Midnight Reckoning (Leave No Trace Book 1)

by Jannine Gallant

  “That sucks.”

  “Yeah, it does.”

  “I don’t like doing this, but I guess we don’t have a choice.” Raine stared out the window at the city lights. “What about Cooper’s mileage? We’d have to deduct the trail down from where he was found to see if his total matches anyone else in the group.”

  “Good idea.” He pulled up a map of their hike on his phone and studied it. “I’d say we hiked about twelve miles the last day. Camille’s total should be a mile or so less since she stayed in camp with Ava while we were recovering Cooper’s body, and she didn’t go all the way to the top of Half Dome. Matt didn’t go to the top but came back to meet us, so his mileage should still be close to your average. Ava was a wreck and rode down on a mule, so her tracker shouldn’t have been engaged. Her mileage should match Cooper’s.”

  “Okay, let’s do some math.” She studied the paper. Cooper’s total is ten and a half less miles than mine. So, his evening walks, including getting himself killed, added up to a mile and a half.”

  “Ava’s total is a mile less than his. Either she didn’t kill him, or she wasn’t always with him while he was out wandering around at night. Plus, she has motive since Cooper was probably cheating on her.”

  “True. We can’t rule her out.” Raine massaged the back of her neck where tension coiled. “No one’s number matches exactly. Rosa has three unaccounted for miles. Matt has two. Camille is actually under the total she should have, so I think we can give her a pass.”

  “I agree.” Levi reached over and covered her clenched fist resting on the table. “Plus, she’s small like you. I don’t think she could have grabbed Matt by the neck and pushed him over that cliff.”

  “Probably not. Do you think Rosa could have?”

  “You bet. That woman is strong. I’d back Rosa in a fit of rage to take down most of the men I know.”

  “So, we’ve narrowed the list to four possible suspects. Rosa, Ava, Matt, and Bobby.” A knot formed in Raine’s stomach. “Do you think I should call Detective Gilbert to tell him what we worked out?”

  “If you do, you’d have to include me on that list. I’m thirty plus miles over your total since I took a couple of quick runs.”

  Her brows shot up. “Only two? You call fifteen miles a quick run?”

  He nodded. “I was totally slacking on my training schedule during our hike.”

  “If you say so. I trust you, so your total is irrelevant. Maybe we should let the detective figure all this out for himself. That’s his job, after all.”

  “True. As long as you aren’t targeted again like you were when you had the trackers in your possession, I’m okay with staying out of the police investigation.”

  “At least I know Camille isn’t guilty. I can discuss a business proposition with her without worrying that she was involved.”

  “Then it was worth figuring this much out.” He rose from the table and came around to take her hands. “Are you finished eating?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then do you want to . . .” He nodded toward her bedroom.

  Much needed laughter bubbled up. “Can I put away the leftover pizza first?”

  He pulled her against him and bent to kiss her, slowly and thoroughly. “I suppose I can wait a few more minutes.”

  Goosebumps shivered down her arms, and her breath caught. “I’ll hurry.”

  Levi followed her into the kitchen and loaded their plates into the dishwasher. After she put the pizza in the fridge, he snapped off the light and pulled her into his arms. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you, too. I worry, though.”

  He ran a hand through her hair and dropped a kiss on her upturned lips. “About what?”

  “That we’re really just getting to know each other again, and here I am, building future plans around you. What if we don’t work out?”

  “You’re a hell of a lot more than a casual fling, Raine. I’m committed to you—to us.”

  “Then I need to think positive instead of anticipating problems.”

  “Yes, you do.” He backed her toward her bedroom, kissing her all the way.

  When her legs hit the edge of the bed, she fell backward, and he landed on top of her. Desire stirred as he rolled them to their sides, pulled her blouse out of her skirt, and ran his hands up and down her back. A moment later, her bra popped open, and his warm palms covered her breasts.

