From the time he was a child, his parents had taught him to pay attention to his surroundings to stay alive. In the wilderness, his senses could be the difference between life and death. He hadn’t known that reading his parents’ expressions from the opposite end of a belay line would forever change the way he read people, but it had.
Instead of questioning the sincerity of Nora’s statement, he followed through with his request. “Okay then. Should I pick you up?”
“No. I’d like to meet you somewhere, if that’s okay.”
His senses went off again, but since he couldn’t push her to tell him the truth, he continued, “That’d be great. Would you like me to text you the location, or write it down?” He knew before he asked what her answer would be.
“Write it down, please.” She reached for a napkin and then dug a pen out of her purse.
Sam accepted the napkin and pen. He wrote down the address for the restaurant, along with a quick note and his phone number, even though he knew she had no intention of showing up. He folded the napkin and slid it and the pen into the side pocket of her purse, then changed the subject. “So you’ve come from L.A. to Alaska to hike. What brought you from Argentina to L.A.?”
Nora lifted her cup to her lips. Was that because she was going to tell him another lie, so she was stalling for time? She took a sip but held the cup close to her mouth. “To be an actress.”
Sam did his best to hold back the guffaw that threatened to burst out at her — was that her third? — lie. He was losing count. “Really?” Implying she was a liar would only have her running from him faster than she already wanted to. “Have you?”
“Have I what?”
“Acted in anything?”
“A few things.”
Hmmm … That didn’t sound like a lie. Damn, this woman was confusing. “Anything I might’ve seen?”
“Probably not.” She turned as the server set her breakfast in front of her. “Oh, my!”
Sam smiled as the Nora he’d met and liked returned, replacing the lying woman who’d slipped in to answer what seemed like easy questions. “Nice, huh?”
“Wow! I’m glad you only ordered me one.”
The hotcake, as always, was larger than the plate they served it on. “Here.” He used her fork and knife to fold the hotcake in half, and then in half again. “Now you have a stack of hotcakes.”
“Thank you, cariño!” Nora stretched herself toward him, kissing his cheek.
“My pleasure.” Her back-and-forth actions were giving him whiplash. Had she not wanted to give him a movie title because maybe she’d acted in racy movies? They were sitting in a crowded restaurant with other people at the same table. Maybe that was the problem. He lowered his voice so only she could hear. “Maybe later, when there aren’t so many people around, you’ll tell me more about yourself? What you acted in.”
She took a huge bite of the hotcake. She chewed with a broad smile on her face, then washed it down with orange juice. “Yes. I will tell you more about myself later … when we are alone.”
And there was Nora’s alter-ego again. He hoped he was wrong … wished he hadn’t heard her emphasize the word later. But as he’d told her the previous evening, many people came to Alaska to escape. He just needed to figure out from what — or whom — Nora was trying to get away.
***
Sam couldn’t say with all honesty that he was upset when Nora didn’t show up for dinner. In order to be upset, he would have had to expect her to show, and he hadn’t. Even as he’d been steaming his best long-sleeve button-down shirt, he’d known he was wasting his time.
He had hoped that the note he’d written on the napkin would have persuaded her not to stand him up — or at minimum, call him so they could make other arrangements.
Oddly enough, he wasn’t taking it personally. He didn’t even tell the host that someone would be joining him. Sam knew, as sure as he was breathing, that Nora standing him up wasn’t about him. Nora was running from something. But it was clear she wasn’t going to trust him with what.
Tomorrow, he’d see if he could track down where she was staying. Not to stalk her, of course, but to give her an opportunity to make good on her promise. She had said she’d tell him more about herself later, so maybe if he met her on her own turf — in private — she’d open up to him.
“You want another beer, Sam?” Tonya asked.
“Nah, I’m good. Think I’ll call it an early night.” He’d taken off his first personal day in forever … for nothing.
Tonya nodded, but her eyes held sadness. Sam could tell she knew he’d been expecting someone. Just the fact that he’d shown up at the restaurant dressed as he was, by himself, without a date, without his mother or brothers, would have told her he was hoping someone would join him.
