Chapter 15
15
T he wind smacked him in the face as he hurried toward the garage. It seemed as if the snowfall was lessening, but the wind was still fierce. He didn’t know if the snow machine had gas in the tank, or if it even worked, but he needed to try.
There was no point in trying to be quiet, so he hauled the garage door upward and headed inside. He’d remembered the snow machine had the key in the ignition. He straddled the seat and took precious seconds to figure out the controls. He had gone snowmobiling a few times in the past, but not recently. And not with a sled of this make and model.
He found the ignition switch. The engine fired up. He sent up a prayer of thanks as he glanced around for a helmet. With the wind and snow, he’d need the face shield to see where he was going. Spying a bag on the floor, he bent over and opened it. There was a helmet inside, along with additional gear. He wouldn’t have minded donning more protection, but there was no time. Grabbing the helmet, he pulled it over his head and secured the strap under his chin.
Driving the snow machine out of the garage made a large scraping sound as the skis dragged across the cement floor. But once he hit the snow-covered ground outside, the belt underneath his seat found traction, and he flew forward.
Faster than snowshoes , he thought as he cranked on the handlebar. The front skis turned nicely over the snow, enabling him to head around the back of the property. Not as quiet as snowshoes, but he could cover the distance much quicker.
Of course, that meant the guy on the other sled could do the same.
The bobbing headlight of the snow machine coming toward him was gaining ground. Doug used his thumb to hit the gas, speeding forward to narrow the distance between them. He only had a vague plan. There was no phone service, so the associate wouldn’t know who he was until they were up close. Even then, with their respective helmets in place, identifying faces would be nearly impossible.
He’d pretend to be Blaine, letting the new guy know Owen’s condition had taken a turn for the worse. Then he’d take him down.
As plans went, it wasn’t stellar. But it was the best he could come up with.
As the sleds grew closer, Doug lifted his hand in greeting, the way he’d assumed Blaine would. They must know each other, right? Then he executed a wide turn—sharp turns were impossible with snow machines—so that he could come up alongside the other sled.
The driver slowed his speed, glancing over at him. “What’s going on?” he shouted over the roar of their two engines.
“Owen’s dying!” he shouted back. “The nurse is freaking out!”
The stranger slowed his speed a bit, so Doug did the same. He kept a few feet between their sleds so he would have room to maneuver. “Who cares? Taking her had been stupid anyway. We need to get out of here as soon as the storm clears!”
Fighting among the ranks? If so, he may have misjudged Owen’s position within the organization. The glow from the wood-burning stove was a beacon in the storm. They were getting closer to the cabin now, and he could easily make out the silhouette of Blaine seated in the chair.
Would the stranger recognize Blaine’s blond hair? He swallowed hard, knowing he was running out of time. To prevent this guy from getting inside and possibly hurting Emily or Maya, he needed to make his move. Pressing his thumb on the gas button, he abruptly sent the sled surging forward. Then he wrenched the front skis to the side, cutting the second sled off.
The stranger had little choice but to try to make a counter move to go behind him. He wrenched the handlebars a few seconds too late. The stranger’s front skis didn’t clear the rear of his sled. The impact sent Doug reeling. He clung to the handlebars with all his strength and fought to keep his seat.
Thankfully, the stranger wasn’t as prepared. He flew off his sled, landing in the deep snow. Doug released the throttle and quickly yanked his gloves off with his teeth. Pulling his weapon from his pocket, he shouted, “DEA! Don’t move!”
The stranger didn’t listen. He fumbled in his pocket, likely for a weapon.
“Don’t force me to shoot!” Even as he shouted the words, the stranger pulled his gun free, turning the muzzle toward him. Doug fired twice, aiming for center mass. The impact of the slugs sent the perp reeling backward.
Doug fought his way through the deep snow to reach the stranger’s side. He didn’t see the gun, but to his surprise, the man on the ground let out a low groan. Ignoring the freezing cold on his bare hands, he lifted the guy’s face shield.
And stared in shock when he recognized Sergeant Tom Howell of the Cody police department.
