Storm Damage (Big Sky Series Book 1)

by CP Smith

  “Weeks. And it won’t tell us much since there’s no hair follicle. We’ll be able to match the hair to a suspect if we have one, but it won’t prove anything conclusive. Duke interacted with everyone, baby. The hair could have been there for months or it could have been left behind a day ago.”

  “The length suggests it’s a woman’s hair.”

  Logan nodded.

  “I can’t see a woman killing Duke, though. He may have been in his fifties, but he was still strong. The only way a woman could have killed Duke is if she snuck up behind him and bashed him in the head. And even then, I don’t know many women strong enough to move a body. Unless they were out on the water together and she shoved him overboard—which makes no sense since he liked to fish alone—then how did she dispose of him?”

  “So what does that tell you?”

  I sighed and sank farther into my seat. “That the hair probably isn’t related to Duke’s disappearance.”

  “We’ll figure this out. Concentrate on the bar, on the carnival, and leave this to me. You’ve got enough on your plate.”

  With all that had happened in the past twelve hours, I had forgotten about Chance and the threat to my family. Thank God for Kenzie. She was a lifeline. If I had to worry about Duke and the bar, I would have still been a mess.

  Thinking about Kenzie and Duke reminded me of my conversation with Kenzie the day before. I sat upright and turned to Logan. “I forgot Kenzie was waiting to talk to Duke. I guess she’ll have to talk to you now.”

  Logan reached over and started rubbing my shoulder, digging his fingers deep into the tissue. The past day must have settled in those muscles because I moaned a little and relaxed back into the seat.

  “What did she need to talk to Duke about?”

  “Chance scared her.”

  His fingers paused their delectable torture for a moment. “Scared her how?”

  I glanced at Logan and caught a scowl working across his features. “She said he showed up at her house with war paint smeared across his face.”

  His eyes shot to mine in confusion. “Is that supposed to mean something?”

  “Like a declaration of war?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I think so. Justice was half Flathead, but he really didn’t intermingle with his people. I was a little surprised, honestly, since Chance hadn’t grown up in the culture. Flatheads are normally peaceful. They didn’t war against the white man like some tribes did. Their biggest enemy was the Blackfeet and they only fought them for their territory and food. As a whole they are a peaceful nation.”

  Logan seemed to ponder that as Ennis unfolded before us on the next bend. I glanced at the mortuary as we headed down Main Street toward the bar, a tight knot in my throat forming instantly. The snowstorm had covered it with a pristine blanket of white, concealing the loss and devastation. Ennis had lost three cherished residents in three days. Four if you counted Justice Bear. But no one would mourn his loss except Chance.

  “I can’t remember a time we had four deaths so close together. Most of our older residents move to warmer climates when the cold gets to them, so we don’t have many deaths per year. Just the occasional ranching accident or car crash.”

  “Four? Who am I missing?”

  “One of our older residents, Miss Ellie, stayed with her granddaughter rather than moving, and she died earlier in the week. Then there was Justice Bear, Frank, and now Duke—unless a miracle occurs.”

  I’d called Josh on our way back and told him to meet us at the bar with Max. He was waiting for us on the sidewalk with a few of his friends and Max seemed to be the center of attention. I laughed when we pulled to a stop in front of the bar. Max sat perfectly still with a dog treat balanced on his nose. His marble-sized eyes stared down his nose in concentration. He was almost in a trance, while he waited for Josh to give his next command, and the only indication he gave that he knew Logan had returned was a quiver in his hindquarters and a slight thump of his tail.

  I reached for the door handle, but Logan stopped me with his hand. When I turned to him, he jerked his head to the left and mumbled, “Jake.”

  On the trip to Yellowstone the night before, I’d texted Jake to let him know what was going on and where I was going. He’d replied asking questions about Duke, but not about Logan and me. I hoped it was a good sign he was waiting for us.

  Our eyes met through the windshield. Jake was leaning against the bar in the lazy way he had when he wanted to look cool for the girls. His gaze drifted to Logan and held, then narrowed. I moaned because I knew what that meant. He was still in protective brother mode and wasn’t finished with Logan.

