Tundra Threat

by Sarah Varland

  The thought of little McKenna Clark mixed up in a case like this that could end up getting her killed played havoc with his mind. What had her superiors been thinking, putting someone as young and inexperienced as she was in an isolated post like this, where she’d be facing any danger alone?

  “Be careful,” he said as he looked around again, not liking the uneasy feeling that had crept over him.

  “I am.”

  He moved closer to her.

  “Really, Will. I’m fine.”

  He watched as she bent low toward the ground to snap pictures of the scene with a digital SLR camera.

  “Is everything like it was when you left? Minus the bodies?”

  She considered his question and nodded slowly. “As far as I can tell.” She moved the camera around, surveying the area through the viewfinder as though looking through the apparatus helped her focus her mind on the scene. She snapped pictures of the surrounding area. Finally her gaze rested on a patch of grass about ten feet from the crime scene itself.

  “Something else was dead.”

  “What?”

  She moved closer to whatever she’d noticed and Will followed. The grass there was stained red, too, though the stain wasn’t as large. In fact, this puddle of dried blood much more resembled what he saw on hunting trips.

  “Another body?” Will asked. “Or do you think...”

  “They were hunting,” McKenna said aloud, finishing the thought. “But someone moved whatever they killed.”

  He nodded. “I think you’re right. Caribou, maybe? That’s what’s usually hunted in this part of the tundra. And the flat spot in the grass looks like the right size.”

  She nodded. “I think so.” She leaned forward, snapped a picture, and then snapped pictures of the entire surrounding area.

  Will heard the bang a split second before the first bullet whizzed past his head.

  Rifle fire. Aimed right at them.

  “Get down!” he yelled to McKenna, reaching his arm out to take her down to the ground with him. To his surprise, she didn’t protest but lay still where he’d tackled her onto the ground. Several more bullets flew overhead and Will fought panic when he realized how close the shooter had been to hitting them. He’d promised McKenna he wouldn’t let her get hurt, and she’d almost been killed.

  Whoever was doing this meant business.

  Will felt McKenna fumble for the weapon at her holster as he went for his own, usually used to protect him and his clients from animal predators. “Can you tell where the shots are coming from?” she asked.

  “No. You?”

  “Behind us somewhere. That’s all I can tell.”

  It was a wonder she could tell that. The wide-open tundra was a sniper’s paradise. The killer had probably waited out here, expecting McKenna to come back and investigate, and completely concealed himself in the tall grass while his target was open.

  In fact, once he thought about it, it wasn’t surprising at all that someone had fired on them. It was surprising that he or she had missed.

  “I don’t want to fire until I know his position.” McKenna’s words were tense. “I don’t think there are any more people out here, and the gunfire would have scared off the animals, but...”

  “But you never fire until you’re sure what you’re aiming for,” he finished for her, knowing the firearms safety rule well from trying to drill it into irresponsible clients with more money than sense.

  They lay side by side, each with weapon out and ready, but the shots had stopped.

  “What now?” Will asked in a whisper after a minute, when it became clear that the shooter had given up for the moment.

  “We’re half a mile from the plane.”

  “Assuming he didn’t find the plane and do anything to it.”

  The panic in her eyes made him wish he hadn’t voiced the dark thought. “I’m sure it’s fine,” he said with more assurance than he felt. “I think we just wait here for a while, until we’re sure he’s gone.”

  “Then just stand up and hope we don’t get shot?”

  “Yeah, that’s all I’ve got. You?”

  “Nothing better.”

  By what felt like a mutual unspoken agreement, they lay there without speaking, each of them keeping their eyes fixed on places a threat could approach from. Will wasn’t sure how much time had passed before McKenna finally whispered that they should try to make it to the plane.

  “I think you’re right,” he agreed, knowing that the longer they stayed out, the greater the danger they’d face from animals out here as well as whoever was trying to kill McKenna.

  Full understanding hit him with all the force of a charging male grizzly. Someone was trying to kill McKenna. Last night’s note had been a warning. Now the danger was real.

  “Ready?”

  He pushed the troubling thoughts from his mind, knowing distraction could get you killed out here. “As I’ll ever be, I guess.”

  They stood slowly. Will still couldn’t shake the feeling they were being watched. And this time, when the next bullet cracked through the air, before he could take McKenna down, she yelled, “Run!” and took off in the direction of the plane.

  Will ran after her, both of them sprinting fast enough to have made their high school track coach proud. The uneven ground of the tundra seemed to be working against them—spraining an ankle or worse would be too easy out here.

  The shots continued, but McKenna showed no sign of slowing. “Get down!” he yelled, believing it was their best chance of surviving but knowing he’d never take cover if she wasn’t going to.

  “We can’t!”

  Stubborn woman. Panic clawed at him again, as it had when they’d walked up on the scene and he’d realized how much danger it could put McKenna in. She was too inexperienced for this.