  “You are so damn gorgeous. Can we get these clothes off? I don’t want to rip your skirt.”

  A smile curled her lips as she felt for the zipper. “We definitely can.”

  Minutes later, they were both stretched out naked on the bed with only the faint glow of the street lights creeping through the partially open blinds to illuminate them. Attraction sizzled along her nerve endings as he kissed his way across her bare breasts, but her feelings for Levi ran far deeper than their undeniable chemistry. His touch was almost reverent, making her feel special. Cherished. Holding tight to his back as he slid inside her, she let herself believe the magic would last. That the caring between them would deepen into something more.

  As he took her to a place where only the two of them existed, she stopped thinking and simply reveled in the moment. Letting herself be vulnerable, she fell hard for Levi. And didn’t have a single regret.

  * * * *

  “Nice letter.”

  Raine tucked her cell against her ear with her shoulder as she typed rapidly on her computer. At Levi’s words, she paused. “What are you talking about?”

  “The note included with the T-shirt from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. I feel like I got a form letter.” He cleared his throat. “Thanks so much for participating in our Yosemite hike. We earned blah, blah, blah . . .”

  Her eyes widened as she straightened in her desk chair and glanced around the empty office. She’d been finishing the invoice on her final project for Moselle when Levi called. As of tomorrow, she was officially unemployed.

  “Crap. I stuck the same note in all the packages except one. Yours had a personal comment attached. I must have mixed up the envelopes when I addressed them. I wonder who got your T-shirt?”

  “My shirt fits fine, so it must have been one of the guys.” His tone held a hint of laughter. “Exactly how personal was the comment?”

  A groan escaped as her face heated. “I may have said something about looking forward to seeing you wear a whole lot less than a T-shirt.”

  He was silent for several seconds. “I wonder if whoever got your note was as turned on as I am right now.”

  His husky voice heated her to her core, and it was a moment before she could reply. “Must have been Jake if your shirt is a large. I sent Bobby B and Matt extra-larges. Also, I got a weird text from Jake a while ago. Laughing emojis. I wondered why he sent them but was too busy to respond. Talk about embarrassing.”

  “Too funny.” Levi snorted with amusement. “Jake probably figured out exactly what happened and thought it was hilarious. I’ll text him.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Uh, I did have one question.”

  “What’s that?” She leaned back and squinted at the computer screen. She had about twenty more minutes of work, and then she could head home to finish packing.

  “After that nice bit you wrote about Cooper’s memorial, you mentioned Detective Gilbert intends to reach out to the group again with more questions after he meets with you this weekend. What the heck is that about?”

  She closed her eyes. “I forgot all about my conversation with the detective when I talked to you a couple of days ago. I was too busy ranting about Moselle adding today’s garden party to my already overloaded schedule.”

  “You were justifiably pissed. Back to Gilbert.”

  “Right. The detective called about the tracker mileage with questions regarding our daily totals. Long story short, we ended up discussing what you and I had figured out.”

  “And?” His voice was sharp.

  “He seemed to a
gree with our assessment, but I got the feeling you’re still on his suspect list. I pointed out our calculations were all based off my mileage, and if he still considers me a potential killer, that threw everything else into question.”

  “So, he doesn’t believe you’re guilty?”

  “He admitted he didn’t think Camille or I had the leverage needed to grab Cooper around the neck and shove him over the cliff because we’re both so small.”

  “I agree, but the other three women are all several inches taller than you.”

  Raine nodded. “Yes. For once, being short is paying off. I told him I was one hundred percent positive you were innocent, despite the extra miles you logged. He just snorted.”

  “Obviously he wouldn’t take your word for it, especially since we’re involved. Why does he want to see you this weekend?”

  “He doesn’t. I wrote the letter and mailed the packages after he called me the first time. He said he wanted to meet with me before questioning the others, and I told him I was slammed with work until the end of the week. Then he called back that evening because he didn’t want to wait to talk. We had a pretty long conversation.”

