Free Tundra Threat by Sarah Varland Page B

distant spot on the wall. “I feel like there’s something in my mind, something about what you just said...”
    “It’ll come to you.”
    “Yeah. It will. It has to, because I’m going to solve this case.”
    In spite of the confident words, Will heard the waver in her tone, wished he could do something to bolster her, help her not doubt herself. But did he have full confidence that she could figure this out? He honestly didn’t know.
    Instead, he reached for her hand, gave it a quick squeeze. “I’ve got to head to work. You be careful.”
    She promised she would. And Will prayed she was telling the truth.

SIX
    M cKenna pored over paperwork in the office at Truman Hunting Expeditions for hours the following day, her attention taken away from her task periodically by Will smiling at her and Rick glaring at her.
    The contrast made it difficult to focus.
    At just after five, she gave up. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but she knew she hadn’t found it. There was nothing interesting—no names she recognized, no signs of illegal activity.
    “Are you done here?” Rick asked her, seeing her standing from her spot at the desk.
    “I think I am.” She looked around one last time, trying to ignore his tone as she scrutinized the area to make sure there was nothing she’d missed. But everything was as it should have been. Her investigations into the two biggest guide companies in the area had yielded zero results. Frustrated didn’t begin to describe the way she was starting to feel. Which was why she paused at the door, turned back to face Rick. “You haven’t heard of a guy named Seth Davison, have you?”
    Rick shook his head. “I don’t think I know him. Why?”
    “No reason.” She paused. “Actually, there is a reason. He’s dead. And the last thing anyone knew about him, he was up here on a hunting trip.”
    “You checked my books. I didn’t take him.”
    She had looked specifically for Seth’s name, along with the other two. Knew they weren’t there. She’d been hoping Rick might give something away if she caught him off guard, but he was either an excellent liar or he had nothing to hide. “All right.”
    “Maybe he went with another guide service.”
    She’d checked them all. As far as any of them or their records were concerned, the three men didn’t exist.
    “No one’s heard of him. Thank you for your cooperation,” she forced herself to say. Will’s boss may not have been polite, but he had been cooperative. And since he was also apparently innocent of any wrongdoing, she needed to make sure to stay on good terms with him, since, given the job, it was inevitable that they would cross paths again.
    He seemed to relax. “You’re welcome.”
    “I’m going to head out,” Will let Rick know as he gathered his things and followed her.
    “See you.”
    Once they were in the parking lot, McKenna let out a deep breath. “That’s not how I expected things to go.”
    “What do you mean?”
    She shook her head. “Let’s wait until we’re in private. I shouldn’t have said anything yet.”
    They climbed into her car and she drove them to her and Anna’s house. Anna wasn’t home yet—she must be working late.
    “So are you going to tell me what you meant back there in the parking lot?” Will asked once they’d settled in on the living room couch. She’d seated herself next to the arm, leaving plenty of space beside her, but he’d taken the other end of the couch. McKenna wished they were closer. She was pretty sure that after a few minutes of sitting with Will with his arms around her, she’d be able to relax and the headache she was getting from this case would disappear.
    She tried to shake the image from her head. As though that scenario would ever happen. He wasn’t interested in her in that way. Never had been. Which was why she wouldn’t allow herself to get interested in him, either. She wouldn’t even let herself ask for comfort—not when she was sure it