Winter Takes All Read online

  Table of Contents

  Excerpt

  Winter Takes All

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Epilogue

  A word about the author…

  Thank you for purchasing

  Also available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  Not the most auspicious start to my guiding career, Crystal admitted to herself.

  Conner sat back down, took a grateful swig of the coffee and sighed. “This could have gone better,” he said stating the obvious.

  “What happens next?” Crystal asked.

  “We wait until dawn, see if he turns up, and escort everyone out of here. Hopefully, Philip is waiting for us at the lodge, and we can drive this whole miserable lot back to the city a day early. In the meantime, I suggest we follow everyone’s lead and try to get a little shuteye.”

  Conner’s radio crackled with Sam’s voice, “We’ve found the missing man from your group, Conner. He’s at the bottom of a cliff. I’m sorry to say this search and rescue operation has become a search and recover.”

  Conner paled at the news.

  “What does ‘search and recover’ mean?” Crystal asked.

  “It means he’s dead.”

  Winter Takes All

  by

  ML Erdahl

  A Seattle Wilderness Mystery,

  Book 1

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Winter Takes All

  COPYRIGHT © 2019 by Michael Erdahl

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Contact Information: [email protected]

  Cover Art by Abigail Owen

  The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  PO Box 708

  Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

  Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

  Publishing History

  First Crimson Rose Edition, 2019

  Print ISBN 978-1-5092-2678-8

  Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-2679-5

  A Seattle Wilderness Mystery, Book 1

  Published in the United States of America

  Dedication

  To my wife, Emily,

  whose love and support made this book possible.

  Chapter One

  Through the rhythmically squeaking windshield wipers of her idling car, Crystal Rainey spotted the Space Needle peeking from behind the high rises of downtown. Her parents, who lived a short distance from the iconic landmark, would certainly not approve of what she planned to do. Crystal shot off a quick text.

  —I’m at 312 Beacon Ave. If I don’t text back in an hour, send help.—

  She stared at the vista of the city for another moment before shaking her head to snap out of her reverie. Enough wasting time. Her one hour was ticking.

  It was a foolhardy risk confronting a murder suspect in his own home, but at least her best friend Olivia was aware of where she was.

  Turning off her car, she tugged her hood over her head and strode through the pools of light cast by the streetlamps, determined to get the answers she needed. Astonished, Crystal realized it was not even two weeks after New Year’s and everything about her had changed, forever.

  ****

  Things had gotten a little out of hand when Olivia had produced the makings for cosmopolitans to ring in the New Year. Typically, the annual shindig consisted of a few drinks coupled with some dancing, but, oh, those cosmos. They had led to an epic two-day hangover. The last time Crystal had overindulged to this magnitude was six years ago, on her hazy twenty-first birthday.

  Despite her less than perfect constitution, Crystal managed to drag herself out of bed to catch the bus to work. The Seattle winter did nothing to help her spirits as she stared at the passing landscape. Rain rivulets obscured her vision through the bus window and were a persistent, bleak reminder of the weather which settled over the Pacific Northwest this time of year. To top off her burgeoning poor temperament, the air on the bus was a damp aromatic mixture of wool clad people and their musty belongings.

  Seated beside her, an elderly man in a faded three-piece suit gave a soft snore. His scuffed brown leather briefcase rested on his lap, and the last few remaining gray hairs of his comb over flapped in the air current cast by the heat vent mounted under the window.

  The bus bounced through a pothole, re-awakening the dull ache in the back of her head and causing the gentleman to sit up straight, glance out the window, and ask, “What’s the next stop?”

  “Fourth and Stewart,” Crystal answered as she continued staring out at the city.

  “Thank goodness. I’m glad I didn’t oversleep again. Made me late for work last week.” The man patted his remaining hair back into place and yawned. “Did you have a good holiday?”

  “Fine,” Crystal droned. She attempted to put as much disinterest into the one word as she could. She was really not in the mood to talk.

  “Off to work?” The man was shaking his grogginess off and refused to pick up on her body language.

  “Yes,” she confirmed.

  “What do you do?”

  “Office work. I make copies, file documents…that sort of stuff.”

  “Oh, do you like it?”

  “It pays the bills.”

  “So, no, you don’t like it.” He gave her a sympathetic look.

  “I hate it,” she agreed with a sigh. “My boss is petty, cruel, and vindictive. A perfect trifecta.” She made this complaint so often she could barely muster up the energy to feel angry.

  “Aww, cheer up. It is a new year after all. Things are meant to change for the better. Well, this is my stop. Good luck with your job.”

  “It was nice talking to you.” She gave a little wave to the man as he gathered his briefcase and toddled off the bus into the rain. Oddly, she did feel better after speaking to the stranger.

  This was a new year. The season for change and a chance to better her life. Feeling the beginnings of a warm spread of optimism, she drew her phone out of her bag to jot down a few resolutions to help get out of her funk.

