he called over his shoulder. “Be in my office in five.”

Paige glanced around the table, not sure what to say.

“We know you can’t talk about it,” Gage finally said. “Just let us know if you need any help.”

“It’s fine,” she assured them. “Just another mission involving Nathan the band of militants. Dax and the guys already left town.”

“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Margie assured her. Any mission Dax went on these days tended to be dangerous.

“I need to talk to Jericho,” Paige stood and escaped. She stepped into her boss’s office and settled into one of his chairs.

Jericho disconnected and focused on Paige. “Duncan’s on his way to the residence. He’ll notify me when he has Skyllar Franks in custody.”

“Will he bring her back here?”

“Yes,” Jericho settled into his chair. “Now, what are the general and his merry men up to this time?”

“I can’t discuss their mission, not until it’s over,” Paige evaded. “But, that’s not what I needed to talk to you about.” She proceeded to explain the situation with Piper Weber and her threat to go public.

“They must really want you out of the picture,” Jericho decided. “The entire story is a blatant lie. At least with me, they spun the truth into a lie. With you, they fabricated the entire story. How did they think they’d get away with that?”

“I don’t know,” Paige said in frustration. “I’m not really concerned with that. The only question I’ve been asking myself is why? I’ve been busy with this Martin Wolfe thing. Why now?”

“That is one question,” Jericho shifted. “But I think the more pressing question is what will Piper Weber do now?”

“She’s unpredictable, for sure,” Paige agreed. “I have no idea. She’s already called Nathan. That’s the reason he was trying to reach me. He thought I already knew about the mission that took Dax and the rest out of town. He wanted to talk to me about this nonsense with Piper. He’s already started erecting barriers. I doubt there is anyone in Washington that will even take a meeting with her. But, what if he’s playing right into their hands? What if they want him distracted while they carry out some nefarious scheme? I don’t want to be the reason General Porter is distracted.”

Jericho laughed. “There’s nothing you can do about that, Paige. Nathan sees you as a sort of adopted daughter. He’s going to do everything in his power to protect you. But, that doesn’t mean he’s dropping the ball on this Op the boys went on. General Porter is capable of handling more than one crisis at a time. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be in the position he’s in right now. And, he wouldn’t have the power or the respect he is afforded by everyone around him... including the President of the United States. Have a little faith. Everything is going to be fine.”

“I guess I’ve done all I can do,” Paige decided. “If Piper Weber corners you, at least you’ll be prepared. Other than that, it’s out of my control.”

“It’s going to take Havilland at least a couple hours to get back,” Jericho decided. “Go home for the evening. We can wait to interview Ms. Franks until morning. In fact, I think I’ll call Duncan and tell him to watch our suspect this evening but wait until morning to apprehend her. We’ll plan for a nine o’clock interview. I’ll tag you if anything changes.”

“See you in the morning,” Paige slowly left the office and headed home.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was tired and grumpy. She was also worried about Dax. So many things could go wrong on this mission. And she knew, if he didn’t get out in time, the Feds would pick him up and ask questions later. Nathan would eventually get him out of trouble with the Bureau but that would take time. Time, they didn’t have because Vato was in trouble. She stepped into the office and spotted Duncan Havilland. “You get her?”

“Yeah,” Duncan stood. “She’s in the interrogation room. Good luck with that one. She’s a real piece of work. And, I’m starting to think she could be a black widow.”

“Black widow or preying mantis?” Paige asked.

“Yours is better,” Havi decided. “She would definitely eat her lover if she could.”

“Sounds like she made quite the impression,” Paige dropped her bag onto the desk. “Have you talked to Jericho?”

“He should be here any minute,” Havi said. “He wants you to wait. Apparently, the two of you will be double-timing the fair Miss Franks.”

Paige frowned. It wasn’t that she objected to Jericho’s participation. She respected the man and his methods. It was just this case, his constant involvement was making her feel like he thought she was incompetent. That thought made her foul mood even worse.

“Stop scowling,” Jericho said in greeting. “It’s not about you. Let’s get this over with.”

Paige followed her boss into the interrogation room and got her first look at Miss Skyller Franks. She waited several seconds to see if Jericho was going to start the interview. When he didn’t, she took the lead. “This interview will be recorded.” Paige moved to the wall and started the camera. She rattled off the date, the case number and identified the participants for the record. “Miss Franks,” Paige focused on the woman who now looked bored. Maybe she had done this before. “It is my understanding that you were read your Miranda Rights prior to being transported. I’d like to remind you of those rights for the record.” Paige read the Miranda Warning verbatim. “Do you understand these rights and obligations?”

“Sure,” Skyller shrugged.

“And are you willing to speak to us today without an attorney present?”

“I’ll let you know,” Skyller brushed at her nails.

“I need to know now,” Paige pressed.

“I’ll talk to you now,” Skyller sighed. “I’ll let you know later if I change my mind.”

“Great,” Paige settled back against the chair. “Can you tell me how you first met Ryenne Wolfe?”

“Who?’ Skyller pretended she didn’t recognize the name.

Paige pulled out a photo Havilland had obtained. It was a still shot of Ryenne Wolfe and Skyller leaving the spa. She set it on the table and pointed at Ryenne. “This woman, Ryenne Wolfe.”

“Oh,” Skyller shrugged. “That day, at the spa. We were in the sauna together. Nice lady.”

Paige smiled. “It seems you’re the only one that thinks so.”

Skyllar just glared but didn’t take the bait.

Paige pulled out a picture of Martin Wolfe. “And how do you know this man?”

Skyller glanced at the photo and smirked. “I don’t believe I’ve ever met him.”

Paige pulled out another photo and glanced at Jericho.

“I got that from hotel security,” Jericho advised. “Looks like you’ve met to me.”

“Oh,” Skyller shrugged. “I think that was the nice man I met in the elevator.”

Paige set out another photo and another and another. Jericho had obtained photos of Martin and Skyller each Thursday when they hooked up in the expensive hotel. “Seems the two of you ride down in the elevator frequently.”

“What’s your point?” Skyller asked.

“I’m glad you asked,” Paige gathered up the photos. “I’m just wondering how Martin Wolfe’s mistress maneuvered her way into his annual party. A party thrown by his wife at his home here in Manti.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Skyller challenged. They couldn’t know she was at the party. She had covered her tracks well.

“I have several witnesses that put you in the room, at that party when Martin Wolfe died,” Paige informed her. “Maybe you want a minute to revise that last statement.”

Skyller sat silently trying to come up with an answer. There was no way anyone remembered her. “I think I want that lawyer.”

“Good,” Paige stood. “I was actually hoping you would refuse to discuss this. You see, we have plenty of evidence. We know you killed Martin Wolfe. And, well the District Attorney was at the party. In fact, he was standing right there, next to Martin, when he died. He’s anxious to try this case. We know you and Martin were having an affair, we know you were there that night, and once we book you for pre-meditated murder, we’ll have your fingerprints. We’ll be able to match them to the ones on that tray you handed the caterer after you poisoned the champagne. Yes, we also have the champagne. We have several witnesses that remember you. You know, you really shouldn’t get such a distinctive tattoo if you plan to murder your lover. It’s a dead giveaway. Now, stand up and put your hands behind your back. You are under arrest for the murder of Martin Wolfe.”

“Wait,” Skyller held up a hand. “Okay, I’ll cooperate. I didn’t want to participate. I didn’t want anything to do with this. It was all Ryenne’s idea. She made me do it. She’s a powerful woman. She threatened me. Said she would hire someone to come after me if I didn’t do what she wanted. I was terrified. I feared for my life. She said the poison wouldn’t kill him, it would just make him sick. I had no idea she planned to kill him. And, she used me to do it.”

Jericho stood and silently walked to the door. “I need a minute, Paige would you join me in the hallway?”

The two of them left the room and moved to Jericho’s office. “There’s something off about that woman. She’s calculating and prepared.”

“Havi said something when I got here this morning,” Paige considered. “He called her a black widow. Do you think she’s done this before? Killed a lover or a husband?”

“Call in Heidi,” Jericho decided. “Get her prints so Margie can run them. I want to know everything there is to know about Skyller Franks before we continue this interview.”

It was an hour later when Jericho and Paige stepped back into the room.

“Did you verify my story?” Skyller asked. “Did you arrest Ryenne Wolfe for killing her husband?”

“Ryenne didn’t kill her husband,” Paige settled back in the chair. “You did.”

“But I told you...”

“Yes,” Jericho also settled into his chair. “Before we get into that, I’d like to talk to you about Duke Winters.”

“Why do you want to talk about Duke?” Skyller asked. How had these small town cops discovered her marriage to Duke?

“The death was deemed mysterious by the coroner,” Jericho continued. “The local cops believe you were responsible.”

“They never proved I had anything to do with that,” Skyller practically screamed. She realized her mistake immediately. “Because I was innocent. They were trying to frame me for something I didn’t do. Duke died of natural causes. He had a heart attack.”

“Funny,” Paige tapped her pen on her notepad. “That’s exactly what Mrs. Wolfe said about her husband. Maybe she got confused. You know, maybe she was thinking about Duke rather than Martin.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Skyller protested. “Duke’s death has nothing to do with Martin. Ryenne killed that poor man. I know, I put the poison in his drink but his wife is the one that bought it. She’s the one that told me how much to use. She said it wouldn’t cause any permanent damage. We were just trying to teach him a lesson, for betraying both of us that way. I was shocked when I learned Martin was married. He claimed he was divorced and lonely.”

“How did you happen to be in Italy back in November, when the two of you met?” Paige asked. Once they knew who the woman was, they had obtained a warrant for her financials. Tolman had to do some fancy talking, but he’d come through for them. Paige had discovered that Skyller Franks was running out of money. She’d flown to Italy, checked into the same hotel Wolfe always used and the bellhop had confirmed the “sexy blonde” spent hours waiting in the lobby, hoping to meet the elusive tech giant. It would be interesting to see just how she tried to spin this one.

“I was shopping,” Skyller lied. “I went to Milan to shop and ran into Martin in the lobby of the hotel. We hit it off immediately and decided to share dinner. Our relationship took off from there. Imagine my surprise when I learned we lived so close to each other. I reside in Park City, as you well know. And, Martin spends a lot of his time in Salt Lake. We developed a relationship over time and started to meet at that hotel on occasion.”

“We seized your computer,” Paige advised her. “I have a forensic specialist going through it as we speak. I wonder if you realize you can delete your history, but it’s never really deleted.” Paige was confident Carmen would find anything there was to find.

“You had no right to go through my things,” Skyller slammed her hand down on the table.

“Sheriff,” Paige asked casually. “Did we have a right to go through Miss Frank’s things?’

“I believe we did,” Jericho said calmly. “It’s a little thing called a warrant. Maybe you want to start over. And, this time tell us the truth. We know you were tracking Martin, basically stalking him for months before the two of you met. We know, based on your financials which we also had a warrant to obtain that you have nearly run through the money you inherited after the death of Duke Winters. We know you researched Martin, knew he was traveling to Italy, and you did your homework well enough to discover the hotel he always stays in. You flew to Italy, tried to get a room close to Mr. Wolfe and when that didn’t come through, you spent hours loitering in the lobby, waiting for the right time to pounce. You orchestrated the meeting, seduced a married and lonely man and maneuvered your way into his life. Let me know if I’m missing anything here.”

“All of that might be true,” Skyller said cautiously. “But it doesn’t change the fact that Ryenne Wolfe is the one that murdered the man I loved.”

“I’m curious,” Paige added. “How did you plan to get the money? With Martin dead, it all goes to Ryenne. She walks away from this a wealthy widow. You... well, you rot in a cell for a few decades.”

“Ryenne Wolfe killed Martin,” Skyller screamed. “She was afraid he was going to leave her for me. So, she killed him.”

“There’s just one problem with that story,” Paige sighed. “You killed Martin Wolfe.”

“Just because that stupid waitress said it was me, doesn’t mean anything. I’m sure Ryenne put her up to it. Ryenne is framing me so she can get away with murder.”

“What waitress?” Paige looked at Jericho. “I didn’t say anything about a waitress.”

“I’m not stupid,” Skyller pouted.

“That remains to be seen,” Paige stood when there was a knock on the door. Once she opened it, she stepped outside.

“Carmen called,” Margie told her. “She said there were recordings on the laptop. Skyller tried to hide them and used some cheap encryption software she probably downloaded from the internet. I would never be able to quote your friend and her colorful assessment of the program. The bottom line is she got through it. She emailed you the most pressing file.”

Paige rushed to her desk and pulled up the email. It took less than a minute to realize this was a smoking gun. And, they had the evidence they needed to arrest the callous duo for murder. She exited out of the file and returned to the room.

Jericho looked at her in question but Paige just moved around the desk. “Skyller Franks, stand up. You are under arrest for the murder of Martin Wolfe.”

“What? I thought...”

“Yeah,” Paige grabbed her arm and made her stand. It only took a few seconds to cuff her. “You thought you’d get away with murder. I’m sure it was a real kick to your ego when Martin informed you he would never leave his wife. He made her a promise, made her father a promise and Wolfe, he always kept his word.”

“How did you know?” Skyller asked in shock.

“I told you,” Paige gave her a little shove. “Delete never really means delete.”

“But they were encrypted.”

“Keep talking,” Paige shrugged. “You’re digging the hole deeper by the second.” Paige transported their prisoner to the county jail while Margie filled Jericho in on the details. The instant Paige returned to the office, their prisoner locked up tight for the time being, Jericho was pacing in front of her desk.

“It’s about time,” he growled. “Let’s go get a snake off a plane.”

“Wow,” Paige laughed. “Don’t look now but Jericho Walters made a joke.”

Both of them enjoyed arresting Ryenne Wolfe. She too thought she had gotten away with murder. Unfortunately, she picked the wrong partner in crime. She wasn’t as easy to manipulate as Skyller. The instant they loaded her into the back of the car, she demanded her attorney. Didn’t matter, they had the entire planning session on tape. Skyller had sunk them both. In her attempt to gain evidence she could use to blackmail her partner, to ensure the grieving widow transferred the ten million dollars they had agreed to after the murder, Skyller had gathered indisputable evidence that could and would be used against them both in a court of law. There wasn’t a lawyer in the country that could prevent it.

“I’m going to lock up the evidence and head home,” Paige decided. “I’ll come in early and put the case together for Tolman.”

“He already has the basics,” Jericho told her. “Don’t come in early, it can wait. Good job, by the way. Another job well done. Guess I wasn’t snookered into hiring you after all.”

“Sure you were,” Paige grabbed her stuff and started for the door. “But it wasn’t because I let a killer walk. Of all the absurd accusations they could have made. It wasn’t because I was fired, either.”

“Goodnight, Paige,” Jericho held the door for her. “Piper Weber will do what she does. That’s a problem for another day.”

Paige pulled away, wondering what she was going to do with the rest of the evening.

\*\*\*\*\*

 “Nathan,” Dax said in surprise.

“Can I come in?” Nathan asked, glancing around the parking lot of the hotel.

“Sure,” Dax held the door open and took a step back. “What are you doing here?”

“I was on my way to Manti,” Nathan admitted. “I didn’t like that ex-girlfriend of yours or the story she planned to fabricate on Paige. Once you relayed the plan, I decided to divert. There are so many things that could go wrong out here and I thought you could use my help. I won’t get in your way. I’m just going to stand by to make sure we all walk away from this unscathed.”

“You should have gone to Manti,” Dax advised. “I might do something that could come back on you. If you’re here, you can’t deny knowing about the plan.”

“I wouldn’t anyway,” Nathan settled into a chair. “Dax, I don’t care what you do to that man. Well, short of killing him. Make sure he’s alive to turn over to the FBI.”

“Any update on their arrival?” Dax wondered.

“Their plane should be touching down in two hours,” Nathan had confirmed the data twice. “When are you leaving, to scout out the cabin?”

“We already scouted,” Dax admitted. “We’re leaving here in ten minutes. It takes precisely eighty-two minutes to get there from here. It doesn’t leave much time for me to locate Reynolds, get the Intel I need and get out before the feds hit the place.”

“Why not leave early? Give yourself some breathing room?” Nathan wondered.

“Because he has one guard outside,” Dax informed him. “Shift change is at twenty-one hundred. It’s the only window I have to sneak past the cameras and scale the wall onto the balcony. Reynolds feels safe leaving the door open at night. He assumes that since it’s on the second floor, nobody could use it as an entry point. He’s wrong.”

“So, you’ll go in through the balcony and then what?”

“The guard station is to the left of the property, out front,” Dax motioned to the door. “I’ll explain on the way. We need to head out.”

Nathan stood and followed Dax out the door. “Reynolds has built a sort of control center in a smaller cabin. The guard works from inside the cabin. He basically monitors the cameras, watching for anything suspicious.” They had reached the parking lot and spotted the other men at the same time they were spotted. “Nathan will be joining us. Hawk, figure out where to stage him. He needs to be somewhere out of sight, but also in a place he can come forward and intervene if something goes wrong.”

“On it,” Hawk climbed into the passenger seat of a dark SUV and began studying diagrams.

“Zee,” Dax called. “You drive the SUV. I’m going to ride with Porter, go over the mission plan and hook up with you at the staging location. We’ll need to do a quick scout of the property, make sure nothing has changed but otherwise, it’s a go. See you guys in eighty-two minutes.” He turned to Porter. “You want to drive or do you want me to?”

“You drive,” Porter decided. “I have no idea where you plan to stage.”

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\*\*\*\*\*

Eighty-three minutes later, the group was standing on the edge of Cole Reynolds luxury cabin getaway. Dax was surveying the house with an expensive set of night vision binoculars. “He’s not on the ground floor,” Dax reported.

“Is that good or bad?” Nathan wondered.

“Good,” Dax assured him. “I won’t have as far to go to find him.”

“He’s not on the balcony,” Hawk reported. “That means the coast is clear. We’re a go when you’re ready.”

“Wooley, check in,” Dax said into his headset.

“Green light on the two-three corner,” Wooley advised.

“Zee?”

“Good to go,” Zee reported. “All clear on the three-four.”

“Thor?”

“Same traffic,” Thor advised. “Nothing to report on the one-two.”

“Jeeves, you in position?”

“Good to go up here, too,” Jeeves advised. “I’ll let you know when I spot the feds headed this way.”

“Where did you post Jeeves?” Nathan asked, not remembering the man’s real name.

“He’s watching the road that leads up from the main highway,” Dax informed him. “I’m up. Hawk, take care of the general. I’ll be back in a flash.”

Dax was dressed for the occasion. His black jeans and black turtleneck would keep him hidden until he started to climb the log exterior of the building. He dashed across the large backyard and ducked under the wooden covering that formed a large back patio. Reynolds had spared no expense. The patio floor was covered in expensive stone tiles with an elaborate fireplace built to one side. Against the back wall of the cabin, a large built-in barbeque and granite counter took up the entire wall. Dax cautiously made his way around the furniture and heaved his body onto the counter that ran from the BBQ to the edge of the building. He gripped two of the sturdy poles that encased the balcony and pulled his body upwards. He loved this part of the job, the adrenaline, the anticipation, the danger. It was the only part of being a ranger he truly missed. Once he got his footing secure, he swung one leg over the railing, then the other. He smiled as he moved toward the open door. He still had it. Good thing, tonight he was going to need every ounce of training he’d acquired over the years.

“I’ve got headlights,” Jeeves reported. “You’ve got ten minutes, fifteen tops.”

Dax slid into the elaborate bedroom and silently moved toward the door. If he had to guess, Reynolds was probably in the large spa area. It was risky, most of the room was an open gym. He could never get across that entire expanse without being spotted by Reynolds. On the other hand, if his target was in the sauna or in the glass-enclosed hot tub area, he might have a chance to surprise him. Dax stopped just outside the door. “Zee?” he whispered into his mouthpiece.

“Go,” Zee said in response.

“Do you have a visual on the hot tub?”

“Affirm,” Zee said softly. “It’s a negative. Reynolds is not in the tub. I don’t have a visual on the target.”

Dax used a small mirror to look around the door. Reynolds was not in the gym, either. That meant he was inside the sauna. Dax just hoped the man didn’t relax in the steamy room naked. That was not something he needed to see. He slid through the opening and made his way silently across the room. The door to the sauna was closed, but steam was seeping under the door jamb. Dax had found his mark. He pulled his gun, swung the door open and stepped inside.

Reynolds screamed and grabbed for a towel. “What do you want? Who are you? I’m calling the police.”

Dax laughed at that one. Just his luck, the man was naked. He moved slightly to the left, so the light shone on his face and waited.

“Are you here to kill me?” Reynolds choked out.

“What was the payment to Hastings for?”

“I won’t tell you anything,” Reynolds focused on the weapon pointed at his head. “You can’t make me talk. I have a partner. He’ll kill you if you do anything to me. You were supposed to be dead already.”

Dax didn’t say a word. He was running out of time. He waited ten seconds. Silence filled the room as he waited. Reynolds started to squirm but still didn’t answer. Dax never took his eyes off his enemy, he just shifted the gun slightly to the left and fired. A loud, thundering boom filled the air. The horrific noise didn’t bother Dax, he was wearing ear protection. Reynolds, on the other hand, panicked. He fell off the bench and hit the floor with a thud, covering both ears as he pushed his body backward to huddled under the long bench. Dax grinned. He’d be happy to report back to Paige that Reynolds did, in fact, pee himself. The man was shaking so violently, Dax wondered if he’d have a heart attack and die before he could get answers. “Hastings?”

Reynolds didn’t respond. He just looked at Dax in wide-eyed shock, a dazed and confused look permanently etched on his face. Dax waited and watched as a trickle of blood slowly slid out of Reynolds’ right ear and down his cheek. The crimson liquid immediately mixed with the sweat — from the heat and the fear— that was now even more prominently displayed on the man’s face. Dax knew he had to give Reynolds time to recover, but time was something he didn’t have. “Hastings?” he pushed.

The question seemed to bring Reynolds out of his shock. “You can’t stop him,” Reynolds finally whimpered. “The plan is already set in motion. Nathan thinks sending that Ranger in to evacuate Vato was a secret. It’s not. We know all about it. Your ranger buddy is walking into a trap. Instead of saving one of your friends, you are going to lose two of them. You underestimated us at every turn. And this time, you’re going to pay. I know you Dax Hamilton. Losing two of your lifelong friends over this is going to eat you alive. I’m glad Nassar failed. I’m glad you are going to live to suffer the pain and grief that you caused. Nobody had to die. If you had only stayed out of it. We have people,” he laughed. “It’s too late to save your friends. Live with that!”

Dax punched his location into his phone. He knew he was cutting it close, but he wasn’t finished. He moved quickly across the room with the skill of a trained hunter. Before Reynolds knew it was coming, Dax had his body slammed against the wall, his hand wrapped around Reynolds’ neck. When the man started to choke, Dax ignored the discomfort. “You underestimated all of us. Live with that.” He took a step backward just as Sean stepped into the room. “He’s all yours.”

“Cole Reynolds,” Sean moved forward and stood over the man that was currently crumpled on the floor. “You are under arrest. Put your hands behind your back. And please, do me a favor and resist.”

Dax made his way back to the balcony and had just lowered himself to the ground when he heard the rest of Sean’s task force barreling through the house. He wondered if they had ever heard the word stealth. He ducked behind the fireplace and waited for a two-man team to clear the dining area just inside a large bank of windows. “I’m out,” he whispered into his mouthpiece. “Return to base.” Once the feds were out of sight, Dax darted across the backyard and slid into the thick stand of Quaking Aspen that lined the property. In less than a minute, he was reunited with his men.

“Did you get anything?” Nathan demanded.

“Yeah,” Dax nodded. “You sent Solo into an ambush. Reynolds said they know about the rescue mission, all the details and they’ve set a trap to kill both Solo and Vato. He’s pretty confident we’ll never stop it in time.”

“We’ll see about that,” Nathan said absently. How in the world did Cole Reynolds find out about the mission?

“He also confirmed he has a partner,” Dax added. “I think he’s more afraid of him than he is of us.”

“That’s because he knows we have boundaries,” Nathan turned and headed for the car. “I’ll meet you back at the hotel.”

Dax and the men watched the most powerful man they knew slide into the driver’s side of the vehicle, slam the door and drive away. He threw up dirt and rocks as his tires spun, then caught and forced the vehicle into motion.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that pissed off before,” Zeus finally said what they were all thinking.

“I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that,” Wooley added. “Reynolds may have miscalculated. I think I’d be more afraid of Nathan Porter than some sadistic partner right about now.”

“Let’s get outta here,” Dax motioned to the SUV. “Zee, you drive.”

“All aboard,” Zeus called out. “The train is leaving the station.”

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S3

**Tags:** Season 3

---

### [Hasty Retreat](https://melaniepsmith.com/hasty-retreat/)

**Published:** September 28, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Hasty Retreat (S3E6) - A woman is nearly killed when she gets hit by a car, the driver leaves the scene, the victim is left on the side of the highway with serious injuries.  Dax gets an unexpected call from Vato.  Jericho is forced to deal with his past.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*HASTY RETREAT\*\*\*****

Darla Johnson walked quickly down the short hallway and pushed open the back door. The instant she stepped outside she paused to inhale the cool, fresh night air. It was nearly two in the morning, now. She liked the peace and quiet that came with working the night shift. That was about all she liked. Once she had climbed onto the rough, ancient, wooden picnic table that had been permanently cemented into the ground to give employees a make-shift break area, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her tip money. One hundred, twenty-three dollars and change. Not bad. Another two weeks, three tops, and she could finally get her transmission repaired. Then, she’d gladly give notice to Joe and her life could return to normal.

Her daughter would be happy. No more fending for herself on the nights Darla was scheduled to work the bar. Darla thought it was good for Mandy—being on her own now and again. It was good for a fourteen-year-old girl to learn to cook for herself. But, she always felt guilty the moment she stepped out the door. Three more weeks and she’d be back to one job, a nine-to-five office position where her most difficult customer was a root canal. Thank heavens for small favors. She hated dealing with the drunks, hated the crude remarks, hated pretty much everything about this part-time gig. But, she needed the money. She needed her car; and, waitressing for Joe was the only job within walking distance she could find.

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[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Hasty-Retreat.pdf)

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She sighed, tucked her cash into her wallet and began to switch her working shoes for her walking shoes. At least she had the morning off. Dr. Curtis Morgan was going out of town to some dentist conference; so, he was shutting down the office — with pay — for an early weekend. She loved her job, loved the people she worked for, loved everything about her day job — except the pay. It was decent, but just didn't provide quite enough to cover unexpected emergencies… like a new transmission. At least she had great benefits. She got free dental, so did her daughter, and the medical wasn't bad either. Plus, she had twelve whole days each year of paid vacation time. Now that Mandy was getting older, the only real time they spent together was their annual road trips. Just another reason she desperately needed her car repaired.

With a sigh, she pushed off the table and started the long walk home.

\*\*\*\*\*

Donald Bentley was still fuming as he took another swig of whiskey. Pesky do-gooders. The bartender had cut him off over an hour ago. Why couldn’t people mind their own business and let him drink in peace? He shifted, trying to get comfortable behind the wheel of the ancient Chevy. Just another thing that irritated him. Instead of sitting inside, in a comfortable booth, pushing the memories from his mind, he was out here alone, drinking in the cab of his truck. He tipped back the bottle and greedily gulped the last drops of amber liquid. With a grunt, he tossed the empty bottle on the floorboard of the passenger area and cranked the engine. He had a long drive home. If the local bar owners in his home town hadn’t banned him from coming near their fine ‘establishments,’ he wouldn’t have to travel close to fifteen miles just to get a damn drink. They thought they were helping, but he thought they were just interfering where they weren’t invited.

Donald watched the last vehicle pull from the parking area, shifted into gear, and began the long journey home. He leaned forward and squinted as he gradually increased his speed. “Somebody got fired,” he laughed. “Some incompetent public servant that couldn't even draw a straight line down the highway.” His truck swerved and crossed the median several times as he continued happily on his way. He had drifted halfway into the opposite lane when an approaching vehicle’s headlights startled him. He swerved, barely avoided a collision, and bounced off the pavement onto the shoulder of the roadway. The corner of the truck struck something, he had no idea what — probably a rock—before he managed to get the large vehicle back in the proper lane. His heart was racing, but he was laughing, enjoying the adventure and the adrenaline rush as he bounced along.

He pulled into his driveway, shut down the truck, and stumbled through the front door. Donald barely made it to the couch before he passed out, fully clothed and wreaking from too much booze.

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\*\*\*\*\*

“Logan,” Paige was frantically trying to save the young woman’s life. “See if I have a package of coagulant in that pack. We have to stop the bleeding or she’s not going to make it.”

Deputy Logan Reed ripped open the medical bag and began desperately searching for the small package of powdery substance that might save this woman’s life. “Where’s medical?” he asked in frustration. “They should have arrived already.”

“They were up the canyon,” Paige shifted to put additional pressure on the woman’s torso. She was sure there was extensive internal damage and just hoped the ambulance would arrive soon.

“Got it,” Logan said in triumph as he ripped open the package and began dumping the fine power onto the bleeding wound. “Here’s a pad.” Logan handed a second package to Paige.

Paige ripped the packaging off the medical pad that was also soaked in the same kind of clotting substance and once again put pressure on the wound. She thought it was helping but couldn’t be sure. “Get that neck brace on her now. I can hear the sirens in the background. Help is almost here.” She looked down at the weak woman who was drifting in and out of consciousness. “You hold on just a little longer, keep fighting. You got this far, don’t give up now.”

Logan had the neck brace on and was starting to stand when two paramedics rushed over with a stretcher.

“We’ll take it from here,” one of the men handed Paige a package of wet towelettes. “You look like you could use that.”

“I think I need a whole case of those things,” Paige said as she took the offered package and began wiping the blood from her hands. “Logan will follow you to the hospital. I need to remain here to process the scene. Take care of our girl, she’s a fighter.”

“Will do,” they lifted the patient onto the stretcher, attached an oxygen mask; and, within minutes, had her loaded into the back of the ambulance and on her way to the nearest hospital—siren’s blaring.

Paige turned to Logan. “Good job, with any luck we saved her life. Now you head to the hospital while I look for evidence that will catch the creep that did this.”

“How could someone just run over that woman and leave her there, dying?” Logan asked softly.

“He’s callous and selfish,” Paige glanced around. “And we’re going to catch him and put him away for a very long time. Get going. And, keep me updated on her condition.”

Paige watched as Logan turned and headed back to his vehicle. His shoulders were slumped, head bent, and when he climbed inside, she saw the despair and the anger written all over his face. Paige pushed it aside and got to work. If Reed wanted to be a cop, he’d have to learn to deal with senseless and infuriating situations like the one they were dealing with tonight. It was just part of the job. He’d have to learn not to internalize it if he wanted to make this job a career.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was tired. It took her twice as long as normal to process the scene on her hit-and-run. And, after all that time, she still wasn’t sure she’d collected all the evidence, or even discovered everything there was to discover. How did these guys work in the dark night after night? It was just one reason she hated working the graveyard shift. Another was trying to stay awake when she would normally be sleeping. She’d already guzzled four cups of coffee and she still had three hours to go. Duncan Havilland was going to owe her big time for this. He’d practically begged her to switch shifts, so he could race in some ‘epic’ competition out in Tooele. Dean had also qualified to compete; so, the department was shorthanded. She was willing to do her part, but she would definitely think twice before she agreed to another all-nighter. She did her best to stifle a yawn as she stepped through the automatic sliding doors of the hospital and surveyed the area for her partner.

Logan was standing in front of a large window. His gaze was glassy, and Paige knew he wasn’t really looking outside. He was deep in thought and clearly distraught. Paige was worried, Logan was taking this case more personal than he should. You had to step back, erect a barrier, and focus on the work. Otherwise, the job would eat you alive. Just another thing the rookie would have to learn the hard way. “Any updates?” she asked, moving in to stand next to him.

Logan’s head jerked up and it took him several seconds to pull the emotions inside and register Paige’s question. “Uh, she’s in surgery. Prognosis isn’t good. There was a lot of internal damage, but the doctor said what we did — to stop the bleeding — it probably saved her life. If she lives, and that’s doubtful.”

“You okay?” Paige put a hand on his shoulder in comfort.

“I’m fine,” Logan shrugged her off. “It’s just... I was okay. Mad, you know, but dealing. I decided to do some checking, try to track down the family just in case. She has a fourteen-year-old daughter. Our victim is a single mother just struggling to survive. She was working part-time at the bar, full-time at some dentist’s office. I talked to the neighbor. She drove Mandy, the daughter, over immediately. Mandy was inconsolable. She’s back there,” Logan pointed the doors that led to the private emergency rooms. “She broke down, had a panic attack, and the staff decided to admit her, too. The neighbor said mom was on a tight budget and when her tranny went out, she asked Joe at the bar to bring her on just until she could raise the money to fix her car. She was walking home from her latest shift, near as I can tell, when some dirtbag just ran over her and left.”

“You’ve been busy,” Paige observed. Maybe Logan would make it in this profession. He had pushed his emotions aside to be a cop tonight. He was doing the job, it was costing him, but he was doing the job.

“I needed something to do while I waited, and it just seemed...”

“Important?” Paige nodded. “I was also worried about her condition and contacting next of kin before they lost her; but, it wasn’t something I could do out on the scene. Thanks for taking care of it. I know dealing with a distraught kid couldn’t have been easy.”

Logan shrugged again. “How about you? Get anything we can use to track the driver?”

“Not much,” Paige said in frustration. “Broken headlight, but it could fit about a hundred models. I want to go back out, when it’s light outside, see if I can see anything else. I think we’ve done all we can tonight. Take a break, I’ll sit here a while.”

“Naw,” Logan dismissed the offer. “I got this. You go do what you do. If we catch the bad guy, it will be a result of your mad evidence skills.”

“I...” she stopped when a man in scrubs approached them.

“Are you waiting on Ms. Johnson?”

“Yeah,” Logan nodded. “How is she?”

“Alive, for now,” the man said cautiously. “I’m Dr. Brad Jones.”

“Are you the surgeon that worked on her?” Paige asked.

“I am,” Jones sighed. “There was extensive damage. We almost lost her more than once. I’m told the two of you were responsible for saving her life.”

“We did what we do,” Paige dismissed that. “What are her chances, doc?”

“Not great, I’m afraid. We were able to stabilize her, and she is no longer bleeding internally; but, it’s going to be touch and go for the next few days. I’m told her daughter was also admitted. Was she involved in the crash as well?”

“No,” Paige shook her head.

“She had a break-down when she heard her mom may not make it,” Logan provided. “She’s been given a sedative and they’re watching her overnight, I think.”

“I should know that,” Jones nodded. “I apologize, I didn’t stop to get the details. The nurse said the cops wanted an update immediately.”

“We appreciate it,” Paige told him. She pulled out a business card and passed it to the surgeon. “Can you let me know if anything changes?”

“I’ll make sure you’re notified,” Jones slid the card into his pocket. “Other than the daughter, does she have family I need to speak to?”

“I was able to contact her mother,” Logan advised. “Darla’s parents will be flying in tomorrow. They live in Florida. I’m guessing they will want an update as soon as they arrive.”

“Very well,” Dr. Jones started to turn. “I’m serious, it was essential that you stop the bleeding immediately, while you were still on scene. Otherwise, that poor woman would have bled out. As it is, she lost a lot of blood; but, the two of you saved that woman’s life. If it wasn’t for your actions, she wouldn’t have a chance.” Then, he turned and disappeared behind a swinging double door.

“Now what?” Logan asked.

“Now, we head back to the office and do our reports. There’s nothing more we can do here tonight. In the morning, I’ll get Gage to help me go over the scene again. I also want to talk to Jericho about doing a press release. I’m beginning to think the only way we’re going to solve this one is if we can locate a witness.”

“Alright,” Logan said glumly. “I’ll meet you back at the office.”

“Feel free to take the scenic route,” Paige offered. “Give yourself a minute to regroup. You did good tonight, Logan. No matter what happens, remember that. We did all we could.”

“You think she won’t make it,” Logan decided.

“I’m preparing myself for the worst and you should, too. It will take a miracle for her to pull through this and her kid, and her parents, will need answers. It’s our job to get them.”

They split off when they reached the parking lot. Paige settled behind the wheel of her vehicle and waited while Logan pulled onto the highway. She sat there for several minutes before she rubbed her hands over her face, started the engine, and headed back to Manti.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige’s face was still hidden by a large blanket and her pillow. She moaned out loud as she reached over to shut off the annoying alarm that was blaring next to her bed. She knew if she didn’t get up, she’d drop back into a deep sleep, but she needed a minute. It took more effort than it should have to climb from the bed and zombie walk into the shower. She was pretty sure drinking the amount of coffee she’d consumed the previous evening couldn’t be good for her. But, it was the only way she managed to make it through the night without falling asleep at the wheel. Once she was showered and dressed, she — once again—filled a thermos with coffee and headed back to work.

The moment she stepped into the building, Jericho called her into his office. She moved slowly into the masculine space and settled into one of his visitor chairs.

“I got your message,” Jericho began. “I’ve arranged for a press conference just outside at thirteen hundred hours. Can you be ready by then?”

“Me?” Paige swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat. “I thought you would do it.”

“I’ll be there,” Walters assured her. “But, this is your case. The reporters will have questions. You decide which to answer and what the department isn’t prepared to comment on. I trust you to get the information you need out there without compromising your investigation.”

“But...”

“It’s better coming from you, Paige,” Jericho said sternly. “Now that we have that settled, how is Reed handing things?”

“Okay,” Paige hesitated. She didn’t know exactly what to tell their boss about their newest edition to the force. “It was a bad one… touch and go there on the side of the road, and the paramedics had to respond from up the canyon; so, it took a while. We did our best, but it may not be good enough. The first one is always the most difficult, but he’s holding. I thought I’d take Gage back out to the scene with me this morning and then stop in at the hospital and try to get an update. Darla’s parents should have arrived by now and they may have questions as well.”

“Take Gage to the scene,” Jericho decided. “I’ll head over to the hospital, deal with the family, and see what the staff will tell me. Then, we’ll meet back here at noon to go over anything new. Don’t stress too much over the press conference. I’ll step in and save you if things get off topic. We want to encourage the public to come forward. Play up the single mother angle, the daughter is distraught and counting on mom, the poor victim is still hanging on by a thread, she’s fighting to pull through but she needs the community’s support.”

Paige stood and rolled her eyes. “I’m not good at all that mushy stuff and you know it. I’m just going to relay the facts and ask for help. You can step in and tug at the heartstrings when I’m done if you want.”

“We’ll see,” Jericho answered as she was leaving. “We’ll see,” he said again as he pulled out a large file and began reading through reports and depositions. A killer he’d put away over a decade ago was up for parole and he wanted to refresh his memory, brush up on the details, before he attended the parole hearing. As far as he was concerned, the man should rot in a cage for another few decades before they even considered setting him free. At least the prisoner was being housed in Gunnison. With this new case, it would be impossible to drive all the way to Salt Lake for the hearing.

\*\*\*\*\*

Donald woke and slowly forced his legs over the side of the couch and pushed his body into a sitting position. He knew he had to stop this nonsense. Knew it wasn’t helping, but he didn’t know what would. He brushed his large hands over his face, then lowered them in disgust. They smelled like stale whiskey and sweat. With a deep sigh, he gripped the front of the couch and stood. His head pounded from the effort and he slowly, cautiously, made his way to the shower. It took nearly an hour before he felt human again. He threw together a ham sandwich and absently grabbed a bag of chips before heading back into the living room, determined to relax and calm his aching heart… and his stomach. He settled into his favorite chair, grabbed the remote, flicked on the large screen television, and immediately lost his appetite.

Don set the plate of untouched food aside, increased the volume, leaned forward, and watched as a female deputy relayed the details of a hit-and-run that occurred during the early hours of the morning. Bile began to churn in his stomach and made its way up his throat. He rushed to the bathroom and choked back a sob, realizing what he had done. It took nearly twenty-minutes inside the tiny room before he could straighten and make his way back to the living room. He snatched up the uneaten sandwich, tossed the contents into the trash, and headed for his truck.

One look and he knew. He was the one that put that poor woman in the hospital. It was his fault she was fighting for her life and her daughter might become an orphan. He could be responsible for the pain and grief her parents might face over the loss of a child. Despair threatened to incapacitate him. He pulled open the passenger door of his truck and spotted the empty bottle. Panic set in and his entire body began to shake with fear… and regret. He grabbed the glass container and shoved it to the bottom of his trash can. Within minutes, he had the vehicle hidden in the back barn. As he stood staring at the broken headlight and dented bumper, an idea came to him. It would take him all day, but he’d just switch them out. He’d take the damaged parts off and destroy them, then replacing them with parts from the old Chevy parked out back. He pushed the overwhelming feeling of guilt aside and got to work.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into the office, moved to her desk, and frowned. There was a large stack of papers neatly positioned on the corner of her workspace. She glanced up at Margie in question. “What’s this?”

“Tip line,” Margie shrugged. “It was slow last night so Susie spent her time transcribing the tips that came in on your hit-and-run. She said something about you owing her a steak dinner at Dirks.”

Paige picked up the stack and started to skim through the typed notes. “Looks like that’s the least I owe her. It’s going to take forever to track every one of these down.” She dropped into her chair and turned the page. “Seriously!” Paige glanced up when Gage walked in. “This woman is sure the man I’m looking for must be her ex-husband. Why? Because he’s a jerk and that sounds like something he would do.”

Margie smiled. “Most of them left a number. I can help you call them back if you want, just compile a list of follow-up questions you want me to ask.”

“Naw,” Paige sighed, “but, thanks. I think this is something I should do myself. If anyone asks, I’ll be right here on the phone until I turn fifty. It will probably take that long to sort through this mess.”

Jericho stepped from his office. “Give some to Logan. I want Reed involved in this. It’s good training for him. I can also call in Lovato if you get overwhelmed. I warned you a press conference was going to bring in hundreds of bad leads. You said it was worth it if you got one good one, remember?”

“Don’t remind me,” Paige grumbled. “If Lo’s not busy, I could use him. This is going to take forever. I’ll get with Logan when he comes on duty. If it’s slow tonight, maybe he can start doing follow-ups as well.”

Jericho nodded and closed the door to his office. “I probably won’t make it back before closing time. Margie, you know how to reach me if there’s an emergency.”

“I do,” Margie frowned. “Good luck.”

Paige watched her boss as he exited the front door. “What’s he need luck for?” she asked. “I thought he was headed to the prison on some parole hearing.”

“He is,” Margie opened her email and started going through new messages. “But, they said that monster has been an ideal prisoner and they want to release him back into the community. If that man has been rehabilitated, I’m a thousand-pound rhinoceros.”

Paige smiled. “Don’t sugarcoat it on my account, tell me what you really think.”

Margie grunted in disgust. “He’s a conman and he’s playing that board, the warden, and the guards. He’s not a changed man. He’s just playing the game, so he can get released early. Jericho will do his best to prove that to the committee. And, that’s why he needs luck. Because once they’ve made up their minds, it’s nearly impossible to change them.”

“Guess my day’s going to be better than his then,” Paige picked up the phone and made her first call. It was nearly an hour later when Mike Lovato entered through the backdoor and made a beeline to Paige’s desk.

“Grab a stack,” she whispered, covering the mouthpiece so her current ‘tipster’ wouldn’t hear. She rolled her eyes and sighed. “I’m just hoping there’s something in here that will help.”

Lovato snatched up a stack of papers and headed for his own desk. He knew how many crazies came out when you asked for help. But, not all of them were dead ends. Sure, you got the typical ex-wives or ex-husbands trying to pin the crime on their biggest nemesis. Then, you got the people who truly wanted to help, but they were just flat out wrong. Finally, you had the solid leads that you could follow. It was going to take time, but he was sure somewhere in this stack was at least one solid lead and he was just the man to find it.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige,” Lovato called out. “Let’s take a break and run these down. If we work too long on the phones, we’ll miss something important.”

“What do you have?” Paige frowned. “None of the ones I’ve gone through seem solid. How did you get two?”

“I’ve done this before,” he shrugged and moved to her desk. “They may be nothing, but we should check them out. Plus, like I said, it helps to take a break from the tedium and chase some of these down. Clears your head a bit. And, while we’re out and about, you can buy me lunch.”

“I could do that,” Paige agreed. She was thankful for the help and, with all his flaws, Mike Lovato was a good cop and a good investigator. “You want anything, Margie?”

“Naw, I’m good,” Margie glanced up. “I brought my lunch today.”

The two deputies climbed into Paige’s unit. Within minutes they were making their way up a long driveway. Paige shut down the engine and took a minute to look around. “Looks like a nice, cozy place.”

Mike swung the door open and climbed out. “Looks can be deceiving. Caller said the husband was a drunk, spends most nights at Joe’s place... what was the name of that bar?”

“The Wooden Nickel,” Paige said, joining him in front of her truck. “Where’s his truck?”

“Repair shop?” Mike asked, hopefully.

“I doubt we’ll get that lucky on the first shot. Let’s go talk to the little misses,” Paige motioned forward.

Mike looked at her in surprise. “I think I might be rubbing off on you.”

“Man, I hope not,” Paige grinned. “What’s the name again?”

Mike glanced down at his notes. “Palmer.”

Paige reached out to ring the bell, but the door flung open before she had a chance to press the button.

“Can I help you?” asked a petite, nervous woman.

“I hope so,” Paige was watching the woman carefully. “Did you hear about the woman that was hit on the side of the road? The hit-and-run accident, here in Manti?”

“I heard,” the woman swallowed hard. “It was over by the Nickel, right?”

“That’s right,” Mike replied. He wanted to see how she reacted to a man. The woman that called this in said Craig Palmer liked to use his wife as a punching bag after he got home from a night at the bar. The woman took a step back but didn’t reply. “I understand your husband drives a large truck. Is he home?”

“Uh,” panic showed on the woman’s face as she tried to come up with an answer. “He’s not here.”

“Can you tell us where he is?” Paige questioned.

Just then a large Ford pickup truck turned off the main highway and sped up the drive. The man inside slammed on the brakes just behind where Paige had parked, nearly ramming into the back bumper. He jumped from the truck and practically stomped to the door. “What are the police doing here?” he demanded of his wife.

“I uh,” the woman stammered.

“We’re looking for you,” Lovato moved to stand in front of the man, blocking his view so he couldn’t see his wife. “You got a minute?”

The man didn’t answer. He just stood there, glaring.

“You have somewhere private just you and I could go and have a word alone?” Mike pressed.

“We can go around back,” Craig Palmer decided. “Back porch should work.”

The two men disappeared around the back, leaving Paige to work on getting answers from the terrified woman.

“Look,” Paige tried to sound sympathetic. “We haven’t been here, as far as I could see, on a call I mean.”

“Wh...what?” the woman turned white as a sheet.

“It’s obvious to me that man abuses you,” Paige decided to be direct. “That’s not the reason we are here. I would encourage you to seek help, for the abuse. There are shelters, women’s clinics, support groups...”

“I’m not abused,” the woman protested.

“What’s your name?” Paige shifted gears.

“Tiffany,” the woman said softly.

“Okay, Tiffany,” Paige pulled out a business card. “If there ever comes a time when you want to talk, give me a call. That’s all I’m going to say on the subject. But, just know, if I do get called out here; that man is going to jail.”

“But...”

“If you don’t want help, I can’t force it on you,” Paige said disappointed, but not surprised. “Let’s talk about your husband. I’m told he spends a lot of time at the bar, The Wooden Nickel.”

“Some,” Tiffany admitted.

Paige just looked at her.

“Okay,” Tiffany sighed. “He’s out there almost every night. But, he didn’t hurt that woman. He got home early that night. The guys had to work on some project the next day. He doesn’t like to drink alone, so he came home early that night.”

“You’re sure,” Paige pressed.

“Positive,” Tiffany said, relieved. “I even commented on it when we saw the news report. Said, good thing you came home early that night. If someone was driving crazy like that he could have hit you.”

“Alright,” Paige frowned. She couldn’t tell if Tiffany was telling the truth or if she’d manufactured an alibi on the fly. In her experience, women like Tiffany were seasoned story tellers. Had to be. They were always coming up with reasons for the bruises. She pointed to her card, “keep that. Call me anytime.”

Tiffany folded the card and slid it into her pocket.

Paige handed her another card. “If your husband asks, give him this one. You keep that one hidden for later.”

Tiffany frowned but took the card.

Paige moved from the porch and went to stand in front of her truck to wait for Lovato. It was less than five minutes later when Mike and Craig Palmer rounded the corner, headed her way. They looked pretty casual and Mike had cooled down significantly. Hopefully, they hadn’t just caused that poor woman trouble.

“If you can think of anything else,” Mike addressed Craig. “You have my card. Just give me a call. Or, call Paige. I’m sure she gave her info to your wife. You two have a nice day and I really appreciate the help on this.” He reached out and shook the man’s hand before making his way to the passenger side of the truck.

Once Paige was headed back down the highway, she glanced at Mike. He was frowning. “What’s eating you?”

Lovato ran his hand through his hair. “You have no idea how much I wanted to cuff that guy and throw him in the back seat, headed for jail. But, I couldn’t. That woman is never going to cooperate with the police and we didn’t have cause.”

“Not today anyway,” Paige agreed. “I told her if I ever got a call at her house, her husband was spending the night in jail. I’m not sure if that helped or hurt. When I started to talk about options, she shut me down immediately. We can only help those that want helping.”

“Doesn’t mean I’ve gotta like it,” Mike grumbled. “Craig Palmer is a regular at Joe’s place. He says he left early on the night in question. Said his friends,” he glanced down at his notes, “Peter and Martin Sullivan — they’re brothers — had to cut out early. He claims they had a side project the following day.”

“Matches Tiffany’s story,” Paige considered. “Could be they already coordinated. You know, he comes in and tells her he ran over some woman on his way home and here’s what they’re gonna say if anyone asks.”

“I got a good look at the truck,” Mike shook his head. “He’s not our guy. That truck is his baby. If the thing had recently been damaged, he’d be in the garage working on it as we speak.”

“Okay,” Paige sighed. “I agree. That couple is messed up, but he’s not our driver.”

“He did tell me something that might lead to something,” Mike shifted in the seat trying to get comfortable. The next address was on the other side of town. “Craig said there was an old guy at the bar that night, said he was drinking like there was no tomorrow. It got so bad, the bartender cut him off early. Craig said it had to be early because he left at around a quarter to one and the guy was escorted out well before he decided to head home.”

“That’s what he calls early?” Paige scoffed.

“For him,” Mike shrugged. “Normally, he stays until closing. He said it’s not unusual for him and his buddies to be forced out, so Joe can close things down at two. His friends left around midnight. He stuck for a while, then bolted. I asked for a name or a description but all he had was old.”

“Wow,” Paige shot her friend a sideways glance. “That’s informative.”

“The guy’s a self-centered dirtbag that beats on his wife,” Mike reminded her. “You think he’s going to pay attention to some old man that had a few too many at a local bar?”

“I guess not,” Paige turned off the highway and made her way down a secondary road to their next contact. “But how does that help us? I mean, if the guy left before Craig did, he can’t be our guy. We’re looking for someone that left after closing.”

“We’re looking for someone that left the parking lot after closing,” Mike countered. “In my experience, if a drunk is cut off and ejected, he usually has access to his own stash somewhere. Usually, the passenger seat of his own vehicle. He could have gone to the parking lot and opened his own tap until the place closed down and he realized he would have to leave or get caught.”

“Makes sense,” Paige nodded. “My experience dealing with drunks and bars is pretty limited. We don’t handle much of that in the FBI and here in Manti...”

“Yeah,” Mike agreed. “It’s pretty tame here. Nothing like Salt Lake and the trouble that gets stirred up once the party gets started.”

“Exactly,” Paige turned into a short driveway and waited for Mike to fill her in on their next contact.

\*\*\*\*\*

It was nearly two hours later when Paige settled back in at her desk. The second lead didn’t pan out, either. The man in question had a concrete alibi. He had just returned from a business trip in Denver and had the plane tickets to prove it. He had only arrived back in Manti an hour before she and Mike showed up on his doorstep. He said he did frequent Joe’s bar but didn’t remember an old man that liked to drink too much. The duo left after the man practically slammed the door in their faces. Paige kept her word and stopped for lunch — her treat. Now they were back in the office and Paige spotted a new stack of papers on her desk.

“Thought I should keep up on them,” Margie explained. “The mailbox was full, and the calls just keep flowing in.”

“Wonderful,” Paige sighed, picked up the phone, and made her next call.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Hello,” Dax answered hesitantly. He didn’t recognize the number on the display.

“Dax? It’s Vato,” came a male voice. Either the man was whispering; or, he had a bad connection.

“Vato,” Dax answered flatly.

“First,” Vato told him. “I want to thank you for saving my sister. I... well, I couldn’t do it myself without landing in a heap of trouble and there’s no way Thor could have handled that mission on his own.”

“Is that the reason for your call, Vato?”

“No,” Vato sighed. “I guess Thor was right, this thing has come between us. If I survive, which is unlikely, I hope we can sit down and work this out.”

“I heard you,” Dax informed him. “I know you were working with that sadistic terrorist, Nassar. I’m pretty sure that’s something we can’t work out. You betrayed your country, you betrayed your oath, and you betrayed me. You were giving him pointers on how to break me. Did you honestly think I wouldn’t know?”

“I know you heard me,” Vato paused. “I could tell the phone was on speaker.”

There was silence on the other end for longer than there should have been. Dax was starting to wonder if the line had been disconnected when he heard Vato’s voice again.

“Look,” Vato whispered. “I’m in danger here and I can’t get into this. I thought, well I thought after all we’ve been through, you would understand. I’d never cross you, Dax. I wouldn’t work with Nassar unless I didn’t have a choice and I would never give him tips on how to break you. Seriously, I told him to capture someone you loved. I said that was the only thing that would get you to cooperate. We both know that would just piss you off. I was talking about me. Trying to tell you why I was involved. They had Camille and they threatened to kill her if I didn’t help them. We both know she’d be dead if I resisted. I needed you to understand, and I was trying to give the guys time to find you. If you heard that part, you also heard me tell him not to kill you. You heard me order him to wait or I would come after him. I hoped... well, I hoped I could stall long enough for Hawk and the others to rescue you.”

“Why didn’t you just tell Thor where I was?” Dax pressed.

“I didn’t know,” Vato said, clearly exasperated. “If I did, I would have told Thor immediately. They wouldn’t share that kind of information with me. I haven’t been as cooperative as they hoped. Even with Camille in captivity. I have a line I won’t cross, not even to save my sister. They didn’t count on that. My loyalty is to you, always has been. And, you should know, I would never betray my country. If I discovered anything that would have helped, I would have passed that on to the team. Hold on.”

There was another long silence. When Vato came back on the line, there was panic in his voice.

“I don’t have much time,” Vato warned. “I’m not supposed to be on this phone. You guys need to know Reynolds isn’t the only one that’s dirty. My leader, Major Hastings, is working with Reynolds and someone else. Someone high up... the guy has rank. At first, I thought it was General Nathan Porter. I overheard a conversation about their guy in Washington that was paving the way for some mission they have planned. Porter fit the description. Thor has since convinced me I was wrong. But, there is someone in Washington with connections and power. He’s working with Reynolds to orchestrate missions and to cover up anything that goes awry. I’m doing my best to get more, but Hastings sent me on a solo op earlier today. It was an ambush, I barely made it out without getting dead. My time is running short and I don’t think I’m going to make it out of this alive. I need you to know what I know, everything I know.”

Dax’s mind was racing. It was all starting to make sense, even Vato’s involvement.

“There’s a guy,” Vato continued. “It was the reason I was sent here in the first place. He was originally your contact, Scorpion. I was pulled in because someone thought Scorpion would trust me. They wanted to use me to get to him since I was on your team. He didn’t take the bait. It only took a couple mission for him to cut off all contact with us — all of us, including me. Hastings was distorting the Intel and using American convoys to go after the wrong villages. I’m not sure what they are up to, but the last information Scorpion provided included something about bad drones. I didn’t pass that on, didn’t know who I could trust; but, two nights later, one of our drones misfired and took out our own Humvee.”

“Nassar killed Scorpion,” Dax provided. “He came here, to Manti, to give the information to me personally. There is a problem with the drones. Avoid them, Vato. Do not go near them; and, if you see one, take cover. If Hastings wants you dead, he may just use one of the drones, a local contact and a low tech transmitter — one that would never be traced back to him — to do it. Watch your back, Porter is working on a way to bring you home early. He’s getting resistance from Bratton, but I think we can at least orchestrate a transfer. Don’t get dead.”

Vato laughed. “I’m doing my best and for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“We’ll talk about it when you get home,” Dax decided. “Is there any chance you can keep in touch? Can you try to work this Hastings guy, generate Intel and turn it against him? If they think you’re working with them, it might buy you some time.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Vato agreed. “It’s difficult, though. They have me at a FOB in Fallujah and he’s working out of Baghdad. And, even if I did get anything, my calls are restricted. They don’t want me to have contact with the outside world. I’ll find a way. I’ll get anything I find to you. Somehow, I’ll get you everything I can.”

After Dax disconnected, he just sat there thinking. He was still sitting there when Hawk stepped into the house, arms full of takeout. “I thought... what happened?”

“Vato called,” Dax admitted. “Once the rest of the guys get here, we need to talk. But first, I need to make a call. If we’re lucky, Nathan can get Vato out of the viper pit until we can bring him back home.”

“Sounds like it was some phone call,” Hawk observed.

“It was.” Dax stepped onto the back porch and pulled out a second cell phone, the throwaway he always used to contact Porter. He settled into a chair and pressed the button to speed dial his favorite General.

“Porter,” Nathan said in greeting. “Tell me there’s not more trouble. I’m still working on that transfer to get your team member turned traitor, not really a traitor—maybe—home safely.”

Dax shook his head. “That’s why I’m calling. He just phoned me. Somehow, he found a way, but his current leader, Major Hastings, sent him on a one-man mission to hell earlier today. He’s running out of time and I was thinking, while you’re working on an evacuation plan, maybe he could get transferred in country somewhere. He says Major Hastings is dirty. He’s positive the man is working for Reynolds. There’s no doubt and he has proof. He’s going to work on his end, see if he can determine if there are others, but we need to get him out from under Hastings command. The ambush failed today, but we both know he’ll just send Vato on another death run tomorrow.”

“I’ll talk to Harris,” Porter decided. “See how fast he can put through the orders.”

“If you have such a great contact in Secretary Harris,” Dax said in frustration. “Why the delay on the orders to return home? Who’s in charge over there, anyway? I was under the impression Bratton worked for the Secretary, not the other way around.”

“It’s complicated,” Nathan was also frustrated. “But, bottom line, Harris is worried if he pushes too hard, Bratton will realize he’s onto Reynolds and his underlings. Until Harris knows how deep Bratton’s involvement is, he can’t risk it. If we tip our hand, it will set us back and we may not stop this group before they do something that can’t be undone.”

“So,” Dax said slowly. “Vato is expendable.”

“Not to me he isn’t,” Porter disagreed. “I’m convinced he knows more than he can relay over the phone. And, this recent attempt on his life confirms that. He may not even know he knows. I want him home where we can debrief him just as much as you do. Trust me, I’m doing everything in my power to help your friend.” Porter paused. “Just so I’m clear, he is still a friend?”

“At the moment,” Dax decided. “If anything changes, I’ll be sure to let you know.” He disconnected with Porter and made his way back into the house to brief his men. He’d have to go through it again later, when Paige got home; but, he thought that might be more productive, anyway. She was more open when they talked one-on-one. She could always make him think, had a different perspective than most people he knew, and she had a way of forcing him to consider possibilities he otherwise never would have thought of. If she wasn’t too tired after such a long shift, he’d run it by her. Otherwise, he’d wait and discuss it over breakfast. He stepped into the living room, spotted the team, and began to relay the new information.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stumbled into the house, dropped her gear on the couch and headed for the kitchen. She was starving. The only thing she’d had all day was lunch and a ton of coffee; good thing Lo insisted on a big meal. Otherwise, she would have swung by the drive-through and grabbed a burger. She heard a noise behind her, swung around, and relaxed when she spotted Dax in the doorway.

“Long day,” he observed. “I saved you some takeout from Dirks. Hawk didn’t want to cook, and we had a lot to go over.”

“Something new?” Paige asked absently as she pulled out a covered plate that had to contain her dinner.

“It can wait,” Dax decided. “Tell me about your day.”

Paige shoved the plate into the microwave, retrieved a bottle of wine from the fridge and settled in to recap her long, seemingly unproductive, day.

Dax watched, dumbfounded, as Paige practically inhaled her dinner. He was amazed she could eat that fast without choking. “So, what’s next?” he asked when she finished the rundown, obviously frustrated she didn’t have a solid lead to follow.

“Track down more tips, I guess,” she shrugged then frowned when her phone started to ring. She glanced at the display, swallowed and answered. “Hello, Logan.”

“Paige,” Logan greeted. “I’m sorry to bother you at home, but our victim is awake. Darla’s neighbor just called, said Darla woke up. She’s pretty groggy and in a lot of pain, but I’m heading over, and I thought... well, if you’re not busy...”

“Wait for me,” Paige decided. “I’ll be leaving here in five minutes. We don’t want to bother her too long. We’re going to have a very short window so wait for me to get there before you go in.”

“Okay,” Logan agreed. “I’ll be in the waiting area, where you found me last night.”

“Gotta go,” Paige jumped to her feet. “Thanks for the meal. Don’t wait up, I shouldn’t be long at the hospital, but I want to drop by the bar on my way back and see if the owner’s available. And, maybe the bartender that kicked the old guy out.”

“What if I drive?”

“Police business,” she told him as she slipped her duty belt back on.

“What if you take five minutes to change,” Dax pushed. “I’ll drive you to the hospital and I’ll stay out of your way. Then, we can drop into the bar where we will enter separately. I can have a beer and silently observe the patrons while you grill the owner and track down the bartender. I’ll get you a different perspective that way, and you’ll get further out of uniform. Trust me on this, I know what I’m talking about.”

Paige hesitated, but in the end, she agreed. Mostly because she realized he was right. Going into a bar in uniform, was a recipe for disaster. She wanted answers and scaring or intimidating all the patrons was not the way to get them. She rushed upstairs, changed into jeans and a casual tee, and was at the front door in less than three minutes. Dax was waiting for her in the living room. The moment she hit the first stair, he was on his feet and following her out the front door.

\*\*\*\*\*

The following day, Paige was sitting at her desk, tired, grumpy and frustrated. Darla didn’t have anything that would help. She was walking home one minute, the next she was hit from behind, on the ground, fighting for her life. She didn’t see the vehicle coming, didn’t even know if it was a car or a truck that hit her.

The bar owner, Joe, wasn’t a lot of help, either. He remembered the old man. Said it was the first time he’d come in. Didn’t ask for ID, didn’t need it. The guy looked like he was at least seventy and obviously old enough to drink. Scotty had cut him off at the limit, offered to call a cab, but the guy refused. Claimed he walked to the bar and he’d just head back home and sleep it off. It was busy that night; so, once Scotty escorted him to the door, he was back behind the bar dealing with customers. End of story. There wasn’t even a credit card receipt she could follow, the man paid for his libations with cash. Paige glanced up when Lovato arrived. She realized he didn’t have anything new when he said a quick hello and settled in behind his desk.

“Hey, Margie,” Paige called across the room.

“You got something?” Mike glanced up.

“Maybe,” Paige focused on Margie. “Can you run old Chevy trucks for me? Pull anything registered in the area, Gunnison, Laurel Bluffs and Sanpete for now.”

“What’s up?” Mike asked.

“Caller said she was driving home from visiting her parents in Vegas and decided to drive straight through rather than lay over for the night. She can’t be positive on the exact time but, she’s sure it was after two. An old Chevy pickup suddenly crossed the median and nearly hit her. Said she didn’t get a plate because she was focused on not getting hit. By the time she calmed down enough to feel safe, the truck was too far away. Looked like a single male driver in the cab, but she couldn’t be sure.”

“Can’t be that many old Chev’s, right?” Lovato said sarcastically. “I mean it’s not like we’re in farm country or anything.”

“It’s a lead,” Paige insisted. “Margie?”

“I’m on it,” Margie assured her. They all looked up when Jericho entered the office.

“How’d the hearing go?” Paige asked, hesitantly.

“Good,” Jericho moved to sit in one of her chairs. “How’s the search coming?”

“Good? As in, you won and the murdering SOB is going to stay in prison for another fifty years?”

Jericho grinned. “I wish. Good meaning the murdering SOB’s parole was denied and he’s not eligible for another ten years.”

“I guess that’s better than the alternative,” Lovato moved to join them.

“The search has uncovered a man that beats his wife, a man that probably has a drinking problem but was in Denver at the time of the incident, a victim that didn’t see anything, and a bartender that knows the guy was old but couldn’t describe him if his life depended on it. Joe, the bar owner said he might recognize the man, but he didn’t know him, had never seen him before, and didn’t ask for any type of identification.”

“I think I’ve missed something,” Jericho said, confused. “Who is the old guy?”

Paige and Lovato walked him through everything they had, concluding with Margie’s search of Chevy trucks.

“I’d like to see the list when it’s completed,” Jericho stood. “Now, I have a few phone calls to make. The family members on my victim couldn’t make the trip this time. I need to let them know their mother’s killer will remain behind bars for at least ten more years.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“That many?” Paige asked when Margie handed her the printout.

“You didn’t say how old,” Margie shrugged. “Narrow it down and I can eliminate some of those trucks on the list.”

“It’s okay,” Paige decided. “The lady said it was a light color, not black or dark blue. She was pretty sure she could rule out green as well. I’ll see what I can do to narrow it down myself. Thanks for this, I appreciate it.”

Jericho stepped out of his office just after five and spotted Paige. “Leave it,” he ordered. “It can wait for morning. You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

“Working graves does that to me,” Paige admitted. “It takes at least a week before I can catch up and get back to normal.”

“What are you working on?”

“Narrowing Margie’s collection of possible trucks,” Paige handed him her revised list. “I’ve eliminated all dark colored vehicles, but that still leaves twenty-three trucks I will need to track down in person.”

Jericho spotted Donald Bentley’s name on the list and frowned. “I’d like to accompany you if you decide to speak with Donald.”

Paige accepted the list he was passing back over and scanned the names for a Donald. Halfway down, she spotted Donald Bentley. “I’m sure I will,” Paige decided. “He lives in Gunnison. The vehicle was traveling in that direction when it struck Darla in the back. He’s not at the top of my suspect list; but, the age is right for the mysterious elderly gentleman that was ejected that night. Could be nothing, but...”

“But you have to check,” Jericho nodded. “And I’d like to be there when you do.”

“Because?” Paige frowned.

“Because he’s an old friend,” Jericho provided. “We can head out tomorrow afternoon. That should give you enough time to investigate the top suspects on that list. Meet me here at fourteen hundred, I’ll drive.”

Paige was still frowning as Jericho headed out the back door.

\*\*\*\*\*

“What’s the status?” Jericho asked when Paige stepped into his office the following afternoon.

“I found a couple of possibles,” Paige dropped into his chair. “Dick Crenshaw doesn’t have an alibi and I can put him at Joe’s bar on the night in question. If you ask me, he’s evading because he went home with some bar fly and he doesn’t want his wife to know — Not because he ran over Darla Johnson. I looked at his truck and it doesn’t look like he’s had any work done on it lately.”

“Anyone else?” Jericho was hoping Paige would find their suspect and it wouldn’t be necessary to bother Don.

“I’m still working on a guy named Benny Twohill,” Paige glanced at her notes. “He’s a real winner. Claims his truck wasn’t running on the night in question. And, looking at that hunk of junk, it’s possible. He has the thing up on blocks and has clearly been working on it for days. The question is when it got that way — before or after Darla was injured. I’m not sure there’s an inch of that truck that hasn’t sustained damage of some kind or other. Plus, he’s shifty and evaded most of my questions. That definitely put him on my radar; but, neither headlight was broken, and the front bumper had plenty of dents, but they looked old to me.”

“Doesn’t mean the lights weren’t replaced,” Jericho decided. “But, the shifty attitude could just mean he’s dirty, not necessarily that he’s your driver.”

“I agree,” Paige set down her pad. “I still don’t have anything concrete. Those two are still on my list, but they’ve dropped down significantly.”

“Then,” Jericho stood. “I guess it’s time to head to Gunnison.”

Once they were on the highway heading toward the Bentley home, Paige shifted and focused on Jericho. “Tell me what it is about this guy that makes you feel like you need to protect him — from me.”

Jericho started to deny it; then, sighed and focused on the road ahead of them. “I’ve known Donald Bentley for a long time. He never lived in Manti, but he was a big supporter of our city. Huge supporter to law enforcement. He lives comfortably in Gunnison because that’s where his wife grew up and she loved it there. He met Molly in college. They both graduated with a bachelor’s in business of some sort or other. They were married shortly afterwards. Don went on to get his MBA, moved to Molly’s hometown, and opened up a feed and garden store. He and Molly had one child, Charity. She was their pride and joy. Grew up to work in her dad’s store, which had expanded into farm equipment and implements. She took over when he decided to retire. The business expanded even further under Charity’s leadership. She never married, I guess she was married to the business.”

“What happened?” Paige asked. It didn’t escape her notice that Jericho was talking about Charity in past tense, not present.

“Don and Molly seemed to have a wonderful life,” Jericho continued. “They celebrated their fiftieth anniversary last year. Their marriage was strong; and you could see, even after all that time, they were still madly in love with each other. As a gift, Charity purchased an all expense paid trip to New York, sort of a mother-daughter getaway thing. Donald was thrilled and didn’t mind being left home alone. Molly and Charity didn’t see each other often and Molly had always wanted to take a girl’s trip to the Big Apple to shop and visit all the famous sites. Donald has knee trouble and couldn’t keep up with his girl’s, anyway. As an added bonus, Charity gave her father a week’s rental at his favorite fishing resort. Donald said goodbye one day, checked into a cabin on the lake the next, and two days later, he was informed that both his wife and his daughter had been murdered in New York. Some horrific mugging gone wrong.”

Paige remained silent, wondering if Jericho had a soft spot for the man because of what happened to her mother — the love of his life.

“Anyway,” Jericho pushed aside the melancholy and the empathy he was feeling for Donald. “I just want to be here when you speak to him. Having a deputy, in uniform, show up on his doorstep might...”

“Might take him back to the night his family was killed,” Paige realized. “I understand.”

They pulled into the driveway of a well-kept family home. Paige glanced around but didn’t see an old pickup truck. She wondered why the man kept something so outdated when he could clearly afford a new one. She followed her boss to the front steps and waited a few feet back while two friends said hello.

“Don,” Jericho sobered. “This is Deputy Paige Carter and we’re here on official business.”

“Come in,” Donald said, trying to hide his nervousness. *Why did it have to be Jericho that showed up on his doorstep?* He knew he deserved to be behind bars, but he wasn’t sure he could handle being cuffed and thrown into the back of a police car by Jericho Walters. “Have a seat. Would you like anything to drink?”

“No, thank you,” Paige held up a hand. “I just have a few questions, Donald. I’m working on a hit-and-run case and I’m speaking with everyone that owns an older model Chevrolet pickup truck. The DMV records show that you own a model like the one I am looking for.”

“I do own a Chevy,” he glanced at Jericho, unable to look the friendly officer in the eye. “You know that, Jericho. It’s the one I used to transport feed.”

“Can we look at it, Don?” Jericho asked softly.

“Oh,” Don feigned surprise to hide his panic. He just hoped he removed all the evidence the day before. “Sure, it’s in the barn. We can go out through here.” He led the group through a small sitting room, into an open, spacious living area, and out a large French door. They crossed a back patio and made their way across the back lawn to a large barn. Don opened the door, stepped inside, and flipped on the overhead lights. The truck was sitting in the center aisle. Empty stables ran down one side of the building, a tack room and a hay loft on the other.

Paige moved forward to study the vehicle. It had both headlights and neither one looked new. There was no way this truck was involved in the incident. Both headlights on this truck were oxidized, not new and shiny. The truck looked clean, like it had been washed recently but Paige couldn’t see any indication the bumper had been damaged. “Thank you for your time,” she said, glancing at Jericho for direction.

“Have you ever been to The Wooden Nickel, in Manti, Don?” Jericho asked.

“I don’t think so,” Don lied.

“So,” Jericho pressed. “If I were to show your picture around to the staff, nobody would recognize you?”

“I don’t think so,” Don hoped Jericho was bluffing.

Jericho studied his old friend for a long time before he nodded, turned and walked outside. “I appreciate your time, Don. Don’t be a stranger.”

Paige and Jericho rode back to Manti, to the police station, in complete silence. Paige didn’t know what was wrong, but she knew Jericho was upset. Clearly, he believed Don was their suspect. But why? Jericho pulled into his parking spot, shut down the car and just sat there. Finally, Paige couldn’t stand it any longer. “You think he did it?”

“I know he did,” Jericho sighed. “And, I know you have to go after him. But, I can’t be involved.”

“Because of my mom?” Paige asked.

Jericho studied Paige for several long seconds before he answered. “I understand what Don is dealing with. I lived it, nearly destroyed my own life with booze. His misery pushed him to make a bad decision, one that will destroy the rest of his life. A life that has already been destroyed, probably beyond repair. I can’t be a part of this Paige, I just can’t.”

“His house didn’t look like the home of an alcoholic,” Paige began. “I mean, I remember crazy Netty Simmons. Her house had empty bottles, half-empty bottles, and dirty glasses everywhere. She also wreaked first thing in the morning, like she drank so much booze it oozed from her pours. Donald Bentley is not an alcoholic. So, how can you be so sure he did this?”

“He’s not an alcoholic, Paige,” Jericho said softly. “He’s self-medicating. The night that girl was hit; that was the one-year anniversary of the murder. His wife and his daughter died that very night one-year earlier. I know you understand how devastating death is. Your mother was murdered, and it was hard on you. But...”

“But he lost the love of his life,” Paige nodded. “And his only daughter. Did you ever? Drink on the anniversary of mom’s death, I mean?”

“Did I?” Jericho laughed. “Paige, I still do. It’s the one and only night I allow myself to use alcohol to numb the pain. I know it won’t help. I know all it does is delay the inevitable. Yet...”

“I’m sorry,” Paige focused out the front windshield. “And, I’m sorry for Donald Bentley.”

“But you have to do the job,” Jericho said softly. “I just don’t have to help you. I can’t.”

“Sometimes,” Paige decided. “The job sucks.”

Jericho smiled. “Yes,” he agreed. “Sometimes it does.”

“Can I ask you something?” Paige hesitated. “How can you be sure? I looked at the truck. The headlights aren’t broken. They haven’t been replaced.”

“Yes,” Jericho sighed. “They have. One of them, anyway. He took the headlight off another truck, an earlier year, and put it on his truck.”

Paige frowned. “How could you tell?”

“They are nearly the same,” Jericho turned to study his deputy. “Nearly. But the design is slightly different. I know, because I used to own that model. One night, I took a corner too fast and hit a road marker. You know, those metal poles with the reflectors on them. I cracked my headlight and when I replaced it, I bought the wrong one. It bothered me until the day I sold the thing. I’m surprised you didn’t notice.”

“I wasn’t looking for that,” Paige admitted. “I was just looking for a broken light or a new replacement. If I had longer, I’m sure I would have seen the difference, eventually. But, how are we going to prove it was him? I mean, there was nothing at the residence that would point to him. I doubt a different, old headlight is going to be enough probably cause for a warrant to seize the truck. You might believe it was him, but I’m no closer to closing this case than I was an hour ago.”

“Paige,” Jericho scolded. “Stop looking for excuses and do your job. I know you don’t want to arrest Donald any more than I want you to. But, you must get justice for that poor woman. She was nearly killed because he decided to drink and drive.”

“Can I ask you one more question?” Paige said softly.

“Go ahead,” Jericho hoped it was one he could answer.

“Did you ever drink and drive?” she was looking out the side window but turned to face her boss. “When it was really bad, did you ever head over to a bar, get smashed, and drive home?”

“No,” Jericho said immediately. “I guess I have Chaya to thank for that. I may have. I didn’t care about anything, not even the fact it would have cost me the job, not back then — in the beginning. If you remember, Chaya didn’t want anyone to know about us. We kept our relationship a secret. I loved your mother more than I’ve ever loved anyone in this world. But, she insisted we had to keep things just between us. When she was killed, it nearly killed me. I didn’t know how to cope. I drank every night, but I had to hide it. I knew, if anyone spotted me, they’d realize Chaya and I were closer than we had let on. I got up every morning, went to work, did the job, and went home and drank myself into a stupor. Then, I got up and did it all again.”

“How long did it last?” Paige asked, wishing she’d been here to help somehow but knowing that even if she’d stayed, she was just a kid. She wouldn’t have been able to help this man deal with his loss.

“Too long,” Jericho said in dismissal. “It’s not a part of my life that I’m proud of. I think I’d like to leave it at that.”

“Okay,” Paige agreed. “On one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“From now on,” Paige said softly, “on the anniversary, we spend it together. And, you don’t drink more than one glass of wine or two beers. We’ll go fishing, or have a BBQ with Dax and the guys, or do whatever you want. But, we do it together and we do it sober.”

Jericho studied Paige for a long time before he answered. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and nodded. “It’s a deal.”

\*\*\*\*\*

It was ten o’clock the following morning when Donald Bentley stepped through the door of the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office. It was cool inside, and the décor was old but inviting somehow. He glanced around, spotted Deputy Carter and made his way to her desk.

“Mr. Bentley,” Paige said in surprise. “How can I help you?”

“I’m here to make a statement,” he said, settling into her visitor’s chair. “I’m hoping we can do this without Jericho. It’s just too hard to look an old friend in the eye and confess to something so... horrible.”

Paige glanced at Margie, saw the woman understood and escorted Donald to the conference room.

The instant the door was shut, Margie rushed into Jericho’s office. She told him what she had overheard and hesitantly relayed Donald’s request that Jericho not be present during the interview.

“Can you do me a favor, Marge?” Jericho asked.

“Anything,” Margie agreed.

“Can you call your son? Ask him if he can represent Donald. The stubborn fool will refuse, but maybe he could take this one on pro-bono.”

“Consider it done,” Margie told him. Five minutes later, she was standing on the outside of the conference room, knocking.

“Come in,” Paige called. She hadn’t gotten into the specifics of the case yet. Donald had just finished providing his personal information for the record.

“Donald’s attorney is on his way over,” Margie informed Paige. “He asked that you discontinue any questioning until he arrives.”

“I didn’t hire an attorney,” Donald objected. “He’ll just get in the way of me doing the right thing. My Molly would be so disappointed in me right now. I need to do the right thing. That poor woman. And it’s all my fault.”

“Don’t say another word,” Riley Gonzales interrupted as he stepped into the room. “Can I have just a few minutes with my client, Deputy Carter?”

Paige stood and followed Margie out the door. “Is Jericho paying the bill?”

“Nope,” Margie was still looking at the closed door. “Riley agreed to take this one on free of charge. He’s required to handle so many pro-bono cases annually and he thought this was a worthy cause. That man in there needs help, Paige. He does not need to go to prison for his mistake. Sure, it was a horrible, devastating mistake; but, rotting away in a prison cell won’t make things right.”

“I agree,” Paige glanced up and spotted Logan Reed. “Now, you just have to convince him.”

“I know he wants to throw the book at that man,” Margie said sadly. “Maybe you could talk to him. Help him understand.”

Paige wondered why she was the one that always had to be the voice of reason around here. She motioned to Logan and asked him to join her in the back. Once they stepped into the file area, she leaned against the wall. She started by telling him their suspect was inside the conference room with his attorney.

Logan interrupted. “I want to be there when you present this to the DA. I want that man to pay for what he did. We need to present a united front, insist they hit him as hard as they can, Paige. Stack the deck, throw the book at him, whatever.”

“I disagree,” Paige continued. She told him about Donald Bentley. About his friendship to Jericho. About his wife and daughter and their senseless murder. Then she explained the circumstances of that particular night. “I don’t expect you to understand,” Paige said in conclusion. “But, I do. I know what it’s like to have someone so close to you murdered. I know how helpless you feel. I know how devastating it is. I know what it’s like to hurt so much you can barely breathe through the pain. And, we all deal with it the best we can.”

“But Darla could have died,” Logan argued. “We can’t just give him a pass because he was hurting.”

“I didn’t say we should,” Paige countered. “I’m just saying I won’t push for the max. I won’t throw the book at him and I won’t ask the prosecutor to hammer him with everything he’s got. I won’t do it, Logan. I can’t.”

“Because he’s a friend of the boss?” Logan challenged.

“No,” Paige disagreed. “Because I believe in justice and I don’t believe that would be just. I believe it would be emotional. And, I believe it would be abusing the power and the responsibility we have as police officers. I also believe in mercy and if anyone deserves that, he does. He came to us. He’s here to confess. That has to count for something. Because, to be honest, in my entire career, that has never happened to me. Not like this. Sure, I’ve hammered a confession out of a suspect before; but, I have never had a guy walk in off the street, on his own, and tell me he wants to confess to a crime, that he has to face his punishment — because it’s the right thing to do. Maybe you should take a minute to think about that.” Paige heard her name and turned to head back to the conference room.

“I’ve advised my client he should not speak with you today, but he insists on giving you a statement,” Gonzales was clearly frustrated.

“I’m going to record this,” Paige informed Donald and his attorney. “And, Logan Reed is going to join us.” Paige motioned toward Logan. Once they were all settled inside the conference room Paige began. “First, I’m going to read you your rights.”

