Sandra Robbins - Mountain Peril

Nathan turned his attention to Landon. “We as a staff have to renew our efforts to continue the traditions we’ve begun.”

Landon nodded. “I’ll do everything I can to make that happen, Nathan.”

“Good.” Nathan stared at him for a moment before he glanced back to Danielle. “We have to make sure this year’s fundraiser is the biggest and best we’ve ever had. I’m depending on you to see that it is.”

She pushed up out of her seat. “I thought we were coming here to talk about Tricia’s death and how we need to deal with our students’ reactions to it. Not the money we expect to raise this year.”

Nathan rose and reached for her hand. “Please understand, Danielle. If this school falls short in contributions this year, we may see reductions in programs and staff terminations. I, for one, don’t want that to happen. We have to do everything in our power to make it appear that nothing has changed here at Webster. And one way to do that is to assure our donors that their money is going to a stable program. I need you to make sure that’s the message we give at the annual fundraiser.”

Nathan’s words held a plea for help. He’d been there for her many times in the past, and she couldn’t refuse his request. “I’ve loved Webster ever since I entered as a student, and it means even more to me now. I’ll do everything I can to make sure this year’s fundraiser is the best one ever.”

Nathan squeezed her hand, released it and smiled. “Thank you, Danielle. I knew we could count on you.”

Danielle glanced at Landon. A wry smile pulled at his lips. The idea of having to work with him filled her with repulsion, but she would do it for Nathan. She backed away. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my office.”

She hurried from the room and stopped at Betty’s desk in the outer office. “I need the key to Tricia’s room.”

Betty pulled her glasses off and wiped at the tears in her eyes. She held out the key to Danielle. “If there’s anything I can do for you, let me know.”

Danielle’s fingers curled around the cold metal, and she swallowed. “Thanks, Betty.”

No other words came to mind, so she hurried from the room. All she could think about was Tricia lying on a mountain path. The people who she thought would have been most concerned with her death only had money on their minds. The idea sickened her.

Pushing the door to her office open, Danielle stopped in surprise at the sight of Flynn Carter sitting in a chair. His body was slumped forward, and his head rested on his crossed arms on her desk. His shoulders shook from the sobs that filled the air. She rushed forward and touched his arm. “Flynn, are you all right?”

He looked up at her, and Danielle had never seen such anguish in anyone’s eyes. With a cry, he turned to her. “Why, Dr. Tyler? Why would anyone do such a thing?”

She knelt beside him and put her arm around his shoulder. “I don’t know, Flynn. It’s a question I’ve asked myself for ten years about Jennifer McCaslin’s death. Now you’re going to have to live with the same questions I have.”

He doubled his fists in his lap and gritted his teeth. “But I didn’t send that text message.”

Danielle frowned. “What text message? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The police told me there was a message on Tricia’s phone asking her to meet me at Laurel Falls. It was sent from my phone, but I don’t know anything about it. I lost my phone yesterday. Remember? I told you about it.”

Danielle nodded. “Yes, you called me from your roommate’s phone.”

Flynn grabbed her hands, and fresh tears ran down his face as he stared up at her. “Please, Dr. Tyler. Tell the police I wouldn’t lie about something like that, and I wouldn’t hurt Tricia. I loved her.”

Danielle squeezed his hands and smiled. “I know you loved her, Flynn. I’ve seen the two of you together ever since you were freshmen. I don’t believe you would hurt her.”

Tears continued to run down his face. “But it’s my fault. I talked her into doing that Web site, and it got her killed.”

She thought carefully before she responded. “Tricia should have thought about how dangerous it was before she got involved.”

A voice sounded behind them. “That’s a good point, Dr. Tyler.”

She looked over her shoulder at Jack standing in the open door. She stood up. “Detective Denton, come in.”

Flynn rose to stand beside her. He wiped his hands across his cheeks. “Do you know anything?”

Jack shook his head. “Not yet. It’s too early in the investigation, but we’ll find Tricia’s killer.”

Anger flashed across Flynn’s face. “When you catch him, I wish I could have a few minutes with him. Make him pay for what he did to Tricia.”

Jack walked forward and stared at Flynn. “You’re feeling guilty, and I can’t do anything to take that off your shoulders. When we find the killer, you can’t transfer what you feel to him. I’m afraid you’re going to have to live with your part in this mess.”

Flynn nodded. “You’re right. It’s all my fault. I’ll have to live with that thought.”

Flynn bit down on his quivering lip and headed for the door. Before he stepped into the hall, he stopped and turned toward them. He glared at Jack and pointed a shaking finger at him. “I don’t care what you believe, I didn’t send that text message to Tricia. And you can’t prove I did.”

Danielle watched him go before she turned to Jack. “I feel so sorry for him.”

“I do, too. I don’t have any proof, but I tend to believe him about the cell phone, too. I just hope no other students turn up dead because of his Web site.”

“So do I.” She tilted her head and studied him. “When I first met you, I thought you seemed distant and indifferent, but I think I’m changing my mind. There’s a lot more to you than the uncaring policeman you want everyone to believe you are.”

His face flushed, and he glanced away from her. “I think we’d better…” He stopped and stared at the rose on her desk. “Where did that come from?”

The uneasy feeling of earlier returned. “It was there when I came in this morning.”

“Who sent it?”

Danielle shrugged and walked to the desk. Picking up the card, she handed it to him. “I don’t know. This note was with it.”

He held the note up and looked at it. When he’d finished, he handed it back to her. “Those are mighty fancy words.”

She nodded. “I can’t figure out who would have left this for me.”

He shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about it. Maybe he’s shy and thinks you wouldn’t like him. Or maybe it’s some old boyfriend who wants to get back with you.”

The cold tone of his voice sent shivers down Danielle’s spine. The aloof man she’d first met was back, and she wondered where the Jack she’d laughed with at the Mountain Mug had gone. She frowned. “There’s no old boyfriend.”

He pointed toward the door. “I came to search Tricia’s room. Want to come with me?”

“Yes.” Thankful to change the subject, she reached for the key. “Security locked her room last night.”

She walked past him into the hall, and he followed. As they headed across campus to Tricia’s dorm, she couldn’t help studying Jack out of the corner of her eye. When she’d first met him, he’d seemed like a hard-hearted man. Last night and this morning he’d given her a glimpse into the private places of his soul, and she liked what she saw. She’d thought the ice inside him was beginning to melt, but now she wasn’t so sure. There seemed to be too many layers to him, and she doubted if she would ever dig through to find the real Jack Denton. Maybe it would be best if she didn’t even try.