Page 34 of Thaw of Spring (Knife’s Edge, Alaska #2)

B ehind the bar, Amka checked through a list of supplies she’d need for the coming week.

Now that the plane route occurred at least every other day, she didn’t have to plan so far ahead.

She read the paper again, fighting to stay focused.

Jarod was dead. While she didn’t want to be selfish, what did that mean for her?

Sure, she didn’t believe he deserved to be murdered. But what about the video?

Who had it and when would they either upload it to a social media site or turn it over to the DA in Anchorage?

Should she give Flossy a heads-up? She didn’t want to alarm the elderly woman, but she also wouldn’t want to be surprised by this.

Of course, that might be the least of Amka’s worries. The troopers obviously considered her a suspect in Jarod’s death, and she couldn’t fault them. They’d personally witnessed her punch him the night of his death.

Her focus kept shifting from Jarod to the night with Christian.

It had been incredible, but he hadn’t exactly waxed poetic that morning.

However, he was living a much more stable life than she’d known.

Maybe he’d stick around town, not that he’d mentioned building his life with another person.

Oh, he wanted her. Maybe even liked her.

Although, she was crazy to be thinking about the future right now. About romance. Her life was a disaster.

Lucas nursed a beer at the far end of bar, his fingers flying over his laptop. It was nice to see him writing and not putting out fires. She checked to make sure he didn’t need a refill. Not yet.

Helene Stanford walked up from her chair by the dartboards, briefcase over her shoulder and her dark hair up in an intricate braid. She sat on a stool and plunked her case on the one next to her. “I was hoping we could chat now that the lunch rush has ebbed.”

Amka forced a smile for the insurance adjuster. “Of course.” At this point, she should start charging the woman rent. “Where are you staying?”

Helene drew out a legal pad from her case.

“I secured a room at Flossy’s BnB, so I was fortunate.

Got the last one for the week.” She smiled, her gaze remaining serious.

“I’ve been hanging out here as well as Friday’s grocery store.

Just watching you all while waiting for the forensic reports about the fire, which could be weeks out.

” She glanced around, pausing at seeing the four Osprey brothers speaking quietly at their table by the fireplace. “The local sights aren’t bad, either.”

Amka could attest to that. “This is also a great place to catch up on the local gossip.”

“Yes.” Helene tapped her pen on the paper. “The town is abuzz, and that group of influencers just add to the rumors. From what I can tell, folks around here don’t think you and Jarod Teller make a good couple. You don’t make sense to most of the people who seem to know you.”

“I don’t know what to say about that.” It was so weird to hear Helene speak about Jarod in present tense. Frankly, it was a miracle that Dutch and the state troopers had been able to keep a lid on the murder. They were probably trying to get past the week while the influencers were in town.

Helene just studied her. “Don’t you think it’s an odd coincidence that your fiancé’s motel and your storage building both burned down?

With the insurance payout, Mr. Teller will be able to build a luxury hotel instead of the rather ramshackle one that was there, and you’ll be able to build something much nicer than the storage building.

Property values have just increased in Knife’s Edge, and more people are visiting.

Plenty of tourists. Did you set your fire, Amka? ”

“Of course not.” By the looks of it across the room, Christian had just shifted in his chair.

He’d been inside more than an hour, and that was probably his record for the tavern.

Now she knew he could stay inside his cabin for a night.

Well, most of a night. Both times she’d stayed with him, he’d been gone long before she’d awakened.

She didn’t have an excuse this time to get him outside, but considering he was sitting with his brothers and not the troopers this time, he probably didn’t need help.

Helene cleared her throat.

Amka jumped, tearing her focus away from Christian. She had to stop thinking of him in that shower. Who knew sex could be that wild. And freaking amazing? She swallowed.

“Are you all right? You’re flushed,” Helene said.

“I’m fine. The idea of being accused of arson is insulting.” And terrifying.

Helene sat back, today looking official in a black blazer with a white T-shirt over jeans.

Her lipstick was a pretty light pink that most women couldn’t carry off.

“I’m just doing my job and don’t mean to cause you any concern, but I have to investigate.

In addition, my boss has asked me to look into the motel fire again.

Do you know where Mr. Teller is right now? ”

Being autopsied in Anchorage. “I don’t,” Amka lied. “But he often takes off on fishing or camping trips, so it’s not a surprise.”

