Page 24 of K-9 Prime Target

The sheriff’s expression remained impassive. “He wouldn’t be the first man who tried to frighten a woman into turning to him for comfort.”

“I didn’t write those notes, and I didn’t paint that obscenity.” Liam jerked his head toward the garage door. “Yesterday and today I was at SkyCrest all day, working. I’m sure you can verify that with a dozen people at least.”

The sheriff regarded the drawing again. “And you think your stalker—this Aaron Nicholson—did this?” he asked.

“Yes,” Nina said.

“Why is that?”

“Because it’s the kind of thing he would do.” She inhaled deeply and added, “Because the two notes I received sounded like the notes he left when he stalked me before.”

“Did he draw cartoons like this before?”

“No.”

“Can you think of anybody else who might have done this? Maybe as a joke.”

“No. And it’s not a joke. It’s horrible.”

“Who do you think that figure up there is supposed to be?” the sheriff asked.

“It’s me,” she said.

The sheriff tilted his head as he considered the drawing. “I don’t see much of a resemblance.”

“When I was racing, I wore my hair in two long braids like that.”

“Lots of women wear their hair like that,” he said.

She didn’t answer. As far as she was concerned, his observation didn’t deserve an answer.

“You work ski patrol at the resort, isn’t that right?”

“Yes.” He already knew this. Why was he asking again?

“There was an accident there today—a young woman injured when she was hit by a snowboarder.”

“How did you know about that?” she asked.

“The guy who hit the young woman fled the scene. That’s against the Colorado skier responsibility code, so the resort called us in to interview the man. Were you one of the patrollers on that call?”

“Yes.” She should have realized law enforcement would be called. Leaving the scene of a ski accident wasn’t merely against resort policy—it violated state law.

The sheriff looked across to Liam. “I heard a photographer tracked down the snowboarder after he left the scene of the accident. Was that you?”

“Yes.”

The sheriff rested one hand on the roof of the car and leaned toward them. “Here’s what I think happened. That young man was pretty upset about running into that young lady and then getting caught. Maybe he decided to get back at the two of you and give you a shock. He would have had plenty of time to get over here and paint this cartoon while you two were enjoying your wine and cheese. That figure on the snow isn’t you, but the girl who was hurt today.”

“How would he know where I live?” she asked.

“He could have talked to people you know. It probably wouldn’t be hard to find out your address, in a community this small.”

“Are you going to question him about this?” she asked.

“He’s headed back to Texas tomorrow morning. He shouldn’t give you any more trouble.”

“I don’t think this was the work of a tourist from Texas,” she said. “Aaron Nicholson tried to kill me before. He went to prison because of it. I believe he’s back and that he’ll try to harm me again.”