Cushions had been torn off the couch and ripped through with a knife. Drawers in the apartment-sized kitchen were turned over, dumping their contents. Books had been thrown from the bookcases that lined the far log wall. Raven followed Aidan into the two bedrooms off to the left. They’d also been shredded. Mattresses pitched from the bed, their innards pulled out like wild animals had feasted on them.
Aidan stumbled as he stepped on something with his bad leg. He went down on his knee.
She reached out and helped him to his feet. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” He bent down, his fingers touching a dark spot. “I think this is blood.”
She bent to take a look. A dried reddish-brown spot pooled on the pine floor. She kicked clothes and bedding out of her way and found what looked like a trail of sorts. Aidan motioned for her to be quiet as he once again pushed her behind him and followed the trail that lead to the bathroom. There they found more blood. On the floor, around the sink, and wiped on towels.
“I’m willing to bet someone else got caught in one of Earl’s booby traps,” Aidan said.
Raven looked at him. “Why would anyone be here?”
“By the looks of the place, someone was looking for something. Did Fox say anything about the condition of the cabin?”
“No, but why would he?” Her brows furrowed.
“The night I was injured, he came into the cabin and grabbed blankets. He didn’t say anything then, but things were hectic. He might not have noticed.”
“How could he have missed this?”
“Whoever went through my SUV went through the cabin too. But why now?”
“You mean, why not go through the place before you showed up?”
“Yeah. Earl’s been dead since the middle of July. The cabin’s been empty all this time.”
“You’re forgetting that nobody knew Earl was dead until you showed up.” Her gaze flew to his as the reality of what she’d just said sank in.
“You think someone in town did this?”
“I don’t want to, but it makes sense.”
He nodded, his expression solemn. “It does.” He walked to the window where the blood trail ended. “Whoever was in here was scared off.” He indicated the blood trail and the window left open. “By the looks of this place, I’d say they didn’t find what they were looking for.”
“Which means, they’ll be back.”
A chill raced up Aidan’s spine. Raven was right. Whoever had done this hadn’t left happy. They hadn’t found whatever they’d come for.
He tucked the gun back into the waistband of his jeans and walked out of the bathroom. The space was too small and Raven too close. He could smell her. That sweet, beguiling brand of pheromones that reached out and grabbed his heart and caused it to pump faster whenever she was near. He needed some space, and he wasn’t going to find it here in Earl’s cabin.
He walked into the main room, stepping over things as he paced around the room. “Something’s not right.”
“Something besides someone breaking into the place and tossing it?” Raven asked, coming up behind him.
She really needed to move away from him. All he’d wanted to do since the last time he had her in his arms was to get her right back there. “I swear the room seems smaller.”
“You’ve grown. You’re much bigger than the last time you where here.”
“Maybe.” He rubbed the back of his neck. But something was different about the place. He couldn’t put his finger on it. At least memories weren’t slamming at him liked he’d feared. “Where do I start?”
“You could call the village council. Or the troopers.”
“I’ve had enough of troopers. Besides, Earl had so many enemies. Everyone in town probably has a motive.” He shook his head. “No point in involving the law. I’ll get this cleaned up and then clear out. If you want to torch the place in celebration of the winter solstice, you have my blessing.”
“Actually, that’s not a bad idea. It would put Earl to bed for good, and then we wouldn’t have his place as a reminder.”
“Consider it done then.” If he could do anything to wipe out the awful things Earl had done in his lifetime, to the woman Aidan had loved, he’d do it. “I also want to make sure the gold claim is deeded over to your family.”
“No.” Raven shook her head adamantly. “I don’t want anything to do with that.”
“It rightfully belongs to you and your family. Earl never should have—”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She put her hands over her ears.