“What did your mom do?”
“Teacher and drove a school bus.”
“Teaching is the most underrated job in our country. And underpaid if you ask me.”
She looked at him for a moment. “It is. I agree. But a close second? Your job.”
It caught him off guard, so he glanced down. Being in the military paid shit, it was no secret, but like so many other soldiers, he did it because he loved it. He loved being a part of something big. Being part of something that mattered, had a purpose, a world-wide presence. But as much as that, it was the constant challenge it provided. And when it came to saving someone’s life? He’d experienced no greater high in his life.
Although being alone with Sadie Hart was quickly climbing the ranks.
He wasn’t sure how to respond, just like he wasn’t sure how to thank someone who paid for his meal, or gave him their first-class seat on an airplane.
“Why’d you go into the Coast Guard?”
He stiffened. “It’s in my blood.”
“You’ve got family in the Guard?”
“The Navy.”
“Your dad?”
He nodded, feeling the tension lurking back up to his shoulders. God, he hated talking about his dad.
Their attention was pulled to a rustle in the distance. They stopped, swung their lights in the direction.
“That’s where the body was found, isn’t it?”
Owen nodded, scanning the dark woods. They stood in silence listening a moment. When Owen was sure they weren’t being stalked by whatever animal was on the hunt, he shifted his light back to the trail. “Let’s keep on.”
Sadie scanned her light one more time before turning and falling into step next to him.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” Pause. “There’s no way you think he was shot by accident, do you?” Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him, daring him to lie to her. Again.
“Why do you say that?”
“The location of the shots for one. Right in the chest. The kid was shot down, Owen. And I heard Crawly tell you he was the kid who called about Crypts Cavern. He was killed the same day, nonetheless. Come on.”
“Who says nonetheless in casual conversation?”
“Who’s ill attempt at changing the conversation is as blatant as Kimi’s poker face?”
“I can’t get into the details with you, Sadie. But, just know that we’re on it.”
“I heard the conversation, Owen…” her words slipped away as they approached the bridge.
He looked at her and even through the darkness, saw her body tensing and that tongue of hers darting around her lips. If it wasn’t a nervous tick, he’d be turned on.
“You crossed to get to the campfire, right?”
She nodded, her eyes focused on the bridge swaying in the breeze.
“So, just like that, again.”
Gnawing on her lip now, she stepped forward and grabbed the edge of the rope, but stopped.
“Want me to go ahead of you?” He wanted to set the pace and avoid another lock-up situation like earlier.
“Sure.” An ill attempt at sounding calm and casual.
“Okay, then just follow me. No big deal. Let’s go.”
He stepped onto the bridge, took a few steps and looked over his shoulder at Sadie death-gripping the rails. One foot on, one foot still on the rock. Below them, a black pit of jagged rocks. He didn’t know if not being able to see the bottom made it better, or worse for her.
“It’s go time… unless you want to go back to the cave and small-talk yourself to sleep.”
After a quick breath, she stepped onto the bridge, her moves jerky and robotic.
“Good girl.”
“What am I? A puppy?” She muttered as she made her way behind him.
He laughed and set the pace, slow and steady, careful to keep his steps sturdy because Sadie was shaking the thing enough for both of them.
“See? No big deal.” They were about midway now. “This thing can hold us no problem. We tested it with about half our weight.”
“You’re an asshole, you know that?”
“Oh, well, Sadie and her dirty little mouth. This ravine sure does bring out your feisty side.”
“Just keep moving.”
The bridge swayed. He paused, allowing her a moment to gather herself, then pressed forward. He felt her fingertips slide down his lower back, then settle into a fist-full of his T-shirt as she closed the inches between them. Goosebumps flew over his skin at her touch, a reaction that took him by surprise. He slowed, enjoying the closeness of their bodies. Enjoying that he was her support system, a security blanket. There was a trust there, and he liked it.
He liked seeing Sadie Hart vulnerable.
With her practically attached to his back, they crossed the bridge.
“You did it.”
She exhaled and shook her head. “Sorry. Geez, that is so ridiculous.”
“Hey,” he turned to her and lightly tipped up her chin with the tip of his finger. “Don’t say another word about it. You crossed, that’s all that matters. Don’t make it bigger than you are.”
Her eyes locked on his, and he trailed his finger along her jawline, memorizing every line of her beautiful face.
She shivered, then dropped her gaze. A moment lost.
“You cold?”
“No. Kind of warm actually.” Then, she took a step back and turned away, the cool air cutting between them like a knife, severing the heat.
He watched her walk for a moment, her curves silhouetted against the orange beam of flashlight ahead of her. He would have kissed her if she hadn’t turned away. Hell, he would have stripped her clothes off and had his way with her right there in the leaves if she hadn’t turned away.
He forced away the thoughts, and caught up with her. He needed to get his head screwed back on. He had something important to ask her before she stole every bit of focus from him.
“To answer your question, yes, I came out here to check on you, but I also wanted to ask you something.”
She walked for a few steps, as if her thoughts were a million miles away. After a moment, she looked over, the sparkle gone from her eye. The redness from her cheeks faded. Sadie Hart was a pro at covering her emotions.
