Whiteout

Chapter 9

Nine

MAYA LAY IN BED early the next morning, staring at the ceiling, thinking about the conversation from last night.

She needed to get up and head over to the clinic, but for a moment, she just wanted to savor waking up and knowing Gideon was in the same space.

After she’d confided in him, she kissed his cheek.

“I’m going to sleep. Make yourself comfortable. ”

He nodded, and she’d shut the door to give him some privacy.

Time to think. After all, that was why he was here.

She hoped he was finished thinking and had concluded she was a safe confidante.

She finally got up, took her shower, and put herself together.

She could hear Gideon in the kitchen and smelled the blessed scent of fresh coffee.

She walked out of the bedroom and watched him for a moment until he noticed her. Would today be the day that he returned the trust? Told her the parts of his story that he’d left out?

He looked up and met her gaze with a smile. “Good morning.”

“Morning. Sleep okay?” she asked.

“Like a baby.”

She snorted. “That’s not saying much. Some babies don’t sleep.”

“Well, I slept like one who does. No nightmares, so that’s saying something. You?”

“Same. Which is kind of weird, but I’ll take it as a gift.”

He passed her a cup of coffee, and she took that first sip that always started her day right.

“You think we’ll get out of here today?” she asked.

“It’s possible, I suppose, but it’ll take a while to get the big machines up here to dig us out, so I’d say it’s more probable sometime tomorrow.”

“That’s fine. I’m not really worried about it except for the person trying to kill me.”

A sound from the French doors in the den jerked his head up. “Get down,” he said. “Right there, behind the counter. Be prepared to run out the front door straight to the officer who’s waiting.”

She froze for a second, then dropped as he’d ordered.

He bolted to the light switch on the wall and plunged them into darkness.

She peered around the edge of the cabinet while he made his way over to the doors and stood to the side.

He’d automatically reached for the weapon he no longer carried, so once again he snagged the fireplace poker and gripped it while she strangled on the breath in her throat and searched for a weapon.

Maya rose, grabbed the biggest knife from the block, and gripped it. She’d trained with knives, and while bringing a knife to what might be a gun fight wasn’t the ideal scenario, she’d take what she could get.

Gideon pushed aside the curtain, and she waited while he scanned the area. “Nothing on the porch,” he said, voice low. “An overturned chair.” He unlocked the dead bolt and opened the door, leaving the light off. “No snow on the deck, so no prints.”

“They clean it off every morning,” she murmured, walking up behind him, still gripping the knife.

They also scraped the walking path that led to the front of the cabin, so someone could technically come up on the porch and not leave any sign they were there.

“Could have been a raccoon or another critter. They’re all over the place here. ”

“I know, but I don’t like it. And there’s no evidence of a critter in the snow.”

“I think we’re just jumpy.” She stood, working hard to keep her paranoia at bay. “Could have been the wind too.”

“Maybe.” He motioned her back, and she walked over to the sofa to drop onto it while he stayed by the door.

Over the next several minutes, he peered out.

While they waited, she picked up her phone and started to text her cousin, Collin, the FBI agent relative who could possibly help with this whole situation, only to remember she couldn’t.

She plugged her phone in and paced to the kitchen to return the knife to the block, then back to the fireplace to flip on the gas logs. She was freezing.

Gideon turned from his vigil. “I’m going to step outside to talk to the officer. See if he saw anything or anyone. Stay put, keep the doors locked, and I’ll be right back.”

She nodded, and he slipped out the front door. A shiver shuddered through her, and she checked the thermostat, then grabbed the fleece blanket from the couch to wrap around her.

A knock on the French door stilled her. She stood for a moment, debating whether to answer, but what criminal knocks?

Maya walked to the door and pushed aside the curtain to peer out—much like Gideon had done just a few minutes before.

Vance Harland stood on the deck. She unlocked the door and cracked it. “Vance? What’s going on?”

“Sorry to bother you, but it’s Ellie. She’s taken a turn for the worse, and I want you to take a look at her whether she likes it or not.”

“Oh. Okay. Of course.” She stepped back. “Come on in for a minute.”

“No, I told Ellie I wouldn’t be long. Can you come now? I’m really worried about her.” His gloved hands twisted together, then he shoved them into his coat pockets.

“Sure. Let me just grab my coat and tell Gideon, and I’ll walk over there with you.”

“I’ll have one of the kids take Gideon a message where you are. I don’t want to take the time to talk to him. Ellie’s in so much pain.”

“Vance, it will only take a second. Gideon’s just out the front door.”

He practically bounced on his toes. “Just leave him a note, then.”

“Vance . . .”

“Please, Maya. She’s really bad!”

Something was going on with him. It might be better to just roll with him than try to deviate from whatever he had in his head.

Maya threw off the blanket, grabbed her coat and gloves and a pen and paper.

While Vance hovered, she jotted the message and put it on the table, then got her gloves from the end table in her bedroom.

She walked to the front door. She was about to open it when she looked back to see Vance heading toward the French doors. “Where are you going?” she asked.

“It’s faster to cut through this way. My cabin’s a few doors up from yours. One past Gideon’s, as a matter of fact.”

“Oh. Right.” It would be faster than going out the front and backtracking to the path that led from her little back porch. “After you.”

