Page 49 of High Country Escape

“And you like her a lot.”

“Yeah.” No reason to deny it.

Carter nodded. “I figured it would be like this for you.”

Dalton shifted in his chair. “Like what?”

“You didn’t waste time dating around. You just waited until the one woman came along and wham! You two are together and that’s it.”

Carter was grinning like he’d won the lottery. Dalton glared at him. “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”

“I’m just saying—some people fall hard right away.”

“You fell in love with Mira pretty fast.” The two had known each other only a few months when Carter moved in with her and they started planning a wedding.

“Right, but I’d had a lot of experience with women. I knew what I was looking for by the time she came along.”

He made it sound like filling out a shopping list or ordering a custom car. Dalton knew that wasn’t true—Carter and Mira seemed to really love each other. “Neither of us is rushing into anything serious,” Dalton said.

“Nothing wrong with that, but I don’t think you’re going to change your mind,” Carter said. “I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you look at her.”

“And you’re an expert.”

“More of an expert than you.”

“Thanks for your expert opinion, then.” He turned his chair back to face the computer. “Lock the door behind you on the way out.”

Carter left and Dalton started a search for Debra Percy. She was easier to find than Betty had been. He scrolled through several pages, then paused and double-checked what he had just read. Huh. Debra had been in Denver at the same time Betty had been there. She had left only a few weeks after all trace of Betty disappeared. Coincidence, or connection? He pondered the question for a long moment, then took out his phone and punched in a number.

“What do you need?” Aaron asked when he answered.

“Can you come over to my place and look at a few things?” Dalton said. “I found some stuff you need to know.”

“What kind of stuff?”

“It’s about William Ledger.”

“I told you not to snoop around on the computer, to let us handle it.”

“Since when do I listen to you? Do you want to know what I found out or not?”

“I’ll be there in ten.”

Almost exactly ten minutes later, Dalton heard Aaron’s footsteps on the stairs. He opened the door to his brother, who was in full uniform. “Get in here before the neighbors think I’m in some kind of trouble,” he said, ushering his brother inside.

“What have you found out about William Ledger that you think is so important?” Aaron asked.

“Did you know he has a girlfriend? Or had one, at least until recently.”

“Betty Josephs,” Aaron said. “Yes, we know.”

“Oh.” He hadn’t expected that answer. “Has anyone talked to her? Does she know where Ledger is?”

“As far as I know, several law enforcement agencies are still looking for her. Why? Do you know where she is?”

“I’ve tracked her to Denver. She was there in July. I have an address. She isn’t there now, but maybe someone could talk toher former landlord, see if she left a forwarding address. And ask if anyone who fit Ledger’s description was around.”

“We know how to do our job,” Aaron said.