Page 33 of Deadly Storms (Sunrise Lake #3)

“You might have to eat the zucchini sticks, Vienna,” she said and pushed the plate toward her friend.

“Raine, if Boucher and Cormier aren’t really Interpol agents, who do you suppose they work for?

Do you think Scorpion sent them? Or the government?

They said they were from Paris.” She didn’t believe they were from France. Something was just off about them.

The thought of Rainier being in danger was terrifying. She knew those men were hunting him. Fortunately, the story she told couldn’t be discounted. If they were aware of her condition prior to the rescue, she would sound believable.

“I’m still checking into them, Shabina. One of the biggest problems is the fact that they could be working as Interpol agents, but also be agents for Scorpion. You’re well aware many people in all kinds of high positions can be corrupt.”

“Look at Rafferty,” Vienna said. “I always thought he was a good man. He seems like he is, until you throw his family into the mix. Evidence disappears the moment a member of his family is charged with anything. That’s corruption.”

“He’d call it loyalty,” Shabina said.

“Not when he’s helping pin a murder on someone,” Vienna said.

“We don’t know if he is.” Raine was the voice of reason. “He did bring the FBI agents here, but that’s his job. There is nothing to suggest he’s persuading them to believe Shabina had anything to do with the murder.”

Vienna made a face. “Maybe not, but I think he’s corrupt. That’s just my opinion.”

“You’re upset on Shabina’s behalf,” Raine pointed out.

“I wish some of these programs didn’t take so much time.

I’ve been searching to find Boucher’s and Cormier’s real identities.

I have to use facial recognition. And so far, I haven’t turned up anything on Charlie Gainer or Beaumont that would incriminate them… Well.” She hesitated.

Shabina held her breath.

“I can’t locate their whereabouts at any of the times Scorpion struck in the countries he murdered in.”

Shabina forced air through her lungs. “I appreciate you trying,” she said.

Vienna didn’t—and couldn’t—know about Rainier and the danger he was in so Shabina couldn’t ask questions of Raine in front of her.

She wanted as many details on the two men claiming to be Interpol agents as fast as possible.

She would have to warn Rainier to stay away from her.

They would need to cut all ties. It was the only way to ensure his safety.

The thought of never seeing Rainier again was devastating to her.

She knew he wouldn’t ever love her the way she loved him.

She accepted that. But never seeing him again?

Knowing when she was at her very worst, she could never call for him?

That was one more thing to cross off her “to live for” list.

It didn’t help her uneasiness that Raine couldn’t rule out any of them from being associated with Scorpion or his mass murders.

Patsy collected the dishes, and Vienna ordered coffee with orange cranberry scones. Raine ordered tea and said she’d eat Vienna’s scones. Patsy clucked at Shabina as she cleared away the uneaten zucchini sticks and smoothie.

“Vaughn is going to lecture you,” she cautioned.

“I know.” Shabina tried to sound as if she were laughing it off. “I’m getting used to his lectures.”

“I forgot to tell you,” Vienna said, as Patsy walked away.

“Harlow called this morning and said Edward came around to her studio. He had a sketch book with a few drawings he’d done of birds.

She said she was shocked at how good he was.

He told her he hadn’t drawn since high school, and he was struggling with proportions.

He had really good photographs, she said, and she didn’t think his drawings were that far off, but he was very critical of them and frustrated.

She thought Stella was the best person to talk to.

You know she’s an excellent artist, even though she never shows her paintings to anyone but her closest friends—and Sam. ”

“Oh no,” Shabina said softly. “Another reason for Bale to be angry at me. I did notice Edward was really paying attention during the bird-watching tour. He asked questions even when Bale made fun of him. At one point, it was pretty clear Bale was annoyed with him for being interested. I had no idea Edward was an artist.”

“Like I said, Harlow indicated Edward said he hadn’t drawn anything since high school. She was even more impressed with his work because of that,” Vienna said.

“Bale would really feel as if he were losing control of his boyhood friends if Sean refused to do what he wanted and then Edward acted in the least friendly way toward you,” Raine said.

“I wouldn’t say he was friendly,” Shabina objected. “Just not hostile.”

“To Bale that would be the same as friendly,” Raine said.

“That would be a betrayal, in his opinion. In his eyes, you’re stealing Sean and Edward.

Jason already left him. I would say Bale is getting desperate and will do just about anything to assert his dominance over those men and everyone else around him.

He’s spiraling. I wouldn’t want to work for him. ”

“He’d make a terrible boss anyway,” Vienna stated. “I can’t imagine what he’s like now, when he’s acting so out of control.”

“Once I’ve collected all the evidence against him for harassing and threatening you,” Raine said, “I’ll have you swear out a complaint and ask for a restraining order.

We can bypass the judge here with just cause.

Fortunately, some of his harassment occurred on federal land and earns him a federal charge. ”

Shabina shook her head. “If I get a restraining order against him, Raine, and I’m at the Grill for a night out with all of you, he won’t be able to go into the building. That isn’t going to sit well with him.”

“That’s his problem, not yours,” Vienna said. “He brought that on himself if it happens. You didn’t ask him to treat you like dirt or threaten to burn down the café.”

“Or threaten to shoot your dogs,” Raine added.

Patsy returned with coffee, tea and scones. Just as she set Vienna’s coffee and Raine’s tea on the table with the scones they’d ordered, Vienna’s alarm went off. As head of Search and Rescue, she was nearly always the first to be called when someone went missing. She frowned as she read the text.

“One of the members from the trail rehabilitation crew, Charlie Gainer, didn’t make it back to camp last night. The other crews searched for him through the night and most of this morning, but they haven’t been able to find him. They’ve asked for help.” She was already getting to her feet.

Her eyes met Shabina’s. Shabina could see the apprehension.

