Page 26 of Scent of Peril

“That would be great.” She sat on the sofa and called Teddy to her side. The dog stretched out on the floor near her feet and promptly went to sleep. Shaking her head, she stroked her hand over Teddy’s fur. “Poor Teddy. He is one tuckered pup.”

“He deserves to rest.” After making the coffee, he leaned back against the counter, facing her across the room. “I don’t think you should volunteer Teddy’s services to law enforcement. I understand he’s a good tracker, but it’s safer to let the game warden and the local police track down Benton.”

She snorted and shook her head. “You must realize they won’t find him without our help. Oh, I’m sure they’d give it a good try, but you said yourself that you didn’t see a cabin or dwelling near the location where you dropped Benton off. The landing area is a good starting point, but without Teddy’s nose, I doubt they’ll find anything.”

“I also said I wasn’t really looking for a cabin.” He didn’t like sounding defensive. “It could be there.”

“I’m sure if there had been a cabin, you’d have noticed.” She made an exasperated sound and held his gaze for a long minute. “Come on, Logan. Doesn’t the fact that Ella died of a drug overdose mean anything to you?”

He flinched as if she’d slapped him across the face. “I told you; I had no idea Ella was doing drugs. She certainly never used them around me.”

Was that a flash of regret in her blue eyes? He wasn’t sure. She shrugged and looked away. “I just think that since we both cared about Ella that we’d want to do our part in getting rid of anyone profiting from selling drugs. It feels like the least we can do.”

He stared down at his boots for a moment. “Yeah, of course I care about getting rid of drugs. And those dealing them.” He lifted his gaze to hers. “I’m the one who agreed to fly Benton to the mountain. That means I’m the reason we’re in this mess. Putting yourself and Teddy in danger isn’t going to bring Ella back.”

“I never said it would. But the truth is that Teddy is a great narcotics dog.” She stroked the dog’s fur again. “You know as well as I do that this K9 is our best chance to find Benton and whoever else he’s working with. Especially since I’m pretty sure Teddy has locked on the gunman’s scent. Between him and the drugs, Teddy should lead us straight toward him.”

He knew that was true. He didn’t much like it, but Jess was stubborn enough to do whatever she wanted.

With blatant disregard for the consequences.

He’d hoped Chase might talk her out of it. But from what he could tell, her older brother was more likely to join in the search than to hold his sister back.

The coffeemaker gurgled behind him. He turned and poured two mugs, bringing one to Jessica.

“Thanks.” She cradled the mug in her hands, her gaze turning thoughtful. “I hate to admit it, but I never saw Ella doing drugs either. And I thought we were good friends. I know I blamed you for not realizing what was going on, but that was wrong of me. I should have noticed if she was under the influence.”

He sat on the opposite end of the sofa, reassured by her comment. It was no secret Jess had blamed him for Ella’s overdose. And he’d understood her concern. As Ella’s boyfriend, it would be reasonable to think he’d have known something.

But he’d been just as horrified as everyone else when Ella’s parents found her dead the morning after their breakup. “She must have hidden it well. Everyone was surprised by her death.”

She nodded and sipped the coffee. “Her brother, Ethan, was shocked. I remember asking him about it.”

That made him frown. “Ethan? He was two years older than Ella. I’m surprised you were friends with him.”

“He’s Chase’s age.” She shrugged. “We went out on a few dates. It was nothing serious, though. And it didn’t last.”

There was no reason on earth for him to be jealous of Ethan Dover. Jessica had a right to date anyone she wanted. Or to not date anyone, like him.

He told himself to get a grip and tried to sound casual. “Ethan was already living on his own while I was dating Ella.”

He didn’t like rehashing his painful past or the mistakes he’d made when it came to going out with Ella. The night of their argument played over and over in his mind. He debated telling Jess, then decided against it. She didn’t need more ammunition to use against him. And even if they had argued, that didn’t mean he was responsible for her drug overdose.

Was he?

“You weren’t friends with Ethan?”

He shook his head. “I doubt I said more than five words to him.”

“Yeah, well, that kinda makes sense. Ella and Ethan didn’t always get along. Ethan told me Ella was spoiled, but I was a loyal friend and defended her. But in hindsight, maybe he was right. She seemed to get whatever she wanted. Her parents were rather liberal with giving her money.” She set her mug of coffeeaside. “I guess it doesn’t matter. As you said, nothing will bring Ella back. But this is about other kids that live here too. I can’t stand the thought of Benton and others making a profit off people’s weaknesses.”

“I don’t like it either.” He sighed, knowing there was no way he’d win the fight. Jess would take Teddy back to the mountainside to search for Benton or the drugs he must have been carrying, and there was nothing he could do to stop her.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Jess abruptly stood and disappeared into the bedroom. Teddy woke up, lifted his head, but didn’t get to his feet. She returned with the phone charger, plugging it into an outlet that was built into the bottom of a lamp sitting on the end table beside her. “Hand me your phone.”

He pulled it from his pocket, intending to pass it to her, but then stopped. “It just occurred to me that Benton has my phone number. And that I have his too.”

She stared at him for a long moment. “Maybe you should try calling him.”

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