Beneath Copper Falls

by Colleen Coble

  Anu’s gaze probed hers. “Deep down you know when to speak and when to be quiet, but you are afraid to trust your instinct. And only God knows if your words will have impact. We are not told to decide who or who will not benefit from the words that point to life. We are just to be faithful with our lives and our words. If the Holy Spirit prompts you, then be faithful to what he has told you.”

  “I wanted to start over here, to be a better person, but I’ve found myself falling right into the old ways at my job. At my last job, my boss told me I wasn’t allowed to say anything about God to people who call in, even when I felt like I should pray with them as they are waiting for help. Some have asked me to pray, but I was afraid of losing my job.”

  Anu nibbled on a piece of bread before answering. “I have no boss but the Lord. Has your current employer told you that you may not offer comfort to those in distress?”

  “No.” Dana glanced at Bree who sat across the table from her sipping coffee. “You know Mason better than me. Would I lose my job if I spoke up with a caller?”

  Bree smiled. “Mason is a good Christian man. Why not ask him directly?”

  Dana wanted to slap her forehead. “Of course. I was assuming the worst because of my past experience. Edmund Burke said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ I’ve felt helpless lately. I guess I’m really not.”

  “We are far from helpless. God hears all prayer, even silent ones. It is the biggest power we have,” Anu said. “Remember 2 Timothy 1:7.”

  “I will.” Dana glanced at her watch. “I guess we’d better get to work.”

  CHAPTER 22

  For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Today was a new beginning. Dana was determined to cling to the verse Anu had given her.

  Her muscles were pleasantly sore from the martial arts workouts she’d been doing. She hung her coat on a hook by the dispatch office door and went to her desk. The aroma of fresh coffee perked her up, and she glanced toward the snack station to see it wasn’t quite finished brewing.

  Tracie barely grunted when Dana greeted her. Dark circles rimmed her eyes, and her skin had a sallow tone.

  “You okay, Tracie? Anything I can do for you?”

  Tears filled Tracie’s eyes, and she shook her head. “Rough night is all.”

  Dana started to walk past her, but her new determination to speak up stopped her. “Can I pray for you? I’d like to help you.”

  Tracie’s eyes widened, and red washed up her neck. “I’m fine. Just leave me alone. I don’t need your pity.”

  “It’s not pity I’m offering.” She put her hand on Tracie’s shoulder and kept it there even when the other woman tried to shrug it off. “I’m here if you need anything.”

  She left Tracie and turned to meet Karen’s speculative gaze. “Ready for a busy day?”

  Karen sighed and her hazel eyes went flat. “I hope it’s not like yesterday. You’re lucky you weren’t working. We had vandals going around town breaking windows and painting graffiti. The phones were nuts.”

  Dana wrinkled her nose. “Let’s hope today is calmer.”

  Karen rolled her eyes. “Don’t count on it.” She studied Dana a moment, then glanced at Tracie and lowered her voice. “You’re wasting your time with that one. She wouldn’t want religion to interfere with her fun.”

  “I think she’s beginning to realize her life isn’t all that enjoyable.”

  Karen sniffed. “I doubt it.”

  Mark rolled his chair a little closer. “I’m sorry about your friend’s death. You holding up okay?”

  The sudden sympathy made Dana’s eyes fill, and she swallowed hard. “Thanks.”

  Mark spared a glance at his computer, then focused on Dana again. “You think the serial killer she was tracking found her?”

  “Did you know Allyson?” As far as Dana knew, not many people were aware her friend had been an investigative reporter or that she’d been pursuing what she believed was a serial killer.

  Mark shook his head. “No, but you know how stuff gets around here in the sheriff’s department.”

  Dana balled her hands into fists. This wasn’t something she’d wanted to get around, not until they discovered who was responsible for Allyson’s death. And she didn’t care for the avid curiosity in her coworker’s eyes.

  She sat in her chair and swiveled it closer to her screen as a call came in. “Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?”