Paige sat silently listening while Donald explained the events of that evening. Jericho was spot on; the man was suffering. It was difficult to listen to his version of the events that night. He hadn’t meant to drink, had promised himself he wouldn’t, but the pain and the loss was too much. He was forced to drive to Manti because the bars in Gunnison were owned by neighbors that had known him and Molly most of their lives. They cut him off months earlier. Each bar in the area had told him he wasn’t welcome in their establishment. He knew they were just trying to help, but it forced him to seek out a bar in Manti instead of staying closer to home. He was able to drink enough at The Wooden Nickel to numb the pain, but not wipe it out completely. When the bartender booted him, when he was cut off, he’d been angry. He sat in the parking lot furious and a little lost for several minutes before he spotted the nearly full bottle of whiskey on the floorboard.

He wasn’t sure how long he sat there; but, when the parking lot was nearly empty, he knew it was time to head home. He told them he had only himself to blame. He’d become a man that he didn’t recognize any more, a man his wife would be ashamed to know. And, when he realized he’d nearly killed an innocent woman, a single mother with a child that depended on her to survive, he panicked. He’d switched out the damaged parts on his truck and hoped nobody would realize it was him. He said he hadn’t slept all night, knew he had to turn himself in, realized he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t. He was ready to accept the consequences of his actions. He just had one request. He wanted to speak with the woman he’d harmed. He needed to tell her he was sorry, and he wanted to make arrangements to pay for her hospital bills before he was locked away for his crime.

“I can call and ask her if she’s willing to speak with you,” Logan offered before he stood and left the room. Listening to the man describe the pain he’d been in, the reason he turned to alcohol that night, had changed Logan’s mind. He realized Paige was right. It wasn’t his job to arrest, convict, and condemn the guilty. It was his job to find and arrest them. From there, the system would determine the man’s fate. Once he spoke with Darla and explained the man’s request, he was leaving the rest up to Paige and the attorneys.

“Hello, Darla. It’s Deputy Logan Reed...” Logan explained what the man had requested and wasn’t a bit surprised when Darla agreed to the meeting. He returned to the conference room to make arrangements with Mr. Gonzales for his client to meet his victim. Paige had already contacted Tolman, who adamantly opposed the request. Paige reminded the local DA, Donald Bentley was not yet under arrest and she had no control over his movements until he was. She handed the phone to Gonzales who made arrangements for his client to surrender the following day.

Just before Paige left the office that day, Darla Johnson called. She insisted they drop all charges against Donald Bentley. When Paige explained why she couldn’t do that, Darla asked for the DA’s information. Paige rattled off the number, glad the entire mess was behind her. It was now James Tolman and Stan Donaldson’s problem. They could figure out how to deal with an angry Darla Johnson.

On her way to the car, Paige got another call. This time, it was from Logan. He told her he’d been at the hospital when Donald stopped in to see Darla. His voice softened when he relayed the encounter. Donald Bentley had broken down and cried as he apologized to his victim. He explained the situation and promised the young woman he would pay all her expenses. His accountant had been advised and the arrangements were already in place at the hospital. He couldn’t change what he had done, but he assured the weeping mother that he had learned his lesson, and he would never touch alcohol again as long as he lived. They all hoped that was a promise he could keep.

Paige stepped into her house and dropped onto the couch. She remembered thinking, just days ago, that Logan Reed was letting the job get personal. She wondered if he would make it and considered different ways to help him understand why you couldn’t let the job get personal. So, how had she allowed this case to affect her so profoundly? Because of Jericho that’s how. It was personal, to him and to her. She curled up on the arm of the couch and let herself cry. She wasn’t exactly sure why. For Donald? For Darla and her daughter, Mandy? For Jericho and the pain he was forced to suffer alone? Or, for herself? She just wasn’t sure.

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That’s how Dax found her. He understood she needed the release and thought he understood why after speaking with Jericho an hour ago. He also knew part of this was exhaustion and stress. So, he just sat down next to her and silently held her while she dealt with the ghosts of the past.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S3

**Tags:** Melanie P Smith, Paige Carter, Season 3

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### [Cultivated Defacement](https://melaniepsmith.com/cultivated-defacement/)

**Published:** August 28, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Cultivated Defacement (E5) - Dax and the team launch a rescue mission to save Zeus.  Paige and Jericho deal with mysterious crop circles propping up in wheat fields.  Aliens or troubled earthlings?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*CULTIVATED DEFACEMENT\*\*\*****

“Camille,” Zeus whispered through the small hole he’d created in the concrete wall. “It’s Zeus, do you remember me?”

“What are you doing here?” Camille whispered back. “You’re going to get my brother killed. They’ll make it look like he was attacked by insurgents, but it’ll be them. Don’t do anything that will endanger my brother.”

“Too late,” Zeus mumbled.

“What does that mean?” Camille demanded.

“The team should be here any day,” Zeus informed her. “We’re going to rescue you, then we’ll figure out a way to get word to Vato. Once you're safe, he can work things on his end.”

Camille remained silent for several long minutes. She was worried, now. Her older brother had always looked out for her. He had always protected her, and she knew this entire situation had to be hard on him. Harder for him than it was for her. But, she would not be the reason Vato was killed in action. What could she do? Refuse to go? That would make everything worse and Zeus, or one of the others, might be killed in the process. “Every one of you should have stayed out of this.”

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[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/5_Cultivated-Defacement.pdf)

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“Well,” Zeus grinned. “You’re going to have to take that up with your brother. Because Vato’s the one that enlisted our help.”

“He did?” Camille asked in surprise. That changed everything. “Tell me the plan.”

“My plan didn’t work so well,” Zeus admitted. “I was hoping they would house us together. That way, when the cavalry arrived, I could protect you while they cleared the way for our escape. With you over there and me over here that is going to be difficult. I have three guards at all times. Do you know what the schedule is over there?”

“I used to have more,” Camille told him. “Until a few days ago. I assume that was your doing.”

“Probably.”

“Now, I guess they think I’m helpless,” Camille was insulted by that. “I’m not by the way. But, you have three and I have one.”

“That’s good,” Zeus began to plan. “Cover the hole so they can’t see it. I’ll contact you when I’ve worked something out.”

“You? But, you’re also a prisoner,” Camille argued. “How are you going to rescue me?”

“I’m a prisoner by choice,” Zeus informed her. “And I think I might be able to make this work. Did I tap into your cell or just one near you?”

“No, it’s mine,” Camille answered. “I can see the hole. I’ll move the bed, so it’s hidden, but they never come inside anymore. They just open the door and hand me the food. Sometimes they will shackle me and take me outside after dark, but mostly they just leave me alone.”

“We knew they took you outside,” Zeus admitted. “Thor saw you one night, but he couldn’t get to you. There were too many guards.”

“Thor’s here, too?”

“He is,” Zeus affirmed. “He’s still on the outside and he was supposed to call in the rest of the team. They were in Utah, so it may have taken a few days to get here and formulate a plan; but, we need to be prepared. They could show up any time. When they do, we’ll need to move quickly.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Camille fretted. “Vato’s going to be in danger the second I’m out of their grasp. You have to find a way to get word to him in Iraq. He can’t die because of me.”

“We’ll warn him, somehow,” Zeus promised. “Now, pretend I’m not here. They can’t know we’re talking... or planning. It will spoil everything if we’re discovered.”

Camille moved the bed to cover up the hole. When the guard peeked through her window, she was standing on the far end trying to look out the small window.

“What are you doing?” the guard demanded.

“I just wanted to see the sunlight before dark,” Camille climbed back down. “Even when you take me outside, it’s after the sun sets. I haven’t seen daylight for weeks.”

“Don’t you try anything funny,” he ordered before moving back to the chair he’d been lounging in. He hated guarding prisoners. He’d rather be outside, walking the perimeter. He glanced back at the closed door, he could understand her need to see the outdoors. And, the sun would be setting within the hour. If he was going stir crazy working an eight-hour shift down here, she must be bonkers by now. He could allow her that simple pleasure. What harm could it do? He snatched up his magazine and once again began to daydream about building the perfect hotrod. Two more hours and he’d be off-duty. He couldn’t wait to hit the club, Sandra was supposed to be there tonight. There was nothing like spending time with Sandra.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige jerked awake at the sound of the phone. “Hello.”

“Did I wake you?” Dax asked, knowing he did.

“No,” Paige fibbed.

“Liar,” Dax smiled. “I just wanted to let you know we’re putting the plan in motion today. By late afternoon, Zee and Camille will be rescued, safe, and secure. Depending on their condition, we may start home; or, we might need to layover for a day. I’ll give you a call tonight if we’re staying.”

“Be careful,” Paige requested. “I know you’ve got it covered but just be careful. Reynolds is unpredictable.”

“Don’t worry,” Dax tried to sooth. “We’ve got this. Now, go downstairs, make a pot of coffee, and fix yourself something for breakfast. I woke you early enough that you have time to eat before heading out.”

Paige grumbled as she climbed from the bed, but she complied. “Call me as soon as you can, okay?”

“I promise,” Dax glanced at the noise behind him and spotted Hawk motioning him back inside. “I love you.” It was getting easier for him to tell her, now that he’d taken that first step.

“I love you, too,” Paige swallowed hard. She also missed him and wondered if she’d ever be able to get a good night’s sleep without Dax curled up next to her. It seemed to be the only way she was sure the man was okay. “Go plan your op,” she ordered. “I can tell you’re anxious to go. Just tell Hawk and the rest of the merry band of brothers, I’m going to hold them personally responsible if anything happens to you today.”

“Yeah,” Dax grinned. “I won’t be relaying that message any time soon. I’ll be fine, we all will. Go arrest someone, it’ll make you feel better.”

“See ya,” she replied before clicking off. She was going to worry. And, she was going to be grumpy at work now. So much for her game face. She was stressed and when she was stressed, she was impatient and intolerant. Jericho didn’t like it when she was intolerant. Well, he was just going to have to deal with it. If he complained, she’d tell him to take it up with Dax when he got home. She smiled, visualizing the response she would get from that demand. Maybe she’d keep it to herself.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige had just pulled out of her driveway, third cup of coffee doctored and secure in a travel mug – she needed the energy - when Margie called for her over the radio.

“Go ahead, Margie.”

“Can you respond out to the Cook farm?”

“Ten-four,” Paige made a U-turn and headed that way. “What do you have?”

“Vandalism,” Margie said cryptically.

“Tagging or something else?” Paige asked, reaching for the mug and taking a long sip of the hot liquid.

“Something else,” Margie replied. “He uh... well, Darren Cook is insisting his wheat field was vandalized by aliens.”

Paige spit out her coffee. “Can you repeat that?” She asked as she tried to wipe the sticky mess from the steering wheel.

“No,” Margie refused. “He’s waiting for you up by the house. Said he’ll escort you back to the scene of the crime.”

“Copy,” Paige sighed, knowing this was the last call she should be taking in her current, stressed out, state. Dealing with Darren Cook and his alien vandals was going to take every ounce of patience she possessed. At the moment, she gauged her tolerance level to be about negative five.

\*\*\*\*\*

“This isn’t going to be easy,” Dax lowered the binoculars and focused on his men. “It’s a large building and we only have five men. Wooley, you stick with me. Thor, you’re with Hawk. Jeeves, you hang back like we discussed. I want you in position to get to either team if there’s an emergency.”

“I’m not staying outside,” Jeeves argued as he studied the large building. “It’s too far away. I need to be inside. I can find a place to take cover and wait. We all go in, then the four of your split off and I’ll wait somewhere in the center.”

“That wasn’t the plan,” Hawk argued.

“He’s right,” Dax decided. “We all go in that door there,” he pointed to the side of the building. “That’s where you said they took Zee, right?”

“Yeah,” Thor nodded. There were currently two men guarding the door. “When he approached, there were only two men just like now. But, as soon as Zeus stepped through the gate, the men called for backup. We need to be prepared for reinforcements.”

“We stick to the plan,” Dax ordered. “Hawk, you approach the duo first. We’ll hang back and cover you. Once we see how they handle things, we move in. I want silence and stealth every step of the way. We move as a unit down the stairs and into the basement. We know that’s where they have to be, based on the floor plan it’s the only place that makes sense. I just hope they only have the two because we are not prepared for additional prisoners.”

“Who would they have?” Thor asked.

“We’ll deal with whatever we find,” Wooley interjected. “We have a secret weapon on the inside. Zeus may have already set things up to make our job easier.”

Dax grinned, there was no telling what Zee had been doing since he was escorted inside. Sitting idly by while he waited to be rescued was the only thing off the table. “Hawk, you're up.” Dax directed the instant they reached the front gate. He moved to the right and got into position. The other men took up their pre-arranged posts as well. They all waited to see how the guards would handle an intruder.

“Stop,” one of the guards yelled. “Don’t come any closer. State your business.”

“What is this place?” Hawk asked, taking another step forward. The two men didn’t seem to notice.

“It’s private property,” the second guard took a few steps forward. “You need to leave immediately.”

Hawk waited until the second guard took another step toward him. His movements were smooth and lethal. He shifted, bringing his elbow up to connect with the man’s temple. The guard went down immediately. He was out cold, sprawled in a large heap on the gravel driveway before the second guard realized there was trouble. Hawk maneuvered behind the remaining obstacle, wrapped his large arm around his neck and pressed firmly against his windpipe. The man passed out in a matter of seconds. He carefully lowered the dead weight to the ground and propped him against the outer wall, securing his wrist to a metal pipe with a zip tie. He turned to motion to the men, but they had already secured the first guard and were in position behind him.

“The instant we step inside, we turn right,” Dax ordered. “The stairwell should be no more than thirty feet on the left. You know what to do when we get to the bottom. Jeeves, you’re on your own. Find a safe place and stay quiet.”

The team moved silently into the warehouse. The instant Dax reached the bottom of the stairs, he realized their carefully laid out plan was a bust. Reynolds had made some major alterations to the original floor plan. And, apparently, he had managed to complete all of them off the books. There was no record of the modifications anywhere.

“Now what?” Wooley asked.

“We stick together,” Dax decided. “Jeeves, move in with us. You’re no good to us out here.”

Hawk moved in behind Dax and the five men made their way silently down the long corridor. At the end of the hallway stood a metal door. Dax reached out, expecting to find it locked. It wasn’t. Once again, he realized he was dealing with amateurs. “Pick up the plan once we’re inside. I’ll go left, Hawk and Thor go right. Jeeves...”

“I’m on my own,” Jeeves answered. “Got it.”

Inside the door was another door to the left and a short hallway to the right. After approximately fifty feet, it made a sharp ninety-degree turn to the left. Dax and Wooley waited until Hawk and Thor disappeared around the corner before they opened the door and moved forward. Just inside, they encountered a guard. The man was obviously taken by surprise and wasn’t prepared for trouble. Wooley disarmed him quickly and Dax slid open the door on the first cell, motioning for Wooley to escort their prisoner inside. Once the guy was locked up tight, his keys safely in Wooley’s pocket, they continued forward. They paused when they came to another corner. Dax pulled a small mirror from his pocket and used it to survey the area. He spotted a guard about half-way down the center aisle and another man sitting on a chair at the far end. Through the mirror, he watched as Thor moved forward to deal with the guard at the end. Dax darted forward and reached the center guard just before he could activate his walkie and call for help. By the time Dax and Thor had the guards incapacitated, Wooley had the door open and was handing a large pack to Zeus.

“I think you forgot something,” Wooley said, holding out the duffle that contained all of Zeus’ tools.

Zeus smiled and dropped the large bag on his bed. He slid open the side pocket and pulled out several items. “Tell Camille we’re coming.”

“What? How?” Thor glanced around.

“Through that hole,” he pointed to the area where he’d carved a hole in the block.

“Camille,” Thor called out. “Stand back, we’re coming to get you.”

Zeus finished attaching a short fuse to the concoction he’d just hastily thrown together. “Stand back,” he called through the hole. “Move to the far corner, Camille.”

“Okay,” Camille moved away from the hole and put her hands over her face.

“You too,” Zeus ordered the men. “Anyone got a light?”

Dax pulled a small metal lighter from another pocket on his vest and handed it to Zee. “Today would be nice. What kind of explosives expert travels without a lighter?”

“The kind that left in a hurry,” Zeus was grinning as he flipped the lid on the expensive lighter and flicked the roller with his thumb. He pressed the small flame to the fuse and dove for cover.

For a small device, the thing packed a punch. Cement flew in all directions as a large hole appeared in the wall. Jeeves was at the door to the cell in seconds. “Anyone hurt?”

“Naw,” Dax brushed the dust off his pants. “We’re all good. Camille, we’ve gotta move.”

A tiny woman appeared in the opening. Thor moved forward and lifted her over the debris that was now scattered in chunks all around them.

“The guard’s coming,” she warned.

Hawk moved forward and positioning his body to the right of the large hole. The instant the guard stepped into the opening, Hawk had him around the neck and incapacitated. “Let’s move,” he called out as he lowered the man to the floor.

“The group moved quickly back the way they had come. They expected trouble on the way out, but all they encountered were two additional guards that had heard the explosion and decided to investigate. They were dealt with by Hawk and Dax while the others continued forward. Once outside, the group flanked Camille as they silently made their way into the trees. The entire operation took less than ten minutes.

Once they were inside the car and driving away, Jeeves asked the question they all had on their minds. “Why was it so easy?”

“I don’t know,” Dax frowned. “But I’m changing the plan. We head home.”

“You think Reynolds sent men to the motel?” Hawk considered.

“Might have,” Dax confirmed. “I’m not taking any chances. We just rescued Camille, I’m not risking her safety any more than necessary. We cleaned out the room before we left this morning. There’s nothing we need there. She’ll be safer in Utah until we can get Porter to stash her in a safe house somewhere. Grab that map,” he ordered Hawk. “Find me an obscure route that Reynolds would never dream we would take.”

“We have to call Vato,” Camille demanded. “He’s going to be in danger, we have to warn him.”

“First,” Hawk opened the map. “We have to avoid an ambush.”

“Carmen,” Zeus was using Thor’s phone to call his girl.

“Zeus?” Carmen answered. “Is that really you?”

“Yeah, baby, it’s me and I’m fine,” he grinned, relieved to hear her voice. He could hear the worry and concern; and, for the first time, realized she cared as much as he did. “We’re all fine. We can talk later. Right now, I need those mad hacker skills of yours. See what you can find as far as video, maybe Reynolds has a security system, or scan traffic cams, anything you can get us. We think his men may be setting up blockades. We’re heading out now, on our way back home to you, but we need to find a safe route out of here.”

Carmen dropped into her executive chair and started searching for anything that would give her a visual on the area. Zeus could hear the click, click, click of the keys as Carmen’s fingers flew over the keyboard.

“Okay,” Carmen finally said. “Reynolds has security, and it’s tied to another office building in Flagstaff. Looks like five minutes ago seven large SUV’s funneled out of the parking garage in a hurry.”

“What tipped them off?” Zeus wondered. “I assume they were headed for the warehouse.”

“They were,” Carmen continued to tap on the keyboard. “Okay, here’s another angle. Looks like they saw Hawk take out those two guards at the door. And, I can see all of you enter the building.”

“They were headed our way, so what happened?” Zeus wondered.

“I’ve got a traffic cam,” Carmen advised. “Let me sync this up with the warehouse footage. Okay, yeah. Looks like they split off at the same time you exited the building. When you disappear into the trees, they changed course. I’m watching another traffic camera, but they never come through this intersection.”

“Any idea where they went?” Zeus asked.

Carmen was scrolling through cameras, trying to find the convoy. “Got ‘em,” she exclaimed. “Four SUVs are headed north up eighty-nine and they’re really booking it.”

“That’s them,” Zeus decided. “Avoid eighty-nine.”

“Hawk,” Dax barked. “I need a road.”

“I’ve lost the other three, but it looks like they may have split off and headed up I-15,” Carmen advised.

“We can’t take fifteen, either,” Zeus told Hawk. “I’m guessing they’re working their way north until they find a remote area they can set up and wait. They couldn’t get to us at the warehouse so they’re planning an ambush.”

“Take forty to Winslow,” Hawk decided. “Then, we’re going to head north on eighty-seven until we intersect one-sixty and continue north into Utah. Just after Hanksville, we’ll intersect I-70 and head west to the Emery cut-off. From there we’ll head north into Castle Dale and cut over the hump into Manti.”

“Tell Carmen the route we’re taking in case we run into trouble and need Porter to send in reinforcements,” Dax decided. “We’ll switch off when I get tired and drive straight through. I’m guessing we’ll hit Manti sometime tomorrow.”

Zeus handed the phone to Hawk, who relayed their route and told Carmen to notify Porter they were on their way home. He also told her to let the General know Reynolds had men looking for them on eighty-nine and probably I-15 as well.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was standing in the middle of a wheat field when her phone rang. She glanced at the display and saw it was Dax. “Did it go okay?” she said in greeting.

“Too well,” Dax admitted. “We didn’t have any trouble at all. Carmen can’t get us anything off the satellite for several hours. But Reynolds men have the main highways covered. We think they’re waiting for us somewhere along the way. We’re taking back roads, which will take longer, but we should be home sometime tomorrow.”

“And Zeus is okay?”

“Yeah,” Dax smiled. “He’s fine and so is Camille. He’s already talked to Carmen so that should put her mind at ease. Hawk asked our favorite tech guru to contact Porter. He’s working on better satellite from the high-tech stuff they have at the Pentagon. We need to know if those guys continue on to Manti or turn back when they realize they lost us.”

“That’s good,” Paige spotted something on the ground and crouched to get a better look.

“You sound busy,” Dax observed.

“Naw,” Paige smiled. “Just chasing aliens.”

“What? Never mind. I won’t keep you.”

“Zeus,” Camille pressed. “You promised we would warn Vato.”

“Paige,” Dax added.

“Yeah,” she straightened and continued to walk the elaborate design that had been pressed into the field overnight.

“Can you call Porter,” he began. “Ask him to find a way to contact Vato in Iraq. He needs to know we rescued his sister and he could be in trouble. Apparently, Reynolds has men watching him over there and Camille thinks they’ll orchestrate an accident of some kind to take him out permanently.”

“I’ll call Nathan,” Paige assured him. “He has ways. Tell her not to worry.”

“See you soon,” he ended the call and relayed the information to the group. Then he settled in for a long drive home.

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\*\*\*\*\*

“I understand why you think it was aliens,” Paige said for the third time. “But, it wasn’t. I’ll prove it, but you have to give me space to investigate.”

“How’d they get in there, then?” Darren Cook demanded. “A vehicle would have left tracks. They had to drop down from the sky and land right there in my field.”

“And you think their spaceship was shaped like that? With the large spiraling circle in the middle and three circles on the outside?”

“Sure,” Cook insisted. “The middle part is where they travel — you know, the main section of the pod — and the three circles would be the landing gear.”

“How about we just agree to disagree? You operate under the assumption aliens created this mess and I’ll look for a more human answer,” Paige was tired of this nonsense and wished, more than anything, Gage was the one to get the call this morning. She glanced up at the sound of a vehicle and was relieved to see her boss pulling up next to the field. He could deal with the unreasonable homeowner while she searched for actual clues to explain the anomaly.

“Darren,” Jericho said in greeting. “Paige.”

“Your deputy is being difficult,” Darren said immediately. “How can you deny the obvious, I say?”

“And that would be?” Jericho grinned when he saw Paige rolling her eyes.

“Aliens,” Darren said, exasperated. “Clear as day. What else?”

“I think maybe we should rule out human involvement first,” Jericho suggested. “Then we can look at possible terrestrial activity.”

“That’s what she said,” Darren actually pouted. “You think I’ll get in the papers? You think I’ll be famous?”

“The Enquirer loves this stuff,” Paige mumbled. She shrugged at the look of censure she was getting from her boss. “I need to make a call,” she changed the subject. “Dax called. Everything went well but I need to give Nathan some information.”

“I’ll handle things here,” Jericho understood just how much that news meant to Paige. She could use a minute to unwind. Clearly, Darren Cook was grating on her last nerve.

Paige moved up the hill, away from Cook and her boss. She needed privacy for this call. She settled onto a rock and dialed her favorite general.

“I already spoke to Carmen,” Porter advised. “I’m working on it, Paige. I’ll make sure the boys get back unharmed.”

“Camille, Vato’s sister, is worried about her brother,” Paige answered. “Dax was hoping you could find a way to get word to him in Iraq. Let him know Camille is safe and he might be in danger.”

“They think Reynolds will take him out,” Nathan realized. “They were holding his sister for leverage. Now that’s been thwarted, Reynolds men will no longer be able to control Vato. He’ll become a liability.”

“Exactly,” Paige was glad he understood so quickly.

“I’ll handle it,” Nathan assured her. “I have a contact in Baghdad. He’ll know who to trust out there. Don’t worry about Vato, he’ll get the message. So, does that mean Dax trusts his team member again?”

“He doesn’t know what to think,” Paige said softly. “I know he wants to, but after that call...”

“He’s being cautious,” Nathan finished for her. “I don’t blame him. You don’t always know who your friends are. I’ve learned that lesson well over the past few months.”

“I’m sorry Reynolds turned out to be dirty,” Paige understood just how much Nathan Porter was struggling with the betrayal. He chose his friends wisely and didn’t trust easily. Reynolds actions would impact him for a very long time.

“We have to accept things as they are,” Nathan tried to shake off the disappointment. “Anyway, I’ll get word to Vato and I’ll make sure the others have cover. Anything else?”

“Nope,” Paige stood. “That pretty much covers it. Now, I have to go investigate some aliens. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Aliens? Never mind, you can tell me tonight when I call.”

Paige disconnected and turned to head back to the field when something caught her attention. She made her way to the other side of the hill and crouched down to study the ground. A vehicle was parked here recently. She pulled out her phone and dialed Jericho.

“What’d you find?”

“Ask Darren if he ever parks his truck on the other side of this hill,” Paige answered.

“He says no,” Jericho said a moment later.

“Then I think I found your aliens and they don’t use a spaceship for transpo.”

“I’ll be there in a minute,” Jericho decided. “Minus Cook. He’s headed back to the house to call the Messenger. He’s hoping if the local paper takes notice, the big national syndicates will catch on.”

Once Jericho arrived, Paige showed him what she had found. The two of them documented the area where the vehicle had been parked, thoroughly. Once that was finished, they searched the surrounding area and discovered a small trail where the grass and wheat had been wallowed down by what looked like foot traffic. Paige couldn’t find wheel marks but there was a clear path leading to the field where the design began. She figured whoever did this, started and ended in the same spot. Then, they packed up and followed their original trail back to the vehicle and drove away. She hadn’t determined the method they used to make the design yet, but she was confident she would – eventually. The thing was too large to have been made by one man stomping the wheat into the ground. He, or they, had to have some kind of device. Probably something they drug behind them that pressed the stocks into the ground as they went.

It was late in the evening when Paige finally stepped into the office and headed for her desk. She spotted the green rubber alien prominently displayed in front of her keyboard and smiled. “Looks like Havi’s back.” She turned when she heard him laughing. “Cute.”

“I thought so,” Havilland settled into his chair. “Just my luck, aliens visit Manti, and I’m scheduled to work the late shift.”

“Maybe they’ll come back,” Paige suggested. “Be sure to keep a camera on you at all times, just in case.”

“You figure out whodunit?”

“Nope,” Paige settled into her chair. “But I will.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“You’re sure this is okay?” the analyst questioned as Nathan maneuvered the satellite into position.

“Why don’t you head out and grab yourself a cup of coffee,” Nathan suggested.

“You know I can’t leave you in here alone, sir,” the man declined.

Nathan was about to respond when the door opened and Mike Harris, the Secretary of Defense, stepped inside. “Take a break,” Harris ordered the shocked employee that was now standing at attention. The man rushed out the door, obviously happy to have an escape. “Nathan.”

“Mike,” Nathan said casually as he studied the data the satellite was now collecting, hoping he got the coordinates right.

“Mind telling me what this is about?”

“Are you sure you want to know?” Porter answered without taking his eyes off the screen. He was now sifting through highly classified images Homeland Security had captured through various means along the route from Flagstaff to Utah. He found what he was looking for almost immediately. Several vehicles had left Flagstaff and were now headed toward Utah on both I-15 and US-89. Dax had been smart to find another way home.

“This is a secure room and you are manipulating expensive satellite systems and accessing private data for what I can only assume are personal reasons,” Harris challenged. “I need an explanation, one that justifies all of this,” he waved his hand around the room. “Otherwise, I’ll be forced to report you to the ethics committee and we both know they’ll jerk your credentials. Not even your vast number of contacts will save you, this time.”

Nathan smiled at his old friend. “It’s official business, Michael.”

“Official committee business,” Mike asked for clarification. He knew Porter well. The man wouldn’t lie, but he would deceive.

“That’s right,” Nathan punched in a few more buttons and waited for the new images to come into view. “And we both know I have the knowledge, the credentials and the authority to utilize this system when our nation’s security is at stake.”

“And, we also know Homeland Security would need to be notified of such an event,” Mike once again said in challenge.

“Jeff has been appraised,” Nathan smiled. “That surprised you? Waylon’s a good man. I trust him completely. And, like you said, Homeland should know about any threat inside our borders.”

“If you are using my equipment and utilizing my men in the Middle-East,” Mike countered. “I should know.”

“Lock the door,” Nathan considered. Someone in the chain had called in the big guns. Maybe it was time to read Harris in. The satellite was in position and he just learned all he was going to from the sparse video available in the database. He could take a quick break. “I’ll tell you a story. One that you will need to keep to yourself. I’m talking the highest level here, Mike. You can’t even share it with the Undersecretary.”

“Tell me,” Harris said flatly. “Then we’ll discuss who is authorized to have the Intel.”

Nathan decided that would have to do. Once Mike knew there was an operative in his ranks, he’d understand the need to keep it under wraps. Reynolds was well connected in Washington. He was also good friends with Undersecretary Bratton. He settled in and started at the beginning. When he finished, Harris was frowning.

“You’re right,” Mike said softly. “Nobody can know about this. How the hell did the information on our drones get into the hands of our enemy? We discovered the flaw, but that was supposed to stay hidden until they were replaced.”

“In a word,” Porter sighed. “Reynolds.”

“Right,” Harris considered. “He would have received all the data because he was working on a replacement. And the drones that were aboard that ship? Were they the new design? The one he was pimping to the Pentagon?”

“They were,” Nathan said soberly. “We have a cluster on our hands, Mike. I’m trying my best to contain it.”

“And you’re using Hamilton and his team as your boots on the ground?”

“It seemed like a good solution,” Nathan shrugged. “They were going to rescue Dax no matter what I said, and they have the skills to handle whatever mission might arise in the future.”

“And this Vato,” Mike frowned. “What is his real name, anyway? Can we trust him?”

“That remains to be seen,” Porter said honestly. “But, I felt it was important to warn him. And, he needed to know his sister is safe. Whatever he’s been doing out there, it was under duress. And someone under your command orchestrated that as well.”

“It should be easy enough for me to find out who altered the orders,” Mike considered. “I’ll have to look that up myself and, that alone, will come off as suspicious.”

“If you can give my tech access,” Nathan offered, “Carmen can find it without anyone knowing she was even in there.”

“She’s that good?”

“Better.”

“Then consider it done,” Mike stood. “Now, I have some work to do but I want to be kept in the loop on this. Up until now, you’ve been handling everything on your own. That stops today. I’m not the enemy, Nate. I can watch your back in ways nobody else can. Meet me back here tomorrow at fifteen hundred and we’ll decide where to go from there.”

“Thanks, Mike,” Nathan stood. He could trust Mike Harris. They went back a ways, and the man was the only person alive that could get away with calling him Nate.

“And Hamilton? Is his team currently in danger?” Mike asked.

“Some,” Nathan admitted. “I’m just keeping an eye out, for now. Reynolds has men positioned on the two main highways, most likely they are hoping to intercept the cargo and return it to the warehouse. Hamilton and his men would be expendable at this point. If the convoy continues into Manti that might pose a new threat.”

“Do me a favor and put those things back where you found them,” Mike pointed at the satellite equipment. “I have a better solution. One that won’t cost a fortune and won’t mess up any covert ops we have underway that might be counting on that imagery.”

“And that is? The other plan, I mean?” Nathan turned back to the equipment and began readjusting knobs.

“I think it’s time we ran a few exercises,” Mike smiled. “See how well our Blackhawks can maneuver over a populated area.”

“Can I recommend low elevation flying? That just might scare Reynolds men enough to back off,” Porter grinned. “The team is taking a different route home, but I’d like to shove a few birds up that arrogant pricks behind right about now. Reynolds needs a wake-up call. In fact, do you have any Apache gunships in need of training?”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Mike was laughing as he left the room. Reynolds was messing with the wrong man. He should know better. General Nathan Porter was not an individual you could cross and walk away unscathed. Reynolds was going to learn that lesson first hand, the hard way. And, Mike was going to enjoy watching from the cheap seats. As far as he was concerned, Cole Reynolds was a traitor to his country and he needed to be brought down — hard. He was more than happy to provide any assistance his old friend needed to make that happen.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige had searched the internet for hours. She’d read dozens of articles on crop circles and even skimmed through a few details on wheat fields. Nothing jumped out at her and she was no closer to figuring out the mystery than she’d been that afternoon. She was stumped, and it annoyed her. Then, just before she left the office, Jericho informed her the Sanpete Messenger had picked up the story. Darren Cook convinced some reporter they were dealing with aliens. She wanted to know if Manti was the new Area 51. Top that off with the fact Dax still wasn’t home and she was in a foul mood when she stepped through her front door. The annoyance was bumped up a notch when her phone began to ring. She picked it up just before it switched over to voicemail.

“You need to make Hamilton and his team back off,” a strange, clearly distorted voice warned. “Tell them to mind their own business or their interference is going to cost all of you. You don’t want to test me. Back off or die.”

“Idiot,” Paige said before she slammed down the phone and dialed Porter. He needed to know there was a new threat.

Nathan was torn. He was feeling a strange combination of satisfaction and terror. Obviously, Mike’s Blackhawk training did the trick. But, in return, Reynolds was now threatening Paige, and Dax wasn’t around to keep an eye on her.

“I can hear your worry from here,” Paige scolded. “First of all, he said to warn Dax. I can’t do that until he gets home. Once he does, you can give my neighbor strict orders to protect me, again. We both know you’re going to, so let’s not pretend otherwise. And, I’m going to get Carmen over here to trace that call. She might not be able to do anything on my end, but she can hack the phone company’s records and see where the thing originated. Once we know that, we’ll deal with it. Reynolds is just upset because we stole his insurance policy. Whatever he had planned over in Iraq just got derailed and he’s feeling desperate. You did warn Vato, right?”

“He knows,” Porter sighed. “My contact confirmed the message was delivered an hour ago. Call me as soon as the team arrives. I have a man waiting in the wings. He’s going to head down there and pick up Camille. At least she’ll be safe until this is all over.”

“Nathan,” Paige said softly. “Be careful. The best way to make me pay, would be to harm you. And taking you out would solve a lot of their problems.”

“The feeling is mutual,” Nathan warned. “And I don’t like knowing you’re out there by yourself tonight. The unit is on their way, but it could be hours before they arrive. Can you do me a favor and have Carmen stay with you? She’s probably more vulnerable than anyone right now.”

“I’ll call her as soon as we hang up,” Paige promised. “I need her to take a look at the phone, anyway.”

“Goodnight, princess,” Nathan responded. “Stay safe and I love you, kid.”

Paige was still smiling at the simple endearment when Carmen answered her call.

“Are they back?”

“No,” Paige answered. “Not yet. But, I need you to pack an overnight bag and head to my house.”

“Why?”

“I got a call,” Paige was choosing her words carefully. “I need you to see if you can trace it. And, it was a threat. I’d feel better if you didn’t stay home alone tonight.”

“They threatened me?” Carmen frowned.

“No,” Paige said slowly. “They threatened all of us. Said something bad was going to happen if the guys didn’t back off. Since they won’t, I need you where I can protect you.”

“And who will protect you?”

“I’m a cop,” Paige said, offended. “I’ll protect myself. I’ll be waiting.” She disconnected the call, unwilling to argue with her friend over this. Once Zeus was home, Carmen could stay with him. Until then, she was staying with Paige and that was non-negotiable.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige woke to a man standing in her doorway. She grabbed her gun and pointed it in the general direction of the intruder.

“Paige,” Dax said unconcerned. “It’s me. Put that way before you shoot someone. Why are you so jumpy tonight?”

“I had a phone call,” Paige told him.

“What kind of call?”

“A ‘stop looking into my business or die’ kind of phone call,” Paige said in response.

“Someone threatened you?” Dax moved across the room and settled onto the bed next to her. “Do you know who?”

“I called Nathan,” Paige told him. “And, Carmen is working on it.”

“Are you sure it has to do with Reynolds and not a case you’re working?”

“I’m sure,” Paige sat up and gave him a gentle kiss. She was so happy to have him home, but she didn’t want to overdo it. “He, well they, the voice was distorted. They said, tell Hamilton to back off. Tell him to mind his own business or all of you will pay; or, something close to that. Then he said back off or die.”

Dax was fuming. They solved one problem, and another popped up. “Did it scare you? Worry you?”

“No, Dax,” Paige said irritated now. “It pissed me off. I called Nathan to let him know, then I made Carmen stay with me.”

“And, you decided to sleep with a gun under your pillow.”

“I always do that,” she said defensively.

“Not always,” Dax knew she didn’t do that when he was here. “Sorry I had to leave you again. Nothing is going to happen. Not to you, not to Carmen, not to anyone. These guys are worried, that tells me we’re hitting them where it hurts. But, threatening me and my team, through you... now, they’ve gone too far.”

“I’d say they went too far when they kidnapped and tortured you,” Paige said flatly. “And when they shot you, but semantics, right?”

“That too,” Dax stood and started to undress. He slipped into bed beside her and pulled her against him. “I missed this.” He kissed the top of her head and finally relaxed. He was beat from driving thirteen hours, the long way, but he also missed their conversations. “Maybe you could tell me about the aliens.”

Paige moaned. “Not you, too.”

“You’re the one that left me hanging,” Dax accused.

Paige cuddled up against him and relayed the details of her case.

Dax was laughing by the time Paige finished. He loved this time together, loved hearing her tell him about her day. Loved her. “So, what’s next?” he pushed his own emotions aside, not knowing what to do with them or where they would lead. He was satisfied to wait, to coast along for a while, rather than push and risk making a mistake.

“I have no idea,” Paige said in frustration. “But, if my phone wakes me up again... I’m pulling that sucker out of the wall.”

“Sorry,” Dax kissed her forehead. “I guess I should have let you sleep.”

“That’s not it,” Paige brushed that aside. “It’s being pulled out of bed for nonsense that irritates me. You should have seen Darren Cook. There was no reasoning with that man. He is convinced aliens are responsible and he wouldn’t even consider a more logical explanation. Jericho said Darren lit a fire under a reporter and she’s printing some nonsense about aliens, Area 51, and a Manti invasion.”

“That should be interesting,” Dax decided. “But where are you going to go from here?”

“To sleep?” Paige evaded.

“I can see you’re tired,” Dax pulled her closer. “Let’s sleep on it and we can discuss it further in the morning.”

“Okay,” Paige yawned and within seconds she was fast asleep.

Dax didn’t go down as easily. He was fuming inside. Threatening Paige had just sealed Reynold’s fate. If Nathan didn’t take him down good and hard, Dax would. Reynolds could come after him, threaten him, but threatening the woman he loved — that was so far over the line, you could no longer see the line. Reynolds was going to pay dearly for his arrogance and he wouldn’t even see it coming.

\*\*\*\*\*

The following morning, Paige was once again awakened by the ringing of her phone. “I need to shut that thing off before I settle in at night,” she mumbled before snatching up the receiver. “Hello.”

“Hope I didn’t wake you,” Havilland greeted. “I know sleeping beauty needs her rest.”

“What do you want?”

“Grumpy much?” Havilland said cheerfully. “Don’t hang up. The aliens are at it again. Another crop was hit last night. Different design, but I want you to take a look and see if the method is the same.”

“Right,” Paige climbed out of bed. “Because otherwise, we have a rival terrestrial visitor competing for the blue ribbon award by making crop circles.”

“You know,” Havilland grinned. “I hadn’t thought of that. Let me run it by the owner and see what he thinks.”

“Oh,” Paige slipped into jeans and a tee. If she had to report early, she was going to be comfortable. “Then you decided you don’t want me to respond out there and take a look.”

“Have some coffee before you come out,” Havilland ordered. “You’re pretty unreasonable before you have your morning brew.” He disconnected before she could respond.

\*\*\*\*\*

Once again, Paige found herself walking through a large wheat field first thing in the morning. Good thing she didn’t have allergies. “Same method,” she confirmed. “Different design. And, hum...”

“What?” Havilland asked.

“I don’t know,” Paige took a moment to turn slowly in a circle and survey the entire field. “There’s something different about it. I’d almost say this one was made by an entirely different person. The circles are different. More pronounced. Yesterday, the circles were sloppy, I guess you could say. These are perfectly round, and I bet if you measured them, each one would be exactly the same distance apart.”

“So, what does that mean?” Havilland was frowning. “Rival aliens after all?”

“No,” Paige started to walk again. “Did you find where they parked the truck?”

“Yeah,” Havilland pointed toward a ridgeline. “Up there, just like you said.”

Paige nodded and moved to check the area for herself. Even this was the same, but different somehow. The entire thing was strange, and she found herself more perplexed than she wanted to be. “Let’s just document it and then we can compare this scene to the information I gathered yesterday. Looks like you got your wish, Havi.”

“What’s that?”

“The aliens came back to say hello,” Paige laughed as she made her way to the edge of the field to start snapping pictures.

\*\*\*\*\*

“So, what we have here... is a failure to communicate,” Havilland grinned as he dropped into his chair. “I mean, on the alien’s part. If they’re going to send a message to us earthlings, the least they could do is make sure we understand what they’re saying.”

Paige was doing her best to ignore her colleague at the moment. She was searching the internet for answers and so far, she hadn’t found any. There were various ways the crops had been tagged with strange art, but none of them seemed to be at play in Manti.

Jericho stepped through the front door, paused to retrieve messages from Margie, then turned to address his deputies. “You two, in my office.”

“Now you’ve done it,” Havilland accused. “It’s my first day on the job and I’m already being called into the principal’s office.”

“It’s hardly your first day,” Paige shook her head. “And, I wouldn’t call Jer the principal. Might touch a nerve.”

“What do we have?” Jericho asked the instant the duo settled into his visitor chairs. “And I don’t want to hear one word out of either of you about aliens.”

“Kill-joy,” Havilland mumbled.

“That’s right,” Jericho smiled. “But then you didn’t have a forty-eight-minute conversation with Ellie over at the Messenger this afternoon. Darren Cook has her riled up and she’s caught wind of the new situation over at the Kelly farm. She’s not going to back off any time soon. Prepare yourself, the article is going to be absurd. She’s calling Manti the next Area 51. And, we’re part of the conspiracy. Seems we decided to house those creatures and conduct experiments. Where is beyond me; but, there you go.”

“We are not dealing with aliens,” Paige grumbled. “And she can quote me on that.”

“Oh,” Jericho grinned. “She did. But, what do you know? Have you ever been abducted? Probed? Returned to this planet to walk among the earthlings collecting data for space beings?”

“No,” Paige said slowly. “But while we’re on the topic, maybe you can explain that whole anal probing thing to me. I mean, you’re an alien and you travel millions of miles to check out your neighbors; and, the first thing you want to know is what’s up their…”

“Enough,” Jericho stopped her. “That is something I refuse to think about, not now... not ever. Just solve this thing before we have another incident. Otherwise, I’m shutting off my phone and going fishing. You can send someone to get me when ET is behind bars or heading home.”

“Seriously,” Paige sighed. “I’m working on it. I know it’s manmade. I know where they parked, the route they traveled, and we know the results. Other than that, I’ve got nothing. They’re being careful, but they’re also sloppy. If they wanted the community to really believe the symbols were made by terrestrial beings, they never should have parked their vehicle so close to the field.”

“Maybe they didn’t care,” Havi suggested. “Maybe, the point wasn’t to fool the locals. Maybe they have some other motive that we just haven’t figured out, yet.”

“Maybe it was the owner of the field and he wanted the publicity,” Paige suggested. “Darren Cook was pretty quick to involve the media.”

“Darren is an idiot, but he’s not the culprit,” Jericho disagreed. “That man is star-struck, as in the outer space kind. He wants it to be aliens, but he doesn’t have the nerve or the imagination to pull this off himself.”

“Then who?” Paige focused on her boss. “You’ve lived here longer than either of us. Who would do this and why?”

“Figure that out,” Jericho decided. “And you’ll crack the case. Let me think on it, but off-hand I’d rule out the adults. None of the other farmers would destroy another man’s field that way. And, the only reason I can think of to wipe out a man’s livelihood — is revenge. Unless you can locate someone that has it in for both Darren Cook and Martin Kelly, there has to be another explanation.”

“I’m going to head back out to Cook’s field,” Paige decided. “Maybe there’s something out there I missed.

“Not likely,” Jericho turned to Duncan Havilland. “Go home, this can wait. Those fields aren’t going anywhere.”

“Maybe I should head back to Kelly’s place and take another look around.”

“It’s a waste of time,” Jericho insisted. “Go home. You’ll be working with Reed tonight. Keep an eye on the kid, will ya? He’s coming along quickly, but he’s still green.”

“Will do,” Havilland drove home, exhausted. It had been a long night and he was completely stumped. He was still thinking about vandalized crops when he drifted off to sleep.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was sitting at her desk, reviewing her evidence when Gage Clayton stepped up to her desk. He dropped the afternoon edition of the local paper on her desk.

Paige glanced at the headline... ‘Are there aliens living in Manti?’ There were two large pictures of the crop circles plastered side-by-side taking up the rest of the page. She shoved it aside immediately. “Get that off my desk.”

Gage laughed. “You need to see page five,” he insisted.

“Let me guess,” Paige straightened and focused on her colleague. “Local law enforcement is impeding the public’s right to know. They’re hiding something. Deputy Carter says there are no aliens.”

“Didn’t see that,” Gage picked up the paper and turned to the page in question. “But, that would have been better than this crap.” He dropped the paper back on her desk and pointed to a website at the bottom of the page, just beneath Ellie’s article.

Paige almost disregarded the listing but paused. “Did you look it up?”

“Yeah,” Gage nodded. “And you should, too. Someone has set up a voting pool. The public is supposed to vote for the best artwork based on very specific criteria.”

“Like?” Paige asked as she turned to her computer and punched in the site. Both photos, the same ones used by the newspaper popped onto the screen. Beneath each photo was a score sheet. Visitors were supposed to rate composition, creativity, originality and overall appearance. “Interesting,” Paige sat back in her chair. She considered for several seconds then picked up the phone and dialed the paper. It took three transfers and several attempts at stalling, but she finally got the information she needed. The journalist hadn’t taken the photos, she’d been provided the images anonymously.

Paige glanced up when Jericho stepped out of his office. “Hey, boss. Mind if I work from home for the last hour?”

“Why?”

“Because I have a job for my personal consultant,” Paige smiled.

“What did you find?”

“Gage can fill you in,” Paige shut down her equipment and started for the door. “I’ll let you know if we get anything. Thanks, Gage. You may have just broke the case... well, two cases. Havi will owe you one if this pans out.”

“I like that idea,” Gage grinned and settled in to take care of his own paperwork.

“Paige,” Carmen protested. “I can’t be your personal hacker.”

“Do I need to call Nathan?”

“Fine,” Carmen dropped into her chair. “But, if I get into trouble over this...”

“You won’t,” Paige assured her. “It’s official business.”

“Right,” Carmen started tapping on keys and Paige was lost immediately. “But I don’t work for Sanpete County, do I?”

“Maybe it’s Reynolds, trying to distract us,” Paige grinned. “You better take a look, see if you can track the information of the person that owns that site.”

“Which would mean,” Carmen shut out of one program and opened another, “he succeeded.”

“What’s taking so long?” Paige complained.

“I’ve spoiled you,” Carmen decided. “They tried to cover their tracks. Set up the website with a phony email and it’s one of those free sites so they didn’t have to provide a credit card or personal details.”

“Then, you can’t track it?” Paige asked, disappointed.

“After all this time,” Carmen sat back and glared at her friend. “You still insist on insulting me.”

“You found them?” Paige said, starting to get excited now.

“I found the location where the IP address is located.” Carmen pointed to the screen. About halfway down was a Manti address.

“I’m not familiar with that family. Does it give you a name?”

“Nope,” Carmen sighed. “Give a girl the world and she demands the universe. I guess you’re going to have to drive out there and see who lives there the old-fashioned way. You know, the way the really good detectives do it in the movies.”

“The movie detectives don’t have Carmen the Magnificent,” Paige jumped to her feet. “And I don’t have to drive, I have my own secret database. I’ll just run tax records and see who the RO is.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“I think I should come with you,” Dax said as he watched Paige slip on her sturdy black boots and buckle her duty belt.

Paige glanced up. She studied Dax for several seconds before realizing he was serious. “I guess you forgot the whole... I stay home and fight crime while you save the world bit?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Dax smiled, stood and wrapped his arms around her. “I just don’t like you sneaking around, alone, after dark looking for bad guys. Will you at least take Duncan with you?”

“Havi is meeting me up the road from the target,” Paige assured him. “And, I think I like this. You know, having the roles turned around on you. I very clearly recall sitting in that same chair, worrying about you and not knowing what you were walking into. It might do you good to experience a little of what you put me through.”

“I experience it every day, Paige,” Dax scowled. “You risk your life every time you walk out that door and climb into that patrol car. I only risk my life on rare occasions. Maybe, you worrying about me now and again will do you some good.”

“Okay,” Paige relented. “Point taken. I’ll be careful, I’ll have Havi, and if I know Jericho, he’s going to show up and take point. I won’t be alone, and the guys will have my back. Seriously, I’m dealing with crop artists. What do you think they’re going to do? Slap me with a paintbrush?”

“I don’t think they used a paintbrush to destroy those fields,” Dax settled back into the chair. “And with that kind of cavalier attitude, I have no idea why I get so worried.”

Paige grinned. “It’s a talent. Don’t wait up, I could be late.” She moved to the chair, leaned over and gave him a quick kiss. “You know, you wouldn’t want me any other way.”

Now, Dax grinned. “If you switched those jeans out for a little leather mini-skirt and ditched the tee for...”

Paige didn’t know if he finished that sentence, she simply walked out the door, down the stairs and into the crisp, clear black night. It was time to get to work. She needed to find something that would link that house to her crime. She couldn’t use the data Carmen retrieved, not in court. She didn’t have a warrant to access it. Their only hope was finding something tonight, at the residence or on the truck, that would give her probable cause. Her gut was telling her if she could just get inside that house, she’d find the device they used to trample down the wheat. Maybe in the garage or the truck... it was there, she was sure of it.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige and Havilland were parked several yards up the road from their target. So far, they weren’t seeing anything that would help. Jericho had called. He was on his way to their location. Once he arrived, they’d decide how to proceed. The deputies had pulled their marked cars into a small ravine off the side of the road so the vehicles wouldn’t be visible from the roadway. The precaution was probably unnecessary, but they didn’t want someone leaving the house to spot the units and get tipped off.

“Can’t Carmen just send you the data, anonymous like?” Havi asked. He had moved from his vehicle and was now settled into Paige’s passenger seat. “Then, we could use that link to get a warrant to search the entire property.”

“Based on what?” Paige asked. “They could just say they thought the designs were cool and they wanted the town to get involved and pick their favorite. Even with the website, the evidence is weak.”

“Then why are you and the boss out here in the middle of night, working the graveyard shift, to hold surveillance on a house?”

“Because,” Paige said softly, “my standard is much lower than the District Attorney’s.”

“And, apparently so is his,” he pointed to the back of the vehicle. Jericho had just arrived. They watched as their boss switched off his headlights and maneuvered into position using the bright light of the nearly full moon.

“Where do you think they’re going?” Paige asked when two men in their early twenties exited the house and made their way to the large pickup parked next to the house.

Havilland climbed over the seat to make room for his boss. He made it just as Jericho was pulling open the passenger’s door.

“Get in,” Havilland said in greeting. “I think they’re on the move.”

Jericho jumped inside and pulled the door shut, barely missing the side of the embankment. Paige was already on the move. “Now I remember why I usually drive.”

Paige just smiled as she continued to make her way up the gully. The vehicle was sliding and bouncing as she gripped the wheel harder and tried to maintain control. Havilland swore when his head hit the top of the roof.

“Slow down,” Jericho said softly. “If these are the culprits, there’s only one place they could be headed. Even if we lose them, we’ll get there in time to catch them in the act.”

Paige hesitated, then slowed the vehicle to a reasonable speed as she finally located the spot she was looking for. The gully leveled out, making it easy to climb back onto the roadway. Once her tires hit the pavement, she was off. Jericho might know where the guys were headed, but what if he was wrong? She couldn’t lose them, this was her only shot and she wasn’t going to blow it.

Several minutes later, Paige had caught up to the car in question. She held back, not wanting them to know they were being followed. They would see her headlights, there was nothing she could do about that, but they wouldn’t be able to make out the markings or the light bar on top. She had to give Jericho credit, he was right. The men were pulling off the highway onto the long dirt drive that led to Connor Mackay’s wheat field.

“Hold back,” Jericho ordered. “Can you drive without the lights or do you want me to take over?”

Paige glanced up at the bright moon, shrugged, and shut off the headlights. It took a minute for her eyes to adjust but, she was actually surprised at how clear the roadway was with the bright orb lighting the way.

“If they stay true to form,” Havilland said from the back, “they should stop up there on the hill.”

“Where do you think we should set up?” Paige asked Jericho.

“If memory serves me correctly,” he unsnapped the seatbelt and leaned forward to get a better look. “Yeah, over there. Make sure you miss that small tractor and the watering trough but you should be able to park the car next to the barn. This time of night, it will be well hidden to anyone not specifically looking. And from the sound of those two, they’re not looking.”

“Are they drunk?”

“No,” Havilland answered instantly. “They were driving too carefully. They’re just being stupid kids and they think they’re alone. We’re far enough away from the house, nobody would hear them.”

Paige rolled her window down to see if they could catch what the men were saying.

“I told you,” the first guy said. “My design rocks.”

“I think you’re cheating,” the second guy said. “There is no way your photo is getting twice the votes of mine. My design was harder, it was the bomb and you know it.”

“I know it bombed,” the other guy started to laugh hysterically. “Now’s your chance to redeem yourself. And this time, try to get the circles straight. I bet that’s why it’s not getting as many votes. Your circles looked like a blind man made them. Take the backpack and I’ll wait here. Same as before, if someone comes... you take off on foot and I’ll meet you up the road when the coast is clear. They’ll follow me, so you should get away clean.”

“At least they have a plan,” Paige whispered. “I want to see the device they used to make the designs. It has to be something homemade.”

“I want to stop him before he destroys another man’s field,” Jericho said as he pushed open the door and climbed outside.

“I’m with him,” Havilland jumped over the seat and followed his boss.

“Suck up,” Paige grumbled as she gave in and exited the car. “But, don’t you two think we should have a plan?”

“I plan to stop the vandal,” Jericho said over his shoulder.

“Maybe you should plan to stop the truck,” Havilland suggested. “Don’t you have spike strips in the back?”

Paige sighed, climbed into the back seat of her vehicle and began searching for the tire spikes she always carried. It took far longer than it should have and she was beginning to wonder if Havilland had moved them on purpose when she finally spotted the bag. She snatched it up and headed toward the hill. Once she reached the edge of the field, she paused for a minute to try to locate the best route. She had to make sure she couldn’t be seen by the guy in the truck, but that meant avoiding the side windows and the rearview. If the guy spotted her, he’d bolt.

She decided her best option was to move just inside the tall corn field that butted up against the wheat field. She could easily make her way across the field and exit on the far side where it butted up against the hill. Then, all she had to do was crawl up the side of the hill and slide the spike strips under the tires.

She glanced back, trying to locate Havi and Jer. It took her several seconds before she spotted them approaching the field from the other side. They’d be in the open for a few minutes, but then they should be able to make their way through the corn and wait for the vandal to approach. If they timed it right, they could surprise him the instant he started to work. That didn’t give her much time. She’d have to hurry, but she thought she had just enough time to get the strips in place before anything went down in the field.

Paige dropped to her knees right before she reached the edge of the corn. The ground was still warm from baking in the summer sun all day. She slowly, quietly made her way up the hill pausing just before she reached the top to pull out the first spike system. She held her breath as she pulled her body onto the dirt road and slid the claws underneath the back tire. She shoved back, out of sight and prepared the second unit for deployment. This time, she crawled behind the truck and placed the strip under the back, driver’s side tire. She could hear the driver shifting around and waited for what seemed like a lifetime before she crawled slowly back to her hiding place just over the hill. She slid the last strip in front of the front tire on the passenger’s side and shoved it under the tire, making sure it was securely in place before backing down the hill a few feet. She couldn’t get to the driver’s side, so three would have to be enough.

As she turned to check on her colleagues, she realized they were in place and waiting for her. She gave them the thumbs up and wondered if they could see it. The moon seemed even brighter now than before and she hoped they got the signal. She was confident they did when seconds later, Jericho emerged from the corn, flashlight blazing.

“Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office,” Jericho called. “Get your hands where I can see them.”

Instead of complying, the guy fled. He was quick and wily. Paige watched as he gained momentum and flew across the wheat field like it was a race track. Havilland was right behind him, he mirrored every turn and every dodge, then both of them disappeared into the large stocks of corn. Paige started to stand, then realized the vehicle above her had punched the gas, flattened three tires and had started to slide. The driver over-corrected and completely lost control. She jumped out of the way, just as the truck began to roll down the hill. The driver was lucky it was a small hill. Unfortunately, the truck was a total loss. Paige rushed to the upturned vehicle and yanked the driver through the window before he could regain his wits after the tumble he just took. Within seconds she had the cuffs on her suspect and was walking him toward Jericho.

“Nice catch,” Jericho nodded in approval. He was carrying a large backpack and a strange device the men used to make their designs. It had a large handle, Paige assumed that was to pull the thing across the field. The handle was attached to what looked like a large iron weight. The concoction was on a hinge so it could fold in half and fit in the bag. “That looks heavy.”

“Not too bad,” Jericho gave it a shake. “Pretty clever and it fits perfectly in this backpack. Makes it portable and... normal.”

“Where’s Havi?”

“Over there,” Jericho pointed to the flat, open area near the barn. Apparently, the second suspect hadn’t spotted the small tractor in time. He ran smack-dab into it and split his leg open on the edge of the bucket. Havilland had the kid cuffed and he was now trying to doctor the wound.

“I don’t think we thought this one through,” Jericho observed as they gathered around Havilland and his injured prisoner.

“What do you mean?” Paige glanced around, wondering what Jericho was referring to.

“Five people, one car.”

“Oh,” Paige frowned. “Well, these two are injured. How about I call medical and Havi can ride to the clinic with the prisoners while I take you back to get your truck?”

“That will work,” Havilland stood. “You’ll live, get up,” he ordered the man sprawled on the ground. The instant he was on his feet, Havilland moved him over next to the barn and helped him sit against the front wall. “What’s your name?”

“Michael Angelo,” the guy said.

“Cute,” Havilland said without humor. “Add false info to the police. Now, Einstein. You’re real name.”

“Rick Hughes,” the guy pouted. “And that’s police brutality. I got the blood to prove it.”

Havilland grinned. “If you can’t see, that has nothing to do with the police. I saw the tractor fine and you colliding with a fixed object while fleeing is not police brutality. But, hey... go ahead, lodge a complaint.” He motioned to Jericho. “He’s my boss.”

“Well,” Rick considered. “He must have a boss.”

“Yeah,” Jericho told him. “The community.”

“You wrecked my truck,” the second guy focused on Paige.

She ushered him over to the barn and settled him in next to his friend. “You got a name?”

“Sure,” he smirked. “Everyone got a name.”

“Doesn’t matter to me, smart guy. I can book you as John Doe or I can use your name. The judge can sort it out for all I care. And, I suggest you bring that attitude to court with you. The judge, he really likes punk kids that are too cocky for their own good.” She glanced up when she spotted the headlights coming their way. “Rides here.”

\*\*\*\*\*

It was two in the morning when Paige finally slid into bed. Dax shifted and draped an arm over her waist. She thought he was sleeping until he pulled her close and pressed a gentle kiss on the side of her neck.

“I told you not to wait up,” Paige whispered.

“I was never that good at taking orders,” he whispered back.

Paige smiled, thinking that was probably true.

“Catch any aliens?” Dax asked.

“Yep,” Paige yawned. “Two of ‘em.”

“Hum,” Dax said, half asleep.

They both dozed off, exhausted but content.

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**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S3

**Tags:** Melanie P Smith, Paige Carter, Season 3

---

### [Insidious Conspiracy](https://melaniepsmith.com/insidious-conspiracy/)

**Published:** April 27, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Insidious Conspiracy (E1) - Dax Hamilton's condition is critical, the team is under attack, and one of the members is missing.  With so much going on, the department is short-handed.  Can Deputy Reed handle his first case alone?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*INSIDIOUS CONSPIRACY\*\*\*****

Paige walked slowly through the bright white, sterile hallway. She hated hospitals, always had. She was only a child when her father passed away, but she remembered the pain in the air and the despair that surrounded her like it was yesterday. Ironic really, since her father didn’t actually pass away in a hospital. He died, probably a violent death, on a top-secret mission in a strange country; surrounded by his men. She didn’t know that at the time; she was just a small child. But, her mother’s reaction and subsequent depression when she heard the news would live with Paige forever. It was years later when she learned the government had taken her father, a national hero, to the hospital where they created a cover story to hide the top-secret mission that had cost Dylan Carter his life. Her father wouldn’t have cared, he would have expected the deception. He’d just say that’s what he signed up for when he became a Ranger. She wondered if Dax would say the same.

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![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/hospital-3192833_640.jpg)

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She paused in the doorway and shook off the memories. That was all water under the bridge now. Paige blinked several times in an attempt to adjust to the dim lighting, glanced momentarily at the lifeless body of the man she loved, and silently made her way to the uncomfortable chair that folded into a make-shift bed. As she stared out the dirty window, she wondered how much more she could take. Dax was still in a coma after two long months and, with each passing day, his prognosis got worse. Her mind was constantly fighting her heart. She wanted to believe, wanted to cling to hope and ignore logic; but, each day it got just a little harder. She had to be honest with herself, nothing had changed since his surgery. Well, since he had complications from his surgery and slipped into a coma. Over time, the hospital staff had shifted from reassuring and supportive... to glancing away in pity.

Paige knew she was a mess; on the inside and the outside. She wanted to be angry with the doctors, the nurses... even the janitor when he interrupted the silence to empty the trash. But, deep down inside she knew they were probably right. She was just grateful Dax had given Zeus power-of-attorney over his medical decisions years ago. Zeus was clinging to the same hope; which was probably an illusion. At least they had that in common. They could still present a united front when challenged; not only by the staff, but some of the team. Hawk had stopped visiting weeks ago, Carmen insisted Paige and Zeus were only delaying the inevitable and Ken had returned to Nephi to deal with a personal crisis. Maybe they were clinging to false hope, but as long as Zeus held out... Paige was going to stand strong beside him. Unrealistic optimism was all she had left.

Paige brushed at her face, wiping away any evidence she’d been crying... again. She felt weak, and it annoyed her. She had to be tough, Dax would be strong if the tables were turned. She sighed and turned away from the window to glance at Dax, hoping somehow he’d give her the strength she needed to get through this. That’s when she spotted her longtime friend, Sean Wilkins, standing in the doorway. She forced a smile in greeting and swallowed hard in an effort to compose herself.

“I didn’t want to interrupt,” Sean said as he made his way across the room and settled in the chair next to her. “Any change?”

“No,” Paige said a little too abruptly. She shouldn’t take her frustration out on her friend, but he was a handy target. And, at the moment, she couldn’t seem to stop herself.

“There’s still hope,” Sean said compassionately. “Dax is strong, we have to believe there’s still a chance he’ll pull through.”

Paige didn’t respond.

“Why don’t we go for a walk,” Sean suggested. “I’ll buy you dinner.”

“I’m not hungry,” Paige barked.

“Paige,” Sean sighed. “You have to eat. Look at you, this isn’t healthy. How much weight have you lost? Ten pounds? Fifteen?”

“I’m not hungry,” Paige insisted. She glared at her friend in challenge, daring him to push her, daring him to give her a reason to unleash her anger on him. It had been bottled up inside for way too long. She needed a target, and tonight... Sean Wilkins seemed like a perfect mark.

Sean sighed and stood. “Never mind,” he was halfway across the room before he paused, turned and focused on Paige. “I really do hope he pulls out of this; for his sake and yours. I won’t bother you again.” Then, he turned and disappeared out the door.

Paige stared at the empty doorway for several seconds, confused and a little annoyed. Then it hit her, something was wrong with Sean and she’d missed it because she was too caught up in her own world to notice. She jumped to her feet and rushed to the door. Sean was already halfway down the corridor. She dashed forward, calling his name. He ignored her completely, didn’t even pause, didn’t react at all. She immediately picked up the pace and caught up with him just as he was stepping through the outer door that led to the elevator.

Paige reached out and set a hand on Sean’s forearm. “What’s wrong?”

Sean stopped and closed his eyes for several seconds.

Paige smiled, then realized that was the first time she’d been amused in over two months. This was Sean’s way of regaining control, a habit Paige had razzed him about since the moment they met. After several seconds, Sean opened his eyes and focused on Paige. Before he could say a word, she latched onto his arm and pulled him toward the row of guest chairs lining the far wall. Paige settled into the one in the middle, next to the window. Sean lowered himself into the chair next to her. Neither one spoke for several minutes.

“I’ve been suspended,” Sean finally said. “Assistant Director Sam Keaton called my SAC this morning. He said they are conducting an internal review which will probably result in termination.”

“For what?” Paige’s mind was racing.

“Violating policy,” Sean grumbled. “Claims I went rogue when I assisted a domestic terrorist group composed of former soldiers on an unsanctioned rescue mission. According to him, I was obligated to call in HRT if the danger was legit.”

“Hogwash,” Paige jumped to her feet and began to pace. “I’m calling Nathan.”

“No,” Sean immediately rejected that. “It will only make things worse. If Porter saves me, I’m going to have a rep. One that will follow me through the rest of my career. Everyone will know I’m the guy that should have been fired, but I was saved because a certain powerful general stepped in and intervened.”

“Sean,” Paige sat back down and took his hand in hers. “That’s not what this is about. And if you weren’t in shock, you would see it for what it is. They’re messing with our team. This is just the most recent insidious attack. It’s all part of the whole.”

Sean frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Think about it,” Paige settled back against the wall. “Bryan’s death started it all off. They killed him because he stumbled onto their nefarious plan. Then, they panicked when they realized he was hooked up with Carmen, Nathan’s digital miracle worker.”

“You think Keaton is dirty? That he’s part of the group we’re chasing. The guys responsible for Dax’s condition?” Sean wasn’t convinced.

“I don’t know this Keaton guy,” Paige shrugged. “But it’s all just a little too convenient. Once this group realized Carmen was a threat, they took action. They are seriously whacked and desperate. Had to be to send a bomb to Nathan’s headquarters. Once Carmen was out of the way, or so they thought, they focused on Dax. He was the next biggest threat. We both know he’s supposed to be dead. But, we stepped in and stopped them. You are the one that made our actions possible. You transferred Williams to Mo down in Mexico. As a local I couldn’t do that, neither could Sheriff Walters. So, now they’ve shifted to you... to get you out of the way.”

Sean’s temper began to boil. Paige was onto something. When Special Agent in Charge, Clive Rickman had called him into the office and issued the suspension, Sean had quickly reminded him the mission wasn’t unsanctioned. And, he certainly hadn’t gone rogue. He’d been temporarily assigned to Nathan Porter’s team by the Bureau. His SAC sympathized. Sean didn’t always get along with the guy, but he thought Rickman even agreed with Sean’s position. Unfortunately, the order came from Washington and Rickman wasn’t in a position to argue with his boss. Rickman was a yes-man and would never go out on a limb for anyone... except maybe himself. The allegation didn’t make sense, but Sean had been willing to accept his lumps and move on. If Paige was right and the bad guys had infiltrated the FBI, if they were setting up obstacles to make sure nobody got in their way... well, they were in for a big surprise. Because Sean was now livid, and he planned to orchestrate a few obstacles of his own. “If you’re right, and I think maybe you are, they’ll be coming after you next.”

“I don’t think so,” Paige disagreed. “I’m just a local cop now. I think their next target will be the soldiers. I’m beginning to wonder if they’ve already set something up to deal with Thor. He’s been gone for nearly two weeks now and none of the guys seem to know where he went, or why. Plus, Ken had to rush back to Nephi. They are scattering our team, I’m sure of it.”

“But Carmen wasn’t a high ranking player, either. She was just good at what she does,” Sean sobered. “Just like you. We would never have found their hideout, wouldn’t have captured Williams, and wouldn’t have located the vehicle that led us to Dax - without you. I’m just saying you need to watch your back. These guys play dirty and they don’t seem to care what kind of permanent damage they inflict as long as they achieve their goal.”

“I’m watching,” Paige paused to consider. “But I think they are, too.”

“Meaning?”

“I get the feeling I’m being watched here; at the hospital,” Paige confided. “I think they have a camera somewhere inside Dax’s room. I’ve kind of glanced around, but unless I do a thorough search - which they will see me doing - I won’t be able to locate it. Be careful what you say while you’re in there, Sean. Even if you think you’re alone.”

Sean frowned. “Have you told the others?”

“Not yet,” Paige sighed. “They all think I’ve lost my marbles, that I’m not accepting the facts. I’m afraid of Hawk’s reaction if I tell him I believe there’s a camera in there. He’s going to think I’ve completely lost my mind.”

“I don’t think he will,” Sean disagreed. “He’s a little paranoid these days, too. Plus, he’s working on some sort of plan to take the offense. I’m starting to think we should do the same. Can you get Jericho to meet us at Carmen’s house? Zeus, too. I want to talk about this as a group and decide where to go from here. I don’t like being...”

“Held hostage?” Paige offered.

Sean grimaced, but understood her point. “I can’t believe I didn’t see this sooner. My only defense is that I was blind-sided. I didn’t even see it coming. The last few hours have been pretty much a daze to me. I didn’t want to dump this on you, but I decided to be selfish. I needed a friend, someone that understands the bureaucracy, someone I could sit down with and talk it through, you know? Not once did I even consider the possibility it was a setup. I think you’re right, this was just a clever way to get me out of the way.”

“I think I’ve been in a daze since the moment Dax fell off that wall,” Paige admitted. “This. Keaton messing with you, with your livelihood, it’s what jerked me out of my funk. They’ve gone too far and they need to pay.”

“They went too far when they kidnapped Dax,” Sean corrected. “And, like I said, I think Hawk is working on payback. Whatever he’s doing, he wants to bring these guys down in a big way. A way that is demoralizing and very public. Normally, I don’t agree with those kind of tactics but for this group, I’m willing to make an exception.”

“I’ll call Jer and see you at Carmen’s in thirty,” Paige stood.

“Sounds like a plan,” Sean also stood. “And, thanks. I already feel much better. I prefer pissed as hell to depression and guilt. I can’t believe I accepted everything so easily. Especially when we know how ruthless these guys are.”

“I’m sure, in time, you would have gotten there on your own,” Paige smiled. “Once you stopped reacting to the news and really thought about the big picture. Now, I need to grab my stuff then I’ll see you at the house. I’ll call Carmen and tell her we’re on the way. Zeus may already be there, anyway. He’s been spending most of his time at her place or here with his best friend.”

Sean pushed the button on the elevator. The door opened immediately and he disappeared. Paige pulled out her phone and started back toward the room. She hit send and waited for her boss to give his standard, grumpy greeting. Instead, the phone went to voicemail. She tried again, same result. That wasn’t like Jericho. Paige made her way across Dax’s room, snatched up her bag and headed out the door. Once she was back at the elevator, she punched in Margie’s number. Jericho’s assistant would know where he was.

“Hello, Paige,” Margie greeted.

“I need to talk to the boss, do you know where he is?” Paige asked, more concern coming through her voice than she’d intended.

“Tolman contacted him just as he was leaving,” Margie’s voice also held concern. “The DA said Jericho was in trouble with the ATF and if he didn’t head over to the office immediately, the Feds were going to arrest him and ask questions later.”

Paige stepped from the elevator and moved quickly toward her vehicle. Another piece of the whole. She should have seen this one coming. If they got rid of Jericho, Paige wouldn’t have any authority to assist Nathan’s team. She’d be pulled from the case because the office would be in chaos. “I’m calling Nathan, Margie. Try not to worry, he’ll sort this all out.”

“Jericho isn’t going to be happy when he finds out you called in the General.”

“Nathan and Jericho are going to have to put their egos aside and work together for a while. We need to fight this war as a team, otherwise, we’ll never win.”

“You lost me,” Margie admitted.

“It’s all part of the plan,” Paige said, a little frustrated she was the only one that saw the obvious. “Dax in the hospital, Sean suspended, and now Jericho being interrogated by the ATF. They’re trying to divide and conquer. I’m not going to let that happen. If we all try to fight our personal, individual battles alone; the enemy is going to win. I’m not all that keen on losing this one.”

“You think someone got to them?” Margie realized. “You think this group, the ones that killed that cop in New Orleans then kidnapped Dax, has a contact in the ATF and they are using that connection to pull Jer out of the mix.”

“I know it,” Paige said confidently. “And, I’m calling in my own big gun to head this off before it gets out of control.”

“You do that while I call Riley,” Margie decided. “I tried to talk Jericho into taking my boy with him to begin with, but the stubborn man refused. Said he didn’t need a lawyer because he hadn’t done anything wrong.”

“Good idea,” Paige smiled. “If nothing else, an attorney can stall while I get the ball rolling with Nathan.”

They disconnected and each woman immediately called in reinforcements.

“Paige,” Nathan answered. “Has something changed?”

“Not with Dax,” Paige admitted. “But I have a problem. Well, two actually. I need your help.”

“Anything, just say the word.”

Paige began to run him through the situation with her boss then concluded with the details about Sean’s suspension.

“Sean’s problem is easy to resolve,” Nathan considered. “But it’s going to take time. Rickman has the paperwork. Director Mason approved that transfer himself and Rickman knows that. So does Keaton; I’d bet the farm on that one. It’s a bluff, a way to get Wilkens out of the picture while they move forward with their plan... whatever it is.” Nathan grumbled, clearly frustrated they hadn’t figured it all out yet. “But Mason’s in California. I’ll do what I can until he returns to DC. But, in the meantime, tell Sean as far as I’m concerned he’s still on my team; and he’s not suspended.”

“Can we get away with that?”

“Yes,” Nathan said is dismissal. “Now, the thing with Walters I think I can handle tonight. Tell him to keep his mouth shut and make sure he doesn’t incriminate himself, but stall his interrogators as long as possible. I’ll call Director Braxton. If he won’t step in, my next call will be to the Attorney General. I’ll get back to you, but don’t worry about your boss. This is all smoke and mirrors. Plus, it gives me a new lead into the man running things here in Washington. Hang in there, everything is going to work out okay.”

“Thanks,” Paige let out a relieved breath. “A bunch of us are meeting Carmen tonight to come up with a new plan. I’m not a fan of being on the defense all the time. I’m used to taking the offense and I plan to do just that, starting now.”

“That’s my girl,” Nathan was also relieved. Sounded like Paige was finally bouncing back. Now, he just needed Dax to wake up. Well, he needed a lot more than that... but, it would be a good start. “Love you, kid. I’ll try to call back tonight, but it may not be until tomorrow afternoon.”

“No rush,” Paige decided. “Just save my friends.”

“That I can promise,” Nathan disconnected with Paige and dialed an old friend.

\*\*\*\*\*

Jericho studied the two men sitting before him. If they thought they could come into his town and intimidate him... well, they were going to be deeply disappointed. Their allegations were absurd and he refused to respond out of principle. They couldn’t seriously believe he set those explosives himself. Really, to what end? And the idea he murdered Daniel Owens in cold blood was plain lunacy. The idiot banker hadn’t stumbled onto Jericho, Walters had stumbled onto the banker. As if that wasn’t enough, the dynamic duo had conjured up some fantasy about Jericho killing Chaya years ago. He was still baffled by that one. Maybe if he sat here long enough, they’d disclose more details. Maybe they’d explain their theory and how they got there. It would be nice if they started with motive because Jericho didn’t have one. Not for Daniel and certainly not for Chaya. The entire interrogation was absurd and Jericho wasn’t going to cooperate with this nonsense. Not even District Attorney James Tolman would change his mind on that.

Everyone present glanced at the door when a loud pounding sounded outside.

“I thought you said we wouldn’t be interrupted,” one of the agents challenged Tolman. The pounding continued.

Tolman stood, made his way to the door and slowly swung it open. Riley Gonzales pushed his way into the room.

“It has come to my attention that the two of you have been questioning my client for the past two hours without representation.” Riley set his briefcase on the table and glanced around for a chair. He spotted one in the corner, drug it over next to Jericho and casually settled in... Glaring at the two ATF Agents in challenge. “I’d like an explanation.”

“He never requested a lawyer,” one of the agents finally provided.

“Did you read him his rights?”

“He’s the Sheriff,” the other agent barked. “I certainly hope he knows them by now.”

“Be that as it may, unless you read him Miranda before this fiasco began, anything discussed prior to this moment is inadmissible and will ultimately be suppressed. You’re a federal agent, I’m certain you know that by now.”

“Challenge all you want,” the first agent said angrily. “The man’s a murderer and he’s going to pay.

“Am I to gather from that statement we are here regarding a homicide investigation?”

“That’s right,” the second agent said smugly.

“Who is the victim?”

“For starters,” the second agent continued. “Chaya Carter.”

Riley glanced at Jericho then focused on Tolman. “How is Chaya Carter’s death a matter for the ATF?”

“She was shot,” the first agent said immediately.

“With an illegally obtained firearm?” Riley challenged.

“We haven’t determined that, yet.”

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“Then we haven’t determined jurisdiction, either. That should be easy enough. Can you name any other death by firearm case, that did not involve an illegal firearm, the ATF commandeered from the locals?” Riley continued. He was having fun and his mother had asked him to stall. He could happily report back that he’d done as asked.

“I’m not going to...” the agent stopped when his phone began to ring. He glanced at the display, flashed a panicked look at his partner then answered.

“Agent Jarrett,” the man said in greeting. “No, sir. Yes, Agent Reese is with me. I understand. No, sir. I’ll take care of it immediately. Goodbye, sir.”

The room remained silent for several seconds.

“Are we finished?” Riley finally asked.

“Um,” Jarrett glanced at his partner. “Yeah, I guess we are.”

“Will you be questioning my client in the future?”

“No,” Jarrett stood and looked at his partner. “Apparently, he’s been cleared. I’m sorry for the inconvenience, Sheriff Walters. I hope you will accept my sincere apology for wasting your time.”

“I’m not sure how sincere, but apology accepted,” he motioned for Riley to move toward the door. The two men silently exited and walked side-by-side to the parking lot. Jericho turned to address Riley. “Mind telling me what that was all about and how did you get the charges dropped so quickly?”

“Not my doing,” Riley smiled. “I was just a pawn in my mother’s chess game. I was told to stall because she was working with Paige on something. I stalled. Although, they did resolve this thing a little too quickly. I was just getting started.”

“Sorry to interrupt your fun,” Jericho grumbled as he climbed into his vehicle.

“Mom said to head over to Carmen’s place,” Riley slid his briefcase into the backseat of his own car. “Apparently the gangs all there and waiting.”

Jericho watched as Riley climbed behind the wheel and disappeared from the parking structure before he started his own engine. Instead of pulling away, he just sat there contemplating the situation. None of this passed the smell test. He needed answers and Paige Carter was the only person that seemed to have any.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I’ll go with Zeus tomorrow when he visits Dax,” Carmen decided. “I have a device that will tell me if someone is monitoring his room. Once we know, we can decide how to proceed.”

“Make sure they don’t see you,” Paige ordered. “That’s why I haven’t investigated. I don’t want them to know we’re onto them.”

Just then there was a knock on the door. Sean stood and answered it, smiled and stepped back to let the local sheriff inside. “Glad to see you’re still free.”

Jericho focused on Paige. “Porter’s doing?”

“Yes,” Paige admitted.

Jericho frowned but moved to an empty chair and settled in.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Havi,” Susie called out as she disconnected with the caller.

“What’s up?” Officer Duncan Havilland asked as he approached the nighttime dispatcher.

“I have two details holding,” she admitted. “One is a 911 hang-up, the other is an active domestic.”

“Try calling back on the hang-up,” he demanded.

“I already tried, twice. It just rings and rings,” Susie practically apologized.

“Where is the domestic?”

“Out near Laurel Bluffs,” she said, glancing at her notes. “Looks like it’s right on the border.”

Havilland glanced around the office, his gaze landing on Logan Reed. He’d be a good cop; someday. Oh, well. The rookie would have to venture out alone sometime. Might as well be tonight. “Reed,” he called over his shoulder.

“Yeah,” Logan jumped to his feet, eager for action.

“You take the emergency hang-up but be on your toes. You never know what you’re walking into. Could be a mistake, could be trouble. I’ll call Dean and see if he’s available to back you.”

“I thought he was off tonight,” Reed objected.

“He’s on call,” Havilland glanced back to Susie. “I’ll take the Domestic, but call over to the Bluffs and see if they have a man that can back me. Tell them I’m just leaving the station but I’ll get there as soon as I can.”

Susie nodded and grabbed the phone. The two officers left the building together.

