Page 75 of Wind Valley

“It looks like a checkpoint.”

“Is that a normal thing here after a snowstorm?”

“Definitely not.” He slowed the snowmobile as he got closer to the intersection. “Jesus. Is that…”

She peeked over his shoulder and gasped at the sight of that damn yellow and green beanie. “Oh my God. It’s him. How on earth did he even get here?”

“He’s with a Blackbear police officer who’s been out here before. Officer Cromwell. He must have joined up with him. That’s the Forest Service rig the police use when they fly here in the winter. They keep it by the airstrip.”

Her heart pounded and she couldn’t think straight. SS was here. In Firelight Ridge. Mere yards away. “What do we do, what do we do?”

“You’re wearing Pinky’s snowsuit and goggles. Can you pretend you’re Pinky? I’ll say you’re sick and I’m taking you to see Ani. It’s an emergency.”

She zippered her suit all the way up to the top and tucked her chin inside. Between her hood and her snow goggles and the neck gaiter that covered half her face, no one would recognize her—so long as she didn’t have to get off the snowmobile.

Resting her face against Lachlan’s back, she tried to imagine being a sick and feeble old man and tried out a hacking cough.

“Hello, officer,” she heard Lachlan call as the Skidoo slowed. “How far is the road plowed? I’ve got a sick passenger onboard. Old Pinky might have come down with pneumonia.”

She gave a deep, phlegmy cough and groaned softly.

“It’s pretty good all the way through town, but some of the side roads are still impassable to cars.”

Good, she thought. If these guys were in a Forest Service truck, they wouldn’t be able to follow them onto side roads or the forest.

“Thank you, sir,” Lachlan said with a salute.

“Hang on.”

Maura steeled herself for some kind of inspection and let loose another dreadful-sounding cough that she hoped would encourage anyone to stay far away.

“We’re looking for a suspect,” said the officer. “We got a tip they might have fled here before the storm hit.”

“We haven’t seen a single person until you. What’s his description?”

“It’s a woman.”

Maura felt a chill shoot through her, and fought not to show a reaction.

“Any more details than that?” Lachlan asked. “There aren’t a lot of women living out here, I’d probably spot a stranger. Do you know her name?”

“She wouldn’t be using her real name. She’s familiar with the territory out here. White woman, brown hair, but she might have dyed it. Blue eyes.”

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. Had SS managed to twist things around and make her out to be the criminal? Maura debated whether she should jump off the snowmobile and make a run for it.

“If I see anyone like that, I’ll definitely let you know. Right now I need to get Pinky some help. Can I ask what she’s suspected of? Is she armed?”

“Unknown, but better to be safe than sorry. She’s suspected of industrial sabotage.”

Industrial sabotage? What crazy story had SS made up?

“That’s a new one,” said Lachlan. “I wish I had time to get the whole story, but I have a patient here.”

“The whole story is above my pay grade anyway,” said Officer Cromwell. “We’re just staking out the town. Keep your eyes peeled.”

“Will do, officer.” As Maura huddled against his back, doing her best eighty-year-old man impression, Lachlan maneuvered the snowmobile over the berm and onto the road.

As they passed him, SS spoke up for the first time. The sound of his voice so close to her made her sick to her stomach. “Seen Maura Vaughn lately? The new teacher?”

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