Page 32 of Storm Warning

“No. I’m fine!” Jo said. “I’m not injured. I’m warming up now, and I need to work. Sitting in a hospital will only make things worse. If I’m working, I’ll get this experience out of my head faster.”

Jo didn’t look fine, but for that matter, neither did Hawk. Remi could only guess at her own appearance.

“You need me here, Remi,” Jo pleaded. “I can’t go to the hospital.”

“You’ve been training Dylan. He’ll do in this situation,” Remi said.

Jo hung her head, then lifted it. Tears streamed and she swiped at them as if furious they’d appeared. “If anything, I just want to go to Pop’s. I kept thinking about how I missed dinner. We’d had an argument, and I was going to make itup to him. And I didn’t show up. He probably thinks I didn’t show because—”

“He probably thinks you got caught up doing your job and you’re stuck here for a few days.”

Remi shared a look with Hawk. “Let Hawk make sure the place is secure. I’ll speak to the other staff, and then we’ll take you to get you checked out and then to your father’s. Okay?”

“That’s a plan,” Hawk said. “You two stick together. Stay here.”

“No, I’ll get Jo out by the fireplace where it’s warmer. She’ll be safe with others, and then I’ll find Dylan, Erika, and Shawna. I’ll let them know what’s going on. It’s all hands on deck.”

“That isn’t a good idea. In fact...” He scratched the back of his neck. “This jerk could be inside the lodge, and I wouldn’t even know it. Who is this guy? What name is he using for that cabin, Jo? Do you happen to know?”

“Right,” Remi said. “He was a guest staying here, so he could be—” Chills crawled over her.

“He could be inside, getting warm. Blending in,” Hawk said. “We have no idea who he is because he wore a mask. And if he doesn’t know we have Jo ... he might not realize that we’re onto the fact that he’s a guest.” His brows furrowed. “Am I making sense?”

“Perfect. If we take Jo out into the common room and he’s there, he could react. Take a hostage. Put everyone in danger.”

“Let me think.” Jo squeezed her eyes shut and snapped her fingers repeatedly. “He was in Cabin 12.” She opened her eyes wide. “Collin Barclay.”

Remi considered the name. “I didn’t check him in, so I don’t know what he looks like. Erika would recognize him.”

“The name is probably an alias,” Hawk said.

“He’s after you, Remi,” Jo said. “You go out there and you’re the one in danger.”

Remi rubbed her temple. “If I don’t show up, then he’s going to get suspicious and think we know he’s here. Besides, we need to know if he is inside the lodge or not. I’ll be very discreet and ask Erika to show me who he is.”

Hawk’s lips pressed into a tight line. “Or you could just wait here for law enforcement while everyone is out there. If that knife-wielding creep is here, I want him. I’m not waiting. I’ll be discreet when I scrutinize everyone who has the same build.” Moving to the door, Hawk checked his gun, then slid it into the holster. She appreciated that he didn’t want to scare her guests.

“Hawk, you don’t know what he looks like. I’ll go too and talk to Erika. She’ll know if he’s here.”

She turned her attention to Jo. “Stay in this room with the doors locked. I’ll bring you something warm to drink, then I’ll check on the guests. I’ll be back soon.” She pressed a radio into Jo’s hand. “Call me if you need anything before I get back.”

She shared a look with Hawk and nodded. They were doing this. Going on the offensive felt right. She would go crazy if she just sat in this room and waited for a deputy. Being in such a remote area had its benefits, and also its risks—they were without law enforcement, and it could take hours before anyone arrived. As for Collin Barclay, she couldn’t decide if she wanted him here so they could trap him, catch him, or if she wanted him to be long gone from this place. Regardless, his time roaming free at Cedar Trails Lodge was done.

“Remember that he’s here for you,” Hawk said. “Let’s get this over with.”

Remi thrust her S&W into the small holster at the side of her waist. “Let’s go.”

After she dead-bolted the door to the outside, she moved to the office door that led out into the lodge. He stepped in her path, and he was the one to open the door, letting her know he would face the danger head-on and still intended to protect her.

She couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t swallow.

This was real. As former military and a former deputy, Hawk had the necessary skills, which she appreciated. This had been a grueling day and looked to be an even rougher night. Telling her guests about the potential threat wasn’t the first thing she wanted to do, or even the last. But this was no ghost story told over a campfire.

Unshed tears blurred her vision, and pain erupted in her already tight throat. “Has it come to this, really?”

“Would you prefer we sit here and wait for the attacker, who cut the phone lines and who may or may not have cut the power, to come after you?”

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