  “Let me talk to him, Logan. We don’t need another scene.”

  Logan shook his head. “He needs to hear it from me, Skylar.”

  “Hear what, exactly?”

  Logan reached out and snagged me behind the head, drawing me to him for a quick hard kiss. “It’s a guy thing,” he whispered against my lips. “Take Max and Josh inside the bar and stay there until we’re finished. I’ll check in with you before I head to Duke’s office.” His tone brokered no argument, the order given with military authority in the belief it would be followed without question.

  Normally I didn’t like being ordered around, but I was willing to obey this time in hopes Logan knew what he was talking about concerning Jake. “I’ll listen on one condition.”

  Humor glinted in his eyes. “All right, let’s have it.”

  “Ask nicely.”

  Logan blinked. “Come again?”

  I’d overheard enough conversations in the bar to know that if you don’t train a man early in the relationship, they’ll walk all over you. My friends said it was important to put your foot down right from the start to avoid unnecessary conflict. “Ask me nicely to go inside the bar instead of ordering me around.” I gave him a sweet smile and tried to look reasonable. There was a fine line between training and bitching, I was told. The trick was to be sweet and sincere. Men won’t argue with sweet and sincere I was assured.

  Unfortunately for me, Logan stared at me as if I’d lost my mind, then turned abruptly and got out of the truck without another word. I scowled at his backside as he marched toward Jake. Clearly there were some men you just couldn’t train.

  _______________

  Logan approached Jake with a grin on his face, chuckling at Skylar’s attempt to manipulate him. Jake pushed off the wall at his approach, his gaze darting between Logan and the direction of his truck.

  “Why is Skylar drilling holes in the back of your head?”

  Logan glanced over his shoulder and watched Skylar climb out of his cab. She threw him a scowl, then said something to Josh before they both disappeared inside the bar with Max.

  “She just figured out I’m not a man you can manipulate with a sweet smile.”

  Jake’s expression matched his sister’s, proving without a doubt they were related. “Skylar doesn’t manipulate people.”

  “You ever been in a relationship?”

  Jake shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve dated.”

  “They ever smile sweetly then ask you to do something for them?”

  He nodded. “Yeah.”

  “You do it?”

  He considered the question then shook his head. “Not unless I agreed with them.”

  “How often did that happen?”

  “Never.” Jake grinned. “Skylar tried that with you?”

  “Yep. She wanted me to ask her nicely to go inside the bar so you and I could talk like men.”

  Jake snorted. “I forget sometimes she’s a girl.”

  Logan leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest as his breath curled in the cold air like smoke from a chimney. Skylar was no girl. She was a woman. His woman. One who could strip him of his breath with a single look. But her brothers didn’t see that side of her. From what he could tell, Skylar was more mother than sister. Six years older than Jake, she’d practically raised both boys while he
r father worked.

  “I get you have concerns about Skylar and me. And honestly, I’d be disappointed in you if you didn’t. So let’s clear the air like men instead of throwing fists, yeah?”

  Jake turned and leaned his shoulder against the wall. “All right. You got a sister, Storm?”

  “Not that I know of. I was raised in foster care, then joined the army.”

  “Okay, let me put it to you this way then. Some guys think sisters are a pain in the ass, but it’s never been like that for Josh and me. I have no real memory of my mother, other than pictures, but Skylar, she’s in every single moment of my life. When we were kids, she stood by my side and caught me when I fell until I was old enough to stand on my own two feet. Skylar never had that. She had to grow up way too fast because of our mother’s death, but in some ways, she’s still naïve. She doesn’t have experience with men, other than a high school boyfriend, so it makes her an easy mark if she trusts you. So to sum up my concerns, I need you to explain why a man—who could have any woman he wants—is currently sniffing around the most important person in my world before I break your goddamn nose again.”

