Mountain Peril

by Sandra Robbins

  She scooped up the stack of file folders containing the plans for the fundraiser, stood and walked to her office door. Jeff and Nathan would be waiting, and she needed to get this meeting over. There were still many details to be worked out, and she had little time left.

  When she entered Jeff’s outer office, Betty peered over the glasses perched on the end of her nose and waved her on through. “They’re waiting.”

  “Thanks,” she called over her shoulder and entered Jeff’s office.

  Jeff rose from behind his desk, and Nathan pushed up from the chair where he sat. They both smiled, but Danielle could see lines of fatigue around their eyes. Nathan pointed to the chair next to him. “Sit here, Danielle.”

  She smiled and slipped into the wingback chair. Crossing her legs, she positioned the folders on her knee and opened the first one. “I know you have other things on your mind this morning, so I’ll be brief. Who do you want to take over Landon’s duties for the fundraiser?”

  The words had no sooner left her mouth than Nathan jumped up and began to pace back and forth beside Jeff’s desk. “This latest scandal could be the ruin of the school. A stalker! Who would have thought Landon Morse would stoop to endangering our students? I can imagine half our students not returning after Christmas break.”

  Jeff sighed, and Danielle thought the two had probably discussed the situation at length before she arrived. “Please, Nathan. We’ve been through all this.”

  Nathan stopped and stared at Danielle. “Jeff’s right. We have to look at this in a positive way. We’ve suspended Landon with pay. If the charges are proved, he’ll be terminated.” He spread his hands and shrugged. “That’s all we can do.”

  Danielle nodded. “Of course it is. Nobody here is responsible for Landon’s actions. I’m sure the students and their parents will realize that you’ve done what’s required by the school.”

  Jeff dropped the pen he held to his desk and stood. “Danielle’s right, Nathan. There’s nothing else we can do at this point.” He turned to Danielle. “With a student’s murder and now a teacher accused of stalking and assault, we’ve never had such a year. There’s more riding on this fundraiser than ever, and we’re looking to you to make it the best ever. We have to assure our donors they have nothing to worry about.”

  A shiver ran up Danielle’s spine at Jeff’s ominous tone. He seemed to be telling her that the survival of the school rested with her. “I’ll do my best to make that happen.”

  “We know you will,” Nathan said. He glanced at the folders and settled back in his chair. “Now let’s hear the final plans for the evening.”

  Thirty minutes later Danielle entered her office, dropped the folders onto her desk and breathed a sigh of relief that Jeff and Nathan had approved every detail. Although the meeting had gone well, she still had many last-minute details to address.

  Just as she reached for her desk calendar, someone knocked at the door. “Come in.” Nathan stepped into the room. “Did you need something else?” she asked.

  He smiled and nodded. “I wanted to speak with you privately for a moment, if it’s all right.”

  “Of course.” She pointed to a chair. “Do you want to sit?”

  He shook his head. “No. I need to stand for what I have to say.”

  Danielle’s face warmed, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. In all the years she’d known Nathan, she’d never seen him the way he looked now. His dark gaze flitted over her and left a trail of fire across her face. His dark hair, usually combed in place, tumbled over his forehead. His chest rose with the short puffs of breath he exhaled. Only one word described how he looked—tortured.

  He reached out and caressed her cheek. “Why are you leaving, Danielle?”

  She took a step back against the front of her desk. He moved forward, making her a prisoner between him and the desk. She smiled, but her lips trembled. “I want to work with my parents, Nathan.”

  He shook his head. “Please don’t go. I can’t bear for you to leave.”

  She wiggled past him and walked behind her desk. “I’m sure you’ll find someone better to fill my job.”

  He leaned over and flattened his palms on the desk. “I’ll never find anyone to replace you, Danielle. I love you.”

  Danielle gasped and stared at him in disbelief. “You’re not serious.”

  He nodded, and then his face hardened. “I am. I’ve loved you since the day you walked into that interview room as an aspiring student. We’ve been through a lot together, and I’ve always tried to be there for you.”

