Cowboys & Navy SEALs

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

A ddie knew she needed to call Piper and tell her about Jordan. A part of her wanted to shrink back and let events run their course. Sheriff Hendricks would get around to it in the next few hours.

No, she couldn’t wait for him. The news needed to come from her.

Crazy how a few hours ago she’d been going about her life as normal, fretting over the details of the approaching conference. Jordan had done the same—coming to see her so he could get the jewelry to give to Piper. Tears glistened in her eyes. Hopefully, it would bring some comfort to Piper to know his last thoughts had been of her. Addie’s heart clutched. That wasn’t exactly true. Jordan’s last words kept replaying through her mind. What things had Jordan done? Forgive him for what? She pushed her hair out of her eyes and tucked her curls behind her ears as she took in a deep breath. She could do this! She had to hold it together to call Piper!

A knock sounded at the door the second before it opened. Sadie stuck her head in, her wide eyes radiating compassion. “How ya holding up?”

A lump formed in Addie’s throat. “Okay,” she croaked.

Sadie nodded. “Don’t worry about the conference. I’ve got everything under control. The execs just finished lunch and are headed into the Alpine room for their workshops.”

“Thank you.” She forced a smile. “What about dinner tonight?”

She raised an eyebrow, a hint of reproof in her voice. “I told you. I’m handling it. We’re shuttling them to the Center Street Grill.”

Normally, Sadie second-guessed everything, running every insignificant detail past Addie. However, the woman standing before her seemed to have newfound confidence. Or maybe Addie was just hoping Sadie could handle it. Either way, she had no choice but to leave things in her hands—at least for today. “I appreciate all that you’re doing.”

“You’re welcome,” she said briskly. “I’d better get back to it.” She offered a reassuring smile. “Hang in there.” She closed the door.

“I’m trying to,” Addie said to herself, “but it’s certainly not easy.” Was the hit and run an accident? Had the person driving the sedan panicked when realizing he or she hit someone? Or was Jordan murdered? A chill slithered down her spine. Jordan had been frightened when he rushed from the terrace.

Sheriff Hendricks and his deputy had questioned Addie right after the accident. She told them all she knew, which wasn’t much. She could tell that the Sheriff was way out of his league. Nothing like this ever happened in the sleepy town of Birchwood Springs, Colorado. Addie grunted. Well, the only other major crime incident that Addie could remember taking place in Birchwood Springs happened a couple of years ago. Her brother Corbin brought Delaney here and her ex-husband’s psychotic brother came after her. Why did all the bad things seem to revolve around Addie’s family? She shook off the negative thought. Now was not the time to feel sorry for herself. This wasn’t about her. It was about Jordan and Piper.

Addie’s first impulse was to call Corbin and tell him everything that happened. Corbin had connections in his private security company. No, she couldn’t call him now. He had his hands full with Delaney’s pregnancy. Maddox! He could help. No sooner had the thought surfaced than she squelched it flat. No way was she calling Maddox. She gritted her teeth.

Okay, she couldn’t put it off any longer. She had to call Piper. She reached for her phone. Her heart pounded against her ribcage like the march of doom as it rang. For a split second she thought it might go to voicemail, but Piper answered.

“Hello.”

Tears clouded Addie’s eyes. A sob rose in her throat as she coughed to clear the emotion.

“Addie? Are you okay?”

“No,” she croaked.

“What’s wrong?”

Her mind scrambled to find the words. She knew what she needed to say, but couldn’t seem to force her tongue to get them out.

“Addie?” Piper asked impatiently.

“It’s Jordan,” she managed to squeak.

Concern sounded in Piper’s voice. “What?”

“He’s been killed.”

This was met with stunned silence.

The words fell out in a tangled heap. “I’m so sorry. He stopped by the Bear Claw Resort today. As he was leaving, he was hit by a car that sped off.”

Piper gasped. Then her voice went shrill. “No, that’s not true! Jordan left for work this morning at the research lab. He wasn’t even in Birchwood Springs.”

Addie’s heart felt like it was splintering into pieces. “He was.”

“No, that can’t be right. There must be some mistake.”

“I’m afraid it’s true.” Her voice sounded small in her own ears. She wanted to crawl into a hole—anything to escape the present.

“No!” Piper made a strangled sound. Then she started weeping.

Tears streamed down Addie’s cheeks. “I’m so sorry.” She put a fist to her lower lip to stay the quivering. The only sounds were Piper’s ragged grief. Addie wished she was there with Piper. It was so cruel to have to tell her this over the phone, but she wanted it to come from her instead of a stranger. “Piper, are you okay?” It was a stupid question. Of course Piper wasn’t okay, but what did one say to another person during a time like this?

“I’ve—” She choked. “I’ve gotta let you go.”

Panic fluttered through Addie. She didn’t want to end the call right now, not when Piper was in such a terrible emotional state. “Are you home?”

Silence.

Her voice rose. “Piper, are you home?”

“Yes,” Piper finally uttered.

“Are you alone?”

“Dad’s here.”

The tone of Piper’s voice was flat, devoid of emotion like she was in shock.

Addie let out a relieved breath. At least Piper wasn’t alone. “I’m so sorry.” Her voice broke. There were no words sufficient for this. “I love you. Know that I’m here and will help in any way I can.”

