DEATH CACHE
Tiffinie Helmer
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To Kristin Morgan for sparking this idea of geocaching when I needed a new fresh survival premise for my Alaskan books. I have enjoyed the time we worked together and hope many great things come your way. When you read Death Cache, I hope it doesn’t put you off geocaching. Just maybe don’t enter any competitions where you are flown into the middle of nowhere and dropped off.
To Cindy Stark and Kerrigan Bryne for the last minute plot sewing and character weaving. I’m so lucky to have you both on this journey with me.
To Writers of Imminent Death: Mikki Kells, Kerrigan Bryne, Cyndi Olsen, Ariadne Kane, and Heidi Turner. Our weekly B&N Thursday night writers group have helped keep me focused, inspired, and on schedule.
To Anselm Audley for becoming a fan of my work even though romance isn’t your genre. Thank you for helping clean up my mess. I have really enjoyed our collaborations and will never forget that Wild Men don’t moan.
And to my agent Christine Witthohn for the continued support and whip-cracking motivation.
Thank you!
MAP
DEDICATION
For my youngest daughter, Tess. You started out as a surprise and have continued to surprise me since the day you were born. Your sweetness is laced with just enough sour to make you interesting and unpredictable. I am truly blessed to have you in my life. Love you, babe.
THE INVITATION
By Special Invitation Only
1st Annual Extreme Geocaching Competition
June 7th – 14th
Time & Place: 8:00 a.m. N64° 49.098’, W147° 55.0349’
Lodging: Rustic cabins on a pristine glacial-fed lake.
What to bring: Pack for survival in Alaska’s Extreme Backcountry.
Do you dare to be the best?
CHAPTER ONE
“Oh my God, I’ve slept with everyone here.” Tern Maiski’s gaze swept the airplane hangar with mounting dread. Good heavens, she sounded like a slut. All four of her exes stood next to the Cessna outfitted like they were headed on the same geocaching trek competition she was.
“Except you refused to put out for me when I wanted to experiment in college.” Nadia Hanson, best friend extraordinaire, came to a stop next to her.
See, she wasn’t that sexually promiscuous. Four men in twenty-eight years didn’t make her easy. Besides she’d bet ‘easy’ would be the last word these men would use to describe her.
Nadia gave a slow whistle at the impressive line-up of testosterone. “Damn, girl. Remind me again why you let these guys go.”
All eyes turned their direction. The men stood in a row like a reception line from hell.
Tern tightened her hold on the strap of her backpack. She’d only let two of them go. One had moved her to the friend pile and the other had broken her heart. She had no problem meeting each of the men’s stares. Except Gage Fallon’s. The bastard had walked out on her without a word six months ago. Just up and disappeared. Not an email or lousy text message to explain the hard dumping he’d given her. This was the first time she’d seen him since their last night together when they’d loved each other into a coma. She wanted to devour him with her eyes, and rail at him for making her worry so much. If she hadn’t called and pestered his boss, who’d reassured her that no foul play had befallen him, she would still be worrying and wondering what had happened to him. Obviously he was fine. “I should tuck tail and run right now,” Tern murmured.
“You back out now, what do you think that’s going to say?”
Right. She’d introduced them to the high-tech sport of geocaching, a treasure hunt where the participants used GPS to find hidden caches. Damned if they’d prove they were now better at the game than she was, not with how wide her competitive streak ran. Nadia’s comment had Tern straightening her shoulders and moving forward with a walk that was part take-no-prisoners and part promise-to-rock-your-world.
Addison “Mac” MacFearson greeted her with a crushing bear hug and a kiss on her cheek. A rugged Alaskan Bush guide with a ‘No Crybabies Allowed’ attitude, he’d been her first love, and still held a special part of her heart. He’d called a halt to their relationship as he was two decades older than her twenty-eight years. He hadn’t wanted another family, and she really wanted children, but they had remained good friends through it all. She hadn’t seen him in a few months and cheerfully returned his hug. He released her, held her at arm’s reach, and cocked a knowing smile. “You’re in for a trial here, sweetcakes.”