  “You’ve been wonderful to me, Nathan.”

  He smiled. “Then marry me and stay at Webster. You may not love me now, but you’ll come to after we’re married. I’ll make you happy. I promise.”

  Danielle stared at the man who had been like a second father to her ever since she came to Webster as a student. She’d never guessed how he felt, and she didn’t want to hurt him after all he’d done to help her. Walking back to him, she took his hands in hers.

  “Nathan, you are one of the dearest friends I’ll ever have, but I can’t marry you. You need a woman who loves you with passion, not someone who thinks of you as a friend. Besides, I don’t think I’ll ever marry.”

  He pulled his hands free and stepped back. “Is it that policeman? Are you in love with him?”

  She hesitated before she answered. “If I am, it doesn’t matter. There’s no future for Jack and me. I’m going home to try to forget all the bad memories from here.”

  His shoulders slumped. “Am I one of those bad memories?”

  “Oh, no. You’re one of the best ones of all my years at Webster.”

  He smiled. “Then maybe there’s hope for me yet. Would you mind if I visited you in Atlanta after you leave?”

  “I’d like that very much, and so would my parents.”

  He smiled and reached for her hand. Bringing it to his lips, he squeezed her fingers and kissed the back of her hand. He straightened as the office door opened.

  Danielle glanced over his shoulder as Flynn Carter stepped into the room. His eyes grew wide. “Oh, excuse me, Dr. Tyler. I didn’t know you were busy.”

  She pulled her hand from Nathan’s grasp and smiled. “It’s okay, Flynn. Can I help you with something?”

  His gaze darted from Nathan to her. “I just wanted you to know I’ve decided not to go home for Thanksgiving. I’m going to stay on campus and try to catch up on the classwork I missed the week I was absent. If you have anything you need me to work on, I’ll be glad to do it.”

  Danielle nodded. “There’s lots to do with the fundraiser coming up. I’ll put together a list and leave it on your desk.”

  He nodded. “Thanks. Now I’ll get out of here. Like I said, I’m sorry to interrupt.”

  When he’d closed the door, Danielle let out a long breath. “I have trouble every time I’m around Flynn.”

  Nathan frowned. “What do you mean?”

  She shrugged and crossed her arms. “I know it’s silly, but I keep thinking if it wasn’t for him Tricia might still be alive. I know she made the decision to pose for that Web site, but he shouldn’t have put her in that danger. I’ve spent many sleepless nights trying to overcome my feelings about him, but it’s been difficult.”

  Nathan glanced in the direction of the door and stood in thought for a moment. “Maybe I made a mistake in letting him come back to school.”

  Danielle’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, no. I’m glad you did. I’ll work out my feelings about Flynn in time.”

  Nathan smiled. “I’m sure you will. And maybe you’ll also work out your feelings about me. At least I hope so.”

  Before she could answer, he turned and walked from the room. Danielle stared after him. This morning had certainly been surprising. She’d practically thrown herself at one man and rejected another. Of the two she suspected Nathan might be the better choice. With him there’d never be any worry about money, but she’d never cared about wealth. Nathan�
��s kind nature made him look almost angelic when compared to Jack’s remote and at times sullen approach to life.

  She had to admit that Nathan had a lot of characteristics that would make him a wonderful husband. Knowing all this made no difference. Jack was the one she wanted.

  EIGHTEEN

  Danielle pulled the living room curtain back and peered out at dark clouds hovering over the rolling mountain peaks. She’d hoped for clear weather on this Thanksgiving Day for the trip to Asheville. Interstate 40’s winding road toward Asheville snaked through valleys guarded by the steep mountainsides of the range. Hanging rocks loosened by bad weather could trigger massive landslides without warning.

  She let the curtain drift from her hand. Why was she concerned about the weather? She hadn’t heard from Jack in the week since her telephone call. He probably wouldn’t even show up today.

  A car door slammed out front, and she knew he was here. Grabbing her jacket, she ran to the door and had it open before he could knock. His eyes sparkled, and the tired lines in his face had disappeared.