  “That wasn’t nice, Dana.” Garret’s deep voice rumbled in her ear. “You set me up. Is that guy your new man? Who is he?”

  Her throat tightened, and she quickly tried to pinpoint where the call originated. He was on a cell phone on the outskirts of Rock Harbor. Even as she watched, the location moved. He was in a vehicle. Since Karen was on another call, Dana motioned to Tracie to come help her.

  She pointed to the monitor and jotted on a paper Tell the sheriff Waterman is on the phone. Tracie nodded and grabbed her phone. Dana turned her back so Garret couldn’t hear Tracie’s call. “Why are you still hanging around?”

  He let loose a string of curses. “I love you, Dana. That’s the only reason I’m here. Nice job deflecting my question though. What about the new boyfriend?”

  “He’s Allyson’s cousin, and he was helping me out.” Remembering last night’s kiss, she touched her lips.

  “By trying to trick me?”

  “We both just wanted to see what you knew about Allyson. We found your scarf by Naomi. Why did you hit her?”

  “I’m not going to answer your crazy accusations. I just called to let you know I’m leaving. I’m through with you and your devious ways. Have a nice life.”

  The connection ended in her ear with a click. The location of the call winked out on the screen. Was he telling the truth? Was he really leaving town?

  The sheriff burst into the room. “I sent deputies to the location. He signed off?”

  Dana nodded. “He says he’s leaving town.”

  “Not if I can help it.” He waved a photograph in his hand. “I’ve had my men plaster posters all over town along with a description of his truck.”

  Tracie’s face paled. She swiveled on her chair. “Can I see that a second? He looks familiar.” She took the poster from Mason and studied it. “He told me his name was Jarret Mannon.” Her voice choked off.

  “Where’d you see him?” Mason demanded.

  “At my brother’s bar. I work there a few nights a week. This guy came in just after you moved to town. We started talking. H-He didn’t have a hotel room, so I offered him m-my spare room.” She looked away.

  She is lying. Dana watched her shuffle and twirl a pen in her fingers. “You look frightened.”

  Tracie’s hand went to her neck, and she pulled away the silk scarf. “H-He choked me. I think you can still see the marks a little bit. They were really dark, almost black, after he grabbed me.”

  The faint traces of bruises marred her creamy neck. Chills shuddered down Dana’s skin. “Garret tried to kill you?”

  Tracie’s cheeks flushed, and she put the scarf back in place. “He got mad for some reason. I couldn’t figure it out, but I think I just did. We were talking about you, and even though I didn’t mention your name, I said the new hire was being stalked by some nutcase. He got all bent out of shape and grabbed me.”

  Mason scowled. “And you didn’t report it?”

  Tracie looked away as she fiddled with a strand of her black hair. “He said I’d be sorry if I did. I believed him. He’s a scary dude.”

  “I’ll need a deposition from you,” Mason said.

  “Did he spend the night?” Dana asked.

  “No, he left with a final warning. I didn’t ask where he was going—I was just glad he was out of my house.” She turned back toward her screen as a call blinked. “I really thought for a few minutes that he might kill me on the spot. His eyes were soulless.”

  “I hope he really is leaving tow
n,” Dana said.

  “I’ll notify the state boys to keep an eye out for him. If anything, this shows you’re not the only woman in danger from him.” Mason headed for the door.

  Dana turned back to her screen as another call came in. She should feel relieved, but an unsettled sensation had lodged in her belly.

  The aroma of pot roast, potatoes, and carrots still filled Bree’s kitchen after the service for Allyson. Bree’s eyes felt gritty from crying. The small church had been packed with grieving people, and Allyson’s poor parents had been devastated. Only the Lord could bring comfort in a situation like this.

  Her lips compressed, Lauri slammed the drawers and cabinets as she helped clean up the supper mess. Zorro lay in the middle of the kitchen not far from her. Bree exchanged a commiserative glance with Dana over Lauri’s bad humor.

  Bree put the last plate in the dishwasher. “You’re free. Dana and I can finish.”

