SHIVER (38 page)

“Doubt that’s what she’s doing,” Gran added, slapping on slices of cheese to the assembly line of sandwiches on the counter. “Letting that girl have a computer in her room is a mistake. She’s twittering, or tweeting, something like that, with boys.”

Fiona sighed and rolled her eyes behind Gran’s back. “If you’re going to see her, check to make sure she’s working on her paper?”

“Sure.” Raven gave Gran and her mother one last look before leaving the kitchen. She felt out of the loop. Why hadn’t they asked her to help? But then she’d given up her claim to Aidan and therefore the opportunity to go treasure hunting. She walked down the hall, her heart thumping as she passed Aidan’s closed door, and continued around the corner to the block of family rooms. She knocked on Chickadee’s bedroom.

“Just a minute,” Chickadee hollered. Raven heard a bunch of rustling before Chickadee opened the door, her face flushed. “Oh.” She glowered. “It’s you.”

“I’m happy to see you too.” What was up with her? They’d always had a great relationship. Not sisterly, since there were so many years between them, but more like favorite aunt and niece. “Can I come in?”

“Suit yourself.” Chickadee turned and made her way to her bed, climbing up on the spread and tucking her pajama-clad legs under her. She wore a soft tank under an unzipped hoodie and had left her dark, thick hair to flow down her back. The girl was growing up into a beautiful young woman. When had that happened?

“What’s the matter?” Raven asked. When was the last time she’d talked with Chickadee? With all that had been happening with Aidan, she’d forgotten about her little sister.

“Nothing.” Chickadee glanced off to the side as though she was bored with Raven.

“School okay?”

“Fine.”

“How’s it going with that boy in Fairbanks?”

“What do you want, Raven?”

“Uh…” She physically took a step back from the insolence coming off Chickadee in waves. “What is with you? Why are you treating me like this?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I don’t know who the hell you are anymore?”

“Excuse me?”

“Yeah, you should excuse yourself.” She huffed and folded her arms over her chest, a scowl on her face. “I can’t believe what you’re doing to Fox and Aidan.”

Oh, boy.
Raven fell into the plush purple chair next to the desk. “Dee—”

“Don’t ‘Dee’ me. I was three when Dad died. I’d give anything to know him. Fox is just getting to know the father you kept from him all these years and then I overheard Aidan this morning telling him
you
think it’s best if they don’t see each other for a while. Why did you do it?”

Raven took the verbal arrows one by one. “It’s complicated, Dee.”

“No, it isn’t. You’re just making it that way. I don’t get you at all.”

Silence added a chill to the room that had Raven wishing she hadn’t hung up her coat. She held back the ever-present tears and glanced around the room. Dragonflies she’d helped Chickadee paint years ago still flittering on the walls, alongside posters of Hoodie Allen and Taylor Swift.

“Listen, Dee. I’ve done a lot of things in my life that I’m not proud of, but I’m trying to do the best thing for everyone here.”

Chickadee flipped her long curtain of hair back over her shoulder. “Everyone? Seriously?” She had sarcasm down to an art form. Chickadee glanced at her nails and picked at her cuticles. “What did you come here for anyway?”

Not to feel better about herself that was for sure. “I wanted to borrow Aidan’s graphic novels that Fox lent you.”

“Why?” Chickadee glanced up, her scowl deepening.

“I don’t know.” Raven shrugged. “I thought it might help me understand Aidan better, I guess.”

“Whatever.” Chickadee got up from the bed and went to her desk, grabbing the pile of glossy, colorful novels stacked there. “Knock yourself out.”

Aidan kissed Fiona and Coho on the cheek. “Thanks for making us lunches. That was very sweet of you.”

“Naw,” Coho said. “Just our way of being a part of the treasure hunting since you won’t let us come with. Now go find that gold. Oh, and I’d like a nugget this size, if you don’t mind.” She held up her thumb and finger about two inches apart.

Fiona rolled her eyes at Coho. “Be careful, Aidan. Lynx, I want you to watch out for him. You too, Garrett. He’s been through a lot and I don’t want him to over do or be hurt any worse than he already is.”

“Yes, Mom,” Lynx said. “Can we go now?”

Yes, can we?
The day had already been excruciating. Fox had come to the lodge early and interrupted the treasure planning party, wanting to come along. For Fox’s safety, and to adhere to Raven’s wishes, Aidan had tried to put some distance between them. It had backfired.

Pike entered the kitchen door from the cold outdoors. “What’s the hold up? Truck’s running. It’s not like the sun’s going to stay up all day.”

Lynx grabbed the cooler full of food, and followed Pike out the door. Aidan and a very quiet Garrett followed. Aidan never thought he’d be doing anything with the fish cop. Funny how things changed. Maybe he should do what Sonya suggested and fight for Raven and Fox? He had a legal right to fight for Fox, not that he’d take him away from his mother, but he was the kid’s father and he wanted the chance to be there for him.

They drove in silence to Earl’s. Well, at least Garrett and he were quiet. Lynx couldn’t seem to shut up. He was like a kid on his first fishing trip. Any minute now he was going to start bouncing in his seat.

They passed Aidan’s rental where he’d left it about a mile up the road from Earl’s yeterday. The SUV was covered in a thick layer of frost, looking too frozen to start. It had reached minus forty below last night and his rental hadn’t been plugged in to an electrical outlet that would keep the engine from freezing. Chances were he was without a vehicle until he could get it jumped or towed. He didn’t want to be at the Maiski’s mercy anymore.