He led the way out, and she shut the doors behind her. “Tell me her symptoms.”

“She started throwing up and is pretty miserable. She also said she was dizzy and seeing double. And she’s slurring her words some.” He swallowed hard. “I . . . I think she might be having a stroke or . . . or something.”

Maya stopped walking. “Okay, I’m going to need some things from the clinic. I’ll have to go there first.”

“No, no way. She—she needs you now. I’ll get whatever you need and bring it to you. Go in the back door. It’s unlocked.” He pulled out his phone and handed it to her. “Type what you need into the notes app.”

She did so, then Vance headed down the hill while Maya hurried toward Vance and Ellie’s cabin. She hated leaving without talking to Gideon in light of everything but prayed he’d get the note and understand. As well as show up.

It didn’t take her long to find the right place, and she walked up the back porch steps identical to her own to knock on the French doors.

No response. She twisted the knob and stepped inside. “Ellie? It’s Maya. Vance came to get me. He said you were feeling miserable.” She paused. “Ellie?”

Still nothing. Maya made her way to the bedroom and stopped. Ellie stood next to the bed, dressed in winter clothes, a hat, scarf, boots, and gloves. The woman lifted her right hand and pointed a gun at Maya’s chest. “Thanks for coming.”

Gideon tapped the hood of security’s SUV and straightened. “Thanks again for keeping an eye on the place and her. I’m planning to hang around too.”

“I’m here if you need me,” the man said.

Gideon let his gaze roam the area before he turned to head back toward Maya’s cabin.

“Hey, Gideon, right?”

Ben approached on the walkway from the back, and Gideon waited, his guard going up because the man just rubbed him the wrong way. “Yes. Help you?”

Ben shoved his gloved hands in his coat pockets and tilted his head. “I’m glad I ran into you.”

Gideon remained quiet.

“Right, so anyway,” Ben said, “you might have noticed that I was interested in Maya.”

“I noticed.”

“But she’s not one bit interested in me.” A small smile curved the man’s lips, and Gideon relaxed a fraction.

“I don’t know anything about that,” Gideon said, then decided not to play. “Okay, you’re right. She’s not.”

Ben’s eyes widened, then he laughed. A true chuckle full of good humor. “I can take a hint,” he finally said, “but now I won’t have to. Thanks for being blunt.”

Gideon’s neck went hot. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I need to find my filters before I speak. I really didn’t mean to be rude.”

“It’s fine. For real.” Ben’s eyes clouded slightly.

“I’m not sure I’m ready to start dating again anyway.

I think I was looking for more of a distraction than an actual romance—and she’s an interesting woman.

” He waved a hand. “But you don’t care about that.

” He shrugged. “Can you just let her know that I won’t bother her anymore? ”

Okay, now his conscience kicked in. “She never considered you a bother.”

“Maybe not, but I have a feeling she’s also too polite to say so.” He smiled, and Gideon decided he could like the guy now that he wasn’t going to be chasing after Maya.

“She might be, but honestly, she’s been dealing with other stuff, so I don’t think you should take it too personally.”

“I don’t. And she might be dealing with other stuff, but she also only has eyes for you, so it’s all good.”

The flush attacked Gideon’s neck again. “Dude . . .”

“I’m just saying.”

“Well, two can play that game. Seems Lila might have a thing for you.”

Ben raised a brow, but a knowing glint sparked in his gaze. “She’s a lovely woman.”

“She is.”

“All right, I’ll stay out of your love life if you stay out of mine.”

Gideon laughed. “Deal.”

The man continued his trek down toward the lodge, and Gideon shook his head. In another time and place, he and Ben might become friends. But for now, he itched to get back to watching over Maya.

He walked up the steps to the front door and knocked. “Hey, it’s me.”

Nothing.

He tried again. “Maya? Can you open the door?”

Still nothing.

A spot between his shoulders tingled. He walked around the side of the cabin to the back. He tried the knob. The French doors were locked.

He knocked. “Maya! Hey, come on, don’t play!”

Even as he said the words, he knew she wouldn’t do that. He raced back to the cruiser.

The officer saw him coming and rolled the window down. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I hope. But Maya’s not coming to the door. Can you let me in?”

“Yeah, sure.” He climbed out and unlocked the front door.

Gideon pushed inside. “Maya?” It didn’t take long to search the small space and come up empty.

The officer stood in the kitchen with his hands on his hips. “She didn’t come out the front. She had to go out the back.”

“But why?” He raked a hand over his head. “And why do so without telling me?” He looked around, saw nothing out of place, and his heart settled somewhat. He checked her closet and found her coat gone. He went back to the kitchen. “Her hat and gloves are gone.”

“She left,” the officer said. “It’s the only explanation.”

“You’re right, but she would have said something. Why go out the back and not the front where she knew we were?” He ran a hand down his cheek. “This doesn’t make sense.”

“Maybe someone came and got her?”

“But she wouldn’t have left without telling me!” He paused. “Unless it was some kind of major medical emergency.” He eyed the officer. “I’m going to check the clinic. You mind staying here in case she comes back?”

“No, I don’t mind at all. This is where I’m supposed to be anyway, but can you at least come back and let me know if you found her?”

“Of course.” He sighed. “Or I’ll be back to get your help looking for her.”

He slammed out the front door and headed down the hill.