“No. I’m renting this place, and I don’t give you permission to come onto the property.”
“Actually, by tampering with the Wi-Fi and effectively turning off the external cameras, you’re breaking the terms and conditions that you agreed to when renting this cabin, so unless you let us in to look at the router, we’ll need you to leave immediately.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Fine. But checking the Wi-Fi isallI give you permission to do. You check it and you leave.” She turned and walked toward the kitchen counter, leaving the door open.
“Is there something you don’t want us to see?” Jesse asked as he followed her.
“No.”
Why did that answer come unnaturally quick?
Karen stopped beside a shelf in the kitchen where the Wi-Fi box sat.
Luke picked it up, and they both saw the damaged cord at the same time.
“Did you do this?” Luke asked.
“No. Maybe it was a rat. I’ve seen them scurrying around here. I could probably get a partial refund because of this.”
Jesse almost laughed. “Looks like scissors.”
“Well, if someone cut it, it wasn’t me.” She raised a brow, challenging him to argue with her.
Jesus, the woman didn’t make this easy. “I’m going to send Claudia out here, one of my deputies, to fix this router.” It wasn’t in their job description, but seeing as this involved Aspen’s mother, he was making it their job. “Once the Wi-Fi is up and running again, I don’t want any more problems with the external cameras. Do you understand?”
Karen’s lips pressed together. “Are you trying to insinuate something,Sheriff Hayes?”
She knew exactly what he was insinuating, and she also knew it was true. Jesse just didn’t know what it was that she didn’t want anyone else to see.
Luke cleared his throat. “We just need your confirmation that there won’t be any more problems, ma’am.”
Her gaze shifted to Luke, but there was an air of defiance in her expression. “There won’t be any more problems ofmydoing.”
Interesting choice of words. “You got your return ticket booked for Misty Peak?”
Karen rounded the counter and moved to the door, where she tugged it open. “Have a good evening, gentlemen.”
Jesse’s jaw clicked, and he headed outside.
Once in the car, Luke shot a look at him. “That was a bit frosty. Not in good relations with the in-law?”
“Call Claudia. Get her out here immediately. I want the Wi-Fi back up and running as soon as possible.”
Luke pulled out his phone.
Jesse drove faster than he should have back to the station. He wanted to get to Aspen, and he wanted to get to herfast. The storm was getting worse, and something in his gut told him he needed to be with her.
When he reached the station, he didn’t get out. “Do me a favor and write up the paperwork on this one for me. I need to get to Aspen.”
Luke frowned but dipped his head. “Sure thing.”
The second Luke was out, Jesse drove to his house, glad he didn’t live too far. He tried calling her on the way, but it went straight to voicemail.
He parked in the drive and jogged through the rain to the door. The lights were out down the entire street. The power must have gone out. He checked his phone.
No signal. Dammit, she’d been home alone with no power and no signal. That wasn’t fucking safe.
He’d just opened the door when a scream pierced the air.
