The Dead of Winter (Seasons of Jefferson: Book 2) (34 page)

“I just don’t get it,” Kaitlyn sniffles. “How did he get there? What happened?”

“The forensics unit is looking into it. Right now, we know the body had to be dragged to the location. We’re not sure if it was by animals, or something else. Snow covered any kind of tracks.”

I’m trying to visualize the scene in my mind, and I just can’t make sense of any of it.
He was there. In his red truck. Coming at us. Shooting. I heard it. I heard it.
“Did they find my gun?”

“I’m afraid not. There was no gun.”

“But there were bullets in my truck, weren’t there? You told me when they recovered my truck that there were holes.”

“Oh, there was a gun. I’m afraid it just wasn’t on Pistol Black. Not on his body anyway.”

I’m sure sheer terror is covering my face right now, because it’s for damn sure that it’s plastered all over my mother’s and Jenna’s.

Officer Marnia speaks, “I know you kids have had a little time since the accident. Have you remembered anything else about that day? Anything at all?”

I scan my memory for anything but come up empty. “It’s such a blur. It all happened so fast. But I’m just not sure.”

“Not sure about what, Caden?”

“I just don’t remember seeing Pistol with a gun, that’s all. I heard it. I know that for a fact. I definitely heard it. I saw Pistol waving his arms. I just don’t remember seeing a gun in his hand.”

Officer Marnia looks down and begins writing on her tablet. She’s shaking her head as she writes. “Well, I hate to do it, but I think I’m going to have to question Peyton again. Maybe she remembers something. She did have a different vantage point. I hope I can get her to talk this time.”

I don’t want to think about Peyton. I look up at the clock.
I’m going to be late.
I have two minutes to get down to that bus, and if I don’t, it’s going to take off without me. “Officer, I hate to be rude, but I’m going to miss my bus. If I remember anything else, I’ll give you a call.”

“Before you go, I just want to make sure you kids are still being vigilant out there. We’re still piecing the puzzle together, and until we find that gun, and the reason for the body’s location, we need you to be aware. Don’t go anywhere alone. It’ll just be safer that way.”

I nod my head. “Thanks, Officer.” I give T one more squeeze. “You going to be okay today?”

“Yep. I’m okay. Jenna, can you take Caden to the bus. I kinda need my mom right now.”

“You’ve got it. Let’s go.” She leans in to give T a hug, and we head out the door with one minute to spare.
Good thing the gym is only four blocks away
.

We pull up to the ski park around noon. The entire ride was filled with visions of the wreck and Pistol’s lifeless body lying on the bloody, snowy ground. I can’t imagine what the scene really looked like, but I’m sure my imagination is making it far worse than it could’ve ever been in real life. At first, I visualize brains splattered all over a sharp rock. Then I picture his body impaled by shards of metal ripped from his truck. The images spin into worse and worse traumatic injuries, until I’m sick to my stomach.

I jump out of the bus and run to the side of the parking lot, where I heave over the side of the snow berm. I’ve literally made myself sick thinking about Pistol’s traumatic death.
Was I responsible for that too? What if I’m the reason he went over the bank? I know my truck did crashed into his. Maybe there wasn’t a gun. Did I freak out for no reason and cause him to crash? What have I done? Peyton and Pistol? I did this to them.

Get a hold of yourself.
I look up into the clear sky. I take a deep breath of the clean mountain air.
There was a gun. There were holes in your truck. You didn’t do this.
I bend over, hands on my knees, and take in a few more breaths.
Water. I need water.
I pull my bottle from my duffle bag and take a swig. I take another, swishing it around and spitting it to the ground.

“You okay over there, Woodley?”

“Yeah. Just a little motion sickness. Be right there.”

When I finally pull myself together, I head up to the lodge, where the team is gearing up. I’ve got to use the bathroom, wash my face off at least. I find my friend so I can give him a heads up. “Hey, Ty. Be right back, huh. Watch my gear, will you?”

Tyler nods, “You’ve got it.”

As I stand up and move toward the bathroom, I see brown curls turning the corner.
Is that her?
Instantly, my mind changes stations from the Horror Channel to Hot Dish Network. I speed up and head down the stairs into the bathroom. There goes that hair. I decide to yell her name, maybe slow her down a little. Otherwise, I’m not going to catch her. “Tangles.” She keeps walking. “Hey Tangles!” The girl turns around.
Oh, God. Ohhhh. That’s not her.
I raise my hand apologetically and duck my head as I round the corner into the bathroom.

I splash water on my face. That was so embarrassing. I decide I really should go to the bathroom while I’m in here. I know I need to hurry. We’re going to slip the course in about four minutes. That doesn’t give me a lot of time. I’m in and out. I don’t waste any time fastening my pants while I’m in the stall. I turn my back toward the door, and begin to close them on my way out. When I turn around, mid-zip, there she is … looking down at my open zipper.

“Are those the same hands that are going to give me my ticket to the New Year’s party?”

I smile. Unable to speak, I nod, “Mmmhmm.”

“Well, not unless you go back and wash ‘em.”

Zip
. I swallow hard as I feel the heat rise into my face.

“Pee right back. I mean
be
right back.”
How embarrassing
. I’m a mess.
How am I ever going to face this girl again?
She just caught me with my zipper down.

When I return from the bathroom, Tangles is nowhere in sight.
Guess I chased her away.
I look down at my watch.
Crap. I’m late.