They parked and exited Pike’s crew cab pickup, grabbing the tools and the cooler they’d brought from the lodge. Garrett carried a pickax with a pistol on his hip, Lynx the chainsaw and a crowbar, Pike a rifle and his forty-five, while Aidan got stuck with the purse-like cooler due to his injuries.

“This is where you grew up?” Garrett asked with a lift of his brows. “And I thought your fish camp setup was bad.”

“Earl liked living simply.”

“This isn’t simple, it’s brutal.” He scoffed. “Explains a lot about you, I guess.”

How did he argue that?

Pike started down the lane, and Aidan called out to him, “Let me go first. Roland had set booby traps yesterday. I know what to look for.”

“Crafty bastard,” Pike muttered under his breath as Aidan passed him to lead the crew to the back of the cabin.

“Keep your eyes open,” Aidan instructed the group as they slowly walked down the path.

Aidan didn’t find any trip wires or signs of mischief. They entered the cold-soaked cabin and found Roland in the living room.

Dead on the floor, a knife sticking out of his chest.

“Well…this I didn’t expect,” Pike said, holstering his forty-five.

Aidan looked at Garrett. “I didn’t do it.”

Garrett huffed out a heavy sigh. “You complicate the hell out of my life, you know that?”

What did he say? Sorry? “Try seeing it from my point of view.” Ah, hell, how was he going to tell Lana? They were both fatherless now. He took a step toward Roland.

“Don’t move,” Garrett said. “This just became a crime scene.”

“What about the gold?” Lynx dropped the heavy chainsaw to the floor.

“That will have to wait until the troopers clear the place.”

“How long will that take?” Pike asked.

“A while.” Garrett took off his gloves and pulled a cell phone out of his pocket. “I’ll make the call.”

“Good luck,” Aidan said, remembering his panicked attempts to get cell service when he’d been caught in the bear trap. “You won’t get reception until you’re closer to town.”

“What’s that piece of paper sticking out of his breast pocket?” Lynx asked.

Garrett pocketed the useless phone. Putting his gloves back on, he reached for the note. His jaw hardened as he read.

“What does it say?” Aidan asked, the chill in the cabin going from freezing to frigid.

Garrett’s troubled gaze met Aidan’s worried one. “It’s Fox.”

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY-
F
IVE

“What about Fox?” Raven demanded, her voice high-pitched and panicked.

Everyone jumped like someone had shattered glass, and as one they quickly turned to block the view of Roland’s cold dead body.

“Raven, what are you doing here?” Aidan moved through the group to stand in front of her. Her eyes were wide, dark pools of fear.

“Fox is missing. Something’s happened to him.”

“How do you know he’s missing?” Garrett asked, in his clipped cop voice. “When did you last see him?”

“Couple of hours ago. We had a fight and he took off with his dogs. The dogs and sled returned without him, and Lucien wasn’t with them either.” She glanced at the men lined up like a wall of warriors. “What’s going on?”

“Who is Lucien?” Garrett asked.

“Fox’s lead dog!
Now what the hell is going on
?”

“Raven, let’s go outside and talk about this.” Aidan took her elbow to lead her from the cabin.

She tore her arm from his grip. “Someone better start talking.” She stared at Pike who turned to gaze at the wall. Lynx was next, but he seemed to find the floor fascinating. “That’s it. Move.” She barreled through the line of men, coming up short when she saw Roland’s dead body. She turned and stared at Aidan.

“Don’t look at me like that.” He tightened his jaw as the pain of her silent accusation cut through him.

“Raven,” Lynx said, putting an arm around her shoulders. “You need to calm down.”

“Calm down!” She shrugged off his arm and pointed to Roland. “Fox is missing and there’s a dead body on the floor.”

Aidan glanced at Garrett. “What’s in the letter?” Raven was right. Fox missing, and a dead body, were too much a coincidence for one morning, even for Alaska.

“What letter?” Raven asked.

Garrett’s warning look had dread icing the blood in his veins. Aidan grabbed Raven’s hand and held tight. “Tell us.”

“Whoever killed Roland has Fox,” Garrett said, his voice even and grim. “He wants the gold in trade…for Fox.”

“
Oh God.
” Raven bent over at the waist.

Aidan grabbed her and pulled her shaking body into his arms. “What else?”

“We have until dark. We’re supposed to pack the gold into your SUV with the keys in the ignition. If we comply, he’ll leave the information on where we can find Fox. Any sign of cops or anyone waiting around and…”

Raven cried out, burying her face in Aidan’s chest. He wrapped his arms tight around her, swallowing the sickness creeping up his throat.

“That’s it, let’s rip this fucking hellhole apart,” Lynx said, picking up his chainsaw.

Pike laid out a hand. “We need a plan before we start tearing into this place.”

Garrett nodded. “Pike, we need to head back to the lodge and call the troopers.”

“No cops.” Aidan jerked. “He said no cops. I’m not putting Fox at risk so that you can do things by the book.”

“I’m advising you against it.”

“Too damn bad.”

“Who the hell is this guy anyway?” Lynx asked.

“Good question.” Pike pointed to Roland. “Did the crafty bastard have a sidekick?”

“Earl was his sidekick,” Aidan answered.

“Then who else knew about the gold?” Garrett asked.

Everyone went silent. Raven dragged herself out of Aidan’s arms.

“Aidan, who else knew about the gold?” Garrett asked again.

“I don’t know. I had no idea Earl had any gold. If there really is any,” Aidan said, quietly as the realization of what could happen to Fox if they didn’t find him and if there wasn’t any gold.