“Interesting. I could see myself living in Tahoe.”
“Hiking, skiing, biking, boating.” He waved his fork. “It’s a nature-lover’s paradise, which is why we have an unending supply of tourists. The economy is thriving.”
“True, but opening a business is a huge undertaking. You need capital to purchase equipment and pay for rental space. Banks aren’t wild about loaning money to people with little credit history.” She picked up her taco again and then set it down. “Running my own business is a lovely dream, but it isn’t practical.”
“Sounds like you need a partner. One with the cash to complement your skills.”
“You’re right. That would be ideal, but I don’t know anyone with investment money.”
“Sure, you do. Bobby B made millions playing ball. And Camille’s husband was richer than God. I assume she inherited his estate when he died. I’d bankroll you if I could, but unless I win the lottery . . .”
“You have your own business to worry about.”
“Yeah, I do. And luckily for me and Dalton, all we had to do was step in for our parents when they decided to retire. The lodge has been in our family for three generations.”
“Kind of like our dairy farm. It was never a question that my brothers would work with my dad and one day take over. I’m the changeling who wanted something different.”
“Then talk to your wealthy friends and see if one of them would be interested in an investment opportunity. They both know you’re smart and talented and driven to succeed. It sure couldn’t hurt to ask.”
“I guess not. Except, what if one of them—” She broke off and took another swallow of her drink.
“Killed Cooper?”
“I hate thinking that’s even a possibility.” She set her glass down on the table with a sharp clink. “Hate it.”
He reached over to cover her clenched fist with his palm. “Did you bring the mileage data?”
“Yes.” She pushed her plate away with her free hand. “I can’t eat. My stomach is one giant knot.”
“We’ll study the numbers after the memorial. Maybe we can eliminate a few people as suspects.”
“Not random people, Levi. Our friends. I don’t want to believe one of them shoved Cooper over that cliff.” She lowered her voice when a woman at the table across from them glanced their way. “You speak of murder so matter-of-factly.”
He tightened his hold on her hand. “You’re right. They all were our friends ten years ago, but people change. One of them isn’t the same person we remember from college. I intend to keep my guard up until I know who betrayed us.”
“What do you mean?”
“The guilty person used the trust we all had in each other to his or her advantage, to get close to Cooper. That pisses me off.” He took a second to control his anger before releasing her hand. “Eat something, Raine. That margarita will go to your head on an empty stomach. It was pretty strong.”
Her eyes darkened to forest green as she studied him. “You may seem easygoing on the surface, but there are hidden depths.”
“I’ve let my walls down around you.”
“I hope so, especially since I’ve dumped all my problems in your lap.” After a moment, she pulled her plate back in front of her.
“Troubles shared are easier to manage, and I’m happy to help in any way I can.” He picked up his fork and dug into his food.
“Speaking of help . . .” She licked salsa off her fingertip. “I hope your sister-in-law doesn’t go into labor while you’re here.”
“A friend of hers is on standby to watch Dex in case she does. And the woman who cleans for us volunteered to hold down the fort at the lodge if necessary.”
“I’m glad you have a support system.”
“Yep. I’ll call this evening to see how everything is going. If Ursula isn’t having any twinges or whatever, I’ll head back first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Twinges?” She smiled and seemed to relax for the first time since she’d arrived at the restaurant. “Try agonizing pain. I hung out with a friend while she was in labor. Her screams raised the hair on my arms.”
He shuddered. “Sounds horrible. Eat your tacos. It’s getting late.”
They finished their meal and left the restaurant a short time later to walk over to the church. Wearing a slim black skirt and white blouse with a pair of low black heels, Raine looked both elegant and reserved. He’d worn charcoal gray dress pants and a pale gray shirt, but had forgone a jacket and tie. Still, with the sun beating down on his back, he wished he had on his usual shorts and a T-shirt.
“What are you frowning about?” Raine tucked her hand through his arm as they crossed the street when the light changed.
