Chapter 10
The grim expression on Trevor’s face indicated he’d received bad news. She turned from the sink and leaned back against it, holding his gaze. She didn’t like being in the dark about what was happening.
“Any indication it was intentional?” Trevor asked.
She couldn’t hear the reply. Trevor’s expression didn’t change, so she suspected it wasn’t anything good.
“Okay, thanks. Keep me updated on your investigation.” He lowered the phone, slipping the item back into his pocket. He stood without moving for a long moment. Then he cleared his throat. “That was Tom Howell. Max Nelson is dead.”
“What?” If she hadn’t been leaning against the sink, she may have fallen to the floor. “When? How?”
“Trucking accident on Highway 14.” He gestured to the snow falling outside. “Could be that he lost control of his rig in the storm.”
He could have, but she wasn’t buying it. She slowly shook her head. “Three accidents? Clark, then me, and now Max Nelson? I find that hard to believe.”
“I know.” Trevor scrubbed his hands over his face. “I share your concern. Tom doesn’t have any reason to believe Max’s crash is anything but an accident, especially considering the weather, but he’s coordinating with the state patrol officer who found Max’s truck and trailer to investigate.”
Dazed, she scrambled to make sense of the news.
“I can’t believe he’s dead.” She hadn’t remembered him, but she wouldn’t wish something like this on anyone.
“I can’t help but wonder if Max was silenced because he and Clark were friends.
Because Black Hat thought he knew something he shouldn’t.
” Another thought struck. “Or maybe they were involved in something illegal? They could have stolen stuff from the Sweet Water Pub. Money, beer, or something else entirely.”
Trevor’s gaze narrowed. “Do you think Clark is the type to break the law?”
“I don’t know!” She lifted her hands in frustration. “I don’t remember him or my life with him before his death.”
“It’s okay. I’m just asking.” His tone was soothing.
She forced herself to take a deep breath.
Stress wasn’t good for the baby. Calmer, she continued.
“I guess I feel like they must have been involved in something sinister to have been killed.” She smoothed her hands over her abdomen.
“I don’t want to believe I was a part of it, though.
I don’t think I’d put my baby in harm’s way by doing something like that. ”
“Trust me, Bailey, there’s no way you’re involved in anything illegal. That’s not your nature.” Trevor’s smile was strained. “I think the shooter has gone after you because they’re afraid of what you know.”
What she knew was a big fat pile of nothing! She closed her eyes for a moment. “Maybe I should put up a billboard sign that says I have amnesia, so there’s no reason to kill me.”
“It’s going to be okay.” Trevor crossed over join her at the sink. “I promise I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“I know.” She turned and filled the sink with warm water. Trevor would do his best to protect her, but he was only one man. Sure, they’d gone off-grid, but how long would that last? The man after her didn’t have superhuman powers, but she couldn’t help feeling vulnerable.
Reminding herself stress wasn’t good for the baby, she focused on washing dishes. When Trevor stepped close and pulled out a dishtowel to help, she swallowed the urge to lean on him for support.
She’d been leaning on his sweetness and strength more than she should.
“You know, you could be right about something illegal going on at the pub,” he said after a long moment of silence. “Could be that Clark uncovered whatever was going on and was silenced before he could report his suspicions to the police.”
It was a credible theory. Even the most likely one. What did it say about her that she had so readily jumped to the conclusion that her husband was a bad guy? She should be thinking the best of him. That the man she’d married was an innocent victim in this.
“You’re right.” She strove to sound confident. “Maybe Clark confided in Max, sharing his suspicions about the illegal activity. That’s why they’ve both been killed.” After a beat, she added, “Maybe they think Clark confided in me too.”
“I’ve considered that, but why now?” Trevor frowned as he dried a plate and put it away. “Why come after you and kill Max Nelson all these months later?”
“Something must have happened recently. If I could remember, that would help.” Her head throbbed painfully, and she was starting to feel queasy again.
“Don’t worry about it.” Trevor patted her shoulder. “There’s nothing more we can do tonight.”
She nodded, knowing he was right. But that didn’t make her feel any better. Her headache seemed to be growing more intense, so she finished the last of the dishes and turned away. “I’m going to get some rest.”
“Okay.” His brow furrowed as he regarded her. “You’ll tell me if you think we should go to the hospital.”
