That Reckless Night

James turned slowly and saw that he was indeed surrounded by the very people he’d believed he was bringing to the mountains for a good time. “What the hell...?” James breathed, unable to believe how soundly he’d been duped. “I’ll be damned. Looks like I’m screwed,” he said grimly.

“Looks like,” Miranda agreed cheerfully. “With any luck, you’ll get the maximum sentence. But if by some chance you manage to escape with a slap on the wrist for what you’ve done, do yourself a favor and don’t come back to Alaska.”

The officers took James into custody and Vee arrived right on schedule to transport them back off the mountain while Rhett flew the other helicopter back to base. Jeremiah and Miranda rode with Rhett and by the time everything had been processed and finished the sun had long since disappeared from the sky.

“Did you get what you need to put them away?” Rhett asked.

Jeremiah nodded. “I sure hope so. We’re practically handing the case to them on a silver platter. He was wearing the suit, carrying the cooler, and Miranda saw him waiting for that bear where he had laid a trap. I’d say this case is pretty solid. But no matter what happens after this, the fact remains that Miranda got her man.”

Miranda smiled with open relief, still riding a high. “I didn’t do it alone.” She spared him a secret smile, unable to stop it until she realized she and Jeremiah were sharing too long of a private look. Miranda pulled her gaze from him and looked to Rhett. “You know, when you’re not fighting with Vee, you’re actually a good team. You work well together. Have you ever considered combining forces, having a joint operation? It could help both of your bottom lines given the depressed economy. Might be something to consider.”

“I have bigger issues than Vee right now.”

Miranda knew that Rhett was referencing the business with Ambra. While Rhett had been on the expedition, law-enforcement officers had gone to the Big Game Trophy office to pick up Ambra. She was currently being booked on charges of conspiracy, which would likely earn her a slap on the wrist, but Rhett was already filing the paperwork for a divorce. “I hope you have a prenup,” Miranda said quietly. “I think she’s taken enough of your money in the two years you’ve been married.”

Rhett nodded. “Ironclad. I wasn’t so smitten that I lost my head completely.”

“I’m glad to hear that. You can rebuild, you know. Maybe downsize a little. Sell off some investments. You don’t have to be drowning in debt. Maybe it’s time to close Simone’s account. No one is ever going to come forward to collect the reward and you need it more than she does.”

“No,” Rhett said resolutely. “That money will stay there forever if need be. I have other accounts I can tap but not that one—that one is for Simone.” He sighed and for the first time ever looked older than he was. “Ambra made me feel young again. But now I feel worse. I feel like an old fool.”

Miranda’s heart ached for Rhett. Jeremiah had warned her to put the brakes on any matchmaking but she had sensed a tiny spark between Vee and him, even if they were both too stubborn to acknowledge it. “I think you should consider what I said about you and Vee. She’s a lot like you,” Miranda said, trying to soften the blow of his wife’s betrayal by offering a new perspective. “I really do think you two would make a good team.”

Rhett didn’t say anything in response to that and Miranda let it go. He needed to grieve and he needed to deal with Ambra’s betrayal in his own way. Maybe with time, he’d see the wisdom in her words. Miranda hugged Rhett and she and Jeremiah took to the road.

* * *

“I WANT TO CELEBRATE,” Miranda announced suddenly, turning to Jeremiah. “I say we hit The Rusty Anchor and throw back a few. Talen is with Mamu tonight and I am footloose and fancy-free until tomorrow morning. What do you say?”

Jeremiah should say no. He knew the right thing to do, the responsible thing to do, was to politely decline, but he agreed with Miranda—the closure of this case was worth celebrating. “One drink couldn’t hurt anyone I suppose,” Jeremiah said.

“That’s the spirit. First round on me,” Miranda said, laughing as they climbed into the car and drove straight to the local tavern. “Two beers, Russ,” she said to the bartender. Once they each had a beer in hand, they clinked bottlenecks. “We did it, Jeremiah. We caught that son of a bitch.” She took a long swallow and said, “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“You did most of the work. I just tied up the loose ends.”