Logan pulled off the main highway onto a long dirt drive. The house was secluded and surrounded by ancient oaks. He briefly wondered if the eighty-two-year-old homeowner was the one to plant them. He smiled at that, still surprised that his contact had a driver’s license. She must be in good shape, even at her age. He was sure this call was nothing, maybe a medical issue. At eighty-two, the woman probably fell and broke her hip or something. Havilland was overreacting. Logan was sure of it. It still burned that the senior officer had called in Bridges. Dean was supposed to be at some awards celebration. The guy was a legend in the racing industry and he broke some record the previous week. Would his colleagues ever respect him? Ever accept the fact he was a cop, not a child? Didn’t he prove he could do the job last spring when he dealt with the Suttons and the Newton clan... and the burning barn?

Logan slowed as he took a bend in the road and spotted Dean’s vehicle. Even off-duty the man beat him to the scene. He pulled in behind Dean and checked in with Susie, advising her they had both arrived.

“Hey, Logan,” Dean greeted. “How you want to handle this?”

Logan paused in surprise. “I thought.”

“Your call, I’m just here to back you. Give me some direction, boss.” Dean remembered what it was like to be the new guy. He thought it might do Logan good to take the lead.

“Okay,” Logan considered. “Well, Susie said there was no answer when she called but I think we should just attempt contact like we would on any other detail. We know someone is inside, they have to be... the call originated from this residence.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Dean motioned for Logan to lead the way. So far, so good.

Logan climbed the rickety, old, wooden stairs and waited to ring the bell until Dean was positioned slightly behind him and to the right. They were both surprised when a male in his early to mid-forties opened the door.

“Can I help you, officer?” the man frowned.

“Could you please step out of the house, sir?” Logan requested.

“What is this about?”

“We just have a few questions,” Logan assured him. “Are you alone here?”

“No,” the man answered slowly. “My wife is napping in the other room. She’s not feeling well. I feel like I’m being harassed for no reason, why are you here?”

“We need you to step out on the porch,” Dean reiterated.

“I don’t think I’m comfortable doing that,” the man objected.

“Can I see some identification?” Logan asked.

“On what grounds?”

“On the grounds that this residence belongs to Sophia Burgess. Is she here? We’re going to need to speak with her immediately,” Logan was starting to get suspicious now... and impatient. There was no reason for this man to act so hostile unless he was up to no good.

“I’m afraid she’s out of town,” the man said a little too quickly.

“Alright,” Dean moved forward. “We’ll need your information then... for the report.”

“What report?” the man demanded. “Why are you here?”

“We received a 911 hang-up call a few minutes ago. Any reason you didn’t answer the phone when we called back?” Dean pushed.

“I guess I didn’t hear the phone,” he frowned. How did the infuriating old hag get to a phone?

“Who do you think made the call?” Logan asked. There was something off here.

“I have no idea,” the man shrugged. “Maybe you got the wrong house.”

Dean saw movement at the side of the house just in time. He shoved Logan who tripped on the raised threshold and collided with their suspect. All three men went down. Dean covered his head and face with his arms as pellets from a shotgun blast peppered the entire area. He pushed into a crawling position, drew his weapon and fired. The woman went down before she could get off a second shot.

“Bianca!” the man shouted as he jumped to his feet and tried to push past the two deputies standing in his path.

Logan recovered quickly. He too jumped to his feet, grabbed the man trying to flee and pushed him against the wall of the house. It only took a couple seconds to handcuff the guy and shove him into a chair. “Talk!”

“What?” the man looked at Logan in confusion.

“Your name, now.”

The man glanced toward the lifeless form of the woman he loved, moisture began to form in his eyes but he blinked it back. “You killed a helpless, innocent woman for no reason.”

“Name?” Logan demanded, then shrugged. “Unless you want to be booked as John Doe. Doesn’t matter to me either way, I’ll get your identity, eventually.”

“Ethan,” he whispered. “It’s Ethan Cabot and you just killed my wife. I’ll have your badge for that.”

“Doubtful,” Logan said as he pulled the man to his feet and perp walked him to his patrol car. He stopped next to Dean, who had moved to the woman, checked her status and was also headed for his car.

“Want me to call medical?” Logan asked.

“Naw,” he glanced at the man in cuffs. “You handle him. I’ll call medical and notify the sheriff. It’s going to be a long night.”

“We still have to clear the residence,” Logan objected. “We have to locate Sophia Burgess.” He glanced to the side when he heard a vehicle approaching. “Looks like Havilland can help you with that.”

Duncan Havilland climbed from his car, took one glance around and decided he chose the wrong detail. “Looks like you boys got yourself a cluster.”

“You can say that again,” Dean sighed. “I need to call the sheriff and get medical en route. This man needs to be transported and we still haven’t searched the place. Sophia Burgess, the eighty-two-year-old homeowner, seems to be missing.”

“I’ll take this joker off your hands,” Havilland said, taking the arm of the prisoner. “You two clear the place and see if you can find our missing owner. I can also get medical en route and call Jericho on my way to the jail.”

“Good plan,” Dean looked at Logan. “You okay with that?”

“Yeah, sounds like a good plan.”

Havilland turned away before he let the smile spread across his face. Dean was a good trainer and letting the kid think he was in control would be good for his confidence. He shoved the suspect into the back of his car before he called back to Logan. “You got a name for this yahoo?”

“Said it’s Ethan Cabot,” Logan called back. “By the way, how’d you handle the DV so quickly?”

“Didn’t,” Havilland shrugged. “Laurel Bluffs did. They arrived while I was still en route and realized it was really their call. Canceled me before I got there, so I figured I’d come out here and rubberneck. Glad I did. Looks like you two needed the help.”

“Yeah,” Dean agreed. “Good call. Don’t forget to call the Sheriff. He gets testy if we wait too long to inform him there’s trouble.”

Dean and Logan cautiously entered the residence and methodically cleared one room after another. They located Sophia Burgess in a small bathroom at the back of the house. She was battered and bruised, looked malnourished and mad as a hornet on a hot summer day. She was also chained to the toilet.

“Get me out of here,” she demanded.

“Sophia Burgess?”

“Of course, I’m Sophia Burgess. Who else did you expect, Queen Elizabeth?”

“My partner will see if he can find the keys,” Dean said as he crouched next to the old woman. “How bad are you hurt?”

“Not enough to stop me,” Sophia warned. “Get these chains off me. I’m going to kill that no-good niece of mine. Then, I’m going after her husband.”

Logan returned to the bathroom with a set of keys. “Let’s see if one of these works. And, I regret to inform you... uh, well your niece was killed a few moments ago in a shootout with one of our officers.” He didn’t think he should mention it was Dean that had killed her family member.

“I hope her weasel of a husband is dead, too.”

“No, ma’am,” Dean shook his head and forced his face to remain sober. What he wanted to do was laugh. This woman was a fighter and her spunk is probably what saved her life. “He’s on his way to jail. How did you get to a phone?”

“My niece is an idiot,” she answered in a matter-of-fact tone that left no room for disagreement. “She left the cordless on the counter. It was easy to trick her... I just gave her a little distraction and slid the phone into my sweater pocket. By the time she finished securing the window, she had forgotten all about the telephone. That girl was always a moron but her husband? That man is the devil.”

Logan slid the last of the chain away from Sophia and stood to hold out his hand. “Do you think you can stand up? We have EMT’s on the way but I think some fresh air might do you good.”

Just then two men appeared in the bathroom doorway. “We’ve got this,” one of the EMT’s told the officers. “I’d rather carry her out on the stretcher, but you’re right. She could use some fresh air.”

“I could use a glass of water,” Sophia argued. “And, I can walk.” She braced her hands on the closed toilet seat and slowly rose to her feet. “And, a good steak... medium rare. I’m starving.”

“Sorry,” the EMT said as he moved forward and placed an arm around her tiny waist. “Water I can do, but just a sip. Too much and it will make you nauseous. The steak will have to wait.”

Logan and Dean watched as the two men lifted the woman onto a stretcher and carried her out the door.

“Now comes the hard part,” Dean sighed as he moved toward the front door.

“I’m sorry,” Logan followed. “It was bad enough you got called in on your night off. It bites that you have to go through the shooting protocol to boot.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/shotgun-1181648_640.jpg)

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“Not your fault,” Dean said as they stepped onto the front porch. He was greeted by the local District Attorney, James Tolman.

“Gentlemen,” Tolman said in greeting. “Walk me through what happened. I already received a call from Fairfax. Ethan Cabot is filling an unlawful death suit against the two of you and the department. I hope this was a clean shooting. Otherwise, it’s going to get ugly.”

“Tolman,” Jericho had arrived without anyone noticing. “Tell me you’re not trying to interrogate my men without their rep.”

“Walters,” Tolman frowned. Where had the sheriff come from? He hadn’t even seen him arrive. “Your men shot a helpless woman, I’m just trying to find out if they had a good reason for their actions.”

Jericho frowned. This was not like James and the woman was not helpless, the shotgun she’d used in an attempt to kill his men was still lying next to her. “A word in private.”

The two men moved away from the scene and into the woods.

“You want to tell me what that was back there?” Jericho demanded when he was sure they were out of earshot.

“I’m getting tired of cleaning up your messes,” Tolman barked. “I spent two full hours this afternoon shielding you from the feds and as an added bonus, I get to deal with yet another officer-involved shooting incident this evening. What’s next, Jericho? What outrageous and indefensible event can I expect as an encore?”

“What is this really about, James?” Jericho asked. “Because it has nothing to do with my man defending himself and a fellow officer against a woman intent on killing them both.”

James Tolman sighed, ran his hands through his hair in frustration and turned away. He paced for several seconds before he turned back to address his lifelong friend. “Fairfax is threatening an unlawful death suit. He’s prepared to go public with this one. I’m not sure I can survive the bad publicity.”

“The public loves you,” Jericho said dismissively. “Sure, it’s an election year but last I checked; you were running unopposed.”

“Yeah, well... things change.”

“Who?”

Tolman gave another long sigh. “New guy. Some hotshot attorney from New York. Says he inherited Paulina Kobrick’s place and decided he’d like a slower pace.”

“I thought she left that place to Remi?”

“So did I,” Tolman shrugged. “But, Trenton Moore contested the will. Guess it wasn’t as cut and dry as Remington always believed.”

“What’s the relation?” Jericho wasn’t buying it. Remington Kobrick the second was a doting grandson to Paulina. She adored that kid, and the feeling was mutual. It was common knowledge that when Paulina died, she’d be leaving her estate to her only family... Remi, his wife and their new baby. Remi and Megan were conflicted, of course. They couldn’t wait to get out of the city and raise their son in the country, but that meant losing someone they loved. Jericho didn’t believe this Trenton Moore had any right to the property.

“No idea,” Tolman shrugged. “I didn’t know anything about it until tonight. Not long after you left, actually. I was just leaving the office when a cocky stranger pushed his way into my office. He declared, with more bravado and confidence than warranted, he was running against me in November. Said it was time for a change and he was just the man to provide it. Some nonsense about demand justice, demand Moore.”

Jericho rolled his eyes. “And you’re worried he’ll spin this thing against you?”

“I have no doubt he’ll try,” Tolman said immediately. “Tell me it’s justified.”

“I would,” Jericho grinned. “But when have you ever listened to me when it comes to an OIS?”

“Really?” Tolman grumbled. “You’re going to go there? You know I have to operate strictly by the book when it comes to an officer-involved shooting.”

“Which is why I’m surprised you asked,” Jericho countered. “But, yeah. From what I hear, it was justified. The shooting is clean, James. Dean didn’t have a choice. The woman took a shot already and was gearing up for a second attempt when he took her down. And, I know you don’t want my advice but I’m going to give it, anyway. Get in front of this. Hold a press conference, immediately. Make it clear to the public the shooting was tragic but unavoidable. They’re going to believe you, not whatever spin this Moore guy tries to put on it. You have an advantage... your community knows and loves you. He’s an outsider and as much as it shouldn’t matter, around here... it does.”

“Sorry about the...” Tolman glanced at the front porch. “Well, sorry I jumped the gun and tried to talk to your men. I broke my own rule. We’ve established protocol and I’m well aware he has rights. I won’t make that mistake again.”

“So,” Jericho paused to consider. “Was it the ATF or Moore that got you all riled up?”

“Both, I guess.” Tolman pulled two business cards from his pocket. “Those two answer to someone. Here’s the information, thought it might come in handy. They called a supervisor after you left. I only heard one side of the call, but their boss was not happy with the way things went down today. I’d watch my back if I were you. I’m not sure they’re finished with you.”

Jericho took the cards. He wasn’t finished either. And, he had the perfect solution. His good buddy, Clark, would enjoy a little business and it would leave Carmen free to work on the big picture with Porter. “There’s something fishy about this Moore guy showing up... now, at the last minute. I’m giving you the same advice. Watch your back. I know it’s probably not kosher, but it might be worth a little investigating. If I were in your position, I’d want to know all I could about one Trenton Moore.”

“I thought of that,” Tolman admitted. “But, a sitting District Attorney investigating his political opponent would not be received well by the public. I don’t want to look like I’m a bully, or worse... that I’m abusing my power for personal reasons.”

“Okay,” Jericho smiled. “Then, I’ll have Paige do it.” He walked away before Tolman had a chance to respond.

\*\*\*\*\*

The following evening, Paige was parked down the road from Trenton Moore’s, formerly Paulina Kobrick’s, residence. She wasn’t happy with the new assignment. Jericho was taking her away from the hospital. Away from Dax. She wondered if that was by design. She wondered if they’d all become just a little too paranoid. Sure, a stranger moving to town and challenging James Tolman in his prime was odd. It was even a little too coincidental with everything else that was going on. And, the fact he hailed from New York added suspicion. But, on the other hand, the guy might be legit. Manti was a great place to live. She pushed her body a little lower when a car slowed and parked in the driveway of the residence she was monitoring. A man slightly older than James Tolman, but far more gray and distinguished looking climbed from the expensive BMW and headed for the front door.

He looked like a smarmy lawyer to her and he was just a little too cocky. Was that more paranoia or good sense? Right now, Paige really didn’t know. She jotted down the license plate and pulled away. The first step was to verify he really was who he said he was. The next step... talk to Remi and see what the relationship was and how the shyster attorney had bilked Paulina’s favorite grandson out of his inheritance.

Two hours later, Paige was sitting next to her Carmen in front of the computer. Her friend still hadn’t found a connection between Trenton Moore and Paulina Kobrick. She had found the papers filed with the court. He claimed to be a distant cousin but Paige was now convinced the man was lying. It was time to call Remi.

“I’ve got nothing here, Paige. If that man is related to Paulina Kobrick, I’m related to Elvis,” Carmen settled back into her chair with a sigh. “This is all some kind of con. I ran his financials and nothing pops. It doesn’t look like he’s in trouble, nothing to indicate he’s desperate for money, but there’s also nothing connecting him to gun running in New Orleans. I know you think this is connected somehow, but it might just be a dirty lawyer cheating a nice guy out of a valuable estate.”

“I don’t know that it is connected,” Paige argued. “But, it’s a little suspicious and way too coincidental. I never did like coincidences.”

“I know,” Carmen sighed. “Right now, I can’t connect it, though. Talk to the grandson, see what he has to say. Maybe he can connect the dots somehow.”

Paige stood and moved to the couch before making the call. “Hi, is this Remi Kobrick?” Paige asked the male voice that answered.

“Yes, this is Remi.”

“You don’t know me,” she began. “This is Deputy Paige Carter. I work for Sheriff Walters, in Manti...Utah.”

“Oh, yes. How can I help you?”

“I’m calling about your grandmother’s will.”

“Why? I lost everything, what does this have to do with law enforcement?”

Paige explained how Trenton Moore had moved to town and challenged the local DA. “We all thought Paulina was leaving her place to you. And, I have to be honest, the entire situation seems a little suspicious. I’ve researched the guy for hours and can’t find a connection to your family. Do you know how he’s related?”

“I don’t believe he is,” Remi said flatly. “I think he made it all up. I don’t know why and I know that sounds like I’m being petty and a sore loser but I honestly don’t believe he is related in any way. I can’t explain why he’d do it. I can’t give you a reason he’d target me or my family but if I had a relative, even a distant one, my grandmother would have mentioned him. She did not.”

“Can I ask why you didn’t force the issue, make him prove his relation in court?”

“I can’t afford it,” Remi confessed. “As much as that place means to me, I can barely afford the necessities. Diapers, baby formula, new clothes practically every week. I’m barely holding on. There’s no way I could justify spending what little we do have on an expensive attorney.”

“What if you didn’t have to?”

“I don’t understand,” Remi said, clearly confused.

“I’m wondering if you want to file a police report,” Paige answered.

“For what?”

“Felony fraud,” Paige said seriously. “If this guy is not related, he has no standing to contest the will. Your grandmother wanted you and your family to inherit her estate. From where I’m sitting, this sounds like a solid case of fraud. Trenton Moore is taking advantage of the fact you are struggling. He’s a hotshot attorney from Manhattan. He can afford this fight, you can’t. I think he was counting on that. If you wanted to fight it, you’d have to hire an attorney. He is one. He can utilize his firm to get what he wants and con you out of the life you were depending on. At least if I start an official investigation, he’ll have to prove his relationship. And because it’s a criminal investigation, it won’t cost you a dime. It will cost you a complaint. I can’t do this unless you are willing to go on record and challenge him. If you agree to be the complainant, I’ll get the ball rolling and see where it leads.”

“What if he comes after me?”

“I’ll charge him with witness tampering,” Paige said immediately.

Remi considered for several minutes. “Okay, file the report.”

The instant Paige disconnected with Remi her phone chimed again. She glanced at the display then hit answer. “Hello, Nathan.”

“I found a connection between Keaton and Cole Reynolds,” Nathan said in answer.

“The Retrocero Inc. guy?” Paige asked.

“Yeah,” Nathan told her. “Cole is on my committee and the evidence is piling up against him. He’s involved, but I’m not convinced he’s the leader.”

“What’s the connection?”

“They went to college together,” Nathan answered. “Rumor has it they’re Frat Brothers. I’m still trying to confirm that.”

“We knew they were behind this thing with Sean but it’s nice to have proof.”

“Any change with Dax?”

“Not yet,” Paige sobered.

“Hang in there,” Nathan tried to comfort her. “Dax is strong, if anyone can pull through this... he can.”

“Hope springs and all that,” Paige sighed. “Do you have time to look into someone else for me?”

“Has something else happened out there?”

“I’m not sure,” she gave Nathan Trenton Moore’s name and explained the situation. Nathan agreed it sounded suspicious but wasn’t ready to include it as another attack on the team. “Tolman is too peripheral.”

“I agree,” Paige admitted. “At first, I wondered if we were just being paranoid, but after talking to Remi I know there’s something there. The question is, what. It’s entirely possible his actions are nefarious, but unrelated. I just find it interesting that he comes from New York. It seems all of our trouble has originated from that area recently.”

“I’ll look into it and let you know what I find,” Nathan promised. “Do you happen to know the law firm? Where he worked before he moved west?”

“Actually, I do. He listed it on his website. Can you believe he just completed the official paperwork today and he already has a political website?” That alone made Paige suspicious. “Says he worked for Yarber, Sardano and Douglas the past fourteen years.”

“Really?” Nathan perked up.

“Meaning?”

“Well,” Nathan considered. “Cole’s uncle just happens to work for the same firm. And, last I heard YSD handled all of Retrocero’s contracts.”

“Bingo,” Paige sat up straight. “Carmen searched for hours and couldn’t find the slightest connection to Paulina Kobrick but after ten minutes with you, we have a connection to Cole Reynolds. That is too much of a coincidence for me. And, it fits - in a roundabout way. These guys are trying to cause problems. The ATF agents failed and their boss was pissed. Then, suddenly Tolman has a challenger. Someone that will keep him preoccupied so he can’t help keep the rest of us out of jail. I have to warn you, I’ve exceeded my patients with these guys. If they want a war, they just guaranteed they’ve got one. Not just from me, but they’ve attacked too many people that are willing to fight back.”

“Promise me you’ll be careful and you won’t do anything impulsive or dangerous,” Nathan said, concerned. Paige was right, these guys just poked the dragon and before it was all over, Nathan was sure they were going to get burned. Fried to a crisp, actually. Paige and Sean’s wrath was bad enough. Toss in Sheriff Walters, the local DA and worse... an angry team of Rangers; and Armageddon was going to look like a tropical paradise in comparison. The group they were after had just made a serious miscalculation; one that was sure to end in disaster. Nathan’s day suddenly looked just a little brighter. Now, they just needed Dax and his team could take the offense. “Warn Walters and the DA,” Nathan decided. “Let them know this Moore guy is dirty and they need to watch out. This group is ruthless and they are too unpredictable.”

“How much can I tell Tolman?”

“For now, just let him know we believe Moore is part of the group we are after. I’ll decide what he should know and when. Then, I’ll touch base when the time is right. Paige, don’t do anything reckless.”

“Love you,” she said in response. “Now, I have to go. I want to stop by the hospital before it’s too late.” She disconnected before Nathan could call her on the non-answer she gave him. She didn’t plan to do anything reckless but desperate times...

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige climbed from her bed and stumbled down to the kitchen. She needed coffee. As she poured water into the machine, sorrow engulfed her. This was the time of day that always reminded her of Dax. She missed their morning ritual and wondered if those days were gone forever. She started the machine then made her way to the living room to wait. She’d catch the morning news while she enjoyed the fresh aroma of freshly brewed java.

“And in other news,” the anchor continued. “Manti’s race for District Attorney has already heated up. We have Trenton Moore in studio today. Mr. Moore, tell us about yourself and what’s happening in Manti. I understand there have been some developments since you announced your candidacy yesterday.”

*Well, that didn’t take long*, Paige thought to herself. She turned up the volume so she could hear the rest of the report then made her way to the kitchen. Her black miracle of life was finally ready for consumption. And, this morning she was going to need at least three cups to get her moving.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige had just settled behind her desk when Jericho exited his office and made his way to her visitor’s chair. Once he was settled, he took a minute to study his deputy. “You look like hell.”

Paige shrugged. “Feel that way, what’s up?”

“Trenton Moore has filed a complaint with the county council. He’s demanding they terminate you immediately.”

“Awe,” Paige grinned. “Now you’ve hurt my feelings.”

“He has also informed me, he expects my resignation before the end of the day. And, Tolman should not only resign, but Moore is demanding our favorite DA pull his name from the ballot in the upcoming election; it’s the ethical and sensible thing to do after all.”

“How about an all-expense paid trip to Disneyland while he’s at it? I mean, if you’re going to be ridiculous... might as well ask for the world, right?”

“So far, nothing about Disney but he wants an answer on the rest immediately.”

Paige smiled as she raised her middle finger to her boss. “How’s that for a response?”

“Can you send that to me in writing?”

“Sure,” Paige flipped on her computer. “Just give me a minute, I’ll Google it and get back to you.”

Jericho laughed. “That’s not necessary. I’ll pass on the sentiment, but my way will be a little more subtle. Did you have a chance to visit Dax yesterday?”

“Yeah,” Paige frowned. “No change.”

“What about the gang of militants? Anything new I should know about?”

“No,” Paige shook her head. “Not that I know of, anyway. Zeus tries to keep us informed, as much as Hawk allows. I’m sure they’re up to something, I just don’t know what yet.”

“Maybe Dax will rein them in, get them to cooperate,” Jericho stood. “We are all on the same team here. We want the same thing, it would be nice if those guys understood that.”

“They understand,” Paige shifted in front of her computer. “They just think they’re better equipped to handle it on their own. By the way, did you catch the news? Moore didn’t wait long to go public with his complaints. Sounded like a petulant child to me, I doubt he won the hearts and minds of the locals.”

“I’m not worried about Moore,” Jericho decided. “He’s out of his league. Tolman might come across as dignified and easy-going but he’s no fool. He’ll punch back and punch hard. Trenton Moore won’t even see it coming.”

“Good,” Paige decided. “Another failure for them... a win for us. We’re stacking them up. Now, we just need to figure out our knockout move. I want every one of them behind bars or in a grave, from the man at the top all the way down to the bottom. No one escapes this, Jericho.”

“I agree,” he gave her a nod of approval. “Now, get to work. I have a meeting with the Mayor.”

Paige cringed, opened her email and got to work.

\*\*\*\*\*

Cole Reynolds glanced up and frowned. “We agreed you would never come here. Now there’s a record of us together. We need plausible deniability.”

“I’m not visiting you,” the Colonel stated flatly. “I dropped by to deliver a bouquet of flowers to Flo. She loved them, by the way.”

“Still,” Cole considered. “What do you want?”

“You know what I want,” the Colonel said. “We need to escalate the attacks. Nathan Porter is defeating us at every turn.”

“Nathan Porter is preoccupied with saving his team,” Cole countered. “Our goal was to keep him busy with other things so he would stop focusing on us. It’s working.”

“That was your plan,” the Colonel disagreed. “Our first shipment is late. Our buyers are growing impatient. If we can’t deliver soon, they will find someone who can. We have millions riding on this mission. We need to up our game and shut down Porter for good.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Let me take Hamilton out, permanently. Then we can focus on Porter. Hamilton should already be dead. Nassar was going to handle that little problem for us. Where he failed, Nox will succeed.”

“Fine,” Cole said with a dismissive hand wave. “He’s nearly dead already, take him out. I don’t see how that helps, but he’s insignificant at this point.”

“He’s not,” the Colonel disagreed. “Because Porter will attend the funeral. It will get him out of DC and vulnerable in Utah where we can silently take him out, too. Then nobody will stand in our way. We’ll be back in business and the shipment can be sent immediately.”

Cole didn’t like it, but the plan had merit. “I’ll agree to it on one condition. After Porter, the deaths stop. Nobody else needs to die. If we rack up too many bodies, it will make us vulnerable. Someone is bound to connect the dots and you and I will end up behind bars. I’d like to keep my freedom. What good will millions do us if we can’t enjoy it?”

The Colonel didn’t agree, so he didn’t answer; just slipped away unseen. The same way he arrived.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I want her fired immediately,” Trenton Moore growled. “She’s overstepped. She took a civil matter and turned it into a criminal fishing expedition. I have rights and Paige Carter is stomping all over them. I’m sure you don’t want me on your bad side, sheriff. The new District Attorney and the local police department will have to work closely together. Let’s start this relationship off right. Fire that insolent busybody before the end of the day.”

“I’m afraid I have an entirely different point of view on this,” Jericho said, gritting his teeth. “Paige stays. You, on the other hand, can go.”

Trenton Moore’s face turned a bright shade of red, then went almost purple. “You’re going to regret this.”

Jericho smiled as the infuriating man stomped out the door and slammed it behind him. He continued to smile when Margie appeared in the doorway.

“Guess that didn’t go well?”

“On the contrary,” Jericho stood and moved to the window. “I think we finally understand each other.”

“And Paige? Does she still have a job?” Margie asked, knowing the answer.

“What do you think?” Jericho frowned when he spotted the black government vehicle. “Why don’t you go home early today?”

“Are they still out there?” Margie might go home, but she’d be calling Riley. Her son could be as big a headache as the cocky lawyer that just left. And she thought it was about time the ATF had a really big headache... of the Migraine variety.

“Yeah,” Jericho turned back to face his assistant. “Go home, I’ll handle this.”

“Expect a call from Riley,” Margie called back as she disappeared out the door.

“Great,” Jericho settled back into his chair. “That’s all I need.” Just then his phone began to ring. “Sheriff Walters.”

“Jericho, it’s Clark.”

“I didn’t expect to hear from you until tomorrow at the earliest. What do you have for me?”

“An intense desire to help you take that snake, Trenton Moore down... hard.”

“I think Paige might agree with you,” Jericho settled back to hear what Clark Anderson found. He knew everyone he knew would find it strange that he employed the services of a Private Investigator. But, Clark was more than a typical PI. He had contacts the police could never cultivate and the kid was a wiz when it came to fleshing out the dirt... no matter how hard a person tried to hide it. He was sure the guy employed tactics and methods that would get an officer in hot water, but he didn’t care. He considered himself an ends kind of guy.

“I don’t know what that means, but the guy is a con artist in a fancy suit,” Clark grumbled. “I’ve located two previous victims... families he claimed to be related to. He lied. Just like this time, he barged in, cleaned them out, and then split. The last one was two years ago. Grant Sudbury hit it big in the market. Lucked into a couple big investments that paid off in a big way. When he passed away unexpectedly, Trenton Moore swooped in and cleaned out his portfolio. Didn’t care that Grant’s daughter was counting on that money to pay for her child’s medical expenses. The kid has some rare disease and needs another surgery right away. If his parents can’t scrape up the funds to pay for it, the kid won’t live much longer... not that Moore cares. He shipped the money overseas. I’m still trying to find the account, but things are more... complicated in the Caymans.”

“I might have someone that can help with that,” Jericho considered. “I’ll have Carmen contact you directly. Whatever you can scrape up... that we can prove would be great. The sooner we get that guy out of my town, the better.”

“I’ll work with Carmen and see what I can do,” Clark decided not to tell the good sheriff he planned to take the money as soon as he found it. It belonged to the daughter and she needed it more than some slick, underhanded lawyer. He was sure Jericho wouldn’t rat him out, but he didn’t want his mentor to be disappointed. Clark Anderson owed his life to Walters. If he hadn’t caught him committing some petty theft years ago, Clark would probably be rotting in a cell today. Instead, Jericho came down on him hard... and protected him. He taught him honor and respectability. Stealing a bunch of money, even if he gave it to the victims of Moore’s crime, probably wouldn’t seem honorable to Jericho Walters. No, better he not know about it.

“Anything on the other guys?”

“Uh... yeah,” Clark shifted gears. “Your two ATF agents seem legit. I think they are just following orders. Their supervisor, on the other hand, is questionable. The guy has a pretty serious gambling problem. Rumor has it he was in big trouble a few weeks ago, then suddenly he came into the funds to settle the debt. No word on who he sold his soul to, but there’s no doubt he sold it to someone. I could follow up, ruin the guy by turning him into Internal Affairs but...”

“But the agents are harmless, so drop it. I’m not ready to ruin the guy... yet.” Jericho glanced back out the window and sighed. If they wanted to waste their days sitting in front of his office, he’d just ignore them. “You up for a slightly more difficult challenge?”

“Bring it on,” Clark smiled. “I’ve got some free time, what do you need?”

“I’ll email you the names of a few former Rangers. See what you can find.”

“I thought you were working with those guys,” Clark said, surprised.

“We are,” Jericho hesitated. “I just want to know who I’m working with.”

“Alright,” Clark decided. “I’ll get started, but this one is going to take some time. It’s not easy to break through the brick wall the government erects to shield these guys.”

“Whatever you can find will be fine,” Jericho assured him. “Now, I’m going to let you go. Send me the bill. I’ll sleep on the Trenton Moore problem and decide how to proceed. I’d like the details. I think Paige could use it in her criminal case.”

“I’ll send you what I can,” Clark promised. “Give me a few weeks on the other assignment. I’ll be in touch.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige, Carmen and Zeus walked slowly toward Dax’s hospital room. They were later than originally planned because Carmen got a call from a friend of Jericho and the two of them hit on something big. Paige didn’t know what yet, but Carmen seemed thrilled with the discovery. They were only a few feet away from the door when chaos erupted. Nurses rushed past, shoving them to the side. A doctor made his way into the room and quickly shut the door. Paige didn’t take the hint. She shoved it back open and stepped inside. “What happened?” she asked a nurse that tried to rush past her.

“I don’t know,” the woman said in panic. “Somehow the machine got shut down.”

“His life support?” Paige asked in horror.

“Yes,” the woman answered. “Please, give us space.

Paige was about to argue when Carmen pulled on her arm. “What?”

“I found the camera,” Carmen glanced above them.

“Can you get it? Without them knowing?” Zeus asked.

“Give me a second,” Carmen pushed a series of buttons on the device she was holding then motioned to Zeus. “Go ahead, grab it.”

Once Zeus pulled the device from the wall, he handed it to Carmen. The two women silently left the room. They were standing in the hallway, discussing their options when another alert sounded.

“What’s going on here?” Carmen said in surprise.

Paige watched as several nurses moved into a room across the hall. Once again, chaos reigned. Paige and Carmen stepped just inside the room located across the hall and a few doors down from Dax. For the second time in minutes, they witnessed medical personnel frantically trying to save the life of a patient. This time, they failed. Carmen fiddled with the recording device in her hand for several seconds, then placed it on a table nearby. She turned to Paige and pressed a finger to her lips in the universal sign for silence.

Paige gave Carmen a questioning look. Her friend flashed a huge smile then mouthed “no video, just audio” to Paige. They waited as the nearby machine sent out a loud, solid beep and the monitor showed a solid green line. Almost as one, the medical personnel stepped back from the dying man in defeat.

“I’m calling it,” the doctor announced. “Time of death twenty-one-thirty-seven.”

Carmen pointed to a large plastic cup positioned next to the sink. It was half-full of dark liquid. Paige snatched up the cup and held it out to Carmen. Her friend grabbed the recording device and dropped it into the cup. “Let’s get out of here,” she said as she turned toward the door. Paige carried the cup into the hallway. The device sizzled for a second, then gave a soft pop.

“I think it’s dead,” Paige dropped the cup into a nearby trash can.

“Yeah,” Carmen grinned. “And our enemy thinks Dax is, too. Should buy us a little time. Hopefully, enough time to develop a plan to keep him safe. But, I have to ask... what is going on at this hospital? Two machines just coincidentally go off at almost the same moment? What are the odds?”

“Not as long as you might think,” Paige glanced back at the man’s room. It was silent now. “That’s the fourth time this week that patient has gone into cardiac arrest. I asked the nurse about it yesterday. He’s an elderly patient. She said he was suffering from heart failure. They’ve been trying to reduce the water that’s collecting around his heart but the medication caused his kidneys to shut down. There’s apparently nothing they can do for him but make him comfortable. The nurse I talked to said it was a miracle they were able to bring him back yesterday. They expected him to go last night, this morning at the latest.”

“So, we just got lucky and the timing worked out for us,” Carmen glanced back at the closed door. “It’s sad, and I honestly didn’t think it would work. I assumed they’d revive him the same as they did Dax. I just thought...”

“You saw an opportunity and you used it,” Paige said in understanding. “I would have done the same.”

“Does that make me an awful person?” Carmen wondered. “I just took advantage of a stranger’s pain and suffering.”

“No, it makes you acute and quick thinking,” Paige smiled at her friend then immediately sobered. Someone tried to kill Dax tonight. She should have anticipated that. After all, he was a threat that Nassar had already tried to eliminate. The two friends silently made their way back into Dax’s room. It was nearly empty now. Zeus was standing in front of the large window, silently staring into the darkness. Dax was connected to the same machines, which were now working again.

“The doctor said he’s stable,” Zeus moved to stand next to Carmen. He took her hand and focused on Paige. “I’m heading downstairs to the cafeteria. I need coffee. You want anything?”

“No, I’m good,” Paige moved closer to the bed and took Dax’s hand. “Take Carmen, she can fill you in on what we just did. If we’re lucky, it bought us some time.”

Carmen grabbed her tablet off the table, Zeus must have set it there, then moved to stand next to Paige. “I’m going to send the new information on Trenton Moore to your boss. I think with what I’ve uncovered and the documentation from you, it should be more than enough to arrest him immediately.”

“Okay,” Paige said absently.

“Paige,” Carmen waited for a response. “We don’t know how long Dax... well, we can’t be sure there wasn’t damage. You need to prepare yourself. He may not recover from this. And, if he does, he may never be the same.”

“I know,” Paige settled into a chair next to the bed but continued to hold Dax’s hand. “I can’t go there right now.”

“Let’s go,” Zeus moved in and pulled on Carmen’s arm. “Paige needs a little time alone with Dax.”

“We won’t be long,” Carmen assured her.

Once her friends had left, Paige rested her head on the side of Dax’s hospital bed and let herself cry. She knew Carmen was right. If shutting off the machine had cut off all the oxygen to Dax’s brain, he may never wake up. Or worse, he may never be the same as he was before. For such a strong, independent man... any amount of brain damage would be worse than death. It was time to discuss the unthinkable. When Zeus returned, she’d broach the subject of shutting off the machines for good.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax hurt...everywhere. But, something told him he had to open his eyes. Was he awake? Partially awake? Where was he? Suddenly, he remembered where he was. Nassar was trying to kill him. He’d escaped the warehouse, fled into the woods and the brick wall... he remembered the brick wall. He had to find a way over the brick wall. Then a flash of pain. Was he lying helpless in the forest? He had to get up. He had to run before Nassar found him and finished the job he’d started days ago. His eyes flew open, expecting trees and damp ground. Instead, he was surprised to see dim lights and cabinets. He glanced to the side and realized he was connected to some type of machine. He was in a hospital. How had he gotten here? Was this just another sick torture method Nassar thought up? Was the liquid flowing into his body some kind of poison? Or truth serum, maybe? A noise to his right caught his attention and he turned his head slightly to investigate. Paige, not Nassar. Did Paige find him? Save him? It took him a couple seconds to realize she was crying. He had to do something, soothe her somehow. But, his body ached and he wasn’t sure he could move.

Paige bolted upright when she felt Dax squeeze her hand. Was that just an involuntary muscle spasm or something miraculous? Her gaze landed on his face and she was shocked to see he was awake. “Dax?”

“Hey,” Dax croaked. “Do you think a guy could get a sip of water? My tongue feels like sandpaper.”

“Dax!” Paige jumped to her feet and ran to the door. “Nurse! I need you in here, now!”

“Paige?” Dax said in confusion.

“I can’t believe you're awake,” she moved to the sink and filled a small cup full of water. “Just take a sip. The Nurse will tell you if it’s okay to have more.” Right on cue, a friendly nurse stepped into the room.

“What’s going on? You said you need help?”

“He’s awake,” Paige beamed. “He says he needs water. Is that okay?”

“Let me get you a mug of ice water and I’ll page the doctor,” she turned and disappeared in an instant.

Dax waited, impatiently, for the nurse to return. Why the strange reaction? He was about to ask when Zee and Carmen stepped into the room.

“What’s going on?” Zeus asked immediately.

“He’s awake!” Paige pointed at Dax.

Zeus shoved the coffee at Carmen and rushed to the bed. “Man, is it good to see you awake.”

“How long was I out?” Dax asked.

“Two months,” Paige practically whispered.

“What? Seriously?”

“You had complications after surgery and slipped into a coma,” Zeus added. “Dude, you had us worried.”

“Wow,” Dax was shocked by this new information. “What happened to Nassar? Did he get away?”

“Thor shot him, right after he shot you off that wall,” Zeus said, still smiling. He couldn’t believe his friend was finally awake.

“Thor?” Dax frowned. “What was he doing there?” Distrust settled in the pit of his stomach as he remembered the phone call he’d overheard. How many of his friends had turned against him?

“The gang all came when they heard you were in trouble,” Zeus answered. “Hawk, Thor, Woolly, even Jeeves managed to get away to help.”

“And Vato?”

“Naw,” Zeus settled onto the couch. “He’s still deployed... Iraq, again. Sucks for him, he was supposed to have at least a year before another mission.”

Dax frowned. Vato was in Iraq? And, his friend and informant had fled Iraq with sensitive Intel that the enemy was desperate to retrieve. Coincidence? Not likely.

“You think you’re up for visitors?” Zeus asked. “I need to let Hawk and the others know you’re okay.”

Dax considered for several seconds. “Not yet, close the door.”

\*\*\*\*\*

“It’s done,” the Colonel said, sliding onto a chair across from Cole Reynolds. “Dax is no longer a problem.”

“Already? You’re sure?” Cole asked.

“Yeah,” the Colonel shrugged. “Vox was in Vegas. Took less than five hours to get in, shut down the machines and bolt. He’s on his way to Salt Lake as we speak. Piece of cake.”

“And you’re sure it worked?”

“I’m sure,” the Colonel frowned. “But that bug you gave us failed. Something went wrong when they rushed in to save the soldier. We lost video, but the sound held out long enough to hear the doctor pronounce the guy. He’s dead alright, went down just after nine-thirty Utah time.”

“Good,” Cole relaxed a little. At least something had finally gone their way. “We may need Vox to return, though.”

“I figured we could use him to take out Porter. He’s going to hang out in Salt Lake for a few days, then he’ll swing by Manti and eliminate the irritating general.” The Colonel waved down a waitress to order a whiskey. At least Cole had access to a nice club they could use for their private meetings. The guy was beyond paranoid about getting caught. He really needed to lighten up a bit. Things had shifted and they were back in business. Next task... get rid of Nathan Porter.

“Porter is... missing.”

“What do you mean, missing?”

Cole shrugged. “No idea. My guy went by the office as we discussed. He was all set to tail him, but Porter wasn’t there. The secretary said he left this morning, went out of town. If I had to guess, he’s visiting his wife. We still haven’t been able to locate her. I’m guessing Nathan shipped her off, sent her into hiding until this whole thing is resolved. We’re approaching the weekend, he’s probably just visiting his woman for a few days.”

“Then we’ll have to watch the airport in Utah,” the Colonel decided. “We won’t know when he heads out, but it will take at least a couple days to plan the funeral. Chances are pretty good they’ll wait until early next week. I’ll call Vox, tell him to lie low for a couple days then head out and monitor incoming flights for Porter.”

“Good idea,” Cole tipped his glass and downed an entire shot in one gulp. “I doubt he’ll arrive before Sunday so Vox has a little down time before his next mission.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Nathan Porter stepped through the revolving doors of the hospital and made his way to the information desk. The trip had been impulsive... something he prided himself in never being, but he had a gnawing feeling he was needed in Manti. “Can you tell me what room Maddox Hamilton is in?”

“Are you family?” the woman asked.

“Yes,” Porter lied.

She tapped a few keys, then rattled off a room number and wished him well.

Nathan stepped from the elevator and made his way down the long corridor. It wasn't long before he spotted the room number he’d been provided. He frowned when he realized the door was closed. Should he knock? No, Dax was unconscious. He’d just step inside and take a peek. His frown deepened when he realized the door was locked. *Now what?* He rattled the handle again, hoping to get someone’s attention. The door swung open and the man known as Zeus peeked out.

“Porter? What are you doing here?” Zeus asked in surprise.

“I came to visit Dax... and Paige,” he pushed on the door and Zeus immediately took a step back and swung the door wide open.

“Come on in,” Zeus invited. “We were just discussing a few things.”

Once Zeus closed the door and locked it again, Dax spoke. “Porter, what are you doing here? You should have stayed in Washington.”

Nathan was surprised to see Dax was awake. That must be a new development or Paige would have called. He glanced around the room and spotted his girl standing in front of the window. She turned slowly toward him, then closed the distance and practically fell into his arms. Nathan immediately began to rub her back. The girl was a mess. He should have come sooner, but she sounded okay on the phone. In person, he could see she’d lost weight and, if he had to guess... she’d barely slept in weeks.

“I was expecting a greeting that was a little more... friendly, Dax. Glad you’re back among the living.”

“You misunderstand,” Dax pushed himself into a sitting position. The task took more energy than it should have. “I overheard a conversation Nassar had with... well, someone I considered a friend. They want you here. They were trying to figure out a way to lure you here. They need you out of Washington and out here, you’re vulnerable. Nassar was going to orchestrate a fatal crash. They thought they could take you out and make it look like an accident.”

“Somebody tried to kill Dax tonight,” Paige added. “These guys are determined to get him out of the way for good. Carmen and I made them think they succeeded.”

“Looks like I left town just in time,” Nathan wrapped his arm around Paige and guided her to the couch. They both settled in and Nathan pulled Paige in close to his side. “They don’t know I’m here. In fact, they have no idea where I am. I caught a ride with a friend. I won’t be on any passenger list. And trust me, they’ll be watching.” His mind was racing and he thought he knew the enemies plan. “If I’m right, they tried to kill Dax to get me out here. I would never have missed his funeral... especially with you involved.” He placed a gentle kiss on Paige’s forehead. “They didn’t expect me to take off before they put their plan in motion. I left early this morning, stopped in to see Sophie, then came straight here. I’d already left the airport by the time they made their attempt on Dax here. We have a little time before they catch on. So, if they think you are dead, why all the secrecy and the locked door?”

“Because,” Zeus said soberly. “Dax was about to tell us why he doesn’t trust his own team.”

“The Rangers?” Nathan asked.

“Yes,” Dax nodded. “Nassar was in touch with Vato,” Dax focused on Zeus. “And I want Zee to convince me he’s not involved. He and Vato go way back... nearly as far as Vato and Thor. I’m thinking it’s a little too convenient that Thor shot Nassar before anyone could question him.”

“You can’t seriously believe any of us would betray you like that Dax,” Zeus objected. “And if you don’t trust me by now... well, there’s nothing I can say that will change your mind. I’m outta here.”

“I trust you,” Dax grinned. “And that’s the response I was looking for. You pass. Thor? I won’t know until I speak with him. Vato was close to all of us, but those two are tight. If he went to anyone for help, it would be Thor... then you, Zee. But he’d also know you’re the first two I’d suspect. Anyone that showed up to ‘help’ in my time of need... well, they’re now on the suspect list.”

“What does that mean?” Carmen asked.

“It means I need you to do me a favor,” Dax focused on Carmen. “I need you to run all my men. Go deep, I want everything... phone records, financials, the works.”

“Hawk will know as soon as I do,” Carmen warned. “He’s doing the same on us. The minute I start looking into him, or any of the others, he’s going to find out.”

“What?” Zeus barked. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“The same reason she didn’t tell you I already had her run an initial check on your team,” Nathan said soberly. “Carmen is a professional and she knows when to keep things to herself. Telling you would only cause problems. You’re not exactly known for your patience and tolerance. If you knew the team was spying on us... yes, all of us... you would have confronted Hawk about it. We didn’t want him to know we knew.”

“You and I...” Zeus focused on Carmen. “We’re going to have a nice long, private, chat about all this later.”

“A basic run wouldn’t work on my men,” Dax told Nathan. “It was worthless and a waste of time. They all know how to cover their tracks. Carmen needs a full, deep run. See what you can find on the black web. Financial will be hidden somewhere, off-shore most likely. Start with their phone records. They wouldn’t use their regular cell, see if anyone purchased burners recently.”

“Hawk did,” Zeus provided. “He issued one to all of us. You have the numbers, Carmen. Run those first.”

“Does that mean you’re coming around?” Dax asked.

“No,” Zeus disagreed. “But, the sooner we clear them, the sooner we can focus on the real targets. None of these guys had anything to do with your abduction... I’d stake my life on that.”

“I hope you’re right,” Nathan mumbled.

“Thor has been out of town for over two weeks,” Paige focused on Zeus. “Where is he?”

“He didn’t say,” Zeus shrugged. “Just said he had an emergency he had to handle. Thor is not involved in this and nobody will convince me he is. Sure, he’s close to Vato, but he’s loyal to Dax. He’d die before he put his leader in danger. You may not trust him, but I do.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Jericho made his way toward the room Dax was occupying. He knew he’d find Paige inside. He tried to turn the knob, but the door was locked. He knocked briskly, concern taking over when his knock went unanswered. He was just turning, to track down a nurse to open the door when it suddenly flung open. Zeus stood, blocking his entrance and wearing a scowl.

Jericho pushed past the man and glanced around the room. “General,” he said in greeting.

“Sheriff,” Porter acknowledged.

“I heard what happened,” he glanced at Dax was surprised to see he was now awake. “Welcome back, son.”

“Thanks,” Dax watched Jericho as he moved to address Paige. Maybe the good sheriff could help until he cleared his team and knew who he could trust.

“I guess my offer for around the clock protection isn’t needed,” Walters settled into a chair across from Paige.

“Not at the moment,” Paige glanced at Carmen. “We bought us all a little time.” Paige proceeded to explain what Carmen had done and why they were sure the enemy believed Dax was dead. “And, at the moment they don’t know Nathan is in town. We’d like to keep it that way.”

“I agree,” Jericho told her. “Now that Dax is awake, any idea how long he has to stay? I’d like to move him before anyone realizes he’s alive. I’d suggest my cabin, but I don’t think you can get to it, yet.”

“The guys are staying at his place, but we could put you up,” Zeus gave Carmen a pleading look.

“Yeah,” Carmen nodded. “I have room at my place and this way, if you want, we can even keep your condition a secret from the men. Hawk’s a bit of a... well, he’s not much of a team player if you’re not one of his precious Rangers. He never drops by these days. If he wants something, he just drops in next door and grills Paige.”

“What about Nathan?” Paige asked. “If we suspect one of your guys... he can’t stay with me or they’ll know.”

“Nathan is going back to Washington,” Dax said staring at his current boss. “Aren’t you?”

Nathan grinned. “I’m staying with Paige tonight, then I’ll make arrangements to return to Washington sometime tomorrow. By the time anyone realizes I was here, I’ll be on my way back to the cesspool of corruption. Don’t worry about me.”

“I appreciate you taking the time to check on me,” Dax added. “But in light of the fact they want you out of the way, I think that’s where you need to be. In Washington, directly in the way of any future plans they might have. We need you to keep the committee going, keep the pressure on... officially. And, I’ll do what I can to keep it on from here... unofficially. Once I get settled with Zee and Carmen, we’ll touch base and coordinate a new plan.”

“I agree,” Nathan stood and held a hand out to Paige. “You ready to head home. I could use a little rest and I want to have some time to visit before I head back.”

“Uh,” Jericho stood, too. “I need just a minute with you, Paige, before you take off.” He turned back to Dax. “Get some rest, I’ll meet up with you tomorrow. It really is good to have you back.”

“Good to be back,” Dax told him. “Before you take my girl, can I have just a minute alone?”

Everyone left the room to give the couple some time to reconnect.

Paige moved forward and settled on the side of Dax’s bed. “You scared me.”

“I know,” Dax took her hand and began drawing circles on her palm with his finger. “I’m sorry.”

“I know,” Paige sighed.

“We’re going to get through this,” Dax promised. “Will you come back tomorrow and get me? I want some time with you. We need to talk things through. I’ll tell you everything I know, you tell me what’s been happening since I was taken by Nassar. You are the only one I truly trust, Paige. I’m 99.9% sure I can trust Zee. He’s always been solid and he would have given his life to protect me, I know that. I also know, he would have tried to stop Williams and Nassar from abducting me, but I ordered him not to. If I hadn’t, he’d be dead. If he was working with them, he would have reacted... or acted differently. But I’m 110% sure I can trust you. We need to present a united front going forward, do you think you’re up for that?”

“Absolutely,” Paige climbed onto the bed and snuggled in close to Dax. “I need you, Dax Hamilton. Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

Dax leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Paige’s lips. “I’ll do my best.”

They stayed like that for several minutes before Paige stood and sighed. “I need to go. I wish I could stay with you tonight, but I think I should spend the evening strategizing with the good general. Plus...”

“Plus, you miss him and he rarely makes it out for a visit. I’m wiped out anyway,” Dax assured her. “Once you all leave, I think I’m going to call it a night and try to get some rest. Hopefully, I’ll have more energy in the morning.”

“I’ll be here as soon as I can,” Paige promised. She gave him one last kiss, then stepped into the hallway in search of her boss. It didn’t take long, he was casually leaning against the wall across from Dax’s room.

“Let’s step in here,” Jericho motioned to an empty waiting room a few doors down the hall.

“Is something wrong?” Paige asked the moment the door closed.

“No, it’s good news, Paige. Not more bad. I came by to check on things here... on you, but also to let you know that between your investigation, the complaint from Remi, and the stuff Carmen sent over; we were able to arrest Trenton Moore about an hour ago. He’s furious, and so far he’s not talking, but he’s not going anywhere. He’s going down for felony fraud, at least two counts. There was another family a couple years ago that lost everything because of him. He’s going to pay for a very long time. And Tolman is now running unopposed again.”

“Sophia Burgess also heard about Pauline’s will and how Remi was in limbo until it all gets settled. Apparently, the two women played bridge every month and Sophia was more than a little angry when she heard the news. She asked Remi and his family to stay with her for a while. Remi’s wife has agreed to take care of Sophia until she recovers from her injuries. The spunky old woman was facing months in a rehab center, but knowing she’ll have full time care at home has appeased the doctors and they’ve agreed to the arrangements. Oh, and you’ll be happy to know Fairfax has dropped the unlawful death suit against Dean and the department. Apparently, Ethan Cabet decided to focus on his criminal defense rather than waste time on a frivolous civil case he knows he can’t win. With all that... and Dax’s miraculous recovery, I’d say this is turning out to be a stellar day.”

“I thought we lost him,” Paige whispered. “When someone snuck in and turned off the machine, I thought it was over. Then, suddenly, he was awake and squeezing my hand in comfort.”

“Sounds like Dax,” Jericho pulled Paige in for a hug. “It’s been a long two months. Go home, take tomorrow off and catch up with the arrogant General. If you want a few days with Dax, I can swing it. It’s time you put you first for a while, Paige. You’re tired, stressed and on the brink of collapse. I’m here if you need me, all you have to do is call.”

“Thanks,” Paige choked back tears. She was tired and stressed, but she was also so relieved. Dax was going to be okay and she had an entire evening with Nathan. They had a lot to catch up on and... they needed a plan. “I’m okay, but I appreciate the offer. I will take tomorrow if that’s okay. I need to get Nathan back to Washington and help to get Dax settled. For a while, Dax is going to count on me... and I’m going to have to count on you. There’s not a lot of trust in this group. I’m glad I have you.”

“The feeling is mutual,” Jericho gave Paige a hug. “Now, go spend time with your guest.”

“Oh,” Paige stopped at the door. “What happened with the ATF?”

“They’re still around,” Jericho shrugged. “If they want to waste their time following me around... I can live with that.”

Paige couldn’t and she planned to broach the subject with Nathan as soon as they got back to her place. There were a lot of subjects she planned to broach. Sean Wilkens was another. In the meantime, she was going to rejoice in the fact that Dax was okay. Better than okay, he didn’t seem to have any permanent damage from his ordeal. Today was a good day and Paige was determined to embrace it.

**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S3

**Tags:** Season 3

---

### [Swindling Nomads](https://melaniepsmith.com/swindling-nomads/)

**Published:** July 28, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Swindling Nomads (E4) - A friend of Sheriff Walter's needs help and Paige is the only one that can solve the problem.  Gage responds to an overnight burglary spree with very few clues but a lot of damage.  Dax and his friends must leave town to help a friend in need.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*SWINDLING NOMADS\*\*\*****

“Stop messing around,” Marko barked. “If any of those shops have a silent alarm, the police will be here any minute.”

The three teens inside the truck laughed. Russo stopped the truck and waited for Marko to reach for the handle again. The instant he did, he punched the gas. The tires started to squeal, then caught, and the truck lunged forward again. The boy’s laughter increased as they slapped each other on the back and waited for Marko to catch up.

“Do it again,” Freddie demanded.

“Maybe we should get going,” Russo hesitated.

“Naw,” Johnny disagreed. “One more time.”

Russo shrugged and waited for their partner in crime — literally — to reach the passenger side of the vehicle. The instant he reached out, Russo stepped on the gas. This time, Marko was able to grab the door handle. He gripped the metal and held on tight. When the truck lunged forward, he lost his footing and went down — hard. His knee collided with the asphalt surface of the parking lot, but he still didn’t release his grip on the handle. The truck continued forward as his leg scraped along the black surface.

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“Stop the truck,” Freddie called out. “I think Marko’s hurt.”

Russo slammed on the brakes and was about to get out and check on his friend when the passenger door was flung open and an angry Marko climbed inside. He slammed the door so hard the window shook. “Drive!” he demanded as he glared at the trio. “And, Gino is going to hear about this.”

“You’re going to rat us out for having a little fun,” Johnny pouted from the backseat. “That’s cold, man. And it’s a dirty thing to do. We didn’t say a word when you rounded that bend last week and threw Russo out the back. He could have been seriously hurt, but we all just kept it to ourselves.”

“That was different,” Marko knew he had a weak argument. They had covered for him, even with the large goose-egg prominently displayed on Russo’s forehead.

“How so?” Russo practically whispered.

“That wasn’t a job,” Marko insisted. “This was reckless. We could have been caught while you had your little fun.”

“Yeah,” Russo kept his eyes on the road. “You keep telling yourself that. One day, you might even believe it. Go ahead, squeal to Gino. But, just know… we’ll all remember it; and, next time, you’ll be the one with consequences.”

“I’m not going to tell Gino,” Marko relented. “I would have if the police had grabbed us. We got away though; so, as I see it, there’s nothing to tell.”

Russo smiled inwardly, knowing he’d won that battle.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige slowly woke to the sun on her face as it peeked through the bedroom window. She could hear the birds chirping in the background as a light summer breeze came through the open window and settled onto her motionless body. She smiled and slowly opened her eyes, expecting to see Dax lying next to her. He wasn’t there. She frowned, shoved the light covers away and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Why did he leave so early? She pushed to her feet and made her way down the stairs.

The instant she stepped into the kitchen, she smelled the succulent aroma of fresh coffee. She was drawn to the magic machine like a moth to flame. Once she had a cup prepared, she made her way out the front door and settled into her large Adirondack chair, prepared to enjoy her morning ritual. A glance in her neighbor’s direction told her Dax hadn’t gone home. His front porch was filled with three large men. Hawk, Jeeves, and Wooly were clearly working on something. Paige assumed it was related to Zeus. The man was still missing, and they were all frantic and worried. So, where was Dax?

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Paige stood and moved to stand next to the railing that ran across the front of her house. A movement caught her eye, and she spotted an elderly man headed her way. He looked a bit scruffy and out of place in this neighborhood. He continued up the sidewalk and appeared to be headed her way. A noise at the side of the house drew her attention away from the man, momentarily. She turned and immediately spotted Dax coming around the corner.

“What are you doing, now?” she asked. Before Dax could answer, the stranger on the sidewalk reached Paige’s front gate, paused, frowned, looked down at a clipboard he was carrying, then back at her. He realized she was watching him and his demeanor changed, immediately. He tried to act casual and nonchalant — but failed. Something was up with that guy.

“I’m looking for something,” Dax told her as he leaned against the railing next to where she was standing.

“What?” Paige asked absently as she watched the man disappear up the sidewalk and around the corner.

“I was thinking,” Dax focused up the road, wondering what had Paige so distracted.

Paige refocused on Dax. “Yes?”

“I’ve searched my entire house top- to- bottom for the information Ahmed was trying to deliver. It’s not there, I’m sure of it.”

“So,” Paige considered, “you think he hid it at my house?”

“I think he might have,” Dax nodded. “He was watching us, he’d know we are involved; and, with Zeus and Carmen always around, he would need a safe place to stash it until he could touch base with me and let me know where it was. Plus, he had to know Nassar was after him. Ahmed wouldn’t keep valuable Intel with him when he was being hunted by a terrorist. A sadistic, ruthless, inhumane terrorist. He would have hidden it somewhere and I think that place might be your house. Do you mind?”

“Do I mind him hiding it here, or do I mind you looking?

“Well,” Dax smiled as he took the mug from her hand and slowly sipped her coffee. “We really can’t do anything about the first, so I’m asking about the second.”

“No, I guess I don’t mind,” Paige yanked the cup of coffee back and took a sip. “Get your own, pal. I need the kick before I head in and get ready for work.”

“I already had two cups,” Dax shrugged. “Woke early with the idea and decided to get started.”

“You could ask them to help,” Paige motioned to his men.

“Actually,” Dax sighed. “I’m going to give the search a few more minutes then I’ll head over and help them. We need to locate Zee. I’m worried about him, Paige. He’s been gone too long without contacting me.”

“I know,” Paige shifted to face him. “For what it’s worth, I think he’s okay. Nathan firmly believes he’s just being cautious and maybe he found something.”

“If he found something,” Dax disagreed. “He would have called the rest of us in. This isn’t like him. I think he’s in trouble and can’t call us. And, I think it has something to do with Thor.”

“I agree,” Paige leaned over and gave him a quick kiss. “And, I think that should be the lead you follow. Locate Thor and I’m pretty sure you will locate Zeus.” She turned and headed back inside the house. It was time to get ready for work.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into the office and glanced around. Where was Gage? She made her way to Margie’s desk to ask.

“He’s on a call,” Margie advised. “In fact, you might want to head over and help. He’s over by the Market on Main. Said it’s a mess. Someone hit every business in that area last night. Broke windows, stole thousands of dollars of property, and got away clean.”

“Nobody gets away clean,” Paige disagreed. “There will be clues. We just need to find them.” She turned to leave when Jericho walked through the door. His face told them all they needed to know. Something happened that morning, and the boss was not happy.

“What’s wrong?” Margie asked. “What happened?”

“Where’s Clayton?” Jericho said in answer.

“He’s dealing with the burglaries down on Main Street,” Margie advised.

“When it rains it pours around here,” he turned to address Paige. “I need you to look into something for me.”

“Sure,” Paige followed him into his office. “What’s up?”

“Mrs. Kidder,” Jericho began.

“You want me to investigate Manti’s oldest citizen?” Paige frowned. “What’d she do? Forget to pay for a bag of yarn?”

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“It’s not that kind of day, Paige,” Jericho warned. “She’s the victim. Some guy, drifter most likely because she didn’t recognize him, convinced her the roof on her house was in need of repair.” He passed a sheet of paper over to Paige and waited for her to read it.

“This is way too high,” Paige looked up at Jericho. “It’s an old scam, mostly used by gypsies and conmen. They convince an elderly citizen or a single mom that they need work done on their home, a leaky pipe or a roof repair, demand half up front and the rest when the work is done. Then, they promise to send a crew over in the morning. Instead, they take the money and run.”

“That’s the long and short of it,” Jericho settled back in his chair with a sigh. “I agree, eight grand is high. It would be closer to five for the entire job. He bid high, demanded half and walked away with four thousand dollars. Joy Kidder bit and lost. She’s not destitute, in fact, she can probably afford it more than most of our elderly population; but, she still took a pretty big hit.”

“And it pisses you off on principle,” Paige realized. “Did she have a description of the man?”

“That’s where he made his mistake,” Jericho smiled. “Joy may be old, but she’s still sharp. The man looked to be in his mid-to-late sixties. She said he was scruffy looking, but she chalked that up to his occupation. Thought if he was out getting dirty roofing houses, he wasn’t going to be clean-cut and wearing a suit.”

“About five-eight with a tight beard and mustache?” Paige asked, annoyed at herself for not confronting the man this morning.

Jericho frowned. “Do we have another victim already?”

“I saw him this morning,” Paige admitted. “He was headed for my house, at least I thought he was. The instant Dax stepped around the corner, he changed gears and disappeared.” Paige considered. “He seemed confused, glanced at a clipboard then focused on me and my house again. Do you think they’ve accessed tax records or something? Maybe they’re working from a carefully planned out list of homes owned by one person… probably females.”

“Why do you say they?” Jericho asked. “You saw one guy and Joy only dealt with one guy.”

“Because it’s always a team,” Paige considered. “I’ve worked these fraud cases before. They don’t stick for long. They move into town, take in a pre-determined sum and then they move on to the next town; or, head one state over and start up again. It might be a good idea to bring Shawn in on this, see if they have anything in the works on this group. If they don’t, I have no doubt they will. It’s just a matter of time.”

“I thought he was still assigned to Porter,” Jericho questioned. “If that’s the case, he won’t be much help on this.”

“He is,” Paige confirmed. “And, I doubt he’ll have time to help me work it. But, he still has contacts and access to their system. He can at least tell me if a large group of drifters is on the radar; or, if we’re dealing with a group that’s gone undetected until now.”

“If they have a pattern, how would they go undetected?”

“Because they choose their victims carefully,” Paige advised. “I think they were going to target me this morning. I made the list because I’m single and live in an older home. They assumed I would be an easy mark. They have access to records but not personal Intel. They didn’t know I’m a cop. Mostly, they focus on the elderly because most of them won’t make a report. They’re vulnerable and when they fall for a scheme like this one; they get embarrassed, don’t want to admit to their loved ones they fell for such an obvious scam, and they hide it. Groups like this can operate for years before getting caught.”

“You’re approved to call Shawn,” Jericho decided. “But, I want him to know this is my case and I’m not turning it over to the feds. I want these guys caught and in a cage. This is personal, Paige. Joy…” he wasn’t sure how to continue.

“She’s important to you,” Paige provided. “I get it. I don’t know her well, but she’s a great supporter of law enforcement and I’ll do my best to get her justice.”

“Thanks,” Jericho sighed. “Do you think that man is still in your neighborhood?”

“No,” Paige said confidently. “Because I had a feeling he was trouble and I drove the area before I came in. He’s gone for now.”

“Then head over and see what you can do to help Gage on his burglary,” Jericho decided. “From what I hear, there’s a lot of damage and the property value is significant.”

“I’ll keep you posted,” Paige said on her way out the door.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the lot of the Manti Market and took a minute to survey her surroundings. There was a lot of damage to the surrounding stores and she wondered why nobody called the crime in while it was in progress. She took another minute to get the big picture before starting across the large parking area. She had only gone a few short steps before Gage was at her side.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he admitted. “It’s a mess. I have statements from most of the owners, but I haven’t even started to sift through the evidence. Well, I’m hoping there’s some evidence to sift through. These guys are beyond livid and if I don’t catch the group responsible, the publicity is going to get ugly.”

“I can’t worry about that,” Paige shrugged. “We’ll catch them because these guys need to be caught, not because it will look bad if we don’t.”

“It’s all a part of the whole and you know it,” Gage disagreed. “The mayor is going to be all over Jericho for this. Tilly Hovey is a donor and she’s more upset than the rest. Apparently, Mayor Fowler assured her there was no reason to install a fancy security system. Claimed her donation ensured protection at all times.”

“Politics,” Paige shook her head. “Guess the mayor is going to learn a valuable lesson over this, too. Why didn’t anyone call this in last night?”

“This is a small town, Paige,” Gage glanced up when a truck pulled into the lot. “There’s Keith Duvall. I need to go interview him. Anyway, so far none of these shops have alarms. Only one has a camera. Robert Bentley, right there on the end next to the market. He has a small system on the far end of his building, but the camera is angled more toward the street to catch illegal parking. I’ll be surprised if we get much from it. He’s pulling the footage now. Where do you want to start? Collecting evidence or viewing the video?”

“I’ll follow you over to talk to Duvall,” Paige decided. “While you get his statement, I’ll take a look around and see if I can find something that will lead us to the perps.”

“Good luck,” Gage grumbled. “So far, I’ve found a lot of damage, but not much else to go on.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige made her way carefully around the store. Gage was right, the guys that did this had obviously done it before. She didn’t find any fingerprints on the doorknob, the inside counter or the cash register. She was slowly moving toward the back when Gage approached.

“I’m done here,” he told her. “Keith doesn’t have anything that will help, just a lot of anger and frustration like the rest of the victims. Let’s go look at the video.”

They made their way further up the sidewalk and stepped into a small clothing store – mostly specialty items. Robert Bentley was working to sweep up the broken glass left when the large display window was broken out completely. A rock rested on the floor about three feet from the destruction.

“Don’t suppose you can get prints off a rock,” Robert said with a sigh.

“Sorry, but no.” Paige moved toward the counter. “Gage said you have video. Can you take a minute and show us what you found?”

“Sure,” Robert rested the handle of the broom against the wall and moved forward. “I looked, already. I doubt there’s anything that will help, but your welcome to it.”

The two deputies followed the shop owner into a back office. It was small and not meant to accommodate three people, especially when one of them was a large, muscular ex-linebacker turned cop. They huddled around the small screen and watched as a group of kids — late teens to early twenties — joked around in the parking lot. They were messing around, not letting one of the kids into the truck.

“You need an alarm,” Paige told Robert. “They were out there long enough that if even one of these stores had an alarm, those kids would be in custody right now.”

“I thought of that,” Robert said glumly. “And, I even considered installing a system last summer. Then, things got tight and I decided it wasn’t necessary. I’ve now decided it is. Not that it will do me any good at this point.”

“Stop it right there,” Paige demanded. “Back it up a bit. Yeah, right there. Do you have a way to take a screenshot of that image?”

“I think…” Robert said, playing with some of the controls. “Okay, there you go.”

“Now,” Paige straightened. “Can you print that photo for me? I need to take a closer look at that exact spot.”

Gage frowned when Robert looked to him for answers. Gage just shrugged, he never could explain Paige or her methods; so, he wasn’t going to try. The three of them walked out of the room together. Robert paused at a small table at the end of the hall and retrieved a single sheet of paper, handing it to Paige immediately.

“I’ll be over at the Market —in the parking lot,” Paige said, hopeful for the first time since she’d arrived.

The two men followed her out, still wondering what she saw that they missed.

Paige stepped outside and studied the photo. It only took a couple seconds to identify the spot she was looking for. As she approached the location, she spotted the skid marks left by the truck in question.

“What will that tell us?” Gage asked, studying the marks but still not understanding what had sent Paige on the hunt.

“Here,” she shoved the photo at her friend. “You might want that for the file.” She crouched, pulled a pair of tweezers and some rubber gloves from her pack and carefully placed a rock into an evidence bag.

“You’re collecting a rock for evidence?”

 Paige ignored him as she slid a clump of dirt into the same bag.

“Paige?”

Paige stood and handed Gage the evidence. “I can definitely see pine needles and I think that might be sage. We’ll have to send it to the lab to confirm. I took the rock, so they can analyze it as well. I believe they can match the clump of mud to the mud that has dried on the bottom of that rock. If so, it will help prove my theory.”

“Which is?” Gage asked, perplexed as he studied the small bag.

“I think they’re staying up the canyon,” Paige continued to study the ground. “I think they parked in a designated camping area or a meadow and got mud on their tires. Then, I think they drove the gravel roadway and that rock got caught in the tread of the tire locking the mud inside until they played their juvenile game that got one of them injured. And, that’s when the rock and the mud came loose.” She came to an abrupt stop and crouched again to study the asphalt. “And here we have some blood and tissue.” She pulled a pocket knife from her kit and began carefully scraping the asphalt until a clump of dried blood and what looked like skin tissue dislodged from the hard surface. She dropped it into an evidence bag and secured it. “Now you have DNA.” Paige was counting on using the results to positively identify their criminals.

“How in the world did you find blood and tissue evidence in a parking lot half the size of a football field?”

“Patience and tenacity,” Paige grinned and handed the second evidence bag to Gage. “Throw that in the truck and let’s go take a look at the other shops. I doubt we’ll find anything, but we have to look.”

\*\*\*\*\*

It was three hours later when Paige stepped back into the office and headed for her desk. Gage was on his way to the lab and she wanted to take the rest of her shift to narrow down possible targets on her own case. She was sure the conman — or men — would strike again and they would target another single woman or an elderly resident. She wanted to be there when he did.

Paige glanced up when Jericho stepped from his office and shut the door. “Go home, Paige,” he ordered. “It’s an hour past shift and I can’t justify more overtime.”

Paige glanced at the clock and realized he was right. “I just need five minutes, then I’m leaving.”

Jericho approached her desk. “For what?”

“I’m generating a list of possible targets,” Paige told him. She waited as Jericho made his way around the desk and stood, reading her list over her shoulder.

“It’s a good list,” Jericho admitted. “But you missed Jesse Anderson. He’s ninety-two and a bit senile. He’d be an easy target if they thought to check. I know you said women, but…”

“Women and the elderly,” Paige quickly added Jesse to her list. “And he fits the profile perfectly. He’s old and lives alone. I’m going to head out first thing tomorrow. I want to sit down with each of them, determine if they’ve already been swindled and warn them just in case they’re on his list. He has a list, I know it. It’s what he keeps on that clipboard he carries. I could have…”

“Not really,” Jericho disagreed. “You had a suspicion, but I hadn’t told you about Joy yet. Even if you had questioned him, you would have been forced to let him go on what you had at the time. Don’t beat yourself up over that. Let’s just catch him now that we know.”

“We will,” Paige said confidently. “Because he’s going to hit at least one of these targets and they’ll be ready when he does.”

“Goodnight, Paige,” Jericho started for the door. “Keep me posted. By the way, Gage said the lab confirmed your findings. That was sage and pine needles in the clump of dirt you found. They also said, preliminarily of course, that the rock had the same substance. They’ll analyze further but Gage is going to head up the canyon in the morning and look for that truck. At least we got that on camera. It should be easy to recognize.”

“Then, I guess you and Margie are on your own tomorrow,” Paige hit print and looked over at her boss. “At least for a few hours. Call me in if something pressing comes up. I can hit the names on my list tomorrow afternoon if I need to.”

“I do know how to take a report, Paige. I was doing it before you got your first kiss.”

Paige snatched the document off the printer and groaned. “Don’t remind me. It was an experience I’d like to forget.”

Jericho was laughing as he left the office.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into her driveway and shut down her vehicle; then, she just sat behind the wheel pondering for several minutes. She must have lost track of time because she jumped at the knock on the window.

Dax took a step back when Paige pushed open the door. “You okay?”

“Long day,” she grabbed her bag and her list, secured her vehicle, then headed for the front door. “You?”

“Didn’t find anything hidden around your house, yet.”

“But, you still think it’s here?” Paige realized.

“I do,” Dax followed her inside and waited while she deposited her duty belt and her file onto the couch. “There’s something else we need to talk about.”

Paige looked up in surprise. She should have known there was a reason he met her in the driveway. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Dax assured her. “Carmen located Thor.”

“Where?”

“He’s holed up in a dive,” Dax settled into one of her lounge chairs. “Some little motel in a small town in Arizona.”

“There’s more,” Paige knew instantly.

“There’s a factory,” Dax began. “It’s just outside of the same town.”

“And it’s owned by Reynolds,” Paige knew instantly. “What do you think it means?”

“I have no idea,” Dax admitted. “Carmen got me the number to the motel and Thor’s room number. I was thinking of calling… just to see, you know. See if Zee is with him and if either one of them will fill me in.”

“But you’re worried he might bolt, again.”

“That’s the thing that’s holding me back,” Dax said soberly. “I think I need to go there, to confront Thor in person. It’s the only way I’ll know.”

“You’ve already decided,” Paige accused. “When are you leaving?”

“Hawk and Carmen want tonight to plan. The team will head out tomorrow,” Dax advised. “They want to check satellites and try to figure out if the manufacturing plant is active. We’ll play it by ear from there.”

Paige didn’t like it, she was worried that Dax would get hurt again and he wasn’t completely healed from Nassar and his horrendous torture sessions. Before she had a chance to say anything there was a knock on the door. She used the interruption to calm herself and shove down the panic and the fear she was feeling. Dax was leaving no matter what she said. She knew him well enough to know that. She swung open the door and spotted Carmen.

“Can I come in?” she asked, glancing at Dax.

“Sure,” Paige pushed the door wider and stepped back so her friend could enter.

“Hey, Dax,” she began. “The satellite images are up. It looks like some kind of secure operation. There are guards everywhere. What do you think that means?”

“Well,” Dax glanced at Paige while he considered his answer. He could tell she wasn’t happy about his decision to leave, but he wasn’t sure what she expected him to do. Sit around and wait, hoping for the best; but, expecting news his friend was dead? That wasn’t going to happen. “The place belongs to Reynolds and he does manufacture top-secret military products. It could be where he’s building his drones, or the other military weapons he’s contracted to provide the government. Your guess is as good as mine, at this point.”

Paige couldn’t hold back any longer. “Dax, you haven’t recovered yet. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to confront highly trained military guards that now work for Reynolds. There has to be another way. Wait a few days, try to call Thor and see what he says. You don’t have to do this. Send the guys in to handle it if you’re worried Thor will spook.”

“Paige,” Dax began.

“Carmen,” Paige pushed. “You know I’m right, don’t you? Do you agree they should wait?”

Carmen studied Paige for several seconds but didn’t respond.

“You, too?” Paige said in challenge. “I’m not… never mind.” She turned, left the room, made her way through the kitchen, and out the back door.

“Sorry,” Dax stood. “I have to deal with this.”

“I think you should let me do that,” Carmen decided. “She’s just worried about you; and, dealing with you tonight is just going to set her off.”

“What does that mean?” Dax demanded.

“It means,” Carmen smiled. “That your ego and your sense of duty will get in the way of your compassion, and that’s the last thing she needs right now.”

“Go back over to my house,” Dax decided. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Nope,” Carmen headed for the kitchen. “Hawk is waiting for you. He wants to get started on a plan.” She rushed down the hall and picked up the pace as she crossed the kitchen headed for the back door. She paused momentarily, then let out a relieved breath when she heard the front door slam shut. Carmen stepped onto the back porch and settled into the chair next to Paige. “He’s going to be okay,” she began.

“You don’t know that,” Paige disagreed. “And I needed your help back there, thanks for the support.”

“Paige,” Carmen sighed. “You wanted to know if I agreed, I don’t. And, I won’t lie. Not even for you. Plus, I think you should be supporting me on this and you’re not. I was there for you when Dax was missing, every step of the way. I never once said ‘hey, you need to wait. Formulate a plan to make sure everyone is safe before you rush in and try to save Paige’s man.’ I worried, I was completely stressed out knowing Zeus would do anything to save Dax, even risk his own life, and he wasn’t completely healed either.”

“I didn’t say…”

“I know Dax is important to you, but Zeus is important to me and he’s missing, now.” Carmen stood and began to pace. “It feels like you are saying Dax is more important. Then, and now.”

“I’m not,” Paige sighed. “Carmen, I’m not saying that at all.”

“Then what?”

“I’m saying…” Paige threw up her hands in frustration. “I don’t know what I’m saying. I just know I can’t go, not right now. We have two big cases at the office and when I called Shawn, he said he can’t help. He’s in New Orleans, dealing with the ship Nathan seized.”

“I knew that,” Carmen admitted. She sat back down next to her friend. “I’m worried, too. I can see those guys are conflicted, every one of them. They want to believe in Thor, but what is he doing in Arizona? Why is he living in a motel right by Reynold’s operation? Why is he trying so hard to stay off the grid? And what happened to Zeus because I don’t care what anyone says... Zeus hasn’t called me because he can’t. It’s the only explanation and that alone terrifies me.”

“Okay,” Paige tried to push her own fear aside and focus on her friend. “I don’t know what’s going on with Zeus. But, Nathan is sure that if he has been captured, he’s still safe. He doesn’t believe Reynolds would risk exposing his involvement in their secret operation. He’s under a microscope while Nathan’s team looks into the shipment of drones and weapons they seized in New Orleans. That’s why Shawn is out there, he’s working to trace the final destination. Reynolds knows that, and the last thing he needs is more scrutiny.”

“Nathan could be wrong,” Carmen insisted.

“Of course, he could be,” Paige relented. “But he’s not.”

“Why?”

“Because those guards are outside Reynold’s facility,” Paige said confidently. “Whatever he’s got going on inside is tied directly to him. He might capture Zeus and hide him inside, I think that’s possible. But, he would never commit a felony on his own property. It’s the reason he enlisted the help of Nassar and Williams – plausible deniability. Either Zeus isn’t there at all, in Arizona; or, he’s safe. I’d bet my life on it.”

Carmen stared across the backyard for several minutes, considering what Paige was saying and the logic she used to get there. It seemed sound. “Okay,” she finally agreed. “So, conversely that means if Dax goes after Thor and Zeus, he will also be safe.”

“Not if he confronts Reynold’s men on their property,” Paige disagreed. “They have a right to protect the place. In fact, they have an obligation to do so. If those guys go in, guns blazing, they could all end up dead. And, Reynolds will just say his men feared for their lives.”

“Paige,” Carmen scolded. “Give them a little credit. You know this is what they’re good at. They’re the experts. They’ve executed at least a hundred missions just like this. And, you’re going to have to start trusting Dax sometime. Trust him on this. He trusts you, I think it’s time you return the sentiment.”

“I trust Dax,” Paige argued.

“Sure, you do,” Carmen laughed. “That’s why the first thing out of your mouth was you can’t go. You need to relinquish a little control and have a little faith. I realize you only know Dax as the carpenter next door; but, according to Zeus, Dax is the best there is when it comes to planning and running an op. He’ll be okay. First, because he’s Dax and he’s good. But, also because Hawk couldn’t live with himself if anything happened to Dax on his watch. Especially now. It’s simply unacceptable.”

Paige did smile at that. “It’s not like I have a say in the matter, anyway. Dax wasn’t discussing it with me. He wasn’t looking for input to make the decision. He’d already decided, and he was simply relaying the plan.”

“Is that what bothers you?” Carmen asked. “Because you do the same to him. I don’t think either of you knows how a partnership is supposed to work. This is all new and you’re struggling with the basics. I guess that’s what happens when two strong-willed, bull-headed people fall in love.”

“Who said anything about love?” Paige frowned at the knot that had just formed in her stomach. Did she love Dax? Yeah, she did. But, she wasn’t willing to voice that particular vulnerability out loud. Not even to Carmen.

“Denial is futile,” Carmen stood. “I know you love him, and he loves you. Now, you two just need to figure out how to live with that knowledge and accept it. I’ve got to get back, now. We have to come up with a plan.” Carmen hesitated. “Paige?”

“Yeah?”

“I need you to be okay with this,” Carmen whispered. “I need you to be okay, because I’m terrified and if I can’t talk to you about it...”

“I’m okay with it,” Paige said, feeling a little guilty that she’d reacted the way she did. “We’ll get through it, together.”

“Thanks,” Carmen nodded and headed back to the team. She was going to spend the entire night planning. The men would be safe, they had to be.