  Get a better job. Meet a nice guy. Go hiking more often.

  This was a comprehensive list of what was incomplete in her life. She was smart enough to find a better job than the hopeless one she had stumbled into after college. It was just a matter of getting herself organized and sorting through the job market. Also, she didn’t know why she hadn’t met a nice guy. She was in good shape from the hiking she did manage to fit into her life, and her pert nose, chestnut hair, and matching brown eyes had received their share of compliments. She just needed to get herself out there and good things would happen. As to her last resolution, she adored being in the forests of the Pacific Northwest and vowed to spend more time in the wilderness.

  Satisfied, she titled her file New Year’s Resolutions.

  An error message popped up on her sc
reen. Do you want to replace existing file? That was odd. She renamed her current file New Year’s Resolutions 2 and tapped save.

  Opening the original document, she saw it had been written shortly before midnight on December thirty-first of the previous year. No wonder she didn’t remember this list. She must have come up with it in last year’s tired fog during Olivia’s annual celebration. She tapped on the icon of the file and stared at what popped up on the screen.

  Get a new job. Meet an awesome guy. Get outside more often.

  Something inside Crystal froze, and her mind churned over the implications of what lay on the screen before her. She switched off her phone and lowered it into her bag. Everything around her slowed down, and the noise of the city receded to an odd echo. Here was proof her life was going nowhere.

  “Fourth and Pike,” the bus driver called. Her stop.

  She grabbed her bag and umbrella and strode into the rain. The first step to improving her life was freeing herself from her dead-end office job at Smith, Axford, and Devry.

  ****

  The impetuous departure from her monotonous job had faded into several panic induced days of being unemployed with a laughable bank account. A lucky break, though, had landed Crystal in her present seat, studying the stern-eyed woman who was about to become her new boss. Her last supervisor at Smith, Axford, and Devry had been nothing like the controlled professional across the desk from her, and the stark difference heartened Crystal. Her life was headed in a new and exciting direction, even though she was inwardly freaking out about how unqualified she was for her new position as a wilderness guide.

  “Here is your W-9, your health insurance form, this shows the starting wage, and signing this says you won’t work for another outdoor adventure company while employed by Emerald City Outfitters.”

  Crystal snuck a peek at the wage. Relieved, she was pleased to see it was actually a little more than she had earned at Smith, Axford, and Devry.

  “You can also work in the store if the wilderness guide time doesn’t make forty hours a week,” her new boss Amelia informed her. “This is rarely a problem. Our ECO Adventures, as we call them, are extremely popular and are often booked year-round.”

  Crystal was not excited about working in the store, but she also didn’t want her condo foreclosed on, so she could live with some retail work if she got to spend most of her time leading people through the wilderness.

  Dutifully filling out the paperwork, Crystal handed it back to Amelia.

  “Since this is now in order, let me fill you in on the details of the outing beginning tomorrow. You’ll meet the guests and fellow guide in front of the store at nine a.m. and take the company vans for the hour long drive up to Snoqualmie pass. This will be a beginner level hike, so expect to spend a lot of time helping people in and out of their snowshoes. The other guide knows what to do, and where to go, so follow his lead. Be entertaining and helpful. This particular excursion leads to an alpine chalet, where the group will be staying for two nights, returning Sunday morning. There will be food and sleeping accommodations for you, as well. Any questions?”

  “Sounds pretty straightforward. I’ll be here tomorrow.” Crystal had a million questions, starting with “how do I snowshoe,” but this wasn’t the time or place.

  “Remember. Be on time. Nine a.m. sharp.” Amelia gave a stern glance before turning her attention to the top piece of paper in her in-box, dismissing Crystal.

  Standing to leave, Crystal attempted to exude casual calm, but her hands clenched in anxiety by her side. She had so little time to purchase the right gear, not to mention learn how to snowshoe.

  Buying snowshoes at Emerald City Outfitters was out of the question. She had portrayed herself as an expert, and the jig would be up pretty quickly if her next stop was less than fifty feet from Amelia’s office. She would have to go elsewhere to do her shopping.

  Heading out of the store and down the stairs to the parking garage, she took a moment to let her mother know what happened. Her mom had been bombarding her with texts and phone calls since Crystal had quit her job. Crystal had been doing her best to dodge them, but now that she had positive news in her life to report, she finally deigned to text her overly curious mother back—Found new job. Homelessness averted. I’ll see you at Sunday brunch. Will tell all when I get there. Love. Since she had let her mom, and therefore the rest of her family know, even if somewhat cryptically, she hurried to phone Olivia and share the good news.

  “Hey, Crys,” Olivia answered.

  “I got the job!” Crystal shouted a foot from the phone.

  Her friend’s high-pitched squeal rang out over the speaker, and she waited for it to finish before putting the phone to her ear.

