Page 29 of Storm Warning

Lord, we need some relief...

Remi said the prayer over and over in her heart as they trudged through the onslaught, making their way back to shelter and safety. Finally, in the distance through the trees ... her refuge. Relief filled her and she almost lost her footing. Cold gripped her bones and exhaustion weighed her down, but they’d made it this far without running into the man who’d stalked Remi and abducted Jo.

There it was—Cedar Trails Lodge—in all its century-old glory, just calling to her. The lodge had never looked more beautiful, and Remi could almost be glad for the rain to hide the tears streaming down her face.

“We have to enter through my office. I don’t want to scare people.” She urged them toward the awning at the back.

At her office door, Remi relinquished her hold on Jo, giving her over to Hawk. Jo was strong and had made it this far, but she was trembling. Remi feared for her friend. She’d been through psychological and physical trauma today. Remi searched her pockets, then found keys. They jangled in her shaking hands as she felt her way to the keyhole.

Finally, she unlocked the door and shoved it open. Quietly, they entered and felt the rush of warm air. The power was out everywhere, but fortunately the lodge and all the cabins had fireplaces, and guests understood power outages were possible and that generators would be used as needed.

Inside, Hawk assisted Jo onto the sofa against the wall. They shed their dripping jackets and rain boots. Remi threw a fleece blanket over Jo. “You’re safe now.”

Jo shivered and curled into the blanket and rested on the sofa. “I need my tool kit so I can get rid of this ankle cuff.”

“I’m on it just as soon as I get some light in this place.” Remi lit a couple of candles. To Hawk, she said, “More batteries for our flashlights are in the drawer over in the credenza.”

Hawk hurried to open it and grabbed batteries, then refilled both their flashlights. Surprisingly, Hawk’s had remained alive and well for most of their hike back and had died only moments before reaching the lodge.

“I need to call the sheriff and get an ambulance for Jo.” Hawk lifted the receiver of the landline, then looked at Remi. “There’s no dial tone.”

Oh no. Had their stalker cut the phone line into the lodge? The landline was a fail-safe, working when the power was out. “I have a satellite phone. Give that a try.”

He turned and found it on a bookshelf against the wall. “As soon as I make the call, we need to warn the others. I’ll do my best to clear and secure the lodge. Let’s make sure the doors and windows are locked. Then I need to head out.” He set his pistol on the desk.

“Head out? Where are you going?”

“I’m going to find him.”

“Hawk, no, please. Wait until daylight at least. Wait for the sheriff’s department.”

“I just want to make sure he isn’t lingering near any of the cabins.”

“They’ve already been advised to keep the doors locked,” Remi said. The guests had been informed about her attack earlier in the day, and no one had left. No one wanted to get out in the storm, except, well, her attacker.

“Honestly, I don’t think he’s going to show up again tonight,” Remi said.

“But the phone line? Come on, Remi.” Hawk scraped a hand down his face.

“So, he delays our call to the sheriff to give him more time to try again,” she said.

Hawk had thwarted the assailant’s attempts, maybe because he’d come armed with a knife and not a handgun. In fact, he could have shredded the ladder with that knife.

Wait a minute. “So far, all his attacks have been with a knife. What does that mean?”

He rubbed his chin. “I’m still thinking on it.”

“Lots of people in Washington have concealed carry permits, so it probably isn’t a matter of a knife being more innocuous. Or maybe it is.” She was getting nowhere.

I really need coffee.

“Both of you...” Jo coughed. “Listen. He’s not after any of the guests.”

She sat up.

Remi rushed to sit next to her and wrapped an arm around her. She needed to get them all something warm to drink, but especially Jo. They hadn’t even gotten her story yet. “What do you mean?”

“I went to check on the cabin with the leaky faucet this morning. I ... I knocked, and when no one answered, I walked in.”

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