Page 6 of Storm Warning

“That I am.” She scrunched up her face. “Your name sounds familiar. Come back to the lodge. I owe you more than a cup of coffee, but we can start with that.”

“I’m Erika, by the way.” Blue-Hair’s eyes were sharp, and her smile was warm and friendly.

Erika turned and headed back toward the lodge. Mrs. Daley had left them behind in her rush to return Paco to a warm environment. Remi followed Erika, and Hawk followed Remi as they made their way along the trail that would lead them back to Cedar Trails Lodge. The trail was close enough to the cliff that he could look out over the rocky beach drowning in ocean waves. If anyone asked him, it wasn’t safe.

An image of Remi climbing up the doomed ladder, then hanging by a thread flashed in his mind. He needed to talk to her about that rope, but in private.

They passed the area where the rental cabins were located, spread out and secluded enough in the trees to provide privacy. Then they walked through another patch of dense woods before stepping into a clearing on their approach to the main lodge, built from driftwood logs almost a century ago.

Remi slowed to walk next to him. “Where are you staying?”

“I’m in the Bluff Cabin.”

“Wow, you landed the best one.”

“A cancellation opened up at the last minute, so I took it.”

Another cold gust urged him forward to shelter, but Remi stopped in her tracks, and he stopped too. Her big, beautiful eyes peered at him from the shadows of her raincoat hood.

“How did you happen to be in position to pull me up? I mean, just in the nick of time.” That caution flickered again.

What was going on that she would question his reason for being in a position to save her? Her wariness kind of took him aback. “I recently came to town.”Rented a house temporarily.“I was considering getting a camper and wanted to check out the campground.”

“It’s closed during the winter months.”

“I got that. I was just making my way back.”

Remi appeared satisfied and they continued forward. When they reached the lodge doors, a strong wind slammed them both with sideways rain. When he opened the door, he got a taste of the strength behind that approaching storm—it would only get worse. Inside the lodge, a few people were gathered at the panoramic windows.

“Please, order a coffee on me.” Remi smiled. “Coffeeandbreakfast are on the house. Whatever you want.”

Remi left his side, spoke to the blond barista behind the coffee bar, then moved to the window to speak with Mrs. Daley and Erika. Though she smiled and acted like a great hostess, Hawk could tell she was still shaken from nearly falling to her death. Who wouldn’t be?

He stepped up to the coffee bar and looked up at the menu. In his peripheral vision, he tracked Remi until she disappeared down a hallway. Hawk frowned. Considering he needed to talk to her about the frayed ladder, he could have handled that so much better. He ordered the plain Americano with two shots, and while he waited, he movedcloser to the wall of photos to get a better look at the amazing, framed images of breakers crashing against the rocky outcroppings and sea stacks.

A couple of them depicted faces in the waves. Seriously? One of them was a monster, his mouth wide, ready to chomp down on his prey. Disturbing. He walked along the wall, absorbing the images and looking for the photographer’s signature, but found none. Hmm.

The image of rolling marine fog drew him closer. A ship was barely visible inside the fog. He couldn’t put his finger on what was so special about the photo, but it was stunning. The barista approached and stood next to him.

“That’s theSpecter’s Bounty.”

“Huh?” He took the coffee she handed him. “Oh, I’m sorry. I could have—”

“No problem. That’s my favorite picture. I’ve heard about theSpecter’s Bounty,but I’ve never actually seen the ghost ship.”

“Who took these?”

But she had already turned to rush back to the coffee bar against the far wall. Had the photographer also drawn the sketches and caricatures on display?

A couple left a small table by the window, so Hawk sat while he had the chance. This place must have been built around this perfect view of the ocean and the rocky shore below because it was truly mesmerizing. The lodge itself was rustic and backwoodsy. Not many people chose to travel to a place with spotty if no cell coverage and no Wi-Fi.

To him those features, or lack thereof, were a big plus. Technology was neither good nor bad, but it had taken over people’s lives. Sometimes a person needed to unplug. Literally. Humans had a way of taking something meant for good and using it for evil, but the difference between the good guys and the bad guys was often a matter of point ofview. At least that’s what his former commanding officer, retired Chief Warrant Officer John Marshall, often said.

He was glad he’d listened to John’s advice—his urging, really—that Hawk visit Cedar Trails nestled at the edge of Hidden Bay. When the place had been booked up, Hawk rented the house in the nearby small town of Forestview. That’s how much he trusted his former CO, the pilot with whom he’d flown over fifteen missions. John now worked in the private sector, but he remained Hawk’s friend and mentor.

Finished with his coffee, Hawk debated heading back to his cabin before he had to face off with the blustery weather. He gave up hope that he’d have an opportunity to talk to Remi again, at least today. Hawk returned the mug to the counter and headed for the door.

“Leaving already?” Remi called.