Evidence of Trust

by Stacey Joy Netzel

  Joel slid the media card into its slot and uploaded the photos she’d taken. One glance was all it took to recognize the tread on the print matched those of other prints he’d documented at previous crime scenes.

  “Do they help?” she asked after a few minutes.

  “Possibly.”

  She leaned close to point to a spot on the computer screen. “Can you tell what kind of animal tracks those are?”

  “Looks like elk, but I can’t be sure.” The faint smell of apples mixed with mountain freshness was beginning to go to his head. Probably time to wrap this up.

  “Maybe we’ll find a better print when we get up there tomorrow.”

  He cast her a sideways glance. “We?”

  “Well, yeah. I’ll need to show you where I found everything.”

  “You can show me on a map.”

  She shook her head as he shut his laptop. “I’m going with you.” When he started to protest, she cut him off. “I don’t remember how far along I was between the two lakes, and too much of the trail looks alike. I couldn’t even tell you a landmark to look for.”

  Exhaustion accelerated his growing frustration over her stubbornness, and something else suddenly occurred to him. “You keep saying I. Were you up there hiking by yourself?”

  The abrupt change of subject caught her off guard. He read a flicker of guilt in her eyes before she averted her gaze to reach for her water.

  “You went alone.”

  “Lawn Lake Trail is still open to the public, and besides, there were other hikers—”

  He banged his coffee mug down onto the table with barely controlled force. “Who could’ve been poachers for all you knew. God, don’t you understand? I don’t have any solid suspects yet, no clue who the hell this is. Hell, for all I know, it could be you.”

  Her gaze met his and a small smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “If it were me, would I have brought you my own bullet?”

  “It could just be that you’re good at covering your tracks.” He knew it wasn’t her, but was trying to make a point.

  “Or, maybe I am who I appear to be. Someone who cares and wants to help.”

  “Appearances can be deceiving. One of life’s lessons I’ve learned the hard way.”

  Joel shoved to his feet and strode down the hall to the bedroom. She was right about her having to show him the site tomorrow, but he needed to get away from her—away from the overwhelming fear and anger that ambushed him when he realized the danger she’d put herself in yet again by going alone.

  Why couldn’t the bull-headed woman just frickin’ listen to him? It was for her own damn good.

  He braced his hands against the dresser and hung his head. The thought of her getting hurt tied his stomach up in knots and had him taking out his frustration on her. With her, he could go from zero to pissed in one point two seconds, leaving little chance for his rational mind to catch up with his emotions.

  On top of that, even with the caffeine from a few minutes ago, fatigue weighed him down. More than anything, he needed to get some sleep. Then he’d be better equipped to deal with her in the morning. Resignation sent him to the closet.

  “A little appreciation would be nice.”

  The irritated statement made him lean back beyond the barrier of the door. Brittany stood in the bedroom doorway, hands braced on her hips.

  “You know, like thank you?”

  He reached inside the closet, then closed the door and advanced on her with a set of sheets and a blanket. “Thank you.”

  She hadn’t expected that. He read the surprise in her eyes before she nodded and shifted her gaze away from his. Must’ve landed on the bed because when she jerked her attention back to him, her face had turned a light shade of pink. Yet there was a heat in her eyes that told him she’d thought about the two of them on a bed at some point.

  Damn, she was making this hard.

  He shoved the bed linens into her arms and stepped back. She grappled to keep them from falling to the ground. “What is this for?”

  “The couch. Get some sleep,” he ordered. “We’re leaving early.”

  “I’m not staying here.” She tried to give them back.

  “If you insist on coming along, the only place you’re going now is the couch, ’cause I ain’t waitin’ for you in the morning.” Because he knew it would make her run, he cocked an eyebrow and gave her a smile. “Unless you want to share the bed?”

  The color in her face deepened, but she stood her ground. “Gina’s apartment is just on the other side of Estes on Devil’s Gulch Road. Tell me what time you want to leave and I’ll be here.”

  He got rid of the smile and jabbed a finger toward the living room. “Couch. Now.”

  She looked like she was going to argue more, but then huffed out a breath. “Fine. Can I have a pillow?”

  He stepped back to swipe one from the bed, then tossed it to her.

  “Is this one yours, or—”

  “They’re both mine. Just take the damn thing and go,” he growled.

  She backed out the door. “It’s not my fault you’re tired. You don’t have to act like such a jerk.”

  “You’ve got about three seconds.”

  “Or what?” she challenged.

  “Or I’m going to kiss you, and we both know neither one of us is going to want to stop there.”

  Chapter 24

  Britt woke up to the smell of coffee and the clatter of dishes. She grimaced when one peek confirmed it was still dark outside. Sleep had been a long time coming with her head resting on a pillow that smelled like Joel fresh out of the shower and his words echoing in her head.

  She’d been so hot and bothered, the temptation to share the bed in the other room had been nearly impossible to resist.

  “Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty.”

  She propped herself up on one elbow to see him smiling from where he stood by the table.

  “Breakfast is ready. You’ve got ten minutes, so move your butt.”