  He’d like to sit down and tell her so, but if she was going to run, so was he. She sprinted on and he followed until the plane was finally in sight. It looked fine.

  “Get in and fly this thing!” she yelled as she climbed up.

  He mentally ran down the list to see if there was anything in the preflight checklist that couldn’t wait.

  Another shot fired.

  No. Everything could wait.

  He climbed in and did as she said, taking off more roughly than he had since he’d first started flying.

  But they were up and in minutes would be out of range.

  For now.

  Will focused on the instrument panel, clenching and unclenching his fists on the wheel to try to calm his nerves. When he was sure they were safe, he turned to McKenna. “What were you thinking? You should have gotten down!”

  “I knew what I was doing.”

  “You almost got us killed. You’re new at this, McKenna.” He let the frustration of the past however many hours loose in his tone.

  “I’m new to the area not to the job. I’ve been doing this for years, and I really do know what I’m doing. It’s my job, Will. Not yours.”

  “I have experience, life experience you don’t have.”

  “Five years more, Will. That’s it. I’m not a kid.”

  “I still wish you’d listened to me.”

  “This is my job, Will. I have to make split-second judgments and not look back. But I am trained to do it. And if we’re going to be working together, you’re going to have to trust me to know the right course instead of second-guessing me.”

  Will took a deep breath, powering down emotions that had gone wild at the thought of her being hurt or killed. Yeah, this was her job. Theoretically she had the necessary training for it. But that stupid running-to-the-plane stunt while they were taking fire...

  “Okay.” He could think of nothing else to say.

  “Couldn’t you hear that th
e shots were fired from closer range the second time?”

  He hadn’t noticed that. “You’re sure?”

  She nodded, face more serious than he’d ever seen it. “I’m sure.”

  So the shooter had been creeping closer the whole time they’d been waiting him out, hoping he’d leave. That made sense since his first couple shots hadn’t hit his mark.

  “I guess I owe you an apology then.”

  “No need. You saved my life the first time by taking me down with you.”

  He nodded, knowing she was right. But she’d saved his life, too, by insisting that they run for the plane. This time, their shared skills and experience had been enough to keep them safe. But the shooter wasn’t someone to underestimate, and he’d almost certainly strike again. Will just hoped his own abilities and McKenna’s would be enough to protect them through the next skirmish, too.

  * * *

  Will hadn’t said another word until they’d reached Barrow, landed the plane and were unloading.

  “Be careful, McKenna,” he finally said. His eyes met hers and the intensity in them made it impossible for her to look away.

  “I will be. I can take care—”

  “Of yourself. You’ve made that clear.”

  She couldn’t read what emotion was in his eyes. Couldn’t come close to naming it. But whatever it was stirred something inside of her, and maybe it was that, or the stress of the day, but she couldn’t picture going home with no human company. Not yet.

  “Want to come over for coffee?”

  He glanced at his watch. “It’s five-thirty and you’re more worried about coffee than dinner?”

  McKenna shrugged, feeling herself blush. She hadn’t even thought about what time it was, had just come up with any reason she could to spend a little more time with Will.

  “How about I fix dinner for us and then we’ll have coffee, maybe watch a movie,” he offered.

  She searched his face for any indication that he was doing this out of pity for her, or that he knew she was scared, but saw none.

  He must have misinterpreted her silence, because he hurried to clarify. “Not as a date or anything. Just two old friends, hanging out, if that’s what you’re worried about.” His easy smile, meant to reassure her, made a blush creep to the edges of her cheeks.

  For a split second, she squeezed her eyes shut. Imagined what it would be like to actually be on a date with Will Harrison. Then just as quickly she shoved the thought back where it had come from. The last thing she needed was to get caught thinking such embarrassing things about someone who was only her friend.

  “I thought you couldn’t cook?” she said as soon as she remembered.

  The corners of his eyes crinkled as he laughed. “By fix dinner I meant bring pizza.”

  “Is there a pizza place in this town?” She didn’t remember seeing one. But she hadn’t been everywhere yet.

  “Bear’s Tooth Pub and Pizzeria is as good or better than anything you’ll find in the city. They have a deluxe pizza that’s unbelievably good. I’ll swing by your house as soon as I pick it up. Sound good?”

  “Works for me. But don’t pile up the pizza under loads of stuff. I want to be able to taste the cheese.”

  “Trust me, will you? I promise you’ll like it.”

  His words still rang in her ears as she climbed into her car and drove toward her house. She did trust him. With her life. She just knew better than to ever again trust him with her heart.

  She parked her car on the gravel pad beside her house and climbed the stairs to the front door with caution, looking around to make sure nothing had been disturbed while she was gone. She eased the door open and Mollie came barreling toward her, tongue hanging out of her mouth.

  “I’m guessing you missed me?” McKenna laughed as she petted the dog and pulled the door shut behind her. “I would have brought you if I hadn’t been afraid you’d attract wild animals I would rather not run into.”

  The dog just wagged her tail and continued to dance around excitedly.