One of the bad things about living in a small town. Everyone knew everyone, even though no one really knew anyone at all.
***
As much as Sam tried, he simply couldn’t get Nora out of his head. He’d screwed up royally. He’d known she was hiding something, known she wouldn’t show up for dinner, and yet he’d let her go. Nearly a week had passed, and he’d yet to find her. There weren’t that many places to stay in Falcon Run. And he’d checked all of them. Even campsites. It was like she was a ghost. No one had seen her come or go. How was that possible?
He couldn’t imagine, if she’d started her hike in Denali, that she wouldn’t have told someone, so where was she? Had he read her wrong from the start? Had she really not been interested in him? No, there was something between them. He knew she’d felt it too. If Nora was running from the law, he’d back off, obviously, but he didn’t get that vibe. He’d seen her scan the bar, the sporting-goods store, and then the restaurant. She’d claimed she was in town alone, and yet she’d been wary of her surroundings, as though someone might be watching her.
With that thought, he decided on a course of action. He’d planned to go hiking before the season started anyway, which was the reason he’d run into her in the outdoor store. But then, he’d spent the last few days — in between rescues — looking for her.
Now was the time to take a vacation, before summer. He texted Vince a quick message, asking when he’d be home. Since Karen had emptied their house, Vince had decided to rent it out and had moved back into the family home. Sam would go over what he needed Vince to do while he was gone, and then he’d leave.
Seven okay? Vince texted back.
Sam sent Vince a thumbs-up, and then headed for the garage — their supply room. As if his dogs had known what he’d decided, both of them hopped up from their slumber and immediately circled him, tails wagging.
Sam squatted and petted Strider, then Arwen. “You guys ready for a hike?” Strider darted out of the room and then Arwen, as always, followed her brother.
Before he made it to the first floor, the doorbell chimed. Strider changed his direction, bolting toward the door, Arwen on his heels. Sam peered over the railing, through the arched glass above the door, at the driveway. An all-black SUV sat out front.
His mother had gone to town earlier, so she obviously wasn’t expecting company. “Sitz!” Sam ordered Strider and Arwen. One hand resting on his rifle, he opened the door. “Yeah?”
Strider growled, so Sam gave him a hand command. He didn’t let strangers hear him give his dogs orders in German, as he never knew when he’d need to use them.
A man just an inch or so taller than Sam, smiled. “You Sam Belgarde?”
“Yep.”
The man flashed a too-white sideways smile as he narrowed his too-dark brows over too-blue eyes. Everything about the man looked counterfeit. He actually appeared shocked that Sam hadn’t invited him into the house. “Can I come in?”
“Not until you tell me who you are and why you’re here.” Sam didn’t like unannounced houseguests. For that matter, none of his Alaskan friends did. Strangers didn’t knock on residential doors in Alaska. Not if they wanted to keep their heads. Sam wa
sn’t the only resident who kept a gun in his foyer. A firearm by the front door was as common as an umbrella. Actually, more common in Alaska.
The man smiled again, but it was too wide. Too bright. Too … Hollywood. “I need someone who can find a missing person, and from what I understand, you’re the best.”
As usual, Sam offered his rote response, “All missing persons need to be reported to the nearest Alaska State Trooper Detachment.”
It wasn’t the first time Sam had been asked to find a missing person. But he wasn’t a private detective or bounty hunter. If a man was bypassing the authorities, the person he was looking for probably didn’t want to be found.
Sam moved to shut the door, but the big man moved his foot in the way. “Please … My name’s Sergio Reyna. The problem is my fiancée isn’t technically missing, but I’m worried. I know she’s tough and thinks she can survive in the wilderness …” The man dropped his gaze. “But I haven’t heard from her in almost a week, and I’m concerned.”
Sam closed his eyes and took in a deep breath before he asked his question, even though he knew what the answer would be. “What’s your fiancée’s name?”
“Nora Molina. You might know her by her title, UFC Champion K.O. Molina.”
