Monty nodded. “Take Officer Jordan with you. She’s working on serious overtime.”
The brunette rubbed a spot of dust off her chin. “I could use a break. Thanks.”
Laurel looked around. “Let’s make sure that Abbott hasn’t been here.” She was finding it difficult to read him and follow his path or trace his movements. Hopefully, the journals would illuminate her.
“I’ll put a rush on these pages,” Officer Tso said, following Officer Jordan out the door.
Laurel wished she could have opened one to read a passage or two, but since they were frozen, she couldn’t risk it. Finally, she was a step closer to finding Jason Abbott.
Soon.
Chapter 26
Qaletega turned down the seat warmer in Jill’s SUV as she drove competently along the country road with trees flying by on either side. The clouds had parted to let the moon shine down, and the night could be considered romantic. In profile, she looked both strong and delicate at the same time. Her dark lashes were impossibly long, framing her pretty brown eyes.
“Stop staring at me,” she said, her lips twitching. “We just met.”
“I can’t help it. You’re beautiful.” They’d met a week ago, and he’d instantly been smitten. He searched for a safe topic of conversation. “I have to tell you, I am sick of winter.”
She looked out at the drilling rain. “Then you’re in the wrong place. Winter could last for months yet.”
“I read it’s going to be an early spring. It’s April. I imagine we’ll have sun soon.” He took vitamin D supplements as suggested by his doctor, but it wasn’t the same as warm sunshine. He was fumbling this conversation, but he’d never been that smooth with the ladies. “We might have a long summer, too. Tons and tons of sun for us both.” Now he was just babbling.
She chuckled, having taken off her Fish and Wildlife jacket. He tried not to notice the way she filled out her uniform.
“Why did you become a Fish and Wildlife officer?” he asked.
Her dark gaze flicked to him and then returned to the road. “To protect wildlife. I’ve always wanted to do so.”
He liked that about her. “Same with me, and I always wanted to be a cop. So the two dreams combine in this job.”
“I get it.”
It had been a long time since he’d felt this comfortable around anybody. His last girlfriend had dumped him at least a year ago because he was too nice, according to her. What in the world did that mean? Too nice? Who could be too nice?
A loud bang echoed and the vehicle rocked. “What the hell?” They swerved on the ice, and Jill corrected, pulling over to the side as the rear end fishtailed. “I think we popped the front right tire.”
Qaletaga glanced out at the icy rocks on the road. “More than likely. It happened to me just the other night. Stay here. I’ve got it.”
“I can change my own tire,” she protested.
“I know. Let me be a gentleman. All right?”
She sat back, her pretty face softening. “Of course, you can be a gentleman. If you want to change a tire, you go right ahead.”
Freezing rain poured down out there, and if he could at least keep her warm, he would try. He smiled at her just as a man emerged from the trees, his face covered, a weapon pointed at them. The guy reached her window in no time and knocked on it.
“Open the window.” Qaletaga kept his hands within sight. His heart beat wildly.
She slid it down, her other hand remaining on the steering wheel.
“I don’t want to hurt anybody,” the guy said. Dressed in all black, he wore a balaclava over his head that covered everything but his eyes.
“Not a problem,” Qaletaga said easily, his hand nonchalantly dropping to the side of his thigh. He’d never shot anybody before, but he was prepared. Probably.
Bullets instantly pinged against the hood of the vehicle. Jill jumped and moved toward him.
“It’s okay,” he said, his hands up now. He angled his head but could only see the tree line.
