Cold Pursuit - Carla Neggers [64]
“Just don’t say that where my father can hear you. What did you plan to do with the lakefront property?”
“Doesn’t matter now.”
“It belonged to a Harper for most of the past century—”
“Lauren says maybe that land wasn’t meant for us. People don’t really come here for the lake. They can rent a kayak, but they want the mountains. Hiking, biking, skiing, the views, the quiet, the waterfall. We’re doing fine.”
“I’m glad, A.J.”
But he looked troubled as he squinted out toward the mountains. “People get lost out here from time to time, but it’s rare for someone to actually die. Pop…” He trailed off, then seemed to make an effort to be conversational. “How’s the cabin?”
“It has bats. Don’t tell Elijah. I think he’s afraid of bats.”
A.J. gave her one of his glimmers of a smile. “Stay here and look at the view to your heart’s content.”
“You wouldn’t be trying to stall me again, would you, A.J.?”
“I’d never stall the law two days in a row.”
Wishing she had Kyle Rigby’s parka, Jo left A.J. to his work and walked out to the topographical-map sign on the edge of the parking lot, which, she hoped, would help jog her memory. She was rusty. She’d repressed a lot of memories of hiking in the area, since most of them involved Elijah. With the impressive network of recreational trails, Nora could go for miles—days—if she had the supplies, the energy, the will. Assuming she had, in fact, started up the east trail at midday yesterday, she could be almost anywhere by now.
Jo was joined by Lauren Cameron, no toddlers at her side now. She had an athletic build and a striking beauty that, according to town gossip, A.J. had barely noticed at first, so preoccupied had he been with work six years ago. She’d come to Black Falls Lodge to escape an abusive relationship and ended up staying.
“If you’re wondering where Devin found Drew,” she said, “I can point out the exact spot to you.”
“It’s okay. I know,” Jo said quietly, sensing Lauren’s pain. “Drew was so proud of little Baylee and Jim. He showed me pictures of them when I saw him last.”
Lauren studied her a moment, then said, “I had a feeling he saw you on that trip of his in April. A.J. always envisioned our kids growing up with cousins close by, but I guess that’s one of the prices he pays as the eldest. Elijah, Sean and Rose haven’t met their soul mates yet, or if they have, they haven’t figured it out.”
“Their time will come.”
“They might need someone to hit them over the head with a two-by-four to figure things out.” Lauren gave a quick laugh that lit up her hazel eyes. “The Camerons can be thick.”
“What a shock,” Jo said with a smile.
Lauren nodded to the map. “We looked everywhere for Drew once we realized he was missing. It was awful, Jo. Then finding out about Elijah.” She shook her head. “Rose in particular had a hard time. She’s been pushing herself nonstop since then. Now Elijah’s back…”
Jo frowned at her. “Lauren?”
She sighed. “He’s looking for answers that he just might never get.”
“About Drew, you mean.”
She didn’t respond, just inclined her head toward the mountain. “Elijah’s up there. He found Devin’s truck near the falls trail.” She hesitated, then said, “Jo, maybe you should be up there, too.”
“A.J. did stall me.”
Lauren managed a quick smile. “He’ll consider that a small victory.”
Seventeen
Elijah noted three chickadees darting among the spruce trees just below the falls but didn’t pause to enjoy them. He’d done the hike up from where he’d just located Devin’s beat-up truck in forty minutes. Normally it took an hour. The trail was steep, rough and rocky. He hadn’t taken the time to enjoy the view. He figured Jo was down there, though, and decided he should have just wrestled her gun off her and thrown her in his truck with him.
She was a capable, experienced federal agent. He liked the idea of knowing where she was.
Devin had pulled onto an old lane and left his truck hidden among pine trees.