Page 63 of Deadly Storms (Sunrise Lake #3)

“They don’t look alike. They aren’t the same age. They don’t have the same occupations,” Zahra mused. “Maybe they were chosen randomly. The opportunity presented itself, and the murderer took advantage.”

“That’s possible,” Raine said. “But not probable.”

“We know both Lucca and Lawyer,” Vienna pointed out. “What do they have in common?”

“They were friends,” Harlow volunteered. “Both were great with the elderly. Lucca really took good care of his parents and a couple of other families in town. Lawyer fishes, hunts and grows food. He gives most of it away, especially in the winter.”

“Bale despised them both,” Stella added.

Raine agreed. “He couldn’t control either of them. He tried to blackmail them into doing what he wanted them to do.”

“What did he have on Lawyer?” Stella asked.

“Lawyer told us he’d been present when Bale and his friends robbed and beat up their football coach,” Raine answered.

“He was a young teen then. Lawyer confessed to him when he was a kid and ended up paying back the money. They became friends, and he looks after the family now that they’re older and can’t get around so well, especially in the winter.

It was just a week or so ago that he was interviewed, and he told the interviewer about it.

When he did, he praised his former coach.

At the same time, he pulled the rug out from under Bale’s attempt to blackmail him. ”

“Why was Bale going to blackmail him?” Stella asked.

“Lawyer initially installed the security system at the café for me,” Shabina said. “Rainier just had the cameras replaced with others of his choosing. The same as at my home.”

“Bale thought he could force Lawyer to erase all the evidence showing Bale had graffitied the café and threatened Shabina multiple times,” Raine said.

“Lawyer installed the security cameras in most of the businesses in Knightly. Bale wanted everything from the Grill destroyed because the incidents showed a pattern of harassment.”

“That skunk,” Stella hissed. “I take it Lawyer refused.”

“Lawyer came to me,” Raine said. “He told me the story of his high school coach and that he wanted me to get the information off the security feed immediately, just in case Bale found another way to remove it.”

“We know for certain Bale didn’t like either man,” Harlow said.

“What about the other victims?” Zahra ventured. “The first was Deacon Mulberry. He was interning with Sean for Fish and Wildlife. Would Bale have a grudge against him?”

“The truth is, Bale could have a grudge against anyone,” Stella said. “He’s been that way for as long as I’ve lived here. Do you really think the killer is Bale?”

“He’s capable,” Raine said. “Especially now that he’s lost his hold on Edward and Jason.

Sean seems to be sticking with him, but the other two have distanced themselves from him.

Once he realized he was no longer protected by his uncle, it’s possible he stepped up the killings because he needs to control something. ”

Shabina shook her head. “There might be a tie-in between Bale and the other victims, but unless he has a partner, he can’t be the killer.

He wasn’t in Yosemite at the time of the first murder.

And he’s being watched by my personal protection team.

They know where he is at all times. He was prowling around my café in the early morning hours while I was doing the prep for breakfast and lunch. Unfortunately, my men are his alibi.”

“I wanted it to be him,” Zahra said. “He’s the nastiest man in Knightly. I imagined him in prison and, I have to tell you, the vision was highly satisfying.”

The women laughed. “Sadly,” Harlow said, “you’ll have to let go of that particular dream.”

“I think all of us have that dream,” Vienna said with a sigh. “Moving on from Bale. Who else is a suspect?”

“What about Edward?” Zahra said. “Are all of you really buying that he’s turned over a new leaf and is Mr. Wonderful?

Because I find it very difficult to believe.

And if you notice, he was in the café, at the hot springs, with the Search and Rescue crew and at the boulders.

There was a block of time that he was out of sight.

He easily could have bashed Lawyer over the head and then rushed around acting the hero. ”

“I can’t see Edward as a suspect,” Vienna protested. “Maybe I don’t want it to be him. I see a man finally standing up and taking charge of his life.”

“He would have to have a partner. Bale? Sean?” Harlow mused.

“Sean is a viable suspect,” Stella said.

“He was with the first victim. Even if he thought that would cast suspicion on him, it would be a brilliant move. We’ve seen a serial killer hide right in our midst, and we didn’t suspect him.