  Logan held Jake’s angry gaze as traffic passed them by slowly on the snowy street. He knew the town was watching them. Waiting to see if there would be a round three between the two, so Logan needed to defuse the situation. As acting police chief, he knew he’d have to arrest the kid if he threw a punch. “First, Skylar isn’t just any woman.”

  “You think I don’t know that? You think I’m blind to the way tourists look at her, or how the ranch hands jack off thinking about her when they go home? She covers herself from head to toe in sweats so she doesn’t draw attention, but she can’t hide who she is.”

  Logan curled his fists at the image of any man using Skylar as a means to get off. But he’d have to deal with that later. The chip on Jake’s shoulder was wider than the Grand Canyon, and he needed to rein him in before he erupted. “Jake, I’ve seen and done things most men can’t comprehend.” Jake opened his mouth to argue further, so Logan raised his hand to stall him. “Hear me out. If you still want to break my nose when I’m done, I won’t stop you, but know I’ll put your ass on the ground then throw it in jail if you can’t control your temper.”

  The kid’s jaw ticked, but he leaned his back fully against the wall in a show of restraint.

  “War makes men out of boys. Overnight in some instances. It teaches us responsibility. How to survive. How to recognize good from evil. And how to use our instincts. All of this,” Logan spread his arms wide to encompass Ennis, “is fucking heaven compared to what’s out there. I grew up in foster care. Didn’t have shit I could call my own until I entered the army. I’m not the type of man who trusts easily, but when I do, it’s rock solid. The closest thing I had to family died in front of my eyes a year ago, so I discharged from the army to heal and find some semblance of peace. The moment I met your sister, I found that peace. Knew she’d been waiting here for me to find.”

  His brows pulled tightly across his forehead in disbelief.

  “You think because we only met three days ago, she wasn’t waiting for me?”

  “What I think is that you’re screwed up by war and you’re latching on to the first kind woman who has crossed your path.”

  Logan pushed off the wall and dropped his head back on his shoulders then rolled his neck for patience. He might have thought the same thing in Jake’s position, but the kid didn’t have a clue what Logan felt for his sister, so he’d give him a pass for now.

  “Do you believe in God, Jake?”

  The kid shrugged. “Yeah.”

  “Do you believe in fate?”

  “Like predestined shit?”

  “Exactly. Persons or events who are predestined to meet or happen.”

  The kid scoffed. “You think fate brought you to Ennis to meet Skylar?”

  “I believe everything that’s happened in the past year set me on a course to be exactly where I am now. If you believe in a just God, like you say, then you have to believe He puts people in our path for a reason. And if I believe all of that, which I do, then I have to believe Skylar has been here waiting for me to find her.”

  “This is crazy talk,” Jake growled.

  Logan took a step closer to Jake and lowered his voice so he wouldn’t be overheard. “There’s nothing crazy about the way I feel about your sister. My world shifted for the better the moment we met. She’s the fire that warms my soul. The breath in my lungs since the moment we met.”

  “Right. A complete stranger solved all your issues in a day.”

  “Look, kid, you can believe me or not, I don’t really give a fuck, but I’m telling you the moment we met on the side of the road, a part of me knew the truth.”

  “And what truth is that?”

  “That God brought us together so we could fight each other’s demons.”

  Jake seemed confused by Logan’s admission. “Skylar doesn’t have any demons.”

  “Then you’re not as smart as I thought. She was close to drowning, Jake. Barely treading water. Think back three days to your fight in the truck.” Guilt masked his features and he looked away, swallowing hard. “She laid it out for me while we were on the road, so I’d know what she was dealing with. I won’t let her go under, but you need to man up and ease some of her burden or you’ll answer to me.”

  Jake turned his head and stared into the distance, chewing on the inside of his mouth while he thought about what Logan had said. “Her demons involve Josh and me, don’t they?”

  Logan nodded. “She promised your father she’d keep the three of you together, no matter what. She’s been treading water since his death, but Chance put a weight around her neck.”

  The kid raised his hands and grabbed the back of his neck. “And Josh and I fighting all the time just made it worse, didn’t it?”

