Page 40 of Silent Road

"Homework.Reading.Whatever you want.Just stay in this office."

"This is literally torture."

"No, it's supervision."Sheila grabbed her jacket."And since you're so concerned about probable cause, you'll be happy to know we're doing this one completely by the book."

Tommy cleared his throat."Speaking of by the book...Morton's lawyer is ready for us to meet with him."

"Let him stew a little longer.If Hunter's our guy, talking with Morton's lawyer becomes a moot point."She checked her watch."How well do you know the Timberline's layout?"

"Main entrance from the lobby, service entrance through the kitchen, emergency exit behind the bar."Tommy sketched it in the air with his fingers."Bar itself is L-shaped, faces the windows.Great view of the mountain."

"And terrible view of the exits," Sheila added."Perfect for someone who likes to watch without being watched."

She turned back to Star, who had already put her headphones back on and was pointedly ignoring them."I mean it.Stay put."

Star rolled her eyes and turned up her music.

The Timberline Lounge occupied the resort's southwest corner, all floor-to-ceiling windows and rustic wooden beams.This early, the space felt cavernous, empty tables stretching into shadow despite the sunlight pouring in.Behind the bar, a lean figure in a black button-down was slicing limes.

"Hunter Smith?"Sheila approached the bar, Tommy half a step behind her."Sheriff Stone.We need to ask you a few questions."

The knife paused mid-slice.Hunter looked up, his practiced smile sliding into place."Of course.What can I help you with?"

"Your locker was found containing some interesting equipment.High-end camera gear, multiple memory cards."

The smile didn't waver, but he slowly set down the knife."You went through my locker?Without a warrant?"

"We had probable cause to believe evidence of a crime might be present," Sheila said evenly."Would you like to explain the equipment?"

"I would like to explain that I'll be filing a complaint about this violation of my privacy."Hunter's voice remained pleasant, almost amused."And since you've already violated my Fourth Amendment rights, I assume you've viewed the contents of my memory cards?"

"Not yet," Tommy said."But we will, once we have a warrant."

Hunter's laugh was soft and practiced, like everything else about him."Photography is my hobby.I'm saving up to start my own business.Wedding photography, family portraits, that sort of thing.Nothing illegal about ambition, is there?"

"Mind if we see some samples of your work?"Sheila kept her tone conversational, but she noticed how Hunter's fingers had crept back toward the knife.

"Fine, but I'll need to grab my portfolio from the back.It's much more impressive than trying to describe my style."He gestured toward a door behind the bar."Mind waiting here?I'll just be a moment."

Sheila nodded, watching him disappear through the door.The moment it swung shut, she was moving."Back door," she said to Tommy, but he was already heading for the service entrance.

They burst through their respective doors into the back hallway.

Empty.

"Which way?"Tommy called out.

Sheila scanned the corridor, heart pounding.A door clicked shut somewhere in the distance, the sound echoing off the service hallway's concrete walls.

"Split up," she ordered."He's heading for the parking lot."

But as she ran down the hallway, checking doors and listening for footsteps, a nagging voice in her head wondered if they'd read him wrong.If maybe they were charging down the wrong path while Hunter circled back another way.If—

"Sheila!"

Star's voice, coming from behind her.

Sheila spun around to find her ward standing in a doorway, clearly not in the office where she'd been ordered to stay."What are you doing here?"Sheila demanded.

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