Sean was around for that. He might have learned a few tricks of the serial killing trade. ”

“He was with Search and Rescue when Lucca went missing,” Raine said. “But where was he when Charlie Gainer was killed? Charlie worked on the rehabilitation crew. Sean certainly would have had the opportunity to interact with him.”

“I just don’t see that he has a motive,” Vienna said. “I don’t like the man, but I don’t see him killing men. I don’t think he has that kind of confidence in himself.”

Shabina agreed. “He’s a follower, not a leader.

” She told the others what Chelsey had told her about the incident involving the dates and spices.

“He was concerned that he might be blamed. He wasn’t upset that Bale struck Chelsey or that I would be implicated in the murders.

It was all about him. He did get into a physical altercation with Bale, but from what Chelsey said, Bale attacked him first. I agree with Vienna.

I don’t think he has the nerve to be a serial killer. He isn’t a narcissist like Bale.”

“We keep coming back to Bale,” Zahra said. “Let’s get food to refuel the brain cells. I can’t think clearly when I’m starving.”

Shabina waved them to the sideboard, where the warmers were waiting. Before she could follow them, Raine indicated for her to look at her computer screen.

“I just received this alert.” She spoke in a low tone and pointed to words scrolling across her screen.

Shabina’s breath caught in her throat. The assassin Deadly Storms had struck again.

This time he’d brought down one man. Owen Pelletier.

He wore the mark of the assassin just above his left wrist, and he appeared to have been subjected to torture.

Again, those wounds mimicked the scars Shabina had on her body.

Evidence had been provided showing Owen Pelletier had been a part of the mass murders and torture Scorpion perpetuated.

Nothing in the report mentioned Lefebre.

Shabina stroked her fingers over her aching thigh. “Do you think he’ll get away with it?”

Raine shook her head. “You know Rainier won’t let this go until Scorpion is dead.”

Shabina took a deep breath. “There’s no mention that the assassin was caught or wounded.”

Raine smiled at her. “I don’t think Deadly Storms is anything but smoke.

A ghost. He comes out of the darkness—or a sandstorm—and then he’s gone.

How he can keep from having his skin peeled off in a violent sandstorm, I don’t know.

Most people can’t move. They can’t see or breathe.

They cover every inch of skin and hunker down until the storm has passed. ”

“Hopefully, he’s on his way home to me,” Shabina said. “Let me get you your food.”

“I’ve been trying to do more things for myself,” Raine protested. “Although not only did the keys to my car disappear, Rainier said if I found another set of keys and tried driving, he would remove the car and let Rush know I’m not cooperating with my physical therapy plan.”

Shabina burst out laughing. “I’m so happy he has someone else to boss around. Maybe that will take the pressure off me.”

“Don’t count on it. I’ll start telling tales about your escapades. Trying to sneak off by yourself without your personal protection team.”

Shabina gasped. “You wouldn’t dare. It isn’t even true…yet. I’ll admit I’ve had thoughts of total rebellion, but I gave Rainier my word to stay close to the protection detail.”

“You seem to be so much stronger, Shabina.”

“I think finally realizing my father was responsible for so many things I took the blame for helped to free me from all the guilt. To finally know where I stand with him has been a good thing. You’d think it wouldn’t be, that it would make me feel worse about myself because it is very apparent I mean nothing to him.

Instead, the knowledge empowered me. I feel much stronger.

I also made up my mind to cut him out of my life.

I came to the Sierra for peace. I don’t want toxic people in my life anymore. ”

Vienna’s laughter bubbled over as she sank down into one of the cuddle chairs and placed the plate of food on the end table.

“Can I just remind you that someone is murdering people we know, and this isn’t the first time?

I think our peaceful hometown and the surrounding mountains have been invaded by killers.

If that isn’t toxic, I don’t know what is. ”

Shabina made her way across the room to the warmers to make herself a plate. Raine followed her much more slowly.

“I think the only one who wants to strangle me on occasion is Rainier. My enemies are across an ocean, and I’m grateful for that.”

She helped Raine put the various food items on her plate.

Trying to balance on one leg and lean over the sideboard when she was on the shorter side didn’t make for success when getting her favorite foods.

It was easy enough for Shabina to help her and then carry her plate back to Raine’s favorite spot.

Once they were settled with their food, Shabina asked the question that had been weighing on her for a while. “What could possibly tie these victims together? I think if we can figure that out, we’ll be able to see a clearer picture of the murderer.”