It was like looking in the damn mirror.
“What do you need?”
“I want to understand how you get an ID from bones?”
“Well, there’s a few different ways, but with the bones excavated yesterday, we’ve got almost a full set of teeth to examine.” Her voice picked up, as if she were glad to be talking about work again. “Our forensic odontologist already has the bones. The first thing he’ll do is compare the skeleton’s teeth with dental records of missing persons in the area. If nothing hits there, we can trace the fillings which requires a lot more time.” She cocked her head. “Why?”
“So, if you had a list of dental records ready to compare the teeth with, you could get an ID fairly quickly, right?”
“Right. Having a targeted list already is optimal.”
“Well, I’ve got the dental records of someone I’d like you to look at. First.”
“You do?”
“Yes… and I want you to tell me before anyone else. Okay?”
“Sheriff Crawly is my contact with this case.”
“And I have a personal interest in this case.”
She stopped in the middle of the trail and turned to him. “Indulge me. I like to know what I’m getting into, or have gotten into for that matter.”
“I know the victim.” There was a drop in his tone as he said victim.
“How so?”
“I believe you bagged up my uncle yesterday, who was reported dead seven months ago after reportedly going spelunking in a cave close to Crypts.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Me too. Can you help me or not?”
“Wait, what do you mean reportedly going spelunking?”
Her mouth dropped for a moment. “Wait, wouldn’t he be in the missing person’s index, then?”
“No.” They started walking again. “The case was ruled an accident. Said he fell down a narrow hole.”
“How long ago was this?”
“Seven months. You said you couldn’t give a solid TOD yet, but does that at least align with what you suspect?”
After a moment, she nodded, then said, “Considering you think it’s your uncle, if we can’t get a solid ID from the dental records, would you be willing to submit a DNA—”
“Absolutely. I’ll do whatever I need to do.”
“Okay then. Email me your uncle’s information and I’ll tell Dr. Perez to check those records first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I’ll make your uncle’s dental records first priority but I can’t tell you that I won’t tell the sheriff the results. As I said, he is my contact here. I have no reason—”
“What do you think of Crawly?”
They stepped into the clearing. “Not much, to be honest.”
“Not much when he can’t take his eyes off your shirt?” He wasn’t sure why he said it, or the sharp tone of it. Maybe it was the talk about his uncle, or the almost-kiss moment they’d just shared that had him off kilter a bit.
She shot him a look. “I work in a male-dominated field, Owen. Both as a forensic doctor and when I’m working directly with law enforcement, which is half my job. I’m used to guys who don’t know how to sneak a peek, or hell, don’t care to try to hide it.”
“And that’s okay?”
“No, it’s not. I know how to handle myself.”
He had no doubt she did, and didn’t know what the fuck his problem was all of a sudden. They stopped at the front door of her camper.
“Don’t let him get away with it.”
“What do you want me to do, Owen? Spit in his face?”
“Just…” He wanted to tell her to stick with him, stay at his side. Why? So Crawly would back off. So, he could have her all to himself while she was here. So he could get to know her better. Feel the feeling he got when she grabbed onto his shirt. Protect her from whatever the hell was happening in that cave.
He needed to end this conversation.
“Just let me know as soon you as you hear about the dental records.”
“I will.” She rattled off her email for him to send the records. “I’ll email Perez as soon as I get the records.”
“Thank you.”
She slid her hand onto the silver knob of the camper, but paused and turned back.
She stared at him with those big blue eyes and his heart gave a kick.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For today.”
He swallowed the knot that had grabbed his throat. “You’re welcome. Have a good night, Sadie.”
She turned and disappeared into the camper. After waiting until he heard the lock click, he walked back to his truck and settled into the backseat to watch over Dr. Sadie Hart until the sun came up.
Chapter 13
Griffin awoke with a start.
He squeezed his eyes shut, ignoring the jackhammer pounding in his head.
No way in hell it was morning already.
He groaned and pulled a fist-sized rock from under his sleeping bag that he apparently hadn’t noticed when he’d crawled inside at… what the hell time was that?
He remembered Sadie and Owen leaving, then challenging Kimi to another game of cards, which ended in a game of quarters. The last memory was seeing the bottom of the whiskey bottle.
Wait… … no, the last memory was of him begging for Kimi to come into the tent and give his air mattress a run for its money. She’d declined his invitation.
Shit.
Why was he awake? And buck naked?! He swallowed the cotton in his mouth as he searched for a water bottle when—
Snick.
His ears perked.
Another sound, this time a shuffling. Close by.
Shit, shit, shit. The last thing he needed at that moment was to come nose to nose with a black bear. Any other time, sure, but half-drunk, half-hungover, naked? Forget about it.
His thoughts jumped to Kimi again, surely asleep in her tent a few yards away. He needed to check on her. Was there such a thing as a drunk knight in shining armor? He was about to find out.
Griffin felt around for his bag, pulled it close and grabbed the small Ruger he always brought on campouts. He tapped his phone on, pulling the covers over his phone to block the light.