“Are you wearing a vest?” He reached down to pull the man upright. The fact that Howell was still breathing indicated he must have body armor underneath the snowsuit. “Do you have other weapons on you?”
“You shot me!” Howell accused.
“You pulled a gun on a fed!” Doug stared down at him. “I can’t believe you’re a part of this!”
There was a moment’s pause, before Howell said, “I’m not. I’m working undercover. I thought you were that hothead Blaine, so I played along.” Howell put a hand to his chest. “Man, it hurts to take two slugs to the vest.”
Doug narrowed his gaze, unsure if he should believe him. He bent and continued patting him down. Finding no other weapons, he took a step back. “Get up. We’re going to hash this out inside.”
“Don’t blow my cover,” Howell said, struggling to his feet. He glanced around as if searching for his gun, but it was nowhere nearby.
“Don’t bother. I won’t let you keep the weapon anyway.” Still unsure if Howell was telling the truth, he gestured to the sled. “Get back on. I’ll follow you in. Don’t try anything or I’ll take you down.”
“Hey, no need for threats. I’m on your side,” Howell said in a voice that lacked conviction. He was clearly hurting from taking the rounds but managed to climb back onto the snow machine.
Doug straddled his and grasped the handles. They had built-in hand warmers, which was nice as his fingers felt like frozen fish sticks. Yet he needed to be able to shoot, so he didn’t bother putting his gloves back on.
The machines weren’t badly damaged, the snow had blunted most of the impact, yet he could see one of Howell’s ski tips was broken off. Even so, Howell’s snow machine moved forward without difficulty. They weren’t far from the cabin and managed to get there in a few minutes.
He pulled his weapon and aimed it at Howell when the cop turned to face him. Howell continued to act as if they were buddies. “Smart to keep your weapon trained on me. I can’t afford for you to blow my cover.”
“Yeah, so you said.” He gestured with the tip of his gun. “Move.”
Howell hesitated, then trudged up to the patio doors. Doug could see Maya hovering on the other side. He removed his helmet and scowled, hoping she’d stay back.
She didn’t. She opened the door and gaped when she recognized Howell. “Tom! What are you doing here?”
“Move aside,” Doug said. “Find that twine so we can tie him up too.”
Howell stepped into the cabin, lifting his helmet off his head. “You idiot,” he said to Blaine. “This is your fault.”
Zion began to growl low in her throat. Doug was surprised, as he didn’t remember the dog growling at Howell before. The K9’s gaze was locked on Howell. Zion let out three sharp barks, then resumed her growling. It took a moment to realize why she was reacting to Howell.
Had the cop been the one to hit Maya over the head?
The way Howell backed away, shooting a quick glance at Maya, confirmed his suspicions. No way was Howell working undercover.
The local cop was just as involved, if not more so than Blaine, Cartega, and Owen.
As if reading his thoughts, Howell launched himself at Doug, slamming into him before he could get a shot off. From the corner of his eye, he watched as Zion attacked Howell, biting down on his leg. The cop let out a scream. Then Maya was there, her weapon pressed into his temple.
“Let him go or I’ll shoot,” she said calmly. “Zion, hold him.”
The dog did not release her grip. Howell sat back, shifting his weight off Doug, and lifted his hands in surrender. Doug wiggled out from underneath him, retrieving his weapon from the floor. Annoyed with being caught off guard, he gave Maya a nod of thanks.
“Keep your hands where I can see them,” Maya said. “You’re outnumbered and outgunned. We won’t hesitate to shoot.”
“I shot him twice when he pulled a gun on me outside, but he’s wearing a vest.” Doug glanced over to see Emily hovering in the kitchen, her eyes wide as she watched the activity. “I need more twine.”
“I figured. Here.” Emily tossed the roll toward him.
“Have you seen this man before?” He glanced at his half sister as he bound Howell’s wrists. “Has he been involved?”
“I saw him at Wild Bill’s,” Emily said. “But not since then.”
When he’d finished tying Howell, he lifted the guy up and set him down hard on the chair next to Blaine. Then he asked, “I have three of you in custody now. Cartega is dead. I want to know how many others are involved in whatever you have going on here.”
