fact that we’re not here for fun.” His reflective goggles made it almost impossible for her to see his eyes, but she knew he was staring at her, waiting for her response.
“He’s heading for the slopes, Liam.”
He dropped his skis and positioned his booted feet in place. “I have to follow, Rae. You going to be okay?”
“Yeah. I’ll take that blue slope. I’ll be fine. I’ll meet you at the Crosspoint Restaurant where the slopes intersect.”
“Remember”—he knocked on his helmet—“you can still talk to me. We need to find something solid to connect Zoey’s abduction to someone here in Jackson Hole. We’re going to do that today.” He skated over to the edge.
Rae watched him shove off after Enzo Astor. Rae made her way to the jump-off point for the blue slope. She pulled in a few breaths and then eased off the edge. What am I doing here? What am I doing here?
Zoey is not on this mountain.
But you’re on the mountain, God.
“Rae? You okay?” Liam’s voice came through her headphones loud and clear.
“Yes. I’m fine. You just focus on watching Astor and that difficult trail. Don’t worry about me.”
She could hear his increased breaths over the comm. A few grunts. Maybe even a groan. She was glad she wasn’t the one skiing such a difficult trail.
She’d forgotten how spectacular the view could be from a slope like this. In the distance, huge snow-covered peaks stretched as far as she could see and opened up enough for a glimpse of the valley beyond.
This. This was why people skied.
To get closer to you, God, whether they know it or not.
White stretched before her. The sound of skis carving the snow met her ears from all directions. From her own skis. Those she passed. Those passing her. She took her time, traversing the slope slowly, one side to another. Liam had mentioned that skiing cleared his mind. While he followed Enzo Astor, Rae tried to let the mountain air clear her mind and allow her to think of something she might have missed. Some way they could find Zoey—if her sister-in-law was even here. Or if she was somewhere far away.
She focused on veering to the left so she wouldn’t miss the restaurant where she was to meet Liam, who would quickly ski down that black diamond. A skier in a black suit whizzed by her, his skis cutting into the snow next to her. Her heart jumped to her throat.
“What’s happening, Rae? You still doing okay?”
“Yes. What do you have on Astor?”
“Nothing.”
“Then you’d better focus on skiing.”
“Right.” He gasped for breath. “Let me know if you need me.”
Rae kept her leisurely and safe pace. She noticed the man who’d skied too close had stopped to adjust his goggles right in front of her. She swerved far from him and tried to avoid other skiers. She kept her emotions and outbursts to herself so she wouldn’t distract Liam.
A skier came much too close again. The black-suited guy. He veered straight toward her this time.
Rae swerved away to avoid him but lost control. She tried to regain her balance but instead flailed toward the trees lining the slope. Trees. Every skier’s nemesis. The whole reason for wearing a helmet.
Her efforts to correct her course failed. She rose with unintended flight into the air but landed on her skis in the ungroomed part of the mountain. She tried to avoid trees as she slowed down. An abrupt stop would send her tumbling.
“Rae? What’s happening? You don’t sound good.” Liam’s frantic voice sounded in her helmet.
A quick glance over her shoulder let her know the black-suited guy was trailing her, bringing his bad intentions with him. Her pulse spiked. She had no doubt he’d forced her from the groomed slope intentionally. No slowing down for her. Rae had to keep skiing if she had any hope of getting away from him.
“Someone’s after me.” She gasped. “He forced me from the groomed slope. I’m in the wooded area . . .” Rae, moving too fast for comfort, ducked under a branch. “The area that separates the blue slope and the black diamond.”
Heart pounding, she tucked her body to pick up speed while avoiding trees on an ungroomed strip of mountain.
Behind her, the swish of skis in the snow grew louder. He was faster.
Any hope of escape fled.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Hold on! I’m coming for you.”
Liam stopped to get his bearings. He was farther down the mountain than she was. Liam started toward the trees between the two