“I was wondering how anyone stands wearing a suit to work. I’d rather slit my wrists.”
“You’re definitely not a city boy.”
“Hell, no.” He pointed. “There’s Matt. I’m surprised he flew back from L.A. for this.”
They met the other man at the foot of the steps leading up to the church, and Levi gave him a slap on the back. “How’s it going?”
He grimaced. “I’ve been better, but I figured I owed it to Cooper to show up. You look terrific, Raine.”
“Thanks. I like your tie.”
Matt was conservatively dressed in a black suit, but his tie was bright blue patterned with birds. He glanced down at his chest. “Cooper liked birds, so I thought it would be a nice touch.”
“The eagle reminds me of the one we saw from Half Dome through Jake’s binoculars.”
“That was right before everything went to shit.” Bobby B strolled up and jammed his hands in his pants pockets. “God, this sucks. I guess we should go inside.”
Levi touched Raine’s back. “We may as well. The service will start shortly.”
They found Rosa and Camille seated toward the back of the church and joined them. Ava was sitting in one of the front pews with Cooper’s family. After exchanging quiet greetings, they sat in silence as the priest, clad in all white, went to stand at the altar.
As the service wore on and friends and family members spoke about the man they’d lost, Levi squeezed Raine’s hand a little tighter. Tears ran down her cheeks, and his heart ached for her. While she and Cooper had broken up years before, she was obviously struggling with her emotions. The rest of their group presented a stoic front, and if any of them harbored guilt, each hid it well. Or simply didn’t feel any remorse.
Finally, the memorial ended, with only family continuing on to the cemetery. They waited to offer their condolences to Cooper’s parents, and Ava followed them outside afterward. Camille hugged her tight as Ava pressed her tear-streaked face to the other woman’s shoulder.
“After the most depressing two hours I’ve spent since my grandmother passed, I think we should all go get hammered.” Bobby gave Ava a commiserating look. “Want to come with us?”
“I wish.” Her eyes were pink rimmed, and her mascara smudged. “I don’t know if I can hold myself together through the burial, but if Cooper’s mom can manage it, the least I can do is stand beside her.”
Raine stepped forward to hug her. “I’m sorry. If you need to vent, call me. Sometimes talking about—everything—can help.”
She gave a brief nod. “Thanks.”
After Ava walked away to join Cooper’s family, Levi let out a breath. “That was rough. Your idea definitely has merit, Bobby.”
“Hell, yeah, it does. Let’s go drink to Cooper. Are you ladies in? How about you, Matt?”
“I’d kill for a cocktail.” Matt’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Anyone know a good bar around here?”
“Yep.” Rosa flipped her dark hair over her shoulder. “There’s a place within walking distance that Cooper and I went to once when . . .” She bit her lip. “Follow me.”
Levi fell in next to Raine behind the others. “Are you okay with this? We can go back to your place if you’d rather.”
Lifting her gaze, she g
ave him a weak smile. “Maybe a cheerful environment and alcohol is exactly what I need right now. I didn’t expect the stories about Cooper to hit me so hard. We didn’t end our relationship on the best of terms, but still . . .”
“I get it. You cared about him once.”
“Yeah, I did. Not to mention it’s horrible anyone so young had his life taken that way.”
He slid his arm around her waist and bent to kiss the top of her head. “The best way to honor Cooper’s memory is to figure out who the hell killed him.”
Camille turned to face them, her expression sober. “Isn’t that a job for the Park Police in Yosemite?”
“It is, but to my knowledge, they haven’t made an arrest yet,” Levi answered.
Raine’s steps slowed. “If there’s any way we can help the authorities find justice for Cooper, don’t you think we should? I know I intend to answer any follow-up questions Detective Gilbert might have.”
“Gilbert called to talk to me again. He seemed to be fishing for information.” Bobby glanced over his shoulder. “I guess he’s still focused on our group.”
Matt nodded. “Yeah, I talked to him, too.”
