Free Hard Evidence by Roxanne Rustand

think? Will your dad be pleased?”
    For a place without cable, TV reception or a hot tub, it was okay. But she looked so happy about the curtains and bright-red woven rugs in Cabin Five that Ian dredged up a half grin. “It’s fine.”
    “I don’t want to be intrusive and handle any of your dad’s things when he isn’t here. But I’d be happy to help you guys move this evening when he comes home.” She paused and looked around. “If you’d like to bring your own luggage up now, we could do that.”
    Ian started to say no, then reconsidered. The cabin was nice and private. Out of sight of the main lodge, where that grumpy old lady always seemed to be giving him dirty looks—even when he wasn’t in her way. How Janna had ended up nice with a mother like that one was—
    The thought hit him like a sucker punch to the stomach. As always, whenever he felt blindsided by a word or photo or a sudden memory, his breath caught, his eyes started to burn, and he wanted to turn around and drive a fist into the wall.
    It was so unfair. So cruel and overwhelming and still so unbelievable. All the more, because a nasty woman like Claire McAllister had stuck around to old age, while his own mom…
    He blinked. Wanted to run. Hide—anything, to get away from the sympathy in Janna’s eyes and the rush of humiliation that clogged his throat. He didn’t cry. Ever. But though he wanted to keep her from seeing his tears, he couldn’t seem to make his feet move.
    She stepped closer and rested her hands on his shoulders. Warmth seemed to flow through him and settle around his aching heart at her touch. “Your father told me about the accident, Ian. There just aren’t enough words to express how sorry I am that you’ve had to go through this.”
    He bowed his head, unable to speak.
    “I know you’re a big guy, and you barely know me—but if you ever need to talk, I’m here.”
    Part of him wanted that more than anything. Another part rebelled, angry and defiant at the offer of sympathy from yet another person who could never understand how gut-wrenching his grief and guilt were.
    There’d already been way too many shallow condolences. People who’d said terrible things like, “Maybe it was meant to be” when the only thing he wanted was to have Mom back with him. Alive and laughing and carefree.
    Like she’d been before her own son had managed to kill her.
    He leaned into Janna’s touch for a moment, then jerked away and fled to the door without looking back. He knew that if he stayed any longer, he might start crying like a baby. And what was the use of that?
    Outside, Rylie looked up from petting her dog and smiled at him. “It’s a nice cabin, isn’t it? I helped make the beds, and—”
    He rushed past her, ignoring a sharp twinge in his knee. He hesitated, then turned up the lane leading to the trails beyond the last cabin. He needed space and solitude and a place where he could scream if he wanted to, and no one would hear.
    “Ian! Wait!” Rylie’s voice followed him, but he didn’t look back…not until he’d gone way past the last cabin and reached the place where the trail split into three directions. He saw her from a distance, doggedly starting up the long, rock-strewn hill.
    Great.
    He wavered, then took the trail to the right—just a faint track leading through a dense thicket, and one he’d never explored. No one would think to follow him here.
    Rylie would surely give up—she always turned back. And this was one time when he really wanted to be alone.

     
    After dealing with a multicar accident, a domestic disturbance and a vandalism report during the afternoon—the last of which had been just a few miles from town—Michael sighed with relief when he pulled in at Snow Canyon Lodge at four o’clock.
    Finding this place had been an answer to his prayers. It was beyond beautiful, in the shadows of rugged mountain peaks that rose like snow-frosted sentinels to the west. It offered solitude, and