Page 96 of Snowbound Threat

She shook her head. “I don’t know anymore.” Her gaze met his. “I’m worried, Ryan. So worried.”

He tugged her into his arms, his chin resting on her head. More than anything he wanted to be able to assure her they’d catch Pete’s killer. Uncover the mystery behind Abby’s death. But from where they stood now, he didn’t believe it was going to happen soon.

“Are you hungry?” Ryan waited for her to answer. They’d brought food with them.

She shook her head. “But I would like some coffee.” She motioned toward the coffee pot sitting on the small table.

“Sure thing. I can make it.”

She stopped him before he’d gone a single step. “I need something to do with myself.” Charlie retrieved the pot and went to the tiny kitchen.

“Coffee’s on the counter,” he called out. “I’ll bring in our things.” He waited for an answer that didn’t come before retrieving his handgun and stepping out into the darkness and a storm that wasn’t letting up.

Ryan stood still and listened for any indication Will might be getting close. Over the wind howling through the trees, nothingcould be heard. He checked the time on the phone. Ten minutes had passed.

He trudged through the deep snow down the bend of the road. Nothing. Not a sound. No headlights winding up the mountain road. That worried him.

Ryan returned to the SUV and grabbed their bags and the food.

On an instinct he couldn’t explain, he set the bags down near the door and walked the perimeter of the cabin. The fresh fallen snow remained in pristine shape. No footprints. No sign of anyone following them. So why couldn’t he relax?

He returned to the front and carried the things inside.

Charlie peeked out from the kitchen. “Everything okay?”

He did his best to assure her it was.

“Coffee?”

The last thing he needed was more adrenaline, but he had a feeling it was going to be a long night, and he needed his mind not dulled by exhaustion.

Charlie carried out two cups and stopped dead when she got a good look at him. “What’s wrong?”

He wasn’t sure how to explain it but did his best. “This person keeps finding us. We’ve stopped using the police radio and yet he still is able to track us.” He looked her square in the eye. “What if he finds us here?”

Wide, fearful eyes analyzed the question. “If he attacks us here, there’s a possibility we’d be trapped.”

Hearing her confirm what he believed made him even more nervous. He checked his watch again. “Will should be here by now.” He accepted the coffee from her and gulped it, needing the jolt it gave him.

“What do you want to do?” Charlie set her cup down on the table.

“Drive down the road a little way and see if we can find him. He could have run into trouble with the roads being the way they are.” Or another type of trouble.

“Let’s go.” Charlie retrieved her coat. While he started for the door Ryan wondered about the wisdom of taking her out into the teeth of the storm with a killer on the hunt. But he also didn’t want to leave her alone.

Ryan helped her into the SUV and then circled the front, his troubled gaze darting around the darkened countryside expecting danger.

He quickly started the vehicle and reversed. Since they’d arrived, the road had worsened considerably. His fear for Will doubled.

Ryan eased them along the narrow road with headlights on bright looking for any sign of danger.

Snaking along several more switchbacks the sight that unfolded in front of them had him stopping. Will’s vehicle sat precariously close to the edge of a steep drop-off. The only thing keeping it from tumbling down the side of the mountain was a single lodgepole pine.

“Oh no.” Ryan put the SUV in Park and then applied the emergency brake just in case before hopping out.

He hurried toward the cruiser while calling out, “Stay in the vehicle.”

She ignored him.