Yeah, she’d gotten that idea the moment she’d seen the stud reunion.
Standing next to Mac, Lucky Leroy Morgan winked at her. His come-hither smile and surfer good looks, tempted Tern to sidle a little closer.
Man, he’d been fun.
“I thought you were in Peru climbing the Andes,” she said, staying just out of reach. A lot of good that did her, as he took a step forward and swung her around in a tight clench.
“I was until this little adventure presented itself. Damn, but it’s good to see you.” He followed the swing with a dip and planted a searing kiss on her lips. When he’d righted her, she was dizzy, flushed, and half tempted to follow up on that kiss. But she knew better. Lucky was a gambler, not only with his money but his life.
“I stopped by the shop last night, but they said you were in Chatanika visiting your family,” Lucky said. “Seems lately every time I try to look you up, you’re busy.”
“Thought I was waiting around pining for you?” Their relationship had ended amicably. Both of them wanted different things—she a home and family, Lucky the next adventure—but he still looked her up whenever he was in the hemisphere.
He covered his heart and his bedroom eyes warmed. “A guy can hope.”
Tern introduced him to Nadia, and those eyes heated further in appreciation for her best friend. Another reason she’d cut Lucky loose. The man had a weakness for the ladies, and she didn’t share.
Nadia held out her hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“’Bout time I met Tern’s sidekick. I’ve heard a few things about you myself.” Lucky took Nadia’s hand in his, his approving gaze roving up and down her body. “We should compare notes.”
Oh, heavens. Tern moved on.
Robert Coate was next. He solemnly nodded his head. “Tern,” he greeted. His steady gaze had the power to nick her heart. She’d broken his and the guilt of it still weighed heavily on her.
A business owner of a sporting goods store just down the street from her own shop, The Arctic Tern, Robert had made the most sense in her husband search. He was involved in the community, regularly attended church, loved dogs, and was a single parent in need of a mother for his beautiful six-year-old daughter, Chloe, who Tern adored. He was about as close to Mr. Good Enough as she’d found, but an inner voice kept whispering she wouldn’t be happy settling. And to be honest, she didn’t want to be known as Mrs. Tern Coate.
“Hi, Robert. How are you doing?”
“Fine.” He straightened his shoulders, his eyes hooded with scowling brows. It was like this every time they ran into each other since their breakup. Though Tern had tried to let him down easy, easy hadn’t worked. She’d been forced to be brutal in order to make it clear she was no longer interested in anything more than friendship from Robert. Since then they had stuck to ‘fine’ and ‘okay’ as they felt around for a more comfortable footing.
And then there was Gage.
Tern’s heart hurt just knowing he breathed the same air. It had the added benefit of pissing her off too. She had no business caring about a guy who wasn’t man enough to pick up a phone.
While she refused to look at Gage as she’d greeted the other men, she’d felt his eyes burn
through her. An answering heat rippled under her skin. She’d done her best to ignore it, but failed.
As she finally turned to face him, hunger consumed her, and it was all she could do not to lick him like an ice cream cone, all six feet and three inches of him. He’d changed in the long months since she’d seen him, exuding an edgy danger that unfortunately made him even more attractive. Her blood raced and her heart thumped harder in her chest. She wondered if he could hear it.
His jade eyes were colder, his dark hair longer, and it looked as though he hadn’t laughed in a long time. The biting remark hanging on her tongue died.
“Tern,” he said, in that same husky, deep baritone that had her insides clenching. “Seems you know all the players. Are you the one who set this up?”
Like she was a masochist. “No. I’m just as surprised to see you as you are to see me.” She met his gaze and tried not to baulk. He didn’t look happy to see her at all. She’d bet he wouldn’t be here if he’d known she’d been invited on this excursion. It hurt knowing he hadn’t missed her the tiniest bit.
