Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 Dana Mentink (e books free to read TXT) 📖

cover, but it was too reminiscent of the style the shooter had worn so she left it on her neck. Only one small set of rapids stood in their way before Sandy Cape. Radios crackled between the three men, and they took turns answering, presumably communicating to Dispatch.

She spotted her kayak, untouched, her helmet and paddle still resting on top. Like everything about the business, Nora was responsible for employee safety and the new rafts and kayaks her aunt had purchased from the meager bookings of last year. Hope surged that Dexter would be safe, too.

They gave a final push with the oars and the raft slid onto the bank.

A man stepped out of the trees with a wave. “Over here!”

Even without the tell-tale green uniform, Nora would’ve recognized the man’s husky voice. Perry Fletcher worked for the forest service Law Enforcement Investigations unit. While a good fifteen years older, he’d served as a mentor to Henry, helping solidify his decision to abandon law school and pursue a career as a law enforcement ranger. Back when Nora still believed in happily-ever-after.

Henry and the deputies joined Perry at the tree line. She stayed at the side of the raft, searching the trees for any sign of a hidden shooter. The way the men gathered and looked over their shoulders, sympathy in their eyes, Nora didn’t need to ask.

Dexter was dead.

“Suicide?” Henry’s voice carried. He placed two fists on his waist.

Nora rushed forward. “What? No, I saw—”

Perry stepped forward, blocking her progress to the tree line. “I don’t think you should get closer, Nora. It’s not a pretty sight. He didn’t make it.”

Her breath grew shallow. “But why did Henry say suicide? There was a man. He shot Dexter. I saw it.”

Perry studied her face, empathy lining his features. “Where were you standing when you saw the man, Nora?”

“Right about here.” Nora looked over Perry’s shoulder to where Henry and the deputies stood. A black jacket hung on a set of tree branches. The wind gusted, making the sleeves move slightly. “That jacket wasn’t there before. I mean the killer might’ve left it—”

“Don’t you usually wear glasses?” Perry tilted his head and studied her. He aimed a thumb over his shoulders at the trees and rocks behind him. “I approached with my gun at the ready because I thought I saw a man at first, too, so I understand. But upon investigation, all the indications…”

“I’m wearing contacts.” Her throat tightened and her chest seized. She knew what she’d seen, and it hadn’t been a jacket blowing in the wind. “What indications? I saw—”

“A shot to the side of the head at such a close contact is usually indicative—”

“The man told Dexter to look at something and shot him.”

“A man in a black jacket?” The look of pity made her want to scream. Perry ignored her glare and ticked off his fingers. “The distance of the shot from the body caused a burn mark around the wound. It was at contact range. The angle of the shot was slightly upward, as if self-inflicted. It was only one shot, and the gun is in the victim’s hand. Those all make this less likely to be homicide.”

“They were standing close to each other. So, when Dexter looked away the man must have put the gun against the side of his head to make it look like a suicide.”

“Perry,” Henry called out, “can I talk to you for a moment?”

The ranger shrugged and turned as if to go to Henry but spun back around to Nora. “You’re a week early in scouting the river, aren’t you? The other company hasn’t even started.”

Nora really didn’t feel like chatting with Perry at the moment when he didn’t seem to believe her, but the rafting business relied on a good relationship with the forest service. “We have a special visitor coming. It’s important for our first early season run to be perfect.” She didn’t see the need to explain her aunt’s financial predicament to Perry, though.

“A mudslide brought down a boulder the size of a semi right before the take-out near Garnet Rapids. It’s right in the path of the most used current, so extra dangerous. Search for a new path or you’re guaranteed to high side and get stranded on that rock. Let me know what you find out so I can alert the other rafting company. We might have to cut down some foliage for an earlier take-out point if it’s too dangerous.”

She struggled to make note of Perry’s advice over the rage coursing through her veins. The shooter she’d seen hadn’t been a jacket in a tree. Though, with the shadows, the bark could be misconstrued as the gray camouflage… She blinked. No, her eyes hadn’t tricked her. And she had heard them arguing. She couldn’t have imagined that.

Could she have?

* * *

Henry waited impatiently for Perry to finish talking with Nora before they stepped out of earshot. While both land management organizations had a partnership regarding the river and the rafters, Sandy Cape was clearly Perry’s jurisdiction. He could wave Henry and the deputies away in favor of the FBI or no help at all, so Henry knew he needed to tread carefully. “If you don’t mind me asking, how’d you get here so fast?” he asked. “I thought there were no motor vehicles allowed.”

Perry puffed up his chest. “I was nearby at the Martin ranch, taking a witness statement about trespassers. Likely more mobile meth labs in the making.” He shook his head, before he exhaled and smirked. “Official business enables me to use an ATV when it’s absolutely necessary. Let’s just say there are benefits to being on the right side of public land management.”

Henry fought against rolling his eyes at the well-played dig. There was a good-natured rivalry between their organizations. “Did you keep a lookout for any other tracks on your way here?”

Perry widened his stance. “Dispatch thought there might’ve been a chance the victim was still alive after being shot,