  “Will’s coming over tonight,” she found herself telling the dog. “To hang out with me.” In case that part needed clarification. It was strange to her to think that after all these years they’d picked up their friendship practically where they’d left off, ignoring the awkwardness that had started between them just before Will left for college when she’d come close to fully admitting the childish crush she had on him.

  Of course, a lot had changed since then. When Will had left Seward, McKenna had wanted to become a marine biologist and work at the Sealife Center in Seward. Now look what she was doing. Will hadn’t been sure what he’d wanted to do when he headed off to college, but he’d gotten married and started on his adult life.

  Now, seven years later, here they were.

  McKenna shoved her reminiscences aside. It would be better to use the time she had to go over the case.

  As she walked by the kitchen table, she glanced at the spot where she’d first spotted the threatening note. It was still there. She kept walking and then stopped in her tracks, walking backward as she blinked quickly, in case her eyes had deceived her. Hadn’t she moved it?

  No, a paper was there. But it wasn’t the note that she’d found in the early hours of the morning. This one was new.

  He’d been in her house. Again.

  You chose not to listen. Suit yourself. I may have missed this time, but next time will be a different story.

  FOUR

  The text he’d gotten from McKenna had said come quick. Which was why Will was barreling down the narrow dirt road to her house. He couldn’t think of any good reason she’d text him that, but plenty of bad ones came to mind.

  He pressed the gas a little harder and swung the truck into her pitiful excuse for a driveway. What she’d been thinking when she rented this place, he’d never understand. He knew troopers weren’t rich, but they were paid enough to afford better than this.

  “McKenna?” he yelled as he took the steps two at a time and tried the doorknob. It was locked. He pounded on the door, not caring what the neighbors might be thinking. “McKenna!”

  When she finally opened the door, Will’s eyebrows rose. She’d kept her cool throughout the scene earlier in the day when they’d been shot at by a sniper, but now her eyes were wide and her face had paled several shades lighter than normal. Her dog stood next to her, looking tense.

  “He was here,” McKenna whispered.

  “Where?”

  She gulped. “In my house.” Hands quivering, she held out a piece of paper that Will took and read. He wanted to ball it up in his fist—what kind of person threatened another like that?—but he knew it was evidence. Valuable evidence. “Is this all you found?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you check the rest of the house? To make sure nothing’s out of place?”

  “Of course.” She flashed him a look of annoyance. “I cleared all of the rooms and then sat down on the couch with Mollie.”

  “You’re not staying here anymore.”

  He watched her features harden and her eyes begin to flash. “I don’t know why you think you have the right to make my choices for me, but it’s my decision.” She lifted her chin, challenging him to respond.

  Will did what he’d learned was best to do when McKenna’s Irish temper flared and her safety was at stake. He ignored it. “This place is a dump. You shouldn’t have been living here in the first place.”

  “The price was good.”

  “Are you saying this is all you can afford? Is it legal for the state to pay troopers that little?”

  She moved toward him and reopened the front door. “Thanks for coming. I changed my mind. I’ll figure this out on my own.”

  “Look.” Will pushed the door closed. “We’re friends, McKenna
. You’re like a sister to me and I’m just trying to help you. Now, seriously, do you have the money for a better place? I can help you out with that if you need it.” He knew she wouldn’t take the offer but figured he’d put it out there for what it was worth. He’d meant what he said, her family had given him a second home during high school, years he hadn’t wanted to be at his house. Taking care of her now was the least he could do.

  “I make plenty,” she insisted, collapsing back into her seat on the sofa. “But...” She shrugged. “I’m hoping this job won’t last long, so I’m saving my pay to get a nice place when I move again.”

  Will had expected as much—she’d all but said she didn’t want to be in a town like Barrow when he’d talked her into taking him on as her pilot, but it still hurt to hear her admit that this town wasn’t worth it to her.

  “Maybe if you solve this case they’ll be so impressed they’ll promote you again.”

  McKenna laughed. “Yeah, straight to somewhere like Dutch Harbor,” she joked, naming a town about the size of Barrow that sat almost at the end of the Aleutian Island chain. “Not exactly the step up I’d be hoping for, but with my luck...”

  “How about you solve it anyway, just to put my mind at ease, okay?”

  Her face sobered. “I’m sorry again about today, Will. I never guessed all of that would happen. I hate that I put you in that situation.”

  “I’m glad I was there with you, even if I wasn’t really much help.”

  A few heartbeats of silence passed. McKenna’s piercing gaze never left his. He shifted in his seat, still not comfortable that all was clear. Or maybe that was just discomfort over how close they’d ended up sitting. “Let’s check the rest of the house one more time. In more detail,” Will said at last, finally breaking their eye contact. If they sat there too long, it felt as if she’d be able to see straight to the center of his heart. And he wasn’t ready to let anyone that close. Not again.

  To his surprise, she didn’t fight him. Just nodded and stood.

  * * *