Snowblind Justice. Cindi Myers

would have liked nothing better than to refuse the offer, but the truth was, she was so cold she couldn’t stop shaking. She’d been so upset she had left her own coat behind at the café. She mutely accepted his jacket and slipped into it, his warmth enveloping her, along with the scent of him, clean and masculine.

      “Why was Denise coming to see you?” Travis asked.

      “The lead on the research project I’m involved in had some files he wanted me to review,” she said. “Denise volunteered to deliver them to me.”

      “She drove six hours to deliver files?” Brodie asked. “Why didn’t they transmit them electronically? Or ask you to make the trip?”

      “These are paper surveys students filled out,” she said. “And the professor had already agreed I should stay here in Eagle Mountain until after the wedding.” She hugged the coat more tightly around her. “Honestly, I don’t think he would have bothered, except Denise wanted to come. She said it was a great excuse to get out of the office and spend at least one night in the mountains.”

      “The two of you were friends?” Travis asked.

      She nodded, and bit the inside of her cheek to stave off the fresh wave of tears that threatened with that one change of verb tense—were. “She’s the administrative assistant in the economics department and she and I really hit it off. I’d told her so much about Eagle Mountain and the ranch that she was anxious to see it.” She swallowed hard. If Denise had stayed in Fort Collins, she’d be alive now.

      “When did you talk to her last?” Travis asked.

      “She called me when she stopped for gas in Gunnison, and we agreed to meet at the Cake Walk for lunch.”

      “What time was that?” Brodie asked.

      “About ten thirty.”

      “Did Alex Woodruff know her?” Brodie asked.

      Had Denise known her killer? Emily shuddered at the thought, then forced herself to focus on the question. “Maybe,” she said. “Students can register online to participate in various research studies, but they can also come into the office and fill out the paperwork there. If Alex did that, he would have met Denise. And a couple of times she’s helped check people in for studies.”

      “So there’s a good chance he did know her,” Brodie said.

      “Yes.” She glanced toward the gray Nissan. “What happened to her? I mean, I know she was killed, but why up here?”

      “It’s possible Alex posed as a stranded motorist in need of a ride,” Travis said. “If your friend recognized him from school, do you think she would have stopped?”

      Emily nodded. “Yes. Denise was always pitching in to help with fund-raisers or any extra work that needed to be done. She would have stopped to help someone, especially someone she knew.” Again, she struggled for composure. “I’m sure she has family in Denver. Someone will have to tell them.”

      “I’ll take care of that,” Travis said.

      She wanted to hug her brother. He had had to break the awful news to too many parents and spouses and siblings since the killings had begun. “Why is Alex doing this?” she asked.

      “We’re hoping you can give us some insight into that,” Brodie said. “You might talk to some of the professors who knew him. We could call them, but they might be more inclined to open up to you. You’re one of them.”

      “What is that supposed to mean?” she asked.

      “You’re an academic,” he said. “You speak their language. I’m just a dumb cop.”

      Under other circumstances, she might have laughed. Brodie was anything but dumb. But there was nothing funny about what had happened here today. “I’ll see what I can find out,” she said. “But I’m not promising I can help you.”

      “We’d appreciate it if you’d try.” Travis patted her shoulder. “I’m sorry about your friend, but I think you’d better go home now. There’s nothing you can do here.”

      She nodded, and slipped off the jacket and held it out to Brodie. “You keep it,” he said. “I can get it tonight.”

      “Don’t be silly,” she said. “I’m getting back in my warm car, so I don’t need it.” And she didn’t want to give him an excuse for looking her up again later.

      He took the jacket, then turned toward her Jeep, frowning. “You drove up here by yourself?” he said.

      “Yes.”

      “You shouldn’t be out driving by yourself,” he said. “Alex Woodruff targets women who are in their cars alone.”

      “I’m not going to stop if he tries to flag me down,” she said. “I’m not stupid.”

      “He knows that,” Brodie said. “He would use some subterfuge. He’s done it before.”

      “Brodie’s right,” Travis said. “From now on, when you have to come to town, take someone else with you. And don’t pull over for anyone—no matter what.”

      She stared at them, fear tightening her throat and making it hard to breathe. Of course she knew there was a killer preying on women. But it was hard to believe she was really in danger. That was probably what those other women had thought, too. She nodded. “All right,” she said. “I won’t go out alone, and I’ll be careful.”

      Brodie followed her to the Jeep and waited while she climbed in. “I know you think Travis and I are overreacting,” he said. “But until this man is caught, you’re not going to be truly safe.”

      “I know.” She didn’t like knowing it, but there was no use denying facts. For whatever reason, Alex Woodruff was targeting women who were alone—women in her age group. “I do take this very seriously,” she said. Having a brother who was sheriff and another brother who was a deputy didn’t make her immune from the danger.

       Chapter Five

      Emily couldn’t shake a sense of guilt over Denise’s death. She could have refused her friend’s offer to bring the student surveys to her. She could have at least warned Denise to be careful, and made sure she knew about the serial killer who had been targeting women in the area. But she couldn’t change the past, and guilt wouldn’t bring Denise back to her. All Emily could do was to try to help Travis and his officers find Alex and stop him before he killed again.