Blaine and Howell glanced at each other but said nothing.
Doug sighed. He hadn’t really expected them to talk. Being a cop, Howell knew they had the right to remain silent. He didn’t want to believe other Cody police officers were involved, but having Howell arriving on scene changed things.
The immediate danger was over. But once they had cell service, he’d need to get in touch with the federal agents in Cheyenne. He was operating way outside his jurisdiction, although he’d do it again in a heartbeat. He’d found Emily, and that was all that mattered.
But from here on out, the case would need to be handled by the local authorities. He wasn’t sure what they were up to prior to Owen being shot and kidnapping Emily. At the moment, he didn’t even care.
For the first time in his career, he couldn’t wait to hand these guys off to become someone else’s problem.
He was done with them.
* * *
Maya glared at Howell in disgust. He was a disgrace to the uniform, and a traitor to every law enforcement officer out there. “You assaulted me outside my SUV.”
Tom Howell looked away without saying anything. But the angry glance he shot toward Zion confirmed her suspicions. She’d assumed Blaine had hired Stevie to take her out. And she suspected Stevie had been the one following her around town. But Tom was the one who’d attempted to eliminate her from the equation.
A stunt that had almost worked.
Doug removed his coat and boots, setting them near the wood-burning stove. Then he gestured for her to follow him down to the other two bedrooms located on the other side of the cabin.
“Howell tried to tell me he was working undercover,” he said. “That’s a lie; he pulled a gun on me after I told him I was with the DEA.”
“I agree, although other than Zion’s nose recognizing his scent, we don’t have any proof.” She lowered her hand to pet the husky’s springy fur. “I’m glad you’re okay. Going after him like that was a risky move.”
“I wanted him under control before allowing him inside the cabin.” He smiled ruefully. “And that pretty much worked until he caught me off guard. You’re a great partner, Maya. I was glad you had my back in there.”
“Anytime.” She held his gaze wishing there was something she could say that would convince him to stay. “I care about you, Doug.”
“I care about you too.” He reached for her hand. “I wouldn’t have found Emily without you and Zion.”
She didn’t want his gratitude over her SAR work but forced a nod. Clearly, he was keeping their relationship professional. “I’m glad we found her. We had a chance to talk earlier in the kitchen, and she claims they didn’t hurt her.”
“That’s good.” He scowled. “I don’t like the way she hovers over Owen, though.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” she admitted. “I’m sure he’s been nice to her, and maybe he even kept the others from hurting her.”
That possibility seemed to relieve his fears. “I still feel a little guilty over Cartega.”
“Don’t.” She clung to his hand, admiring his sense of honor and justice. She understood where he was coming from. No cop appreciated being forced to kill a perp. Yet their training also meant they wouldn’t hesitate to do just that if needed. “It wasn’t your fault. If we weren’t in the middle of a blizzard, he may have survived.”
“Yeah. Maybe. I just hope God can forgive me.” He stared down at her.
“He will, Doug. Jesus died to forgive our sins.” She reached up to kiss his cheek.
But he turned and quickly captured her mouth with his. Her heart soared with hope. So much for being professional. She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him closer, reveling in their kiss.
“Doug!” Emily shouted in alarm. “Hurry, he’s getting away!”
Doug broke off from their embrace with a low groan. She understood his annoyance.
“Who?” she asked. They had secured Howell and Blaine, hadn’t they? Doug shook his head and headed back out to the living area. She followed close on his heels.
Outside, a man dressed from head to toe in protective gear straddled one of the snow machines. Then in the blink of an eye, he was speeding away from the cabin.
Not Blaine or Tom as they sat silently in their respective chairs. Owen. Somehow, he’d managed to find the clothing he needed, even grabbing Howell’s helmet.
“Hurry, you have to catch up to him,” Emily pleaded, her eyes wide. “He’s sick. He’s not going to make it. He’ll die out there!”
Doug sighed. “I’m not going after him, Em. He made his choice.”
Emily’s green eyes, so much like Doug’s, filled with tears. Then she turned away, burying her face in her hands.
Maya glanced at Doug. They were both thinking the same thing. Maybe it was better this way. Emily had gotten far too attached to Owen.
