Page 4 of Vanished in the Mist (A Mystic Lake Mystery #2)

When Kaden returned to the table, the beautiful brunette was deeply immersed in whatever she was reading in the folder. He sat down across from her. When she didn’t look up, he asked, “It’s Shanna, right?”

She started, as if she’d forgotten he was there. His ego took a hit. Not that he thought he was God’s gift to women. But he’d been told he was decent-looking and being outright forgotten by a beautiful woman wasn’t typical for him.

“Are you married?” He glanced at her left hand. No ring. But some people didn’t wear them these days.

She blinked. “Uh, no. You?”

“Nope. No girlfriend, either, at the moment. Is there some jealous guy I need to worry about?”

Her eyebrows raised. “Why would you need to be worried?”

He motioned toward the doorway in the back wall. “There’s only one bedroom in this cabin and one bed. Since we’re both staying here—”

“There’s a bed-and-breakfast in town. You can stay there.”

“I prefer the cabin.”

“You’re going to the B and B. It’s my sister’s cabin. It wouldn’t make sense for me to leave it for a stranger to use.”

“Except that your sister invited me and gave me a key.”

She frowned and closed the folder. “Why would you want to stay where you aren’t wanted?”

“Ouch. You don’t mince words, do you?”

“Not normally, no. What’s the problem? Do you need money? I can pay for the B and B if that’s the issue. It’s not your fault that my sister, ah, overbooked her cabin.” She pulled out her cell phone. “I’ll even call and reserve a room for you.”

He stood. “Don’t bother. I won’t use it.” He moved to the front door.

“Wait. Where are you going?”

“To put my boat in the water. I saw a public ramp a couple of miles down the road.”

“There’s a ramp not far from the B and B, too. I drove around town scouting things out before I drove to the cabin. It’s a decent ramp, spacious, lots of parking. Wouldn’t that make more sense?”

“Not when I’m planning on tying my boat up at the dock I saw outside this cabin after I finish my work every day.

I’d like to park my truck and trailer here since I’ll need the truck off and on this week.

I’d ask you to drive them back to the cabin for me since I’ll be driving my boat.

But since you’re in denial, I’ll hire someone else to do it. ” He opened the door.

She jumped up and followed him onto the porch. “Hold on a second.”

He stopped and leaned against the railing.

“You said you’d come back here, after you’re through with work. What’s that about?”

“I would expect that’s obvious. I’m going to start my search for Tanya Jericho. There are still several hours until sunset. Might as well start now.”

“Using your boat?”

“Since she allegedly disappeared either on or near the lake, yes. I’m going to search for her using my boat. Underwater search and recovery is my company’s specialty. It’s why your sister sought me out.”

Something dark seemed to pass across her eyes, like a shadow. Fear? Confusion? Whatever it was, it had her silent and deep in thought.

He didn’t wait. He jogged down the porch steps to his truck.

The sound of swearing told him she’d come out of her trance or whatever it was. He tried not to laugh as she ran after him. Forcing a straight face and a bored look, he turned around and leaned against the driver’s door as she stopped in front of him, slightly out of breath.

“What now?” he asked.

“You haven’t even read the folder. You don’t know where to look.”

“I’m assuming your folder is like the one that your sister sent to me. I’ve already read it and pinpointed the first grid area I’m going to search.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.” He opened the door and hopped into the driver’s seat.

Her soft hand was suddenly on his, stopping him. “The police had divers in the water, several times. No one ever found anything.”

“That’s where my—what did you call it?— superpowers come in.

I have the latest handheld sonar technology that’s specifically programmed to pinpoint anything under the water that has the characteristics of a submerged body.

” He gently removed her hand. “I really need to get going. It’ll take a while to get my boat in the water, arrange for my truck to be driven back here, drive my boat to the area I want to search, and then spend a few hours actually searching.

If I don’t get going soon, I won’t have enough daylight left to make starting the search today worthwhile. ”

She moved back so he could shut the door. But as soon as he started the engine, she knocked on his window.

He sighed and rolled it down. “Now what?”

“You don’t have to hire someone to drive your vehicle to the cabin. I’ll do it and then you can… You can pick me up on the—the boat here at my sister’s dock.” She swallowed as if that hesitant statement had been hard to say. Then she added, “I’m going with you on your search.”

“No. You’re not.”

She stared at him in confusion. “Why not?”

“Because you have something else to do.”

“What would that be?”

“You were calling the B and B to try to evict me. I’m not sharing my boat if you’re bent on not sharing the cabin.”

“Oh, for crying out loud. That’s childish.”

He arched an eyebrow.

She crossed her arms, clearly struggling with her decision. She didn’t seem to be afraid of him anymore. But something had her clearly worried.

After nearly a full minute of silence, he decided he’d waited long enough. “Like I said, daylight’s wasting. I need to go.”

Something akin to panic crossed her face as she glanced from him to the boat behind his truck. She cleared her throat and seemed to gather herself. “Okay, okay. We can share the cabin. Just give me a minute to get my purse and—”

“Another gun you probably have hidden inside? I don’t think so.” He revved the engine.

Her hands fisted at her sides. “You’re the only one who has a gun.

Mine. Which you are going to give back to me at some point.

But right now, I need to lock up the cabin.

Not that there’s a lot of crime around here, but some hiker could come along and decide to help themselves to anything inside.

I can’t leave Cassidy’s home unprotected. ”

He pretended to consider her statement when what he really wanted to do was laugh. She was so fun to tease. “Okay. Lock it up. Hurry.” He shifted into Reverse and began to carefully back the trailer up so he could turn around.

She swore a blue streak and ran for the cabin.