“Thanks,” Piper croaked as she ended the call.

Addie just sat there, clutching the phone with both hands as she stared into nothing, her mind spinning a million miles a minute. She had to tell Piper everything that happened. However, now wasn’t the appropriate time. Jordan was from Birchwood Springs. His funeral and burial would most likely be here. Piper and her dad would come into town. She’d wait and talk to Piper in person, after Piper had a few days to digest the tragedy.

Addie gulped, an avalanche of emotion engulfing her.

Jordan was dead. How was it possible? One minute he was talking to her and the next, he was killed.

Or was he murdered?

By the time Addie arrived home that evening, she was physically and mentally exhausted. She wanted nothing more than to fall into bed and go unconscious. Crap! She gave her key to Jordan and hadn’t thought to get it back…after his accident. Reflexively, her hand went to the doorknob as she turned it in frustration. It was unlocked. Had she forgotten to lock it this morning? She never did that.

She pushed open the door and stepped inside, then gasped at what she saw, her hand clutching her throat.

The cabin had been ransacked.

Her knees went wobbly as she backed up against the door and leaned on it for support. She surveyed the damage. Bookshelves were face-down on the floor, books scattered everywhere. Pillows were thrown from the couch, chairs overturned. The refrigerator door was open, the contents spilled over the floor. Cupboard doors were open, food boxes half pulled out. She didn’t need to check the other rooms to know that every single household item had been rifled through. This was like something out of a horror movie. With trembling hands, she reached in her purse for her phone. Was someone still here? She looked around, her skin crawling as she feared an attack. She’d put off calling Corbin earlier, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Please answer , she prayed.

“Hey, sis.”

She realized she’d been holding her breath, waiting for him to answer. “Hey. I’m so sorry to bother you right now with all that you have going.”

“No worries. What’s up?”

She couldn’t keep her voice from shaking. “Jordan Phelps was killed today outside the resort.” Tears filled her eyes as the terrible events came rushing back.

“What? How?”

“It was a hit and run.”

“Wow. I’m sorry to hear that.”

“There’s more.”

“What else?”

Her heart thudded in her chest like a bowling ball bouncing on concrete. “Someone broke into the cabin and ransacked everything.”

Instantly, Corbin went into SEAL mode, firing questions at her. “Are you okay?”

“I think so. I just got home and realized.” Her voice dribbled off.

“Where are you now?”

“At home,” she said irritably. Had Corbin not heard her the first time?

“I mean, where are you in the cabin?”

“Standing beside the front door.”

“So, you don’t know if anything was taken?”

“No.” The thought of going into the other rooms was more than Addie could take right now.

“Has the intruder left?”

She shuddered. “I’m not sure.”

“Get out of there now! Call 911.”

Her head began to spin. “Okay.” She rushed to the car, her heart sputtering a sickly beat as she jammed in the key with a shaky hand and opened the door. She got in and locked it, looking around at the empty space surrounding her. Shakes started in her hands going down to her toes. Her pulse was making whooshing sounds against her ears. “I’m in the car. Now what?”

“Call 911. They’ll come out and search the house and file a report. This is crazy. Why would someone ransack the cabin?”

She let out a harsh laugh. “I have no idea.”

“Do you think it’s connected with Jordan’s death?”

A headache pounded across the bridge of her nose. “I don’t know.” She rubbed her forehead, letting out a humorless laugh. “I don’t know anything anymore. One minute Jordan was talking to me on the terrace, the next he walked out of the resort and got hit by a black sedan that sped off.”

Corbin blew out a breath. “Can you get a room at the resort?”

“Yeah, we’re not booked at full capacity.”

“Okay. Do that. I’ll be there first thing in the morning.”

“No!” she exploded. “You can’t! What about Delaney?” The silence on the other end of the line spoke volumes. “Delaney needs you there. You can’t desert her right now.” She clenched her jaw, eyes narrowing. If she called Corbin away and something happened to Delaney while he was gone, Addie would never forgive herself. “I didn’t call you so you’d come here. I called because I was hoping you might be able to use your connections to find out what’s going on.”

Long pause. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, call 911 right now. Then call me back so I’ll know you’re okay.”

“Will do.” She ended the call and did as Corbin instructed.

As she was calling 911, Addie glanced at the darkening sky. It occurred to her that she was alone in a remote area. Pops rented cabins to tourists who visited the Bear Claw Ski Resort and the nearby hot springs. He and Addie lived in one of the cabins. Just this morning, Addie had appreciated the coolness in the fall, Colorado air and how the leaves were starting to change colors, but now everything seemed ominous and threatening. Shivers snaked down her spine. If someone wanted to harm her, now would be the perfect time. The police wouldn’t be able to get here fast enough. While being on the phone with Corbin helped calm her, there was little he could do from San Diego.

Should she leave right now and go to the resort? No, she wanted to be here when the police came. That way, she could see if anything was missing. Her jaw hardened as anger took hold. She had to remain strong—see this thing through.

“911. What is your emergency?” a professional-sounding dispatcher asked.

“Someone broke into my home… Please hurry,” she added after she’d given her name and address.