Damn.
Chapter 5
~ Sam ~
Sam yanked his cold-weather jacket from its hanger and snatched his boots off the shelf. Next, he hefted his backpack from its hook. He’d just mock-packed the bag as a demonstration the previous week. Who knew he’d actually be using it … on a trip he no longer had a desire to take?
One of the straps caught on Daire’s pack. He tugged, bringing the other pack crashing to the floor, spilling all its contents since Daire hadn’t zipped up his pack.
“Dammit!”
Sam contemplated tossing Daire’s pack and its contents into the trash. Hell, that’s where it belonged, if Daire didn’t care enough to take care of his equipment. He restrained himself though. He couldn’t afford to replace the items. He picked up the boy’s safety line first, gently hanging it where it was supposed to go. One indent could cause a pull, and one pull could cause the line to break when it was needed most.
“God in heaven,” he growled. “What on earth did I do to deserve the hand I’ve been given?”
A hand clamped down on his shoulder, and Sam whirled. He half-expected to see God himself, what with all the cursing he’d been doing.
Instead, Vince stood before him, his heavy brow creased. “Man, what the hell’s up with you? I thought maybe a bear had broken into the garage. A foul-mouthed bear, at that.”
Sam ran his forefinger and thumb down his forehead, kneading his temples. “Why is it that everyone else is allowed to get upset, drink, swear, do anything they damn well please, but whenever I lose my temper, I get the third degree?”
Ignoring his tirade, Vince smiled. “Easy. Because we expect more from you.”
“What if I don’t want to be more? What if I want to take off for three months?”
“That’s not fair, Sam,” Vince interrupted. “I have — had — a full-time career. But I only pursued running a commercial fishing boat because you said the company couldn’t afford me full-time.”
Sam dropped his head. “Still can’t. We’re going into the red every quarter. And for the record, I’m sorry. I wasn’t talking about you, Vince.”
“I know you weren’t. I know what you’re referring to, but it’s not right to hold long-ago indiscretions over Alex’s head either. He was with dad when he died, so of course he feels guilty. And don’t worry about money. I’ll pull my weight, I promise. I’ll get out there and round up some donations, too.” Vince wrapped a long arm around Sam’s shoulders and led him to the bench where they booted up. “So tell me what’s goin’ on. What’d you want to talk about?” Vince stared at Sam’s pack. “You’re not running away, are you?”
Sam collapsed onto the bench. “If that were only possible. But no. Actually, I picked up a job today. Big one. But it’s not something I’m looking forward to.”
“Then why you doin’ it?”
Sam stared up at his quasi-adopted brother. At his wide, child-like eyes. Vince, while reliable, had always done what he wanted to do. His father had beaten him, so one day Vince followed Erik home, and had pretty much lived under Sam’s roof since. When his high-school sweetheart up and ran out, he’d charged right into the life of a commercial fishing boat captain — like his father — something he’d promised her he wouldn’t do if she married him. Vince was damn near as big as a black bear, but as gentle as a koala.
Sam sighed. He wished he had said no to that pompous jerk. No way did he want to deliver the woman he’d fallen for to another man, but he had to. Not because of the money, even though that’s what he would tell his family, but because now he was worried for Nora’s safety.
“Because we’re broke,” Sam said. “And some Hollywood schmo offered me a hundred grand just to make sure his fiancée gets back okay from hiking Denali. All I have to do is bring her home safely, and we’re out of the red for at least a few months.”
Vince’s thick blond brows furrowed into a unibrow. “Whoa! That’s a lot of change. How long’s she been gone? Have they called off the search?”
“She’s not even missing. Just left a few days ago. But he’s worried. Apparently, she’s a prize fighter, or something. He called her K.O. Molina.”
“Oh, snap! That’s why you’re so mad!” Vince roared, doubling over. “The woman from the bar! Daire’s birthday!”
Normally just the sound of Vince’s raucous laughter caused Sam to join in, but not today. Not when he felt like a fool. “You recognized her?”