  “Don’t worry about Josh, I’ve got him under control. Just concentrate on getting a scholarship. You do that and it’ll be one less thing for Skylar to worry about.”

  “Will she be okay?”

  A slow grin pulled across Logan’s mouth. “Some people are destroyed by fire. Others rise from the ashes with a purpose. Skylar is a fighter, Jake. Never doubt that.”

  Ty drove past the bar and waved at Logan before pulling into a parking spot two blocks up.

  “I’m not the only one you need to worry about.” Jake jerked his head at Ty as he emerged from his truck. “What about Ty? I can’t believe he’s not kicking your ass to the curb.”

  Logan waved at Ty as he began to cross the street, heading toward them. “He tried on day one but ended up on the ground like you.”

  Jake actually smiled. “Bet that pissed him off.”

  “At first,” Logan agreed. “But we’ve had it out. He’s not in love with Skylar, Jake. He’s been keeping an eye on her for your father. He let the town believe what they wanted because it kept assholes away from her.”

  His brows rose to his hairline and his attention shot to Ty. “You’re shitting me?”

  “Nope. He’s been keeping an eye on all of you to honor your father.”

  “And he has no problem with you being with Skylar?”

  “None. He thanked me for looking out for her. Gave me his blessing.”

  They both watched Ty stop to speak with a man then head back in their direction. Before he reached them, Jake put out his hand for Logan to shake. “If Ty trusts you, that’s good enough for me. Truce?”

  Logan didn’t hesitate to take his hand. “I was never at war with you, kid. I’ve had enough of it to last three lifetimes.”

  _______________

  Ty and Logan watched Jake disappear inside the bar. The deep line between the kid’s brows had lifted finally when he looked at Logan, saying more than words could that Jake was finally at ease with his sister’s relationship with him.

  “Jake doesn’t seem to want to kill you anymore.”

  “Yeah. We sorted it out.”

  �
�Hope you can sort out what’s happened to Duke as quickly.”

  One problem down, a million to go. “I’m heading to Duke’s office to look for clues. You wanna tag along?”

  “If it will help, I’m free.”

  City hall was three blocks from the bar, so they walked the distance. It seemed as if most of Ennis was crowding the street as they made their way to the nondescript building housing the police station. It was clear no amount of snow kept these seasoned residents inside.

  Duke’s office was on the second floor of the two-story building. Even though it was Saturday, the library was open. With each resident they passed on their way up to the second floor, a cheerful, “Afternoon, Ty. Afternoon, Chief Storm,” echoed down the hall. Logan wasn’t surprised news had traveled about his temporary appointment, but he was still caught off guard by the friendly reception.

  As they passed the door to the mayor’s office, a balding man in his fifties poked his head out. Like most of the residents in Ennis, the man sported a flannel shirt tucked neatly inside dark colored jeans and snow boots. Ty stopped when the man, who Logan assumed was the mayor, stepped into the hallway.

  “You must be Logan Storm,” the man said putting out his hand. “I’m Jordan Blake, the mayor of Ennis.”

  “Mayor,” Logan acknowledged.

  “I’ve been waiting for you. I wanted to get another update on Duke and give you the keys to his office.”

  Logan stepped back as Blake led the way to the police chief’s office and waited while he unlocked the door. When they stepped inside, Logan automatically searched the space for anything that looked out of place or missing from the day he’d waited with Skylar for Josh to be released.

  Logan noted a bottle of whiskey rested on the desk in plain sight of anyone who entered. Duke didn’t strike him as the type of man who drank on duty, so he moved to the desk and began to search the surface for any clue that would point him in the direction of a killer.

  “Chief Storm,” Blake began, sitting in one of the two visitors’ chairs opposite the desk.

  “Call me Storm, Mayor.” Logan hadn’t looked up as he spoke. A brochure for a tiny island off the coast of Mexico lay on the desktop next to a half full glass of amber liquid. Logan picked it up and flipped it over, but stopped when his name, written on a sheet of paper, caught his attention.