Disappearance at Dakota Ridge by Cindi Myers

Author:Cindi Myers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-10-07T20:49:45+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Shane called in for backup, then left Lauren with Becca while he and Robby drove to the end of the road. They parked at the trailhead for the Sanford Mine trail, then hiked another two miles to the mining ruins.

“The body is in there,” Robby said, indicating a mostly intact cabin. Though the windows and door were missing, the rest of the structure looked sound. “In the back corner. We thought it was a pile of old clothes at first.” He put a hand to his mouth.

Shane patted his shoulder. “You stay out here while I have a look.” He approached the cabin, forcing aside emotion, focusing on the job. Nothing about the place looked disturbed. Nothing marred the slab of rock that served as a doorstep. Fallen leaves and the remains of a pack rat nest made of dried grasses and twigs littered the eight-by-eight room. He unclipped a flashlight from his belt and directed the beam into the corner.

The woman lay curled on her side, red hair obscuring her face, one arm stretched out in front of her. When he moved closer, he could see the red-black blood staining the back of her head. Carefully, he bent and lifted the hair away from her cheek.

Talia Larrivee stared up at him, her once lovely features rigid with shock.

Shane left the cabin and found Robby standing in the shade of a clump of aspens. Some of the color had returned to his face. “Did you find her?” he asked.

Shane nodded. “Did you recognize her?”

Robby pressed his lips together. “Maybe,” he said after a minute. “But I only looked at her a minute. It was such a shock.”

“I’m not asking for a definite identification,” Shane said. “But did you think you had seen her before?”

He nodded. “I think she was one of the women I told you about,” he said. “With Troy Allen. Not the blonde you showed me the picture of, but the other one.”

Shane had suspected as much, but Robby added confirmation. “We’ll need to get statements from you and your wife,” he said. “And I’ll need you to stay here with me until other officers arrive. Then I’ll have someone take you back to your home.”

“Yes, sir. Can I ask—how did she die? I mean, what was she doing up here—all alone?”

“I don’t think she was alone when she died,” Shane said.

“Do you mean someone killed her?” Robby’s eyes widened.

“I can’t say officially,” Shane said. He probably shouldn’t have said anything at all, but it was too late now.

“I saw the blood,” Robby said. “I thought she might have fallen and hit her head.”

“I don’t think so.” Not that he’d seen many gunshot wounds, but he was pretty sure that was what had killed Talia Larrivee. “We’ll let the crime scene experts make that determination. I’m going to ask you not to talk about this with anyone except your wife. The same goes for her.”

“We won’t say anything,” Robby said. “But do you think we need to be worried?” He wiped his mouth.

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