Beneath Copper Falls

by Colleen Coble

  She and Bree had become friends when Bree moved to town with her first husband, Rob Nicholls. Dana had babysat for her tiny son, Davy, quite often. Rob had died, and Bree remarried a park ranger. They had four-year-old twins now, Hannah and Hunter.

  Dana glanced at the booth’s other occupant who had stood as well. “Ally Cat! I didn’t know you were living back here.” She hugged Allyson Hegney in a tight squeeze. “I haven’t seen you, gosh, it’s been at least five years. The last class reunion, I think.”

  “I haven’t heard that old nickname in forever.” The leggy woman returned the hug, her light-brown hair cascading down her back in a straight, shiny curtain. “I took a leave of absence for a month. Have a seat. I want to get caught up.” She sat and scooted over on the booth seat.

  Dana slid her purse from her shoulder and ordered Phantom to lie down by Samson. “You won’t believe what’s been happening.”

  Reliving the past year of being on the mountaintop in love, only to come crashing to reality the first time Garret hurt her made her voice go rough. “The first couple of times I just thought it was my fault—that I’d been a nag or something. Then I realized he had a violent, possessive streak. When I told him we were through, that’s when the trouble really started. He began following me and having friends call to tell me I was wrong. That he had PTSD from the military and I needed to be more understanding. I even took back him a few times, but h-he got rough again. I knew if I stayed, he’d eventually really hurt me.”

  “Or kill you,” Bree said softly.

  Dana nodded. “Or kill me.” She launched into the attack that had delayed her arrival. “It took two days to get Dolly repaired, then another three days to get here.”

  “Dolly’s your car?” Bree smiled and signaled for Molly, the café’s longtime waitress. She brought over coffee and a plate holding a pasty. “I knew you’d want your favorite, Dana. Welcome home.” She still wore her graying hair in a low ponytail, and her smile enveloped Dana.

  “Thanks, Molly. You know me too well.” The beef gravy in the pasty hit her tongue, and the explosion of flavor made her just plain giddy. How good it was to be home.

  Allyson lifted her coffee cup and stared at Dana with troubled hazel eyes. “That guy sounds just too creepy. I hope he doesn’t figure out where you’ve gone and come here.”

  “I’m sure he’ll assume I came home, but I have lots of friends here. And for now I’m going to live with Chris for a while.” Her brother had bought a house on Quincy Hill nearly a year and a half ago when he decided to get out of the Marines and settle in their hometown. “He’s already restored the downstairs for himself, and he says I can have the other floors until I want to get my own place.”

  Bree frowned and tucked a red curl behind her ear. “But he’s gone a lot with his job. I don’t think he’ll be much protection.”

  “True, but his house is right here in town, within hailing distance of the sheriff’s office. And I’ll have Phantom.” She reached down to rub her dog’s ears. She’d given him the name the moment she picked him out from the litter, the only black Lab in a sea of yellow. “I’m done letting Garret terrorize me. And quite honestly, if he comes here, he’ll know I have plenty of support. I think it’s over.”

  Bree’s green eyes still held skepticism. “I hope you’re right. Is he in jail for attacking you?”

  She looked away. “Well, no. I didn’t press charges because I didn’t want to have to go back for a trial or anything. I just want to get away from him.”

  “So he could be on his way even now.”

  Dana bit her lip and stared across the table at Bree. “I suppose so.”

  “I don’t want to scare you, but you need to be on guard. Always lock your car. Keep bear spray at the ready anytime you’re by yourself. Get a security system installed at the house.”

  Dana sank against the booth back. “I have bear spray, but this is Rock Harbor. No one locks up.”

  Bree’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve got to start. A stalker isn’t like any other danger. He’s not rational and is only focused on revenge. Your ex proved that by attacking you in the parking garage. He had to know the police were just steps away. That’s brazen.”

  Bree was right. Dana had seen it a hundred times in her job. She just hadn’t wanted to believe it could apply to her.