  Lauri still looked about sixteen instead of twenty-three in her skinny jeans and red sweater. She’d kicked off high heels before helping clean the kitchen, and her bare feet made her look even younger.

  She tossed the dish towel onto the counter. “I don’t know why you made such a big deal out of my engagement. I’m not a kid anymore. You and Kade are smothering me.”

  “Kade is just looking out for you. He’s done it too long to stop now. Peter is a lot older than you.”

  “Thirteen years older isn’t all that much.” Lauri slipped her heels back on and turned toward the living room. She paused and turned back to face Bree a moment. “You’ll see how perfect he is once you’ve met him.”

  “I’m sure he’s a nice guy.” But Bree wasn’t sure. Not at all. Lauri had a habit of always picking the worst guys.

  While she’d love to see Lauri happy, Bree wasn’t sure she was grown up enough for that kind of lifelong commitment. Maybe in another three to five years, Lauri would be settled enough to think about a serious relationship.

  “I can see the wheels turning,” Lauri said. “What aren’t you saying?”

  Bree dried her hands, then hung up the hand towel. “I just think you’re awfully young.”

  Lauri turned to Dana. “You haven’t been stuck in this backwater all your life. What do you think?”

  Dana’s cheeks turned pink. “I’m sure Peter is a great guy, and from the size of that ring, he must have a good job. I see Bree’s point though. You’re just barely out of college, and Peter is mature. What if you get bored with him after a while?”

  “You think I’m immature.” Lauri spun on her red heels and stalked for the living room, her heels clacking on the floor all the way. Zorro padded after her.

  Dana sighed. “I didn’t handle that well.”

  “It was the truth though. I think that’s my major hang-up about it. I love her, but she’s spoiled and willful. She’s used to getting her own way. This Peter might not really know what he’s in for.” Bree forced a laugh, but she felt like crying. Lauri had just gotten that new job where she had a chance to build a career and make a real change in her life. If she got derailed by a doomed romance now, it could set her back years.

  “Maybe he’ll be good for her maturity. These kinds of romances often work.”

  “Lauri was so excited about this new job because she got to get out of Rock Harbor. She craves new experiences and excitement.”

  “They met at her new job, didn’t they? I thought that’s what she told me.”

  Bree nodded. “Right off the flight in Kauai. But I need to stay out of it. She’s right—it’s not my business, really. She’s an adult, and I keep forgetting that.”

  “You and Kade are still supporting her. She lives here, doesn’t she? I bet she’s not paying room and board. So that does give you some authority to speak into her situation. And you love her. She can hardly kick about that.”

  “We’ve never asked for money from her. Kade feels an obligation to her. Their parents died when she was in her teens, and he took over as a father figure. She’s always resented that some. I think she didn’t make the shift from seeing Kade as her brother to seeing him as an authority figure very well. I bet she’ll move to her own place now that she’s making decent money.”

  The thought of Lauri moving out seemed something to both rejoice in and despair about. Would Bree feel this way about her kids as they grew up and didn’t need her anymore? Lauri was like her own sister. If she were sure she was ready for such a drastic new step, Bree could accept it. Or could she? She was beginning to realize how much she disliked change.

  She forced a smile. “We can’t solve this one. We’ll have to leave it in God’s hands. How’s the new job working out?”

  “Good. I feel right at home.” Dana’s smile faltered. “Garret called me at work yesterday and told me he was leaving town.”

  Bree studied her friend’s downcast face. “Why aren’t you smiling from ear to ear then?”

  Dana’s gaze came up. “I don’t trust him, Bree. He says things to get your guard down, then moves in for the kill.”

  “Did you ever put a restraining order on him?”

  She shook her head. “Everyone urged me to, but I just wanted to get away. And besides, it wouldn’t stop him. Do you have any idea of how many times I sent cops out to stop a man with a restraining order? And Garret has always done whatever he wanted.”

