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  Pete shrugged. “Me, either. As it turns out, being retired sucks, and the fishing around here isn’t much better. When the New Age Coalition approached me to run for office, I thought…why not?”

  “NAC?” Sounded like a bunch of vegans.

  Pete shrugged. “Yes. They’re an Eco-Group that’s tired of the mine running the town. They organized—pretty well—and I won the election. Barely.”

  “Who lost?”

  “Milt Jones. His family has worked for the mines for years, but he left town for a while to get a law degree. He’s practicing now instead.”

  Still. To go from being a field supervisor in DC to a small-town sheriff was quite the stretch. Mia leaned forward, trying not to cringe as the metal folding chair protested. “Are you enjoying the job?”

  “Sure.” Shields dropped over Pete’s faded blue eyes.

  Mia cocked her head to the side. “That’s the first time you’ve ever lied to me.”

  “No, it isn’t.” Pete folded his hands over his belly. “I lied years ago when I said you’d never make it as a behavioral scientist.”

  “No. That was a tactical move to inspire a young agent.” One she had easily seen through. Without question, she never would’ve made it without his support and guidance. “You seem like you’re holding something back.”

  “I’m not. Small towns are weird, and I’m nowhere near understanding this one. ” His bushy eyebrows rose on the last.

  “You’ve been a part of this town forever.”

  “No.” He slowly shook his head, his lips pursing. “I’ve had a hunting cabin here for years. I’m not part of the town—at least I wasn’t before taking this job.”

  Something in Pete’s voice hinted that he still wasn’t part of the town. So, they had mining people and Eco-villagers. Sounded like a recipe for problems. “Fair enough. Tell me about Seth Volk.”

  Pete tugged a file from a drawer, flipping it open to reveal a mug shot of Seth’s strong face. “Seth is the eldest son of Benjamin Volk, the guy who owns the silver mines.”

  “So he’s the largest employer in this small town.”

  “In the entire county.” Pete frowned. “The Volk family has owned the mines since they were discovered centuries ago. The family has clout and power.”

  “Yet you arrested Seth.”

  “Tactical move. I wanted to see what happened.”

  “What was your basis for arrest?”

  Pete flashed a grin. “I wanted to ask him questions about Ruby’s death, and he refused. So I held him on the charge of impeding an investigation.”

  “Bogus charge.”

  “Yeah, and he’s out now. No harm, no foul.”

  And Pete had wanted her to study Seth. There was something—a reason—he wasn’t sharing with her. An odd hurt wandered down her spine. “We’ve known each other for years. Why aren’t you leveling with me?”

  Pete grimaced, yanking a large key ring from his back pocket to throw onto the table. “I need to lose weight.”

  She lifted an eyebrow.

  He settled his bulk more comfortably in the worn leather chair. “I’m not hiding anything from you. Something odd is going on in this town, and I think Seth is involved. I wanted your expert take on him. It’s nothing more than my gut instinct.”

  She’d bet her life on her old trainer’s gut. “Why Seth?”

  Pete scratched his wide jaw. “He’s known as the Volk family’s enforcer. If there’s a problem, Seth steps in, and the problem goes away.”

  “Was Ruby Redbird a problem?”

  “I don’t know yet. But she was supposedly dating Erik Volk, the youngest son.”

  “So?”

  Pete shrugged. “It’s a connection.” He slid another file across the desk.

  Mia opened the folder. A young woman smiled from a photograph. Black eyes sparkled with fun, while a thick braid kept her dark hair in check. “Ruby was beautiful.”

  “Yes, and she was from the wrong side of the tracks.”

  Mia lifted an eyebrow. “There are tracks here?”

  “Figuratively. Ruby’s people are deep-earthers.”

  Intrigue had Mia running her finger over the photograph. “Deep-earthers?”

  “Blue-collar, old-time miners. No college grads. Heck, no high school grads.”

  “They go right to work in the mines.”

  Pete nodded. “Most men in this town head to the mines the second they turn sixteen.”

  “Sixteen-year-old boys don’t count as men.”