  She blew out a shaky breath. “Let’s talk about something else for a while. I want to forget all about Garret.” She turned a smile toward Allyson. “So you’re here on leave seeing your family?”

  Allyson ran her finger around the cup’s rim. “Well, it’s more than that. My cousin was murdered three years ago. I don’t think you ever met Renee. I came to town to go over the latest details with her brother. He lives here.”

  Dana’s chest squeezed. “I’m so sorry. Did they find her killer?”

  Allyson shook her head. “I took some investigative psychology classes in school before I changed my major from criminal justice. I felt the killing was the work of a budding serial killer. His MO was too odd. And there’s been another similar murder this week.”

  “How did he murder them?”

  “Drowning. My cousin was drowned in a water tank for her goats, and the second woman was drowned in the kitchen sink.”

  Dana clenched her hands together in her lap, and her skin prickled. She glanced out the café’s windows. This sounded way too familiar.

  CHAPTER 3

  Dana parked on Quincy Street and craned her neck to take in the three-story brick building in front of her in the fading light. Once upon a time, copper miners trudged the steps to their rooms here at the Copper Junction Hotel. The sign was long gone now, and her brother had replaced the aging stoop with an elegant porch with beautiful posts and a new front door in dark red. She’d fallen in love with it the second she’d seen it a month ago.

  The thick clouds overhead promised snow and cast a gloom over the landscape. The cold November wind cut through her thin jacket, and she quickly ascended the brick steps to the welcoming front door. Phantom bounded after her and sniffed at the door. The lock opened with a click, and she turned the doorknob to open it.

  “Chris isn’t home.”

  She turned at the deep male voice behind her. The man on the sidewalk looked like he’d be more at home in Wyoming or Arizona with his boots and cowboy hat. If she wasn’t mistaken, those boots were snakeskin. His hat shadowed his face, but she got an impression of a strong jaw as he took a step closer. He wore a black-and-red Arizona Cardinals jacket and jeans.

  She squared her shoulders and stared him down. “And you are?”

  He snapped his fingers. “You’re Dana, aren’t you? I’ve seen pictures.” He retreated toward a black pickup that was parked behind her. “I have some stuff for you.”

  He was probably six-two or so, and his long stride had him at the truck in seconds. The man opened the passenger door and reached inside. A dog that looked more wolf than anything leaped down to follow as he turned toward her with a box full of groceries. “I was going to leave the food for you. Chris has been gone for a month, and anything left in the fridge is likely to be growing something green.”

  She glanced at the box and spied bread, peanut butter, cereal, coffee, milk, cream, and butter. “And you are?”

  Close up he was even more handsome than her first vague impression. Dark hair fell over his forehead from under his hat. The cologne he wore was pleasant, something spicy with sandalwood.

  “Boone Carter. This is Spirit.” His hand rested atop the dog’s head. Spirit took a step forward to sniff Phantom.

  “I’ve heard the name.” Chris had started ice sailing when he came back to town two years ago, and Boone had taken her brother under his wing. According to Chris, Boone was the best outfitter around. Even though he was Chris’s friend, her hackles stayed up. Something about him put her on edge.

  He tipped his head toward the door. “If you’ll open it, I’ll carry this to the kitchen.”

  Heat flooded her c
heeks. “Of course.” The door swung open without a sound, and she stepped into the entry. The walnut floors and wide trim contrasted with the pale gray-green walls, a color she’d helped Chris pick out when he was redoing the place. She flipped on the overhead chandelier and blinked when light flooded the space.

  He strode past her. “This way.” The dogs on his heels, he passed the huge curving staircase and disappeared through a door on the other side of the foyer.

  The living room to the right of the entry was large with floor-to-ceiling windows along two walls. She took in the space with the new white tables and blue-and-white furniture. The nautical touches made her smile. Chris loved the water.

  She hurried after Boone across gleaming hardwood floors. She went through the dining space with its white distressed table and chairs that opened to a large kitchen with gray cabinets. She’d had to talk Chris into the color, but it was perfect. Boone was unpacking the box at a large marble island.