  She flopped back onto the pillow with a groan. For a man who’d gotten maybe six hours of sleep after being awake for forty-eight, he was way too chipper. And bossy. She flipped aside the blanket and headed over to the table while trying to finger-comb knots out of her ratted ponytail.

  Joel was already eating his breakfast of scrambled eggs with ham, and two slices of whole wheat toast. Her plate was identical, but instead of coffee, he’d poured her a glass of orange juice. Her stomach growled, reminding her she’d skipped dinner last night. She tossed her hair back over her shoulder to deal with later and sat down to eat.

  “You up for a second day of hiking?” he asked after a minute.

  “Don’t really have much of a choice, do I?”

  He rested his fork at the edge of his plate and leaned back in his chair to study her. She squirmed at the thought of what she must look like and took another bite.

  “That’s the thing I don’t get. You do have a choice. I didn’t make you stay here last night. Not really.”

  She kept her eyes on her plate and chewed a mouthful of eggs.

  “Why didn’t you leave?”

  The eggs stuck in her throat, making her take a swig of orange juice. “What this guy does makes me sick to my stomach. Hunting for meat to feed a family is one thing, but killing like he does is wrong. If I stumbled across something up there, I want to help you find it sooner rather than later so you can stop him from killing any more animals.”

  “I do appreciate that.” He stood to carry his dish into the kitchen, then returned to lean a shoulder against the doorjamb between the two rooms. “Investigations like this one are my least favorite.”

  “Have you had many of them?”

  “This is the seventh one I’ve worked, but even one is too many.”

  She agreed, and liked the fact he wasn’t too macho to admit it. She, on the other hand, was too far out of her comfort zone to admit the second reason she’d stayed.

  One more bite and she finished off
her breakfast with the last swallow of OJ. Joel came forward to take her plate as she pushed her chair back to stand. “I’ll pack us a lunch if you want to use the bathroom. I left a toothbrush and wash cloth for you on the counter.”

  “Thanks.”

  She figured she had about three minutes left of the ten he’d allotted her, but took fifteen to brush her teeth, wash up, and wrestle her hair into submission with a comb of his from the drawer. Once the tangles were out, she pulled the curls over one shoulder and twisted them into a simple braid. A fresh change of clothes would be nice, but she didn’t want to risk his amicable mood disappearing if she requested to head the opposite direction of the park to stop at Gina’s apartment.

  When she returned to the living room, Joel straightened from where he leaned against the wall by the door, and slung a full backpack over one shoulder. “Ready to go?”

  He’d cleaned up the bedding on the couch, so there was nothing for her to do but nod and precede him out the door. She returned his smile on her way by and almost turned back to ask the question she’d been wondering about since she laid on the couch the night before.

  Courage deserted her there on the porch step, as well as during the drive to the trailhead. The hike offered no opportunities either, because they’d fallen into a comfortable rhythm of conversation. Add in a bit of teasing here and there, and some might even call it friendly.

  Unfortunately, she was fairly certain her question would flip that switch, so the nerve she needed to voice the words remained as elusive as Joel’s poacher.

  They reached Lawn Lake by eleven and ate lunch on the same rock she’d relaxed on yesterday. The trail had been practically deserted, so they were the only two enjoying the scenery until it was time to move on.

  She didn’t look forward to this next part and felt her shoulders tense as they continued along the path leading to Crystal Lake. Her attention focused on the side of the well-worn route, eyes searching for any familiar sign from yesterday. She turned back to look at Joel and recognized the view from when the hikers had paused with her for a drink.

  “It’s right around here.”

  They couldn’t find the prints that’d been on the side of the trail, and she sighed. “When I was headed back yesterday, I passed a group of teenagers on the way up. They must’ve disturbed the tracks.”

  “Then it’s good you took pictures.”

  Joel widened the search and located the trail a good ten yards into the woods. He worked backwards to the hiking trail, checking the dirt for additional bullets or shells. Coming up empty, he led the way into the forest and they tracked the trail for almost a mile before he halted.

  Britt noticed dark spots on a rock, and from there, the trail of blood intensified. Joel pulled out his radio and called the station. She listened as he gave Randy the coordinates of where to send a chopper to meet them. Her stomach knotted at the tension in his voice.

  He clipped the radio on his belt and faced her. “I want to give you fair warning, this guy is getting worse. This might not be something you’ll want to see.”

  “Thanks, but I can handle it.”

  “That’s fine, but please, just give me a minute, okay?”

  The fact he asked instead of ordered was not lost on her. She nodded and waited behind as he made his way through some brush before shrugging off his backpack. He pulled out a camera, then started working in a methodical circle to document the scene and preserve evidence before advancing.

  When he set the camera aside and motioned her forward, she took a deep breath before joining him. Even with his warning, she wasn’t prepared for the up-close look at the mound of bloody flesh that used to be an elk. The animal had been mutilated and was recognizable only by the velvet-covered antlers on one end. Though it wasn’t nearly as bad as the ram at the overnight camp, stench hung in the air from the start of decomposition.

