Page 73 of K-9 Prime Target

“The man who was stalking me, Aaron Nicholson, followed us up here,” Nina said.

“So it was Nicholson,” Raz said. “We knew it couldn’t be Derek.”

“How did you know that?” Liam asked.

“Because he was home watching TV when we stopped by this morning,” Raz said. “And he loaned me this snowmobile. He even insisted on coming with us. He’s waiting back at the trailhead.”

“He wasn’t very happy when Raz wouldn’t let him ride with her,” Brian said.

“I pointed out we didn’t have room to carry the two of you and the dogs if he came along,” Raz said. She shrugged. “So now he’s back at the car, pouting.”

“Poor Derek,” Nina said. “I feel terrible that we ever accused him. It was Nicholson all the time.”

“He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Raz asked. “I should have asked before.”

“He didn’t hurt me,” Nina said. “It was terrifying, but we managed to get away. We’re safe now. I still can’t believe you two are here.”

“We had to come,” Raz said. “This is all our fault.”

“What do you mean?” Liam asked.

“We’ll explain later,” Brian said. “Where is this Nicholson guy now?”

“We left him stranded at some mine ruins up in the mountains,” Liam said. “We took his snowmobile and disabled it after it ran out of gas, just in case he had more fuel stashed somewhere.”

“We don’t know if he has skis or not,” Nina said. “We just know we need to get away from here.”

“You can ride with us,” Raz said. “The dogs, too, of course.”

“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all week,” Nina said, and moved to unclip from her skis.

“What did you mean, this was all your fault?” Liam asked again as he stepped out of his own skis.

“Brian, Renee, Connor and I were in the Trail’s End after work yesterday,” Raz said. “We were talking about the two of you being tucked away safely up here at this hut. Next thing I know, Connor spotted a guy in a black helmet with a Mt. Hood Meadows sticker not that far from our table. He took off after the guy, but in the crowd he got away. He must have overheard our conversation and followed you up here.”

“We didn’t realize it until the sheriff told us this morning that your stalker rented a snowmobile yesterday afternoon,” Brian said.

“We told the sheriff to send someone up here to check on you,” Raz said. “But he was convinced Nicholson was in Rabbit Basin, because that’s where he told the rental agent he was going. I’m so sorry. If I hadn’t been running my mouth so much, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“It’s okay.” Nina put a hand on Raz’s shoulder. “Nicholson is the villain here, not you. And I’m so grateful you decided to come check on us this morning.” She stashed her skis in the PVC tubes at the back of the snowmobile designed to carry skis, climbed on behind Raz and called Sky.

The dog scrambled into her lap, a warm, furry pillow between the two women. “Everybody ready?” Brian asked. Liam sat behind him, Angel secure in her pack on his back.

“Let’s get out of here,” Liam said.

Nina hugged Sky close and relaxed into the ride. They were all safe. They would be all right. And this time, surely this time, law enforcement would find and stop Nicholson.

She and Raz were ahead of Brian and Liam as they approached the parking area. “Looks like we’ve got company,” Raz said.

Nina looked over Raz’s shoulder and was startled to see two sheriff’s department SUVs, one of them trailering two snowmobiles. Raz and Brian pulled in alongside them. “Nicholson is up there, all right,” Raz said. “But who’s that on the ground?”

Nina leaned forward, trying to see. Two deputies leaned over someone prone on the ground.

“That’s Derek!” Raz said. She revved the engine on the snowmobile and the machine shot forward. Nina gripped her tightly. “Hey! What are you doing?” Raz shouted.

The two deputies and the sheriff turned to watch the two snowmobiles race into the parking area. Raz stopped only a few feet from where Derek lay prone, his hands cuffed behind him. “What are you doing to Derek?” she demanded.

“You’re not supposed to have snowmobiles in a wilderness area,” one of the deputies said.