Ivy shrugged. “I assume so? She only strained when she saw someone she knew. Otherwise, she’s stayed by my side.”
Helena raised an eyebrow. “I told the men I had a few questions, and they wanted to know if they needed a lawyer.”
Sean took a step forward. “I thought they were city types. Either that, or they have reason to be nervous.”
“I’ve assured them they aren’t under investigation.” Helena’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Yet. In any event, they’ve agreed to wait a few more minutes. I told them I needed to check on something.”
“We know from Fiona they’re here to buy mining claims,” Ivy said. “Have they told you which one? The Bozsan district?”
Sean shook his head. “We can’t use any leading questions.”
“Besides, they were tight-lipped,” Helena added. “Here’s why I needed you, Ivy. Because of our time crunch, I’d like you to make the emotional plea. Reveal you’re in danger and make them feel like heroes if they help with information.”
Ivy pulled her chin back and blinked. “That wasn’t what I was expecting. Are you asking me to flirt?”
“No,” Sean answered quickly. His neck felt hot. “I’m sure she wasn’t.”
Helena shrugged, a laugh playing on her features. “I was thinking more about having you describe the suspect for them.”
Fiona rounded the corner with a stack of white towels in her arms.
Ivy approached and took the top half off the stack to see Fiona’s glowing face. “Let me help you with that.” She set the towels on top of the countertop. “Fiona, can you tell us any more about those two men interested in gold claims?”
The innkeeper leaned forward and peeked left and right. “Well, I don’t know much about our guests, but my Ben did try to give them some advice. Mostly, they wanted to know where to find reputable employees.” Fiona threw her hands up in the air and rolled her eyes. “If that were easy, everyone in Nome would be rich and never get swindled.”
Sean studied Fiona’s countenance. So the woman knew about the gold stolen from her husband’s dredge. Did she know her son had been in love with the thief?
“Between you and me,” Fiona continued, her voice hushed, “it seems those two have just come into some money and thought it would be an easy way to multiply their fortune, but Ben gave them the hard truth. They’ve been holding interviews in my dining room for a crew leader. I’ve weeded out quite a few that would be no good for them.”
“Oh, they asked you to screen the applicants?” Ivy asked.
“No, but I’m sure they appreciated it.”
Grace snorted, and while Sean was sure it had to be from the fabric softener smell wafting from the towels, her timing was perfect.
“Anyone come to interview with red hair?” Helena asked.
“Auburn,” Ivy corrected. “Over six feet tall.”
“No,” Fiona said slowly, her curiosity piqued. “The men have also been gathering price quotes for equipment, trailers, that sort of thing. I think they’re stepbrothers, but they both must have been in their father’s will. Evan wasn’t as hot on making their fortune in gold as Hudson, but he’s recently broken up with his girlfriend—sounds like she looked a little like you, Ivy—so he was eager to come to Alaska and get his mind off things, you know.”
Ivy grinned and shared a smile with Helena. “I suppose that’s good to know.”
“Sorry I couldn’t be more help. Like I said, I don’t know much about them.” Fiona turned around and went back to stuffing the towels in the back closet. If only every witness didn’t know as much as Fiona knew.
“Thank you, Fiona,” Helena said. “We’ll only need the dining room for a few more minutes.”
Sean gestured for Grace to stand back up from her seated pose. “How about I take the lead?” He walked ahead, mumbling under his breath. “No flirting necessary.”
“What was that?” Helena asked.
He shot her a glare. “Nothing.”
The two men in the dining room wore loudly colored sweaters and sat on opposite sides of a table, both on laptops with their phones also in their hands. They looked nothing alike, one with blond curly hair and the other with straight jet-black hair, but their mannerisms hinted at a familial resemblance.
“State Trooper Sean West. I understand you’ve been speaking to my partner, Helena.” He gestured. “And this is Ivy West.” He’d let them draw their own conclusions about having the same last name. “Ivy was a recent witness and kidnapping victim. We were hoping a quick dialogue might help us get closer to finding our suspect.”