“Can you call him? I’d really like to speak with you two together.”

“Already tried.” She might as well keep lying. “He must be out of service range, which is usually the case around here.” Amka’s palms began to sweat. “I’ll let you know as soon as I hear from him, and I can give his number to you as well.”

Helene scribbled a couple of notes that were impossible to read from Amka’s position.

“I already have it in my files but thought you’d know of his whereabouts.

” She looked up. “The obvious crime would be that the two of you successfully burned down his motel for insurance money and then tried it again with your storage building.”

“But the motel burned because of faulty wiring,” Amka protested.

Helene made another notation. “Maybe not.”

Amka didn’t have any knowledge about the motel fire. “Jarod and I weren’t even dating at that time.”

“So you say.” Helene zeroed in. “You know the better story?”

“I have no idea.”

The woman pursed her pink lips. “What if that anger was real? The whole town saw you punch him right here in your tavern. I believe a few of the influencers even posted about it and how wild it can get here in Alaska.”

Amka placed her list on the ledge beneath the bar. “I don’t follow.”

“What if the two of you have one of those psycho, dark romance type relationships?”

Amka frowned. “What are you saying?”

“What if you burned down his motel because you were pissed, and what if he decided to return the favor and burn down your building? You’re not working together and are actually in some sociopathic but sexy fetish? That involves fire?”

Amka’s mouth dropped open.

Helene pressed on. “I ran my theory by the two Alaska state troopers, and they were very interested in it. I think I’m on to something.”

Amka couldn’t breathe. That was insane.

Nixi came in from the kitchen, her purple hair curled into spirals of purple and now pink.

“Sorry I’m late. I told Daisy I’d be here a while ago, but I got caught up videoing the basin of Tomalley Falls.

It’s gorgeous.” She paused right by Amka and looked around the tavern.

The color slid from her face and she wavered.

“Nixi?” Amka grasped her arm. “What’s wrong?”

Nixi turned and headed through the doorway to the small bedroom instead of the kitchen.

Amka looked wildly around, only seeing the Osprey brothers and the influencers. She turned and followed her, ignoring Helene's sputtering. Upon reaching the back room, she paused in the doorway. “Are you all right?”

Nixi sank onto the bed, her purple hair too bright against her now pale skin. “Sorry. I haven’t eaten, and sometimes when my blood sugar gets low, I lose control of my limbs.” Her hand shook when she raised it to her face. “I feel like a dork.”

The door burst open and Steve Coltrap hurried in. “I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t be here, but I saw you almost go down. Nixi, what’s wrong?” He sat next to her and patted her hand.

Now there was a man who could share his emotions.

Nixi coughed out. “I’m an idiot who forgot to eat.”

Steve slipped an arm over her shoulder. “You can’t sacrifice health for this business, no matter how successful you are. Let’s go back out there, sit by the fire to warm up, and get you some protein.” With his blond hair, he looked like a young attorney. A hot one.

Apparently Nixi thought so, too. She leaned into him.

“I’m so glad we found each other on this trip.

I know you’re in the middle of that live video with those guys from New York.

Go back and do that, and I’ll meet up with you later.

Right now, I think I’ll jump over to the Green Plate.

I heard they have homemade chicken noodle soup today. ”

“It’s fantastic soup,” Amka agreed, concern filtering through her. “I hope we haven’t been overworking you.”

“No.” Nixi waved the thought away. “I just forgot to eat.” She pushed to her feet and nudged Steve back the way he’d come.

“I’ll go out the back door.” She winced.

“Please keep this totally embarrassing moment between us. I don’t want any of the other influencers to see me losing it.

That actually might make for a good post.”

Steve grimaced. “You’re not wrong. Okay. I’ll go cover for you. How about we meet up tomorrow morning for a sunrise post? We could catch some spectacular footage.”

Nixi stretched up on her calves. “That’d be great. I think you have a great eye for posts. You’re going to grow fast.”

Steve patted her arm, his lips curving. “Thanks. I’m definitely seeing the draw of this kind of lifestyle.” He turned to Amka. “If you change your mind about that interview, let me know. I’d love to reveal your identity. The woman the hot-bodied Alaskan rescued.”

Amka paused. “Now that you bring it up, why hasn’t anybody identified us? All of you know our names by now.”

Nixi snorted.