  “Oh.” Levi was silent for several seconds. “He hasn’t contacted me.”

  “Maybe he doesn’t think you’re guilty.”

  “Or he’s researching potential motives for the five of us before grilling us again, now that we’ve narrowed down the list for him.”

  “Well, you didn’t do it, so you don’t need to worry.”

  “True.” His tone changed. “Are you really done with your job, or did you cave in and give your boss more days?”

  “I’m done just as soon as I finish the billing on my last project. I plan to go home and box up the rest of my stuff to put in storage.”

  “It sucks I can’t come down to help you. Ursula looks like she’s going to explode at any minute. I can’t believe she hasn’t had this baby yet.”

  “When’s her due date?”

  “Tomorrow. Hanging out near home is getting old. My brother keeps pointing out that the least I can do is make myself available since he covers for me all the time.”

  Raine smiled at his irritated tone. “Does he?”

  “I guess.” A sigh reached her ear. “Dalton and Ursula probably do the lion’s share around here.”

  “Probably?”

  “Okay, definitely. Hey, I have other interests. What can I say?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Then suck it up and be there for your family. A friend with a pickup is helping me move my stuff to the storage unit tomorrow. I’ll drive up to Truckee afterward. I should be at your lodge before dark.”

  “Good.” His voice was husky. “I can’t wait to see you.”

  She couldn’t stop smiling. “Me, either, but I’d better go or I’ll never get out of the office.”

  “Okay. Bye, Raine. Take care.”

  “I will. Bye, Levi.” She touched her phone to disconnect and then stared at it, wondering if she’d ever before been this attracted to a man. “Doubtful. Seriously doubtful.”

  Pulling herself together, she finished the invoice and logged off the computer. After loading a few personal belongings into a tote bag, she glanced around the office for the last time, expecting to feel some degree of regret. Instead, relief filled her.

  This move had been too long coming.

  “I’ve got this.” Back straight and head held high, she snapped off the lights and left the building. After setting the alarm, she locked the door and slid her keys through the mail slot. “Done and done.”

  Fog had settled in with the night. Somewhere ahead on the quiet street, nearly deserted at this hour, a car engine started. As Raine hurried up the sidewalk toward the bus stop at the corner, bright headlights blinded her, and she raised a hand to shield her eyes as she reached the crosswalk. A pair of laughing women, deep in an animated conversation about online dating, joined her just as the light changed. The car with its brights on screeched to a stop before Raine and the other two women stepped out to cross the street.

  Shivering in the chilly fog, she leaned against a lamp post to wait for the bus and idly listened to the women talk. The story one recounted of a man twice her age who’d apparently used his son’s photo in his online profile both amused and appalled her. As the bus pulled up to the curb and the door swished open, she was doubly thankful for Levi.

  The trip back to her apartment took the usual fifteen minutes. Tired from her long day, she wasn’t looking forward to spending what was left of the evening packing. Stepping off the bus, she glanced down the street toward the corner market and debated picking up a bottle of wine to celebrate ditching Moselle and all her unreasonable demands. But being both jobless and homeless terrified her more than a little, even if she was excited to begin a new chapter in her life. With a sigh, she decided against the wine and turned to stroll past the homes lining the sidewalk on her way to her building.

  Her chin jerked up when a car roared down the street going far too fast. High beams blinded her.

  “Idiot.” She tightened her grip on her bag. “Probably drunk.”

  Metal grinded against concrete with an earsplitting screech as the car hit the curb and aimed straight toward her. With a scream, she dived over nearby rosebushes. Too late, she slammed into a low brick wall. Her head connected with a hard surface, pain ricocheted through her body, and the world faded as an engine accelerated away . . .

  Chapter Eleven

  Gnawing worry twisted Levi’s insides into a knot as he rushed into the ER waiting room. Dodging through the late-night crowd of sick and injured people, he reached the desk where a harried hospital worker spoke on the phone and typed on her computer at the same time. After a moment, she hung up and regarded him through tired eyes.

