Page 21 of Cole

But nothing would ever be quite normal again. She'd crossed a line today, moved from passive observer to active participant in something much larger than her research project. And there was no going back.

9

Cole woke to gray dawn light filtering through the motel curtains and the ping of an incoming message on his phone. He grabbed it off the nightstand, blinking sleep from his eyes.

Frazier had come through.

Found her. Janice Lynch, 32, veterinarian specializing in wildlife medicine. Parents own a vet clinic in Washington State. She's currently on contract with the University of Washington, researching the impacts of climate change on wildlife populations in Alaska. Been at a research cabin near Cantwell for four months.

Cole sat up, fully awake now. Her driver’s license photo accompanied the message. It wasn’t the most flattering photo, but he was surprised at how pretty she was. Shaking his head, he shoved those thoughts down. Her looks had nothing to do with what he needed to know… was she in danger, and where was she?

The coordinates placed her cabin outside town, accessible via a rough gravel road branching off the main highway. Remote. Isolated. Exactly the kind of place someone "looking at goddamn moose" would be.

He called the compound, and Logan answered on the second ring despite the early hour.

"You got Frazier's intel?" Logan's voice was crisp, alert.

"Yeah. Listen, I know this is a long shot, but…" Cole paused to organize his thoughts. "Yesterday at Penson's property, I overheard him on the phone. He was talking about someone 'looking at moose' near his operation. Told whoever was on the other end to handle it, and that money talks. And if that doesn’t work, make it go away however you have to."

"And you think he was talking about this researcher?"

"The server at the café mentioned her when I asked about moose watchers. Said she's a wildlife veterinarian working out of a cabin in the area." Cole moved to the window, looking out at the snow-covered parking lot. "It could be a coincidence. But if Penson's company is operating illegally and she's documented it..."

Logan was quiet for a moment. "You think she's in danger."

"I think a man who casually tells his employees to 'handle' problems and 'make money talk' isn't someone who responds well to witnesses." Cole grabbed his jacket, already making the decision. "I just want to check on her. Make sure she's okay. If it's nothing, I'll apologize for bothering her and head back to Fairbanks."

"And if it's not nothing?"

"Then we figure out next steps." Cole pulled on his boots. "But I'd rather be wrong and look paranoid than be right and too late."

Another pause, then Logan's voice came back with a note of approval. "Do it. Sadie's pulling up the exact location now. She'll send them to your phone. Be careful out there. Storm's supposed to clear today, but the roads will still be bad."

"I've driven in worse."

"I know. That's why I'm not arguing." Logan's tone shifted, becoming more serious. "Keep us posted. If this researcher has evidence of illegal mining activity and Penson knows about her, things could get complicated fast."

"Understood."

Cole ended the call and checked his phone as Sadie's message came through. The coordinates were sent along with a note. The university leases the cabin for year-long research projects. Current occupant: Janice Lynch, wildlife veterinarian. Contract runs through December.

He packed quickly, threw his gear into the rental SUV, and headed to Cantwell's general store. If Janice were running low on supplies after being snowed in, he'd at least bring something useful. Basic courtesy gave him a legitimate reason to show up unannounced at her door.

The store was opening when he arrived. "You're out early. The storm has barely cleared."

"Need to pick up some supplies for a friend." Cole grabbed a basket and started loading it. Coffee, bread, canned goods, batteries. The essentials of remote living. "She's at a research cabin. Figured I'd check on her."

Walt's eyebrows rose. "You know Janice?"

"Slightly," Cole lied, keeping his tone casual. "But I heard she might need help, and I was in the area anyway."

The older man studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Road out to her place got plowed this morning, but it's still rough. You'll need four-wheel drive."

"I have it."

“She’s an independent woman,” Walt said as he rang up the purchases. "But it's isolated. Nice of you to check on her."

Cole paid and loaded the supplies into the SUV. The morning was clear and cold, with the temperature hovering around twenty degrees. Fresh snow covered everything, brilliant white under a still-cloudy day as the snowfall tapered off. Beautiful, if you ignored the fact that it could kill you if you weren't prepared.