12. Chapter 12

Chapter twelve

B ack at the lodge I flipped through the photos on my phone, scouring the macabre images for any clue as to Dr. Bennett’s whereabouts or what his abductor was after. I suspected the lab results tied the silver poisoning cases together. Which was a conclusive link to my father’s killer. My rogue stalker was either one in the same or he worked for whoever was responsible for my father’s death.

Still, I couldn’t afford to get stuck on one theory and let my suspicions blind me to other possibilities.

I needed a clear head and to let the facts dictate the case. They’d lead me straight to the wolf who killed my father. I just needed to pay attention and get a look at the files inside Dr. Bennett’s filing cabinet.

There was just one problem.

Benjamin had made it clear my access to the crime scene and case information would be limited if not non-existent. The pictures I took on my phone were all I had to go on. They gave a snapshot of the patient records contained in the files scattered across the floor, but I was more concerned with what they didn’t tell me—whether or not my file, along with Lucas’, and my father’s were missing.

I may not be able to get the reports, but I had an idea who might, and it wasn’t Benjamin Williams. If Gabe was what I thought he was in his life before he turned into a lone wolf, he had the skills to convince the trackers to let us in or break us in and cover it up.

I closed out my gallery and made the call.

“Hey, it’s Lina.” I’d matted a path in the carpet as I paced back and forth along the foot of the bed. “No, I’m okay.”

I kept the for now comment to myself. No need to be foreboding unless Gabe refused to come out to the pack lands.

“Sorry I haven’t called with an update. I’ve been on the move.” Gabe spoke in hushed tones which were difficult to hear over the phone.

“It’s fine. There’s been a lot going on here too.” I struggled with what to say next.

Too little and he might not feel a need to risk coming back into the fold. Too much information could garner the same result.

“I followed the rogue as far as the border to the pack lands.” Gabe whispered into the phone.

“Great, so you’re here.” I couldn’t contain my excitement. The job of convincing him to help me just got a whole lot easier.

Or so I thought.

“I said as far as the border. I didn’t cross it.” Gabe’s voice came through loud and clear that time. “And I don’t intend to.”

“Gabe, listen. I need your—”

“No, you listen. I did what you asked and then some. Helping you put me closer to the alliance than I ever wanted to be. I left that life a long time ago and I’m not going back. I can’t go back.” He said, but the last part of his affirmation seemed more for himself than for me.

“He tried to kill me. He might have succeeded too, if he didn’t use an arrow and I wasn’t somewhere I could get medical attention.” I pushed a little harder. “And he killed the doctor who treated me.”

“He shot you with an arrow?” Gabe asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

I could almost hear the gears turning as he started to piece together the information I gave him.

“Yeah, why? Do you think that’s important?” I hadn’t given much consideration to his weapon of choice apart from the fact that it hurt like a son of a bitch when it went into my shoulder.

“He’s not just stalking you, Lina. He’s hunting you.” Gabe’s answer sent a chill through my bones.

Hunting made everything sound so much worse.

“All the more reason I need your help.” I hated to play the damsel in distress, but in truth, I kind of was. “Look, there were four of us in the pack who knew what was going on and one of them is now dead.”

“Yeah, that’s not really a convincing argument for me to come there.” Gabe barked out a sarcastic laugh.

“You know about my dad, but what you don’t know is my mother holds me responsible, hates my guts, and is making it damn difficult to find allies. I need your help, Gabe. I know you have experience with this sort of thing.” I continued to press him.

“And what sort of thing would that be?” Gabe exhaled a frustrated sigh into the phone.

“Murder.” I replied, very matter of fact.

“Murder? What is it you think I did before I struck out on my own?” Gabe asked in a defensive tone. “Because I sure as hell wasn’t a hitman.”

“No, you were a homicide detective.” I listened to his hitched breathing on the other end of the call and knew I was right. “Tell me I’m wrong, Gabe. Tell me you didn’t work homicide and you weren’t moonlighting as a tracker for your pack.”

“And you came to this conclusion how?” Gabe moved past defensive and went straight to pissed off.

Things were not going as well as I hoped.

“The bear trap. You pieced things together pretty damn quick.” I scrambled to come up with a reason that would convince Gabe to come to the pack lands and help. “What would it take to get you to come here and help me?”

“An act of God.” Gabe left little room for negotiation with that response.

I knew he was worried about the repercussions for going rogue and the label disperser. Been there, done that and I didn’t even get a t-shirt. I’d survived the council and my so-called day in court. Which earned Gabe and any wolf like him a free pass.

And that included my stalker.

“You probably aren’t aware, but there’s this challenge—”

“I know what it is. I’ve been doing some homework on the Redford family.” Gabe explained.

“Find anything interesting?” I asked, a little afraid to hear his answer.

“The usual political family secrets. Nothing I wouldn’t have expected to find.” Gabe sounded almost disappointed.

I knew he was curious. Old habits died hard, especially with detectives.