The man on the right, Evan, if he remembered right, jumped up. “We don’t know anything about a kidnapping.” He ran his hands through his thick hair. “What’d you get us involved with, Hudson?”
“Nothing.” Hudson’s voice rose, genuine surprise on his face, as well. Which was exactly the mindset Sean wanted when he asked his next questions, all thoughts of lawyers replaced with shock and curiosity.
“To be clear, we have no proof that the Bozsan mining district is related to these alleged crimes...” He paused a moment as the two men looked at each other, recognition and questions in their eyes. Helena had said they’d been tight-lipped as to what mining claims they’d been interested in buying, but this was the confirmation he needed. “We could use your help in arranging a meeting with the district’s contact to ask a few questions.”
“Are your dogs here to sniff us? See if we helped the kidnappers or something?”
Helena opened her mouth to answer but Sean beat her to it. “The K-9 helped me sniff out a murdered victim in the Bozsan mining district.”
Their jaws somehow dropped even farther. Evan blinked rapidly. “I...I...don’t know. Maybe we should call a lawyer just to be safe. I wasn’t sure about investing in gold, anyway!”
Sean cringed. He’d gone too far and scared them.
“We’re only asking you to help us arrange a meeting with the owner of the claims. If it turns out not to be the guy we want, then you can carry on with business as usual,” Helena said, shooting Sean a glare this time.
The two men stared at each other, clearly unsure.
“You’d be helping me,” Ivy added softly. “This man keeps threatening me and my...” Her voice cracked, and Sean could see the strain in her face was no act.
“She has a little boy.” He pulled out his phone and showed them one of the photos he’d taken the other night. “The suspect tried to trick this little one away from his sitter. So you can see why we’re asking the public for help.”
Evan gawked at the sweet boy’s smile. In that moment, Sean knew they would help. “It was an agent of the trustee. That’s what we were told. Somebody inherited the district and didn’t have the know-how or experience to run it. We don’t, either, but we were going to hire people who did.”
“We were supposed to meet him here,” Hudson admitted. “Marty Macquoid.”
Sean shared a glance with Helena. That name had no leads, which made it highly probable it was an alias. “When?”
“Tomorrow. Ten in the morning. He’s bringing proof of the gold found recently. We have someone lined up to see if it’s legit. After that, he was going to take us to see the claim sites before we signed the papers and wired the money to the trustee.”
“That’s very helpful,” Helena said. “I’d like to ask that you don’t change a thing about your plans. With your permission, we’ll have some plainclothes waiting for Mr. Macquoid outside the B and B for tomorrow. We’ll talk to him, and if he’s not our suspect, he’ll come inside for your meeting.”
Evan and Hudson nodded dejectedly.
“We’ll be in touch,” Sean said. “Thanks for your cooperation.”
The moment they stepped into the hallway, Ivy’s eyes went wide. “You have a photo of Dylan?”
He pulled out
his phone. “I meant to send it to you, but then I got busy with cooking. Grace and Dylan were practically posing for the camera.” Even now, the sight of the little boy’s bright grin was contagious. Grace apparently thought so, too, as she practically smiled whenever the boy was in sight. “We should probably go pick him up now, right?”
Ivy blinked slowly, staring at him as if he’d grown two heads. “I’d like that.”
* * *
Ivy kept Dylan on her lap as Sky approached on a leash that Sean held. Grace sat alert but passive. Even if it was their last night together, she wasn’t about to refuse his training tips. Helena had offered to make dinner and Luna was snoozing, blocking the entire kitchen entrance.
Dylan squealed with laughter the moment Sky’s nose sniffed his bare feet. The dog wagged her tail and sat, eager for someone to pet her. Ivy helped Dylan pat her head. “Gentle,” she said, easing the force of the boy’s taps.
“We may not know Sky’s history, but she seems to like people.” Sean patted the husky, as well. “I’d like to see how the other dogs interact with her inside the bunker before I take off the leash.”