Rosa stopped in front of a bar with outdoor seating behind a wrought iron fence covered in ivy. The place was already hopping with an early happy hour crowd.
Pausing with a hand on the door, she frowned. “Since neither Jake nor Willow showed up for the service, I wonder if one of them—”
Irritation settled in Levi’s gut. “They both live in different states. You can hardly blame them for not making the trip back to California.”
She shrugged. “I guess not, but Camille and Matt both flew in from Southern California.”
Matt cleared his throat. “I was meeting a client at his office in San Francisco yesterday, so I changed my flight to stay a day longer. I probably wouldn’t have come, otherwise.”
“I decided to make the trip at the last minute since my schedule opened up,” Camille offered. “It’s a quick flight from Santa Barbara.”
“Fine, but unless one of us killed him—”
“Let’s go inside and have that drink,” Raine interrupted, her eyes flashing with emotion. “If we start casting stones . . .”
“You’re right. Let’s not say things we can’t take back.” Bobby pushed open the door. “Today, we should simply remember Cooper.”
“And bid a final farewell to our youth and innocence.” Raine spoke softly, but her voice held an edge. “Because no matter what happens next, I doubt any of us will ever be the same again.”
Chapter Ten
Raine gave Camille a quick hug, then sidestepped a couple coming out of the bar. “I appreciate your enthusiasm for my idea more than you know.”
“Your pitch was fascinating, and I’m a fan of unusual investment opportunities. Not to mention helping my friends.”
“There’s obviously a whole lot I still need to look into. You got the off-the-top-of-my-head-after-two-glasses-of-wine version of my proposal.”
“Well, I’m intrigued. I’ll talk to my financial advisor when I get home. He’s straightening out my investments after—” Camille’s lips tightened, and it was a moment before she continued. “I’m not sure how much I have in liquid assets right now, but I’d definitely like to pursue this. If we move forward, I’d want an attorney to draw up a legal agreement to protect both our interests. I learned a hard lesson about taking shortcuts.”
“Of course. I’ll get a full proposal to you in the near future.”
“Sounds great. Take care of yourself, Raine.”
“Are you sure you don’t want a ride somewhere? Everyone else already left.”
“Positive. My driver should be here any minute.” A frown creased her brow as she stared down the street. “There he is, now.” Turning, she smiled. “Bye, Levi. Good seeing you again.”
Levi tucked his phone into his pocket and reached over to pat her shoulder. “You, too, Camille.”
A black town car rolled up, and the driver jumped out to open the rear door. Camille gave them a final wave before stepping inside.
Levi rolled his eyes. “My mode of transportation isn’t nearly as elegant.”
Raine grinned, amused by his disgruntled tone. “Your truck is probably a little more practical in the mountains.”
“Definitely.” He took her arm when the light changed, and they crossed the street. “Let’s head back to your place.”
“Does that mean your sister-in-law isn’t in labor yet?”
“No, thank God. She gave me the green light to spend the night.” He raised a brow. “If that’s okay with you?”
Warmth curled through her that wasn’t related to the two drinks she’d had. “More than okay.”
When they reached his truck, he hit the remote and opened the passenger door. Before she could climb in, he bent to kiss her. “Maybe it isn’t much, but even one day together is a whole lot better than nothing.”
“You’re right.” She was slightly breathless as she studied him closely. “Are you good to drive?”
“Yep. I’m not a lightweight like you, and I didn’t order a third round with Bobby B and Matt.”
“Rosa was doing shots with them, too. I’m glad they called an Uber.” She slid onto the seat and waited while he ran around to the driver’s side.
“Yeah, Rosa seemed determined to drown her sorrows.” Levi started the engine and pulled away from the curb. “I didn’t know she and Cooper were that close.”
“I think they had a thing for a while. Probably during the time he was with Ava. I’m not going to pretend the man had any morals. Once a cheat, always a cheat.”
