So okay, they could work together, which was a huge load off her shoulders.
The house seemed to have an ample hot water heater. She’d been living in a place where she’d invariably wound up rinsing the soap off in frigid water, no joke in winter Wyoming. She allowed herself an extra minute to luxuriate but, remembering that Cade might well want a shower, too, she sighed and stepped out, reaching for a folded towel from a stack on a shelf over the toilet.
Not bad for a cheap rental and a whole lot better than some of the motels her former job had put her in. Even the couch had been a satisfactory bed.
Little spots of color had been added to each room, as if the former occupant—Kelly?—had tried to inject some cheer. She figured her husband, Hank, had taken care of all that in the end.
When she finished dressing in jeans and a flannel shirt, and her combed, wet hair was tucked behind her ears, she closed her suitcase and stepped out. Men’s voices reached her from the kitchen. It didn’t sound like the sheriff.
Curious, she ditched her bag at the end of the couch and followed the sound. A strange man was there, and he rose to his feet instantly.
“DeeJay, this is our landlord Hank Jackson, Kelly’s husband.”
DeeJay shook the offered hand and smiled. “You have a nice wife.”
“I think so.” He smiled, a warm, unguarded expression. “But I’m the lucky one. So I was asking Cade here if you two need anything. Kelly left most stuff she used here, but you never know.”
DeeJay pulled out the remaining chair and sat. Only then did Hank sit. The way he stuck out one of his legs indicated he had some kind of old or new injury. Did all the men around here have broken bodies?
“I was just thinking,” DeeJay said, “that this place has a great hot water heater. I was tempted to indulge.”
Hank’s smile widened. “I like my hot showers. I figured other folks would, too. It’s a big tank.”
“Then I’ll enjoy the next one longer.”
Cade spoke. “Hank was just saying that they’re running another search party today. He’s got to leave shortly.”
“That’s so sad about the boy,” DeeJay said. What else could she say?
“This creep better hope I don’t get to him first.” Hank’s face hardened. “Preying on the weak...I have no tolerance for it. None.”
DeeJay could sympathize, but given that they were officers of the law... She glanced at Cade, wondering whether to let it pass. Before she could speak, however, he did it.
“You know, you’ve got a pregnant wife,” Cade said.
“I know.” Hank’s face relaxed. “I won’t turn into a vigilante. But sometimes you wish...”
“Yeah,” DeeJay agreed. “Sometimes you do.” And they were supposed to be travel writers, so she steered the conversation. “Are you planning to rent this place to people who come here to ski?”
“I might. Still need to do some work if I go that way. I rented it most of the summer to a couple who came out here to work on the resort. They’re supposed to be back in the spring.” He paused. “You going to write about this kidnapping in your article?”