Ivy nodded. While the bunker was a luxury model, they still had limited space. Three adults, a baby and three dogs felt a little tight.
Sean asked Grace to come. She approached and waited. Sky sniffed her and then tried to place her head on top of Grace’s neck. Grace huffed, spun and put a paw on top of the husky’s head, slowly pushing her down in a seated position. Ivy snickered. “Did Grace just tell her to lie down?”
Sky was now on the ground, panting, a smile appearing to be on her face. Helena laughed, looking on from behind the kitchen counter. “I think that’s exactly what happened. The husky is used to a pack leader. Seems to me she’s accepted Grace as that leader without a fight.”
“I’m glad for that.”
“Dinner’s served,” Helena said. She put out a pot of soup and a set of bowls on the countertop. Ivy eagerly scooped a ladle’s worth in a bowl. Once it cooled, Dylan would be able to enjoy it. As they sat at the round table and ate in silence for a few minutes, Ivy wondered at how the awkwardness of sharing such tight quarters was lessening so quickly. Maybe because she’d known Helena prior to this, but it was almost like having a family dinner.
“So maybe we should discuss tomorrow’s plan,” Sean said. “Do you mind if I call the team to discuss this?”
“Of course not,” Ivy answered. She stared at the swirling carrots and potatoes in her bowl, stirring them faster with her spoon. Every time she allowed herself to feel peace amid the circumstances, the reminder of the incredibly high stakes, and that her time with Sean was coming to an end, came at her like flashing neon lights.
* * *
Helena opened a tablet and called Gabriel, who had already spent the day searching for Katie’s estranged uncle, suspected of kidnapping the reindeer. They dialogued about tactical suggestions for tomorrow and steps to take for Nome police cooperation.
By the time they hung up, Ivy had fed Dylan his cooled-off soup and a banana puree for dessert. The faux windows on the walls shifted to a nighttime scene. While it seemed like an extravagant addition, she’d been thankful her dad had paid for such amenities to prevent the stir-crazy feeling she sometimes experienced as a child, particularly during long snowstorms.
Dylan’s bright blues eyes watered as he yawned. Luna yawned, as well. Dylan giggled, then scrunched up his face and let out a wail. The cranky bedtime blues. She should’ve known. Minnie had warned her that his naps had been shorter lately.
“Thanks for dinner, Helena. Sean and I will wash up.” She wiped Dylan’s face and tried to keep the heat from her cheeks.
Helena stood up. “Then I think that’s our cue to head for a quick walk before bed.” She left the bunker with Luna.
“I didn’t mean to speak for you,” Ivy said softly. She unlatched Dylan and lifted him to her chest, the smell of bananas and carrots still wafting from his soft hair.
Sean shrugged. “I was about to offer.” He picked up the bowls and walked to the kitchen. Ivy tried to set Dylan down with his toys, but he cried and kicked.
“He’s so tired.” She tried to hold him in her arms, but Dylan refused to rest his head against her, straining to sit up and move around. These were the most trying parts of motherhood. The moments where he didn’t want to sit, didn’t want to lie down, didn’t know what he wanted.
“Here. I’m happy to take a turn.” Sean slipped his hands underneath hers to take Dylan. “What do you think about that, buddy?” The little boy smiled.
“He adores you.” The admission slipped out in a whisper.
Sean stared into her eyes. “I think he just likes my low voice.” He dramatically lowered the last two words with a grin. “And I think it shocked him enough when I picked him up that he forgot what he was crying about.” Sean beamed, and the little boy grinned back at him.
Helena came back inside and stopped midstride, spine taut, as if she’d stepped into a private moment. Ivy realized they were standing so close together, as if sandwiching Dylan in a hug. “Thank you for taking him,” Ivy said politely. She moved back, allowing Sean to fully hold him without her. He squirmed in Sean’s arms, fussing slightly, but not to the extent he had been.
