Page 48 of Silent Road

But her instincts, honed by years of investigation, whispered otherwise.There had been something calculated in his curiosity, something that didn't fit with the earnest rookie she thought she knew.

"Sheila!"Star waved from the base area, Diana Pierce standing beside her.They'd been joined by several patrol officers and what looked like resort security.And…

Sheila's stomach tightened.Finn stood slightly apart from the group, his arm still in a sling, face drawn with pain or exhaustion or both.Even from this distance, she could see the tension in his posture as he watched her and Tommy descend together.

"Cavalry's here," Tommy observed.

"Yeah."Sheila pulled her professional mask back into place, suddenly very aware of how much she'd shared with him on the mountain.

Too much, maybe.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

The storm transformed the mountain into a wall of white.Sheila stood at the window of the resort's main lodge, watching the snow pile up against the glass.The flakes were thick and wet—the kind that accumulated quickly, turning familiar landscapes into alien terrain.

A reflection appeared beside her own.Finn Mercer, her partner both on and off the job, stood carefully balancing two paper cups.His arm was still in a sling from the shooting last week, but he'd shed the hospital gown for his usual attire—dark jeans and a blue button-down that made his eyes seem even more startlingly blue than usual.Despite the sling, he still carried himself with that quiet confidence she'd first noticed in him years ago.

"They're saying two feet by morning," he said, offering her one of the cups."Hot chocolate.You look like you could use it."

She accepted the cup gratefully, wrapping her cold fingers around its warmth."What are you doing here, Finn?You're supposed to be in the hospital."

"Thought you'd be happy to see me."He smiled, but there was something guarded in his expression.

"Iamhappy to see you.I'm also worried about you.You took a bullet less than a week ago."

"Convinced them to let me out early.Said I'd take it easy."He sipped his own drink—coffee, she knew, black with two sugars.Some things never changed."Besides, I can still help you think through the case.That's what partners do, right?"

Partners.The word hung between them, laden with meaning.They'd been partners long before they'd become lovers, building the kind of trust that only came from watching each other's backs through countless dangerous situations.The shooting had shaken that foundation—she still woke up some nights hearing the sound of the gunshot, seeing him crumple to the ground.

Movement caught her eye.Across the lodge, Tommy was talking with Star in a low voice.She was frowning as if she was surprised by what he was saying.Odd.But as long as he wasn't making a pass at Star, Sheila wasn't particularly worried.

"How's the new guy working out?"Finn asked, following her gaze.

"Good," she said, the conversation from the mountain still fresh in her mind."He's eager to learn."

"Seems to be getting along well with Star."

"She needs that right now," Sheila said carefully.She debated telling Finn about Jake, about finding Star at his apartment.But Finn was still recovering, and she didn't want to burden him with more worries.Besides, she needed to process it herself first—her failures as a guardian, her fears about repeating her father's patterns of emotional distance.

"I'm sorry I didn't make it to the hospital this morning," she said instead."Things spiraled quickly with this case."

"Yeah, I heard."His voice was neutral, but she caught the slight edge beneath it."Couple of orderlies were talking about the frozen bodies up here.Quite the story around town."

"Finn..."

"No, I get it."He offered a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes."You had to work the case.You always do."

She turned to face him fully."That's not fair."

"Maybe not."He sighed, running his good hand through his hair."Look, I know the job comes first.It's one of the things I admire about you.But lying in that hospital bed, thinking about how close I came to..."He trailed off, jaw working."Maybe it's made me reconsider some priorities."

Before she could respond, Michael Wright approached, his jacket dusted with snow.

"Sheriff," he said, "if you're planning to head back to town, I'd suggest doing it soon.Once this storm really hits, the roads will be impassable."

Sheila shook her head."We can't leave yet.The killer's still here—or nearby.This is his territory.Besides, we need to find Mark Davidson ASAP."

"We can't mount a search for Mark in these conditions," Michael said."Visibility's dropping by the minute."

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