Chilled by Death

by Dale Mayer

  Chapter 28

  The snowmobiles arrived before the police were out of sight. There were two. They stopped, asked for what little information was available, then took off in a rush. There were still a few hours of daylight left.

  Stacy turned to Royce. “I’d like to go up there and take a look for myself.”

  He frowned, instinctively shaking his head. She nodded. “I know we can’t go as fast or as far as the sled, but I’d like to see the trail she made to determine where she was coming from.”

  “The backside of the mountain.”

  “But she wasn’t wearing her boarding gear, so why was she down there?” Stacy countered. “I’d just like to go.”

  Royce gave in. He knew she wouldn’t give up. She wasn’t considered hardheaded and stubborn for nothing. She geared up for a trek outdoors, then turned and said, “George, would you mind grabbing my camera bag, please?”

  She waited while he fetched it for her, then with that over her shoulder, Royce at her side, they headed out. As several snowmobiles had travelled the same track, the walking was easier now. Trudging uphill for the first part, she had a hard time holding back the knot of nervousness inside. She had a horrible feeling this was all connected to something so much bigger but knew they didn’t have all the pieces yet. She didn’t know if the snowmobiles would find something, but she wanted to double check that she hadn’t missed something herself.

  “So do you want to tell me what we’re really doing?” Royce asked.

  “I saw something the other day. It was stunning, eerie, and incredibly beautiful. Now I’m wondering if there wasn’t something more sinister.”

  She felt his sharp gaze but didn’t take her eyes off the hillside ahead of her.

  “I want to know if the direction Yvonne came from was the same area as what I saw earlier. If it wasn’t, that’s great then, as what I saw before was Mother Nature at her best. If it is, then I think we need to inspect it closer.”

  “Do I get to know what ‘it’ is?” he asked calmly.

  “I don’t have a problem telling you, but I’d prefer to see your reaction in case it’s not the same as mine. I could be imagining this. I just can’t be sure.”

  “Good enough. Where is this place?”

  “Where we were the day we were late because I was taking pictures.”

  “I don’t think she came from that direction,” he said slowly.

  “It depends how far away she might have been.”

  With that, she fell silent. She needed to save her energy. At the top, she took several deep breaths as she regained her strength. Ahead, she could see the snowmobile tracks heading to the right and up. She studied the ridge ahead.

  The images she’d seen earlier were around the corner.

  *

  He studied Stacy’s face as she looked at the snowy ridge ahead of them. Concentration glowed from those blues as she picked up one marker then zipped across looking for another. She chewed on her bottom lip – an action guaranteed to drive him nuts. He wanted to tell her to stop it. That her lips were swollen from the abuse. But then he wanted to soothe them with his own lips.

  And that she wasn’t ready for. At least he didn’t think so.

  But he could hope.

  Then she turned to face him, a question in her eyes. He smiled, shrugged, and turned to study the mountain. She so wasn’t ready to know what he’d been thinking.

  But that didn’t mean he’d stop thinking it.

  Chapter 29

  Crazy thoughts twisted inside her head. Could there be other cabins in the back woods? Could Yvonne have been trying to come home? Was there a cabin close by they didn’t know about? Just because she didn’t know about a place didn’t mean it didn’t exist. It was a huge resort. This area had been settled for over a hundred years, with many private lots. Cabins dotted the area. Out of the way, but close enough to all the amenities of the resort. Still, the authorities would know. The search and rescue team as well.

  As they trudged forward, she removed her camera from her bag and pulled up the pictures she’d taken the other day.

  “What’s going on?” Royce asked. “What are you looking for?”

  “I thought I saw something the other day,” she said, flicking through the strip of photos. “Remember when I was out here for so long?”

  “Right and you appeared to be fascinated with that waterfall?”

  “Yes, I was, but it’s what was beside it that fascinates me now. There was opaqueness to the ice as if there was a big black space behind it.”

  “Like a cave or something?”

  “Hmmm…” she murmured, studied the image in front of her carefully. “I just wondered if maybe there was a cabin or a dwelling of some kind – likely very old, that maybe she and whoever she was with – if she was with someone – tripped into and spent the night, then tried to find their way back out again in the morning.”

  “If they were snowmobiling and broke down, they might have taken refuge, but I can’t imagine any other scenario where that would make sense.”

  “I know.” She motioned at the image to the left of the hillside where there was a shadow. An odd shaped shadow. “Doesn’t that look different along there?”

  He peered at it, shrugged, and said, “Honestly, not really.”

  She laughed. “Let’s go take a closer look.”

  It took another ten minutes of slogging through the snow on the tracks that were just crusted enough to hold their weight until they went to take the next step, at which point they broke through to the soft snow below.

  By the time they got to where she had stood before, she was sweating freely and wondering just how healthy she truly was. She groaned, opening her jacket to let in some fresh air.

  “That’s hard work today,” she said.

  “It is.”

  She was staring up at the left side of the hill to the side of the frozen waterfall.

  She turned to study the scene.

  It was as high as the right side. The slope easier. There didn’t appear to be any way up, but of course there never was unless you knew the routes.