  “Hello, Jack. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”

  “Sorry. I slept a little later this morning. Are you ready to go?”

  She nodded, and they hurried to the car as raindrops began to fall. He held the door for her and ran around to the driver’s side. Just as he climbed inside, a strong wind shook the vehicle and sheets of rain pounded the windshield.

  Danielle leaned forward and stared through the windshield. “Do you think we’ll be in this weather all the way to Asheville?”

  Before he could answer, his cell phone rang, and he pulled it from his pocket. “Excuse me, Danielle. This is Will. I need to take it.” He flipped the phone open. “Hello, Will. What’s up?”

  The sparkle she’d seen in his eyes earlier grew duller by the moment as he listened. He chewed on his bottom lip and cast a quick glance at her from time to time. Danielle’s stomach fluttered with the certainty that something was terribly wrong.

  “I was just about to leave town, but I’ll be right there. See you in a few minutes.”

  He closed the phone and turned to Danielle. “I’m afraid our trip to Asheville is going to have to wait.”

  “What’s happened, Jack?”

  He put his elbow on the steering wheel and rubbed his eyes, then turned to her. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Danielle, but…”

  Chills ran up her spine, and she grabbed his arm. “Please don’t tell me something’s happened to someone else I know.”

  He nodded. “It’s Flynn. An officer found him in his car with a suicide note that he’d killed Tricia.”

  Her body began to shake, and tears rolled down her face. “Not another one,” she wailed.

  Jack jumped out of the car, rushed around to her side and pulled her from the car. They hurried through the driving rain toward the house. When they stood on the porch, he wrapped his arms around her. She buried her face in his chest and cried out her rage at yet another unnecessary death.

  When she’d calmed, he looked down at her. “I have to go to the station. Let me get you inside.”

  She wiped her hands across her face and blinked. “You go on, Jack. I have to see if Nathan and Jeff have heard this latest news. I’ll probably have to go to the school.”

  He held her at arms’ length and studied her face. “Are you sure?”

  She nodded. “I’m okay. I should be used to this by now. Everybody around me dies. You’d better watch yourself, Jack. You could be next.”

  She pushed away from him, whirled and dashed inside the house.

  Danielle had wanted this last day with Jack, but it wasn’t to be. Tragedy had struck another student at Webster University and left her wondering why death followed her.

  There was something about Webster’s campus that spawned evil, and she was glad she was leaving. She needed to stay as far away from that place as possible. However, there was a downside to her leaving. She didn’t know what she’d do when Jack wasn’t nearby anymore.

  Silence covered the halls of Webster University’s Administration Building the day after Thanksgiving. With students and faculty gone for the holiday, the deserted building reminded Danielle of a mausoleum. She stopped in the doorway of Jeff’s office and surveyed the all-too-familiar scene.

  Jeff sat behind his desk, one elbow on his desk and his chin propped on his fist. Nathan slumped in a chair beside him, and Jack sat facing them. The only difference today was that Landon wasn’t in attendance.

  They all rose as she walked into the room. “Good morning, Danielle,” Jeff said. “I’m sorry to bring you in on a holiday weekend, but Detective Denton wanted to bring us up to date on Flynn’s death.”

  She could hardly meet their gazes. Just days ago she’d voiced her feelings about Flynn putting Tricia in danger, and now she’d found out he was the killer all along. She still found it hard to believe that the boy who had worked in her office could be a killer. But then she didn’t know what might have prompted his actions.

  Nathan motioned to the chair next to him. “Sit here, Danielle.”

  She nodded and eased into the chair, then glanced up at Jack. His eyes narrowed, and his gaze raked her before he turned back to Jeff. “I wanted to let you know that Carter’s body is being sent to Asheville for an autopsy this morning. His parents have been notified and will make arrangements for the body to be returned to California when it’s released.”

  Jeff bit down on his lip. “We’ve been in touch with the family, too. We’ve assured them we’ll assist them any way we can.”

