Page 71 of Snowbound Threat

“Let me see.” Ryan gently moved her aside.

Charlie couldn’t look at the photo again.

“I’ll bag it and have Doug dust it and the vehicle for prints.” He reached inside his pocket and pulled out an evidence bag, securing the Polaroid inside. “Lila has security cameras around. Let’s see if we can find out who left it.”

Ryan ushered her inside. Charlie felt as if she were caught up in a nightmare.

Lila spotted them as they entered the café. She rushed over. “What’s wrong?” Her attention was on Charlie. “You look so pale.”

“We need to look at your security feed. Someone left a message for Charlie inside her SUV.”

Lila’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, my gosh. But how? I was here all day yesterday and this morning.”

“I’m sure whoever did this waited until a busy time. Can we take a look?” Ryan asked.

Lila gave herself a mental shake. “Of course. It’s this way.” She looped her arm through Charlie’s and headed back through the kitchen. She opened the door to her office. “Excuse the clutter. I’m not much for order.”

Lila moved to the laptop on her desk and brought up the feed. “You think he did it last night?”

Ryan asked if Charlie had checked the vehicle after he left.

“No. Lila and I talked until late and then I fell asleep.” She’d been exhausted. Learning of Pete’s death had wrecked her. The trip was filled with emotional moments. Then the break-in at Pete’s cabin and the message that seemed directed at her.

“Let’s start with last night,” Ryan stood beside Lila as she brought up the time on the feed.

Charlie watched as the crowds that had been at the café when she’d arrived slowed until it was closing time.

Lila and several of her employees were the last to leave. The cameras showed different angles around the café. Once Lila and the other employees were gone the cameras picked up the motion of traffic along the road in front.

And then. . .

A figure emerged from the corner of the café near the stairs leading to the apartment. Charlie shivered when she considered how close the suspect had been to where she slept completely oblivious to the danger.

The person moved to her car and opened the door. Reality washed over her. She’d forgotten to lock the doors. She’d given the man who wanted her dead easy access to her vehicle. What if he’d done more than leave a photo?

“I can’t believe I forgot to lock it,” she whispered.

Lila reached for her hand. “You’d had an awful shock. It’s understandable.”

“But I always lock my vehicle.” It was something Pete had drilled into her head all her life.

“I can’t see his face,” Ryan was saying.

Charlie leaned in closer and realized the man was dressed in dark clothing. He wore gloves. A hoodie pulled up over his head and a mask that hid his face. “He made sure we couldn’t ID him.”

“Most businesses in town have security cameras. If he’s a local he’d know that.”

From the look of the man when he headed away from the Pathfinder, Charlie believed he was around five-foot ten or eleven. Not a big man but fit she’d say.

Not much to go on.

“I’m calling Boone.” Ryan stepped away to make the call.

Charlie couldn’t stop shaking. “I don’t understand. Why target me? I don’t know anything about the case.”

Lila placed her arm around Charlie’s waist. “He doesn’t know that.” She indicated the person whose image was paused on the screen.

Ryan returned. “Boone’s on his way over. I had Will run by my place and grab some things. We’ll leave as soon as they arrive.” He focused on the screen and then Lila. “We’ll need the link to the video feed.”