The dread. Shabina tasted fear in her mouth.

She didn’t want to think it was too late for Charlie Gainer, but that dark roiling in the pit of her stomach told her he was most likely the latest victim of the murderer.

Why? Why Charlie Gainer? Was he murdered because he knew something about Scorpion? The thought was terrifying.

“Good luck,” Raine said.

“Do you want me to have the staff pack food for your team while you’re putting out the word for everyone to meet?” Shabina offered. “We can get someone to take it up to your base if you send us the location.”

“Thanks, I’d appreciate it. I’ll let you know when we have everything set up.” Vienna abruptly turned and strode from the building.

“Charlie Gainer was here in the café before he went up to the camp,” Shabina told Raine unnecessarily.

Raine had researched him. Shabina drummed her fingers on the table.

“He was with Pete and Billy. You know them; I think you’ve even bouldered with them.

There were also two women, Mandy and Georgia from West Virginia.

They were excited and laughing. All of them seemed to be very nice people.

” She was ashamed that she’d been fearful of Charlie simply because he spoke French.

Half the world spoke French. She pressed her forehead into her hand and breathed deeply.

Sean and Edward stood up as abruptly as Vienna, both looking worried as they stared at the alerts on their phones.

Edward tossed a handful of bills onto the table, and the two men hurried out.

She couldn’t help but notice that Sean looked back at her.

It wouldn’t be long before word was out to all Search and Rescue volunteers, and they would make their way to the base camp Vienna would set up prior to sending them in grid patterns to search for the missing man.

Unless one spent a great deal of time in the Sierra, it was difficult to understand the scope of trying to find a missing person in the vast wilderness.

It was possible Charlie had gotten turned around on the trails but not probable.

Not when he had maps and his supervisor had gone over the trails with him.

How had he gotten separated from the rest of his team? Shabina didn’t want to think about the young man being murdered and dragged somewhere secluded, far away from everyone, to be found with ritualistic objects scattered around an altar.

“I suppose Vienna had to include Bale in her text,” Shabina said.

“He’s a valuable senior member of the Search and Rescue team,” Raine said. “Once the alarm goes out, it goes out to everyone.”

“Hopefully, he won’t bring evidence to incriminate me with him, unless he killed Charlie and has already staged the crime scene.”

Raine broke off a piece of scone. “You need to really think about calling Rainier, Shabina.” She sipped at the tea, her gaze meeting Shabina’s steadily over the rim of the cup.

“You know why I can’t. It’s too risky. You heard Boucher and Cormier. There might not be proof of who the assassin is they’re referring to, but I’m not taking any chances.”

“There is no proof,” Raine said quietly. “No one knows for certain, Shabina. When I say that, I mean no one. There may be suspicion, but there is never evidence left behind. He’s that careful.”

“It isn’t careful when he leaves a signature,” Shabina whispered, leaning across the table toward Raine and covering her mouth just in case. She’d learned many people could read lips. Who knew if her café was bugged? She wasn’t about to take chances with Rainier’s life.

“He’s only left that signature on a couple of kills. They know the other work is his because of the sandstorm and the way he’s so silent and deadly. He’s been at this for years. And it isn’t just in the Middle East.”

“He can’t leave a signature again,” she hissed, trying not to sound angry.

It was unreasonable to be upset with Raine when she couldn’t control Rainier.

She wasn’t even in touch with him. Shabina didn’t think Rainier’s boss could control him.

She didn’t even know if he still worked for Blom or if he just went out on his own.

That would be like him. If that was the case, he wouldn’t have any protection at all.

She groaned and rubbed her temples. “He makes me crazy.”

Raine laughed. “Doesn’t he say that about you?”

“Probably, but I never do anything. I run a café.”

“And hike the Sierra alone on trails that are closed to the public.”

“I have three highly trained protection dogs with me, not to mention I’m armed to the teeth and very skilled in hand-to-hand combat if it came down to it.”

“I think he would prefer it didn’t come down to it. My point is, he wants you to always have a bodyguard with you.”

Shabina rolled her eyes. “The last time he said that to me, I told him I thought he needed to have more than one bodyguard with him.”

“I’ll bet that made him happy.”

Raine laughed softly, but Shabina could see that she was really assessing her condition.

Shabina hoped she had pulled herself together enough to manage to look composed.

She wasn’t. She was a mess, but she would hold it together long enough to make certain Rainier was safe.

That was what she cared about more than anything else.

Vaughn approached the table. “Shabina, I saw Vienna, Sean and Edward leave abruptly. If Search and Rescue was called, do you want Patsy, Tyrone and me to start preparing food to take up to the base camp? Chelsey and Nellie can clear tables. They won’t mind.”

“Thanks, Vaughn. I’ll help in a few minutes. We’ll need the usual. Sandwiches, the stew, the salads, everything on the menu to sustain them through the rest of the day and night. You know the drill. You’ve done it enough times.”

“Let’s hope the outcome is better than the last time.” He hesitated, obviously wanting to ask if she knew any details.

“One of the trail rehabilitation crew didn’t make it back to camp last night. That’s not for public knowledge. Don’t pass it on to anyone,” she cautioned.

Vaughn knew that was an extremely bad sign. A lost tourist would have been better. “Anyone we know?”

“He was here a couple of weeks ago with Pete and Billy and a couple of women. They were all traveling to their camp together.”

“I’m sorry, Shabina. I know this has been a lot for you lately. Stay with Raine for a little while longer and let us close the café and start getting things ready.”

Shabina watched him talk to the others and set everything in motion for her.

She was grateful she had taken a chance on him.

It had been difficult trusting a man to come into the café in the early morning hours before anyone else arrived to help her set up.

She wanted to go to him and tell him she felt it was such a privilege to know him.

If she couldn’t hold on, she would write him a letter.