“I’ll take the sled to the SUV,” she offered as Doug watched helplessly as Emily cried. “Zion can ride in front. She’s done it before. You should stay here.”
“No, I’ll go.” He sighed. “She needs time to get over this.”
Maya agreed, then frowned as she glanced out the front picture window. Three snow machines were coming down the driveway toward the cabin.
More bad guys? She quickly pulled her gun. Doug did too.
“You take the front door.” Doug’s expression was grim. “I’ll head out around back to cover the side.”
The lead sled slid around the curve, giving her a glimpse of the logo along the side. She grabbed Doug’s arm. “Wait. They’re my siblings from the ranch.”
“Are you sure?” Doug followed her gaze. The sleds were closer now, and the snow had diminished to the point that they could see the Sullivan K9 logo clearly. Doug looked shocked. “Our phones haven’t worked since the storm hit. How did they find us?”
“They probably tracked me by using the GPS in the SUV.” She grinned and slid her weapon into the waistband of her oversized borrowed sweatpants. “The calvary has arrived.”
Of course, Chase was in the lead with her brothers Shane and Trevor riding shotgun. She opened the door to let them in.
“You’ve been AWOL,” Chase accused. Then he noticed the others in the room, including the two men sitting with their arms tied behind their backs. “What’s going on?”
“It’s a long story,” Maya said. Zion bounded forward to greet her brothers, wagging her tail in joy. She’d noticed they hadn’t brought their K9’s along, likely due to the weather. “I’m glad to see you guys. Oh, this is Doug Bridges, he’s with the DEA.” She noticed Emily had managed to stop crying. The young woman swiped at her face, then offered a wan smile. Emily had been out to the ranch to visit Kendra, so she knew her brothers. “Doug, this is Chase, Shane, and Trevor.”
“Nice to meet you,” Doug said. “Your sister and Zion were amazing in helping me find Emily. We have these guys in custody.” He jerked his thumb at Tom and Blaine. “Unfortunately, one man is dead, and the other escaped a few minutes ago on a snowmobile.”
“You could go after him,” Emily said again. “I mean, if you wanted to get him into custody.”
Maya inwardly winced. “Not happening. I’m sure he’ll eventually end up at the hospital.”
Emily wrapped her arms around herself and nodded as if finally accepting the truth. Owen was gone, and the odds he’d survive were slim.
It took a while to come to a consensus on their next steps. There were three sleds and eight people plus a dog needing transport from the cabin. All while keeping their two perps restrained.
Chase finally held up his hand. “Okay, here’s how this is going to work. We’ll need to take several trips. We’ll put the two bad guys on one sled. We’ll secure the driver’s hands to the handlebars, then tie them together. Doug, you’re armed as I am, so we’ll escort them to the SUV. Then we’ll come back for Maya, Zion, and Emily. The last trip will be to grab Trevor and Shane.”
“Why are we last?” Trevor complained.
“Yeah, we’re the good guys,” Shane added.
Chase rolled his eyes. “Stuff it. Take time to secure the place while we’re doing the transports.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Shane grumbled.
Maya crossed over to Emily once Chase and Doug had taken the two prisoners outside. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.” Fresh tears welled in her eyes. “I’m being stupid about this.”
Maya shrugged. “As your brother once told me, emotions are rarely logical. Besides, I’m sure Owen will find a way to get the help he needs.”
“If he lives that long.” Emily sighed. “I don’t know why I’m upset. As Doug said, he made his choice.”
Maya gave Emily a tight hug. “You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”
The various trips back and forth to the SUVs didn’t take long. The drive back to Cody was another story. The highway was treacherous. The snowfall had dwindled, but the wind still howled. Twice they almost got bogged down in snowdrifts. Chase had the added difficulty of pulling a trailer of snow machines. As they approached the city, though, their cell service was restored.
Maya listened as Doug spoke to the FBI office in Cheyenne about the two men, one a local cop, that he had in custody. He went on to mention the body of Cartega that still needed to be recovered, along with the man named Owen who’d escaped.
