His chest ached as he watched his father walk away from him. It was so tight, he struggled to breathe. He had hated and loved that man most of his life.
“Fin.” Maggie moved to stand in front of him. “Talk to me.”
“There’s nothing to say.” He stepped around her and walked away.
Chapter20
Four days after the night at Falls Lodge, Maggie forced herself to get out of her warm bed. She threw on some exercise clothes, layered up with a jacket, hat, and gloves, then headed outside.
Buzz was waiting for her, leaning on the side of the house.
“The only reason you want to walk with me,” she said to the fur ball who barked a greeting, “is because I’m slow and there’s a biscuit in your future.”
A light fall of snow powdered the ground, and looking up, she thought today’s walk would be a short one. The sky looked ready to dump more of the white fluffy stuff.
Maggie walked to the mountain chatting to Buzz, who bounded ahead then doubled back to make sure she was there. She’d missed this. The serenity and solitude of Ryker Falls.
Tugging down her hat so her ears didn’t turn to ice, Maggie trudged up the small incline. Mr. Goldhirsh had told her fresh air and movement were important, so she was trying that out. Looking at her watch told her she was thirty minutes down, and feeling surprisingly fresh. She’d be able to have coffee and food soon too, which only improved her mood.
Maggs had not seen Fin over the last few days, which suggested to her he was hiding. She’d been to the main street twice and visited both Phil’s and Tea Total, plus ordered pizza and visited her friends. She usually saw him around, but he’d gone to ground.
What she’d witnessed that night at the lodge told her he was running from his demons, just like her. His, however, were old, and he’d been carrying them about like luggage for years.
She’d heard his name mentioned. People were constantly discussing him in connection with Simon Linbar’s body, and who would have killed him and left him up there on the mountain. She also heard people discussing Fin’s family, and how he didn’t seem to want to spend time with them. She’d tried to shut down those particular lines of conversation and usually failed. But at least she’d tried. Whatever was going on with Fin was his deal, not anyone else’s.
She’d had a drink at A.S. and casually brought him into the conversation. Joe had told her he was working hard and hadn’t come out to play for days. He’d said he was constantly climbing the mountain, searching for clues as to who had murdered Simon Linbar and that he was going to burn out if he didn’t stop being so dedicated.
According to Lenny who worked at the lodge, Mallory, who he’d become friends with because she was a “nice kid,” said that her father had decided to stay for another two weeks. Lenny told Maggie that Mr. Winter must be wealthy, because it wasn’t cheap.
Joe had said he was trying to get Fin to open up but that he was about as malleable as the mountain he tramped all over. So instead he was trying to be there for him if and when he needed it.
She should talk to him. The only problem with that was he would then question her about stuff she didn’t want to share, and there was also that other thing. The hot, heavy thing that lay between them.
Puffing her way up the small incline, she heard Buzz’s high-pitched barking. He’d probably found a small animal.
“Buzz, here now!”
He ignored her, so she tried again, several times, then gave up and went off the trail. The trees and brush were thick here, so she moved slowly, pushing them away. Buzz’s barking had become frenzied.
“There will be no dog biscuit for you if you don’t come now!” He was looking upward when she reached him. “These creatures actually have a right to be here, fur ball, not you.” She saw a tail, but not the body as it disappeared. “And there is no way you are agile enough to follow that.”
Buzz whined and started scratching at the ground in frustration.
“What would you do with it if you caught it? You’re a softy at heart. You may play the big tough guy, but I know better.”
Grabbing his collar, she eased him away. When she looked at him again, he had something in his mouth.
“Drop, Buzz.” He spat it at her feet. Picking it up, Maggs studied the brown leather wallet but didn’t recognize it—but then, she didn’t know who carried a brown leather wallet in Ryker Falls, or a black one for that matter. It could also belong to a tourist.
“Right, let’s head back out to the trail and see if it has a name inside. Then it’s time for coffee and toast.” Buzz barked his approval.
She’d just made it back when the sound of feet had her tensing—after all, she was out here alone.
“Well now, this is a sight!” The Robbins sisters appeared with Mr. Goldhirsh. Both immediately began to make a fuss of Buzz, who Maggs was sure smiled up at them.
“I thought you were injured?” Maggie said to Mr. Goldhirsh.
“I am, but if I use my hiking poles I am fine, and we’re taking it easy.”
