Jeremiah backed away. “Good day.”
Mia waited until all three men had disappeared down the dirt lane before relaxing her hold on the gun. “Nice guy.”
Seth didn’t move. “Go back in the cabin. I need a moment.”
A wise woman would heed the advice and go back inside. Mia had never been particularly wise. “No.”
His sharp intake of breath provided yet another warning. “Mia—”
She whirled on him. “You can stop ordering me around, right now. I have no clue how this town has existed with its bullshit, backward attitude toward women, but I’m having none of it. I’ll do what I want, when I want.” Her ears hurt with pulsing heat. “I don’t need you to shield me. For goodness sakes, I can shoot and fight…probably better than you. And…you can fucking go order somebody else around.”
In profile, he looked even harder than usual. “I understand that you’re trained and can take care of yourself. This is my land, and my problems, and I’ll be damned if you get caught up in the mess.” Slowly, he turned to face her. “I’m glad you can shoot and fight. But I guarantee it’s not better than me.”
The profiler in Mia rose to the surface. “Who is Brother Jeremiah?”
Seth shrugged. “If you ask me, he’s the leader of some weird cult. They usually keep to themselves and seem harmless. But who knows?”
Then the cop took over. “What’s Howler’s Ridge?”
He blinked. “The Ridge is a beautiful spot to see the entire valley, and an excellent place for a kegger on a Saturday night. I have no doubt the kids are planning one tonight, and it sounds like they’re using company rigs. That’s one of the many downfalls of having a bunch of eighteen-year-olds working at the mine. I’ll take care of it.”
Her instincts hummed. “Why don’t I go with you?”
He shut down even more. “That’s all right. The kids don’t know you, and it’ll be better if I go alone.”
“Because I’m an outsider.”
He reached for the gun, his gaze intensifying. “You want in? Make sure you really want what you’re asking for. Nothing is ever quite what it seems.”
Including Seth Volk.
Mia relaxed her shoulders. “Whatever. I promised to take my aunt shopping in Seattle this afternoon before seeing a play. I need to go home.”
“Let’s find your clothing, and I’ll give you a ride.” He slid open the door and waited for her to precede him inside, his tone too polite.
“Thanks.” Her mind spun. Seth Volk wasn’t the only one who could tell a good lie.
It was time for her to head to Howler’s Ridge.
Chapter21
Cold metal rubbed against Mia’s spine as she patiently maneuvered through brush and trees, climbing the rocky hill. The gun remained secure and provided a sense of safety, as did the Glock in her ankle holster. She kept the flashlight low on the trail and had for the past two miles after parking her car just inside the third gate to the Volk Mining property. Someone had left the gates open.
She and Pete had spent most of the day reviewing maps of the terrain and had created a plan where he’d approach Howler’s Ridge from the far north, and she’d walk the three miles and come from the south.
The fact that the mine’s trucks were on their own property failed to provide any probable cause for her and Pete to obtain a warrant. So, yeah, they were trespassing.
Whatever they saw would not be admissible in court.
But she needed to know. They’d form a plan to gain evidence elsewhere if something illegal was going on. Every instinct she’d developed through years of investigations told her that something was happening—something that involved her new lover.
Lover.
Seth Volk. He’d definitely acted sketchy when she’d asked him about Howler’s Ridge.
He was the one person in her life she hadn’t been able to get some sort of handle on. Sleeping with him had most certainly been a mistake, but a small part of her had rejoiced in the experience. She’d never felt like that—and probably wouldn’t ever again. He had been right in saying the pain would be worth it. Even if she had to arrest him, even if she might’ve blown the entire case, the night had changed her.
Of course, if hewasdoing something illegal out at Howler’s Ridge, she’d do everything in her power to take him down. Justice mattered. Her job mattered.
