Snowbound Suspicion. Cindi Myers

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      “I don’t need an escort,” Bette said.

      She could see in his eyes that he wanted to protest, but she didn’t give him a chance. She hurried to hug Lacy, said good-night to the others and quickly made her way to the front door. To her relief, Cody didn’t follow.

      As she took the shoveled path toward the cabins, she told herself she really didn’t have to run away from Cody Rankin. He was just another man, and she was a strong enough woman to resist his attractions.

      Maybe she should go ahead and tell him she had a record. As a cop who devoted his life to putting away people like her, that information was sure to make him keep his distance.

      * * *

      CODY WAITED UP with the Walkers until Travis came home. The Rayford County sheriff looked as sharp-pressed and alert as always, though Cody recognized the fatigue in his eyes.

      “Well?” he asked, once Travis had shed his coat and kissed Lacy.

      “Well what?” Travis asked, his arm around Lacy.

      “Is Ken Rutledge the Ice Cold Killer?” Lacy asked.

      “Probably not—though we’re still tracing his movements around the time of all the murders.”

      “If he’s not the killer, why did you arrest him?” Mrs. Walker asked.

      “He attacked Darcy Marsh.”

      “Darcy is a local veterinarian,” Emily told Cody. “She and Kelly Farrow were business partners.”

      “But you don’t think he’s the serial killer?” Mrs. Walker asked.

      “We’re not ruling that out completely.” Travis moved past them, toward the fire. “I really can’t talk about the case—except I’m wondering how you all already know about the arrest.”

      “Adelaide texted me,” Emily said.

      “Of course she did.” Travis settled onto the sofa.

      “She wanted me to know you were all right,” Emily said. “And it’s not as if something like that is going to stay a secret very long. I imagine most of the town knows about it by now.”

      “I imagine they do,” Travis said, without anger.

      “Did you have anything to eat?” Mrs. Walker asked.

      Travis shook his head. “I’ll get something in a minute. Right now, I just want to rest and warm up.”

      “What’s the weather like?” Mr. Walker took a seat across from his son.

      “It’s snowing again. I told Gage and Dwight to hurry to get the evidence we collected to Junction. If one of the avalanche chutes on Dixon Pass lets loose, they’ll have to close the road again.”

      “You’ll be in big trouble if two of your officers get trapped on the other side of the pass,” Cody said. “You might even have to deputize me.”

      “Only as a last resort,” Travis said. He didn’t smile, but Cody caught the glint of humor in his eye.

      “Bette arrived this afternoon,” Lacy said. “She’s in the first guest cabin. Poor woman was exhausted from the drive.” She squeezed Travis’s arm. “I can’t wait for you to meet her.”

      “I’m looking forward to it,” Travis said, though he didn’t sound very enthusiastic. In fact, to Cody’s ears, his friend sounded like a man who was telling his fiancée what she wanted to hear, not what he necessarily felt.

      Rainey appeared, carrying a tray, which she set on the coffee table in front of Travis. “I’ve been keeping this warm for you,” she said. “Eat it now before it gets cold.” Before he could reply, she had turned and fled.

      “I see Rainey is in one of her moods tonight,” he said. He leaned forward and picked up a fork.

      “Her nose is out of joint because Bette is here,” Lacy said. “But honestly, Bette is the nicest person in the world. If anyone can win over Rainey, she can.”

      “She doesn’t have to win her over,” Travis said. “She just has to ignore her and cater the wedding.”

      “Oh, Bette will do a good job,” Lacy said. “A wonderful job. And she really appreciates us giving her this chance. It means a lot to her.”

      “Happy to help.” Travis focused his attention on his plate. “I’m starving.”

      Mr. and Mrs. Walker said good-night, as did Emily, leaving Lacy and Cody alone with Travis. He was wondering if he should leave the couple to themselves when Travis said, “It would make it easy on everyone if Ken Rutledge turns out to be our killer. But I really don’t think he is.”

      “What happened tonight?” Cody asked. “That is, if you think you can talk about it.”

      “I can talk about it to you.” He turned to look at Lacy.

      “You know I won’t say anything to anyone,” she said. “And this is your life. I have to be a part of it.”

      Travis nodded and looked thoughtful as he chewed, then swallowed. “Someone has been harassing Darcy since Kelly was killed,” he said. “Someone ran her off the road, and someone attacked her and Highway Patrolman Ryder Stewart while they were skiing yesterday. Apparently, Rutledge was trying to frighten Darcy into turning to him for help. I think he saw his opportunity when Kelly and Christy O’Brien were murdered, but he went too far.”

      “You say he attacked Darcy again tonight?” Lacy asked.

      “He kidnapped her. Ryder spotted the damaged snowmobile at Ken’s duplex and figured out he was the man who had attacked him and Darcy. He found them at Darcy’s house and rescued her.”

      “Why do you think he didn’t kill the other women?” Cody asked.

      “He has alibis for two of the killings. Pretty solid ones. And while he was willing to admit everything he had done to Darcy, he’s adamant that he didn’t have anything to do with the murders. We’ll see.” He pushed his empty plate away and stretched his arms over his head. “I need a shower and bed,” he said.

      Cody stood. “Good night. See you in the morning.”

      After the warmth of the fire, the cold hit him like a slap. He hurried along the path to the cabins, his breath fogging in front of his face, snow squeaking under his boots. As he neared the first cabin in the row—Bette’s cabin—movement on the little porch caught his eye. He stopped and stared at the dark shape near the door of the cabin. He moved off the path and took shelter behind a tree. The shape on the porch didn’t flee or move toward him—maybe it hadn’t seen him coming.

      No lights showed behind the cabin’s drawn blinds. Bette was probably asleep, unaware that someone was outside her door—and clearly up to no good. Stealthily, using the cover of the trees, Cody moved closer to the cabin. The shape on the porch shifted slightly СКАЧАТЬ