  “When do you start?” Olivia asked.

  “My first outing starts tomorrow morning if you can believe it.”

  “How exciting. I’m so happy for you.”

  “It is exciting, but I’m nervous,” Crystal said. She filled her friend in on the snowshoeing details.

  “I’m sure you’ll be fine. It’s hiking in the snow, but with those tennis racket shoes, right?”

  “I think there is a little more to it, but that seems to be basically all it is. Still, I’m worried. I need to come off as an expert on all things outdoors to the group, not to mention the other guide.”

  “What’s your plan?”

  “First, I’ve got to get a handle on how to snowshoe. I’m off to get a pair, and then I’ll watch a bunch of instructional videos on the internet. I’m also going to look up the names of trees as well as any animals we are likely to see this time of year. I can always fill the time with fun facts, even if I’m not actually an expert.”

  “Well, why are you talking to me?” Olivia chided. “Get studying, and call me Sunday when you’re done. We’ll go out to celebrate next week and you can tell me about everything that’s been happening in your life.”

  Crystal grinned as she ended the call. Olivia’s unending cheerfulness always helped put her in a good mood and gave her a healthy dose of enthusiasm.

  As she approached her doddering Honda, Crystal googled where to buy snowshoes on her phone. Alpine Zone popped up, seven miles away. Hopping in her car, she drove the short distance to the store. The strip mall entrance was underwhelming, but as she entered, a pulse of excitement overcame her. She was buying gear for her very first outdoor guiding trip. Getting directions from the lady at the register, Crystal spotted her quarry, mounted on the back wall, and weaved her way through the aisle.

  Stopping, she studied several varieties arrayed before her, trying to decipher a difference. What type of snowshoes would an expert own?

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a salesman approach. “Can I help you find a pair?”

  Crystal swiveled her attention from the display and goggled at the man who had just spoken. He was over six feet tall with the athletically muscled body of an avid outdoorsman. His brilliant blue eyes, artfully tousled dishwater blond hair, and friendly smile captivated her. Forcing herself to tug her gaze from his strong jawline, Crystal found herself once again staring at the snowshoes.

  “Can I help you pick out a pair?” the guy repeated.

  “Oh, yes,” Crystal stammered, blushing. “I’m going snowshoeing for the first time tomorrow, so I need snowshoes and anything else you think might be helpful.”

  “I’m happy to help…” he trailed off, looking at her.

  It took a second for her mind to catch up. She filled in the blank he was looking for, “Crystal.”

  He pointed to his name tag, “I’m Conner. Let’s get you set up, Crystal,” he said with an affable smile, causing her insides to melt into a warm glow. Grabbing a snowshoe off the wall, he presented it. “This brand costs a little extra, but gets great reviews, and will never let you down. I own a pair and can vouch for them. They are bigger than most, so they can feel a bit awkward in the beginning, but they are better at keeping you on top of the snow when you hit powder. They also
come with trekking poles.”

  “I’ll take them,” she said. “I want the best pair.” She was supposed to be an experienced wilderness guide, after all.

  “You won’t regret it. They come in both pink and forest green.” Studying her for a second, he said, “I’m taking you for a pink girl.”

  “Pink, definitely.”

  “Do you have waterproof boots and gloves?” Conner asked.

  “Boots, yes. Gloves, no,” she said.

  Crystal followed his robust frame through the store, and they picked out fleece-lined gloves to match her snowshoes.

  “Do you need sunglasses? Parka?” he asked.

  “I’ve got both of those,” she answered.

  “I believe you are all set, unless there is anything else you had in mind?”

  “Um, you mentioned you snowshoe.”

  “All the time.”

  “Can you give me a few pointers?” It would be much more fun to get lessons from this good-looking salesman rather than watching endless videos on the internet.

  “I’d be happy to.” He motioned for her to take a seat in the boot section. He sat down opposite her on the shoe-fitting stool’s black padded seat.

  “First, I’m going to show you how to get into them.”

  He undid the packaging and assisted her with slipping her feet into the bindings and tightening the straps. He had Crystal take the snowshoes off and on a few times by herself and then showed her a few techniques for walking in different types of snow. Soon, he had her tromping around the sales area while describing different ways for climbing and descending hills.

  Crystal’s pulse jumped as he eased her out of the snowshoes, guiding her legs with his calloused, yet gentle hands. “That’s all there is to it. The next step is to get out there and have fun.” Crystal prayed her face wasn’t turning red from his attention. She took a few conscious, deep, calming breaths as he grabbed her items and carried them to the register to ring her up. “I’m going to give you my card, so if you have any more questions, or need anything else, feel free to give me a call.”

  “Thank you so much.” She gathered her bags and retreated back to her car. Her impromptu lesson with Conner left her feeling immensely relieved. She had a fighting chance of pulling this off.