  Royce headed over to the area she’d pointed out and Stacy fell in behind him. They were halfway there when she heard the snowmobiles.

  She couldn’t see them yet, but their engines were loud enough to hear over the blanket of snow. She understood they were coming further off to the left. Renewing her excitement that maybe she was correct, they kept climbing, finally cresting the small rise as the sleds came bounding toward them. Up top was a flat stretch of long pristine snow marred by a set of tracks. The snowmobiles came to a stop. They’d followed the tracks to this area, but it had stopped in the trees. The snow had been trampled in many places, but they hadn’t found anything or anyone else.

  “Do you two want a lift back?” the first man asked.

  Stacy did. Desperately. But she wanted to take a look around her first and after realizing the snowmobiles were going back now and not in fifteen minutes, she declined. She stood at the top of the hill and watched them slash their way across the hillside below heading for the cabin and everyone who waited there. Resolutely, she turned. Now that she was here, she had no idea what she expected to find. She was aware of Royce watching her. Finally, he said, “If you tell me what you’re looking for, maybe I could help you look.”

  “It’s kind of stupid, actually. I was just thinking there might be a way inside.”

  “Inside?” he asked cautiously. “Inside what?”

  “I think there’s a big cavern here. A cave. Something.”

  “And?”

  “I was just wondering if that’s where Yvonne had been all night.”

  “And why would she have?”

  She could tell he was trying not to say she was being crazy.

  “I don’t know. But I thought I saw a person in the ice images when I had my camera out before. I had my zoom lens and could see so much but had trouble capturing it. Now it doesn’t look the same,” she cr
ied out in frustration. “I can’t find what I saw before.”

  “A man?”

  She stopped, her temper igniting. “Yes. A man.”

  He threw up his hands. “Hey, that’s fine. Maybe you did see someone here. But what difference does that make?”

  She really hated having to tell him. It was her line of work that immediately saw all the good things in life and the bad that were right beside them. In this case, inside them. She refused to answer, instead walking to a small depression in the snow. A tree above overhung branches kept them pretty well protected, but new snow had fallen from its boughs above. Hiding whatever was below. She walked closer.

  And fell.

  Through the snow.

  Through the ice.

  Through the ground.

  She screamed as her world flipped. Cold, sharp shards of ice bit at her and she flailed her arms and legs, trying to stop her fall. Her landing was fast and hard. Stars slammed into her mind.

  Dimly in the background, she could hear Royce yelling for her.

  She groaned.

  “Stacy? Don’t move. I’m coming down.”

  She whispered, “Don’t.” Then realizing he couldn’t hear her, she called out, “Don’t, it’s too dangerous.”

  “Right,” he called out, humor in his voice. “So I’m supposed to just leave you?”

  Of course he wouldn’t. She knew that. Neither did she want him crashing down with her. They hadn’t brought any rescue gear, so he’d need to go back and get some rope. She’d just lie here and rest until he returned.

  In the back of her mind, she realized he was talking to someone. Good. Someone else to help. But she also realized that what she really wanted was to roll over and sleep. It would feel sooo good. She shifted, trying to get more comfortable, and moaned when she moved her head.

  That shifted the sleepy cobwebs from her mind. She had to move. Had to get up. It was the head injury making her want to lie there. She reached up and checked the sore spot, but her fingers weren’t sticky so the wound hadn’t broken through the skin. Good. It was just a stunner of a crack. She shifted gently onto her hands and knees and managed to sit on her haunches and look around. There was fallen snow and ice everywhere. She glanced up at Royce who was slowly coming down the slide, making a rough set of steps as he came.

  “I’m okay,” she said. “I just saw stars for a moment.”

  He kept working his way towards her, his gaze intent. “Even small cracks like that can kill you.”

  “I do know that,” she said in a conversational tone. All too well. The last case on her table had been a woman who’d fallen while skiing and had refused medical attention. She’d not been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and she’d retreated to her hotel room. She was dead the next day from a small bleed in the brain.

  “Right.”

  She laughed. “I will get checked over. I’m not going to be stupid about this. I’m just telling you that nothing is broken and I’m feeling well. It was just a small tumble.”

  “Doesn’t matter how small. In these conditions, it still counts.”

  He’d almost reached her by the time she’d decided to try standing up. That worked. She was a little shaky, but being on her feet felt much better. She checked herself over and shook out her arms and legs. “I’m actually quite fine,” she said to him as he reached her.

  “Better than fine.” And he reached and gently tugged her into his arms. She relaxed against him, happy to know that she could now. Falling was scary, but knowing she wasn’t alone and had someone responsible enough to help, even better. That it was Royce – perfect!

  After a moment she pushed back slightly, looked up in his warm eyes, and saw the relief and care in his gaze. She reached up and kissed him gently. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” he asked, his gaze quizzical.

  “For being here.”

  A beautiful light flickered to life in those beautiful brown eyes. He tugged her back into his arms and cuddled her close. “Thanks for letting me,” he whispered against her hair.