“Maybe he just needs another rousing performance from the musical stylings of Grace and—”
“Oh, please don’t,” Ivy said.
Helena tilted her head back in a laugh. “I feel the same way. It’s so special that once is enough.” She winked and passed them. “Good night, everyone.” Helena pulled her lips in tight underneath her teeth, as if fighting off another laugh. Then she disappeared into her room and closed the door.
Sean’s shoulders dropped as he bent down and placed Dylan in his portable crib with some toys. This time the toddler grabbed his blanket and snuggled it, pressing his chubby fingers against the fabric of the crib. Sky was closest to him and flopped against the mesh, as if to accommodate. Grace took the opposite side of the crib and also lay down against it. Smart dogs. “I thought you were a fan of our musical number,” Sean said. His tone held a forced playfulness to it, but when he straightened, she saw the slight hurt in his eyes.
“It’s not that I’m not,” she said. “Dylan usually loves his nighttime routines, and I don’t want to get his hopes up that it’s a new one that will happen every night.” She turned back to the sink, blinking rapidly. It was going to be hard enough to say goodbye to Sean again.
“Oh.” His voice sounded as dejected as hers.
“He normally settles down pretty fast in his own crib, but with all the changes...”
Sean joined her at the sink. “I think he picks up on the stress everyone is feeling, even though we try to hide it.”
She picked up the dishrag and rinsed out each bowl. The two of them worked side by side, cleaning and putting away dishes. Everything was okay until the moment they brushed up against each other trying to get to the refrigerator and compost bin. Her throat ached with longing for his arms to wrap around her again, like he used to do in the kitchen after a long workday. She’d listen to the beating of his heart with one ear while the other listened to the tidbits of his day. Only now, she realized just how much he’d kept to himself.
Sean spun around and grabbed her hands. “You’re shaking.”
Her trembling hands were betraying her. “I...uh...must be more tired than I thought.”
“Understandable.” Sean took a step closer, his fingers still gently wrapped around hers. He looked over her head. “Dylan and the dogs both seem to be sleeping now.” His eyes lowered to her lips.
Her heart snapped to high speed, the pulse vibrating in her throat. His right hand lifted, and he trailed his fingertips along her jaw. She leaned forward and slid her hands around his neck and into his hair. Why did his touch have to feel like she’d finally returned home? His eyes met her
s and he lowered his head, his lips brushing against hers ever so softly. She leaned into the kiss, refusing to think of the consequences.
Grace whined. They broke apart, her heart racing. Grace’s eyes were still closed, but her paws were moving in unison. Sean chuckled. “She’s probably dreaming she’s running after a squirrel.”
Wherever the dog was running, Ivy knew Grace was alongside Sean, even in her dreams. Reality settled in the pit of her stomach. “I know you’re leaving tomorrow.”
His face blanched. “You heard?” He shook his head. “You always had good hearing.”
“And you never learned to whisper properly.” She did her best to offer him a grin. Why’d she let her guard down? Kissing him was the last thing she should’ve done.
“I don’t have to go. I’m definitely not going if we don’t catch the guy at the sting.” His forehead creased. “Not right away, at least.”
And there it was. “We both know you can’t abandon your team. And with the missing pregnant woman and killers on the loose, Katie’s missing reindeer and Eli’s godmother’s final request, I think it’s fair to say you’re very much needed.”
“You’re right, but...” His sigh hinted at conflicted emotions. Were they the same feelings she battled? “I made some calls when I followed you back here. Did you know you can apply to foster Dylan elsewhere? Given the situation and with a trooper recommendation, I’m hopeful the request might be expedited.”
“Where would I go?” She watched him carefully. She did not want to have the same fight about Anchorage.
“What if you went back to working that job you loved?”
Her jaw dropped. “Survival instructor?” She didn’t think he’d suggest that. “I have thought about that in the past, but I need something more conducive to motherhood. I couldn’t go on trips.”
Arctic Witness Page 15