\*\*\*\*\*

Zeus glanced out the window of his cell to make sure the guards were in their usual positions. One on each end of the hallway, and one directly in front of his door. All clear, business as usual. *What was taking the guys so long?* He was fine, but what if Thor hadn’t called in reinforcements? With each passing day, he became even more worried about the outcome. There was no way his friend could rescue two people on his own. Not in this facility. Zeus had realized, almost immediately, they had locked him in a different section than the one they were holding Camille in. He was alone with his guards over here. Camille, was on the other side of the building, separated from him by a large cinder block wall. A wall he was slowly chipping away at. He knew he couldn’t break through the thing, but he wanted to make contact. Camille needed to know he was here for her and the team would rescue her — somehow. He just hoped her cell was close enough to his that she could hear his whispers. He couldn’t call out to her or the guards would hear and stop them. He crouched on the floor, pulled out his Benchmade tactical knife, and once again began to chip away at the concrete barrier. He’d have to buy a new one if he ever got out of here, this one was going to be toast. While he worked, he again started to wonder if he’d made a big mistake. Maybe getting captured and leaving the rescue plan to Thor wasn’t such a great idea.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was just pulling out of Jesse Anderson’s driveway when her phone started to ring. The ancient old man was a little senile, but he was a character. She had liked him immediately. Paige was still smiling when she said hello.

“It’s Dax,” he said in greeting. He still wondered if Paige was avoiding him. He had worked late the night before and she was fast asleep when he climbed into bed. When he woke this morning, she was already gone. He knew he should never have let Carmen deal with the problem. Now, he had no idea where he stood with the aggravating, stubborn woman.

“Hey,” Paige pulled to the side of the road. This might be a long call and the next house was only two doors down.

“Can you meet me somewhere?” Dax asked. “We’re leaving in two hours and I need to talk to you before I go.”

“I’m working,” Paige said, still angry about the entire situation.

“Paige?” Dax sighed. “Please.”

“I need to make one more stop,” Paige decided. “If you can give me twenty minutes, I can meet you at the park on Main Street.”

“I’ll be waiting at one of the picnic tables,” Dax agreed. “Thanks.”

“See you in about twenty,” Paige disconnected and wondered what this was all about. She continued to sit there for another five minutes, trying to push the frustration and resentment away before she met with her next potential victim. Then, she put the car in gear and pulled into Maxine Taylor’s driveway.

Dax was already there waiting when Paige pulled into the park. She was late, it took longer to get the story from Maxine than it should have. Bottom line, they were too late. Maxine had already been scammed out of three thousand dollars. She didn’t tell anyone because her ex-husband was taking her back to court, hoping to get full-custody of their children. Maxine was worried that being the victim of a con would make her vulnerable. She wasn’t willing to risk it, not while she was dealing with the pending trouble from her ex. They had another victim, but she was an uncooperative one. Maybe Jericho could talk some sense into her. Paige would ask him once she made it back to the office. She pulled into the spot next to Dax’s truck and headed for the table where he sat waiting. She was fifteen minutes late and he probably arrived early. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Dax stood, watching Paige’s reaction closely. She stopped abruptly but didn’t step away, didn’t retreat from his presence, that must be a good sign. “Like you said, you’re working.”

“What did you need to talk to me about?” Paige asked hesitantly.

Dax moved forward and pulled her into his arms. He pressed a kiss to her forehead then shifted so he could look her in the eyes. “Are we okay?”

Paige shrugged. “Sure.”

“Paige, are we okay?” he asked again.

“I don’t know,” Paige admitted. “I’m...” how to finish that sentence?

“I know I didn’t handle things the right way last night,” he began. “I...”

“You handled things the way you always do,” Paige disagreed. “You told me what you’re going to do. I’ve been briefed on the plan.”

“Maybe that’s the problem,” all the things Carmen had said to him the night before flooded his mind. He studied her face but still couldn’t tell what she was thinking. “I’m in love with you,” he finally whispered. “Yeah, I know. It terrifies me, too. But, there it is. And I’m honestly not sure what to do about it. I just know I do love you. It was the only thing I kept thinking, while I was lying there on that cold concrete floor, while I was leaving the message in code on the wall hoping you and Zee would find me, while I was running through the woods and again while I was lying on the cold, hard ground with a gunshot wound. I just kept thinking, ‘I’m in love with Paige Carter and she’s never going to know how I feel.’ Then, I got out of the hospital and I couldn’t admit it. I kept waiting, thinking I would know when... or I guess I should say if, you ever felt the same way.”

“Why are you saying it now?” Paige was worried he was telling her he loved her because he didn’t know if he was going to make it back this time, and that thought terrified her.

“Because I needed to,” Dax shrugged. “I need you to know how I feel about you and I need to know we’re okay. I need you to know I’m going to Arizona because I have to, not because I want to. I need you to know you are just as important to me as Zee. I need...”

“I know,” Paige sighed. “And if you haven’t figured out that I love you, too...”

She didn’t finish because Dax pulled her close and kissed her, a long and somewhat desperate kiss. When he finally came up for air, he didn’t release her. Instead, he pulled her closer and held on tight. “I should have told you that sooner, but I didn’t know how. The timing seemed to be all wrong.” His ribs were killing him, he must have pulled something the day before while he was searching for the package Ahmed had come to deliver. He wouldn’t tell Paige that, though. It would only make things worse and he didn’t want her to worry. “I have to leave today. I hope you understand why I have to do this.”

“I do,” Paige took a step back then moved to sit on top of the picnic table. “It’s Zeus, you have to go. And, once I got over my annoyance that you were telling me the plan instead of working together to come up with a plan, I accepted that. I just don’t like knowing that I have no say. I don’t like feeling like we’re two people living our own lives, separately but together.”

“I don’t like that feeling, either,” Dax settled onto the table next to her. “I know I’m guilty of leaving you out of the planning. But, do you realize how often you do the same to me?”

“Carmen was pretty clear last night when she pointed that out to me,” Paige bumped shoulders with Dax. “Is that why you’re so enlightened this afternoon? Did Carmen have her learn to be partners talk with you before you guys finished for the night?”

“She did,” Dax smiled. “Guess it worked. She gave me the ‘I know you love her so stop trying to deny it’ speech.”

“My friend isn’t exactly subtle,” Paige smiled. “We’re fine, Dax. I understand why you have to go. I’m just frustrated with the timing. I wish I could help. I wish I could go with you, but I can’t. I’ve already found two additional victims this morning. These guys are working fast and if I don’t catch them soon, they might vanish, just move on to the next town before I can stop them. Then, there’s the burglary that Gage is working.”

“Why do you need to be there?” Dax wondered. “Why does it bother you that I’m running an op and you’re stuck here doing your job?”

“Well,” Paige stared at the empty ball field. “When you put it that way, it sounds kind of ridiculous., even to me.”

“This is my job, Paige. It’s what I do best,” Dax assured her. “I realize you don’t know that. I mean, all you’ve seen me do is rehabbing — in more ways than one.”

“You’ve been working with Nathan,” Paige disagreed. “Somehow I keep forgetting that. And, he’s impressed with your talent and experience. I guess I know you’re good at this. I just worry that’s all. I don’t know what you’re walking into. I don’t know how many men you’re going to be up against and I just feel like you’d be safer if I had your back.”

Dax smiled. “I probably would be, but my men will have my back. Can you try to trust me? I know what I’m doing, and after going over the satellite images and the other Intel Carmen dug up, I’ve handled worse in my sleep. These guys are not as sophisticated as we originally believed. In fact, I don’t think those men are ex-military. I think Reynolds is using an amateur security firm. We’ve got this covered. I’m more worried about Thor, truth be told.”

“You think he’s muscle for Reynolds?” Paige frowned. She still didn’t believe that, not completely.

“I’ve always trusted my men, completely. Now, I don’t know what to believe.”

“You’ll figure it out,” Paige said knowing it was true. “Now, I have one more stop I need to make before I head into the office to check in with the boss. And, you need to run through the plan one more time before you hit the road.”

“You know me well,” Dax stood and gave her another kiss. “I’ll miss you.”

“Me, too,” Paige admitted. “Be careful and call me, okay? I need to know you’re alright. And Carmen is anxious to hear anything you can tell her about Zeus. She’s more stressed about this than she lets on.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Dax promised before he climbed into his truck and drove away.

Paige watched him as he pulled onto the highway. She continued to watch as he slowly disappeared. She was glad she’d taken the time to meet with him, but now... she needed to get back to work. She was so preoccupied as she approached the next home on her list that she almost didn’t see the man climbing into his truck. She smiled and slowed, allowing the mysterious drifter time to pull in front of her. She’d check on the resident later. Right now, she was going to follow the sixty-something vagabond and see where he went. She left plenty of space between them as she maneuvered through town. They made the turn onto the canyon road and it only took Paige a few minutes to realize they were headed into the wilderness. So, this gypsy was camping out in the back country. Kind of seemed cliché to her but, too each their own.

They had just left the paved section of the roadway when her phone began to ring. She reached out and answered it, never taking her eyes off the truck ahead.

“Paige,” Jericho said impatiently.

“Hey, boss.”

“Where are you?” he demanded. “You should have been back hours ago.”

“I’m nearly finished with the interviews,” she advised. “I found two additional victims and was on my way to the last home on the list when I spotted my suspect. I’m following him as we speak. We’re headed up the canyon. I’ll let you know when he lands.”

“Be careful,” Jericho warned. “Gage is still up there looking for that truck. If you run into trouble, call him. I’d head up there myself but the mayor called. He’s demanding a meeting. Apparently, he wants answers.”

“I have one for him,” Paige offered.

“I’m not sure I dare ask,” Jericho smiled.

“Tell him to hire Havi full-time,” Paige provided. “Tell him, if he had taken your advice and brought on another deputy we would have been able to staff the graveyard shift adequately and the kids may have been caught in the act.”

“I’m not sure it’s wise to poke the bear when he’s angry,” Jericho grinned.

“That’s the perfect time,” Paige disagreed. “Poke him hard and then walk away with the honey. We need Havilland and he knows it. Gotta go, I’ll check in later and let you know what I found.”

“Be careful, Paige,” Jericho said again before disconnecting.

Paige held back so the driver in front of her wouldn’t realize he was being tailed. He had to know the vehicle behind him was a police unit — it was well-marked. Even if he had missed the markings on the side, he had to notice the large light bar prominently displayed across the top. She was trying to hold back, to make the man think she was just doing routine patrol in the area. If she didn’t make any overt movements, it might work.

They traveled up the steep gravel roadway for several miles. Paige was beginning to wonder if he was taking her on a wild goose chase but as they neared Skyline Drive, his vehicle started to slow. Suddenly, he took a turn onto a dirt road. She stopped at the bottom and waited. She knew this trail. It was a dead-end that led to a large camping area in a meadow. When she was sure he was well on his way to his temporary home, she made the turn and headed for the encampment. She frowned when she came around a bend and spotted Gage’s truck parked on the side of the roadway. She pulled in behind him and shut down her unit.

Gage exited his vehicle at the same time she exited hers.

“What are you doing here?” Paige questioned.

Gage pointed toward the large camp. “Found my truck. Why are you here?”

“Found my suspect,” she pointed to the man that had parked his vehicle and was walking toward the large group.

“Then our cases are connected,” Gage frowned. “There are several teens living up here. I was trying to come up with a plan to weed out our burglars.”

“They know we’re here,” Paige watched as the entire group stopped what they were doing and focused on the two deputies. “Let’s just go over and have a chat.” The two of them began walking towards the group.

“Jericho told me about Joy,” Gage admitted. “He’s more furious than I’ve seen him in a long time.”

“About that,” Paige glanced at her friend. “I get the anger on principle, but this has to be more. What’s the story there?”

“It... well, it has to do with your mom’s murder,” Gage admitted.

“It’s okay,” Paige pressed.

“Jericho was a mess after that happened,” Gage began. “He hid it from most of the town but a few people that had always been close to him knew there was more to the story. Now we know he was in love, but back then...”

“He kept it a secret.”

“Yeah,” Gage sighed. “Anyway, Margie saw how devastated he was and so did Joy. That lady took Jericho dinner every night for two whole years. She took care of him... still does, I guess.”

“And, he’s upset because he feels like he didn’t take care of her,” Paige realized. “Now it makes sense.”

“How do you want to handle this?” Gage asked.

“I want to call Forest,” Paige decided. She paused, pulled her walkie and called their local Forest Service rep.

“I’ll be there in five,” Forest advised. “I’m just up the road on Skyline, but I’m not sure how I can help.”

“I think they’ve been here longer than the 14 days,” Paige provided. “Can’t you just impound their vehicles for overstaying their welcome?”

“They have been there longer,” Forest confirmed. “I stopped by and checked on them sixteen days ago. I could tell they had already been there for several days.”

“Did you warn them about the maximum camping limit?” Gage asked over the air.

“I did,” Forest advised as he pulled in behind Paige’s truck. “I’ve arrived, wait up and we’ll confront them together.”

The minute Forest stepped in beside them Paige asked the question again. “Can you impound their vehicles?”

“We normally just issue a ticket and insist they move,” Forest considered.

“But can you?” Paige pressed.

“I guess, technically I could,” Forest decided. “But these guys would fight it and we’d probably lose the case in court.”

“I don’t care about court,” Paige shrugged. “I just want a chance to look at the vehicle so Gage can identify the truck as the one used in a burglary.”

“Let’s just threaten them with the impound and see how things go,” Forest decided. He really didn’t want to deal with the hassle or try to justify his actions to his boss.

The three officers approached the group as a cohesive unit.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/camping-sky-cloud.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/person-723557_640.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/friends-relaxing-around-bonfire-on-beach-at-sunset.jpg)

“I realize you told us we could only stay fourteen days,” Paige’s suspect began.

“I think I was pretty clear on the rules,” Forest said in response.

“Yes, you were,” a second man stepped forward. “But, you see... one of the women fell ill and she’s not up to traveling at the moment. We just need a few more days, then we can move on and you’ll never see us again.”

Paige was studying each of the occupants closely. When she spotted the teen in the NFL Jersey, she grinned. “Gage?”

“Yeah?”

“Isn’t that the autographed Jersey you and Mark gave Mr. Duvall? The one he had hanging on his wall in his sports shop. The one that was stolen in a burglary the other night?”

“Yes, Paige,” Gage grinned. “I believe it is.”

Paige moved toward the kid and unsnapped the holder on her belt that contained her handcuffs. “Kid, you are under arrest.”

“What is the charge,” her suspect demanded.

“Possession of stolen property,” Paige said casually. She spotted another boy listening to a new iPod, ignoring the activity around camp. “Gage, cuff him as well. I believe that is the electronic device that was taken in the same burglary a few shops down from Duvall’s place.”

“You know,” Gage nodded. “I think you’re right.”

“You can’t just march into our home and start arresting our kids on trumped-up charges,” another of the men protested. “I bought that iPod for my son.”

“I assume you have a receipt, then,” Gage inquired.

“Of course not.”

“Then he’s going to be transported with this one,” Paige had cuffed the kid and started for her truck. “Oh, and that guy over there,” she pointed to a male sitting in a chair away from the crowd. “He matches the description perfectly of one of the men seen leaving the scene. He’s going to have to come with us as well.”

“Unless you have a warrant, Marko will not be going anywhere,” the conman moved in front of Paige in an attempt to block her path.

Forest stepped forward, thinking he would deal with the arrest, since Paige already had one in custody. “Come on, kid.”

The conman who had victimized at least three of the town’s most susceptible citizens moved in front of the kid and held his hand out, blocking Forest from proceeding.

“You don’t want to do this,” Forest warned.

The man took another step forward, pressing the palm of his hand against Forest’s chest in an attempt to stop the apprehension.

“That is interfering,” Forest shifted to break contact. “Put your hands behind your back, sir. You are also under arrest.”

“This is preposterous,” the man yelled as Forest cuffed him and gave a little push to get him moving.

“The rest of you, remain where you are,” Gage advised. “You asked for a warrant, I can make that happen — on the entire camp. I think we have enough PC to convince the local DA. And when Tolman goes after a warrant, he never fails.

“What’s your name?” Paige asked the kid she’d cuffed.

“Johnny,” the kid grumbled.

“And yours?” Paige turned to the man she’d followed up the canyon.

“I don’t believe I have to answer that,” he glared at her. “I want a lawyer.”

“That can be arranged once we get to the station,” Paige settled the kid inside the back seat and turned to see Gage escorting a limping young man her way. “Tell Tolman you need a warrant for his DNA. He matches the description of the kid in the video and with that limp, I think that’s enough to prove he’s a match.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Gage motioned to his prisoner. “You willing to transport this one while I contact Tolman and wait for the warrant. I’d hate to give them time to ditch the evidence.”

“No problem,” Paige turned to Forest. “You okay with that one?”

“I’ll follow you down,” Forest shoved the man into his vehicle then climbed behind the wheel.

On the way down the canyon, Paige called Jericho.

“I’m sending Reed up to help Gage,” Jericho decided. “Dean and Havilland are still at the races and Lovato needs to cover this afternoon. You think he’ll be okay until Logan arrives?”

“I think the younger campers are star struck,” Paige decided. “They realized Gage is the famous Clayton linebacker. The adults, they’re behaving for now. It’s a good idea to send Logan in to help, but I think Gage has things under control. How did things go with the mayor?”

“I walked away with honey,” Jericho laughed.

“And, you said it wasn’t wise to poke the bear,” Paige grinned. “When does Havi start?”

“I’ll coordinate that with his chief,” Jericho decided. “I’ll be at the station when you arrive. I want to be there when you talk to the man stealing from our most vulnerable citizens.”

“See you soon,” Paige clicked off. “You do know you’re both in a lot of trouble?”

The response from the back seat was silence.

\*\*\*\*\*

Gage got his warrant and located the majority of the property stolen in the burglary. Two additional kids had been taken into custody. Jericho had convinced all three victims, including the uncooperative Maxine, to come into the office and see if they could pick their scam artist out of a line-up. They all picked her bearded nomad immediately. Once he was booked and fingerprinted, Paige discovered his name. Gino Pasqual was in the system. No big surprise there. But, she hit the jackpot when she located a felony warrant out of Colorado for Gino, a man named Arturo and a woman named Jasmine. They, too, were now in custody. Tolman was pleased with the results, Jericho was happy that $20,000 in cash had been recovered and would eventually be returned to the gypsy’s victims and Paige was happy she was going home on schedule for the first time in a very long time.

Well, she was happy until she pulled into the drive and remembered she was alone. Dax and the team were on their way to Arizona. If her calculations were correct, they should be arriving within the hour. She just hoped Thor would cooperate and provide the answers they so desperately needed.

She had changed, poured herself a glass of wine and was pondering her options for the evening when her cell phone began to ring. “Hello, Nathan.”

“How are you, kid?”

“I’m fine,” Paige settled into the chair hoping her friend and mentor had time to catch up. “You?”

“I’m... well, I don’t know what I am tonight,” he admitted.

“What’s wrong?” Paige was instantly on alert.

“Nothing’s wrong,” Nathan said slowly. “It’s just this mess with Reynolds. Your friend, Shawn, uncovered the information we’ve been looking for. The ship was headed for the Mediterranean Sea, we knew that but it’s the rest that worries me.”

“What did he find?” She knew Shawn would figure things out. He was like a dog with a bone when he was on a case.

“The drones and the weapons were going to be delivered to militants in Syria,” Nathan told her.

“How did Reynolds think he could get away with that?” Paige wondered. “Why would he even try? That’s... treasonous.”

“I think he’s in trouble,” Nathan said in response. “Financially, I mean. It’s the reason he was trying to sell that property where Nessar was killed and Dax was rescued. He was counting on the new contract, for the drones. I think he was just hedging his bet, so to speak.”

“At the expense of American soldiers?” Paige said in disgust. “There is no excuse he could give that would justify his actions.”

“I agree,” Nathan said wearily. “He’s not the man I thought he was. He’s not the friend I thought I knew.”

“I’m sorry for that,” Paige realized Nathan was upset over the discovery. He had befriended Reynolds, had vouched for him – more than once – and he was now realizing just how drastically he’d misjudged the man. “Is Shawn staying in New Orleans or will he go to Chicago to help with the murder investigation?” They still hadn’t caught the man who actually killed Bryan, a good Chicago cop who was killed doing his job.

“I’m sending him to Chicago,” Nathan told her. “He wants to help the locals out there get justice for their man and I think it’s a good idea. I can always call him away if I need him.”

“I agree,” Paige wondered if she should mention Dax.

“I hear your man and his team is headed to Arizona,” Nathan switched topics.

Well, that answered that. “He is. He’s hoping he can get some answers from Thor. I can call you if you want. Once I hear from him, I can let you know what they find.”

“I’d appreciate that,” Nathan relaxed. “Now, tell me about your day. Catch any bad guys?”

“Actually, I did.” Paige proceeded to tell Nathan about the case with the nomads. They talked for over an hour and when she hung up, she was feeling better. Nathan could always do that, cheer her up when she was feeling down. But, now what? It was too early for bed and she was too hyped to relax in front of the television. An idea hit her and she went upstairs to grab her shoes.

An hour later, Paige was studying the small metal box that had been attached to the underside of her front porch. It had to be the information Dax was looking for. The question was, what to do with it now that she had it. The doorbell rang and she jumped in surprise. Who could be visiting her this late at night? She shoved the box under the couch and moved toward the window, snatching her service weapon off the couch as she went. She peeked out the window and relaxed. *Carmen.*

“I was bored,” Carmen advised. “And, I’m jumpy and impatient. I want to know if they found Zeus already and I know, logically, they haven’t even arrived. The waiting is killing me.”

“Me too,” Paige admitted. “I need to show you something. Lock the door and have a seat.”

Carmen frowned. Her frown turned to open curiosity when Paige pulled a metal box from under the couch. “What is it?”

“I think it’s the Intel Ahmed left for Dax,” Paige admitted. “What should I do with it?”

“Well, duh,” Carmen jumped to her feet. “We open it and take a look inside.”

“But,” Paige moved into the kitchen and set the box on the table.

“If it makes you feel better, just say you turned it over to a member of Porter’s top-secret intelligence committee. That would be me. Now, open it already,” Carmen insisted.

Once Paige pried open the box, they realized it contained a flash drive. “Should we plug it in?”

“Absolutely,” Carmen jumped to her feet and started for the door. “Wait for me, I want to do this on my computer. It’s safer and it will be secure. Then, we call Nathan and report what we find.”

\*\*\*\*\*

The team had just left the freeway, headed for the cheap motel when Dax’s phone began to ring. He was now riding shotgun, Hawk had taken over the driving about an hour before. He glanced at the display, expecting Paige or Nathan. He was wrong. “Hello, Thor. We’ve been looking for you.”

“I need your help,” Thor told him. He just hoped he was doing the right thing. He’d spent two whole days trying to find a way inside. Trying to come up with a plan to rescue Zeus and Camille without calling in the team. He finally had to admit, it was impossible. He needed help.

“With what?” Dax asked, hating that even that request made him suspicious.

“I know it’s asking a lot, but can you meet me in Arizona?” Thor worried Dax wouldn’t come. “And bring the team with you. We need to rescue Zeus... and Camille.”

“Camille?” Dax sat up straighter. “As in Vato’s sister Camille?”

“Yes,” Thor affirmed. “I’ll tell you everything once you get here.”

“Well,” Dax said flatly. “You’re in luck. We’ll meet you at your motel in twenty minutes.”

“I knew Carmen was good,” Thor realized she had traced his phone when he tried to contact Vato. “I just didn’t realize how good. I guess I’ll see you in twenty.”

“That was odd,” Hawk said when Dax disconnected. “You think he’ll bolt?”

“No,” Dax considered. “We should be ready for a trap, but I think he was sincere. He sounded desperate. I believe he does need our help to rescue Zee. The question I want answered is how did they captured him in the first place.”

“I’d like to know that, too,” Wooly straightened in the backseat. “But, I’d also like to know why Thor is avoiding us. He should have called us before he tried to call Vato. The man is half-way around the world, on assignment. What is Thor up to?”

“That’s the million-dollar question,” Jeeves mumbled. “Hopefully, we’ll find out in about,” he glanced at his watch, “fifteen more minutes.”

“Hope springs,” Hawk said as he took a turn onto the road that housed the motel.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige,” Nathan said in answer. “I didn’t expect to hear from you again tonight.”

“We found something,” Paige advised. “Carmen has analyzed it and she wants to send you some files. We need to know if she should use the secure network you set up or something else.”

“What did you find?” Nathan was now alert. This was important.

“I located the flash drive Ahmed was trying to deliver to Dax,” Paige told him. “It has top-secret video. Training exercises that show our drones are faulty. It also shows how to disable them or how to gain control and use them against us. I have clear evidence our enemy has done that on more than one occasion. There are other files, but some of it is in code. I think Dax could probably decipher it, but he’s not here. I mean, Ahmed was bringing it to him, he has to know how to read it... right?”

“Tell Carmen to use the folder I set up for her,” Nathan advised. “The one only the two of us can access. I’ll study the material and decide how to handle it from there. Give me a day or two. This ties Reynolds into far more than I originally believed. There are only a few, carefully selected and high-level individuals that know the problems our drones are having. It’s the reason the Pentagon pushed for full replacement months ago. We’ve kept the flaws close to the belt so they couldn’t be used against us by our enemies.”

“And Reynolds knew,” Paige realized. “Because he was competing for the contract to replace them.”

“Exactly,” Nathan sighed. “You can tell the team about this if you need to but nobody else. I need to formulate a plan, but we need to give the men time to deal with Arizona first.”

“Why do I think you know more about this mission in Arizona than I do,” Paige grumbled.

“Paige,” Nathan sighed. “I know more about everything than you do. It comes with age. I’ll call you in a day or two with a directive. Thanks for calling me immediately and goodnight.”

Paige went to bed feeling lonely and depressed. Dax hadn’t called. Did he get to the motel okay? Was Thor there when they arrived? Was he cooperative or combative? She tossed and turned for hours before she finally drifted into a restless sleep.

The phone rang at one in the morning. It was Dax and he had a lot to tell her. Once he finished filling her in on Zee, Vato’s sister Camille, and Thor’s version of Vato’s involvement, she took over and filled him in on finding the flash drive and what she and Carmen had found inside.

**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S3

**Tags:** Season 3

---

### [Hijacked Innocence](https://melaniepsmith.com/hijacked-innocence/)

**Published:** June 29, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Hijacked Innocence (E3) - Porter's task forces intercepts a ship in New Orleans before it sets sail for the Mediterranean.  A child is missing, vanished in the middle of night and it soon becomes apparent the family has secret - dark secrets.  Can the team find the boy in time... or, is it already too late?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*HIJACKED INNOCENCE\*\*\*****

Nathan Porter paced in front of the large bank of windows that ran the entire wall of his home office. Back and forth, back and forth... the waiting was going to kill him. He glanced at his phone, willing it to ring as he pivoted and headed in the opposite direction. *What was taking so long?*

*\*\*\*\*\**

“He’s headed for the ramp,” Detective Kett called out. “Fontan, you in position? One male, late twenties, approximately five-seven, one-eighty is headed your way. He’s wearing a black hoodie, jeans and a dark-colored ball cap. Looks like it has some kind of logo on the front.”

“I see him,” Detective Russell Fontan answered. He clipped the walkie on his belt and bolted toward the suspect. The wily bugger was dodging and weaving around cargo bins in an attempt to fade into the shadows and disappear. *Not gonna happen*. Fontan picked up the pace, leapt over a barrel his cunning prey had toppled in his wake, and spotted the man just as he was attempting to climb a chain-link fence. Fontan smiled. *Big mistake*. He pushed his body to move faster, reached up, snagged the man’s baggie jeans, and gave them a forceful yank. The shocked felon went down hard, Fontan landed on top of him.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Front-Cover-3.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Hijacked-Innocence.pdf)

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Within seconds, he was on his stomach, the cop straddling his body. His arms were yanked behind his back in an attempt to secure the cuffs. The suspect was still a little dazed, wondering what had just happened. But, he wasn’t ready to give in. Instead of accepting his fate like a man, he decided to resist. One wrist was already cuffed, but the other was still free. He tried to swing it around, to cold-cock the officer. At the same time, he frantically began kicking his legs hoping to knock the cop off balance so he could escape. He missed, and the cop held firm.

Fontan was ready for the attempted punch. He dodged, shifted his weight, gripped the man’s arm, and forcefully pulled it behind him. The fight only lasted seconds. Once the cuffs were secure, Fontan stood to catch his breath. Why did they always fight the inevitable?

“I didn’t do nothing,” the young guy barked out of habit. They both know he had done something... for starters, he ran.

“Suspect is in custody,” Fontan reported in. “Who wants to transport?”

Officer Livia Halse responded. “I’m headed your way, should be there in about two minutes. I’ll take him off your hands.”

“Copy,” Fontan reached down and yanked on his prisoner’s arm. “Stand up, you’re taking a little ride. Anything you want to tell me before we make this all official?”

“Yeah,” the man glared at the cop who had chased him down, wondering again how that had happened. Cops were supposed to be out of shape and easy to evade. Not this one, he probably never had a donut in his life. “I want a lawyer.”

“Of course you do,” Fontan shoved the prisoner in the direction of the female officer who had just arrived. “He’s all yours. Any others outstanding?”

“Naw,” Halse shook her head. “We got ‘em all.”

“Branning getting a warrant to search the ship?” Fontan asked.

“I think the L.T. is working on it — here locally,” Halse told him. “He sent T-Bone to rile the judge. Probably used Branning’s case file to do it, but he’ll get it done.”

“Sounds good,” the two strangers escorted their prisoner back toward the waiting vehicles. Fontan was from Chicago, part of a team of detectives sent over to assist the New Orleans’s PD on a joint operation spearheaded by some bigwig General. He didn’t care how he got here. He was determined to catch every last SOB that had anything to do with his friend’s death. Brian Stewart was a good cop, a great cop really... but he was a better man. He deserved justice and Russell Fontan believed he was just the guy to make that happen. Livia Halse was a local. She worked the port here in New Orleans and was finally starting to get noticed by her superiors after six long, hard years on the street. She desperately wanted to make detective and hoped this was the year she could make it happen. With any luck, the current Op would be the bump she needed to push her to the top of the list.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/new-orleans-81670_640.jpg)

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*\*\*\*\*\**

The instant Nathan’s cell phone began to chime, he answered without even glancing at the display. “Status?”

“Nathan?” Paige asked, confused.

“Paige,” Nathan said impatiently. “I’m going to have to call you back. I’m expecting a call.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes,” Nathan practically barked. “I’ll call as soon as I can.” He disconnected, feeling slightly guilty about his abrupt demeanor. Before he could question his actions, his phone chimed again. “Porter,” he answered this time.

“Sir,” Lieutenant Caiden Norquist came across loud and clear. “The ship is secure and we have four individuals in custody. We don’t believe any escaped at this time, but the prisoners are not cooperating.”

“And the ship?” Nathan asked. “Do you have access?”

“Like I said, the ship is secure but we’re waiting on a warrant to board the vessel and conduct a search.”

“Do you need assistance with that?” Porter began running names of judges in the New Orleans district through his mind. Several owed him favors.

“Not at this time, no,” Lt. Norquist replied. “We’ve got it under control. With the federal warrant, the overwhelming list of crimes your men from Chicago brought down with them, and the fact that two of the suspects tried to flee; then, when they were apprehended they resisted... we’ve got PC. I expect approval any minute now. The probable cause is overwhelming, don’t worry. No judge would deny it. Those Dicks from the windy city have done their homework, that’s for sure. It’s smoothed the way for all of us to get results.”

“It was one of theirs that lost his life,” Porter reminded him. “A colleague and a friend. They’re determined to find and apprehend everyone responsible. I have no doubt they’ll come through for you. They’re not going to stop until this is over. Give me a call once you search that cargo ship. I don’t care what time it is. I want to know what Reynolds was shipping and the final destination.”

“L.T.,” Officer Brock Doogan approached his supervisor. “We have the warrant.”

“Warrant came through,” Norquist informed. “I have to go.”

“Call me when you know what’s on that ship,” Nathan demanded before he disconnected. He turned and stared out the window wondering if he should call Paige now, or wait until he had more details. It only took a second to decide.

“Hello?” Paige answered. “Nathan? What’s going on?”

Porter smiled and began to fill her in on the operation currently underway at a busy New Orleans port. Once he was finished, a deafening silence that seemed to last forever filled the air. “Paige?”

“And, you didn’t tell us earlier because you don’t want Carmen to know?”

“I didn’t tell you because there was nothing to tell,” Porter corrected. “In fact, I debated the timing but figured you would want to know.”

Paige proceeded to demand the details... all of them, no holding back. Once she’d completed her interrogation, she sighed. “Okay, will you call me when you find out how it goes... the warrant I mean? Once they figure out what Reynolds was shipping will you promise to call back?”

“It might be late,” Nathan warned.

“Yeah,” Paige sighed. “Well, I doubt we’ll be getting much sleep out here, anyway.”

“Why?” Nathan sobered. There had to be a reason Paige had called in the first place.

“Zeus is missing,” Paige notified him. “No one has been able to contact him for two days. Carmen is going out of her mind. Dax is worse than a hungry bear and Hawk isn’t much better. We’ll all worried. He promised to check in. The team is trying everything we can think of to find him.”

“Travis Boudin is good at what he does,” Nathan refused to use the man’s nickname. “He’s a Ranger and a good one at that. He’s gotten himself out of worse situations than this, plenty of them. Even if he’s been captured, Reynolds won’t hurt him. He couldn’t explain it.”

“Like he didn’t hurt Dax?”

“That was different,” Nathan insisted.

“How, exactly?” Paige wasn’t buying it. “We’re dealing with the same people. If they enlisted the help of Nassar, a known terrorist, what makes you think they wouldn’t enlist another one?”

“Because we’re onto them,” Porter said casually. “And, Reynolds knows it. He’s watching his step here in Washington. He wouldn’t take that kind of risk, not now. I’m sure of this, Paige. Boudin is fine. He may have been captured, but if he was... he’s locked up somewhere secure, but not suffering. I think it’s more likely he’s just being cautious. He may have gone silent because he found something and he can’t risk the enemy locating him. Give him another day or two before you start to panic.”

“Hawks talking about sending in the team,” Paige warned. “The only thing stopping him is you. He knows you’re working on something and he doesn’t want to be a complication. I’m wondering if either one of you will ever come clean; or, let the rest of us join the cool kid’s secret squad of rebels. We need to be in on the entire operation for this to work, Nathan.”

“I needed to talk to you about that,” Nathan admitted. “I’ve been working on getting your security clearance reinstated. Dax and Carmen are already clear. Sean Wilken’s came through this afternoon. I’ll have Carmen update his access immediately. I’m still waiting on yours. It’s a little more complicated because you left the Bureau. The feds don’t like to bring in locals on that level, but they’ll do it. I’ll go to the president himself if I have to.”

“Is that necessary?” Paige frowned.

“I think it is,” Nathan assured her. “Because I need the freedom to communicate with my team. I need you to know what’s going on, when it’s happening... not after the fact. And Hawk has too many contacts. He’s in the loop, because I haven’t been able to block him out.”

“And reinstating my clearance will allow you to do that? Keep me in the loop, that is?”

“It’s the only thing holding me back,” he admitted. “Now, I need to know what Dax has decided about the others. I can get their clearance updated... no problem. But, I’m waiting on your conclusions before I move forward. Does Dax think he can trust his team?”

“We still don’t know about Thor,” Paige admitted. “He’s also missing, but I think that’s by design. He doesn’t want us to find him.”

“And the others?”

“Dax has decided to trust them,” Paige sobered. “He’s not a hundred percent sure, but he’s close enough. Zeus is a hundred and ten percent. I think Wooley’s the same. I agree with him on those two. Then there’s Jeeves. He’s harder for me to read, but Dax says he’s good-to-go.”

“And Hawk?”

“I say Hawk is in the clear,” Paige said without hesitation. “I know Dax is wavering on him, but it’s only because of me. Hawk has some serious issues where I’m concerned. I think it’s clouding the subject more than it should.”

“That’s because Dax cares about you,” Porter understood the rub because he felt the same way. “If Hawk can’t support that, you have to wonder why.”

“I don’t wonder,” Paige smiled. “I know. It’s because I won’t back down. I won’t just blindly follow his every whim and he doesn’t know how to deal with that. I have an amazing mentor with the same hang-up. He’s a general... resides in Washington these days, maybe you know him.”

“Don’t start, Paige,” Nathan warned. “It’s been a difficult day.”

“With the exception of Thor, I say the team is fine,” she answered his initial question. “For the most part, Dax agrees. Which is why he’s decided to bring us all back together on this.”

“Good,” Porter paused. “You should probably know, I’ve been doing my own investigating. I have a friend looking into all the men. So far, they check out. I’m not seeing anything alarming. No red flags to indicate their working with Reynolds or his group. Waylon should be done in the next day or two. I’ll let you know.”

“Jeff Waylon?” Paige asked. “As in Homeland?”

“Yes,” Nathan affirmed. “But keep that to yourself. I don’t think the others trust that department since Williams kidnapped Dax.”

“If Jeff doesn’t find anything, there’s nothing to find.”

“I agree,” Nathan settled into his executive chair. “Now, how are you doing?”

*\*\*\*\*\**

Paige had just pulled into the parking lot and was headed into the office when Margie called her to assist on a missing child report that came in earlier that morning. Seriously? How did a seven-year-old go missing at six o’clock in the morning? “Show me enroute.”

She sighed deeply and wondered if this was going to be another long day. She was already tired and grumpy. By the time she got off the phone with Nathan and relayed the information to Dax and Carmen, it was after midnight. The op in New Orleans had gone well. All the players on the ship were in custody and the team had recovered a boatload – pun intended — of high-powered weapons and military grade drones. That was the part that worried everyone. Why was Reynolds shipping secret military drones to the Mediterranean? When you combined that with his association with Nassar, and the death of the informant Dax knew from Iraq... the possibilities were terrifying.

Paige made a left out of the parking lot and started toward the victim’s home.

“Logan’s on scene, but he needs assistance,” Margie advised. “Havilland was there initially, but he had to clear and head to court. They already did a thorough search of the home and yard but didn’t find the boy. Lovato is still checked-out on the call, but it doesn’t list his current location. I think Reed told him he could handle things at the residence until you arrived. Shows here Lovato began a cursory check of the surrounding neighborhood about ten minutes ago. He hasn’t checked off yet, so he may still be in the area.”

“Copy,” Paige accelerated and flipped on her lights. Might as well take advantage of the empty roads. She knew she was hyped up on caffeine, three cups of coffee would do that. But, with less than five hours sleep and a long day ahead Paige thought she might need another jolt. She just hoped it lasted until lunchtime. Otherwise, she’d be struggling to fight off a major crash; and, with a missing kid... she couldn’t afford to lose focus. It only took a few minutes to arrive at the residence and see the scene was chaotic. Logan rushed out the front door and met Paige in the driveway.

“It looks like an abduction,” Logan said in greeting. “The back door shows signs of a break-in but the kid’s room made us question that assumption. The bed hasn’t even been slept in. We decided to look into things a little more, determine what we had, before issuing an Amber Alert. Havilland helped us clear the house before he had to take off. The boy’s not inside. Just to cover all the bases, Lovato is driving the area and he’ll talk to any of the neighbors that he encounters along the way. He’s supposed to be off, but he said he’ll stick if we need him. Once he gets back, we were going to initiate the abduction protocol. Netty Simmons, the mother, says her son went to bed early last night,” Logan added. “About nine. She claims she turned in around midnight. When she got up this morning, he was gone. She insists he was kidnapped.”

“And she didn’t hear it?” Paige had a hard time believing that.

“She says she took a sleeping pill,” Logan said hesitantly.

“But you think...?” Paige asked.

“I think she was drunk, probably passed out and didn’t stir when the perp used a pry bar or something like it to open the back door. Or, the kid ran and made it look like someone broke in the back.”

“What do we know about mom?” Paige moved to the back of her vehicle and pulled out a folder. “Any arrests? DUIs? Public intox? Anything to indicate she has a problem?”

“I didn’t get that far,” Logan began but stopped when Netty Simmons rushed out the front door and ran toward the cop car.

“What are you doing to find my baby?” she wailed.

“Ma’am,” Paige said with more patience than she felt. “If you could just go back inside, I’ll only be a minute and then I have some questions.”

“But...” her bloodshot eyes focused on Logan. “I already answered his questions.”

“I know,” Paige set a hand on the woman’s back and gave her a gentle push. Too bad the red, swollen eyes wasn’t from crying. “But I have a few of my own. Please, just go inside. I’ll be right behind you.”

Logan waited until the woman was stepping through the front door before he spoke. “Now you see why I think the problem was alcohol?”

“Yeah,” Paige closed her eyes and took a long, soothing breath. “She wreaks. It’s like the alcohol is seeping out of her pores. You get the Amber Alert going and I’ll deal with her.”

“Uh...” Logan was frantically trying to remember what had to be done to activate the alert.

“Call Margie,” Paige grinned. “Once she activates the system, call Sheriff Walters. You don’t want him blindsided with this before he has his morning coffee.”

“Right,” Logan pulled out his phone and dialed the office. He watched Paige as she strode up the front stairs and disappeared into the house. He just hoped Margie knew what to do because he was completely lost; and, his back-up was now inside dealing with a half-drunk, slightly belligerent mother.

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*\*\*\*\*\**

“Okay,” Paige settled into a chair as far away from the woman as possible. “I need you to walk me through last night. Start from when... what is your son’s name?”

“Brodie,” Netty sniffed.

“Okay,” Paige nodded. “Start from when Brodie got home from school until you went to bed.”

“I already...”

“I know you went through this with Deputy Reed, but I need you to go through it with me,” Paige pressed. “Before you do, can you tell me about Brodie’s father? Does he live here... with you?”

“No,” Netty scowled. “Walker left us two years ago.”

“Okay,” Paige made a note in her pad. “So, you and your husband are divorced?” No response. “Does he live in the area?”

“No,” Netty shifted. “Why do we have to talk about Walker?”

“I’m just wondering if your son could be with him.”

“If Walker took him, it’s still kidnapping,” Netty folded her arms in front of her body. “I want him arrested if he has my boy.”

“Where does Walker live now?” Paige tried to get her back on track.

“I don’t know,” Netty plopped her hands into her lap. “Why you gotta ask questions about him? He’s gone, that’s all I know.”

“Does he have visitation rights?” Paige pressed.

“Sure, sometimes,” Netty mumbled. “He keeps in touch with Brodie. But I don’t want to talk about my Ex.”

Paige decided to shift gears. She’d look into the father later. “Okay, can you walk me through the evening? Brodie got home from school at what time?”

“Beats me,” Netty turned her head defiantly. “Normal time, I guess.”

“And that would be...?”

“Around three, maybe?” Netty said it more as a question than an answer.

“Three o’clock, then.” Paige jotted that on her pad. “And when he got home, were you here?”

“Sure,” Netty glanced at the window.

*Interesting*, Paige thought. *She wasn’t home. Maybe the neighbors can tell me if that’s normal.* “What did you do? Pick it up from when you first saw Brodie after school and walk me through the routine.”

“This is stupid,” Netty jumped to her feet. “You should be out looking for my kid. Why are you in here hounding me?”

“I’m just trying to get a clear picture of what happened,” Paige sighed inwardly. This was going nowhere fast. Netty was hiding something.

“Brodie got home and went to his room,” Netty gave Paige a defiant, challenging glare. “He stayed up there until I called him for dinner. We ate, he went back upstairs to do homework and a few hours later he went to bed. I was up longer... watched tv for a bit, then I went to bed. It was a long day, so I took a pill and was out cold until I woke up this morning. I went to make sure Brodie was getting ready for school and he was gone. That’s when I came down to the kitchen and saw the door, realized someone broke in, and I called the police.”

Paige frowned and wondered what time the boy was really taken. Logan said the bed didn’t show signs of use... Brodie was not abducted in his sleep; after midnight. She focused on the mother... she wasn’t going to get anything more from her. Not right now, anyway. “I know Deputy Reed took a look around, but do you mind if I search the house?”

“What for?” Netty dropped back into her chair. “Those three men already searched everything. A woman’s bedroom should be private but they even walked through there. I don’t think I’ll sleep... knowing strange men went through my clothes. They probably sifted through my panties, too.”

*Yeah*, Paige thought. *You only wish*. “Do you mind? I’d feel better if I made a second round just to be sure.”

“Brodie’s not here,” Netty folded her arms again. “But, if you have to, go ahead and look for yourself.”

“Thank you,” Paige moved into the kitchen. She wanted to get a look at the door. She was so focused on the damage, she didn’t see Jericho step up beside her.

“Maybe we should test that woman,” the sheriff whispered softly so only Paige could hear. “You got a PBT in your car?”

“Somehow,” Paige stood. “I doubt she’d voluntarily agree to a breath test at the moment. Portable or stationary. But, it would be interesting wouldn’t it? What’s your best guess? Point zero eight? Or, over ten?”

“Higher,” Jericho glanced back. “I think she’s a regular consumer. Come upstairs, I want to show you something.”

Paige frowned. Just how long ago had the good sheriff arrived on scene?

The two of them made their way back through the living room, across the foyer and up the stairs. The instant Paige stepped into the hallway, she saw it. “Looks new.”

“That’s what I thought,” Jericho moved to the large indentation in the wall. The sheetrock was pushed in near the bottom of the wall, just above the floor. “What’s your assessment?”

“It’s the right size,” Paige crouched to study it closer. “Now, we just need to figure out how it got there. I’m guessing the back of Brodie’s head.”

“But who is responsible?” Jericho straightened. “Mom or the intruder?”

“I want to see his room,” Paige also stood. “Logan said the bed wasn’t slept in, but mom said Brodie went to sleep at nine. Her story doesn’t match the evidence.”

“After you,” Jericho held out a hand and followed Paige into a small child’s bedroom.

“There’s no sign of struggle in here,” Jericho observed. “The kid is seven and clearly he wasn’t sound asleep when... whatever this is, occurred.”

“I agree,” Paige moved to the boy’s closet.

“Do you think we issued the alert prematurely?” Walter’s continued to glance around the bedroom looking for something that would tell him what happened. A child didn’t just disappear in the middle of the night, not in his town.

“No,” Paige crouched to get a better look at the kid’s shoes. “Logan wasn’t sure either, so he waited. If this was an abduction, we’re already behind. It had to be issued, we can always cancel if we decide on foul play by mom.”

“Alright,” Jericho turned to face Paige. “Well, I told Dean to bring the Command Post over. He should be arriving any minute. Let’s regroup, debrief Lovato, and go from there.”

“Sounds good,” Paige pulled a small camera from her bag and took a picture of the closet.

“What’s that for?”

“I think a pair of shoes is missing,” Paige straightened. “There appears to be a break... right there,” she pointed to a section on the floor of the closet. “See, there are his boots, dress shoes, then a break before his old tennis shoes, those water shoes and the sandals.”

“Okay, that makes sense, though. He’d slide something on before he left if he ran. But, if he was abducted and the perp woke him up when he came in, he had to walk out of the house on his own. Maybe he was still wearing a pair from earlier in the day. He’s too big to carry forcefully; unless there was a big struggle.”

“And there wasn’t one,” Paige interrupted. “Nothing is disturbed in here. Netty has a small table at the foot of the stairs with a plant on it. If Brodie was kicking and fighting, the table should be knocked over. It wasn’t. But if he wasn’t abducted where is he?”

“What if someone did take him, but he left the house on his own?” Jericho supplied.

“Let’s go outside,” Paige decided. “There’s something I need to tell you about that damaged door.”

*\*\*\*\*\**

“Okay, listen up,” Jericho called out. “We’re going to work this as an abduction until we know different. Lovato, I need you to pull out one of those forms over there and start listing the addresses you covered already. We’re going to make sure we check every single house in the immediate area before we go home tonight. We start with the next-door neighbors and fan out from there. We talk to the occupants and ask for permission to search their yards and the house if they’ll let you.”

“Got it, boss,” Lovato moved to the small table and began to transfer his notes to the official record.

“Paige?” Jericho gave the signal for her to share her discovery.

“I took a closer look at the back door, the one in the kitchen,” she began.

“The break-in,” Logan provided.

“Or, the break-out.” Paige corrected.

“What do you mean by that?” Lovato’s head shot up and he focused on Paige.

“I recognized the lock on the door,” Paige began. “There was one in my house when I first moved here with mom. I hated it. You couldn’t get out of the house without a key if it was locked. Mom changed ours out right away, I think she hated it as much as I did.”

“I noticed that,” Lovato was still watching Paige, there had to be more.

“At first glance, it looks like someone kicked in the back door,” Paige continued. “But when I took a closer look, there were groove marks. Inside. I think it's possible Brodie was locked inside the house and he’s the one that pried open the door when he left. It’s also possible Brodie let someone in, the front — friend or foe — they tried to go out the back, couldn’t and the bad guy pried it open.”

“Either way,” Jericho considered. “The door was damaged from the inside, not the outside like we all originally assumed.”

“There’s another possibility,” Lovato spoke up. “One nobody wants to consider. Maybe, the drunk mother did something to the kid, deliberately or accidentally, then damaged the door to make it look like it was a break-in to throw us off if we discovered the body. There’s something off with that woman and it’s not just stale whiskey.”

“We’ve all considered it but I’m rejecting it... for now. We operate under the assumption Brodie Simmons is still alive,” Jericho looked around the motorhome at his crew. “Lovato, you take Dean and continue the door-to-door. I want to hit every house within a quarter-mile radius. Logan, you see what you can do to track down the father.”

“She said his name is Walker,” Paige broke in. “I’d start with Walker Simmons. That’s the name Brodie uses and maybe they just kept it after the divorce.”

“Thank you,” Logan said as he mentally kicked himself for not getting the dad’s name himself. He’d only been on the job full-time for a month and he was already screwing up.

“Paige, I want you to start tracking the rest of the relatives. We need to know everything there is to know about this family.”

“Someone needs to question the mother again,” Paige objected. “I can take that.”

“No,” Jericho brushed her off. “You see what you can get the family to tell you. I’m taking Netty Simmons. She’s already jerked this office around enough. I’d like to keep you in reserve to play good cop if I can’t get answers my way.”

They were just about to split up when Havilland flung open the door and made his up the stairs, pulling the flimsy barrier closed behind him. “Court didn’t take long, what do you need?”

“You okay to stay on a couple more hours?” Jericho asked his graveyard man.

“I’m fine,” he turned and poured himself a fresh cup of coffee. “Give me a job, boss.”

“I want you to take the assignment I gave to Paige,” Jericho decided. “We need to contact friends and relatives and get a clear picture of the family dynamic. Paige, I interrupted your search of the home. Go back and finish while I speak with Ms. Simmons.”

“Got it,” Paige stood. “That’s going to take a while because I’m going to be extra thorough. This time around I’ll be looking for Brodie, but I’m also going to scrutinize every nook and cranny for evidence.”

“Check in with me when you’re finished,” Jericho ordered. “That goes for all of you. I could use another team to scour the neighborhood, but it will have to wait. I’ve also put a call into Gage and the other Reserves. I expect them to arrive any minute. Once Margie gets the phones transferred to Laurel Bluff; so, they can handle anything else that comes in today, she’s headed our way. Check in here at the Command Post periodically. Margie will handle logistics and document what we’ve done and what still needs doing. Lovato, Gage will touch base with you when he arrives. Let him know what’s been covered so he can coordinate the search efforts in the other direction. Any questions?”

Since nobody had any, the group disbursed to handle their assignments.

*\*\*\*\*\**

It was over an hour later when Paige stepped back into the Command Post. She spotted Havilland immediately. Her friend looked worse than she felt.

Margie emerged from the rear section of the motorhome. “I can’t decide which one of you looks worse. I take it you didn’t find anything in the house?”

“Nothing that tells me what happened to that kid,” Paige dropped onto the tiny couch in frustration. “Anything from the family?”

“Logan couldn’t reach the father,” Havilland admitted. “He traced him to St. George, but he’s not answering his phone.” Havilland pulled out his notes. “I talked to Walter’s sister. She said he’s a foreman on a construction crew down south; but, when I called his job, they said he’s in the field and can’t be disturbed.”

“But he’s there?” Paige wondered. If Walker Simmons was working today, he had a pretty good alibi.

“He is now,” Havilland sighed. “The woman won’t tell me when he got there. For all I know, it was five minutes ago. I told Logan I’d take this over so he could go help Gage and the team with the door-to-door.”

“Keep trying,” Paige requested. “We have to know what dad knows. He divorced Netty so anything he tells us is tainted, but she said something strange when I asked her about her ex-husband.”

Havilland frowned. “What?”

“She said she doesn’t know where he lives, but that Brodie stays in touch. It’s unclear if there is some kind of visitation schedule in place. Margie, maybe you could contact the court and see what they can tell us.”

“I’ll let you know,” Margie turned and headed back toward what was originally a bedroom. They had converted it into an office space with a phone and a small table to use as a desk just big enough for a laptop and various maps. The table was currently covered with documents. Intel that only Margie could keep straight.

“Command,” Gage Clayton’s voice boomed over the radio.

“Go ahead,” Paige said into the mic.

“Paige, is that you?”

“It is,” Paige affirmed.

“I have someone that thinks they spotted the kid at the market. Can you head this way and help me interview employees? They're getting ready to change shifts and I don’t want anyone to slip out before I have a chance to talk to them.”

“I’m on my way,” Paige stood and glanced at Havilland. “You could call the local department down there. Ask them to send a car over to the business and see if they can track dad in person. It might hold more weight if they’re confronted in person. They can just hang up on you if they don’t like your questions. It’s harder to dismiss a police officer standing in front of your desk.”

“I’ll give it a try,” Havilland decided. “Can’t hurt.”

“Oh,” Paige paused. “Can you call that friend of yours, the one that works in the Bluffs and see if he can track down a cell phone for the kid. I know he’s only seven, but dad may have provided a means to stay connected without mom knowing.”

“Good idea,” Havilland grabbed his laptop. “I’m also going to get a warrant for the phone records to the house. If you see Jericho, have him quiz mom about Brodie’s electronics. If she says he doesn’t have any... she’s lying, or oblivious.”

“He has a PlayStation in his room,” Paige provided. “Can’t you access the internet from one of those? A seven-year-old might know how to do that on his own.”

“I’ll follow it up,” Havilland assured her. “Go, help Gage. I’ve got this.”

*\*\*\*\*\**

Paige stepped into the large grocery store and glanced around, looking for Gage. When she didn’t find him, she approached a checker and asked for directions. Once the woman had finished, Paige decided to conduct an informal interview on her. “Before I go, do you know this kid?” She held up her phone to show the friendly woman a picture of Brodie that filled the entire screen.

“Sure,” Vickie said. “I know Brodie. He comes in with his mom all the time. I know he’s missing, and that breaks my heart. I hope you find him soon. That kid’s an angel. Wish mine were as well-behaved as that one.”

“Is he always with his mother, or does he come in with anyone else?” Paige asked.

Vickie squinted her eyes in concentration. “Once, maybe six... seven months ago, he came in with a man. I got the impression it was his father, but I’m not sure why. He didn’t come through my line so it couldn’t be he told me that. I just thought... well, they looked a lot alike; and, I thought it was good that he spent time with his dad. Got him away from that mother of his for a while; and, that could only be a good thing.”

“Why do you say that?” Paige picked up on the tone as well as the words.

“I don’t like to gossip,” Vickie sighed. “And I don’t. But, well... you being the cops and that kid missing...”

“I understand,” Paige pushed. This might be important.

“Well, it’s just that... I’d wager, Netty’s an alcoholic,” Vickie lowered her voice. “She mostly comes here when the Liquor Store is closed. Stocks up on beer since you can’t get anything stronger. I heard she prefers the hard stuff. Anyway, more than once, she’s been falling down, stupid drunk. Bart had to kick her out one day, she was so belligerent and...” Vickie sighed. “I don’t know how to put it, really. She was just mean and... well, volatile. Several customers complained and Bart didn’t have a choice, he had to escort her out. I felt terrible for the kid, he looked so embarrassed and... desperate.”

“Brodie was with her?” Paige said, surprised.

“Yeah,” Vickie glanced around again. “I know I should have called... the cops, I mean. But, I was working and Bart was so angry. That day, Brodie’s the one that drove them home.”

“You saw a seven-year-old boy drive a car?”

“No,” Vickie said quickly. “Not me.” She motioned to a young kid bagging groceries. “Toby saw him. Came inside and told me right away. We really didn’t know what to do and Toby didn’t want to get on anyone’s bad side. Said if I wanted to report it that was up to me, but he wasn’t going to cooperate. He’s a kid and I think calling the cops scared him.”

Paige glanced at the kid and decided to drop it. There wasn’t anything she could about it now. But... how often had Brodie driven his drunk, mean, violent mother home?

“What can you tell me about the man?” Paige asked. “The one you thought was his father.”

“I only saw him twice,” Vickie said slowly, glad the officer hadn’t pushed her on the illegal driving. “Like I said, the last time was a few months ago. I think he came in one other time, a weekend last year... around July, I think. I know it was summertime and they looked really happy. Brodie looked happy. Not timid like when he comes in with his mother.”

Paige was not liking the picture she was starting to get of Brodie Simmons life. She’d hold off on judging the mother, or the father, until she had more information; but, she was starting to wonder if Walker Simmons could have his son and he didn’t want anyone to know about it. She was trying to decide if she had any other questions for the checker when Gage stepped up next to her.

“Did you interview Vickie?” he asked.

“Just finishing up,” Paige assured him. “How many more?”

“I think we’re finished,” Gage glanced around. “I didn’t talk to the bagger, but I think I’ve covered the rest. You want to head back to the Command Post and brief the sheriff with me?”

“I’ll meet you there,” Paige decided. “I’ll stop over, see what the bagger can tell me. Don’t wait, I’ll only be a minute.”

“You sure?” Gage glanced at the bagger. He couldn’t be more than seventeen.

“Yeah,” Paige gave him a little shove. “He’s just a kid, I doubt I’ll get much.”

“Alright,” Gage decided. “I’ll see you back at the CP.”

*\*\*\*\*\**

Paige stepped into the motorhome and made her way to the passenger seat. The entire office was crammed into the tiny space making it difficult to move around.

“Now that Paige has arrived,” Jericho began. “I want to go around the room and get an update from each of you. This kid has been missing for hours and we’re still no closer to bringing him home.”

“If we want to,” Paige mumbled.

Havilland heard her and wondered what she meant by that. He was seated in the comfortable driver’s seat and thought he was the only one that caught Paige’s quiet response.

“Havilland,” Jericho focused on his part-time deputy. “You go first.”

“Dad is still missing,” he began. “Logan contacted the office where Walker Simmons works, earlier this morning. I’ll let him tell you about that conversation but the short of it is... they lied. The secretary said Walker was at work and out in the field coordinating a job. I talked the local police department into sending an officer over to check. Walker wasn’t there and hasn’t been there all day. In fact, one of the workers told the cop the crew was supposed to work late last night to make up for some delay. Said he didn’t get off until sometime after ten. Walker got a call right after nine that made him visibly upset. He had a brief discussion with the manager and left. He hasn’t been seen since.”

“Any idea who called?” Jericho asked.

“I’m waiting for the phone company to get me the records,” Havilland continued. “The warrant came through about thirty minutes ago so I expect them any minute.”

“You think it might have been Netty?” Logan asked.

“I think it was Brodie,” Havilland told him. “There’s no way a call from a crazy, alcoholic ex-wife made him upset enough to leave a job. But a kid? His kid, with a serious problem? Yeah, that would do it.”

“You can add mean and violent to that description,” Paige added. “The clerk and the bagger said Netty is meaner than a junkyard dog when she’s intoxicated,” she shared a glance with Jericho... both of them recalling the large, round indent in the wall upstairs. “There was an incident, Netty had to be kicked out of the store.”

“Yeah,” Gage added. “Several of the employees told me about that. It was one Sunday, about a month ago. Netty came in with Brodie to buy some beer. She was so drunk she couldn’t walk straight and she bumped into a kid that was there with his mother. Netty went off, threatened the boy and then lit into the mom. The customer complained and she was just the first of several. Bart Rollins was in the store that day and had to kick her out. Escorted her to the parking lot and told her if she ever came back drunk again, he’d call the cops. He was livid, but after he cooled down a bit he got to feeling guilty, on account of the kid. Said he went back into the parking lot to check on them and they were already gone. He assumed they walked up the road to the convenience store.”

“They didn’t,” Paige sighed. “The bagger, Toby, was in the parking lot. Netty was livid about getting kicked out and she was yelling at Brodie, blaming him for the whole thing. Then she pushed Brodie toward the driver’s side of the car and handed him the keys. That’s when Toby tried to intervene. He told Netty she couldn’t let a kid drive the car, they’d both end up dead. Netty shoved him into a line of shopping carts and told him to mind his own business. Then, she shoved Brodie toward the car and told him to drive home. Apparently, the boy was worried about a stranger seeing him drive and he tried to talk Netty into walking home. She lashed out, slapped Brodie across the face and told him to do as he was told. Toby started to leave, but was stopped by Brodie who begged him not to tell anyone what happened. Brodie said it would only make things worse. Toby decided to let it drop. I asked him why and he said it was the terrified look Brodie gave him.”

“I knew there was something off with that woman,” Lovato grumbled.

“Are you still awake?” Paige teased. “Or are you talking in your sleep?”

“He’s going home as soon as he reports,” Jericho answered. “Go ahead, Mike.”

“I don’t have much to report,” Lovato began. “We’ve talked to someone at every house on this street; both sides all the way to the intersection. Most of the neighbors allowed us inside to search in window wells and under beds. There were a couple that balked so we just moved on. The kids not here, not in the immediate area, anyway.” He handed Margie a sheet of paper. “That’s the complete list of who we talked to at each house, what time we made contact, and at the bottom, there’s a list of addresses that need a follow-up.”

“I appreciate the extra duty,” Jericho held out a hand to Mike. “Now, go get some rest. I might need you back on tomorrow if we don’t wrap this up tonight.”

“I’ll call you after I get a couple hours, see where things are at,” Lovato promised. “For what it’s worth, I think you should let Paige give that woman hell. She might get answers that we can’t.” Then, he turned and headed out the door.

“I can talk to her again,” Paige offered.

“Maybe later,” Jericho glanced at Gage. “Anything else you want to add?”

“No,” Gage shook his head. “I think Paige got more at the market than I did.”

“Okay, Dean?”

“Lo pretty much covered it,” he shrugged. “We also checked the sex offender register and there are a couple guys in the area; but, none on this street. The ones that live within a mile of here all have alibis. It’s all in my notes. Some are airtight, others have a little more wiggle room. I’m leaning towards the family on this one. If the dad came here to get his kid though, he must have done it in the middle of the night. None of the neighbors saw or heard anything.”

“Well, based on the timeline,” Havilland considered. “Walker left work just after nine. We don’t know how urgent that call was, but it would take at least three to three and a half hours to get here. And that’s if he came straight here, didn’t stop in at home for a change of clothes or a shower first.”

“I think he came straight here,” Jericho decided. “If Brodie’s call made him abandon his job, he wouldn’t waste time at home. He’d pick up his kid and shower when he knew the boy was safe.”

“I need to point out, we’re all jumping to a lot of conclusions,” Paige warned. “We have evidence in the house that doesn’t match mom’s story and a large dent in the wall; but, that’s it.”

“And dad rushing out after a call,” Havilland corrected.

“And the reports from the market that mom is abusive when she’s drunk,” Gage added. “I think we all know she was drunk.”

“Logan?” Jericho turned to his newest deputy. “This was originally your call, do you have anything to add?”

“Just that I agree,” Logan frowned. “Netty Simmons has been lying to us from the beginning. It’s the reason we waited to issue the alert. Nothing seemed to add up.”

“What about the alert?” Dean asked. “Do we cancel it or leave it active? Someone might see dad or the kid and call it in?”

“For now, we leave it,” Jericho told them. “We don’t have the kid so we don’t know he’s safe. Plus, Paige is right. Dad is the prime suspect; but, we can’t rule out the possibility we got it wrong. We have no idea, at this point, who has Brodie Simmons.”

“So,” Margie addressed the group. “Where do we go from here?”

“Any word on those tips that we sent to Laurel Bluffs?” Jericho asked.

“Not so far,” Margie shook her head. “They’ve gone through several of them; but, so far, there doesn’t seem to be a valid lead. The two detectives Chief Beckett sent over are currently inside the residence keeping an eye on our complainant.”

“Paige, do you have anything to add?” Jericho asked, then held up a hand when his cellphone began to ring. “Sheriff Walters.”

“Hey, Jericho,” Chief Bruce Gorrell said in greeting.

“Hey, Bruce,” Jericho answered. “Thanks for all the help your guys have been giving us down there. I really appreciate the assist.”

“I have an update,” Gorrell said.

“Good news, I hope,” Jericho settled into the seat Lovato had abandoned.

“A local nurse that works the graveyards shift in the ER over at Dixie Medical contacted our office,” Gorrell advised. “She said Walker Simmons brought Brodie into the ER just before four this morning. She got off duty, went home and crashed. Didn’t see the Amber Alert until she woke and checked her phone.”

“She’s sure it was Brodie and his father?” Jericho asked.

“She says yes,” the Chief confirmed. “He even used his real name and Brodie’s.”

“What were the injuries?”

“That’s the bad news,” Gorrell sobered. “The kid was in bad shape. He told the doctor he was riding his bike and crashed. He said his mother told him he was fine and he should just sleep it off. He called his dad when he started to feel dizzy. Walters drove up, and when he saw the shape Brodie was in, he decided to take him home and make sure he got proper care. The nurse asked Walker why he drove all the way back to St. George before he sought medical attention. He said Brodie seemed fine until they were a few miles away from home. The dizziness got worse and he felt nauseous. Walker decided to make the trip to the ER.”

“Were the injuries consistent with a bike crash?” Jericho asked.

“She said yes and no,” Gorrell ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “It was possible they were telling the truth, but she thought it was suspicious. She called DCFS, but the duo was gone when the case agent arrived.”

“What are the chances we can see the kid’s medical records?”

“Without a warrant, nil,” Gorell said without hesitation. “But I think, with the Amber Alert, the abduction, and the injuries... I can convince Judge Winston we need a warrant.”

“Keep me posted,” Jericho ended the call.

“Brodie’s injured?” Logan asked. “Is it my fault, because I waited on the Amber Alert?”

“No,” Jericho shook his head. “Walker took Brodie into the ER around four this morning. I think something happened in this house and Brodie called his father for help. I think Walker Simmons saved his son. He didn’t kidnap him.”

“And, that’s why there’s no sign of a struggle,” Paige added. “Brodie called his dad and was waiting for him when he arrived. He escaped willingly. We just need the phone records to confirm our suspicion.”

“We got them,” Margie stepped back into the main section with several sheets of papers. “At 2117, a call originating from Netty’s residence was made to Walker Simmons cell phone. It lasted...” Margie paused to do the math. “Twenty-three minutes.”

“Really?” Paige said in surprise. “That long?”

Margie handed the documents to Havilland. Duncan skimmed through them and pulled out a single page. “Walker made a call to an unknown number at exactly twelve-forty-two. That call lasted just over a minute.”

“Hey kid, I’m here. Meet me out back and be sure to bring your things,” Dean surmised. “He could have told Brodie to stay on the line until he made it outside.”

“But the back door was locked and he couldn’t get out,” Logan added.

“So, he broke out,” Paige ended.

“How do we prove it?” Margie asked the group.

“We find the kid,” Jericho answered. “Bruce is working on a warrant for the medical records. That’s going to help in court, but it does nothing to help us find the kid.”

“Havilland,” Paige called. “Where’s that list of relatives you were working on?”

“Right here,” Havilland pulled out his notepad. “I made contact with everyone on the list except the younger brother. Uh... here it is, the name is Keith Simmons and he lives in Ivins.”

Paige looked at her boss. “Know anyone in Ivins?”

“No,” Jericho pulled out his phone. “But I’m sure Bruce does.”

“Where is Ivins?” Gage asked.

“It’s north of St. George,” Paige answered. “Have you heard of that Tuacahn place?”

“Where they have those outdoor plays?” Margie asked.

“Exactly,” Paige nodded. “I think that place is in Ivins, or just outside of it in the State Park... what was the name of that?”

“Snow Canyon,” Jericho provided after he hung up the phone. “Bruce said he’ll send someone over to this Keith Simmon’s place and see what they find.”

“So what do we do in the meantime?” Dean asked.

“Well,” Jericho looked at Havilland. “You go home and get some rest. You’ve been on nearly fifteen hours straight.”

Havilland hesitated but he knew he wouldn’t last much longer. “Call me in if you find the kid, or I guess if you don’t. I’ll snag six to eight hours and call the CP to see where things stand.”

“Thanks,” Jericho said sincerely. “I appreciate the long shift.”

“What about the calls that come in tonight?” Dean asked.

“Beckett said he can spare a couple cars,” Jericho told the group. “I’m still working out a schedule and it’s going to depend on what Bruce finds down south.”

“I can stay on,” Dean offered. “Man the Command Post tonight if you want.”

“Let’s see how this plays out,” Jericho turned to Paige. “You look almost as bad as Duncan. You up for another interrogation?”

“Netty?” Paige asked.

“Yeah,” Jericho smiled. “I think it’s time we bumped up the pressure.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Ivins.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Tuacahn_Fountain_Sign.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Ivins-2.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/cfiles45318.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Ivins-2.jpg)

*\*\*\*\*\**

It was nearly seven o’clock that night when Chief Bruce Gorrell and his men located Walker Simmons. He was picked up near Santa Clara by one of Gorrell’s men. Brodie wasn’t with him but dad remained in police custody, and would until they got answers. So far, after over three hours of interrogation, he still wasn’t talking.

“No wonder those two split,” Paige grumbled when Jericho finished his update. “They’re both stubborn and uncooperative.”

“Actually,” Dean smiled. “I think Ms. Simmons is just hung over and maybe having withdrawals. She’s gone all day without a single drink.”

“Well, not since we arrived anyway,” Paige corrected. “I’m not sure she didn’t start the morning off with a Bloody Mary... or ten. That woman oozes alcohol like a bad perfume.”

“Margie,” Jericho called.

“Yeah,” Margie said absently as she stepped from the back holding a stack of papers. When Jericho didn’t continue, she finally glanced up.

“Do you have something important?” Jericho asked.

“Not sure,” Margie set the papers on the counter. “What did you need?”

“According to Bruce,” he advised the entire group. “Walker isn’t talking. He’s now demanding his lawyer. They’ve tried to locate the guy, but the lawyer isn’t answering his phone at the moment. I’m calling this for tonight but I need someone to stay and keep an eye on the house. I don’t want mom going anywhere and I’d prefer it if she were sober when I return in the morning. I know...” he added at the loud groans. “If she has something stashed inside, it’s out of our control. We don’t have a reason to arrest her without the boy. But we don’t have to make it easy on her either.”

“I’m still willing to take the night shift,” Dean offered. “I came on later than the rest of you, so I’ll cover it. If we get word from St. George, I’ll call it in.”

“Since you’re here,” Jericho agreed. “Go through all the notes. Make sure we covered every residence and double check that stack of leads over there. We skimmed through them as they arrived and sent the obvious ones to the Bluff detectives; but, I want you to go over them again. See if we have anything from the St. George, Santa Clara, or Ivins area. We want to follow-up on anything we get from down south. Paige and Logan?”

“Yeah, boss,” Logan said immediately.

“You two be prepared to head down first thing,” Jericho ordered.

“To St. George?” Logan frowned.

“To St. George,” Jericho affirmed. “You’ll head straight to the local PD and hook up with Chief Gorrell.”

“Won’t he be upset?” Paige wondered. “Kind of sends a message you don’t trust him... or his men.”

“No,” Jericho approved of the question but he’d already covered that. “Bruce and I think it would be better if you coordinated with him and his men. Consider it an inter-agency task force. You’re familiar with the house, mom, and the witnesses up here. They’re familiar with the area down there. And, Paige?”

“Yeah?”

“I want you to interview the father,” Jericho studied her. “But, make sure you get some sleep first. You look like the walking dead. Tell him about the dent in the wall, get on his good side and see if he’ll open up.”

“You mean,” Paige frowned. “Provide a woman’s, softer approach?”

Jericho laughed. “Yeah, sure. Just do what you do and see if he’ll reveal where his son is. I’m leaning toward the brother, Keith. Bruce hasn’t been able to locate him and Brodie has to be with someone.”

*\*\*\*\*\**

Paige stepped into the house and frowned. She expected to see Dax waiting but the entire house was dark... and eerily silent. She flipped on a light, removed her gear and started her search. It was several minutes later when she found him, fast asleep, in her bed. She moved to the adjoining bathroom, flipped on the light and turned to study his unmoving form. As she approached the bed, her anger flared... so hot, she could barely contain it. Dax had a large, ugly bruise on his upper arm and his breathing was shallow. His face was contorted, even in sleep; clearly he was in a lot of pain. Had he damaged his ribs again? Should she wake him and make sure he was okay? Demand answers. A movement outside the window caught her eye, she pivoted, and was out the door in seconds.

“Paige,” Hawk said in greeting. He could see she was angry and he didn’t blame her. She must have realized Dax had re-injured himself.

“Don’t Paige me,” She leaped onto the back porch and moved to stand over the cocky Ranger. “What happened to him?”

“Why don’t you ask him,” Hawk lifted a nearly empty beer bottle and took a long swig.

“He’s asleep,” Paige growled. “And by looks of things, he needs all the rest he can get. What did you do to him?”

“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response,” Hawk nearly laughed. Somehow, that just intensified Paige’s anger.

“What happened,” Paige leaned forward, placing one hand on each of the armrests. She had to force air through her nose, out her mouth. Slow, deliberate breaths. Before she punched the irritating man in the face.

“Dax got a wild hair,” Hawk sighed. “We tried to stop him, but you have to know how he gets. He decided he was going to find whatever Ahmed left him... even if it killed him.”

“And you just let him,” Paige straightened. “Great friend. Real classy of you. Let the guy with a broken ankle and a few broken ribs destroy his house... and his health, for something that’s probably not even there.”

“I tried to stop him,” Hawk sounded a little defensive. “He was fine... Until he insisted on checking out the crawl space.”

“Under the house?” Paige practically yelled.

“Is there another one I don’t know about?” Hawk asked flatly.

“You know,” Paige turned and started to pace the small back patio. “For someone who claims to care about Dax... someone that insists he’s looking out for his pal... you suck.”

Hawk was out of his chair and across the distance before Paige saw him coming. He moved forward, blocked her path and glared down at her for several seconds. His hands were clenched by his sides and he was trying to decide on a response when he stopped himself. Dax wouldn’t want this. He wanted them to get along, needed them to find some kind of truce. “I don’t want to fight with you, Paige. I won’t. I tried to stop Dax, but he wouldn’t budge. Ahmed died trying to get Intel to him. That alone would drive Dax to push his limits. Then, add in the fact he feels helpless and we still can’t find Zeus...”

“And, he had to do something,” Paige sighed and dropped into a chair. “I get it, but I also have to go out-of-town tomorrow and I was counting on you guys to keep him... safe.”

“Dax is safe,” Hawk tried not to be offended. “And I did stop him. Otherwise, he’d probably be up on the roof clearing the gutters as we speak.”

Paige smiled at that... because Hawk was right. “How bad is he? He sounds like he can barely breathe.”

“He tweaked a rib while he was under the house,” Hawk frowned. “Idiot. I told him to let me go down there, but the control freak didn’t trust me.” His frustration finally came through.

“He does trust you, Hawk,” Paige heard the tone and she was starting to feel sorry for the arrogant man. She didn’t want to, but the fact that Dax hadn’t completely exonerated his friend was taking a toll.

“Right,” Hawk settled back into his chair. “That’s why he had to go under the house to look for clues. Because he totally and completely trusts me to share anything I might have found.”

“Is that what you think?” Paige said amazed. “That Dax thinks you’ll find something and hide it from him?”

“You got another explanation?”

“Sure,” Paige kicked up her feet and rested them on the cushioned ottoman. “He’s a control freak. This is his house, he knows his house better than anyone. Do you honestly think... if you had crawled down that spider-infested hole and declared the area was clear... that Dax wouldn’t have shoved you out of the way and investigated for himself?”

Hawk smiled, but didn’t respond.

“Exactly,” Paige said in triumph. “Because the idiot has to be in charge, has to lead his men... has to freakin’ pretend he’s Superman and can...” Paige paused, trying to come up with the analogy she wanted.

“Save the world?” Hawk provided.

“Right, single-handedly save the world,” Paige agreed. “Glad you finally get it. This has nothing to do with you and everything to do with him. It’s driving him crazy. All of it. The fact that Zee is still out of contact and Dax can’t rush in and save him like he did in Mexico. This Vato guy is still in Iraq, so he can’t drag him in and interrogate him until he confesses the truth... whatever that is. But most of all, that he’s on the injured list and he can’t just wave his magic wand and have a miraculous recovery. He’s vulnerable right now and I should have realized having you standing over him, telling him to stop, to be careful, and take it easy...would only make him more determined to continue.”

Hawk studied Paige for several seconds without responding.

“What?”

“I just realized how perfect you are for him,” Hawk admitted. “And I know we got off to a rocky start. I can’t say I can wave my magic wand and make it all better; but, I will try. From now on, I’ll try to be more...”

“Human?” Paige grinned. “Be still my heart.”

“Nice,” Hawk reached for the empty bottle, picked it up, realized it was empty and set it back on the table with a resounding thud.

“Lighten up,” she straightened. “But seriously, I have to go out-of-town tomorrow on a case. Do me a favor... watch out for him. Don’t tell him he can’t do something. Don’t ask him to let you do it. Just step in and do it. I’m trying not to worry, but when I saw that huge bruise that he didn’t have when I left, when I realized he’s in pain and is having a hard time breathing... I panicked. I really do not want to come home to find he’s back in the hospital.”

“Give me a little credit,” Hawk rested his elbows on his knees. “I’m his friend first, his subordinate second. I’ll make sure he doesn’t overdo it again. I was already out here kicking myself because I didn’t stop him sooner.”

“Then I won’t add to it,” Paige stood. “By the way, did you find anything?”

“No,” Hawk frowned. “Nothing. And, there are very few places we didn’t check.”

“Well,” Paige considered. “You and Dax are the only two people that knew Ahmed. Put your heads together and figure out where he would stash something. I’m sure he tried to catch Dax alone, but with Zeus in town... he was never alone. If he wasn’t with Zeus, he was with me.”

“Have a safe trip,” Hawk stood. “And I think taking a day to brainstorm is just what the doctor ordered. I’d do what I can to keep him out of trouble. Maybe you could do the same... stay out of trouble that is. Because you’re right, Dax is vulnerable right now. And as much as I hate to admit it, you’re the only one that can truly help him through this.”

“Give it time,” Paige called over her shoulder as she descended the stairs. “He’s coming around. And if you’re actually going to be nice... he might forgive you sometime this decade.”

She laughed when Hawk flipped her the bird and wondered if that was the start of a tentative friendship. She hoped so, for Dax... she seriously hoped so.

*\*\*\*\*\**

Paige stepped into the police station and approached the large desk. “We’re here to see Chief Gorrell.”

“Deputies Carter and Reed?” the man asked.

“Yes,” Logan pulled out his badge and showed the cop his ID card.

“They are upstairs, to the right, first door,” the man directed. “They’re waiting for you.”

“What does that mean?” Logan asked as they started up the stairs.

“No idea,” Paige said casually. “Hopefully, it means they got Walters talking.”

The two of them stepped through a door marked “Investigations” and approached the window. They went through the same procedure as they’d gone through downstairs before the clerk buzzed them in and directed them to the far end of the long hallway and to the right. When they rounded the corner, Paige came face to face with five men. And they were all staring at her with curiosity they didn’t even try to hide.

“Uh,” Paige held out a hand. “I’m Deputy Paige Carter and this is my partner, Logan Reed.”

“Deputy Carter,” a tall man in a dark suit, jet-black hair and a friendly face stepped forward. “Chief Gorrell.” He took her hand first, gave it a shake then turned to Logan and repeated the gesture. “Walters is speaking with his attorney at the moment. I’ve been assured, once they’ve had a few minutes alone... I’m going to get answers.”

“Great,” Paige glanced at Logan, casually surveyed the other men, than focused back on Gorrell. “Jericho wanted me to try to speak with him when I got here but...”

“I agree,” Gorrell assured her. “I want you to go in with Detective Don Timpson. Don?”

“Sir,” a man that looked about fifty with red hair and a bright red mustache answered.

He was only five-seven, maybe five-eight and a little on the heavy side but he held himself well and his mannerism screamed competence. Paige hoped her initial impression was right because they were going to need a good detective if they were going to find Brodie and solve the mystery of what really happened.

“I want you to go in with Deputy Carter,” Gorrell began.

“It’s just Paige,” she smiled at the man she’d be working with. “We’re all friends here.”

“Paige,” Gorrell corrected. “Don, you take the lead because you’ve been dealing with him since he arrived but let her work him some. I have no idea what Kavanaugh has up his sleeve, but you will not let him take control of this situation. He’ll try, believe me... he’s going to try.”

“I’ve dealt with Milton Kavanaugh before, sir,” Timpson assured him. “I know how to handle him.”

“Good,” Gorrell turned to Paige.

“I’ll just follow his lead,” Paige assured him. “I’ll get the hang of his rhythm, no problem. I’m used to working with local detectives with various levels of experience, and I’ll just follow along. Don’t worry.”

“I heard you left the FBI to go local,” one of the detectives finally spoke.

“Rylan,” Gorrell warned.

“No,” Paige shrugged. “It’s fine. I did leave Quantico to go back to my roots. I was just lucky and Jericho had an opening. I think it worked out pretty well.”

“So does he,” Bruce assured her. “Believe me, he couldn’t stop singing your praises when he decided to send you out to my neck of the woods. Made me promise not to try and steal you away. Said he was sure, once I saw you in action, that’s exactly what I’d try to do.”

“I’m kind of partial to Manti,” Paige smiled. “So, it wouldn’t do you any good.”

“And what about you?” Gorrell turned to Logan. Before he had a chance to finish the question, the door to the interview swung open and a stout man in his forties stood in the opening.

“Gentleman,” he glanced at Paige. “And lady. My client is ready to give you his statement. Who will we be dealing with today?”