I make a mad dash up the stairs. My gear is sitting there on the table where I left it, but the team is nowhere in sight.
I’m so busted
. I grab my board, pull on my gloves and run out the door. Thankfully, the team is still in line at the bottom of the lift. I push off and make my way down the small slope toward the back of the line. There’s a whole group of people in line behind my team. Hopefully Coach will know I’m back here. I jump into the singles line, hoping I can get up there a little more quickly.

I look out toward the lodge, scanning the park, to see if I can spot my coach. I want him to see I’m here and ready to go. The last thing I need today is more trouble to worry about. I don’t even look around to see who’s in line with me. I’m gazing down the hill when I hear singing coming from the inside line.
What is that?
I listen to the lyrics coming from a dainty voice.
I recognize the melody, but the words aren’t quite right.
These words are talking about a city boy on a snowboard.
Is that “City Boy Stuck?” No way.
I look forward, noticing the line has moved ahead. There’s a four foot gap between me and the person in front of me. I begin to push forward, as I look over my left shoulder to see where the song is coming from.
Yellow and black flash before my eyes.
I turn and do a double take.
It’s her
. She’s smiling.

“You disappeared on me.”

“Or you disappeared on me. It’s all in the perspective, really. Actually, I thought the toilet may have swallowed you up. But then I remembered, you’re just slow.” She winks and pushes forward on her skis.

She’s next to Jessie May in the doubles line. “Hey, Caden. Did you have a nice Christmas?”

“Yeah. Got a new truck.”

“Nice. Does that mean you’re going to pick us up for the New Year’s party?”

I look down at my board.
How do I answer that?
Different excuses are rolling through my mind, when I see a ski pole fly up toward my face.

“We’re meeting him there, Jessie May.” She looks down at me. “Grab on, Grandpa. You’re holding up the line.”

I grab onto her pole as she pulls me forward. She winks at me and looks back at Jessie May. “I mean, we’re still practically strangers. You can’t expect Caden to pick us up. He doesn’t even know where you live.”

“Where
we
live, Avery. You live there now too, you know.”

I can feel a shift in Tangles mood. Suddenly, she’s quiet. Her face looks almost reflective. Sad.

I don’t want to butt in, so I keep quiet too. I scoot along, minding my own business when we approach the lift. Our lines merge. As luck has it, we’re on the same chair.

“You okay in the middle?” I ask quietly.

She nods.

It’s uncomfortably quiet on the way up. Almost to the point where I can no longer handle the silence.
Is she mad that I’m on the same chair as her?
Maybe I smell. Oh gosh. What if I smell?
I try to sniff at my armpits a little just to check.

“Are you really sniffing yourself?”

I can’t answer that. Well, I can, but I’m not going to. Why does she always catch me at my worst?

She looks forward, not making eye contact. “It’s not you. I know that’s what you’re thinking. But it’s not.”

Phew.
“I was starting to wonder.”

“Actually, I kinda like your smell. It reminds me of … pumpkin pie. Kinda sweet. Kinda spicy.”

Pumpkin pie and vanilla cupcakes. Sounds like a sweet combination to me.

“Pumpkin pie, huh? I can handle that.”

Silence returns. There’s really no place to go from here.
Change of subject needed. Like now.

“How was your Christmas?”
There. That one sounds safe enough.

Silence.

“Okay, did you get any surprises?”
Everyone gets at least one surprise on Christmas.
“Good ones, I mean?” she shakes her head and looks down at her glove. “No.”

I look over the top of Avery’s bowed head. Jessie May is looking at me, shaking her head, and signaling me to cut the conversation. I nod my head and turn in the opposite direction to look out over the trees. If I don’t say
anything
, I won’t say the
wrong
thing. The chair stops, mid-cable. We begin bouncing up and down. Some jackass in the front of us thinks it’s funny to swing his feet and make the cable bounce. At closer look, it’s Tyler.

“Hey, dude. Stop bouncing us.”

He whips his head around. “Hey, Caden. Is that the girl you keep talking about?” He gives me a thumbs up and turns back around.

I try to cover my face with my gloves and look down.
This is the longest ride of my life.
Finally, the chair lurches forward. Thank goodness we’re only three chairs away from the end. I can’t even look at Tangles when we get off. I board right, and they ski left, stopping right next to Tyler.

“What was that?”

“I figured you needed a little help. She’ll love it.”

He can use some brushing up on his wingman skills.
“Uh, look around. Do you see her?”

He pulls his lips together. “Oops, sorry, dude. Works with most girls.”

“She’s not most girls.”

We take off down the face. I feel like we’re already behind, and I want to take the short route down for my warmup. I watch for Tangles, but she’s nowhere to be seen. Trail after trail, and run after run, I keep my eyes peeled for the one who numbs my mind and brings me happiness. I haven't found that feeling with anyone or anything else. I’ve got to find her. I just want to be close to her. She doesn’t need to talk. She doesn’t need to do anything at all. Just being in her presence gives me everything I want. Everything I need.

Ding.

My phone rings out from my pocket. “Hey Ty, I need to check this, k?” I pull over to the side of the run next to a tree and take out my phone.

TANGLES: Hey, pumpkin pie. Sorry I had to run! Just couldn’t wait around for you all day. ;) About the New Year’s Party. I’ll meet you in the upper parking lot at 7:00. Jessie May says if you can get an extra ticket, bring your friend. The hot one from the bouncing chair.

“Tyler! Tyler!” I wave to him about thirty yards downhill. “What’re your plans for New Year’s?”

I ski down, holding up my phone. When I finally reach him, I let him read the text. A huge smile grows on his face. “Guess I’m hitting the party with you and the hotties from the lift.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “See, have a little faith, dude. I told you it’d work.”