  Boone’s deep voice carried from the living room as the men cheered a touchdown for the Arizona Cardinals. Bree arranged homemade fudge on a tray. “And speaking of romance, what’s up with you and Boone?”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Don’t play dumb with me. I’d have to be blind not to see the way you look at him. Come on. Spill it.”

  Dana’s cheeks went pink and she pushed a stray curl out of blue eyes that had suddenly gone soft and tender. “I think he’s pretty wonderful.”

  “Well, of course he is. He’s kept women at arm’s length since he’s been here, but he looks at you like you’re wearing a Cardinals jersey.”

  Dana’s laugh was breathless. “You really think so? He was really hurt by Esther.”

  “Esther was the name of his fiancée? It says a lot that he’s told you about that.”

  Dana snatched a piece of fudge, and Bree realized the probing was making her a little uncomfortable. She picked up the tray of chocolates. “Let’s go see what everyone is up to.”

  CHAPTER 23

  The weather was clear and a bit warmer on Monday, a nice respite from the constant wind they’d had. Boone waved good-bye to the last of his customers around four, then glanced at the sky. He had time for a swim in Superior before darkness fell, and the lack of wind might make the experience a little more fun. After locking the office door behind him, he started for his cabin but paused when Dana’s blue Prius pulled into the parking lot.

  He waited for her to reach him. She wore a lighter coat today with no hood, and her light-brown curls glowed in the late-afternoon sun. “You just getting off work?”

  She nodded. “I should have called, but it was a gorgeous day and I thought I’d drive out and see if you wanted to go for a hike. I’ve been cooped up all day and felt like doing something strenuous.”

  Would she be game? “I’ve got a better idea. Come with me.”

  She fell into step beside him. “What do you have in mind?”

  “Swimming.”

  “You have an indoor pool?”

  “I’ve got something better.” He gestured to the deep-blue lake. “Superior.”

  She stopped and shook her head. “No way, big guy. You have to be crazy if you think you’re going swimming in forty-degree water.”

  “I do it all the time. The benefits of cold thermogenesis are well known. It will be good for you. I’ve got a wetsuit that will fit you, and we’ll only go in for a little while since it’s your first time. You’ll jump out of there feeling like you just won a marathon.”

  “I’ll jump out the minute I put one toe in it.”

/>   He took her arm and turned her toward his cabin. “I take it that means yes you’ll give it a try?”

  She chewed on her lip, then sighed. “It’s not a good thing for a relationship when a man can talk a woman into something that extreme.”

  Relationship. Did that mean she had feelings for him? He kept reliving that moment she kissed him and had come to no firm conclusion. When she’d actually touched his scar, he hadn’t known how to react. No one had put a finger on that ugly ridge other than himself when shaving, yet she’d caressed it like it was the most attractive thing about him. He hadn’t been able to forget it.

  He opened the door to the cabin, then steered her toward his bedroom. “There are wetsuits hanging in the closet. You’ll need a small. I’ll change in the bathroom and meet you in a few minutes.” Before she could back out, he retreated and closed the door behind him.

  His wetsuit was hanging by the wood stove. It had dried overnight, so he carried it to the bathroom and tugged it on. He’d need to find her a hoodie, shoes, and gloves. How many women would do something like this? Renee had but not many would. He’d wanted to talk to Dana about that kiss ever since it happened, but he was afraid she’d say it was just a whim, that she only thought of him as a friend.

  That kiss had been much more than friendship.

  He yanked on his cap, then went to rummage in the storage chest for the rest of her equipment. The bedroom door creaked, and she stepped out in the wetsuit. His mouth went dry. He knew he was staring, but he couldn’t help it. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea. She wasn’t one for tight jeans and tops, but the neoprene suit showed off her curves and long legs.

  “I look like I’m a cat burglar.” She tugged on the sleeve of the suit. “All I need is a mask and I could steal the crown jewels.”

  “I’ve got the hat right here.” He held it out.

  Her smile faltered as her gaze locked with his. Her lips parted a bit as she stared up at him. He should make the first move this time. He took one step in her direction, but his cell phone rang and it broke the magic of the moment.