  She walked around the side of the island to face him. Now that she saw him square on in the full light, she barely bit back a gasp. Scars ridged the right side of his face from jaw to temple.

  He paused and his lips twisted in a grimace. “Seen enough?” He grabbed the milk and yogurt, then turned to the refrigerator.

  She reached toward his retreating back, then dropped her hand. “I’m sorry. You were burned?” Burn scars were hard to miss.

  “Forest fire. I was a smoke jumper.” After depositing the milk and yogurt, he faced her again.

  If not for the smoldering heat in his eyes, she would have guessed he was used to comments about his face. “The scars look old. When did it happen?”

  “About five years ago. Look, I’m sure you’re tired. You have luggage?”

  She nodded. “I can get it though. The groceries are more than enough. I really appreciate it.”

  He held out a tanned, muscular hand, and she stared at it blankly for a long moment. “Your car keys.”

  His tone told her he wouldn’t take no for an answer, so she pulled them from her coat pocket and dropped them into his palm. Her warm feelings vanished in an instant as she watched him leave.

  “Stay,” he told Spirit.

  Noticing an injury was a normal part of her job, but he’d made her feel small and mean. Had that been his intention?

  She could give him the benefit of the doubt. Chris might have more information about the injury and why the man was so touchy. Or maybe Allyson or Bree would know. Dana draped her coat on the back of a chair and went to hold open the door while he hauled in her suitcases. Spirit and Phantom padded along behind her. Spirit’s vivid blue eyes made her feel as if he was watching her every move for his master.

  “This all you got?” He set down the two medium suitcases.

  “The rest is on the moving truck. It will be here in a couple of days. I just needed some clothing and essentials in the meantime.”

  He jerked his head to the left. “Tell me which one you want, and I’ll haul the suitcases there.”

  “I can handle it from here. Thanks so much.”

  Was it too much to ask him to get out of here? After the stress of the last week, she wanted some peace and quiet. He could lug that chip on his shoulder right out of her life and let her be.

  He picked up the suitcases and looked at her. “Well?”

  “Upstairs. The biggest room, the one on the left.”

  He nodded and headed up the curving staircase with both dogs loping along behind him. Gritting her teeth, she followed him to the top of the stairs where it opened onto a wide hallway. The paint was a fading dull green. She planned to paint it pronto. Three doorways opened off the hall, and he carried her luggage to the large bedroom on her left, then set the cases down on the polished wood floors.

  It held an old iron bed with a sagging queen mattress. But it was clean, and she had plans for how to make it hers.

  “This is nice.” He folded his arms across his chest and gazed down at her. “I get a little testy when someone stares. I’m sure you’re going to plunge into the rumor cesspool, so I’ll just tell you straight up. I was caught in a firestorm and the gear didn’t protect me. Yes, plastic surgery would make it less noticeable, but the scars remind me that love is fickle and most women wouldn’t want to look across the breakfast table at this every morning,” he touched the right side of his face, “as my fiancée was quick to tell me.”

  She was still gaping after him when the front door slammed behind Boone and his dog.

  Bree’s training center was a pole building on a tract of land surrounded by woods. The lake behind the building was perfect for water-search training. Kitchigami Search-and-Rescue Training Center’s reputation had grown exponentially. Today she had ten new students who needed her attention, but her thoughts kept heading back to Dana’s predicament. Most graduates went on to volunteer for area searches, and a few diehard handlers like her made a career of it.

  Bree glanced at her watch. Nearly five. She was meeting Allyson at six to take Dana dinner so she needed to wrap up class.

  She forced herself to focus. “Take your dogs around back where they can’t see. Lauri, you stay here. You can be the victim today.” Kade’s younger sister had been living with them since August when she finally graduated from college. Jobs here in the U.P. had been scarce, but Bree hoped something would turn up soon for Lauri.

  The rest of the students took the dogs around the building. Lauri got into the scratch box, and Bree dropped the guillotine-type door into position. Carrying a bag with the scent article, she went around the corner.

