Page 5 of Montana Mystery

“You didn’t go to the lodge looking for me.” It wasn’t a question.

“There weren’t any cars,” she said with a shrug. “Didn’t feel like spending time banging on a door if no one was home.”

I laughed softly. Not at her or her predicament, but her tenacity. I had no doubt that she was going to find out what happened to her brother. That fact alone made me want to help her.

“Despite the lack of cars, I’m sure someone is there. Would you be okay with going there to talk? It’s warmer, and you can tell me more in detail what you know.”

“Well, if you’re not the reason he’s in trouble, I’m not even sure why I’m here.”

So that was what happened. She’d found my number, and her adrenaline and fear had driven her toward the only possible target she could see: us. Now that all of the adrenaline had run out, she was lost. We’d helped people for less. At the very least we could get her warm and listen to her story. Sometimes that was all a person needed.

“Well, we have a kitchen with the best baked goods you’ll ever find and some really good coffee. Come sit for a bit and get warm.”

“Yeah, okay.”

She was still vibrating with energy, nervous and angry and desperate. And yet she seemed fragile, wrapping her arms around herself as we walked. I pulled out my phone and dialed Daniel.

He picked up immediately. “Yeah?”

“Who’s at the lodge?”

“Right now? Liam and I.”

“Whoever else is on site, get them over there right now.”

“Why?” His voice sharpened. “What’s going on?”

I glanced at Kate, who was walking a little faster than me, eyes intent on the ground. “Not sure yet, but we have a visitor, and there’s something we need to talk about.”

“That’s vague.”

“Intentionally.”

Daniel made a sound. “Oh. They’re right there. Okay. I think a few others are around. I’ll bring them in.”

“We’ll be there shortly.” I ended the call and lengthened my stride to catch up with her. “Long drive for you?” I asked.

“It’s not so bad. I’m used to driving. And if I’m honest, I don’t remember most of it.”

Made sense, given why she was here.

We were walking up the steps of the lodge when she stopped and turned to me. “I know that you don’t have anything to do with this. But will you help me? I don’t know what to do here.”

I smiled. “Tell me what you know, and I’ll see what I can do.”

Kate nodded once, stoic. Like she understood that it was the most I could promise right now. “Okay.”

Chapter 3

Noah

Daniel never ceased to surprise me. He saw Kate and brought everyone through the back into the security office instead of surrounding her with a bunch of men. That was who he was—always anticipating the needs of others before they knew it. It was one of the reasons that we looked to him.

Instead, I got her story and then left her with a steaming cup of tea by the fire while we were meant to discuss it.

Liam was the last to arrive. As usual. He burst in like a bomb. “Winter is supposed to be the slow season. What the hell is with all the urgency?”

About two seconds after he stopped speaking, he absorbed the tone of the room. “Okay, so I’m guessing this wasn’t a joke.”

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