Free Prime Catch by Ilona Fridl Page A

paper. He wrote something and thrust it into her hand. “This is our Juneau contact. See him.”
    Sarah tried not to gasp when she read the name. Bobby Cusnoo. Of course, he works in the factory. She did feel guilty for lying to Mr. Thomas, but this group seemed to be in support of the killings. She tucked the paper in her pocket along with the notice.
    A while later, the men assembled in the hall for the meeting. She sat in back and observed the conversations around her. She caught Will eying her several times. Nothing else of any importance came out in the meeting or asides, as far as she could tell.
    The meeting adjourned, and she made her way out to Will’s truck. The sea fog was heavy and gray in the twilight. She couldn’t make out if Will was back at the truck yet. Then instinct told her there was someone behind her. She felt a large hand clamp on her shoulder.
    A voice rasped in her ear, “We don’t like troublemakers coming here from other camps.”
    Sarah whirled around. Two other forms in coats stood behind the one who had grabbed her. “Hey, I don’t want no trouble. I’m leaving.” A fist shot out and connected with her jaw. Pain skimmed across her skull and down her neck. As she hit the ground, she noticed two other forms running toward her, and they flattened two of the men. The third had turned at the sound and was pulled into the fray. Sarah’s foot shot out and tripped up one of the men who had risen to rejoin the fight. She jumped up and put a well-placed boot toe in his gut.
    The two who had given her a hand finished dispatching the other combatants, and the three troublemakers disappeared into the fog. She recognized Will as he took her arm to guide her to the truck. “Thank you for giving me a hand with those three, but who was that with you?” She turned at the footsteps behind her. Will didn’t need to answer. “Amos? What are you doing here?” She was angry he hadn’t let her do this on her own, but she was glad to see him, just the same.
    Amos helped her into the truck, then said in a lowered voice, “You may learn to walk and talk like a man, but you don’t understand male society. They challenge any outsider.”
    Will nodded as he swung into the driver’s seat. “Your sheriff is right. It was a good thing he decided to come down here to keep an eye on you.”
    Sarah had an urge to hug Amos, but in her present disguise, that would be awkward. “How did you know which one of the men was me?”
    Amos hesitated a beat longer than he should have. “A woman’s hips move differently than a man’s when you’re walking.”
    Sarah felt her cheeks heat. “Oh.”
    Amos straightened up. “I’ll see you back at the office tomorrow?”
    “I’m spending the night at Will and Mary’s house. I’ll be in around noon to give you my report.”
    He put both hands on her shoulders and gripped her for a moment. “Take care coming back.” He released her and disappeared into the fog as Will started the engine.
    “Your sheriff seems to care a lot about you.”
    Sarah’s face warmed again. “We’re partners working on crime. We work together well.”
    Will was silent for a few minutes. “I was wrong about Sheriff Darcy. He’s a good man, for an American.”
    Sarah studied Will’s profile as he drove. “Thank you for saying so. I trust him with my life.”
    Sarah leaned back in the seat and dealt with the intense tingling that she always experienced when she thought about Amos. I don’t know how long I can keep these feelings down. Something inside was bothered a little bit about Amos coming down here to keep an eye on her. Would he do that with any of the other deputies?

Chapter 10
    Amos glanced up from his desk as Sarah strode into the office. “Hell of a bruise. Well, sit and give me your report.”
    Sarah rubbed her jaw. “I’ll live.” She told Amos what she’d learned at the meeting.
    Amos nodded. “Bobby Cusnoo, huh? That confirms some of my suspicions. We’d better