I know this ski lodge. I spent a wonderous vacation here last winter enjoying the slopes and planning my revenge. I used my time to map every CCTV camera, every safe exit and entry throughout the complex. I can move from place to place, floor to floor like a shadow.
Obtaining a supply of passkeys had just become easier. I couldn’t risk using the same one more than twice, or the management might be able to track me. But as luck would have it, when I returned through the staff entrance earlier, cleaned off my boots, and shook the snow from my coat, I noticed a PASSKEY CARDS sign above a small metal box just inside the door. It wasn’t locked and I grabbed a few and stuffed them inside my pocket. The one I took from the room service attendant I’ll be sure to toss in a hallway somewhere.
I catch sight of someone I know. We started out together many years ago both studying literature and creative writing. I often helped her write pitches and it was one of my greatest that scored her the agent she’d craved. But when it came time to pass it forward, she turned her back on me as if I wasn’t worth her time. I knew her as Doris Slaughter out of Chicago, but now her bio has her name as Kitty Pandora out of Superstition Oregon. Here she sits, as readers come by, books in hand, to collect her promotional handouts and ask for an autograph. I join the line but I haven’t purchased a book. I figure my eyes would catch fire and burn at the sight of the words she’d written but I have read the reviews. At last, it’s my turn and I smile at her. “Doris, how good to see you again.”
“It’s Kitty Pandora now.” She preened and puffed up her hair. “My second book is due out next fall.”
I lean closer and drop my voice to just above a whisper. “How about we celebrate with a few drinks later? You always said we’d celebrate with champagne when you made it.”
“Champagne? Have you hit the big time?” Kitty’s eyebrows rose in surprise.
I laugh and shrugged. “Oh, I can’t tell just yet.”
“I can’t have a drink with you tonight. I’m having dinner with my agent.” Kitty’s mouth curled down. “It’s all business, you know. You’ll soon find out there’s no time for fun.”
I keep smiling. She was always a greedy woman and I’d play to that weakness. “I so understand. This is a busy time for me too. At least allow me to send a bottle of champagne to your room. For old time’s sake?”
“That would be nice.” Kitty actually smiled. “I’ll drink it in my bubble bath. I have one every night to sooth the aches and pains. These conferences will be the death of me.” She wrote something on a bookmark and handed it to me. “Here you go.”
I glance at the number, 3/24, and her messy signature, scrawled on the bookmark promoting her latest book, Frizzled. “I’ll be sure to order it now. What’s a good time for you?”
“Ten. I’ll have my bath waiting.” Kitty waved me away. “You’ll have to go now. I have people waiting.”
I chuckle. My day just got a whole lot better. “Ten it is.”
Fourteen
Snowflakes melted on Kane’s cheeks, sending trickles of ice water down his neck. As he walked beside Jenna, he could hear Mr. Sparks on his converted Bobcat snowplow, clearing the pathways. He took Jenna’s hand and they hurried along the recently cleared trail. “I spoke to Emily earlier. She’s keen to stay here for a couple of days. Apparently, there’s an ex-FBI agent who wrote a book about profiling and he’s running a Q & A tomorrow. She wants to attend and can get a ticket without a problem. Julie wants to spend more time here too. The only problem is getting a room. You have a suite with two bedrooms and I have a room with two single beds. If I bunk with you, I can give my room to the girls.” He gave her a long look and smiled at her bemused expression. “If you’re worried, I’ll make sure anyone coming and going will see we’re using both rooms.”
“I’d like that.” Jenna squeezed his hand. “I’m getting used to having you around. I was wondering why you took the other room in the first place.”
Kane chuckled. “Well, you wanted to keep our relationship private, so asking for one room would have placed the cat among the pigeons. Now, people will see women going in and out of my room. That will put an end to any romance rumors about us.” He met her horrified gaze with a wide grin. “Oh, for goodness sake, Jenna, don’t look at me like that. I won’t be staying in the room, will I? But media reporters, especially Deni Crawford, wouldn’t know who they are, will they? With luck she’ll leave us alone for a time.”
“You have a very strange sense of humor, and I know when it comes to Wolfe and his girls, he has none whatsoever. God help you if Emily is mentioned in the newspaper as your date.” Jenna was scanning the way ahead. “This snow is so heavy I can’t see a thing. Anyone could be out there watching us.”
“I doubt it.” Kane peered into the dark forest. “It’s so cold. Stand still for long and you’ll become part of the landscape.”
They reached the barrier Kane had constructed across the pathway outside Dakota’s chalet and he moved it and walked around it and headed for the woodpile. He pulled out a brush he’d taken from his forensics kit and gently brushed away the snow from the pile of wood. “I’d assume Sparks would have placed the wood where it couldn’t roll back down, so maybe against the wall. I’ll look there first.”
Starting at one end of the pile closest to the wall, he examined each log. He’d gotten to the last one in the top row and spotted a splash of red. “Got it.”
“Here.” Jenna waved an evidence bag at him. “Drop it in here.”
Kane looked at the log through the plastic bag. “We’re lucky it’s frozen. All the evidence has been preserved.” He glanced at his watch. “Webber will be on his way back by now to collect Wolfe. This is a great find.”
“Good, let’s go. I’m freezing.” Jenna led the way back down the pathway. “I thought I’d be used to the cold by now, but this year it’s beyond cold.”
The engine sound of the Bobcat rumbled close by and Sparks came riding toward them waving frantically. Kane moaned. “What now?”
“Is something wrong, Mr. Sparks?” Jenna walked toward him, a worried expression on her face.
“There’s a body at the construction site.” Sparks was breathing heavily, sending great plumes of steam all around him. “The door to one of the new chalets is wide open, with snow getting inside. I went to close it, seeing as the contractors left before the blizzard hit, and saw a man lying in a pool of blood.” His brow wrinkled. “This isn’t one of those staged murder scenes with a dummy and a murder mystery for the guests to solve, is it?”
“We’ll take a look. Show us where to go.” As the Bobcat turned around and chugged away, Jenna looked at Kane. “This can’t be good.”
The way to the construction site had been cleared and a good amount of sand and salt had been laid, but Kane gripped Jenna’s hand when she slipped on a patch of ice. “Hang on to me.” He pulled her hand through his arm. “We’ll move faster together. Our snow boots are in the Beast. We should’ve thought to wear them this morning.”
“I wasn’t expecting to be hiking in the snowfields when I left home.” Jenna held on tight. “These boots are usually fi