“Told you,” Gorrell warned Timpson.

Don Timpson held out his hand, motioning the attorney back into the room. He followed the lawyer inside. Paige took up the rear, closing the door behind her. Logan would just have to fend for himself for a while.

“I’d like to start this meeting...” Kavanaugh began.

Timpson held up a hand, and the attorney stopped speaking but was clearly annoyed at the interruption. Timpson moved to the far wall and opened a panel. After switching the recording equipment on, he moved to one of the chairs and settled in. “This is a follow-up interview with Walter Simmons and his attorney, Martin Kavanaugh. The interview will be conducted by myself, Detective Don Timpson with the St. George Police Department and Deputy Paige Carter from Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office. The time is eleven-twenty-three. Case number is SG18-5026. Mr. Simmons, for the record, during the first interview yesterday is it true that you were read your Miranda Rights and initially you chose to waive those rights and speak with us.”

“Yeah, that’s true... at first,” Walter mumbled.

“Once we got into the details of your son’s disappearance, you then decided to invoke your right to counsel?”

“Yeah,” Simmons answered.

“Are you willing to talk to use now?”

“He said I should,” Walter shrugged.

“Does that mean yes?”

“Sure,” Walters scowled.

“Before we start,” Martin broke in. “I think you should see the evidence my client has obtained regarding this situation.” He pulled a folder from his briefcase and drew out several photos. They were the pictures of Brodie’s injuries.

Paige glanced at the pictures the attorney had slid across the table, trying to strategically maneuver them into her view for effect. It wasn’t going to work... she’d already seen them. Chief Gorrell obtained a warrant hours ago and had shared the information immediately. “I’ve seen them,” Paige said casually and pushed them back toward the attorney. “We both have, I believe.”

“Yeah,” Timpson held back a grin. He liked this cop... and clearly, Martin Kavanaugh just received his first disappointment. “I looked at those hours ago. Mr. Simmons,” he turned back to his suspect. “When we concluded the last interview, I asked you to tell me where you son is staying. We need to locate him, assess his condition, and conduct a brief interview to determine what is going on here.”

“Before we get to that,” Martin tried again. “I have spent the entire morning with Judge Winston. He has granted temporary custody of Brodie Simmons to his father,” he placed a court document on the table. “Feel free to read through it but he’s also issued a temporary protective order against Ms. Netty Simmons until the parties can have a formal hearing in front of Judge James A. Ross, the magistrate that ruled on the original divorce and custody arrangement. In the meantime, Walter is willing to produce the boy for your inspection. I will need to be present for any questioning but I think we can clear this up rather quickly.”

Paige glanced through the document and determined it was legit. She had to admit it was a relief Brodie wasn’t going to be returned to his mother but before she got ahead of herself, she had some questions for Walter. “Mr. Simmons,” she began. “Can you tell me why you didn’t call the police?”

“What?” Simmons asked. “When?”

“Initially,” Paige pressed. “You got a call at...” she checked her notes, “twenty-one-seventeen. It’s my understanding you were still working... was scheduled to work for at least another hour that night. Instead, you took the call from your son and immediately left the area and drove over three hours to Manti. If your son was in danger why didn’t you contact the police? A simple welfare check would have resolved a lot of problems and you wouldn’t be here, in this room today. You wouldn’t have been booked for kidnapping last night. I’d like you to explain your reasoning; and, while you’re at it you can tell me why you didn’t get your son medical assistance for another three to three and a half hours. We do have hospitals up north, why wait until you arrived back here, in St. George? Seems a bit reckless and... Calculated to me.”

“Deputy Carter...” Martin objected.

“No,” Walter held up a hand. “I’ll answer the question. I want this cleared up and I can understand her skepticism. I know there is a hospital in Gunnison, but what you might not know, is that Netty’s cousin is an ER nurse at that facility. I was afraid if I stopped in on my way home, Vanna would spot us, move Brodie to a secure room and call his mother. I couldn’t risk it.”

“Because prior to this,” Paige pointed to the court documents, “you didn’t have a right to take your son.”

“Don’t answer that,” Martin barked.

“I’m his father, I believe I have more than a right to protect him... I have an obligation.”

“Okay,” Paige wasn’t going to press that. “But there are other facilities. Why wait so long? Why not stop at another hospital along the way? You claim his life was in imminent danger, that he was already severely injured, yet... you didn’t seek medical assistance for over three hours. It was after four in the morning when you checked into the Dixie Medical ER.”

“At first, I wanted to take him straight to see a doctor. But, like I said, I couldn’t go to Gunnison. Then, after I got on the freeway, Brodie seemed okay. He even fell asleep for a couple hours. It wasn’t until he woke up and started moving around again that he complained about the headache. Then, he started saying he was dizzy. We were so close to home, I just figured we could make it. He was uncomfortable, but it didn’t seem urgent.”

“And you wanted to get back to town and call your attorney?” Timpson pressed. “You were still worried about the police. You couldn’t know if Netty had already discovered Brodie was missing.”

“Don’t answer that,” Martin responded. “My client has cooperated. You have the judge’s orders, I think it’s time you released him. Let him go out, pick up Brodie and we’ll return within the hour.”

“No,” Paige said immediately. “You, Mr. Kavanaugh, can call his brother Keith. Tell him to bring Brodie to the station. We will interview Brodie... and Keith. Then, if the story checks out, we’ll think about releasing your client.”

“Detective Timpson,” Martin began.

“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Don stood and moved to shut off the recorder. “You can make the call from my office. Mr. Simmons, you’ll need to remain here until we get this all settled.”

Once the three of them were back in the hallway, Martin Kavanaugh turned on the two officers. “How dare you treat my client with such disrespect? He’s been through more than any father should endure over the past forty-eight hours.”

“Because, I don’t care what that man has been through,” Paige said flatly. “My concern is for the child. And that man, the father who was so concerned... has put his son at risk at every turn.”

“Ms. Carter,” Martin seethed. “I don’t appreciate your attitude.”

“Gee, I’m crushed,” Paige glanced at Timpson, realized he had no intention of stepping in and continued. “That man in there, your client, has tormented and victimized his own son at every turn. He can’t tell me why he didn’t call us in because there’s no excuse for it. His son called his father in distress just after nine o’clock at night. What did Walter Simmons do? He got in a car and drove over three hours to intervene. I would have been there in three minutes. He left his kid in a dangerous situation, one where Netty Simmons was drunk, violent and unpredictable — for over three hours. To a kid of seven that had to be a lifetime. I can only imagine how terrified and vulnerable that kid felt — for over three hours. So, you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t hail your client a hero that swooped in and saved the day. And, by the way, those documents that you are so proud of... that temporary order that you got the judge to sign off on this morning? Well, those would be permanent, they would have been issued yesterday, if Walter had done all this the right way. Not the sneaky, underhanded way. Because anyone that arrived at that house the night this all happened and spotted Brodie in that condition, would have removed him from the home. And, yesterday morning, instead of frantically searching for a missing child, we would have been having an emergency hearing in front of Judge Ross to restrict Netty’s access and give Walter Simmon’s custody. And, he would have gotten it for free. But, hey... I guess you won’t share that little tidbit with your client. Kind of puts a damper on your celebration of excellence.” She left the two men standing there, speechless, and went to look for Logan.

Paige rounded the corner and nearly collided with Chief Gorrell. “Sorry,” she said as she came to an abrupt stop, wondering if he’d just heard her little outburst.

Bruce Gorrell just gave her a friendly nod, hesitated then decided to say what he was thinking. “I don’t think I could have said that better myself.”

“Oh,” Paige cleared her throat. “Uh...”

“Don’t ruin that amazing exit with an apology,” Gorrell advised. “And, you may want to know... Martin won’t have to explain any of it to Walter Simmons. There’s no soundproofing on that door. I’m sure he heard every word.”

Paige considered that for only an instant. “Good.”

Gorrell smiled. “Jericho was right about you.”

“In what way?”

“I’d love to steal you away, but I’ve been warned; so, I won’t,” Gorrell shifted slightly. “Your partners in that room over there. We use it for observation. We all enjoyed the first time you put Kavanaugh in his place, I’m sure Logan will be sorry he missed the second.”

“Maybe we could just keep that one our little secret,” Paige suggested. “I promised Jericho I’d behave.”

“Not on your life,” Gorrell laughed. “I couldn’t if I wanted to. My guys have ears like a hawk; when they want to. Give them an assignment they find unpleasant and suddenly nobody hears anything. Put a feisty cop in the hallway with an arrogant lawyer and the entire unit becomes a captive audience. Let’s step inside the observation room. It’s a little more comfortable in there. I have Jill watching for Keith and Brodie, she’ll bring them back when they arrive.”

*\*\*\*\*\**

It was nearly eight o’clock when Paige climbed into her patrol car and headed for home. Another twelve hour day. She hoped it was the last for a while. She needed some downtime. It was nearly four by the time she tied things up in St. George and she and Logan hit the road. She talked him into stopping for dinner in Cedar City, then they drove straight through from there.

The interview with Keith was short. He didn’t know anything first hand. His brother showed up at his home early yesterday morning and said they needed a place to hide out for a while. He didn’t hesitate to help out... especially once he saw Brodie’s injuries.

Brodie gave a detailed account of what happened the night he left. His mother wasn’t home when he arrived after school. He headed for his room to work on his homework and didn’t come out until it was time for dinner. Netty still hadn’t arrived, so he fixed a peanut butter and jam sandwich and opened a bag of chips. He was just finishing off his last bite when his mom got home. She saw the open chips and went off without warning. Brodie tried to get away, but she just followed him up the stairs and attacked him in the hallway just outside his bedroom. That’s when he fell and struck his head on the wall. The kid had a serious goose egg and a concussion to go with it. He crawled into his room and Netty left him alone for a couple hours. Brodie thought she went back downstairs to drink some more. Just before nine, she returned and attacked again. He wasn’t sure what set her off the second time, but he was afraid what would happen if she came back again. That’s when he called his dad.

Paige knew the rest and she was relieved the brave kid wouldn’t have to deal with the drunken outbursts ever again. That didn't mean she would forgive the father. She knew she was right, he had endangered his son for no reason. But, in the end, things worked out okay so she wouldn’t dwell on it... well, not for long anyway. She glanced up, spotted her house and sighed. Now, for another unpleasant confrontation with another arrogant man who thought he knew best. She parked the vehicle and slowly made her way to the front door.

Dax was waiting for Paige to arrive. He hadn’t seen her for nearly two days. He was asleep when she arrived home last night and she left early this morning before he got up. He stood, the instant she stepped through the door. “We need to talk.”

“About?” Paige asked, settling into a chair to pull off her boots.

“What happened yesterday, why I did it, and how Hawk is not to blame for my actions,” Dax sat back down.

“Did the big, bad Ranger tattle to dad?”

“Paige,” Dax warned.

“Dax,” Paige said in the same tone. “Look, I got home and saw you were injured and in pain. I confronted Hawk, he explained what happened, and we called a truce... I thought.”

“You did,” Dax sighed. “I knew you’d confront him so I wouldn’t let up until he told me what happened. He was more honest than I expected, maybe because you do have a truce. Don’t take this out on him, either.”

“Okay,” Paige moved to settle on the couch beside Dax. “Now, you get to explain it to me. Then, I get to explain to you why tearing your house apart from top to bottom was a monumentally stupid idea. After that... we’ll play it by ear.”

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*\*\*\*\*\**

Zeus was crouched between two large cedar trees. Reynolds compound was no more than a hundred yards away. He’d been camped out here, in the wilderness for nearly three days. His water supply was dwindling, his hip was killing him and his cell phone had died over forty-eight hours ago. Carmen was going to be livid. But, he couldn’t bring himself to leave. He knew, without a doubt, if he was ever going to find Thor... it would be here, in the shadows.

A noise caught his attention to the left and he silently pushed his body further into the shrubbery. Seconds later, the man he’d been hunting appeared a few feet away.

Thor made his way through the desert wilderness as quietly and carefully as he could. He knew he was making noise, but Reynolds men were on the other side of the wall and he knew the rustling of a few branches wouldn’t alert them to trouble. He had just settled in to wait and watch when a large man dropped down beside him. Thor jumped, cursed and re-holstered his weapon when he realized it was Zeus. “What are you doing here?”

“Funny,” Zeus whispered. “That’s exactly what I was about to ask you.”

“Go home,” Thor ordered.

“Answer the question,” Zeus countered.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Thor accused.

Zeus waited, knowing how to handle his friend... knowing how to get the answers they all needed.

“I’m helping Vato,” Thor relented. “He’s stationed in Iraq and can’t deal with the problem himself, so I promised him I’d handle it.”

“What problem?” Zeus pressed. He still didn’t believe Thor or Vato was involved in what happened to Dax; but, Thor had just confirmed he was working with their questionable comrade.

“Why should I trust you?” Thor asked. “You don’t trust me.”

“I’m here.”

Thor looked away. He knew his team suspected him of wrongdoing and that hurt. He’d never done anything to deserve the skepticism or the lack of trust. But, Zeus was right. He was here, that had to mean something. “When you were in Mexico — in prison,” Thor began. “I got a call from Vato. He said he got orders to ship out immediately. They came as a surprise because he was supposed to have downtime, you know? Anyway, he was frantic. Said he tried to call you, but you never returned the call and he couldn’t wait any longer.”

“Hard to make a phone call when someone is beating you half to death,” Zeus pointed out.

“I know,” Thor softened. “Anyway, he needed help or he was going to bolt. He was seriously considering desertion. Not for him,” he added quickly.

“Why?”

“Because Reynolds and his men kidnapped Camille and nobody has seen her in months,” Thor confided. “I’ve failed Vato, I promised him I would save his sister and I just barely found her. After all this time, I’m only now finding the location they are keeping her.”

“In there?” Zeus realized. There were at least a dozen guards and only one way in that he could see.

“Yeah,” Thor ran a frustrated hand through his hair and over his face. “In there. And no matter how many nights I sit here, scouting the place... I can’t come up with a foolproof tactical plan to get her out.”

“Maybe you need an extraction guy,” Zeus decided. “You’re sure she’s inside?”

“I’m positive. I saw her last night,” Thor admitted. “On the other side of the building. Two guys brought her outside just after dark. She was shackled and carefully guarded, but she seemed okay. I didn’t see any serious injuries, anyway.”

“Okay,” Zeus shifted to adjust his vantage point. “We’ll scout together, then we’ll generate a plan.”

“Aren’t you going to call Dax?” Thor asked. “I’m sure he’s the one that sent you. He doesn’t trust me and I don’t understand why.”

Zeus didn’t think it was his place to enlighten his friend, but it was his place to assist him. Together, they would free Camille and once she was safe... they’d decide how deep Vato’s involvement went. Until then? Zeus had a job to do. “My phone died a couple days ago.”

“You’ve been out here for days?”

“Nearly three to be exact,” Zeus grinned. “Just like the old days.”

Thor shook his head in surprise. “Do you need anything? Food? Water?”

“Water if you got it,” Zeus decided. “You got your phone on you? I should call Carmen and let her know I’m alright.”

“I didn’t bring it,” Thor admitted. “Nobody to call. I figured I was on my own on this one and if it rang...”

“The enemy would know your position,” Zeus nodded. “I get it. You ready to hear my plan?”

“You already have one?”

“Sure,” Zeus stood. “I’m going to walk up to the gate and see what they do. If I get lucky, I’ll be able to take them out two at a time. If not, I’ll get captured and they’ll take me to the same place they’re keeping Camille. Either way, I’ll be inside and I can develop phase two as I go.”

“That’s a terrible plan,” Thor objected. “If anyone is getting captured, it’s me.”

“When did you become the extraction guy?”

“When did you take over tactics?” Thor challenged. “Because tactically speaking, having a second prisoner that we have to rescue is not even close to sound. You don’t even know they’ll keep you in the same place.”

“True, but once I’m inside I can look around,” Zeus brushed off his jeans. “I can scout the place from the inside rather than sitting out here in the dark wishing I knew how many bad guys there are, the floor plan, and where the prisoner is being held. Just because she seemed fine, doesn’t mean she is fine.”

“Zeus, don’t do this,” Thor practically begged.

“Thor,” Zeus paused. “You wanted us to trust you... well, I’m trusting you with my life. Now, you have to trust me. And if I can’t fight them off a few at a time, if they take me as a second prisoner, head back to the hotel, hunker down, and call Dax. Because, if I can’t get to Camille in twenty-four... I can’t get to her without help.”

“Zeus,” Thor began. It was a waste of breath because his friend had already disappeared into the thick cedar trees, heading for danger and imprisonment. And, this time... he was doing it on purpose. Thor waited, anxious and worried for his friend. He held his breath as five men surrounded Zeus guns drawn, tension clearly high. They must have called for help because another three men joined them almost immediately. It took less than two minutes for Zeus to be flanked on all sides and escorted, at gunpoint, into the large compound. Thor continued to watch the doorway where his friend had disappeared, continued to swear under his breath at Zeus’ reckless and idiotic plan. Then he stood, made his way back to his jeep and headed to his hotel room. Everything just got a lot more complicated; and, the only thing he knew for sure... Dax was going to kill him.

**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S3

**Tags:** Season 3

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### [Bogus Prosperity](https://melaniepsmith.com/bogus-prosperity/)

**Published:** May 28, 2018
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Bogus Prosperity (S3 | E2) Tensions are rising in Manti.  The team is under attack.  Jericho is being watched, an adversary from Sean's past arrives in town and phony money is turning up everywhere.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*BOGUS PROSPERITY\*\*\*****

Paige pulled into Carmen’s driveway and got as close to the back door as she could. She was halfway around the vehicle when Dax shoved open the passenger door and worked to pull himself to his feet. It took more effort than it should have, but with Paige’s help, he was finally upright. Paige wrapped an arm around his waist for support as they made their way to the door.

Before Paige had a chance to figure out how she would get him inside, the door swung open and Zeus rushed out. “I got this.”

“Thanks,” Paige took a step back and Zeus moved into her place.

“I can walk on my own,” Dax grumbled.

“Yeah,” Zeus smiled. “I know, just like I could when you brought me back from Mexico. But, I’m here... might as well lend a hand.”

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Dax bit his tongue and let his friend usher him into the house. It wasn’t the same. He wasn’t anywhere near the condition Zee had been that night when they returned from Mexico. Not even close. But his ankle was broken and his ribs were still healing. He’d cracked a couple when he tumbled off the wall and hit the hard dirt below. Funny, the gunshot wound seemed to be the least of his problems. He wasn’t sure that was anything to brag about. “Help me to that chair,” he pointed to a recliner in the living room. “I want to sit up for a while.”

Once Zeus got Dax situated, he returned to Paige’s vehicle to help unload all the hospital stuff. “I haven’t figured out how to get Dax some clothes without the guys knowing, but I’ll figure something out. In the meantime, I’ll loan him a few t-shirts and some PJ’s. You doing okay?”

“I’m fine,” Paige sighed. “He’s grumpy. I wish you luck with that one, he’s not used to being laid up for more than a day.”

“I can handle Hamilton,” Zeus shrugged. “What’s the word on our favorite General?”

“I actually need to head out,” Paige glanced at her watch. “He wants to have a quick meeting before I drop him at the airport. He’s arranged for another private flight back, but we’re running out of time.”

“Go,” Zeus gave her a little push. “I’ve got this. I’ll get Dax settled and let Carmen know about the meeting. How many should we expect?”

“Me, Nathan, Jericho and Sean for now,” Paige decided. “I know where you stand, Zeus but we have to be sure.”

“I get it,” Zeus grumbled. “I don’t like it, but I get it.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige was halfway across her front yard when she was stopped by Hawk calling her name. The tone of his voice told her he was not happy. “Can I help you with something?” she asked.

Hawk took another step forward, deliberately crowding her space. “You shut me out,” he said angrily. “The hospital won’t tell me a thing. They said I have to talk to Zeus.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Paige didn’t react to the looming figure, he was trying to intimidate her. It wasn’t going to work.

“It has everything to do with you,” Hawk growled. “Zeus isn’t answering his phone. Where is Dax? He’s not in his room. Did they move him to a new room? A care center? Has his condition changed?”

“All questions you are going to have to take up with Zeus,” Paige took a step backward. “Now, if you’ll excuse me... I’m in a hurry.” She turned and made it to the front door before Hawk responded.

“You’re breaking up our team,” Hawk accused. “If Dax survives this, he won’t like what you’re doing. You might want to think about that.”

Paige stepped inside and almost collided with Nathan.

“Ignore him,” Nathan said in greeting. “He’s used to being in control. He’s not used to someone like you, and he sees his team slipping away from him. How is Dax this morning?”

“Grumpy,” Paige sighed. “How are we going to get you out of here without them seeing you?”

“Oh, I don’t think we’ll have to wait long,” Nathan smiled. “Blaze Hawthorn, is not a patient man. See, he’s already headed back home.”

Paige glanced out the window and saw that Hawk was already approaching Dax’s front porch. “I’m going to pull the car down the driveway,” Paige decided. “The house will block their view and we can load up your luggage and hit the road before any of them notice I’m leaving again.”

Within minutes Paige was back on the road with Nathan sitting in the passenger’s seat. She had tried to talk him into hunkering down, out of sight, in the back seat; but he refused. Apparently, that was not dignified enough for General Porter. *Men!* Sometimes she just wanted to throttle them.

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\*\*\*\*\*

The group was gathered in Carmen’s living room discussing the situation, catching Dax up on everything that had happened since his injury, and listening to the details about his capture and imprisonment.

“So,” Zeus said; disappointed. “There’s no chance you mistook Vato’s voice? There’s not even the slightest chance it was someone else?”

“Someone that knows me well enough to give Nassar direction? You know, ‘he won’t break... abduct someone he cares about and he’ll talk.’ Who else sounds like Vato that would know that?”

“I still say there has to be another explanation,” Zeus insisted. “I know it looks bad, but we’ve all done things that look bad. Didn’t mean we betrayed the team. Vato struggled after Maverick died, more than the rest of us. But, that’s just because they were so close. He would never join up with Nassar... a known terrorist. He hates them more than we do, they killed his best friend. There has to be another explanation.”

“Find it, then.” Nathan glanced at his watch, he was running out of time. “Look into your friend, clear him, convince us he’s still one of the good guys.”

“Maybe I will,” Zeus grumbled.

“Okay,” Dax began. He was abruptly interrupted by pounding on the front door.

“Looks like the team is invading,” Carmen sighed. “What do we do?”

“We can’t ignore them,” Sean decided. “They looked pissed. I think they’ll just storm the door.”

“Let them in,” Dax decided. “Now’s as good a time as any to confront them head-on.”

“Are you sure you’re ready?” Paige asked, concerned.

“I’m ready,” Dax gave Sean a nod.

Sean slid the door open, then stepped back to let the group inside.

“Zeus,” Hawk bellowed before he spotted Dax. His eyes grew wide, but he recovered quickly. “Dax, what’s going on here?”

“I was having a meeting,” Dax said casually. “Apparently, you needed something. From the looks of things, it must be urgent. Please, by all means, take the floor.”

Hawk took Dax’s cold stare like a punch to the gut. Had Paige Carter already turned their lifelong friend against them? Had Dax picked sides, and it wasn’t the team? He didn’t understand what was going on here. “I’m glad you’re okay.” Hawk began. “It would have been nice if someone had called us. We’re here for you, after all.”

Ken was across the room in a matter of seconds. “Man is it good to see you,” he pulled Dax into a huge bear hug. “We’ve all been worried sick.”

Dax smiled at his friend. He hadn’t really believed Ken was in on the deception but everyone had to be vetted, just in case. From Ken’s greeting, Dax was sure he could be taken off the list. “Paige said you had to return to Nephi, some family emergency. Everything okay?”

Ken frowned, “Yeah, I think so.”

“Are Jaimie and the boys okay?”

“Oh, yeah. They’re fine,” Woolly said quickly. “It’s my mom. She was shopping and someone shoved her while she was on the escalator. She went down hard and had to have her hip replaced. The surgery went really well but her recovery is slower than it should be. Needs constant care and with the boys and all... well Jaimie was having a hard time managing. I thought since you were...”

“I understand,” Dax smiled at his friend. “Glad to hear the old lady is okay. She’s strong and resilient. I’m sure she’ll be up and around soon. Don’t stay on my account if you need to get back...”

“No,” Woolly shook his head. “I need to be here for you, at least for a few days.”

“Alright, just be sure to take off if you need to. I’m fine now and family comes first.” Dax glanced up and saw Jeeves had moved in behind Ken. “Jeeves.”

“Hey, Dax.” Jeeves wasn’t sure what to say. Things were strained within the team and he didn’t like it.

“I’m told you saved my life... a couple times,” Dax held out a hand. “Thanks for that.”

Jeeves stepped forward and pulled Dax into a hug. “No thanks necessary. We’ve been through too much for too many years. It goes without saying. I just wish we’d gotten there sooner and avoided the stint in the hospital altogether. I could have done without the coma as well.”

Dax laughed. “Yeah, you and me both. Thanks for coming out on such short notice. As usual, Zee went off the rails instead of sticking to the plan.”

“You needed the team,” Hawk began just as the door flew open and Thor walked in.

“You’re...oh, man. Welcome back,” Thor crossed the room, yanked Dax out of his chair and nearly off his feet. He stood there for several seconds, just holding on as if his life depended on it.

Hawk cleared his throat and Thor set Dax back into the chair.

“Sorry,” Thor took a step back. “I’m sorry boss, but it’s so good to see you. How come nobody called me?” He swung around and glared at Hawk. “You should have called.”

“I would have,” Hawk focused on Dax. “If I’d known.”

“You didn’t know?” Thor looked back at Dax in confusion.

“Where have you been, Thor?” Dax asked in response. “Zee said you just took off.”

“Oh,” Thor glanced around but his gaze stopped when it landed on Nathan Porter. “Can’t tell you that. It’s... classified.”

Dax frowned at the reaction Thor had to Porter. What was that all about?

“Paige,” Hawk said coldly. “I need a minute with my team and our commander. Do you mind escorting... your group of friends outside for a few minutes?”

“That’s up to him,” Paige motioned to Dax.

The two men stared at each other for several seconds. Hawk was clearly challenging Dax and his leadership. “No, Paige and the rest of these guys stay. Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of them.”

“This is team business,” Hawk protested. “We don’t discuss team business in the presence of civilians.”

“Last I checked,” Nathan responded. “You retired. Guess that makes you one of us civilians.”

“I wasn’t referring to you, sir,” Hawk backpedaled. “It would be an honor to have you join us.”

“If he stays, I’m leaving,” Thor cut in.

Nathan narrowed his eyes at the large man. “I don’t believe we’ve officially met, Mr. Baxter. And yet, you seem to have some sort of complaint you’d like to lodge. Is this a personal attack or a professional one?”

“No complaint,” Thor shrugged. “Just won’t talk if you’re in the room.”

“Why is that?” Dax cut in.

“I’m done here,” Thor turned and headed for the door.

“Thor, we need an answer,” Hawk tried.

Thor just kept walking. He made it to the door, swung it open and disappeared.

“Does someone want to tell me what that was all about?” Dax demanded.

“I don’t think any of us knows,” Hawk stared at the closed door, then focused on Porter. “Do you know?”

“Not a clue,” Nathan stood. “But, on that note... I have a plane to catch. Paige, you ready to head out?”

“Yeah,” Paige glanced at Jericho, who had been terribly quiet throughout this entire ordeal. “I think this meeting is over if you want to bolt. We’ll continue this at a later date.”

“I’m coming, too,” Sean put in. “I’ve got plans.”

Carmen gave Paige a panicked look. The last things she wanted was to be left alone with a bunch of hot-headed soldiers.

“Carmen, why don’t you come with us?” Paige offered. “I’m sure Nathan wouldn’t mind and you can say your goodbye’s in private.”

“Good idea,” Carmen grabbed a jacket and the three of them left the room.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Tell me I’m wrong, Dax,” Hawk said as soon as Paige and her friends had left. “Because from where I’m sitting it looks like you’re taking sides and it’s not ours.”

“I’m curious,” Dax settled back in his chair. “Why are there sides, Hawk? Paige and Zee live here. Zee and Carmen were there when Nassar burst into my house and held me hostage. Paige is an officer of the law. It’s her job... her obligation to find and rescue me. She would have done that even if we weren’t dating. So, why exactly have you drawn a line in the sand and shut out the locals?”

“It’s the way we work, you know that.”

“It’s the way we used to work,” Dax corrected. “And we didn’t have a choice. Those missions were top secret. This mission, locating me? There was nothing top secret about it.”

“Looks pretty secret to me,” Hawk glared at Dax, then focused his anger on Zeus. “Did you plan to tell us at all? How long were you going to let us think Dax was dead before you filled us in?”

“Don’t take your anger out on Zee,” Dax ordered. “He did what I told him to do.”

“Yeah?” Hawk dropped onto the couch. “And does that include having Carmen run backgrounds on the team, their financials? And...”

“And everything,” Dax finished. “Yes, it does. I find it interesting that you are so upset that Carmen ran a deep check on you, when you did the exact same thing on Paige, Carmen, Jericho and even Porter. I’m not sure what you thought you’d find on him. His information is more protected than ours.”

“That’s different,” Hawk insisted.

“How?”

“Because we always do a check,” Hawk said defensively. “We need to know who we’re working with; if they can be trusted. You know that.”

“I do,” Dax let that sink in. “Which is why I asked Carmen to do a more thorough check on you.”

“That’s BS and you know it,” Hawk jumped to his feet. “Are you seriously going to sit there and tell me you don’t trust your team? After everything we’ve been through? Years of honor, integrity and... Brotherhood thrown out the window for what? A woman?”

“No,” Dax was having a hard time holding back his temper. “For trust and... respect.”

“I don’t even know what that means,” Hawk stomped to the door. “But, you should remember this... it was us... this team that came running when Zeus put out the call. We dropped everything to save you. We didn’t hesitate, we didn’t even stop to think about it. We just came. Can you say the same for them? People you barely know. I’m done with this. Have a nice life, Dax.” Hawk threw open the door, slammed it behind him and stomped down the stairs.

The room remained silent for several seconds.

“I’ll come back tomorrow,” Jeeves also stood. “If that’s okay, I’d like to come back and check on you tomorrow. You look tired, I think you should try to get some rest.”

“Thanks, Giles.” Dax rarely used his teammate’s real names, but he wanted a closer connection with Jeeves today. And, if he came back the following day, maybe Dax could rule him out as well. He wanted to rule them all out, but his gut told him if Vato was involved... other members of the team could be as well.

Ken waited until Jeeves was gone before he spoke. “Can you tell me why?”

Dax studied Ken for a long time before he responded. “I have reason to believe I’ve been betrayed by someone close to me. No, that’s not right. I know I’ve been betrayed by someone close to me. I’ve been betrayed by someone I would have trusted with my life. Have trusted with my life. Someone on my own team. This team. Now, I need to know if he’s acting alone or if more of you are involved. I don’t like it, but I don’t have a choice.”

“You can’t seriously believe any of us were involved,” Ken began. “You think we set you up? That one of us helped that monster do this to you?”

“I know Vato did,” Dax told him. “And, I know you haven’t been in touch with him for months. I also know, because I had Carmen check, that he called you and me while we were in Mexico rescuing Zee.”

“He called me, too.” Zeus was sick about all of this. “Tried to reach me several times, but I was a little preoccupied... you know, rotting away in a cell, getting beat on just for kicks. Didn’t get the message until I got back and he was long gone.”

“Jamie told me he called when I got back, but by then he had already been deployed,” Ken provided. “I figured he’d get back in touch when his tour was over. I sort of wondered if he volunteered for this one. He’s been having a hard time lately. With all of us gone, he’s even more lost than before. I think he feels abandoned by all of us... especially now that Maverick’s gone.”

“I know,” Dax sighed. “But, that’s no reason to turn.”

“How can you be sure he did?” Ken pushed. “I mean, pissed off and abandoned is one thing but this... I’m having a hard time believing he’s involved.”

“I’m sure, because I heard it with my own ears,” Dax sat back in frustration. “He called Nassar during one of our sessions. Told him torturing me to death wouldn’t work. I’d just hold out to prove I was the better man or some nonsense. He suggested Nassar kidnap someone important to me if he wanted answers.”

Ken dropped onto the couch in shock. “There has to be another explanation. Dax, there has to be.”

“I also know, Thor is in regular contact with Vato,” Dax continued.

“Now you suspect Thor?” Ken ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “That man dropped everything, even went to Mexico to help me deliver Williams to Mo....” he trailed off and Dax knew there was more, something Ken didn’t want to say.

“And...”

“I just remembered something, but it doesn’t mean anything. I know it doesn’t mean a thing,” Ken insisted.

“Tell me,” Dax ordered.

“Williams wouldn’t talk,” Ken began. “He didn’t say a word with me and Thor in the helicopter. Mo took Thor with him, to the safe house where he interrogated him. They left me at the village to guard the chopper. That’s when I left and met up with Ramin Trevils.”

“You did what?” Dax barked. “You met with Trevils, alone? After what he did to Zee?”

“Because of what happened to Zee,” Ken corrected. “It was safe, probably the safest trip I ever took if you get right down to it. He couldn’t risk anything happening to me because of what happened to Zeus.”

“I agree,” Zeus added.

“Oh, good. You agree.”

“It’s done, Dax. Let it go,” Zeus said softly.

“Fine, continue.”

“On our way back, Mo called,” Ken picked up where he left off. “Said Williams was starting to talk. I just thought it was strange at the time, and it hit me again when you said Thor is working with Vato. Williams wouldn’t talk when Thor was there, but as soon as he was alone with Mo, he sang. I just assumed it was because Mo used... well, tactics that we would never approve of.”

“And that’s probably the reason,” Zeus insisted. “Don’t condemn Thor on that. We have no idea how Mo got the guy to talk.”

“And then Thor shot Nassar,” Dax concluded. “Seems like a good way to make sure you’re not discovered. And what was the deal with Thor and Porter?”

“That was strange,” Ken agreed. “I’ve never seen Thor like that before.”

“Yeah, me either,” Dax focused on Zee.

“Don’t look at me,” Zeus barked. “I don’t believe Thor or Vato betrayed you. I think there’s an explanation. And if you took my advice and just talked to them, you’d probably hear what it is.”

“So,” Ken said hesitantly. “When you’re finished investigating me and decide I can be trusted again, will you let me know? I’m on your side, Dax and I’d like to be on your team. This thing is big and if we don’t stop it... I’m worried nobody will.”

“You’re cleared,” Dax said. “I want to clear all of you, but I have to do this my way. Can you live with that?”

“I trust you,” Ken stood. “Now, I’m going to head back and see if I can talk Hawk down. Give him some time, I think he’s just feeling betrayed. I can understand where he’s coming from. I wasn’t only shocked when I walked in and saw you here, I was hurt. We’ve always trusted each other, risked our lives for each other, and Hawk’s... well, if I had to guess, he’s also hurt that you didn’t come to him.”

“I know,” Dax sighed. “And, I would have. But, I’m having a hard time understanding why he’s treating Paige and the rest of these guys like they’re the enemy.”

“Dax,” Ken shook his head. “It was easy for you. I think you’d been preparing yourself to leave since the moment you signed up. The rest of us...well, we all felt a little lost once we got out. The real world, it’s not the same as the corp. Hawk is still trying to find his place and what happened here tonight, well it hit him harder than the rest of us because it’s all he knows. And, I think what you did was a condemnation of sorts. You hurt him, in his mind you betrayed him. He got sucker punched and he never saw it coming.”

“You don’t think he’s involved?”

“I know he’s not,” Ken shrugged. “But that’s something you have to figure out for yourself. I’m sure hearing Vato call Nassar while you were being tortured by the monster was its own kind of sucker punch. I tend to lean the same direction as Zeus. I think there’s an explanation, but it’s going to be hard to get as long as Vato’s in Iraq.”

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\*\*\*\*\*

Paige had just settled in behind her desk the following morning when a call came in. Clerk at the Top Stop had a suspicious hundred and thought it might be fake. Easy call, if it turned out to be counterfeit, she’d just call in the Secret Service. When she exited the building, she nearly collided with Agent Sean Wilkens.

“Hey,” Sean said in greeting. “Just the woman I was here to see.”

“In the mood for a road trip?” Paige asked. “I got a call.”

“Sure,” Sean pivoted and followed Paige to her patrol car. “What’s the call?”

“Possible fake hundred,” she told him as she shifted into gear and left the lot. “Should be quick and easy. If the bills legit, I’ll just short-form it. If the calls legit, I’ll confiscate the bill and call in the Service to take over. What brings you out this morning?”

“I thought I’d let you know Nathan made it back to DC in one piece,” Sean adjusted the seat to get more comfortable. “Apparently, he hit the ground running. I got the official letter this morning confirming my suspension has been lifted and I am officially assigned to Nathan Porter’s committee until further notice. It was crystal clear and drafted by the director himself. I work for Porter, answer to Porter, get my assignments from Porter and am only subject to disciplinary action initiated by Porter or the director himself. Rickman was a little put off by the entire thing, but I guess he’ll get over it... eventually.”

“Nathan said he’d get it resolved, looks like he kept his word,” Paige glanced at Sean as she pulled into the parking lot of the local Top Stop. “You look worried.”

“A little,” Sean admitted. “Word is going to get around. I don’t want a rep, you know. I don’t want people thinking I have an in with the top dog. And, the last thing I need is for Rickman to think I’m getting some sort of special treatment. Once I’m reassigned back to the Bureau, he’ll be relentless in making sure I know my place.”

“Yeah,” Paige exited the car and waited for Sean to join her. “He’s a lot like Grey that way. And the only way to get Carmen out of the doghouse was to transfer her to Porter. Rickman might see this as the same sort of deal and take it out on you.” She smiled at him before entering the store. “But, I have faith in you. I’m sure you can take it.”

“But, do I want to?”

“What does that mean? You’re not thinking of quitting are you?”

“No,” Sean assured her. “But I might have to request a transfer if it gets too difficult. Rickman can hold me back if he wants to. I love my current assignment, the location is perfect and I get to spend time with my sister and her kid, more than I ever thought I could.”

“But, we’re talking about your career and you have to do what’s best for you and hope your family understands.”

“Exactly,” Sean knew Paige would understand.

Paige took a minute to glance around the store before approaching the store clerk. There were a couple patrons browsing the isles, but nobody that looked like a threat. “You called in a suspicious bill?”

“Yeah,” the clerk pulled an envelope from under the counter. “I also pulled the tape... our surveillance video. I thought you might need it to identify the woman that brought this in.”

Paige slipped on gloves before gripping the edge of the bill and holding it up to the light. It was a good replica of the original. Not perfect, but good enough it would pass most cashiers. “Good eye,” Paige focused on the woman behind the counter. “What made you think it was a fake?”

“At first, it was the woman,” the clerk began. “She was a little off. It’s hard to explain, but she was impatient, tried to rush me through, you know. That only made me work slower. I thought maybe she had a partner in the store and was trying to distract me while they bolted with some merchandise. When I realized she was alone, I studied the bill a little closer. It looked okay... almost. I don’t know what about that bill tipped me off, but something didn’t look right. When I asked her for ID, she challenged me. Said she was paying in cash and wanted to know why I wanted it. When I insisted, she took off. Left her stuff on the counter and just split in a huff. I really hope that thing is counterfeit or I’m going to be in deep with my boss. He says I’m not... accommodating enough with the customers. I guess I challenge them too frequently. But, nobody steals nothing on my watch.”

Paige smiled at the bad grammar. “It’s a fake.”

“So, now what?”

“Now, I take the bill and the video and call in the Secret Service. Counterfeiting is their jurisdiction. I’ll just need your name and personal information for the report. Shouldn’t take long. You might hear from an agent in the next couple days, but other than that... you did your civic duty and you can go back to business as usual.”

“Alright, the name is Mandy. Mandy Johansen,” the clerk... Mandy, relaxed. After giving Paige the necessary information she went back to helping customers. “Do you think I need to call my boss?”

“Probably a good idea,” Paige decided. “If they tried here once, they might try again with a different employee. Your boss might want to warn the rest of the crew to look out for fakes.”

“Okay,” Mandy sighed. “He won’t be happy that I’m bothering him but I guess it’s the right thing to do.”

“Good luck with that,” Paige gave her a friendly smile. “And, here’s my card if you... or he, has any questions.”

Paige and Sean left the building and headed straight for the police car. “You in a hurry?” Paige asked once they were situated and back on the road.

“That depends,” Sean said with a grin.

“On why?” Paige rolled her eyes. “Meaning, if I want your help with the Secret Service, you’re busy. If it’s something interesting, you have time.”

“Exactly,” Sean grinned.

“Just before that call came in,” Paige sobered. “I got the packet on Brian’s murder, from Chicago. I thought if you had time, we could go through it together. You might catch something I miss. Two sets of eyes are always better than one.”

“I’ve got time,” Sean said immediately. “Plus, that’s legit. I can report to the good general that I’ve been working the case all day. But, I thought the gun running was out of New Orleans. How does a murdered cop from Chicago connect?”

“Brian worked in Chicago,” Paige agreed. “He was killed on duty but Carmen found a bunch of stuff about guns being shipped illegally out of New Orleans. It’s all connected somehow. I just haven’t figured out all the details, yet. Thanks for sticking around to help,” Paige sighed. “I didn’t know Brian well, but I met him once and he was important to Carmen. I have to warn you, this might get a little...”

“Emotionally draining?” Sean provided. “I know, especially after the incident with Dax. Just another good reason for me to stay and help.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Hawk watched as Paige walked to her police car and drove away. It was early, he thought Dax might still be out on the back porch enjoying his coffee. He had waited, impatiently, knowing she’d be headed out to work to start her day. That meant she’d be gone for several hours. Plenty of time to hash this out and get things back on track... if Dax was willing to cooperate. He made his way across the backyard and paused at the foot of the stairs. He spotted Dax immediately. His old friend was watching him intently. “Can I join you?”

Dax shrugged and pointed to an empty chair.

Hawk settled in next to Dax, considering his opening carefully. At least Dax had relocated and was staying with Paige now instead of Carmen. “First, I want to apologize for yesterday. I was taken by surprise at first, then...” he paused and sighed. He wasn’t sure the best way to continue.

“Then you got offended and you became defensive,” Dax offered. He understood and if Hawk wasn’t part of this, he knew he’d regret what he had to do. But he did have to do it and he hoped when it was all said and done, his friend would forgive him... if there was anything to forgive.

“Pretty much,” Hawk was watching Dax. “Anyway, I slept on it and I guess you have a point. But, I think I do, too.”

Dax smiled. “That’s your idea of an apology?”

“Dax,” Hawk gritted his teeth and pushed down the anger that was starting to boil inside him. “Any chance we can forget what happened last night and start over?”

“Sure,” Dax watched Hawk closely. He knew the man, almost better than he knew himself. If Hawk was involved with Vato, he’d see the signs. This impromptu meeting had presented the perfect opportunity for Dax to do a little interrogating of his own.

“I don’t understand all the secrecy,” Hawk began. “I want to. I trust you, so I know you had a reason, I just can’t figure what it was.”

“You know me,” Dax began. “Probably better than anyone else on the team. Except for Zee. So, you know I had my reasons. You say you trust me. Do you trust me enough to answer some questions?”

Hawk studied Dax for several seconds. At first, he felt defensive and betrayed... the same as he did the previous evening. Then, he saw something in his leader’s eyes. Pain, not physical pain but raw emotion. Something Dax never let show. Something he rarely felt. There was more to this story. And if Hawk knew anything about Dax, he knew the guy never did anything without a good reason. Someone had betrayed them. “I’ll answer any question you have for me on one condition.”

“Which is?”

“Once you’re finished,” Hawk leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees. “Once you trust me again. When you know, without a doubt that I’m not involved in whatever it is you discovered, you tell me it was.”

“Who what was?” Dax realized Hawk knew him too well. He’d figured it out. He knew that Dax knew they had a spy in their ranks. He just hoped Hawk wasn’t involved because if he was... he had just lost the element of surprise and everything just got a little more difficult.

“We can talk about that later,” Hawk pushed that aside. “Ask away.” He didn’t like being interrogated this way, but he’d do it. He’d accommodate Dax because his friend was suffering and because they needed to get back on track if they were going to solve this mystery and stop the bad guys.

“First,” Dax considered. “Zee said after Nassar and Williams arrested me, he called you.”

“He did,” Hawk settled back in the chair again.

“And you dropped everything and flew out that same day?”

“I contacted the guys and we all flew out, yes.”

“Do you have a job?” Dax wondered. Ken’s words had stuck with Dax and he wondered what Hawk was doing to adjust to civilian life now that he left the Rangers.

“You’re wondering if I’m drifting, a man without a purpose?”

“Something like that,” Dax evaded.

“I’d have to say I am drifting, in some ways. But, I’m not lost. I’m not looking for some higher purpose. I’m just taking my time. When I settle in somewhere, I want to know I made the right choice.”

“So, no job then?” Dax knew Hawk had done a couple jobs for Brent while he was visiting Florida. He just wondered if the guy would admit it. And who else he’d worked for since he’d come home.

“I spend some time down in Sarasota,” Hawk shrugged. “Did a couple missions for Brent. Mostly I just pick up odd jobs here and there. Pays the rent until I decide where I want to land.”

“You hook up with any of the others?” Dax hoped the question sounded casual. “Maybe freelance with other Rangers on the side?”

“Other than this mission?” Hawk focused on Dax. “No.”

“You have to know there’s a reason I’m asking,” Dax decided to give a little. “So, other than Brent you spend any time with the other guys on the team?”

“No,” Hawk said again. “Bucket and Solo are still in. I did a couple missions with the two of them before I got out but we don’t seem to have a lot in common these days. I met Solo while he was on leave... five, maybe six months ago. We met up, had a beer and immediately realized it was a bad idea. He wanted to talk about the job and couldn’t, I didn’t really want to hear it, anyway. I haven’t heard from him since.”

“Jeeves? Wooley? Thor?”

“Not until this mission,” Hawk said soberly. “We basically went our separate ways. I thought about looking them up, eventually. I was headed west anyway and I heard what happened to Zee down in Mexico. Thought I’d drop in and see how he was. Thought maybe you and I could catch up as well. Clearly, my plans changed and I’m here, now. I called those guys in because you were in trouble. You’ve saved our hides more times than anyone can count. It was a no-brainer... for all of us.”

Dax let that pass. None of them would ever forget the past, but nostalgia wouldn’t stop him from weeding out any traitors on his team, either. “What about Vato? You talk to him since that last mission?”

“Yeah,” Hawk shifted and crossed one ankle over his knee.

Dax watched the movement and knew his friend just became uncomfortable. “How’d that go?”

“Not well,” Hawk confessed. “He apparently blames me for Maverick’s death.”

“What?” Dax asked, surprised. “If anyone is to blame, it’s me. That man died saving my life.”

“Which is why Vato blames me,” he said softly. “We got into it, nearly ended in a physical altercation. I walked away, but it wasn’t easy. That man accused me of being a coward.”

Dax settled back in his chair and shifted. His broken ankle was starting to ache. So Hawk and Vato had a falling out.

“You want to move inside?” Hawk offered. “Might help to elevate it, I can help you to the recliner if you want.”

Dax was about to decline but decided Hawk was right, elevating his ankle might make the throbbing stop. “Sure and thanks.”

Once they were situated in the living room, Hawk picked up where he left off. “Vato seems to believe I neglected my duties. He said I should have been the one to go in that night. He’s probably right. I was your second, it was my responsibility. I would have, I hope you know that. Maverick just beat me to it.”

“I’ve never blamed you for what happened that night and I never will,” Dax said immediately. “You shouldn’t blame yourself, either. We knew it was dangerous going in. We knew there was a chance none of us would make it out. I accepted that risk when I ordered you guys to go ahead. You accepted it when you stepped in as leader in my absence. We rescued our victim and destroyed the compound. The mission was considered a success, even with the loss. I...”

“Dax, it wasn’t your fault either,” Hawk pointed out. “Maverick stepped up but each and every one of us would have done the same. Like you said, the mission was dangerous and we all knew going in we might not make it back home.”

“Vato doesn’t really blame you,” Dax decided. “He just needs a villain and he’s convinced himself it’s you.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Hawk shrugged. Clearly, it did matter.

“So,” Dax considered. “You and Vato aren’t on speaking terms these days?”

“Not at the moment, no.”

“I already knew that,” Dax admitted. “Like I said, Carmen ran everything.”

“Dax, can you tell me if this has something to do with Vato?” Hawk asked. “I know it has to be one of us, something happened that made you question your team. The only thing that would do that... after all these years, is if one of us betrayed you somehow. Was it Vato?”

“Vato is involved,” Dax admitted. He was pretty sure Hawk had cleared his name this morning, but he still needed answers.

“So,” Hawk frowned. “I’m not in the clear yet. Have you crossed any of us off the list? I’m guessing Zee passed the test early on. What about me, Jeeves and Ken? Never mind, don’t answer that.” Hawk stood and began searching for a pen and some paper.

“What are you doing?”

“Does that cop of yours keep a pad of paper around here anywhere?”

“In the top drawer of that table over there,” he pointed to the corner of the room.

Hawk scribbled something onto the pad then tore off the sheet and held it out for Dax.

“What is that?”

“The number goes to a burner,” Hawk said soberly. “Only my parents and my sister have the number. The other is the account number to my secret stash. An account in the Caymans. I live... frugally. Everything is dumped into that account. The jobs I did for Brent gave me the funds to start it up. There’s not a lot, but I can account for every penny.”

Dax took the information and shoved it into his pocket. As extensive as Carmen’s background had been... both pieces of information hadn’t been discovered. “Why are you giving these to me?”

“Let’s call it... a good faith effort. That’s me cooperating with your investigation,” Hawk decided. “I firmly believe the only way we are going to win this thing, is if we are all on the same team. Something has jeopardized your trust in our team... your team. I need you to clear my name as soon as possible so we can get back to work. I don’t have anything to hide, Dax. You can trust me... like I trust you. The sooner you realize that, the sooner we can start working together instead of against each other.”

“And, if I told you Vato went dark?”

“I’d be shocked,” Hawk said honestly. “And I’d want to know what makes you so sure he’s working against you.”

“He called Nassar,” Dax told him. Sometime in the past hour he realized keeping that knowledge to himself was futile. It was also impossible. He’d told too many people, the rest of the team would know before the day was over. “The prick was breaking my fingers, trying to get me to talk, when the phone rang. He put it on speaker while he cleaned up. I heard Vato’s voice loud and clear.”

“On purpose?” Hawk considered. “You know he did that on purpose. It was a mind-game. He was trying to break you. You do know that, right?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Dax focused on Hawk. “It didn’t work. I escaped, Nassar is dead, and I learned Vato was involved. All-in-all, I’d say we’re the ones ahead on that one.”

“What exactly did Vato say?” Hawk was surprised at the information, but not convinced. “Did he reveal anything that would tell you what their plan is?”

“You’re not going to argue with me?” Dax asked. “Not going to tell me I have it all wrong?”

“Do you?”

“No,” Dax sighed. “I know what I heard. It’s just...”

“Everyone else has argued Vato’s case,” Hawk provided.

“Exactly,” Dax ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I know Vato is involved in this. I heard him. I would recognize that voice anywhere. Still, I was beginning to question myself. I’ve gotten the same response from every one of my guys. Not Vato.”

“Except me,” Hawk frowned. “I wonder, does that help clear my name... or make me more suspicious?”

“Good question,” Dax smiled.

“Are you comfortable telling me what he said? Maybe we could talk it through like we used to.”

“He said some nonsense about the torture,” Dax admitted. “He said Nassar was fighting a losing battle. Some nonsense about me resisting just to show I’m the bigger man. He suggested Nassar kidnap someone I care about and told my captor I’d talk to save a loved one.”

Hawk frowned. “But that’s not true and Vato knows it.”

“You don’t think I’d cooperate if Nassar had Paige?”

“No,” Hawk said confidently. “You’d get pissed. You’d work even harder to escape with Paige, but you would never give up any Intel. Not even to save Paige from being tortured. I have no doubt about that, Dax. Vato knows that, too. He gave Nassar bad Intel. The question we need to answer is why.”

“And what’s your answer?” Dax asked. He had more doubts now about Vato’s involvement than he’d had before. It was one thing to defend Vato because he was a friend and a teammate. It was entirely different to question his involvement because of his actions. And that’s exactly what Hawk just did. Dax hadn’t worked it through that far. Hawk was right, he would never have answered Nassar’s questions, not even if he brought in someone Dax cared about. That tactic would only make him more determined to get free... and to make Nassar pay for his crimes. Vato knew that.

Hawk stood and began to pace. “I don’t know,” he said honestly. “On the surface, the evidence is too strong to dismiss. Vato’s got a distinctive voice. Which I believe is the reason Nassar took the call on speaker in the first place. He wanted you to know a friend had betrayed you. He was trying to break you. And, just like when I walked into that house last night and saw you sitting there... hearing that conversation must have been a sucker punch. A blow you’ve been struggling to deal with ever since. But Vato’s motives have to be analyzed. He gave bad advice to Nassar. Is that because he wanted Nassar dead? Maybe to take his place? Does it mean he’s on our side and was buying you time to escape? Trying to motivate you? Or was he sending you a message? This is actually something I can look into if you’ll let me. Take that info, run the financials, check the phone records, do what you have to do to clear me. Then, let me help.”

“Go ahead and look into it now,” Dax decided. “I’ll give this to Carmen but you need to know this doesn’t clear you. If you have one burner we didn’t find, you could have more. And there’s still the question of Thor.”

“I think you should consider one more possibility,” Hawk faced Dax. “Someone very powerful is trying to break up the team. They used Keaton from the FBI to go after Sean. The ATF has been hassling Walters. Wooley’s mother was mysteriously shoved down the escalator. And, Thor has been disappearing on top-secret personal missions for weeks. What if it’s all a setup? What if this is just another way for our enemy to split us up? Divide and conquer.”

“Could be,” Dax agreed. “But it still doesn’t explain why Vato called a known terrorist and how he knew I had been captured and was being tortured when he’s deployed at the moment. I also don’t believe it’s a coincidence that Ahmed came here from Iraq at the same time Vato is working in Iraq. It’s all connected and we both know it.”

“I agree,” Hawk sighed. “And, no matter our differences, I don’t want to believe Vato is involved in this. The evidence is strong, but we don’t know enough. I’ll let you know what I find. We can go from there. Let me know when I make it back on the honorable soldier list. I’m looking forward to working with you on this. It’s one of the things I miss the most. You, our friendship, is one of the things that I miss the most. I hope one day soon, you will believe that.”

Dax sat, silently analyzing the conversation he had with Hawk long after the man left the house. His gut was telling him his long-time comrade was telling the truth. But, could he trust his gut? He also realized Hawk was the only member of the team that had reacted from an analytical standpoint rather than an emotional one when he learned of Vato’s involvement. He smiled. That was the reason Hawk made such a good Army Ranger... and a leader. If Dax were going to be honest with himself, he had to admit he too had been looking at the situation through emotion, rather than logic. Did that exonerate Hawk, or prove his guilt? That was still one question Dax couldn’t answer. But, he knew someone who might be able to. The one person he knew he could trust... he’d talk to Paige when she got home from work. Maybe she’d have some insight. Otherwise, he was back to square one, and that was one place he didn’t want to be. In the meantime, he’d call Carmen and relay the new Intel.

\*\*\*\*\*

Sean and Paige had been going over the new file on Detective Brian Stewart for nearly two hours when a stranger in a black suit walked through the front door. The man approached Margie’s desk, had a brief conversation, and then made a beeline for Paige. She knew the instant Sean saw the fed. He visibly stiffened and his features became hard and unfriendly. She was about to ask him about it when the stranger spoke.

“Sean Wilkens,” the guy practically sneered. “Figures I’d find you here. I heard about your trouble; it was only a matter of time before you got yourself fired. Looks like the Bureau finally realized their mistake. You should never have been hired in the first place but finally, your days are numbered. Who’s the phony now? I admit, you lasted longer than I thought you would. But we both knew, eventually, the sham would be up and you’d show everyone just how inept you truly are. Let me guess, you’re here hoping the locals can use another incompetent, washed-out agent on their team.”

Paige jumped to her feet, but Sean placed a hand on her arm to stop her. “I assume you’re here to pick up the evidence Paige recovered this morning. I’d watch myself if I were you, Ray. She’s out of your league. One misstep and you’ll realize just how far.”

Paige remained standing. Her gaze followed Sean’s angry form as he made his way across the room and shoved open the front door. The instant he disappeared, she turned to glare at the newcomer. “I’m going to need to see your credentials.” She dropped back in her chair in an act of defiance. She wouldn’t say what she was thinking, she still believed in professional courtesy. But if the man didn’t leave soon... she just might change her philosophy on that one.

“You’re going to want to be more selective,” the agent warned as he held out his credentials. “You know, do a better job of picking your friends.”

“Agent White,” Paige glanced at the Secret Service seal. “I highly suggest you keep this visit professional. Here’s your evidence.” She held out a bag that contained the hundred-dollar bill and the video disc. “Good luck.” She flipped open the file she’d been reading, a clear signal the discussion was over.

“I’m going to need your report as well,” Agent White said angrily.

“Margie can pull that for you,” Paige didn’t look up. “Just request a law enforcement copy on your way out.”

“Deputy Carter,” Ray fumed. “It’s been a long day already and I still have to drive back to Salt Lake this evening. There’s no reason for you to be this difficult. We both know you could just pull up the report and print it from your desk. You wouldn’t want me to complain to your boss, tell him you were less than... cooperative would you?”

Paige was already in the process of doing just that. Anything to get this annoying man out of her sight. She clicked print then focused on the man that had just ruined her day. “Go ahead, but I doubt talking to Sheriff Walters will get you the results you’re looking for. However, I suspect if I called your supervisor... I just might get the results I’m after.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bodyguard-247684_640.jpg)

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The man stepped forward until he was looming over Paige’s desk. He was obviously angry but before he had a chance to speak, Gage seemed to appear out of nowhere.

“Paige, you okay?” Deputy Clayton asked, placing his large body between Paige and the stranger.

“Sure,” Paige smiled. Agent Ray White wasn’t quite so cocky with Gage nearby. “Agent White was just leaving.” She reached behind her desk, snatched the report off the printer and shoved it toward White.

“Agent?” Gage asked. “What agency? You’re not acting like a law enforcement official.”

“Secret Service,” Ray said absently as he grabbed the report and turned to leave.

“Oh,” Gage glanced at Paige. “Did you call him?”

“Yeah,” Paige sighed. “I got a call this morning, at the Top Stop. Turns out some woman passed a hundred. It was fake.”

“And he’s here to collect the bill?”

“I’ll be in touch if I need anything else,” White said, clearly uninterested in the exchange.

“Yeah,” Paige focused on Ray White. “Now he’s leaving. Probably has some dignitary he needs to babysit. You know, some guy that has zero chance of running into danger. Agent Ray White is a very important man with a very important job. See ya, or not.”

Gage frowned. “Before you go, can you take this too?” Gage held out an evidence bag. “I was just about to call you guys.”

“You caught another one?” Paige frowned. “Two in one day? The counterfeiters must be here, in town. But are they visiting or are they residents?”

“That’s the question,” Gage continued to watch his friend and the agent. He hadn’t felt this much tension between two officers since... well, Havilland started working here.

“Meet me at the bank,” White demanded. “I need you to go through every hundred-dollar bill they have to see if the perpetrator has used more.”

Gage started glancing around the room. His movement was exaggerating and obvious.

“What are you looking for?” White demanded.

“The other Secret Service agent,” Gage said flatly.

“I’m the only agent here, you idiot,” White growled. “We need to get to the bank.”

“You see,” Gage settled into his chair. “There’s the rub. I’m afraid I don’t work for you, Agent White. And neither does she,” Gage pointed his thumb in Paige’s direction. “So, unless there’s a mouse somewhere in the room that takes orders from the feds... we’re a little busy. And counterfeiting... well, that’s not our jurisdiction. We’ve fulfilled our obligation. We turned the evidence over to you. If you don’t know where the bank is, I’m sure Margie can give you the address.”

White’s face turned an unhealthy shade of pink. Paige was about to address the man when Sheriff Walters stepped into the building. He glanced around the room and frowned when Agent White headed his way.

“Are you in charge here?” White demanded.

“Last time I checked,” Jericho focused on his deputies.

“Well,” White held out his business card. “I’d like to make a formal complaint.”

“In regard to who?”

“Those two,” he motioned backward. “Deputy Carter and...well, I don’t know that man’s name.”

“For?” Jericho asked.

“Refusing to cooperate with my investigation,” White said immediately.

“Paige?”

“Go ahead, take his complaint,” she smiled at White. “I have one of my own to lodge. It shouldn’t take long. I’ll be here when you’re finished.”

“You are not seriously calling my supervisor on this?” White spun around to face Paige. “On what grounds.”

Paige stood and smiled. She rattled off three policy numbers and waited. It didn’t take long.

“I’m withdrawing that complaint,” White fumed. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do at the bank. Of all the places I could have been sent today, I landed in hick-town USA. I don’t have time to deal with Sheriff Jed and his two hillbilly deputies; Elly May and Jethro the buffoon,” he mumbled on his way out the door.

“Do I need to know what that was about?” Jericho asked, watching the agent disappear out the door.

Paige couldn’t help herself, she laughed out loud. “What’s wrong Sheriff Jed? Possum stew giving you indigestion?”

Gage smiled. “Maybe a good long swim in the ceee-ment pond will settle your stomach.”

“The two of you jokers getting back to work will settle me just fine,” Jericho grumbled. “Is that something I need to worry about?”

“Maybe,” Paige sobered. “I haven’t figured him out yet.”

“What did you threaten him with?” Jericho finally asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

“Just a couple rarely used codes that he violated and he knew it,” Paige shrugged. “They have to do with professional conduct and how federal agents interact with their fellow law enforcement officials. Now he’s been warned and he knows I have pull with his boss. Peter Elliott and I go way back. It’s the reason Agent White was sent here so quickly. And knowing Peter, he told Ray to play nice.”

“Somehow,” Gage put in. “I don’t think he got the message.”

Jericho frowned.

“I’ll let you know if he complains, Jer,” Margie added. “But that man was rude and unprofessional from the minute he stepped through that door. What he said to Sean Wilkens...”

“Sean was here?” Jericho asked.

“Yeah,” Paige moved forward. “The file came in from Chicago. We were working on it together. Then, White came in and insulted Sean right off the bat, said he was inept and a fraud. He was practically tapping out a happy dance right in front of my desk. Sean handled it, better than we did, actually. He just left and I got to deal with Agent A-hole. But those two have history, I’d bet my career on that.”

“Why is he here?” Jericho pressed.

“Oh, sorry.” Gage grabbed his report from his desk and handed it to his boss. “I confiscated a fake hundred. I came back to the office to call the Secret Service and found White looming over Paige like he was going to hit her or something. That’s when I found out Paige got one this morning, too.”

“You sure you don’t want to file that complaint, Paige?” Jericho studied his deputy.

“I’m sure,” Paige shrugged that off. “But I think we have a counterfeiter in the area. I know it’s not our problem, which is why Officer Friendly is over at the bank sifting through hundreds; but, I think we need to send out an alert. Let the rest of the crew know to be on the lookout just in case.”

“I agree,” Jericho turned to Margie. “Will you take care of that and make sure Susie’s aware so she can handle the calls on the night shift?”

“I’ll take care of it,” Margie assured him.

“Now,” Jericho focused on Gage. “I need the two of you to play nice with the federal agent. But, I want to know if he gets out of line. Paige, you might have pull with his boss, but a call from me will hold more weight in the end.”

“I don’t think that’s going to be necessary,” Paige assured him. “I can handle White. And, I saw his reaction when he thought I was really going to call his boss. That man is on thin ice and my knowledge of their procedure worries him. If Gage can resist his urge to body slam the insulting prick, we’ll get through this just fine.”

“I’m not making any promises, but I’ll do my best.” Gage glanced at Jericho before he made his way back to his desk.

Margie answered the phone and frowned. “Hold please,” she said politely before putting the call on hold. “We have another one. This time it’s over at Fred’s Sports Grill. Trina will be waiting for you.”

“I’ll go,” Gage grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

“And I’ll inform our federal agent he has another possible crime to deal with,” Paige sighed, grabbed her jacket and headed for her car.

“Margie,” Jericho continued to frown as his two deputies bailed from the building. “Call the local motels and hotels, tell them to be on the lookout for fake bills. If this is a visitor, they have to stay somewhere.”

“And if it’s a local?” Margie asked.

“Then we have a bigger problem,” Jericho admitted. “Because they are going to be harder to find.”

“Paige got some grainy video from the Top Stop,” Margie informed him. “The quality is terrible, but I didn’t recognize her. That doesn’t mean much, they could be new to the area.”

“Let’s start looking,” Jericho turned to leave them mumbled under his breath, “The sooner we get rid of the fed, the better.”

Margie smiled, picked up the call to tell Trina Deputy Clayton was on his way, then started making phone calls to the local businesses. She’d also prepare a quick press release. Jericho might want to notify the locals, but Agent White was technically in charge. He’d be the one to make the final call on that one. In any event, they’d be ready.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped through the front door, dropped her gear and settled into the recliner unwilling to move another inch. She glanced up and saw Dax watching her.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Rough day,” she straightened to study him more closely. “You look a little worn out yourself. Everything okay?”

“There was something I wanted to run by you, but tell me about your day first,” Dax patted the couch next to where he was sitting, inviting Paige to join him.

Paige sighed, stood and made her way to the couch. She practically dropped to the surface and snuggled in next to Dax. They sat there for several minutes before Dax prompted her to talk.

Paige sighed and straightened. “It’s nothing really,” she began. “Just... well, I got a call this morning. Possible fake hundred at the Top Stop. Sean was headed in to tell me Nathan made it back to Washington okay and Sean is now cleared to return to work. We verified the bill was phony and I called the Secret Service. Sean and I went back to the office. The complete report on Brian’s murder in Chicago came in so we were hard at work, going through everything when this Secret Service guy marches in and starts insulting Sean. He took it but left mad. I can’t find him. He’s not returning my calls, his sister has no idea where he is and...”

“And you’re worried about your friend,” Dax said in understanding. “I’m sure he’s okay. If the guy pounced the moment he arrived, they must have history.”

“That’s what I think, too,” Paige frowned. “And he probably just needed some time alone. That’s how Sean deals with things. First, he stews alone. Then, he confides in someone he trusts. I just hope he doesn’t stew too long because that guy is not worth it.”

“Sounds like he got under your skin, too.”

“Once Sean left, he insulted me, then called Gage an idiot,” Paige smiled.

“And somehow... he lives?”

“Then he insulted Manti, called it hick-town USA and said Jericho is Sheriff Jed Clampett. I’ve been crowned Ellie May and Gage, apparently, is Jethro the buffoon.”

“He better hope he doesn’t have to work with you again,” Dax concluded.

“Oh, he does. Because we were discussing the situation with Jericho when we got another bad bill. Someone used a fake fifty to pay for dinner at Fred’s.” Paige sighed. “And I got to deal with Agent A-hole all over again,”

“No wonder you look beat,” Dax shifted her slightly so he could rub her shoulders. “Do you think they’re local or tourists?”

“No idea,” Paige said softly. “But I was surprised they’re passing hundreds and fifty’s. Usually, counterfeiters only cloak one type of bill. They must have access to sophisticated equipment to pull this off.”

“You’ll figure it out,” Dax said confidently. “You always do.”

“Not always,” Paige disagreed. But if she had to deal with Mr. Congeniality, she wanted to catch the bad guy. It only seemed fair. “Anyway, what did you want to talk to me about?”

Dax walked her through his conversation with Hawk that morning. She stopped him a couple times to ask questions but mostly just listened. When Dax was finished, he waited anxiously for her assessment.

“Before I say anything,” Paige said carefully. “Am I discussing this with you as a police officer, a team member, or your girlfriend?”

“All the above,” Dax said impatiently. “I just want your take, Paige. Right now you are the only person I know I can trust completely.”

“Okay,” she turned to look him in the eyes. “I don’t think Hawk is involved. I never have. We don’t exactly get along and I think he’s an arrogant... overly confident jerk, but he’s not dirty. And, I know this Vato guy was a member of your team and anything is possible... I’m just not convinced Hawk’s involved. I worked with him... as much as he’d let me. I saw how desperate he was to find you. If he knew where you were... he deserves an Oscar. My gut says he’s on your side. I think he always will be.”

“Okay,” Dax let out a relieved breath. “My gut says the same, but I’m just not sure I can trust my gut at the moment.”

“Then I’ll trust it,” Paige leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss. “I know this Vato thing has you turned upside-down. I’m sorry for that, but you have good instincts. You need to find a way to trust yourself again. They tried to take you out for a reason and I think it was because you’re the only one that can figure this all out. They’re afraid of you. We can use that, but you have start trusting yourself again.”

“It’s not that easy,” Dax looked away. “Vato was mine, now he’s working against me. I just can’t reconcile any of this.”

“Hawk has a good point,” Paige pressed. “I hadn’t thought of it that way before, but he’s right. Vato lied. Is it possible he hasn’t turned against you? Is it possible he was trying to save you, trying to give you a reprieve, time to escape?”

“I’ve considered that all day,” Dax told her. “That’s about the only thing I’ve had on my mind since Hawk left this morning.”

“And?”

“And I still don’t know,” Dax admitted. “If he’s not involved, that message wasn’t just a stall tactic, though. I’m sure of that. If he’s not there willingly, I think they have someone important to him. It would explain why Thor keeps disappearing. It would also explain why Vato tried to reach me, Ken and especially Zee before he shipped out.”

“Because Zee is an extraction guy,” Paige said in understanding. “But he was tied up... literally. Locked up in prison in Mexico. Makes sense, but can I ask you a question?”

“Sure,” Dax said immediately.

“What does your gut say?” Paige waited. “Does this scenario feel accurate or does it feel like you’re grasping at straws because you want him to be one of the good guys?”

“I told you, I don’t trust my gut.”

“But I do,” Paige insisted. “What is it telling you?”

“I honestly don’t know,” Dax admitted. “I guess it’s telling me I need to find Thor. He’s the only one that has the answers and he’s disappeared completely.”

“Hawk doesn’t know where he went?”

“Nope,” Dax shook his head. “Thor has gone completely off the grid and that worries me.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I doubt I’ll need to do anything,” Dax shifted in frustration. “Zee wants to go after him. He thinks, with Carmen’s help, he’ll be able to find Thor and get the answers we need.”

“He wants Carmen to go with him?”

“No,” Dax answered. “Carmen will stay here. Zee will just phone in, tell her what he needs and have her run it from her place.”

“It sounds like it might be a good idea,” Paige decided. “What don’t you like about it?”

“If anyone can talk Thor down, it’s Zee,” Dax began. “Those two are tight. Zee is probably the only one that could get answers from Thor about Porter, his immediate distrust, and his mysterious trips.”

“But?”

“But what if Thor is involved?” Dax barked. “What if both Vato and Thor are working for the enemy? Zee will be alone and vulnerable because he wants to trust them. His faith in those two could be the weakness they will exploit.”

“I think Zeus and Thor are close,” Paige said slowly. “I saw them together. Even if Thor was involved, I don’t believe he would ever harm Zeus. He’s big and can be scary, but underneath it all... I think he’s just a big teddy bear. Especially when it comes to his team.”

“So, you trust Thor?” Dax asked, seriously.

“I’m leaning that way,” Paige evaded.

“But?” Dax parroted her earlier question.

Paige smiled. “But, he’s leaving all of a sudden. He hasn’t told anyone what he’s doing or how to find him and he’s hiding something. I don’t know what. I couldn’t begin to tell you if it has something to do with Reynolds and his band of thugs but I do think it has something to do with your team. Maybe Vato, maybe not. I don’t have enough information to venture a guess. The way he immediately went after Nathan was also strange. And, whatever caused that... it’s new. He didn’t act that way when we were searching for you and Thor knew Nathan was involved.”

“Maybe Vato told him something,” Dax said absently. “They’re in constant contact. Maybe the distrust is Vato’s doing.”

“Maybe,” Paige shrugged. “Maybe not. That’s just speculation until you talk to Thor. You know I don’t deal in speculation.”

“I know,” Dax brushed a finger over her lips. “That’s why I needed to talk to you. Sorry to dump this on you after such a long, complicated day.”

“I don’t mind,” Paige hesitated but decided to continue. “Dax, will you answer something for me and be completely honest?”

“I’m always honest with you, Paige.”

“Does your hesitance to clear Hawk have anything to do with the way he treated me? Because I don’t need you to protect me from your friends. He could be a jerk at times and I know he was inside making fun of me when I was out in your driveway collecting dirt particles to analyze. But, that’s all separate from this. He didn’t know me and he didn’t like me. I can live with that. I can’t live with it, if you’re shutting him out as a punishment for the way he treated me.”

Dax didn’t answer for several minutes.

“I thought you said you’d answer honestly,” Paige prompted.

“I will,” Dax pulled Paige close. “As soon as I figure out what the answer is. I want to say no, absolutely not. But, I guess deep down, I know it has played a part. How much? I can’t answer that yet. It shouldn’t influence my feelings at all. But, I care about you. I expect my men to accept that. I expect them to treat you with respect. Things would have been different, Hawk wouldn’t see you as a threat... if you had met under different circumstances. I don’t think I’ve forgiven him for the way he’s been treating you. Does that play a part in my... outlook on the situation? I think maybe it has.”

“Then you have to set that aside,” Paige insisted. “Because Hawk and I... we’ll find a way to work through this. You have to let us do that on our own and you can’t punish him for not liking your girlfriend. It’s not fair and you, Dax Hamilton are always fair.”

“I’ll think about it,” Dax shifted to stand. “I promise. But right now, I’m starved. Dean brought takeout from Dirk’s. You ready to eat?”

“Absolutely,” Paige jumped to her feet. “Beyond ready.”

\*\*\*\*\*

The next afternoon, Paige was sitting at her desk plotting the information she had gathered on the counterfeiters on a digital map. She had dates and times when the bills were passed as well as locations plotted when Sean walked through the front door. Paige remained silent, watching her friend as he made his way to her desk and settled into her visitor’s chair. She waited for him to speak first, knowing the slightest thing could make him withdraw.

“Sorry about yesterday,” he began. “I guess you’ve figured out by now Ray White and I have a history. A complicated, contentious history.”

“I gathered,” Paige straightened and settled into her chair. “You should probably know he’s still in town. We had another report of fake bills at Fred’s and Gage retrieved another one just after we seized the one at the Top Stop.”

“Thanks, but I’m good now,” Sean insisted. “Ray won’t get to me again.”

“Because?” Paige asked.

“Because he’s a bully, a loud-mouthed bully, but nothing more than an annoyance. I don’t need his approval and we both know I’m not on the verge of getting fired. That alone will drive him crazy. I can live with that.”

“You want to talk about it?”

“Not really,” Sean sighed. “But you deserve to know. I’m afraid he’s going to take his frustration out on you. He’s figured out we’re friends by now and he won’t let up until he leaves. I’m sorry for that, too.”

“That’s not your fault, Sean.”

“And still... I’m sorry for it,” Sean stood, doctored a cup of coffee and returned to Paige’s chair. “Ray and I went to college together. We were never friends, more like rivals. We both knew we wanted to work for the FBI when we graduated, which meant we ended up in the same classes more often than not. He’s competitive but lazy. He wanted the best grade, wanted to beat my scores, to show me up, but he wasn’t willing to put in the time.”

“And you aced everything you ever tried,” Paige smiled. “That had to drive him nuts.”

“It did,” Sean admitted. “At first I felt bad, but not bad enough to relax my own personal standard. Later, I decided it was on him. He wasn’t willing to work for what he wanted. He just thought it should be handed to him. It didn’t take long to realize he was born into money. His parents were rich and gave him everything from the moment he was born. Not rolling in it, but enough that he was spoiled. He was used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it... with very little effort.”

Paige stared at Sean in wide-eyed shock. “He’s the one.”

“Yeah,” Sean said softly. “He’s the guy that stole my girl just to prove he could. Then, after he was sure I would never forgive her, he dumped her... again, to prove some twisted point. He ruined both of our lives and I let him.”

“Sean,” Paige stood and moved her chair around the desk next to his. “You told me the story. We talked about this... we talked it to death. Lisa made a choice; clearly the wrong one. But, she’s not a victim in this. You are the only victim. And I still believe, if she truly was the one, if she was in love with you the way you loved her, she never would have cheated with that man in the first place. You’re holding onto a fantasy and it's holding you back. Until you let her go, you will never be able to move on. I thought you had finally put the heartache and the pain of betrayal behind you.”

“I thought I had,” Sean sighed. “Then Ray White walked into your office and it all came rushing back. I hate him with every fiber of my being. I hate everything about him. I hate the way he treats people, I hate his arrogance, I hate...”

Paige smiled. “I get the idea. And, for the record, the feeling is mutual. Even without the history.”

“What did he do?”

Paige smiled. “For starters, he called Gage an idiot. Then, he called Jericho Sheriff Jed Clampett. You should have seen his face,” Paige laughed out loud.

“And you?”

“I’m Ellie Mae, of course.”

“What else?” Sean pressed. “I know you, and that’s not enough.”

“It doesn’t matter, Sean,” Page brushed that off. “Because I don’t care what he thinks. It didn’t take long to realize that. He’s insecure, especially when you’re around. And, he’s afraid of me. I called Peter yesterday. Elliott’s your good friend Ray White’s supervisor. We have nothing to worry about. Agent Hateful has been put in his place and he’s running scared.”

“Be careful, Paige,” Sean warned. “That’s when he’s the most lethal.”

“I wish I had known,” Paige said in answer. “I wish I knew exactly who he was the instant he stepped through those doors. I was far too kind to him yesterday. I don’t think I’ll make that mistake again.”

“Let it go,” Sean requested. “He’s not worth it.”

Paige shrugged. “It’s up to him, really. But, after what he did to you... he better watch his step.”

“Paige,” Sean said more forcefully.

“So, you want to help with the phony money case? Or, should we pull the murder back out and finish that up?”

“I’ll let you choose,” Sean decided.

“Then I pick money,” Paige flashed a mischievous smile. “I can’t wait to see Agent White’s face when two inept FBI washed-outs solve his mystery and arrest the bad guys before he does.”

“I should say no,” Sean smiled back. “But, I have to admit, I’m going to enjoy this.”

“Then let’s get started,” Paige moved her chair back around the desk. “Before I show you what I’ve been working on, I have one more question.”

“Shoot,” Sean said absently as he studied the map Paige was creating.

“You said both of you knew you were going to be FBI agents. But, he works for the Secret Service. How come?”

Sean grinned. “He tested at the Bureau, he applied at the same time I did. He was rejected, I got hired. Just another reason he hates me and wants to see me fail.”

“So he just gave up and decided he’d rather be an overpaid babysitter?”

“You might get away with calling them that with Peter Elliott, he has a sense of humor. But, go there with White and he’ll blow a gasket,” Sean warned.

“Good to know,” Paige was still grinning. “But, seriously. He just gave up his dream because he failed once?”

“Yeah,” Sean shrugged. “That’s the way he works. He’s always been like that... well, he was like that in college, anyway.”

“Then he never would have made it as an agent,” Paige concluded. “I wonder how he’s survived all this time in the Service.”

“He’s smart,” Sean drug his chair around the desk. “Don’t underestimate him. Just because he’s lazy, doesn’t mean he’s stupid.”

“I don’t know,” Paige pulled out a notepad. “He did tell Gage he was an idiot. I’m surprised he lived after that one.”

“Can we get to work and stop talking about White?” Sean asked. “He’s already taken up more of my time that I’d like.”

“Sure,” Paige grabbed a pen and started tapping the pad. “We’ll get Gage to help as soon as he stops in. Between the three of us, we’re bound to come up with something to follow.”

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/abundance-1868573_640.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/chocolate-cake-2872128_640.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bakery-1868925_640.jpg)

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax stepped into the bakery and paused to enjoy the amazing aroma of freshly baked goods. He loved it here. Loved the smells, loved pretty much everything they baked. His mouth began to water as the sweet smell of sugar and chocolate flooded his senses. He was glad he’d reneged on his promise to stay home. Paige was not going to be happy with him, but she was hovering. And, he had to do something to show her he was capable of living his life again.

He moved forward to scan the large display case when Chelsea rushed toward him. “Hey, Dax. I was wondering if you could look at something for me. Maybe, I don’t know, tell me what you think and if I should call the police.”

“What’s going on?” Dax immediately surveyed the open floor plan. When he didn’t see an immediate threat, he relaxed. “Does it have something to do with that table you blocked off?”

“Nothing serious,” Chelsea assured him. “It’s just... well, a customer paid with a fifty-dollar bill and when I went to put it in the safe, I thought it looked strange. I thought maybe you could look at it and we could decide if it was worth calling the cops.”

“Go get the bill,” Dax pulled out his phone. “I’m calling Paige. Someone has been passing fake bills around town. I’m afraid you’re going to be out the fifty. She’s going to need it for evidence.”

“I understand,” Chelsea sighed. “Which is why I blocked off that table. It was busy at the time, mostly takeout orders. The woman approached the counter, said she was in a hurry and handed me the fifty. She said something about keep the change and the two of them left. I was surprised, the bill couldn’t have been more than thirty and that was a huge tip. But, they looked like tourists and sometimes we get wealthy customers who are generous. I took care of the line and then grabbed the fifty to drop it in the safe. That’s when I really looked at it. I’m not sure why, but it looks... off. Maybe the color, or it’s missing something. Anyway, that’s when I realized I was probably out fifty bucks. I also remembered they were sitting at that table and I hadn’t had a chance to clear it yet. As you can see, they ordered coffee. I was hoping maybe the police could get prints or something. Maybe if they arrest the couple, I could get restitution. I’m not out much. Just, you know, the thirty but it’s early in the season and money is tight.”

