Page 36 of K-9 Prime Target

SkyCrest was where Nina was happy. Where she had made a home and found a family in ski patrol. Nina would never agree to leaving. She had vowed not to run away again.

He stopped by a coffee cart for a black coffee, then sat on a bench in the plaza, studying the people who passed by. No one with a Mt. Hood Meadows sticker on their helmet passed. No one who matched Nicholson’s description came within view. Was that because he was already on the slopes, stalking Nina?

He was headed back toward his hotel when he passed the gyro truck. Derek was out front, setting up a chalkboard with the day’s specials. “I need to talk to you a minute,” Liam said, stopping in front of him.

Derek looked confused. “Who are you?”

“I’m Nina’s friend, Liam Davies.”

“Oh, yeah. The photographer.” Derek straightened and crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you want to talk to me about?”

“About Nina. You obviously like her a lot.”

“Everybody likes Nina.”

“But I think you especially like her.”

The tips of his ears reddened, and his gaze shifted away from Liam. “What are you getting at?”

“Do you know where Nina lives?”

His gaze snapped back to Liam. “I’m not going to tell you, if that’s what you’re after.”

“I already know where she lives. I want to know if you know.”

Derek shrugged. “I have friends who live in her neighborhood, so I’ve see her around.”

“Have you been to her house?”

“No!” He dropped his arms. “Is that what this is about? Do you think Nina and I have dated or something?” He chuckled. “As if. I mean, yeah, if I thought she was interested…” He met Liam’s gaze at last. “Is she interested?”

“You know she was attacked by a stalker once before?”

“I read about that. Pretty horrible stuff.”

“I want to make sure nothing like that happens again.”

Derek’s eyes widened. “So you think I’m a stalker? No way!”

“I’ve seen you staring at her.”

“She’s a beautiful woman. Lots of people stare at her. And her picture is everywhere around here.” He indicated the banners around them. “Nina’s gorgeous. And she’s sweet. We’re friends. But I would never do anything to hurt her. Does she know you’re here right now, questioning me?”

“No.” And if she knew, she’d probably be upset.

“Then you need to back off. Nina’s a good person, and she deserves better than some jealous, controlling goon like you.” He turned away and went into the food truck, slamming the door behind him.

Liam stared after him, considering getting Derek back out here to explain that Nina could be in real danger and that trying to protect her was not being jealous and controlling. But maybe that would only prove Derek’s point. Nina hadn’t asked him to interrogate the young man. She might even think he was going too far. He wanted more than anything to protect her, but he had to respect her, too.

A little before noon, Liam headed to ski patrol headquarters. Nina stood by the desk with Connor and Brian and smiled when he entered. “Come to take more photos of our resident fashion model?” Brian asked.

“I’ve brought some photos for you.” Liam handed a manila envelope to Connor, then stood close to Nina.

Connor slid the photographs from the envelope. “They’re stills taken from the background of videos I shot of Nina,” Liam said. “So not the best quality, but you can see it’s the same man in each one, filmed on different days at different times.”

“And this guy was always lurking around,” Connor said. He looked at Nina. “Is this the guy who stalked you before?”

“I think so,” she said. “You can never see his face clearly in those pictures, but he’s the same height and build.”