  The dogs were smelling the scent article, and the students would release each dog individually and see how long it took them to find Lauri in the rough wooden box. Zorro, Lauri’s border collie mix, barked and raced around the corner. He drove straight for the scratch box, jumped up on it, and barked. He grabbed a stick on the ground, then carried it to Bree with his tail held high in triumph.

  Each of the dogs got their chance, and most found Lauri in less than five minutes. They were all improving, and Bree ended the training session with praise and treats for the dogs.

  Lauri followed her and the dogs inside the building. “I have something I want to talk to you about.”

  Uh-oh. When Lauri adopted that serious tone, Bree braced for impact. “Okay.” She snapped her fingers to Samson, and he limped over to press against her leg.

  He’d suffered a minor cut on a paw during the exercises today so she tended to it. She’d fed him a raw-food diet all these years, and he still had very little gray in his rough, curly coat. Most people quickly guessed the German shepherd part of him from the black and tan of his fur, but the curls were pure Chow. He slurped up the water she had poured into his bowl, and Zorro did the same. Then both dogs curled together on the floor to rest by her feet.

  Lauri had recently cut her long brown hair into a becoming shoulder-length style that flipped up on the ends and accentuated her bone structure. Her blue eyes held a trace of worry as she propped one booted foot on her chair’s bottom rung. “I got a job.” Lauri’s eyes gleamed.

  “That’s great! Where will you be working?”

  “I’ll have to travel all over the place. I’ll only be home once in a while.” Lauri motioned around the space. “I won’t be able to help you here any longer. I hope that’s okay.”

  “I’ll manage. You hate being stuck in a one-horse town like Rock Harbor. What will you be doing?”

  Lauri stared at Bree as if to make sure she was really okay with the news. “I’ll be an auditor. I always said that was the one accounting job I’d never do.” She made a face. “Going in and looking for all the mistakes the employees have made is like standing on a shooting range with a bull’s-eye on my back. It will be uncomfortable all the time. But it’ll be a great experience!”

  Bree rose and hugged her. Lauri went tense for a long moment, then hugged her back. Bree pulled away and gave her a little shake. “And you never know where it might lead. You’l
l get to see some new places.”

  Lauri shrugged off Bree’s grip and tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear. “I won’t get to see Zoe much. When I gave her up for adoption, I never wanted her to know who I was. Now that she does, it seems cruel to leave her.”

  Bree’s heart swelled at Lauri’s admission. The girl had matured in the past year. She thought of other people instead of only herself. Bree had always loved Lauri, even though she wanted to shake her at times. At sixteen Lauri had a daughter out of wedlock who Mason and Hilary Kaleva had adopted. Hilary was Bree’s first husband’s sister and the town mayor. Mason had been Rock Harbor’s sheriff forever. Zoe adored them both so Bree was sure she’d be fine.

  “Zoe’s got a good mom and dad, and you can see her at least a few times a year.”

  “I guess.” Lauri patted her leg, and Zorro came to her. “I’ve got to go home and pack. Zorro won’t be able to come with me. Will that be a problem?”

  “Of course not. When do you start?”

  “I fly to Lihue, Hawaii, on Sunday. I’ll be there for a week, then to Oregon for a week.”

  “Where will you stay when you’re gone? Hotels?” Bree didn’t like the sound of that. Without stability Lauri could fall back into her old partying ways.

  “Don’t look so worried, Mom.” Lauri grabbed her coat and shrugged it on. “The company has several condos, and I’ll have my own place when I’m there. I’ll be able to cook and invite friends over.” She wrinkled her nose. “If I make any friends with a schedule like that.”

  “You will. People gravitate to you naturally.” Bree walked with her to the door. “Have you told Kade yet?”

  “Yeah, I called him this morning and endured the lecture about being on my guard and making sure the doors are locked at night.”

  Kade, ever the protector. Bree opened the door and smiled. “He loves you.”

  “I know, but sheesh, give me a break. I’m twenty-three.”

  Bree pressed her lips together and looked away. Lauri didn’t need a reminder of her past poor choices. They’d pray this job was the right thing.