2:24 a.m.
Gross. The last time he’d been up at 2:30 in the morning was the night he’d graduated from college.
Gripping the hilt of his gun, Griffin slipped on a pair of sweatpants and crawled to the door of the tent. Inch by inch, silently unzipping the door, keeping his ears peeled.
Whatever had been moving outside moments earlier seemed to have stopped.
He grabbed his flashlight—keeping it off—and poked his head out, squinting to see through the dark night. No more full moon, no more stars. Clouds had rolled in, carrying with it the scent of rain. When he was certain no animal—or no human—was next to him, he crawled outside.
In a squat, Griffin took a moment to get his bearings. God it was dark. The eerie silence of mid-night in the woods added a major creep factor to his already disheveled state. He pushed to a stance as a sparkle of light caught his eye—a thin beam of a flashlight scanning the cave opening.
What the hell?!
Who the hell?
He looked at Kimi’s tent, which was dark, then looked over his shoulder in the direction of Sadie’s camper. No lights, and no way in hell would Sadie cross the footbridge alone, in the middle of the night, with no one awake to hear her scream if she fell. He knew how Sadie worked, and that woman did not take risks. Even calculated.
Whoever was shining the light couldn’t be far from Kimi’s tent.
Not good.
Griffin fought the urge to turn on his light and stealthily stepped across the rocks, bee-lining it to Kimi’s tent while keeping an eye on the flashlight in the distance.
As he drew closer, a cloud drifted from the moon, illuminating the dark silhouette holding the light.
He frowned, taking in the short stature, fluid movements, lean build.
No. Way.
He looked at Kimi’s tent, then back at the silhouette. He’d recognize those long legs anywhere.
Kimi?
He stopped and watched her for a moment. What would Kimi be doing wandering around at two-damn-thirty in the morning? Why hadn’t she awakened him? Griffin darted behind a boulder as she turned and shined her light on his tent for a solid minute, before she stepped into the cave.
Stepped into the cave.
What. The. Fuck.
Kimi Haas was going into the haunted, treacherous cave at two-thirty in the morning. Alone.
He glanced back toward Sadie’s camper, looking for any sign that she might be awake, and, for whatever reason, had arranged a late night canvass. Maybe he’d missed the memo. Hell, maybe he didn’t remember getting it. But not a single light shone through the trees, not a single voice echoed in the distance.
He looked back at the cave.
What the hell was he supposed to do? Follow Kimi? Go get Sadie? Go back to bed?
He contemplated the last option, but shook his head. Something was going on here and he wanted to find out what it was. After a quick glance over the shoulder, he descended into the cave, his mind reeling. What was she doing? Where was she going? How well did he really know Kimi? What was she holding out on him, other than a roll on his blow up mattress?
Griffin followed the golden glow of Kimi’s flashlight down the tunnel, across the log-bridge, and through the narrow opening that made his skin crawl.
The crazy woman was going back to the Anarchy room.
What the hell?
H
is pulse started to pick up as he followed her deeper and deeper into a cave where multiple people had lost their lives.
They shouldn’t be in the cave without telling someone where they were.
It was stupid. Unsafe.
And Kimi wasn’t stupid or unsafe.
Kimi was looking for something.
Something she wanted to keep a secret.
Chapter 14
Owen drained the last of his coffee and grabbed the wrinkled paper from the bed. He skimmed the list of things his father requested to be mailed to his suite at rehab. He’d put it off for two days now and at this point, he wondered if the package would even make it to his dad before he was released. Oh, well, he needed to get it done, anyway. And considering he was up and at ’em at six-thirty in the morning, he figured now was a good time to start.
After a sleepless night in his truck, he’d left the woods at the ass crack of dawn and headed home. Over the evening, not a peep from Sadie, and not a sound—or scream for that matter—from Griffin or Kimi in the distance. A storm had blown through sometime around four in the morning, and not even that had the lovebirds breaking their bets to stay overnight in the tents. Crazy kids. Crazy, horny kids.
He should be tired, but he was restless, edgy. He’d sent Sadie his uncle’s dental records the moment he’d gotten home, hoping for answers by the end of the day. One could hope.
His dad’s list of items was short—thank God. More clothes, books, his bible, and to Owen’s surprise, a few old family pictures that included his mom.
Finding these pictures proved to be no easy task and during the search, he’d dived head first into a tornado of childhood memories. Apparently, his father had buried his sober life in dozens of beer boxes, hiding them in various places throughout the house. Closets, cabinets, the attic. It was as if he’d scattered the memories so each would fade away in their own time.
Owen came across a picture of his dad and his uncle, in swim trunks, with their arms around each other and a beer in each hand. They’d been close growing up, but just like everyone else in his dad’s life, the relationship faded when Les joined the military at age eighteen.
Owen lifted a picture of his mother, sitting on a rock in the woods, with wildflowers in her hair. It had been months since he’d spoken with her. She had her own life, a new husband and new step-kids now. She’d left Les like he’d dumped everyone else.
The Cave Page 14
