Speak in Winter Code by S. M. Harding

Author:S. M. Harding [Harding, S. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781594935350
Publisher: Bella Books
Published: 2017-03-27T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

My preliminary interstate accident reports were on their way to the state police, so we headed out to Nathan’s. I’d handed the keys to Win as a peace offering, or maybe just so I could try to wade through the swamp of my feelings. I felt pulled in two directions and couldn’t see how I could just walk away from the duties I had sworn, both to the office and to Win.

Maybe I was just being Sheriff Drama. I sighed, leaned my head back and closed my eyes.

“You’re supposed to be riding shotgun,” Win said. “Not napping.”

I straightened up. “I was thinking.”

“Sarah, you don’t have to make any black-and-white decisions. Not all at once. We’ll take the challenges as they come. Together.” She took the turn at Nathan’s drive and pulled into the clearing. “Let’s use these opportunities to grow closer and stronger. I told you a long time ago—I know ‘sheriff’ is in your DNA. So we have to learn to live with it. We can, you know.”

“I’m trying to compromise, but I feel like I’m in a booby-trapped jungle, Win. I take one wrong step and I’m swinging upside down.”

“I’ll come cut you down. Promise.” She squeezed my hand. “Let’s go get the skinny from Nathan.”

Nathan stood in the doorway as we got out and by the time we’d walked inside, he was already seated at his console. “Lots to report, some of it speculative. Let’s go because I really need to strap on my snowshoes and get away from this stuff.

“I printed out everything I could find on our local suspects—there, box on the table. I’ll just highlight and you can go through the details on your own time.”

Nathan looked weary and I wondered how long he’d been at this without breaks or sleep. The printed files took up half a banker’s box. “Will do.”

“First, I found Greg Hall, our third impostor. Born Aloysius Brennan in Moscow, Montana. Moved to Algoma, Idaho when he was in eighth grade.”

“Grew up in Idaho?” Win asked.

“Yeah. Kind of a wild child, got sent off to military school for the last two years of high school. Did a tour in the army, but didn’t re-up. Hooked up with a militia a few years ago. It’s all in the file.” An image of a snake, coiled and ready to strike, came up on the monitor. “But the thing I’ve been working on is a group called1776 Corps. I got onto them from some emails they sent Greg—encrypted—that he stupidly forwarded unencrypted. Orders from them and copies of all that is in his file.” He retied his hair at the nape of his neck. “I think there’s a hell of a lot more to this group, but the digging is hard. They’ve got layers of safeguards. I’m going to back away for a bit.”

“Go snowshoeing,” Win said.

They knuckle-bumped and looked at me.

“All right. We’ll take the files, go over them and tomorrow, Win, we’ll go hit the trails. In the meantime, Nathan, please be careful.

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