Chapter 36
The federal agents set up their command post in Northern Summit's former office building, transforming it into a hub of law enforcement activity. Janice sat wrapped in a thermal blanket someone had given her, clutching terrible coffee that was at least warm.
Cole refused to leave her side. His hand rested on her shoulder, caring and solid, like he needed the physical contact to reassure himself she was really okay.
Across the room, Cheryl spoke with Agent Morrison, pointing at items on her laptop, which made the federal agent's expression grow darker.
"How much evidence does she have?" Janice asked quietly.
"From what I'm hearing? Enough to bury Penson and everyone who helped him.
" Cole's thumb traced gentle circles on her shoulder.
"Financial records showing they knew they were operating illegally.
Internal communications discussing the contamination and deciding to hide it.
Photos and video of them tampering with monitoring equipment. "
Janice thought of her own cameras, moved and sabotaged. "They tampered with my research equipment too."
"All evidence now." Cole's hand tightened on her shoulder. "Every camera they moved, every sensor they disabled. It all proves they knew what they were doing was wrong."
Agent Morrison approached. "Dr. Lynch, I need a full statement from you. Everything from the moment you first noticed the water quality issues until today. Can you do that?"
"Yes." Janice set down her coffee. "I have my field notes and all my data. The university has copies too, although I’m not certain of what they may have kept, destroyed, or altered since they buckled under pressure to discredit me.
But my direct supervisor, Marcus, would have it all, plus I have backup copies. "
"Good. That documentation will be crucial." Morrison glanced at Cole. "Mr. Iverson, I'll need statements from you and your team as well. Timeline of the rescue, everything that happened."
"You'll have it," Cole confirmed.
After Morrison left, Janice turned to really look at Cole for the first time since reaching safety. Taking in the scratches on his face, the exhaustion in his eyes.
"You came for me," she said softly. "Somehow I hoped you would. Knew you would.”
His hand moved to cup her face. "You were in danger. That was all I needed to know. I would have fought to the end to get to you."
"That shot I took," Janice whispered, the memory making her shake. "That man was going to kill you. I saw him raising his rifle, and I just used the gun you gave me and I..."
"You saved my life." Cole's voice was rough. "You were terrified, and you'd never fired a gun at a human before, but you took that shot anyway. That's real courage, Janice."
"I was so scared. What if I'd missed? What if—"
"You didn't miss." He pressed his forehead to hers. "You didn't miss, and I'm alive because of you. We're both alive. That's what matters."
They stayed like that for a long moment, just breathing together, letting survival sink in.
"What happens now?" Janice finally asked.
"Now the federal government compiles evidence to bring charges against Penson and his company. The contaminated sites get cleaned up. Your research gets used as evidence." Cole pulled back to look at her. "And you get to move on."
“Yeah… I certainly won’t be finishing any work here. I have no idea what the university will use the data for, but hopefully someone in the environmental science department will care.”
“We will definitely use it, Dr. Lynch.” A man walked over and nodded at her. “I’m Agent McClasky from the EPA. We will be gathering all the evidence and will use it to continue the studies here on the effects of climate change and mining on wildlife.”
The air rushed from her lungs as a smile spread across her face. “That’s wonderful. Thank you!”
He dipped his head again and moved over to some of the other agents. She leaned into Cole, and his last words came rushing back to her. “You get to move on.”
Move on used to mean just going back to the vet clinic outside of Seattle and continuing to work with her parents. But her future had appeared to possibly include Cole, but now she wasn’t sure. Something in his voice made her chest tighten. Like he was already preparing to let her go.
"Cole—"
"Dr. Lynch?" Another agent approached. "We're ready for your statement."
Janice wanted to refuse, wanted to finish this conversation, but she knew her statement was important. "I'll be right back."
"I'll be here," Cole promised.
The statement took two hours. Janice walked them through everything, including the water quality issues, the tampered cameras, being taken from the hotel, the terrifying ride to the camp, Cheryl's help, and running through the forest while men shot at them.
By the time she finished, her voice was hoarse, and her hands shook with remembered fear and a healthy dose of anger.
When she emerged, Cole was exactly where he'd promised. But Timothy, Dalton, and Frazier had joined him, all looking cleaner and less like they'd just been in a fight. She walked directly to them, allowing Cole’s arms to encircle her as she looked at the other two Keepers.
“Thank you. I’m afraid I was remiss in my gratitude.”
"No thanks needed, Doc," Frazier called with a grin. "Heard you're quite the shot."
Janice felt her face heat. "I got lucky."
"That wasn't luck," Timothy said seriously. "You saw a threat and took action. That takes courage."
"You all are the heroes. I'm a veterinarian, not a soldier. ”
"Doesn't matter." Frazier's grin widened. "You've got heart. That's what counts."
Cole's expression softened as he looked at her. "They're right. What you did out there... most people would've frozen."
Timothy cleared his throat. "The feds are releasing the scene tomorrow. You'll be able to go back to your cabin, finish packing up."
Janice blinked. In all the chaos, she'd almost forgotten about her cabin. Her cameras. Her research. The job she'd come here to do. "Good. I want to go back. Check the cameras, download everything, make sure it's all documented."