“Quick thinking,” Dax grinned. Chelsea may have just provided the lead Paige was looking for.

“Dax,” Paige said in answer. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Paige,” Dax scolded. “We talked about this. Just because I called, it doesn’t mean I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”

“Then you’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” Dax said through gritted teeth. This overprotective crap had to stop. “But, I need a cop. You available?”

“Then you’re not fine.”

“I am, but Chelsea... here at the bakery, needs a cop,” he corrected. “She was passed a fifty this morning, and she thinks it was your counterfeiters.”

“Then why did she call you?”

“She didn’t call me, I’m here.”

“What?” Paige jumped to her feet. “We agreed you wouldn’t leave the house for at least two more days. What are you doing at the bakery?”

“Getting an oil change,” Dax said sarcastically.

“Dax,” Paige fumed.

“Paige,” Dax parroted her tone.

“I’m on my way,” Paige grabbed her jacket then realized Gage and Sean were watching her intently. “We have another fake bill, at the bakery. Dax is there waiting with Chelsea. Apparently, donuts are more important than his personal well-being.”

Sean laughed. “I’d say donuts are pretty good one’s personal well-being. You want a back?”

Paige paused to study Gage. “Someone has to call White.”

“You take Sean, hook up with Dax and see what you have. I’ll track down White and meet you there.”

“I owe you for this one,” Paige said sincerely. “Sorry.”

“Not accepted,” Gage smiled. “I’ll collect one day and this favor is going to be huge.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into the bakery and glanced around. She spotted Dax sitting casually at a table sipping coffee and munching on baked goods. She did her best to set aside her anger and approached him.

“Try harder,” Dax said in greeting.

“What?” Paige asked, confused.

“You don’t like that had the nerve to venture out in the big bad world alone. You think I disobeyed your order, which I did because I don’t take orders from anyone. So, you’re mad but you’re trying not to let it show. You’re on a professional call and this is personal. You’re going to need to try harder. You mad is showing.”

“Dax,” Paige warned.

“Paige,” Dax returned.

“I can’t do this right now,” Paige said in frustration.

Dax retrieved a cane and used it to stand. Before Paige knew it was coming, he wrapped an arm around her waist, yanked her against him and planted a deep, seductive kiss on her lips.

Paige was lost in the moment... for about a second. Then she pushed away and took a step back. “Dax Hamilton!”

“Yes, Paige,” Dax was grinning.

“I can’t begin to tell you how inappropriate that was,” she inhaled deeply. “I’m on an official call.”

“I know,” Dax casually settled back in his seat. “I called you. Before you get started, I assume that fed of yours is on his way, so you don’t have much time. Chelsea blocked off that table over there,” he pointed to the corner. “Because it’s where the couple was sitting. If you can’t get fingerprints off the mugs, you might be able to get DNA.”

Paige was now smiling. “Thanks, I’ll deal with you later... when I get home. Do you need a ride?”

“No,” Dax sipped his coffee. “I drove.”

Paige opened her mouth to chastise him, quickly shut it again, turned, and walked away. She knew she was being excessive but she couldn’t help herself. Dax had spent over two months in a coma. He was still healing. But, now that he was awake, he wanted to act like none of that had happened. She couldn’t do it. She cared too much. Her instinct was to hover, even if it drove the man crazy.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I found your bad guys,” Sean said, dropping two packets on Paige’s desk.

Gage pushed to his feet and joined them.

“Shirley and Joseph Wilmoth,” Paige read. “And lookie here... they both have warrants for their arrest.”

“Check fraud,” Gage observed. “Looks like they upped their game a bit.”

“True,” Paige agreed. “But fraud is fraud. Counterfeiting isn’t much of a stretch when you think about it. It’s kind of the next big step.”

“Do we have to tell White?” Gage asked.

“Yes,” Sean said immediately. “It’s his case and if it were anyone else, they’d be here working with us right now.”

“True,” Paige said slowly. “But, I told him we may have prints. He blew me off. Said I was chasing unicorns, and he’d drop by later this afternoon to check in and see if I had any real leads to follow. I’m inclined to wait.”

“I told him not to underestimate you,” Sean sighed. “That man never could take advice from anyone. We’ll do this your way. I’m not even here, remember.”

“Let’s get Margie to help us,” Paige jumped to her feet. “We need the names of every guest in every hotel here in town. If they’re not on the guest list, we’re screwed.”

“Yeah,” Gage said. “Because they’re into fraud, which means they probably have fake ID’s.”

“Exactly,” Paige began to pace. “Maybe we should send photos with the request for the lists. Let the hotel’s know if they pass the fake bills at their fine establishments, they’re out the money. Might get them to cooperate.”

“I’ll get Margie,” Gage stood. “She can contact the motels, hotels, B&B’s and cabin rentals in the area. Then, I think we should split up. Print off a bunch of photos and take them to the restaurants, gas stations, anywhere we think they might drop in. If we spread the word and provide photos, the entire town will be looking for these guys. We’ll catch them, our community is awesome that way. The instant they’re spotted, we’ll get a call.”

“Good idea,” Paige glanced at Sean. “You in?”

“Yeah, let’s print off those photos and get started.”

“Here,” Paige held the rap sheets out to Gage. “Give those to Margie, when White shows up, she can give him what we found. Where he goes from there is up to him.”

“Good idea,” Gage took the papers. “Then he can’t say we impeded.”

Paige pulled up each photo, pasted into one document with limited details and printed off a hundred copies. If they needed more, she’d stop in at the copy store and see if they were willing to donate to the local PD. Once each of them had a large stack, they fanned out to cover the entire town. Before they finished tonight, their two perps wouldn’t be able to go to a public bathroom without being spotted and reported. Paige had a good feeling about this, and if she was right... they’d have their dynamic duo behind bars before the weekend.

It was late when Paige stepped through her front door. She glanced around the room and spotted Dax in the recliner. He looked upset. Had something new happened? “You okay? And, yes... I know you’re tired of me asking. But... well, you just look upset. Did something happen today?” She moved forward and settled onto the couch.

“Zee left,” Dax rubbed a hand over his face. “I have a bad feeling about this, but he wouldn’t listen. He’s off to track Thor down and physically drag him back here if necessary.”

“We sort of knew that was coming,” Paige pushed backward and crossed her legs in an attempt to get comfortable. “He’s been threatening this ever since Thor took off.”

“I know,” Dax barked. “Don’t you think I know my men?”

“Don’t take this out on me, just because I’m handy,” Paige warned. “Of course, you know your men. I’m just saying you couldn’t stop it and you know that. You’ve known it the entire time you were trying to convince him to stay.”

“I did,” Dax sighed. “Sorry. I’m just... I should have gone with him.”

“But you couldn’t and that frustrates you,” Paige said in understanding. “But, you said yourself... Thor and Zeus are close. Thor won’t hurt him. You have to believe that.”

“But, what about the others?” Dax was restless and he couldn’t ignore the feeling that Zeus was walking into a trap. “I told him to take Hawk, but he refused. He said we needed him here. But, this is insane. Zee should not be out there, risking his life, all alone.”

“What if we do this?” Paige straightened her legs and moved closer to Dax. “Zeus is going to stay in touch with Carmen. He promised he would, plus he’s going to need her help. I’ll talk to Carmen and if she senses he’s in trouble... you and I will head out immediately and join him. That will give you a few more days to recover and I’ll let Jericho know I may need to head out with little notice.”

“You would do that?”

“In a second,” Paige assured him. “And in the meantime, try to have faith in Zeus. He’s good at what he does.”

“I know,” Dax conceded. “But I can’t help worrying.”

“Now you know how I feel,” Paige grinned. “But I’m working on it. I know you’re not helpless and I think, because of my own fears, I’ve been treating you like you are. I’ll try to do better. I’ll try to trust you to know what you’re doing if you’ll do the same. Trust Zeus. He’ll call if he runs into trouble and he’s tough. You know that, look at what he survived in Mexico. If they couldn’t break him, Reynolds and his group won’t be able to, either. We’ll be there, the second he needs us... we’ll be there to help.”

Dax pushed himself up until he was standing. The process was slow, but Paige realized he was doing better already. Maybe going out was good for him after all. “I have dinner in the kitchen. I’m sure you’re hungry. You’re getting in late, did Chelsea’s lead pan out?”

“We got prints,” Paige followed him into the kitchen. “Sean tracked them to a married couple that’s wanted for fraud. Now, we just have to find them.”

“And the Secret Service guy?”

“He thinks I’m hunting unicorns,” Paige smiled. “I really can’t stand that guy and I can’t wait to move in and steal his glory out from under his nose. He’s going to blow when Sean and I arrest his suspect. And, I know his boss. Peter and I worked together on a project in Washington a few years back. Agent Elliott has very little tolerance for bloviating and pomposity. He expects hard work and results. Ray White is going to have to do some fast talking on this one, especially if I’m able to make the arrest instead of him.”

“And that’s what you’re hoping for?”

“More than you know,” Paige settled in at the kitchen table.

“I think there’s more to the story than his constant jibes and insults,” Dax settled in across from her.

Paige filled her plate, then began to tell Dax the story of Sean Wilkens, a girl named Lisa Conlin and Ray White... a rival with a mean streak and no boundaries.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Paige,” Margie called out. “Nancy, over at the Yardley says a couple just checked in that match your photos. They’re using the names Ember and Grady Schoell. She said the woman just booked an afternoon spa treatment and paid with a hundred.”

“Tell her we’re on our way,” Paige got a nod from Gage as he jumped to his feet and joined her at the front door.

“Hey, Nancy,” Gage said in greeting. “What room?”

“They’re in the Sunshine Room,” Nancy held out a key. “Just up the stairs and to the left.”

“First door?” Paige asked.

“Right,” Nancy bit her lip, worry written all over her face.

“Do me a favor,” Gage move toward the stairs. “Keep the rest of the guests occupied down here. We don’t want anyone coming up behind us.”

“I can do that,” Nancy bit down on her bottom lip a little harder.

Paige was nearly at the top of the stairs when a movement caught her eye at the front door. She motioned for Sean to join them, then continued down the hallway. Once she reached the door, she whispered instructions to Gage. “I’m going to knock, tell her there’s a problem with her spa appointment. Ask her to schedule a new time. You stand over there to the side. Once I get her out of the room, you and Sean can go in and take care of her husband.”

“Sean?” Gage asked, just before the agent rounded the corner and joined the large deputy.

Paige gave them a nod before she briskly knocked on the closed door.

“We don’t want to be disturbed,” Shirley Wilmoth, Ember at the moment, called out.

“I’m sorry to bother you, Mrs. Schoell,” Paige called out. “But, I’m afraid we doubled booked your spa appointment and I’m going to need to find a new time that will work for you. One of the other guests already scheduled that spot yesterday. I’m afraid Brook forgot to put it in the book. I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience....”

The door flew open and an angry woman stood in the opening. She had her hands on her hips and was clearly prepared to argue. Paige didn’t give her a chance. Within seconds, the woman was spun around and pinned against the wall. Before Shirley Wilmoth knew what was happening, she was cuffed and shoved to the side so Sean and Gage could go after her husband. Paige heard a commotion and guessed the man... Joseph Wilmoth... must have resisted. She peeked around the corner and saw Gage marching the man toward the door. “Trouble?”

“Naw,” Gage grinned. “Piece of cake.”

“You tackled him, didn’t you?”

Gage didn’t answer, but his grin grew wider. “I’ll deal with these two, you should probably help Sean secure all that evidence. They’ve got stacks of fresh bills spread all over the second bed.” He shook his head as he grabbed the woman’s arm and marched the couple down the stairs.

Paige stepped into the room and studied the scene, then she pulled out her phone and dialed her boss.

“How can I help you, Paige?” Jericho answered.

She ran him through the situation and asked how he wanted to handle the Secret Service. “We’re going to need a warrant for a thorough search. I’m sure the equipment is somewhere in this room. And, White will need to be notified although I’m more inclined to call Elliott and let him know we have his suspects in custody without his man’s assistance or cooperation.”

“Let me handle the call up north,” Jericho offered. “And, I’ll call Tolman. He should probably be in the loop on this one, even though he won’t be the one filing charges.”

“In the meantime,” Paige added. “Sean and I will package up the evidence that’s sitting out in plain sight. They have to have at least a hundred thousand neatly piled on the bed.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

It was less than ten minutes later when Paige’s phone began to ring. She glanced at the display and smiled. “Bank of deception,” she said in greeting. “Where your crisis ensures our prosperity.”

“Seriously, Paige?” Elliott laughed. “What if I had loaned my phone to the local SAC?”

“Then I guess you’d have some damage control to deal with,” Paige shrugged. “I assume Walter’s filled you in.”

“Yeah,” Peter sighed. “Sorry about White. I wanted to send Anderson, but he was out on assignment. Maybe you could take a picture of those unicorns and make sure Sean Wilkens is right in the middle of the photo.”

“Sounds like Jericho was thorough,” Paige shot a glance at Sean. “So, how do you want me to handle this?”

“Your DA is working something out with Sutton; the federal prosecutor here in Salt Lake,” Peter told her. “It’s going to end up in federal court but the two of them can work it out. That part doesn’t matter. I’m going to tell you, White is going to fight you on the arrest. He wants this one, which is why I’m counting on you to fight back. He needs to learn a lesson and a couple letters in his file hasn’t done much to correct his behavior. Maybe losing a collar he wants will be a wake-up call, especially when I don’t back him on it.”

“Losing it to Sean is going to make things worse, but I’m giving it to him,” Paige decided. “Do you have a problem with that?”

“No,” Elliott sobered. “I also heard about the trouble you guys are having out there. Give Sean my best and tell him he has my full support. How are you holding up, kid?”

“Kid?” Paige laughed. “You not even ten years older than me.”

“Eleven, actually.”

“A whole decade,” Page challenged. “Better start looking for care centers in the area, how are the dentures holding up?”

“You laugh, but wait another ten years and you’ll understand,” Peter answered. “My mind says ‘let’s go’ but my body says ‘no way, pal.’ It’s frustrating to realize I’m not Superman, anymore.”

“You’ll always be Superman to me,” Paige promised. “Okay, I’m going to let you go now. Gage has already transported the couple to holding. Any word on our warrant?”

“I’m guessing Tolman and Sutton have already taken care of that,” Peter answered. “Let me know if you need anything else on my end. And, don’t let White bully you. He has a habit of sticking his foot in his mouth when it comes to the locals. Unfortunately, most of them are so relieved when he’s finally gone, they never make a formal complaint. Do you plan to change that?”

“Probably not,” Paige decided. “I prefer to handle guys like Ray White myself.”

Peter laughed. “I’m thinking that will probably be worse than anything I could dish out. Don’t be a stranger, kid. My assignment here is temporary, but I’m only a phone call away.”

“Ditto,” Paige said before disconnecting.

“I’m not taking credit for this bust,” Sean said the minute Paige hung up. “First, I shouldn’t be involved at all. This doesn’t have anything to do with the FBI and I can’t even connect it to Nathan’s project. It’s all yours and you won’t change my mind, so don’t even try.”

“Publically,” Paige said. “I agree. But, in private... I say we rub this in a little. I expect White to arrive any minute. And, Peter wants a picture of you sitting on that bed with all the evidence in the background. So, park it buddy. I always follow orders from a superior.”

Sean snorted but complied. That’s how White found them when he stepped into the room with the warrant.

“What are you doing?” he demanded. “You’re going to contaminate the evidence.”

“Corralling unicorns?” Paige said in answer as she snapped a couple more shots. “Did you bring the warrant?”

“I have it,” White held the paperwork, still scowling. “This is the most unprofessional display I’ve seen in a long time. I guess I should have expected it... given Wilken’s involvement.”

“And I suggest you tell Peter Elliott exactly how you feel,” Paige suggested.

“Elliott? What does he have to do with this?” White asked, confused.

“Oh,” Paige flicked her hand nonchalantly. “He’s the one that asked for the photos. Apparently, he wanted to make sure Sean here got the credit internally... even if he could get recognition for the bust publically.”

White’s face turned a bright shade of red. “Elliott is...he thinks Sean made the arrest? He believes Wilken’s solved the crime?”

Paige stepped forward to crowd White’s space a little... similar to the way he loomed over her desk the other day. “He knows Sean is the one that solved the case. He knows Sean is the one that arrested the suspects. He knows Gage and me... we just assisted Sean because technically, this wasn’t his problem. Oh, yeah... it was actually yours. How’s that ‘real investigating’ working for ya?” She snatched the warrant out of his hand and began reading the language. Once she was sure it covered the entire room, she dropped it on the bed in front of White and began carefully searching for evidence. It might not be her case anymore, but she was going to make sure the feds put these two away for a very long time.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Hey Carmen,” Paige greeted. She was finally on her way home after a very long, aggravating day. At least White was on his way back to Salt Lake. With any luck, she’d never have to work with that guy again. Even the satisfaction of rubbing another Sean Wilkens win, Ray White loss in his face didn’t counter the man’s annoying personality. Good riddance!

“Zeus called,” Carmen replied. “He’s in Texas. Thor was down there a couple days ago, but he’s long gone. Zeus is going to grab a few hours’ sleep, then he’s heading to Kentucky. Paige, Thor doesn’t know anyone in Texas. What was he doing there?”

“Does Vato?”

“You still think he’s working with Vato on this?” Carmen asked skeptically. “I was there, Paige. In the room, while we were all frantically trying to find Dax. You know as well as I do, Thor didn’t have the slightest clue where his friend was being held.”

“I do know that,” Paige agreed. “Doesn’t mean he’s innocent. Maybe Vato didn’t tell him. Maybe this Vato guy is playing Thor. Appealing to his emotions, his sense of duty or loyalty, and he’s only telling Thor what he wants him to know.”

“Do you really believe that?” Carmen asked. “Because Zeus doesn’t. And since I don’t know Vato and neither do you... I think I’m going to trust Zeus. He’s smart and a good judge of character. I think he’d know if his friend went off the rails.”

“I don’t know what to think,” Paige admitted. “But, I do know Dax is conflicted. He wants to believe Thor is still on his side. He wants to hold out hope that this Vato is, too. But, he’s having doubts. I don’t think any of you realize just how much this entire incident has impacted Dax... or his confidence. And, honestly... I think Zeus leaving him this way has made it worse.”

“Don’t try to push a guilt trip on me... or Zeus,” Carmen objected. “Dax has the other guys to help him. Thor is out there alone. You know Zeus, he had to help a friend in need. Even if that friend refused to ask for his help.”

“I know,” Paige sighed as she pulled into her driveway and shut down the car. “But, I’m counting on you to keep me in the loop. And, if you even sense that Zeus is in trouble, I need to know. I promised Dax we’d step in at the slightest hint of danger. Dax can’t lose Zeus over this. He’d never get over that. I know the team is broken at the moment, that there’s not a lot of trust between any of us... but you have to promise me this, Carmen.”

“You are putting me in a difficult position here, Paige,” Carmen said softly. “I think I love him. I never thought I’d fall for anyone... not like this. He’s trusting me and I won’t betray that trust. But, if I want you to go after him if there’s danger. I need Dax to be there, to protect him from himself and his trust in a friend that might betray him. But, what if never forgives me?”

“If he’s in danger, he’ll forgive you,” Paige said confidently. “Because he’ll know what you did, you did out of love. Now, it’s been a long day and I still have to check in with Nathan. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Hang in there, and Carmen?”

“Yeah?”

“Remember you’re my friend first,” Paige said as she climbed from the car. “I’m here for you... no matter what. If you need to talk or if things get lonely out there alone... you always know where to find me. I have a feeling Zeus leaving is going to be just as hard on you as it is on Dax.”

“Love you, too,” Carmen answered. “Catch you later, Nathan needs me check into something and get back to him tonight. So, I’m off to work. Goodnight, Paige.”

“Night,” she disconnected and stepped through the front door. She smiled when she saw Dax was waiting. She could definitely get used to this. And, was that little jolt contentment or panic? Only time would tell.

**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and uncovering more secrets.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S3

**Tags:** Season 3

---

### [Kindred Discord](https://melaniepsmith.com/kindred-discord/)

**Published:** October 28, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Kindred Discord (E7) - Unexpected visitors arrive in Manti.  Are they friendly faces from the past... or are the motives malicious and threatening to the team?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*KINDRED DISCORD\*\*\*****

Retired General Nathan Porter stood silently at the front of the room. The weather was shifting, literally and figuratively. Fall was in the air and... A fall was imminent. He briefly wondered if it would be his... an epic fall from grace at the end of a distinguished career. His gaze briefly stopped on each and every man and woman in the room. Colleagues he had handpicked for this job. Soldiers, strategists and politicians he had once considered friends. Every member of the committee was someone Nathan had once believed honorable. And still, one of them was a traitor. A danger to their country. A callous fanatic willing to terminate anyone who got in their way. For money? Prestige? A religious ideology that had been twisted and perverted into something evil and sadistic? He didn’t know.

The stakes were high, which was the reason he’d gathered this group in the first place. Knowing a member of his elite team had been compromised, made him sick deep inside. So ill, he hadn’t slept in days. He rarely ate. And, his calls to Paige had reached such a point of casual nonchalance he might as well skip them altogether. About the only man he knew he could trust at the moment was Dax Hamilton. The former Army Ranger was as loyal, honorable and patriotic as they come. And, he was a couple thousand miles away. Nathan didn’t even trust his electronic devices these days. He wished he could talk to the military vet, but it was too dangerous. He was on his own until he flushed out the mole. He just hoped he could find the defector before anyone else died.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/FB-Post-S2.jpg)

[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Kindred-Discord.pdf)

Tyler Lloyd was a good man. A patriot. A selfless, retired marine and an even better CIA strategist. And, that dedication to truth and his country had gotten him killed. Nathan wondered if Tyler had sacrificed himself on purpose or if his enemy had just outwitted him. That was something he would never know, but as far as he was concerned Tyler was a national hero who had given his life in the line of duty.

Lloyd had called him yesterday and insisted they needed to meet before their morning committee meeting to discuss something important. Something that would impact the group and had to be handled right away. Nathan had scheduled the appointment for zero-seven hundred hours, believing that would give them plenty of time before the nine o’clock meeting to discuss the new development. Then, he’d headed out to address the Senate Arms Committee.

Tyler had been waiting down the hallway when Nathan exited the room. He pulled him into a secluded office and provided a flash drive with all the information he had gathered. Information that proved one of Nathan’s team members was working for the enemy. Unfortunately, Tyler hadn’t discovered the identity of the conspirator. The most damning clue was the last piece of evidence, something Tyler had discovered just that morning. Highly sensitive Intel had been compromised. Details of a covert mission that was unknown to anyone outside of this committee were now in the hands of the enemy... specifics that could only be shared by a member of this team. The evidence was indisputable. Nathan was currently in the presence of a traitor. A traitor that had murdered Tyler Lloyd, believing the man’s death would keep their secret hidden. Nathan was grateful Tyler had passed along the data, but he also realized the implications. Either his phone was bugged, Tyler was being monitored... or both. Which meant all electronic devices were suspect and currently off the table.

He needed Carman, but could she be trusted? It was her boyfriend that had been murdered. Someone she loved and cared about that had started this whole ball rolling. There was a slim chance she was involved, but Nathan didn’t think so. If he could just get a message to her, she’d be able to start running the names and backgrounds of every person on the team. But, how to get a message to Manti, Utah without using a phone, email or any other digital device? Technology was great... until it wasn’t. He had to find a way to contact Carman and Hamilton... Posthaste. Nathan forced his expression to remain neutral as he somberly addressed his committee.

\*\*\*\*\*

Ahmed Al-Hashim lowered the binoculars and considered. He’d been in the area for two days now and was no closer to accomplishing his mission. Hamilton never seemed to be alone. He started the engine on the compact rental and pulled away. The street was always littered with pedestrians. If he remained in the area too long, he would appear suspicious and someone would undoubtedly contact the authorities. That was one thing he could not risk. He’d return to the small rental and wait. An opportunity would present itself... eventually.

He pulled down the long drive that led to the unpretentious shelter he had stumbled onto his first day in town. His thoughts shifted and returned to his homeland. America was so different from the world he grew up in - the land he had shared with his wife and precious son. The place where his entire world had been shattered. Where his family had been stolen away too soon. There was nothing left for him there. Nothing to live for. Nothing but this mission. He climbed from the vehicle and inhaled slowly. The air was so clean here and the mountains... Ahmed loved the mountains and the beautiful green trees. Most of all... he reveled in the fact there was no sand. No, he would never return to Iraq. Regardless of what happened here, he could never go back to the land of his people. He made his way to his temporary home and wondered what the future would bring for him, for Hamilton, for the others. Only time would tell.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/utah-2.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/sunrise-1949939_640.jpg)

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige dropped the file she’d been studying onto the small table and sighed in frustration. She settled back, leaning into the chair and ran a hand through her hair. They were getting nowhere with this.

“Problem?” Jericho asked.

“No,” Paige turned to face her boss. They had been working outside, on her back porch, all morning and she needed a break. “It just feels like... well, like we’re making progress but getting nowhere.” She reached out, grabbed her soda, and gulped.

Jericho set the document he’d been reading aside and studied Paige. He still struggled to know what to call her... friend? Colleague? She was so much more than that. She was the daughter of the woman he had loved and if things had been different, she’d be his daughter. But, she wasn’t and that was another topic that was getting him nowhere. “I think we’re making progress. I crossed the last of the old suspects off the list. I know, once we discovered the ring they were pretty much eliminated anyway. But, now it’s official.”

“And yet...”

“Okay,” Jericho conceded. “And yet, the killer is still out there and we haven’t identified him. I get it. But we are making progress. Gage narrowed the list substantially. He discovered the numbers and he’s the one that realized each ring had a tiny ball on the left side that coincided with the sport they played. We thought that was just a decorative circle. Now, we don’t have to look into swimmers, baseball guys or basketball stars. The search is limited to the football players. Thanks to Gage, the list has been narrowed substantially.”

“I know I’m being impatient,” Paige pushed forward. “But I’ve been here almost two years now. I just thought...”

“You thought you’d come home and show up all of us inept locals in a matter of weeks,” Jericho provided.

“No,” Paige disagreed. “Well, maybe... sort of. But I didn’t know you back then.”

“I get it,” Jericho shrugged. “But, now you know I never stopped working this case. It’s not a simple homicide. I’m convinced Chaya was murdered because of a cold case. A previous murder that occurred decades earlier. It complicates things.”

“And that case was never really investigated because they ruled Tracy’s death a suicide,” Paige grumbled. “I understand the situation, I just hate it.” She was interrupted from expanding on that thought by the buzzing of her front doorbell.

“You expecting company?” Jericho asked.

“No,” Paige stood. “Give me a minute.” She made her way back into her house and paused to check out the window before sliding the door open. Paige studied the man that looked a few years older than herself. A man that seemed vaguely familiar, but not enough that she thought she knew him.

“Paige Carter,” the man said with a huge smile.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“You don’t remember me,” he realized. “I should have expected that.”

Paige waited. She knew if she left enough silence, the man would explain himself. It only took a few seconds.

“I have to admit, I’m a little hurt,” the man began. “But, I guess I should have expected it. I mean, you were just a kid the last time I saw you. Well, technically... so was I.”

Paige continued to wait.

“I’m your cousin, Paige. Wyatt,” he took a step forward. “Wyatt Darrow.”

Paige frowned as she studied the stranger more closely. There was a family resemblance. She jumped a little when Jericho placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Everything okay here?” Jericho asked as he sized up the man standing on the front porch. There was something about the guy Jericho didn’t trust. He was acting casual... a little too casual.

“Um,” Paige swallowed. Was this really Aunt Sadie’s son? “Yeah,” she decided. It was Wyatt. The last time she’d seen him, she was only nine and he was thirteen but she was good with faces and the man standing before her, was her only cousin. Her only family. “Jericho, this is my cousin, Wyatt Darrow. Wyatt, this is Sheriff Walters.”

Wyatt took a step back in surprise. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you had company. I can come back... when you’re not busy.”

Jericho frowned. He was saying all the right things, but this guy was acting suspicious. He didn’t trust him, didn’t like him, but he should give Paige her privacy. She was smart, if the guy was a con or a crook... his deputy would figure it out. In the meantime, he’d give her the space she needed to catch up with this... distant relative. “I think we’re done for the day.”

“Right,” Paige shifted to look at her boss. “I should...”

Jericho nodded. “Take your time, catch up with your cousin. I’ll clean up out back and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” Paige wasn’t sure she was grateful for the sheriff’s retreat but she knew it was necessary. She’d accept it and see what Wyatt wanted. There had to be a reason he was here.

“So,” Wyatt relaxed as the lawman turned and disappeared from view. “How’s Chaya? I haven’t heard from that aunt of mine in years. I was hoping I could catch up with her while I was here in town.”

Jericho stopped and waited. Something was definitely off. Surely any relative would know of Chaya’s death. Was this a clever conman that just looked like Paige’s cousin? What was he after? Even if he was legit, clearly they weren’t close. He needed more information and he knew just where to get it.

“I guess you didn’t hear,” Paige answered. “Mom passed away years ago. I’m afraid you won’t be able to catch up with her again... ever.”

“Oh, man,” Wyatt brushed his hand over his face. “Dad never said anything. Do you think he knew? Of course he knew. I’m so sorry, Paige. I’m sorry for the loss and I’m sorry I brought it up. Dad and I... well, we’re not exactly seeing eye-to-eye these days. He’s the reason we didn’t keep in touch. Man, just...wow. I am so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Paige stepped on the front porch and made sure the front door latched behind her. This might be her cousin, but she didn’t trust him. Not yet. There was a reason Wyatt Darrow was in town, a reason he’d looked her up... and she was determined to figure out why. She settled into a chair and watched as Wyatt lowered himself into a second chair across from her.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/usa-1562251_640.jpg)

“When mom died,” Wyatt began. “Well, dad was lost for a long time. We moved... constantly. He’d get a job, then things would get tight and we’d pack up and move again. That was basically my life until I graduated from high school and refused to go with him. I settled in Nashville for a while... chased my dream until I realized I was never going to hit the big time and landed a job at the Smoky Mountain Speedway. A couple years ago, I landed a job with Reyo Transports. I’m a professional driver... pilot car, and I love it.” He launched into a story about his most recent escapade as a driver.

\*\*\*\*\*

Dax swung open the back door, expecting to see Paige. Instead, he was greeted by the stony face of the local sheriff. “Jericho.”

“Have a minute?” Jericho asked immediately.

“Sure,” Dax took a step back and waited as Jericho entered the room.

“I was working next door with Paige, on Chaya’s case,” Jericho said as he settled into a kitchen chair. “We were interrupted by a stranger. Well, I’ve never met him. Said he’s Paige’s cousin, Wyatt Darrow.”

Dax frowned. “Paige never mentioned a cousin to me.”

“And Chaya never mentioned one to me either,” Jericho provided. “Since I know Chaya was an only child, he has to be related through her father. Dylan died when Paige was just a kid. Chaya moved around a bit then settled here. I’d know if a relative from Carter’s family had stayed in touch. They didn’t.”

“Do you think it’s a con?” Dax asked.

“I don’t think so,” Jer decided. “It looked like Paige recognized him... at least she thought she did. It’s possible this guy isn’t related and he’s working some kind of con. But, if he knows where she lives, he has to know she’s a cop. That would be bold... not out of the question, but unlikely I think.”

“But you still don’t trust him?” Dax decided.

“I don’t,” Jericho admitted. “There’s just something about him. He didn’t even know Chaya was gone. Asked if she was still here in town so they could get together.”

“That’s a bit odd,” Dax agreed. “But if he’s related through her father, maybe his parents didn’t want to keep in touch after her dad died. Could explain why he didn’t know about the death.”

“Maybe,” Jericho said soberly.

“But you want me to keep an eye on him just in case?”

“I do,” Jericho agreed. “There’s just something about him. Something I don’t trust. He might be a legitimate relative but that doesn’t mean he’s an innocent one.”

“I’ll watch him,” Dax agreed.

“I was also wondering if you could have Carmen run a check,” Jericho asked. “I could have Margie do it, but I don’t want anyone else knowing of my suspicions just yet.”

“And things are still a little on edge between my favorite deputy and your favorite admin,” Dax grinned. “I understand. I’ll talk to Carmen, but I can’t guarantee Paige won’t know about it. Those two are tight.”

“I know,” Jericho stood. “I’ll get out of your hair. Let me know if you find anything I should know.”

“I’ll be in touch,” Dax followed him to the door and watched as the local top cop made his way to his vehicle. He’d run a search on Wyatt Darrow. Jericho Walter’s didn’t need to ask for that particular favor. And he was pretty sure, given their friendship, Carmen would jump at the chance to make sure her friend was safe with the new guy.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into her driveway, happy to be home. She’d been bombarded with nuisance calls all day when the call came in from Tolman. That situation had catapulted her last shred of patience into oblivion. Charles Corvene, Real estate mogul, and multi-billionaire was also a part-time seasonal resident of Manti and he was furious. Local DA and close pal of the victim, James Tolman, decided his friend’s dilemma was now Paige’s problem. If only she’d left the office ten minutes early like she’d intended, then Dean would be the one looking for a spoiled man-child’s newest toy. Sure, a Lamborghini Roadster should stick out like a neon sign... if the thief planned to drive it. Paige was sure that was not the case. Whoever took the expensive car wanted it for a reason.

Either they’d be shipping it overseas to sell on the black market or it would be stripped down for parts. She knew next to nothing about expensive cars and wasn’t interested in learning. Unfortunately, Corvene was also a generous donor to the current Mayor’s political campaign and she didn’t have a choice. But first, she needed a hot bath, comfortable clothing and something hot and filling for dinner. Then, she’d see what she could find out about the Lamborghini market. Dean would have been so much better at this. He loved cars, raced them, ate slept and drank anything auto related. Dean was the obvious choice... or Havi. He also raced and knew the industry. Why had Tolman insisted on her? She was halfway up the stairs when an idea hit her. She’d corner Jericho in the morning and beg him to assign Havi to help.

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/car-brand-2315935_640.png)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/truck-2158284_640.png)

Paige ran a quick comb through her hair before she left her bedroom, wondering what to do about dinner. She was standing at the top of the stairs when her doorbell rang. *Probably Dax*, she decided. And rushed to see if he had read her mind and stopped somewhere for takeout. She was smiling when she swung open the door and spotted two men standing on the front porch. One was Dax, and he had a large bag in his hands. The other was Wyatt. She still hadn’t decided if he was innocent, or if he had an end-game she hadn’t discovered yet.

“Apparently,” Dax took a step forward and entered the house. “You have a cousin.”

“Uh,” Paige motioned for Wyatt to enter. “Yeah. Wyatt, this is my neighbor, Dax Hamilton. Dax, this is my cousin Wyatt Darrow. His mother was my father’s sister.”

Well, that explained the connection. “You didn’t mention a relative would be visiting,” Dax accused as he set the large bag on the kitchen table. “There might be enough for three.”

“That’s okay,” Wyatt declined. “I just stopped by to see if Paige would be free tomorrow night. I was hoping we could have dinner and spend a little time together. I have to leave town for a few days and I’d love to catch up before I go.”

“Will you be returning to the area or moving on after the job?” Dax asked.

Paige narrowed her eyes and watched Dax instead of Wyatt. Clearly, he already knew about Wyatt and she was getting the distinct feeling her neighbor didn’t trust her cousin. Had Jericho enlisted Dax to keep an eye on the situation? Of course, he had. She pushed back the annoyance as she waited for Wyatt’s answer.

“I’d like to return,” Wyatt glanced at Paige. “It’s been too long and once the job is over, I should have some free time before we move on. I thought I’d come back here, maybe spend a week or so catching up. If it’s okay with you, I was hoping we could reconnect. You know, keep in touch even after I have to leave.”

“I’d like that,” Paige decided. “But I have to ask... why now? I mean, I haven’t seen you in years. We were both just kids when dad died. The last time I saw you was at Aunt Sadie’s funeral and you barely said two words to me. Once you and Uncle Boyd moved... well, there hasn’t been a word from either of you in years. Why now, Wyatt?”

Wyatt shrugged and glanced at Dax. He wasn’t going to discuss his reason for being here with a stranger in the room. “I missed you. When we moved, dad wouldn’t let me keep in touch. Then, you and Chaya moved and I had no idea how to get in touch. I heard you had moved back here to Utah and I was in the area. That’s all. I just want to reconnect. Neither one of us have much family and we always got along... as kids, I mean.”

“Okay,” Paige decided to drop it. “To both. I’d like to have dinner and catch up and I hope you’ll come back... in a couple days after the job. We can catch up and see if we have anything in common. I don’t have many relatives, it would be nice to stay in touch with the ones I do have.”

Dax wasn’t sure that would be nice, but he kept his opinion to himself. He’d learned long ago, you got more answers by listening than talking. He was determined to get answers from Wyatt.

“So,” Dax settled onto the couch. “Paige mentioned her Aunt Sadie. Did I hear that correctly? Your mom died, too?”

“She did,” Wyatt sat in a lounge chair opposite the neighbor. Clearly, Paige was dating the guy so he would have to win him over if he wanted a relationship with his cousin. “It was only a couple years after Dylan died. Mom loved Paige’s dad. She was younger than him and he was always the cool, protective, loving older brother. Dad hated him. I think that’s why, once mom was no longer with us, he distanced himself from the entire family. I was rarely allowed to call grandma and we never visited. I heard she died a few years back as well and Chaya returned to her childhood home. That’s why I mistakenly believed I could reconnect with both Aunt Chaya and Paige. By the time my aunt died, dad had completely severed all ties with mom’s family.”

Dax was actively listening, cataloging the information he was getting from Wyatt. Any little bit would help Carmen determine the identity of Wyatt Darrow. She’d attempted a search earlier, but needed more information to narrow down the right Wyatt Darrow. “Where do you live now?”

“Oh,” Wyatt evaded. “Here and there. My job keeps me busy and on the road most of the time.”

“You have to have a residence somewhere,” Dax pushed. “I mean, you have a driver’s license. That requires permanent residence somewhere.”

Wyatt frowned. Was he being interrogated? It sure felt like it. “Dad lives in Kentucky. I use his address for now. I’m still looking for the perfect location to settle.”

“Dinner’s ready,” Paige interrupted. “You two come in here and eat.” She’d been listening to the conversation, a little annoyed at the interrogation Dax was conducting on her cousin while at the same time grateful. She had wanted to ask the same questions, but worried he might take offense and bolt if she pushed too hard. It was interesting that Wyatt used his father’s address as a home base. He’d told her yesterday, during their conversation on the porch he and his father no longer got along. So, why keep that contact? Why tie himself to a man he so clearly resented... maybe even despised?

Conversation turned casual over dinner. Wyatt agreed to stay when he realized there was plenty of food for three. The group spent the next two hours sizing each other up, wondering if the other could be trusted. Once the table was cleared and the dishes dealt with, Wyatt made his excuses and left for the night. He made his way to his vehicle, hoping he’d have Paige to himself when they met for dinner tomorrow night. He had to know if she could help him and he was sure the neighbor, and obvious boyfriend, would not understand.

\*\*\*\*\*

Daniel stood in the shadows, watching the daughter of the woman that he had come to hate with every fiber of his being. She just might destroy him. She might accomplish in death what she’d been unable to accomplish in life. Either his world would be destroyed and he’d spend the rest of his life in jail, or he’d get away with murder. Paige Carter, the daughter of a woman he thought he had loved in high school, then had wanted to silence as an adult, might just bring him down and he had no way to stop it. He had no control over the outcome. He just wished he knew how much the girl had discovered. If Stan hadn’t abandoned him, if the young prosecutor had just done what he was told, Daniel would know how to proceed. But the kid surprised him. He could admit Stan had the kind of backbone Daniel hadn’t counted on... hadn’t recognized until it was too late. He had made a mistake, he never should have forced a man who lived by the law to break the law. But, at the time, Daniel had thought Stanley Donaldson was weak. Now he knew the kid wasn’t weak, and that worried him almost as much as Paige Carter.

He straightened and started to turn, ready to leave when he saw the car. The same white, nondescript rental he’d seen the previous day. Was someone else watching Manti’s newest deputy? If so, why? He remained in place, silently studying the car and the man inside for several minutes before he decided to leave. He’d never seen the man before, which meant he wasn’t a local or a new resident of the area. The man was a stranger, a visitor to the area and for some reason, he seemed to be in town to spy on Paige Carter. Daniel was intrigued by this new development and determined to discover the girl’s secret. It might be something he could use to get out of this mess and Daniel was all about using any means necessary to save his own life and his reputation.

\*\*\*\*\*

Ahmed Al-Hashim watched from two doors down as a man and a woman entered Hamilton’s home. Dax was inside, he knew that for sure. But he was beginning to think the guy never spent two minutes alone. He might have to find another way, figure out a contingency plan if he couldn’t get to Hamilton. The mission was too important and his instincts told him, he was running out of time. If he couldn’t get to Hamilton, maybe he could get to his girlfriend. It had become obvious, almost immediately, that the woman living next door had an intimate relationship with the retired military man. She might be Ahmed’s only option. He pondered the possibilities as he pulled from the curb and headed home.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Busy place,” Wyatt observed when Paige slid onto a chair across from her cousin.

“Local gem,” she shrugged. “We all love the Farmhouse.”

Wyatt frowned. He had wanted to get Paige alone and he was sure this was not the place to talk about something as sensitive as his dilemma. That discussion would have to wait. Maybe she’d agree to a walk after dinner. Things were getting more dangerous and he needed her advice on how to handle the problem... before he left town.

It was nearly two hours later when Paige and Wyatt strolled casually down the sidewalk. “You said you needed advice on something,” Paige prompted. “What’s going on?”

“First,” Wyatt considered. “I need to know something.”

“Okay,” Paige stopped at the light to cross Main Street and enter Pioneer Park. There was a seating area where they could discuss the situation, whatever it was, in private.

“If I tell you something,” Wyatt began. “And if it’s... illegal. Do you have to arrest me? I mean, can I be an informant or something so I don’t have to go to jail?”

“Are you involved in something illegal, Wyatt?”

“Indirectly,” he admitted. “I didn’t know, not at first but... well, yeah.”

“I’m going to ask you some questions,” Paige decided. “I want you to answer the questions. Only answer the questions. Do not elaborate or volunteer anything that I don’t ask. Do you understand?”

“I think so,” Wyatt frowned.

“Did you commit the crime? By that I mean, you personally. Wait. First, what are we talking about here?” Paige corrected.

“Grand Theft Auto,” Wyatt sighed. “I guess that’s what you call it. I know that’s a bit Hollywood but I’m talking about stolen cars.”

Paige studied her cousin for several seconds. “Did you steal a car?”

“No,” Wyatt said immediately.

“Were you there when a car was stolen?”

“No,” Wyatt answered.

“You said indirectly,” Paige began. “Did you sell a stolen car?”

“No,” Wyatt said, wondering how long this would take. It would be easier if he could just explain, but he understood his cousin was trying to protect him.

“Is your involvement more than knowledge of the theft?” Paige asked.

“Knowledge of the theft and involvement in the transport of goods,” Wyatt provided.

“This has to do with your job?” Paige realized.

“Yes,” Wyatt confirmed.

“So you escorted the vehicle that transported the stolen goods?”

“Yes,” Wyatt confirmed.

“And you are leaving tomorrow?” Paige asked. “You leave on your next job tomorrow?”

“The shipment has been delayed a day. I leave the following morning,” Wyatt corrected.

“Are you transporting a Lamborghini?”

“Uh...” Wyatt hesitated. “Should I answer that?”

“No,” Paige shook her head. “You just told me everything I need to know. Well, actually... one more thing, what is the destination? You said you leave the day after tomorrow. Where are you going?”

“California,” Wyatt studied Paige and wondered if he was doing the right thing. He wanted out, had wanted out the instant he learned the company he worked for was dirty. But, his dad threatened him and he caved to the pressure, just like he always did when Boyd Darrow got involved.

“Give me a day to work this out. I’m going to list you as a confidential informant. I’ll need to notify the FBI but I have a friend I trust,” Paige decided. She’d call Sean and see if he could take the case. “I don’t want to know anything else. Just give me a day. I’ll do my best to protect your name. We also need to figure out a way to keep you out of the run this time. If the feds intercept the truck on the way to California, we can’t have you there to get arrested. Can you call in sick?”

“I’d rather not,” Wyatt admitted. “If I do, they’ll know it was me. We need to find another way out.”

“Okay,” Paige agreed. “Can you crash the car? I can respond and hold you up until they’re tired of waiting and decide to continue without you.”

“Again,” Wyatt objected. “I’d rather not. I’m good... At driving I mean. If I crash and then the rest of them get arrested, they’ll be suspicious.”

“Let me think about this, maybe I can come up with something,” Paige decided. “I’ll keep you out of the loop. That way, you don’t have to act surprised, you will be surprised. If you don’t know what the problem is, you won’t know how to fix it.”

“I guess that will work,” Wyatt agreed.

“Can you do this, Wyatt?” Paige asked. “Can you go with my plan, abandon the transport and let the feds step in and arrest your crew? Once I get the ball rolling, you can’t change your mind. You can’t tell them they’re burned. Can you keep quiet and let us arrest the men you work with?”

“I think so,” Wyatt said cryptically.

“What does that mean?”

“I’m going to tell you straight up,” Wyatt decided. “My dad’s sort of involved. Not in the theft or the transport, but he knows what’s going on. He’s the one that hooked me up with these guys. They’re friends of his and he knows exactly what that company is doing. He’s not going to be happy if he finds out I’m the one that ratted them out. To be honest, an already bad situation will get worse if he learns I came to you and spilled the company secrets.”

“Is he benefiting from the thefts?” Paige asked. She knew Boyd Darrow was a criminal. It’s the reason her uncle never got along with her dad... or her mom. It’s the reason Dylan Carter had done everything in his power to get his kid sister away from the man. It hadn’t worked, her dad died before he could convince his sister to leave and take her son with her. Then, Sadie died unexpectedly of a freak aneurysm less than two years later and Boyd had taken their son and disappeared.

“I don’t think so,” Wyatt said slowly. “If he is benefiting, it’s indirect. Maybe through the company that purchases the merchandise. Any involvement dad has in this will be sheltered and difficult to connect.”

“I’m not going to connect him unless I have to.”

“What does that mean?” Wyatt asked.

“It means,” Paige hesitated then sighed. “I’m not looking to throw your dad in jail. But, this is not a local matter. You guys are transporting stolen vehicles across the country. That makes it a federal issue. I don’t have a choice, I have to call in the FBI. Once we open this door, I’m not going to be able to control it.”

“I understand,” Wyatt rubbed his hands over his eyes. “I don’t want dad to suffer for this. I just want out. Initially, I had no idea what was going on. I drive the pilot car. There was no reason for me to know. I stumbled onto the operation a few months back and I wanted to leave, but dad intervened. I’m not going to go into that, but he stopped me. I know telling you about it will cause him problems and I’ve accepted that. I’m not sure I can accept responsibility if he goes to prison over it.”

“What if I promise not to mention Boyd?” Paige suggested. “I’ll contact Sean and I’ll figure out a way to get you out of the transport without anyone suspecting your involvement. Then we let the feds work the case. If they connect your dad, they connect him. But they won’t connect him through you or me. Can you live with that?”

“It won’t be easy,” Wyatt warned. “I can’t think of a way to get me out that won’t look suspicious when they get arrested for the auto theft. But, if you can swing it, I guess I can live with it. Like I said, dad is pretty insulated. He’s careful that way, which is the reason he’s never done jail time before now. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.”

“I know your dad has always been involved in criminal activity,” Paige admitted. “Dad wasn’t exactly subtle about that. He and mom discussed the situation at length. Dad wanted to help his sister escape. He wanted to get both you and Sadie away from your father and his influence. He just died before he could resolve the issue. Mom always worried about you, especially after Aunt Sadie passed away. She just didn’t have any standing, so she accepted the situation the way it was. I’m just saying, you didn’t reveal anything I didn’t already know.”

“So,” Wyatt changed the subject. “Now what?”

“Now,” Paige stood. “You go home and report in or whatever. Wyatt, do not tell anyone about our conversation. If you tip them off, I can’t save you. I’m going to start the ball rolling tonight. From here on out, you’re out of it. I’ll figure out a way to sabotage the run so you will have to stay in town. Other than that, we’re both out of it. You have to promise me you won’t blow this. I’m putting a lot on the line to protect you.”

“I promise,” Wyatt agreed. “I came to you, remember? I want out. I just want to live to find a new job... a new life.”

“Do what I say and you’ll live,” Paige promised. “And maybe, when this is all over, you and I can actually spend time getting to know each other.”

“After all this?” Wyatt asked.

“We didn’t know each other well,” Paige shrugged. “Not as kids, and certainly not since our parents died. But you came to me, anyway. You’re trying to do the right thing. I’m not going to hold the sins of the father against you. I know he pressured you, is still pressuring you. And, I also understand it wasn’t easy... knowing he’s at risk over this. Trust me, Wyatt. I’ll help you and we’ll go from there. Your mom was always very good to me. I liked her a lot and it was hard to lose her so soon after losing dad. Let’s get through this, then we can figure out the future okay?”

“Okay,” Wyatt stood. “And, thank you. By the way, the feeling is mutual. I loved your dad and respected him. What he did was dangerous and we all knew that. Plus, dad hated him. But mom... she idolized him. We used to sneak out of the house, so we could come see you guys. Mom told me if things ever got bad... I could always trust Dylan and Chaya. When Dylan died and mom got sick, she told me not to let dad pull me into his world. She made me promise I would go to Chaya if I needed help. I came here to honor that promise. Mom would be disappointed in me... if I ended up in jail because of dad. I’m not going to end up in jail, Paige.”

“Good.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Ahmed slid silently through the shadows and returned to his car. Step one of his plan was complete. He might not be able to get Hamilton alone, but the woman next door was rarely home. He slid behind the wheel and started the engine. He’d still try to corner Dax, but if he failed... at least part of his plan was a success. The weatherproof box was safe and secure, hidden beneath the woman’s front porch. It was time to begin the next phase of his plan. This phase would be dangerous, but he’d put it off long enough. Ahmed pulled away from the curb moments before Paige approached her house and turned into her driveway.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped onto her porch and heard voices coming from the rear of Dax’s house. She paused to listen and realized Zeus and Carmen had joined her favorite neighbor for an evening outside. She hesitated, knowing she should call Sean and explain the situation immediately. But, she wanted to talk to Dax first. She made her way through the house, into the kitchen, and out the back door. She had only taken a few steps when Dax spotted her. He was out of his chair and across the lawn in seconds.

“Did you enjoy your evening?” he asked, more than a little curious about her dinner with Wyatt Darrow.

“It was informative,” she evaded.

“Meaning?”

Paige glanced up, saw Carmen and Zeus were engrossed in their own conversation and decided to confide in Dax and bring him in on the plan. She pulled him toward her own back porch and began to outline the situation.

“Have you talked to Jericho about this?” Dax asked.

“Not yet,” Paige frowned. “Why?”

“Because he didn’t trust the guy from the start,” Dax provided. “And apparently he was right. Before you call in the feds, the Sheriff should know what’s happening in his county.”

“Walter’s asked you to... what?” Paige asked, annoyed.

“To keep an eye on Darrow... and you,” he admitted. “But he didn’t need to ask. I would have done it on my own once I met that troubled cousin of yours.”

“Because?”

“Because he was evasive and suspicious,” Dax shrugged. “And, in the spirit of total disclosure, I asked Carmen to do a thorough check. She hasn’t found anything on the kid, but his father is another story. He’s been the main subject or a secondary suspect in over a dozen investigations, but somehow he skates on all charges. If I had to guess, he’s a whistleblower himself. And, if it kept him free and clear... I think he’d throw his own son to the wolves to protect himself.”

“Probably,” Paige sighed. “I’ll call Jericho and fill him in. Then I have to call Sean and report my findings to the FBI. Once I’m done with that, and I’m keeping Wyatt’s name out of the FBI’s reach... I have to come up with a brilliant plot to keep my terrified cousin in Manti while his crew heads to California. One that doesn’t make him look like a weasel.”

“Want my help?” Dax asked, taking Paige’s hand in both of his.

“Yes,” she said immediately. “Because I can’t think of a way to do this without Wyatt looking like he’s bolting. I asked him to call in sick, he said that’s a no go. I also asked him to crash his car, but he says that’s no good either. He claims his driving is too good to fake a minor accident. I’ve got nothing and we don’t have a lot of time. He’s supposed to leave the day after tomorrow. That means I have to call Jericho tonight, then Sean. Once I’m done, I have to devise a brilliant plan that nobody knows about. One that doesn’t land Wyatt in a hospital once we’re done. On a positive note, I think I just solved the case of the missing Lamborghini. If all goes well, I’ll get a check in the plus column with the DA and the Mayor will have to love me.”

“What’s not to love?” Dax stood and held out his hand. “Let’s go visit with the dynamic duo for an hour or so. Then you can call Walters and Sean Wilkens. And, I’ll figure out a way to keep your cousin out of trouble.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Paige said, feeling a little lighter and more optimistic than she had when she pulled into her driveway only moments ago.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige sat with Jericho on the back porch, anxiously waiting for Dax and Havi to return. The guys were sabotaging Wyatt’s pilot car. Well, Dax was sabotaging the car. Havi was parked just up the road, ready to respond if the department got a call reporting a burglary on the property. The men believed that if Dax could drain most of the anti-freeze from the radiator and all of it from the reserve tank, the vehicle would make it a few miles outside of town before overheating and leaving Wyatt stranded on the side of the road. The supervisor would have to call in a tow truck and if they were lucky, the rest of the crew would head to California and leave Wyatt to deal with the mechanical problems. Nobody would suspect Wyatt of incapacitating the car because the guy would never do anything to damage his baby.

Paige stood and began to pace back and forth in the darkness. “What’s taking so long?”

“Relax, Paige,” Jericho said unconcerned. “They’re just being cautious. Those two have things handled. And, I’m listening to the calls. Nobody has reported anything suspicious out there. I trust Hamilton to know what he’s doing. I’d rather talk about your cousin. Are you sure Wyatt can pull this off? Are you sure he will?”

“I’m sure he can,” Paige settled back into her chair. “And I’m pretty sure he will. He came to me and I think he takes after his mother. He seemed truly trapped when we talked about his dad. Boyd has always been a bully. I remember dad begging Aunt Sadie to leave him. My parents even offered her a place to stay until she could get back on her feet. Wyatt’s mom refused, knowing mom and I would be vulnerable when dad left the country on one of his missions. She worried about us and deep down, I think she really loved the dirtbag. When she died, Wyatt had to learn to cope. But Sadie made him promise her he wouldn’t do anything illegal and if his father tried to force him into a life of crime, he’d come out here and ask mom for help.”

“I guess that explains his abrupt and unexpected appearance in your life all of a sudden,” Jericho admitted. “I didn’t like him. The moment I laid eyes on the guy, I knew he was trouble. He came to you eventually, but he brought a mountain of problems with him. I hope this works and I hope you’re right. Because I’m not entirely sure the guy won’t cave and blow the entire op tomorrow.”

“Well,” Paige settled back against the chair. “If he does, that won’t be our problem, will it? I turned the information over to the FBI. Agent Sean Wilkens will be handling the take-down and the paperwork. I like that part best. Well, next to the fact he now owes me a favor. A big one if he gets the bust. And we both know that might come in handy in the future. What is it about this town of yours anyway, Sheriff Walters? I’ve dealt with the feds more as a deputy the past couple years than I ever dealt with the locals when I was an agent.”

“Karma,” he smiled. “Yours, not mine. We rarely dealt with the feds before I hired you so, I believe the influx is all your doing Deputy Carter.”

“I disagree,” Paige said then jumped to her feet when she heard Dax’s truck. “Sounds like they’re back.”

The two men walked casually toward the back of the house.

“Your dirty deed is done,” Havilland said in greeting. “But I have to warn you, it’s not cheap. I had to cancel a date tonight and I intend to collect on the debt in the near future. Sheriff, you owe me a night off. And you,” he pointed to Paige. “You are going to work the shift of my choice to make up for the inconvenience.”

Paige rolled her eyes. “I’ll think about it. Did you have any trouble?”

“Nope,” Dax settled into a chair across from the sheriff. “It was easy. They’re too confident. The place was locked up, but there wasn’t a guard and I didn’t even see a camera. I realize they’re not local and the warehouse belongs to another company, but you’d think they’d take some precautions considering the value of the merchandise.”

“Did you see the Roadster?” Jericho asked.

“Nope,” Havi answered. “I’m betting they have it stashed inside the building. From what I could find, Reyo Transports leased the facility for a month from the owner. They have access to the garage, the buildings and the outer yard. Wyatt’s car was parked in the yard. Everything else, other than the trailer they use to transport the property was out of site. Most likely inside the building.”

“Okay,” Jericho stood. “Sounds like my work here is done. I have no knowledge of the break-in or the vandalism. My deputy was nowhere near the location of the suspicious activity and I personally spent the evening with Paige Carter and her dubious neighbor Dax Hamilton. I can report to work in the morning with a clear conscious and a solid alibi.”

“Somehow,” Havi laughed. “I don’t think you’ll need it once the mayor and our illustrious DA realize Charles Corvene’s Lamborghini has been recovered unscathed.”

“Let’s all hope it is unscathed,” Jericho said soberly. “Otherwise, we all might be in deep trouble.”

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\*\*\*\*\*

Wyatt arrived at the stockyard, still worried about the upcoming events. He had no idea what Paige had come up with to get him out of harm’s way. He didn’t even know if the feds were on board and the crew was about to get caught in the act. He didn’t know anything, but Paige had said that was best. He turned the corner and came face-to-face with Rico Chavez, the semi-driver of this small operation. “Morning, Rico.”

“Hey, kid,” Rico shifted to the left. “Better get loaded up. Boss is in a foul one this morning. I think he wants to pull out immediately.”

“I haven’t had a chance to go over the car,” Wyatt objected.

“The car is fine,” Salvodor LeDoux barked. “You keep that thing in top shape and I don’t have time for the delay.”

“What crawled up your...” Joel Morgan, the man who rode shotgun and watched out for trouble began.

“Shut it,” Salvador interrupted. “I got a call from the boss this morning,” the top supervisor added. “There’s been a change in plans. We need to head out immediately if we want to arrive at the port in time for the transfer.”

“How many times are they going to change the plans?” Joel complained. “We were supposed to leave yesterday, but the plans changed. New plan, we should have another hour to load up and hit the road. Now, we have to pull out immediately. That doesn’t give us time to double and triple check the area, make sure we didn’t leave nothing behind. Someone’s gotta talk to the man and tell him to stop with the last minute demands.”

“Great,” Salvodor shrugged. “Good luck with that. I’ll be sure to attend your funeral. Load up, we’re late.”

Wyatt moved to the rental they’d been using while in town, retrieved his bag, and slung it over his shoulder. He was nervous, worried the change in timeline would mess up the plan to get him out of the transport. What if the feds weren’t in place, what if they missed the truck and blamed him for the mistake? His gut began to churn and he wondered if he’d created a bigger problem for himself by confiding in his cousin. Only time would tell and right now, time was something he didn’t have much of. He dropped his bag on the back seat of the pilot car and glanced around. The other men were already loaded up and ready to pull out. He glanced at Salvodor and waited for the signal. Once the boss motioned his way, Wyatt pulled onto the highway headed out of town. Clearly, whatever plan Paige had to save him... had failed. He was stuck. He was going to be arrested with the rest of the group and knowing his father, the man would let him rot there without a second thought.

The convoy was three miles out of town when trouble hit out of nowhere. The group consisted of Wyatt’s pilot car in the lead, the semi and enclosed trailer that contained the expensive cargo in the middle, and Salvodor’s company SUV in the rear. They were on I-fifteen, headed southbound when the check engine light on Wyatt’s car started flashing. Within seconds, smoke was billowing out of the hood. He had no choice, he had to pull over. Wyatt signaled and made his slow descent onto the shoulder of the highway. The semi followed and Salvodor pulled in behind them. The instant he came to a stop, the angry supervisor jumped from his vehicle and stomped his way to Wyatt’s car.

“What now?” Salvodor demanded.

“Looks like the radiator,” Wyatt provided. “It overheated and the reservoir looks completely empty. If I had to guess, I’d say the thing must be cracked. It’s the only explanation.”

“Can you fix it?” Joel, who had jumped from the passenger side of the semi asked.

“Not out here,” Wyatt said soberly. “If we can get a tow into the next town, maybe. But it’s going to take time.”

“Time is one thing we don’t have,” Salvodor considered. “We’re going to have to leave you here. Can you handle it alone? I can leave Joel with you but I’d rather not. One man down is bad enough. Rico and I could head out alone, but...”

“But then you don’t have a wingman if something goes wrong,” Wyatt finished for him. “You guys go. I can get this. I’ll call for a tow and have them take it back to Gunnison. They should have a shop there, the town is big enough. If not, I’ll find a motel and work on the thing myself. If I can find the leak, I may be able to repair it and catch up.”

“No,” Salvodor shook his head. “Get the tow and find a hotel. We’ll hook back up with you later. If not here, then we’ll all meet in Vegas. You’ll never catch us with that kind of delay. It would be a wasted trip. Just take care of the car. We have another run in a few days and we’ll need the pilot to escort the large equipment Lander Construction is moving from Vegas to Denver. We can’t take any chances on that run.”

“Are you sure?” Wyatt asked, concerned. Was this Paige’s plan or something else? “We never split up, not like this.”

“I’m sure,” Salvodor decided. “Joel, get back in the truck. We’re heading out. Call me, Darrow if anything goes wrong. We can’t delay the Vegas job for anything.”

“I’ll be in touch once I know what’s going on with the car,” Wyatt promised. He pulled out his phone and called Paige. She would know where he could get a tow in this area. And that way, he could ask her if this was her plan all along.

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\*\*\*\*\*

Paige, Wyatt, Dax and Jericho settled in for a meal of Fried Chicken, coleslaw and biscuits while they awaited a call from Agent Sean Wilkens. The FBI had altered the original plan and, rather than stop the men on the highway, they had set up in California on the dock in Los Angeles. If everything went according to plan, they would recover more than one missing vehicle and could charge the group with multiple felonies instead of just one.

So far, no mention of Boyd Darrow had surfaced with the feds and Paige hoped it stayed that way. She didn’t want Wyatt to have to deal with the guilt and feeling of responsibilty if his father ended up in prison along with the rest of the organization. It was going to be bad enough when Wyatt’s father learned his friends were behind bars and Wyatt had escaped prosecution because of a mechanical problem. Reyo may not put it all together, but Wyatt was positive his father would. Probably because dear old dad had orchestrated similar schemes in the past.

But, Boyd Darrow didn’t realize Paige was now on his trail. And, she had the expert skills of Carmen Fennelly assisting her. One wrong move and her career criminal uncle would find himself the target of a federal operation he couldn’t slither out of. She planned to keep that particular plan to herself. Wyatt didn’t need to know she was watching his father now. He wouldn’t need to know her involvement if the man got himself arrested, either. For the most part, she thought her cousin was a good guy. A little lost and even more conflicted due to his father’s influence, but he was trying to do the right thing. He was trying to live the way his mother wanted him to. Paige just hoped, after this was all over, he’d be able to find a legitimate job with an honest company. Otherwise, he just might give into his father’s pressure and fall in with another criminal enterprise. If he did, Paige wouldn’t be able to save him again. She wouldn’t, because he wouldn’t deserve her help.

Wyatt jumped and Jericho sat up straighter when the distinct ringing of Paige’s cell phone began to chime. “Sean, please tell me you have good news,” Paige said in greeting.

“I have great news,” Sean practically yelled into the phone. “We got them. All of them. The boat was full of stolen cars. I mean, seriously high-end expensive vehicles just like the Lamborghini. It’s fine, by the way. Not a scratch on the thing. And the records these guys kept... well, I’m just going to say I owe you big time. You just gave me the bust of a lifetime my friend. My SAC is happy, the owners are going to be thrilled and my colleagues are jealous. Not bad for a few hours work and a quick drive to the coast.”

“I’ll be sure to collect,” Paige warned as she grinned. “I’ll let you go. I’m sure you have tons of evidence to process and I expect my victim’s car in the next twenty-four.”

“So demanding,” Sean teased. “I’ll get it processed and returned as soon as I can. We’re not going to want to hold onto these beauties. I wish you were here to see it. In addition to your Roadster, we’ve got three Ferrari’s, two Aston Martin’s and a Bugatti. And those are just the ones I remember. These guys are going down and they’re going down hard. With just the ones I mentioned, we have seven major felonies just for the thefts. Not to mention money laundering, the illegal transport over international waters and about a half-dozen other charges that we know of. It’s going to be a long night, but so worth it.”

“Then I’ll let you get back to it,” Paige told him. “Just remember me and the boost I just gave your career when I call in desperate need and you’re the only man in the world that can help.”

“Anytime, day or night my friend,” Sean agreed. “I’m there. Always would be, I didn’t need this bust for that. I’ll call you tomorrow, after I process the cars and get a couple hours. We’ll make arrangements to get the car back to Mr. Corvene.”

“Later,” Paige said before she disconnected the call. She turned to address Wyatt. “The op was lucrative. The feds appreciate your assistance and so do I. We would never have known about these guys if you hadn’t helped. Now for the important question.”

“What’s that?” Wyatt asked hesitantly.

“What’s next for you?” Paige asked. “You can’t work for Reyo. You’re out of a job and my source tells me you are paying the mortgage on the house your dad lives in. How do you plan to make ends meet?”

“I’m working on something,” Wyatt evaded.

“I’d like to know what,” Jericho insisted. “My department stepped in, sheltered you from prosecution, and I believe we have a vested interest in your future. Have you been approached by someone or is your dad hooking you up with another questionable operation?”

“Both,” Wyatt admitted. “Dad called just before I came over. He somehow knew Rico and the rest had been arrested and he predicts the others will be rounded up within a matter of days. He told me to quit and move on. He suggested another friend, said he expects me to have a new job before the first of next month. I also got a call from a guy I know. An acquaintance I met while I was working at the raceway back in Kentucky. I’m thinking about accepting his offer.”

“I have two deputies in the racing business and I have a third option, if you want it. Both Havilland and Bridges mentioned the same reputable racing team. They’re looking for a good driver. Not for racing, but for transport. The pay is better than you were making with Reyo and the guys are as clean as they come. If my men recommend them, you can’t find a better job in the industry.”

“I’d like to look into it,” Wyatt agreed. “I think my guy is clean but I know yours will be. I want to make my mom proud. I don’t think I’ve done a very good job of that so far. Your option, that’s a second option not a third. My dad’s suggestion is out for sure. I don’t trust him and I know anyone he lines me up with is as dirty as they come. He knows how to protect himself, but I’m not sure he cares if I’m vulnerable or covered. I’d like to strike out on my own and see how I do.”

“I know you want to help your dad out,” Paige studied her cousin. “But at some point, I think you should make him pay his own way. He’s an adult. It’s his responsibility to pay his own mortgage. And, at some point, you just might want to buy a house of your own. Nobody has the funds to buy two houses at the same time. Well, nobody I know anyway.”

“I understand,” Wyatt said softly. “But, it’s complicated.”

“And I won’t pry,” Paige promised. “Now, who wants ice cream?”

The group celebrated well into the evening. The mayor would be happy when he learned his biggest donor’s car had been returned unscathed. The DA would be happy when he learned his friend had been taken care of so quickly, and the feds were happy to have a huge bust they could brag about. Paige? She was happy, too. She’d been instrumental in helping a cousin in need. A childhood friend she had believed was out of her life forever. After only a few short days, they had developed a new bond. One Paige hoped would last a lifetime. Wyatt reminded her of another life... another time. A world where her father was alive and well and her mother enjoyed spending time with the sister she’d never had. She’d avoided those memories for years, believing it best to leave the sorrow in the past.

But, the reunion wasn’t all bad. Some of the memories were good. Like the time Paige’s father had arranged for a weekend in the Hamptons at a friend’s beach house. Boyd had been out of town at the time, so Sadie and Wyatt had joined them. Paige and Wyatt had practically lived on the beach making sandcastles and trying to ride the waves. She hadn’t thought about that weekend in years. Wyatt had, though. He had relived the memory, telling the story to Paige’s friends as they waited to hear the fate of the men in California. He had also admitted it was the best weekend he’d had in his life. Paige hoped, once he got settled with Havi and Dean’s friend, Wyatt would have a million best weekends waiting in his future. And, she hoped he’d tell her all about them. Because she realized now that remembering her father and her mother, wasn’t nearly as painful as it had been when she was alone. Before she’d moved back to Manti.

\*\*\*\*\*

Ahmed watched the group and wondered if he should just join them. He’d come to accept the fact that running into Dax Hamilton while he was alone was nearly impossible. He had a friend living with him, which made things difficult. And, when he wasn’t home with the friend, he was spending time with his neighbor. If it was just Dax and the woman, he might approach him now. But they appeared to be having some sort of party. The timing was all wrong. Maybe he’d get his chance tomorrow. If he couldn’t approach Hamilton while he was alone, he’d have to do it while he was with his roommate or his girlfriend. Ahmed was getting desperate and he knew time was running out. He would have to act soon. Otherwise, he might never get the chance.

**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and revealing more secrets from the past.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S2

**Tags:** Season 2

---

### [Desperate Love](https://melaniepsmith.com/desperate-love/)

**Published:** September 29, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Desperate Love (E6) - A woman is missing, vanished in the middle of the night.  Or is she?  Paige and Lovato must delve into family secrets and determine if a domestic violence victim fled to safety or if something more sinister is at play.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*DESPERATE LOVE\*\*\*****

Paige hit save and watched as the tiny blue bar slowly made its way across her screen. The instant it disappeared, she sat back and let out a huge sigh of relief. She was finally... FINALLY, finished with paperwork. Boring, tedious paperwork... the bane of her existence. Yes, she was detail oriented. Yes, she preferred structure to clutter and she knew - more than once - she’d driven her colleagues crazy on a scene with her slow-paced, methodical searches. But, that was entirely different. That was about evidence - about the challenge of the hunt - that was the job. The paperwork? One could argue that was also the job, but Paige still hated it and knew she always would.

She stood, snatched up the stack of closed and inactive case files and headed to the backroom. “Yippee, filing,” another tedious task she despised, but one that had to be done. She knew she could pawn the files off on Margie. The admin wouldn’t argue... probably wouldn’t even mind. But, she couldn’t do it. She’d been the one to procrastinate, the one that had ignored the unpleasant until the stack on the edge of her desk was so large it looked like a bad game of Jenga. So, she had to be the one to pay the price. “Consequences,” she muttered as she started down the long row of filing cabinets.

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[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Desperate-Love.pdf)

As she robotically shoved files into their proper slots, her mind wandered to the nightmare she’d had the night before. She hated the memories, hated waking up in a cold sweat not knowing where she was for several terrifying seconds, hated the way it made her feel the day after an episode. The cases she’d worked for the FBI were always difficult. It didn’t really surprise her they sometimes haunted her when she least expected it. The memories had a way of tormenting her, mostly when she was stressed about something else.

At the moment, she was worried about Nathan Porter. Her longtime friend and mentor wasn’t himself, hadn’t been the last few times they’d spoken, and it worried her. For some reason, that worry had surfaced in a disturbing and twisted nightmare the night before. In her dream, Nathan had been captured by a killer she helped put behind bars several years ago. One that had lured his victims into an elaborate maze that was conveniently missing an exit, then he stood by and watched as they wandered around, desperate and frustrated for days. In real life, the victims ultimately died from dehydration. They had been trapped, wandering around a maze without food or water day after day, not understanding there was no hope, while a cruel and sadistic scientist monitored their problem-solving abilities. Five young men and women had succumbed before her team located his lab and stopped the madness. Seeing Nathan wander around that same maze, even in a dream, left Paige feeling uneasy and a little distraught. She’d call him tonight she decided. As soon as she got home. She’d call him and insist he talk to her. If she pushed hard enough, he might cave.

It was nearly forty minutes later when Paige headed back to the office area - what she fondly referred to as the Bullpen. Her steps were a little lighter, her mood a little brighter. The filing was done, her cases were caught up and she had a plan. By the time her head hit her pillow tonight, she’d know what was going on with the General. Then she’d decide how to help. She was only a few feet away from the inner door that separated the public office space from the private secure storage section when she heard voices, raised voices... and Margie was alone in the office. Paige quickened her pace, pushed through the doorway and stopped. Raised voices–yes - but the woman was sobbing uncontrollably and clearly on the verge of panic. Not a threat. Margie had everything under control as usual. Well, as much as possible when dealing with a frantic, hysterical citizen.

Paige made her way across the large expanse and settled casually against Margie’s desk. *Appearance is everything*. If she came across as relaxed but in charge, she might be able to defuse the situation before it got too out of control. “Hi,” Paige held out a hand. “I’m Deputy Carter, can I help you with something?”

“I need to see the Sheriff,” the woman straightened her shoulders and stared defiantly into Paige’s eyes, ignoring the outstretched hand.

“I’m afraid he’s not available right now,” Paige stood and studied the woman for several quiet seconds - clearly relaxed and casual wasn’t working. “I’m here, I’m available. If you’ll follow me into the Conference Room, you can tell me what has you so upset and I’ll see what I can do to help you out.”

“I already spoke to a deputy,” the woman said in anger. “I don’t have time for this. He’s going to kill her,” she practically screamed. “I don’t have twenty-four hours. I don’t care about protocol or probabilities. I don’t care about any of it. My sister did not just decide, in the middle of the night, she wanted a new start. He has her!”

“Okay,” Paige placed one hand on the woman’s shoulder and gave her a supportive pat while accepting the paper Margie held out with the other. She glanced at the document briefly and realized it was the call information from the dispatch screen. Missing Persons incident reported at 0600. Okay, this might take a while. She needed to get them into the conference room before someone else wandered in looking for help.

Paige considered her options, she could try to coax the woman into the other room again but it hadn’t worked the first time. Maybe she’d just head off in that direction and see if the woman followed. “You said you spoke with a deputy already. Do you know who you talked to?” She raised the document Margie had provided, thinking she’d find it herself, when the woman pulled out a business card and shoved it in Paige’s face.

Paige took the card, glanced at the name and sincerely hoped the woman hadn’t seen her eyes roll. It took effort, but she won the battle and prevented the sigh, now stuck in her throat, from escaping... barely. Mike Lovato was a good cop - when he wanted to be. That was the problem. If he didn’t think the call was important or worthy of his time, his response was lackluster at best. On the flip side, if you were on a hot call, if you found yourself in some kind of danger... you couldn’t have a better back.

Paige entered the conference room and motioned toward one of the chairs, surprised when the tired, clearly worried and exhausted lady settled into one of the high-backed business chairs. She passed back the business card and handed the woman a legal pad and a pen.

The lady looked up in confusion but remained silent.

“I don’t want to waste time going over the same ground as the previous deputy,” Paige forced her voice to be soft and soothing, but direct. “So, I’m going to go back out there and contact Deputy Lovato. I’m going to get the basics from him while you take some time to write out the details for me. You said your sister is missing, I’m going to assume the initial deputy took down her information and the info on the man you think is responsible. However, I need more. Anything you can think of that will help us find the suspect. If you have an address, phone number, type of vehicle he drives, anything... jot it down. I’ll be right back.” She was light on the details but once she talked to Lo, she’d know the rest.

Paige made her way across the Bullpen and dropped into her comfortable desk chair, sighing heavily as she studied her phone. If Deputy Just-the-Facts had taken an extra five minutes to listen to a grieving family member, this situation could have been avoided completely. But, nooo, that was apparently too much to ask. Mike Lovato, AKA Lo to his colleagues, had made the entire situation worse by parroting the company line. *The Idiot.* Now she had to call him at home, probably wake him up, and drag the details out bit by bit. Because, Mike was not going to be happy about the call. He was going to be furious if she woke him up and asked about a missing person case he thought he’d already handled. Well, too bad. If he’d taken more time with the woman, been a little sympathetic, or at the very least spent ten minutes punching out his report before he checked off duty - she wouldn’t have to call him at home.

Paige dialed the number and waited, after several rings, it switched over to voicemail. She disconnected and hit redial, waited impatiently and again ended the call when she heard the recording. *One more time—with feeling.* She wasn’t a bit surprised at the angry voice on the other end of the line.

“What?” Lo demanded.

“Hello,” Paige said brightly. “I’m great, thank you so much for asking.”

“What do you want, Carter?”

“Information,” Paige sighed again.

“On?”

“You handled a missing persons call,” she began. “Abbi Copeland reported her sister and a nephew’s disappearance just before you went off shift.”

“And?” he barked.

“Cut the crap, Mike,” Paige said annoyed. “Copeland is here looking for the Sheriff. I need to know the basics so I can smooth this over and see what, exactly, we have here.”

“Look,” Lo grumbled. “What you have is an adult woman that decided maybe she wanted a change of scenery. That’s the way it reads, anyway. The woman came home from work to discover her sister and the kid gone. Poofed. The sister...Talia I think, she has a long history of getting knocked around by the ex. She leaves the SOB, forgives him, moves back in and a few weeks later he’s beating on her again. Go figure. I checked up north, confirmed the pattern and figured she hooked back up with the shithead. My guess? The two of them secretly rabbited because she knew Copeland would try to stop her. Give it a few days, he’s a frequent flyer, I’m sure he’ll land in a cage... yet again. Maybe she’ll get lucky and he won’t make bail this time. Anyway, it’s been a pleasure and all that happy shit... but I need to catch at least a couple hours down before I’m back on to cover for Bridges. I’ll finish the report first thing and fill Walters in when I can. It can wait a few hours, Paige. We’re not going to do anything before the standard twenty-four, anyway. Now, if that’s all... it’s been real but don’t tag me again unless Armageddon has hit and zombies have gathered in the streets to feast on the local’s brains.”

“Gross, I seriously did not need that image in my head. But, I’m not sure,” Paige said hesitantly. She hated second-guessing a fellow officer, but her gut was telling her there was more to this and time was essential.

“You can’t be sure they’re zombies, or if the locals have brains?” Mike asked. “In that case, just assume they’re all human piss ants wreaking havoc in the streets and proceed with business as usual. I’ll stop by the office in a few hours.”

“She’s not going to accept the twenty-four,” Paige countered, ignoring his sarcasm. “You already explained it and she’s here demanding an audience with Walters. I’ve settled her down a bit but she’s got that look. She’s stubborn and if I try to placate her, I think it’s going to come back on both of us. Just tell me the basics and I’ll take it from here.”

Lovato sighed heavily, climbed from his bed and moved to his computer. “I’ll fire up the comp and shoot you an email. The report is rough but it should do for the basics.”

“Thanks,” Paige said sincerely. “I’ll do what I can and let you know. Check in when you’re back on.”

Lovato clicked off without saying goodbye.

Paige looked up and saw Margie was watching her. She pressed a hand to her chest and sighed. “He’s such a charmer.”

“Sounds like another one of Mike’s clusters,” Margie grumbled. “I wonder if that boy will ever learn.”

“Yeah, it’s so hard to guide the wayward youth, but maybe he’ll grow out of it,” Paige grinned at Margie’s snort. The man had more than a decade on Paige, an entire career behind him, but he still insisted on making things more difficult than they needed to be. She started to stand but stopped when she heard the distinct chime of her computer telling her she had a new email. *That was quick*. Paige hit print and programmed two copies, turning to the machine to snatch up the first one the instant the printer spit it out. *Not bad*, she decided, giving it a quick scan. “Can you do me a favor? That’s Lovato’s rough draft. Can you run it for me? The missing girl, the kid, the suspect... get me anything you can find and bring it in when you have it. I’ll see what I can do to appease the sister... for now.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Margie promised as she stood and moved to the printer. She spotted Jericho’s vehicle out of the corner of her eye and considered, best to get him tucked away in his office before the hysterical and unsatisfied customer noticed his arrival. She could fill him in once he got settled.

“Thanks,” Paige said sincerely. “I’m going to close this, but come on in when you’re done.” She disappeared into the large room and silently closed the door behind her.

Abbi Copeland studied the female deputy intently, wondering if the woman could be trusted. “I’ve listed everything I know.”

“Good, Great,” Paige settled into the chair across from her.

“But before we go any further, I need to know if you are actually going to help me.”

Paige frowned, what did she mean by that?

“What I should say, what I should have asked, is if you are going to help me now? Are you taking my report seriously? Do you believe me when I say my sister was abducted? Or do you, like that other officer, believe she ran off in the middle of the night with her son?”

“I don’t know what happened to Talia or Deklan,” Paige said honestly. “I’ve spoken to Deputy Lovato, I’ve read his report.”

“And now you think she went back to him,” Abbi said soberly. “She didn’t. She wouldn’t.” Copeland turned to look out the window. “I guess I do need to speak to the sheriff, immediately.”

“Again,” Paige said calmly. “He’s not available. I’m willing to listen to you. I haven’t made up my mind, yet. Not completely. Tell me why you don’t think she went back to him. I mean, there’s a pattern there. One Deputy Lovato took the time to investigate. She’s done it before. Why didn’t she do it again?”

“Deklan,” Abbi said. “She’s determined... to protect her son.”

“I’m going to need more, explain it to me,” Paige pressed. “Deklan is eight years old. Why now?”