Deadbeat. He wasn’t worth her heartache.
Nadia bumped into her, and she grabbed a deep breath hoping it would settle her down. Nadia greeted Gage with a welcoming smile and a hug. They were both employed by the University, Nadia as a math professor and Gage as a scientist for the Geophysical Institute where he studied the aurora borealis and Earth’s magnetosphere. Nadia had been the one to suggest Gage check out her shop when he needed to do his Christmas shopping.
Tern didn’t like seeing Nadia in Gage’s arms. He returned Nadia’s smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners as they caught up with each other. Why couldn’t he have greeted her like that? She turned away before she gave in and kicked Gage in the shins or fell into a blubbering puddle at his feet begging to know why he’d left her.
Through the door of the hangar her white Jeep beckoned, promising escape. She even took a few steps toward it, before realizing what she was doing and stopped. She couldn’t back out now. Not with Gage’s eyes boring into her back. If she walked off, he would know how much he’d hurt her. But then, how could she spend a whole week with him in the wilderness and refrain from killing him? Or worse, sleep with him again?
A sandy-haired man wearing aviator glasses and flyboy jacket entered the hangar. “Folks, my name is Hugh, and I’ll be ready to take off in about ten minutes. We’ll be taking the DeHavilland Beaver tied up next to the dock. If you’ll carry your bags down there, I’ll get them loaded, while you take your seats.”
“Do we know where we’re going yet?” Robert asked, grabbing his pack and following the pilot.
“Everything will be made clear to you once we’ve landed. Those are the instructions I’ve been given. Can’t have one of you with an advantage.”
How about disadvantage?
Tern sure as hell felt like she carried a handicap starting out. It didn’t seem like anyone else was burdened with the amount of emotional baggage on this trip that she was.
She caught Gage watching her and felt like a rabbit being hunted by a wolf. Her nipples tightened and excitement swept over her. Damn her thrill-seeker gene.
“Ready?” Nadia broke through Tern’s connection to Gage.
“Nope.”
“Ah, come on, Tern.” Nadia flashed a smile and gave her newly darkened hair a toss. She’d recently exchanged her natural cinnamon for Tern’s raven coloring. Tern was still getting used to the change. “It’ll be fun. Once we get there and the games begin, you’ll forget all about Gage Fallon.”
“Uh-huh, and we’ll see stars in the sky tonight too.” It would take a miracle as the midnight sun ruled the skies this time of year.
Nadia laughed and hooked her arm through Tern’s and pulled her toward the floatplane. “You’ll kick yourself if you stay.”
They climbed aboard and took their seats. Nadia sat in back with Gage, sandwiching Tern with Lucky on one side and Robert on the other. Mac sat up front with Hugh.
Fortunately, once they took off on the man-made Chena Marina and were soaring northwest into the brilliant blue sky, the noise in the plane was too loud to carry on a conversation without headphones and mics. Mac and Hugh were the only ones outfitted, which suited Tern just fine. There was too much back and forth going on inside her head to pay attention to anyone else.
Why had she let Nadia talk her into getting on this plane? There was no way this trip would end well, other than winning and being named the best geocacher in the state. Regardless if she’d seemed a coward for backing out, she should have run from the hangar and left this crew on their own. The plane bumped along in a pocket of turbulence as though nodding in agreement.
The floatplane dipped, beginning its descent. She caught a view out the windows and anticipation replaced the foreboding that brewed in her thoughts. A glacier-fed lake glistened like an expensive jewel below them. Iced mountain tops, perfectly frosted by Mother Nature, crowded around the lake as though hoping to pick up any secrets it might whisper of time and space. Spruce trees in the darkest blues to greens to blacks competed for room among the birch trees. A clearing revealed a nest of small cabins along the south bank of the lake, directly opposite the glacier that receded above the valley.
The DeHavilland skimmed the placid waters of the lake on a perfect landing, drifting right up to the sandy beach near the cabins. Hugh powered down the Beaver and silence pressed in.