  She smiled. She couldn’t see much of what they were standing on from where she was. She twisted, still in the circle of his arms, and tried to look around. “What is this place?”

  “Likely just another trap waiting for an unsuspecting person to find it.” He laughed. “Congratulations for being that lucky person.”

  “Ha, I should buy a lottery ticket.” The walls were fallen snow that had tumbled in with her. The snow with the sun shining down into her pit was so blinding she had to use her hands to stop the glare. She slid her boot back and forth and looked down to see that there was a hard sheet of ice under the fallen snow. At least the hollow was big enough to walk a few feet forward and back.

  “Do you think you can try getting out,” he asked, “or do you want me to call for help?”

  She glanced back the way he’d come down. Coming down had been easy. She wasn’t so sure she’d get up the same way. There were no visible steps as they’d crumbled under his weight. But she might still be able to climb up. Stepping carefully as her balance still wasn’t perfect, she made it to the bottom of where he’d half climbed, half slid down. Standing at the bottom looking up, it appeared much steeper – and much higher than she expected.

  “We’ll wait for the crew to come,” Royce said cheerfully. “I’m not up to climbing that sucker.”

  “You’d manage that easily,” she said. “I don’t think I can.” She stepped up and tried to grab onto a boulder in front of her. It crumbled under the pressure. “There’s nothing to grasp. Nothing to step on.” As she said that, the snow under her boots sank, giving emphasis to her words.

  “Exactly. So we wait.”

  “I wonder how far this fault goes.” She took a few steps towards him.

  He reached out to steady her, tucking her up closer. “I doubt very far. We could be at ground level where we’re standing and the walls on either side of us are just a big snow dump from the cliff above.” “That’s possible.” She looked up and saw the top of the waterfall and the bare rock. She motioned in the direction where she’d originally fallen. “It looked like an opening down there.”

  “Doesn’t matter if there is,” he said. “We’re not exploring.” He gave her a stern look. “We’ve had enough excitement for one day.”

  Under a hooded glance, she wondered what the chances were of changing his mind.

  “No.” he said sternly. “We’re not looking.”

  Just then they heard shouts from the rescue team. Stevie’s voice was the loudest as he called out to them.

  “See?” Royce smiled. “For once, he has perfect timing.”

  *

  Royce let out a sigh of relief when he and Stacy were back on top of the pit. He wasn’t exactly sure what kind of fault had created that trap, but he was so glad Stacy hadn’t been alone. Maybe that was what had happened to Yvonne. Except where would she have gotten the coat?

  Stacy said. “A heartfelt thank you to everyone.”

  “Let’s go,” Royce said. “Hot rum toddies sound like the perfect end to a very rough day.”

  The group slowly started down the hillside, Stacy and Royce safely ensconced in the middle. Royce carried one of the ropes that had been used to help them climb back up as the sides continuously caved in on them, hampering their efforts. Now all he wanted was to be home. Not back in the cabin, although that would be a good place to start, but home in Seattle and his cozy apartment – in Stacy’s cedar-and-glass converted loft would be much better. And her bed.

  He wouldn’t push her, but once alone, the air sparked and fired between them with no help from him. They’d be tearing up the sheets in no time. He doubted she was ready for that at the cabin due to a lack of privacy.

  But after all the accidents and weird events, he wasn’t going to let her sleep alone. Good thing he’d moved his stuff up there last night. They were supposed to stay a few more days, but he could see this curtailing the festivities. Per
sonally he’d go home tomorrow if he could get Stacy to go, too.

  Then again, if they could get a fun day out of this, it would end the holiday on a much better note even if they did cut it short by a day.

  Stacy’s cheeks were bright red by the time they made it to the cabin. Kathleen had stayed behind and made coffee and had a thick beef stew simmering. Just the smell was heavenly. After standing in the cold as long as they had, he was chilled and starving. He doubted Stacy was feeling any different.

  She was likely worse. He could see the fatigue in her eyes again. Damn it, she was supposed to rest while here. Regain her strength.

  “I’m fine. Stop worrying.”

  “Not going to happen,” he muttered. “This holiday has been nothing but hell.”

  There was an odd silence beside him. He turned to look at her, wondering what he’d said or didn’t say. “What?”

  “It certainly has had some low points, but there have also been a few highlights.” She squeezed his hand.

  Damn. He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. “That there has been,” he whispered, hoping it was only loud enough for her to hear.

  It wasn’t.

  “That’s enough mushy stuff you two. Keep walking.”

  Geoffrey and Stevie gave the two of them a gentle push toward the living room. Stacy rubbed her hands together, appreciating the warmth of being in out of the elements. Standing in front of the fire was heavenly. Royce headed for the kitchen and got two big mugs. He made hot mochas and laced them with rum before taking them back to Stacy. She sat on the couch, her feet in front of the fire.

  He knew that with a hot meal, a hot drink, and a hot fire, she’d be asleep in no time. He envied her.

  She was talking to Stevie in a low voice as he approached. “I know I saw something. I’ll go back up there tomorrow.”

  He stopped in front of her. “You’re not going anywhere back there.” His voice was hard, cold. Damn it. When would she quit?