“Of course, I recognized her.” Vince gasped, working to catch his breath. “What man on this planet hasn’t seen Nora Molina kick ass?”
Sam pointed to himself. “Apparently only me. Maybe I’m the schmo.” He glared at his brother who wasn’t feeling too much like a brother at the moment. Vince’s shoulders heaved up and down. “Oh, for God’s sake. It’s not that funny. Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
Vince snorted, catching his breath from his laughing jag. He lifted his shirt and wiped his eyes. “For one, I assumed you knew. Not only is she the best damn kickboxer in women’s MMA, but she also starred in that movie …” He glanced up, as if the title was written on the ceiling. “Ah, hell, I never remember titles, but it was good. She kicked ass in it, too.” He nudged Sam’s knee. “I’ve been chomping at the hook, waiting to ask you about your game of pool and that dirty-dancing number you pulled.” He waved his hand in front of his face. “Been so long since I’ve seen you in action that I forgot you had it in you. ’Sides, we haven’t had a chance to talk since Daire blew out the candles. You certainly weren’t in any mood to talk after the water rescue. Then I’ve been up to my waders trying to figure out how to keep the bank from repossessing my boat.”
Sam held up his hand before Vince could continue. “Got it. I guess we’re both a couple of putzes. How many times are we going to let women walk all over us?”
“Never again, Sam. I’m not sure I can take getting dumped, and taken financially, again. Of course, I only married Karen because I was so devastated when Valery took off — Hey … Why don’t you let me find the woman? I could sure use a hundred big ones.”
“Wish I could. As you can imagine, I’m not really feeling it.” His face burned hot, the way it had the moment that dark-haired Ken-doll mentioned Nora’s name. “Although … it’ll be nice when I drop her on his doorstep in exchange for a hundred grand. I can just imagine her face when he hands me the final payment, and I walk out the door.”
Sam shook his head, realizing Nora wouldn’t care. He’d been nothing but a chance to sow her wild oats before getting married. No wonder she’d been looking around. A famous woman like her … she probably assumed everyone knew her, and had been afraid one of her fans might have snapped a picture of the two of them. What really ticked him off was that he’
d been stupid enough to spend several days looking for her, wondering if some unseen pursuer had caught up with her.
Vince smacked him on the knee. “Well, let me know what you need me to do while you’re gone.”
“Thanks, Vince. I’m going to finish packing, then I’ll be upstairs.”
“Don’t take too long. I’m starving, and whatever Mom made smells awesome. I’ve been eating canned food for too many months.”
Sam waited for the door to shut, then he dropped his head. What was it with women anyway? Every movie he saw, some man was walking all over some innocent woman. That hadn’t been the case in his life — or Vince’s life. Both of them hadn’t just been walked on; they’d been stomped on. The women they’d loved might as well have ground high heels into their hearts.
If only he could be like his brother Alex. Love ’em and leave ’em, was Alex’s motto, and he hadn’t been referring to emotional love. At least Sam hadn’t slept with Nora, which meant there was no chance of her getting pregnant. The last thing he needed was another newborn dropped in his lap, the way Daire’s mom had done when he was seventeen.
Sam pushed himself off the bench, forcing his body into motion. He opened the pantry and stocked his bear canister with MREs and protein bars. He propped the bag against the bench, strapped snowshoes to it, and spread out his clothes for the morning. He set his boots and poles next to his gear, and then headed to the charging station. Not that he’d get a signal, but he charged his phone and packed his solar charger. Playing solitaire or listening to music was a great distraction if the trip took longer than planned. Next, he charged his SPOT.
He grabbed the clipboard off the wall and ticked off the list of items. Satisfied that he’d not forgotten anything, he headed upstairs. Tomorrow, he’d pack the dogs’ packs with their food. Thankfully, unlike the few times when he’d hiked in Arizona, he didn’t need to pack water. Winter or summer, the one thing Alaska didn’t lack was water.
Sam's Folly (Midnight Sons Book 1) Page 6