“Of course.” Her tone came out harsher than she intended. She sighed, then added, “I’m fine. Just tired.”
Skirting Archie’s sleeping form, she headed to the master bedroom. Her two-hour nap seemed like days ago. She felt just as exhausted as before.
The doctor had recommended rest. A luxury considering her current situation.
She hadn’t gotten a full night’s sleep since waking in the wrecked car.
Sleep would heal her broken mind. After all, she had started to remember a few things after her nap.
Not exactly helpful things, but every little bit counted.
After using the bathroom, she crawled into bed, wearing her badly wrinkled clothes. She closed her eyes and took several deep, calming breaths. The pain in her head eased a bit, and the nausea receded too.
She must have slept but woke when she heard a thudding sound. Fear spiked through her, and she sat up, blinking the sleep from her eyes. Sliding off the bed, she moved to the door, opening it a crack.
“Lie down, Archie.” Reassured by Trevor’s low husky voice, she relaxed. “It’s time to get some sleep.”
The sound she’d heard was nothing more than Trevor taking his K9 outside to get busy. She silently closed her door and leaned against it. Even though she’d been sleeping, her instincts had gone on high alert at the slightest sound.
So much for no stress, she thought with a sigh.
Pushing away from the door, she crossed to the window and peered out.
The snow had stopped falling, leaving a fresh blanket of whiteness covering the terrain.
It was pretty, sparkling a bit in the moonlight.
And also, she realized, irrefutable proof there was nobody out there aside of her and Trevor and Archie. Not a single footprint in the snow.
Safe. They were safe here at the cabin. After using the bathroom, she crawled back into bed.
Closing her eyes, she silently prayed for peace and that her memory would return in the morning.
Trevor didn’t sleep well. He awoke often, inwardly groaning when he realized only an hour had passed since the last time he’d awoken.
Archie snored softly beside him, which should have been reassuring.
His K9 had better instincts than he did.
Yet, he was worried his sixth sense was telling him something, so each time he woke, he got up off the sofa and moved from window to window to make sure nobody was outside.
The pristine snow was untouched, at least in the back of the cabin. In the front, he and Archie had made all sorts of tracks.
The last time he’d taken Archie out to get busy, he’d taken the time to brush the snow off the rental SUV. He’d also turned the vehicle around so that it was facing down the driveway. He’d wanted to make sure they’d have a clean getaway if needed.
Paranoid? Yep. The news of Max Nelson’s death nagged at him. Probably the main reason he couldn’t sleep.
He knew from hanging around with cops over the past six years doing SAR work that they didn’t believe in coincidences.
Even Howell had sounded grim about Max Nelson’s untimely death.
And it irked Trevor that the cop hadn’t gotten a chance to interview Clark’s good buddy about the night they’d shared a beer, shortly before Clark’s death.
Archie lifted his head to watch him move through the living room and kitchen. “Go back to sleep,” he whispered. Archie continued to watch him. With a sigh, he went down the hall to the bedrooms. Bailey’s room and the one directly across the hall from it both overlooked the backyard.
The snow remained untouched. But as he turned away, a dark shape caught the corner of his eye. With a frown, he moved to the side of the window and focused on it. The dark shadow was in the woods, likely an animal. Not a bear, but maybe a moose?
He watched the area for several long moments. The shadow disappeared. He blinked and looked again.
His imagination? Maybe. Either way, the shadow was gone, so he turned and padded back to the living room.
Archie had shifted on the sofa, taking over his pillow. Rather than pulling it away, Trevor went back to the bedrooms to grab a second one. By habit, his gaze went to the woods.
The dark shape was back.
The hairs on the back of his neck rose with alarm. An animal wouldn’t stand there watching, then turn to leave only to return a few minutes later.
He watched the shadow for several long seconds. Then he backed out of the room to shove his feet into his boots and to grab his weapon. Archie opened one eye, but then sat up, his tail thumping on the sofa.
Trevor debated his next move and decided there was only one thing he could do. Get Bailey out of there as soon as possible.
“Come, Archie.” He kept his voice low, glad he’d had the foresight to pack the K9’s things in the SUV. He shrugged into his coat, grabbed Bailey’s coat and purse, then hurried down the hall, Archie trailing in his wake. He quickly opened her door and poked his head inside. “Bailey. We need to go.”