Steve flushed. “Let’s just say that Alaskan threatened death, and nobody thought he was joking.” He pushed open the door and returned to the bar.

Amka studied Nixi’s still pale features. “Christian threatened everybody ?”

Nixi walked across the cozy room, her normally graceful movements stilted. “Boy, did he. I wouldn’t post his name, or yours, for any amount of prize money.” She opened the door and looked over her shoulder. “I’m sorry about this. I’ll be back to work tomorrow.”

“No worries.” Amka wanted to remain in that room and not deal with the insurance adjuster.

Or try to keep herself from gaping at Christian like an awkward teenager lusting after the hot and mysterious guy in class.

But she had to be a grown up. The fact that he’d protected her from more publicity she didn’t want only made more butterflies wing through her abdomen.

Enough of that. Smoothing back her hair, she moved back into the bar and found Helene waiting for her.

Just great.

While Amka couldn’t seem to banish these feelings about Christian, she didn’t have to allow any additional stress into her life. “I’m done talking to you without a lawyer,” she said to Helene.

The woman sat back. “I’m not a cop.”

“I don’t care.” It was too bad Daisy had the afternoon off. “I’m done.” She forced a smile. “Can I get you a drink?”

Helene huffed out a breath. “Fine. I’ll take a mimosa.”

So the woman wasn’t going to leave the tavern. Just fantastic. Amka poured the champagne and orange juice, sliding the glass across the bar.

The door opened and a young blonde woman with wide brown eyes walked inside, a green puffer coat encasing her.

Definitely a tourist. Locals considered the spring weather a new heatwave.

Visitors found it downright cold. “Hi.” She moved toward the bar.

“Um, a nice lady named Flossy told me I could find the sheriff here.” She looked around the tavern.

“Does your sheriff drink during the day?”

Not since he’d accepted the sheriff job. “Just coffee.” Amka lifted her head and cocked it toward the woman. The four Osprey brothers had paused their discussion when the door had opened, so she kept her gaze on Brock.

He kicked back his chair and stood, heading her way, looking Alaskan tough in jeans and a dark T-shirt with his badge clipped at his belt. It had taken a nagging Flossy to get him to wear it, and it looked natural on him.

Christian followed, unsurprisingly. He’d been eyeing the door for a while.

“Hi,” Brock said to the woman.

“You’re the sheriff?” She stuck her hands in her thick jacket.

Brock sighed. “That’s what they tell me.”

The woman blinked, looked at him, at Christian, then back to Brock. “Um, okay.”

Yeah, they were something to see. Tall, dark, dangerous and more than a little harshly handsome.

“Can I help you with something?” Brock asked.

“I’m gone.” Christian nodded at Amka and walked outside.

That’s it? I’m gone ? Amka barely kept from rolling her eyes.

The blonde brushed hair out of her eyes. “Hi. I’m Lorrie Warner? My husband was, ah—” Tears gathered in her eyes.

“Yeah.” Brock gently took her arm. “Eli Warner. We’ve been expecting you. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.” She turned slightly and looked around the tavern as if wanting to escape the conversation. Poor woman. Her shoulders slumped. “What now?”

Brock led her to the door. “Let’s go down to the station so I can get your statement, and then we’ll figure out where to go from there. We’re a couple days away from having the right helicopter to get his body to Anchorage for an autopsy.”

She exhaled. “I don’t have to, um, identify, um, him?”

“We can use a picture for that,” Brock said, escorting her out.

Amka’s heart hurt for the woman.

Steve moved up, his brow wrinkled as he placed his phone on the bar. His blue eyes had darkened. “I have bad news.”

She looked down to see a video identifying both Christian and her at the storage building fire along with news of the shooting the other night as well as Eli Warner’s death.

The flirty influencer, a brunette Amka had only seen once, mentioned that Christian was currently unattached and had three just as sexy Alaskan badass brothers.

Oh, they weren’t going to like that. At all.

She peered closer. “This already has five hundred thousand views.”

Steve pressed his lips together. “And thousands of comments. Many proposing marriage to Christian, or to any brother he may have. Or any cousin or even young grandpa.” He reclaimed his phone. “Are you going to tell them?”

“No,” she breathed. “Are you?”

“Oh, hell no. I like my head on my shoulders and not rolling across the floor.”

Good point. Although there was one Osprey brother she was going to find after work. They needed to talk.