  “They do in this town.”

  “What about the women?” Mia flipped pictures over, pausing at one showing the dead woman lying on a rock formation over some wet leaves.

  “They get married.”

  Mia nodded, studying the photographs. Spread-eagled and secured to the ground by shiny handcuffs attached to what looked like rock-climbing bolts, Ruby had been beaten across the neck and chest. A long, protruding spike remained embedded in her throat. Blood covered her denim shirt, neck, and face. Horror lined her smooth cheeks, even in death. “Handcuffs are an odd choice.”

  Pete nodded, reached into his back pocket, and tossed a shiny pair of cuffs onto the table. “Yeah. These are pure silver, as are the ones that bound Ruby.”

  Mia frowned. “Pure silver?” She fingered the smooth metal and leaned in to read a stamp in the middle. “Volk Mining.”

  “Yes. We have a box of them in the back room—all created and donated by the Volk Mining Company decades ago.”

  “That’s so weird. Why?”

  Pete rubbed his chin. “Some sort of odd tradition. When the mine first opened, there was no real law in the area. So they made up their own policing force and created handcuffs with silver from the mines. I guess the mold used today is the same as that used three hundred years ago.”

  “The cuffs are a huge arrow pointing to the mine.” Maybe too big.

  “Yeah, and that’s not all.” Pete pointed to the photograph. “Those are rock bolts in the ground—also from the mine. They’re used to secure lines to the walls.”

  “Interesting. What about the stake in her throat?”

  “The stake is actually drill steel. It’s the big thing put in the drill to pound into the rock. This one is only two feet long—most are eight to ten. This one is well worn.”

  Mia shook her head. “It’s as if the killer wanted us looking at the Volk family and their mine.”

  “Unless it is the Volk family, and they don’t care if we know.”

  “What is this, the Wild West?” Mia fingered the photograph. “We can assume a man was the killer—an incredibly strong one to be able to shove that two-inch-thick drill steel into a human throat.”

  “Yes. Definitely a man.”

  Mia sucked in air. “Ruby was fully clothed.”

  “Yes.”

  “There was a lot of anger here.” Mia could almost hear the screams. Or maybe those were memories. She shook her head. “Any signs of sexual assault?”

  “No. But we should know more when we get the coroner’s report tomorrow.”

  “Who found her?” Mia asked.

  Pete grimaced. “A troop of Boy Scouts from Seattle trying to earn their survival badges. She wasn’t quite dead when they found her.”

  Mia stilled. “You think they interrupted the killer?”

  “Yeah. I do.” Pete rubbed his whiskers. “The Scoutmaster had a pistol and drew it immediately. If the killer was still there, he left quickly. Ruby gasped a couple of times and then died in front of those boys.”

  Poor kids. The first death anybody witnessed scarred. “What do you know about the Volk men?”

  Pete slid three folders toward her. “Not much. Seth was in the military, some sort of scout. Worked alone.”

  Mia flipped open the file to see a lot of paper…with most words blackened out. “Something tells me he was more than just a scout.”

  The phone rang, and Pete lifted the dented handset to his ear. “Sheriff.” He nodded, his gaze slashing to Mia. “You have got to be kidding me.” A red flush shot up from his neck to his thick cheekbones. “Find out how and get her back.” He slammed down the phone.

  “What?”

  “Ruby Redbird’s body was stolen from the Seattle coroner’s office late last night.” Pete stood, fury lighting his face. “I sent her to Seattle for an objective result. Apparently, the Volk family’s reach is farther than I’d hoped.”

  “You’d better have more than your gut to go on if you make an accusation like that.” Unease had Mia shifting in her chair.

  “I know.” Pete scrubbed both hands down his face. “I need a favor.”

  She sat back, exhaling slowly. “What?”

  “Help me on this case. I’m no profiler, and you’re the best.”

  Pete had trained her in combat and shooting, and she owed him. She sighed.

  He pressed forward. “I know about your problems in DC. You catch a killer here, and you’ll be back in—maybe work as a cop for Seattle instead of just a shrink. You’re the best, kiddo. Please, help me.”