“I expect you’re right.” He glanced over before focusing on traffic as they headed toward the highway. “Camille seemed interested in working with you.”
“Yeah, she did. I’ll do some serious research to see if opening my own business in the Tahoe area is at all feasible before I put together a proposal. The last thing I’d want is for a friend to wind up losing money.”
“If I know you, you’ll figure out a profit and loss margin for at least five years out.”
“If I can’t turn a profit after the second year, it’s a no go for me.” She shifted on the seat to face him. “I’m excited about the prospect, though. Not to mention, getting out of the city. San Francisco has a lot to offer, but I’m definitely ready for a change.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” As they rolled onto the Golden Gate Bridge, she stared out over the endless blue sea to the distant horizon. “I thought I wanted a future in the city with my ex-boyfriend. But I really can’t see myself raising a family here. I guess running wild through the countryside during my growing up years had an impact on my priorities, even though I didn’t want to stay on our farm.”
“Dalton and Ursula are thrilled their kids will spend their childhood in the woods. If you’re going to have rug rats, I suppose that’s the way to go.”
She frowned as traffic on the bridge slowed. “You don’t want kids?”
“If you live an active life, they can put a serious crimp in your style. Dalton’s priorities changed completely, even before Dex was born.”
“I would hope so.”
Levi glanced over, his eyes registering caution. “If you’re focused on starting a business, I can’t imagine you’d have time to devote to motherhood anytime soon.”
He had a point, but she held back an urge to argue. “Maybe not this minute, but I’m only twenty-eight.”
“Sure.” When traffic sped up, he changed the subject. “Which way off the bridge?”
She gave him directions to her apartment, and he navigated the streets with ease before parking near her building. The setting sun shed a golden glow over the city as they stepped out onto the sidewalk. He grabbed an overnight bag from behind the seat and locked his truck.
“I guess we should have stopped for food. Lunch was hours ago, and you must be hungry.”
“We can have a pizza del
ivered.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “At this point, I’d rather spend time alone with you.”
“Smart thinking.”
Side by side, they walked toward her building, entered the lobby, and took the stairs to the third floor. Bringing Levi home with her seemed . . . natural. A warm glow replaced the loneliness she’d experienced after her breakup with Grant, and for the first time in months, her apartment truly felt like a home.
An hour later some of the glow had faded as they sat at the table eating deep-dish pizza and comparing the tracker mileage to a map of their hiking route.
“Let’s use you as a baseline.” Levi chewed and frowned while studying the numbers on the sheet of paper. “You did minimal hiking outside of the trail route, other than walking around camp, correct?” When she nodded, he continued, “Everyone went to get water and firewood and to check out the views, so I’d say your total is a pretty accurate representation.”
“I agree. The fact that Jake’s and my totals are within two-tenths of a mile of each other makes that a solid base mileage.”
“Which means we can eliminate Jake as a suspect. He wouldn’t have had any opportunity to leave camp with Cooper without adding to his total.”
She let out a little sigh of relief. “Good.”
Levi took another bite and smiled. “Since I’ve always thought Jake was a stand-up dude, I’m glad it’s not him.”
“All right, then. Anyone else we can eliminate?”
“Bobby B and Willow went back to get his camera on day one. How far was that?”
“I think about a mile round trip.” She pointed at the sheet. “Willow hiked nine-tenths of a mile farther than I did, so the trip back to the parking lot would account for that discrepancy.”
Levi set down his pizza slice and gave her a high-five. “So, Willow is innocent, too.”
“I didn’t think there was a chance in hell she shoved Cooper over that cliff, but it’s good to know the mileage backs up my confidence in her.”
“Unfortunately, Bobby B has an extra mile unaccounted for. Maybe he took a detour before going up to Half Dome at sunrise, or it’s possible he couldn’t sleep one night and went for a walk.” Levi pushed his plate away with the unfinished pizza still on it. “Either way, we can’t count him out.”
Midnight Reckoning (Leave No Trace Book 1) Page 11