By the time they’d dropped Blaine and Tom off at the local jail, much to the dismay of the officers who’d worked alongside their sergeant, and returned to the hotel, darkness had fallen in earnest.
“Head home,” she told Chase as he sat in the driver’s seat of his SUV. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Her brother scowled. “We’ll wait.”
“Suit yourself.” Maya wondered if she was being as foolish as Emily as she and Zion followed Doug and Emily into the Great Frontier Hotel. The suite was still under her name, so Doug quickly handed his card over instead. After explaining to Emily about the gunfire that had damaged her front door, Doug had convinced Emily to stay at the hotel until they could get the door repaired.
“I need a few minutes,” Emily said, the moment they’d gotten inside. She headed straight for the closest bedroom, closing the door firmly behind her.
“I hope she gets over that guy,” Doug muttered.
“She will.” Maya stood with Zion, trying to find the strength to say goodbye. “Chase is waiting, so I need to hit the road. He’s worried the trip to the ranch will be just as perilous as the ride back.”
Doug’s expression turned serious. “Maybe everyone should bunk down in the hotel for the night.”
She shook her head. “Chase will want to get back. They didn’t bring their dogs, and we have horses to care for as well.” She forced a smile. “You and Emily will be fine from here on. I’m glad I was able to help. Take care of yourself, Doug.”
“Maya, wait,” he protested as she turned away. “I—when will I see you again?”
She arched a brow. “You don’t live here. I’m sure once you get Emily’s house repaired, you’ll head back to Milwaukee.”
“What if I don’t? Head back to Milwaukee, I mean.” He closed the distance between them, reaching for her hands. “You might think I’m crazy, but I’ve fallen in love with you.”
She felt her jaw drop and quickly tried to cover her reaction. “We barely know each other.”
“True, we only know that we’re both strong willed, determined, good cops and dedicated to our families.” He tightened his grip on her hands. “I think I know more about you than I did my ex-wife. She didn’t have a quarter of your integrity, Maya. I’m thirty-seven and have just realized how much I don’t want to spend the rest of my life alone.”
“Doug...” She sighed. As much as she wanted to believe him, she didn’t want him to give up his life for her. “What are you going to do out here? Take a job as a Cody cop?” She smiled teasingly. “I hear they have a job opening.”
“I’ll apply first thing tomorrow,” he said, his gaze somber. “Please give me a chance, Maya. Give us a chance.”
Surprised, she searched his gaze. “You’re serious about relocating here?”
“Yes. And not just because Emily needs me.” He glanced toward the closed bedroom door. “She’ll be fine. It’s you, Maya. I want to spend time with you.”
She couldn’t help nodding in agreement. “I want that, too, Doug. But I hate the thought of you starting over as a Cody cop. There must be another way...”
“Doesn’t matter.” He glanced at Zion, then drew her into his arms. Then he was kissing her again, the way he had before they’d been interrupted by Owen’s escape.
After a few minutes, she forced herself to draw back. “I really need to go. Chase is waiting. But maybe you and Emily can come out to visit us at the ranch?”
“Tomorrow?” he asked, his expression hopeful. “I would love to meet the rest of your family.”
“Be careful what you wish for,” she joked. Then kissed him again. “Tomorrow. You can come for the day and have dinner with us. It will be good for Emily to hang out with Kendra too.”
“Done.” He hugged her close. “I love you.”
“Oh, Doug.” What was she thinking jumping into a relationship with a man she barely knew? Yet they weren’t kids. She drew back to look up at him. “I’m thirty-six, and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life alone either. I’m glad God brought us together.”
“Me too.” He kissed her again. Zion tried to wiggle between them, as if saying it was time to go.
“I’ll be in touch tomorrow,” Doug said as he walked her to the main lobby doors. Zion trotted beside them. “I hope you won’t change your mind.”
“I won’t.” She could see Chase sitting in the driver’s side of his SUV, waving at her impatiently. Ignoring him, she kissed Doug. “I can’t wait to see you again.”
Leaving him wasn’t easy, but as she headed back to the ranch, she couldn’t help but smile.
God had brought them together. She didn’t care if things were moving fast.
She was in love.