  She owed him. Without question, she owed him. “I don’t know. I still need to find a home for Mom and Aunt Dotty. We’re not even settled yet.” Guilt choked her. They’d never be settled again.

  “I know, and I have a solution. There’s a cabin for rent near Lost Lake. It’ll be quiet and peaceful—perfect for Gena as she recovers from her, ah…ordeal.”

  “Ordeal? That’s one way to describe a kidnapping by a psychopath.” Mia took a deep breath.

  Pete nodded. “I know. How is she, anyway?”

  Heat slid down Mia’s throat. “Same. She’s the same.”

  Pete cleared his throat. “How is Sister Dolores Catherine?”

  Mia couldn’t help the eye roll.
“Aunt Dotty is fine…and she’ll kick your butt if you call her that again. She hasn’t been a nun for over a decade.”

  “I know. It makes me laugh to think of her as a nun. You never told me why she quit.”

  “No, I didn’t.” Mia glanced at the brick wall. A cabin by the lake might be good for them all. Quiet and peaceful…surrounded by beauty. Plus, she could assist Pete on the Ruby Redbird case. “You already had this planned. I mean, the cabin and all.”

  Pete raised an eyebrow and let the unanswered question about Dotty go. “I was hopeful. Still am. I need you on this. You don’t start work in Seattle for a month. We’ll have the killer by then.”

  When was the last time anybody needed her professional skills? Mia bit her lip. A fresh start had been her intention when moving out west. “Show me the cabin.”

  Chapter 3

  The log cabin was perfect. Sprawling on two levels, the fully furnished place held three bedrooms with attached baths, a large gathering room with a huge fireplace, and an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances.

  Within four hours of the sheriff showing it to her, Mia had signed the rental papers at the agency in town and fetched both her mother and Aunt Dotty from the small Seattle hotel. They’d all been relieved to leave the dismal place.

  Of course, Gena had been tranquilized for the drive and move—and she’d probably sleep the entire night.

  Mia peered into the still darkened bedroom at her mother sleeping peacefully on the antique wedding band quilt. In sleep, she looked less than her fifty years, her skin smooth, her eyelashes dark against her pale cheeks. Curly dark hair sprinkled with gray framed her pretty face. Even so, a sense of sadness clung to her.

  When was the last time she’d smiled? Mia sagged against the doorframe for the tiniest of moments, allowing grief and guilt to engulf her. She’d repeatedly been warned to drop the case, but she couldn’t stop once she was on a hunt. Maybe it was her childhood or even her training as an adult, but if a true predator was out there, she had to stop him.

  Her mind flashed to Seth Volk. There was no doubt the muscled man was a predator, but every instinct in her body screamed that he had a code of honor. That didn’t mean it was the same code she lived by. Curiosity about him wandered through her. He’d been compelling, and even though he might’ve threatened her, she wanted to know more about him. Maybe she was wrong again. Perhaps there was no code of honor. He was obviously strong enough to drive a spike into a human body.

  Her mother gasped slightly in her sleep and rolled over as if to protect herself from a threat.

  Mia pressed a hand to her chest at the pain. What had she done to her mother?

  “Knock it off.” Dotty hip-butted her, shoving her away from the door. She wore an avocado face mask matching a nightgown with odd pink lace down the sides. Her shoulders were broad, her waist surprisingly narrow, and her attitude…usually calm with an edge of strength. “What happened wasn’t your fault, and it’s time to stop wallowing.”

  Mia rolled her eyes, moving into the large gathering room. “My mother was taken hostage and tortured by a serial killer I couldn’t catch. He took her because of me.” She’d been hunting the bastard for so long that all she thought about was him. Apparently, he’d been learning about her, as well. She should’ve considered that he’d go after her family. Unfortunately, she had only realized that fear once she’d returned home to see her mother through the window. Mia had known instantly what was going on. “I should’ve known better, and I didn’t. How the hell isn’t her pain my fault?” She grimaced at the last sentence. Oops.

