Justice at Cardwell Ranch

“Agreed.”

Liza drove them to the upper mountain. The huge unpaved parking lots sat empty. None of the lifts moved on the mountain except for the gondolas that rocked gently in the breeze.

“It’s like a ghost town up here,” he commented as they got out of her patrol SUV.

“I like the quiet. Good place to talk. Most everything is closed still. Fortunately, there are enough locals that a few places stay open.”

The café was small and nearly empty. Liza led him outside to a table under an umbrella. The sun was low to the south, but still warm enough it was comfortable outside. A waitress brought them coffee while they looked at the menu.

Jordan ordered ham and eggs, hashbrowns and whole wheat toast.

“I’ll have the same,” Liza said and handed back the menu. As soon as the waitress was out of earshot, she said, “You didn’t mention last night that you and the victim were no longer friends at the end of your high school years.”

“So you spoke with Hud.” He looked toward the mountains where snow dusted the peaks, making them gleam blinding bright. “It was a stupid disagreement over a woman, all right? Just high school stuff.”

She nodded, not buying it. “What girl?”

“I don’t even remember.”

Liza’s look called him a liar, but she let it go. “I’m still confused why he contacted you. He must have had other friends locally he would have talked to.”

“Obviously he must have talked to someone locally. One of them knew where he was going last night and killed him.” Jordan said nothing as the waitress served their breakfasts. He picked up his fork. “Look, do we have to talk about this while we eat? I feel like I got him killed.”

“You can’t blame yourself, or worse, try to take the law into your own hands.” She eyed him for a long moment. “Why would I suspect that’s what you’re planning to do?”

He chuckled. “If you talked to my brother-in-law he would have told you that I’m not that ambitious. Anyway, you’re the deputy marshal. I’m sure you’ll find his killer.”

She took a bite of toast, chewed and swallowed before she said, “You contacted Tanner’s girlfriend from his senior year in high school.”

Jordan took her measure. “Why, Liza, you’ve been checking up on me. I contacted Shelby before I went up to the falls last night. She said she had nothing to say to me about Tanner. That was high school and so far back, she barely remembers.”

“You didn’t believe her?” Liza asked between bites.

Jordan laughed. “High school was Shelby’s glory days. Just check out our yearbook. She is on every page either as president or queen of something. Not to mention she was dating Tanner Cole, the most popular guy in school. She was in her element. I’d bet those were the best days of her life and that nothing she has done since will ever compare.”

Liza considered that for a long moment before she asked, “So you talked to Shelby before last night. Before the only word Alex got out after he was shot was her name?”

“Like I said, she and Tanner dated.”

“When you talked to Shelby, did you mention Alex or where you were meeting him?”

He gave her an exasperated look. “Do you really think I’m that stupid? Alex was acting terrified. I wasn’t about to say anything until I talked to him.”

“And yet you called Shelby.”

“Yeah. I just told her I was in the area as if I was here for the twenty-year reunion and worked Tanner into the conversation. I didn’t realize then that anything I might do could put anyone in danger, including her.”

“That’s so noble. But I thought you didn’t like her. In fact, I thought you were instrumental in breaking up her and Tanner.”

He shook his head and took a bite of his breakfast. “You’re determined to ruin my appetite, aren’t you?”

“Is it true?”

“I couldn’t stand Shelby and that bunch she ran with. But you’re wrong. I had nothing to do with breaking her and Tanner up, no matter what Hud thinks, as I’m sure that’s where you got your information.”

Liza lifted a brow. “You weren’t the one who snitched on her?”

“Wasn’t me.” He met her gaze. “Why keep questioning me if you aren’t going to believe anything I say?”

“I don’t want you involved in my investigation,” she said. “That includes asking about Tanner among your old friends—and enemies.”

He smiled. “What makes you think I have enemies?”

She smiled in answer as she smeared huckleberry jam on a piece of her toast.

He watched her eat for a few moments. He liked a woman who ate well and said as much.

“Does that line work on women?” she asked.

He laughed. “Every time.”

They finished their breakfast in the quiet of the upper mountain. She was right about it being peaceful up here. He liked it. But once winter came, all that would change. The parking lots would be packed, all the lifts would be running as well as the gondola. The mountain would be dotted with skiers and boarders, the restaurants and resorts full. He recalled the sounds of people, the clank of machinery, the array of bright-colored skiwear like a rainbow across Lone Mountain.