“Because he’s eight,” Abbi shuddered. “And he decided he was old enough, strong enough, brave enough to stop his father from hurting his mother. Flint went nuts. The men were supposed to stick together. When Deklan stepped between them, Flint followed through anyway. He could have pulled the punch, but he had to teach Deklan a lesson. Men stick together or they get hurt. He broke Dek’s nose, but that kid stood strong. Blood spurted over his little t-shirt, then continued to run down his face but Dek... well, he stood strong. He wouldn’t budge, it broke Talia’s heart and terrified her at the same time. Flint simply shoved his son aside and nearly beat Talia to death that night.” Abbie wiped away tears that had begun to flow down her face. “She didn’t go back to him, didn’t get some wild idea to take off either. She had the protective order, a stupid piece of paper that he’s already broken, but she had it. She was determined to stand her ground, give Dek a new life. A loving, carefree life where he could play with friends and just be a kid.”

“I found the protective order,” Paige affirmed. “But I didn’t see any charges for violating it. Do you know the details about that?”

“It was yesterday,” Abbie began.

“Here?” Paige asked for clarification.

“Yes,” Abbi covered her face with her hands and rubbed. “She started to call 911, started to report it but he left. There was no point, he’d just say he was never there.”

“That’s not how protective orders work,” Paige shook her head. “Did you see him? Were you there when he showed up?”

“Yes,” Abbi admitted. “She rushed into my room and told me he was out there, parked on the curb watching. She panicked, of course. She didn’t know what to do. I told her to call the police, have him arrested. We knew he’d find her, I mean... well, after all of her previous attempts to hide from him failed, she agreed to come stay with me. We knew he’d know. Knew we’d have to deal with him, but she was ready and so was I. We thought we were ready but now...”

“I’m going to file a report on the violation,” Paige pulled out her notepad. “What time did this happen? Give me a description of Flint, how you knew it was him, if he was driving a vehicle, and the plate if you got it. What was he wearing? How long did he stay? I need all the details.” Once Abbi covered everything, Paige set her pad on the table. “Okay, now we are going to go through what happened last night... or this morning. When did you talk to Talia last? When did you see her? What was her mood? Did she seem upset or afraid?” She glanced up in surprise when Mike Lovato stepped into the room. He looked tired and maybe a little annoyed.

“Hello, Abbi,” he said cordially. “Do you mind if I speak with Deputy Carter for just a minute?”

Abbi swallowed hard but shook her head.

The two deputies stepped out of the room and closed the door.

“What are you doing here?” Paige asked. “I told you I’d take care of it and fill you in later. You needed some down time before you start Dean’s shift.”

“I was awake,” he shrugged. “And it started to needle me, a little. I mean I checked everything out but Copeland, well I admit she was starting to get to me this morning. The more she talked, the more she insisted it wasn’t a typical missing person and it wasn’t possible her sister just left, she got to me. But, I pushed it aside, gave her the standard twenty-four hours BS and tried to convince myself I had done the job. I was already wondering, you know? Like I said, she has a way and when I heard she came in...once I woke up and stopped being pissed at you... well, I was up.”

“I understand,” Paige admitted. “I mean, with the history and all... it just seems cut and dry, he showed up, she went back. We see it all the time. But my gut is telling me there’s more to this. He violated the PO yesterday. They almost called it in but he fled, so they dropped it.”

“But we’re not dropping it now,” Lo stated. It wasn’t a question.

“No,” Paige agreed. “We’re not. I’ve got that one. I’ll do the report and get it into the system.”

Lovato studied Paige for several seconds. “You’re still pissed. You think I messed this up and we lost time.”

“I think you’re doing a pretty good job of kicking yourself with that one on your own,” Paige shrugged. “I don’t need to do the same. Plus, I’m not sure you screwed up. You got her statement, called up north and talked to your buddies - guys that had dealt with the family in the past. You verified the info and made a judgement call. Just because Abbi is adamant her sister was abducted, doesn’t mean she’s right. I’m not convinced yet. I’ll leave the possibility open that Abbie is right and Flint has them, but Talia could have fled on her own. I mean, she tried to go into hiding before. Sure, she said she wanted a normal life for her kid but if Flint scared her enough yesterday...”

“She could have made her plans and bolted,” Lovato nodded. “There are underground organizations. Could be she found someone that was willing to help and she wanted to keep her sister out of it... keep Abbi safe. It’s possible.”

“Let’s go grill the emotionally devastated and unstable sister,” Paige shoved open the door.

Lovato grinned and leaned in close so only Paige could hear when he whispered. “I left my thumbscrews at home. Maybe you have some I could borrow.”

Paige dropped back into her chair and waited for Lovato to join them.

“I know this is necessary,” Abbi said the instant they returned. “I know you still don’t believe me but every minute we sit here... well, that could be one minute too long. Talia is in trouble and I’m afraid this time he will kill her and disappear with Dek never to be seen again.”

“The questions are necessary,” Paige began.

“I don’t know how to make you understand,” Abbi interrupted. “You want to know about Talia’s state of mind last night because you think she waited until I went to work and then she fled. She didn’t. I know she didn’t.”

“How do you know?” Lovato asked. “We’re not asking because we don’t believe you. We’re asking because if you want us to investigate this incident, we need to know everything. We need to understand the situation completely. We need to have all the facts. You can’t hold anything back not if you want us to find your sister. Can you help us do that?”

“Okay,” Abbi gave in. “Okay.”

“Talia has a history of leaving Flint for a little while then returning,” Lovato began. “I’m not judging but I need to know why you are so sure she didn’t fall back into that habit. Even with the best of intentions, sometimes it’s easier to just fall back and go along.”

“I know a lot of battered women return on their own, for one reason or another, but Talia... well, she returned because she knew with every fiber of her being that if she didn’t go back with him, he would kill her. He told her he would. He taunted her with it, threatened their son, mocked her attempts to get away and punished her every time she tried.”

“Okay,” Paige soothed. “Sounds like your sister was living in fear and did what she believed she had to in order to survive.”

“Exactly,” Abbi agreed.

“So,” Lovato pressed. “What changed? I mean, if Flint showed up at your house and scared her, what would stop her from fleeing? It would be easy to disappear in the middle of the night, especially to protect Deklan and get a good head start before anyone knew she was even missing.”

“Uhggg,” Abbi dropped her head into her arms and tugged at her hair. “I don’t know what I have to do... what I have to say to make you understand she didn’t leave on her own.”

“Because,” Paige pressed.

“Because of so many reasons,” Abbi barked. “Because of what happened with Dek. My nephew was not willing to sit back and see his mother abused any longer. She knew that, I knew that, he made sure we both knew it. Before, well before she thought she could take whatever he did as long as Dek was safe. Flint never... never hurt his son until that night when he stood up to him. Talia believed she was protecting them both by surrendering each time he found her. Sure, he’d punish her but he left Dek alone. She tried. I wish you could understand that. She tried to get away, but he has contacts. I think he knows a cop or a PI that always finds her, no matter what she did, he found her. She does have a pattern, a history of leaving and returning but the returning wasn’t her idea. He forced her back, threatened her, terrified and terrorized her. It took a lot for her to agree to stay with me. We both worried Flint would come after me, to punish her. It would work. She’d never forgive herself if anything happened to me over this but she agreed. She finally agreed. The judge up north gave her a protective order and I think she actually started to believe the system could help her. Flint spent years chipping away at her confidence... in herself, her family, the system.” She turned angry eyes on the two deputies. “I’m starting to understand why.”

“Let’s say we believe you,” Paige said ignoring the insult. Abbi hadn’t answered the question, not to her satisfaction, but she’d get back to that. “Do you have any idea where he would take her?”

“Before we get to that,” Lovato said, considering. “There was no sign of forced entry into your home. How did he get to her? If we go with your version of events and assume Flint Kesten has your sister and their son, how did he get in?”

“I don’t know,” Abbi admitted. “I could try to make something up and hope it sounded plausible but I simply don’t know. He’s resourceful and he’s a criminal. He might know how to pick a lock. He might have a master of some kind. I honestly don’t know.”

“An honest answer is always better than a made up response,” Paige told her. They all looked up when Margie stepped into the room.

“I have the data you requested.”

“Thanks,” Paige stood and took the file folder Margie offered. Once she skimmed through it, she handed the file to Lovato.

“What is that?” Abbi asked.

“Information,” Paige sat back. “Criminal history, registered vehicles, property records, that sort of thing.”

“On Flint?” Abbi asked.

“Yes,” Paige affirmed. “Now, let’s talk about yesterday. Walk us through your day from the instant Talia woke you to tell you Flint was parked outside.”

Abbi walked them through it. Paige and Mike stopped her, asked more questions and made her go through it three full times before they were confident they had what they needed.

“Okay,” Paige said with a friendly smile. “I think we’re clear. Now, we need you to head back home and stay there if you can.”

“But...” Abbi began.

“We need you to be home in case Talia is able to get away and call,” Lovato said softly. “We need you to be home, but do not open the door if he shows up. Call the police immediately.”

“You think he might,” Abbi’s eyes grew wide in obvious terror. “You think he’s going to come after me?”

“I don’t,” Lovato said. “Because that would be stupid.”

“Really stupid,” Paige agreed. “We just want you to take precautions. Like you said, Talia would be devastated if anything happened to you. We just want to make sure nothing does.”

“Oh,” Abbi said relieved. “Okay, that makes sense I guess. Um, well do I have to stay there alone?”

“Do you have someone that could stay with you?” Paige asked.

“Yeah,” Abbi considered. “There’s this guy I’ve been dating for a few months now. Ben... Ben Garrison. I was thinking maybe I could have him come over and stay with me. So I don’t have to be alone.”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Lovato said. “Go ahead and give him a call, see if he can meet you at home.”

Abbi stood and moved to the other side of the room, had a hushed conversation for several minutes, then returned. “He’s going to meet me there. He’s closer, so he’ll probably be there when I arrive. I’m going to trust you but just know if this was all some elaborate ruse, a way to make me think you’re working the case, to stall so you can wait twenty-four hours before doing anything, I won’t go away quietly. I’ll scream from the rooftops, to anyone that will listen, how you failed my sister.”

“Understood,” Paige said before Lovato could erupt on their witness. “Go home, we’ll call you as soon as we know anything.”

“You said your sister had a car,” Lovato remembered.

“Oh, yeah,” Abbi nodded. “It’s still in the garage.”

“Are you willing to let us take it? Go over it? See if we can find any evidence inside?” Lovato continued. “We’ll get a warrant, but if you’re willing to sign a release and let us tow it in right now, that could save time.”

“I guess that’s okay,” Abbi said slowly. “Yes. It’s for Talia, so yes. Come and get it as soon as you want. I’ll sign the paperwork. You might not need a warrant, I don’t know. The car is actually in my name and I’ll sign off on anything you want. He wouldn’t let her have transportation of any kind so I bought the car for Talia. Technically... I guess it’s mine.”

“We’ll be in touch,” Paige said again and watched as the woman slowly made her way out the front door. She glanced up in surprise when she realized Jericho had exited his office and was now standing in front of her and Mike.

“I thought you were off,” he addressed Lovato.

“Was,” Lo said casually. “Now I’m on.”

“Margie said there was a situation,” Jericho turned to Paige. “Something about a case Mike handled before he checked off. Was it necessary to call him back in? I should have been notified.” He turned back to Lovato. “I need you to cover for Dean. We’re short, down two men and I don’t have the resources to fill the shift if you need to adjust.”

“I’m good,” Mike assured him. “I’ve got Dean’s hours covered. And, Paige didn’t call me back. I realized the situation needed more attention. My case, my attention.”

“Alright then,” Jericho motioned them back into the conference room. “Let’s sit down and you can fill me in.” Once they had, Jericho considered. “So, you believe her? The sister. You think the ex-husband found a way to abduct his wife and kid in the middle of the night?”

“We don’t know,” Paige shrugged. “She’s a compelling complainant. We all know the pattern isn’t unique. You never know what you’ll encounter when you respond on a DV and your best efforts to help might just get your cold-cocked by a frying pan. Women return to their abusers all the time. It’s not an easy cycle to break.”

Jericho nodded, remembering his own days pushing a patrol car and getting into trouble. “So, why aren’t we going with Mike’s initial reaction? Why not list her as a missing person, wait until morning and then start looking if she hasn’t surfaced?”

“We could,” Paige told him. “But I don’t think we should.”

“I agree with Paige,” Mike told him. “It didn’t sit right, not with me. Not from the start. I looked, there’s no evidence of a break-in. There are a few things thrown around that makes it look like Talia and Deklan packed in a hurry. Maybe they did... under duress.”

“Maybe,” Jericho studied his two deputies. He wasn’t going to interfere if they thought this was something they should follow up on. “I’ll clear it for the two of you to focus on this today. Margie and I can handle anything that comes in. If I need you, I’ll let you know.”

“What about Gage?” Paige asked.

“He’s off,” Jericho reminded her. “Football banquet, extravaganza... whatever.”

“Oh,” Paige tried to remember the details. “Down in Moab wasn’t it?”

“It was,” Jericho agreed as he stood. “One day. I’m giving you one day, then we go with the obvious, classify the case as a missing person and handle things the way we normally would. Margie will get the BOLO out and I’ll have her input mother and son on NCIC. You two go find something, anything, so I don’t have to deal with the compelling sister later on.”

“Yes, sir,” both deputies said at once.

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\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stood in the driveway, watching as Talia’s vehicle was loaded onto the truck, secured and ready for transport back to the office. She waited at the edge of the curb, wondering what Flint Kesten saw when he parked here and watched the tiny house for hours. It had been hours, they knew that now. Reanna Akeman from two doors down and across the street confirmed it. She’d noticed the vehicle as she ushered her kids into the car the previous morning, around 0700 on their way to swimming lessons. When she returned at nearly ten, it was still there. She thought it was suspicious, got the plate and was about to call the police when he sped away and disappeared. She was happy to provide the plate number to the Sheriff’s Office and hoped they found the suspicious character soon. Paige had run the plate, it was stolen out of Provo off a 2010 Honda Civic, white in color. Another dead-end. But the Wit helped add weight to the Protective Order Violation. Plus, the stolen plate would add one more charge if they ever caught the elusive prick.

She frowned and took two steps toward the house when she was stopped by a soft, hesitant voice behind her.

“Ma’am,” Charlene Swann said as she made her way up the drive.

“Can I help you?” Paige asked hesitantly.

“I...” Charlene swallowed hard and cleared her throat.

She was an intriguing woman, Paige thought. She had a well-toned, athletic build but her features were... well, a bit homey. She wore very little makeup and her long butterscotch hair was tied back in a tight tail. It had vibrant streaks of bronze running through it, Paige wondered if that was natural or came from a bottle. Either way, it added character. Her clothes were once again... homey. Nondescript t-shirt, baggy cargo’s, white high-top running shoes. Paige would guess she was in her mid to late thirties and was extremely shy.

“I was talking to Reanna a minute ago and she told me about the man,” Charlene began. “The one she saw yesterday. I think I saw him here last night. Well, early this morning would be more accurate.”

“What’s your name?” Paige asked.

“Oh, sorry. I’m Charlene Swann and I live one street over,” she pointed. “I, well I work late. I’m the assistant manager so I normally close at about eleven but last night we had a few snags. I didn’t shut down until nearly one. Beaker was beside himself - that’s my dog. Anyway, Beaker is pretty good at the house training thing but if I wait too long, he has accidents. I was worried, but he held it together until I finally showed. I’d guess it was maybe one twenty or one thirty by the time I changed, got his leash attached and headed out. Beak was frantic, wanted his play time, you know? So, at first, my attention was focused on him. When we rounded the corner up there,” she pointed up the road. “I saw the vehicle parked in front of Abbi’s place. I didn’t think anything of it, you know. I mean, yeah it was a strange car and it spooked me a little, but I had Beaker and he’s a big dog - an English Mastiff. I knew my baby would protect me but it was strange. Strange enough I paid attention and got a good look at the man sitting behind the wheel, even took a picture of the back of the vehicle. It was dark, so the image isn’t great but here...” she shoved her phone at Paige.

*Naughty, naughty boy*, Paige thought as she studied the photo. The image wasn’t great, but it was clear enough to make out the vehicle, and the surroundings... specifically Abbi’s residence. Charlene had also snapped a shot of Flint hanging out the window, glancing behind him to make sure the street was clear before he sped away. It was indisputable evidence to prove the protective order violation. “Could I get your name and contact information?”

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“I guess,” Charlene agreed. “Is he dangerous?”

“He’s dangerous to the people that live here,” Paige clarified. “And he’s not supposed to be here. Those pictures would go a long way in proving he violated a judge’s order not to be here.”

“Oh,” Charlene brightened. “Maybe I helped catch a criminal then?”

“You absolutely did,” Paige agreed as she forwarded the pictures to her email account.

“He came back,” Charlene told her. “I took Beaker up to the park. It’s a long walk, but he gets so cooped up in the house all day while I’m working. I took him up, let him run a bit then headed home. I saw the car again, not parked this time. He was just, maybe casing the house or something. He drove by at least three times... down this street. At least three, maybe more... I didn’t wait to see. When I saw him, I just wanted to get home, but I know he passed me three times before I rounded the corner. I admit I was walking a little faster than usual, you know? I guess he scared me a little. Then I told myself I was being stupid and he probably had a perfectly logical reason for being there. Now... well, with you guys here I’m not so sure.”

“Do you know what time that was?” Paige asked. “When you headed back home?”

“Oh, it was a while,” Charlene admitted. “I was at the park for at least an hour, maybe more. Nobody was there and Beaker was having so much fun I just couldn’t disappoint him.”

“How about the time you got back home?” Paige pressed. “Do you know when that was?”

“I’d say around three,” Charlene said cautiously. “I know I shouldn’t be walking around in the middle of the night like that but I work afternoons. By the time I get up, have breakfast and take care of a few things, it’s time to head into work. Like I said, I work late, I’m normally out by eleven... midnight at the latest, normally. It’s important to me that I take a couple hours with Beaker. Plus, he’s so big, I can’t imagine anyone would bother me. This is Manti, you know. I’ve never worried about it before.”

“But you worried about it last night?” Paige asked.

“A little, yeah,” Charlene admitted. “I mean I had Beaker, but the guy was a little scary. Maybe it was the time, you know a stranger in the middle of the night and all, but he scared me. Then, I got home, locked the doors and settled in. I told myself I’d been watching too many scary movies and my imagination was getting the better of me. When I finally turned in, I made sure Beaker settled in next to me. When I got up this morning, I shrugged it off. Until now. Until Reanna said you were looking for the guy. Now I’m a little scared again.”

“I don’t think he’s a threat to you,” Paige tried to assure her. “But if you see him again, call us immediately. I’d lecture you about the late night jaunts but I can see I’d be wasting my breath. Keep the dog close, always carry your phone and pay attention to everyone around you. If you haven’t already, I’d recommend a self-defense course. They have a regular schedule at the county gym.”

“Okay,” Charlene glanced up when Lovato stepped through the front door.

“I’m done here,” he called to Paige.

“Can I go?” Charlene asked. “I need to head to work soon.”

“Sure,” Paige dismissed her and moved to join her colleague. “Anything?”

“Let’s head to the Farmhouse,” Lo suggested. “I need coffee, desperately.”

Paige smiled. “I’ll meet you there.” She watched as he dropped a couple evidence bags in his trunk, climbed behind the wheel and sped away. She took another quick glance around before she jumped into her own car and followed.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into Dirk’s Farmhouse and surveyed the area. She spotted Lovato in the back, away from the rest of the customers. Must have asked for privacy. She slid into the chair across from him and waited as he took a long sip of his coffee. “Did you find anything?”

Lovato started to answer but paused when the waitress slid a steaming breakfast plate in front of him and refilled his coffee mug.

“Coffee?” Gail asked pleasantly.

“Love some,” Paige answered. She eyed Mike’s breakfast. “How’d you get that? It’s after eleven.”

“We made it up special,” Gail answered. “Don’t tell anyone but if you want... I can get. We take care of our warriors in blue.”

Paige smiled. “Thanks, but no. I think I’d like an order of your Fish and Chips.”

“Be right back,” Gail assured her.

Paige turned back to face Lovato. Before she could ask again, Mike spoke.

“Maybe,” he told her, frustration evident in his voice. “There is no sign of forced entry. I guess the guy might have some B&E skills but his sheet doesn’t show that particular vice.”

“Maybe he’s good,” Paige considered. “Maybe he just hasn’t been caught for that particular vice.”

“Maybe,” Lo cut off a huge chunk of pancake and shoveled it into his mouth. The stack was swimming in syrup, so much it made Paige’s teeth hurt just looking at it. “I checked the doors, windows, garage, nothing. If she didn’t answer the door for him, he’s got skills.”

“Okay,” Paige said slowly. “It’s possible the guy was making so much noise Talia opened the door to shut him up.”

“Possible,” Lo agreed. “But I don’t think so. She had that PO and it’s a nice neighborhood. She had to know that. If her douchebag-ex was causing a scene, she had to know one of the neighbors would call it in. She’d be saved. Why open the door? Why risk another violent attack?”

“I agree,” Paige took a sip of her coffee. “So he broke in... somehow. For now, it doesn’t matter how. We go with it and assume he gained entry somehow. Did it look like he forced them or like they packed up and went willingly?”

“That’s the thing,” Lo shrugged. “I mean, they packed and it could be argued they left willingly.”

“But?”

“But there are small things,” Lo sighed. “Might be nothing, might be something. The thing is, we could justify it either way.”

Paige frowned. “What does that mean?”

“It means,” Lo sat back and stretched out his legs. “On the surface, it looks like she packed and fled. Jumped up in the middle of the night, packed a few clothes and bolted. But then there’s the car, how’d she get away? Why would she leave it? Maybe she grabbed a bus out of town, but why? Why take a bus or a train when she had that car sitting right there?”

“Good point,” Paige pondered.

“Then there’s the kid’s room,” Lovato continued. “The kid is eight. On the surface, again... looks like he packed in a hurry and took off with his mom. But he left his GameBoy. Right there on the bed, practically screaming at you when you walked in. *Look at me! Here I am.* It felt like a message, like the kid was trying to tell his aunt something*.* What kid that age, with dozens of games, all packed away in a handy compact case, takes off without his favorite entertainment... why leave it behind?”

“Okay,” Paige agreed. “Dekland could be sending a message. I left my favorite things behind. Does that mean he thinks they’re coming back, or he wants her to know he didn’t leave willingly?”

“I think the latter,” Mike said softly. “Then there’s the mother’s room. She snags up some clothes and a couple pairs of shoes but nothing else. She leaves a framed picture of her family... mother, father, Abbi... sitting there on the nightstand. Then there’s the jewelry box. I asked Abbi about it. It’s this fragile wooden box, hand-carved with all these decorative things all over it. Abbi said their grandmother gave it to Talia just before she passed away. It’s Talia’s most valued heirloom and she just walks out and leaves it behind? Wouldn’t she take the picture and the box if she was fleeing? If she found some underground organization that could make her disappear for good, wouldn’t she want at least a picture of the family she left behind? The jewelry box, something tangible she could hold to get her through the lonely nights on her own?”

“Yes,” Paige agreed. “She would.” She leaned back as Gail set a plate in front of her and walked silently away. Paige smiled at the large side dish of ranch dressing, one she hadn’t asked for, but one that Gail knew Paige would need. She drowned a fry in the creamy sauce and popped it into her mouth. Once she swallowed, she continued. “I think both of them were trying to leave Abbi... and us... clues. Just subtle messages to let us know they didn’t leave on their own. They left the things that were the most important to them behind so Abbi wouldn’t stop pushing and if we looked closer than the surface we’d understand.”

Lo smiled. “That’s so cute. I mean, after all this time it’s good to see you still believe in unicorns and fairies.”

Paige scowled. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means,” Lovato said soberly. “The woman lost faith in the system a long time ago. The message was for Abbi. I’d guess Talia knew her sister wouldn’t stop pushing. We never entered her mind. Talia had lost faith in the system, she didn’t leave those clues for us... she left them for her sister.”

“You’re probably right,” Paige nodded. “It worked. Abbi hasn’t let us take the easy route. Wouldn’t accept the company line or let us settle for the surface appearance. She’s pushed, yelled and screamed, and threatened to do more if we didn’t take her seriously.”

“I should have seen it earlier,” he admitted. “Should have listened to my gut. I had this niggling in the back of my mind but then I looked into the history, saw the surface and figured what’s twenty-four hours? I issued the ATL, but we all know someone that doesn’t want to be found can slip under the radar even with a thousand cops attempting to locate her. I can say I did the job, but I didn’t... do the job. Not really.”

“You did do the job,” Paige disagreed. “You followed up, tagged a friend and had him fill in the details. The history fit, clouded things a little. The more we’ve been able to gather, it mostly came from the knock on doors. You couldn’t canvass the area at six in the morning. Wouldn’t have caught the Akemann woman if you had. We also would have missed another wit I need to tell you about.” Paige proceeded to tell him about Charlene and her big dog, Beaker. “I have the photos to add to my case. He can’t squeeze out of the violation and it puts him in the area during the time Talia and Deklan disappeared.”

“You done with that?” Mike motioned to Paige’s lunch. “I want to head back to the office and run a few things.”

Paige stood and dropped some bills onto the table, enough to cover the meal and a generous tip. “Let’s go.”

\*\*\*\*\*

When Lovato stepped into the Bullpen, he spotted Paige at her desk. She was kicked back, feet propped on the desk, eyes closed. He moved to his own desk to finish his call. Quickly made another then moved to settle into her visitor’s chair and wait.

“I can hear you staring?” she advised without opening her eyes.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” Lovato said sarcastically. “I mean, we just have a small pesky matter of a missing woman and her son to deal with.”

Paige opened her eyes, dropped her feet to the ground and focused on the deputy. “I wasn’t sleeping,” she said flatly. “I was thinking. Going through the situation in my mind, considering angles, you know... investigating.”

Before Mike could answer, Margie approached them. “I found something the two of you might be interested in.”

“Darling,” Lovato grinned. “I’m always interested in anything you have to offer.”

Margie grinned, Paige nearly groaned.

Margie focused on Paige. “He can be a charmer when he wants to be.”

“What did you find?” Paige wondered.

Margie set a stack of papers in front of the two deputies. “I found the vehicle.”

“You?” Paige straightened in amazement. “How? Are you sure?”

“Ninety-nine point nine percent sure,” Margie said confidently. “It seems Flint Kesten borrowed the car from his good friend Bobby Masters.”

“Who is Bobby Masters?” Lovato asked, moving so he could see the documentation Margie had provided.

“Bobby Masters is a fellow criminal. That big section there, that’s his rap sheet. Masters and Kesten got arrested a couple years back... together.”

“For what?” Paige asked, flipping pages to find the details.

“Assault,” Margie provided. “I requested the report and it just arrived before the two of you. Flint got off with sixty days and a few hours community service. Masters wasn’t so lucky. When the cops arrived, he tried to flee. Got the added bonus of a DUI and when they impounded the car, the same one Flint is driving now, they found stolen property in the trunk along with burglary tools under the driver’s seat. He spent nearly two years at the point of the mountain and got out on probation five months ago.”

“We need to contact his Parole Officer,” Paige said absently.

“I already did,” Margie advised. “Officer Bannock decided it was past time he conducted a little spot check and search on his parolee’s residence. He’ll make contact with you, Mike, once he’s finished.”

“That means Kesten has a connection to a B&E man,” Lovato realized. “Does Bannock know if Master’s was out of town early this morning?”

Margie frowned. “I didn’t ask.”

“I’ll call him,” Mike stood, snatching up the page that contained the officer’s contact info. “Give me a minute.”

Paige looked at Margie. “Good work, but then you always do good work. I take it Lo’s flirting doesn’t bother you? It could be considered sexual harassment in the workplace in some circles.”

Before Margie answered, Lovato dropped back into Paige’s comfortable visitor’s chair. “It’s not harassment if it’s welcome. Plus, I attended that mandatory class when I came on. The instructor said you could apply a little test. You know, to see if it’s harassment or not. I just had to ask myself if I only call Margie Darling or if I also use that same term of endearment on my male counterparts. Since I told Dean he’s a darling man just the other day... I’m good.”

“And I’m flattered,” Margie added as she turned to leave. “Not insulted so let’s just leave things the way they are for now.”

Paige turned to face Lovato. “You didn’t really call Dean a darling man did you?”

“I absolutely did,” Lo grinned. “He may have wanted to come through the phone and choke the life out of me, but since we were miles apart and he’s taking a few days off... I figure I’m safe. For now, anyway.”

Paige shook her head in disbelief.

“Bannock said Master’s still has an ankle monitor,” Lovato got back to business. “Said he never left the valley. He’s in the clear, on the abduction angle anyway. He may have stolen the plate, or known it was stolen. Bannock said he’ll use it if he needs to and let us know when he’s done.”

“It’s good information,” Paige said, staring out the front window. “But it doesn’t get us any closer to finding Talia and Deklan.”

Lovato sighed and glanced down at the packet Margie had compiled. “I think the first step is sifting through all this. We have to read it, see if there’s something we can use in there. You want half?”

Paige nodded and accepted the stack of papers Mike handed her. Mike stood, then hesitated. “Hey, Margie?”

“Yes, Mike,” she said absently.

“Is the conference room clear for the next couple days?”

Margie pulled up the calendar. “Yes.”

“Sign it out to me. I want to use it on this case,” he glanced at Paige. “Okay with you? We can spread this all out and discuss anything that pops out as we read.”

“Good idea,” she stood and gathered up her files before she followed him into the large room.

“I have the locals, up in West Valley, keeping an eye on Kesten’s place. If he shows, we’ll know. And we’ll know if he’s alone or if he has company.”

“I don’t think he left town,” Paige insisted. “Not yet.”

“I think he did,” Mike argued. “There’s nothing to keep him here. He has to know Abbi reported her sister missing right away.”

“And he’s familiar with the system,” Paige told him. “He’d know there’s a twenty-four-hour delay. As far as he knows, we’re not even looking at this right now. We won’t be looking at it until tomorrow sometime.”

“Okay,” Mike considered. “I’ll give you that. It gives us an advantage but I don’t think it follows that he’d stay close to town.”

“He has to,” Paige disagreed. “He kidnapped two people. He abducted his wife, a woman that has a protective order issued against him. If he’s found with her, he’s screwed. He knows that. Plus, he took his son, the son that stood up to him, the son that took a punch from him and still stood his ground. He knows he can’t control them, not yet. One word and he’s toast. Add to it, he’s driving around in a vehicle that has stolen plates. Good chance he’s going to get stopped by Highway. If he tried for a road trip... a long road trip, there’s a good chance he’d be stopped along the way – speeding, failing to signal, not making a complete stop at an intersection, then the cop runs the plate and...” she snapped her fingers. “He’s spending the night in a cell and the car’s impounded because he’s driving around with stolen plates.”

“Or, he just changed them back after he snatched them up,” Lovato countered. “No reason not to at this point.”

“Maybe,” Paige considered. “Maybe, but I still think he needs time. If he can get the two of them on his side. If he can get them back under his control, it improves his chance of getting away with it. He just needs to get them back home where they belong. Stupid bimbo thinks she can run... and with his kid? Well, he’s going to show her a thing or two. But he’s got that order. If he gets stopped, for one thing, the smallest infraction and she cries foul, he’s off to a cell. He can’t risk that. He has to hunker down, teach her a lesson, teach the kid who’s boss. Then he can take his little family back up north and settle back into his cozy life. With him in charge... the way it’s supposed to be.”

“Okay,” Lovato relented. “So where are they?”

“That’s a question,” Paige told him. “It’s the one we need to answer before it’s too late. Because if Abbi’s right, Flint Kesten’s careful little plan is not going to work. Which means Talia and the kid may be in serious trouble.”

\*\*\*\*\*

It was a quarter after five when Jericho stepped into the room. “You two headed out soon?”

“Huh?” Paige glanced up, looked at the clock then focused on her boss. “We need more time.”

Jericho moved in and settled into one of the chairs. “Convince me. This one,” he pointed a thumb at Lovato, “has been on nearly eighteen hours.”

“Actually,” Mike objected. “I went home and grabbed a couple hours sleep before Paige tagged me and my shift was only eight... last night as well as today, so I’m good. Eight on, two off and another eight on. I can handle a couple more.”

“Again,” Jericho said soberly. “Convince me.”

Paige ran through all the reasons she believed they were still in the area. Then she explained what they were doing to locate the hole, the place Flint had taken his family to hide out until he felt the coast was clear to bolt.

“I agree,” Jericho said after several silent seconds. “It’s too risky to just bolt back up north. In fact, I’d be surprised if he plans to return there at all. The judge that issued the order is too close. All Talia has to do is get word to the authorities and Flint’s locked up again. Talia and the kid would be out of his reach and they’d have plenty of time to disappear for good. He won’t risk that, not yet. Maybe not ever.”

“You think he’s on the run,” Lovato studied his boss.

“I think he might be,” Walters corrected. “Paige could be right. He may have found a place to hole up until he thinks things have cooled down and he has his family under control. Then, he buys a new identity, sets up house in a new area with his fancy new name, a new job and a new life. He could control the mother by threatening the kid, control the kid by threatening mom.”

“I agree,” Paige sat back. “Partially. I think that’s exactly how he will control them. I think that’s probably the plan... just poof. Start a new life and let Talia know if she doesn’t go along she’ll lose everything. He might even threaten Abbi. She’s close to her sister and might do anything to protect her sister and her son. But first, he has to scare them enough, torment them enough, to go along. One word and the plan goes out the window. Flint knows Deklan is getting older, he has to make sure the kid won’t blow his cover if they are stopped by the police. Hell, Deklan could whisper something to a waitress while they wait for breakfast if he wanted to. He needs time. He’s still here, we just have to find him,” Paige finished in frustration.

“He might already have the new identity,” Jericho warned. “He may be relaxing in a luxury suite at the Yardley. Rather than convincing by force, he could just book a spa session, woo her into submission rather than reverting back to force.”

Paige slid a folder across the desk. “Does that look like a man that would pamper his wife? The guy hasn’t had a real job for years where did he get the money to book that spa session? How is he paying for the suite? I’m tracking his cards, there’s no activity... at all. He’s not at the Yardley or any other classy hotel or Inn for that matter. He’s somewhere isolated, somewhere he can pound on his wife and the neighbors won’t call the cops. Somewhere he can keep the kid under control and in fear. I just need to figure out where.”

“We need to figure out where,” Lovato corrected. “My case, my responsibility.”

“Alright,” Jericho stood. “I’m headed home, but if you get a hit call me. I want to know immediately if you find him. I want to know if you find that mother and her son.”

Mike Lovato watched his boss leave the room then ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “He could be right.”

“About which part?” Paige asked.

“We’ve been asking about rentals, rooms, even purchases by Flint Kesten,” he supplied. “What if he already has his new fake identity and he’s already living under that name? What if he rented a place under some made up, fictitious name? We’ll never find him.”

“I’ve thought of that,” Paige admitted. “But I don’t think he’d do it.”

“Why not?”

“Because if he uses his new identity here, it’s blown. If we start asking questions, passing around photos of him, of Talia or Deklan... his new fancy life is over. This is a small town, someone is going to remember him.” Paige was pretty sure she was right about that. “Plus, I don’t think he could resist showing Talia just how powerful and in control he is. If he uses another name, it’s like saying she won. 'This is my name, my wife, my son. I’m in control and nobody’s going to tell me I can’t go near them.' That order hadn’t been in place all that long before he violated it. If some stupid, meddling judge thinks he can tell Flint Kesten what to do, he’s wrong. Nobody is going to stand in the way of him and his woman. Nobody is going to keep him away from his own son.”

“Okay,” Lovato sighed. “I think I agree with you. It’s all speculation and we could both be dead wrong, but it’s what we have so let’s work this through to the end. I’ve gotten through all the hotels and motels in the area. I’m about to start on that new list of cabin rentals. If he’s looking for privacy and seclusion, we have that in spades. All he has to do is find a place up in the LaSal’s and he’s set.”

“I’m working through trailer rentals,” Paige advised. “Easy to rent a motorhome or a small trailer, snatch those two up and head for the hills.”

“It would have to be a motorhome,” Lovato said absently. “Or he ditched the vehicle and I don’t think he’d do that. He needs it for later.”

“Good point,” Paige agreed. She snatched up her phone and made another call.

\*\*\*\*\*

Two hours later, they were both still hunkered down in the conference room, working the case. Lovato disconnected his latest call and moved into the bullpen to snatch his newest list off the fax machine. He wandered back, grumbling about antiquated equipment. “I seriously can’t believe anyone still uses a fax. I mean seriously, it’s so much faster to just send an email with a simple attachment.

“Uh-huh,” Paige said into her phone as she gave Lovato an understanding nod. “I can get a warrant. No. Listen, I’m not asking for private information. I just need to know if a man by the name of Flint Kesten rented any of your vehicles in the past week.”

“Yes!” Lovato exclaimed. “I’ve got the prick, stop hassling with the uncooperative flunky. I found him.”

“Are you sure?” Paige asked, excited.

“One Flint Kesten of Salt Lake City, Utah rented a rustic cabin a few miles up Sixmile, near the creek, for the entire month with the option to renew if needed. He declared three occupants; himself, his lovely wife and one child. No additional amenities necessary.”

Paige smiled as she addressed the woman on the other end of the line. “Ma’am, we were able to obtain the information by another means. The Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office will not forget the manner in which you conducted yourself during this call and will act appropriately in the future. Do have a nice evening.” She disconnected and stood.

“Where are you going?”

“We need a map of the area,” Paige said over her shoulder. “Oh, and if Jericho asks, you have no idea what that woman is talking about. I have a feeling the obnoxious snob just might file a complaint.”

“What call?” Lovato said with a grin. Paige returned with a large map and the two of them began to study it closely. “I guess I better call the boss.”

“Yeah,” Paige agreed. “I guess.” She walked back to her laptop and used the mouse to zoom into the area even closer. The image wasn’t perfect, but she was pretty sure she had just located the cabin in question. She took a screenshot, saved it and returned to the overhead map.

It was less than ten minutes later when Jericho Walters stepped into the room. He quietly studied the map, orienting himself to the exact location. He remembered there was an old logging road that ran almost directly behind the small structure. The man might park right next to the cabin, thinking he’d gotten away with his scheme. But if Flint Kesten had half a brain, he’d parked on the logging road to ensure escape if cornered. Jericho planned to corner him and as a special bonus, he’d disable the vehicle just for fun.

“I assume you know that area well,” Lovato surmised. “I don’t think I’ve ever been up there myself.”

“Me either,” Paige admitted.

“I know it,” Jericho said, still studying the map. “We’ll wait for Havilland then I’ll tell you what I know.”

“You called in Havi?” Lovato asked. “We could use him, I just thought... well, I didn’t think you were convinced... when I talked to you on the phone.”

Jericho smiled. “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t convinced.”

“True,” Lovato relaxed. “Havilland’s the best marksman I know. We could use him on the door, just in case.”

“I agree,” Jericho said absently. “I want Havilland to set up here.”

Havilland stepped into the room dressed in black. Black jeans, black long sleeved t-shirt, black boots. “Just in time, I see.”

Jericho slid a quick glance to his deputy then returned his attention to the map. “I want you here.” He repeated. “The front door is here,” he pointed to the cabin. “There’s a logging road back here. You can’t see it on this map, the trees are obscuring it but it’s there. A little rough, more in the vehicle he’s driving but passable.”

“Right,” Havilland concentrated on the area for several seconds before it hit him. He knew that cabin. “There’s also a small cave over here. If they make it out of the house, they could head through here...” he pointed to another area obscured with trees. “The cave is about here.” He pointed to a spot just before the trees connected with a steep slope.

“Right,” Jericho nodded. “I forgot about that. Haven’t been out there since I was a boy. To be honest, I wondered if they’d boarded it up. But I don’t think he’ll know about that. He’s from up north. If he knows the locals, sure but there’s no indication he has any contacts down here.”

“We could call in Forest just in case,” Havilland said referring to the Forest Service Rep that worked the area. “It’s nearly time for him to check on, anyway.”

“Call him,” Jericho decided. They’d be better off including the fed, especially if anything went wrong out there.

“I got it,” Lovato told them as he pulled out his phone and made the call. Moments later he returned to the group. “He’ll meet us at the mouth of the canyon in twenty minutes.”

“Okay,” Jericho leaned against the large table. “This is how we’re going to handle this.” He proceeded to lay out the plan, pointing out positions and giving assignments. Once he was done, he studied each of his deputies, one after the other. “Any questions?”

“I don’t have a question, just a concern,” Paige told him. “If Deklan is determined to protect his mother, I’m not sure we’ll be able to get him away from the cabin without her. I know it would be ideal to get him out and away but unless forcefully removed, I’m not sure he’ll cooperate.”

“I agree,” Lovato said immediately. “Abbi said he stood up to his dad, refused to let him hurt Talia and his father broke his nose for the effort. He’s getting old enough he wants to help, not run. If you encounter the kid, I’d say just snatch him up and carrying him to safety. Don’t waste time trying to negotiate with him.”

“That’s fine,” Jericho said after considering for several seconds. “As long as you don’t jeopardize your own safety to do it. Flint could use his son as bait to get a clear shot. From what we’ve learned, it’s not out of the realm so watch your back and consider all the hazards before you do anything. Let’s head to the canyon and hook up with Forest. We need to read him into the plan.”

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\*\*\*\*\*

Paige slowly made her way into the cover of trees. Her heart was beating fast as she settled into place. She clicked on her mic and whispered into the radio. “I’m in position. I have a clear view of the back door. There are two windows, both unopened and appear to be secure. No sign of movement inside or outside.”

Havilland came over the air next. “Car 21, in position.”

“Car 23, same traffic,” Lovato relayed.

Paige knew Havilland was stationed at the front of the cabin with a sniper rifle aimed at the front door. She had the back on the east, Lovato was in back on the west. The Sheriff was stationed up front with a bullhorn and would be shouting out orders for the occupants to exit with their hands in the air. They were just waiting for Forest to signal he was in place further away, hidden among the trees, blocking the entrance to the old mining cave.

“FS one,” Forest’s voice came over the radio. “I’m in place and good to go.”

“Copy,” Jericho acknowledged. “I want to get a good look, see if there’s any movement inside before I start giving the commands. Just hold tight and wait for my signal.”

The back door slid open and a small boy carefully made his way down the stairs. Flint Keslan stood in the doorway, watching... judging was more like it if you asked Paige. She pressed her mic, carefully, and whispered into the mouthpiece. “Deklan just exited the back door. Target is standing just inside the open doorway, watching the boys every move. I can’t see his hands, they’re blocked by the screen door. Standby and I’ll advise.” Paige held her breath and waited. She could hear Jericho cursing in her head and smiled for an instant before pushing the humor away as she focused on the child. Deklan continued across the large expanse of the backyard area, headed straight for the trees.

“Be advised, I’ve relocated to the east of my original location,” Lovato’s voice came over the radio. “I’m making my way to what looks like a washing area. There’s a water faucet surrounded by a round section that’s been filled with gravel. The boy may be headed to get water or wash up. I’ll intercept once I know he’s in the clear.”

The group waited silently for word the kid was secure. Several agonizing seconds ticked by, then several more. Finally, Lovato’s voice broke through the silence. “Child secure but I need to get him out of here.”

“I can cover the back,” Paige offered. “I have a clear visual of the entire back section of the cabin.”

“Lovato,” Jericho’s voice boomed over the radio. “Get the kid to the car, Margie’s waiting. I’m not going to issue commands until you’re back in position.”

“Copy,” Lovato said as he held the child close to his chest. The kid was not cooperating and he was going to be a handful for Margie. “Kid,” Lovato hissed through his teeth. “I told you to calm down. If you fight me, this is going to take longer. The longer it takes, the longer it will take us to get your mother free.”

“He’s going to hurt her,” Deklan said through his silent tears. “You have to save her. He’s going to kill her.”

“I told you,” Lovato said as he reached the car. “I need you to stay in the car with this nice lady. I’m going back to get your mom. Margie will explain everything. I need you to climb into the car, kid. Trust me, we’re here to help you.” He set the kid on the ground but kept a firm grip on the kid’s hand as he opened the door. Margie was already in the backseat and gave Deklan a welcoming smile.

“Climb on in here,” she said softly. “Let us help you. Go on now,” she said to Lovato. “You get back out there and save this boys mom. A young boy needs his mother. You go save her for him, okay?”

“Suspect has closed the back door and is no longer visible from my position,” Paige advised.

Lovato closed the back door the instant the kid climbed inside. Hopefully, Margie could handle the little tyke until this was over. He made his way cautiously back to his original location and notified his boss he was ready to proceed.

Jericho raised the bullhorn to his mouth, took a deep breath and began negotiations. “Flint Keslan, this is the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office. The cabin is surrounded. I need you to come out immediately. Exit through the front door, hands in the air and don’t make any sudden movements. We need to talk to you about a situation.”

“Suspect is in the living room,” Havilland called out. “It looks like he has the mother tied to a chair and he is becoming violent. I don’t have a clear shot at this time.”

“Flint Keslan,” Jericho’s voice echoed ominously throughout the entire area. “I know you have Tiana in there with you. We have the boy and are prepared to do what’s necessary to ensure the woman is safe. Step away from Tiana Keslan immediately or I cannot ensure your safety.”

Flint stopped, glanced around and focused on the window. He could shut the curtains but that wouldn’t stop a bullet. He was surrounded, how had they found him? “What did you do?” he demanded of his wife. “What did you do?” he screamed in frustration.

“Nothing,” she sobbed. “Nothing. Please Flint, just let me go. Let me walk out the front door. I’ll see if it’s a trap. I’ll test it for you.”

“Shut up!” he yelled and backhanded her across the face.

“Suspect is still in the living room,” Havilland advised. “I’m going to try to move, see if I can get a clear shot. He just struck the woman in the face with his hand.”

“Hold positions,” Jericho demanded. “Flint Keslan, there’s nowhere for you to go. If you strike your wife one more time, I can’t ensure your safety. I need you to move away from the chair. Do it now.” He shifted the bullhorn so he could speak into his microphone. “Paige, make the call.”

Paige dialed the cellphone number she’d retrieved from the court records and hoped it was still functioning. She let out a relieved breath when she heard ringing inside the house.

“Flint,” Jericho called when he too heard the phone ringing. “We need to talk to you. Step away from Tiana and answer the phone. I need you to answer the phone.”

Flint pulled out his knife and bent over his wife. “You answer it,” he said as he cut the rope binding one of her hands to the chair. “Be careful, be very careful what you say, Tiana.”

“Hello?” Tiana choked out.

“Tiana?” Paige asked.

“Yes,” she said meekly, not sure what she was supposed to say or do.

“Tell them I rented this place and they’re trespassing. Tell them to get off my land. Tell them!”

“Flint says you are trespassing and he wants you to leave,” Tiana choked out.

“That’s not going to happen,” Paige assured her. “We are here to save you. Don’t worry about Deklan, he’s safe. We intercepted him on his way to the water.”

“Okay,” Tiana said.

“What did they say? What?” Flint demanded.

“She said they have Deklan,” Tiana told him.

“Tell Flint I need to talk to him,” Paige suggested. If she could get him on the phone, maybe she could keep him occupied enough he wouldn’t injure Tiana again. “Tell him I ordered you to hand him the phone.”

“She said I have to give you the phone,” Tiana said to Flint. “What do I do?”

“Give me that,” he snatched the phone out of her hand. “I want my kid back in this house, now. You have one minute... that’s sixty seconds starting now, to get me my son.”

“I’m sorry but we can’t do that,” Paige told him, shifting to get a better look at the back of the house. “We aren’t allowed to send a child into danger and I think we can all agree this situation is dangerous. We just need to talk to you, that’s all. All you have to do is step out onto the front porch and this can be over. I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding. My boss, he just needs to talk to you... that’s all. Just talk. Can you step onto the front porch and talk to Sheriff Walters?”

“Don’t use that tone with me,” Flint yelled into the phone. “I’m not an idiot. The instant I step onto the porch you’re going to shoot me in the head. I know how you work, shoot me in the head then plant a gun and say it was my fault. Why don’t you come in here and talk? I’ll be sure to give you a big welcome. Just you, I don’t want your boss in here.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Flint,” Paige said flatly. “I’m wondering if you can tell me if Tiana is injured.”

“Not as bad as she’s going to be if you don’t get my son,” Flint warned.

“The suspect is armed,” Margie said through the radio. “Loaded handgun, no further.” Margie looked at Deklan. The boy was trying to be brave, but he was obviously upset and worried about his mother. “Thank you for telling me that. It’s going to help us get your mom back, okay?”

“Okay,” Deklan swallowed and stared out the window.

Tiana shifted her body to block Flint’s view and slowly began to work at the rope securing her right hand. He’d cut her left hand free so she could talk on the phone. If the cops kept him busy, maybe she could get her other hand free and have a fighting chance when he came at her again. She was going to get away from him for good. For Deklan, she would survive this somehow, she had to. She’d testify against him, tell the world how he’d snuck into the house and kidnapped her. How he’d beat her, tied her to the chair and threatened her. She’d do whatever she had to do to make sure he spent the rest of his worthless life in prison. If she couldn’t do that, she’d find a way to hide. She’d go somewhere he’d never find her or Deklan and she’d hide.

Flint dropped the phone back into his wife’s lap. “I’m done talking to the women. Tell her I’m done.”

Tiana picked up the phone and placed it to her ear. “He said he’s not going to talk to you anymore.”

“That’s not what I said,” he kicked the chair with so much force it nearly toppled over.

“Paige,” Havilland said softly. “He’s moved the chair slightly which brought the victim nearly into range. See if you can get her to slide the chair another two, maybe three feet in the same direction. If you do, the next time he approaches her, I’ll have a clear view of the target.”

“Tiana,” Paige said wondering how she was supposed to do that. No matter what she said, the woman would know they were arranging a shot if Flint ended up getting dead. “We can’t see you very well. My guys up front, they want to know you’re okay. If you get a chance, can you move the chair just a little in the same direction it went when Flint just kicked it?”

“What?” Tiana asked. She was supposed to move the stupid chair? How?

“If you get a chance, just move the chair a couple inches,” Paige repeated hoping with every fiber of her being they didn’t shoot the idiot the instant she did what Paige asked.

“What is she saying?” Flint demanded.

“She wanted to know if I’m okay,” Tiana lied. “She said they saw you kick the chair and they wanted to know if I’m injured.”

Flint glared at his wife for several seconds before he grabbed the chair she was sitting in and moved it several feet away. She was now sitting directly in front of the window. “They want to see what’s going on in here, let them look.”

“Havi,” Paige said softly. “How’s the view now?”

“Five by five,” he said with humor in his voice. “He just repositioned her directly in front of the large window. Whatever you said pissed him off. His tantrum is our advantage.”

Paige relaxed. If he moved the chair that far, Tiana couldn’t blame her... or herself if Havi ended up taking a shot.

“Flint Kesten,” Jericho called through the bullhorn. “There’s no way out of this. Put down your weapon, exit the front door hands in the air, and surrender. We don’t want anyone to get hurt. Come out with your hands up and we can talk.”

“Get up,” Flint told Tiana.

“What about,” she held up the phone.

“Forget that,” he demanded as he grabbed the phone and threw it to the ground. “Stand up.”

“You have to untie me,” Tiana said hesitantly. “I can’t stand up with my legs tied to a chair.”

Flint moved forward and crouched on the floor, cutting the rope that tied her legs to the sturdy chair. He grabbed her free hand and yanked her toward the door. The chair tumbled to the side nearly pulling them both over with it. Flint slapped her across the face. “You idiot,” he grumbled as he reached over and cut the rope. The chair fell to the floor with a clatter. He shoved her toward the door. “If this is a trap, I want you in front of me. If they shoot, they’ll shoot you.” He laughed, a high-pitched, sadistic laugh.

Tiana swallowed hard, moved to the door and gently began to open it.

“Wait,” Flint ordered, raising his hand to stop the door. “We wait and see what happens for a minute.”

“I think they are coming out the front,” Paige said into the radio. “The voices sound weak but I think he’s making her exit first, to see what we do.”

“Subject is at the door,” Havilland relayed. “I’ve got eyes on.”

“Okay,” Flint gave Tiana a shove. “Open it all the way then step onto the porch.”

Tiana pulled open the door then immediately raised her hands into the air. She took a small, tentative step forward and stopped. She could feel Flint’s warm body pressed against her back.

“Move it,” he said softly. “Not too fast.” He was positioned behind his wife, his hand hidden behind her back, resting on the butt of the gun he had tucked underneath his waistband in the front of his jeans. If they thought they could ambush him, they were in for a surprise.

Tiana took another tentative step forward then stopped abruptly when Flint wrapped his hand around her hair and yanked.

“That’s far enough,” he kept his left hand wrapped around her hair as he ran his right palm over the gun in anticipation.

“Hands where we can see them,” Jericho called out. “Now! Flint, get your hands in the air.”

Havilland focused on the subject and waited. This could go about a million different ways and he needed to be prepared. He studied the man’s eyes and knew the instant he made his decision. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Flint spun his wife around to face him and pulled a pistol from underneath his shirt. Havilland could hear yelling, could see the fear on the woman’s face, the determination and anger on the man’s. Flint started to raise the weapon, to aim it at his wife, and Havilland fired. The loud boom of the rifle echoed through the still mountain air. The bullet cut through the air and found its mark. Flint went down and dropped his own weapon as he hit the old, stained, wooden porch.

Tiana screamed, realized she was free and ran.

“Hold your positions,” Jericho ordered before he reached out and wrapped his big arm around the terrified, fleeing woman. She gasped, then fell to the ground in a heap and began to shake. He needed help and he needed it now.

“Paige, Lovato I need you up front. Make your way around the house and secure the prisoner. He’s down but his condition is unknown. Proceed with caution.” He shifted forward to shield Tiana from the scene still playing out on the front porch of the cabin. He watched as his two deputies approached the front of the building from the right and cautiously moved forward. Once they reached the body, it was obvious the man was dead.

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“You got this?” Paige asked, looking down at the lifeless body of Flint Kesten.

“I got it,” Lovato assured her. “Go help the boss. Looks like he could use a little assistance.”

Paige approached Walters and saw Havilland moving toward them from the rear. “I got this,” she pointed to Tiana. “I’ll take her to the car.”

“Good idea,” Havi said when he reached the group. He held out his rifle to Jericho. “I assume you need this.”

Jericho ran a hand through his hair and sighed before accepting the weapon his deputy offered. “I guess I do. Let me secure it in the car. I’ll call Tolman so we can get this over with. We’ll need the ME out here as well.” He watched as Paige guided the frightened, but lucky, woman out of the immediate area and knew between his deputy and his admin, she couldn’t be in better hands. “Good job, kid.” He said turning back to Havilland. “I had hoped we could avoid that, but good job. You saved that woman’s life. Remember that... you were forced to take a life to save a life.” He walked away, prepared to get down to business and process the scene. It was definitely going to be a very long night.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into the office and spotted Gage. “I thought you were out of town.”

“I was,” Gage stood. “Heard you had a little excitement while I was away.”

“A bit,” Paige dropped into her chair, exhausted. “And I guess I’m glad you weren’t there. I mean, the last thing we needed was one of your signature tackles. He had a gun, Gage. If you had gone in, the way you do, he might have turned it on you. I thought of that when it was all over. I thought how much I missed you and I thought... well, at least he wasn’t here to get dead. That’s something.”

“I missed you, too,” Gage said as he dropped into her visitor’s chair. “It’s been awhile since we worked together. And, I guess I’ll forgive you... this time. But only because you look like the rug that granny beat with a rolling pin.”

“I don’t even know what that means,” Paige sighed. “Why are you here? In the office I mean. You should be home sleeping off a good party buzz.”

“I needed to see you,” Gage told her. “You and Jericho.”

“Aren’t you on in the morning?”

“I am,” Gage agreed. “But you never know what kind of calls we’re going to get and when we’ll both have a break long enough to stop by the office. Anyway, I’ve been listening to the call and knew you and the sheriff were on the way in.”

“Havi had to shoot him,” Paige warned him. “Jer might be busy with the DA for a while.”

Gage shrugged and stood when Jericho stepped through the door.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded. Paige smiled.

“I know you’re busy but I could use a few minutes of your time,” Gage said quickly.

“In my office,” Jericho motioned for Gage to join him.

“You too,” Gage insisted turning to Paige.

Once they were settled, Gage placed a disk on Jericho’s desk.

“What’s that?” Walter’s asked.

“You know I went to the annual Knights Templar extravaganza,” Gage began.

“I do,” Jericho nodded. “Which is why I was surprised when I walked through the door and spotted you at the office.”

“I left early,” Gage told them. “Not really my thing. Anyway, once I got there, I realized it was the perfect opportunity to gather intel... on your project.”

“On the investigation into Chaya’s murder?” Jericho frowned.

“Yes,” Gage nodded. “It hit me almost immediately. I’d barely stepped through the door when Millie Keeton cornered me and demanded to know why I wasn’t wearing my ring.”

“Oh,” Paige said in understanding.

“Yeah,” Gage smiled at her. “I haven’t attended many of the events because well, I was busy. And, to be honest it’s just not my thing.”

“You said that already,” Jericho pressed. “Did you find something?”

“I took pictures,” Gage told him. “They aren’t great, I was using my cell phone but I think they are good enough.”

“I don’t understand,” Jericho pressed.

“Everyone was taking pictures,” Gage told them. “All night long, I don’t think I’ve had my picture taken that many times in my life... not even as a pro. Anyway, it gave me an idea. I was thinking about the ring and the list I compiled and decided I’d start taking pictures, subtly. I got snapshots of everyone that was wearing their ring. Most did. There were a few like me that didn’t bother, but it was a big deal... apparently.”

“We have names we can check off that list you narrowed down for us... before,” Paige realized. “How many?”

“A lot,” Gage motioned to the disk. “I took a shot of each member, then a close-up of the ring. They didn’t know. I just played like I wanted the two just in case one didn’t turn out. I also learned something I didn’t know. It’s going to help if the person who lost theirs had it replaced.”

“What?” Paige asked, excited now. “What did you learn?”

Stan Donaldson stepped into Jericho’s doorway and rapped on the wood molding. “James said you needed me here.” He glanced at Paige, then instantly looked away. It always made him so uncomfortable being around her.

“Right,” Jericho stood. “Let me get you started. I’ll join you in a few minutes, this shouldn’t take long.” He escorted the prosecutor back into the office area and into the conference room. Havilland was already waiting in one of the chairs. The union attorney, Eric Graham, sat next to him taking notes. “Stan needs some basic information from you while I finish something up. Don’t get into the details until I return.” He returned to his office and leaned against his desk. “Gage, continue and try to hurry. I’m sure Graham is doing his best to limit Havilland’s responses but I don’t want to leave them alone with Stan for too long.”

“I found out the rings are numbered,” Gage informed them. “I didn’t even know that myself. Each ring has a number etched into the design. If you enhance those pictures, you should be able to identify the number on each one.”

“How does that help us?” Paige asked. “Does the school have a record of who received what?”

“No,” Gage shook his head. “It’s up to the coach. I learned of the numbers the day I left for Moab. Otherwise, I would have passed the information on sooner. Mark and I had just finished up with practice when Principal Swanson stopped us on our way out... he was mainly looking for Mark. Swanson was frantic to get the final numbers - the final count on rings for this school year so he could place an order before the deadline. When he left, Mark casually asked me to pencil him in. Said we needed to get together soon and decide who gets what number. That was the first I’d heard of it. I honestly didn’t even notice the rings had numbers. I don’t even know what number I got. Anyway, I decided to test it out at the event over the past couple days. Sure enough, they all have a number on them. I called the manufacturer yesterday and asked about a replacement, you know played like I lost mine and I wanted to order a new one. I can order a ring, but not an exact replica. I spoke to the manager. She explained the policy and the reason for it. I have to say it actually makes sense. They can reproduce the ring but not the number. If I order a new ring, I have to get at the back of the line you could say.”

“Meaning?” Jericho asked impatiently, he needed to get back in and deal with Havilland and the prosecutor.

“Meaning if thirty rings were issued the year I received mine and I lost my ring,” Gage explained. “I could order a new ring, one that had the same design as the year I got it, but the number on the ring would have to be thirty-one or higher. They can’t reproduce a number... ever. She used me as an example. If I lost my ring, because I went pro, it would be worth more than say... your friend Ken Glenshaw who didn’t play after high school. If they reproduced it, the ring would lose some of the value. To avoid any issues, they have a strict policy not to reproduce any numbers. That way, the original stays original... it remains one of a kind.”

“Makes sense,” Jericho decided. “So, we just need to get the ring out and see what number is on it. Then we figure out how many rings were issued that year and go through your photos to see if anyone ordered a replacement.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Gage told them. “We won’t catch everyone on the list. Some didn’t attend and others, like me, didn’t wear a ring. But... it’s a new lead and I wanted to let you know right away. I realize we aren’t going to work on this tonight but it’s a new lead.”

“It’s a good one,” Paige grinned. “I can start working on it in the morning. Jericho is going to be busy saving Havi from fire, brimstone, and bankruptcy but I’ll get started right away. Even if we don’t find our man, we should be able to eliminate a few more on the list.”

“I’ll be sure to let Havilland know how sorry you are that he’s in this mess,” Jericho stood and moved to the door. “Go home. Get some sleep. You look like the walking dead.”

Paige stood, turned, then whipped back around and pulled Gage into a huge hug. “Thank you!”

“I know the two of you wanted to work on this... well, together, I guess. But I was there and the idea came to me, so I just ran with it,” Gage said. “It was easy enough and if it helps, I’m glad I played a part.”

“You have,” she smiled at him. “You heading out?”

“Yeah,” Gage motioned for her to lead the way. “I’ll walk you to your car, make sure you don’t fall flat on your face before you climb behind the wheel. You sure you’re okay to drive?”

“I’m fine,” Paige assured him. “It’s just been a long day and I didn’t sleep much last night. Tonight is going to be better, I’m sure of it.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige climbed from her vehicle and spotted Dax heading her way. He must have been waiting for her. “Hey,” she called as he approached.

“Hey, yourself,” he stopped, brushed back a strand of hair and frowned. “Long day?”

“Long and stressful, but ultimately the good guys won,” she told him as she unlocked her front door. “Is something up?”

“Carmen’s at my place,” he pushed open her door and followed her inside. “Said something spooked her and she needed company.”

“What spooked her?” Paige asked, worried.

“Not really sure but I’m working on it,” he assured her. He watched as she slipped out of her boots and dropped her gun belt onto the sofa. “Probably nothing but I thought maybe you and I could have a sleepover. I could bunk here with you...” he said as he backed her against the wall and leaned in for a kiss. “Zee and Carmen can have my place,” he gave her a cocky, wicked grin as he leaned in for a second, deeper kiss.

“I might be able to manage that,” she agreed. “Do I need to go over, say hi and all that...or can it wait until morning? I’m so beat, I’m not sure I can make it up the stairs and into bed as it is.”

“I can help with that,” Dax told her as he scooped her into his arms and carried her up the stairs.

“My hero,” she whispered as she rested her head against his shoulder. She was already half asleep when Dax stepped into her room. She settled onto the edge of the bed and realized with everything that happened, she didn’t have a chance to call Nathan. Now, it was too late. Just another thing that would have to wait until morning. She dropped onto the pillow and was out cold in seconds.

**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and revealing more secrets from the past.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S2

**Tags:** Season 2

---

### [Shadow Rustler](https://melaniepsmith.com/shadow-rustler/)

**Published:** August 28, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Shadow Rustler (E5) - Several cows are mysteriously missing.  Did they succumb to natural dangers or is it something more sinister?  Paige has a break-through on her mother's cold case.  And will an attractive fellow cop come between Paige and Dax?

**Content:**

****\*\*\*SHADOW RUSLTER\*\*\*****

“Uh, Paige?” Dax said in confusion.

“Yeah,” she answered absently as she pulled onto the highway and made her way to the outskirts of town.

“Where are we going?” Dax studied her closely. Something was wrong. “Our food is in the opposite direction.”

“I just need to make a quick stop first,” she glanced at Dax. “It won’t take long. I just need to... I don’t know. I just need to stop.”

“Okay,” Dax settled into his seat and waited for her to elaborate. She would... when she was ready.

Paige pulled off the side of the road and backed her vehicle into the cover of some large oaks. She had a clear shot of the Glenshaw home and property. Once she was situated, she pulled out a pair of binoculars and scanned the area. She grinned when she spotted Olivia riding her motorcycle.

“Who lives there?” Dax finally asked.

Paige handed him the binoculars. “See that girl? The one on the motorcycle?”

Dax scanned the property and paused. “Yeah.”

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[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Shadow-Rustler.pdf)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/motocross-2492678_640.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/binoculars-2164526_640.jpg)

![](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/dirt-bike-209489_640.jpg)

“That’s Olivia Glenshaw,” Paige took the binoculars when Dax held them out and slid them back into the case. “I met her awhile back. Her friend, boyfriend, I don’t know which... well, he was our first victim in that illegal fighting club.”

“Right,” Dax glanced back at the girl. “She’s the brave, reckless kid that broke the case for you. The one that snuck in alone and got the video that helped you guys bring the group down.”

“Right,” Paige frowned. “You know, I feel a little guilty now. She was so upset over Brian, she risked her life to help and I haven’t taken the time to check on him... or her since we closed the case. I should have stopped by, should have called Brian’s family to see if he’s improving.”

“Why are we here?”

Paige sighed. “Because the day she came into my office to present that video, I found out there was a connection to Jericho. She called him Uncle Jer. I didn’t think he had family in the area, so I asked about it. He said it was an honorary title. He and her dad, Ken – or Kenny – Glenshaw have been friends all their lives.” She sat, silently watching as a well-used SUV pulled down the drive and approached the home. The garage door slid open and the vehicle pulled slowly into place. As the door began to close, Paige turned back to Dax. “That was Ken. Since Olivia was a minor, Jericho called him that day. He headed straight to the office, to check on his kid. Anyway, I recognized him... from a photo. Remember when I first got here and you were driving me crazy with all the construction noise. I had to take the exam for POST and I couldn’t study.”

“Yeah,” Dax frowned. “Sorry about that. I didn’t realize.”

Paige swiped her hand in dismissal. “Doesn’t matter now. But, anyway, Jericho offered up his fishing cabin. It’s up Ephraim Canyon... amazing place. Anyway, he has this photo, it’s a blow up of him and Ken holding the two biggest fish I’ve ever seen. They’re happy, grinning in triumph I guess, but I was drawn to it immediately. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jericho that happy, not since I’ve been back at least. Maybe when I was a kid, but I didn’t really pay much attention to him. Anyway, Ken Glenshaw is important to Walters... closest thing he has to a brother if I had to guess.”

That’s when Dax finally understood. “And, he’s on the list?”

“He is,” Paige turned to look at him, conflict written all over her face. “I have to pursue it, you know cross it off, but my gut is already telling me it’s a dead end. I’m almost positive Ken was not involved.”

“But you have to know,” Dax said flatly. “So, you’ll do what you have to do and figure it out. Then, when you cross him off, Jericho will know as well.”

“It feels wrong,” Paige admitted as she shifted into drive and pulled back onto the highway.

“Because you know how much he means to Walters,” Dax agreed. They two of them rode in silence all the way to the restaurant. Once Paige had pulled into a parking stall and shut down the engine, Dax reached for her hand. “You’ve been searching for you mom’s killer for nearly a decade. You made some progress, Jericho made some as well. But neither one of you got anywhere... not really, until you joined forces. Don’t take a step back. You have a list and the two of you need to work through those names... together. So, you’ll go into work tomorrow and talk this through with your boss. If he’s willing to join you, the two of you will go back out to the Glenshaw place and sit down with this Ken guy. You’ll question him, in your way, and when you leave, he won’t even know he was a suspect in anything. Because we both know, most of your suspects have no idea you are even looking into them.”

“True,” Paige considered. “But I don’t see how I can question him without him knowing. And if he knows that’s going to damage things... between him and Jericho. It’s unavoidable.”

“If Jericho feels like he can go, he’ll go,” Dax said. “If not, you’ll take Gage. You’re looking for an athletic ring. Clayton’s the obvious choice, anyway. You said you haven’t gone out to check on the girl. Go check on the girl. Ask how she’s doing, is she back to normal, is she playing any high school sports? How are things with Brian? Have the two kids kept in touch? You remember high school,” Dax grinned. “I’d leave out the part about baseball though... slider. Maybe let Gage take over and talk about football. Then, you just ask him if he played anything... you know, when he was a kid. Oh, he did? Did he get one of those rings... that is such a cool tradition, blah, blah, blah...?”

Paige smiled at Dax. “Too bad you’re not a cop. You’d make a great partner.”

“I am your partner,” Dax yanked her across the car and smiled when she collided with his chest. “I’m just a different kind of partner.”

“Alright, Ace,” Paige pulled away. “I’m starving.” She climbed from the vehicle and waited a few feet away on the sidewalk for Dax to join her. “Thanks.”

“Anytime,” Dax took her hand and led her inside.

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\*\*\*\*\*

“Hey boss,” Paige stood in Jericho’s doorway. “You have a minute?”

“Sure,” Jericho closed the file he was studying and motioned for her to take a seat.

“It’s about Ken Glenshaw.”

Jericho frowned. “I know you have to look into him because he’s on the list, but I’m afraid I can’t. I know Ken, he’s not our guy. Anything I do to prove that is going to damage our friendship, he won’t understand and I simply can’t...”

Paige held up a hand. “I get it. And I’m not asking you to. My gut says you're right. But...”

“But you can’t simply go with your gut,” Jericho nodded. “I understand.”

“If it’s okay with you,” Paige straightened. “I thought I’d take Gage out with me. You know, just do a follow-up. Check in, see how Olivia is now that the fighting ring has been shut down. See if she’s still seeing Brian and how he’s doing. Then ease into high school activities... sports and other activities. Has Olivia taken anything up to keep her mind off Brian’s trouble? Did Ken play when he was a kid? Gage can help out there... talk about the football stuff and the ring.”

Jericho smiled, mostly in relief. He should have known Paige could handle this without making Ken feel like he’s a suspected killer. He should have trusted her, but the idea of questioning Kenny just had him tied up in knots.

“I understand,” Paige finally said. “I saw the photo at your cabin. You guys are close and I promise we won’t do anything to put that in jeopardy.”

“I appreciate it,” Jericho told her. “I’ve been trying to recall the last time I saw that ring, but it’s no use. He hasn’t worn it in years. We’ve always kept in touch but when his family moved from Nephi to Manti and we ended up at different high schools, we rarely saw one another. I came here to visit a couple times, he came up north but it wasn’t the same. I remember seeing the damn thing, but I can’t recall when it was. Could have been one of those visits or it might have been after we reconnected and headed off to college together. As far as I’m concerned, if it was college... that puts Ken in the clear. I mean, the ring was lost just before the girls graduated.”

“Right,” Paige agreed.

 “I guess it doesn’t matter because I can’t remember,” Jericho said resigned. “So you have to look into it. I just hope he still has the thing. Ken’s an architect. He doesn’t wear rings, says they get in the way of his work. In fact, it was an area of contention between Ken and Darcy for years. She finally realized it was about work and not because he wanted women to believe he was single and available.”

“Darcy is his wife, I gather.”

“Yeah,” Jericho smiled. “And she should have known Ken only has eyes for her. But I guess everyone needs to be reminded now and again.”

“I guess,” she studied her boss for several seconds. “So, do we have your blessing?”

“You have my permission,” Jericho corrected. “Like I said, I’m convinced but you need proof. Do what you have to do so he can be eliminated from that list. I won’t stand in your way.”

Paige stood. “Thank you. I know this is difficult, but like I said before, I will eliminate him and then we can move on to the real suspects.”

“Paige,” Jericho sighed. “The fact that he’s on that list, makes him a real suspect. I’ve had to accept that. I’ll admit, it hasn’t been easy but don’t take him off just because you know it’s what I want... what I need.”

“Like I said,” Paige shrugged. “My gut says no and I always trust my gut but yeah, I have to know. Otherwise, he stays on until I do. Until we do. Agreed?”

“Agreed.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped from the vehicle and waited for Gage. The two deputies slowly made their way toward the front porch.

“I forgot,” Gage whispered. “How close Ken was with Jericho. This feels wrong somehow.”

“I know,” Paige paused before ringing the doorbell. “We go in, get what need and get out.”

“What if he doesn’t have it?”

Paige jerked her head around and glared at Gage. “You don’t think he kept it? Do you still have yours?”

“Somewhere,” Gage told her, then focused on the door when he heard footsteps. “But if you asked me for it, I doubt I could find it. Might take me awhile to go through storage and find my old stash. I’m just saying if he doesn’t produce it immediately... don’t jump to conclusions.”

Paige was about to respond when the front door flew open.

“Deputy Carter, is it?” Ken pushed open the screen door and held out a hand. He turned to Gage to shake his hand as well. “And Deputy Clayton, I’m not sure we’ve officially met.”

“Gage is fine,” he said as he gripped the man’s hand.

Ken smiled. “I have to admit, whenever I see you I think football, not cop. I suspect a lot of people in this town do the same. It’s an honor to meet you... in person that is. Come in, both of you.” He moved from the doorway and made his way toward a spacious living room. “Can I get you anything to drink?”

“No thank you,” Paige said taking a seat in a large, comfy looking chair. “We won’t take up much of your time.”

“Well,” Ken settled in across from her. “I have to admit, I am curious. It’s not every day I receive a visit from the police... Jericho notwithstanding. Somehow, that doesn’t seem to count.”

“I just wanted to stop in and check on Olivia,” Paige began immediately. “I mean she seems like a great kid and I was hoping, now that the guys responsible for her friend’s injury are behind bars... well, I thought I’d see if she’s doing alright.”

“That’s kind of you,” Ken relaxed. “She’s coping, I guess you could say. Brian’s making progress, but it’s slow. He recognizes her now, can even say a few words, but he has a long road ahead of him. Olivia is a little lost, I think. I remember my high school years, they were filled with reckless stunts I’m amazed we survived and hanging with the team. I wish Olivia would join in, but she’s not interested in any of that.”

“What team?” Gage asked, seizing on the opportunity.

Ken smiled. “I was a baseball man myself. Loved the game, lived for it actually. But I threw out my arm my senior year. I may have played in college, otherwise... but I always knew I wouldn’t go pro. I guess some guys are born with it, the rest of us just play for the thrill.”

“What position did you play?” Paige asked.

“Second base,” Ken got a faraway look, like he was remembering the good times.

“I guess you got one of those rings, from Manti High?” Gage asked. “I remember the day I got mine. Coach made sure we all knew it was a tradition, one that went back to the beginning of time, I think.”

“Yeah,” Ken grinned. “Funny what’s important when you’re just a kid. I remember thinking that ring made it official somehow. Until you made it a year and got that simple but powerful symbol... you weren’t legit, I guess.”

“I still have mine,” Gage told him. He did, he just had no idea where it was. At the time it was the most important thing in the world to him. But, as he moved onto college, got another ring, a few trophies and then went pro, the high school symbol lost its shine somehow.

“Yeah,” Ken nodded. “Me too. I suspect every guy that ever got one cherishes it... in his own way.”

“Could I see it?” Paige asked sheepishly. “I remember the rings, from the time I was in high school. But someone told me they change the design every year. It would be interesting to see how much different yours was... compared to the one Gage got, I mean.”

Ken shrugged and stood. “Sure, give me just a minute.” Ken left the room and was gone longer than Paige had expected. Suddenly, he walked briskly through the room and entered what Paige assumed was the kitchen.

“Darcy,” Ken said anxiously. “Do you know what happened to my ring? The high school athletic ring that used to be in this black case.”

Paige glanced at Gage and saw he was looking at her. His face telegraphed the same question she had... *What now*?

“I’m sure it’s around here somewhere,” a female voice answered, clearly unconcerned.

“But I never take it out of this box. Do you think one of the kids found it... thought it would be cool to start wearing it?”

“No,” Darcy said immediately. “The kids know not to touch our personal stuff. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. I’ll take a look later. Right now, I need to get this finished. I have to get it over to the church before noon. Scoot already. Put that box back where you found it. Well, go on.”

Ken stepped back into the room, worry and sadness showing in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he began as he settled back into his seat. He set the ring box on the table in front of him. “I’m afraid I’ve misplaced that ring somehow.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Paige tried to sound light and unconcerned. “I mean, it would have been fun to see how much they changed things and all but... well, you seem pretty upset about this. I’m sorry I asked, now.”

“No,” Ken sighed. “I’m glad you did. Now I know it’s lost and I can start looking. I just have no idea how... well, that’s neither here nor there.”

Paige stood. “We’ll get out of your hair, Mr. Glenshaw. I just wanted to stop by, see about Olivia and make sure your family didn’t need anything. I mean, you were extremely helpful during that case and all of us, especially Jericho I think, appreciated your help.”

Ken smiled. “Tell the old man hello and he’s overdue for a beer.”

“We’ll do,” Gage shook the man’s hand, then followed Paige out the front door. Once they were back on the highway, headed back to the office he spoke. “He may not have his ring, but that man did not lose the thing twenty years ago.”

“No,” Paige agreed. “More like twenty minutes. Now I feel bad for asking.”

“But it doesn’t get him off the list?” Gage observed.

“Not yet, no.”

“Gage,” Margie’s voice came over the radio.

“Go ahead,” Paige said grabbing the mic before Gage could.

“Can the two of you head up the canyon? We have a complainant that is pretty upset.”

“Sure,” Paige said immediately. “What can you tell us?”

“He says someone stole some cattle,” Margie relayed. “His name is Martin Alder. He’s parked at the entrance to the Manti Community Campground and he’s not happy.”

“Copy that,” Paige frowned at her partner. “You know him?”

“Nope,” Gage shrugged. “Guess we will soon enough.”

They pulled into the campground and exited the car. They’d only gone a few steps when an angry looking man approached them.

“It’s about time!”

“Martin Alder?” Paige asked.

“Well, isn’t that obvious?” the man demanded. “Do you see anyone else sanding here waiting for an officer to assist him?”

Paige narrowed her eyes at the man, Gage inwardly sighed. This should be fun. “What can we do for you, Mr. Alder?” Gage said, taking control of the situation.

“As I told your dispatcher,” Alder fumed. “I need to report a theft. As long as it took you to get here, it’s no wonder my cows are disappearing. Are all of you small town cops incompetent?”

Paige forced her face to appear neutral, inhaled a long, deep breath then addressed the man. “What makes you believe your cows were stolen? It’s rare, but we do have black bear up here... especially in the high country.”

“I demand to speak with your superior,” Alder growled. “Or a detective. Someone who possesses the ability to investigate a crime would be nice.”

“Sure,” Paige turned to leave. “Head on down to the police station and you can speak with the sheriff. He should be in the office today. I’m sure he’d be happy to listen to your complaint.” She returned to the vehicle to wait for Gage, knowing he’d try to smooth things over with the impossible man.

“I don’t know you,” Gage began. “I take it you’re not from around here.”

“Are you kidding me?” Alder answered. “If I have any say in it, I won’t be back. The Forest Service assured me this was the best place to graze my herd but this is the fourth animal I’ve lost this year. The area might be pristine grazing but the locals leave a lot to be desired.”

“Does that normally work?” Gage asked.

“What?” Alder demanded.

“Insulting the very people who are trying to help you.”

“You call this helping?” he demanded. “That woman would be better suited as a cashier at Walmart. Black bear? Seriously?”

“That woman,” Gage gritted his teeth in anger. “Is the best investigator you are going to find... in these parts sure, but probably in the entire country. So, I suggest you bank the attitude and start answering my questions.”

“Right,” Alder shook his head. “I was lucky enough to run into a premier investigator in the middle of small town Utah. She has what? A year on the job.”

“Deputy Carter has been with us for over a year,” Gage corrected. “Before that, she was a top investigator for the FBI, stationed at Quantico. And, unfortunately for you... she’s now off your case. So, you are stuck with me... a guy who doesn’t have a lot of investigative experience but will do the best he can to locate your livestock.”

Alder frowned, focused on the woman leaning casually against the police car and wondered if he’d just made a terrible mistake. “Why’d she leave? The Feds? If she was such a hotshot investigator, what’s she doing working out here?”

“That’s personal and not something I’m at liberty to discuss,” Gage pulled out a notepad and a pen. “Can you give me your full name, address, and contact number?”

“She got fired then?” Alder accused. “I knew it. She’s doing penance because she got into some kind of trouble. Slept her way to the top, no doubt, and got in over her head so she bailed.”

“I changed my mind,” Gage closed his notebook. “I agree with Paige. You asked for a supervisor. Drop by the office and speak with the sheriff. I’ll be sure to let him know you’re coming.”

Gage marched to his car, flung open the door and climbed behind the wheel. Within seconds he had the engine roaring and the vehicle shifted into reverse.

Paige glanced at their complainant - who looked stunned and unsure what to do next - glanced back at Gage and realized she’d better get in the car or he was going to leave her. *What had the man said to push Gage over the edge?* They were halfway down the canyon before she asked. Gage didn’t answer.

The two officers rode in silence. The instant Gage stepped through the back door, he headed straight for Jericho’s office, slamming the door behind him.

“I take it your detail didn’t go well,” Margie sighed. “Martin Alder has already called. He’ll be in later to speak with Sheriff Walters and make a complaint.

“The man’s obnoxious and insulting but I have no idea what he said to Gage to set him off. I lost my temper and left my partner to handle things on his own... guess that was a mistake.” She moved to her desk and dropped into her chair. Nothing seemed to be going right this morning.

“And that other thing?” Margie asked. “You get that cleared up?”

“Nope,” Paige flipped on her computer and wondered what she was supposed to do now.

“You will,” Margie said confidently. “Just give it a little time.”

\*\*\*\*\*

It was two hours later when Martin Alder finally strolled through the door. He stopped, talked to Margie for a few seconds, then took a seat outside Jericho’s office. Gage had long since left... Jericho’s office and the building. He appeared to have calmed down by the time he’d finished with their boss, but he didn’t say a word on his way out. Paige still wondered what the guy had said to set her friend off, but he’d tell her when he was ready.