“Welcome to Nowhere Lake.” Hugh rolled up his hip waders and stepped out onto the plane’s float. He hopped onto the bank and secured the plane to a birch tree before wading into the water. One by one, they climbed out onto the floats and jumped to shore. Hugh unloaded their packs, tossing them the short distance. Tern seized hers just as it would have smacked her in the face. As it was, she stumbled backward.
Hugh waded to shore, pulled an envelope from his back pocket, and handed it to Nadia. “Here you go. Instructions are in there on the rules of the game. I’ll be back in a week to pick you up.” He wasted no time untying the plane, turning it around, and hopping aboard.
They watched, standing in a line, as Hugh took off. Tern wondered if they were all thinking the same thing.
Just where the hell were they, and what would they do if he didn’t come back?
CHAPTER TWO
“Well,” Mac said, hitching up his backpack on brick-like shoulders and grabbing his rifle. “The day isn’t getting any younger. I suggest we make camp and cook up some grub before we tear open those instructions.”
They gathered their gear and headed toward the base camp a few hundred yards from the lake. The spot was breathtaking. Grasses so green it hurt Tern’s eyes to look at them were intermixed with wildflowers of blue bells, forget-me-nots, brook mint, and cowslips. The air was clean and crisp. Rejuvenating.
She dragged in a deep breath and slowly let it out. The sun beat down with teasing fingers, tempting her to shed her jacket. She’d been locked up too long in her shop this season getting ready for the tourists. It was actually unheard of for her to take time off during the summer. It was her money-making season, but she had a good crew and she badly needed the break from commitments and responsibilities.
The camp consisted of three small log cabins built in a half moon. Tern and Nadia entered the first cabin, while the men carried their gear into the remaining ones. The small space housed two cots each, a shelf, hooks for clothes, and an end table between the cots. The bare necessities. It caused a smile to spread over Tern’s face, while Nadia frowned.
“This is it?” she asked, scanning the small space as though some modern day amenities would suddenly appear.
“Did you expect maid service?”
“Running water would have been nice.”
“There’s a pristine lake out front.” Tern gestured to the view out the door she’d left propped open for air and light. The little cabin only sported a tiny window, which wasn’t able to brighten the dark, rough-honed log interior.
“You’re
enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“God, yes.” Tern rolled out her sleeping bag on one of the cots and stretched out on it. “I didn’t realize how badly I needed to get out of town until we got here.” She turned her head to look at Nadia, who fought to untie her sleeping bag. “Thanks for talking me into coming.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Nadia mumbled. “We still need to find a bathroom.”
“I’m sure there’s an outhouse in back of the cabins.”
“Eww, seriously?” Her mouth dropped open.
“They said extreme backcountry. Be grateful there are cabins.” Tern laughed at Nadia’s staggered expression. “Come on, let’s unpack and get something to eat.” She sat up and opened her backpack. Unpacking her GPS, clothes, toiletries, extra pair of shoes, and pistol, she noticed things missing. Besides her stuff was always more organized than this. “Nadia, do you have everything you packed?”
“Hmm…” Nadia lifted her head from reading the back of one of the many steamy romance novels she was never without. “What?”
“It looks like someone rifled through my pack. I’m missing my sat phone, M&M’s, moose jerky. All the food I brought.” Tern frowned.
Nadia dropped the book onto her cot and rummaged through her own backpack. “What the hell. My stuff’s missing, too, including my waterproof matches and the goodies I packed.”
Lucky knocked on the outside of the cabin. “Hey, the old man’s called a meeting.”
A shiver of unease settled into her bones. Tern looked at Nadia as they silently followed Lucky to where the men stood around a dug out fire pit with log seating circling the area.
“Your things have been gone through too?” Tern asked.
“Seems to be the case with all of us,” Gage said, his jaw hard, eyes narrowed.
The same was murmured around the empty fire pit.
“My tool kit was taken, along with the MREs I’d packed,” Robert said.
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