  Danielle scooted to the edge of her chair. “I understand the reason for Tricia’s body being sent for an autopsy. She was a murder victim, and the police needed all the information they could get about her death. But why Flynn? You already know his wound was self-inflicted.”

  Jack shook his head. “It’s standard procedure. In Flynn’s case the autopsy will help us rule out the possibility of murder.”

  Nathan’s eyes grew wide. “Murder? But I thought the police had ruled it suicide.”

  “Not yet. It’s a suspected suicide, but we have to be sure. I did have one question I wanted to ask.” He glanced from one to the other. “Do any of you know whether Carter was left-or right-handed?”

  “I know,” Danielle answered. “He was left-handed. He was always complaining that the world is arranged for right-handed people, and he was at a disadvantage in whatever he did. Why do you ask?”

  Jack shrugged. “Just part of the investigation.” He pushed up from his chair. “By the way, Landon Morse made bail the day before Thanksgiving.”

  Danielle gasped. “Then he was out of jail when Flynn died.”

  “That’s right.” He turned to Jeff. “If it’s all right, I’d like to search his office while I’m here.”

  “Are you looking for anything in particular?”

  “No. It’s just a hunch.”

  Jeff stood. “Then go right ahead.” He held out a key ring. “Danielle can show you where it is.”

  Jack’s forehead wrinkled. “I think you should come, too. Morse is still under investigation, and I’d like your permission if I find anything I need to take.”

  Jeff glanced at Nathan. “Then why don’t we all go?”

  Nathan nodded, and they filed from the room. Danielle strode down the hallway, aware that Jack walked beside her, but she didn’t look at him. When they reached Landon’s office, Jeff stepped around her and unlocked the door.

  Once inside, Jack went to Landon’s desk, sat down and opened the top drawer. Danielle walked to the window and looked out onto the quadrangle. She turned back to Nathan. “I’ve never noticed before that Landon’s office faces the quadrangle.”

  Nathan stepped up beside her and gave a snort of disgust. “I suppose he had his own view of all the girls going to class. I can’t believe we brought somebody like him back to this campus.”

  Danielle turned at the sound of Jack opening Landon’s storage c
loset. A jacket hung inside and books and music lined the shelves. Jack stood on tiptoe and ran his hand along the top shelf. He frowned and stretched taller.

  “What’s this?”

  Danielle and Nathan turned as Jack pulled a laptop from the back of the shelf. Jeff stepped closer. “That’s Landon’s laptop. Every teacher has one they can take home.”

  Jack set the computer on the desk and opened it. He started to press the power button but hesitated. Closing it again, he looked up at Jeff. “I don’t think our tech guys checked a laptop in Morse’s office when they were here. Do you mind if I take this one with me?”

  Jeff nodded. “Of course.”

  Jack stood and picked up the computer. “I’ll let you know if we find anything interesting on it. Now I need to get back to headquarters.”

  They stepped from the office into the hallway and walked back toward the front of the building. When they reached Jeff’s office, he shook Jack’s hand. “I’m sorry Webster has caused you so much trouble, Detective Denton. I hope everything will soon be brought to a conclusion.”

  Nathan nodded. “So do I. Jeff and I have some matters to discuss. Danielle, there’s no need for you to stay. Go on and enjoy what’s left of your holiday.”

  She and Jack walked down the hallway toward the front door. When they stepped outside, he stopped and faced her. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to go to Asheville yesterday. I wanted you to meet my mother.”

  Danielle tried to smile, but something in his eyes told her this was his goodbye to her. “I feel like I already know her, Jack.”

  He frowned. “How?”

  “Because she raised a nice son. Only a special woman could have done that.” She paused a moment and took in every detail of his face. “I’m going to miss you, Jack.”

  “I’m going to miss you, too.”

  He leaned closer, and she took a step toward him. His eyes bored into her. She closed her eyes and turned her face up to him. Her lips burned, awaiting Jack’s first kiss. The fire that consumed her dwindled to embers as his lips grazed her cheek.