Jericho stepped into the open foyer area, motioned the man inside and closed the door behind them. Twenty minutes later, Jericho opened his door and motioned for Paige to join them. Paige moved to the office and cautiously sat in the chair next to the door. Martin Alder was seated at the opposite end of the room.

“Mr. Alder has something he would like to say to you,” Jericho started the conversation.

“As I told your boss,” Alder began. “I used to graze my herd up north... in the Uintah’s. Last year, I lost every calf but one. I believe the Yellowstone wolves have migrated south but the feds disagree. Between that and the increased number of black bear... well, cattle is an easy target.”

“I’m sure that is difficult,” Paige observed.

“It was,” Alder nodded. “It was the reason I decided to move south. It’s a long drive and I get down here as frequently as I can but I mistakenly assumed it would be safe.”

Paige frowned, Manti and the LaSal’s were safe.

“Anyway,” Alder continued. “I owe you an apology. When I discovered two additional calf’s missing I was furious. I had already lost two others... calves again, last month. Then it took longer than I anticipated for the two of you to show. I was frustrated, pretty distraught about the cows... especially the bull. He was going to save my operation. Rather than convert him to a steer, I planned to use him to replenish my stock.”

“And now he’s gone?” Paige asked.

“Yes,” Alder agreed. “I understand why you immediately concluded he was taken by a bear or something, but I still disagree.”

“Why?” Paige asked. “I mean, I asked you that before but you ignored the question.”

“Be honest,” Alder glanced at Jericho. “I didn’t just ignore the question, I insulted you and I’m sorry for that. I’m ashamed to say, I took my frustration with the previous cops - the ones up north - out on you. They were less than helpful and basically told me if I wasn’t willing to assume the risk of grazing in the area, I should find a new location. I get it... they can’t control the wildlife but they could have at least been civil about.”

“I agree,” Paige smiled.

“And you’re thinking, based on our initial interaction, they were justified.”

“I didn’t say that,” Paige said flatly.

“But you thought it,” Alder pressed. “And if I’d treated them the way I treated you... I’m guessing you’d be right. But I didn’t. You can believe that or not, it’s up to you.”

“What I think really doesn’t matter,” Paige decided. “What I’m trying to figure out is if we have a crime... or nature taking its course.”

Alder pulled out a large tablet. “Let me show you why I believe my calves were stolen, not killed by wild animals.”

“Yay,” Paige said then sobered at the look Jericho gave her.

Alder tapped the screen a few times then placed the tablet on Jericho’s desk so all three of them could see it. The first image was a map of the area. There was an electronic pin placed near the campsite.

“What is that?” Paige asked, pointing to it.

“That is the place I offloaded the herd... initially.” He swiped the screen and brought up an animated map. The pins started moving. “I placed tracking devices on a few of the animals. I did it for a couple reasons. Mostly because I’m not familiar with this area. I figured until I got my feel for the place, it would help me locate the cows when I made it down to check on them.”

“Makes sense,” Paige studied the readout. The herd made their way higher into the mountain area, but mainly stayed in the lower meadows. Probably because they were also new to the area.

“Now watch this pin,” Martin pointed to a black pin.

Paige watched the animation again and frowned. The black pin appeared with the rest of the cows when Alder offloaded them from the truck. For several days, it followed the same path the other cows traveled. Then, suddenly, it disappeared.

“Where is it?” Paige looked up and asked.

“That’s my question,” Martin said soberly. “If it was killed, black bear, cougar, whatever... the pin would still show. The collar would show us the exact location of the carcass. The pin shouldn’t have disappeared completely. Unless someone stole my bull.”

Paige had to admit, the man had a point. “I’d like to return to the canyons,” she glanced up at Jericho. “I want to see the place...” she pointed to the tablet. “May I?

“Sure,” Martin pushed the device closer to Paige.

Paige studied the screen and slowly used the progress bar across the bottom until she located the bull’s last location. “That’s where I need to go.”

“Will that program identify coordinates?” Jericho asked.

“Yeah,” Martin took his tablet back and hit a menu off to the left side. With a couple clicks, details appeared in the sidebar.

Paige grabbed a notepad and jotted down the numbers. She jumped to her feet and turned to Martin. “I know we got off to a rocky start and I guess I understand, but Gage and I... we aren’t the bad guys. If you had given us a chance, if you’d explained this up at the campsite when I asked... we would have saved a lot of time. I hope you’ll think about that. We’re used to dealing with difficult people, it just didn’t have to be that way.”

“I understand that,” Martin accepted the scolding. “Do you need me to return to the area with you?”

“No,” Jericho stood. “Paige and I will handle it. We’ll be in touch.”

Martin understood he had just been dismissed. He stood and started for the door then stopped. “I really appreciate your help on this and again, I apologize for my behavior earlier today. Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.”

Once their visitor was gone, Jericho turned to Paige. “We’ll head out but first, how did it go with Ken this morning?”

“It went fine,” Paige said evasively.

“So,” Jericho frowned. “He couldn’t produce his ring, then?”

“Not yet,” Paige sighed. “But I think it went missing recently. He seemed truly surprised when he went to retrieve it and the ring was gone.”

“We can figure that out later,” Jericho moved around his desk. “Right now we have a cow to find.”

“I hate to say it,” Paige followed him out. “But I think he might be right. It appears as if someone took that cow and moved it completely outside the area. Are you driving or am I?”

“I am,” Jericho led her to the parking lot and climbed into his vehicle.

Jericho slowed his vehicle as they neared the area where the calf was last recorded. “We have to get back in there, at least a couple hundred yards off the road.”

“Am I going to get yelled at if I follow that trail?” Jericho asked.

“Why would I yell?”

“I’m just thinking if someone did steal his calves, they had to drive a truck or trailer back there. I thought you might want to check for tire tracks before I drove over any evidence.”

Paige frowned. She should have thought of that. She needed to concentrate. Her mind was on Ken and where his ring could be but right now she needed to concentrate on cows. “Yeah, let me out.” She reached into the backseat and snatched up her bag before jumping from the vehicle. As she made her way up the small path she immediately spotted the tire tracks. It only took a few minutes to document what she needed.

Jericho waited for Paige to jump back into the vehicle and yank the door closed before speaking. “What did you find?”

“Tire tracks,” Paige was focused on the area as she explained. “Only one set. It was a truck, normal size and they weren’t pulling a trailer. I suppose, since they only took calves they didn’t need one right away. Easier that way. Get in, snatch the younger, smaller animals, get out. Then they could have a trailer down the road somewhere or the truck could have a shell. The cows would be hidden and a single truck wouldn’t stand out up here.”

Jericho made his way over the small trail that led further into the back, wilderness area. He glanced at his GPS unit and came to a stop. “This is as close as I want to get. I’m thinking they probably stopped here as well. I don’t see any tracks running across that long grass.”

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“Right,” Paige shoved out of the vehicle and began wandering the hidden meadow. The one thing a theft didn’t explain was the tracking device. Even if they loaded the cow into the back of a truck, the device should have continued to track down the main highway and right out of town. Paige made her way back to Jericho. “Hey, do you have cell service?”

Jericho pulled out his phone and studied the display. “It’s spotty, but yeah.”

“Can you call Martin Alder?”

“For?”

“I need to know if his cows are branded. I can see the older cows have that squiggly line thing with a bar across it. I assume that’s his brand but he never said if the younger calves were marked as well.”

“Right,” Jericho moved to his car, snatched up his notes then dialed the number.

Paige left him to that while she continued to move around the area. She paused, glanced around the meadow then shifted her gaze to the wooded area behind her. She frowned, ran a frustrated hand through her hair and disappeared into the trees. Living in Quantico didn’t give her a lot of insight into the world of ranching. She knew next to nothing about cattle. One thing she was learning... they trampled everywhere and pooped where they lived. It wasn’t conducive to finding evidence. She loved a good burger but was quickly discovering... she wasn’t all that fond of the animal it came from.

Paige made her way further into the shadows and found herself at the edge of a tiny stream. Again, the cows had destroyed the natural beauty. The bank of the spring was a muddy mess. In addition to the trampled bank and compressed foliage, the place was littered with cow pies. The water was dirty... well, filthy really. Paige instinctively pressed her hand over her nose and moved forward. Seriously, did the cows really drink from that gross murky water? The closer she got to the stream, the slimier the mud became. When her footing slipped and she barely held herself up with a nearby tree, she gave up.

Paige turned and spotted Jericho watching her with an amused smile. She scowled as she made her way to his side.

“I’m guessing you haven’t spent much time around cows,” the minute she reached him, he began to walk, making his way further into the thick trees.

“Well,” Paige followed. “There’s not a lot of farms in the Quantico area. What are we doing?”

“We’re making our way above the cattle’s rest area. They’ve been occupying this section for a while now. Which means, they’ve slept here, drank from the stream and grazed as much as they are going to. It’s the reason they are out there... in the open right now.”

“So they’ve destroyed their water source and moved on to find the next stream to destroy?” Paige asked.

“They will still drink from the stream,” Jericho disagreed, stepping over a fallen log.

Paige followed closely behind him. They made their way several feet above where the cows had settled in. Up here, the water was clear. The bank was damp but not such a muddy mess and where it was a little muddy, it wasn’t slimy. Paige stepped closer to the stream and frowned. About ten feet above them, there was something in the water. It was obscured by a large log, but the piece of wood didn’t look like it had fallen into the water on its own. “What is that?”

Jericho moved in next to her and studied the area she was pointing at. “Let’s go see.”

“What?” Paige jerked around and glared at her boss. “You want me to wade through the water... or are you going to do it?”

Jericho grinned. “And here I thought you were my meticulous investigator. You’re really afraid of a little water? What happened to gathering evidence at any price? I was sure that was you I saw jump off a cliff into a raging river not all that long ago.”

“Right,” Paige smiled. “So now it’s your turn. You wade across the stream and check it out. If there’s something there, I’ll join you.”

Jericho glanced at Paige, looked up the stream and realized the water narrowed a little up above. He made his way to the edge of the bank and easily stepped across. Then, he headed back down a few feet and crouched near the strange obstruction. Without saying a word, Jericho straightened, glanced around and spotted just what he needed. He disappeared behind the trees and returned with a sturdy branch. Seconds later, he crouched again and pulling something from the water.

“What is it?” Paige asked.

“If I had to guess, I’d say you're missing tracking device,” Jericho straightened.

“Don’t touch it,” Paige ordered as she made her way to her boss. The instant she reached him, she pulled an evidence bag from her pack, held it open and waited for Jericho to drop it inside. Once the device was secured, she handed the bag to Jericho and began searching the area for clues. “The cows haven’t been up here, maybe I can find something that will help lead us to the thief or thieves.”

“There had to be at least two,” Jericho decided.

“Why?”

“Because one guy may have been able to separate the young bull from the herd. It would have been difficult, but possible. And, depending on how he did it, maybe even load it into the back of the truck by himself. But, I don’t see how one guy could cut that device off a rambunctious bull like that. Not even in the confined space of the truck. It’s sturdy and the clasp is complicated on purpose so it won’t fall off. It would take two people to remove it.”

“Okay,” Paige considered. “So, at least two guys. There should be footprints. We might get fingerprints off the metal on that device but it’s been submerged, most likely the reason it stopped working. The internal components would have shorted out the minute it got water inside.”

“I agree,” Jericho studied the ground around them.

“What did Martin say about the brand?”

“He said they have them,” Jericho said absently. “Alder said he never leaves an animal on public land unless he’s branded it first.”

“Okay,” Paige glanced around, not seeing anything obvious. “That helps. If we find them, we can identify them. Finally, good news.”

“I don’t think we’re going to find anything else out here,” Jericho decided. “Let’s head back to the office.”

Paige frowned but ultimately agreed.

\*\*\*\*\*

Margie stopped Jericho on his way to his office. “Mrs. Glenshaw called,” she held out a small piece of paper.

“What did Darcy have to say?” Jericho asked, accepting the note from Margie.

“She said she needs to talk to you about something important,” Margie glanced at Paige. “I think it was her visit to Ken this morning. Anyway, she only had a short opening today. Since you were otherwise occupied, she scheduled a meeting for tomorrow morning... ten o’clock.”

“I’ll be here,” Jericho said casually. “Thanks, Margie.” He disappeared into his office.

“Why do you think it’s about my visit this morning?” Paige asked.

“She said something about a complication,” Margie shrugged. “Something she needed Jer’s assistance with. And she complained about your visit. Said she wished she knew about it in advance because it upset Kenny.”

“Oh,” Paige sighed. “I didn’t mean to upset him. Maybe she has information about the ring. Maybe she’s the one that took it. That would be nice, it would help me cross Ken off the list.”

“You should cross him off, anyway,” Margie grumbled. “We all know he’s not responsible.”

“We all believe he’s not responsible,” Paige corrected. “I’d like to say we know, which is why he’s still on the list.” She glanced at Gage’s work area and wondered what her friend was doing.

“Jericho sent him home,” Margie provided.

“Is he okay?”

“Apparently, his grandfather had a heart attack,” Margie said softly. “He found out this morning, which is probably why he wasn’t very patient with our obstinate Mr. Alder.”

“Will he be okay? His grandfather, I mean,” Paige clarified.

 “I think so,” Margie said hopefully.

“I’ll call him later,” Paige decided. “I need to run over to the high school and talk to Mark about that vehicle burg from yesterday. I don’t think I’ll be back.”

“You solved it?” Margie asked.

“Yeah,” Paige frowned. “A kid by the name of Luke Henderson.”

“If you’re talking to Mark, he must be on the team,” Margie decided, referring to the high school football team.

“He is,” Paige grabbed her file. “I’ve looked into him and he’s never been in trouble before. I think it might have something to do with the team... maybe some kind of initiation or something. I’ll talk to Mark first, enlist his help and get to the bottom of this before I head home tonight. You think you’ll be okay here?”

“I’ll be fine,” Margie brushed that off. “I’m going to talk to Jericho, I think he needs to give Gage another day off.”

“Not necessary,” Jericho stepped from his office. “I told Gage to take at least two days. He’ll let me know if he needs more. Now, Paige,” he turned to address his deputy. “I’ve tracked down several auctions in the area. You’re with me tomorrow. We’re hitting the road first thing. Margie, you’re in charge. I’m calling in Havilland to cover any calls that come in while we’re gone.”

“What time?” Paige asked.

“Meet me here at nine,” he told her.

“But...” Margie began.

“I called Darcy,” he advised. “Changed my appointment to eight. She said that works better, anyway. I’ll take care of whatever she needs and we’ll hit the road as soon as she’s on her way.”

“You think it will take a full hour?” Paige asked.

“Yes,” Jericho answered before returning to his office.

Paige frowned, then shrugged. “Okay then, I’ll be at the high school if you need anything.”

“Good luck,” Margie called out as Paige exited the building.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into her drive and climbed from her car. She smiled when she saw Dax sitting on her front porch waiting patiently. *How long had he been there?* She wondered.

“Hey babe,” Dax stood. “You look tired. Good thing I took care of dinner.”

“My hero,” Paige grinned as he pulled her in and gave her a gentle welcoming kiss.

“Long day,” he observed.

“Yeah,” she sighed. “Caught a new case, one I’m struggling with. My knowledge of cows... well, let’s just say what I understand about those animals could fit in my little pinky.”

“Cows?” Dax asked.

“Yeah,” she settled into one of the patio chairs. “A guy has his herd up the canyon but it looks like someone stole a couple of the young cows. One was a young bull that he needs for breeding. If I can’t get it back, it’s going to be a real blow. Plus, Gage’s grandfather had a heart attack. I called him just before I got home, Gage says it was serious, but he should be fine. Just a long recovery, I guess. I did solve the vehicle burglary from yesterday though.”

“Was it a kid, like you thought?”

“Yeah,” Paige shook her head and settled further into her chair. “Luke’s the new kid and the guys conned him into pulling that stunt as an initiation to the team sort of thing. Once I realized he was on the team, I guessed as much. Mark is going to handle it and the team will be doing a fund raiser of some kind to pay for the damages. The victims agreed not to press charges, so it all ended well... I suppose.”

“It did end well,” Dax stood. “Let’s head inside and I’ll get you dinner and you can tell me about the cows... and the ring.”

“Oh, yeah,” Paige sighed. “Ken Glenshaw’s ring is missing. I haven’t resolved that, yet. I’m hoping his wife has it but we won’t know until the morning.”

“Why morning?”

“Darcy, Ken’s wife, has a meeting with Jericho in the morning,” she stepped inside and dropped her gun belt onto the couch.

Once dinner was on the table, Dax asked about the cows. Paige filled him in on the day’s events.

“You should head up to Nephi,” he suggested.

“Why?”

“Because Jaimie told me she’s taking Ken and Donna to the rodeo this weekend,” Dax told her. He was still having a hard time picturing his army buddy, his wife and his mother at a rodeo but Jaimie had insisted. “Seems like a great place to find a few cows.”

“But that bull is too small to ride,” Paige objected.

“True,” Dax conceded. “And I doubt you will find the cow you are looking for up there.”

“So why go?”

“Because you can talk to the stock hands, see where they get their animals, find out if anyone is new to the circuit,” Dax said sitting back in his chair.

“Sounds like you do know a bit about cows,” she observed.

“Not much, but enough.” Dax agreed. “If you’re game we could head up, stay with Ken and Jaimie this weekend and join them at the local rodeo. We might get answers, but we will certainly get leads.”

“With Gage taking a few days off, I’m going to have to check with Jericho,” Paige decided. “I think Havi is scheduled to work and if so, between him and Dean they should be able to handle the call load. I do need to check though before I can make plans.”

“You said you’re touring the area auction sites tomorrow. That’s another good idea. Go hang out with Jericho, get a feel for things,” Dax stood and began clearing the table. “He should know what to ask to get answers. You can take notes and we can use what you learn in Nephi. Get his blessing and I’ll call Ken tomorrow night.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige stepped into the office and glanced around. Margie wasn’t at her desk and Jericho’s door was still closed. Maybe Darcy was still visiting, or he could be meeting with his secretary about something. She took several steps toward her desk but was stopped when Jericho flung open his door and called for her to join him.

“I don’t know if you’ve met Darcy Glenshaw,” Jericho began, motioning to the petite woman sitting in one of his visitor’s chairs.

“No,” Paige stepped forward and held out her hand in greeting.

“Darcy has a request.” Jericho prompted.

“Okay,” Paige settled into one of the other chairs.

“Well,” Darcy began. “I know you didn’t mean any harm but well... you upset Kenny yesterday.”

“When he couldn’t find the ring?” Paige acknowledged. “I’m sorry about that. We were just there to follow-up... I mean, regarding Olivia. She was such a great help on that case and I know she’s been upset about Brian. I just wanted to make sure there wasn’t anything else I could do to help.”

“I appreciate that,” Darcy said softly. “That truly was kind and thoughtful of you. But you see, I took Kenny’s ring. Now he’s upset. I came here today to see if maybe Jericho could meet him for lunch, take his mind off things, you know... get him thinking about fishing, planning a summer trip to the cabin, or something. But I was hoping, if he does come in... that you wouldn’t mention the ring again. He doesn’t know I took it, I want to surprise him for our anniversary.”

“How many years?” Paige asked, relieved they could legitimately take Kenny off the list.

“Twenty-nine this year,” Darcy said proudly. “I know it’s not a milestone or anything but Kenny’s always so good to me, I wanted to do something special for him. I found this place - up north - that could take his ring and clean it up real nice, then they put it in this kind of glass display thing. I know he’s going to love it. He was good when he was young, probably could have gone all the way if he hadn’t thrown out his arm. Anyway, it’s a good memory.”

“I promise,” Paige glanced at Jericho. “I won’t say a word.”

“Thank you,” Darcy stood. “I won’t keep you. Jericho said you had a busy day ahead of you. I’ll let you get to it. I really do appreciate your help on this.”

“I really am sorry I brought it up,” Paige said sincerely. She stood and watched as the woman exited the building. “He’s off the list, but I feel even worse now. If it wasn’t for me, that man never would have realized the ring was gone. She could have arranged her surprise and he wouldn’t be upset and worried because something he cares about is gone.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Jericho stepped to his door. “We have an auction to attend and I’ll call Ken, meet him for lunch tomorrow and make something up. He’ll be fine.”

“Dax wants me to go up north, to Nephi this weekend, to the rodeo,” she clarified. “He said his friends are attending and he thinks it would be a good place to look around, ask some of the regulars if they’ve noticed anyone new, stuff like that. If we haven’t solved the case before that, anyway.”

“I forgot that was this weekend,” Jericho considered. “Havilland and Dean can handle things. I’ll give you a few names, people to talk to. Tell them I sent you and what we have. They can be trusted and if they know we’re dealing with cattle rustlers, they’ll help keep an eye out for anything suspicious.”

They visited four auction houses, one actual auction and drove up the canyon so Paige could take a picture of one of Alder’s branded cows. By the time she got home it was late, she was exhausted and they didn’t have anything even remotely interesting to follow up on. She made her way to the bedroom, changed out of her work clothes and walked next door. Zeus, Carmen and Dax were relaxing on the back porch.

“We’re on for this weekend,” Paige said in greeting. “Jericho said we should head out tomorrow, early afternoon if possible. I know you said Ken and Jaimie could put us up but I guess the traffic is crazy. The rodeo apparently starts on Friday so if we head out a day early, we might miss the crowd.”

Dax pulled out a beer and held it up in question.

“I’d love one,” she snatched the beer from his hand and settled onto the lounge chair between his legs. “Better,” she moaned as she took her first sip.

“We can watch the house,” Carmen offered. “I don’t have anything better to do,” she grumbled.

“Nathan still keeping you on the sidelines, I guess?” Paige asked.

“Yeah,” Carmen shrugged. “I guess I should be grateful. I mean, I’m still getting paid but it feels wrong, to get paid for doing nothing.”

The group visited, complained and solved the world’s problems for several hours before they split up and headed for bed.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige walked with Dax toward the temporary cage, trying to appear casual and non-threatening. *Impossible for Dax*, Paige thought as she smiled and moved to stand on the bottom rail of the pen. It was Saturday morning and they were meeting one of Jericho’s contacts. The instant she approached him, identified herself as one of Walter’s deputies and explained the situation, the man had become agitated. He was sure the thief, or an associate, was in the area. Paige had thought it too good to be true at first, but the more Tate Gamble talked, the more she believed him.

So, here they were, standing in the middle of a dusty makeshift containment area, waiting for Tate to show and introduce them around.

Dax put an arm on Paige’s shoulder. “He’s here.”

Paige didn’t move, she was sure one of the young cows in the pen had Alder’s brand.

“What is it?” Dax asked.

Paige pulled out her phone and showed Dax the design. “That cow, the reddish one over there with three white feet... it has that mark.”

Dax moved to the side, slowly studying each cow carefully. Anyone watching would think he was just picking out the stock he planned to bid on. Once he was sure Paige was correct, he returned to her side. They explained the situation to Tate, who rushed inside a building and returned with a man wearing an official looking nametag.

“This is Kyle Broadhead,” Tate introduced. “He’s in charge here. It’s his job to verify ownership on all animals being auctioned off today. Can you please show him that picture and... Well, discretely of course...” he dropped his voice to a whisper. “Can you show him your badge?”

Paige pulled her badge from her pocket then returned it when she got a subtle nod from Kyle. She pulled up the photo of Alder’s cow, with a clear picture of his brand and handed the phone over to the auction official.

“Let me take a look myself,” Kyle requested. “I’d like to say I discovered an animal with a brand we were on the lookout for due to Jericho making the request.”

“I understand,” Paige shrugged and waited for the man to find the cow she had spotted almost immediately. When he did, she relaxed a little. Now, they just needed to locate the person who had entered her in the auction for sale.

“Come with me, please,” Kyle requested as he headed for a travel trailer they obviously used as a portable office.

The small group stepped into a tiny section partitioned off for privacy and waited for Kyle to tell them what came next.

“I need to inform the organizer of this event,” he sighed. “Dusty is not going to be happy about this.”

“Who is Dusty?” Paige asked.

“Dusty Hawkins,” Tate answered. “He’s the guy that organizes the entire rodeo. He’s a straight shooter. Knowing someone stole another man’s livelihood and tried to profit from it at his rodeo... well that’s just gonna piss Dusty off something fierce.”

“Do we need to call the police?” Paige asked. “I don’t want to make waves out here and I don’t want Jericho to have to step in and smooth things over.”

“Dusty’s one of our local cops,” Tate explained. “He’ll handle this. Don’t you worry.”

Kyle hung up the phone and frowned. “Dusty said wait here, he’s on his way over.”

They went through it all again when the local lawman arrived. He was younger than Paige had expected. He wore a cowboy hat, cowboy boots and a thin western style shirt that hugged his broad chest and large arms. If Paige didn’t have a thing for Dax... a man that was standing right beside her... she might try to get to know the guy a little better.

“Pull the heifer from the auction and I want to see the paperwork on the seller. Anything they listed will be pulled and scrutinized by me.”

“And us,” Paige added.

The corner of Dusty’s mouth twitched but that was his only reaction.

“Before we go,” Paige said quickly as the man had already turned and was headed for the door. “Can you tell me what they list as their address... on those forms? My victim is still missing a bull... one that is important to him. A young calf born earlier this year.”

“Let’s make sure he’s not here, then we can see about a warrant for their property,” Dusty said before he disappeared out the door.

While the group worked to gather up all the animals Ramon Farms had entered, Paige made a phone call.

“Do you have news?” Marty said in answer.

“I’m not sure,” Paige said evasively. “I’m wondering if you have any photos of your animals. Especially the bull that’s missing. It seemed like he was the most important to you.”

“Sure,” Marty said casually. “Should I drop them off at your office?”

“That would be great,” Paige decided. This was going to take a while, anyway. “Are you still in town?”

“Yeah,” he was shuffling something in the background. “I decided to hang out a couple days, you know, in case you needed anything else from me. I should have thought to bring this binder the day I stopped in to meet with the Sheriff. Anyway, I’ll bring my documents in... who should I ask for?”

“Just get them to Margie,” Paige jumped out of the way when a cow escaped and headed her way.

Tate, Kyle and Dax all laughed.

“I’ll give her a call, let her know you’re coming and give her instruction on what to do with the file. I appreciate it,” Paige started to hang up.

“You know something,” Marty accused. “I can hear it in your voice.”

“I think I may have found one of your cows,” she admitted. “It’s not confirmed yet, but I have the officials here looking into it. That paperwork will really help speed things along here. I’ll let you know one way or the other... as soon as we know. I promise,” Paige added.

“Okay,” Marty headed for the door of his hotel. “I can live with that. Margie will have these in five minutes. I’m headed out now.”

“One of us will call as soon as we know,” Paige repeated before hanging up. She immediately dialed Margie.

“Hey,” Paige called out. “Uh, Tate. Is there somewhere my secretary can send something out here? I had the owner, my victim, bring in his file on the missing cows. She says he has photos, DNA from the local vet and a vaccination chart with detailed descriptions of each of his cows. It sounds like the man kept excellent records, details that might help if we need a warrant.”

“I doubt you’ll need one, but Dusty is going to want to see the docs. Follow me,” Tate walked briskly to the trailer. “Have her fax everything to this number.” He pointed to a label on the front of the machine that contained a phone number. Within minutes, they had more information than they could possibly need to make a positive ID.

“Now we just need to find Mr. Ramon Fletcher,” Paige said as she handed the documents to Dusty. He glanced through them, smiled and made his way to a large set of bleachers.

“Mr. Fletcher,” he said coolly. “I’m wondering if you could explain these to me.”

Fletcher glanced at Dusty, shifted his gaze to Paige in annoyance then focused again on Dusty. “What is it?”

“Ownership papers,” Dusty advised. “Pictures, vet records, all the things you don’t have but said there’s a reason. I agree, there is a reason. The reason is... you’re a thief.”

Fletcher jumped to his feet and moved forward to crowd Dusty’s space. “You might be in charge here, but nobody accuses me of stealing.”

“Oh, I’ll do one better,” Dusty shifted, pulled a set of handcuffs from the waist of his jeans and snapped them on their suspect before he registered movement.

“If that victim of yours has a way to come up and retrieve his property, you might want to call him. Otherwise, I’ll have to take them in and it’s going to cost him. I’d prefer to just turn them over to their rightful owner tonight.”

“I agree,” Paige smiled. “Any chance I can sit in? I have a few questions for that man and the theft is my case.”

“Make the call,” Dusty shoved Fletcher into the backseat of a patrol car. “Take him to the office, set him up in the back room. I need to interview him before I decide what to do with him.”

“Yes, sir,” the patrolman said before pulling away.

“Not just a deputy then,” Paige observed.

“No,” Dusty wiped his hands on his jeans. “I guess I didn’t properly introduce myself. Paige Carter, I’m Dusty Hawkins, Juab County Sheriff.”

Paige studied the man for several seconds. “I’m curious.”

“Women always are,” Dusty grinned.

Paige ignored the response. “Why didn’t Jericho tell me to look you up when I got here? I mean, you’re the sheriff and you organize the rodeo. I’d think you would be the first man he’d suggest I see while I’m here.”

Dusty frowned. “Walters isn’t a fan, I guess you could say.”

Paige shrugged and walked away. “I can see why.”

Dusty’s frown deepened. The cop was hot and if it wasn’t for the hard looking man standing guard over the woman, he might make a move. But, there was a guy standing guard and he had work to do. Anyway, Jericho would not be happy if he had a little fun with one his cops. No, it was better this way. But he couldn’t help the disappointment that filled him when Paige Carter walked away and disappeared around the corner.

“Marty,” Paige said the instant Alder answered the phone. “How soon can you get to Nephi and do you have a way to transport your cows?”

“You found them?” he asked, afraid to believe it was possible.

“We did,” Paige affirmed. “I’m not sure about the bull but when I left, they had found the three heifers. They’re still looking for the bull. The Sheriff would like to turn them over to you rather than impound them. If he does that, you’re going to have to pay the fee.”

“No,” Marty said immediately. “I’ll head out now. It shouldn’t take more than an hour.”

“Okay,” Paige said, relieved. “Head to the sheriff’s office once you hit town. I’ll meet you there.”

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled into the parking lot and glanced around. The building wasn’t exactly inviting and it sat out in the middle of what looked like a large field. They had planted a couple trees next to the front of the building but they were young and didn’t provide much by way of curb appeal. And she thought her office was bad. She smiled and made her way to the front door. Once inside, she showed her badge and ID to the guard and was escorted to an office area in the back. The instant she stepped inside, she spotted the good sheriff. Once again, she wondered why Jericho didn’t like this man. She’d gotten that loud and clear when she called him to give him an update. Oh, well. It was obvious neither man was going to reveal the details and it was probably none of her business anyway.

“Deputy,” Dusty grinned as he watched her approach.

“Sheriff,” Paige frowned. “My victim is on his way out. It will take around an hour to get here from Manti. Tate has the cattle secured in a small corral that’s separated from the other livestock. He said the time delay wouldn’t be a problem.”

“And he has a trailer?” Dusty pressed.

“He said yes,” Paige leaned against a desk wondering when they’d get to the interview. “Have you heard anything from the rodeo grounds? I’m just wondering if they found the bull. He’s the most valuable animal of the four.”

“Tate called a few minutes ago. They found him. They didn’t enter him in the auction, probably thought he was too hot this time around. They were housing him with the other stock but didn’t have any plans to sell him... at least not here.”

“They?” Paige asked.

“Yeah,” Dusty moved toward a door. “He had two men helping him and one woman. My people have taken all of them into custody. They say this guy’s the leader... makes sense, I guess. His name’s the one on the business license.”

Paige followed the cowboy into a small room and closed the door behind her. There was a small table, one chair next to the wall that was currently occupied by Ramon Fletcher and two chairs positioned on the opposite side of the table nearest the door.

“So,” Dusty pulled out a chair and settled in. “Ramon Fletcher.”

Fletcher grunted but didn’t look up.

“My name is Deputy Carter,” Paige began. “Have you been given your rights?”

Dusty scowled. “My people did that already.” He shifted his chair, a sign he was taking control of the interview. “You said you understand those rights, Ramon. Is that correct? You understand you can remain silent, have a lawyer and all the rest?”

Paige frowned. That was not the proper way to give Miranda.

“I’ve been read my stupid rights twice now,” Ramon barked. “You gonna read them again like I’m some idiot that doesn’t understand English. I don’t want no stinking lawyer. I didn’t do nothing and you can’t prove I did.”

“That’s good enough for me,” Dusty decided. “Tell me where you got those cows.”

“I already told that other guy,” Ramon objected. “The one at the rodeo. Ask him. He has the paperwork.”

“You mean this paperwork?” Dusty pulled a sheet of paper from a file and slid it across the desk.

“Yeah,” Ramon said confidently. “So you see, I’m the rightful owner. Now let me go.”

“Oh, Ramon,” Dusty said sympathetically. “If it were only that easy. I’m sure that’s what you would like but I’m afraid that piece of paper right there, while incriminating... doesn’t prove anything.”

“I told you,” Ramon said a little louder. “I own those cows. Now, let me go man or I’ll sue you for false arrest.”

“Sorry, man,” Dusty mocked. “No can do. First, because you are not under arrest... yet. And also because I haven’t gotten the answers I need from you.”

Ramon’s eyes narrowed in anger.

Paige sat silently. She’d realized, almost immediately, she’d stepped on the Sheriff’s toes. And if she did it again, he might just kick her out of the interview. She wanted to be here, so she’d bite her tongue and let him do things his way... no matter how much she disagreed with his tactics.

“Deputy Carter here,” Dusty pointed to Paige. “She has a man that claims those cows are his. He even provided her with the documents to prove the brand on those cows you are trying to sell... well, that’s his registered brand. I’m wondering if you can explain that to me.”

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Ramon studied the table for several seconds. “Sure,” he finally said. “That’s who I bought the cows from.”

“Oh,” Dusty brightened. “That’s great. All I need is a copy of the bill of sale and we can be finished here.”

“I didn’t bring it with me,” Ramon objected. “Who carries the entire office on the road when they are selling cattle?”

“Oh,” Dusty sat back. “A bill of sale, pretty much anyone that wants to auction off a cow these days. But I’ll bite, where is the paperwork located?”

Ramon didn’t answer. The room remained completely silent for over a minute. Finally, Paige couldn’t take it any longer. She reached into her own file and pulled out the photos of all four cows, slapping them down on the table in front of Ramon.

“You took these,” Paige pointed to each one. “All four of them from the mountains in my home town. I’m a deputy, but I work in Manti. You remember Manti, right? It’s where you found these calves. It’s where you drove into the secluded area of a meadow, near a small stream and grabbed each of these animals. It’s where you and a friend loaded them into the back of a truck and transported them up here to wait for the rodeo where you could offload them for a few bucks. You took this one,” Paige shoved one of the photos forward. “And this one,” she pushed another one toward him. “I’m guessing you only took two because that’s all you could fit in the back of your truck. Then a couple weeks later you returned, and loaded up these other two,” Paige shoved the last two photos toward him.

“You can’t prove that,” Ramon said. “I mean, you can’t because it’s not true. I bought those cows. I own them and I have a right to sell them.”

“But that’s the problem Roman,” Paige sat back and lied. “You see when the two of you removed that tracker, the one that was placed on the bull, well... you left a clear set of prints. Once Sheriff Hawkins here books you, all I have to do is request a copy of the prints and... Bam,” she slammed the palm of her hand on the table. “All the evidence I need to lock you away for good.”

“I want a deal,” Ramon demanded. “I want to talk to the prosecutor. He’ll cut me a break for information. I’m done here, get me the prosecutor.”

“Are you saying you did steal those cows but you have a bigger fish?” Dusty asked. “One that you think the prosecutor might be interested in? I don’t get the DA until I know exactly what you’re saying here.”

“Yeah,” Ramon shifted. “Take off these cuffs and get the DA. I want a deal.”

“Yeah, what?” Paige asked.

“Lady, are you stupid or something?” Ramon said sarcastically. “Yeah, I stole all three of those cows and the bull, brought them here to Nephi, and tried to sell them at the auction.”

“Where did you take them from?” Paige pressed.

“Like you said,” Ramon said impatiently. “I drove up Manti Canyon, found the herd in a meadow near the bottom. Then I watched. The first two were easy. We just pulled off the side of the road and threw them in. The bull was harder. He took off, ran into the thick trees, toward that small stream. I cornered him and Pete helped rope him up. We noticed the tracker on his neck and I had to get rid of it so I got the thing off... took nearly twenty minutes. Then I got rid of it.”

“How?” Paige asked.

“I was going to throw it in the stream but I realized the water was still running, from the snow melting after winter. So, I grabbed a large branch that had fallen from a tree and wedged it into the bank. Once I was sure it wouldn’t go anywhere, I shoved the tracker under the water and took off.”

Paige glanced at Dusty and realized he was watching her... waiting for her to finish. She needed to do one last thing. “Okay, so I just want to be clear on what you requested. You are not asking for you attorney, you just want to talk to the local District Attorney so you can offer up something you know in hopes he will offer you a plea?”

“That’s right,” Ramon turned to Dusty. “Is this lady stupid? I mean, can’t she understand English?”

“I really don’t think she’s the stupid one,” he stood and headed for the door. “We’ll be back when I have an answer from the prosecutor. You just hang tight for now.”

Paige followed him out. “Now, I just need to know if you are filing charges or if I am.”

“Well done in there deputy,” Dusty said, ignoring her. “I’ll call Steve and he can work things out with Tolman. He made a left to head to his office but pivoted when he spotted his detective. “Miles,” he reached out a hand to shake the detectives in greeting. “I got this, I thought you were taking the night off.”

“I was,” he glanced at Paige then back to his boss. “But Doug said you brought someone in, so I thought I better head in.

“I would have called, but I knew you were busy,” Dusty said to explain to his man why the Sheriff was interrogating a suspect, not his detective. “You get the next one. Now go home, pamper Sheila a little and I don’t want to see you until Monday morning.”

Paige watched as Miles visibly relaxed, then smiled. “Thanks, boss. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“You can pay me back later,” Dusty joked. “With hard work and many, many arrests. Tell Sheila I said hello.”

The detective made his way down a long hallway and disappeared out a back door.

Dusty placed a hand on Paige’s back and escorted her to the front of the building. “Now, in answer to your question, I don’t know. He attempted to sell stolen property in my city and stole the property in yours. The lawyers can hash it out. Any chance you might stick around, grab a bite and see where it leads?”

Paige glanced up and spotted Dax’s truck headed their way. “Not a snowflakes chance in hell, I’m afraid.” She started to turn but was surprised when Dusty grabbed her arm, turned her around and planted a kiss right on her mouth.

Dax jumped from his truck and was across the sidewalk before either cop realized he was there. He wrapped an arm around Paige’s waist when she pushed away from the local sheriff, stumbled backward and nearly fell to the ground.

Paige was pissed. How dare the man make that kind of move... especially in front of Dax? He knew she was here with someone, knew she was involved...but that was the point, she immediately realized. The guy was cocky and arrogant and needed to be put in his place. She extricated herself from Dax’s hold and took a step forward intending to do just that. But, she wasn’t quick enough. Dax had balled his right hand into a fist and landed a punch to the Sheriff’s face. He followed it up with a left hook to the gut. Paige jumped between the two men and forcefully shoved Dax toward the car. She knew she couldn’t control him unless he let her, lucky for her... he was letting her. “Get in the car and let me handle this.”

Dax scowled but turned and climbed behind the wheel. He didn’t take his eyes off the two lawmen as he waited to see what Paige’s next move would be.

“I could arrest him for assault on a police officer,” Dusty said, holding a handkerchief to his bloodied nose.

“I suppose you could,” Paige agreed. “But then I could press charges for sexual assault and that is something a sheriff doesn’t need on his record... especially in a couple years when election time comes around.”

“If you ever decide to dump the temperamental monkey over there, give me a call.” Dusty turned and slowly made his way back into the building.

Paige sighed, turned and slowly made her way to the truck. The minute they were back on the road, Paige called Marty and told him she needed him to meet her at the rodeo grounds instead of the police station. He agreed and said he was about five minutes out. Dax changed course without saying a word. He waited in the truck while Paige dealt with her victim. Waited while two experienced cow hands stepped in to help Marty Alder trailer his missing cows. Waited while Paige pulled out several business cards and handed them to Tate, one of the cow hands and Marty. It took less than thirty minutes to get the cows into the trailer, the paperwork completed and the man back on the highway.

Paige said goodbye to the men, thanked them for their help then climbed into the passenger seat and closed the door. Dax moved to start the truck but she reached out and covered his hand. “I understand why you did what you did back there, but why are you angry with me?”

Dax didn’t know how to answer that question. He considered shrugging it off but decided to be honest instead. “I guess because I think you wanted it. Deep down inside you’ve been curious about the man, intrigued by the man since the moment you laid eyes on him. If that’s what you want, I’m not going to stand in your way. I mean he’s a cop, you’re a cop. I suppose you’d have a lot in common. He’s a prick and a player but I don’t own you so if that’s what you’re looking for... I can get Ken to drive me home and you can bring the truck back when you’re ready.”

“You would do that?” Paige said in disbelief. “You would head home and let me hop into bed with a stranger... then drive on home in your truck?”

“I already told you...”

“Not what I’m asking,” Paige turned to face him. “I mean that little to you? So little you would just back off... give up and go home, just like that?”

“No,” Dax sighed. “You mean that much to me.”

Paige stared at him in shock, not really understanding what this all meant.

“I’m not going to fight for you,” Dax shrugged. “Not if he’s the one you want.”

Paige smiled. “I beg to differ,” she moved across the seat, reached across Dax and slid the lever back as far as it would go. Then she climbed into his lap and took his face between the palms of her hands. “I was there and I’m pretty sure you broke his nose.”

Dax didn’t respond.

“I don’t want him, you idiot,” she added when he still didn’t respond. “I want you.”

“I was there, too,” Dax told her. “I saw the way you looked at him.”

“I’m not saying you’re wrong,” Paige began, tightening her grip when Dax moved to look away. “Not completely. Dusty Hawkins is hot, until he opens his mouth... that is. If you truly believe I would throw you over for him... well, I guess I have a lot of work to do. We could get started tonight... if you’re willing to book a hotel rather than head back to the Woolsten’s. Call Ken and tell him we made other plans.” She leaned in and pressed her lips to his.

Dax hesitated and told himself to resist the pull of her. Memories tried to push in, a little voice in the back of his mind told him not to trust so easily, reminded him how many times Piper had cheated when he wasn’t around to stop her, warned him how much he cared about Paige and how much her betrayal would destroy him. Then he pushed it all aside and deepened the kiss.

Paige relaxed and moved off his lap. “Am I booking a hotel?”

Dax just nodded.

“Good,” Paige smiled. “Then tomorrow, maybe we can stop on the way home and find you a cowboy hat. If you had a hat... a sexy white cowboy hat with a turquoise band like the real cowboys rather than the baseball cap you always wear... well, I might not be tempted to look at another man for the rest of my life.”

Dax tried not to smile as he pulled onto the roadway, but failed.

**Be sure to come back next month for another exciting episode with Paige Carter. She'll be solving another crime and revealing more secrets from the past.**

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**Categories:** Blog Series S2

**Tags:** Season 2

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### [Pernicious Liaisons](https://melaniepsmith.com/pernicious-liaisons/)

**Published:** July 29, 2017
**Author:** Melanie P. Smith

**Excerpt:** Pernicious Liaisons (E4) - The team investigates an industrial accident at a construction site... or is it murder?  If so, who did it?  An ex-partner?  A mistress?  Did he leave behind a grieving widow or a femme fatale?  Paige once again puts aside personal matters to solve a local mystery.

**Content:**

****\*\*\*PERNICIOUS LIAISONS\*\*\*****

“Paige,” Margie’s voice came over the radio. “Respond to an industrial accident. I sent the address to your computer. Havilland is primary, but he needs a back. Apparently, the workers have started arriving and he’s having a difficult time controlling the crowd and preserving the scene.”

“Copy,” Paige pulled to the shoulder, glanced at the address and made a U-turn. “Show me enroute.”

Paige pulled into the construction zone and took in her surroundings. Havi certainly had his hands full. Her fellow deputy was doing his best to secure the area, but at least twenty men were gathered around demanding entrance. She jumped from her car, raised two fingers to her lips and let out a long, loud whistle. It worked. Every eye was now on her. “Who’s in charge here?”

Havilland pointed to a man sitting on the bottom step that led to a portable trailer. Paige assumed the structure was a temporary office of some kind they used on every construction project. She approached the man and sat down beside him. He was obviously in shock, his face was ghostly white and his rapid breathing made her wonder if he was going to pass out. “I’m Deputy Carter,” she began. “Can you do me a favor? Try something for me? Take a really big breath and hold it, count to three then slowly let it out. That’s it, now let’s do it again. One more time. Feel better?”

“Yeah,” the man let out another jagged breath. “Thanks.”

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[Download PDF](https://melaniepsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Pernicious-Liaisons.pdf)

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“Looks like maybe you had a bit of a shock,” Paige said sympathetically. “Long, deep breaths are better. Those short, quick ones will make you hyperventilate. Do me a favor and keep going, long deep breath in, hold it and let it out.”

They sat there for several seconds until a little color returned to the man’s face. “Can you tell me your name?”

“Billy,” he swallowed. “Uh… Billy Duncan.”

“Okay, Billy,” Paige shifted. “My friend over there said you are in charge. I’m wondering if maybe you could talk to your men. Get them to back off a bit. My guy… well, he’s just trying to do his job, but they’re making that difficult. Any chance you could help us out?”

Billy glanced up and realized the men were crowding the officer, demanding entrance into the building to start the day’s work. He glanced back at Paige, stood and made his way to Havilland’s side. “Listen up.”

Paige marveled at the instant change. Where seconds ago the crowd was angry, demanding and unruly, it was now completely silent. Eerily so.

“I um…” Billy swallowed hard. “I found Dutch… Dutch’s body this morning. He fell, I guess. After we all left, he fell and…”

“Dutch is dead?” Someone asked in shock.

“He’s dead,” Billy lowered his head and looked sick.

Paige stepped in, patted Billy on the shoulder then faced the crowd. “I’m sure you can understand how important it is for us to preserve the scene. We need time to take a look around, determine just how Dutch died and make sure the building is safe for you to return to work. I know this is difficult, but we really need your cooperation.”

“So,” a large, hard-looking man called out. “What are you asking, lady?”

“We’re telling you to back away,” Havilland said, annoyed.

“I need everyone to gather on the other side of the office,” Billy stepped in. “I’m closing down the site for the day. Before you leave, I need an accounting of who’s here and what time you arrived.” He glanced at Paige. “I assume you’re going to need that?”

Paige nodded. “We will, thank you.”

“Once I get your info, you’re free to leave,” Billy shouted. The men were grumbling now, mostly about lost wages. “If you’d let me finish before you go off half-cocked,” Billy raised his voice over the men. “I was gonna say you’ll get a day’s pay, but keep mouthing off and I just might change my mind.”

Once again, the group became completely silent. Paige moved in next to Billy. “As you get their arrival times, would you inform the men we’re going to need to speak to each one of them individually? If they stick around, we’ll get to it this morning. If they prefer, we can stop by their homes later this afternoon.”

“I’ll tell them,” Billy nodded. “I’ll make it a condition of the day’s pay… to be available for the cops.”

“I appreciate that,” Paige made her way toward Havilland.

“Come on then,” Billy called to the men. “Meet me on the other side of the office.”

Paige and Havi suddenly found themselves alone. Havilland let out a relieved breath. “Tough guys,” he shook his head. “I was afraid I’d have to arrest half a dozen of them before this was over.

“What do we have?”

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Havilland glanced at the yellow tape, decided it would keep the scene secure enough and made his way into the partially erected building. “Looks like the man took a nose dive from up there.” He pointed to a large metal beam about thirty feet above them. “It appears he was working on something on the upper floor. Billy said they shut down the work for the day at around seven. Said Dutch, he’s the owner of this operation. Well, he was until...” Havilland shrugged. “Dutch said there was a problem with the electrical and he needed to stay another hour or so to fix it because the inspector was due first thing this morning.”

Paige moved to the edge of an unfinished wall and glanced at the body sprawled out below them. “Medical Examiner on the way?”

“Yeah,” Havilland glanced around. “Thing is…” he hesitated.

“Thing is,” Paige realized. “You’re not entirely sure it was an industrial accident.” She shifted her focus from the body to the area the victim occupied before his untimely demise.

“Could have been,” Havi said. “But, these guys… they work in this environment every day. One guy, alone? Well, that just doesn’t make sense to me. Now, in the middle of the day when things are hoppin’? Sure, accidents can happen. Someone snags a couple two-by-fours, someone else reaches for one tool or another and they collide. Wham... one, or both, end up dead.”

Paige studied the beam directly above them. It was nearly two feet wide, at least eighteen inches. A seasoned construction guy, someone who had been in the business long enough to have his own operation, wouldn’t take a nose dive easily. She glanced down at the body, again. “Alright,” she turned and headed for the door. “I’m convinced. Let’s head down and process the body.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Havilland asked. “That I convinced you to investigate further.”

“I guess only time will tell,” Paige exited the building and headed for their victim. As she approached the area, she spotted what could only be women’s footprints. There was a flat surface and, a couple inches back, a small round indentation. Women’s high heel shoes. She reached for her phone but paused. “Give me your phone.”

“What? Why?” Havilland objected. “You have your own phone in your hand.”

Paige sighed. “Give me the phone.” She turned and glared at her fellow cop.

Havilland sighed and held out his phone.

Paige immediately crouched, set Havilland’s phone next to the footprint and used her own phone to take several pictures.

“Oh,” Havilland said in understanding.

“Yeah,” Paige straightened. “Oh.” She passed his phone back to him.

“What is that?”

“Women’s shoe prints,” Paige answered as she slowly made her way to the body. With her own phone, she took over two dozen photos of the man’s lifeless form lying face first in the dirt. Once she was finished with that, she retrieved several markers from her vehicle and began placing them near items that could be evidence.

Havilland stood back, watching Paige as she worked. The woman was the most thorough cop he’d ever met, but she got results. He knew the markers would make it easier for her to diagram the scene later. Something that would be essential if this ever went to trial. He was glad she was the one to respond this morning. Gage would have been argumentative, to say the least. He sighed, wondering if he’d ever get along with the big man.

Paige heard Havilland sigh and she frowned. “You’re the one that asked me to look into this. *Paige, investigate this as a homicide rather than an accident*. Have you changed your mind?”

“No,” Havilland glanced up when the improvised SUV used by the medical examiner pulled into the lot. “I wasn’t thinking about the case, I was counting my blessings. I’m grateful you responded to back me this morning.”

Paige grinned. “Oh, well...” she stood and motioned for the ME to pull forward. “You could always apologize to Gage. Tell him you regret the way you handled the situation with his sister. Appeal to him man to man. You know, explain how you thought a quick break was the best way to go.”

“Yeah,” Havilland started to walk away. “Because that would make everything just peachy. Re-opening old wounds at the same time I pray my nose isn’t broken.”

Paige grinned and took a step forward, then froze. The rays from the bright sun had hit something metal next to the body, creating a quick but bright flash that she almost missed. She made her way around the body, crouched, pulled a pen from her pocket, and slowly slid a delicate necklace forward that was wedged beneath the ground and Dutch Hagerty’s lifeless body.

“Looks like a locket,” Havilland said next to her. “Are you going to open it?”

“No,” she stood and glanced around, trying to remember where she parked her car.

Havilland pulled an evidence bag from his pocket, opened it and held it beneath the locket.

“Boy Scout, huh?” Paige grinned as she dropped the locket into the bag. “I had no idea.”

“Nope,” Havilland sealed the bag. “I just think a cop should be prepared, too.”

“Ready for transport?” Benny Parks, the local Medical Examiner asked when he reached the body.

“You finished?” Havilland asked Paige.

“Yeah,” Paige took a step back. “Go ahead, Benny.” The two officers watched as the medical professional rolled the body onto a stretcher and wheeled it to the back of his vehicle. Within minutes the body was loaded, secured and ready for transport.

“Which one do I call when I’m done?” Benny called back.

“Me,” Havilland gave him a wave.

“Should be later this afternoon,” Benny assured him before climbing into the vehicle and making a large circle. He had just started down the long drive when a bright red sports car came flying around the corner and nearly collided with the SUV head-on.

Paige frowned and began moving that way, Havilland did the same. The ME swerved, missed the vehicle, and gave a long, annoyed honk before pulling onto the highway. The sports car continued into the parking area of the site and slowed abruptly, gravel flew several feet behind the vehicle, dust billowed and circled the tires before the tiny vehicle came to a complete stop. A woman in a designer summer dress and large sunglasses shoved open the driver’s side door and seemed to glide as she graciously extricated herself from the vehicle.

“Is there some emergency I’m not aware of?” Havilland barked.

The woman glanced over, surprised to see the two officers and frowned. “I don’t understand.”

Paige wasn’t buying it. The woman had spotted them immediately, she just wanted to pretend she hadn’t. She was thumbing her nose at the little people, making sure Paige and Havi knew they were beneath her. The designer shoes that didn’t match her too short dress didn’t escape Paige’s notice. Was this the woman who had left prints near the body? “This is a restricted area. I’m afraid you need to vacate the premises.”

“Do you know who I am?”

Havi sighed, Paige grinned. “Not a clue. But now that you mentioned it, I will need your name,” Paige insisted. If she had a quarter for every time she’d been asked that question... well, she’d be set for life. She’d already noted the plate, so if the woman balked, she’d track her down later.

“I’m not going anywhere until I speak with my husband,” the woman turned and took several steps toward the portable trailer.

Paige glanced at Havilland who shrugged and followed the woman into the small structure. Once they were inside, he locked the door and moved behind the large desk. If this was the victim’s spouse, Mrs. Hagerty... things might get ugly fast.

Felicity Hagerty frowned. “I’d like an explanation. That is my husband’s desk. I find it highly disrespectful for you...” she pulled a strange face. “Well, for you to come in and act like you’re in charge or something.”

Paige grabbed a folding chair and positioned it to the side of the desk before casually settling in. “We are in charge.” She noticed the subtle change in the woman’s demeanor. Apparently, she didn’t like that response. “Before we discuss the situation here, at the site, I’m going to need you to tell me your name.”

Felicity flipped back her fiery red hair and huffed. “Why, I’m Mrs. Dutch Hagerty and you are trespassing.”

Havilland grinned. “We’re the police ma’am. We don’t trespass.”

“Where is my husband?” Felicity ignored him. “The inspector should be here any minute. We cannot afford this,” she brushed a hand through the air impatiently. “Whatever this is. I will not risk a delay because you want to play...”

“This isn’t a game Mrs. Hagerty,” Paige inserted, sensing her partner was about to blow. “I regret to inform you, Dutch Hagerty... your husband, well he passed away last night. I’m afraid the inspection is going to have to wait. The building is a crime scene.”

“What do you mean passed away?” Felicity focused on the man as she shifted in her chair. The tiny dress rode up, exposing a generous portion of her thigh. She batted her eyes at the male officer and subtly licked her lips. “Dutch was healthy and fit. You must be mistaken and the inspection simply cannot be delayed. You understand, don’t you?” she cooed as she pushed her chest a little higher in Havilland’s direction.

Paige blinked in shock. *Seriously?* The woman had just learned her husband was dead and her instinct was to pull a Sharon Stone? Before she could whip out a cigarette and light up, Paige decided to take over. “The inspection will be canceled.”

“Can’t you do something to fix this?” she leaned forward slightly, obviously believing if Havi got a clear view down the front of her dress he’d give her what she wanted.

“Nope,” Havilland settled back in the chair. “You know, I find it interesting that you are more concerned with a building inspection than how your husband died.”

Felicity straightened and her eyes grew cold. How dare this... public servant reject her advances like that? “I simply do not believe you. Dutch is fine. I saw his truck in the lot. He’s probably in a closet running wire or something and you made a mistake.”

“I assure you, Mrs. Hagerty,” Paige continued. “We have not made a mistake. We don’t give notification of a man’s death to his loved ones...” she paused for effect. “Lightly.”

“There are questions,” Havilland began. “The death is suspicious. Can you tell us, when was the last time you saw your husband?”

“You said he passed away,” Felicity objected. “I assumed that meant from natural causes.”

“There’s nothing natural about falling over thirty feet from a second-floor beam,” Havilland countered.

Felicity’s hand shot to her mouth and she gasped.

Paige watched, there was something fake about Mrs. Hagerty. She couldn’t say what. Her actions seemed in line with someone who had just been surprised but it didn’t ring true somehow. She knew she should step in, soften the blow but she wanted to see how Havi handled the situation and it was his case.

Felicity took a shuddering breath. “Dutch was killed in an accident, then? I need to call OSHA, get the investigation started right away. They are sticklers for that kind of thing. I won’t be given a huge fine because you delayed notification. And there is no reason a tragic accident has to delay the inspection.”

“I said he fell from the beam,” Havilland said calmly. “I didn’t say it was an accident. And, it hasn’t escaped my notice that you didn’t answer the question. When was the last time you saw your husband?”

“What exactly are you implying, officer?”

“It’s Deputy Havilland,” Havi corrected. “And I’m not implying anything. We are conducting an investigation. The first step is to determine when you saw your husband last. The second step is to determine where you were last night. Feel free to take those in whatever order you prefer.”

“My husband has been tragically killed and you sit here...” Felicity inhaled sharply. “You have the nerve to interrogate me?”

“Not to step on Havilland’s toes here, but there is another question you have failed to answer, Mrs. Dutch Hagerty. You never gave us your first name.” Paige’s gut was screaming now. Sure, you never could predict how a grieving spouse would react to the news their loved one was dead but Mrs. Dutch here was acting more than a little suspicious.

“My name is Felicity Hagerty,” the woman stood. “And if you have any further questions, you can contact my lawyer.” She reached into her handbag and pulled out a business card. “Ryan will be notified if you harass me again. I doubt your boss will be pleased if he gets slapped with a lawsuit over an industrial accident.”

Paige and Havilland watched as the woman marched out the door.

“That went well,” Paige stood and smiled. “Didn’t go over too well, you know when you ignored her damsel in distress routine.”

Havilland also stood. “More like femme fatale if you ask me.”

The two of them stepped back out of the trailer and paused at the bottom of the stairs. It was a hot, dry morning, the afternoon was going to be unbearable.

Billy Duncan rushed over from the side of the building. “Mrs. Hagerty didn’t look happy. Did everything go okay in there? She demanded to know where the workers are. When I told her I sent them home, she nearly blew a gasket.”

“Billy?” Paige studied the middle-aged man. He seemed a lot better now. “We need to start interviewing everyone that works here. I’d like to start with you, if you think you’re up to it.”

“Oh, yeah,” Billy swallowed hard. “Okay.”

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\*\*\*\*\*

Several hours later, Paige was headed back to the office. They hadn’t learned much from Billy. Even less from the workers that had stayed back to be interviewed before enjoying a paid day off. Once she and Duncan Havilland had interviewed everyone at the site, they’d split the list of remaining employees and began making house calls. She had just left Cody Barnes residence, the last man on her list, and wanted to hook back up with Duncan before they decided their next move.

Paige stepped through the back door of the station, closed her eyes and took a second to just enjoy the nice, cool, air-conditioned building. When she opened her eyes, she realized Jericho was waiting in the doorway. “Sorry, what’s up?” Paige took several steps forward, pausing a few feet from her boss.

“I need you and Havilland in the conference room,” he turned and walked away.

Paige frowned, stepped into the large open office area and spotted Duncan headed her way. “We in trouble?” she asked.

Duncan Havilland shrugged. “If I had to guess, that hot-shot attorney of the late Dutch Hagerty made a phone call.”

“Did you get anything new?” Paige asked before stepping into the large room that contained a massive oval table. Jericho Walters, Sanpete County Sheriff, was sitting at the head of the table silently waiting for the two of them to join him.

Havilland shook his head before settling into an executive chair, Paige took a seat across from him.

“I don’t like getting blindsided by a self-important, arrogant attorney,” Jericho began. “Especially before I had my morning coffee.” He held up a hand when Duncan started to speak. “But, I talked to Margie and she told me you were busy handling the investigation, so I’ll give you a pass... this time. Next time, I expect a phone call.”

“Sorry, sir,” Duncan answered. “It’s my fault. This is my case, Paige is just helping me out. I should have made notification right away.”

“No harm done,” Jericho relaxed. “Now, give me the basics. I have a feeling Mr. Ryan Wickert is not going away anytime soon. Why do you think that fall was more than an unfortunate accident?”

“At first,” Havilland began. “It was just the fall. The boss working at night, all alone and he just falls for no reason? Didn’t track for me. I’m guessing Paige agreed because once she got there we started looking at things from a criminal lens.”

“I do,” Paige affirmed. “I also found women’s footprints at the scene and a locket that I want Heidi to examine for fingerprints, particles, everything.”

“Then there’s the wife,” Havi provided. “She’s...”

“I’ve met Felicity,” Jericho interrupted. “There’s no need to go any further. Do you think she’s involved?”

“Shoe prints match the ones she was wearing this morning,” Paige offered. “I haven’t measured for size, but with your permission, I’d like to bring in an expert.”

“On shoes?” Jericho asked.

Paige smiled. “Shoes and technology. Carmen is still in town. One look at these photos and she’ll be able to tell me size, make, anything I need to know about those prints.”

“I don’t see any harm in it,” Jericho nodded. “What else?”

“Billy Duncan,” Havi started. “He’s the foreman. Billy said there was trouble in paradise. There’s a question about ownership of the company. Billy’s not sure Felicity Hagerty is the rightful owner. He thinks Dutch created a contingency... in case of trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?” Jericho asked.

“He doesn’t know,” Paige answered. “He just knows Dutch brought him in because Billy was supposed to run the crew if the trust Dutch formed was activated for any reason.”

“And the proceeds?” Jericho wondered.

“No idea,” Duncan shrugged. “We need to figure out who the attorney was and what legal provisions are in place.”

“I got the impression this Ryan Wickert was Felicity’s personal attorney,” Jericho considered. “I’ll make a call to Tolman and see what he can tell me about the man. He may know what kind of law this Wickert fella practices.”

“Will it complicate things?” Paige asked. “Bringing in the DA before we can prove we have a case?”

Jericho grinned. “Of course.”

“Then can we wait?” Havilland asked.

“We could,” Jericho said. “But we’re not going to. I can’t risk it. The arrogant prick is bound to go to Tolman eventually. He wasn’t happy with my response this morning. The sooner we bring in James Tolman, the better. He might even be able to run interference... give you two time to prove your theory,” Jericho stood. “Now, I have a phone call to make and you need to put your heads together and bring me something I can use to convince our illustrious attorney we need to pursue this.”

“You said you’ve met Felicity Hagerty,” Paige also stood. “Are you friends?”

Jericho flashed her an annoyed scowl. “You did meet the woman, right?”

Paige smiled. “Sorry, my bad. I guess you won’t be upset then when I tell you, I think she’s responsible.”

“No,” Jericho shrugged. “But thinking and proving are two very different things.”

Once their boss had left the room, the two deputies put their heads together, trying to come up with another angle to chase. Just like Paige, Havilland’s interviews hadn’t resulted in anything significant.

“Okay,” Paige ran a frustrated hand through her hair. “We know Dutch didn’t use his wife’s lawyer for company business. But he ran a construction company. These days’ people sue for the smallest infraction. Let’s have Margie get into that court system, the one that shows criminal and civil cases. Maybe Hagerty Construction has a docket or brief or something we can pull to see what attorney filed the paperwork on his behalf.”

“Oh, you mean that xChange program?” Havilland asked, following her into the open office area. They made a beeline for Margie’s desk.

“Yeah,” Paige stopped next to Jericho’s assistant’s desk. “That’s the one.”

“You need me to run something in xChange?” Margie asked, overhearing the last of the conversation.

“Hagerty Construction,” Havilland provided. “We need to see if we can find their attorney.”

Margie began tapping on her keyboard. Within seconds, she was motioning for the duo to come around the desk. “There were a few cases, but this one was the most recent. Last year and it says here....” She clicked on a link and an official court document appeared. “Maury Humphrey filed this paperwork. Here’s his address and number but I’m sure he’s left for the day. I’d try him first thing in the morning if it were me.”

“Thanks, Margie,” Havi smiled. “You’re awesome.”

Jericho stepped into his doorway with his cellphone pressed to his ear. “James says Wickert is a civil attorney.” He disappeared back into his office.

“Divorce maybe?” Havilland asked.

Paige considered. “Maybe, but I think Billy would have known if his boss was pursuing a divorce. He just said there was trouble and Butch was making preparations. I didn’t get the feeling anything had been filed yet if there was a divorce pending.”

“You’re right,” Havilland agreed.

“Could have been something to do with her prenup,” Margie provided.

“Are you saying there was one?” Havilland asked.

“Oh, yeah,” Margie nodded. “I don’t know Felicity Hagerty. I don’t run in the right crowds. I mean, I’m one of those lowly working people.”

Paige laughed. “Join the club.”

“But I hear things,” Margie shrugged.

“That’s an understatement,” Havi smiled.

“When Felicity married Dutch, their prenup was the talk of the town. Dutch had been burned before, not a marriage but a partnership that had gone bad. He wanted to protect the company. The agreement is ironclad, from what I heard. And, there are rumors, nothing substantial mind you, that Mrs. High and Mighty was involved.”

“With?” Paige pressed.

“It’s a mystery,” Margie admitted. “Nobody knows. But the marriage was on the rocks and there was speculation that Dutch was working to firm up things regarding the company. I heard he was creating a trust with a secret board of directors.”

“But isn’t it a private LLC?” Havilland asked. “That doesn’t make sense with that kind of setup.”

“I don’t know anything about that,” Margie frowned. “Seems he would have needed a good lawyer to change a company’s structure though. Maybe this Maury Humphrey can shed some light.”

“Thanks again, Margie,” Havilland started to move away from the desk. “I have one more place I want to visit, then I’m going to call it a day. I’ll see the two of you in the morning.”

Paige watched as Havilland exited the building. “Has Dean checked on?”

“He has,” Margie answered as Jericho stepped from his office.

“Tolman is going to do a little checking, behind the scenes. He’s not convinced this was anything more than an accident but he knows Felicity Hagerty, not on a personal level. Apparently, he’s had to endure more than one charity function where he’s dealt with her. The shoe prints, her reaction, they have him intrigued. I’ll let you know when I hear anything. In the meantime, I say we all call it a day. Go home, Paige. There’s nothing pressing that can’t wait for morning.”

Paige nodded and followed her boss out the door.

Jericho turned just before he reached his car. “Gage brought me a list this morning. Seems there were quite a few athletes that received that ring. He’s working on narrowing the list some. I’ll let you know when we have something finalized.”

“Thanks,” Paige sighed. “Seems every time we find a good lead, things around here pick up and I don’t have the time to pursue that cold case. Thanks for letting Gage help on this. I think he’s the best man for the job.”

“I agree,” Jericho nodded. “And we’ll find time. We both just need to be patient.”

“Goodnight,” Paige said before climbing into her vehicle and heading home.

\*\*\*\*\*

Paige pulled off the highway and followed the long drive back to the construction site. If anyone asked, she wouldn’t be able to explain why she’d returned. She just needed to see the place at night. According to the ME, Dutch Hagerty died between nine and eleven the previous evening. It was five minutes after ten... well within the window. She’d just go up, take a look around and get a feel for the building... how it looked and felt when Dutch met his demise. She frowned when she spotted the beat-up old Toyota parked next to Dutch’s large work truck.

Paige pulled in next to the car, jotted down the plate then shut down her car. As she stepped into the warm night, she heard a faint sound coming from inside the building. After glancing around one more time to make sure she hadn’t missed anything out in the open, she made her way to the front entrance. With each step she took, the noise got louder. Paige moved forward and paused at the bottom of the staircase. It sounded like someone was crying. She slowly, silently ascended the rough steps, cautious not to make a sound.

When she reached the top, she peeked around the corner and spotted a woman sitting against a wall near the place Dutch had been just before he fell. Paige pressed her back against the wall that separated the two women and considered. She had no idea who this girl was, didn’t know if she’d murdered their victim, didn’t know if she had a weapon. All of the above were possible, but Paige decided none of them were probable. The woman was clearly distraught, mourning the loss of someone she cared about. Paige crouched and peered around the wall again. “Hello,” she called. “I’m Deputy Carter, can I came over and talk to you?”

The woman jumped, as much as one could when they were sitting on the floor. She swallowed hard and tried to clear her throat. “Uh...okay,” she finally said.

Paige stood and moved toward the emotional woman who was still crying. She stopped a few feet away and waited. The instant the woman looked up Paige began. “Can you tell me your name?”

The woman pressed the palm of her hands to her eyes, then briskly wiped away the remaining moisture. “Sandy Mitford.”

“Okay,” Paige crouched in front of the woman so she could see her more closely. “Can I call you Sandy?”

“Sure,” the woman hiccupped. “Sorry.”

“I’m guessing you knew Dutch,” Paige declared. Might as well get to the point.

“Yes,” the woman suddenly looked defiant.

“Did you know him well?” Paige asked, already knowing the answer.

“Yes.”

So much for getting to the bottom of things. “Can you elaborate, please?”

Paige shifted and settled in next to the woman realizing this was going to be a long conversation.

“I went to college with Dutch,” she began. “We dated a little but mostly we were just really good friends. He graduated and came back home to take over the family business. I finished up school and moved to Denver. We lost touch, you know how it is. You always mean to hook up with your old college pals but somehow life always gets in the way.”

“I understand,” Paige nodded. “But you did get in touch?”

“No, not really,” Sandy disagreed. “I mean not on purpose. I landed a pretty good job in Denver, at an investment firm. Dutch took over the construction business. I’m surprised our paths met, but they did. Dutch came to Colorado a few years back. He heard about a large development going in and wanted to submit a bid, talk to the owners, stuff like that.”

“And you ran into each other?” Paige realized.

“We did,” Sandy nodded and brushed away fresh tears. “We were both surprised and wanted to catch up, you know. It was innocent, just a couple friends meeting for lunch.”

“But it turned into more?”

“Eventually,” Sandy admitted. “But not then. Dutch seemed a little sad, I got him to open up and he told me a little about his marriage. I was single, never been married, so I couldn’t really relate but we had been such good friends in college... Well, I guess it was just easy for us to reconnect.”

“When did the affair start?” Paige asked, knowing she was right.

“About six months ago,” Sandy sighed. “We didn’t mean for it to happen. I mean for over two years we just... well, we just remained friends. Dutch would call when he needed a break. He didn’t get the job in Denver but he did get a few smaller projects. He was in town off and on and we sort of just picked up where we left off. It was strictly platonic, I swear.”

“I believe you,” and for some reason, Paige did.

“About eight months ago, Dutch discovered his wife had been having an affair,” Sandy said softly. “He was furious at first, but then he decided it was for the best. He’d been struggling, trying to fix their relationship and nothing seemed to work. Now he knew why. She didn’t want to fix it. She had someone else.”

“But she didn’t divorce him because of the prenup?”

“Yeah,” Sandy said a little surprised. “If she left him, she wouldn't be living the good life. That woman lived to shop. So much, sometimes Dutch worried he couldn’t pay the bill.”

“What happens now that he’s dead?” Paige asked.

“I don’t know,” Sandy admitted. “Dutch was putting things in place, you know, preparing for an ugly divorce. The first thing he had to do was prove she was cheating. He told me a couple days ago he finally had what he needed. The second step was to make sure the company was safe. He knew she’d go after that and he hoped the prenuptial agreement would be enough to save it.”

“Did it matter that he was also having an affair?” Paige asked.

“I don’t know,” Sandy said, frustrated. “When I asked him for the details, he just said not to worry about it. He said it was his mess and he wasn’t going to drag me into it. We didn’t mean to get involved, we really didn’t. It’s just...well, I always had a crush on Dutch. He was so kind and... good, you know?”

“I didn’t actually know Dutch Hagerty, but I’m glad he was good to you,” Paige told her. “And I am truly sorry for your loss.”

“He came to Denver, for a job, about six months ago,” Sandy continued. “Dutch was so upset. He felt so alone. I hated seeing him like that and invited him to dinner. We talked all night long. He had discovered Felicity, his wife, was getting information from his former partner. Dutch and Keith had started out friends, but almost immediately problems developed. Dutch ended up buying Keith out, but it was expensive. The split was not a good one and Keith has been trying to ruin Dutch ever since.”

“Do you know Keith’s last name?”

“Uh...” Sandy hesitated. “Do you need to bring him into this?”

“I need to talk to him,” Paige said.

“Okay, it’s Keith Shavell.”

“Do you think he had anything to do with Dutch’s accident?” Paige asked.

“No,” Sandy shook her head. “But I don’t think it was an accident.”

“Why not?”

“Because I think Felicity found out about me,” Sandy admitted. “She called my phone last night, just before nine.”

“Did you answer?”

“No,” Sandy pulled out her phone, punched a couple buttons and Felicity’s voice filled the room.

“Sandy Mitford,” Felicity said angrily. “I know who you are. I talked to those... vile college friends of yours. I know you have wanted my husband for years. Stay away from him or you will regret it.”

“Can you forward that message to my phone?” Paige asked. Havi needed to hear the message and the anger. It might explain what happened out here last night.

“Sure,” Sandy pressed a few buttons and then Paige’s phone pinged. “Am I a suspect now?”

“Technically, yes.” Paige sighed. “What can you tell me to clear your name? That message came in just before nine. What did you do after you received it?” Paige pulled out her phone. “Oh, can I record this? I’m not actually the lead investigator and I’d like him to hear your answers.”

“Okay,” Sandy said hesitantly. “When that call came in, I was with my brother.”

“His name?”

“Jerry,” Sandy sighed, knowing he was going to be brought into this now. “He’s a year older than me. He’s looking for work and just moved to town. I was going to ask Dutch if he had a job my brother could do. Maybe intern or something but Jerry agreed to come a few days too late. This is so messed up. What am I going to do without him?”

Paige didn’t know how to answer that and figured the woman didn’t really want an answer, anyway. “So Jerry is staying with you? He was there all night?”

“Yes,” Sandy nodded. “I was upset when I got that call. I didn’t know what to do. I considered calling Dutch, but I figured he already knew. He always knew things like that somehow. Anyway, Jerry talked me out of it. He wasn’t happy about the affair, but he understood. We argued a lot, he was mad at me for using my boyfriend to get him a job. It took us hours to work through it all and by the time we were finished, it was too late to call Dutch. I was going to talk to him tonight. We were supposed to meet, for dinner and he was going to tell me the plan. He said he’d put everything in motion and it was all going to work out, soon.”

“Did Dutch ever give you jewelry?”

Sandy furrowed her brows. “No, why? I mean, he probably would have but I was so uncomfortable with the affair and all. I told him we had to keep our relationship a secret until his marriage was over. We never ate out, in public. I was too scared a friend or one of his employees would see us. We drove all the way to Price when we went out and he never gave me gifts.”

“Okay,” Paige wondered if that was how Felicity had found Sandy. Was the locket intended as a gift to his girlfriend? Maybe a symbol that things were moving along and they would be together soon? “Did Dutch ever talk to you about the business? Billy said Dutch was making some changes, things that would protect the company because things with Felicity were rocky.”

“No,” Sandy pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around her knees. “We didn’t talk about that. I worked for an investment and development firm in Denver so I understood the business but we didn’t talk about that. Dutch said the business was doing well, that he was finally getting the good jobs and his company was in demand. He relied on Billy a lot, that man knows the business and Dutch trusted him. Billy was probably the only person besides me that Dutch did trust. But Dutch was a private man, he didn’t talk about himself a lot. Not the details. He talked about his dreams, mostly. He wanted to build a big house near a lake. Dutch had purchased some property just outside Palisades State Park and he wanted to build a house out there with a garden and an amazing backyard. I can still picture it, the way he described it. It was going to be our dream home.” Tears started to stream down Sandy’s face again.

Paige was starting to get a pretty good picture of the man who had met an early death. And one question kept rising to the surface. How could this man, the man Sandy was describing, the man Billy had described early that day... how had he come to marry Felicity Hagerty? “I think that’s everything for now,” Paige stood. “I may need to contact you in the future if I have more questions. And uh...” Paige glanced around. “I can’t let you stay here. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Sandy stood. “I understand. It’s okay, I was about to leave, anyway.”

The two women made their way to the parking lot, climbed into their respective vehicles and left the area.

\*\*\*\*\*

“I have a meeting with Maury Humphrey and need to head out,” Duncan called out the instant Paige stepped into the office. “You coming?”

“Sure,” Paige turned to head back out into the parking lot. Once they were settled inside Duncan’s vehicle Paige waited to learn where they were going.

“Humphrey’s office is located in Price,” Havilland said, pulling onto the highway. “We’ll take eighty-nine to six, should take a couple hours. Hope you didn’t have plans this morning.”

“Not really,” Paige settled in for the ride. “But I met someone last night at the construction site.” She proceeded to tell Havilland about her encounter with Sandy. “I recorded most of it so you can listen to the conversation once we’re finished here.”

“Or you could play it now,” he suggested. “We have plenty of time. I’d like to listen to what she has to say and hash it out before we meet with Humphrey.”

\*\*\*\*\*

The office was professional and looked expensive but not pretentious. Paige and Duncan were seated in a small conference room away from the various offices scattered around the main floor of the building. Clearly, this firm was doing well for itself.

Within minutes a well-dressed man stepped into the room. “I’m sorry I couldn’t come to you this morning,” Maury began. “I know driving all the way out here had to be inconvenient but Judge Reese rarely reschedules unless it’s a dire emergency. And, according to him, the death of a man is not an emergency, Dutch was already dead after all.”

“We understand,” Havilland held back a grin. Sounded like most judges he’d met throughout his career. Their time was valuable, everyone else... not so much.

“Anyway,” Maury settled into one of the chairs and set a file on the table. “I’m not sure how I can help.”

“First,” Paige leaned forward. “Can you tell us what kind of law you practice? And maybe who you represent?”

“Mostly corporate law,” Maury clasped his hands on the table in front of him and considered. “I had two clients, Dutch Hagerty and Hagerty Construction. Originally the company was an LLP, but when the partnership was dissolved it was restructured as an LLC with Dutch as the sole shareholder but he restructured things a bit and changed the way things run.”

“Changed it how?” Havi asked.

“He signed the paperwork last Friday to put a Board of Directors in place to oversee the finances, a silent controlling contingent, I guess you could say.”

“So was he merging with another corporation?” Paige asked.

“No,” Maury shook his head. “This board was comprised of limited shareholders he trusted. People who knew the business but would not have any involvement with the day-to-day operations. They were strictly money people. Dutch set it up so they made financial decisions and were paid a portion of the profits... it was the only solution we could come up with to deal with the problem he was facing. Because the shareholder’s stake was so limited, it wouldn’t have much impact on him personally but it would protect the company’s interests. Like I said, the men were people he trusted, men who would not interfere with Dutch. He still had full control while he was alive and he had the first right to purchase their shares if they wanted to sell down the road.”

“I know all that attorney-client privilege stuff, but we need to understand what was going on here,” Havilland pressed.

“Due to the changes Dutch made,” Maury began. “The provisions he put in place in case of his death, I can’t go into the business dealings with you. However, I can give you a little information on the personal front. What Dutch asked me to do, protections you could say, that went into place a few weeks ago.”

“Whatever you can tell us would be appreciated,” Paige told him.

“Dutch was filing for divorce,” Humphrey explained. “I do not practice family law, but the corporate stuff bled into the family stuff so I’ve been working with a man by the name of Peter Thayer. He was representing Dutch in the divorce.”

“Okay,” Havilland sighed. “Any idea how we get a hold of this Thayer guy?”

“Sure, I can give you his card before you go.”

“We appreciate your help on that,” Paige told him. “Anything else you can tell us?”

“Like I said,” Maury sighed. “He created the board for the business. He didn’t want most of the personal property. He had his current residence and from what I gathered, he was going to give that to Felicity in the divorce. He recently purchased a large plot of land near Palisades and he wanted to build a home he actually liked out there.”

“He didn’t like his family home?” Havilland asked.

“Have you seen it?” Maury asked.

“No,” Paige admitted.

“Well,” Maury smiled. “You are in for a treat if you ever do. In answer to your question, no. He hated it. Felicity would get the house, her sports car and all of her possessions. Furniture, clothes, jewelry. Dutch didn’t want any of it.”

“What about alimony?” Paige asked. “Dutch Construction seemed to be doing well.”

“No,” Maury said. “She was not entitled to anything when it came to the company.”

“I’ve been told there was a prenup,” Havilland pressed. “I also have reason to believe they were both having affairs. Does that play into the status of the company?”

“It does,” Maury sighed again. “I told Dutch he would not be able to keep his relationship a secret for long. He hired a private detective a few months back. He needed proof his wife was cheating for the prenup to take effect. He got his proof alright, it’s what prompted him to put all the planning in place. In regards to the company that is. I understand why he did it and under the circumstances, I’m glad he did. This whole thing is just a mess and I’m afraid it’s going to get a lot more complicated before it’s all settled.”

“Can you elaborate?” Paige asked.

“Not a lot,” Maury said sadly. “I will say this... I’m not sure Felicity married Dutch for love. I told him as much after he discovered her secret. I can’t really get into more than that, for various reason. Maybe Trent can. Trent Dunbar. He was the PI Dutch hired to look into things. Now that Dutch is dead, he might have a little more leeway to discuss the details with you. Let me get his card as well as Pete’s. Hopefully, you can sort all of this out.” Maury paused. “I’m wondering, can you tell me something?”

“Depends,” Havilland said cryptically. He hated dealing with lawyers. They didn’t want to share a