Chapter 9 #2
The snowmobile burst from the tree line, and Cole got his first look at the rider. They were dressed heavily in winter gear, their face obscured by goggles and masks. They killed the engine near a tarp-covered area beside the cabin and climbed off stiffly, movements suggesting cold and exhaustion.
They walked to the door near the kitchen, and he waited inside by the front door.
As soon as they entered, their attention was focused on taking off their helmet and goggles.
Their hair was still under a knit hat, but a thick, blond braid flopped over their shoulder.
At this distance, he could tell that he was looking at Janice Lynch.
Cole breathed easier. Seeing that the person was female, he stepped out where she could see him, hands visible, posture non-threatening. "Ms. Lynch?"
She spun toward him, and her eyes widened. She gasped as she stumbled backward, reaching for something on her belt.
"It's okay," he said quickly, keeping his voice calm, his hands up. "My name is Cole Iverson. I'm with Lighthouse Security Investigations Montana. I'm not here to hurt you. I just want to talk."
She stood frozen, one hand still on whatever was clipped to her belt, breathing hard. Her body language screamed wariness. "What are you doing? I have bear spray!"
"I know this looks bad," Cole continued. "A stranger showing up at your isolated cabin—”
“Looks bad? You didn’t just show up at my isolated cabin, but you broke into my cabin!”
“You’re right, but I have information about Northern Summit Resources, and I think you might be in danger. Can we talk? Please?"
For a long moment, she didn't move. Then, slowly, she dragged the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip. Her face was flushed from cold and exertion… and probably a healthy dose of adrenaline. Blond hair escaped from under her hat. Blue eyes assessed him with sharp intelligence.
Cole slowly reached into his jacket pocket, moving deliberately so she could see every motion.
He pulled out his wallet and extracted his driver’s license, his pilot’s license, and his LSIMT ID, then carefully laid them on the table before backing away several steps.
"That's my identification. Lighthouse Security Investigations Montana.
I'm a licensed security consultant and former Army pilot. You can check it if you want."
She hesitated, then moved closer to the table, keeping her eyes on him while she picked up the ID. She studied it carefully, comparing the photo to his face, reading the credentials. "What's a security investigator from Montana doing in Alaska?" Her tone was sharp, suspicious.
"My team ran a search after I heard something concerning yesterday.
I was doing a security assessment for Charles Penson.
" He kept his hands visible, his posture open.
"I overheard him on the phone, talking about someone 'looking at moose' near his operation. He told his people to handle it. His words were threatening, and I wasn’t comfortable just leaving without checking the situation out.”
"How did you find me?" Her voice was steady despite the obvious shock.
“When I asked around town about who might be watching wildlife in this area, your name came up."
Recognition flickered in her eyes. Fear, too. "And you came all the way out here to warn me?"
"I came to see that you were okay." Cole lowered his hands slowly. "If you want me to leave, I will. But I want to make sure you stay safe.”
Janice studied him with an intensity that reminded Cole of the threat assessments he'd done in the military. She was evaluating him, trying to decide whether he was genuine or this was just an elaborate trick.
"I have supplies in my truck," he offered. "Coffee, food, batteries. Figured you might be running low after the storm."
"You picked the lock on my cabin door," she said flatly, nodding toward the door behind him.
"I knocked first. When you didn't answer, I got worried." He grimaced. "Sorry about that. Former military habits die hard."
"Army, right?"
"Yes. Army helicopter pilot."
She stared at him for another long moment, then seemed to make a decision. "Okay. But you stay where I can see you, and if you make me uncomfortable, I have bear spray, and I'm not afraid to use it."
Nodding, he agreed even though he could see her fingers were still frigid as they fumbled with the spray canister on her belt.
"Fair enough. I’ll go get the supplies.” At her nod, he headed outside and jogged to his SUV.
Pulling out the bags, he hurried back to the front door, nudging it open with his shoulder, glad she hadn’t locked him out.
She had stripped off her outer layers and was hanging them on hooks by the door. Beneath the heavy winter gear, she was smaller than he'd expected. Maybe five-five, athletic build, moving with an air of nervous suspicion. He was a big guy, and he hated that his size might intimidate her.
"There's coffee on the stove if you want some," she said, moving to the propane burner and stirring the pot that sat there. "I just made it before I went out."
"Thanks." Cole stayed near the door, giving her space. "How long were you out there?"
"Couple of hours." She poured herself a mug, hands still shaking slightly. "I was checking my cameras and collecting water samples from upstream."
"Find anything?"
She turned to face him fully, and he saw the mixture of fear and determination in her expression. "Yes.”
Cole studied her, seeing past the bravado to the fear underneath. She understood the danger now. That was why her hands shook, why she kept glancing toward the windows as though expecting company.
"Ms. Lynch—"
"Janice. If you're going to show up uninvited and pick my lock, you can call me Janice."
Cole felt something settle in his chest. It could have been the confirmation of what he'd already suspected. But it felt more like a fierce desire to protect the woman standing in front of him.