Present Danger

the trail and see what was what. As he waited, he wished he could forget his aunt’s question last night.
Had he made things right with Terra?
Too much time had passed already. They both had moved on. Then why did his aunt’s words gnaw at him? In some ways, sure, he’d moved on. But in other ways, his heart and mind ushered him to the past as if he were still there. It was in the small nuances—the way he reacted to Terra’s smile or her slightest frown. And he’d spent only a few hours with her for the first time in years. This investigation—and his insane desire to somehow “make it right,” as Aunt Nadine had put it—could mean many more hours with her.
Terra’s white SUV pulled in behind him and cut off his thoughts. Thank you, God.
He climbed out, tugged on his jacket, then headed for Terra. The morning was cold, but the day would warm up soon.
“Morning,” he said.
Terra closed the distance, carrying two thermoses. She handed one to him. “Gramps has a special blend. He roasts his own beans, you know.”
He squinted at her. “I didn’t know. I’m thinking that since he roasts his own coffee and you make the most incredible pies, you guys should open up a shop or something.” He eyed the thermos with uncertainty. “Is it any good?”
“You tell me.” Her conspiratorial grin could have meant anything.
He unscrewed the cap, sniffed the warm brew, then shrugged. He took a sip and nearly dropped the thermos. “Ouch!”
“What? Did you burn your tongue?”
“It must have been boiling when you left.”
“I wanted to make sure it was still hot by the time I got here.”
“Thanks.” Since she’d been so thoughtful, he’d have to drink the coffee. He left the cap off so the air would cool it down a bit.
Terra sipped from hers while it was still way too hot and turned her face east to the mountains and the rising sun, the Maverick Trailhead behind them. They remained quiet as they sipped coffee and soaked in the fresh mountain air and picturesque view.
Jack had a beautiful view all his own. Terra’s thick brown hair was clipped up. He couldn’t help but think back to Aunt Nadine’s question—one he hadn’t been able to adequately answer without upsetting her.
Had he made things right?
No, and the opportunity to do so had long passed. But something inside him wanted to make it up to Terra. How, he had no idea.
If he had stayed in Montana with Terra back then rather than skipping town and accepting a job with the FBI, where would they be now? Terra had known about his dream, but neither of them had known how quickly that dream could happen. His major had been in information technology, and the feds snatched him right up.
He’d wanted her more than he’d wanted anything else in his life, but Terra came from a family of heroes. Jack had a dark family history. She probably thought he was a coward, but leaving her that day was one of the bravest things he’d ever done. She would never understand that he did it for her. He had to change his legacy. Prove that he wouldn’t be anything like his father. He’d been driven to prove himself so he could finally measure up, but to whom, he wasn’t sure he even knew anymore.
He blew out a breath. If he’d stayed here, he didn’t think they would be together as a couple because Jack hadn’t believed in himself enough.
“We should get going,” she said.
He realized he’d been staring at her, caught up in his thoughts. “Looks like scattered thunderstorms today, and one seems to be developing right over us.”
“That could wash away evidence, if there’s any to find,” she said.
“A county evidence tech already searched here at the trailhead.”
“But you wanted me to go with you to search.”
“Yes. We don’t know if Jim did more than stand next to his vehicle here when he was murdered. We’ll learn if any blood particles were found.”
“Okay, then let’s go.” She held out her hand to take his thermos.
He held on to it. “I’m not done.”
“You don’t want to carry that, do you?”
“Good point.”
He chugged the rest of the still painfully hot coffee, and she laughed at his efforts to conceal the pain and awful burnt taste, of which he was no fan. He handed over the thermos and she stuck it back in her vehicle, along with hers.
She secured a backpack. “Where’s your pack?”
He scratched an itch under his eye. “I didn’t think we’d be gone that long.”
“Always take a pack with supplies with you into the forest.” She started forward, and at the trailhead she gestured for him to lead.
He found it funny that he was spending an inordinate amount of time on trails with Terra, just like they had before. Nature loving was in her blood.
“So, tell me what you’ve learned so far,” she said.
“We’re still interviewing friends and family.”
“And the pilot?” Her breathing remained steady even though they were hiking an incline.
“Haven’t caught up with him yet.”
“Why did he leave the hospital?” she asked.
“That’s a good question. The attending physician explained that he had expected Mr. Carter to remain at least another night.”
“He just woke up and realized . . . what? What would make a man leave without discharging?”
“He couldn’t have killed Jim, so that’s not it. As far as others, we’re interviewing people Jim met with to sell insurance, his clients, and anyone else he worked with. The case is a priority, which brings me to this. Sheriff Gibson is deputizing you for the course of this investigation.”
Terra stopped behind him. He stopped too and turned to look at her.
“We’re pooling all the resources. If you come across a suspect during the hunt for a killer, you have the authority of the sheriff’s offices to arrest them. You’ll be read into all the information.”
She angled her head. “My ASAC signed off on my participation, but this is even better. Is the sheriff