Snowed In

“What does that mean?”

Their situation had complications that went beyond the level of the Pitkin County sheriff’s office. When he arrived in the area, he had contacted one of the local deputies, David Kovak, who was former military. “Drive into town. We’ll get settled. And I’ll take care of this.”

“Are you saying that I should leave everything to you?”

He had the feeling that he was walking through a minefield. “I’m saying that I can help.”

Keeping her hands possessively on the wheel, she turned toward him. Her dark eyes shone like obsidian. “I don’t know you well enough to trust you. Not when my property is involved. Bentley’s B and B has been in my family for over a hundred years, and I’m not going to be the Bentley who abandons it to vandals.”

“Your survival is more important than your house.”

“Why do you think this is so dangerous? How do you know?” Her voice was tinged with suspicion. “Come to think of it, how did you happen to turn up at the clearing in the nick of time?”

“I overheard Emily when she woke you.”

“Did not,” Emily said. “I listened outside your bedroom door, and it was totally quiet.”

“I wasn’t in the bedroom.” He hadn’t wanted to go into this explanation while they were parked at the edge of the road. Actually, he hadn’t wanted to explain at all. That should have been Jeremy’s job. But Jeremy wasn’t here.

“What were you doing?” Sarah demanded.

“Checking out the B and B.” He’d gone around the perimeter, tested windows and doors. Jeremy had told him that Bentley’s was a secure location for the wedding, and Blake concurred. “With the addition of a few surveillance cameras, your B and B is practically a fortress.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said. “Our guests have included international statesmen and presidents, starting with Teddy Roosevelt in 1907.”

“Give me my phone,” Emily said, leaning halfway into the front and holding out her hand. “I want to call Jeremy.”

“Not yet,” Sarah interrupted. “Not until we figure out what we’re doing. How about it, Blake?”

He glanced between the two women. It would have been easier to face a dozen Taliban soldiers than to try to talk sense into Sarah and Emily. “I’ll agree to go to the B and B. However, if there’s any sign of disturbance or occupation, we’ll get the hell out of there.”

“Agreed,” Sarah said as she slipped the SUV into gear.

In a few minutes, they were in sight of the heavy wooden stairs that led to the wide porch spanning the first floor. Two lantern-style lamps lit the porch, and another motion-sensitive light came on when they pulled into the parking area in front.

“Are these lights usually on?” he asked.

“Almost always,” she said. “I know they were on when we left.”

He didn’t see any sign of disturbance but intended to use extreme caution. “You and Emily stay in the car. I’ll need the key code for the front door.”

“It’s F-E-R-R-E-T.”

“Ferret?”

“The black-footed ferret is an endangered species.”

Beretta in hand, he left the car.

* * *

SARAH KEPT THE ENGINE running as she watched Blake approach her house. For such a big man, he was light on his feet, almost graceful as he went up the three stairs to the porch. With his cargo pants tucked into his black combat boots and the Beretta in his hand, he looked every inch a ranger, skilled in dealing with bad guys. She didn’t doubt for a moment that he’d faced down four masked men. His cool competence under pressure was a little bit unnerving.

Emily climbed into the passenger seat next to her. “What are we supposed to do if somebody attacks Blake?”

“I hadn’t thought of that.” She could barely imagine Blake needing their help. But if she was wrong, if anything terrible happened to him, it was her fault. Sarah had insisted on coming back to the B and B instead of going to a safe hotel. “Open the glove compartment. Maybe he’s got another weapon in here.”

“Why?” Emily asked. “You’re not thinking of going after him, are you?”

“I shouldn’t have let him go in there alone.” Her hand was on the door handle, ready to open it. “Did you find a gun?”

Emily pawed through the glove box. “There’s nothing in here but rental documents.”

Holding her breath, Sarah watched Blake punch the code into the pad by the front door. What if someone was waiting for him on the other side? What if he was met by a barrage of bullets? She couldn’t just sit here like a helpless lump. She cracked the door to the SUV open. “I have to help.”

“Sarah, stop. There’s nothing you can do.”

She glanced over at her lovely, delicate friend. Emily was a pale, blonde princess, the kind of woman who was destined to be rescued by a handsome prince on a white stallion. Not Sarah. She’d always taken care of herself and made her own way in the world. “Lock the doors and keep the engine running. If anybody comes after you, hit the car horn.”

Before she could change her mind, she jumped from the SUV and rushed toward the house. At the same time, Blake opened the front door and charged inside. He must have hit the switches at the entryway because light splashed through the windows on the first floor. There was no sound of gunfire. No shouts. Nothing but the sound of her own footsteps as Sarah ran up the stairs and dove into the house.

Blake stood in the center of the large living room. His face was a mask of chiseled determination. His blue eyes narrowed, and he did not look happy to see her. “What are you doing here?”

“I thought you might need backup.”

“Exactly how are you going to help?”

She went to the small supply closet behind the sign-in desk, opened the door and found a baseball bat—a security measure she kept in case of troublemakers and had never had occasion to use until now. “I’m armed.”

“Okay, slugger, follow me and stay close. Turn on lights as we go.”

Watching his back, she trailed him through the dining room into the kitchen and the adjoining mudroom, where the outer door was safely locked. She took it upon herself to peek into the large pantry and the walk-in refrigeration unit, even though she couldn’t imagine anyone hiding in there.

“Look for open or broken windows,” he said. “There are only two other doors down here, correct?”

“One at the end of each hallway.”

To the right, there were four bedroom suites, including her private area. Each had a king-size bed and private bathroom. Blake’s vigilance was unflagging as he entered each separate room and searched with his Berretta held at the ready. His single-minded focus reminded her that this was more than a tour of her B and B.

She and Emily had been fired upon. They’d gone over the edge of the cliff to escape. Clearly, the guys in ski masks weren’t with BOOM. Who were they? Why had they threatened her and Emily? They had to be after something. But what? She had the feeling that Blake knew more than he was saying, and she needed to get some answers from him.

When he bent down to examine the lock on a side door that opened onto a deck, she asked, “What are you looking for?”

“This door doesn’t work on the keypad system.”

“Only the front door,” she said. “I lock the others at night. There’s a set of keys in my room and another set in the front desk.”

“I’ll need copies of those keys,” he said.