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

“What?” Henry pulled his chin back, surprised at the change. “For what?”

She averted her eyes. “I know you hate the rapids. You practically turned green when we first got in the boat. Does it still hurt?” She gestured to his leg.

“Only occasionally. I feel like an old man when I can predict a storm before the weatherman.”

Her smile warmed his insides in a way nothing else had for years. “You don’t think I could’ve imagined it, do you?”

He squeezed his hands tighter around the steering wheel and focused on the road. “Do you?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “A jacket in the wind doesn’t make a person imagine being shot at.”

He braked hard and twisted to face her. “Nora, you never said anything about getting shot at!”

“I did, too!” She opened her mouth wide and her eyes darted side to side as if she was rewinding her thoughts. “I told the dispatcher that I was afraid the shooter was still coming after me.”

Henry rubbed his forehead, trying not to let his frustration boil over. Nora had stopped talking to him, stopped sharing her thoughts, months before their breakup, so maybe she hadn’t been more forthcoming because he was the one on the case. To be fair, she was also the type of person to not detail all of her symptoms to a doctor because “he’s the professional.” She likely thought her statement was being ignored at the crime scene, especially after Perry’s rant. And, sadly, this kind of slip was a consequence of having three separate law enforcement agencies working a scene. Details slid through the cracks. “Is it possible you didn’t tell Dispatch that the man actually shot at you?”

She bit her lip and stared ahead for a second. “I’m sorry. It all happened so fast.”

The light was fading. “I’ll call Perry, and we’ll return to the scene in the morning.” He focused on the road and merged onto the paved highway where he could increase his speed, though he had to slow down for all the sharp curves around the foothills. “Someone will be sent from the sheriff’s office to look through Dexter’s things and ask more questions. It might be later tonight or first thing in the morning, but it will be soon.”

She nodded. “I figured. I have his family contact information somewhere.”

“One of the deputies will likely contact them,” he said.

“I feel like I should reach out, too.” Her voice wavered. “I can’t help but think about Tommy Sorenson’s death.” Her shoulders sagged, and she turned to look out the window.

He was thinking the same thing, but they weren’t at the place to talk like the best friends they used to be. “I need to take your official statement once we get to the lodge, if you’re up for it.”

“I’ve already told you everything I know.”

“We missed that the shooter tried to kill you, so clearly we have more to discuss.” Henry hated to admit it, but for her safety, it might be better for another officer to interview her anyway. She might be more free with her testimony. He pulled into the parking lot.

Nora blew out a slow breath. “Okay. Dexter told the shooter that if anything happened to him, the guy wouldn’t get his stuff. Then the shooter said it was his turn to talk, and shot him.” She continued to stare out the window. “I think I’d really like to call it a night. Maybe I’ll remember more details tomorrow.” Her voice trembled.

It was as if he’d been punched in the gut. He was desperate to help, to comfort, to fix it. He started to reach for her hand and stopped himself. He’d been down this path before and couldn’t fall for her again. “Thanks again for getting us to the scene fast. A deputy will be by tonight or first thing in the morning. Make sure you lock up.”

She glanced at him and her eyes looked red, as if holding back tears. She waved goodbye and disappeared into the rafting office without a word.

Henry sat in the parking lot for a moment to organize his swirling thoughts.

Nora had been a witness to a murder. There was no question in his mind. Someone had shot at her, which meant the shooter was still at large. His mouth went dry. Nora would be pretty easy to find. No matter their history, he couldn’t stand by and let her be in danger. He shifted the truck into Drive and sped off. There was a lot to do if he had any hope of keeping her safe.

CHAPTER THREE

Nora flipped on the office light and the small portable heater. In the summer, they lifted the wall, much like a garage door, for guests to come in and out as they pleased, but in the spring, the office resembled a private cabin. She stared at the filing cabinet, the bane of her existence. Her aunt wasn’t ready to go paperless and had been the one to hand over Dexter’s application. The police would likely need it for his next-of-kin information. She opened the desk drawer where she kept the cabinet key.

The front door swung open. Bobby Olson stepped inside, his tanned skin complementing the neon-orange shirt that read Eat, Sleep, Raft, Repeat. His hair looked permanently windswept and sun-bleached, hanging just past his chin line. A little over fifty-five years old, Bobby was their oldest and most experienced guide, returning every season. During the winter months, he moved to Chile to raft the rivers there. He was never without a story and a joke, which made him a favorite among the clientele.

A line between his eyebrows appeared that she’d never seen on him before. “Are you okay?”

She averted eye contact. “You heard already.”

“That you found Dexter? Yeah.” He nodded. “It’s already all over town. I won’t speak ill of the dead. Even if I didn’t like him, it’s still tragic.” He shook his head. “Suicide was hard to believe, though. It’s a shock.”

She