  Her stomach churned, and she had to choke back the bile that rose in her throat. “How could anyone in their right mind do something like this?”

  “This guy is not in his right mind.” He looked up from where he was hunched close to the ground. “Now do you understand why I don’t want you out alone?”

  Turning away from the gruesome sight, she fixed her gaze on the majestic mountain peaks towering above the treetops. “It’s hard to believe something this horrible happens in a place this beautiful.”

  “Believe it.” Anger resonated in the two words. “The evidence is right in front of you.”

  “I know. How long ago do you think this happened?”

  “Judging by the rate of decomp and the smell, inside of forty-eight hours. Possibly even yesterday morning.”

  His grim tone said what he didn’t need to. She’d been too close.

  The rhythmic chop of helicopter blades registered and Joel waved his arm as the machine passed overhead to locate a landing site. Silence fell in the forest and shortly after, Randy and the pilot arrived with the required equipment. Dennis Mueller merely nodded in her direction, but Randy stopped in front of her.

  A slight frown marred his brow as he set down the cases he held. “Britt, I didn’t know you were here, too.”

  “She found the bullet yesterday and led me back up here today,” Joel advised.

  “She shouldn’t have to see something like this.” He turned his slightly accusing frown from Joel, and locked his gaze with hers. “You doing okay?”

  She nodded, surprised by the intensity of his concern. “I’m fine, Randy, don’t worry about me. You guys just do what you need to help Joel so he can catch this sicko and put him behind bars where he belongs.”

  “Brittany’s right,” Joel said. “Let’s get this taken care of so I can get her home.”

  Randy nodded, his jaw tight. After a moment, he visibly relaxed, gave her one of his usual smiles, and bent to open the equipment he’d carried in.

  Each of the men pulled on a set of medical gloves, and Britt moved off to the side so she wouldn’t be in the way. Pulling out her own camera to pass the time, she wandered in the near vicinity and took some pictures of the wildflowers and interesting moss patterns on rocks. After about a half-hour, boredom won out and she returned to the site to sit on a log and watch the guys work.

  Joel stood to stretch a short while later. Muscles bunched in his shoulders and his T-shirt rose just enough to give her a glimpse of his trim stomach. That was not boring.

  Without thinking, she raised the camera and zoomed in on just him, with the mountains in the background. His hands paused above his head when he caught her snapping the picture. Lowering his arms, he stripped off the gloves and strode over.

  “Sorry you have to wait here through all this. We’re almost done.”

  “I’m fine. I like watching you work.”

  A corner of his mouth quirked up. “Yeah?”

  “It’s an interesting process,” she said, attempting to cover her slip of the tongue after having already exposed her interest with the camera.

  “Ah. The process is what you were watching.”

  “Of course, what else?” She gave him an innocent smile that meant nothing next to the heat that’d crept into her face.

  His chuckle faded to a grin when Randy called him over to look at something. He cast her one last glance before squatting beside the ranger to confer.

  Things seemed to have changed between them overnight. She didn’t understand it, but she discovered she liked this side of Joel more than ever. If she’d have met him before last night, she’d have begged him to kiss her and share his bed instead of sleeping on the couch.

  Which brought back the nagging question of her day. To avoid another round of unanswerable speculation and force her mind to drop it, she took some more pictures around and of the crime scene until Joel said it was time to go.

  Once the equipment was stored in the chopper, they climbed aboard and Dennis flew them to the trailhead. It was her first ride in a helicopter, and away from the grisly scene they’d discovered, she was
able to enjoy the scenery from above. Gave her camera a workout, too.

  After they landed, she said goodbye to the pilot and Randy, then ducked with Joel to jog from under the chopper blades. He walked her the rest of the way to his truck and handed her the keys so she could swap his vehicle for hers back at his place. Randy was going to give him a ride home once they finished at the ranger station.

  “Just leave the keys under the driver’s side mat and lock the doors when you leave. I have a spare truck key in the duplex.”

  He had to speak loud to be heard over the noise of the waiting helicopter. Even at a distance, the whirling blades kicked up enough wind to make her squint as stands of her hair blew across her face.

  “Thank you again for all your help today,” he added.

  She shrugged with a small smile. “I didn’t do much.”

  “It was enough.” He looked like he was about to say something more. Instead, his gaze dropped to her mouth, then his jaw tightened, and he pivoted back toward the chopper where the other two rangers waited.

  Before she chickened out, Britt called his name and reached for his arm. Joel swung around to face her almost as if he’d been hoping she’d call him back.

  Just ask the damn question.

  She raised her chin and lifted a hand to hold the hair out of her eyes. “Why didn’t you kiss me last night? I mean, if you knew I wouldn’t want you to stop, why not just kiss me and go from there?”

  He stared at her for a long moment, then lifted his arms out from his sides and tilted his head back. “You ask me this now?”

  “What’s wrong with now?”

  His arms fell back to his sides and his eyes met hers. “Because I’m probably going to have to work all night.”

  The implication triggered a rush of awareness and disappointment. “Oh. Sorry.”

  He laughed. “No you’re not.”