Page 14

Thirteen

Glacial Heights

Emily tried her phone again and then looked at Raven. “This is the best satellite phone money can buy and it’s not working. I’ve used my tracker and we haven’t seen or heard anyone for hours. It’s after midnight. What is happening?”

“First up, you need to stay calm.” Raven had pushed his seat back and was lying with one arm over his eyes.

“Secondly, you should know that during bad weather sometimes the satellite connection is sketchy. We’re very close to the mountain, which also interferes with the signal, and that includes your tracker device.

To be perfectly honest, I don’t believe you need to worry about contacting your dad because he knows where you are and will be doing everything possible to get us out of this situation. ”

The tremors hadn’t stopped, which made being exposed to the thunder and lightning even worse, and she’d never liked being in a storm.

In fact, storms and earthquakes had become her worst nightmares.

“How can you just lie there and do nothing? Shouldn’t you be trying to climb out of here and get help? ”

“Nope.” Raven opened one eye to look at her and then closed it again.

Baffled by his nonchalance, she gaped at him. “So you expect me to sit here forever?”

“Emily.” Raven clicked his chair and the back came up to a sitting position.

He rubbed one hand down his face and stared at her.

“There is absolutely no point in going out in a storm to get soaking wet and try to climb loose boulders. If I made it to the top, which would be highly unlikely, where would I possibly go for help? The ski resort is closed for the summer and it would take me most of the night to hike to the highway.” He held up one finger when she opened her mouth to say something.

“Another thing. Do you really want me to leave you alone here? There is a good chance that grizzlies live in some of the caves and they’ll be hungry.

It will only be a matter of time before they rip off the door or smash a window to get to you. ”

The reality of what was happening suddenly sank in and she nodded. “I can see your point but how long do you expect us to be here?”

“I figure they’ll have a chopper up by morning.” Raven tossed her a blanket. “We’re lucky it’s summer, but it does get cold in the mountains, so rug up and try and get some sleep. Ben will alert us if anything tries to creep up on us.”

Emily took the blanket and added it to the one she had wrapped around her legs. “Not even you will be able to stop a grizzly.”

“I’m not planning on killing anything, Em.

” Raven yawned and tipped back his chair.

“But I have the firepower in this truck if we need it, and by morning we might find a way to drive out of here. We don’t know the extent of the rockslide.

There’s a good chance we can get through alongside the mountain, even if it means moving a few rocks.

” He gave her a long look. “To ease your mind, at first light I’ll hike away from the mountain and try to make contact with the office. ”

Concerned, Emily shook her head. “No, call my dad. He’ll be frantic with worry. He’ll let everyone know we’re okay.”

“Sure.” Raven closed his eyes. “Try to get some sleep. You’ll need your strength if we need to dig the truck out.” He lifted one of her hands and smiled. “Ah, good. No long nails.” He chuckled. “I wouldn’t want you to break one.”

Bristling, Emily reclined her chair and glared at him. “What do you mean by that? Do you figure I’m not tough enough?” She snorted when he grinned at her. “I’ve faced down serial killers—and survived. Dave and my dad instructed me and my sisters how to protect ourselves.”

“Yeah? That worked well when that guy on the snowmobile tried to grab you last winter, didn’t it?

” His white smile glowed in the moonlight.

“If I hadn’t been there, you figure you’d have survived?

” He chuckled. “Don’t get mad with me. I’m just teasing you, Em.

I must admit I admire you. The way you walked onto that crime scene and didn’t flinch or puke would put most people to shame.

You’ll make a fine medical examiner. Wolfe will be a very proud daddy. ”

It was hard to be angry with Raven, when he took everything in his stride.

His placid easy-going nature was something she admired about him.

He’d saved her and her sister’s lives—but sometimes he infuriated her.

She recalled talking to Jenna about her early days with Kane.

She’d never met anyone who would take a bullet to protect her, and at first Jenna had found Kane’s overprotectiveness suffocating.

Later she’d told her that often men who’d been raised in the military had an old-school respect for women.

She figured that Raven was like Kane in that way, but only that way.

She’d seen how Kane’s expression changed when he faced down a killer.

The look had frightened her. It was as if he became a brick wall, and no one was getting through him.

Raven was more like the dogs he trained—he’d be a best friend until given a command to attack—and she liked that about him too.

She snuggled under the blanket and looked at him.

“Thanks. I’m working hard to get through all the requirements.

It will be a dream come true to work alongside my dad.

He needs a vacation so bad. Although, when he gets married, he’ll arrange for another ME to cover for him if needed.

I hope we have a death-free week when he’s away. It would make life so much easier.”

“I wouldn’t worry.” Raven yawned explosively. “Between us, we’ll manage normal deaths, and homicides we can put on ice until he returns. You can run the necessary tests, and my license is current, so it’s all good. Go to sleep, Em. We’ll talk in the morning.” He sighed. “Goodnight, Ben.”

The dog barked and Emily giggled. The dog’s long tail was wagging a few inches from her face. Damp dog and a man that smelled like pine trees. She sighed. It was going to be a long night.