"We'll take you," Cole said immediately. "Tomorrow, once the scene is clear."
Timothy and Frazier exchanged a look. Then Frazier said, "Actually, we should head back to Montana. Lots of paperwork. Cole, why don't you stay with Dr. Lynch? Make sure she gets everything sorted out."
"You don't have to—" Janice started, but Cole was already nodding.
"Makes sense. You three go ahead. I'll fly back once Janice's done here."
They were grinning as they left. Janice turned to Cole. "They set that up."
"Yep."
"Not subtle."
"Nope." Cole's lips quirked. "But they're not wrong. You shouldn't be alone after everything that happened. And I..." He paused. "I'm not ready to leave you yet."
Janice's heart did something complicated. "I'm not ready for you to leave either. Although my job here has been compromised. But I need to sort some things out.”
The admission hung between them, heavy with meaning.
Agent Morrison returned with better news. "We're done here, so we can cut you loose. We know how to reach you, Dr. Lynch. You will be called as a witness when this thing goes to trial, but God only knows when that’ll be. But at least the EPA will get in here and get this place cleaned up.”
She finally climbed into Cole’s SUV, and she heaved a sigh. Every muscle ached, and she wondered how she’d stay awake as the adrenaline crash hit her.
“We’ll head to the hotel—”
"No, the cabin,” she interrupted.
His brow lifted in obvious surprise. "Janice, you've been through hell. You need rest, a real bed—"
"The cabin is real," she interrupted, her voice firm despite her exhaustion.
"It's been my home for four months. And I need to go back there, Cole.
I need to see it again, box up what's left—the kitchen stuff, the meds, whatever I didn't think to grab when we were running—and make sure everything's properly closed up.
" She paused, then added more quietly, "I need to say goodbye to it properly.
Not like this. This feels like I was chased out instead of leaving on my own terms."
Cole studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "Okay. The cabin it is."
The drive back felt surreal. The same road she'd traveled dozens of times for supply runs to Cantwell, but thinking of this being the last time she’d be here, she struggled to define the emotion.
But as they turned onto the narrow track that led to her cabin, something settled in Janice's chest. This place had been good to her.
Had given her purpose and peace, and had stretched her professional goals.
It had given her the chance to be alone, using that solitude to help solidify what she wanted in life.
The cabin came into view, exactly as she'd left it yesterday. It felt like a lifetime ago.
Cole parked and came around to help her out, his hand steady on her elbow as she climbed down. Her legs felt like rubber, her body heavy with exhaustion that went bone-deep.
Inside, the cabin was cold since the wood stove had gone out the day before. But it was still hers, still familiar, still home in a way that made her throat tight with emotion.
"I'll get the fire going," Cole said, moving to the stove.
Janice sank onto the small sofa, watching him work. His movements were efficient, and within minutes, flames began to catch, and warmth started creeping back into the small space.
"You’re good at that,” she remarked. “When I first came, I had to practice to get the fire to catch on.”
"North Dakota farm kid, remember? If you couldn't keep a fire going through winter, you froze." He added another log, then turned to look at her. "You should eat something. When's the last time you had food?"
Janice tried to remember. "This morning. Before everything..."
Cole moved to her small kitchen, opened the cupboard, and found a can of chili and a loaf of bread. "Not fancy, but it's something."
While the chili heated in a pan on the wood stove, Janice called her parents.
Telling them the events of the past day wasn’t easy, but she wanted them to know.
With promises that she was safe with Cole and would be leaving soon, she said goodbye.
Looking over at Cole, she said, “I want to call Marcus, but I’m too tired today. I’ll deal with that tomorrow.”
He walked over and wrapped her in his arms again. Resting his chin on her head, he said, “I think that’s wise. Too much has happened today for you to process everything. Give yourself some time to rest.”
He moved over to dish up the chili and placed a piece of bread on the side of the bowl. “You should be proud. You have the documentation. You discovered their operation, and they panicked. Grabbed you to keep you quiet, but they didn't think to destroy your evidence."
They ate in comfortable silence, the warmth of the chili and the fire slowly bringing Janice back to something approaching normal. Her body still ached, and her hands still shook slightly, but the tight knot of fear in her chest was finally beginning to loosen.
"It feels weird,” she said as she finished her meal. “I honestly don’t know what to do right now. This place has been where I worked, but now…”
Cole took her empty bowl. "Right now, you need rest."
Janice looked at the small bed in the corner, the one she'd slept on for four months. It looked impossibly inviting. "I am tired."
"Then sleep.”
“Will you sleep with me?"
He grinned. “Can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”
Janice curled into Cole's side, her head on his chest, his arm wrapped around her. The steady beat of his heart under her ear was better than any lullaby.
"Thank you," she whispered. "For coming for me. For not giving up."
"I'll always come for you," Cole said, his voice rumbling in his chest. "Always."
She wanted to ask what that meant, wanted to talk about what happened next, about the feelings growing between them that neither of them had time to examine.
But exhaustion pulled at her, and his warmth surrounded her, and for the first time since the kidnappers grabbed her from the hotel room, she felt safe.
Sleep claimed her between one breath and the next.