  “Can I help you?”

  “I’m here to pick up my friend, Raine Endicott. She was brought in earlier with a concussion and a broken wrist.”

  His stomach clenched harder as he spoke. Knowing her injuries could have been a hell of a lot worse made him want to puke like the kid behind him, heaving into a container his mother held.

  The clerk tapped her keyboard and frowned at the screen. “Looks like Ms. Endicott is currently waiting for the doctor to sign her release form. Are you her ride home?”

  He nodded. “Can I see her?”

  “Are you a relative?”

  Levi gave her a hesitant smile. “If I say yes, will it make a difference?”

  Her lips curved slightly. “What the heck. It’s been a rough night. Go on back. She’s in the third curtained cubicle on the right.”

  “Thank you . . .” He glanced at her nametag. “Angela. You rock.” When the door beside the desk buzzed, he pushed it open.

  “Straight down the hallway. Please stay out of the way of the staff. A pileup on the freeway in the fog has us stretched to our limits tonight, so freeing up Ms. Endicott’s bed will be a help.”

  “Thanks.”

  Following her directions, he pressed up against the wall when a team of medics clad in blue scrubs pushed a gurney out of the first cubicle. The patient, who was hooked up to bags of fluids, had some sort of steel rod protruding from his chest. Levi stared in horror as they whisked him down the hallway.

  A young Asian doctor in a white coat paused beside him and frowned. “Do you belong back here?”

  A shudder slid through him as he jerked his attention away from the impaled man. “Uh, I’m here to take my girlfriend home. Raine Endicott.” He gestured toward the third cubicle.

  “Levi?” The curtain swished open, and Raine produced a hesitant smile. She sat on the side of the bed, dressed in white pants stained with dirt, and a teal blazer with a rip in one sleeve. Scrapes and bruises marred the side of her face, a white bandage covered her left temple, and her lower left arm was splinted.

  He clenched his fists at his sides. “Jesus. You look awful.”

  “Thanks. That makes me feel special.”

  He grinned at her
quick comeback and stepped forward to gently squeeze her right hand.

  “I’m glad you’re here. I was just going to sign Ms. Endicott out.” The doctor picked up the chart hanging on the foot of the bed and scribbled on it before glancing up. “Did your nurse give you departure instructions?”

  “Yes. Take it easy for a few days because of the concussion and see my regular doctor to get a cast on my fractured wrist once the swelling goes down.”

  He nodded. “Then you’re good to go. I’ll send an orderly with a wheelchair to push you out. You can fill the prescription for pain meds in the hospital pharmacy.”

  “Thanks, Doctor Chan, but I already feel pretty loopy.”

  He flashed a quick smile. “You’ll want them when the pills we gave you wear off. That was a hard hit you took. Don’t try to do anything strenuous too soon.”

  “You mean like moving furniture?” When his eyes widened, she held up her splinted arm. “Kidding. I’ll let Levi do any heavy lifting.”

  “See that you do. Have a good night.”

  After he hurried away, Levi moved in closer to stroke her bruised cheek with his finger. “I can’t believe this happened. Did you talk to the police?”

  She nodded, then let out a low groan and touched her head. “Okay, that hurt.” Taking a couple of shallow breaths, she continued. “I couldn’t tell them much. The car that tried to run me down was smallish and dark. Probably black or a deep blue. The headlights blinded me before I dived into some rose bushes and cracked my skull on a brick wall. I came to with Mr. Trimble standing over me, looking scared to death.”

  “Do you mean Fred? Your neighbor who called me?”

  This time, she gave a careful nod. “He was leaving our building as the car drove straight at me. When he ran toward the vehicle yelling, the driver took off. Or, at least that’s what he told me. I was unconscious for about thirty seconds. I vaguely remember tires squealing as it drove away while Fred repeated my name over and over.”