“Well, Sherlock, did you know that it was opened to all wolves? Including rogues?” I asked, though I suspected his sources hadn’t heard that juicy little tidbit yet.

“What? Are they trying to get you killed?” Gabe shouted. Birds startled in the background and took flight.

“The idea is to flush him out and catch him before he kills me.” I tried to sound casual, as if I wasn’t scared about being meat on the hook.

To be honest I was afraid, but that wouldn’t stop me from doing it.

“Damn, I gave away my location. I have to go.” Gabe prepared to end the call.

“Gabe, wait. Please, help me.” I pleaded.

“Are you staying in the same room at the lodge?” Gabe’s question threw me off guard.

“Yes. How did you—”

“Switch to a room on the second floor. It’s too easy for him to gain entry on the ground floor. Change rooms. Text me the number.” Gabe hung up.

“Does that mean he’s coming?” I asked myself aloud, referring to Gabe and more than a little confused by how the conversation ended.

I collected my dirty clothes littered about the room, shoved everything in my backpack and headed out to the lobby. Amy, the overworked concierge who was quickly becoming my new best friend was once again behind the counter.

“Hey, Amy.” I leaned against the chest high desk. “Are there any other available rooms?”

“Is there something wrong with your room, Miss Redford?” Amy stiffened as if preparing herself for a barrage of complaints.

“No, not really. I mean, nothing that won’t sound crazy, anyway.” I let out an exasperated sigh.

Not being able to tell people what was going on right under their noses complicated things. As it turned out staying under the radar required a different skillset as working under cover. When I ran from my problems, I had pretended to be someone else. One lie, one life. It was a hell of a lot easier than being myself and living two parallel lives.

“So, you just don’t like the room?” Amy asked a hint of apprehension in her voice.

What kind of jerks stayed at the lodge that the staff was gun shy about customer complaints? I added talking to the employees about how they were being treated to my to do list. Right under solve murder and don’t get killed.

“We’ve spent a fair amount of time together in my short stay at the lodge. Call me Lina.” I smiled when Amy noticeably relaxed, though not enough to all me by my nickname.

“Let me speak to my supervisor and see if there’s anything we can do for you, Miss Redford.” Amy excused herself and disappeared behind a door with an engraved gold plate that read manager.

She returned with a little pep in her step moments later.

“Good news, Miss Redford.” She jiggled the mouse to wake up her computer and clacked a few keys on the keyboard. “According to our system, your stay has been fully covered by the council. My manager has authorized a transfer to the dignitary suite.”

“I bet they did.” A wry smile spread across my face as I placed the keycard on the counter to exchange it for one that opened the door to the suite typically reserved for important wolves traveling in from foreign countries to discuss international affairs.

“Would you like me to call for a porter to assist you?” Amy took my old key and handed me the one for the suite.

“Nope. I travel light, remember?” I hitched my bag up on my shoulders.

“Oh, right.” Amy offered an easy smile. “If there’s anything else I can do for you, Miss Redford, just let me know.”

“Thanks.” I tapped the card key on the counter. “You’ve been great. I’ll be sure to put that on the satisfaction survey.”

I swiped the card key in front of the digital reader that called the private elevator that offered direct access to the suite. Room service and housekeeping’s keys were coded to open rear doors of the elevator which opened to a short L-shaped hallway and the only other entrance to the suite.

My stomach dropped when the elevator made its brief ascent. It dinged, signaling the end of the ride almost as soon as it began. The doors slid open to reveal a sprawling living and dining area with two sets of doors on either side. A full kitchen was situated in the corner to my right.

So, this is how the high rollers in Vegas lived.

I’d never been to the gambling town or the Southwestern territory for that matter. When I left Cedar Grove, I had some grand plans. After spending my entire life in the Carolinas, I wanted to see the other territories. I had thought I could hit the road and backpack across the country. Or maybe disappear in the desert.

Of course, none of that happened.

Instead, I was back where I started with not one, but two murders to solve. All while I kept myself out of the killer’s crosshairs—and matrimony bed.

A shiver ran up my spine over the possibility that the rogue could not only enter, but win the challenge. I prayed Lucas kept his promise and won the challenge. Because if the rogue beat him to the prize and I had to marry the rogue, one of us wouldn’t make it to the honeymoon.

I stewed on that for a minute and decided to put mariticide on the back burner in case I needed a plan B.

My phone chimed for an incoming text, putting an end to my doubts about whether I was capable of murder and committing the perfect crime.

You were supposed to text me the room number.

How did you know I moved already?

Come down to the bar. The table in the back.

You’re here?

Just come down to the damn bar already.

I slipped the phone into my back pocket, tucked the key card in my wallet, took the elevator back down to the lobby.

Gabe must have been camped out on the portion of the nature reserve operated by the Department of Natural Resources. He didn’t just follow the rogue. He had stayed to watch him.

I ignored the flutter in my stomach when I realized Gabe seemed to care enough to stay. My meeting with Gabe felt like a make or break moment.

For more reasons than one.