you cold?” he asked.
“A little. It’s getting better.” She reached out her hand and laid it on his.
The casual touch evoked an immediate physical response. Desire turned into the hot blaze of arousal. It wasn’t the time or the place, yet his body had its own ideas about what was important now. Spending the evening with her, touching her, being alone with her had set anticipation to a slow simmer.
Nathan drew his hand away. He couldn’t allow this heat between them to roar out of control.
Autumn leaned toward him. “Do you think he’s still here? Watching me?” She came to her feet, dropped the blanket and walked to every window in the cabin. She checked the latches and pulled closed the curtains, overlapping them so no one could see inside.
“This place will be swarming with Feds in a few hours. Unless the Huntsman wants to be caught, he’s gone.” How long or how far gone, Nathan couldn’t predict.
A knock at the door had Nathan rising to his feet. “I’ll get it.”
He pulled open the door and came face-to-face with Roger Ford, and from his expression, he was angry.
Ford let out a string of curses. “I knew having you involved would bring trouble.”
Nathan set his feet apart and refused to step back or allow Ford inside. “How does my being here control what the killer does? Is this the thanks I get for calling you first?”
Ford swore again and rubbed a tired hand over his face. “You’re too close to the case. You need to step back and let us handle this. Tell me what you know and then take a break.”
Nathan had heard the same line so many times, he expected it from every Fed he talked to about this case. “I’m not interfering with the investigation.”
Ford set his jaw. “I don’t need to tell you that I’ll have to speak with you and Ms. Reed individually about what you saw and heard.”
Nathan shrugged. “I’ll be happy to tell you what happened tonight. You can speak to Autumn, as well. Why don’t you talk to her first? It’s late, and she’s had a tough day.”
Ford cocked his head. “A tough day? We’re trying to solve a murder here. Get over having a tough day.”
Autumn set her hand on Nathan’s back, coming up behind him so quietly, he didn’t have time to prepare. His body reacted—strongly—to her touch. “I can talk now. Or later. It’s not like I’ll be able to sleep anytime soon.”
Ford looked between her and Nathan. “Fine. Let’s talk now. Do you mind talking outside?”
“Not at all.” Autumn stepped onto the porch and followed Ford down the cabin steps. Too far away to hear what they were saying, Nathan watched them. Autumn’s arms were folded over her chest and she kept glancing over her shoulder at the spotlights the Feds were setting up around the area. Her face was solemn, her fear obvious. The scene was similar to the night before, and he wondered if she was experiencing flashbacks.
Ford leaned toward her, listening and nodding, asking a few questions.
After about ten minutes, Ford walked Autumn to the foot of the stairs and inclined his head toward Nathan. “Let’s go.”
Nathan followed Ford to the same place where he’d spoken to Autumn. Nathan related the details of their night, starting from when they’d left the Wild Berry and what they had seen in the woods. He could feel the heat of Autumn’s gaze on him and knew she was watching, waiting.
“What’s your relationship with her?” Ford asked.
Nathan didn’t have a relationship with her, outside the professional one they were developing. “I’m renting a cabin from her.”
Ford narrowed his eyes as if he didn’t believe Nathan. “I saw you two together. You’re doing more than renting a cabin.”
“We’re working together.”
“So now you bring a civilian onto the case?”
“She’s lending her outdoor experience.”
Ford pointed a finger at Nathan. “Don’t get in my way.”
He didn’t remind Ford again that he had called him first to let him know about the intruder. Nathan’s priority wasn’t to be top dog on the case. Colleen deserved to have her killer brought to justice however that needed to happen. “I don’t plan on it.”
Ford rocked back on his heels. “You know, you should get back to work and get assigned to a case. You’re a good investigator, and the distraction would be healthy for you.”
“I wouldn’t be assigned to this case,” Nathan said, knowing Ford’s fake flattery was an attempt to get Nathan to back down. Men who were more manipulative and influential than Ford had tried to talk Nathan out of pursuing this case. But Nathan was dedicated. He wasn’t stopping his pursuit of the Huntsman.
“You’d be assigned to a case where you can do some good,” Ford said.
“I’m planning to do some good here.”
Ford shook his head. “You’re being a fool. I have real work to do. Stay away from my crime scene.” Ford stalked away.
Nathan didn’t argue. Poking around the scene wouldn’t get him more information. The footprints might provide some indication of stature, but Nathan could look at those after the FBI finished processing the scene.
Autumn appeared next to him. “How’d it go? Does he know anything more? Did he tell you anything about the scene?”
He hated disappointing her. “They’re working the scene now. I’m sure they’re looking for the killer. Ford won’t share information. We’re on our own.”
Autumn looked from him to the crime scene. “I don’t understand any of this. Why would the killer come back? What does he want?”
An interesting piece of the puzzle that would form the killer’s psyche. “Maybe he left something behind? Something significant to him? Maybe he didn’t finish the job and wants to complete his ritual.” Or did he return to confirm the body had been found and taken down? “Why do hikers hang packages from trees?” Nathan asked, thinking again about the body in the tree.
Autumn shivered. “Like food and such?”
Nathan nodded.
“I leave a few packages along the trail with emergency supplies and I string them in the trees to keep animals from getting to them. If anyone is hiking the trail and comes up short, they are welcome to it. It’s an unwritten rule on the trail.” She paused. “Do you think there’s a connection between emergency supplies and how the killer places his victims?”
“Not sure yet,” Nathan said, putting the information on file.
Autumn rubbed her arms and he wished he could sweep her against him and assure her she was safe. The need to hold her, touch her hummed in his veins. Being alone with her was utter temptation. The temptation