  Dotty slammed both hands on her ample hips. “I may not be a nun any longer, but you really must watch your language.”

  Right. Like Dotty didn’t swear like a judge on a binge. But she didn’t use the h-word or take the Lord’s name in vain. “I’m sorry.”

  Hazel-green eyes softened. “Thank you. Now, stop being an asshole.”

  Mia coughed out a laugh. “I’ll try.”

  “Gena will be all right. That fancy psychologist you sent her to said it would take time. This is a great place to find the time.” Dotty peered out at the quiet lake lit by the moon outside. “Peaceful in a totally out-there type of way.”

  “I guess.”

  Dotty studied her with her shrewd gaze. “You’re more down than usual. Are you missing Kurt?”

  “No.” Interesting. She’d dated the FBI agent for nearly a year, and she hadn’t thought about him once on the trip east. The guy hadn’t exactly been supportive after her career blew up, although she had noticed a couple of missed calls on her phone from him. What was there to say? He had been more interested in protecting his career than their relationship. “I think I liked how he looked more than the way he acted.”

  Dotty snorted. “He did have the smooth guy look down, didn’t he? I hope he loses his hair.”

  Amusement filtered through the exhaustion trying to weigh Mia down. “That’s not nice.” Kurt had really liked his thick, blond hair, that was for sure. “You know, I would often catch him checking himself out in store windows when we walked by.” At the time, she’d thought it was humorous. Now, it was just annoying—plain and simple. She couldn’t imagine Seth Volk watching himself in reflective surfaces. Though he’d likely be searching out threats while looking in windows. Of course, Seth was probably the biggest threat around.

  But was he guilty of murder? More importantly, why was she comparing him to Kurt?

  Mia turned to face her aunt more fully. “You and Mom need to be careful until I figure out this town, okay? There’s a murderer here.” The last thing she wanted was to put her loved ones in danger once again. “Please promise me.” A chill skittered down her back.

  Dotty patted her shoulder. “I promise. You know your mom will want to stick close to the cabin for a while, anyway. It’s a nice and peaceful place.” She peered into the quiet night for a moment, her tone thoughtful. “You can’t worry so much and do your job. Right?”

  Mia swallowed. “Right.”

  “Well, night, sweetie. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Dotty gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and headed to bed.

  Mia nodded, her gaze remaining on the deep water outside. She needed to grab a cup of tea and do some thinking, and the deck seemed like a perfect spot for problem-solving. Hopefully, they could all heal here in this beautiful place.

  A beautiful place where a murderer hid.

  Seth Volk jogged through the forest, each step pounding away the tension of the day. Moonlight winked through the trees, weak but determined, even at the midnight hour.

  A slight breeze cooled his bare chest. Growling, he wiped his right hand on his running shorts. The feeling of Mia’s soft skin under his thumb had haunted him all day. Beautiful and definitely lost, the former FBI agent’s scent wouldn’t leave his memory. She smelled like vanilla and lilacs—pure, wild, and sweet.

  The woman had grit. The vulnerability in those deep emerald eyes had not only tugged at him but had also insisted he help. The one lesson Seth had learned without question in his life was not to help outsiders.

  Pretty Mia was certainly an outsider.

  She would be in definite danger if she stayed in his town. He’d warned her for her own safety and hoped like hell she followed his advice. His gut told him she wouldn’t.

  When Lenessee had threatened her, Seth had almost jumped through the bars and strangled the asshole. An odd reaction, to be sure. Although he’d only known Mia for a few minutes, he’d easily kill Lenessee for hurting her.

  When had he become such a monster?

  He stumbled on the familiar trail.

  Shit, when had he worried about questions like that? He’d been born a monster—or he’d earned the title in his teens. Either way, it was entirely too late to ask such a question. Entirely too late to even think about being with a sweet thing like Mia.

  She deserved better.

  The trail wound through towering pines and evergreens, their strong scent failing to banish Mia’s, which remained on his skin as if she’d claimed him for her own. Idly, he wondered about the man she’d killed. He’d never killed for a woman before. He’d kill for her.